Hong Kong: Community space eases family stress Following the opening of the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room last month, going to the venue after class has become routine for Ms Liang and her son Derek. A primary school pupil, Derek can now do his homework with assistance from tertiary students at a spacious study room there, instead of studying at home, a subdivided unit of not much more than 100 sq ft. Alleviating pressure The after-school study support, provided by the operator of the Community Living Room, is aimed at alleviating pressure on parents in supervising their childrens homework. Ms Liang is pleased that Derek is able to make use of the study programme. I feel so much relieved to have my son finish his homework here with the help of the tertiary students as I am not good at those subjects, she explained. My son loves this place very much, as the staff here will play with him after he finishes his homework. If he were at home, after finishing his homework he could only watch television or ask me to play with him, but I am too busy to play with him during this period. I need to prepare dinner and do other housework. Convenient facilities The Community Living Room not only relieves the onus on Ms Liang as a caretaker; it also lightens her housekeeping workload. Living in a small and crowded flat, Ms Liang does not have space at home for a washing machine and needs to wash clothes by hand. Now, however, she is able to make use of laundry services at the Community Living Room, which are available at an affordable price. Alvin Chui, person-in-charge at the venue, said the laundry facilities and a spacious pantry, which is equipped with a full range of cooking equipment and utensils, are the Community Living Rooms two most popular amenities, as they cater to users greatest needs. Fun activities Ms Liang has also participated in group activities organised at the Community Living Room, and made new friends there. During the winter solstice, she made and tasted glutinous rice balls with other families to celebrate the festival. Earlier this month, they also learned how to make steamed chocolate cake together. The pantry here is very spacious, said Ms Liang. If I cooked at home, I would need to move the stuff away to free up some space for cooking. I will not do such complicated food at home. She added that the Community Living Room is able to support her both in terms of her housekeeping activities, such as cooking and washing of clothes, and her childcare responsibilities. Targeted strategy Steered by the Government, the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room is a targeted poverty alleviation initiative that is tailored to the needs of subdivided unit households. Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Youth & Corrections) Chan Lai-chu explained that the programme aims to provide additional living space and enhance the interpersonal networks of grassroots families through cross-sectoral collaboration, so as to enhance their living standards and sense of belonging to the community. Through tripartite collaboration between the Government, business and the community, the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room is the first flagship project under the programme. With the business sector providing free premises, the Government has engaged The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon, a social welfare organisation, to operate the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room, while also providing funding through the Community Care Fund to cover operating costs. Chan added that the goal of the Government is for no less than 70% of service users to experience an enhancement in terms of their living space, their sense of belonging to the community, and their interpersonal networks, after using the Community Living Room. She added: The Government will actively encourage the participation of the business sector in setting up more Community Living Rooms in districts clustered with subdivided unit households so that more grassroots families will benefit. This story has been published on: 2024-01-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Supreme Court agreed on Friday to hear a case involving whether ticketing homeless people constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Mariam Zuhaib/Associated Press In 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that California could not jail someone for being a drug addict because the Eighth Amendment, which forbids cruel and unusual punishment, prohibits prosecution based on a persons status. It is unlikely that any State at this moment in history would attempt to make it a criminal offense for a person to be mentally ill, or a leper, or to be afflicted with a venereal disease, Justice Potter Stewart wrote in California v. Robinson. Even one day in prison would be a cruel and unusual punishment for the crime of having a common cold. Its the same Eighth Amendment that is at issue in the homeless encampment case the court has now agreed to decide, and advocates for the homeless fear the justices may be ready to turn the clock back. The case, from Grants Pass, Ore., weighs local governments authority to regulate their streets in order to maintain public safety against the rights of unhoused residents to shelter themselves in public when they lack other options. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the potential questions the Supreme Court will be reconsidering is whether or not the Eighth Amendment has substantive limitations on what can be criminalized, attorney John Do of the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California said Friday. He spoke after the court agreed to review, and potentially overturn, a ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco limiting cities authority to prosecute homeless people for refusing to leave street camps when no other shelter is available. Also potentially vulnerable, Do said, is the Supreme Courts 1958 ruling in Trop v. Dulles, which said the ban on cruel and unusual punishment must be interpreted according to evolving standards of decency. That ruling, which overturned a deportation order, has been cited since then to prohibit executions of minors, the mentally ill and those convicted of crimes other than murder punishments the court had once upheld. The idea of an evolving Constitution is antithetical to the core of the Supreme Courts conservative group, whose doctrine is originalism, said David Levine, a law professor at UC College of the Law in San Francisco, who was not a participant in the case. He said the court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, seemed likely to uphold the encampment removals but could do so in a relatively narrow ruling, declaring that moving homeless people out of encampments did not amount to punishment. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But a more sweeping decision is also possible, Levine said, like the June 2022 ruling overturning New Yorks restrictions on carrying concealed firearms in public, similar to a law in California. Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for a 6-3 majority, said government restrictions on guns would be found constitutional only if they were consistent with this nations historical tradition of firearms regulation, dating to colonial times. Eric Tars, lawyer for the National Homelessness Law Center, noted that this is the same Supreme Court that also ruled in 2022 that the Constitution does not protect the right to abortion, overturning the 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The justices may take the opportunity, as they have with other cases to go into what most of us assumed was settled precedent and say the Eighth Amendment does not protect status, Tars said. On the other hand, said Jeff Selbin, a UC Berkeley law professor, lawyers for the city of Grants Pass did not ask the Supreme Court to overturn its 1962 ruling in California v. Robinson, and argued instead that the ruling supported their claim that people could be punished for the illegal act of sleeping in prohibited places. While the Supreme Court could decide to upend more than half a decade of its own Eighth Amendment jurisprudence in deciding this case, it doesnt need to touch earlier cases in order to strike down the lower-court holdings at issue here that extend constitutional protections to homeless people on the basis of their status, Selbin told the Chronicle. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But one opposing legal advocate in the homelessness case said its time for the court to impose some limits on the amendments definition of unconstitutional punishment. SALT LAKE CITY A Black woman hired by a northern Utah school district to investigate racial harassment complaints the year after a 10-year-old Black student died by suicide says that she, too, experienced discrimination from district officials. Joscelin Thomas, a former coordinator in the Davis School District's equal opportunity office, alleges in a federal lawsuit that district staff treated her as if she were stupid," accused her of having a substandard work ethic and denied her training and mentorship opportunities that were offered to her white colleagues. From the beginning of her employment, Dr. Thomas was treated differently than her lighter-skinned and non-Black coworkers and was subject to a hostile work environment, the complaint states. Thomas was part of a wave of new hires in 2022 after the U.S. Department of Justice ordered the district in a settlement agreement to create an office tasked with investigating and addressing reports of racial harassment. The order stemmed from a 2021 federal investigation, which uncovered widespread racial harassment of Black and Asian American students in the district just north of Salt Lake City, including hundreds of documented uses of the N-word and other derogatory epithets over a five-year period. The civil rights probe found that Black students, who make up about 1% of the district's 74,000 students, had been disciplined more harshly than their white peers for similar behavior. District officials admitted to federal investigators that years of discipline data demonstrated a trend of staff treating students of color differently than white students, but the district had done nothing to correct the disparities, federal investigators said. Several Black students had also told investigators that their white peers referred to them as apes, made monkey noises at them in class and told them that their skin looked like dirt or feces. Inappropriate comments about slavery and lynching sometimes went unpunished, and Black students recalled being told by their peers, Go pick cotton and You are my slave. The districts racial issues came to a head just two weeks later when Isabella Izzy Tichenor, a Black and autistic fifth-grader, died by suicide after her family said she was relentlessly bullied by her classmates at Foxboro Elementary School in North Salt Lake. The 10-year-old's parents blamed her death on what they called an inadequate response by school administrators, whom they said were aware of the bullying but did nothing to stop it. Tichenor, the only Black student in her class, had kids regularly calling her the N-word, telling her she was smelly and teasing her for being autistic, according to a lawsuit filed by the family. District officials admitted last year that school staff had mistreated the girl and agreed to pay her family a $2 million settlement after initially defending how it handled the bullying allegations. They also announced a separate $200,000 settlement shared between three Black students who said they experienced daily racial harassment. The school district updated its harassment policy following the federal investigation and Tichenor's death, and it launched an anonymous online platform for any student, parent or staff member to report incidents of harassment or discrimination, spokesperson Christopher Williams said on Thursday. Thomas was among those tasked with investigating the anonymous reports, but her attorney, Katie Panzer, said Thomas own experiences call into question whether the district has made any real effort to change its culture. Our hope is that through our efforts to address the violation of Dr. Thomas rights, the district will be forced to make systemic change," Panzer said. The district has an obligation to provide both students and employees a safe environment free from race discrimination. We would like to see them actually fulfill that obligation. The lawsuit filed in Utah district court accuses Thomas' colleagues of treating her as a subordinate rather than an equal. About a month into her employment, a colleague handed her a pile of garbage and ordered her to clean up the trash during what was supposed to be an opportunity for Thomas to network with other administrators, the complaint states. Her employment ended June 30, 2023, after administrators decided not to renew her one-year contract, Williams said, declining to explain why. Her photo had not been removed from the district directory as of Thursday. Thomas said she had scheduled a meeting a couple of months earlier with the districts human resources director to discuss the discrimination she had experienced, but earlier that day, she said, the assistant superintendent placed her on administrative leave with little explanation and told her the district would be investigating her workplace conduct. Her contract soon expired, and she never learned the result. Davis School District administrators, teachers and staff stand firmly against any form of harassment or discrimination that affects a childs learning experience in our schools, Williams said, declining to comment on the specifics of the lawsuit. Our primary duty and responsibility is to create a safe environment for every child, employee and patron. 14 heroes of the Civil Rights Movement whose names you may not recognize 14 heroes of the Civil Rights Movement whose names you may not recognize Claudette Colvin Robert Weaver A. Philip Randolph Claude Barnett Charles Hamilton Houston Howard Thurman Pauli Murray Mamie Till-Mobley Diane Nash Fannie Lou Hamer Dion Diamond Ella Baker Amelia Boynton Robinson Daisy Bates COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Denmarks prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Many thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the royal succession took place, the mood jubilant as the Nordic nation experienced its first royal succession in more than a half-century, and one not caused by the death of a monarch. Denmarks monarchy traces its origins to 10th-century Viking king Gorm the Old, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Today the royal familys duties are largely ceremonial. Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that has been the seat of Danish power for centuries. It now houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime ministers office and the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen next proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowd. Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals. He was then joined on the balcony by the new, Australian-born Queen Mary and the couple's four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem. My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow," Frederik said. It is a task I have approached all my life. This is an update. AP's earlier story follows below: Denmark tackles bullying with 'empathy classes,' and more of today's top videos See how Denmark is working to fight school bullying with empathy classes, cyberattacks at Las Vegas casinos are exposing the lack of security, and more of today's top videos. The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip kicked off a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home after 100 days spent in Hamas captivity. Thousands of people poured into Hostages Square in Tel Aviv a central plaza opposite Israel's Defense Ministry that has served as a gathering point for the campaigners. Hamas and other Gaza militants captured about 250 people during a deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. About 1,200 other people were killed, most of them civilians, according to Israel. More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 remain held in Gaza including the remains of about two dozen who died or were killed. We were here on day 50 and spoke on this stage. We are not going to speak again in 50 days. Its time to bring them back. Now! Bring them back!, said Ronen Neutra, the father of Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier who was taken. They are being held in terrible conditions. They are starving. They are dying. Many of the protesters planned to stay out all night. The crowd listened to a recorded message from French President Emmanuel Macron, and heard from the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew. Lew and Macron pledged to exhaust every effort to bring the remaining hostages home. Today, as we mark 100 days since hundreds of innocent men, women and children were violently seized from Israel, we join as one in demanding their release, Lew said. In previous exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, nearly all freed on both sides were women and minors. Now, 111 men, 19 women and two children remain in Gaza. The Red Cross hasnt been permitted to see them, and almost nothing is known about their conditions. There has been little visible progress toward a new deal to release hostages. Their families are using the 100-day mark for a new appeal to the government to prioritize bringing home the abductees. Some have said the government has not done enough. Israel said Saturday that it brokered a deal with mediator Qatar to deliver much-needed medicines to the hostages with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. There was no immediate sign the deal was being implemented. One mother's ritual Every morning, before shes even out of her pajamas, Rachel Goldberg-Polin tears a piece of masking tape off the roll, grabs a marking pen and in thick black strokes writes down the number of days her son, Hersh, has been held hostage by Hamas militants. Then she sticks the tape to her chest. I find it so remarkable how nauseating it is every single time, she said. And its good. I dont want to get used to it. I dont want anybody to get used to the fact that these people are missing. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was last seen Oct. 7, when militants loaded him into the back of a pickup truck with other people who were abducted from a southern Israel music festival where over 300 attendees were killed. The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of an arm when the attackers tossed grenades into the shelter where a group of young people had taken refuge. Rachel Goldberg-Polin, 54, now spends her days trying to bring him and the other hostages home. The mother of three spent the past three months crisscrossing the globe, reminding anyone who will listen that her child is more than just an inconvenient statistic: He is her only son, a music lover, a young man who deserves the chance to fulfill his dreams. Goldberg-Polin and her family, who moved to Israel from the United States when Hersh was 7, have met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Pope Francis, Elon Musk and dozens of journalists. Shes spoken at the United Nations, gone to protests and carried placards. The plight of the hostages and their families' tireless campaign gained widespread support and sympathy, ratcheting up pressure on the Israeli government to make concessions to win their release. The Goldberg-Polin family planned to attend the start of the rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday and another Sunday on the Jerusalem Promenade. Similar events are scheduled in cities outside Israel, including London, New York and Paris. But so far, nothing stopped the number on the masking tape from going up. Ahead of the 100-day milestone, Goldberg-Polin asked people around the world to adopt her routine Sunday, hoping the show of solidarity would help her and the other families bear the pain and anguish of waiting yet another day for their loved ones to return. Her masking tape badge was inspired by childhood memories from 1979, when America was transfixed by the fate of 52 people held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Iran. ABC News opened its coverage every night with a running count of how many days the crisis had lasted. The hostages were finally released after 444 days. The ritual began on Day 26, when Goldberg-Polin stuck the makeshift badge to her chest to show everyone the ever-increasing tally was the focus of her life, not just a factoid for news stories. It defines me anyway," she said Wednesday, when her badge read 96. She likened it to a name tag, in the fashion of "Hello my name is.'' This is who I am," she said. "My identity is the number of days hes been stolen. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war RAFAH, Gaza Strip Israel will pursue its war against Hamas until victory and will not be stopped by anyone, including the world court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a defiant speech Saturday, as the fighting in Gaza approached the 100-day mark. Netanyahu spoke after the International Court of Justice at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africa's allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has rejected as libelous and hypocritical. South Africa asked the court to order Israel to halt its blistering air and ground offensive in an interim step. "No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else," Netanyahu said in televised remarks Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. The case before the world court is expected to go on for years, but a ruling on interim steps could come within weeks. Court rulings are binding but difficult to enforce. Netanyahu made clear that Israel would ignore orders to halt the fighting, potentially deepening its isolation. Sunday marks 100 days of fighting. In Gaza, where Hamas has put up stiff resistance to Israel's blistering air and ground campaign, the war continued unabated. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that 135 Palestinians had been killed in the prior 24 hours, bringing the overall toll of the war to 23,843. The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry has said about two-thirds of the dead are women and children. It said the total number of wounded surpassed 60,000. Israel has been under growing international pressure to end the war but so far has been shielded by U.S. diplomatic and military support. Israel argues that ending the war would mean victory for Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel's destruction. The war was triggered by an Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israel. About 250 hostages were taken, and while some were released or confirmed dead, more than half are believed to still be in captivity. Fears of a wider conflagration have been palpable since the start of the war. New fronts quickly opened, with Iran-backed groups Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria carrying out a range of attacks. From the start, the U.S. increased its military presence in the region to deter an escalation. Following a Houthi campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes against the rebels Friday, and the U.S. hit another site Saturday. In more fallout from the war, the world court this past week heard arguments on South Africa's complaint against Israel. South Africa cited the soaring death toll and hardships among Gaza civilians, along with inflammatory comments from Israeli leaders presented, as proof of what it called genocidal intent. In counter arguments Friday, Israel asked for the case to be dismissed as meritless. Israel's defense argued that the country has the right to fight back against a ruthless enemy, and it said South Africa barely mentioned Hamas and ignored what Israel considers attempts to mitigate civilian harm. Netanyahu and his army chief, Herzl Halevi, said they have no immediate plans to allow the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, the initial focus of Israel's offensive. Fighting in the northern half has been scaled back, with forces now focusing on the southern city of Khan Younis, though combat continues in parts of the north. Netanyahu said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue during his visit this past week. The Israeli leader said he told Blinken that "we will not return residents (to their homes) when there is fighting." At the same time, Netanyahu said Israel eventually would need to close what he said were breaches along Gaza's border with Egypt. Smuggling tunnels under the border have constituted a major supply line for Gaza. However, the border area, particularly the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, is packed with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled northern Gaza, and their presence would complicate any plans to widen Israel's ground offensive. "We will not end the war until we close this breach," Netanyahu said Saturday, adding that the government has not yet decided how to do that. Following an Israeli airstrike before dawn Saturday, video provided by Gaza's Civil Defense department showed rescue workers searching through twisted rubble of a building in Gaza City by flashlight. The attack on the home in the Daraj neighborhood killed at least 20 people, according to Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. Another strike late Friday near the southern city of Rafah on the Egyptian border killed at least 13 people, including two children. The Palestinian telecommunications company Jawwal said two of its employees were killed by shelling Saturday as they tried to repair the network in Khan Younis. Jawwal said it has lost 13 employees since the start of the war. Israel has argued that Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. Since late October, 187 Israeli soldiers have been killed and another 1,099 injured in Gaza, according to the military. More than 85% of Gaza's population of 2.3 million has been displaced as a result of Israel's air and ground offensive, and vast swaths of the territory have been leveled. Only 15 of the territory's 36 hospitals are still partially functional, according to OCHA, the United Nations' humanitarian affairs agency. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war Former President Donald Trump maintained his wide lead among likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers, while former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley pulled ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis just days before Mondays high-stakes Iowa GOP caucuses that could help determine whether either candidate has a viable shot at upending Trumps path to the nomination. The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll released Saturday night shows Trump holding a nearly 30-point lead among likely Iowa GOP caucusgoers, while Haley moved ahead of DeSantis in a tight race for second. The top line results from the poll: Trump at 48 percent, Haley at 20 percent, DeSantis at 16 percent and Ramaswamy at 8 percent. Haleys upward momentum comes despite a decline in her overall popularity with Iowa voters. Haleys favorability ratings fell in the latest poll to 48 percent, from 59 percent. And 46 percent viewed her unfavorably, up from 31 percent. DeSantis also saw his favorable ratings decline, though 58 percent still view him positively. The poll also found Haleys supporters were much less enthusiastic about caucusing for her. A 61 percent majority of Haley backers said they are mildly enthusiastic or not that enthusiastic about turning out to caucus for her on what is forecast to be a bitterly cold caucus night with a low of around minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit and wind chill values as low as minus 35 degrees. By contrast, 88 percent of Trumps supporters said they are extremely enthusiastic or very enthusiastic about caucusing for him, while 62 percent of DeSantis supporters said the same. Overall, 55 percent of poll respondents said they will definitely, rather than probably, attend the caucuses on Monday. Among DeSantis supporters, 62 percent said they will definitely attend, compared to 56 percent for Trump supporters and 51 percent for Haley supporters. Overall, Trump leads with independents who plan to caucus with Republicans, but independents and Democrats make up half of Haleys backers going into the caucus, according to the poll. Trump jabs at Haley Former President Donald Trump sat down with Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird for a livestream event Saturday from Des Moines. Bird endorsed Trump in the fall. She asked him about primary rival Nikki Haley, who served in his administration as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Bird noted Trump has been critical of Haleys rhetoric on immigration, highlighting her opposition to a travel ban Trump imposed on several Muslim-majority countries while president which hes vowed to reinstate if elected in 2024 pointing to Haleys comments in 2015 that Americans shouldnt describe illegal immigrants as criminals, and falsely claiming Haley opposed the construction of a border wall. Bird asked Trump: Given the thousands of unvetted illegals that are coming across our Southern border every day, why are Nikki Haleys comments dangerous and naive? Trump responded by calling Haley a globalist who is not aligned with his nationalistic America First agenda. He also mentioned former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who suspended his presidential campaign last week, caught on a hot mic saying GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley will get smoked in the primary race. I dont think Nikkis strong enough to be president. I know her very well, Trump said. Haley has sharpened her criticisms of Trump in recent weeks saying his countless legal problems are major distractions, and that the country doesnt need more chaos in government. We cant have a country in disarray and a world on fire and go through four more years of chaos. We wont survive it, Haley often says on the campaign trail. Bird, Iowas chief legal officer, accused Biden of weaponizing the justice system and committing election interference. Trump has been indicted by federal grand juries composed of average citizens following investigations that included witness testimony and a trove of evidence over his alleged mishandling of classified documents. The former president faces a total of 91 felony counts across multiple criminal cases that include conspiracy to defraud the United States and witness tampering over efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Bird also said she didnt think weather would stop Trump supporters from showing up on caucus night. Were used to it being cold, dark, and snowy in January, but we also remember what it was like when you were president and people are on fire, she said. They are going to make it happen on caucus night. Ramaswamy responds to Trump brushback Trump brushed back at Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on social media, stemming from Ramaswamy's recent insistence that support for Trump would be wasted because "the system" is lined up against him. The former president took to social media, posting on Truth Social: "Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side don't get duped by this. Vote for TRUMP, don't waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The post stemmed from shirts that Ramaswamy's campaign handed out that say Save Trump, Vote Vivek. Ramaswamy reposted a photo with a group of young men wearing them after a recent campaign event in Iowa, which caught Trumps attention. On social media and at a the campaign event Thursday in Cedar Rapids, Ramaswamy urged voters to support him as the candidate who will save Trump from these made-up, trumped-up prosecutions. Ramaswamy responded to Trumps post in a statement. Its an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I dont think friendly fire is helpful, Ramaswamy said. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and Im not going to criticize him in response to this late attack. Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird on Friday filed notice of appeal of a federal district courts decision to halt implementation of a law signed last year that bans books with descriptions or visual depictions of a list of sex acts from school libraries. When we send our kids to school, we trust that their innocence will be protected, Bird said in a statement. Iowas law is clear; sexually explicit books and materials have no place in our elementary school classrooms or libraries. As a mom, I share parents concerns and remain committed to keeping our schools a safe place for kids to learn and grow. With this appeal, we will continue the fight to protect Iowa families and to uphold Iowas law in court. The law was challenged by the ACLU of Iowa, the publishing company Penguin Random House Publishing, 16 LGBTQ students in Iowa, the LGBTQ advocacy organization Iowa Safe Schools and the Iowa State Education Association teachers union on the grounds that it violates their First Amendment rights to free speech. The lawsuit argues books being removed from schools under the age-appropriate standard are not pornography and fail to meet the definition of obscenity as determined by the U.S. Supreme Court. The suit argues the law prohibits books with even a brief description of a sex act for students of all ages without any evaluation of the book as a whole or its literary, artistic, political or scientific value. In his order blocking the law until litigation is settled, U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Locher called the law wildly overbroad." The sweeping restrictions in Senate File 496 are unlikely to satisfy the First Amendment under any standard of scrutiny and thus may not be enforced while the case is pending, Locher wrote in the ruling. The judge noted the law has resulted in removal of hundreds of books, including, among others, non-fiction history books, classic works of fiction, Pulitzer Prize winning contemporary novels and even books designed to help students avoid being victimized by sexual assault. The law also that prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade. Locher wrote the law defines those terms in generic terms, meaning it would apply to the teaching of all gender identity and sexual orientation, not just when it pertains to LGBTQ individuals. The statute is therefore content-neutral but so wildly overbroad that every school district and elementary school teacher in the State has likely been violating it since the day the school year started, he wrote. PAT GRASSLEY RESPONSE Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, said this week House Republicans may pass additional legislation to clarify or expand on the new law. I can't wrap my head around how this issue of sexually explicit material and schools got so convoluted, Grassely said Monday during his opening day speech laying out House Republicans priorities for the 2024 legislative session. I'm still shocked that we actually have people willing to fight this hard to keep pornographic material in our schools, Grassley said. What is the educational value of oral sex scenes in school library books? I'm completely confused and disturbed by this being the case. Last session, we passed a simple solution to protect Iowa's students from inappropriate material. It should have been an easy policy for schools to implement, but instead, some chose to politicize this issue. And if we need to pass additional legislation this session, we will. ADMINISTRATIVE RULES Opponents of the law also say the proposed administrative rules do not go far enough in clarifying the intent of the legislation and would lead to far too many books being removed from school library shelves. The rules clarify that a reference or mention of a sex act in a way that does not describe or visually depict the act is not prohibited from school libraries. The rules also apply only to a library that a school has direct control over, and schools with libraries that serve multiple grades must ensure that students have access only to material appropriate for their grades. On the portion of the law prohibiting instruction on gender and sexual orientation, the department stipulated that a neutral statement regarding sexual orientation or gender identity does not violate the rules. The rules state a school board would receive a written warning on the first violation, and on the second violation, the superintendent and employees of the school could receive disciplinary action. Erin Murphy and Caleb McCullough of The Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau contributed to this report. Just like everyone else, we all have our share of embarrassing email stories. Perhaps youre wondering how to recall an email in Outlook after having sent a message to the wrong person, forgetting to enclose an attachment, sending an offensive email in the heat of the moment, or making a silly typo. These are just a few examples of email blunders that many of us would like to correct as soon as we realize them, and the ability to recall an email provides a way to do just that. In this article, we will learn more about how to effectively use this feature and more. A Quick Guide to Recall an Email in Outlook Open Outlook > go to Sent Items > click Message > Actions > Recall This Message . > click > > . To confirm a recalled message, check the Tell me if recall succeeds or fails for each recipient check box. check box. Youll need an Exchange server email and both you and the recipient will need to be using Outlook for this process to work. How to Recall an Outlook Email The following is a step-by-step process to recall an email: Step 1 Pick the Email in Outlook to Recall the Message Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the Sent items to pick an email you want to recall. Step 2 Recall Message In the ribbon area, you will see the Actions tab having an option- Recall This Message. If you have a simplified ribbon, you may not see the Actions tab there. That being the case, open a sent message you want to recall and click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon. You will find the Actions tab in the drop-down menu. When you select the Actions tab, an option to Recall This Message tab appears on the right side. Step 3 Delete Unread Copies and Optionally Create a New Message When you click on the Recall This Message option, a new Outlook window pops up. You have two options to recall your message: Delete unread copies of this message Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message Pick the option you want. In case you want to know if the recall succeeds or fails, check the box for recall succeeds or fails. Click on the Ok button to recall the message. Step 4 Confirm Recalled Messages You will get a confirmation on the screen to inform you that you have recalled a message. If the message is successfully recalled, you will get a notification. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: Steps How to Recall an Email in Outlook Step 1 Open your Microsoft Outlook and go to the "Sent Items" folder to select the email you want to recall. Step 2 In the ribbon area, find the "Actions" tab and select "Recall This Message". If you have a simplified ribbon, open the sent message you want to recall, click on the three dots at the top right side of the ribbon, and find the "Actions" tab in the drop-down menu. Step 3 Once you click "Recall This Message", a new Outlook window will appear with two options: "Delete unread copies of this message" or "Delete unread copies and replace them with a new message". Choose your preferred option. If you want to know whether the recall succeeds or fails, check the respective box. Click "OK" to recall the message. Step 4 After recalling the message, you will receive a confirmation notification. If the recall is successful, you will receive a success notification. Recalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Outlook on the web doesnt have a recall option for sent items. But you can undo send within 10 seconds. Here is how to do it: Step 1 View All Outlook Settings Click on the cog icon in Outlook on the web and go to the View All Outlook Settings menu. Step 2 Set Undo Send Cancellation Period Go to the Compose and Reply section and scroll the drop-down list to find the Undo send tab. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Presently, you cannot have a cancellation period of more than 10 seconds. Step 3 Undo Send Button Write an email in Outlook on the web and send it. On the bottom of the email pane, you will see the Sending pop-up window with an Undo option. Click on the Undo button to stop sending the message. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: Steps Recalling a Message in Outlook on the Web Step 1 Click on the cog icon in the upper right corner of the Outlook on the web interface and select "View All Outlook Settings". Step 2 Navigate to the "Compose and Reply" section. Scroll down until you find the "Undo send" option. Set the cancellation period to 10 seconds. Note that currently, the maximum cancellation period is 10 seconds. Step 3 Compose an email and hit "Send". A "Sending" pop-up window with an "Undo" option will appear at the bottom of the email pane. Click on the "Undo" button within the cancellation period (10 seconds) to stop the message from being sent. Alternatives to Recalling a Sent Outlook Email If you are not able to use the recall feature in Outlook, the following are a few alternatives to recalling a sent Outlook message: Send an Honest Apology Email To make a mistake is only human. If you realize your mistake soon enough, the best option is to send an honest apology email. Be sure to explain in detail why you are apologizing and how you will make sure it doesnt happen in the future. You could also offer to help resolve any issues or problems that may have been caused by your mistake. Request a Follow-Up Conversation If you think it might be better to address the situation in person or on the phone, you can ask for a follow-up conversation. This will give you the chance to explain the situation and apologize in person or on the phone. Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Multiple factors determine the fate of a recall request. So many a time, email recall fails. A safe alternative is to delay sending your Outlook emails. This will give you enough time to review your email message later to check if everything is right. Here is how to defer the delivery of your emails in Outlook: Step 1 Manage Rules & Alerts Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover on Rules. Click on the Manage Rules & Alerts tab. Step 2 Applying New Rules Click on the New Rule tab in the Rules and Alerts pop-up. A new Rules Wizard window will open. Select the Apply rule on the messages I send tab and click on the Next button. Step 3 Confirm Application of Rules Now, the Rules wizard will ask which condition(s) do you want to check? Dont check anything and click on the next. A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on Yes. Step 4 Defer Delivery A new Rules wizard window will open, asking you what you want to do with the message. Check to defer delivery box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your sending emails. Step 5 Name and Turn the Rule On Click on the Next button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the Next button. In the new Rules Wizard window, you can give a name to this rule. Click on the Finish button. And apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by 5 minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, and you can make any change to the email and send it again. Here is a summary table without the screenshots: Steps How to Delay Sending Your Outlook Emails Step 1 Click on the three dots at the right corner of your ribbon, then hover over "Rules". Click on the "Manage Rules & Alerts" tab. Step 2 Click on the "New Rule" tab in the "Rules and Alerts" pop-up. A new "Rules Wizard" window will open. Select the "Apply rule on the messages I send" tab and click on the "Next" button. Step 3 The "Rules Wizard" will ask "Which condition(s) do you want to check?" Don't check anything and click on "Next". A confirmation screen will pop up, stating that this rule will be applied to every message you send. Click on "Yes". Step 4 A new "Rules Wizard" window will open, asking "What do you want to do with the message?" Check the "Defer delivery" box and edit the rule description to select the minutes you want to delay your emails. Step 5 Click on the "Next" button, and a new window will open to let you create an exception to this rule. Uncheck every box and click on the "Next" button. In the new "Rules Wizard" window, give a name to this rule and click on the "Finish" button. Apply the rule. Now, if you send an email, Outlook will delay delivery by the specified minutes. The email will stay in the Outbox for this period, during which you can make any changes to the email and send it again. How to Recall an Outlook Email by Adding a Delay A delay can be added to emails you dont want to send out immediately for whatever reason. If you need to recall an email with an added delay, then follow these steps. Step 1 Open Outlook After opening Outlook, click File at the top-left corner. Step 2 Manage Rules & Alerts After clicking on the three dots at the top right corner, hover over Rules and click on Manage Rules & Alerts. Step 3 Select New Rule Youll see a window popup that will allow you to set different rules. Select New Rule. Step 4 Apply Rule A new window will pop up over the old one with many options to choose from. Click on Apply rule on messages I send then on Next. Step 5 Set Desired Delay At this point, youll see various conditions you can choose from, but leave them as-is and click on Next. Then click Yes on the confirmation screen. Click the checkbox next to defer delivery by a number of minutes to activate it. Click the link within the sentence and set your desired delay. Step 6 Add Exceptions if Needed During this step, youll be able to add exceptions. If any of them will benefit you in any way, select them. Otherwise, click Next. Step 7 Name Your Rule During this last step, you can name your rule. After naming it, click Finish and your new rule will be saved and activated. How to Find Out if Your Email Recall Has Been Successful When an email has been successfully recalled in Outlook, you are able to easily tell because itll have a recall success note at the beginning of the emails subject line. What Does it Mean When You Recall an Email? When you recall an email, it means that you are taking proactive steps to ensure the message does not reach recipients. Recalling an email gives you the chance to prevent an important or confidential message from getting into the wrong hands, or simply undoing a mistake before its too late. This process varies based on the email service provider. So how to recall an email in outlook may be different than how to recall an email in Gmail. Heres a quick word by Kevin Stratver on How to Recall Mail in Outlook | Undo Send Any Email if youd like to learn by video. Its a nice companion piece to this article. Requirements for Recalling a Sent Email in Outlook You and your recipient should have a Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email account in the same organization in order to recall a sent email in Outlook. So you cannot recall a message sent to Gmail, Yahoo, or any other email clients. Outlook on the Web doesnt have the feature to recall an email. Messages that are protected by Azure Information Protection cannot be recalled. You should also make a note that you cannot recall messages that have been opened by your recipients. Email Protocols and Recall Limitations Email recall is a valuable feature, but its effectiveness largely depends on the underlying email protocols. The Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP), the standard protocol for sending emails, doesnt inherently support recalling an email once it has left the senders outbox. This is why recalling an email is typically only successful within the same email system, such as Microsoft Exchange used by Outlook. SMTP was designed for forwarding messages, not retrieving them. Once an email is sent, it moves through various servers before reaching the recipient. This journey makes it impossible to pull back the email through SMTP once its on its way. Therefore, the recall function in Outlook works effectively only if both the sender and the recipient are within the same Exchange environment, where the server can intercept and retract the email before it is read. Variations Between Different Versions of Outlook Overall, most of the services offered by Microsoft are not very different and offer similar options. While this guide was made for the latest version of Outlook, you can follow along and may still find the recall option as long as you use the guide as a general outline. If you cant find this option in your version of Outlook, it may not be supported. Why Does My Email Recall Not Work? Here are a few possible reasons why your email recall doesnt work: You and the recipient doesnt have Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Exchange email account in the same organization Your recipient has opened the message already The message is redirected to another folder by the recipient or due to any Outlook rule Is recalling an email in different versions of Outlook the same? Yes, recalling an email in different versions of Outlook is the same. However, for Outlook 2007, some options have slightly different names. If you choose to recall an email in Outlook 2007, you will be given the option to delete unread copies instead of recall this message. Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2013 both give you the option to recall this message. Does the Recipient Know if You Recall an Email in Microsoft Outlook? Yes, the recipient will know if you recall an email in Outlook. How long does it take to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook? It can take a few seconds to several minutes to see if a recall succeeds on Outlook. The amount of time it takes to process a recall request depends on the size of the email and how many recipients are included. If youre sending a large message, it can take longer to recall. Additionally, if there are a lot of recipients, Outlook may need to process the recall request for each one, which can also increase the amount of time it takes to see if a recall was successful or not. Is there a deadline for recalling emails in Outlook? No, there is no deadline for recalling emails in Outlook. For a recall attempt to succeed in Outlook, the recipient must not open the email. Unfortunately, this means that there is no guarantee that a recipient wont open the email before the recall attempt is made. However, its still worth trying to recall an email if you made a mistake or need to update the content. The Psychology Behind Email Mistakes and How to Prevent Them Sending an email prematurely is a common mishap that many of us have experienced. Often, this is due to the fast-paced nature of our work environments, where quick responses are valued. However, rushing can lead to errors or sending emails to unintended recipients. To mitigate this, its essential to adopt a more mindful approach to emailing. One effective method is to compose emails in a draft format first, giving yourself time to review and reflect before sending. Proofreading is not just about checking for grammatical errors but also evaluating the tone and content for appropriateness. Additionally, using tools like Outlooks delayed send feature can be a safety net, providing a buffer period to cancel or modify emails. Creating a mental checklist or a set of personal rules for email communication can also be beneficial. For example, you might decide not to send emails when feeling emotional or to wait a few minutes after writing an email before reviewing and sending it. These small habits can significantly reduce the likelihood of email mistakes. Alternatives to Email Recall in Professional Settings When an email recall is not possible or fails, there are other ways to professionally handle the situation. One direct approach is to send a follow-up email. This email should acknowledge the mistake, offer the correct information if necessary, and apologize for any confusion caused. Its essential to be clear and concise in your follow-up to avoid further misunderstanding. In scenarios where sensitive information was sent to the wrong recipient, its crucial to also inform your IT department or security team. They can guide you on the next steps and, if necessary, involve legal or compliance teams. Another preventative strategy is to utilize email encryption, especially for sensitive or confidential information. Encrypted emails add a layer of security, ensuring that only intended recipients can read the content, even if it lands in the wrong inbox. Lastly, fostering a culture that understands and accepts that email errors can occur is vital. Encouraging double-checking recipient lists and subject lines before sending emails can create a more mindful emailing environment. Conclusion Outlook is an incredibly powerful email tool, but it can be even more useful when you research Outlook productivity tips and know how to use its features to your advantage. With the ability to recall emails, you can ensure that you never send a message that youll regret. And while Outlook doesnt automatically process requests to recall messages, by following the simple steps in this guide, youll be able to manually start using this handy feature right away. And while Outlooks recall feature isnt perfect, it can still be a lifesaver especially when you cant unsend an email. To avoid even having to use the recall feature, practice good email etiquette and review messages before you hit Send so that you can avoid embarrassing or costly mistakes. How Do I Recall a Message in Outlook Without a Tab? Recalling a message in Outlook without a tab is very simple. All you need to do is click on File and then click on Account Settings. Next, navigate to Email and look for Type options. After making sure it says Microsoft Exchange/Office 365 account, youll see the recall option as long as all features are enabled. How Do I See Recalls in Outlook? To check the status of a recall, simply open the Sent folder, click on the specific email you recalled, and then click on the Tracking button in the bar. Repeat this process for each email you want to check the recall message status on. How Do I Recall an Email in Outlook After 1 Hour? You can recall a message in Outlook, as long as the sent email hasnt been opened by the recipient yet. In this case, all you have to do is go to Message, then Actions, and click Recall This Message. When the popup menu appears, select your desired option to send your recall message request. Can You Recall an Email Already Sent? Yes, you can. To do so, simply open Outlook and go into Sent Items. Youll then click the email youd like to recall, select Actions, then click Recall This Message. However, as mentioned above, if the recipient has already opened the email you sent them, then you wont be able to recall it. How to Make a Mailing List in Outlook? Here is how to make a mailing list in Outlook. Go to Home then select New Items > More Items > Contact Group. Next, within Contact Group select Add Members > From Outlook Contacts. Then select a contact from your list and add them to the group by selecting Members. You can add additional members as needed. Remember that when emailing a mailing list, email etiquette is important. Check out these email greeting examples to help craft the perfect message. The car detailing business is a great fit for many entrepreneurs. Thats because you can start up at a level of investment that you can afford, and grow. The car detailing business operations are changing in two main ways: Increasingly, the customer base is seeking a greener option. Many people are no longer comfortable with the amount of water needed to wash a typical vehicle, which is about 38 gallons. They want a waterless wash. The mobile car detailing business is increasing, with a growing demand for detailing services at a customers home or place of employment, instead of a physical location. How to Start a Car Detailing Business Youll need a car detailing business plan that includes how youll start, how youll cover startup costs, and whether youll run a mobile business or business with a physical location or a mix of both. 1. Get Training and Experience There are training institutions that you can attend to get a car detailing license and/or auto detailing certification. You can find these centers via the international detailing association. Or, you can opt for on-the-job training. If you choose to buy a car wash franchise, training will be provided. 2. Do Your Research Do market research. Will your potential customers prefer mobile detailing businesses? If you opt for brick-and-mortar, is your location convenient for people who will drop off their own car? In other words, who is your target market? 3. Create a Business Plan Every new business should have a business plan. Dont let this project daunt you. Youll need a mission statement, which describes the goals of your company. An executive summary will describe your business model, which is how youll operate. Another part of your plan is a description of your business finances how you plan to fund your start and how you plan to grow. Do you have or do you plan to add business partners? Youll need a business plan as part of your submission package if you seek financing, along with documents regarding your business bank accounts. 4. Fund Your Business Dont overextend, remember you can start with very little investment capital instead of getting a start with a business loan. Many entrepreneurs start a car detailing venture by working part-time, after their regular jobs, with a garage-based business. If your personal finances are top notch you may be able to obtain a small business funding loan. You can also establish credit accounts with vendors who supply cleaning products. 5. Gather Your Tools There is basic equipment youll need as part of your start-up costs, whether youre washing with water or waterless, at a fixed location or mobile detailing setup. Supplying, and resupplying, should be part of your thorough business plan as an ongoing expense. However, auto detailing is among the top low tech business ideas, so you shouldnt need many expenses devices. If youre using water, youll need a pressure washer. If not, youll need a waterless wash product. Youll need a buffer, microfiber towels, buckets, sponges and assorted products such as leather cleaner. Youll need detailing brushes of various sizes, metal polish and tire cleaner. 6. Keep It Legal Most small businesses need to obtain business insurance and a local business operating license. To get your business licensed legally, you may have to do so at both the state and local government authority levels. If youre not confident about doing this, hire a business attorney. Choose your business structure, which will most likely be a limited liability company or LLC to protect your personal assets from your business entity. Since youll be paying the federal business tax youll need a federal business tax id. Youll also need to collect sales tax. As with many new business ventures, you should consult a tax professional to make sure you dont make mistakes with your taxes. Youll need general liability business insurance and commercial vehicle insurance if youre operating a mobile business. 7. Open a Business Bank Account When you open your business bank account you should also get a business credit card, which you can link to the account. Its just a good idea to keep your business accounts separate from your personal accounts, even if youre working part-time. 8. Manage Your Finances Most new business ventures need the services of a professional accountant, especially at start up. 9. Hire a Team Most businesses in auto detailing start with a sole proprietor, and hire employees as needed to support growth in new customers. When you hire youll need to add workers compensation insurance. 10. Market Your Services Youll need a website and a social media presence. Part of your thought-out marketing strategy should include reaching out to current and past customers, possibly adding special enticement to keep or restore their business. You can offer senior discounts. Try for contracts, such as car rental companies or car dealers. 11. Expand Your Skills and Offerings To set your car detailing business apart, consider expanding your skills and the range of services you offer. This can include specialized detailing techniques, protective coatings, or custom services tailored to unique vehicle types. Continuous learning and adaptation to new detailing trends and technologies will keep your business competitive and appealing to a broad client base. 12. Develop a Strong Brand Identity Creating a strong brand identity is crucial for your car detailing business. This involves designing a memorable logo, choosing an appealing color scheme, and developing a consistent message that resonates with your target audience. A strong brand helps to build trust, recognition, and a loyal customer base, differentiating your business in a crowded market. 13. Invest in Quality Detailing Equipment Investing in high-quality detailing equipment and products is essential for delivering superior service. The right tools not only enhance the efficiency of your work but also ensure top-notch results that satisfy your clients. High-quality equipment also reduces the likelihood of damage to vehicles, thereby maintaining your reputation and minimizing liability. 14. Establish an Online Presence In todays digital world, having a robust online presence is vital for reaching potential customers. Develop a user-friendly website showcasing your services, pricing, and before-and-after photos of your work. Leverage social media platforms to engage with your audience, share tips, and post regular updates about your business. Utilize search engine optimization (SEO) to improve your visibility in online searches. 15. Focus on Customer Experience and Satisfaction Exceptional customer service is the cornerstone of a successful car detailing business. Focus on creating a positive experience from the first point of contact to the final delivery of the detailed vehicle. Implement a feedback system to gather customer insights and continuously improve your services. Satisfied customers are likely to return and refer others, driving the growth of your business. 16. Network with Local Businesses and Communities Building relationships with local businesses and communities can open doors to new opportunities and referrals. Network with auto dealerships, rental agencies, and local car clubs to introduce your services. Participating in community events and collaborating with other local businesses can enhance your visibility and credibility in the market. 17. Implement Effective Pricing Strategies Setting competitive and profitable pricing is key to the success of your car detailing business. Analyze the market to understand the prevailing rates and structure your pricing based on the quality and range of services you offer. Consider offering packages, seasonal discounts, or loyalty programs to attract and retain customers. 18. Stay Compliant with Regulations and Environmental Standards Compliance with local regulations and environmental standards is essential for operating your car detailing business legally and responsibly. Stay informed about the local laws related to waste disposal, water usage, and chemical handling. Implement eco-friendly practices and use biodegradable products to minimize your environmental impact and appeal to environmentally conscious customers. 19. Continuously Monitor and Improve Business Operations Regularly evaluating and improving your business operations is crucial for efficiency and growth. Analyze your workflow, identify bottlenecks, and implement solutions to streamline your processes. Stay updated with industry trends, adopt new technologies, and adjust your business strategies to remain competitive and meet evolving customer needs. 20. Create a Memorable Grand Opening Event Launch your car detailing business with a grand opening event to generate buzz and attract initial customers. Plan an event that showcases your services, offers special promotions, and provides an opportunity for potential clients to experience your work. Use this event to establish connections, gather feedback, and set the tone for your businesss future. More Tips for Starting a Successful Auto Detailing Business Launching a successful business takes a continual hustle to grow. Read these 10 tips for starting and growing a business, then check out a few tips specific to auto detailers below: Join your local Chamber of Commerce, where you can network with other business owners. Strive to create partnerships, which is a foundation for a modern business. For example, local vehicle repair shops can give customers your business card. Further your education by learning how to protect vehicle finishes with specialized services such as graphene or ceramic coating. Offer more than vehicle detailing add boats, motorcycles, and RVs. What is car detailing? Car detailing businesses do much more than wash and wax. A car detailing company will also vacuum the interior, as well as clean and polish surfaces such as the dashboard, vents, instrument, and trim. The work typically also includes window cleaning, inside and outside, as well as cleaning floor mats and tires. The Auto Detailing Industry in 2023 The successful car detailing business will adapt to its customer base. In 2022, small business owners fed a $14.7 billion industry. In the US, there are about 62,000 auto detailing companies and industry leaders estimate a 4% growth. A successful business will adapt to the increasing demand for mobile detailing performed at home or place of employment washing. Auto detailing can be among the top garage based business ideas, or you could even travel to your clients directly. Also, as people feel the pinch of challenging economic times, discretionary spending decreases. Having a vehicle detailed is classified as discretionary spending. Why You Should Start a Car Detailing Business Starting a car detailing business can be a rewarding and successful venture for individuals who possess certain qualities and interests. Here are some reasons why you should consider starting a car detailing business: Excellent Customer Service: Car detailing requires strong customer service skills to effectively communicate with clients, understand their needs, and provide a personalized experience. If you excel at customer service and enjoy building relationships with customers, a car detailing business may be a good fit for you. Sales and Upselling Abilities: Successful car detailing businesses often rely on upselling additional services or products to increase revenue. If you have a knack for selling and enjoy the art of persuasion, you can capitalize on upselling opportunities to maximize profitability. Passion for Vehicles: A genuine love for vehicles is crucial in the car detailing industry. If you have a passion for cars and take pride in their appearance, you can leverage your knowledge and enthusiasm to deliver exceptional results to customers. Limited Local Competition: In some areas, the car detailing market may have little to no competition from other local businesses. This provides an opportunity for you to establish yourself as a reputable and sought-after car detailing service, capturing a larger market share and generating more business. Before and After Transformation: Seeing the dramatic transformation of a vehicles appearance from before to after the detailing process can be incredibly satisfying. If you take pride in your work and find joy in the visible results of your efforts, a car detailing business can provide a sense of accomplishment. Physical Labor Endurance: Car detailing can be physically demanding, requiring stamina and the ability to handle repetitive tasks. If you are physically fit and comfortable performing manual labor, you can meet the physical demands of the job and deliver quality detailing services. By considering these factors, including your aptitude for customer service, sales skills, passion for vehicles, the competitive landscape, pride in transformations, and physical labor endurance, you can determine if starting a car detailing business aligns with your interests and strengths. Reason Description Excellent Customer Service Car detailing requires strong customer service skills to effectively communicate with clients, understand their needs, and provide a personalized experience. Sales and Upselling Abilities Successful car detailing businesses often rely on upselling additional services or products to increase revenue. Passion for Vehicles A genuine love for vehicles is crucial in the car detailing industry. Limited Local Competition In some areas, the car detailing market may have little to no competition from other local businesses. Before and After Transformation Seeing the dramatic transformation of a vehicle's appearance from before to after the detailing process can be incredibly satisfying. Physical Labor Endurance Car detailing can be physically demanding, requiring stamina and the ability to handle repetitive tasks. What materials do you need to start a car detailing business? Starting a car detailing business requires various materials and tools to provide high-quality services. Here are some essential items youll need to get started: Soap or Foam Wash: Choose a high-quality car wash soap or foam to effectively clean the vehicles exterior without causing any damage to the paint. Choose a high-quality car wash soap or foam to effectively clean the vehicles exterior without causing any damage to the paint. Wax: Apply wax to protect the vehicles paint and give it a glossy finish. Look for a durable and long-lasting wax product. Apply wax to protect the vehicles paint and give it a glossy finish. Look for a durable and long-lasting wax product. Microfiber Towels: Invest in a set of microfiber towels for drying and buffing the vehicle. These towels are soft, absorbent, and wont leave scratches or streaks. Invest in a set of microfiber towels for drying and buffing the vehicle. These towels are soft, absorbent, and wont leave scratches or streaks. Car Buffer Tools: A car buffer or polishing machine can help achieve a professional finish. Look for a reliable and easy-to-use buffer tool. A car buffer or polishing machine can help achieve a professional finish. Look for a reliable and easy-to-use buffer tool. Detailing Brushes: Different detailing brushes with soft bristles are essential for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as vents, crevices, and interior components. Different detailing brushes with soft bristles are essential for cleaning hard-to-reach areas, such as vents, crevices, and interior components. Metal Polish: Use metal polish to restore and shine metal surfaces, such as chrome accents, exhaust tips, and rims. Use metal polish to restore and shine metal surfaces, such as chrome accents, exhaust tips, and rims. Tire Cleaner: Choose a tire cleaner to effectively clean and restore the appearance of tires. Look for a product that removes dirt, grime, and brake dust. By having these essential materials and tools, youll be equipped to provide thorough and efficient car detailing services to your customers. Dont forget to prioritize quality and invest in reliable products that will help you achieve excellent results. How much does it cost to start a mobile detailing business? The needed materials dont change much whether youre at a set location or operating mobile. At a basic level, it will cost at least $10,000 to stock the materials. Before you work with someones vehicle, you need a minimum business liability insurance and your business should be registered. If youre going to make money with your car such as traveling to mobile appointments or picking up and delivering a customers vehicle youll need commercial vehicle insurance. You should be able to find an umbrella policy, called a Business Owners Policy or BOP, to cover your needed insurance. Is starting a car detailing business difficult? As small business ideas go, this is a winner. Although competition can be strong, startup costs can be low at the entry-level. The hardest part of starting a car detailing business may be the decision on whether to operate from a permanent location or go mobile. You can opt for a mix by picking up and delivering customer vehicles to your permanent location. Is a car detailing business profitable? Having a vehicle detailed is viewed as discretionary spending. In other words, when economic times are challenging, your customers may opt to stop paying to have their vehicles professionally cleaned. Still, your material cost is low and the profit market is good. The cost for a minimal cleaning, such as washing and waxing, doing windows, vacuum the interior, ranges from about $65 for small vehicles and up to $160 for larger vehicles. According to industry leaders, more than 2/3s of customers are concerned about sustainability. Help your vehicle detailing business to be the top choice by opting for green solutions. Someone starting the car detailing business on a part-time basis can expect to earn about $100 per vehicle. Full-scale sole proprietor car detailing business owners can expect to earn from $30,000 to $60,000 as a start up. Of course, that depends on whether or not a mobile vehicle or permanent location is already owned, or must be leased. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Hair salons brought in more than $46 billion in revenue in 2018. And the market is still growing, making it a perfect opportunity for beauty-focused entrepreneurs. In fact, the industry as a whole is mainly made up of smaller businesses, rather than huge, nationwide competitors. How to Start a Hair Salon If youre interested in starting your own hair salon from the ground up, here are some of the essential steps youll need to consider. Gain Industry Experience Before breaking into the world of entrepreneurship, it helps to have some level of experience in the industry. You can potentially get started just after attending a well regarded cosmetology school. But it can be beneficial to get your feet wet by working at another salon first. This can help you see how the business side works on a daily basis. It may also give you valuable industry connections or even a business mentor. If you dont have a business mentor before jumping into the business world, you might consider hiring a consultant or connecting with industry groups to give you some of those helpful insights and resources. Create a Business Plan Before starting any type of business, you need to have a plan in place for how youre going to earn money, what type of customers youre trying to attract, how youll manage your finances, and day-to-day operations. There are plenty of resources available to help you make these important decisions that will shape your business. For example the Professional Beauty Association offers their members access to business blueprints that can be customized. PBA Brand Manager Erin Walter said in an email interview with Small Business Trends, Each business will vary depending on their format, size, and goals. Its important to choose the right plans for your individual business needs. Evaluate and Choose Salon Service After you have a solid business plan, its time to evaluate and choose the specific services your salon will offer. This is a crucial step that defines what your salon is all about. Consider offering a range of services such as haircuts, coloring, styling, and perhaps additional beauty treatments like nail services or facials, depending on your expertise and market demand. Your service menu should align with the preferences and expectations of your target customer base. Also, consider the logistics and feasibility of these services based on your location, space, and resources available. A well-thought-out service menu can set the tone for your salon and help it stand out in the competitive market. Set Your Budget When you have an idea of what type of salon you want to start, youll need to get set with your finances. Hair salon expenses can vary widely depending on your size and location. For example, a home based salon may only cost a few thousand dollars, but a large salon in a desirable location may cost hundreds of thousands. If you want to open a salon with no money, youll need to obtain some financing to at least cover your supplies. Determine Your Target Customers Many of your business decisions will depend on what type of customers you plan on serving. Its not enough to say that you want a general hair salon. Research the market in your area and consider offering services to an underserved group. For example, your area may have plenty of options for trendy or upscale customers, but not as many affordable options for those who just want basic hair services at a convenient location. So you could potentially thrive by starting a salon that caters to busy moms or working professionals. Find a Location If you want to start small, you may start by providing hair services out of your home. However, this type of business isnt very scalable and comes with some risks. For those opening an official salon with a dedicated space, find a storefront that is centrally located and easy for your target customers to access. If youre targeting an affluent clientele, then your location should be in a downtown area or upscale shopping district. If you plan on working with young customers, find a trendy or up-and-coming neighborhood. Obtain Local Permits Depending on where you choose to set up shop, youll need to obtain a business permit, building permit and various other legal documents. Check with your local government or consult with a business attorney in your area if youre unsure about the exact requirements. Stock Your Inventory You need more than just a location to run your salon business. At the very least, youll need chairs, hair tools, washing stations, and styling products. However, many salons also stock some inventory that customers can purchase to recreate their looks at home. Connect with brands that you love and that will appeal to your target customers to offer their products at your location. Invest in Technology and Salon Software In todays digital age, investing in technology and salon-specific software is essential for efficient management. After stocking up your inventory, look into salon management software systems that can handle appointment scheduling, customer relationship management, inventory tracking, and even sales reporting. This technology not only streamlines your operations but also enhances the customer experience through seamless bookings and personalized service. Additionally, consider leveraging social media and a user-friendly website for online presence and marketing. Embracing technology will not only simplify day-to-day operations but also position your salon as a modern, customer-centric business. Hire a Team Many salons have more than one stylist on hand to serve a variety of customers. This isnt a requirement, but its often helpful to improve profitability, especially if you have a dedicated retail space. Keep your target customers in mind through the hiring practices. Your stylists should not only have the talent to offer your desired hair services, but they should also be personable and friendly so they can converse with your clientele throughout the experience. Develop Your Marketing Plan You should start marketing your new salon before even opening, so you can build some buzz for your initial launch. Start taking appointments on your website shortly beforehand, unless you intend to work mainly with walk-ins. Marketing templates for hair salons to get you started are helpful too. You could also invest in some local online ads or alert your local media outlets about your new business. A launch event or some type of special promotion could help you make the opening more newsworthy. However, you should also create an ongoing marketing strategy for once your salon is already up and running. Establish a Strong Brand Identity Once youve developed your initial marketing plan, the next step is to establish a strong brand identity. This encompasses everything from your salons name and logo to the interior design and the tone of your communications. Your brand should reflect the unique personality of your salon and resonate with your target audience. Its not just about aesthetics; its about creating a memorable experience that clients associate with your salon. This might involve choosing a particular decor style, uniform for your staff, or even the music played in the salon. A strong, consistent brand identity helps in building customer loyalty and differentiating your salon in a crowded marketplace. Set Aside Time to Run Your Business Meg King, consultant for Empowering You Consulting, a firm focused on the salon and spa industry, said in an email to Small Business Trends, When it comes to running a business its very important to have dedicated time to work on your business vs in it. So many owners are busy being busy. When you take the time to understand your numbers, set budgets train your team you can then set goals to grow your team and create higher profits! Its working smarter vs harder! Ongoing Education and Trends Adaptation The final key to a successful hair salon is staying abreast of industry trends and continuously educating yourself and your team. The beauty industry is dynamic, with new styles, techniques, and products emerging regularly. Encourage and facilitate ongoing training for your staff to keep them updated and skilled in the latest trends. This might include attending workshops, participating in webinars, or bringing in experts for in-house training. Regularly updating your service offerings based on these trends can help keep your salon relevant and appealing to clients. Embracing change and education is crucial for long-term success in the ever-evolving world of beauty and hairstyling. Promoting Your Hair Salon: Building a Strong Brand and Attracting Clients In the competitive landscape of the hair salon industry, effective marketing and brand-building play a crucial role in attracting clients and fostering a loyal customer base. Here are some key strategies to consider when promoting your hair salon: Create a Memorable Brand Identity: Develop a distinctive brand logo, color scheme, and tagline that reflects the personality and style of your salon. Consistency in branding across all marketing channels will help your salon stand out and become easily recognizable to potential customers. Develop a distinctive brand logo, color scheme, and tagline that reflects the personality and style of your salon. Consistency in branding across all marketing channels will help your salon stand out and become easily recognizable to potential customers. Build an Online Presence: In todays digital age, a strong online presence is essential. Create a professional website that showcases your salons services, team, and pricing. Optimize your website for local SEO to improve its visibility in search engine results. Engage with your audience on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, sharing photos of your work and customer testimonials. In todays digital age, a strong online presence is essential. Create a professional website that showcases your salons services, team, and pricing. Optimize your website for local SEO to improve its visibility in search engine results. Engage with your audience on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, sharing photos of your work and customer testimonials. Offer Special Promotions and Discounts: Encourage new customers to try your salon by offering special introductory promotions or discounts on specific services. Consider loyalty programs that reward repeat customers with exclusive deals or referral incentives for bringing in new clients. Encourage new customers to try your salon by offering special introductory promotions or discounts on specific services. Consider loyalty programs that reward repeat customers with exclusive deals or referral incentives for bringing in new clients. Showcase Your Work: Use visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your salons portfolio. Before-and-after photos of clients hair transformations can be powerful marketing tools, showcasing the skills and creativity of your stylists. Use visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest to showcase your salons portfolio. Before-and-after photos of clients hair transformations can be powerful marketing tools, showcasing the skills and creativity of your stylists. Collaborate with Influencers and Local Businesses: Partner with local influencers or beauty bloggers who have a significant following in your area. They can help promote your salon and attract new clients through sponsored posts or collaborations. Additionally, consider cross-promotions with other local businesses, such as fashion boutiques or makeup artists, to expand your salons reach. Partner with local influencers or beauty bloggers who have a significant following in your area. They can help promote your salon and attract new clients through sponsored posts or collaborations. Additionally, consider cross-promotions with other local businesses, such as fashion boutiques or makeup artists, to expand your salons reach. Host Events and Workshops: Organize events or workshops at your salon to engage with potential customers and showcase your expertise. Events like hair styling workshops, product launches, or themed styling nights can generate buzz and attract a broader audience. Organize events or workshops at your salon to engage with potential customers and showcase your expertise. Events like hair styling workshops, product launches, or themed styling nights can generate buzz and attract a broader audience. Utilize Online Reviews and Testimonials: Positive online reviews and testimonials are powerful social proof that can influence potential customers. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or Facebook. Respond to both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly. Positive online reviews and testimonials are powerful social proof that can influence potential customers. Encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or Facebook. Respond to both positive and negative reviews professionally and promptly. Advertise in Local Publications: Consider advertising in local newspapers, magazines, or lifestyle publications to reach a broader local audience. Advertise special promotions or seasonal offers to attract new customers. Consider advertising in local newspapers, magazines, or lifestyle publications to reach a broader local audience. Advertise special promotions or seasonal offers to attract new customers. Emphasize Excellent Customer Service: Ensure that every customer receives exceptional service, from the moment they book an appointment to the time they leave the salon. Happy customers are more likely to become repeat clients and refer your salon to their friends and family. Ensure that every customer receives exceptional service, from the moment they book an appointment to the time they leave the salon. Happy customers are more likely to become repeat clients and refer your salon to their friends and family. Analyze and Adapt: Regularly review the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and adjust your strategies based on the data. Use analytics to track website traffic, social media engagement, and customer feedback to optimize your marketing approach continually. By implementing these marketing strategies and building a strong brand, your hair salon can position itself as a go-to destination for exceptional hairstyling services, attracting a steady stream of clients and contributing to the continued growth of your business in the thriving hair salon industry. Strategy Description Create a Memorable Brand Identity Develop a distinctive brand logo, color scheme, and tagline that reflects your salon's style. Maintain consistency in branding across all marketing channels for easy recognition. Build an Online Presence Create a professional website showcasing services, team, and pricing. Engage on social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) with photos and testimonials. Offer Special Promotions and Discounts Attract new clients with introductory promotions or discounts on specific services. Implement loyalty programs and referral incentives for repeat customers. Showcase Your Work Use Instagram, Pinterest to display before-and-after photos of clients' transformations. Demonstrate the skills and creativity of your stylists through visual content. Collaborate with Influencers and Local Businesses Partner with local influencers or beauty bloggers for sponsored posts or collaborations. Cross-promote with other local businesses (e.g., fashion boutiques, makeup artists). Conclusion The hair salon industry continues to be a lucrative market, with revenue exceeding $46 billion in 2018 and showing continued growth. For aspiring beauty-focused entrepreneurs, this presents a perfect opportunity to start their own hair salon. However, starting a successful salon requires careful planning and strategic implementation. Firstly, gaining industry experience is invaluable for understanding the business side and building connections. Creating a comprehensive business plan that outlines the salons earning potential, target customers, financial management, and day-to-day operations is crucial. Financial planning is vital, as salon expenses can vary widely depending on size and location. Identifying the target customer base and offering services to an underserved group can set the salon apart from competitors. Finding the right location is essential, as it impacts accessibility for target customers. Acquiring the necessary local permits and legal documents ensures the business operates smoothly within the regulations. Stocking the salon with necessary inventory and hiring a competent and personable team is vital for offering quality services and maintaining client satisfaction. Effective marketing and brand-building strategies, as discussed in the table, are essential for attracting clients and fostering a loyal customer base. Online presence, special promotions, showcasing work, collaborating with influencers, hosting events, and emphasizing excellent customer service can all contribute to the salons success. Finally, ongoing analysis and adaptation based on data and analytics allow salon owners to optimize their marketing efforts continually and ensure long-term growth and profitability. By following these essential steps and implementing effective marketing strategies, aspiring entrepreneurs can build a strong brand and attract a steady stream of clients, positioning their hair salon for success in the competitive industry. With dedication, business acumen, and a focus on customer satisfaction, a well-planned hair salon can flourish and thrive in the ever-growing beauty market. Save money on shipping costs for your Amazon purchases. Plus, enjoy thousands of titles from Amazons video library with an Amazon Prime membership. Learn more and sign up for a free trial today. 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Learn more. U.S. nail salons bring in more than $5 billion in revenue annually. These specialty beauty salons have been around for years. But the industry is still growing, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for new entrepreneurs to break in and offer unique services and experiences. If youre interested in getting started with your very own nail salon, heres a breakdown of the steps involved. How to Start a Nail Salon Create a Plan for Your Business Meg King, salon and spa consultant for Empowering You Consulting said in an email to Small Business Trends, The first step is to spend time creating a clear vision of your business. Yes, it should include how many stations, your menu of services, a detailed list of what you need along with what it will cost you to open. But another important step in creating a clear vision one that is often overlooked, includes answers to these questions. What do you really want? How would do you define the culture you want to have in your business? What type of team members do you want to hire? Whos your ideal client? The clearer we are on all the details the better we can manage our business plan for success. If youre not sure where to start with your nail salon business plan, you might check out the Professional Beauty Associations business blueprints, which are customizable plan templates available to association members. Develop a Unique Brand Identity Choosing a Memorable Name : Select a salon name thats catchy, relevant, and resonates with your audience. Its your first step in distinguishing your brand in the market. : Select a salon name thats catchy, relevant, and resonates with your audience. Its your first step in distinguishing your brand in the market. Designing a Logo That Stands Out : Create a logo thats visually appealing and represents your salons identity. This symbol will become a key part of your brand recognition. : Create a logo thats visually appealing and represents your salons identity. This symbol will become a key part of your brand recognition. Selecting Your Salons Color Scheme : Choose colors that reflect your brands mood and ethos. This palette will set the tone for your salons atmosphere and marketing materials. : Choose colors that reflect your brands mood and ethos. This palette will set the tone for your salons atmosphere and marketing materials. Crafting Your Brand Story : Develop a narrative that captures the essence of your salon, connecting with clients and setting you apart from competitors. : Develop a narrative that captures the essence of your salon, connecting with clients and setting you apart from competitors. Consistency Across All Platforms: Ensure uniformity in your branding across all mediums to reinforce your salons identity and professionalism. Make Industry Connections Ideally, some form of state-approved education and experience in a successful salon before jumping into your own business. You might also consider connecting with an industry consultant or finding a mentor who can help you understand what the day-to-day operations of a functioning nail salon look like. Groups or trade organizations like PBA can also help you gain valuable insights about the industry as a whole. Obtain Permits and Licenses The legal requirements for nail salons vary by location. But youre likely to need a building permit, business license and state-approved training in order to officially open your business. If youre not sure what is required in your area, connect with a local business attorney or check with your local government. Analyze Your Finances PBA Brand Manager Erin Walter said in an email interview with Small Business Trends, There are numerous financial considerations to take in to account when looking at opening a business and it can be helpful to meet with a financial planner to navigate through some potential obstacles. Specifically, youll need to determine what you can afford in startup costs, what your business expenses will be and how much you think you can earn on an ongoing basis. Some of PBAs business blueprints also offer insights into financial considerations like budgeting, compensation and credit card policies. Find a Suitable Location Before you can put many of the other aspects of your business into place, youll need to find a location for your shop. Ideally, it should be someplace centrally located and easily accessible for your target customers. However, this will also depend on your budget and space requirements. Create a Service and Price List Nail salon prices and services can vary widely. You might stick with just the basic manicure and pedicure, but you could also offer artificial nails, gel manicures, arm massages or various other spa services to your menu. Carefully consider what you and your staff will be able to provide and do some research on pricing to help you create a full menu of services. Source Supplies For a nail salon, youll likely need chairs, tables, nail polish, sanitation equipment, and various spa supplies. You may also want to carry a small inventory of nail products that customers can purchase. Shop around with various brands for your nail salon equipment and inventory so you can get the best possible value, while also considering the items that are likely to be most popular with your target customers. Set Up Administration Processes The day-to-day operations of your business will be significantly easier if you put processes into place early. Determine how youll schedule appointments, collect payments, manage payroll and nurture relationships with customers. Put software and other tools in place to make these things easier so when you get up and running, you can easily show your team how everything should be run. Hire Nail Techs Most nail salons have multiple nail technicians or other specialists on staff so they can offer services to multiple customers at once. Youll want to find people who are trained and skilled in their area of expertise. But dont forget to take personality into account as well. The conversations that take place during manicure and pedicure services are often a huge part of the customer experience. So youll need to look for people who are able to provide exceptional service to your target customers. Promote Your Services Locally When all those items are in place, you need to start actually promoting your business around your local community so potential customers can find you. Place local ads online or in print. You might also consider getting on social media and using some special events or promotions to build buzz early on. Build a Strong Online Presence Creating a Professional Website : Develop a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing website that effectively communicates your brand and services. Its a vital tool for attracting online clients. : Develop a user-friendly, aesthetically pleasing website that effectively communicates your brand and services. Its a vital tool for attracting online clients. Leveraging Social Media Effectively : Utilize social media platforms to engage with your audience, showcase your work, and build a community around your brand. : Utilize social media platforms to engage with your audience, showcase your work, and build a community around your brand. Implementing SEO Strategies : Use search engine optimization to increase your salons visibility online, making it easier for potential clients to find you. : Use search engine optimization to increase your salons visibility online, making it easier for potential clients to find you. Engaging with Online Reviews and Feedback : Actively respond to and manage online reviews, using feedback to improve your services and build trust with clients. : Actively respond to and manage online reviews, using feedback to improve your services and build trust with clients. Utilizing Online Booking and E-commerce: Offer convenient online booking options and consider selling products online to enhance customer experience and increase revenue. Employee Training and Customer Service Excellence Providing exceptional customer service is essential in the nail salon industry, where building strong relationships with clients is a key factor in retaining customers and attracting new ones through word-of-mouth referrals. To ensure a positive customer experience, focus on employee training and development: Staff Training: Invest in comprehensive training programs for your nail technicians to enhance their technical skills and customer service abilities. Proper training will ensure that your team can deliver top-notch services and handle various customer preferences and requests. Invest in comprehensive training programs for your nail technicians to enhance their technical skills and customer service abilities. Proper training will ensure that your team can deliver top-notch services and handle various customer preferences and requests. Hygiene and Sanitation: Emphasize the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the salon. Implement strict cleanliness protocols to create a safe and pleasant environment for clients. Emphasize the importance of hygiene and sanitation in the salon. Implement strict cleanliness protocols to create a safe and pleasant environment for clients. Upselling Techniques: Train your staff on effective upselling techniques to increase the average transaction value. Encourage them to suggest add-on services, nail care products, or spa treatments to clients during their appointments. Train your staff on effective upselling techniques to increase the average transaction value. Encourage them to suggest add-on services, nail care products, or spa treatments to clients during their appointments. Client Communication: Emphasize the significance of effective communication with clients. Encourage your team to actively listen to clients needs and preferences, providing personalized recommendations and solutions. Emphasize the significance of effective communication with clients. Encourage your team to actively listen to clients needs and preferences, providing personalized recommendations and solutions. Customer Loyalty Programs: Implement customer loyalty programs or referral incentives to reward repeat clients and encourage them to bring in new business. Implement customer loyalty programs or referral incentives to reward repeat clients and encourage them to bring in new business. Respond to Feedback: Encourage clients to provide feedback on their experience and take their opinions seriously. Address any complaints or concerns promptly and professionally to show that you value their input. Encourage clients to provide feedback on their experience and take their opinions seriously. Address any complaints or concerns promptly and professionally to show that you value their input. Team Building: Foster a positive and supportive work environment through team-building activities and incentives to keep your staff motivated and engaged. By prioritizing employee training and customer service excellence, your nail salon can build a loyal customer base and stand out in the competitive market, contributing to long-term success and steady growth for your business. Training Focus Description Staff Training Invest in comprehensive training programs for nail technicians to enhance their technical skills and customer service abilities. Proper training ensures top-notch services and the ability to handle diverse customer preferences. Hygiene and Sanitation Emphasize the importance of maintaining hygiene and sanitation in the salon. Implement strict cleanliness protocols to create a safe and pleasant environment for clients. Upselling Techniques Train staff on effective upselling techniques to increase the average transaction value. Encourage suggesting add-on services, nail care products, or spa treatments during appointments. Client Communication Highlight the significance of effective communication with clients. Encourage active listening to their needs and preferences, providing personalized recommendations and solutions. Customer Loyalty Implement loyalty programs or referral incentives to reward repeat clients and encourage them to bring in new business. Feedback Management Encourage clients to provide feedback and address any complaints or concerns promptly and professionally to demonstrate care for their opinions. Team Building Foster a positive and supportive work environment through team-building activities and incentives to keep staff motivated and engaged. Conclusion Starting and running a successful nail salon business requires careful planning, attention to detail, and a commitment to providing excellent customer service. With the nail salon industry continuing to grow and offering ample opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs, following the outlined steps can set you on the path to success. Creating a clear vision for your business, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, and finding a suitable location are fundamental steps in laying the groundwork for your nail salon. Additionally, investing in comprehensive staff training, emphasizing hygiene and sanitation, and implementing upselling techniques can help your salon deliver exceptional customer experiences. Customer loyalty programs, responsive feedback management, and fostering a positive work environment through team-building activities are essential in building strong relationships with clients and retaining their loyalty. As you establish your nail salon, keep a sharp focus on customer service excellence to create a loyal customer base and achieve steady growth in the dynamic nail salon industry. By staying dedicated to continuous improvement and adapting to changing customer preferences, you can position your nail salon for long-term success and make a significant impact in this thriving market. Equator Coffees: North Star BlendSweet and comforting with flavors of peanut brittle, red apple, and candied orange, our winter blend welcomes a new year brewing with possibilities. It pays homage to the North Star, famous for remaining steadfast in the sky. As we chart a new path, this guiding light allows us to feel anchored and instills direction for the year ahead. For every online and retail purchase of this blend, 5% of the sales will go back to our partners at Fazenda California, a family-owned coffee estate in Brazil who produced a key coffee in this seasonal blend. The proceeds will support the Future is in our Hands, a local initiative which engages elementary school-aged children in the coffee-growing region through hands-on, sustainability-focused environmental education. Back to top. Greater Goods Roasting : Rungeto PB Rarely has a coffee release synced up with the start of a season quite like this one. Hailing from Kirinyaga County in central Kenya, this peaberry lot is the warm, comforting, hot cocoa in front of the fire the spirit of winter in coffee form. Peaberry makes up about 10% of Kenyas coffee export and is highly sought out for its depth of sweetness and a thick, syrupy body. You can enjoy your winter days with notes of golden apple, black treacle, and red currant jam. Joe Coffee : Colombia La Familia Guarnizo This coffee comes to us through a strong relationship between Joe Coffee and the El Paraiso growers association in Huila, Colombia. This bright and light-bodied selection was grown by a special group of El Paraisos member farmers: the Guarnizo family. Featuring notes of stone fruit and almonds with a medium acidity, this coffee is a customer favorite. Madcap Coffee Company : Finca de Dios Husband and wife duo Ellen and Stuart Prentice oversee a 19-hectare farm, encompassing a multitude of microclimates. Ellen inherited the farm from her father in the early 70s, falling in love with the coffee growing process and planting more and more on the land. Together with their daughter Ashley, theyve established state-of-the-art processing equipment for their farm, Finca de Dios (Farm of the Gods). In this years harvest, expect notes of cacao, orange, and agave. Monogram Coffee : Trifle Four different coffees have been layered (like a trifle!) to create a unique brewing experience where the flavours will mingle and change as you brew through the bag. As you enjoy Trifle, youll work your way through: a spicy anaerobic marsellesa natural from Costa Rica with delicious cinnamon notes a fermented honey processed castillo peach coffee from Colombia a delicious chiroso caturra natural with strawberry yogurt notes a fermented honey processed castillo grape coffee from Colombia Night Swim Coffee Night Swim Coffee: Blue Orchid SumatraTypically we expect specialty grade coffees to come from mountainous regions along the equator. Brazil, Colombia, Honduras, and Ethiopia rank among the largest coffee producing countries in the world, but I think people would be surprised to know that both Vietnam and Indonesia are #2 and #4 on that list. Connecting people to the places where coffee comes from, our core effort at Night Swim, provides us some unique opportunities to tell the stories of all kinds of coffee, not just ones were familiar with or are currently popular in the US market. Over the next few months, well begin highlighting coffees from China, El Salvador, Tanzania, Bolivia and this beautiful coffee from Indonesia. You can find coffees from these regions roasted by great roasters around the globe, but theyre new to Night Swim. I think a lot of coffee drinkers are probably really unfamiliar with coffees from Asia, and as we started thinking about how we wanted to focus our coffee menu for the upcoming months, we were simply excited to drink coffees that we dont interact with very often. This is a semi-washed or wet-hulled coffee from Sumatra, Indonesia. Its fruity-sweet, tropical, and finishes like one of our favorite candy bars. Were thrilled to offer this first installment in our initiative to highlight underrepresented coffee growing regions! Back to top. Olympia Coffee Roasters Olympia Coffee: Jose Landaverde Gesha NaturalOne of the worlds most sought-after varietals, grown in one of Central Americas finest regions. Jose Landaverde Gesha Natural underwent a 60-hour anaerobic fermentation before drying in the natural method, yielding coffee deeply imbued with tropical-fruit sweetness and balanced with smooth, full-bodied flavor. Back to top. Onyx Coffee Lab Onyx Coffee Lab : FramilyWe are excited to release our seventh edition of this heartwarming Holiday coffee that embodies the joy of spending time with friends and family. This washed coffee from Banko Gotiti is a developed medium roast creating complex cocoa notes mixed with sweet berry cobbler-like flavors. Designed to accommodate the coffee nerd or the heavy-handed cream and sugar in-laws youre welcome, my friends. Back to top. Partners Coffee Partners Coffee: Colombia PapayoPapayo is one of a few curious varieties that have emerged in Huila in recent years. This lot, from Ruben Correa of Acevedo, Huila, is a great example of why it first caught our attention on the cupping table. In a clean, incredibly sweet cup, we taste spiced cherry and plum, dried mango, papaya, and pineapple. Back to top. PERC Coffee PERC: Java Frinsa EstateThis is our second time sourcing this beauty from Java. If you tasted it last year, youll know why! Its an intensely sweet and funky coffee. The anaerobic fermentation done at the farm contributes to its big fruity flavors, and the cup finishes with a deep, fudgy note thatll keep you coming back for more. Its truly a unique coffee that delivers all the wild vibes you can handle. Back to top. Stumptown Coffee Roasters Stumptown Coffee: Bella Vista With a background in agronomy and four generations of family farming under his belt, Luis Pedro Zelaya brings experience and innovation to all aspects of his craft to create exceptional coffees like Bella Vista. A balanced cup with notes of candied citrus and milk chocolate with a soft, honeyed finish. Back to top. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/asymmetric-warfare-why-the-houthis-can-beat-the-collective-west-1116154913.html Asymmetric Warfare: Why the Houthis Can Beat the Collective West Asymmetric Warfare: Why the Houthis Can Beat the Collective West Sputnik International Dr. Michael Parenti once said, "Economic violence is physical violence in slow motion." The economic sanctions against Iraq in the 1990's led directly to the deaths of half a million Iraqi children. Economic sanctions can be a weapon as deadly as any artillery shell or cruise missile. 2024-01-14T10:18+0000 2024-01-14T10:18+0000 2024-01-14T10:18+0000 analysis us houthis united kingdom (uk) hezbollah houthi https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116155310_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_a9f9af1686d433613ccdc8454f29d81f.jpg The Houthis might at first appear to be vastly outmatched by the US/UK armada that has struck Yemen, but militarily and economically, the US and Europe are actually much more vulnerable than the Houthis. To put it simply, in both economic and military terms, the US, UK and Europe, and Israel, have a lot more to lose.The Houthis are not alone - Hezbollah, considered to be one of the most effective fighting forces in the world today, has an estimated 100,000 highly trained and motivated and very well armed soldiers in Lebanon, and is already at (undeclared, but de facto) war with Israel, and will probably escalate in the next few days. In October, 1983, Hezbollah was able to kill 305 US and French occupation soldiers at a cost of only 2 KIA on the Hezbollah side. Of the US and French soldiers, 220 were US Marines, the greatest single loss in one day of US Marines since the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. In the 2006 Hezbollah-Israeli War, in which Israel invaded southern Lebanon, Hezbollah was able to inflict "unacceptable casualties" on Israeli forces, which resulted in the withdrawal of IDF forces and the signing of UNSC1701. While the Lebanese casualties were significantly higher than Israeli, the conflict is generally seen as a tactical and strategic defeat for Israel. Israel and their US/EU allies would do well to remember both of these battles before continuing to escalate an already extremely volatile situation beyond the point of no return.Escalation between Hezbollah and the IDF on Lebanon's southern border will not only expand the current area of conflict into the eastern Mediterranean, it can quickly become a serious threat to the Israeli city of Haifa, only 20 miles from the Lebanese border. Haifa is Israel's 3rd largest city, with a population of around 300,000. The Port of Haifa is Israel's second largest by cargo tonnage, and the Haifa oil refinery (the largest, and one of only two in Israel) processes more than 66 million barrels of crude oil per year, more than a million barrels per week. The port, and especially the refinery would be prime targets, and significant damage to either, especially the refinery, would have serious repercussions for the Israeli economy.The "massive attack" by US/UK naval forces against the Houthis involved airstrikes, as well as approximately 100 cruise missiles, at a cost of more than $1 million each. According to reports published by the Houthi military command and Western media, the attack killed five Houthis. Now, do the math. The US and UK just spent a collective $100 million to kill 5 Houthis and escalate and exacerbate an already volatile situation. Based on assurances from the Houthi government that only Israeli-connected shipping was under threat, the majority of Red Sea shipping traffic had actually continued the Red Sea unhindered.This is no longer the case. As of January 13th, after the US/UK attacks and their possible continuation, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (Intertanko), which represents almost 70 per cent of all internationally traded oil, gas and chemical tankers, said in an advisory to members to stay well away from the Bab al Mendab strait, and for vessels travelling south via the Suez Canal to pause north of Yemen. This major disruption of tanker traffic may well have an upward influence on oil prices, coming as it does right on the heels of Saudi Aramco's announcement of a $2 per barrel discount beginning in February.The Huthis don't even have to shoot at any more ships - just the threat of the possibility of Houthi or coalition missiles being fired has been enough to disrupt Red Sea shipping traffic, which carries 12% of all global trade goods, and a staggering 30% of all container goods. It is actually the US/UK "coalition" that has escalated the situation to dangerous levels that now interfere with much more shipping, including tanker traffic. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/which-parts-of-yemen-were-hit-by-joint-us-uk-strikes-1116139540.html united kingdom (uk) Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Russell Bentley https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/03/1d/1094281697_332:0:1182:850_100x100_80_0_0_f4d7604e530b3861449b2db55c72f353.jpg ansar allah, houthi, houthis, strikes on yemen, middle east crisis, mideast violence https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/biden-says-us-privately-reaches-out-to-iran-over-houthi-attacks-1116149579.html Biden Says US Privately Reaches Out to Iran Over Houthi Attacks Biden Says US Privately Reaches Out to Iran Over Houthi Attacks Sputnik International US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that his administration had privately sent a message to Iran regarding attacks by Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Red Sea. 2024-01-14T03:32+0000 2024-01-14T03:32+0000 2024-01-14T03:32+0000 world joe biden houthis houthi yemen us iran red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0c/1116132755_0:120:2297:1412_1920x0_80_0_0_52b50e026f0ce01c956858991155ffcc.jpg "Ive delivered weve delivered it privately, and were confident were well prepared," Biden told reporters when asked whether he had a message for the Iranian government amid Houthi activity in the region.In November 2023, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip.On December 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition.In the early hours of Friday, the US and UK military carried out 23 airstrikes on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Sadah, local government sources told Sputnik. Later in the day, the US Air Forces Central said that US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen had hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria later said that the US and the UK had carried out 73 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, killing five fighters and injuring six others. A member of Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/schism-emerges-among-us-allies-after-yemen-attacks-1116144823.html yemen iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us president joe biden, biden messaged iran, yemen ansar allah, houthis, iran us connections https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/germany-fails-to-check-where-ukraine-bound-weapons-go-1116157350.html Germany Fails to Check Where Ukraine-Bound Weapons Go Germany Fails to Check Where Ukraine-Bound Weapons Go Sputnik International Post-shipment controls used by NATO members to ensure that exported armaments remain in the recipient country instead of being resold elsewhere were not implemented during Berlins weapons transfer to Ukraine, Der Spiegel has reported. 2024-01-14T12:36+0000 2024-01-14T12:36+0000 2024-01-14T12:36+0000 world germany ukraine weapons checks sevim dagdelen https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/08/1115479389_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_2a8d469b7d2f22ef4cc2c5b5bcb1a4d7.jpg Post-shipment controls used by NATO members to ensure that exported armaments remain in the recipient country instead of being resold elsewhere were not implemented during Berlins weapons transfer to Ukraine, Der Spiegel has reported.According to the media outlet, German authorities simply said the Kiev regime assured them that the weapons would remain in the country. Berlin also insisted that any verification measures must under no circumstances impair Ukraine's war effort.German opposition MP Sevim Dagdelen from the Bundis Sahra Wagenknecht party criticized the checks system, which she branded a laughing stock."The federal government is trying to deceive the public when only two weapons checks were carried out on site," she said as quoted by the magazine.Following the escalation of the Ukrainian conflict in February 2022, the United States and its allies, including Germany, started sending large quantities of weapons and military equipment to the regime in Kiev, ranging from small arms and body armor to main battle tanks and multiple launch rocket systems.The launch of this generous military program, however, was soon followed by a deluge of reports about Western weapons ending up far from the Ukrainian conflict in the hands of the people Western governments do not approve of. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230707/where-do-western-weapons-sent-to-kiev-actually-end-up-1111728757.html germany ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International nato ukraine weapons, ukraine weapons black market, ukraine weapons lost https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/rfk-jr-supports-secure-border-to-end-crisis-cutting-off-funding-for-ukraine---press-team-1116149445.html RFK Jr. Supports Secure Border to End Crisis, Cutting Off Funding For Ukraine RFK Jr. Supports Secure Border to End Crisis, Cutting Off Funding For Ukraine Sputnik International Independent US presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supports efforts to end the immigration crisis on the US southern border as well as cutting off aid to Ukraine. 2024-01-14T01:44+0000 2024-01-14T01:44+0000 2024-01-14T05:25+0000 americas us john f. kennedy republicans border us-mexico border https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/13/1109666745_0:0:2868:1614_1920x0_80_0_0_4b18a36661fadb7d2e9222f6aa36e9fb.jpg Kennedy's comment is in light of ongoing negotiations between the White House and Senate Republicans on a supplemental bill to address US national security concerns. The White House has asked Congress to provide more than $100 billion in supplemental funds including more than $60 billion for Ukraine, but Republican lawmakers have refused to approve the request without meaningful measures to end the border crisis. Earlier in the day, according to the White House press pool, President Joe Biden told reporters major changes are needed on the US southern border and he's prepared to make those significant alterations. On Thursday, US Senator Kyrsten Sinema said the negotiating parties are very close to reaching a deal on a supplemental bill and hopes a draft text of the legislation may be available for other lawmakers to see soon.According to US media reports, border security officials documented 302,000 migrant encounters in December, marking the highest single-month figure ever recorded. The Biden administration has also experienced three consecutive years of record illegal migration on the southern border. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/many-in-us-doubt-funds-used-effectively---kremlin-on-arms-supplies-to-ukraine-stop-1116128995.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International rfk jr, us funds ukraine, rfk jr us bid, rfk jr presidential program, rfk jr about ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/swiss-foreign-minister-urges-russias-participation-in-discussions-of-ukraine-settlement-1116161907.html Swiss Foreign Minister Urges Russia's Participation in Discussions of Ukraine Settlement Swiss Foreign Minister Urges Russia's Participation in Discussions of Ukraine Settlement Sputnik International Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on Sunday urged Russia's participation in conferences on the Ukraine settlement, saying that it was impossible to achieve peace in the region without negotiating its conditions with Moscow. 2024-01-14T17:14+0000 2024-01-14T17:14+0000 2024-01-14T17:14+0000 world russia ukraine davos world economic forum in davos ukrainian crisis peace process https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116161686_0:0:2895:1628_1920x0_80_0_0_9aa969717bd98c6ab300770758fd9853.jpg "We're not going to have a peace conference without Russia, this is not possible. However, we need to see how and when we can get Russia on board," Cassis said at the fourth meeting of national security advisers on Ukraine's "peace formula" in the Swiss city of Davos. Representatives from 83 countries, including BRICS nations such as India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia, are participating in the discussions in Davos, he added. Meanwhile, China is skipping the conference, the top Swiss diplomat said, stressing, however, the need to get the country engaged in the negotiations. Beijing can play a crucial role in the peace talks, given its close ties with Moscow, Cassis explained. Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian and Ukrainian delegations have engaged in several rounds of peace talks since then, but the negotiations have ultimately reached an impasse. In October 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree stating that Kiev could not hold peace talks as long as Vladimir Putin was president of Russia. In November 2022, Zelenskyy unveiled his 10-point peace initiative dubbed "peace formula." It included an all-for-all prisoner swap with Russia, security guarantees for Ukraine and a return to the pre-2014 borders. Moscow has continuously said it was open to peace negotiations as long as Kiev recognizes the territorial gains Russian forces have made since the launch of the special military operation. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231205/peace-talks-with-russia-uk--us-seeking-quick-face-saving-exit-from-ukraine-debacle--cia-vet-1115412473.html russia ukraine davos Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukrainian crisis, ukrainian conflict, war in ukriane, russia-ukraine peace process, ukraine peace process, zelensky 10 point peace formula https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/taiwans-newly-elected-head-of-administration-says-intends-to-jointly-promote-democracy-with-us-1116164807.html Taiwans Newly Elected Head of Administration Says Intends to Jointly Promote Democracy With US Taiwans Newly Elected Head of Administration Says Intends to Jointly Promote Democracy With US Sputnik International Newly elected regional leader of Taiwan Lai Ching-te on Sunday thanked US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his congratulations on the election victory and declared an intention to jointly promote democracy and peace in the Indo-Pacific region. 2024-01-14T18:09+0000 2024-01-14T18:09+0000 2024-01-14T18:09+0000 asia us antony blinken taiwan china democratic progressive party (dpp) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116164650_0:131:3071:1858_1920x0_80_0_0_af1ec1312586e6455b56c1bc0209d7b4.jpg On Saturday, Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, adding that the United States is looking forward to work with the new Taiwanese leadership in accordance with the one-China policy. The Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned Blinkens statement as violating the "US own political commitment" to maintaining only unofficial ties with Taiwan. "[Secretary Blinken], thank you for your congratulations. The Taiwan-US partnership is guided by our shared values and interests. Working together with friends from the US, Taiwan is committed to furthering democracy, peace & prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," Lai said on X. On Saturday, Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was named the winner of the election of the head of the administration of Taiwan after securing 40.05% of the vote. The DPP itself, however, lost 11 seats in the island's parliament as a result of the elections. Taiwan has been governed independently of mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a territory with its own elected government maintains that it is an autonomous country but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/us-backed-candidates-victory-in-taiwan-means-year-of-the-dragon-is-going-to-be-tense-1116147787.html taiwan china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International taiwan, taiwan election, pro-us candidate, pro-independence candidate, lai ching-te, us-taiwan relations, china strongly condemns, one china policy https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/uk-didnt-need-to-participate-in-strikes-on-houthis-and-only-followed-us-orders-1116153145.html UK 'Didnt Need to Participate in Strikes on Houthis and Only Followed US Orders UK 'Didnt Need to Participate in Strikes on Houthis and Only Followed US Orders Sputnik International The recent air strikes against the Houthis conducted by Britain and the US are fraught with the Hamas-Israel conflict being extended in the wider region, experts told Sputnik. 2024-01-14T10:06+0000 2024-01-14T10:06+0000 2024-01-14T10:16+0000 us united kingdom (uk) air strikes houthis targets yemen red sea crisis analysis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116155539_87:0:1264:662_1920x0_80_0_0_a43a059bc264b0fed5904fd6843ba6c6.png There was no need for Britain to partake in the attacks on Yemen, former UK MP Matthew Gordon-Banks told Sputnik, explaining that London participated on the orders of the US.Four Royal Air Force Typhoon jets used GPS/laser-guided Paveway IV bombs against two Houthi facilities during the strikes, Britains Ministry of Defense earlier said. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the raids as "limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defense."Gordon-Banks meanwhile recalled that Italy, France and Spain refused to take part in the strikes "even in written support," with Paris stating that it "would weaken its ability to be seen as an honest broker for de-escalation of the [Palestine-Israel] conflict in Gaza which is the principle reason for the Houthis actions."The former Tory MP said that he is concerned about any moves to create an extension to the conflict in Gaza-Israel in the wider region, now that escalation has already occurred in Yemen.He was echoed by former Egyptian Ambassador to Russia Ezzat Saad who drew parallels between the current events and the US military intervention of Iraq in 2003. At the time, Saad recalled in an interview with Sputnik: "It was only the UK that participated with the United States.""It is more or less the same story if we look into what is happening in the Red Sea," the director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs said, specifically referring to reluctance by most of the US European allies to take part in this weeks bombing.According to the diplomat, the above-mentioned countries refused to partake in the strikes on the Houthis because they knew that the United States was "cowardly enough not to address the root causes of such security repercussions" from the attacks.In this regard, Saad pointed to Washingtons unsuccessful attempts "to contain" the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and "keep it within Palestinian-occupied territories.""Unfortunately, they [the US] are doing exactly the opposite. They are not able to convince their Israeli friends or allies to stop the [Gaza] war, even on a provisional basis, or, to be fair enough, to start any kind of peaceful process to bring this to an end," he concluded. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-uk-strikes-reduce-houthis-offensive-capabilities-only-by-30---report-1116149937.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/us-not-ready-for-war-of-attrition-in-the-red-sea--analyst-1116143854.html united kingdom (uk) yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg palestine-israel conflict, us and uk strikes on houthoi targets, escalation of palestine-israel conflict, red sea crisis, us-usk strikes on yemen, us-uk strikes on houthis, red sea https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/ukraine-loses-over-300-troops-nine-tanks-and-four-ifvs-including-a-bradley-in-donetsk-1116156085.html Ukraine Loses Over 300 Troops, Nine Tanks and Four IFVs, Including A Bradley, in Donetsk Ukraine Loses Over 300 Troops, Nine Tanks and Four IFVs, Including A Bradley, in Donetsk Sputnik International Russias Ministry of Defense reported on the progress of the special military operation, aimed at the protection of the people of Donbass. 2024-01-14T10:52+0000 2024-01-14T10:52+0000 2024-01-14T10:58+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine us arms for ukraine ukrainian crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/19/1115793462_0:0:1001:563_1920x0_80_0_0_7d560b472a82ba0eafa2956c191626df.jpg Russia's Armed Forces have repelled three attacks by Ukrainian troops near Veseloye, Novgorodskoye, and Nevelskoye in the Donetsk Peoples Republic. The Russian army used aviation, artillery and heavy flamethrowers to achieve this.As a result, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) lost hundreds of soldiers and scores of fighting vehicles.UAF losses amounted to more than 300 Ukrainian troops, nine tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, including one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, four armored fighting vehicles, one Strela-10 air defense system, and 27 motor vehicles," the ministry said in a statement.Around Kypuansk, Ukrainian losses amounted to 130 troops, four tanks, eight motor vehicles and one US-made M777 artillery system. In Krasny Liman area, Ukraine lost 80 soldiers, while in South Donetsk, losses amounted to 170 troops, two tanks and six motor vehicles.In Zaporozhye and Kherson regions, Ukraine lost 120 soldiers in total. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special military operation, ukrainian crisis, ukrainian counteroffensive attempt, ukraine, russia destroys bradley January 13, 2024: South Korea has become the seventh nation to use Sea Launched Ballistic Missiles or SLBMs. The second version of the KSS-III submarines feature a number of firsts. They were non-nuclear, the first non-nuclear submarines that not only use Air Independent Propulsion or AIP but do so using lithium ion instead of lead-acid batteries. With this AIP system the KSS-III submarines can operate submerged for about three weeks. These subs also have ten Vertical Launch Cells or VLS filled by Hyunmoo 4-4 SLBMs with a range of 800 kilometers. North Korea is developing similar technology, but the north can only manage to build crude imitations of what the South Korean created. South Korea is far wealthier and technically advanced than the north. Both Koreas produce weapons that work often enough to do some damage and kill people. The South Korean weapons do this more reliably and effectively. North Korea is content to be able to say, We have that too. South Korea joins six other nations, the United States, Russia, France, Britain, China, and India that also have SLBMs and submarines to launch them from. The United States was the first nation to develop SLBMs and install them in nuclear powered submarines. The South Korean SLBMs have conventional warheads and are launched from non-nuclear submarines. South Korea is developing nuclear weapons, after not doing so for many years to appease the United States. The Americans have pioneered the development of SLBMs and still have the most advanced and reliable models. This is the UGM-133A Trident II D5 SLBM, which has consistently set records for successful test launches. So far there have been nearly 180 of these test launches and very few failures. The 172nd successful test flight took place in 2019. No other strategic ballistic missile has been as reliable. The 58 ton, 13.58 meter long, 211cm diameter Trident II has not had a test failure since 2016, when a British D5 test was aborted after a problem was detected in the guidance system, and that was attributed to a problem with the test warhead which replaces the combat warhead containing nuclear weapons. The test warhead monitors all of the SLBM systems and continually transmits that telemetry data back to a ground station so that the exact cause of each test failure can be determined, and fixes made. Sometimes the telemetry data confirms that an older component needs an update. The Trident is a complex system with three separate stages and a warhead with up to 14 nuclear weapons aimed at different targets. For example, since 2010 over $200 million was spent to upgrade and test the Mk 6 guidance systems in over 400 Trident missiles. The original guidance systems were 1980s technology and some of them were twenty years old as well. The upgraded guidance systems are more accurate, reliable, and easier to maintain, but they are another complex item that each test launch evaluates for reliability and performance. Production of the Trident II D5 ended in 2005 because disarmament treaties are reducing the number of SLBMs the U.S. and Russia could have on their SSBNs. The U.S. and Britain, the two nations that use the D5, have enough missiles to keep their SSBNs equipped as well as allowing for regular test launches of randomly selected missiles. In 2005 it was believed the existing supply of missiles would last until the D5 was replaced with a new design in the late 2030s. Production of the D5 could resume earlier if need be and that may happen because developing a new SLBM is very expensive and the current Trident SLBM is superior to whatever anyone else has. A new SLBM would not be as reliable initially and would be a lot more expensive. The Trident had two failures during its 49 development test launches, but since then it has been the most reliable SLBM to ever enter service. Such reliability is a crucial aspect of weapons, just like range and accuracy. Each Trident II costs about $65 million and first entered service in 1990. Two or three of them are fired every year, to ensure that the current configuration of hardware and software still works as it is supposed to. Britain has complete control over its own D5 SLBMs and sometimes modifies the ones they use. However, most D5 maintenance and storage is carried out in a single U.S. Navy facility because it is cheaper and more reliable that way. Even telemetry data from a successful test provides indications of changes that must eventually be made and sometimes that means a lot of missiles have to be modified quickly. That process is best carried out in a central facility. The nuclear warheads are not included in test launches and are monitored while installed on D5s carried by SSBNs on combat patrols. That monitoring data indicated that the older W76 warheads needed some updates and upgrades as well. Such updates and upgrades are a small part of the cost of maintaining each warhead as well as the entire SLBM. Both warheads and missiles are complex systems with a lot of electronic, chemical, and mechanical components that eventually age to the point of failure or unreliability. The latest upgrade of the W76 entered production in 2019. This new model is the W76 Mod 2 and several hundred will be produced. This is a lower yield or explosive power version of the standard W76, which was originally built to provide 100 kilotons equivalent to 100,000 tons of conventional explosives of blast effect. The new W76-2 is a minor modification of the current W76 Mod 1 design. Mod 2 achieves its lower yield by eliminating the second stage of nuclear detonation, which basically amplifies the yield. The result is a warhead with a yield of 5-10 kilotons. This provides the option to respond to some kinds of nuclear attack like a few ICBMs aimed at the United States that are intercepted with a low-yield nuke to demonstrate that actions, like firing nuclear armed missiles at the U.S. have consequences and that now it is time to talk rather than face a much more devastating nuclear response with many more higher yield warheads. This capability addresses the question of what options an American president has short of a major nuclear response. It was suggested that some SLBMs be equipped with conventional high explosive warheads for demonstration of willingness purposes. It was pointed out that using a high explosive warhead on an ICBM just demonstrates that you were willing to pay a lot to deliver a non-nuclear warhead. One of the common differences in each Trident is the number, 8 or 14 and type of nuclear warheads carried by each missile. Trident has a range of from 8,000 to over 12,000 kilometers depending on how many nuclear weapons are carried in the last stage. While the W76 is an old design, it is not the only warhead used by Trident SLBMs. There is also the W88 warhead. These were designed in the 1980s and 400 were manufactured in 1988-89. The W88 has a yield of 475 kilotons and American SSBNs carry one or more missiles armed with the W88. The W76-2 warhead will equip one or two missiles on each SSBN with the rest of the missiles having the standard W76. Since the current SLBMs normally carry no more than eight warheads, the ones carrying the W76-2 might just have one warhead. The first W76-2 warheads are already in service, mounted on Trident SLBMs. The W76 is the standard nuclear weapon used on SLBM ballistic missiles carried by American SSBNs. In 2011 Britain decided to use the W76-1 upgrade to the older W76 nuclear warhead, as older generations of nuclear warheads are updated before they become dysfunctional from old age. Previous to this, Britain had used its own nuclear weapons designs for these warheads, although the current British SLBM warhead is believed to be similar to the American W76, but with some different features like selectable yield, or how big a nuclear explosion there will be. Since 2010, the U.S. has produced 2,000 W76-1 warheads. This is a minor upgrade of the original W76 and has the same yield of 100 kilotons. Upgrading these older W76 warheads was not easy. For example, American efforts to refurbish the elderly W76 nuclear warheads were held up by difficulties in manufacturing several components. The warheads were originally manufactured between 1978 and 1987. Since that time, it was discovered that the necessary details for manufacturing some of the unique components had been lost. One of those items, a chemical codenamed Fogbank, could not be created with surviving documents. This problem was eventually overcome, but then similar problems were discovered with some other components. This sort of thing was largely the result of manufacturing details being so highly classified. Normally, manufacturing details for older items can afford to be a little vague, because unclassified components have lots of similar items either still in production, or many people and documents you can consult to quickly reconstruct the needed materials and process details. Not so with highly classified components for nuclear weapons. All this W76 activity got started because the earlier ones were fast approaching the point where they would be useless. Nuclear warheads have a lot of components, explosives, various exotic chemicals, and electronics that degrade over time. The W76 had been the oldest warhead in service for a long time. In 2007 the nuclear weapons industry proposed a new warhead design for the D5 missiles. This involved replacing 3,000 W76 warheads on 336 missiles. That would have cost about $100 billion. The navy preferred to refurbish the W76s and save a lot of money, rather than coming up with a new design. While the U.S. has had some problems managing all this, other nations have often done far worse. For example, the latest Russian SLBM, the Bulava, is having an awful time when it comes to testing. While the overall failure rate for test launches of Russian rockets is eight percent, half of Bulava's development test launches failed. The U.S. Trident had a failure rate of 13 percent while in development. The 48-ton, 56 foot long Bulava costs about the same as the Trident II. The Bulava SLBM is a little shorter than the land-based Topol M missile it is based on so that it could fit into the missile tube on the submarine. Thus, Bulava has a shorter range of some 8,000 kilometers. Bulava has three stages and uses solid fuel. Currently, each Bulava carries a single 500 kiloton nuclear weapon, plus decoys and the ability to maneuver. The warhead is also shielded to provide protection from the electromagnetic pulse of nearby nuclear explosions. Take away all of these goodies, and the Bulava could be equipped with up to ten smaller 150 kiloton warheads. But the big thing is still trying to defeat American anti-missile systems. First Bulava has to get the bugs out. Russian SLBMs have long been plagued with development problems. Think of it as a tradition the Russians are still trying to lose. American military planners have always assumed that Russian ICBMs and SLBMs were less reliable. But even with that, enough of them would work, and kill millions of Americans, and cripple the economy for over a decade, if there were ever a nuclear attack. Russia finally figured out what was causing most of the failed test launches and fixed the problems. The Bulava is still less reliable than the Trident, but both are more reliable than the Chinese SLBMs. The Chinese JL or Julang 2 SLBM has failed most of its test launches. The 42-ton JL-2 has a range of 8,000 kilometers and would enable China to aim missiles at any target in the United States from a 094 class SSBN cruising off Hawaii or Alaska. Each 094 boat can carry twelve of these missiles, which are naval versions of the existing land-based 42 ton DF-31 ICBM. China had lots of problems with the JL-2, which was supposed to have entered service by 2008, but kept failing test launches. Then, in 2018 came rumors of a JL-3 that worked. There were apparently some successful JL-3 test tests in late 2018 and early 2019. China finally had a usable SLBM by 2022. The main reason for the success of the American SLBMs is the better tech to start with and using solid fuel from the beginning. The first SLBM was the U.S. Polaris A1, which entered service in 1961 preceded by about five years of development. Polaris was a two-stage solid fuel missile. The Polaris A1 weighed 13 tons with a range of 2,200 kilometers and a one-ton warhead. In 1972 the 29-ton Poseidon SLBM entered service with a range of 5,900 kilometers. In 1979 the 33-ton Trident I entered service with a range of 7,400 kilometers and finally the 59-ton Trident II in 1990 with a range of up to 12,000 kilometers. Each generation of SLBM was more reliable and accurate and could carry more warheads. When the Cold War ended there were hopes that SLBMs and ICBMs could be eliminated or at least have their number greatly reduced. Complete elimination has so far proved impossible to implement. Reducing the number of missiles and nuclear weapons on them has been accomplished. Also reduced was the amount of money spent on developing new missiles and nukes. No one was willing to cut the development budget to zero so work continues at a slower pace. Each Trident II costs about $65 million and entered service in 1990. Some of them are fired every year, to ensure that the current configuration of hardware and software still works as it is supposed to, and to give the launch crews on the subs some experience with the real thing. The Trident II needs some major upgrades. For example, the guidance system uses 1980s era electronics, and is becoming impossible to maintain. That's because many key components are not manufactured anymore, and supplies of these spares are running out. So the U.S. Navy is developing a new guidance system, using current components, and a design that makes it easier to substitute future, and more powerful, components for those that become obsolete. The United States has 18 Ohio class SSBNs, each of them carrying twenty Trident II SLBMs. Russia has been developing a missile similar in design to the Trident II and has had lots of problems. While the similar Russian Bulava is less reliable, it is using more modern components than the Trident II. But there is something wrong with the basic Bulava design, and the way it is put together. Half of the first 14 test launches failed. The original Trident SLBM, the Trident I, had a failure rate of 13 percent while in development during the 1970s. The 48 ton, 18 meter long Bulava costs about the same as the Trident II. Russian leaders insist that the Bulava will eventually succeed. But insiders say that, if you use the same criteria as for a successful Trident II launch, only two of the 14 Bulava tests were successful. While overall, out of over 5,000 Russian ballistic missile tests had a failure rate of eight percent, the Bulava uses a lot of new technology, for the Russians and the development is being done by a workforce much depleted by the best people leaving for more lucrative jobs in the private sector. In contrast, test firings of older Russian ICBMs, built before the Cold War ended in 1991, have been much more successful than Bulava. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-expects-houthis-to-stop-attacks-on-ships-after-its-strikes-on-yemen---white-house-1116165490.html US Expects Houthis to Stop Attacks on Ships After Its Strikes on Yemen - White House US Expects Houthis to Stop Attacks on Ships After Its Strikes on Yemen - White House Sputnik International The United States believes its strikes on positions of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control northern Yemen, were effective, and may make the Shia movement stop attacking ships in the Red Sea, US National Security spokesman John Kirby said on Sunday. 2024-01-14T19:00+0000 2024-01-14T19:00+0000 2024-01-14T19:00+0000 americas john kirby israel yemen red sea houthis white house us red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/03/06/1082272877_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_aaebc083b3f39c64a8669e1c5e912eed.jpg "We think we had a good effect, well see what happens. The Houthis have a choice to make here now, and the right choice is to stop these reckless attacks," Kirby said in an interview with the CBS News. He also said that Houthi attacks on sea transport "have nothing to do with Israel," as an alleged Panamanian-flagged ship with Russian oil on board was attacked by the rebels on Saturday. Kirby also mentioned that the two missing Navy SEALs who fell overboard in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia on Thursday had still not been located. Earlier in the day, a military source told Sputnik that the US and UK military had launched another series of airstrikes on the Houthi positions. In November, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip. In December, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition. americas israel yemen red sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us strikes on yemen, us strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis, white house, john kirby https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-jeopardizes-shipping-in-red-sea---hezbollah-secretary-general-1116159635.html US Jeopardizes Shipping in Red Sea - Hezbollah Secretary General US Jeopardizes Shipping in Red Sea - Hezbollah Secretary General Sputnik International US strikes on Yemen jeopardize shipping in the Red Sea, even for vessels unrelated to the conflict, but will not stop attacks on ships bound for Israeli ports, Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah said on Sunday. 2024-01-14T15:26+0000 2024-01-14T15:26+0000 2024-01-14T15:26+0000 world hassan nasrallah yemen red sea israel hezbollah us houthi red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107511/92/1075119279_0:115:2201:1353_1920x0_80_0_0_c0eb38e42a0e5c9883e0d665ed3da5fe.jpg "Actions of the United States jeopardize navigation in the Red Sea, threatening the safety of even those ships not involved in the conflict," Nasrallah said during his speech broadcast by Al Jazeera. The US will not be able to stop the attacks on Israeli-related ships, Nasrallah said. "[US President Joe] Biden and his accomplices are acting stupidly in their arrogance, thinking they can stop Yemenis by attacking Yemen. They have sent threats to Iran, but that will not help them deal with Yemen, because the Yemenis, like in Lebanon, make decisions on their own," Nasrallah said. At the same time, Israel will accept the terms of the Palestinian resistance if Tel Aviv and its allies continue to fight on all fronts, including in Lebanon and Yemen, Nasrallah added. Lebanon has been ready for a full-scale war with Israel since the first day of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and is not afraid to join the war, Nasrallah said. yemen red sea israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us strikes on yemen, us strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis, hassan nasrallah, hezbollah, gaza war, israel-hamas conflict, palestine-israel conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-special-middle-east-envoy-to-leave-post-after-3-months-in-office---reports-1116154417.html US Special Middle East Envoy to Leave Post After 3 Months in Office - Reports US Special Middle East Envoy to Leave Post After 3 Months in Office - Reports Sputnik International US Special Middle East Envoy to Leave Post After 3 Months in Office - Reports 2024-01-14T09:19+0000 2024-01-14T09:19+0000 2024-01-14T09:23+0000 world israeli-palestinian conflict israel-gaza conflict palestine-israel conflict middle east https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/0f/1080462928_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_22d82e01c29d5d405e124213f1d0ec66.jpg Satterfield was appointed a special envoy on October 15, 2023. He was expected to "lead U.S. diplomacy to urgently address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza," the US State Department said in a statement on Satterfields appointment. The newspaper did not provide information on the reasons for Satterfield's possible resignation, but added that Satterfield three-month tenure was widely criticized. The diplomat had reportedly suggested moving residents of the Gaza Strip to Egypt, an idea that was meet with huge opposition and later publicly disavowed by US authorities. Moreover, the humanitarian situation for Gaza residents have deteriorated during Satterfields time in office. Prior to the appointment as a special envoy he worked as the Baker Institutes director at Rice University. Before that, Satterfield served as US envoy for the Horn of Africa from January June 2022 and US Ambassador to Turkey in 2019-2022. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. 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. Over 23,000 people have been killed so far in Gaza as a result of Israeli strikes, local authorities said. 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 ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/attacks-on-yemen-put-us-on-very-slippery-slope-to-war-1116135685.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/100-days-of-war-in-gaza-looking-back-1116150863.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International middle east, middle est crisis, us middle east, us middle east policy https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-uk-carrying-out-new-strikes-on-houthi-positions-in-western-yemen---source-1116164321.html US, UK Carrying Out New Strikes on Houthi Positions in Western Yemen - Source US, UK Carrying Out New Strikes on Houthi Positions in Western Yemen - Source Sputnik International The United States and the United Kingdom launched new airstrikes on the positions of the rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in western Yemen on Sunday evening, a military source told Sputnik. 2024-01-14T17:44+0000 2024-01-14T17:44+0000 2024-01-14T17:44+0000 military united kingdom (uk) yemen red sea houthis us red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/09/1c/1080603225_406:0:4047:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_32e3d1e0434e5d885670cd42ae4feaf4.jpg "US and UK aircraft are carrying out strikes on the Ansar Allah movement's targets in Al Luhayyah area in the north of the Red Sea coastal province of Al Hudaydah," the source said. In the early hours of Friday, the US and UK military carried out 23 airstrikes on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Sadah, local government sources told Sputnik. Later in the day, the US Air Forces Central said that US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen had hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria later said that the US and the UK had carried out 73 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, killing five fighters and injuring six others. A member of Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." united kingdom (uk) yemen red sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us-uk strikes on yemen, us-uk strikes on houthis, red sea, red sea crisis https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/us-uk-strikes-reduce-houthis-offensive-capabilities-only-by-30---report-1116149937.html US, UK Strikes Reduce Houthis Offensive Capabilities Only by 30% - Report US, UK Strikes Reduce Houthis Offensive Capabilities Only by 30% - Report Sputnik International US and UK strikes on Yemen were only able to reduce by about a third the Houthis' ability to attack ships in the Red Sea with missiles and drones, The New York Times reported on Saturday, citing US officials. 2024-01-14T04:38+0000 2024-01-14T04:38+0000 2024-01-14T21:13+0000 world us us arms for ukraine yemen war on yemen houthi houthi movement https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/03/1101473452_0:36:770:469_1920x0_80_0_0_831a5b1e043f8aa34c1d3deb37e4609a.png Strikes on positions of Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in Yemen on Thursday and Friday destroyed about 90% of the targets struck, but this did not significantly affect the offensive capabilities of the movement, the report said, adding that much of the Houthis' offensive capabilities are mobile-mounted and can be easily moved or hidden. Finding targets has proven more challenging than expected, as Western intelligence agencies have not spent much time or resources in recent years to collect data on the locations of air defenses, command centers, ammunition depots, and drone and missile storage and production facilities owned by the Houthis, the newspaper reported. The United States will reportedly adhere to the tactic of destroying targets as soon as possible after its discovery, if US President Joe Biden gives the appropriate order, the report read. In the early hours of Friday, the US and the UK military carried out 23 airstrikes on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Sadah, local government sources told Sputnik. Later in the day, the US Air Forces Central said that US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen had hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria later said that the US and the UK had carried out 73 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, killing five fighters and injuring six others. A member of Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." On Thursday, the US Central Command said that the Houthis had attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea 27 times since November 19. The Houthis had previously announced their plans to prevent the passage of ships linked to Israeli companies or bound for Israel in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea until the latter's military actions in the Gaza Strip end.Moscow slammed strikes on Yeman as violation of international law for "destructive purpusoses" of Western countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/biden-in-letter-to-congress-explains-his-decision-to-strike-yemens-houthis-1116136962.html yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International war on yemen, houthi strikes, us strikes on houthi, ansar allah strikes, us strikes on yemen https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/watch-russian-flamethrowers-reduce-ukrainian-fortifications-to-dust-1116150341.html Watch Russian Flamethrowers Reduce Ukrainian Fortifications to Dust Watch Russian Flamethrowers Reduce Ukrainian Fortifications to Dust Sputnik International Heavy flamethrowers are one of the deadliest conventional weapons in Russian arsenal capable of unleashing firestorm on enemies. 2024-01-14T05:51+0000 2024-01-14T05:51+0000 2024-01-14T05:51+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukrainian crisis video russia ukraine ministry of defense https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116150139_4:0:1341:752_1920x0_80_0_0_ce89b52ce8d4df2b1c0850a733702601.png The Russian Ministry of Defense has released a footage of the combat work of the OS-1A "Solntsepyok" heave flamethrower hammering Ukrainian positions in the special military operation zone."Solntsepyok" (Scorching Sunlight) is a thermobaric multiple rocket launcher that fires projectiles with a fuel-air explosive mixture. When detonated, it generates extreme heat of up to 3,000 degrees Celsius - hotter than the outer layers of some stars - enough to incinerate almost anything and melt the most advanced steel armor. russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" in combat action Sputnik International TOS-1A "Solntsepyok" crews destroyed several Ukrainian strongholds 2024-01-14T05:51+0000 true PT1M01S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia special military operation, ukrainian crisis, russian heavy flamethrower https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/which-deadly-and-sophisticated-new-drones--will-russia-roll-out-in-2024-1116159795.html Which Deadly and Sophisticated New Drones Will Russia Roll Out in 2024? Which Deadly and Sophisticated New Drones Will Russia Roll Out in 2024? Sputnik International According to Soviet and Russian Army veteran and military expert Ret. Col. Andrei Koshkin, the new additions to Russias combat arsenal will include UAVs such as Lastochka (Swallow) strike drones, FPV drone Upyr and upgraded FPV drone Rusak, as well as the Zhuravel (Crane) UAV complex and various kamikaze copters. 2024-01-14T16:44+0000 2024-01-14T16:44+0000 2024-01-14T16:57+0000 analysis military & intelligence andrei koshkin orion lastochka hunter russian army vladimir putin drones https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0c/1b/1081576690_0:1:1033:582_1920x0_80_0_0_f40b9233d51cbfa1fc5221c6b2fb5400.jpg President Putin noted that there are still many goals to accomplish in the field of drone development and that it is important to be one step ahead of the opposition during a meeting with the representatives of Russian Far East Federal District this week.The president made these remarks following reports that the Russian Armed Forces will be bolstered by the addition of new advanced drones this year. The additions seek to afford Russian troops fresh capabilities for reconnaissance, long-range strikes and counter-battery operationsNew ModelsAccording to Soviet and Russian Army veteran and military expert Ret. Col. Andrei Koshkin, the new additions to Russias combat arsenal will include UAVs such as Lastochka (Swallow) strike drones, FPV drone Upyr and upgraded FPV drone Rusak, as well as the Zhuravl (Crane) UAV complex and various kamikaze copters.Koshkin specifically praised two drones, the S-70 Okhotnik (Hunter) developed by Sukhoi and the Inokhodets (Pacing Horse).The S-70, he noted, can carry up at least three tonnes of payload and its technical characteristics are comparable to those of the Sukhoi Su-57 fifth-generation multirole fighter jet.Basically, this is the kind of craft that can conduct the most difficult of tasks when it comes to strikes, he remarked, arguing that Russia now has at its disposal the kind of unique drones on a par with the US drones like Global Hawk that the United States has long been proud of.Okhotnik weighs 20 tonnes, has a range of about 3,500 kilometers and can stay in the air for over a day without refueling.Inokhodets, Koshkin explained, is a colloquial moniker for the Orion drones such as Orion, Orion 10 and Orion 30.Russian troops in the Ukrainian conflict zone, he said, have already become quite fond of these drones that can operate at an altitude of up to 7,500 meters at a speed of up to 200 kilometers per hour and can carry a 100-kilogram fragmentation bomb like FAB-100.He observed that FPV drones saw extensive use in the Ukrainian conflict by both Russian and Ukrainian troops, and the aforementioned Upyr, which can reach a speed of up to 100 kilometers per hour and still retain stable controllability, has become quite a boon to Russias forces.Koshkin also argued that the Russian Lastochka drone is superior to its US analog Switchblade, and that various Russian companies are each developing their own drone models such as Voron, Luch and Veda, for the Russian armys needs.Lastochka is a small strike drone that can carry up to 1.5 kilograms worth of explosive payload and whose advantages include advanced guidance systems and a simplified launch procedure (the drone is launched directly from the container it is transported in).What matters is that drones capabilities are being improved all the time, he noted.Russia's Drone Warfare Will AdvanceRegarding other advancements in Russias drone warfare capabilities, Koshkin said that Russian companies work on improving the quality, effectiveness, quantity of their creations.Today, drone swarms are actively being used, which allows for the overwhelming of enemy anti-aircraft defenses, even those designed to combat low-altitude drone attacks, like twin-linked machine guns, for example, he said.Koshkin further insisted that the quantity and the quality of the drones provided to Russian forces would determine the effectiveness of these troops in the field, as it would allow artillery crews, tankers and infantry to have their eyes on the battlefield.He added that the importance of drone warfare in the Ukrainian conflict zone in 2024 will only increase since Western sponsors of the Kiev regime are aware of the fact that Russia has total drone superiority in certain areas and will attempt to address this matter. Russia, in turn, will work towards countering the Wests efforts.Meanwhile, Vladimir Prokhvatilov, senior researcher at the Russian Academy of Military Sciences, pointed out Russias use of Geranium drones whose latest versions feature anti-radar coating. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240113/new-turtle-wheeled-drone-starts-delivering-shells-to-russian-forces-in-ukrainian-conflict-zone-1116146705.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian drones military, russian attack drones, russian orion drone, russian drone name https://sputnikglobe.com/20240114/why-did-west-put-ukraine-funding-onto-back-burner-1116159041.html Why Did West Put Ukraine Funding Onto Back Burner? Why Did West Put Ukraine Funding Onto Back Burner? Sputnik International Despite the US desire to see the conflict in Ukraine rage on, the White House knows full well that the Kiev regime is biting the dust, Indian professor Anuradha Chenoy told Sputnik. 2024-01-14T15:00+0000 2024-01-14T15:00+0000 2024-01-14T15:00+0000 analysis ukraine yemen us aid escalation strikes houthis john kirby white house https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/01/0e/1116158884_0:0:3078:1731_1920x0_80_0_0_dda89533dac349f979a262a6a409306b.jpg White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that US assistance for Ukraine "has now ground to a halt."She added that Ukraine is "now on the back burner of the Western mindset," and that the escalation in Yemen after US and UK strikes on the Houthis is "more important for the West now, because commercial shipping is at risk."If this war escalates it will be dangerous economically and militarily with global impacts, she warned.As for Global South nations, Chenoy went on, they are especially up in arms against any other war because they all face developmental challenges and internal issues that they have to concentrate on; many countries are indebted, many have their own conflicts. https://sputnikglobe.com/20231211/waning-funding-us-voters-and-gop-aligned-on-ukraine-aid-1115517968.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240112/attacks-on-yemen-put-us-on-very-slippery-slope-to-war-1116135685.html ukraine yemen Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International pentagon inspector general's report on the us' ukraine aid, us and uk strikes on houthi targets in yemen, escalation of the situation in yemen, kirby's announcement on us' ukraine aid coming to halt, us aid to ukraine, western aid to ukraine, military aid, gaza war, red sea crisis, us-uk strikes on yemen, us-uk strikes on houthis Many in Syria are apprehensive about the current year, anticipating a worsening economic situation, particularly regarding prices, the pro-government Syria Steps writes. Many citizens are apprehensive about the current year, anticipating a worsening economic situation, particularly regarding prices. The year began on an ominous note, particularly in relation to fuel prices. On the third day of the year, the government decided to increase the selling price of a litre of diesel for all non-public transport and agricultural tractors to 11,880 SYP. Subsequently, the price of 90-octane gasoline for the private sector was raised to 10,896 SYP from its previous 9,000 SYP, and the price of diesel increased to 10,895 SYP per litre. Fuel tons surged to about 6.5 million SYP, and liquid gas exceeded 10 million SYP per ton. Issam Tizini, the Secretary of the Homs Chamber of Industry, contends that these decisions are inevitably pushing the Syrian street towards increased hardship, especially for consumers. Tizini notes that the burden of these price hikes falls on the citizen, who is the last link in the economic process. While recognizing the industrialists perspective on the reasons behind the energy price increases, he emphasizes that they are not aligned with the wages of employees and workers. Tizini insists that an increase in product prices across the board must be considered. Addressing the distribution of fuel to industrialists and traders, Tizini acknowledges the sufficiency of quantities, especially after the ceiling for companies of gasoline was raised. However, he highlights that the challenge lies in the difficulty of obtaining these materials, citing issues such as payment obstacles through banks and cumbersome procedures hindering the work of industrialists and traders. Tizini suggests that the governments decision-making regarding oil prices may not be thoroughly considered, potentially reflecting the states financial constraints. Tizini expresses concern that the current year could be more perilous in terms of price increases, citing indicators observed in the first week. He suggests that for the government to truly serve the consumer, it must facilitate conditions for the producer rather than issuing decisions that obstruct production and prompt capital flight. 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. Reports suggest that the United Nations is actively pursuing a permanent extension of the aid transportation mechanism through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, Athr Press says. The United Nations has notified the opposition group in control of northern and northwestern Syria that the aid entry mechanism via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey has been extended for an additional six months, following approval from the Syrian state. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Action in Idleb, representing the Syrian opposition, released a statement confirming the extension. On Friday, January 12, 2024, we were informed by the United Nations that the aid entry mechanism through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey has been extended for an additional six months, effective from January 13 to July 13, 2024. In addition to the extension of aid delivery through Bab al-Hawa, the entry of aid through Bab al-Salama and al-Rai crossings will continue for an additional month under the fourth mandate until February 13, 2024. A diplomatic note from the Syrian mission to the United Nations, dated January 12th, conveyed that the Damascus government will prolong the authorization given to the United Nations for using the Bab al-Hawa border crossing with Turkey to deliver humanitarian aid to northwestern Syria until July 13. Reports suggest that the United Nations is actively pursuing a permanent extension of the aid transportation mechanism through the Bab al-Hawa crossing, aiming to convince Damascus, with discussions leaning towards a longer-term commitment rather than specifying periods of three or six months. Last July, Bassam Sabbagh, the Syrian representative to the United Nations, announced, Damascus has autonomously decided to permit the United Nations and its agencies to utilize the Bab al-Hawa crossing for delivering humanitarian aid to civilians in need in northwestern Syria. This cooperation with the Syrian government is for a duration of six months, beginning from July 13, as reported by AFP. However, Damascus remains critical of the aid entry mechanism through these crossings. In a statement at a Security Council meeting, Bassam Sabbagh emphasized, The insistence on continuing this mechanism, marred by numerous defects and irregularities, reflects blatant selectivity and clear discrimination among Syrians who deserve to receive humanitarian aid. Furthermore, Russias Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the Deputy UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, David Cardin, of closely cooperating with armed factions in Idleb. Nebenzia stated, The Syrian armed groups in Idleb have established close cooperation, somewhat fruitfully, with Mr. David Cardin, the United Nations Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for Syria, who happens to be a British national. Nebenzia noted that Russia rejected a decision to channel humanitarian aid to northern Syria through Turkish territory without passing through Damascus. 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. January 13, 2024: The Iran-backed Shia rebels (Houthi) are losing but refuse to make peace, in part because of continued Iranian support and partly out of fear of the consequences. Yemen has proved to be an embarrassment for Iran and the Saudi/UAE backed legitimate Yemen government. The other Arabs are not willing to suffer the heavy casualties a quick victory against the Shia Houthi rebels would require. Houthi is the name of the Yemen Shia tribe leading the rebellion. The war dragged on into 2024 and wont end until Iran halts its support. There are growing anti-government protests in Iran about this. Irans expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen are unpopular with Iranians who had seen their standard of living decline noticeably in the last few years. Despite that, Iran smuggled more and more weapons to the Shia rebels of Yemen. These weapons were meant to be used for both the ongoing Yemen civil war and against targets designated by Iran. In late 2023 and into 2024 Iran ordered that ship traffic off the west, or Red Sea coast of Yemen, be attacked to halt or disrupt shipping headed through the Suez Canal. This route reduces shipping time by several weeks because the only alternative is to travel around the southern tip of Africa and up to the Gibraltar Straits into the Mediterranean or west to other Atlantic Ocean ports. Iran ordered the Yemen Shia rebels to make a maximum effort to disrupt shipping headed for the Suez Canal. Transit fees from ships using the canal are a major source for Egypt, bringing in nearly $10 billion a year. Ships passing through the Canal account for 15 percent of global maritime trade. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make that success possible. These attacks on Red Sea shipping brought an armed response from Western navies, especially the United States and Britain, which waited for over a month before attacking the Yemen Shia rebels and their stockpiles of Iranian weapons. Even the UN approved of military operations against the disruptive Shia rebels in Yemen. In early 2024 the attacks on the Shia rebels in Yemen began and might escalate as long as the Shia rebels continue to disrupt shipping traffic in the Red Sea. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to their civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two different countries both called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to seal the deal. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. This whole nation idea is still looked on with some suspicion by many in the region. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship. For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Islamic militants in the north. They have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam religious leader. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of splitting the country in two and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support Islamic terrorist groups. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continues to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf states like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the border with Saudi Arabia. Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles that could hit Saudi and UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also began firing missiles at targets passing the Yemen Red Sea coast controlled by the rebels. Syria said it recognizes the People's Republic of China as the legitimate government of China, of which Taiwan is an inseparable part, according to al-Baath. Syria has declared its unwavering support for the One-China Principle, which recognizes the Peoples Republic of China as the legitimate government, and asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates emphasized its solid backing of Beijings efforts to maintain Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. The statement stressed the countrys firm stance against external interference in Chinas internal affairs and denounced any provocations or actions that could escalate tensions in East Asia, potentially undermining international security and stability. Furthermore, the Syrian government maintains that Taiwan is an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China. This position, as outlined by the Foreign Ministry, remains unaffected by any procedures or elections occurring in Taiwan. 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. Egg prices exceeded 60,000 pounds per plate and chicken cutlets reached 70,000 pounds per kilo, Syria TV reports. Media outlets loyal to the Syrian regime reported a decision by the Fuel Company to quadruple the price of farm diesel, from 2,000 to 8,000 Syrian pounds. This decision affects poultry breeding facilities in Syria, including broilers, layers, and broilers, as well as hatcheries for breeding chicks. Announced on Saturday, the decision follows the Economic Committees recommendation. It was stated that the increase to 8,000 pounds would be implemented through a precise mechanism to ensure facilities receive their allocations. This will be coordinated between the Ministries of Agriculture and Oil in Assads government. This isnt the first fuel price hike by Assads government, particularly for diesel. However, this fourfold increase in livestock material prices has caused significant shock, as evidenced by Syrians on social media. Many anticipate that chicken prices will match a government employees salary, while others fear the impact on egg prices. A poultry owner in Damascuss countryside, cited by Al-Watan newspaper, mentioned that they receive diesel at 2,000 pounds per chicken, adjusted monthly: 10% for chickens, 5% for layers. Al-Watan reported that egg prices exceeded 60,000 pounds per plate and chicken cutlets reached 70,000 pounds per kilo in some markets. According to a source from the Poultry Committee of the Syrian Agricultural Chambers Federation, the leaked decision is incomplete. Its full details will be released following a Tuesday meeting. The source believes the decision benefits poultry farmers, offering diesel at prices lower than the black market. Contrary to Al-Watans source, the leaked decisions reception on social media is overwhelmingly negative. Syrian journalist Kenan Wakaf expressed on Facebook that the decision is a major blow to the poultry sector, hinting at potential regime control over it. He mentioned restrictions on buying production materials exclusively from regime-linked companies over the past two years. He concluded, Broilers are worth a salary. Pro-regime page administrators are also concerned about the impending price increases for chickens and eggs, questioning the consequences of this hike. 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. Your daily brief of the English-speaking press on Syria. On Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced that Turkey conducted airstrikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria. This action followed an attack on a Turkish military base in Iraq that resulted in the death of nine Turkish soldiers the previous day. In parallel, the emergence of a social media campaign advocating for the removal of Syrian residents in Egypt has sparked outrage and prompted inquiries into the underlying motives behind such an initiative. Syria extends aid deliveries via Turkey for six months The Syrian government has extended its approval for humanitarian aid to be delivered to rebel-held parts of the countrys northwest through a border crossing with Turkey for another six months, Reuters reported. The United Nations has been using the Bab al-Hawa crossing from Turkey to deliver aid to millions in northwest Syria since 2014 with authorization from the U.N. Security Council. That expired in mid-2023 after the 15-member body failed to reach an agreement to extend it, and the Syrian government then said the U.N. could continue using the Bab al-Hawa crossing for another six months. In a diplomatic note seen by Reuters and dated Thursday, Syrias mission to the United Nations said Damascus would extend its permission granted to the United Nations (UN) to use Bab al-Hawa crossing to deliver humanitarian assistance to the North-West of Syria for an additional period of six months until 13 July 2024. Damascus has also allowed the U.N. to send aid through two other Turkish crossings after an earthquake killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria last year. That authorization is set to expire on Feb. 13th. Turkey launches airstrikes against Kurdish militants in Iraq and Syria after 9 soldiers were killed Turkey carried out airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in neighbouring Iraq and Syria on Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said, coming a day after an attack on a Turkish military base in Iraq killed nine Turkish soldiers. According to AP, The defense ministry said that aircraft struck targets in Metina, Hakurk, Gara and Qandil in northern Iraq, but didnt specify areas in Syria. It said fighter jets destroyed caves, bunkers, shelters and oil facilities to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces and to ensure our border security. The statement added that many militants were neutralized in the strikes. On Friday night, attackers attempted to infiltrate a military base in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region, killing five soldiers. Four others died later of critical injuries. The Turkish government said that 36 militants were killed in Iraq, and nine others in Syria, in the 24 hours following the attack. There was no immediate comment from the PKK, the government in Baghdad or the Kurdish regions administration. Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq in April 2022, during which it established several bases in Duhok Governorate. Baghdad has repeatedly protested the presence of Turkish troops and called for their withdrawal. Sweden to put former Syria general on trial over suspected war crimes A former Syrian army general is set to appear before a Swedish court to face charges over his alleged role in war crimes committed 12 years ago, Middle east Monitor has reported. According to an indictment seen by the AFP news agency this week, 65-year-old Mohammed Hamo who lives in Sweden has been accused of involvement in the indiscriminate strikes on and surrounding the Syrian cities of Hama and Homs between January 1 and July 20, 2012. Those strikes during the early days of the ongoing Syrian civil war were reportedly conducted from air and land without distinction between civilian and military targets, blatantly defying international law. Hamo is accused of having particularly made decisions regarding the arming of operational units and the implementation of various military operations. According to the cases prosecutor Karolina Wieslander, Hamo and the activities he allegedly participated in failed to respect the principle of proportionality in war to achieve the stated military goal. His upcoming appearance at the court in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, will reportedly include the testimonies of seven civil parties, many of whom are Syrians from the affected cities in question. It will be the latest legal challenge and potential prosecution against a former member of the Syrian regimes military or security apparatus, others of whom have been put on trial throughout a number of European countries in recent years. Social media hate campaign in Egypt calls for expulsion of Syrians A social media campaign calling for the expulsion of Syrians living in Egypt has caused anger and raised questions about the motives behind it, according to The National. Egypt says it is home to nine million guests, the term used by government officials when referring to migrants. Syrians, mostly families who fled civil war, are thought to account for 1.5 million of those, making up the second largest group after about five million Sudanese. The government has publicly distanced itself from the social media campaign and sought to make clear that this was unrelated to a recent count of foreigners living in Egypt. Unlike the Sudanese or the Iraqis, many Syrian migrants quickly established themselves in business after their arrival a little more than a decade ago. They have opened thousands of stores and restaurants across the country that have become popular with Egyptians. Their success was celebrated by Egyptians as an example of how hard work and entrepreneurship pay off. In hundreds of social media posts in recent weeks, Egyptians have condemned Syrians as parasites, black marketeers, hoarders and a burden on a country sagging under the weight of its worst economic crisis in decades. The posts blamed Syrians for steep rises in the cost of goods and housing, with some social media users declaring their intention to bar them from renting or buying flats in their buildings. Syrian farmers abandon the land for steadier jobs Arab News has published a report highlighting the situation of Syrian farmers in the Raqqa province who are increasingly abandoning their agricultural livelihoods, which were once the backbone of northeast Syrias economy, in favour of more stable and less risky employment opportunities. This shift, driven by the need to ensure financial security and contend with challenges like drought, rising costs, and ongoing conflict, underscores a significant transformation in the regions socio-economic landscape, with implications for its agricultural future and the lives of its rural communities. After years of war, drought and economic crisis, Omar Abdel-Fattah was forced to rent out his farmland in northeast Syria, preferring a more stable job to provide for his family. It breaks my heart to see someone else working my land, said Abdel-Fattah, 50, who grew wheat, cotton and vegetables in Jaabar Al-Saghir, in Syrias Raqqa province, for three decades. He said he had to abandon agriculture to make ends meet and provide an education for his eight children because he can no longer keep up with the costs of farming, including irrigation. Agriculture was once a pillar of northeast Syrias economy. The region was the countrys breadbasket before 2011, when the government repressed peaceful protests, triggering a conflict that has killed more than 500,000 people and displaced millions. Now the effects of climate change particularly rising temperatures and drought along with spiralling costs are dealing a heavy blow to agricultural production and the families that depend on it to survive. Abdel-Fattah found a job at a water pumping station run by the areas semi-autonomous Kurdish administration. It pays around $70 a month, so he also runs a small shop on the side selling hardware and other items to get by. Some of his relatives have also rented out their land, while others have left Syria because of the dire financial situation there, Abdel-Fattah said. He urged the Kurdish administration and international agricultural organizations to provide support and loans for farmers in the area. This is the only solution to save agriculture, help farmers and encourage them to return to their fields again, he said. From regenerative braking to the quiet hum of battery-powered cruising, electric vehicles are upending many a fundamental when it comes to the traditional driving experience. Slide into the cockpit of a contemporary EV, though, and you'll notice another bit of hardware getting an unexpected rethink: the humble interior light. Gone is the jaundiced bulb that blinks on when a car door is opened, the one your parents warned had to stay off while the vehicle was in motion. In its stead? A veritable LED disco. Today the interior of nearly every battery-powered car is veined with lights in the dashboard, door frames, foot wells and ceiling. Drivers of the Cadillac Lyriq, for example, can change the cockpit lights to virtually any hue using a touch-screen color wheel. The BMW XM hybrid, meanwhile, has recessed lights bordering the entire headliner, which makes the car feel like a swanky club or a museum, depending on the chosen shade. At night, the cockpit of the Mercedes EQS SUV is a symphony of lights conducted by the accelerator: Speed away from a stoplight and they pulse red. We are now on WhatsApp. Click to join. To hear automakers tell it, the right lighting goes a long way. Fill the cabin with light that reflects mood or creates emotion, Cadillac intones of the Lyriq's ambient options. But in reality, lights are a cheap trick and that's kind of the point, says Maeva Ribas, director of The CARLAB Inc., a consultancy that helps auto giants develop new vehicles. As carmakers go electric, they're sending more resources in budgets and brains straight to battery-powered models. That means anyone looking for the latest, greatest and most frivolous in auto innovation will increasingly find it in an EV. All the new cool stuff, generally speaking, is going into these new EV products, because there is kind of a limitation in how much capital in general is going into legacy ICE platforms, says Mike Ramsay, an auto analyst at Gartner Inc. Take the BMW iX. Its stereo is turned up by twirling a finger in the air, its doors are heated, and the car's yawning sunroof snaps from crystal clear to opaque with the push of a button. Rivian's R1T pickup and R1S SUV have built-in air compressors on board, so they can refill their own tires after driving off-road. In the Fisker Ocean, the center screen rotates from vertical to horizontal (the carmaker calls it Hollywood mode), while the Polestar 2 has an adaptive air filter that cranks into higher gear when it detects pollen and pollutants. The Genesis GV70 boasts active-noise cancellation in the cabin and a fingerprint scanner that configures the car for whoever is behind the wheel. In the Nissan Ariya, one button moves the whole center console gear selector, cupholders, etc. to the rear, which affords the driver both more space up front and some Captain Kirk cosplay. All of this EV cockpit peacocking doesn't mean gas cars are disappearing: After climbing by a third in 2023, global annual EV sales are expected to increase just 19% this year, according to a forecast by BloombergNEF. Many of the legacy gas-burning platforms are being extended as auto executives pump the brakes on the EV transition. But Ramsay expects the R&D momentum in particular to stay focused on electric models. From now on, [for gas-burning cars] it's going to be iterative, he says. There's a desire for EV vehicles to seem more technologically advanced. At CARLAB, Ribas says she and her team are constantly asked by carmakers to cram EVs with as many tech gizmos as possible. It's a clever way to cover the crummy economics of an electric drivetrain, she says, and specifically the high cost of batteries. Unfortunately, right now, all the [original equipment manufacturers] are doing what we call the shotgun approach, she says. We're just packing the cars with stuff a bunch of features that are not necessarily added value for the consumer. The battery on the BMW iX, for example, has a capacity of 110 kWh, which costs BMW around $15,000, according to BloombergNEF. That's the main reason the model starts at $87,100 nearly one-third more than a similarly sized gas-burning BMW. It's a price made more palatable by a bit of cockpit wizardry. Why not, for example, have an EV app that changes the way music sounds based on how the car is being driven? That's what Mercedes debuted at CES last week as part of a collaboration with musician Will.i.am. Every single drive will have a different version of whatever song that they've been driving to,' the Black Eyed Peas founder told Car and Driver. Ironically, the interior-innovation approach is more evident outside of the luxury brands. Ford customers, for example, aren't thrilled about paying $43,000 for a small SUV the starting price of its electric Mustang Mach-E when a Mustang that runs on dead dinosaur goo starts at $31,000. That's one reason the Mach-E has a supersized iPad on the center stack, while internal-combustion Mustangs have something more comparable to a Kindle. Generally, carmakers have come to the realization that affordable EVs aren't doable, says CARLAB founder Eric Noble. So if you're going to sell only 20,000 units a year, you might as well have those be satisfied people and have those be $70,000 cars. MBABANE In order to optimise its international markets, the Kingdom of Eswatini seeks to leverage its embassy network for trade and investment promotion. This is part of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trades strategies for this year going forward. These strategy outlined by the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, was informed by the submissions made by emaSwati during Sibaya last year. According to the minister, they seek to approach execution of those submissions as follows: 1) Broad interventions aimed at addressing the issues. 2) Strategies that operationalise those interventions. 3) Where appropriate, budget estimates, will be provided. In an interview with the Times Business desk, the minister said their focus would not be focused much an opening new markets, instead it would be optimising the already existing ones. Khumalo said it was noted that the countrys level of trade with its many trading partners was still very low, hence it required to be enhanced and utilised to the fullest. He noted that Eswatini had many trading agreements with regional and abroad partners. The country has trade agreements with the likes of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), European Union (EU), The minister added that they also wanted to strengthen the agro-value chain. He said in order to do that, their strategy was to support formation of multi-purpose cooperatives to produce for export. He said they also wanted to increase utilisation of the Export Credit Guarantee Scheme. Strategy Khumalo said the ministry was also developing a strategy to increase export promotion activities to available markets for agricultural products. It is worth noting that the recent economic developments report by the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE) for October November 2023, revealed that cumulative exports for 2023 (January-October) amounted to E30.324 billion, a notable increase when compared to 2022 cumulative exports of E26.294 billion. Meanwhile, as at October 2023, imports amounted to E28.479 billion, also recording an increase from cumulative imports of E26.380 billion recorded in 2022. The direction of trade has not shifted from South Africa being the dominant trading partner, absorbing 68.5 per cent of exports in October, followed by Kenya at 4.9 per cent, Nigeria at 4.7 per cent and lastly Zimbabwe at 2.6 per cent. Exports Main exports to South Africa included soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood and textile products, while to the rest of Africa, Eswatini mostly exported soft drink concentrate and sugar. Details in October 2023 export data illustrates an increase of soft drink concentrate exports of 6.5 per cent month-on-month to E1.759 billion, accounting for 49.7 per cent of total exports in the month. On a year-on-year basis, this was 27.3 per cent higher compared to October 2022. Sugar and sugar products on the other hand fell by 32.8 per cent month-on-month to E726.2 million, while on a year-over-year comparison, sugar exports were 20.6 per cent higher. Exports of textile and textile apparel displayed a sizable month-on-month increase of 29.2 per cent to E355.0 million; however, on a year-on-year basis this was 18.1 per cent lower. Wood and articles of wood also recorded a fall of 8.0 per cent in October 2023, to E224.7 million and 6.5 per cent higher when compared with the same month in 2022. NGABEZWENI His Majesty King Mswati III yesterday said Incwala ceremony was made in heaven. Dispersing the regiment (libutfo) yesterday, Ingwenyama said it was not a coincidence that Incwala ushered emaSwati to the new year. The main Incwala was observed on December 30, 2023 and the burning of the log happened on January 1, 2024. The burning of the log signifies the end of the old year and the beginning of a new year. It also marks the beginning of the weeding of the royal fields. This time, the burning of the log happened exactly on New Year. His Majesty the King said the burning of the log on New Year was not just a coincidence, as some people might assume, but the was designed in heaven. Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, Cabinet ministers, royalty, chiefs, dignitaries and hundreds of people attended yesterdays event, which marked the end of the weeding of the royal fields and beginning of State duties for the 2024 calendar year. Religious leaders were also present. The King said God made humans in all their diversity, according each of them cultural values, with emaSwati deciding to stick to Incwala. He said emaSwati found the sacred ceremony being practised, as it was discovered by the nations forefathers, imploring the current generation to keep it for the next one. The King thanked God and the ancestors for ensuring that this years Incwala was a success. He also applauded the women regiment for participating in the ceremony, alongside the male youths. He assured them that they would reap blessings for participating in these events. Ingwenyama advised emaSwati to know the significance of Incwala and when they could sing a certain song. He said each and every song had its meaning and time for observance. The King said some songs were meant to be sung on that particular day only. He warned against singing special Incwala songs on any day of the year, saying such practise was wrong and against the culture of the Eswatini people. He said Incwala songs were different from general traditional songs, which could be sung anytime or on any day of the year. The King said Incwala songs were not composed for playing. Such songs were not composed for joking or playing, the King warned. He ordered senior warriors to teach others on the songs. Ingwenyama mentioned that Incwala also signified farming that culminated in a bumper harvest. Ceremony He declared 2024 as a year of bumper harvest. He said the ceremony was observed during rainy days, an indication that Eswatini would have plenty food this year. He said the rains also demonstrated the food security the country would have and dependence on other nations should be a thing of the past. His Majesty said there was no justification for hunger when God had given the country abundant rain. We will not even pay for this water. Its free from heaven, the King said. The King urged people to share successes and possessions. He said the country would develop when emaSwati take care of each others needs.Dont eat alone, but share with others, he said. He added that 2024 was not a year of problems, but solutions. He said the country needed social, economic, health and political solutions to develop the nation. The head of State said the nations agility in conquering COVID-19 was a sign that there was no problem emaSwati could not solve. He called upon emaSwati to support each other with integrity and truth. He said lies would not help the country. He said the nation was known for holding firm in respect and implored emaSwati to continue with virtue. BULEMBU The mining licence given to a Mauritius- based company to extract gold from tailings at Bulembu has been revoked. It could not be immediately ascertained why the Minerals Management Board (MMB) advised the King to cancel the licence.Asked what happened to the mining project that was launched by His Majesty the King in 2016, Robert Biyela, the Commissioner of Mines, said a decision was taken in 2022 to revoke the licence. When he was asked about the reasons for cancelling the licence, Biyela said it was difficult to give details on a matter concerning a person who was still alive and could be the one better suited to shed light on what actually happened, leading to the revocation of the lease. Lloyd Birell, the Chief Operating Officer of Salamander Mining, had not responded to questions on why the licence was revoked or whether they were happy with the Boards decision. Kobolondo Minings ambition was to make use of the minerals available at the defunct Bulembu Havelock Mine, in the northern part of Eswatini. Defunct Minerals such as gold, magnesium, chrysolite, nickel and chrome that need to be extracted from the tailings are believed to be in abundance at the defunct mine. EmaSwati in the northern part of Eswatini had anticipated job opportunities after the King had launched the project. The licence for the mining project to which you are referring was revoked in 2022, the commissioner said. He did not answer the question on why the licence was revoked. A business paper prepared for investment institutions dated July 2020 and seen by this publication states that the Kobolondo project status had completed the following: Scoping phase (completed); Competent persons report (completed); Resource evaluation (completed); Environmental Impact Assessment (completed); Environment licence (pending subject to orphanage relocation plan); Salamander Mining, which prepared the report on the Kobolondo project, stated that it (project) was a high yielding investment opportunity with an investment of E1.8 billion (US$100 million) required for the first phase. The first phase was to see roaster production at 20 000 tonnes per month, translating to 240 000 tonnes per year. At that level, the project had a net present value of E7 billion (US$400 million). According to the documents, during the initial phase, the company had anticipated producing 493 700 tonnes of magnesium sulphate per annum, with a revenue of E2.597 billion. It is said that the investment also included the provision of seed funding to restart the Eswatini Gold Mining Industry, the value of which was exponentially incremental to the returns from the mining project. Kobolondo Mining (KMS) is an Eswatini-registered company jointly owned by Salamander Mining International (SMI), the Ingwenyama in Trust for the Nation and the Government of Eswatini. Salamander is based in Mauritius. Rehabilitate KMS had been granted a mining lease to rehabilitate the tailings and extract, process and upgrade commercially viable minerals, primarily magnesium, nickel and iron, over the extended lease period of 20 years. It must be said that Kobolondo Mining had also obtained a mining lease to rehabilitate the abandoned chrysotile tailings facility at Bulembu, which remained from the now defunct Bulembu Havelock Mine. This also happened in November 2016. The company was unveiled to the Bulembu traditional authorities and Bulembu Ministries by the Minerals Management Board (MMB) during a function held at the Bulembu Community Hall. The then MMB Chairperson, Winston Lomahoza, highlighted that they made a thorough analysis of the scope and implications of the intended work and came to a conclusion that this was a beneficial endevour to the Eswatini nation and government. This was after the company had submitted a proposal to rehabilitate the dumps. Lomahoza said the MMB conducted a due diligence in March 2015, at an operation owned and operated by a technical partner of the company, Birrell Mining International (BMI) at a gold mine in Pilgrims Rest in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa, to show the gold processing and beneficiation. BMI demonstrated that they can efficiently recover gold from an ore or gold bearing or like the dumps at Bulembu. The Board confirmed that BMI is a specialist dumps reclamation entity with operations found in South Africa, remarked Lomahoza. BMI has a state-of-the-art plant, equipment and expertise in the field of reclamation of dumps. Invest The then Hhohho Regional Administrator (RA), Prince Tshekedi, now late, had said the King had seen it fit to give the Bulembu Mine a second chance. He thanked Kobolondo Mining for choosing to invest in the country at a time when the country needed jobs. It must be said that His Majesty King Mswati III granted Kobolondo Mining a 10-year mining lease for the rehabilitation of the tailings.In terms of the Mining Act, Kobolondo Mining could have been owned by the King in trust of the Eswatini nation (25 per cent), government (25 per cent) and the remaining 50 per cent held by Kobolondo Mining International (KMI) based in Mauritius. But, it has turned out that Salamander Mining jointly owns Kobolondo Mining. In June 2017, Kobolondo Mining and Bulembu Ministries Eswatini (BMS) reached an agreement that gave the former the right to purchase the farm and infrastructure of Bulembu. That was subject to certain conditions and regulatory approvals. Activity The BMS had purchased the village and surrounding farm in 2006 and infrastructure of Bulembu following the closure and liquidation of the Havelock Asbestos Mine. At the time, the village was almost deserted, with limited economic activity. What remained was the remnants of the old mining community and its operations. Over the past years, BMS restored the town of Bulembu through a joint strategy of community care and community enterprise. This was achieved through starting several businesses, including Bulembu Honey, Bulembu Water, Bulembu Country Lodge, a dairy and a timber business. Development resulted in the village of Bulembu having an integrated and comprehensive childcare programme for 380 vulnerable children. Welfare Following the granting of the licence to rehabilitate the abandoned tailings dump, BMSs priority was to ensure the welfare of the children in their care, away from the environmental hazards normally associated with rehabilitation activities. The relocation planning process was expected to take some 18 months. According to the agreement, Kobolondo was expected to finance the relocation of the childcare programme in early 2019, in anticipation of the rehabilitation and resultant production processes. In addition, Kobolondo was expected to make annual corporate social responsibility contributions to BMS for the life of the project to assist with the ongoing sustainability of the childcare programme.Kobolondo was to continue to work closely with BMS in managing the relocation to a new site. That was to include minimising the impact on the community, as well as those who were to remain in the village. One of the executives of BMS had said at that time: The agreement that we signed will see the continuation of the good work started by BMS, as well as the rehabilitation activities at Bulembu by Kobolondo, in line with His Majestys wishes within the mining lease. Sue Elsey, who was the CEO of Kobolondo, had mentioned that the next 18 months would involve a great deal of hard work and discussions with all those involved in the planning for the relocation and the village. Kick-start At that time, it was projected that a sum of E550 million could have been the adequate capital to kick-start the project. Word went out that the venture could eventually give back billions of Emalangeni in dividends and taxes of several years.This is due to the fact that there were presumably 48 million tonnes of unrehabilitated mining dumps at Bulembu area and these were said to be rich in minerals, particularly the gold. As it were, the project was necessitated by the fact that the asbestos mining dumps posed a danger to the environment and humans. It was mentioned that the rehabilitation would not only bring in revenue, but would also restore the environment by rehabilitating the mine dumps. Jumbo Offshore, a leading offshore installation contractor based in Netherlands, has been awarded a contract by Mitsui Ocean Development & Engineering Company (Modec) for the pre-installation of the mooring spread of the FPSO Errea Wittu, which will be located offshore Guyana in Africa. 'Errea Wittu' (meaning abundance in local language) will have the capacity to store 2 million barrels of oil. It will produce 250,000 barrels of oil per day and will have gas treatment capacity of 540 million cu ft per day, and water injection capacity of 350,000 barrels per day.. In May last year, Modec had been awarded the engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract for the FPSO, following a final investment decision on the Uaru project by ExxonMobil Guyana Limited and its co-venturers. The FPSO mooring system will be supplied by Sofec, a Modec Group company, and consists of a total of 19 mooring legs. For the project, Jumbo Offshore will be using its unique Heavy Lift Construction Vessel Fairplayer, which allows the transport and installation of the 19 suction anchors, 8,800m of chain sections and 43,168m of polyester rope in the minimal amount of installation voyages, simplifying the logistics involved. Igor Rijnberg, the Head of Sales and Business Development Subsea at Jumbo Offshore, said: The Jumbo Offshore team is very grateful to Modec for this opportunity. We will use the extensive deep-water mooring installation experience gained over the last years to deliver a reliable, smart and efficient project execution." Brian Boutkan, Manager of Commerce at Jumbo Offshore, said, On behalf of the entire team, we are very much looking forward to undertaking this project. Modec can count on Jumbo Offshores total commitment to providing a safe and reliable execution." "As always, we will be approaching this project as a partner to our client, working in close collaboration with Modec to ensure the outcome entirely meets their expectations, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Rack em up! Some of the best pool players in Nebraska are currently in Grand Island for the 2024 Tournament of the Heartland State Pool Tournament. This is the first year the event has been held in Grand Island, said Dianne Willey-Harms, Fonner Park sales and marketing director. After many years in Columbus, the tournament will now permanently be held in Grand Island, said Willey-Harms. They were displaced in Columbus after the closing of Ag Park, the horse racing track there. She said most of the players at this years tournament are from Eastern Nebraska, but there are still several from the central part of the Cornhusker state. She said they expect that to grow in the coming years. With this location, they (The Heartland (Pool) Association) they expect to grow in future years, said Willey-Harms. The event is being held at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center at Fonner Park and 80 tables are being used. Dont think a couple of flakes and subzero temperatures stopped these players from making in to town. Willey-Harms said about 400 were there Friday, with the number expected to grow to 800 over the weekend. The age of pool players range from 21 years of age and up. The divisions in the tournaments including singles and teams. And dont worry about paying to get in and watch the tournament, they wont pick your pocket to come see these players put the eight ball in the corner pocket. Free admission for all who want to watch. The 2024 Tournament of the Heartland started Thursday night and runs through Sunday, Jan. 14. For more information, go to topscoregames.com or heartlandbilliardleagues.com. In a release, the department noted it has a cellular phone line for such emergencies, 402-705-9132. While the line isn't "as quick or convenient as dialing 911, you will still be connected to a 911 dispatcher." The department mentioned there have been a number of outages over the past few months, noting that Windstream Communications is the sole provider for 911 lines in the state. The department said it has been in contact with the state Public Service Commission "requesting immediate action be taken to rectify the cause of these outages." LINCOLN Four University of Nebraska-Lincoln teams won Paper Anvil Awards from the Nebraska chapter of the Public Relations Society of America on Dec. 7. Shari Veil, dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications, was also named Nebraska Professional of the Year. The fall 2022 Campaigns class won best of show in the student category, along with three awards of excellence. Jacht, a full-service, student-led advertising agency in the journalism college, won seven awards of merit. The UNL chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America won an award of excellence, and the 2023 Bateman Case Study Competition team won an award of merit. The annual competition recognizes the best work by Nebraskas public relations, marketing and communication professionals. Students earning honors include Ashley Parra Valencia, senior, advertising and public relations, UNL chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America; and Maria Valdez, 2022 graduate, advertising and public relations, Campaigns class team, both of Grand Island. Hastings students on award-winning teams include Libbie DeBusk, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations, Jacht Agency; Kate Landgren, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations, Jacht Agency; and Maggie Nielsen, senior, advertising and public relations, Jacht Agency and UNL chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. Other area students earning honors were Dulce Garcia of Wood River, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations, Campaigns class team; and Madisyn Krause of Kearney, 2023 graduate, advertising and public relations, Jacht Agency. These awards highlight our students outstanding work and dedication to pursuing excellence in public relations, said Brian Hubbard, assistant professor of practice and co-chair of the colleges student competitions committee. We are committed to providing our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in todays rapidly evolving media landscape, and these awards are a testament to the success of our program. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is celebrating the New Year with limited time deals on select routes for travellers planning their first trip for 2024. Between January 13 and 18, guests can enjoy exciting special offers across the Etihad network, for travel between January 23 and June 15. Whether you are going on a solo trip to explore the wonders of Portugal or planning an expedition with your college friends to chase the Northern Lights, you can book tickets to Lisbon and Copenhagen starting at AED2,595 in economy class and AED12,995 in business class, the airline said. Munich offers a warm welcome and lively culture in the heart of Bavaria, Germany with business fares starting at AED12,995. Those seeking calm or wild adventures in Asia, can take advantage of deals starting at as low as AED895 to Kozhikode in economy, AED2,495 to Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and AED4995 to Osaka while business class fares starting at AED8,995. And travellers heading to explore new places in the US can book their tickets to Boston starting at AED3,895 in economy and AED19,995 in business. Etihad services to the famous US city are set to start on March 31. Etihad guests in premium cabins travelling from Abu Dhabi can enjoy the impressive new lounges at Terminal A. The Etihad lounges are accessible to guests flying in Etihads The Residence, First and Business Class and Etihad Guest members with eligible tier status. Guests flying in Economy who wish to enjoy the exclusive lounge space can purchase access, subject to availability. - TradeArabia News Service 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 Zip Code Islamabad, Jan 14 (UNI) Five soldiers and three terrorists were killed in a clash in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, an army statement said. The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said late Saturday night that an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the Buleda area of Kech district of the province. The IED explosion was followed by an intense exchange of fire between security personnel and the terrorists, the ISPR said in a statement, adding that five soldiers and three terrorists were killed during the clash. A clearance operation has been carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, the statement said. The military said that the security forces of Pakistan remain determined to thwart the attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress in Balochistan, and such sacrifices of soldiers have further strengthened the nation's resolve. UNI/XINHUA AKS ENERGY Minister Stuart Young has taken umbrage at comments made by Ronald Harford, former chairman of Republic Financial Holdings Ltd, as he boasted about the success of the energy sector. Young said whenever somebody becomes a former, their mouth gets big, as he quoted from an article in Fridays Express report where Harford made critical comments. Over the last few years, Leon Coldero has arguably become just as renowned for his insatiable cuisine as he is as an entertainer. Having spent four decades in entertainment, giving soca parang lovers hits that never get old, opening his restaurant was just a natural progression for Coldero, who used the downtime during the Covid-19 pandemic, to delve full throttle into the restaurant business. A new camera system is being installed along this countrys roadways with the aim of tackling traffic congestion and reducing the countrys crime. This was said yesterday by Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan, who spoke with the media at the intersection of the Churchill-Roosevelt Highway and Golden Grove Road in Piarco. With ten people murdered between Thursday and Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley took to Facebook yesterday to assure citizens that State agencies will not give up the fight to rid our streets and other places of the evil that is now widespread as a gun culture in Trinidad and Tobago. And in a voice note to the media, Commissioner of Police Erla Christopher said, We are determined to dismantle criminal gangs and make a difference in transforming impacted communities. Washington, Jan 14 (UNI) US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that his administration had privately sent a message to Iran regarding attacks by Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Red Sea. "Ive delivered weve delivered it privately, and were confident were well prepared," Biden told reporters when asked whether he had a message for the Iranian government amid Houthi activity in the region. In November 2023, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition. In the early hours of Friday, the US and UK military carried out 23 airstrikes on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Sadah, local government sources told Sputnik. Later in the day, the US Air Forces Central said that US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen had hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria later said that the US and the UK had carried out 73 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, killing five fighters and injuring six others. A member of Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." UNI/SPUTNIK AKS In the 1930s, Oscar Webster lost much of his cattle herd to drought and starvation, as did many Arizona ranchers. The government paid a paltry sum for the cattle and shot them on the spot as they were too emaciated to ship to slaughterhouses. Oscars Angora goat herd, however, was considered unworthy of the price of a bullet and left to fend for itself. Those goats became the lifeblood for Oscars family over the ensuing years. At a time when work was almost nonexistent, Oscar acquired a job buying mohair for the Boston firm of Ryder & Brown. He traveled around the territory buying mohair from other Angora goat ranchers and shipping it east. His daughter, Zola, rode with him down deep-rutted roads and across desolate, thirst-quenched plains collecting the precious commodity. Narrow canyon roadways were the most dangerous with towering walls climbing up one side and sheer cliffs plummeting down the other. In 1933, as Zola and her father maneuvered their truck up a particularly narrow passage, they were confronted by a vehicle coming in the opposite direction. Oscar inched closer to the edge of the cliff hoping the other car could squeeze by them. The rocky edge gave way, sending Oscar and Zola plunging over the cliff and into the ravine far below. Within seconds, Zola was flung from the truck but Oscar rode the truck until it landed on the canyon floor, his leg damaged beyond repair. Refusing to lose his leg, he lost his life a few days later. Zola realized it was up to her to continue the mohair business to keep her family afloat. When she asked Ryder & Brown for her fathers position, the company was not convinced a woman could handle the job but finally gave her a chance to prove herself. Zola ran a successful operation for 12 years, expanding her territory to include not just Arizona goat ranches but New Mexico and southern Utah as well. A native Arizonan, Zola Webster was born on Feb. 28, 1897, in the southeastern community of Thatcher. A birth injury left her with a damaged hip the rest of her life. She married Marcus Marc Claridge in 1918, and son Geral was born in 1924. Zola and Marc partnered with Zolas father on the UB Ranch in the Santa Teresa Mountains, a remote, rocky range now part of the Coronado National Forest that, even today, has few passable roads. The closest town, Safford, was 70 miles away and a two-day horseback ride. Zola quickly learned how to handle most injuries and illnesses that occurred on the ranch. Thatcher physician W.E. (Doc) Platt taught her how to set broken limbs, deliver babies, and calm a feverish brow. She also knew if she was not well herself, much of the work on the ranch stopped, such as the day she was helping repair a washed-out road and a rattlesnake bit her hand. Tying a tourniquet around her wrist, she told one of the workers to spit some of his Browns Mule tobacco juice on her injured finger while she made a poultice. Soaking her hand in coal oil and salt that night, she still managed to cook dinner for the ranch hands. She experienced a little numbness and queasiness for a short while but had no other complications. While Marc handled the needs of the cattle on the ranch, Zola was responsible for the welfare of the goats. An adult Angora goat can produce 8 to 16 pounds of mohair a year, a hefty amount when as many as 7,000 animals sometimes roamed the ranch. Mexican herders living in nearby camps watched over the goats. At the time, mohair was stuffed into burlap bags and transported by rail to Boston. And it was obvious where one shipment came from when one of the bags delivered to the Boston company contained a live rattlesnake. When Zolas first load of mohair was ready to head east in the fall of 1937, one newspaper noted the shipment contained a pooled carload from 11 Graham county herds, consisted of 50,000 pounds of fine mohair. Mrs. Claridge is believed to be the only woman wool buyer in the United States. In 1938, Zola and Marc sold their property and bought a farm in nearby Central, Arizona. Zola was elected chair of the Graham County Republican Party, a post she held for 15 years. She set her sights on organizing the local women as she was keenly aware, If you want good political workers, get the women. She attended the Republican National Convention in Chicago in 1952 and was a member of the Electoral College in 1964. She and Barry Goldwater became good friends. Shortly after the end of World War II, Zolas nephew, 8-year-old Dennis, visited the farm and spent several summers with Zola and Marc. The youngster was amazed at the work accomplished on a daily basis, along with the honesty and friendship that existed within the community. When we took the six-mile ride into Thatcher to purchase a hay baler, gas, tires, wire, or seed, he remembered, nothing was ever written down; transactions were based upon a persons word. At the end of the month my aunt or uncle would ask, what do I owe you, and then pay the bill. There were no questions asked and no paper was exchanged. I marveled at this set of business ethics. Dennis watched his Aunt Zola take food and medicine to anyone in need. The morals, ethics, and values that comprised my aunts and uncles rural and agricultural lifestyle became a part of me and formed an essential part of my overall education. That young boy eventually followed his aunt Zola into politics. Dennis DeConcini, a Tucson Democrat, served as a U.S. senator from Arizona for 18 years. Zola died on June 15, 1974, at the age of 77. As someone once remarked, she was tough as a boot, outspoken in her views, and not shy about expressing them. All of these traits served her well on Arizonas rough, rocky rangeland. The path appears clear for Marana to gain a continuation of the states designation that it has an assured, 100-year water supply, despite a local conservation groups strenuous objection. Such a determination by the Arizona Department of Water Resources would allow continued, rapid subdivision development, mostly relying on groundwater pumping, for another decade in Marana, long one of the states fastest-growing communities. It would allow population to more than double by then within Maranas water service area to about 72,000 people, town officials say. The department recently signaled its likely to approve the towns application to modify its existing assured water supply designation, first granted in the 1990s, by declaring it administratively complete about a month ago. That action came after 18 months of negotiations between ADWR and Marana to repair what the state had previously said were deficiencies in earlier versions of the towns assured water supply plan. This determination shows the state believes Marana is close to proving it meets seven criteria established in regulations for showing it has an assured supply. They include having a water supply that is physically, legally and continuously available and demonstrating the financial capability of providing it. The state cant make a decision, however, until after it gives the public until Jan. 22 to file formal objections to Maranas request. Then comes a review period of up to 60 days for ADWR to determine if the applications substance meets state requirements. If the department decides to hold a hearing on any objections, that would push a decision back 30 more days. An objection has already been filed by the conservation group Tortolita Alliance. It contends the proposed assured supply status relies way too much on groundwater and that projected declines in the areas water table due to pumping are excessive. Town officials, however, say the projected declines are actually unlikely to happen. Maranas total population was nearly 56,000 in July 2022, the most recent U.S. census report shows. But many of the existing residents live in parts of Marana that get water from the Tucson Water utility rather than from Marana Water. Marana Mayor Ed Honea has predicted the town could reach a total population of 100,000 by the late 2020s. The regional Pima Association of Governments has projected slower growth, reaching about 78,300 people by 2035 and 86,000 people by 2040, but Marana officials say the towns growth has often outstripped others projections. Lowering the groundwater table Maranas application, from May 2022, said its computerized models found its groundwater pumping over the next decade will lower the areas water table as deep as 800 feet, and drop 120 feet below current levels. The 800-foot depth is 200 feet higher than the 1,000-foot-limit allowed under state regulations. The modeling results indicate that the regional aquifer contains sufficient groundwater to meet Maranas projected demands, plus other water demands in nearby areas for at least 100 years, said the towns assured water supply application, written by the hydrologic consulting firm Montgomery and Associates. On Friday, Marana Water Director Jing Luo said the current application has met all the states standards for showing an assured water supply. We will be working with ADWR to address every concern and objection received through their public process. Marana remains dedicated to proactive, transparent, and comprehensive water resource management, Luo said. The Tortolita Alliance says such a decline wouldnt be healthy for the aquifer since native groundwater, once pumped out, is likely gone forever. Such concerns are shared by some private hydrologists and university water researchers who have in the past told the Star they fear water level declines on similar scales could trigger subsidence, or sinking of the aquifer, reduce water quality and make pumping much more expensive. But Marana officials say the groundwater pumped will be replenished by artificial recharge of renewable Colorado River water into the aquifer through nearby, manmade basins, and that the water table most likely wont drop 800 feet. Recharge would be done by a regional water agency, known as the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District. Colorado River shortages The Tortolita Alliance still objects to the application. Its president, Mark Johnson, says Maranas ability to qualify for continued assured water supply designation illustrates what he sees as a major disconnect between some requirements of state water law and what he considers prudent land and water supply planning. He is particularly concerned about officials ability to keep recharging Colorado River supplies into the aquifer due to the likelihood of future river water shortages. His objection letter said Maranas projected future population and water demands are unrealistic and unsustainable. While a 1,000-foot reduction in groundwater levels is allowable under state law, he said it would still leave the aquifer severely impacted with significant drawdown in water levels 100 years from now compared to todays. No evidence has been provided that indicates the (state-mandated) goal to attain safe yield has been achieved, Johnson wrote. Safe yield means a balance between groundwater pumping and natural recharge. A replenishment district spokeswoman, DeEtte Person, however, said the district is developing a portfolio of backup supplies it can use for recharging in case of shortages. A local water expert, retired U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Engineer Eric Holler, said that as things stand today, the recharge planned by Marana officials should indeed be able to offset its pumping and prevent major water table declines. The purpose of the groundwater modeling is to consider worst-case scenarios absent recharge and replenishment. We do not believe the water table in the area served by the town is very likely to drop to 800 feet deep, or in the vicinity thereof, due to the existing and proposed water usage by Marana Water customers, said Marana Waters Luo. We want to emphasize our dedication to preventing water level declines and maintaining safe yield. The Town is obligated to replenish for its groundwater usage. Our membership in the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District (CAGRD) helps the Town fulfill its obligation to replenish the aquifer, Luo wrote. Shorter projection periods One restriction the state has placed on Marana is in the number of years the town can project its future water demands and supply. One reason is the uncertainty of future Colorado River supplies to the state, which could face deeper cuts, as soon as the end of 2026, than have already been approved. Maranas original application in 2022 had predicted its water demand and total available supplies by 2041. But in July 2023, ADWR told Marana Water officials it would no longer consider an application whose term stretches longer than 10 years. The department has taken the same position for pending modifications and extensions of assured water supply designations for other municipal water providers, including in Tucson and the Phoenix area. David McKay, manager of ADWRs assured supply program, cited revised projections and ongoing assessments for water availability in the state, Marana Water Director Luo wrote in a follow-up letter to McKay on Aug. 4, 2023. That caused Marana to change its application period to the years 2023 through 2032. That means Marana must go through this same process in a decade for its assured water supply status to continue. Concerns about groundwater use Maranas reliance on groundwater as an assured supply comes as the use of groundwater to support growth is coming under question elsewhere. Its assured water supply application from May 2022 notes, The focus of this analysis for Marana is groundwater from the regional aquifer. While Marana will use some of its renewable supplies of Central Arizona Project water and sewage effluent by recharging that water and recovering it by pumping it later, this analysis assumes projected demands are met via groundwater withdrawal. Continuous and physical availability of groundwater to Marana for 100 years is demonstrated by a groundwater model, said the application from Montgomery and Associates. Tucson, which has a far greater CAP supply than Marana, gets most of its drinking water from CAP water. The water is artificially recharged into the aquifer and pumped back out before its sent to customers for drinking. In Pinal County, the state hasnt authorized growth based on groundwater pumping since 2019, when an ADWR computer model found inadequate groundwater to support additional housing development. In the Phoenix area, the state in June 2023 announced it would not certify any new subdivisions relying on groundwater as having an assured supply although cities such as Phoenix, Goodyear and Peoria that have their own designations of assured supply can keep growing. Probably the fiercest case against the use of groundwater to support new development was laid out in a 2021 report from water researchers at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy. Titled The Myth of Safe Yield, the report made a detailed and passionate case against allowing new growth based on groundwater. In particular, the report criticized the state groundwater acts provision allowing groundwater to be withdrawn as deep as 1,000 feet in the Tucson, Phoenix and Prescott areas and 1,100 feet in the Pinal County water management area. These numbers are not based on hydrological principles of the sustainable amount of groundwater that an aquifer can yield, said the report from Kyl Center Director Sarah Porter and senior research fellow Kathleen Ferris, a former ADWR director and chief counsel. Rather, they are arbitrary numbers, picked because they are less than the 1,200-foot depth to groundwater that was permitted under the states 1973 adequate water supply program, in which 1,200 feet was the deepest well in the state at the time, the report said. In his objection letter, Tortolita Alliances Johnson wrote that Maranas proposed sources of water supply include 72% groundwater, 15% CAP water from the Colorado River, 12% treated sewage effluent and 1% coming from state-approved credits allowing a little more pumping based on water supplies previously artificially recharged into the aquifer. Maranas application should not be approved until additional permanent and renewable sources of supply are secured, he wrote. But in a recent email to the Star about Maranas application, Ferris wrote that while she has concerns about pumping at deep levels such as the town proposes, its still within the depth allowed by the rules from the state. Johnson argued that any over-drafting carried out by Marana doesnt meet the states goal of reaching a balance between groundwater pumping and recharge. But Ferris said that argument cant be used as a legal grounds to deny Maranas application for having an assured water supply. Maranas groundwater use would be consistent with the management goal because the town belongs to the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District, she said. Being in the district meets the management goal because the district is required to replenish its excess groundwater pumping, which is most of it, Ferris said. Replenishing aquifers Critics of the groundwater replenishment districts practices have focused on cases some of which occur elsewhere in Pima County in which the district replenishes aquifers with CAP supplies in locations far from where groundwater for new subdivisions is pumped. But thats not whats likely to occur with Maranas pumping and replenishment, former Reclamation engineer Holler says. Thats because groundwater replenishment for Marana will be carried out in two major recharge projects that lie within town limits. The recharge areas also lie within the same Avra Valley sub-basin that the town lies in, meaning the recharged water will likely prevent Maranas pumping from seriously depleting its aquifers, Holler said. They will stop it from falling to 800 feet. They will have an impact, Holler said. The towns wells lie within whats called the area of hydrologic influence of the two recharge projects, he said. Theyre known as the Lower Santa Cruz Recharge Project and the Avra Valley Recharge Project. Both are very near the Santa Cruz River. Treated effluent flowing downriver from Pima Countys two big sewage treatment plants upstream of Marana will also help compensate for the pumping, he said. It has been flowing down the Santa Cruz River for the last 40 years, somewhere around 68,000 acre-feet a year. The only thing Holler said he would question is the impacts to groundwater quality from the mixing of three water sources, effluent, CAP and native groundwater, in a single aquifer. Otherwise, it all looks kosher to me. Getting credits for storing water The replenishment districts long-term recharge capabilities have come under question because of the likelihood of additional cuts in renewable CAP supplies due to continued and possibly worsening Colorado River shortages. The district, commonly called CAGRD, operates under 10-year plans that show where its renewable supplies will come from for the following 20 years. Its current operating plan expires in 2025 and a new plan is being developed. Tortolita Alliances Johnson mocks the states granting of assured water supply designations based on 20-year plans for replenishment. You are not guaranteed over the century that the actual water will be available, he said. If I came out and said I just bought 100 years of water but we only got it for 25 years, they would have laughed me out. Holler disagrees, saying anybody who tries to look out even 40 years in projecting future renewable supplies is wacky. But a rolling 20 yeas, in which you have to go out again and plan (for) another 20 years, that seems reasonable, he said. Person, the replenishment district spokeswoman, told the Star that while the existing district operating plan provides supplies for 20 years, the next plan will demonstrate the CAGRD has sufficient water supplies to meet anticipated demands (for replenishment) over the subsequent 20 years and beyond. The district currently owns permanent rights or leases 100-year rights to recharge 27,000 acre-feet of CAP water statewide for a century and more than 33,000 acre-feet for 25 years, she said. To prepare for CAP shortages, it has also obtained long-term storage credits to additional CAP supplies allowing use of more renewable water for recharge, she said. Such credits typically allow entities that own them the right to pump groundwater because theyve recharged renewable supplies elsewhere. In the Tucson regions state-run water management area, the district has more than 150,000 acre-feet of such credits, plus another 41,000 acre-feet set aside in a reserve account. For comparison, the entire Tucson areas annual replenishment obligation in 2022 was 2,750 acre-feet, Person said. That gives the district 60 years worth of replenishment water for the Tucson area based only on the 150,000 acre-feet of long-term credits. PHOENIX A Mohave County supervisor wants a judge to bar Attorney General Kris Mayes from subjecting him to threats and intimidation for pushing for a hand count of elections. In a new court filing, Ron Gould contends nothing in state law precludes a county from deciding to tally ballots by hand. He claims that a majority of the five-member board would vote for such a procedure were it not for Mayes, in a November letter to the supervisors warning them that going down that path could result in various felonies and misdemeanor penalties. We hope you will choose not to violate the law and thus that it will not be necessary to consider whether criminal prosecution is warranted for conducting an illegal hand count, the attorney general wrote. But Dennis Wilenchik, who is representing Gould, said Mayes is misreading the law. And he said the case that the attorney general is relying on to back her up claims concluded only that counties cannot do full hand-count audits, meaning a separate check of the accuracy of all the ballots to see of the results match what is reported by the vote-tallying equipment. What was not part of that ruling, said Wilenchik, is what at least some Mohave supervisors want to do: scrap the voting equipment entirely in favor of hand counting the ballots. So Gould wants a ruling from a Maricopa County superior court judge that machine tabulation is optional, that the supervisors can make that choice and that he should not be subjected to threats and intimidation by the attorney general for voting to have hand counting be the primary initial method of vote tabulation. A spokesman for Mayes declined to comment. The outcome of the litigation will have implications beyond Mohave County. A final ruling would tell county supervisors throughout the state whether they are free to scrap the voting machines and go back to the way it was before such tallying equipment ever existed. Wilenchik said he believes that is what Arizona law says. Consider, he said, a section of the Election Code which says ballots or votes may be cast, recorded and counted by voting or marking devices and vote tabulating devices. The operative word there, said Wilenchik, is may, meaning the use of vote tabulating devices is optional, not mandatory, under the statutory scheme. And he said while the federal Help America Vote Act prohibits the use of certain tabulating devices for federal elections for example, those that cannot produce a permanent paper record it does not prohibit hand counting. The fight in Mohave County dates back to last summer when the board voted to consider a hand count for the 2024 races. That was scrapped by a 3-2 vote against the plan in August amid various practical concerns. But three months later, board Chair Travis Lingenfelter, who had been one of the foes, put the issue back on the agenda. That gave Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, a chance to argue to the board a hand count would be legal. It was also at that same meeting, however, that Mayes letter was read to the board. Gould contends that had it not been for Mayes letter, Lingenfelter would have voted for the hand count, providing the necessary third vote given his earlier vote against it. Lingenfelter did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But Gould said its only logical. It seems rather odd that he would bring it back up if he had not changed his mind, he said. Arizona courts have rejected various lawsuits contending that the tabulating equipment produced incorrect results in the 2022 election. And the Brennan Center for Justice has concluded that hand counting is more likely to produce errors. There also are checks built into the system, like requirements for machines to be tested before and after elections. Arizona law also requires a random hand count audit where a certain number of races from a certain number of precincts are tabulated by hand to see if the totals match what the machines have counted. Gould said, however, theres a good reason for him to try to get a judge to rule that a hand count is legal. My concern is that my constituents are losing faith in the election process, he said. And Gould brushed aside a question of whether that is happening simply because candidates like Donald Trump and Kari Lake are sowing those seeds simply because they lost their elections. It doesnt matter why they are losing faith in the election, he said. My concern is that theyll quit voting if they lose faith. And Gould said he shares some of their concerns. He pointed out that state law requires each county board of supervisors to certify the results of each election. I cannot tell whether we had a clean election or not because they wont give me information that I need to check, Gould said, specifically citing his demand for the cast vote record. In essence, that is a digital representation of each voters choices, with any identification of the voter stripped away. While mainly used as an auditing tool, it can provide some information to political junkies, like whether a person who voted for Candidate X in one race voted in all the other races, the kind of information that could not be ascertained by simply reviewing the official results. They wont give me the information to do my job, said Gould. Yet he said he gets threatened with prosecution for refusing to rubber stamp the results. Its not just Mayes. Gould pointed out that there were threats of litigation after the 2022 election from Kori Lorick, the state elections director under Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, to bring charges against any county that did not certify the results on time. Im getting tired of people telling me theyre going to throw me in jail for doing my job, Gould said. All that, he said, could be resolved if a judge rules that counting ballots by hand is legally permissible. No date has been set for a hearing. 61 years ago, Billings wheat farmer Henry Bellmon was inaugurated as the states first Republican governor. Bellmon promised an administration that would try to strengthen the states moral fiber to build a self-reliant citizenry. An estimated 4,000 Democrats and Republicans looked on in 32-degree but sunny weather at the Capitol in Oklahoma City as the 41-year-old was sworn in by U.S. District Judge Ross Rizley. Bellmon ended his inaugural speech with a prayer seeking Gods help in the task ahead of him. He went on to serve two terms in the U.S. Senate and a second term as governor almost a quarter-century after the first. He left active politics in 1991, at the end of his second term as governor, but remained involved in public policy. Bellmon died in 2009 after a long battle with Parkinsons Disease at age 88. 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 Federal prosecutions of those who reentered the U.S. after being previously deported have increased 80% from 2022 to 2023 in the Tulsa area, according to a Tulsa World review of past criminal filings. The number of prosecutions in the Northern District of Oklahoma for unlawful reentry of a removed alien increased from 50 filings in 2022 to 91 filings in 2023, the review found. Clint Johnson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, said in an interview that the increase can be traced to the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 McGirt decision, which determined the state of Oklahoma did not have legal jurisdiction in many eastern Oklahoma criminal cases involving tribal members. The ruling swamped the Northern District, which includes Tulsa County and 10 other counties in northeast Oklahoma, with hundreds of new criminal cases that now had to be tried in federal court. Just after McGirt, I had to shift all of my resources, and before I was staffed, to doing the McGirt prosecutions and onslaught of cases that came in 21 and 22, Johnson said. Asked what became of unlawful reentry cases presented to his office during the McGirt onslaught, Johnson said: Just like everything else, we have those cases, but said he had to focus his resources on more violent McGirt-related crimes. Prior to that the cases were there, but they were just lower on the priority list, Johnson said. Johnson said he was able to file more cases in 2023 after receiving more staff, coupled with a decline in McGirt-related filings. Johnson said the offices criteria for accepting reentry after previously deported cases has not changed. Normally what we are looking at when we start looking at these cases are these are all individuals who have been deported from the United States previously, some of them three times, Johnson said. These are all individuals that have prior criminal history. And these are all individuals that currently have pending criminal charges on the state and federal levels. These are people who have been deported, come back in and committed crimes, been deported, come back in and committed more crimes, so thats kind of what we look at when we are looking at individuals, Johnson said. We are not looking at individuals that just came across the border illegally, Johnson said. We are not doing those criminal prosecutions. ICE partnership in Tulsa While the number of prosecutions for illegal reentry may be up in the Tulsa area, cases have declined in recent years nationwide, according to a government report. Since fiscal 2019, the number of illegal reentry cases nationwide has declined 34.3%, or from 18,241 cases in 2018 to 11,978 cases in 2022, according to the report. Many of those prosecuted in Tulsa federal court for reentering the U.S. after being previously deported come to the attention of prosecutors through a federal program in place at the Tulsa Jail. Named for a section of federal law in the Immigration and Nationality Act, the 287(g) program allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to partner with locally run jails to identify and remove arrested noncitizens facing unrelated criminal charges. Under the program, jail detention officers are trained to identify removable noncitizens for later review by ICE officials. Jail workers who are trained in the program can detain someone who is suspected of being here illegally for up to 72 hours. Those who have reentered the U.S. may face federal prosecution, too. Tulsa County Sheriffs Office has participated in the program since 2007, according to Tulsa World archives. Tulsa County Sheriff Vic Regalado said the 287(g) program is dedicated to those who were committing crimes that were affecting our community. It wasnt red light running, it wasnt stop sign running as some would have you believe, Regalado said. The real truth was these were individuals that were trafficking in drugs, human trafficking, rapists, child molesters, shooters, gang bangers and things like that, Regalado said. More red tape with 287(g) Elijah Johnson, director of the Tulsa Immigrant Resource Network at the University of Tulsa, expressed concerns about the removals and 287(g) program when asked by the Tulsa World. He said he understands law and order is important, but had concerns some were being removed for minor crimes. Elijah Johnson said Tulsa Countys continued use of the 287(g) program to detain persons suspected of being here illegally after an arrest for an unrelated offense for immigration officials is harmful to the migrant community. The existence of 287(g) is very threatening and oppressive to our noncitizen community members here, Elijah Johnson said. I understand that it empowers, theoretically, a good cooperation between the local government and the federal government. I get that. There are inevitably people who society is going to have detained and kicked out of the country because they are considered bad or dangerous. But that contract and its presence is just a menace to normal, everyday innocent people who are here without documents. Regalado pushed back on the notion that the program hurt relations between the Hispanic community and law enforcement. The overwhelming majority of the Hispanic community ... support this, Regalado said. They dont want criminals here either. To suggest otherwise would be insulting. Regalado did say the program was more effective in 2018 and 2019, when there were fewer hoops to jump through in order to place an immigration hold on the detainee. Well now with the red tape that has been inserted into the 287(g) program, it can take anywhere from a couple days to longer to get back from D.C. the authority to detain somebody, Regalado said. Well, by then this individual has bonded out and taken off and we dont see them again. Its been, in my opinion, rendered ineffective in these last two or three years and thats unfortunate because there were individuals who were committing very serious heinous crimes. Regalado said jail workers in 2023 placed 503 detainer holds on persons suspected of being in the U.S. illegally. Not all detainers result in prosecutions with many opting to be removed voluntarily once their unrelated criminal case is resolved. Prior to 2023, Regalado said detainers have ranged from 291 in 2020, when those records were first kept, to 108 in 2021 and 311 in 2022. Prior to that, he said ICE-trained detention officers encountered 627 individuals in 2018 who were suspected of being here illegally compared to 835 encounters in 2023. Not all encounters lead to a detainer being placed on an individual. They are already sitting in jail Clint Johnson, with the U.S. Attorneys Office, echoed Regalados goals with the program. My mission ... is public safety, and when I have to prioritize public safety, the individuals that have come across into the country illegally, committed crimes, been deported and then come back and commit additional crimes, those individuals I think warrant federal prosecution for my public safety piece of my mission, Johnson said. They are the ones causing the problems. A conviction for unlawful reentry of a removed alien carries a maximum penalty of two years in federal prison. Johnson said those convicted beyond a reasonable doubt face normally anywhere from six months to two years in prison followed by another deportation. All of these cases, I would say 95% of these cases, either come up through separate criminal investigations or they are already sitting in jail pending charges on the state or the federal side of the house, Johnson said. These are not sweeps. We are not going after anybody that crossed the border and is minding their own business, Johnson said. The sheriff blamed red tape implemented in recent years with reducing the effectiveness of the 287(g) program. Regalado said hurdles added in the program in recent years have resulted in some bonding out before they could be detained. In one case cited by Regalado, a man suspected of being here illegally is alleged to have shot at law enforcement while they were serving a warrant. The person was able to bond out before the immigration detainer could be placed on him, Regalado said. He bonded out and guess what, we dont know where he is at today, Regalado said. So somewhere out there is an individual who has shot at at cop. <&rule> Tim Stanley Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Tim Stanley 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 Why her mother could never stop trying to harm herself was a question that Sarah Stitt, as a child, was not prepared to answer. There were things about her past that I didnt understand then that we only learned about in increments over time, Stitt said. But if she ever wondered about it, there were more pressing questions back then that took priority. Such as, how to keep her mom alive that day. Stitts mother, who endured a lifetime of addiction and mental health problems, was no stranger to suicide attempts. Every time it happened, it just meant that we had to do a better job of protecting her, said Stitt, who was raised in Tulsa with her three younger siblings. Keeping my mother alive was our main job growing up, she said. Like living in a kind of pressure cooker, she added, it led to some complicated emotions for her as she got older. Anger toward her mother built up inside of her, threatening to boil over. But at 14 years old, Stitt had an epiphany. And it changed everything, injecting some much-needed hope into their relationship and her outlook. God really, truly spoke to me and helped me understand that I didnt have the experiences my mom had, she said. By then, Stitt had pieced together enough of her mothers past to know shed been a long-term victim of sexual abuse. I realized that when I looked at her through that lens, I understood, she said. And I just felt, all of a sudden, this compassion for her come over me. Once it clicked for Stitt how her mothers trauma was still a controlling force in her life, a lot of what she witnessed began to make sense. At the same time, it reinforced Stitts resolve. While still doing what she could to save her mother, she was determined to chart a different course with her own life, stopping a generational cycle before it could repeat. She had no idea then where that experience would lead. Since becoming Oklahomas first lady in 2018 as the wife of Gov. Kevin Stitt, Sarah Stitt has drawn from her personal experiences in making mental health advocacy her platform. Thats included becoming one of the states biggest promoters of hope science, an emerging field of psychology that could present answers for some of the states most serious social problems, including its high rate of childhood trauma. The science of hope is the basis, in fact, of the Sarah Stitt Hope Foundation and the Hope Rising Oklahoma initiative, which was co-founded by Stitt and is helping promote January as Oklahoma Hope Month. Why is Stitt so keen on hope? It all traces back to her youth in Tulsa, and a volatile family setting that seemed destined to end in disaster. In the end it didnt. But it took effort that Stitt today, in looking back, views as confirmation of advances in how we understand childhood trauma, treatment and hope. A blessing and a platform Ill never forget it: She rolled up to me in her wheelchair, and said, I know what you should talk about, Stitt said, recalling an interaction with her mother in 2018 while her husband was campaigning for governor. I said what, Mom? And she said, You need to talk about mental illness and addiction. At the time, Stitt was trying to decide on her platform as first lady and was considering mental health. But she was wary of the spotlight. How much of her familys private history would she be comfortable sharing publicly? When her mother, unprompted, brought up the subject, it was the nudge Stitt needed. A source of shame and embarrassment for so long, she knew her story could be used to help, Stitt said. I took that as her giving me her blessing. Her mother died not long after that. She was never fully free from addictions grip, or the deep emotional scars of her past abuse. But through her daughter, her story is now reaching people and having an impact she scarcely could have imagined. For Stitt, born Sarah Hazen, the story starts in Tulsa. She grew up in a midtown neighborhood off Third Street and Utica Avenue where her father helped oversee a Christian drug rehabilitation program and transitional home. Many of the houses in the neighborhood were owned by the program and occupied by families receiving services. It was a small community of people seeking, sometimes struggling, to put the past behind them. It was also what brought Stitts father and mother together. The two met when the latter was sent to the program following a suicide attempt. Both of Stitts parents were products of the 1960s-70s counterculture, she said. But while her father had resisted drugs, she said, her mother had become a hardcore addict. And as she got older, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide attempts and erratic behavior came to increasingly characterize her troubled life. It made for a far from idyllic childhood for Stitt. But if there are happy memories, they involve her siblings or the other neighborhood children. Some home lives were better than others, but we all were dealing with a lot of the same things, she said. We all had similar upbringings with parents that were struggling. We were kind of a support group for each other. Stitts biggest support was her father. Though he, too, would later struggle with mental health, he was a pillar of strength during her adolescent years, and took the lead in keeping his wife alive. Over the years, he would help countless people in their recovery efforts. My dad always believed the best in everybody, Stitt said. He was one of those inherently hopeful people. Anger and bitterness With her dad and siblings depending on her, Stitt stepped up, taking on a lot of the responsibility for her mother. I was beginning to grow very bitter and angry toward her, Stitt said. She got to where she was really at a bad place. She was very abusive and very hateful. She lied. She stole. She was very volatile. And I felt like she was choosing to be this way. What Stitt didnt fully understand, though, was that her mother had secrets. It wasnt until I was like 10 or 11 that we began to learn about this severe abuse she had suffered from her own father, Stitt said. My moms earliest memories were of sexual abuse. It started as a child and went all the way up till right before she married my dad. Stitts epiphany at 14 about her moms trauma and its continuing impact happened at a church youth event, she said. Acting out from the mounting pressure, she got in trouble there. It resulted in a long talk with a pastor, who helped open her eyes. It changed my life, Stitt said. I could have gone a completely different way because of how that anger and bitterness was affecting me. And it changed her relationship with her mother. It didnt mean I didnt still get frustrated, but I didnt blame her anymore, she said. When someones been through that much trauma, theres no decision that is normal. I finally got that. About this same time, Stitt was becoming more aware of other families and how they lived. She saw the difference from her family, and realized that not everybody struggles with these things. Realizing there was a better way was one key to her beating the overwhelming odds that she would repeat her mothers missteps. She also found a true mother figure, which in addition to her faith, was critical. It was a woman who had previously lost a child in a tragic accident. This sweet woman really took me as her own and showed me what a relationship could look like, Stitt said. I didnt have an example of a mother. My mom didnt know how to do that. Lives being changed As different as the women are in some ways, the elements of their stories sound remarkably similar. And when Stitts eyes meet theirs, it feels almost like shes looking into her mothers again. Since becoming first lady, Stitt has had many opportunities to meet and speak to various groups of women in recovery. Even now, Im more comfortable in a room with women who are struggling with addiction, incarceration and losing their kids than I am with all the governors up in D.C., she said. One of Stitts goals in the visits is to impart a little hope and inspiration. But it often feels, she said, like shes receiving more than she gives. Just yesterday I sat in a room with several women that had stories just like my mothers, just like mine, and they are finally taking the reins of their own lives and getting the support they need. They are proving to themselves that they can change their future. It encourages me that theres hope, she added, because you see right before you the lives being changed. For many women, its about their own children, she said. That can be a powerful motivation. Because their parents story became their story. And theyre like, I dont want this to be my kids story. Thats what I want people to understand, she added. Nobodys life is perfect. Everybody has issues. But you can break those generational cycles. In Stitts case, she made sure her mothers story did not become her own. But just because the cycle stopped with her doesnt mean she survived unscathed. If you come out of something like that, its always a part of you, she said. And as different as my life is now, I still struggle with a lot of these things. It takes a daily commitment, she said, to not allow life to be defined by past trauma, to not give in to hopelessness, despair or apathy. Apathy is the true opposite of hope, she said, adding that the science of hope has taught her that. Its just a lack of any desire to do anything more for your life and just wanting to give up. I had moments of that. As an adult, Stitt continued to support her mother. There were many years of suffering and trials still ahead, as she sought treatment. While shes gone now, Stitt is confident she would feel good knowing how her story is serving others, particularly in helping dispel shame and the stigma that keeps people from talking about abuse, addiction and mental health. Stitt recalls an elderly man who came up to her to tell her how hearing her speak had recently helped him. He said I realized that I had been abused as a child and Id never even told my children or my wife. And he said I looked at you and thought, this is the first lady of Oklahoma talking about her story. Why have I felt so ashamed about my own? I went home that day and told my family what had happened to me as a kid. I think when people look at me, they understand that it can be anyone, Stitt added. Anytime I get nervous or think that maybe I shouldnt share something, I now think there could be someone in the room that needs to hear this and it might just shift their story. Faces of Hope Do you know someone who has overcome serious trauma in their life to thrive and whose journey might be helpful to others? If that sounds like you or someone you know, reach out to Tim Stanley at tim.stanley@tulsaworld.com. For our Faces of Hope series, we're asking some of our fellow Oklahomans with personal stories of hope to share them with us, as we consider what their experiences affirm about the science of hope. Mental health support If you or a loved one needs mental health support, call Oklahoma's Mental Health Lifeline at 988. The three-digit lifeline is a direct line connecting callers with trained behavioral health professionals. All resources are free. For more information, go to 988oklahoma.com. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Melissa Jacques Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Melissa Jacques 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 While many Oklahoma Department of Transportation employees will be getting a raise, the agencys executive director might see a $60,000 salary increase, it was announced during a meeting of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Commission last week. Commissioners voted to recommend that Gov. Kevin Stitt approve a 32% increase for Director Tim Gatz, taking his salary from $185,000 to $245,000. As a reminder, Tim Gatz is doing two jobs now, Commission Chairman Bob Peterson said during the vote, noting that ODOT and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority used to have separate leadership. Commissioner Michael Junk said the pay raise was nothing Gatz had advocated for. Junk said commissioners dont want to risk losing him the way other state leaders have gone. One of the biggest challenges we have in government is when you establish good leadership is maintaining them. And so one of our biggest fears is not (having) continuity in leadership, he said. Junk, who served on Gov. Kevin Stitts staff during the earliest days of COVID, noted that when they needed a task force leader, Gatz was the choice to help the state determine how to distribute pandemic relief funds. Its not just the Turnpike Authority and ODOT that youve led, Junk told Gatz during the meeting Monday, but really the state as a whole. Gatz told commissioners a market adjustment for ODOT salaries will soon take effect, with raises of varying rates that will not be performance-based. The last adjustment to bring ODOT compensation in line with market standards was in 2022, the agency said. Theres no more important investment we can make than in our people. The reason we perform at the level we do is because of them and the people out there with boots on the ground every day, Gatz said. The pay increases for employees will cost ODOT $10 million for the fiscal year, the agency said in a news release, noting that the raises will not be across the board. During Mondays meeting, commissioners reviewed ODOTs highlights from the past year. Gatz also shared details about ODOTs new made-in-Oklahoma electric vehicle. The Canoo EV will be assigned to ODOTs Multimodal Division, advocating for electric vehicle usage and infrastructure initiatives across the state. Tim Gatz has helped ODOT make big strides in addressing inadequate shoulders along rural two-lane highways, improving seatbelt usage statewide and reminding all Oklahomans every month how important safety is on our highway network, Peterson said in a statement. He has also helped guide the agency by working closely with federal, state and local partners to achieve some of the largest construction contracts ODOT has ever seen. No new road or bridge projects were discussed in the meeting; they will be brought forward in the next commission meeting on Feb. 5. The new Tulsa World app offers personalized features. Download it today. Lynk & Co Automobile International Sales Co. Ltd (Lynk & Co) and GreenLynk Automotives Joint Stock Company on Saturday introduced the Lynk & Co car brand in the southern Vietnamese market with three SUV models. The event also marked the grand opening of the Lynk & Co Center community space at the firms showroom on Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Ho Chi Minh City, adjacent to one of the busiest residential areas, Vinhomes Central Park. It affirms a commitment to bringing quality, outstanding, and distinctive products to Vietnamese consumers, the company said. After the introduction of the Lynk & Co 09 in Hanoi, the inclusion of the Lynk & Co 01 and Lynk & Co 05 SUV models at the brand launch event in Ho Chi Minh City underscores the firm's commitment to enhancing the quality and experience standards for contemporary Vietnamese consumers. Tasco and Geely executives hold a gift at the launch event in Ho Chi Minh City, January 13, 2024. The two models showcase a coupe SUV design, presented on a specially designed runway atop the Lynk & Co Tan Cang Showroom. The Lynk & Co 01, positioned as a C-size SUV with the most robust output in its segment, is equipped with a 2.0L, 4-cylinder high-power turbocharged engine optimized for operational efficiency and fuel consumption within the urban SUV range, thereby minimizing its environmental impact. Featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, the Lynk & Co 01's connectivity system empowers users to effortlessly access music, navigation, and various applications at their convenience, no matter the location. The Lynk & Co 05, identified as a crossover SUV and considered the coupe SUV counterpart to the Lynk & Co 01, boasts a contemporary design featuring superior features, sharp lines, and sporty front and rear bumpers that collectively contribute to a robust and dynamic appearance. The Lynk & Co 01 The third car unveiled at the launch event is the Lynk & Co 09, recently introduced at Tasco Mall Long Bien Hanoi in December, which stands as the flagship line developed on SPA technology. Boasting a 2.0L engine, 254 horsepower, and 350Nm torque, it is complemented by an 8-speed transmission and an AWD system. Tailored to the preferences of Vietnamese users, the distributed Vietnamese version features a 7-seat structure, enhancing its appeal to a wider audience. "I am very honored to be invited to Vietnam again, joining hands with TASCO Group and bringing Lynk & Co's high-end products with traits of individuality, trending, technology, and sporty-feeling to evolve together with the new generation of young consumers in Vietnam, and to wholly upgrade the mobility experience, Liu Xiangyang, senior vice-president of Geely Auto Group and CEO of Lynk & Co, said at the launch. The Lynk & Co 05 GreenLynk introduces the car models from a global brand to Vietnamese consumers to contribute to a sustainable future with high-quality vehicles, while affirming the position and quality standards of the progressive Vietnamese drivers. Founded in 2016, Lynk & Co is a global automotive brand formed as a joint venture between Geely Auto Group and Volvo Car Group. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Khartoum, Jan 14 (UNI) The Sudanese sovereignty council said on Saturday that it had refused to attend the summit of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), scheduled for January 18 in Uganda, since Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group, had agreed to participate in it. On Saturday, Dagalo said on X that he had received and accepted an invitation from the IGAD to attend the summit. "The government of Sudan believes that there is no need to hold a new summit to discuss the issue of Sudan until the results of the previous summit are implemented. What happens in Sudan is its internal affair," the council said in a statement published by Sudanese news agency SUNA. The council also criticized IGAD's failure to implement the results of the recent summit in Djibouti regarding a planned meeting between the leaders of the two parties to the conflict in Sudan. In mid-December, the IGAD said that Abdel Fattah Burhan, the head of the Sudanese sovereignty council, and Dagalo agreed to hold a personal meeting but it was later postponed. In April, violent clashes broke out between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The parties to the conflict have since introduced a number of temporary nationwide ceasefires, but none has helped settle the conflict. In late October, the parties resumed negotiations, mediated by Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, but the hostilities in the country continue. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS More than 2.8 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), along with household businesses, in Vietnam were actively engaged in trading on Chinese-owned short video app TikTok as of November last year, a TikTok Vietnam representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Saturday. Nguyen Lam Thanh, a representative of TikTok Vietnam, said on the sidelines of the TETastic with TikTok - Improving sales program that the five most-wanted sectors on TikTok Shop include fashion, home and life, healthcare, personal hygiene, and beauty. TikTok has been offering various training and content-creating programs to upskill online sellers, said Thanh. In 2023, over 140 free-of-charge training sessions and seminars were rolled out on the platform to help raise participants selling competitiveness, position their brands, and optimize the use of the platform for 50,000 MSMEs. TikTok is cooperating with local authorities and organizations nationwide to speed up digital trading in a bid to beef up the sales and consumption of farm produce. Speaking of the cooperation between TikTok and the Ho Chi Minh City administration, Thanh said that the firm has launched a series of activities to promote tourism and culture, bolster e-commerce, and ensure welfare. The hashtag #HoChiMinhCity reached one billion views on TikTok in over one month, helping introduce the city as an enchanting tourist destination. Meanwhile, the hashtag #chobenthanh (Ben Thanh Market) attracted 122 video posts with more than 200 million views. Provincial and municipal leaders, businessmen, and vendors realized that if they do not go digital, they will be eliminated from the Vietnamese market, said Thanh. TikTok will hold numerous sharing sessions, talks, and seminars to discuss the trend of consumption during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, due in February, to promote online sales on the platform and meet the needs of local shoppers, the representative unveiled. According to TikTok experts, short videos depicting products are the best tool to affect consumers purchase trust and behavior. Its survey made during the 2023 festive season showed that 69 percent of consumers chose to watch short videos to learn about products and services, with 84 percent of them making deals. Jason Song, marketing head of TikTok Shop for the small and medium enterprise segment in the Asian-Pacific region, said that small and medium firms play a key role in driving up the economy in the region in general and in Vietnam in particular. However, these groups have yet to make the best use of online selling and digital marketing, he said, adding that the firm will thus help these Vietnamese enterprises improve their ability of digitalization via training and consulting programs on TikTok. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Queen Margrethe II, Denmark's longest reigning monarch, is due to pass the throne to her first-born son Frederik on Sunday and tens of thousands of Danes are expected to gather in the streets of Copenhagen to witness the historic succession. Margrethe stunned the nation of nearly six million on New Year's Eve when she announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years as queen, becoming the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne. People from all over Denmark are expected to crowd Copenhagen in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying. "The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions," said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Danish Royal Guard stands in front of Amalienborg Palace during the daily exchange of the guards routine in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters The crown prince, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who will become queen, are scheduled to leave the royal palace at 1235 GMT in a 1958 Rolls-Royce. Margrethe, 83, will follow by horse carriage a few minutes later to take her final ride as monarch through the streets of the capital. There will be no coronation as in Britain, but the succession itself will take place at around 1300 GMT, the moment Margrethe signs the declaration of her abdication. This will take place during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament where the government, Frederik and his oldest son Christian, 18 years old and the new heir to the throne, will participate. Images of Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary are displayed next to cakes decorated with a seal of the prince as King Frederik X, in the window of the well-known confectionery shop La Glace in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters Roughly one hour later, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will proclaim the new king on the balcony of the parliament and Frederik will give a short speech, before the new king and his wife ride by carriage back to the palace. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. Hotel operator Scandic's property situated just around the corner from the royal palace sold out of rooms just two hours after Margrethe announced her abdication and has seen 50% more bookings this weekend than it usually does in mid-January, commercial director Klaus Johansen told Reuters. Soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment ride outside the Royal Stables at Christiansborg Palace as they rehearse for Sunday, January 14, when Denmark's Queen Margrethe is to abdicate and her eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, is to take the throne, in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters Royal power couple Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. "It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now," said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. "He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles." The British king was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. Member of the Danish Royal Guard carries the leather bag during the daily exchange of the guard routine in front of Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 13, 2024. Photo: Reuters The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after the queen announced she would abdicate indicated that 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86% said the same about Mary. Tourism authorities in Lam Dong Province, located Vietnams Central Highlands region, have imposed fines on eight local tour guides who let South Koreans to act as their replacements while taking groups of South Korean travelers to local destinations. These guides have been fined VND5 million (US$204) each for failing to guide tourists according to the assigned tasks or the guiding contracts, as per a government decree on penalties for administrative violations in tourism, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Saturday, citing the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The imposition of the penalty resulted from an investigation conducted by the department after local media reported on a violation by domestic tour guides who had recently served groups of South Korean travelers in Da Lat, a renowned tourist city in the province, said Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, deputy director of the department. Tourism inspectors and local police officers reviewed the surveillance footage on pertinent tourist buses and discovered that the eight guides were arbitrarily allowing South Koreans to provide briefings to their fellow countrymen about Da Lat. Moreover, these individuals were offering instructions and recommendations related to their tour. Inspectors have pointed out that such improper practices could result in situations where foreigners acting as tour guides may provide inaccurate or misleading information about Vietnam and its localities or destinations if they lack the necessary knowledge. The department clarified that they did not impose penalties on the South Koreans found acting as tour guides. Instead, they requested these individuals to submit a written commitment expressing their respect for and adherence to Vietnam's regulations regarding tour guides. All local tourist sites and tour operators must strengthen management and supervise the use of tour guides to ensure they abide by relevant rules, the department said. The agency also required that tour guides be trained well in foreign language skills to better provide information to international travelers or satisfactorily answer their queries during their visits to the province and Da Lat in particular. In late December last year, police officers questioned a 35-year-old South Korean man after he was found to be guiding a group of South Korean tourists at Linh Phuoc Pagoda in Da Lat. He said he was working for a travel firm in south-central Khanh Hoa Province, and admitted to previously having guided three groups of tourists on trips to Khanh Hoa and Da Lat. The man, lacking both a permit and an international guide certificate, was found imparting inaccurate information and knowledge about the history of a tourist site in Da Lat to visitors. Last year, Lam Dong welcomed about 400,000 international visitors, with those from South Korea representing 53.3 percent, the department said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Australian police are investigating the disappearance of five Vietnamese exchange students in Adelaide City, as they were believed to go missing at different times between last month and this month, according to Australian broadcast news service 7 News. The broadcast news service reported that the five Vietnamese students who came to study at Hamilton Secondary College in Adelaide varnished without a trace, with one not heard from in more than four weeks. The latest case is Sunnie Nguyen, 17, who was last seen at her host familys home in South Plympton, Adelaide on Monday. Nguyens host mother May Zervaas said she had not seen the student since 11:00 pm on the day. Nguyen was gone along with her backpack, laptop, personal papers, and some clothes, Daily Mail reported. Her phone has been disconnected and her social media accounts have been wiped. Sunnie Nguyens host family expects her to make contact. Photo: 7 News I hope she is OK. Im just worried because her English is not that good," Zervaas added. Nguyen's host family told police officers that she seemed happy living in Adelaide and had no reason to run away or hide. Her visa remains active for another three years. Local authorities on Thursday released a statement saying that one of the girls had been located but the four others were still unaccounted for, predicting that they might have traveledd interstate. 'I hope that this is a case of, because of school holidays, kids, 17 years old, want to get together to go somewhere and not (tell) anyone,' said Lien Nguyen-Navas, a representative of the Vietnamese Womens Association in Adelaide. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The northern part of Vietnam may have warmer weather and less drizzle starting from Sunday due to a weakening cold front, while another cold mass is expected to move into the region next weekend, said a weather forecaster. Northern and north-central localities have experienced light rains and reduced visibility over the past few days, with the impact of a weakening cold snap and high-altitude winds to blame, according to Vu Anh Tuan, deputy head of the weather forecasting department under the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting. Temperatures in Hanoi and other northern localities ranged between 16 and 18 degrees Celsius, while mountainous locations witnessed mercury of below 12 degrees Celsius. The weather forecaster said it could be sunny in the region between January 18 and 19. Meanwhile, from January 19 to 21, a new moderate to strong cold front will likely arrive in northern Vietnam and bring much cooler air to the area. The chill weather could be intense in the northern region until Vietnams Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, due in February. He added that drizzle is expected to return to the region by the end of this month. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A water park operator in suburban Ho Chi Minh City has voluntarily transferred three black bears to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center in Bach Ma National Park, central Thua Thien Hue Province, citing changes in business operations. Animals Asia, a Hong Kong-based charity which seeks to end cruelness to animals in Asia, on Friday reported that the Ho Chi Minh City Forest Protection Department facilitated the handover of the three black bears to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Center on Saturday. Dang Vinh Co. Ltd., which operates Cu Chi Water Park in the suburban district of Cu Chi in Ho Chi Minh City, originally raised the black bears in a semi-wild environment at the park for tourism purposes. The approximately 20-year-old bears have exhibited frailty and significant hair loss, according to Animals Asia, as challenging business conditions and a reduced operational scale seem to have made the company fail in maintaining its facilities for an extended period. A black bear receives a health check before being taken to Bach Ma National Park in Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam. Photo: Animals Asia To facilitate changes in its business model, the firm decided to voluntarily transfer the animals to a new owner. Besides the three mentioned black bears, the water park houses an additional eight black bears and various other animals, all of which are subject to regular monitoring and checkups by the city's forest protection officers on a periodic basis. According to Animals Asia, Vietnam's wild bear populations have declined to only a few hundred due to habitat loss and illegal hunting for bile extraction. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese Forest Protection Department reports around 300 bears in captivity across the country. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A court in Vietnam jailed two former cabinet ministers on Friday and found dozens of officials guilty of bribery and mismanagement for their roles in a coronavirus test kit scandal, the ministry of public security said. Former Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long was sentenced to 18 years in prison for taking bribes worth US$2.25 million, while Chu Ngoc Anh, former science and technology minister, was jailed for three years for mismanagement, the security ministry said in a statement. At the heart of the scandal was a private medical firm called Viet A Technology Corp, which was accused of colluding with officials to produce coronavirus test kits for the state health system that were sold at inflated prices. Former Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long is taken to the court in Hanoi, January 12, 2024. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre "I was wrong, I am sorry," Long was quoted by Phap Luat Online newspaper as saying at the trial. Reuters could not immediately reach Long's lawyers for comment. The verdicts comes as Vietnam intensifies its years-long anti-graft campaign that has seen hundreds of senior officials investigated for corruption, with many forced to quit. Viet A founder and chief executive Phan Quoc Viet was given a 29-year sentence at the week-long trial, in addition to a 25-year term handed down in a separate trial in late December, it added. Defendants are in the dock in Hanoi for their crimes in the coronavirus test kit scandal. Photo: Giang Long / Tuoi Tre Viet A had sold 4.5 million COVID-19 test kits in Vietnam during the pandemic at prices three times higher than their real cost and had illegally generated VND1.23 trillion ($50.25 million), the ministry said. The court also handed down sentences ranging from 18 months of probation to 15 years in prison term to 35 others, mostly disease control officials in cities and provinces for their involvement in the scandal, the ministry said. Five Vietnamese attractions, namely the capital Hanoi, the ancient town of Hoi An, the ancient imperial capital of Hue, the mountainous town of Sa Pa, and the spectacular Ha Long Bay, have been listed among the worlds best destinations in various categories for 2024 by readers of TripAdvisor, a leading global travel site. In its Travelers Choice Best of the Best 2024 awards recently announced, TripAdvisor honored Hanoi in two categories. Accordingly, the capital ranked first among the 20 Best Food Destinations while gaining the fourth position in the 25 Top Destinations, after the UAEs Dubai, Indonesias Bali, and the UKs London. The travel site described Hanoi as a charming capital that "has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments, and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. The citys appeal is enhanced by lakes, parks, shady boulevards, and over 600 temples and pagodas, TripAdvisor said, adding that the Vietnamese capital is easily explored by taxi. Meanwhile, Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Quang Nam Province, sealed the tenth position in the Top Destinations category and the second place in the Honeymoon Destinations category. Located on the central Vietnamese coast, Hoi An is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries, the site described. As a common stop for backpackers, the ancient city is becoming better known to tourists who can take tours of the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple, among other attractive places, TripAdvisor commented. The town trades its electric lights for traditional colored lanterns on the 14th day of every lunar month, the site added. Situated in central Vietnam, the ancient imperial city of Hue gained the eighth position in the Cultural Destinations category. Hue is well known for the Huong (Perfume) River, a great river that flows through the heart of Hue City, famous for its poetic and lyrical beauty. Sa Pa Town in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, which ranks fifth in the Trending Destinations category for 2024 by TripAdvisor. Photo: Wanderon This river splits the capital of Vietnams Nguyen Dynasty in two, TripAdvisor said. Hue is home to numerous endless must-see historic sites, especially those recognized as world heritage sites by UNESCO. Travelers can visit the ornate Imperial Citadel, royal tombs, colorful Thanh Toan Bridge, and the Forbidden Purple City, the site suggested. Two other Vietnamese localities that are highlighted as the best places in the Trending Destinations category are Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh Province and Sa Pa Town in Lao Cai Province, which rank third and fifth, respectively. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a global attraction for its amazing limestone islands, rock formations, and caves, which are breathtaking after being whittled away by wind and water over centuries, TripAdvisor described. At the bay, visitors can rent a kayak or a junk boat, or take a tour to explore its beauty. Meanwhile, Sa Pa Town, in northern Lao Cai Province, provides the perfect oasis in the midst of a strenuous mountain trek or rice-paddy tour, said TripAdvisor. Serving as a good reminder of the towns French missionary influence, the Gothic stone church in the heart of Sa Pa is seen as a bull's-eye amid shops and stalls, the site commented. Once traveling to Sa Pa, visitors should dine on Vietnamese or European-inspired cuisine downtown, and dont miss the Saturday night love market, one of the most potent and strictest singles nights imaginable, TripAdvisor recommended. TripAdvisor is one of the world's largest travel sites, with nearly 463 million visits every month. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! As Vietnams Lunar New Year holiday, or Tet, is about three weeks ahead, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper has curated a wide selection of festivals and activities for locals and visitors to have tons of fun ringing in the Year of the Dragon while in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. From January 20 to March 31, the iconic Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site will host a spring-themed festival where visitors can explore the stunning beauty of numerous types of flowers, while participating in traditional folk games and trying to make banh chung, known as square sticky rice cake which is a traditional delicacy in northern Vietnam. Visitors to Ba Na Hills are expected to fully enjoy the jubilant Tet ambiance and admire a new festive look of the tourist attraction, said Ba Na Hills director Nguyen Lam An. Visitors take photos of bell-shaped peach blossoms at the Sun World Ba Na Hills tourist site in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: SG / Tuoi Tre Le Thi Bich Huong, marketing and communications director at the Than Tai (God of Wealth) Mountain tourist site, revealed that the Than Tai Festival will be held at the site with lots of fun activities during the Tet break, due in February. The Than Tai Festival, scheduled to take place from 8:30 am to 11:30 am on the 2nd, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th day of the first lunar month, will feature lion and dragon dance, fortune stick picking, artistic performances, and worshiping ceremonies, among other interesting activities, Huong added. The Than Tai (God of Wealth) Festival will be held at the Than Tai Mountain tourist site in Da Nang City, central Vietnam with lots of fun activities during the Tet break, due in February 2024. Photo: BH / Tuoi Tre The Tet atmosphere could also be felt throughout the coastal city where streets and public places will be adorned with colorful flowers and miniatures, particularly dragon-shaped ones, promising to be Instagrammable spots for local people and tourists, said the municipal Department of Constructions deputy director Le Van Tuan. With its pathway decorated with as many as 5,000 dazzling lanterns, the Asia Park is another must-go destination during Tet in this beach city. With its pathway decorated with a myriad of dazzling lanterns, the Asia Park is another must-go destination during Tet 2024 in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: SG / Tuoi Tre The Asia Park will offer visitors a range of Tet activities like traditional folk games, taking photos with body-painting artists, calligraphy, and portrait painting services between February 11 and 19. According to the citys Department of Culture and Sports, Da Nang is set to usher in the Year of the Dragon with fireworks displays at three locations, including two in inner-city districts and the remaining in the outlying district of Hoa Vang, ornamental tree exhibitions, and music shows. Lots of activities are set to take place in Da Nang City, central Vietnam to serve locals and tourists during the upcoming Lunar New Year festival, or Tet. Photo: BH / Tuoi Tre An area adjacent to the Han River in Da Nang City, central Vietnam will be adorned with apricot and peach blossoms. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Paramount+ today announced that filming is underway in and around Sydney, on the second season of Last King of The Cross. Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour return as brothers John and Sam Ibrahim. The family dynamic takes centre stage this season, with audiences introduced to the characters of Johns younger brothers Michael Ibrahim, played by digital creator Dave Hoey (Granny Flat Comedy), and Fadi, played by newcomer Alex Kaan. Also returning are the characters of Detective Liz Doyle (Tess Haubrich), Big Tony (Matt Nable), Tongan Sam (Uli Latukefu) and Simone (Janet Anderson). SVP Content & Programming, Paramount ANZ, Daniel Monaghan said: After the phenomenal success of the first season, were excited to kick off filming for Last King of The Cross. The second season promises to captivate audiences with a gripping tale of power, loyalty, and the evolving dynamics of Kings Cross with all new challenges on Oxford Street. Get ready for a rollercoaster ride as we delve deeper into these intricate, decadent and dangerous worlds. Helium s Mark Fennessy said: Were super excited to continue the story of Last King of The Cross bringing more extreme and fascinating untold stories of John Ibrahim and his family. Season 2 will surprise and thrill our audience in unexpected ways as we enter the seductive, dangerous, and ecstasy-fuelled world of the early 2000s. The production team is delighted to reunite the exceptional cast and crew that delivered such a stunning first season and welcomes new additions who will contribute even more in elevating our unique world to new heights. Last King of The Cross promises to once again push the boundaries, showcasing the evolution of our characters against the backdrop of Sydneys gritty and glamorous nightlife scene where power, sex, crime, and business intersect. 18 months on from the events of season one, season two begins with Kings Cross a shadow of itself, John lying low overseas and Sam locked up in jail. Returning to Sydney, John sets his sights on capturing a new kingdom the glittering prize of Oxford Street, Sydneys nightclub empire. And with it, comes all new challenges and enemies. John is thrown into a struggle for power with the reigning queen of Oxford Street, Ray Kinnock, who is determined to either keep John out, or take him down, while facing the relentless scrutiny of newly promoted Senior Sergeant Liz Doyle and her new taskforce. But perhaps Johns greatest threat comes directly from his family. Released from jail, Sam builds the largest bikie chapter in Australian history, putting John on a collision course with the entire criminal world, while their youngest brother Michael walks a moral tightrope, grappling between a life of promise or throttling head-first into a life of crime. Last King of The Cross is a Helium Pictures production for Paramount+ Australia with Cineflix Rights as the exclusive international distribution partner. The series has received major production investment from Paramount Australia in association with Screen Australia and is financed with support from Screen NSW through the Made in NSW fund and Fulcrum Media Finance. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW and Screen Queensland. Last King of The Cross season two is directed by Grant Brown, Ian Watson and Tori Garrett and is written by Sam Meikle (Wakefield), Sarah Smith (Amazing Grace), Fin Edquist (MaveriX), Jane Allen (In Our Blood), Tim Pye (Bali 2002) and James Pope (Last King of The Cross season one). The series is produced by Alexandra Doering, executive produced by Mark Fennessy and John Ibrahim, with Alexander Pettaras as associate producer. Washington, Jan 14 (UNI) A US delegation comprising former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, will travel to Taiwan on Sunday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said. The AIT serves as the United States' de facto representation in Taiwan. "As we have done previously following a Taiwan presidential election, the U.S. government has asked former senior officials to travel in their private capacity to Taiwan. Former National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James B. Steinberg will arrive in Taipei on January 14," the AIT said in a statement. A woman walks through the snow in the Walled garden at Camp Hill in Woolton, Liverpool, on Tuesday. (PA) The current cold spell in the UK has brought another night of freezing cold temperatures and the cold plunge of Arctic air is set to bring snow to some parts of the country. Near record-low temperatures were experienced overnight, with the mercury falling to as low as -13C in Glen Ogle, central Scotland, while -11C was recorded at Tulloch Bridge in the Scottish Highlands, according to the Met Office. Forecasters had predicted some snow covered parts of Scotland could reach -15C overnight, which would have been the coldest January night for 14 years. Snow (depicted here in the dark blue weather pattern) is set to hit northern areas and possibly some southern counties again later this week. (Met Office) Temperatures remain cold across the country throughout Wednesday. (Met Office) Maps from the Met Office show more snow and freezing temperatures are on the way for northern areas, caused by Arctic air that has moved south across the whole country over the past few days making it 5C to 6C lower than usual for this time of year. The forecaster warned that potentially disruptive stormy weather at the weekend will follow the current cold snap. The Met Office has also issued an amber weather warning for snow in parts of Scotland, as well as a yellow warning for snow and ice across northern England, west Wales and parts of south west England for Wednesday. The yellow warning, covering the whole of Scotland and northern England, states that snow and ice may 'lead to some difficult travel conditions', with the warning extending into Thursday for the eastern coast of England, west Wales and the southwest coast. Met Office amber and yellow weather warnings in place across UK for Wednesday and Thursday. (Met Office) Watch: Snow and ice hit parts of UK as cold snap continues Yellow weather warnings for snow and ice are in place across Scotland, much of northern England and parts of North Wales until Thursday, then more mild temperatures are forecast along with wind and rain. More than 40cm of snow could be seen on high ground in north-west Scotland by the end of Friday as it continues to build up over the coming days, the Met Office said. Wednesday lunchtime may see some snow showers hitting the far south counties of the UK. (Met Office) Snow falls on the Beatles Statue at Pier Head, Liverpool. (PA) The Met Office said that a few snow flurries could hit the far south of the UK on Wednesday, with a small chance of snow in the southern counties. The weekend will be milder, but westerly weather will bring wind and rain and the potential for more weather warnings as the snow melts. Story continues Yahoo breaks down what the weather will be like for each region of the UK according to the Met Office. Scotland Wednesday Most of Wednesday will stay very cold and dry with sunny periods. Cloud will thicken bringing the chance of a snow shower north later. Maximum temperature 0C. Snow flurries are set to hit the north and far south of the UK on Wednesday. (Met Office) Thursday to Saturday Very cold, windy, snow showers north Thursday. Drier, less cold in west wind Friday. Then southwest wind Friday night as rain preceded by snow passes east leaving rain west Saturday. Northern Ireland Wednesday Bright and cold with sunny spells and scattered snow showers. Frost persisting throughout the day. Maximum temperature 2C. Thursday to Saturday Very cold, windy, snow showers Thursday. Drier, less cold Friday. Then southwest wind Friday evening as rain preceded by snow passes east leaving Saturday mainly dry and less cold. Heavy and persistent rain at times. Midlands Wednesday Frosty with icy surfaces at first, then a crisp winter's day with plenty of sunshine. Staying generally dry but a few light snow flurries couldn't be entirely ruled out. Cold. Maximum temperature 2C. Thursday to Saturday Largely sunny and cold on Thursday with isolated snow flurries, these perhaps more widespread overnight. Sunny spells and less cold on Friday. Turning wetter, windier and milder on Saturday. North East Wednesday A very cold start with widespread frost and ice. A good deal of winter sunshine. Often breezy, especially along coasts. Maximum temperature 0C. Stormier conditions are set to sweep across the UK on Saturday. (Met Office) Thursday to Saturday Cold or very cold conditions with widespread sharp frost overnight, but plenty of winter sunshine by day. Snow showers possible on Thursday. Becoming mild, wet and windy by Saturday. North West Wednesday Frosty with icy surfaces at first, then a crisp winter's day with plenty of sunshine. Staying generally dry but a rogue light snow flurry couldn't be entirely ruled out. Cold. Maximum temperature 2C. People with inflatables to use as sledges at Camp Hill in Woolton, Liverpool. (PA) Thursday to Saturday Largely sunny and cold on Thursday with scattered snow flurries, these perhaps heavy and frequent later. Sunny spells and less cold on Friday, then wet, windy and milder on Saturday. London and the South East Wednesday A cloudy but cold start with a low risk of snow grazing the Kent coast in the morning. Becoming dry and bright through the afternoon. Maximum temperature 3C. Thursday morning will see more potential snow showers in northern areas. (Met Office) Thursday to Saturday Cold or very cold conditions with widespread sharp frost overnight, but plenty of winter sunshine by day. Becoming mild, wet and windy by Saturday. Temperatures returning to average. South West Wednesday Rather cloudy for many through the morning with occasional snow flurries, mainly near English Channel coasts. Skies brightening up later. Turning breezier and feeling cold with a frost at first. Maximum temperature 4C. People sledging at Camp Hill in Woolton, Liverpool, on Tuesday. (PA) Thursday to Saturday Staying cold on Thursday and Friday with sunny spells and a few wintry showers in the west at times. Widespread severe frosts overnight. Turning wetter, windier and milder on Saturday. Wales Wednesday Frosty with icy surfaces in the morning, then a crisp winter's day with sunny periods. Largely dry but wintry showers are likely in western coastal regions with isolated ones elsewhere. Cold. Maximum temperature 4C. Thursday to Saturday Largely sunny and cold on Thursday with a few snow flurries, these perhaps more widespread later. Sunny spells and less cold on Friday, then wet, windy and milder on Saturday. Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated When Hunter McGrady first joined the SI Swimsuit family, she traveled to Anguilla for a bodypaint feature with photographer Josie Clough and makeup artist Joanne Gair as part of the brands 2017 model search program. Since then, shes participated in a feature in a Brooklyn studio and traveled to Costa Rica, Bali and Belize with the magazine. The Southern California native has also appeared on the cover of Health magazine and is the creator of All Worthy, an inclusive fashion line for QVC. McGrady, 30, is a proud mom of two who also cohosts a podcast, Model Citizen, alongside her sister, Michaela McGrady. The five-time SI Swimsuit star uses her platform to promote inclusivity in the fashion industry, and famously turned down more than two-dozen New York Fashion Week gigs due to a lack of diversity on the runway. I want women to feel valued and validated and accepted and enjoy this one very precious, precious life that we have without having to spend every waking moment being told that they have to change themselves, McGrady previously told SI Swimsuit. And I wanna do it together. I want us all to come together and be the change that this world needs. Its no wonder that her personal brand aligns so well with SI Swimsuits mission. While we couldnt pick a favorite of McGradys features, we regularly find ourselves going back to her 2020 photoshoot in Bali, which adopted a stark black-and-white swimwear aesthetic. Below are just a few of our favorite snaps, courtesy of Yu Tsai. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Fashion Nova. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Swimsuits For All. Necklace by Monies. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Dippin' Daisy's. Necklace by Babeyond. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Dippin Daisys. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Alpine Butterfly Swim. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Hunter McGrady was photographed by Yu Tsai in Bali. Swimsuit by Bissy Swim. Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Education & Career Bihar 10th Admit Card 2024 Released - Download Here As per the Bihar 10th exam schedule 2024, the BSEB Class 10 Matric exam will be held from February 15 to 23, 2024. Read More Sunday January 14, 2024 5:41 PM , ummid.com News Network [Image for representation] BSEB Bihar 2024 Class 10 Exams: The Bihar School Board of Education (BSEB) has released the Admit Card and Hall Ticket of the students appearing for the Class 10 Matric board exams scheduled to be conducted in the month of February 2024. Candidates appearing for the BSEB Class X Annual Secondary exam 2024 should note that the Final Admit Cards have been released on the board's official website secondary.biharboardonline.com. Steps to download BSEB Class 10 Final Admit Card 2024 1. Click here to go to the official website: secondary.biharboardonline.com . 2. Under the 'Important Links" in the centre of the home page, click on "View/Print Final Admit Card [Annual Secondary Exam 2024]." 3. Enter School Code, Registration Number and Date of Birth. 4. Click on Search button to proceed. Candidates who have registered for the 2024 Bihar board exams should download their Final Admit Card and check all details. In case of any error or correction, they should immediately contact the bihar board. Candidates should note that in view of the heavy rush of the students to download admit card, the official website response time may be slower. In such a case, they are requested to exhibit patience and re-try after some time. Admit Card is the Hall Ticket and compulsory document to appear for board exams. Candidates should compulsorily carry their Admit Card/Hall Ticket while appearing for the board exam. The Bihar School Board of Education (BSEB) had in November released on its official website "secondary.biharboardonline.com" the Dummy Admit Card of the students appearing for Class 10 Matric board exams scheduled to be held in the month of February 2024. Bihar Board Class 10 Date Sheet 2024 According to BSEB Class 10th 2024 exam date sheet and time table, the annual exam will be held from February 15 to 23, 2024. In 2023, Bihar board 10 Matric exams for Theory Papers were conducted from February 14 to 22, 2023. The Practical Exams of Class 10 Matric (Secondary) were held in January. The result of the Bihar Board 2023 Board exams was declared on March 31, 2023. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home International On 100th day of Israel's Gaza War, massive protests in US, UK and other parts of world Some of the placards that the protesters are holding read, No votes for Genocide Joe, Biden has blood on his hands and Let Gaza live". Read More Sunday January 14, 2024 12:29 PM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies Washington/London: Condemning the continued U.S. support to the Zionists, thousands of Americans gathered outside White House in Washington DC Sunday January 14, 2024 as the Israeli brutal war against the Palestinians in Gaza Strip entered 100th day. 'Biden, Shame on You' Carrying National Flag of the State of Palestine, holding high banners that read Resistance against occupation is a Human Right and chanting slogans Biden, Shame on You, the Americans early hours Sunday marched towards the White House in protest against the involvement of the US administration in the genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza. Dozens of thousands marched towards the White House in protest against the involvement of the US administration in the genocide that Israel is committing in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/v0YN7tuwVz Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 13, 2024 Some of the placards that the protesters are holding read, No votes for Genocide Joe, Biden has blood on his hands and Let Gaza live. Some pro-Palestine protesters are also carrying South African flag chanting slogans in its support whose accusations of genocide against Israel prompted the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, Netherlands, to take up the case, according to the Associated Press. London erupts 7 times in 100 days On Saturday as part of a global day of action in 30 countries, thousands of people thronged the streets in London and other parts of the world protesting the Israeli massacre of Palestinians and demanding immediate end of the brutal war in Gaza. Demonstrators in the UK capital carried placards emblazoned with "ceasefire now" and a giant puppet of a Syrian child refugee, named Little Amal, accompanied the march to highlight child refugees, according to BBC. Mass protests broke out in the British capital, London, in support of Palestine and in rejection of the war on the #Gaza Strip pic.twitter.com/9Oqfg834Go Middle East Observer (@ME_Observer_) January 13, 2024 Thousands of demonstrators began gathering in the Bank area of central London around mid-day on Saturday, before heading west along Fleet Street on the planned route to Parliament Square in Westminster. Saturdays rally in London was the 7th national pro-Palestinian march held in London to protest the relentless bombing of Gaza by the Israeli Occupation Forces started following the Hamas Operation Al Aqsa Flood on Oct 7 killing around 1,300 people and taking hostage more than 240. Palestine after 100 days of barbarism The Israeli forces in its response resorted to massacre and genocide of Palestinians killing 23,708 in Gaza and 347 in the occupied West Bank. Israel cites self-defence and claims to eliminate Hamas militants involved in Oct 7 attack. However, the Palestine Health Ministry data showed more than 70 per cent of those killed in the Israeli bombing in Gaza are women and children. The 100 days of Israeli bombing have partially or fully damaged more than 50 percent of residential buildings in Gaza, 15 of 36 hospitals, close to 70 per cent schools and educational institutions, 142 mosques, 3 churches, 121 ambulances. The Israeli blockade has also left close to 576,600 Palestinians facing catastrophic hunger and starvation and 625,000 students out of schools, according to Al Jazeera. Palestine solidarity rallies in other parts of world Protests in solidarity with the Palestinians also held in Indonesia, Malaysia and a number of European cities including Paris, Rome, Milan and Dublin, where thousands marched along the Irish capitals main thoroughfare to protest Israels military operations in the Palestinian enclave. Protesters waved Palestinian flags, held placards critical of the Irish, U.S. and Israeli governments and chanted, Free, free Palestine. In Rome, hundreds of demonstrators descended on a boulevard near the famous Colosseum, with some carrying signs reading, Stop Genocide. At one point during the protest, amid the din of sound effects mimicking exploding bombs, a number of demonstrators lied down in the street and pulled white sheets over themselves as if they were corpses, while others knelt beside them, their palms daubed in red paint, according to AP. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Education & Career RBSE Rajasthan 12th Time Table 2024 Released The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Examination said Class 12th 2024 exam will begin on February 29, 2024. Read More Sunday January 14, 2024 8:01 PM , ummid.com News Network RBSE Rajasthan 12th Date Sheet 2024: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Examination (RBSE) Sunday released on its official website rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in the time table and date sheet of Class XII (Class 12th Intermediate) exam, according to which the 2024 RBSE Class 12 exams will begin on February 29, 2024. The Rajasthan board released time table and date sheet of 12th Intermediate Arts, Science and Commerce all three streams. According to the date sheet of the Rajasthan board, Class 12 Intermediate exam, the first paper, to be held on Feb 29, 2024, will be Psychology. It will be followed by Public Administration on March 01, 2024. RBSE 12th Inter English (Compulsory) paper will be held on March 04, 2024. Mathematics Paper on March 23 As per the 12th date sheet, Geography, Accountancy, Physics on March 09, Hindi Compulsory on March 13, History, Chemistry, Agricultural Chemistry, Business Studies will be held on March 18, Mathematics on March 23 and Economics, Biology, English, Shorthand Hindi, Agricultural Biology papers will be held on March 28, 2024. The last paper IT, Automotive and other subjects will be held on April 04, 2024. All papers will start at 08:30 am and end at 11:45 am. For the handicapped students of minor issues, one extra hour will be given and for the medium and severe cases of handicap, a writer will be allowed in the examination. Board has also asked the students to write the word 'end' after finishing the answer sheet so that no space after that can be used in any way. The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Examination (RBSE) in a separate statement said that the Class 10th 2024 exam will also begin on March 07 and end on March 27, 2024. About Rajasthan Board The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) was established in Jaipur on December 4, 1957 and was shifted to Ajmer in 1961. The Board works for the promotion and development of secondary education in the state. The board has 6,000 schools located in 32 districts under it. Approximately 10 lakh students are expected to appear for the Rajasthan board Classes 10 and 12 examinations this year. Select Language To Read in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic. HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the State utility corporation Viet Nam Electricity (EVN) to "firmly ensure" no electricity shortage for production, business and consumption in any circumstance. The Government leader made the order during a working session with the group on Saturday, with the attendance of Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Chairman of the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises Nguyen Hoang Anh. He also told EVN to properly manage and operate the electricity industry, especially with regards to pricing in line with market rules but with social welfare policies in mind, as well as to conduct restructuring of the group also according to market rules, focusing on developing emerging fields, intensifying anti-corruption efforts, combating negativity and waste, and encouraging and protecting officials who dare to think and act. PM Chinh required strict and effective implementation of resolutions, conclusions and directives of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly, the Government, and the Prime Minister on socio-economic development in 2024 and specific tasks assigned to the Group, as well as directives from relevant ministries, sectors, and the State Capital Management Commission at Enterprises. PM Chinh urged efforts to fulfil the targets and tasks outlined for 2024, ensuring electricity supply for the country's socio-economic development and people's lives. He asked for proactive and effective forecasting of electricity demand, efficient exploitation of electricity sources to ensure supply in compliance with regulations, including mobilisation of renewable energy projects and calculating electricity imports to meet domestic demand; and strictly implementing regulations on power system operation, electricity market, safe operation, and reliability of the transmission system, especially the 500kV North-South system. EVN must learn from the shortage incidents in 2023 and make efforts to avoid major power incidents occurring during heat waves. Based on the approved national energy strategies and Power Development Plan VIII, EVN must focus on completing and implementing medium and long-term energy development strategies, while building scenarios and solutions to handle sudden, unexpected issues, and prevent solar and wind energy going to waste due to lack of grid capacity, PM Chinh noted. The Vietnamese Government leader emphasises that the electricity sector consists of five stages: power generation, electricity transmission, electricity distribution, electricity consumption and electricity pricing, in addition to six input factors, namely: coal, oil, gas, water, sunlight and wind. Therefore, research, operation and coordination between these stages must be reasonable and scientific, with both short-term and long-term considerations, in line with trends, rules, conditions, and the national circumstances and traditions of the electricity industry, as well as the consumption capacity of the people. He also said the corporation must more deeply engage in the development of renewable energy and renewable energy industries. According to reports, despite major challenges, 280 billion kWh was produced in 2023, up 4.5 per cent compared to 2022. To date, the total installed capacity of the entire power system is over 80,000MW, ranking first in the ASEAN region, among them, EVN and its member units account for nearly 30,000MW, or over 37 per cent. The corporation is urgently carrying out three key power projects with a total capacity of over 2,200MW. EVN has also been making efforts in administrative reforms, simplifying procedures to shorten the time for providing electricity to new customers (down to 2.73 days on average for medium-voltage grid electricity supply and 2.33 days for low-voltage grid electricity supply for residential customers). The group is also leading in terms of ICT application, with all electricity services available online at the highest level, and 96.3 per cent customers using cashless methods. EVN strives to ensure electricity supply with a commercial electricity output of 262.26 billion kWh in 2024, is prepared for a high scenario of 269.3 billion kWh and will continue to enhance the reliability of electricity supply. The group has also exceeded the set targets in rural electrification, with the number of communes connected to the power grid nationwide reaching 100 per cent, and the percentage of households using electricity surpassing 99.7 per cent, including 99.6 per cent of rural households having access to electricity. VNS Scott Ostler in the San Francisco Chronicle: Hutchison wore the trash companys jumpsuit, cap and reflective vest, and he sported a few days of beard stubble. He was collecting trash hoping to find something valuable: the DNA of a person who might prove to be a suspect in the sexual assault and murder of an 18-year-old security guard in Sunnyvale in 1969. It was a cold case, and this was an expensive long shot. But his bosses in Sunnyvale and at the Santa Clara County District Attorneys Office have learned that when Hutchison has a plan, you listen. In the seven years since he moved into robbery-homicide, the 38-year-old detective has solved eight cold cases six homicides and two sexual assaults. In his spare time. More here. Recently, Vietnam's Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung, Commercial Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy Duong Phuong Thao and Chairwoman of the EU Handicrafts Council Ms. Elisa Gudi agreed invited MALAIKA Company, Italy (one of the leading prestigious creative design consulting companies in Italy and Europe) to Vietnam to work with the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on product promotion of Hanoi craft villages to the world market. At the meeting, Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Dai said that Hanoi is the capital, political, economic and cultural center of Vietnam. Hanoi is also the convergence of many craft villages throughout the country. Many Hanoi craft village products have special value and are recognized as national treasures. Each craft village in Hanoi has its own identity, creating unique products. Hanoi currently has 1.350 craft villages and vocational villages, accounting for 56 per cent of the total number of craft villages in the country. Hanoi brings together 47 occupations out of 52 traditional occupations in the country. Hanoi has 322 craft villages, of which 274 villages are recognized as craft villages, 48 villages are recognized as traditional craft villages. Hanoi has six out of seven main occupational groups, including: 69 craft villages processing and preserving agricultural, forestry and aquatic products; 22 craft villages producing handicrafts; 197 craft villages producing wooden furniture, rattan, ceramics, glass, textiles, yarn, embroidery, wickerwork, and small mechanics; 13 craft villages producing and trading ornamental creatures; 16 craft villages handle, process, and process raw materials to serve rural production and trades; five craft villages providing services for production and rural people's life. "Hanoi craft village products are diverse, most have beautiful designs, good quality, some products have competitive strengths. competition in foreign markets, Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Dai said. Specifically, garment products, ceramics, weaving, embroidery, traditional lace; rattan and bamboo weaving; wooden furniture; agricultural and food processing. Hanoi craft village products are currently exported to more than 40 countries and territories. To develop production, improve competitiveness, and increase the value of craft village products, Hanoi has issued policies on preserving and developing craft villages. Hanoi is completing the planning to preserve and develop traditional craft villages combined with tourism for two craft villages: Van Phuc silk weaving in Ha Dong District and Bat Trang ceramics in Gia Lam District. As planned, Hanoi develops nine creative design centers, introducing, promoting and selling craft village products associated with tourism. Hanoi also issued a plan to pilot six models of rural tourism and craft village tourism in Thuong Tin, Dan Phuong, Thanh Tri, My Duc, Thach That districts and Son Tay town. Hanoi has agreed on the policy of building a project to develop craft villages for the period 2024 - 2030, with a vision to 2050 to assess the current situation, goals, and solutions for sustainable and appropriate craft village development, compatible with the capital's general socio-economic development planning. Barbara Ebbli, founder and designer of MALAIKA Company, highly appreciated the products of Hanoi craft villages, especially handicraft villages, embroidery, weaving... As a company specializing in design, MALAIKA Company hopes to be able, in conjunction with the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, to build a system to introduce Vietnamese craft village products in Italy and some other countries. Speaking at the opening of Hanoi's display booth at the International Handicrafts Fair (AF L'ARTIGIANO 2023) taking place in Milan, Italy on December 2, 2023, organized by the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ebbli said MILAIKA Company hopes that in the future it will work with Hanoi's craft villages to select products, design and build international markets. At the AF L'ARTIGIANO 2023, eight prestigious handicraft manufacturing enterprises of Hanoi showcased many unique products, attracting many businesses from foreign countries. By An Phuong In a world filled with timeless images of men on bended knee, presenting sparkling engagement rings to their surprised brides-to-be, the notion of women taking the lead in marriage proposals remains a rarity. A quick Google search for 'marriage proposal' unveils a sea of nearly identical scenes, each conforming to the conventional script of male-initiated romance. Although there may be some variations a sunset or sunrise, a lake or mountains most of these proposals adhere to the same standardised pattern. When it comes to women taking the initiative to propose, it remains extremely uncommon. In fact, out of more than 30 women I have known and befriended throughout my entire life, only one proposal has come from a woman, to be precise. During their anniversary trip, my 27-year-old friend, Thu Sang, shared with Viet Nam News that she was the one who proposed to her boyfriend at the time. "My boyfriend was pleasantly surprised, and it was such a relief! I had always been taught that women should never take the first move. Instead, we are expected to wait and avoid trying to rush or 'trap' men," Sang said. Having been in a relationship with her boyfriend for over four years, Sang anticipated that the day of the proposal would arrive. "As the next year would be an ideal time for us to get married, he would have eventually proposed, but I believed it would be more memorable if I took the initiative. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, and we are happily making preparations for the big day. Our families are incredibly supportive," she added. Freelance wedding planner Tuan Ngoc, 28, said that proposals initiated by women like Sang are more embraced nowadays. From the beginning of 2023 until now, Ngocs team has received service requests from hundreds of couples or lovers to organise weddings, proposals, anniversary celebrations, or simple dates. Women no longer wait around for someone else to make decisions for their life. Womens attitudes are definitely changing and we are ready to provide quality services to ensure that their special day goes perfectly, Ngoc said, adding that his customers are mainly from Generation Z willing to spend from tens of millions to hundreds of millions of ong for an event. Most of them are heavy social media users, and their significant moments are often documented, garnering a substantial amount of engagement," he remarked. Perhaps, the increased visibility of proposals where women take the initiative has motivated other women to venture beyond their usual comfort zones. Ong Anh, 28, who is planning to propose soon, shared that she was not overly concerned about societal perceptions regarding her, as a woman, taking the initiative in proposing. "My main concerns were more logistical Should I get down on one knee? Do I need a ring? What exactly do I say? Of course, I was also worried about the possibility of him saying 'no'...," she said. In my perspective, women who proactively plan proposals often achieve success effortlessly, catching men off guard. In certain situations, I have heard that men can be so surprised by the gesture that they find it challenging to respond due to the emotional impact. According to psychologist Tran Huong Thao, the increasing number of women actively proposing to their other half is a sign that gender equality in Viet Nam has significantly improved. In fact, the society has reached a higher level of awareness about personal happiness and the right to protect one's personal happiness. Not only are they confessing love and proposing, but women also dare to refuse, hold on, or end an unhappy relationship, with the ultimate goal of finding and preserving happiness for themselves. However, it is noteworthy to delve into the concept of male ego, as some traditionally inclined men, accustomed to the dominant role, might feel like a proposal challenges their sense of masculinity. "Before you proceed with your romantic proposal, ensure that your visions for marriage are in sync. It is important to confirm that your partner is comfortable enough not to feel threatened by the idea of you proposing. Taking the initiative should boost your self-esteem and enhance the relationship, fostering mutual closeness and security, Ngoc said. I am so against male-oriented traditions. Why should the guy be the one to decide when it is the right time to get engaged? Sang said, which I totally agree with. A proposal revolves around the couple, emphasising authenticity, creativity, and a heartfelt display of love as the fundamental requirements. The subsequent direction is a matter of personal choice, regardless of gender. All in all, one should never propose because of insecurity or fear of loss. Getting married for the wrong reasons is just as bad as getting married to the wrong person. VNS HA NOI The world's largest travel guidance platform TripAdvisor has recently announced winners of its Travelers Choice Awards Best of the Best 2024, with various destinations in Viet Nam honoured. Travelers Choice Best of the Best is the annual award by Tripadvisor. The award is meant to be given to destinations whose hotels, restaurants and things-to-do received a high volume of above-and-beyond reviews and opinions from the community over a 12-month period. Fewer than 1 per cent of Tripadvisors 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best, signifying the highest level of excellence in travel. Specifically, in the Top Destinations category, the capital city of Ha Noi is ranked fourth, and Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam gets the 10th position among 25 destinations around the world. In its description of Ha Noi, the site noted that the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. Ha Noi may have shrugged off several former names, including Thang Long, or ascending dragon, but it hasn't forgotten its past, as sites such as Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison attest. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and more than 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi. The capital city also tops the list of the 25 food destinations in the world. As for Hoi An, the site wrote: This city on the central Vietnamese coast is a well-preserved example of the important Southeast Asian trading port it was from the 15th-19th centuries. Already a common stop for backpackers, it is becoming better known to tourists. On the 14th day of each lunar month, the town trades its electric lights for traditional coloured lanterns. Sights include the Japanese Covered Bridge and the Quan Cong Temple. Meanwhile, Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh and Sa Pa town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai come third and fifth, respectively, in the Trending Destinations category. The northwest market town of Sa Pa is colourful and charming, providing the perfect oasis in the midst of a strenuous mountain trek or rice-paddy tour. The Gothic stone church at the centre of town is a bulls-eye in the centre of shops and stalls, serving as a reminder of the towns French missionary influence. Dine on Vietnamese or European-inspired cuisine downtown, and dont miss the Saturday night "love market," one of the most potent- and strictest-singles nights imaginable, it said. The worlds largest travel guidance platform wrote that travelers visit Ha Long Bay for an up-close look at its amazing limestone islands, rock formations and caves. Whittled away over centuries by wind and water, theyre breath-taking. It advised visitors to rent a kayak or a junk boat, or take a tour to explore. Ha Long Bay is also ranked second among the worlds 25 nature destinations, while Hoi An comes second in the list of the 25 destinations for honeymoon. In the Culture Destinations category, Hue City in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue gets the eighth position. Hue is clustered around the Perfume River, which splits the capital of the Nguyen Dynasty in two. There are endless must-see historic sites, especially those that are UNESCO World Heritage designated. Sightseeing can include the ornate Imperial Citadel, colourful Thanh Toan Bridge, royal tombs and the Forbidden Purple City, TripAdvisor said. VNS Theory of war There are offensive and defensive people. Evil powers give bad ideas. Jesus has brought the solution. God has given 10 rules to clarify, allow, and strengthen individually, love. Love is stronger than pain and hate, not to mention better. Peace will triumph. Love will win. Surprised? Carol Robinson, Waterloo Attack on children Whats the latest attack on children by Gov. Reynolds? This time, its refusing over $28 million federal dollars to provide food for 240,000 low-income children next summer. It would only cost Iowa taxpayers $2.2 million to oversee. How cruel can you get? And yet, I think the cruelty is the point. Reynolds and her GOP minions passed several restrictive laws in 2023 taking away the rights of LGBTQ+ children. They also gave $144 million of our tax dollars to wealthy families to send their kids to private religious schools, leaving public schools poorer because of lower enrollment. Who is behind this cruelty? Bob Vander Plaats and The Family Leader, a network of evangelical churches across Iowa who instruct their parishioners how to vote. Their donor base contributes campaign funds to Republican politicians from Reynolds on down. TFL has pushed Reynolds and the Iowa GOP to pass all of the above issues. Its truly shameful that self-proclaimed Christians are the cause for all of this completely unnecessary misery. Jesus is the one who commanded his followers to feed the poor and take care of the children. But his followers here in Iowa have yet to get that message. Doug Smith, Cedar Falls A friend remembered To my reasoning, certain souls need to be recognized and lauded for their time on Earth. Jimmy Longnecker was an example of that spirit. I kicked around with him since Lincoln Elementary. I knew his parents, I had a myriad experiences with his siblings, he was one of the many kiddos I grew up with in the 1960s and 70s (yes were that old). He was a unique individual. He had a creative spirit that was awe-inspiring. His musical talents were wonderful to enjoy and a lucky opportunity to share with the many grateful friends and fans he had. I knew him a little differently in adulthood. We pursued the same academic interests and had many discussions regarding the current state of man and humanism in general. He came back from Auburn a changed person. Smarter, deeper, more engaged. Ill never forget our conversations about psychology, helping professionals, and our future aspirations. He was unique. He will be missed by many. I will miss a friend and colleague of five-plus decades. Its not farewell my friend but until we meet again. Howard Griffin, Cedar Falls Election interference As recently reported in the Courier, two Democratic-controlled states have banned Donald Trumps name from appearing on their primary ballots. While many are surprised to see this brazen attempt to block voters from exercising their right to vote for the leading candidate, this tactic is nothing new. In the 1860 election, 10 Democratic-controlled Southern states blocked Abraham Lincolns name from appearing on their ballots. As a result, Lincoln only received about 40% of the popular vote nationally, but was able to prevail in the Electoral College. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows (who banned Trump for her states ballot) has called the Electoral College the relic of white supremacy. But the exact opposite is true. If it werent for the Electoral College, a slavery-neutral or pro-slavery Democrat would have won the presidency in 1860. At the very least, that would have meant a lengthy delay in the battle to end slavery by Lincoln and the Republicans. Peter Voorhees, Cedar Falls Disingenuous essay Rachel Greszlers recent opinion essay in The Courier included a few actual facts, but they were surrounded by so many deceiving misstatements that its hard to take her, or the article, seriously. She would have you believe that efforts to increase the number of workers eligible for overtime wages will do only harm to those workers. That up is down. She repeatedly uses a study to justify her opinion, but refuses to cite the source or indicate who funded or conducted the study. Do you suppose that study was paid for and guided by average workers, who she claims to care so deeply about? Me neither. The Heritage Foundation, which she represents, is nothing more than a mouthpiece for large corporate interests. When it comes to labor and wage laws, the Heritage Foundation would be thrilled to return our economy to the 1920s, before minimum wages, overtime, or employee benefits even existed. Although they claim to support workers, they are a wolf in sheeps clothing. Dont be fooled. Dennis Harbaugh, Waterloo Support Ukraine Support for Ukraine is important for the future of all democracies and the freedom of people of the world. Defeat is not an option and will only embolden communist and authoritarian aggression worldwide. Mark Twain remarked, History doesnt repeat itself, but it does rhyme. The conflict resembles the situation in Great Britain during the spring of 1941, facing possible invasion and certain defeat when alone facing Nazi Germanys invasion of western Europe. President Franklin Roosevelt sent a special adviser, Harry Hopkins, to Great Britain to report on the resolve of the English people, He found they were committed to self-determination and the many values of freedom. In his reports to Roosevelt, he quoted from the book of Ruth in the Old Testament: Whilst thy go, I will go. Where thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Even to the end. He proclaimed his support to their cause, and the Lend Lease Act soon followed. We now need statesmen and leadership on the world stage to show that the United States is still the light of the free world. We are at a crossroads. Give Ukraine the needed aid to finish their job. Humanity and civilization could depend on our support. The fight for freedom has not changed in 83 years. Bruce Quegg, Cedar Falls KIBBUTZ BE'ERI, Israel Relatives of civilians killed at a kibbutz in southern Israel during the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas are demanding the military immediately investigate signs that some may have been killed by Israeli security forces as they battled militants holding hostages. The military has said it will conduct a thorough investigation of everything that went wrong on Oct. 7 and the days that followed once its war on Hamas is over. But that's not soon enough for some family members of 13 people killed during a violent standoff between Hamas and Israeli security forces at Kibbutz Be'eri, along the Gaza border. They fear valuable evidence could be lost as the war now in its fourth month drags on with no end in sight. Representatives of eight bereaved families delivered a two-page letter to the army chief of staff and other officials late last week, demanding an immediate probe and a public release of the findings. In light of the seriousness of the incident, we do not think it is right to wait to investigate the incident until the end of the war, when it is not clear when it will end, the letter said. It prodded the military to start it immediately, when the memory is fresh for all those involved. Beeri was one of the communities attacked on Oct. 7, when thousands of Hamas and other militants broke through the Gaza border barrier, rampaging through the small farming towns and cooperatives of southern Israel. By the end of the day, they had killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taken about 250 hostages. The heavy death toll in Israel, the intelligence failures preceding the attack and the slow response by security forces that day have shattered the public's faith in the country's leadership and fueled calls for an investigation before the war is over. A finding that Be'eri residents may have been harmed by Israeli security forces could add to that loss in faith especially as the army deals with a growing number of friendly-fire deaths of soldiers fighting in Gaza. By the end of December the most updated data provided by Israel's military 18 soldiers in the Gaza ground offensive were killed by friendly fire, as well as two from shooting irregularities, and nine from accidents. Beeri was among the hardest hit communities on Oct. 7. More than 95 people were killed there and 30 were taken hostage, according to the community's spokesperson. The families demanding a military investigation are focused on a standoff that took place at the home of Pesi Cohen, where Hamas militants had taken 15 hostages. At one point, a Hamas commander asked Yasmine Porat one of only two hostages to make it out of the Cohen home alive to call the Israeli police. The commander sought to negotiate safe passage to Gaza with the hostages, in exchange for keeping them alive. Porat communicated with the commander with the help of an Arabic-speaking hostage, a Palestinian man from Jerusalem. After seven or eight phone calls to the police, officers finally arrived outside the home, Porat said. An hourslong gun battle ensued between some 40 militants and the Israeli forces outside, said Porat. The Israelis attempted to get into the house without killing the hostages, some of whom the militants had placed in the front yard. Porat said she was shot in the leg. About an hour after the police arrived, the Hamas commander exited the home and surrendered, holding Porat in front of him as a shield. Porat then stayed with the Israeli forces until the end of the battle. Porat saw a tank arrive, and asked a soldier if they were going to shell the house. He said yes, and that the tank unit wanted to break through the walls of the home. Israels Channel 12 news reported on footage and voice recordings it obtained from a police helicopter on Oct. 7 that appear to show a tank firing upon the Cohen house, causing an explosion that sent pillars of smoke into the sky. The Channel 12 report cited forces on the ground who said that a first tank fired a shot at around 5:30 p.m., about 1 hours after Israeli forces arrived at the home. That tank sustained damage, prompting another tank to arrive on scene. It was unclear from the Channel 12 report if the second tank fired on the house. Porat said she did not see the tanks firing at the home, but heard two blasts. It remains unclear how each of the 13 hostages died in the house that day. Porat said she believes that most of the hostages were alive when she exited the house. In their letter to the military, the bereaved families of Kibbutz Beeri asked the army to investigate why the general in charge of the operation, Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram, had ordered a tank to fire at the house despite the risk of civilian casualties. Hiram was quoted by the New York Times as telling the tank commander to break in after militants inside fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the forces. According to the evidence, the shooting of the tank was fatal and killed many hostages in addition to the terrorists, the families wrote, demanding a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the decisions and actions that led to this tragic outcome. The military said commanders had to make difficult decisions in a complex battlefield that day, and that it would investigate the Be'eri incident, and release its findings, as soon as the operational situation allows. Ken Roth in The Guardian: Watching lawyers for South Africa and Israel debate whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza was like observing two versions of reality that barely intersect. Each set of counsel, appearing before the international court of justice at The Hague, largely avoided the most powerful evidence contradicting their case, and the absence of a factual hearing or any questioning left it unclear how the judges will resolve the dispute. Yet I would wager that South Africas case was strong enough that the court will impose some provisional measures on Israel in the hope of mitigating the enormous civilian harm caused by Israels approach to fighting Hamas. More here. DES MOINES For presidential candidates, the final weekend before an Iowa caucus is all about making themselves available to Iowa voters and making that closing argument that could persuade any Iowans who remains on the caucus fence. Thats according to a pair of experts on the Iowa caucuses, who The Gazette asked to discuss the last-weekend Iowa caucus campaign plans of Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Of course, part of that discussion as are so many in the Midwest has become about the weather. Blizzard conditions hit Iowa this weekend and are here to stay through Monday nights caucuses. According to the National Weather Services, some areas of Southern and Southeastern Iowa received more than a foot of snow during the second storm this week, and life-threatening wind chills could reach as low as 40 degrees below zero on Sunday and extend into early next week. The storms have already wreaked havoc with the presidential candidates final weekend schedules. Haley canceled all three of her events scheduled for Friday, and instead conducted tele-town halls. DeSantis and the Super PAC supporting him canceled four of the five events at which he was scheduled to appear Friday, sneaking in only an appearance at a suburban Des Moines conservative groups meeting early in the morning. And Trumps campaign retooled his schedule; while some events will remain in place, Trump himself will only be in Iowa for one of the four events scheduled for this weekend: in Indianola on Sunday. As of Friday night, DeSantis and Haleys events scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were still on. You have to make yourself available in the final weekend. Because I know this is hard for some people to wrap their minds around but people are trying to make up their mind right now, said Craig Robinson, an Iowa caucus campaign staff veteran who now works as a consultant. Robinson said he is happily unattached in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. (Iowa Republican voter) are not like, Ive been on board this campaign the whole time. Thats rare, Robinson said. I think most people are making up their mind, and the best person to close the deal is the candidate themselves. So it makes sense to me that you would really see pretty intense barnstorming of the state in the final weekend. To Robinsons point, some Iowa Republicans who attended Wednesday nights presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines, who were interviewed on campus after the debate, said they were still wrestling with who to support at Monday nights caucuses. Ron DeSantis DeSantis final weekend schedule is the most aggressive of the three, which matches his approach to Iowa throughout the cycle. Few candidates have campaigned in Iowa as often as DeSantis, and he has held more campaign events here than Trump or Haley. DeSantis had a barnstormers schedule for the weekend, covering the state literally river to river: Council Bluffs, Atlantic, West Des Moines, Davenport and Waterloo on Saturday, and Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Sioux City and Ankeny on Sunday. The Saturday night event in Waterloo was postponed late Friday. Timothy Hagle, a political-science professor at the University of Iowa, said DeSantis final weekend schedule may be an indication that the governor is attempting to replicate Ted Cruzs victorious 2016 Iowa caucus campaign. In 2016, Cruz, a U.S. Senator from Texas, edged Trump in the Iowa Republican caucuses in part by winning more counties than Trump 56 for Cruz to 37 for Trump including by excelling in the states rural areas. Trump, however, followed his runner-up showing in Iowa with a victory in New Hampshire, and from there went on to earn the partys nomination and eventually the White House. This is when theyre trying to make their closing argument and talk to some final people who still may be, if not undecided, are persuadable still at this point, Hagle said. Nikki Haley Haley was scheduled to be in Cedar Falls, Iowa City and Davenport on Saturday. As of Friday night, her Sunday schedule was not yet available. Hagle said those Saturday stops for Haley make sense, given their recent Iowa Republican caucus history. Iowa City is in Johnson County and Davenport in Scott County; those are two of the five counties that in the 2016 Iowa Republican caucuses went to Marco Rubio, the U.S. Senator from Florida who finished a close third to Cruz and Trump. Haleys third scheduled stop Saturday is in Black Hawk County, where Rubio finished a close second to Cruz in 2016. Hagle said viewed through the lens of the 2016 results, Haleys scheduled stops make sense because she appears to be making a campaign pitch that would attract the type of Iowa Republicans who caucused for Rubio. Donald Trump Trumps final weekend schedule changed dramatically with the weather. Originally, he planned to attend campaign rallies in Atlantic and Sioux City on Saturday, and Indianola and Cherokee on Sunday. After changing the schedule due to the weather, Trump is scheduled only to appear at the Indianola event. Prior to those changes, Robinson said he was intrigued by Trumps strategy of spending his final weekend in Iowa with the exception of Sioux City outside of the states largest metropolitan areas. On one hand it looks a little odd. But I actually think that might work for him because (its) showing that hes willing to campaign more rurally, Robinson said. I think that Trump going to those size communities is probably a pretty good use of his time. Robinson noted that Trumps 2016 success in Iowa was confined mostly to counties on or near the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. If Trump is to win the 2024 caucuses and match his historic caucus polling numbers, he will need to be successful in other areas of the state as well, Robinson said. What vote didnt Trump get eight years ago in the caucus? He didnt get the rural vote, Robinson said. He didnt dominate in rural Iowa. Ted Cruz won all those counties. I think for Trump to meet expectations (Monday) he needs to do well all across the state this time, and if his support is limited to certain areas of the state, he might be in trouble. So I think that it might be pretty wise for him to be campaigning the way hes approaching it. The weather The frigid temperatures and high winds could drive town turnout in Monday nights caucuses, both Hagle and Robinson said, especially in rural areas where caucus participants may have to travel farther to their caucus precinct. Hagle said its possible that dangerously cold temperatures could cause both older and younger Iowa Republicans to decide against going out on Monday night. Whether a weather-induced lower caucus turnout would harm one candidate any more than the others remains to be seen, the experts said. Who does this affect which campaign? Thats harder to say because I havent seen any statistics lately that are suggesting that maybe older voters tend toward this candidate or that candidate. It's probably a mix, Hagle said, adding that he believes both Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy have appealed to younger voters. Its going to vary. Robinson said if any of the leading candidates campaigns are worried about the weather, Trumps should. Thats because he has the most to lose as the consistent and commanding leader in the polls throughout the cycle and because he has earned the support of many non-traditional Republicans, who may feel less motivated to attend a caucus in extreme cold weather. The caucus is such a greater step anyway. I have to go to a meeting at a certain time, at a certain place, and I might not be familiar with any of it. So I think Trump already is fighting that, Robinson said. And then, hes got this lead. I think if his numbers, if he doesnt meet expectations, I think theres a lot of that at play. Close Two audience members watch Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaign for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday, January. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Iowa Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, introduces Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, to campaign for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, on second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. An attendee watches Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaign on Jan. 6, 2024, on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, outlines his vision for the presidency in a stop Saturday Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. He was joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, (left), and Rep. Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, (right). Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. An attendee listens as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaigns for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport as DeSantis seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Massie's lapel pin shows a live tally of the U.S. national debt. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, campaigns for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. To his left is U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley campaigned Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley takes a photo with a supporter Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu hit the campaign trail in Iowa with Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Sununu came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand, joking that it'd just been handed to him on his way out. Attendees clap at a campaign event for Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Jake Chapman, the former Iowa Senate president who lost his reelection bid in 2022, campaigns for Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for him Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Attendees fill the Quad Cities Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport for a Vivek Ramaswamy event Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the party's presidential nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday, just nine days ahead of the Iowa caucuses. GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the Republican nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy beams as she's introduced Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. GOP hopefuls visit Quad-Cities nine days ahead of 2024 Iowa caucuses With just more than a week to go until the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, GOP hopefuls have ramped up their campaign schedules in the state. And on Saturday, Scott County was a popular place for Republican candidates three presidential hopefuls campaigned with their endorsers. Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy arrived at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport for a 9 a.m. event, introduced by former state Senate President Jake Chapman and Ramaswamy's wife, Apoorva, a throat surgeon. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas at a noon-ish event on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. And Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the UN, campaigned with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, in the afternoon at the Tangled Wood restaurant in Bettendorf. Two audience members watch Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaign for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday, January. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Iowa Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, introduces Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, to campaign for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, on second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. An attendee watches Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaign on Jan. 6, 2024, on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, outlines his vision for the presidency in a stop Saturday Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. He was joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, (left), and Rep. Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, (right). Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. An attendee listens as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaigns for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport as DeSantis seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Massie's lapel pin shows a live tally of the U.S. national debt. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, campaigns for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. To his left is U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley campaigned Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley takes a photo with a supporter Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu hit the campaign trail in Iowa with Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Sununu came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand, joking that it'd just been handed to him on his way out. Attendees clap at a campaign event for Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Jake Chapman, the former Iowa Senate president who lost his reelection bid in 2022, campaigns for Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for him Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Attendees fill the Quad Cities Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport for a Vivek Ramaswamy event Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the party's presidential nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday, just nine days ahead of the Iowa caucuses. GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the Republican nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy beams as she's introduced Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Michael Bolton Gardai have arrested a man in connection to a robbery in a business that occurred in Clonakilty, County Cork on Friday. The man in his 20s was arrested on Sunday, and is currently detained under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda station in West Cork. Gardai continue to appeal for any witnesses to this robbery to come forward. Any person who was travelling through Kent Street car park between 12:20pm and 12:50pm and observed any activity which drew their attention are asked to come forward. Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling through Kent Street car park and/or nearby areas between 12:20pm and 12:50pm are asked to make this footage available to gardai. Anyone with any information that can assist Gardai with this investigation are asked to contact Clonakilty Garda station on 023 882 1570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (14 January 2024) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery and helicopters repelled four attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 30th, 32nd, and 60th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). In addition, losses were inflicted on AFU units near Kislovka (Kharkov region) and Rozovka (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems. Moreover, one ammunition depot of the 113th Territorial Defence Brigade was wiped out near Volchansk (Kharkov region). In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by operational-tactical aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled one attack launched by assault detachments of the 13th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade near Chervonaya Dibrova (Lugansk Peoples Republic) and inflicted losses on enemy manpower near Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses in this direction amounted to more than 80 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces support by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 21st, 24th mechanised brigades, and 50th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Veseloye, Novgorodskoye, and Nevelskoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic). Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 22nd, 28th, and 93rd mechanised brigades near Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 300 Ukrainian troops, nine tanks, four infantry fighting vehicles, including one Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, four armoured fighting vehicles, one Strela-10 air defence system, and 27 motor vehicles. In the course of counterbattery warfare, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one UK-made AS-90 self-propelled artillery system, one German-made Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, one Czech-made Dana self-propelled howitzer, one U.S.-made M119 artillery howitzer, and three D-30 howitzers were neutralised. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade near Elizavetovka (Donetsk Peoples Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 170 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, one Strela-10 air defence system, and six motor vehicles. In addition, in the course of counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one Czech-made Dana self-propelled howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were neutralised. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th, 118th mechanised brigades, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, 2nd and 15th Ukrainian national guard brigades near Stepovoye, Verbovoye, Novopokrovka, Rabotino, and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer. In Kherson direction, as a result of the strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, three U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, one Slovak-made Zuzana-2 self-propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out one aviation ammunition depot at Dolgintsevo airfield (Dnepropetrovsk region), 98 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged enemy manpower and hardware in 112 areas. Air defence units shot down 23 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Novoandeyevka, Spornoye, Lipovoye (Donetsk Peoples Republic), Podkuichansk, Popasnaya (Lugansk Peoples Republic), Veseloye, Lyubimovka, Novoye (Zaporozhye region), Novaya Kakhovka (Kherson region), as well as intercepted 17 HIMARS and Uragan MLRS shells. In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,664 unmanned aerial vehicles, 450 air defence missile systems, 14,618 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,729 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,455 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. Tags: WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Alec Musser, an actor and model known for his roles in the soap opera All My Children and the 2010 movie Grown Ups, has died at age 50, his fiance announced Saturday. A cause of death has not been revealed yet, according to reports. Musser played Del Henry on All My Children from 2005-07 and also played a masseur on the show Desperate Housewives in 2011. Comedy fans may remember him as the muscle-flexing man with the high Canadian accent in Adam Sandlers Grown Ups. Born in New York City in 1973, Musser grew up in New Jersey and Connecticut before moving to San Diego, according to his bio. Its unclear where in New Jersey he lived. Musser worked on a ski patrol in California and then a lifeguard before becoming an Abercrombie and Fitch model. He also modeled for Gianfranco Ferre, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Mens Health, Speedo, and Target. In 2005, he won the second season of the reality show I Wanna Be a Soap Star, which led to his role on All My Children. RIP to the love of my life, his fiance, Paige Press, wrote on Instagram. I will never stop loving you. My heart is broken. ... Today is the worst day of my life. We were so happy. Sandler also offered condolences via social media. I loved this guy, the comedian wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Cannot believe he is gone. Such a wonderful, funny good man. Thinking of Alec Musser and his family and sending all my love. A true great sweetheart of a person. Hanley House was crowned Miss Americas Teen 2024 on Saturday night in Orlando, Florida. House, who competed as Miss North Carolinas Teen, is a Raleigh native and a junior at Cleveland High School. She performed a lyrical dance routine to Dont Stop Believin in the pageants talent competition. The teen competition which includes talent, evening gown and on-stage question segments is part of the Miss America organization. Along with the title of Miss Americas Teen, House will receive a prize package of $60,000 in tuition scholarships to attend a school of her choice or a four-year Presidential Scholarship to the University of Alabama, according to the Miss America organization. Heres Houses bio from the Miss North Carolinas Teen: A 13-year competitive dancer, Hanley has earned national awards and studied ballet programs throughout the country, including Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco as well as Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Hanley started her own vinyl design business at age 12, inspiring her to create her community service initiative Passion to Profit empowering young entrepreneurs and building real-world skills. Through her business, she has been able to donate more than $1,000 to the American Heart Association. She is a student at Cleveland High School and plans to further her education by studying architecture and design while performing on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Carolina Girls dance team. During her year as Miss Americas Teen, House will travel across the country and use her platform to raise awareness about her philanthropic effort. Shell also serve as a role model for young girls and a brand ambassador for the Miss Americas Teen program, according to a press release. Elaina Burt of Hoover participated in the national pageant as Miss Alabamas Teen, but didnt make the top 11 on Saturday. However, Burt was one of three winners in a talent preliminary this week for Miss Americas Teen, earning a $3,000 scholarship. Burt is a ballet dancer and senior at Briarwood Christian School. Her philanthropic platform for Miss Alabamas Teen is Charlies Chance: Overcoming Epilepsy Together. Aside from House, the top five finalists were: Paisley French, Miss Ohios Teen 2023 Aubrey Bartmann, Miss Oklahomas Teen 2023 Natalie Poveda, Miss Texas Teen 2022 Sophia Todd, Miss Kentuckys Teen 2023 The top 11 contestants were: Sophia Todd, Miss Kentuckys Teen 2023 Jaylynn Lindley, Miss Utahs Teen 2023 Anna Grace, Miss Tennessees Teen 2023 Ginger Ragaishis, Miss Vermonts Teen 2023 Anna-Katherine Risalvato, Miss Floridas Teen 2023 Charlie Key, Miss Georgias Teen 2023 Paisley French, Miss Ohios Teen 2023 Natalie Poveda, Miss Texas Teen 2023 Aubrey Bartmann, Miss Oklahomas Teen 2023 Hanley House, Miss North Carolinas Teen 2023 Lauryn Trader, Miss Hawaiis Teen 2023 READ: Miss Americas Teen 2024: Meet the contestants, including Alabamas Elaina Burt A total of 51 teens were in the running for 2024, competing in preliminary events this week and the finals on Saturday at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando. All had previously been crowned at pageants in their home states or the District of Columbia. Winter storm warnings are now in effect for parts of north and west Alabama, which could get up to 6 inches of snow from tonight until Tuesday. And winter weather advisories have been expanded to cover more of the state -- even parts of south Alabama -- in anticipation of accumulating ice. Snow and other forms of frozen precipitation have been reported in north Alabama as of Sunday night. Here's what the weather service is thinking in terms of ice and sleet.NWS Then there is the cold. Some spots in Alabama may not make it above freezing for a while, which could allow whatever frozen precipitation that falls to hang around for a while. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Sunday afternoon issued a state of emergency for 25 Alabama counties in anticipation of snow and ice and dangerous cold. The National Weather Service is also warning all Alabamians of dangerously cold conditions this week, with lows bottoming out in the single digits and teens and wind chills even lower through Wednesday night. The coldest night could be Tuesday into Wednesday, when lows in the single digits will be possible in north Alabama. Lows in the teens will be possible all the way into south Alabama. Here are the temperatures expected Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.NWS Forecasters think 1 to 6 inches of snow or a snow and ice mix will be possible across northern Alabama. Locations farther south could get a wintry mix of snow and ice. Some freezing rain or sleet will also be possible for parts of southwest Alabama. Even a little ice or snow could make roads slippery with temperatures expected to be near or below freezing for the northern part of the state for an extended period. Heres a look at whats expected by region: NORTH ALABAMA Warning: A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for ALL north AL and southern middle TN. This is in effect from 6 PM tonight through 6 AM Tuesday pic.twitter.com/1KoWqNVfzv NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) January 14, 2024 All of north Alabama has been upgraded to a winter storm warning as of Sunday afternoon. The warning will be in effect from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Huntsville said snow flurries and sleet have arrived in north Alabama a bit sooner than originally expected. Northwest Alabama is expected to see the most snow, and up to 6 inches will be possible in that region, forecasters said. Isolated areas could get even more. Freezing rain and/or ice will possible over southeast portions of the forecast area where a warm layer of air may exist above freezing surface temperatures, the weather service said. The weather service said there is a high probability of impacts from winter precipitation over northwest and north Alabama north of the Tennessee River. Forecasters area also warning of bitterly cold temperatures through Wednesday night. The counties in the winter storm warning are Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Morgan, Marshall, DeKalb and Cullman. The weather service in Huntsville said total snow accumulations during that time could range from 1 to 6 inches, with northwest Alabama expected to get the most snow. CENTRAL ALABAMA Some of our latest forecast info for winter weather. Wintry precip is now affecting areas near Hamilton & Haleyville. Wintry precip will move southeast toward the I-59/20 corridors by tmw evening. Slick roadways are possible for the Tuesday morning commute. #alwx pic.twitter.com/dcPqSHimzx NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 15, 2024 The National Weather Service in Birmingham said wintry precipitation had been reported in the northwest part of central Alabama and is expected to spread southward on Monday. Precipitation should end by Tuesday morning. A wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain will be possible in northwest central Alabama. Light amounts of sleep or freezing rain will be possible in other areas to the south and east. There will be the potential for slick roads, with the most hazardous travel expected in the northwest. A winter storm warning is in effect for Marion and Winston counties until 6 a.m. Tuesday. The National Weather Service in Birmingham said total snow accumulations of 2 inches and ice accumulations of about a tenth of an inch will be possible. A winter weather advisory will be in effect from 6 a.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday for Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Blount, Etowah and Cherokee counties. A new winter weather advisory was issued just before 2 p.m. Sunday for more of central Alabama, including Calhoun, Cleburne, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, Hale, Perry, Bibb, Chilton, Marengo, Dallas, Pickens, Sumter and Greene counties. The new advisory will be in effect from 6 p.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Tuesday. The weather service said freezing rain was expected, along with some snow and sleet. Total ice accumulations of a few hundredths of an inch are expected. The weather service said a wintry mix of precipitation is expected. Up to one inch of snow will be possible as well as up to a tenth of an inch of ice. The updated winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories as of Sunday afternoon.NWS SOUTH ALABAMA Confidence is increasing that a light freezing rain event will impact parts of SE MS & SW AL Mon night into Tue AM. Light ice accumulations may result in slick roads, bridges, and overpasses and impact early AM travel Tuesday. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/IMrylsy7g0 NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) January 14, 2024 A winter weather advisory has been issued for part southwest Alabama as of Sunday afternoon. It will be in effect from 9 p.m. Monday until 9 a.m. Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Mobile. The counties in the winter weather advisory are inland Baldwin and Mobile counties as well as Choctaw, Washington, Clarke, Wilcox and Monroe. The weather service said a light glaze of freezing rain will be possible. Forecasters warned that slick roads, bridges and overpasses will be possible. A 39-year-old man is dead after Atmore police say he tried to intervene in a fight between a group of men and was shot multiple times. On Saturday morning, Okeema McCants of Atmore was driving on Martin Luther King Avenue when he witnessed a group of men in a physical altercation and he stopped to intervene, Atmore police spokesperson Darrell McMann said. Around 10:55 a.m., Atmore police were called to Martin Luther King Avenue and Bragg Street after gunshots were reported. They found McCants, who had been shot multiple times. The officers administered first aid to McCants until Medstar Ambulance Paramedics arrived and transported him to Atmore Community Hospital, McMann said. McCants died from his injuries at the hospital. Witnesses gave Atmore police a description of the suspect who shot McCants. Since then, police took Charles Walker, 25, of Atmore, into custody on Saturday afternoon, McMann said. He was found to have a stolen handgun, with an active warrant for his arrest by the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office for property theft. Investigators interviewed Walker and charged him with murder, and hes since been transported to the Escambia County Jail. Investigators are still working to identify the other people involved in Saturdays altercation, McMann said. Former pastor Micahn Carter will find out in the next month if his defamation suit in a Washington state court against a woman who said he raped her can proceed. At a Jan. 9 hearing on motions from both Carter and the former Together Church church employee, Yakima County Superior Court Judge Kevin Naught said he would issue a ruling on whether the suit can be dismissed under a state law that protects people from frivolous defamation suits. Carter is a former pastor at the Washington-state Together Church. Naught also let stand an order sealing declarations that delved into the womans prior sexual history. While the woman has not sought criminal charges, she has said that Carter raped her in an office at the megachurch. The building now houses the Champions Centre church. Fall from grace Carter and his wife, April, were lead pastors at Together Church for 13 years. He resigned from the church in early June 2019, describing an inappropriate incident that he blamed on previously undiagnosed bipolar disorder and saying that he had gone into treatment. He then went to the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham for a ministerial restoration program, where he also joined the churchs staff. According to court documents, Carters restoration program called for him to not engage in public ministry for a year, and after that he was to go through a year of supervised ministry. Carter joined the Alabama churchs staff and preached there in 2020. In July 2021, the woman sent a letter to Chris Hodges, the pastor of the Alabama megachurch, describing how Carter had raped her, according to court documents, telling Hodges that I have been carrying this for two years too long and she had no expectations for what he would do with this information. She also wrote a blog article about how she was raped at Together Church in April 2019. Not mentioning Carter by name, the woman described her attacker as the lead pastor of the church and said he started making inappropriate comments to her and grabbed her, culminating with the rape inside an office at the church during an event. Hodges announced a couple of days later that in light of new allegations the Carters had resigned from the church, which was no longer involved in his rehabilitation. Carter has said, according to court documents and his Yakima attorney, Tonilynn Savage, that he and the woman had consensual sex. Suit filed In October 2022, Carter filed a defamation suit against the woman in Alabama, seeking at least $500,000 in damages, alleging that he lost publishing contracts and speaking engagements because of the allegations. That case was dismissed with prejudice because of a lack of jurisdiction, according to court documents. The woman argued in the Alabama case that the rape occurred in Yakima, she had no ties to Alabama and that she could not afford to defend a lawsuit filed in Alabama. The dismissal with prejudice bars Carter from refiling the suit in Alabama. In July 2023, Carter filed suit in Yakima County Superior Court alleging the woman had defamed him with the rape allegations, seeking unspecified damages as well as attorneys fees and any other payments the court awards. The woman was served in September and given 20 days to respond. In October, Carter sought to have a default judgment in his favor, noting the womans failure to respond. She asked for additional time to respond, as she had not obtained legal counsel at that time. She has since retained Jennifer Chung of Seattle-based Davis, Wright and Tremaine. Squelching speech Chung is seeking to have the case dismissed under the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act, a state law that targets frivolous lawsuits that are filed to silence someone who is speaking on a matter of public concern. The law pauses further action on the lawsuit, including the exchange of evidence between the parties, while the court determines if the suit was frivolous. If the case is deemed frivolous, it would be dismissed and the defendant would be awarded attorneys fees and expenses. But if a judge determines the motion was filed to cause an unnecessary delay, then the plaintiff would receive attorneys fees and expenses and the case would proceed. Some will say that this is not a public concern, but UPEPA applies when a person exercises free speech on a matter of public concern, Chung said. She said a workplace sexual assault, especially one that happens in a church, is a matter of public concern. The womans blog post discussed what happened to her at the church where she was employed, the betrayal she experienced and how it shook her religious faith, which she was able to rebuild, Chung said. Savage, however, said UPEPA does not protect someone who falsely accuses someone of a crime. How can she look at the court with a straight face and say that this person raped this person? Savage asked. We clearly dont agree. Carter has failed to demonstrate that he and the woman had consensual sex, Chung said. Washington requires active consent. Silence is not consent. The victim is not required to say no, Chung said. Savage said that the womans actions suggested consent and that she said she was raped two years later. The UPEPA process, Savage said, is being used to delay the lawsuit and prevent her from obtaining information from the woman and others involved in the case, including witnesses who would support Carters case. Questionable statements Chung is seeking to seal some statements submitted to the court, including a request for the woman to provide information that delves into her sexual history. She characterized those filings as an attempt to smear her client. Savage said the information was needed to establish the womans history and to challenge her credibility in making statements against Carter. William Bright, the attorney who represented Carter in the Alabama case and is serving as co-counsel in this case, said in a Dec. 15 hearing before Naught that the woman has made accusations against Carter and that it was only fair for Carter to respond. Theres no way to pull that back and seal it, Bright said. Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Cant you also say that two wrongs dont make a right? Naught responded. Chung said Bright did something similar in Alabama seeking the womans sexual history and was challenged for it there as well. Naught said he cannot base his decision on what happened in Alabama, including the dismissal of the case with prejudice. Naught has ordered some of the documents sealed and allowed for some discovery in the case but said the information cannot be added to the court file without permission from the court. Reach Donald W. Meyers at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com. ___ (c)2024 Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) Visit Yakima Herald-Republic (Yakima, Wash.) at www.yakima-herald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Its been two days since the mother of a 4-year-old in southeast Alabama last saw her son, before he disappeared from a family camper. Shyanne Ray, mother of Phenix Wilkerson, said shes been distraught since she realized Phenix Wilkerson was missing from their camper after she walked over to her mothers home in Clayton on Friday, she told WTVY. I looked everywhere around the house for him and did not see him, Ray said. I am in shock right now because I cant feel anything. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys State Bureau of Investigation and aviation units are helping the Barbour County Sheriffs Office with the search for Wilkerson, ALEA spokesperson Jeremy Burkett said in an email to AL.com Sunday morning. Barbour County Sheriff Tyrone Smith did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He told WTVM that authorities have helicopters, divers and on the-ground searchers looking for Wilkerson. Local volunteers are now working alongside the authorities, as well. Wilkerson was last seen around 12:30 p.m. on Friday, per an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency alert. He was last seen wearing a blue tie-dye shirt and gray sweatpants and Batman socks, but no shoes, when he disappeared. Hes 3-feet 5-inches tall, and has red or auburn hair and hazel eyes. I just worry about him being out there all by himself, Ray said, adding that Wilkerson is autistic and nonverbal but he responds to his name. It is cold and it rained... I am just worried. Anyone with information on Phenixs whereabouts is asked to call the Barbour County Sheriffs Office at 334-775-3434 or 911. Authorities and volunteers are continuing the search for 4-year-old Phenix Wilkerson who went missing Friday afternoon in southeast Alabama. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the child was last seen around 12:30 p.m. when he disappeared from his familys camper near Sid Bush Road in Clayton, in Barbour County. He was last wearing a blue tie-dye shirt and gray sweatpants, according to ALEA, which issued a missing child alert Friday. Wilkerson was not wearing shoes. ALEAs State Bureau of Investigation and Aviation units are on the scene assisting the Barbour County Sheriffs Office with the search effort and will continue to make all resources available, the law enforcement agency said in an email to AL.com. There are also reportedly 100 volunteers from throughout the state helping with the search, which is centered around Sid Bush Road, according to WVTY. Barbour County Sheriff Tyrone Smith told the outlet that Wilkerson was asleep in a camper when his mother went to the restroom at a nearby house. When she returned, he was gone and she and the man who stayed with the boy when she left contacted authorities when they could not quickly locate the child afterward. The boy is described as 3-feet 5-inches tall with hazel eyes and red or auburn hair. Anyone with information on Phenixs whereabouts is asked to call the Barbour County Sheriffs Office at 334-775-3434 or 911. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin remains hospitalized in good condition with no date set for his release, a Pentagon spokesman said Saturday. Austins hospitalization on Jan. 1 for complications from prostate surgery and delays in notification, including to the White House, have prompted an investigation by the Department of Defenses internal watchdog and criticism from lawmakers. President Joe Biden called the delay a lapse of judgment, but said he still has faith in Austin, a native of Mobile. Austin, 70, is in contact with senior staff and continues to monitor DODs day-to-day operations worldwide, Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement. Austins hospitalization has drawn particular scrutiny at a time of increased global conflict. That includes U.S. engagement in the Middle East after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants and Israels military response in the Gaza Strip, which Hamas rules. The U.S. and U.K. launched about 70 airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen early Friday in a bid to stop the Iran-backed groups shipping attacks in the Red Sea. A follow-up attack by the U.S. on early Saturday in Yemen targeted a Houthi radar site. Pentagon officials have said that Austin is performing his duties while at the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington and his prognosis is good. ___ 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. English News China hits fast-forward button for commercialization of autonomous driving Alwihda Info | Par pd - 11 Janvier 2024 The release of the guideline has laid a solid foundation for the safe application of autonomous driving vehicles and also leaves ample room for innovative applications, Wang said, adding that this will further promote the application of autonomous driving technology in the transportation sector. By Han Xin, People's Daily In recent years, with the rapid development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and big data, autonomous driving has been increasingly applied in the transportation sector in China. From being tested in closed test fields and on designated roads, it is now being piloted and employed in commercial trial operations. China's Ministry of Transport recently issued a trial safety guideline on the use of driverless vehicles in the public transportation sector. It marked the first time for China to state in a national policy that intelligent connected vehicles can be used for commercial transportation, and is believed to accelerate the commercialization of self-driving driving technology across the country. In recent years, the autonomous driving industry in China has experienced rapid growth, along with an expanding market. Currently, there are 17 national-level autonomous driving demonstration zones and 7 national-level pilot zones for intelligent connected vehicles across the country. These zones have opened up over 22,000 kilometers of roads for testing, accumulating a total test mileage of over 70 million kilometers. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and some other cities have introduced policies allowing autonomous vehicles to engage in commercial trial operations in specific areas and during specific time periods, including urban public transportation, taxi services, and logistics delivery. The scale of application continues to expand in these cities. It is reported that in Shunyi district of Beijing, the autonomous delivery vehicles of Meituan, a Chinese shopping platform for locally found consumer products and retail services, are delivering thousands of orders per day. With an Apollo Go mobile application, passengers in Wuhan Economic and Technological Development Zone, central China's Hubei province, can hail a fully autonomous vehicle after a few taps on their phones to set their pick-up and drop-off locations in the app. Once a destination is confirmed, the vehicle will drive according to the predetermined route. Equipped with fisheye cameras and laser sensors, the vehicle can accurately avoid obstacles and automatically adjust its speed based on traffic conditions. Wuhan has launched 300 unmanned vehicles since it initiated the fully driverless robotaxi service in August 2022, which serves a population of over 4 million people. Currently, there are over 200 autonomous city buses, more than 1,500 autonomous taxis, and approximately 1,000 autonomous trucks operating nationwide. Apollo autonomous driving, developed by Chinese tech giant Baidu, has accumulated a test mileage of over 78 million kilometers, providing transportation services in over 10 cities. Continuously enhancing safety capabilities is the primary goal of transportation services and a fundamental requirement for the widespread application of autonomous vehicles in the transportation sector. The concept of safety is consistently emphasized in the measures proposed by the guideline. Overall, the guideline has established a safety assurance system from six aspects: safety production system, transportation safety protection, operational status information management, vehicle dynamic monitoring, safety notification, and emergency response. This provides regulatory compliance for autonomous vehicles to engage in road transportation operations safely. The guideline specifically proposed the concept of "security inspector" - the person responsible for overseeing the safe operation of an autonomous vehicle in-cabin or remotely. Li Bin, deputy director of the Research Institute of Highway under China's Ministry of Transport, noted that the guideline fully considers the commercial models of autonomous driving in different forms. While ensuring safety, the guideline sets regulations on the allocation of safety personnel, skills, and qualifications for different transportation operations. According to the guideline, the safe operation of fully autonomous taxis can be ensured by remote security inspectors. The guideline said that with the approval of local governments, fully autonomous taxis could be operated unmanned over designated areas with one security inspector overseeing them remotely, and the ratio of remote security inspectors to taxis shall not be lower than 1:3. The guideline specifies the application scenarios for autonomous driving vehicles to provide road transportation services. For autonomous city buses, relevant passenger transport operations can be carried out in physically enclosed, relatively enclosed, or fixed routes with simple traffic conditions where traffic safety is controllable. Autonomous taxis are allowed to carry out passenger transport operations in scenarios with good traffic conditions and controllable traffic safety. Besides, autonomous vehicles are prohibited from engaging in road transportation operations for dangerous goods. The guideline also clarifies the responsibilities for the providers of autonomous transport services. For instance, the operators of autonomous taxis and other passenger vehicles should purchase carrier's liability insurance according to laws. "The increasingly improved environment for industrial development provides possibilities for the accelerated application of autonomous vehicles in the transportation service sector," said Wang Xianjin, vice-president of the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, which is a part of the Ministry of Transport. The release of the guideline has laid a solid foundation for the safe application of autonomous driving vehicles and also leaves ample room for innovative applications, Wang said, adding that this will further promote the application of autonomous driving technology in the transportation sector. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's cruise economy embraces rapid development China still considered favorable investment destination by foreign companies China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) English News China speeds up fostering new drivers in foreign trade Alwihda Info | Par pd - 11 Janvier 2024 Various regions and departments across China will prioritize efforts to accelerate the optimization and upgrading of the foreign trade structure. They will focus on cultivating new drivers of foreign trade growth that are technologically advanced, high value-added, green and low-carbon, to further promote high-quality development of the country's foreign trade sector. By Du Haitao, People's Daily The recently hosted central economic work conference stressed that it will be imperative to foster new drivers of foreign trade, reinforce the stable performance in foreign trade and foreign investment, and expand trade in intermediate goods, trade in services, digital trade and exports of cross-border e-commerce. In 2023, China's foreign trade sector has withstood external pressures and continued to demonstrate its resilience. Recently, the first batch of 50 new energy buses made by Chinese bus manufacturer Higer Bus were shipped from the Taicang port in east China's Jiangsu province, heading to Brazil. With the support from the local customs, hawthorns grown in Laiwu, east China's Shandong province were exported to Thailand for the first time. Last year, China faced a complex and challenging external environment, as well as multiple difficulties at home. Precise policy implementation, proactive efforts from businesses, and active market exploration have promoted stability and improved quality in China's imports and exports of goods amid uncertainties. Since October 2023, China's foreign trade has shown year-on-year growth for two consecutive months. In November, the total imports and exports increased by 1.2 percent compared to the same period in 2022, 0.3 percentage points higher than that in October. These figures fully reflected the good momentum for steady and improving growth of China's foreign trade. Foreign trade is one of the important driving forces of economic growth. Promoting the sector to stabilize the scale and optimize the structure has a crucial supportive role in maintaining stable growth and employment, building a new development pattern, and advancing high-quality development. Currently, the number of foreign trade enterprises in China with import and export records has increased to 597,000, and the import and export value of enterprises that have stayed active since 2020 accounts for nearly 80 percent of of the whole. In the first 11 months of 2023, the imports and exports of general trade, which features longer industrial chains and relatively higher added value, accounted for 64.8 percent of China's total foreign trade, growing 1 percentage point year-on-year. This further reinforced the high-quality development of foreign trade. In the first three quarters of 2023, the combined exports of new energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products rose 41.7 percent year-on-year, with their share in China's total exports up by 1.3 percentage points from a year ago. The world has entered a new period of turbulence and change. The momentum of world economic growth is sluggish. Destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors are increasing. Faced with a complex external environment, various regions and departments in China have enhanced the internal driving force with reform and opening up. They coordinated efforts to promote deepened reform and high-level opening up, continuously liberated and developed social productive forces, stimulated and enhanced social vitality, and accelerated the cultivation of new drivers of foreign trade, thus promoting the sustained improvement of foreign trade. From the perspective of development trend, China's foreign trade in 2023 continued to consolidate the foundation of "stability" and kept the momentum of "progress," expanding the space for economic and trade cooperation. China's exports of goods have been moving up the value chain. The share of electromechanical product exports in the total has expanded, and the exports of green, low-carbon and smart products have grown rapidly. While fostering new drivers of foreign trade growth, China has not only focused on leveraging the new advantages of traditional products, but also continuously expanded new areas of growth such as new energy vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, so as to further utilize its advantages in new arenas. China has employed digital technologies to improve the efficiency in all links of foreign trade, facilitate the foreign trade sector and unleash the vitality of foreign trade entities. At the same time, it has actively expanded trade in intermediate goods and expedited the growth of service trade. With the continued strength of domestic policies to stabilize foreign trade and the steady progress of foreign trade reform measures, China's foreign trade will maintain stable growth, with continuous optimization of trade structure and strengthening of internal growth drivers. Various regions and departments across China will prioritize efforts to accelerate the optimization and upgrading of the foreign trade structure. They will focus on cultivating new drivers of foreign trade growth that are technologically advanced, high value-added, green and low-carbon, to further promote high-quality development of the country's foreign trade sector. Dans la meme rubrique : < > China's cruise economy embraces rapid development China still considered favorable investment destination by foreign companies China will remain staunch force for peace, stability, progress of world Pour toute information, contactez-nous au : +(235) 99267667 ; 62883277 ; 66267667 (Bureau N'Djamena) Ironically, Hamass gruesome attack on Israeli civilians on October 7, instead of unleashing a flood of criticism of jihadist Muslims, has turned up the fire under the apparently ever-simmering cauldron of anti-Semitism. Everyone seems focused on the Jews even obsessed with them. But the loudest voices are those raised in condemnation of the Israelis, their supporters, and worldwide Jewry. There are a number of tropes that Jew-haters dredge up on such occasions: the debunked but widely disseminated Soviet psy-op pamphlet The Protocols of the Elders of Zion; the Jews as Christ-killers; the popular trope that the Jews own the banks; claims theyre out to control the world as Greater Israel; claims theyre Satanists; and the old blood libel, that they make Passover matzahs from the blood of Gentile children. Ill return to the Christ-killer charge shortly, but first lets consider a few things one can reasonably blame the Jews for: one being Monotheism, another being the Bible both the Old Testament and the New. Another being the moral code established in the Ten Commandments that has served as the cornerstone of Western Civilization. Said another way, without those selfsame Jews so roundly denounced, hated, and not infrequently massacred throughout history, there would be no Bible, no Judaism, no Jesus, no Christianity, and no Western Civilization. Theres a reason we have the phrase the Judeo-Christian tradition. Its the foundation of the West and all the first-world nations, including the United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States. Especially in America, we have the Jews and the Bible to thank for our experimental government based on what Thomas Jefferson inscribed in the Declaration of Independence as our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And these rights are endowed by their Creator i.e. God, as revealed in the Bible not Gaia, not Buddha, and most emphatically, not Allah. Returning to the Christ-killers accusation: In fact, it was the Romans with their barbarously excruciating and deadly punishment of crucifixion who killed Jesus. But yes, the Sanhedrin, the Jewish leadership at that time, did seek it. So lets parse that. First and foremost, the Sanhedrin didnt speak for all the Jews. We know this for a fact from the New Testament and other historical records of the time. Christs disciples were...wait for it...Jews! And they clearly disagreed with the Sanhedrins charges against Christ. So when anyone accuses the Jews of being Christ-killers, he means the Jewish government and leadership of the day. Let me ask you a question: how many of us in America today agree with all of our governments decisions? How many oppose much of what our government decrees? So why isnt the charge against the Jews in the first century made factually: The Jewish leadership condemned Jesus by charging him with blasphemy, and of claiming to be King of the Jews, rather than the Jews killed Christ? One of the charges the Sanhedrin brought against Jesus was that of working on Shabbat, after Jesus famously healed people on the Sabbath. Instead of saying, My bad! Youre right! I wont do it again, Jesus pointed out that healing is a loving and compassionate act and not the sort of work that should be subjected to that law. This made the leadership see red. They themselves were caught up in the lawyerly minutiae of dos and donts that rabbis had enumerated with regard to this law, which Jesus openly challenged. Furthermore, theyd likely not dare to disobey the law, and certainly, had they done so, they would never argue that they answered to a higher power than the written law i.e., the Torah. So one can understand their reluctance to believe that this young rabbi was actually acting on a higher moral authority than theirs, and than that of the Torah itself. He would have seemed quite an upstart to them, so one can comprehend their fears as they saw that he was attracting a following. We can debate the Jewish leaders motive for wanting Jesuss death. They may well have believed he was an impostor who was committing blasphemy. They may have worried that hed overturn the Torah the Jewish law recorded in the first five books of the Bible, the law they were responsible for upholding. They may have feared losing their own power and position. Their decision may have had elements of all the above, though its doubtful they truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah, because we can assume theyd know better than to mess with Gods will. But did they mess with it or did they help to fulfill it, regardless of their own intentions? Recall Josephs message to his brothers, whod sold him into slavery: But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good. Speaking of Gods will, consider this: for the gift of salvation through belief in Christ to be offered, Jesus would have to first die as the ultimate Passover Lamb of God, taking on the sins of mankind while suffering on the Cross. Only then could He rise in a miraculous resurrection, defeating death itself in a prefiguring of salvation, and finally taking His place at the right hand of God in heaven. What does this mean? It means that we can blame the Jews for Christs substitutionary death for sinners i.e., human beings and Christs resurrection and offer of salvation to those who follow Him. So Christians and Jewish followers of Christ have the Jews to blame for their salvation! Suppose the Sanhedrin leadership had said, Free Jesus, and crucify the thief Barabbas instead! What would have been the result? No sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross means everyone carries his own sins on his back the wages of sin being death. It means no salvation by grace through faith. It means no eternal life in heaven. Not to put too fine a point upon it: According to the New Testament, it means damnation. In other words, from the Christian point of view, it was Gods plan all along that Jesus, the most famous Jewish rabbi in history, suffer death on the Cross on Passover, as the Lamb of God who died for the sins of everyone else. So before you blame the Jews for ancient and modern tropes that demonize the Lords chosen people, remember youre simultaneously scourging them for their divinely appointed role of introducing God and the Bible to the world; fulfilling prophecy; and, as Christians and Messianic Jews believe, providing the world with the Messiah, whose birth we only just celebrated. Cherie Zaslawsky is a columnist for NewsWithViews and a private high school English teacher/writing coach. See more at her Substack: Cherie Zs Truth Be Told! Image: hendricjabs via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Here we are at the beginning of 2024. Election Day (should there actually be an Election Day) is a little over ten months away, and every day is a new outrage, a new WTF? moment, a new rule or norm shredded by the lunatics of the progressive left. This is happening to such a degree that the only conclusion to be drawn is that, on the one hand, we have no government anymore just an amalgam of cowardliness on the part of our elected and appointed officials (especially those of the Republican stripe) and on the other hand, propagandized lawless provocateurs throwing temper tantrums and committing atrocities against the body politic and its legal system on a daily basis. Every day, as something else comes to light, I find myself saying, No. That cant be true. Yet it is certainly happening. Todays spectacle out of Georgia: Fani Willis hired her lover, who has no experience trying felony cases, to be the chief prosecutor in the election case against Donald Trump. While she was making self-righteous and remarkably stupid pronouncements of her virtue and legal acumen, she was sleeping with Mr. Ward, allegedly her lover, and allowing him to bill the State of Georgia over $650,000. Among his bills, which she approved, are notations like a claim that he spent 24 hours on one day in November working on the case, requiring him to be paid for every minute of that day by the State. Seriously? But as outrageous as this lunacy, this breach of public trust, and this likely felonious behavior are, it all pales in comparison to the clown show of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals hearing of today in the Trump immunity case. Another spectacle out of our justice system, which has been perhaps mortally wounded by the left in their Inspector Javert pursuit of Donald Trump No Matter What, is the three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit, none of whom asked a single intelligent question of either of the parties in the appeal of the Trump immunity case, but which reached the ultimate in tone-deaf idiocy with a question from the circuit judge on the appeals court, who asked, If Donald Trump has immunity, couldnt he order SEAL Team 6 to murder his political rivals? It is one thing for a wild-eyed bottom-feeder and zealot like Jack Smith, who has lost so many times in the Supreme Court, to advocate such an unsupported and dastardly legal argument like this. It is quite another for a partisan hack like the woman pretending to be a jurist to unthinkingly buy into it and ask such a stupid and reckless question. I suppose we can be thankful that, at the moment, the only thing Mr. Biden is doing is trying to throw his chief political rival in jail for the rest of his life. Hes certainly doing every nasty trick in the book to politically murder his chief rival. Not a great question, considering that misuse of the justice system is itself a political crime for which Mr. Biden will cry for immunity at some point. You know it, and so do I. She might have also considered that a certain former president of the United States, Barack Obama, thought it was his right to order the execution of Americans overseas during the War on Terror without trial, without formal charge, and without anything resembling due process because it was less embarrassing than capturing them and keeping them in Gitmo. And if you dont believe that, read the New York Times, who broke that story. If I were that judge, I dont think I would use that particular hypothetical, given the less-than-legal behavior of their Democrat heroes. Is Obama immune to subsequent prosecution for those official acts of his? Is Biden? Execution without due process is murder by an officer of the state. According to Jack Smith, Obama is immune for extrajudicial killing, but Donald Trump is not for trying to investigate election fraud in 2020. We can also consider the immunity of the vice president, who admitted on video to strongarming the Ukrainian government to fire a prosecutor investigating his sons company. That was an act committed while he was an official of the United States. Is there immunity for that? How about taking bribes to skewer foreign policy while in office from foreign countries? Immunity for that? News flash: The only thing preventing Bidens legal team from trying that argument is that they do not want immunity to be extended to Trump. Let us also remember that the evidence is compelling that Mr. Obama, in early January of 2017, sat in the Oval Office with the now-current president of the United States and put his imprimatur on the persecution and subversion of the incoming administration of Donald Trump through compromise and corruption of the FBI. Peaceful transition of power, eh? Underhanded and dishonest subversion, more like. That, my friends, if proven in a court, is conspiracy to commit sedition. Does the president have immunity for that? The perversion of our judges and our justice system by Jack Smith and the three on the bench today in D.C. is one of the great tragedies of our current American situation. The legal hairs that would have to be split to find that Trump has no immunity when responding to claims of stolen and fraudulent votes in a presidential election, but Barack Obama has it for the extrajudicial killing of American citizens without due process would be a marvel to behold. Or that Joe Biden has immunity for perverting and co-opting the DOJ to destroy his political rival or taking bribes and participating in a cover-up to this day to pervert the course of justice and hide his bribery and influence scheme again, quite a trick. This is not to say that the partisan hacks wont try, but heres the bottom line, ladies and gentlemen: you wont get away with it, except temporarily. And they may not get away with ruling for Jack the Jackal even temporarily. Stay tuned to see how or if these leftist destroyers of our justice justify extrajudicial killing but not inquiry into election fraud. Image via Picryl. In the wake of the Hamas-Israel conflict and its aftermath, major university presidents have demonstrated a willingness or notable reticence to speak out amid the anger expressed by faculty, students, alumni, and donors. The perfect storm of campus unrest has brought forth a new national debate namely, how can universities support free speech principles during the current turbulent times and beyond? Renewed interest is being focused on the 1967 Kalven Report at the University of Chicago, which was updated in a 2014 report there by a Committee on Freedom of Expression chaired by Geoffrey R. Stone, the Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law. Professor Stone is one the nations pre-eminent First Amendment scholars, and also a former university provost. He has a unique vantage point for both the theory and practice of setting workable free speech boundaries on college campuses. In 2021, we discussed critical ideas that now are receiving increased attention. Our conversation is especially useful to consider amid todays headlines. It can help illuminate a pathway toward restoring free inquiry and free speech throughout higher education articulating principles that are being tested almost daily as new expressive landmines appear. Brotman: Lets talk about free speech in schools, including universities. I know you have been central in shaping thinking in this area obviously, chairing the committee at the University of Chicago, building upon the work of one of your influencers, Harry Kalven, who had authored a major report in this area a few decades earlier. What is your thinking about how the First Amendment does or doesnt apply in the university context? Stone: First of all, its important to understand that the First Amendment applies only to public institutions. The First Amendment applies to the University of California or the University of Illinois, which are public institutions, but it does not apply to the University of Chicago or Harvard or Stanford, which are private institutions. The First Amendment has no impact on the decision making or autonomy of a private institution. So its important to draw that distinction at the outset. On the other hand, even private universities should aspire to promoting free and open discourse and the questioning and challenging of ideas. This is accepted wisdom for the intellectual life of universities, in much the same way as the values embodied in the First Amendment have come to be understood over time. Thats not true, by the way, for all entities. Private corporations, for example, dont have the same values and aspirations as a university. But at the core of a university is the search for truth. At the core of the university is the mission of seeking knowledge, seeking wisdom, seeking insights that give us a better understanding of our society, of science, and of culture. In the same way that Justices Holmes and Brandeis argued that virtually unfettered speech helps to achieve truth in the political arena, the best way to achieve truth in the academic arena is not to have censorship but to have a broad and robust freedom of debate and discussion and dis- agreement. So even in private universities, there should be a commitment to free expression that is very similar to what the First Amendment itself imposes on government entities. What that means is that the institution should not suppress the opportunity for students and faculty and other members of the university community to explore ideas in ways that enable them to advocate for what they see as wisdom, and to challenge what others may believe to be wisdom and truth and facts in order to seek greater knowledge. Thats the absolute core of the mission of a university, and its very much at the core of the mission of the University of Chicago in particular, which from its very founding has been a leader in the pursuit of those values. Brotman: Lets begin with the Kalven Report. Stone: In 1967, the president of the University of Chicago, Edward Levi, appointed Harry Kalven to chair a committee to look at the extent to which a university should itself adopt positions on matters of public pol- icy. This was during the height of the Vietnam War, and a large part of the issue was whether universities should weigh in on whether the Vietnam War being a good or bad thing. I must say, at roughly that time, I was arguing as a student in college, and later as a student at the University of Chicago law school, that colleges and universities should take positions opposing the Vietnam War. I was wrong about that but I believed that was true. I was within my rights to advocate for it but it was the wrong position. Brotman: And now? Stone: I came to understand the Kalven Report, which was written at that time, took the position that the University of Chicago should not weigh in on matters of public policy, unless those issues directly affect the university itself. But on matters of general public policy, if the university takes positions, it would have a serious chilling effect on the willingness of faculty and students to take positions that are in opposition to what the university has declared to be the right position. Therefore, the university should be extremely cautious about taking formal positions on matters of public policy. I chaired the University of Chicago committee on free speech fifty years later. It had to do with the fact that at that time, at colleges and universities across the nation, it was increasingly the case that students and faculty members were demanding that universities disinvite speakers, or that speakers who had been invited should be silenced because the views that they would express would be opposed by the students or faculty as wrongheaded, inappropriate, and offensive. The challenge for universities was (and still is) to figure out whether certain speakers should or should not be invited, or invited and then silenced because members of the community oppose their views. Brotman: What were the Stone Reports conclusions? Stone: The University of Chicago adopted a statement that is three pages long. The first half of it discussed the history of the University of Chicago and gave examples of its own commitment to a robust protection of free speech. Then the second part of it articulated an approach to free speech that basically says that free and open discourse is essential to the values and aspirations of a university and that a university therefore should not prohibit members of the community from inviting speakers who express views that others may find offensive. Indeed, the report explained, it is the responsibility of the university affirmatively to protect the rights of students and faculty and other com- munity members to speak themselves, or to invite speakers who would express views that others might find offensive. It should encourage students to listen to those views and to respond to the merits, to debate and to challenge those views if they disagree with them, but not to try to silence them, not to try to disrupt them or to prevent them from having their say. Brotman: How has this been received? Stone: Interestingly, we wrote that report specifically for the University of Chicago. But several universities, beginning with Princeton, recognized that they could lop off the first half of the report, which talked about the history of the University of Chicago, and then adopt the second half of the report, which discussed about the central principles. There now are some eighty colleges and universities across the country that have adopted what has come to be called the Chicago Principles. This is the standard that many institutions of higher education now embrace. Brotman: And public universities? Stone: Public universities have a different situation, because they are governed by the First Amendment. They do not have the freedom that a private university has, in theory, to reject those principles. So public universities have to conform strictly to what the First Amendment demands of them. For the most part, thats what the Chicago Principles articulate: a public university, under the First Amendment, is responsible for allowing the expression by students, by faculty, and by visitors who are invited of views that may be disturbing or offensive to other members of the community, because they are subject to the basic principles of the First Amendment. Brotman: How might this be limited in practice? Stone: The commitment to free expression doesnt mean that in the classroom in, say, a mathematics course, a student can start giving a speech about politics. There are constraints on the time, place, and manner of speech, which are permissible even, as illustrated by my example, on the content of speech in narrow circumstances, like the classroom. Similarly, a commitment to free expression doesnt mean that professors cannot grade student papers or exams, based upon what the professor views as the wisdom or the excellence of the ideas that are being expressed. The academic mission has within it a responsibility to teach and to evaluate scholarship. In so doing, one tries not to be ideological or political, but obviously the university and its faculty have to make judgments about who to hire, who to promote, which students get As and which students get Bs, and so on. But in the realm of public discourse in the university, the notion that the university, or its students or faculty, should have the authority to silence others because they dont like the views being expressed is incompatible with the First Amendment in a public university and incompatible with the core values and aspirations of a private university as well. Brotman: California treats public and private universities the same, right? Stone: The state of California has apparently said theres no real distinction between a public university and a private university in this respect. Private universities have to act in accordance with the same standards that would apply in a public university. Now this raises an interesting problem, because the private university has First Amendment rights to decide for itself what speech it wants or doesnt want to allow. A private university that seeks to achieve the goals and aspirations that I believe are essential to a true, well-functioning academic institution would itself choose to aspire to the same values that the First Amendment would apply to it. But they dont have to do that. They have a First Amendment right to decide for themselves who they are. So I think government laws that try to impose on private institutions obligations to comport with what the First Amendment would impose upon public institutions are making very difficult and delicate judgments about the academic freedom of a private institution. Brotman: You seem firmly committed to the principle that universities should be silent when necessary. Stone: Yes, I think the Kalven Report notion that universities themselves should not take official positions on political or other debates on public issues that do not directly affect the university is the proper stance. Because once a university goes down that road, its very hard to say when to stop. Universities that declare certain ideas to be right or wrong will deter students and faculty members from challenging those ideas in a way that they should be free to do. It is simply not the business of a university to declare that abortion is wrong or that Trump was a bad president or that the war in Vietnam was a mistake. It is simply not the role of the university to take such positions except when such issues are directly related to the core functioning of the university itself. Its not that I dont think there are right or wrong positions. But I dont think universities should take them, because they produce a chilling effect on the willingness of their students and their faculty to take counter positions. Thats a dangerous thing in terms of the larger aspirations of a university community. Stuart N. Brotman is the Alvin and Sally Professor of Media Law, Enterprise, and Leadership at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The conversation excerpt with Professor Geoffrey R. Stone is from Stuart N. Brotman, The First Amendment Lives On (University of Missouri Press, 2022). Image: Pezibear via Pixabay, Pixabay License. Here in the West, regular Catholics in the pews are worried about and baffled by Pope Francis, who regularly pounces on and takes sides on secular and political subjects, far more than did any of his predecessors. The Popes recent salvo (while not against traditional marriage, but not for it, eitherwhich marriage is a Catholic Sacrament, holy, inviolate and unique between man and woman) is his most recent upset. His highly ambiguous recommendation of the blessing of gay couples within the Catholic Church is now, predictably enough, in fierce debate. The disputes came only a day after the Popes public statement approving (later, partially disavowing) the blessings. Francis seems to enjoy poking the bear. His popularity in the U.S. is beginning to falter. Disrespect towards, and ignorance of, Catholic Canon Law promulgated long ago to regulate the behavior of the whole Church, as loyal to Christ alone is in full view and coming from the top at the Vatican, and from the liberal, D.C.-based Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and from the consecrated priestly and religious bureaucracy in many Catholic orders and schools -- all in historic decline. There are recent questions regarding papal abuse of canonical law, as coming out of the Vatican, among the case of the pope's removal of Bishop Joseph Strickland from his office in Tyler, Texas, where he was outspokenly orthodox and quite popular. According to Catholic Vote: Fr. Gerald Murray, an expert canon lawyer and commentator on EWTNs The World Over, told CatholicVote on Monday that we do not know why Pope Francis removed Bishop Strickland, because he did not give any reason for his action. That omission leads to speculations as to the reason[s], which are then taken by some to be facts. Catholic Vote suggested that the move appeared to be personal, and vindictive, which was not consistent with canonical law. Murray explained that removal is ordinarily a penal measure, although it can be done in the case of physical or psychological impairment. The Holy See has not published a decree for Stricklands removal, which is required in canon law, unless the pope exempted himself from that requirement, in which case that exemption should be made by a decree. That decree should be published. The removal of a bishop from office without specifying if he committed a canonical crime or if he was found to be impaired offends against basic justice and charity, Murray argued. He is deprived office without, it seems, the benefit of due process, including an appeal, and his good name is called into question. United States Catholics are, as in bowing in the past to the COVID lockdowns, which shut down church services and later mandated vaccines to attend, not infrequently confused by the radical messages of the USCCB, a famously bureaucratic D.C.-based organization. During COVID, for two years plus, the USCCB effectively closed, by recommendation, almost all Catholic masses -- and Christian charitable services generally -- the most essential Eucharist was not available. Catholics, including parish priests, felt that they could do nothing about losing the Mass, a lifeline for their faith, during the COVID years, primarily on the USCCB sayso. Catholics generally are given to understand that the USCCB oversees their local bishop. This is simply not, and never has been, the legal case. The COVID decisions were made in contradiction to the subsidiary nature of Canon Law, that clearly dispenses this sort of authority to the local level, the parish priests. The unfortunate irony is that the pronouncements/opinions of the USCCB, as communications to the faithful -- except when voted on unanimously and even then, with restrictions -- have zero formal standing in the Catholic Church. In Pope John Paul IIs, Apostolos Suos, paragraph two, the Holy Father states that bishops conferences may only publish doctrinal declarations when they are approved unanimously, but a majority alone is not enough for publication without the approval of the Vatican. In the same document cited above, the pope also maintained that a bishops conference cannot hinder an individual bishops authority in his diocese by substituting themselves inappropriately for him, where the canonical legislation does not provide for a limitation of his episcopal power in favor of the episcopal conference. Earlier, Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, issued some similar statements: Cardinal Ratzinger, who in the same year expressed his changed view on episcopal conferences in a book-length interview with V. Messori (The Ratzinger Report, 1985), insisting that episcopal conferences lack a theological basis, are not part of the unalterable structure as willed by Christ, and have only a practical function. Catholic churches are still closing permanently, mostly credited to the COVID closures and parishioners not coming back. Now, post-COVID, we have reports of mounting Catholic persecution at many levels, to an extent never seen in this country. There have been reports of FBI intimidation of Catholics by threating visits to their own homes; and, recently in Massachusetts, the reported denial of foster care parent-applicants to access the states foster care program, expressly due to the fact the applicants are Catholic; the prioritized violence against Catholic pro-life centers; the arrests of people silently praying the rosary in public; the growing desecration of Catholic statues and churches, etc. Catholic parishes, along with their schools, are closing or being consolidated; this tragedy in the quality of accessible primary education is blamed on everything except the real source of the problem: the sorry state of the Catholic Church itself. Catholic seminaries are failing, too. What will happen when we have under-educated priests who dont know the faith, or too few priests to serve the people? There is one bright spot that gives many Catholics here reason fo hope: The vibrant, growing, Catholic Church in Africa will soon greatly outnumber the Western worlds Catholic membership. The leading African bishops, by their words and actions, are seriously loyal to the teachings of Jesus Christ in founding His Church. Obviously, this truly faithful enthusiasm and growth is not whats happening here or, worse still, in Europe. The politicization and Biblical, exegetical, and catechetical corruption of Catholicism now narrowly escapes heresy, once again. But back in our country are currently no practical routes for communication and reasoned argument available to Catholics who are suffering from what amounts to theological, political, spiritual, and vocational discrimination and abuse from members of the Church hierarchy, from those in authority at each step of the ladder. Those Catholic laity who do follow, or try to, the Scriptural, uncorrupted teachings of Christ, who do attend the Mass and rely on the Holy Eucharist for perseverance, who enter the Catholic orders, who honor vows and sacraments, including marriage, and who work vocationally for the Churchs charities and schools in lay capacities, both men and women, are increasingly in a state of quiet near-despair. Those in the pews are looking for goodness and light from the Catholic Church in its fidelity to what finally matters. Instead, they find themselves in dread of the next unexpected deluge of internal opposition to themselves: via ideological, legal, moral, and practical meddling. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License The pope denounces border walls, or severe restrictions on those who illegally enter a country, so he should be asked: Why does the Vatican City have walls? Why don't they just let everyone in? He also is a frequent regurgitator of how capitalism, humans, and our use of natural resources are destroying the Earth which brings up many more questions: Does he believe that God blessed the Earth with many natural resources and natural elements in the atmosphere? Does he believe that God created our only heat source, the Sun? Does he believe humans can control the distance the Earth is from the sun or the temperature on the Sun? Does he believe that humans were blessed with a brain that allowed them to figure out how to greatly improve our quality and length of life by utilizing the natural resources the Earth has been blessed with? Why doesn't he want poor people in underdeveloped countries to enjoy the great benefits of our natural resources? Why doesn't he care that they die so much younger than those of us who have benefitted? Did God create the system where humans breathe out CO2 that allows plants to thrive and where plants emit oxygen which allows humans to live? Does the Pope think that the atmosphere can't handle CO2, a clear innocuous, non-pollutant gas at 420 parts per million, a very minor component of the vast atmosphere? Does he believe that CO2, which allows the poor to be fed, should be buried? Does he think that politicians and bureaucrats can override all the natural variables in the atmosphere and control temperatures, sea levels, and storm activity forever if we just keep several natural resources in the ground? The pope should be asked how he determined what the right temperature to be since the Earth has gone through many warming and cooling periods. Finally, the pope should be asked for his scientific data that shows that humans, CO2, gas, cars, cows, and other things cause global warming since there is none. The pope should work on helping poor people instead of working so hard to destroy countries that have greatly helped their people prosper and thrive with freedom from powerful governments and with the great benefits of using coal, oil, and natural gas. Image: Estonian Foreign Ministry, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 2.0 DEED The blood libel accusation against Israel has now begun in The Hague. The failed nation of South Africa has brought genocide charges against Israel in the International Court of Justice. What is the International Court of Justice? It is not international, because it excludes judges from certain countries. It is not a real court, because the judges are selected by their countries and many of them simply follow the instructions of those who appointed them. And it has never done justice, because it has long been biased against Israel. It is the United Nations court, and that tells you all you need to know about it. The United Nations has become the megaphone of bigotry and anti-Semitism. As an Israeli diplomat once put it, if Algeria introduced a resolution that the earth is flat and that Israel flattened it, it would win 120 to 27 with 32 abstentions. And you can name the countries in each of the groups before any evidence is presented. Both the United Nations and its court are shams, especially when it comes to Israel. The facts are clear: Israel has not committed genocide nor has it violated international law as it defended itself from Hamas barbarity. It is the Hamas charter that calls for genocide against the Jews of Israel, and it is South Africa that is harboring Hamas terrorists and defending its murders and rapes. It should be Hamas that is on trial for attempted genocide and South Africa that is on trial for complicity with Hamas. Instead, the nation-state of the Jewish people is being accused of a blood libel, despite going to great lengths to avoid civilian casualties in its legitimate efforts to destroy Hamas.... The riot on January 6 at the Capitol had a lot of FBI informants involved. According to Steven DAntuono, formerly in charge of the FBIs Washington field office: The FBI had so many paid informants at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, that it lost track of the number and had to perform a later audit to determine exactly how many Confidential Human Sources run by different FBI field offices were present that day ... More recently, some reports indicate that there were at least 200 federal agents or undercover assets present on that fateful day. With revelations like that, and these came last September, it appears even more likely that actual Trump supporters and patriots were baited and led into a trap by federal agents. As someone once said, turnabout is fair play. Perhaps Trump supporters/MAGA types and other patriots should dress up as Antifa and BLM members and start burning down buildings and looting stores. On second thought, that wont work. Recent history shows that no one cares. More to the point, the vast majority of Trump supporters couldnt bring themselves to do these things, anyway. Or maybe they could ditch the MAGA hats and American flags and dress up as Democrats and go around the country indeed the world proclaiming their disdain for the United States, its founding, and the rubes in flyover country. Oh, wait. Actual Democrats already do that on a regular basis. Is this what weve come to? Is everything we are allowed to see a hoax? The answer to both questions seems to be an unequivocal yes. If this is indeed the case, how can we proceed as a functional society? January 6 wasnt an insurrection. Far from it. Nor has Trump been charged with inciting one. It was the nearly inevitable result of citizens that had been mocked, demeaned and suppressed -- and who had reason to believe their votes had been rendered moot or worse. If those in power continue to use the full breadth and depth of the government they control to harass, stymie, and imprison their political opponents, we will not be a functioning society much longer. The republic will be lost. The Shining City on a Hill will have slid down into the vast, fetid Swamp to be devoured fundamentally transformed. Forever. Image: Screen shot from CNBC video, via YouTube One wonders what former Defense Secretary Robert Gates must be thinking as he wakes up these winter mornings. Gates, recall, famously said that Joe Biden has been "wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades." So now the U.S. has gotten itself into another war-like action around Yemen, with the U.S. Navy strafing 28 Houthi rebels positions with rockets and drones in response to their brazen attacks on global commercial shipping. The Houthis claim their attacks are all about avenging Israel's war on Gaza terrorists. They like terrorists, because, well, they, too, are terrorists. The Navy has urged ships to move around the Horn of Africa rather than through the Red Sea which adds several thousand miles to their voyages -- and which raises the price of imported goods. But the U.S. had to do it because of the strategic threat they posed. And now the Navy has been forced to respond after what the Iran-backed rebels did, raising the risk to U.S. troops along with the potential of a wider war. How did it come to this? Look no further than Joe Biden. According to the Times of Israel: During his first year in office, Biden removed the Houthis terror listing, undoing a move by his predecessor Donald Trump amid pressure from progressives who argued that it was harming efforts to deliver humanitarian aid in Yemen. The administration said it decided to review that decision in November against the backdrop of repeated attacks by Houthis on international vessels in the Red Sea. No update has been offered since then, but Bidens response indicated the administration may be leaning toward slapping the terror label back on the Houthis. His comments came hours after the US-led airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen for the first time in years. So President Trump had them under his thumb with the terrorist designation, handed out on Jan. 19, 2021 just before he left office, meaning, nobody could do business with these pirates. One month into Biden's administration, Joe dropped that designation, likely out of spite for President Trump as well as to sidle up to Iran, which is the Houthis' sponsor, ending the terrorism label on this entire band of thugs. The Houthis then did what terrorists do when given a respite -- they armed up, and it didn't take long for international ships to find themselves under attack. If this is the way it went, it was pretty much identical to the way Biden has operated during his entire presidency: React, react, react, and if Trump did it, Biden got rid of it -- no matter how effective the Trump-side policy. It's pathetic beyond description to read the State Department missive on why they dropped the terrorism designation in February 2021: Effective February 16, I am revoking the designations of Ansarallah, sometimes referred to as the Houthis, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, as amended. This decision is a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. We have listened to warnings from the United Nations, humanitarian groups, and bipartisan members of Congress, among others, that the designations could have a devastating impact on Yemenis access to basic commodities like food and fuel. The revocations are intended to ensure that relevant U.S. policies do not impede assistance to those already suffering what has been called the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. By focusing on alleviating the humanitarian situation in Yemen, we hope the Yemeni parties can also focus on engaging in dialogue. Ansarallah leaders Abdul Malik al-Houthi, Abd al-Khaliq Badr al-Din al-Houthi, and Abdullah Yahya al-Hakim remain sanctioned under E.O. 13611 related to acts that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Yemen. We will continue to closely monitor the activities of Ansarallah and its leaders and are actively identifying additional targets for designation, especially those responsible for explosive boat attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and UAV and missile attacks into Saudi Arabia. The United States will also continue to support the implementation of UN sanctions imposed on members of Ansarallah and will continue to call attention to the groups destabilizing activity and pressure the group to change its behavior. The United States remains clear-eyed about Ansarallahs malign actions, and aggression, including taking control of large areas of Yemen by force, attacking U.S. partners in the Gulf, kidnapping and torturing citizens of the United States and many of our allies, diverting humanitarian aid, brutally repressing Yemenis in areas they control, and the deadly attack on December 30, 2020 in Aden against the cabinet of the legitimate government of Yemen. Ansarallahs actions and intransigence prolong this conflict and exact serious humanitarian costs. This chart shows the listings and delistings of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, in the State Department parlance. The Houthis went on for a month -- and then the Houthis went off. Either a group is a terrorist group or it's not. Was it out kidnapping and torturing Americans? The State Department release says so. Then objectively, it's a terrorist group. It's not a bargaining chip, or an aid mechanism -- how much aid have Yemenis gotten since the dropping of the terrorism designation? Biden likely dropped the sanctions not only to Get Trump but to butter up Iran and fire up the Iran deal again. If Houthis fall off the terrorist list, well, things happen. It's obvious from the State Department release that they know this group is a terrorist group. The mush-speak about doing what the United Nations wanted just opened the door for Houthis to get their hands on rockets from which they could threaten international shipping. Now they're dealing with a crisis -- and a U.S. military response. Had Biden the strength of character to leave the order as it was, the Houthis would never have gotten to the point to where they could threaten international shipping. Chalk it up to yet another failure of Team Biden. Bob Gates, call your office. Image: VectorPortal.com // CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED It happened over a month ago, but I cant stop brooding about a sad story I read early in December. A 24-year-old woman was last seen on security cameras so drunk that she could barely walk down the street. She died when she fell into a garbage chute. Its a horrible story, but its also a reminder that feminism damages women by pretending theyre just like men, even as it abandons the real power women can wield in society. The young woman who died was Jaclyn Elmquist, who was working as a legal recruiter and had attended a party at her office. She left the office completely drunk and, while her friends got her into a cab, she never made it home. Instead, she staggered down the street before stumbling into the chute where she died. What a sad, lonely way to die. Elmquists death is also a morality tale, for she bought into the belief that women can party just as men can. They cant. For starters, they metabolize alcohol differently and are more vulnerable to its effects. Once drunk, women are more vulnerable than men. Men can get robbed and even raped, but its mostly women who get raped and, often, murdered when they violate the old shibboleths about going off with strange men Lastly, women get pregnant. If they keep the baby, thats a whole other level of vulnerability, both during pregnancy and after theyve had the child. Just as men cannot be women, women cannot be menand I dont mean that only in terms of the fact that they do not become men if they swagger around, cut off their breasts, and speak in that weirdly epicene voice that is neither male nor female after a few rounds of testosterone. Even if they still believe they are women, emulating mens behaviors doesnt work for them, whether physically or mentally. Image by AI. Modern feminism, though, means women deeply resent the societal norms that the West built around women to protect them. Moreover, they hate the greatest power the West granted them, which was to constrain men. Once, women saw it as their calling to impose civilization on men. They understood that, where men are civilized, women are safe. Now, though, we get books like Elise Loehnens On Our Best Behavior: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Price Women Pay to Be Good. I have not read the book, but the blurb on this 2023 bestseller tells you a lot about how leftist women resent being called upon to behave so that men, who will always have the physical upper hand, will behave themselves: A groundbreaking exploration of the ancient rules women unwittingly follow in order to be considered good, revealing how the Seven Deadly Sins still control and distort our lives and illuminating a path toward a more balanced, spiritually complete way to live Why do women equate self-denial with being good? We congratulate ourselves when we resist the donut in the office breakroom. We celebrate our restraint when we hold back from sending an email in anger. We feel virtuous when we wake up at dawn to get a jump on the day. We put others needs ahead of our own and believe this makes us exemplary. In On Our Best Behavior, journalist Elise Loehnen explains that these impulsesoften lauded as unselfish, distinctly feminine instinctsare actually ingrained in us by a culture that reaps the benefits, via an extraordinarily effective collection of mores known as the Seven Deadly Sins. Since being codified by the Christian church in the fourth century, the Seven Deadly Sinspride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and slothhave exerted insidious power. Even today, in our largely secular, patriarchal society, they continue to circumscribe womens behavior. For example, seeing sloth as sinful leads women to deny themselves rest; a fear of gluttony drives them to ignore their appetites; and an aversion to greed prevents them from negotiating for themselves and contributes to the 55 percent gender wealth gap. In On Our Best Behavior, Loehnen reveals how weve been programmed to obey the rules represented by these sins and how doing so qualifies us as good. This probing analysis of contemporary culture and thoroughly researched history explains how women have internalized the patriarchy, and how they unwittingly reinforce it. By sharing her own story and the spiritual wisdom of other traditions, Loehnen shows how we can break free and discover the integrity and wholeness we seek. Yes, that is narcissistic psychobabble gobbledy-gook, but the core point is clear: Women shouldnt have to be models of good behavior because it makes them feel bad. However, theres something infinitely worse than women acting as civilizers, whether by enforcing a moral code or avoiding self-destructive and societally destructive behaviors such as the Seven Deadly Sins. Whats worse is a society in which the powers that be have determined that there is no virtue in womens civilizing influence. We know what this looks like because that society exists in the Muslim world. There, women dont civilize men. Instead, men lock up women so that the men can be free from civilization. A society that devalues its own women will do evil acts beyond imagining to those women it deems the enemy. If you dont believe me, and you have a strong stomach, you can read here about the rape and torture Hamas inflicted on Israeli women. Western women should be reveling in their power to civilize, especially because it ultimately benefits them. Instead, guided by toxic feminism, theyre racing down the path to Hamas-world, and some of them, like poor Jaclyn Elmquist, are dying painful, pointless deaths along the way Joe Biden's distaste for democratic processes and intolerance of conservatives is well-enough known here in the states. But President Trump's former Director of National Intelligence, Ric Grenell, has found that the same Biden administration behavior also extends to foreign countries. Being one to go to the border -- and the border of the borders -- as the illegal migrant surge gets bigger, Grenell paid a visit to Guatemala, and met with its outgoing conservative president, Alejandro Giamattei. Giamattei, recall, is the one who pointed out early that Biden's open border was a dinner triangle for cartels to entice migrants to cross over into the U.S. Biden apparently didn't like that so ... Here are a few of Grenell's tweets upon his return from his trip: As Im leaving #Guatemala, it has become crystal clear that one of the reasons illegal immigration and drugs are pouring into the United States is because our U.S. Embassies in Central America are doing politics - not economic development and security. They are running around Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 13, 2024 Ive spent the last few days in Guatemala listening to some horrific stories of State Department officials trying to intimidate Guatemalans from criticizing Left wing policies. The Embassy has summoned business and political leaders to their offices to ask them to stop Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 13, 2024 Guatemalan President @DrGiammattei leaves office tomorrow. Joe Bidens Administration went after Giammattei politically because he didnt share their terrible Left wing policies. Remember when Giammattei refused to go to Los Angeles for Bidens Summit of the Americas?! (Biden Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 14, 2024 So they aren't doing jack to solve the border crisis, they don't like that Giamattei has spoken out about the migrant surge and rather that work with him to solve the problem (Guatemala could be the mother of all bottlenecks to migrant caravans pulling up from the Darien Gap and Nicaragua), they're micromanaging President Giamattei's cabinet members and holding him up to global scorn as a bad democrat. What's more, Giametti has offered to team up with the Bidenites to solve the migrant crisis -- and got snubbed. But suddenly they don't like his attorney general and the immediate thing that comes to mind is that they didn't like Ukraine's either back when Hunter's Burisma company was under investigation, so they want him gone. Wonder why that's the case -- perhaps someone could ask him if Hunter has a Guatemala corruption problem, too? I don't think he's unfamiliar with the place. As for the claims to Guatemala 'destroying democracy' by not appointing an attorney general to their tastes, well, that's kind of a stretch, given what's going on in Guatemala's immediate neighborhood, in socialist hellholes like Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela. The U.S. is howling about democracy in Guatemala, which seems functional enough, with that kind of crap going on all around Guatemala? Something smells, and Grenell knows it's some kind of rat. Goodness knows what he heard behind closed doors. Bottom line here is that Biden has no business ordering Guatemala around on its cabinet choices let alone intimidating them, which is what Grenell reported. Does he do this with every conservative government in Latin America? One wonders what he might have tried with Javier Milei of Argentina or Nayib Bukele of El Salvador. The intimidation thing is quite typical of Biden, being that he's the Big Guy and all, and very practiced in corruption. But he has no business doing it and is bound to damage U.S. relations with Guatemala for a long time. It is said that the deep state and Biden administration have taken the techniques used by the CIA in meddling with foreign countries through much of the 20th century and now have employed them against dissidents in the U.S., namely, MAGA members. But it just as easily could be observed that Biden is taking the thugcraft he practices at home and is extending it to foreign countries such as Guatemala. The worst of it is that they clothe all their activities in yells of democracy itself is at stake, on really irrelevant matters like if they don't get the cabinet members they like. Ever wonder where the phrase 'ugly American' comes from? Joe Biden is the Ugly American -- and don't imagine that the locals like it. When we talk about "limes", we usually think of the limits of the Roman Empire in northern Europe, in Germania or Britain. But in reality, that word means "border" and therefore applied to the boundaries in all cardinal points. So, if the Rhine River marked the Germanicus Limes and Hadrian's Wall marked the British Limes, there were also Limes Alutanus and LimesTransalutanus (along the Danube), a Limes Moesiae (between present-day Romania and Moldova), a LimesTripolitanus (in northern Africa, extended with the Fossatum Africae), and an Limes Eastern (along the Euphrates). The latter was the Limes Arabicus, a chain of forts that protected the Roman territory from desert tribes. Ruins of the castellum of Qasr Bashir. Photo: Bashar Tabbah/Wikimedia The Limes Arabicus, or at least a part of it, was also later known as the Limes Palestinae because it ran for a maximum of one and a half thousand kilometers between southern Palestine and northern Syria. Let us consider that this vast region was conquered and turned into a Roman province in 64 BC by Pompey, with the aim of ending the instability of the Seleucid Empire (the last remnants of the states that divided the legacy of Alexander the Great and which were embroiled in a civil war between Antiochus XIII and Philip II), which by then had seen its domains reduced to that area. The new province was expanded in 106 AD when Trajan annexed Nabatea, a kingdom that had its capital in Petra and was founded five centuries earlier by King Aretas I, uniting the nomadic Bedouin tribes of the Arabian desert. In this way, the Arabicus Limes moved about three hundred and fifty kilometers to the south, reaching the Red Sea. This expansion also increased its usefulness because, while it was originally conceived to defend the fertile lands that Rome had taken from the Parthian Empire, from then on it also protected the rich commercial routes in the area and exercised control over the migrations of nomadic peoples. King's Highway (in red), and other ancient Levantine trade routes, c. 1300 BCE. Image credit: Briangotts, rowanwindwhistler/Wikimedia Arabia Petraea, as that political-administrative division was called, encompassed a stretch of present-day Jordan, southern Syria, the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, the southern region of Israel, and the northwest of Saudi Arabia. To the east was Arabia Deserta and to the south was Arabia Felix, that is, the regions of the Arabian Peninsula free from Roman rule. To the north was the province of Syria and to the west were Judea and Egypt. All of this was connected by a road, the Via Traiana Nova, which was built by Trajan between 107 and 114 AD (although the finishing touches were made during the time of his successor, Hadrian). It had a total length of four hundred and thirty kilometers, following an ancient caravan route called the Kings' Road. That double-lane infrastructure, with a width of six meters, was built by the men of Legio III Cyrenaica under the command of the legate Gaius Claudius Severus, and originally connected Petra with Philadelphia (now Amman). It was then expanded to the port of Aila (now Aqaba) and later, on the other end, it linked Philadelphia with Bostra, the capital of the province of Syria. In between, it connected cities such as Jerash, Mafraq, Gadda, Rabba, Charachmoba, and Negla, and, equally importantly, through various branches, it communicated with the military camps of Zarqa, Betthorus (now Lejjun, where the Legio IV Martia had its headquarters), Zadagatta, and Hauarra. The Fortress of Qasr Bshir. Photo: Bashar Tabbah/Wikimedia Thus, troops could easily move from one point to another to guard the Limes Arabicus, the line under whose protection everything fell. Its defenses were based on a succession of castra, large forts built with their moats, towers, and walls using dry stone (stones joined without mortar) and adobe (unfired mud bricks) due to the scarcity of wood. One was erected every hundred kilometers or so, especially during the Severan dynasty, complemented by auxiliary installations such as castella (smaller forts), signal towers (using smoke during the day and fires at night), and post stations. In the castrum of Adrou (now Uddruh, near Petra), the Legio VI Ferrata was stationed, which had fought in the Gallic Wars, the Roman Civil War, against the Parthians, and in Judea, where it was stationed (specifically in Lajjun) when Diocletian repositioned it. Another notable castrum was Betthorus (in al-Karak, Jordan), very similar in appearance and size (almost five hectares), whose dating is somewhat uncertain, estimated between the 2nd and 4th centuries AD. Roman fortress of Qasr Azraq. Photo: xorge/Wikimedia Architectural remains have also been found in Aqaba, the ancient Aila: a wall and a tower, which are not clear if they belong to the fort or the city, but whose presence is logical as it was a vital port for trade in the region and a crossroads. Whatever the answer, these were structures erected between the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th century, being the headquarters of the Legio X Fretensis, which fought in Actium and the Jewish wars before being transferred there from Jerusalem by Diocletian. There were more important forts, such as those in Bostra, Qasr Azraq, and Humeina, all in Jordan, with the capacity to house five hundred soldiers each. Things changed a bit with the deep administrative reform of the emperor we have mentioned a couple of times, Diocletian. It was he who pushed for defensive reinforcement works against the Sasanian threat and built a new road, the Strata Diocletiana, which started south of the Euphrates, near Sura, and followed the limes until it met the Via Traiana Nova, passing through Palmyra and Damascus, to the northeast of Arabia. From the Mesopotamian river to the Syrian capital, a series of castella and watchtowers were built; three have been found, although there may have been more (and a legionary camp was added in Wadi al-Hasa). The Fortress of Qasr Bshir. Photo: Mike Bishop/Wikimedia These bastions, with a rectangular plan, thick walls, and outstanding towers, were located about a day's march apart, adding another ten from Wadi al-Hasa to Aila and constituting a border subdivision that sometimes appears named as Limes Palaestinae, as we said at the beginning. The emperor transferred part of Arabia Petraea to Palestine, including it in the Diocese of the East (which extended to Cilicia, Cyprus, Mesopotamia, and Phoenicia). A major earthquake in 363 caused significant damage and destroyed the water distribution systems, which along with the decline of caravan routes in favor of maritime trade, resulted in a certain decline. There was no economic or demographic recovery until the territory came under the control of the Eastern Roman Empire, which divided it into three provinces, Palaestina Prima, Palaestina Secunda, and Palaestina Tertia (also known as Palaestina Salutaris), under the military rule of a dux Palaestinae and the civil rule of a praeses (official). During the first half of the 6th century, Justinian I reinforced the limes. But eventually, the troops were gradually withdrawn and replaced by foederati, mainly Ghassanids (Christian Arabs from Yemen and vassals of Constantinople), who provided protection against the Persians and protected trade against Bedouin raids. After the Battle of Yarmouk in 636, in which they were defeated -along with Roman allies and Frankish, Georgian, Slavic, and Armenian mercenaries- by the Muslims of the Orthodox Caliphate, the Limes Arabicus was left unguarded and eventually abandoned, although some structures were later repurposed. This article was originally published in La Brujula Verde. It has been translated from Spanish and republished with permission. The Bishop of Chelmsford will tell Desert Island Discs of how her brothers murder following the Iranian revolution led to her fleeing to the UK as a child. The Rt Rev Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani will appear on the BBC Radio 4 show, hosted by Lauren Laverne, on Sunday. The bishops 24-year-old brother Bahram was murdered in the wake of the revolution on May 6 1980, when she was just 14 years old. Speaking to Laverne, she said she found out the news purely by accident. I found out, purely by accident, at school, she said. My mother was in Tehran at the time, and my brother was in Tehran as well, he was teaching at the university there. He had been killed on May 6. My eldest sister who was looking after me found out very late at night, after I had gone to bed. Because there was so much uncertainty around, she decided, and I completely understand it She decided to not say anything to me, and I dont know quite how she did it. However, when she went to school, she found out from a classmate who had read the news. Two young men ambushed his car, got in, she said. At 11.15am on Sunday 14th January, Bishop Guli will be on @BBCRadio4's #DesertIslandDiscs sharing the 8 tracks, book & luxury item she would take with her if cast away on a desert island. After it has aired, the broadcast will be available on demand at https://t.co/ShL6mmvbYb pic.twitter.com/fa4j6NYeCX Chelmsford Diocese (@chelmsdio) January 12, 2024 An eyewitness later told us that they had a brief conversation, and then one of them pulled a gun and killed him. Weve spent a lifetime coming to terms with it. In a sense, it was his sacrifice that brought us here. I dont think my mum and my sister and I would have left if we hadnt had a very good reason to. So he gave us the gift of a chance of a new life in this country. Ms Francis-Dehqani moved to the UK, where her father, the Anglican Bishop of Iran, was staying on a visit. She spent the rest of her teenage years in the UK, attending Nottingham University, where she studied music. Ms Francis-Dehqani then worked at the BBC before returning to her faith in her late 20s. She was ordained as a priest, before becoming the first minority ethnic woman to be ordained as a bishop in the UK. It came from left field really, she said. And yet, in a very strange way, it made sense. I had the feeling that it was clearly not about what I had done, in terms of experience in the Church, it was about my life experiences, and what that might have to contribute now within the context of the Church of England. I feel like I represent something way beyond myself. Among the songs chosen by the bishop was Sinead OConnors Take Me To Church, which she said reminded her of her Irish husband, and Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane. She added that she would take the 10th century epic Persian poem The Book of Kings with her onto the desert island, as well as her photograph albums. Desert Island Discs will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 11.15am. The King and Queen have sent their very best wishes to King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark on the day of their accession to the throne. Charles wrote a message, shared by Buckingham Palace, in which he also paid tribute to the many years of service of Frederiks mother, and Europes longest-reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe II. Charles greeting Frederik and Mary during a reception at Buckingham Palace in May (Jacob King/PA) She announced her abdication in a televised New Year address after telling how back surgery she underwent last year led to thoughts about the future. Buckingham Palace said Charles has written privately to the 83-year-old, who stepped down on Sunday after a 52-year reign. Queen Margrethe signed her formal abdication at a meeting with the Danish government at Christiansborg Palace, in Copenhagen, making way for Frederik, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who is the daughter of Scottish immigrants. In his letter to Frederik and Mary, Charles wrote: My wife joins me in writing to convey our very best wishes on the day of your accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Denmark. Queen Margrethe II waving to wellwishers in Camden during celebrations for her golden jubilee in 2022 (Gareth Fuller/PA) I look forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world. I pay tribute to the many years of service of your mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, and remember fondly the frequent visits between our countries, including our visit to Copenhagen and Elsinore in 2012. I was delighted that Your Majesties were able to attend our coronation last year and I much look forward to future opportunities to celebrate the close connection that unites our countries and our families. A British couple on holiday in Iceland said it was alarming to see a volcano erupting in the south-west of the country as they travelled to the airport on Sunday. Lorraine Crawford, 67, and her 70-year-old husband John, from Essex, took a trip to Reykjavik on Thursday along with Mr Crawfords cousin, Michael Daltrey, and his wife, Faye. The group were in a taxi on their way to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday morning to return to the UK when Mrs Crawford said they saw the erupting volcano in the distance and initially thought it was a fire. It is the second time the volcano, near the town of Grindavik, has erupted in less than a month following a series of earthquakes, with residents evacuated overnight. Members of the community were previously evacuated from their homes in November for a period of six weeks following a volcanic eruption in December. Its alarming in a way its quite exciting to see something like that but then you realise that this could do quite a lot of damage, Mrs Crawford, who runs a travel agency with her husband and their daughter, told the PA news agency. On the way (to the airport), we thought it was just a fire in the distance but (the taxi driver) said it was the actual volcano erupting. She added that they had heard a really loud noise and a really loud rumble from the airport, but they were not sure what had caused it. Mrs Crawford also said their taxi driver told the group he lives not far from the volcano. He told us he was home one morning and looked out of his kitchen window and thought it was a fire but it wasnt, it was the volcano erupting, she said. He also said on his way to the airport this morning there was nothing and on his way back obviously we could see it, the red in the distance it was crazy. Thankfully we werent that close. Lorraine Crawford (right) was visiting Iceland with her husband and two relatives (Lorraine Crawford/PA) Mrs Crawford also said their flight back to the UK had been delayed by around five hours, but EasyJet was citing technical issues as the reason for the disruption. Were a bit annoyed about the delay but I dont think were in any danger because were quite a distance from there, she said. It was brilliant -we were hoping we would see it on the plane this morning. Its definitely one of those photos that you add to your collection. Britain could strike Houthi targets in Yemen again if the rebel group continues to attack ships in the Red Sea, Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron has suggested. Lord Cameron warned that the Iran-linked militants could force up prices in Britain if they are allowed to block the passage of container ships in the busy trade route. The US struck another site in Yemen early on Saturday after the Houthis vowed revenge for the bombing raid carried out by the Americans and the RAF a day earlier. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Lord Cameron said the joint action will have gone some way to degrade Houthi capabilities built up with Iranian backing. He argued that not acting would be accepting that Houthi attacks could virtually shut a vital sea lane with relative impunity. If the Houthis deny this passage to ships, vital supply chains are threatened and prices will go up in Britain and across the globe. Lord Cameron said that the air strikes sent an unambiguous message to the Houthis that we are determined to put a stop to their Red Sea attacks. And he hinted that Britain could join the US in striking the Houthis again if they continue. We will work with allies. We will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions, he said. The Foreign Secretary argued that the Houthi assertion that their attacks are linked to Israels war in Gaza is nonsense. Theyve attacked ships from countries all over the world, heading to destinations right across the globe, he wrote. After the first strikes, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received a report of a missile attack on a vessel off the coast of Aden, Yemen, on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer defended his support for the strikes, which Rishi Sunak ordered without first consulting Parliament, as Prime Ministers sometimes do before military interventions. RAF Typhoon FGR4 taking off to launch air strikes against military targets in Yemen (Ministry of Defence/PA) Writing for the Independent, the Labour leader argued that protecting trade, security and lives are paramount to our national interest. He said the Prime Minister must make a full statement to the Commons when it returns on Monday, but stressed the need for swift military action. That is why we must retain the flexibility to react with the necessary speed to threats, while also submitting to scrutiny, he wrote. Sir Keir was facing some criticism from the left over his support for the air strikes. In 2020 Keir Starmer said no more illegal wars. He said that he would only back war if it was legal, had a viable objective and Parliament gave consent. The current military action on Yemen has none of these yet he supports it. pic.twitter.com/CLv1BpfNKI Diane Abbott MP (@HackneyAbbott) January 12, 2024 While running for the Labour leadership, he promised no more illegal wars and proposed a law that would require a Commons vote before military action. But his new comments and support for the raids contradict this. Diane Abbott, who was Jeremy Corbyns shadow home secretary but now sits as an independent, said: In 2020 Keir Starmer said no more illegal wars. He said that he would only back war if it was legal, had a viable objective and Parliament gave consent. The current military action on Yemen has none of these yet he supports it. An extra has alleged in a Los Angeles court filing that British actress Mia Goth kicked him in the head on the set of slasher film MaXXXine. James Hunter claims as a background actor on the latest instalment in the X series, which follows on from the success of X and Pearl, he was covered in fake blood and told to lie in the ground and play dead. He says in April 2023 he laid in the dirt for several hours, enduring ants and mosquitoes and during the scene Goth was supposed to step over him. After a few takes playing dead parishioner, he alleges the actress was warned about being nearly stepping on him. Shia LeBeouf and Mia Goth (Jonathan Brady/PA) The filing to the Superior Court of California, county of Los Angeles states: In the following take, defendant Goth intentionally kicked plaintiff in his head with her boot. The kick in the head caused plaintiff to immediately experience headache and stiffness in his neck. Mr Hunter says he reported the incident and was told filming would continue. Following the shoot ending, he alleges that Goth laughed at him in the bathroom and, after removing his costume, left for the day. He claims the next day he was was banned from the film set and was diagnosed a few days later with concussion at Placentia-Linda hospital in Placentia, California. Mr Hunter alleges he has continued to suffer, symptoms of the head trauma, including disorientation, vertigo, migraines, nightmares, and severe emotional distress and has filed a civil action of battery against Goth. He also also filed action on A24 Films LLC, Goth, and director Ti West claiming wrongful termination. Goth has starred in all films in the X film series, which focus on a female protagonist and have been directed and written by West. The origin story, Pearl, was also written by Goth and she has served as a producer on the project. The 30-year-old is in a relationship with American actor Shia LaBeouf, who she starred with in Lars von Triers Nymphomaniac, and they have one child. Goth, West and A24 Films have been contacted for comment. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the heartbreaking deaths of four migrants as they tried to cross the English Channel showed weve got to stop the boats. Ministers have been informed that the people died in an attempt to launch from French waters, the PA news agency understands. The incident happened near Wimereux at around 2am on Sunday, triggering a major emergency response as 72 people, including 10 children, were rescued and taken to Calais while one person was rushed to hospital, French paper La Voix du Nord said. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme the deaths are heartbreaking (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) Speaking on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Lord Cameron said: Its heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night. It breaks my heart to hear about it. But it just shows weve got to stop the boats, weve got to stop this illegal trade in human beings. The former prime minister argued that the solution is forcibly removing unauthorised arrivals to Rwanda, with Rishi Sunaks Bill to get the stalled policy up and running returning to the Commons for crunch votes this week. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as a tragic loss of life but disputed the solution. I dont know the details, in a sense we dont need to know the details. To lose your life in a small dinghy or boat in the winter sea in the Channel is just awful, he told the BBC. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer agreed with Lord Cameron that the boats need to be stopped (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) But on the Rwanda plan advocated by Lord Cameron, he said: I think he is wrong about that. I absolutely agree that we need to stop these Channel crossings. They are dangerous, we have lost control of our borders, and we need to do something to stop the boats. Now I think the starting place for that is to go after the criminal gangs that are running this vile trade. French media said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. A Navy helicopter, police and 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. The Refugee Council called for decisive action to stop Channel crossings following the terrible loss of life. Chief executive Enver Solomon said: The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the Government to expand safe routes for refugees, its only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again. This must act as a wake-up call to take decisive action and reduce dangerous Channel crossings by providing safe routes for those fleeing war-torn countries or repressive regimes. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the Government must put in place safe routes and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our countrys values. Sonya Sceats, chief executive of charity Freedom from Torture, described the proposed Rwanda Bill as cruel. She said: This distressing news comes days before the cruel Rwanda Bill is back in Parliament. Time and time again, its survivors and refugees who are paying the price for this Governments inhumane and punitive policies. We urgently need an asylum system thats welcoming, fair and compassionate at its heart. The Home Office has been approached for comment. The UK Coastguard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters. Meanwhile, the leaders of three groups on the Tory right warned the Prime Minister they could vote against his Rwanda Bill if he does not bow to their demands to toughen the legislation. Mark Francois, Sir John Hayes and Danny Kruger urged colleagues to join them in standing firm when the simply not good enough legislation faces key votes this week. The Bill, which the Prime Minister has placed as central to his promise to stop the boats, will reopen a rift in the Conservatives when it returns to the Commons on Tuesday. Luciana Berger will oversee Labours mental health strategy five years after leaving the party amid its antisemitism scandal, the party has announced. Ms Berger, the former MP for Liverpool Wavertree, has been appointed by Sir Keir Starmer to oversee a cross-government strategy to tackle mental health issues. Under the plan, thousands of mental health professionals would be specially trained to support people who self-harm to drive down suicide rates. Her return to a key Labour role came as Sir Keir sought to assure Jewish Labour members at the one-day Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) conference that he continues to remain vigilant about antisemitism within the party ranks. Ms Berger claimed Labour had turned a significant corner under Sir Keirs leadership. She added: Millions of people are experiencing poor mental health, without the necessary support to recover. The absence of a proper plan to address the causes of poor mental health requires urgent attention. Labours commitment to deliver a cross-government long-term strategy to tackle mental ill-health is an important step towards gripping this issue, and I am really excited to be leading this work. Ms Berger, who served as a shadow health minister between 2013 and 2016, will present recommendations ahead of the next election about how to achieve Labours plans to prevent mental ill-health. The former MP left Labour in 2019 to join new political party Change UK, amid dissatisfaction with Jeremy Corbyns response to the partys antisemitism crisis and after facing antisemitic abuse. She stood for the Lib Dems in the 2019 general election but lost, and re-joined Labour in February 2023 following an apology from Sir Keir. Then Liberal Democrat candidate Luciana Berger reacts as she loses the Finchley & Golders Green constituency (Jacob King/PA) Sir Keir said he was proud to welcome Luciana back. He added: The Labour Party has changed beyond recognition since she was forced out, and we will be a richer party for having her working with us again. It will be the mission of my Labour government to make sure fewer lives are lost to suicide, with timely support available to all who need it. Luciana is a fierce advocate for mental health and her work will contribute to achieving that mission in government. Speaking at the JLM conference, Sir Keir insisted Labour had changed irrevocably under his leadership. He went on: I know there are many members of this community who still need to see more from us, and the work goes on. But I am proud of the steps we have taken so far, proud of the journey that JLM has led the party on. The Labour leader has pledged to provide specialist self-harm training to the 8,500 additional mental health staff he committed to recruiting if his party wins the general election this year. The overall policy would cost 440 million, according to Labour, and would be paid for by scrapping a private equity loophole it believes would raise up to 600 million. The Government has insisted it is taking action to reduce the number of tragic suicides, with an extra 2.3 billion a year going into mental health services to help two million more people, as well as 150 million invested in crisis services. 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. Lord Cameron has denied RAF strikes in Yemen will escalate the picture in the Middle East, as he warned the world faces a period of great peril. The Foreign Secretary insisted it was the Houthi rebels who had taken steps to escalate conflict in the region with their attacks on container ships passing through the Red Sea, as he hinted the UK could join further strikes in future. The militant group, which backs Hamas, claims they have targeted ships with links to Israel. The Houthis actions have posed a threat to the flow of global trade, disrupting merchant vessels from passing through the sea to the Suez Canal, a route which serves 15% of world shipping. The Foreign Secretary denied that the UK had escalated the situation by taking part in US-led air strikes on Houthi military facilities across Yemen overnight on Thursday. The escalation has been caused by the Houthis. I mean the point is since November 19, you have had these 26 attacks, Lord Cameron told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. He added: There have been more of them, they have been getting worse, and you know, not acting is also a policy, it is a policy that doesnt work. Lord Cameron suggested the RAF could join the US in further strikes against the Houthis in order to deter their attacks. Its right weve sent this very clear, very unambiguous message that we are prepared to follow our words and warnings with actions, he said. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (Jeff Overs/BBC) Lord Cameron said the Houthis attacks were among a number of international events which meant the lights are absolutely flashing red on the global dashboard, and meanwhile sought to portray the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, as a stable and safe leader who could grasp the crisis. He told Sky: Our view is look, take a step back from this, it is hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity and instability in the world. The lights are absolutely flashing red as it were on the global dashboard. Lord Cameron added: What we need at that time is strong leadership and a clear plan, that is what we have with the Prime Minister and the team in place. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer agreed the world was in a period of volatility, but said his party could also provide stability and strong leadership if elected to government. If we were privileged enough to come in to serve, we would provide that leadership with an approach which is to co-operate and collaborate on a rules-based basis, for ensuring that we can play our part in de-escalating these conflicts, he told broadcasters. The Foreign Secretary also defended the Governments decision not to make a statement to Parliament about the strikes on Houthi military targets beforehand. The Lib Dems and SNP had criticised ministers for not taking steps to announce the operation in the Commons before it took place. (PA Graphics) But Lord Cameron insisted Mr Sunak had followed all the correct procedures before the strikes, including assembling ministers, listening to advice, and consulting allies. He added: There will be a statement in Parliament on Monday. I dont think it would have been right to have a debate and a vote before this sort of action, because I think it is important for reasons of operational security to on this occasion take the action and then have a statement in Parliament afterwards. Elsewhere, he said he did not agree with Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogans criticism that US-UK strikes were disproportionate. Mr Erdogan had claimed the UK was turning the Red Sea into a sea of blood. He is an important Nato ally but in this case we dont agree, Lord Cameron said. Some experts have warned that the attacks could fuel a wider conflict in the Middle East, but Mr Sunak has insisted the UK and USA acted in self defence in carrying out the strikes. Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has meanwhile called on Iran to urge its Houthi allies, as well as Hezbollah, to cease and desist in their destabilising activities in the Middle East. Sir Keir Starmer has watered down promises to introduce a law giving MPs a vote before military intervention and to stop selling weapons to Saudi Arabia. The Labour leader insisted on Sunday that there is no inconsistency between his previous promise to give the Commons a say before authorising action and his support for strikes against Houthis. But his comments marked another change to his past pledges which will further raise concerns on the left and leave him open to Conservative accusations of flip-flopping. When running to succeed Jeremy Corbyn in 2020, Sir Keir promised a Prevention of Military Intervention Act under commitments to prevent more illegal wars. When running to succeed Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader in 2020, Sir Keir Starmer promised a Prevention of Military Intervention Act (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) He said at the time that he would pass legislation to say military action could only be taken if a lawful case was made, there was a viable objective, and consent from Commons had been given. But his swift backing of the RAF strikes in Yemen in a bombing raid with the US that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak authorised without consulting Parliament raised questions about the pledge. Sir Keir told BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: Theres no inconsistency here. There is obviously a huge distinction between an operation, the like of which we have seen in the last few days, and military action, a sustained campaign, military action usually involving troops on the ground. He argued that his proposed change to give the Commons a say only relates to sending in ground forces, adding that he stands by that in principle, absolutely. The Labour leader insisted he still wants to bring in the change but now hinted the alteration may not need to be in law. I want to codify that it could be by a law, it could be by some other means, he said. But he added: Im not ruling out law. In 2020, Sir Keir said the UK should stop the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia over concerns about their use in the Yemen civil war. .@JoStevensLabour is right its why we should stop the sale of arms to Saudi Arabia, as we said in our manifesto. I want us to go further and review all arms sales, as well as halting the sales to Saudi Arabia that are creating the horrifying humanitarian suffering in Yemen. https://t.co/MYWMPahSVR Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 25, 2020 On Sunday, he said he is still committed to reviewing all arms sales, but would not be definitive when it came to the Saudis. He told the BBC: We will review the situation and the review will give us the answers to those questions. Labour has faced questions over the key pledge to invest 28 billion in green projects after saying it could be scaled back because of the financial picture. Labours Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has urged Sir Keir to stick to your guns on the policy to invest in the future. Sir Keir said he stands by the policy, but added numerous caveats. He told the BBC: Of course we need investment and Im very pleased to make the case for investment in the future. Thats why we will invest 28 billion in total by the second half of the Parliament, subject of course to what the Government has already assigned to put in on green prosperity, and of course within our fiscal rules. Pressed if the policy will be in the manifesto, he said: In the way Ive just described, then yes, of course. The Conservatives accused Sir Keir not being able to say what hed do differently as he just snipes from the sidelines. Chief secretary to the Treasury Laura Trott said: This morning, Starmer confirmed he is of course committed to putting his 28 billion-a-year spending spree in the Labour manifesto, even though he doesnt have a plan to pay for it. And that means one thing thousands of pounds in higher taxes for hardworking people. Asimismo, el Canciller, acompanado del Repr. Perm. Del Peru, Emb. Luis Chuquihuara, sostendra reuniones bilaterales con sus homologos, las mas altas autoridades de las OOII con base en Ginebra, y directivos de empresas con interes de invertir o expandir sus actividades en nuestro pic.twitter.com/SsyJzIysBL Former home secretary Suella Braverman joined thousands in central London in solidarity with Israel ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack. She chanted bring them home with the crowd referencing the remaining hostages took pictures with members of the public and was thanked by others for going to the rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday. Gratitude was also expressed to the King at the demonstration, as President of Israel Isaac Herzog thanked Charles in a video message, mentioning Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as well. Ms Braverman told the PA news agency: Im here to stand in solidarity with Israel. It has been 100 days since innocent people have been taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists and we need to bring them home now. Bring them home now. Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she was there to stand in solidarity with Israel (Jeff Moore/PA) A small group of counter-protesters from the Neturei Karta group gathered on a traffic island at the south of Trafalgar Square, according to the Metropolitan Police. The force originally said a man was arrested after forcefully taking a sign from the group and tearing it up, but in an updated statement the Met Police said the man was detained but not ultimately arrested after a review of CCTV confirmed he was not the person responsible. Another man who shouted antisemitic abuse from a passing car was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. A short time ago a man who shouted antisemitic abuse from a passing car was stopped by officers. He has been arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence. Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) January 14, 2024 People attending the rally, who filed into the square past bag searches, barricades and police and security officers, held posters that bore the faces of those who were taken hostage, and others that read 100 days in hell. Some brandished Iranian flags, depicting a sun and lion in the centre, which one man said represented opposition to the Iranian government. In his video message, Mr Herzog said: In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, youve stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride and passion but it isnt only within the Jewish community, across every branch of British leadership, the truth reigns clear. People in the crowd held posters that bore the faces of hostages (Jeff Moore/PA) In the name of the state and people of Israel, I thank you all. I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III. I want to thank Prime Minister Sunak. I want to thank the UK Government and I want to thank Opposition leader Starmer and his colleagues. The rally heard from a number of other speakers including Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, the UK special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, Lord Pickles, and Labour MP Christian Wakeford. Relatives of those who remain hostage also spoke at the demonstration. Eylon Keshet said the time his cousins baby has spent as a hostage might be a death sentence (Ellie Ng/PA) Yarden Bibas, 34, was captured on October 7 alongside his wife Shiri, 32, and two children Ariel, four, and baby Kfir, who was 10 months old when he was taken. Mr Bibass cousin, Eylon Keshet, told PA that the time Kfir has spent as a hostage might be a death sentence. The 30-year-old, who lives in Israel but came to the UK to make his message known at the rally, said: We never thought it would be this long and its heartbreaking because 100 days is not just a number, 100 days are actually this long that they need to suffer in captivity each day and for a baby like Kfir this might be a death sentence. So this is 100 days of real human suffering and pain and we must bring them home. This number must not get any bigger. Ms Hotovely thanked London for 100 days of consistent support. Lord Pickles called himself a committed and unapologetic Zionist (Jeff Moore/PA) She said the estimated 130 remaining hostages continue to live a nightmare with every passing second and issued a fresh demand for their immediate release. Lord Pickles called himself a committed and unapologetic Zionist and, referring to a pro-Palestinian march on Saturday, said: The people who were marching yesterday, the overwhelming majority of them are not antisemitic but they are happy to walk with people who are antisemitic. Mr Wakeford spoke of his recent trip to Israel during which he met survivors and families of hostages. The experiences theyve had on day one was too much, he told the crowd. Cyclists in Regents Park after they cycled through central London calling for the release of Israeli hostages (Jeff Moore/PA) Well, now 100 days in, and all we can say is this is far too many and bring them home. Earlier on Sunday, cyclists gathered in Regents Park after riding through central London as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the hostages still being held captive by Hamas. Some cycled with Israeli flags wrapped around them while others held up posters showing the faces of hostages. The sister of a UK national who remains hostage amid the conflict in the Middle East has warned there is no more time for those captured, and called for their release ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. Ayelet Svatitzky told the PA news agency she is hopeful for the release of her brother, Nadav Popplewell, but is fearful of how long he can hold on. Mr Popplewell, 51, is one of two UK nationals who remain hostage a figure announced by Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron on Tuesday. Nadav Popplewell is one of two remaining British hostages (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, 46, will be speaking at a rally on Sunday afternoon in central London calling for the release of all hostages, as Monday marks 100 days since Hamas attack on October 7 the day her life froze. The demonstration comes after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to London, Dublin and Edinburgh streets on Saturday, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict in which more than 23,800 Palestinians have been killed over the course of the Israeli response, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The protests, part of a global day of action involving 30 countries, came after the UK and US carried out airstrikes against Houthi bases in Yemen. Mr Popplewell was captured alongside his 79-year-old mother, Channah Peri, both of whom are among an estimated 240 people originally taken prisoner. Mrs Peri, released during the November ceasefire, was able to inform her family that her son had lost weight and had not been receiving medication for his diabetes, but the family have not heard anything about him since. Mrs Svatitzkys elder brother, Roi Popplewell, was found dead near his home just after the attacks. He was 53 when he died, and the family marked what would have been his 54th birthday on Christmas Eve. Mrs Svatitzky told PA how her mother has not been able to mourn his death because the family are consumed by their worry for her other brother. Thats all thats on our minds all the time is Nadavs wellbeing and his condition, and hes in danger every second of every day, she said. Ayelet Svatitzky said she still has hope for her brothers release (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, who lives in Kibbutz Yagur, said she still has hope. Hope is what gets us up in the morning, she said. My biggest fear is, I dont know how long its going to last, I dont know how long he can hold on and I dont know what his condition is. Im hoping he is going to be released soon but like I said, I saw how my mum came back after 49 days, Im very scared for how hes going to come back. She will be calling for the release of all hostages at a rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon. My main message is that the hostages are running out of time and that we should all do everything in our power to demand their release, she told PA. I think this is the prime message: There is no more time. Mrs Svatitzky called it a crime that people remained hostages almost 100 days since October 7. Theres so little that me as a family member can do, she told PA. We can only be a voice to our family members and our loved ones who are being held against their will for almost 100 days and demand their release, but there really is (only) so much we can do. Channah Peri was taken hostage but released during the November ceasefire (Family Handout/PA) Reflecting on the time that has passed, she said: Our life froze October 7. This is all I do in my life I help my mum in her rehabilitation process, and I fight for Nadavs release. I dont work. Ive got three children. I call myself a present-absent parent, because Im here in body but Im not really here because my main focus and concern is saving my brothers life. My life froze October 7, and I dont know when Im going to get it back. And I know that when we get Nadav back its going to be a really long road for recovery. When I look ahead into the future I dont know what its going to look like. I cant predict it. Mrs Svatitzky was alerted to attacks in Kibbutz Nirim where her two brothers and mother lived on October 7 by messages from a WhatsApp group she shares with childhood friends. She told of how she phoned her mother and had a brief conversation with her before hearing mens voices in the room. I realised that the Hamas terrorists got to her house, she told PA. They were speaking in English with an Arabic accent and I could hear that over the phone. So I hung up immediately because I was convinced that the next thing Im going to hear is my mum being murdered. Roi Popplewell was found dead near his home in Kibbutz Nirim (Family Handout/PA) She next phoned Mr Popplewell before hearing the same voices seconds later. She said she then received two pictures on WhatsApp from her mothers phone showing the elderly woman sitting in her living room in her nightwear beside her barefooted son, with a follow up message: Hamas. Mrs Svatitzky said a third picture, one featuring armed terrorists in the corner, was uploaded to her mothers Facebook story. Mrs Svatitzky and Mr Popplewell are both UK nationals, and so was their third sibling, Roi. Both brothers were single and had no children before the events of October 7. Welcome to How I Made My First Million, Fortunes newest series in which we interview todays most powerful people about how they amassed their wealth. Youll hear from founders, entrepreneurs, investors, and creatives across the globe on how they joined the seven-figure-club, what theyd do differently, and their best piece of advice for building wealth. Key takeaways Age: 55 Career highlights: Bolstered by the knowledge honed at his teenage job at a flower shop, created Edible (formerly known as Edible Arrangements) aimed at combining fruit baskets with floral arrangements Approximate valuation: $600 million Tariq Farid knows what its like to start from the ground up. As a 12-year-old, the oldest of six children, he moved with his family from Pakistan to Connecticut, where he was quickly put to work helping the family make ends meet. He worked a variety of odd jobs, including one at a flower shop, which would spur his interest in florals andmore importantlyeye-popping gifts. Farid is an entrepreneur in the true sense of the word. Sensing his potential, his boss at the flower shop loaned him $6,000 to open a flower shop of his own. From there, he taught himself computing and information technology and was able to balance both an IT business with flowers. At age 30, with his brothers, he opened the first Edible Arrangements storefront in his local New Haven. Farid has been bootstrapping his business since the beginning. He described an attempt to secure a bank loan of $120,000, which was rejected because no one thought the idea was going to work. The joke is on them; Edible, recently rebranded from Edible Arrangements, has become a sprawling international chain with thousands of franchises, millions of orders, and a suite of new category offerings, including baked goods and real flowers. And hes kept it in the family; he recently passed the reins along to his daughter, Somia Farid Silber, who is currently Edibles president. The sky's the limit for Farid as Edible nears its 25th anniversary and inches towards potential unicorn status. But he wont be hasty: It's one brick at a time, and you want to have solid, steady growth, he told Fortunes Ruth Umoh. To sit here at $500 million, when in the first year, we did $192,000 in sales, Im in awe. I just want to make sure we slowly, steadily have solid growth." The following transcript is lightly edited for clarity. Give us a little bit of background information about yourself. Where did you grow up? What did your parents do? How did you go down this journey? I landed in the U.S. at 12 years old, kind of following the family. I grew up for the first 12 years in Pakistan in a farming family. My father came here a few years before us and worked as a machinist. Then he worked at Burger King, McDonald's. In most immigrant families, everybody works. So, when I got here at 12, I had to help. I first started delivering newspapers and cutting grass. Then I landed an amazing job at Farricielli's Flowers in West Haven, Connecticut, with Charlie Farricielli. He was one of those neighborhood entrepreneurs who wanted to take care of all his employees. I learned a lot from him and had an opportunity to buy a flower shop that had closed for about $6,000. So my father's boss gave me, a 17-year-old, a $6,000 loan to open a flower shop. And I always loved computers, so I started to balance an IT business with the flower business and just did phenomenally. Fast forward to 1998 or 1999, and I had this opportunity to do fruit arrangements. We started it in a small little section of our flower shop and it just took off. And here we are, thousands of stores later. Giving $6,000 to a 17-year-old. Why? Somebody has to ask Bill and Denise Holtberg how they made that decision. Back in 1980, $6,000 was a lot to give to a 17-year-old. But I made sure we paid that back within a year-and-a-half. When I ask him, he says, "Well, I believed you would be successful." The only thing I knew at that time was to work hard. I saw my father work hard. I saw my mother work hard. I really didn't have a choice. It was not like there was a selection, even if you're going to go to school. If you're going to college, you had to decide if you were helping the family. Should I go or not? And that's what happened to me with a lot of those opportunities. I'm glad I did what I did, because when the family needed help, I started working, and I learned so much. By 17, I knew how to run a business and never looked back. Running a flower shop is pretty straightforward. How did you go from that to Let me buy fruit, craft it, turn it into flowers, put it on skewers, and sell this as part of an arrangement? That's quite the pivot. Florists are probably some of the hardest working people in the world. You have to get fresh flowers and treat them. There's a lot involved. So, my floral training helped me prepare for the fruit part. I think that journey made it easier. In the beginning, it was a lot of hard work. We did not have the funds. I wrote a big business plan and tried to borrow $120,000. It got rejected because no one thought the idea was going to work. So we went ahead and just bootstrapped it. But having all that experience with flowers really helped. At the end, it's about the customer. The first holiday was Easter in 1999, and we made 28 arrangements, and it took us all day because we had no equipment. We were hand-cutting everything. Every customer called and said, "Wow, can I order another one? This is amazing. I didn't know you guys made this." And we knew as soon as we saw the customer's response that we were onto something. At that point, there's no looking back. You figure out how to automate and get more equipment. I made trips to China back then to try to find food-safe containers, because before that, it was all about flowers. And you couldn't put the fruit arrangements into those containers, so we had to get our own containers. That started a whole new business for us called Berry Direct, which is where our sourcing is. And then we made a website. We started another business called Netsolace that would do all the technology and the [point of sale] systems and everything. Everything kind of just came together like an ecosystem. You were turned down for a loan, I'm assuming a bank loan. What did that bootstrapping look like in practice? How did you get financing? You put extra miles on the car, you negotiate with the landlord, you negotiate with the vendors. I'll tell you, having that hunger is really good on the customer side because you really want to take care of that customer. You want them to tell 10 other people. And that's what worked really well for us. We're still low debt. We created a habit of living within our means. At what point did you think to yourself, "Wow, I've made it? What was that point where you got a pretty sizable check and you said to yourself, "Wow, I'm really onto something here"? Probably when my accountant told me I owed a lot of taxes. And I'm like, "Taxes? What do I owe taxes for? I didn't know we made that much money." And he showed it to me and said, "Oh, you made good money here. And you reinvested it. At that time, when I saw the first tax bill, I was like, "Oh, okay. We made it." But I don't think you're ever done because when you start, a lot of people look at it and say, "When is enough?" But when you're focused on the customer and building a brand, it's never necessarily about a destination. It's about the journey. I think thats exciting. What we see now is the opportunity. For me, the true aha moment was when somebody knocked on our door and said, "I want to buy a franchise. I want to open up one in Boston." It's that saying, you know, great brands are bought, never sold. So, if somebody comes to you, that means you built something and they want that. That was probably the aha moment from a brand point of view. But from a personal point of view, it would be when you can pay the rent and not have to struggle with funds. Obviously, financial metrics are a huge milestone for most business owners, certainly small business owners. Walk us through how you made your first million. Our first flower shop in East Haven, Connecticut, hit $1.2 million in sales. And the day that it hit $1 million, there was a big celebration, because, back then, that was the goal for a small business owner. If you can make it to that, you can afford to hire more. You can turn it on and get into a little better location. And your brand has made it, because that's thousands and thousands of customers who are coming in and recognizing your brand. So, for me, you know, it wasn't necessarily about the money. But it was that now this business is self-sustaining. Now we can move on to the next location. And I think you just have to prove one out. And if you could prove one out, then doing multiple or getting to 100 locations is not hard. I would say that million was probably the hardest journey. But once you hit that, thenI don't remember when we hit $100 million or $200 million. I don't think we ever stopped at that point. The million was the hardest journey because? Because you don't have the means to do it. As I had mentioned earlier, I couldn't get loans. Because when people looked at this concept of fruit and baskets, they didn't think it was going to work. And then, the rest of it is just selling month-to-month. We were never really trying to hit a million. Even now, it's about the quality, the delivery, and the customer experience. I think the majority of businesses that hit a millionits usually a surprise. But once you hit it, you know you have a great location. Now, you can go to any landlord and say, "I have a business. This is what it does in sales. I'd like to get a location." The doors are gonna open for you. I think that journey is hard because for us, especially, we did not have access to funds. And that has been the struggle. There will always be a struggle for startups or small businesses to get funding. As a minority, it was even harder. I think now, the biggest thing isn't that you hit a million, it's the feeling that you're self-sustaining and that you can make it and share the experience with others. That's more than achieving that milestone. Within roughly two years of launching, you franchised your first Edible Arrangements. Was that your plan all along? I pretended it was my plan all along. We wanted to scale, but we weren't sure which way. When I first thought that we could get a loan, our plan was to open multiple locations. But I heard about franchising and didn't think we could pull it off until somebody walked in. I knew about franchising. I worked at McDonald's, and it was one of the best jobs I ever had. Back then, when you were 15, if you did really well in school, they gave you a work permit to work. Then my father's boss at Burger King gave me a job. So, I would actually take a one-hour bus ride from West Haven, Connecticut, to Milford. I would go after middle school. From there, I ended up going to McDonald's and did really well. I always had that in the back of my head that there's this concept of franchising. I didn't understand it, I only knew the inner workings, not how you franchise a business. But when the opportunity came, somebody walked into our store and said, "Hey, I'm in Boston and Id love to build one of your stores. Do you offer franchises?" Of course, at that point, I was like, "Of course, we've been thinking about it. Let's do it." And we were able to pull it together real quickly. And it was probably the one of the best things we did. Since that serendipitous day, you've expanded into Texas and other areas within the continental U.S. You've expanded globally into China, and certainly other countries. How do you determine what makes sense, in terms of expansion? And are you still looking to scale your physical footprint? Localize innovation. But at the same time, with the whole e-commerce and this social media phenomenon, the world has shrunk. Where we may have had an opportunity of, let's say, a couple of thousand locations in the U.S., now, it's more like 6,000 or 7,000 locations globally with a consistent experience on the web level. We would love edible.com to be the booking.com of gifting, where you could go anywhere in the world and send a gift. People are moving a lot, so now it's not about countries. The experience at the store will be very different. But online, it'll be pretty consistent. So, it'd be nice to be able to send somebody in Dubai a gift in a minute and we would love to solve for that. In the early daysthe first five yearswhat did sales look like? And how does that compare to now? Pretty consistent. As entrepreneurs, you have to be prepared for the good days and the bad days and everything. We can pretty much say we've gone through everything, especially with what happened over the last few years. There's a consistency to that. As long as people are celebrating, there's always going to be a need. So, our sales have always been steady, and the objective now is to try to get our stores, most of our stores, to a million, million-something in average sales. And to customize each store where they own that neighborhood. So, that franchise owner really gets to know the neighborhood and is advertising or promoting, according to the neighbor. With that, it's pretty hard to have a consistent stat that every one of your stores is going to do the same. We could deliver a lot from the web level now, and we can give a pretty consistent experience. Now we're even doing third-party. So, I think the opportunity is much bigger now than before, because you can reach so many customers. We have stores now that have 1,500, 1,600 people every day following what's happening. As that store puts up information about, what theyre making today or which product is coming in, people place orders. I'm blown away with that. Before, you had to do mailers and send things out and invite people for samples. Now, you can really do it online, on social media, and interact with customers in real time. So, I think the potential is bigger than ever before. I've seen estimates that your company is valued about $600 million. Are you eyeing $1 billion forging forward? Is that the next metric for you? Hitting that unicorn status? Of course. [But] as entrepreneurs, there's a different level of success. And for me, success is always the quality of something, not necessarily the quantity. IWhen I started out and was only 18 years old, I would walk home and I wasn't happy. And my mother was like, "What's going on? I'm like, "Not enough sales." And she said, "Honey, stop chasing money. Money runs really fast. Go do the right thing. It'll chase you." Making sure you take care of the customer, I don't want to compromise that. That's the big thing. And I think there's a nice balance there. Even now, post-pandemic, people are looking for a nice life balance. The number of hours you work, what you want to do. I think our brand offers that. Could we achieve a billion? Yeah, but I don't want to lose money by getting there. There are a lot of brands that will achieve that, but then the health of the brand isn't good. For me, the health of the brand is very, very good. And I think it's a journey. It's one brick at a time and you want to have solid, steady growth. To sit here at $500 million, when in the first year, we did $192,000 in sales, Im in awe. I just want to make sure we slowly, steadily have solid growth. Best business advice you've received? The best advice I ever got was probably the first advice I ever got: Customer is the king. Always take care of the customer. Everything will work out. Worst business advice you've ever received? I would say I've been lucky that if I got the worst business advice, I probably haven't followed it. Ive been lucky enough to live within my means. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com TEL AVIV One hundred days ago, Hamas terrorists evaded Israeli security and surveillance to pierce the fence enclosing the Gaza Strip. Under cover of a barrage of rockets that began before dawn, they stormed into Israel in pickup trucks, motorcycles and paragliders carrying out a vicious, hourslong assault that resulted in more than 1,200 people killed, according to Israeli officials. NBC News has reviewed evidence, primarily from the Israel Defense Forces and Israeli officials, that suggests dozens of Israeli women were raped, sexually abused or mutilated during the attack. Another 240 people were taken hostage, with more than 100 still in Hamas captivity. Israel responded to the surprise terror attack with a military onslaught on Gaza in what has become one of the most destructive wars in recent history, killing Palestinians at an average of about 250 a day a rate unseen in previous conflicts. So far, about 24,000 people have been confirmed killed, with thousands more buried under the rubble and presumed dead. The violence has displaced the vast majority of Gazas 2.2 million people and is driving widespread hunger and devastation. The ongoing assault is inflaming tensions, threatening to pitch the region into a wider war, and polarizing global politics and populations. Image: Palestine Rally (Jose Luis Magana / AP) Protests erupted around the world this weekend including in Washington, D.C., London, Bangkok, Jakarta, Sydney and Johannesburg calling for an end to the war as the conflict reached the bitter milestone of 100 days. In Israel, thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv for a 24-hour rally marking 100 days since the devastating Oct. 7 Hamas attack that sparked what has become the longest and deadliest conflict between Israel and Palestinians since Israels establishment in 1948. 100 days I cant believe it The words bring them home rang through central Tel Aviv as the families of those held hostage and thousands of supporters gathered in the streets calling on the Israeli government and the international community to do more to see their loved ones released. People rally to mark 100 days of captivity for hostages by Hamas in Gaza on Jan. 13, 2024 in Tel Aviv. (Amir Levy / Getty Images) I never thought I would get to this day, said Ella Ben Ami, whose parents were taken hostage from their home in Beeri, a kibbutz in southern Israel miles away from the Gaza border. Her mother, Raz Ben Ami, was one of dozens of hostages released by Hamas in November, and her father, Ohad Ben Ami, remains in captivity. A week after the 7th of October, I was like I cant believe its been a week without my parents, Ben Ami, 23, told NBC News on Saturday in Hostages Square a plaza that has become a gathering place for families of those held hostage in Gaza. So, 100 days. I cant believe it. Follow live updates Its hard to keep the hope so many days. Its hard to keep optimistic so many days, said Ben Ami. She said her mother, who is still recovering from her time in captivity, cant sleep at night and struggles to eat and drink because shes all the time thinking about my dad. An Israeli man pushes his baby stroller and walks his dog through an installation in Tel Aviv that simulates a tunnel in Gaza on Jan. 14, 2024. (Oded Balilty / AP) 100 days of fear Inside Gaza, the 100-day milestone marks 14 weeks of relentless attacks from Israeli forces by land, air and sea. Roughly 85% of the more than 2 million people living in Gaza have been displaced by the war, while much of the enclave's infrastructure, including homes, schools, hospitals and cultural landmarks has been destroyed in Israels offensive, according to United Nations estimates. In the midst of the fighting, much of the Gaza Strip has been plunged into a spiraling health crisis, with limited access to food, clean drinking water and medical supplies. Palestinians evacuate a wounded man after an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. (Mohammed Dahman / AP) I want to say that every 30 or 20 minutes, I would be exposed to death either physically, morally or psychologically, said Maher Mahmoud Daowd, a 33-year-old father whose family was forced to flee their home in Khan Younis to seek relative safety further south in Rafah, near Gazas border with Egypt. Not long ago, the Israel Defense Forces had designated Khan Younis a safe zone, ordering thousands of people in northern Gaza to evacuate the area to the city in the south. But as Israel expanded its offensive across southern Gaza, Khan Younis has also become a battle zone, making Rafah one of the few places where displaced Palestinians can find limited refuge, though the IDF continues to bomb that city too. Daowd, a cultural activities coordinator who before the war was working toward obtaining a Ph.D. in literature, said he, his wife, who was also pursuing a Ph.D. in international humanitarian law, and their 5-year-old son fled from Khan Younis after their neighbors home was hit in a strike. Ill never forget my wifes scream when she called me, he said. Imagine you are sitting and waiting for the rocket; you hear the rocket coming down to strike you, your house, your family, your neighbors, or the place where you reside. One hundred days are entirely missing from my life, Daowd said. Imagine 100 days without safety, food or water 100 days of fear, 100 days of losing your friends, 100 days and you hear every day the shelling or the collapse of a building, a restaurant you like 100 days without traveling, 100 days without work, 100 days of the war. With many families sleeping in makeshift tents in Rafah, cooling temperatures and the onset of winter rains have only exacerbated a mounting humanitarian crisis that has worsened as the months wear on and aid continues to fall short. Displaced Palestinians warm by the fire at a makeshift camp west of Rafah near the Egyptian border on Jan. 14, 2024. (AFP via Getty Images) Daowd and his family might be considered lucky to have found shelter with 14 other relatives in an ordinary house that would barely take seven people. But the cramped conditions pose a daily challenge, he said, while food and water are difficult to come by, along with medication and other essential supplies. We cant find Pampers for the babies. Even if you find them, it is expensive, he said. The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss, and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity, Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, said in a statement on Saturday. Its been 100 days since the devastating war started, killing and displacing people in Gaza, following the horrific attacks that Hamas and other groups carried out against people in Israel. Its been 100 days of ordeal and anxiety for hostages and their families, he said. No one will stop us, Netanyahu says Last week, Israel faced accusations of genocide over its campaign in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in a case brought by South Africa. The case, which continues to play out, could see the ICJ order Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza. While the courts rulings are binding under international law and can have major significance politically, it lacks the power to enforce them. Injured Palestinians, including children are taken to the Nasser Hospital following an Israeli strike on the house of the Abu Aram family in Khan Younis, Gaza, on Jan. 12, 2024. (Jehad Alshrafi / Anadolu via Getty Images) South Africa accused Israel of killing, injuring and displacing civilians and curbing access to food, water and necessities in a way that is intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group. Israeli lawyers said the accusations painted a partial and deeply flawed picture of Israels actions in the Gaza Strip. And on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant, saying the court battle would do little to stop Israels fight in the enclave. We are continuing the war to its conclusion to total victory, until we have achieved all of our objectives: the elimination of Hamas, the return of all our hostages and the guarantee that Gaza will never again pose a threat to Israel, he said. We will restore security, both in the south and in the north. No one will stop us not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, nor anyone else. Image: Funeral Held For Master Sgt. Dan Weidenbaum, IDF Soldier Killed In Gaza (Amir Levy / Getty Images) A region on edge As the war rages, fears within the international community of a wider conflict in the Middle East have grown. Tensions continue to mount on Israels border with Lebanon, with regular exchanges of fire between the IDF and Hezbollah, the powerful Iran-backed militant group that controls much of Lebanons south. In the early hours of Friday local time, the U.S. and Britain launched strikes on Yemen against the Houthis, the rebel group also backed by Iran, which has been firing missiles at ships in the Red Sea a key international shipping lane in support of Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. Those fears are not misplaced, Elisabeth Kendall, head of Girton College at the University of Cambridge and an expert on Yemen and the broader Middle East, told NBC News in a phone interview on Thursday. It is a very volatile situation, she said, adding: It could easily spiral out of control. The U.S. conducted another, unilateral strike in Yemen early Saturday local time. The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, have vowed retaliation for the strikes, and Kendall said they are not an adversary to be underestimated. The group has outlasted years of strikes in an almost decadelong war against a powerful and well-resourced Saudi-led coalition. President Joe Biden has said the U.S. will respond further if the rebel group continues this outrageous behavior in the Red Sea. Daowd said that despite often limited internet connectivity in Gaza, Palestinians in the enclave were anxiously watching how the war is playing out on the global stage. I wish the war would not expand, Daowd said. He said he hoped to see an end to the current conflict, but also hopes for a radical solution to the Palestinian cause, which for many is the long-held vision of an internationally recognized independent Palestinian state, partly in Gaza. Are there going to be more than 100 days of war, killing, death and displacement? Or will there be solutions? he said. God willing, we hope for things to change. By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING (Reuters) -China's foreign ministry and its embassies around the world condemned foreign governments that congratulated Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its president-elect Lai Ching-te after an election on Saturday. After the DPP's presidential candidate Lai won the vote, several ministers and politicians in countries that share warm, if in most cases unofficial, ties with the self-ruled island sent congratulatory messages to Lai and the DPP. This drew swift responses from Chinese embassies, highlighting Beijing's sensitivity to other countries appearing to give legitimacy to a candidate and political party it views as "secessionist forces" hoping to turn Taiwan - which it claims as its own - into an independent sovereign nation. The Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday described a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, which congratulated Lai and said Washington looked forward to further its unofficial relationship with Taiwan, as "sending a seriously incorrect signal" to "Taiwan independence separatist forces". "China has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and resolutely opposes the United States interfering in Taiwan affairs in any form and under any pretext," the foreign ministry said in a statement published on its website. The Chinese embassy on Saturday condemned what it called the "incorrect actions" of British Foreign Minister David Cameron after he said, in a statement congratulating Lai and his party, that the elections were a "testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy." "We urge the United Kingdom to acknowledge the position that Taiwan is a province of China, cautiously handle Taiwan-related matters in accordance with the one-China principle, stop any remarks that interfere in China's internal affairs," the embassy said in a statement published on its official WeChat account. The Chinese embassy in Japan went as far as lodging solemn representations, a form of official diplomatic protest, after Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory. Kamikawa called the self-ruled island "an extremely crucial partner and an important friend" but in the same statement she also stated that the working relationship with Taipei was on a "non-governmental basis". "We solemnly urge the Japanese side to ... refrain from disrupting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and China-Japan relations," The Chinese embassy said. CHINA QUESTIONS TAIWAN'S DEMOCRACY Beijing, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, fears that Lai could declare the establishment of a Republic of Taiwan, which Lai has said he will not do. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, speaking at a press conference in Cairo after a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, gave a warning on Sunday to anyone in the international community that violates the one-China principle, which states Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. "(Such a violation) will inevitably be hit with the joint resistance of all Chinese people and the international community," Wang said. The Chinese embassy in France said that a statement from the French foreign ministry on Sunday was a "provocation" against the Chinese government because it congratulated a separatist politician and political party in Lai and the DPP. This was despite the fact that France, unlike several other countries, did not name Lai or his party in its statement, congratulating instead "all voters and candidates" who participated in the election. "The 'Taiwan independence' candidate winning, and some so-called 'congratulations' cannot change fundamental framework and development trend of cross-Strait relations," the embassy said. But the Chinese embassy also took issue with the statement's praise of Taiwanese democracy, accusing the DPP of corruption and repressing its political opponents. "With such a stained and unsavoury track record, were it any western country, would it be championed as 'democracy'?" Even on the eve of the election, Chinese diplomats were already warning their host countries of the consequences of supporting Lai and the DPP. Xiao Qian, Chinese ambassador to Australia, published an article in The Australian on Friday where he warned his host country of unspecified dangers if it were to support "Taiwan independence forces" like the DPP. "If Australia is tied to the chariot of Taiwan separatist forces, the Australian people would be pushed over the edge of an abyss," he wrote. (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Michael Perry) There are plenty of reasons not to buy an electric vehicle in 2024: Auto loan rates are high. Despite a recent wave of discounting, many EVs remain pricier than gas-burning cars. And an incomplete network of sometimes glitchy chargers has stoked drivers range anxiety about running out of juice. But while the all-electric market is slowing, sales are forecast to keep rising. Cox Automotive expects EVs to comprise 10% of the United States vehicle market by the end of the year, up from 7.6% last year when domestic sales hit a record 1.2 million and 5.9% in 2022. And first-time EV adopters are still powering the expansion, with LexisNexis Risk Solutions telling NBC News that 3 in 4 new EVs are driven by people switching from a combustion-engine vehicle. Heres what to know if youre considering buying this year. Tax credits cover fewer models, but without the wait Car shoppers can still expect to be rewarded for going electric, thanks to tax breaks from the Inflation Reduction Act, but the rewards wont be as widespread. The laws tax incentives are limited to EVs whose batteries arent substantially built in certain foreign countries, particularly China, or with minerals sourced there. The number of models eligible for the full federal tax credit of $7,500, or partial $3,750 credit, shrank from 43 last year to fewer than 15 that comply with criteria on the books currently. The punted models include popular picks like the Tesla Model 3 and the Nissan Leaf. A Tesla Model Y electric vehicle at the company's showroom in the Meatpacking District of N.Y. on Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. ( Yuki Iwamura / Bloomberg via Getty Images) And income caps still apply: Individuals making over $150,000 annually or couples bringing in $300,000 qualify for the credits, which stop at electric sedans over $55,000 and SUVs and trucks over $80,000. Maybe youre a person whos overwhelmed with all the choices, and if you start with a smaller list, that helps you out, said Alison Flores, a manager at H&R Blocks Tax Institute. But if youre really into the technology or certain nuances and you were looking at a certain thing, you may be disappointed, she conceded. A narrower selection of EVs eligible for tax incentives could push more consumers toward leasing, said Jay Turner, an environmental studies professor at Wellesley College and author of Charged: A History of Batteries and Lessons for a Clean Energy Future. Many of the excluded vehicles still qualify for discounts when leased, he said, because the U.S. Treasury considers leasing an EV a commercial transaction, exempting the vehicles from some IRA rules. That may be a more attractive strategy for many consumers in the next couple of years, Turner said. One pretty major change taking effect this year, Flores noted, is that consumers can now apply their full federal tax credit right away at dealerships, rather than having to wait to file their taxes to receive it. The rule allows the dealer who you purchased the vehicle from to essentially advance you the tax credit, she said, which can reduce financing costs for buyers taking out auto loans. Lower prices and local incentives can add up to bigger savings Auto experts said the mix of federal and state incentives, at a time when many EV prices are falling, could allow customers in some places to drive a new or used EV off the lot for as little as $10,000 this year. Tesla and GM have slashed prices on some electric models to spur demand as inventories have piled up. Cox said those price cuts helped bring average EV prices down nearly 18% over the course of last year. They are now nearing price parity with gas cars, the firm said: At the end of 2023, the average EV cost, even after factoring in the more expensive Tesla models, was $50,789, within spitting distance of the average gas vehicle at $48,759. Edmunds, an online car shopping resource, put the average price of a used EV at $50,000 as recently as December 2022 but now estimates it at about $37,000. Strangely enough, its one of the few areas where you can get a great deal right now, said Joseph Yoon, a consumer insights analyst at Edmunds. A lot of dealers are seeing that demand for EVs has kind of cooled. So there are discounts on top of the federal stuff. This year may also be a better time to go pre-owned, said Turner. Normally we think that EVs are just for people who are pretty well off. But the tax incentives, especially for used EVs, are definitely opening up the market to more consumers, he said. While the IRAs used EV credit took effect last year offering buyers 30% off the cars purchase price, up to $4,000 some states and municipalities have since launched their own incentive programs. Turners back-of-envelope math suggests that, thanks to a mix of stackable federal and state credits, consumers in California or Massachusetts eyeing a used Chevy Bolt with 30,000 miles and a $20,000 list price could purchase it for around $10,000 which is crazy, he added. And I think a lot of people who are in the market for a $10,000 car dont think an EV is accessible. In some areas, the discounts could go even deeper. Colorado, for example, allows residents who meet a certain income threshold to trade in a gas-powered vehicle for a tax credit of up to $6,000. An eligible buyer in that state could stack the available incentives and take home a brand-new Chevy Bolt for a four-figure price tag. Using those same incentives the $7,500 federal tax credit, $7,500 in state credits, and the $6,000 vehicle exchange program strategic Coloradans could theoretically nab a Tesla Model 3 for $14,000. That is, if the company regains eligibility for the list. Turner noted that leased Teslas can still take advantage of the full tax credit, and that Hertz is currently selling off Model 3s from its rental fleet for as low as $20,000. The respective tax credits for qualified buyers could bring costs down to between $13,000 and $18,000, he said, a pretty good deal when a used Toyota Corolla falls in the same price range. Expect more range soon On Thursday, the Biden administration announced $623 million in new grants to fund 47 EV charging projects in 22 states and Puerto Rico. The move was a tacit acknowledgment of the need to upgrade and expand a charging network whose limited extent and reliability have turned off many current and would-be EV drivers. All the early adopters, and all the people that live in big cities with easy access to charging, theyve bought their EVs now, said Yoon. And now the manufacturers have to figure out a way to get the regular people, if you will, to buy the cars. Some have found driving battery-powered cars outside of major metro areas a dicey proposition, given a shortage of chargers in less populated places. But consumers should be optimistic that better charging experiences are coming this year, said Turner. Major automakers struck deals with Tesla last year to gain access to its network of superchargers, which are designed to juice an EV for hundreds of miles after charging for an hour or less. As of last July, the company operated 1,900 supercharging stations with 10 times as many connectors across the country. As part of those deals, Ford and GM will supply EV owners with adapters for the connectors, and theyll start integrating Teslas unique plug with their new models in 2025. All prison guards and administrative employees held hostage by inmates at correctional facilities across Ecuador have now been freed, the national prisons agency said Saturday night. The prisons agency, SNAI, did not specify how many people had been freed but said they were undergoing medical evaluations and it would investigate those responsible for their capture. Earlier on Saturday it had said 133 guards and three administrative employees were still being held after at least 41 were released. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa welcomed the news and congratulated SNAI, the armed forces and the national police for securing their release. The National Police of Ecuador had earlier said that people had been freed from prisons in Esmeraldas city in northwestern Ecuador as well as Tungurahua province on Saturday after mediation by the Catholic church. The agency had also reported an armed confrontation at a prison in the southern region of El Oro between inmates and members of the armed forces and the National Police. One prison guard was killed and another was injured in the facility, SNAI said. The hostage taking at Ecuadors prisons comes amid a wave of violence sweeping the country that has included explosions and kidnappings of police. In a separate incident this week, masked gunmen armed with explosives stormed the set of a live television broadcast. Television anchor Jorge Rendon described the takeover as an extremely violent attack and said that he knew of one person who was shot and another injured by the assailants. The situation has struck fear among many Ecuadorians and the country is living a real nightmare, former President Rafael Correa said in a video shared on social media. Ecuador, home to the Galapagos islands and a tourist-friendly dollar economy, was once known as an island of peace, nestled between two of the worlds largest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia. But instability has been growing in the Latin American country for years. The immediate trigger of the latest incidents was the recent escape of a high-profile gang leader, Adolfo Fito Macias, from a prison in the city of Guayaquil. Fito is the leader of Los Choneros, one of Ecuadors most feared gangs linked to maritime drug trafficking to Mexico and the United States, that also works with Mexicos Sinaloa cartel and the Oliver Sinisterra Front in Colombia, according to authorities. He was sentenced to 34 years in prison in 2011 for crimes including drug trafficking and murder. A state of emergency was declared following his escape. Security forces have struggled to confront prison gangs inside overcrowded facilities, where inmates often take control of branches of the penitentiaries and run criminal networks from behind bars, according to authorities. The search for Fito continues. More than 3,000 police officers and members of the armed forces have been deployed to find him. Authorities have not yet pinpointed the exact time and date that he escaped prison. Presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, who was assassinated at a political rally last year, said he had been threatened by Fito because of his campaign against gang crime and violence caused by drug trafficking. - Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images Before his assassination at a political rally in the capital Quito last August, late presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio revealed he had been threatened by Fito and had been warned against continuing with his political campaign against gang violence. Villavicencio said the country had become a narco state and promised a crackdown on gang crime and corruption that has gripped the country in recent years. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com A mom in Ohio has been accused of faking her daughter's cancer to raise thousands of dollars. The Noble County Sheriffs Office said they arrested and charged Pamela Reed, 41, with theft by deception, a fourth-degree felony. A news release from the sheriff's office said county officials had received information on Jan. 4 regarding a potential theft by deception case. The sheriff's office said the tip was about a local child who had been "publicly portrayed to be fighting cancer," and several local organizations had collected donations to help the family pay for medical treatments. An investigation was launched by the sheriff's office and the Noble County Childrens Services. Investigators were able "to confirm that the child did not have cancer." "They also confirmed that one local organization had donated approximately $8,000.00 to the family to aid in the cancer treatment expenses," the press release said. The sheriff's office did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment but according to the arrest affidavit, Reed went as far as to shave her 7-year-old daughter's head. Daughter did not have cancer The mother allegedly claimed her young daughter suffered from leukemia, seizures, and was blind in her right eye, the affidavit said. Reed also admitted to forging medical documents from her daughter's provider that said her daughter was diagnosed with cancer to her school, according to the affidavit. Police also alleged in the affidavit that Reed lied to doctors to receive seizure medication in her daughter's name. Reed also created a Facebook page where she regularly posted updates and asked for donations. Fox 10 identified the page as "Our Rae of Sunshine - Team Addey Rae." She allegedly told police that "she posted those statements because she liked the support given as a result." Munchausen by proxy: Gypsy Rose marks prison release by sharing 'first selfie of freedom' on social media Reed was arrested on January 8, and taken to the Noble County Jail. According to the news release, Reed admitted during questioning that she had "exaggerated and fabricated medical conditions to receive monetary donations from local organizations." We are extremely proud of the Childrens Services staff along with law enforcement collaborative efforts to quickly act for safety these children. Child abuse and neglect isn't always cut and dry, cookie cutter scenarios. If you as a professional or as a member of our community feel like something just isnt quite right, don't hesitate, make the report. The grit and devotion of this team is inspiring," Sheriff Jason Mackie and Misty Wells Director of Department of Job and Family Services said in a joint statement. A judge set her bond to $50,000. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio mom falsely said her daughter had leukemia to get donations By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) -A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande as they tried to the enter the U.S. from Mexico on Friday night after Texas military officers prevented federal border officials from aiding them, U.S. border officials and a member of Congress said. The deaths come as a dispute over immigration intensifies between Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, and the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, with a record number of migrants having illegally crossed the border since Biden took office in 2021. Under Abbott, Texas has increasingly sought to implement its own border controls, which have historically been the legal domain of the federal government. Officials said the three were attempting to cross the river near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which is not a legal port of entry and is where the Texas National Guard this week added concertina wire and fencing. In a filing in the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, the federal government accused Texas of erecting the new barriers to block federal Border Patrol agents from reaching a boat ramp they use to access the Rio Grande. Responding on Saturday, Texas said federal Border Patrol agents had largely stopped using the boat ramp in recent months and, until Friday's filing, it was "unaware of federal law enforcement's current objections and was working promptly to address them." Federal Border Patrol agents learned around 9 p.m. Central Time on Friday (0300 GMT Saturday) of a group of migrants in distress as they attempted to cross the Rio Grande, according to the statement by U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat. Federal agents, failing to contact Texas officials by telephone, went in person to the Shelby Park entrance to speak to the Texas Military Department (TMD) and the Texas National Guard officials there. "However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants - even in the event of an emergency - and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation," Cuellar's statement said. The Texas military officials "physically barred" U.S. border agents from entering the area and performing their roles of arresting people crossing the border illegally and providing humanitarian aid, said Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks," Miranda said in a statement. "The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrol's enforcement of U.S. law." The bodies of the woman and two children were recovered on Saturday by Mexican authorities, Cuellar said. The identities of the three people have not been made public. "This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility," Cuellar said. The TMD, offering a starkly different account, said it was contacted by Border Patrol around 9 p.m. for a migrant distress situation and a unit in the vicinity of the boat ramp actively searched the river but saw no migrants. When they saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident on their side of the river about 45 minutes later, they ceased search operations after reporting their observations to the Border Patrol, who confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not require additional assistance, the TMD said in a statement. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," the statement said. "Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation." (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Additional reporting by Gokul Pisharody in Bengaluru; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Christian Schmollinger and William Mallard) YEREVAN, JANUARY 14, ARMENPRESS. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, stated on Saturday that when he reviews Azerbaijan's proposals regarding the peace treaty, he sometimes gets the impression that the country is attempting to create a document that legitimizes future wars. PM Pashinyan noted that such an approach is beyond logic. He noted that Armenia offered to withdraw the troops from the border defined by the Alma Ata Declaration, but Azerbaijan refused. Azerbaijan also rejected Armenia's proposal to demilitarize the border zones. "I can make another offer: let's sign an arms control agreement so that Armenia and Azerbaijan reach a concrete agreement regarding arms and have the opportunity to monitor each other in terms of fulfilling these agreements. Of course, this is a new proposal, but if we sincerely want to move towards peace, all these issues can be addressed," Pashinyan noted. Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was deployed east of Taiwan ahead of the countrys election - US ASIA PACIFIC MEDIA HUB/X The United States deployed an aircraft carrier east of Taiwan ahead of a pivotal election that China framed as a decision between war and peace, according to Taiwanese media reports. The voyage of the USS Carl Vinson in Pacific waters close to Taiwan was designed to serve as a deterrent to China, which had warned voters to make the right choice or risk triggering a cross-strait conflict, said Taiwanese defence experts. The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers deployment was meant as a strategic precaution, Shen Ming-shih and Su Tzu-yun from Taiwans Institute for National Defence and Security Research, told the countrys Central News Agency (CNA). The USS Carl Vinson was reported by the Beijing-based South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative to be east of Taiwan after departing the Philippines, where it had been carrying out drills with the Philippine navy. Dr Shen said the US would be able to use the carrier group to closely monitor the movements of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to respond to any possible action in a timely manner. The USS Ronald Reagan, another Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier has also been stationed at Japans Yokosuka naval base since November. Dr Lin Ying-yu, from Tamkang university, told CNA that the aircraft carriers deployment was focussed not only on monitoring PLA movements near Taiwan but also to keep watch on North Korea. North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile towards its eastern waters on Sunday its first test-fire of the year. Taiwans voters on Saturday delivered a clear rejection of Beiijngs territorial claims over their homeland by selecting Lai Ching-te, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as their new president. The victory for the liberal DPP, which champions Taiwans de facto sovereignty and separate identity, signalled an entrenched China-scepticism among the population of 23.5 million people, the vast majority of whom dismiss Beijings unification demands. The crowd cheers at a Democratic Progressive Party rally in Taipei after Lai Ching-te was elected president - LOUISE DELMOTTE/AP Despite its fiery rhetoric ahead of the Taiwanese presidential and parliamentary elections, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) response to the election of a politician it considers a dangerous separatist has been relatively muted so far. Chen Binhua, from Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, claimed the results, where Mr Lai won 40.1 per cent of the vote, could not represent mainstream public opinion and said Beijings national reunification goals remained firm as a rock. On Sunday, the Chinese embassy in Tokyo hit out at the Japanese government after Yoko Kamikawa, the foreign minister, congratulated Mr Lai, calling Taiwan an extremely crucial partner and an important friend. The message had been a serious interference in Chinas internal affairs, the embassy said. Several other democracies, including the US and the UK, congratulated the new Taiwanese president. The elections today are a testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy, said David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary. I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion, he said in a statement. A Chinese jet fighter flies above the buildings on Pingtan Island, the closest point in China to the main island of Taiwan - GREG BAKER/AFP Analysts closely following Taiwan-China relations do not foresee an immediate dramatic military response from Beijing over the poll, but have predicted the CCP will step up economic sanctions and its cognitive warfare against the island, as well as continuing to fly fighter jets close to Taiwanese airspace. The likelihood of an invasion in the next several years is low, said Arthur Ding, from Taiwans National Chengchi University. We know Xi is facing troubles domestically in China. The US also already sent a strong signal to Beijing not to provoke any kind of military operations in the Taiwan Strait, he said, adding that there had been no signs of large-scale logistical operations on the Chinese side. Some experts believe that Beijing may step up pressure on Taiwan around the time of Mr Lais inauguration in mid-May. 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. The British high commissioner to Islamabad, Jane Marriott, visited Mirpur, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on a special one-day trip Upset over the visit of the British envoy in Islamabad to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), India on Saturday registered a strong protest saying such an infringement of Indias sovereignty and integrity is unacceptable. (Twitter@JaneMarriottUK) New Delhi: Upset over the visit of the British envoy in Islamabad to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), India on Saturday registered a strong protest saying such an infringement of Indias sovereignty and integrity is unacceptable. The Indian government said it has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British high commissioner in Islamabad, along with a United Kingdom foreign office official, to PoK on January 10, 2024. Such infringement of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He added that foreign secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra has lodged a strong protest with the British high commissioner, Alex Ellis, in India on this infringement. The Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are, have been and shall always remain an integral part of India, the MEA said in a statement. The British high commissioner to Islamabad, Jane Marriott, visited Mirpur, located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), on a special one-day trip. Salaam from Mirpur, the heart of the UK and Pakistans people-to-people ties! 70 per cent of British Pakistani roots are from Mirpur, making our work together crucial for diaspora interests. Thank you for your hospitality! she wrote on X while posting photographs of her visit. Nitish turns down Convener offer, wants Cong. face New Delhi: After intense deliberations, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was chosen as the chairperson of the Opposition bloc I.N.D.I.A. on Saturday. Leaders of the bloc met virtually and discussed various aspects of the alliance and the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to this newspaper, the CPI secretary general D. Raja said, Several constituents of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc attended the meeting. Kharge was chosen as the chairperson. The discussion was also held on seat sharing, which will soon be confirmed." Meanwhile, JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have turned down the offer to take up the key position of convener of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. A JD(U) leader disclosed that while the proposal to appoint Kumar as convener received unanimous support, he declined the offer and proposed that a credible face from the Congress should assume the key post. "The offer was made, but Kumar suggested that a credible leader from the Congress should take responsibility for the key position," JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha told reporters in Patna after the meeting. Several JD(U) leaders in Patna also highlighted Kumar's past remarks, in which he had expressed "no desire for any post" and emphasised the need for unity among the I.N.D.I.A. bloc in facing the BJP at the Centre. According to sources, the seat-sharing deal among the Mahagathbandhan partners in Bihar is likely to be announced after the Makar Sankranti festival. Today's meeting was attended by representatives from all parties, except for the Trinamul Congress and the Samajwadi Party. During the meeting, Kharge said, "Everyone is happy that the seat-sharing talks are progressing in a positive way. I, along with Rahul Gandhi, invited all I.N.D.I.A. bloc parties to join the "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra". After the meeting, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar talked to the media. Pawar said, "We don't think there is any need to project a face, and we should ask for votes in its name (I.N.D.I.A.). We believe we can give the country an alternative." He further added, "Some leaders suggested that Kharge should be the leader of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. Many agreed to the same. Also, it was suggested that the Bihar Chief Minister should become the convener of the Opposition bloc. However, Kumar refused, saying for now it is not needed." Nadda asserted that the Opposition parties only had a two-point agenda focused on saving their families and properties BJP National President J.P. Nadda speaks during the launch of 'Namo Navmatdata' campaign of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), at party headquarters, in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. (PTI Photo) New Delhi: BJP president J.P. Nadda took a swipe at the Opposition parties who are trying to resolve the seat-sharing issue for the Lok Sabha election by saying it is a virtual alliance that is doing virtual meetings as a mere formality. Nadda asserted that they only had a two-point agenda focused on saving their families and properties. Addressing the meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) to launch 'Namo Navmatdata Abhiyan' aimed at connecting with first-time voters, Nadda highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitment to developing India, empowering the youth, farmers, and women, and eradicating poverty. In contrast, he claimed that the Opposition's primary objective was "removing Modi." Nadda revealed the party's goal of registering 1 crore new voters by January 25, National Voters' Day, coinciding with Modi's address to its members. He took a jab at Opposition leaders, including the late M. Karunanidhi and Parkash Singh Badal, suggesting their concerns about their children's political future. Nadda specifically targeted Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah, and M.K. Stalin. Accusing most Opposition leaders of facing CBI or ED cases, Nadda alleged corruption and misuse of probe agencies. Referring to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he pointed out that both are on bail. Nadda emphasised Modi's transformative politics with the mantra of "sabka saath, sabka vikas," leaving the Opposition without substantial issues. Nadda noted Modi's identification of the poor, youth, farmers, and women as the four biggest castes. He mocked the Opposition, claiming they are unable to decide on issues to raise, as Modi has shifted the conventional approach by focusing on development rather than divisive tactics based on religion and caste. In a veiled criticism of Rahul Gandhi, Nadda mentioned the sudden attention to issues related to the Other Backward Classes, highlighting that it was Modi who worked towards their empowerment. He urged youngsters to stay politically aware, emphasising the importance of understanding what is good and bad in the political landscape. Nadda praised India's youthful population as an asset and a source of energy for the country. He pointed to the rise in the number of IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and other institutions as evidence of the transformation the country has undergone under the Modi government, providing increased opportunities for the youth. Unfortunately for Mr Advani but unsurprisingly for the rest of us, the architect of the partys rise will not be able to lead the ceremony The temple inauguration in Ayodhya closes a chapter in our history that many youngsters wont know about, but the rest of us lived through. It concerns the BJP, the reasons for its rise after four decades of stagnation and the man who elevated and energised it. In the last general election before it merged into the Janata Party, the Jan Sangh under Atal Behari Vajpayee, contesting in alliance with some other parties, won 22 seats. In the four earlier elections, it won only three, four, 14 and 35 seats, and never had a national vote-share of over nine per cent. In its official history, the party describes the last Assembly polls it fought on its own: In the 1972 Assembly elections (in states across India), Jan Sangh went to the polls largely on its own. It fielded 1,233 candidates and won 104 seats with an overall eight per cent votes. In almost all the states it suffered losses. For the first time since its founding, Jan Sangh could not improve upon its earlier performance. The party plateaued, and this became clear when it contested the 1984 general election on its own, winning seven per cent votes and only two Lok Sabha seats. When Lal Krishna Advani took charge of the party in 1986, he had never participated in electoral politics. He had been a journalist in the RSS magazine, where he wrote film reviews. As a politician, Mr Advani was always a nominated member, whether in the Delhi Council or in the Rajya Sabha. He had no experience of mass mobilisation and, going by his autobiography (My Country, My Life) doesnt appear to know how it worked. The Ayodhya issue was actually launched by non-political groups inside the RSS, led by the VHP. At a UP meeting in 1983, Rajendra Singh, who would later become RSS chief, demanded the Babri Masjid be opened to Hindu devotees. In September 1984, the VHP began a campaign against the mosque. It received sufficient public response for the group to claim in 1986 they would forcibly break the locks open. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi succumbed to pressure and his government told the courts there would be no law-and-order problem if this happened. The locks were thus opened and Hindus allowed into the mosque. But the VHP didnt stop with being given access to worship at the site: its goal was the razing of the mosque. In February 1989, at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, the VHP said it would lay the foundation stone for the temple in November. This would involve the making of bricks across the country and their being carried in processions through towns and villages to Ayodhya in November. Till then, Mr Advani wrote, a few BJP members like Vijayaraje Scindia and Vinay Katiyar had participated in the Ayodhya movement in their individual capacity. It was not an issue in mainstream politics. In June, at the BJP national executive meeting in Himachal Pradesh, Mr Advani threw the party behind the issue. The BJP resolution demanded the site be handed over to Hindus and the mosque built at some other place. Elections came a few months later, in November 1989. The BJPs manifesto made its first reference to Ayodhya: By not allowing the rebuilding of the Ram Janma Mandir in Ayodhya, on the lines of the Somnath Mandir built by the Government of India in 1948, it has allowed tensions to rise, and gravely strained social harmony. It was a violation of the BJPs own constitution, that on its first page and opening articles pledged it would bear true faith and allegiance to secularism. A few days before voting, the VHP brought all its processions from across India to Ayodhya and laid the foundation stone next to the mosque. Powered by its divisive, anti-Muslim demand, Mr Advanis BJP won 85 seats, four times as many as the Jan Sangh in the last election it fought alone and over 40 times as many as Vajpayee delivered in his reformed and renamed party. Mr Advani had become the most successful political leader from the RSS and had found the recipe for electoral success. He began to invest more in the issue that brought such dividends. The Congress lost its majority, and a coalition led by V.P. Singh took power with support from Mr Advani, though for only a short period. Three months after the election, in February 1990, the VHP resumed its mobilisation against the mosque and said it would continue the process of what it called kar seva from October. The political escalation, according to Mr Advani, happened by accident. He writes in his autobiography that in June he was to visit London, and before he left, he was interviewed by the editor of the RSS Panchajanya, who asked him what would happen if the government failed to resolve the Ayodhya matter. Mr Advani told him the BJP supported the decision to begin kar seva on October 30, and if it was stopped the BJP would launch a mass movement. Frankly, I had forgotten about this interview, he writes, when his wife telephoned him and asked: What have you said? The papers here have reported it with blaring headlines: On Ayodhya, Advani threatens the biggest mass movement in the history of independent India. Mr Advani adds: The die had been cast. What happened with his rathyatra has been documented. Some 3,400 Indians were killed in the violence, and the polarisation brought the BJP to the doorstep of power. As the temple is inaugurated, unfortunately for Mr Advani but unsurprisingly for the rest of us, the architect of the partys rise will not be able to lead the ceremony and claim credit for his achievement. It is now a recognisable signature of Prime Minister Modi that he does not believe in anything low key. It is difficult to draw a dividing line between Prime Minister Narendra Modis excessive enthusiasm as the Ram Mandir gets consecrated in Ayodhya on January 22, and the preparations being made by the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the Central government-appointed committee to look after the functioning of the temple. The Prime Minister went to Ayodhya on December 30 to inaugurate the international airport, to flag off the Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains from the temple town, preceded by a roadshow where he was showered with flower petals by the crowd. And he had announced projects worth Rs 11,100 crores for the development of the place, and Rs 4,600 crores for projects in other parts of Uttar Pradesh. He has been claiming in his characteristic declamatory manner about the revival of Indias cultural glory by turning the pilgrim centres into star destinations of tourists from India and abroad. Of course, he included Ujjain and Varanasi along with Ayodhya as part of the cultural economic boom. This sense of exultation, bordering on ecstasy, in the speeches and gestures of Prime Minister Modi can be traced to his instinctive grasp of the importance of the Ayodhya temple, which has been a longstanding part of Bharatiya Janata Partys political agenda. And with the Lok Sabha elections barely months away from the inauguration date, the Prime Minister wants the drums to be beaten louder than ever about the temple, and he wants to be seen as closely associated with every aspect of it. He had deputed Nripendra Misra, his confidante and principal secretary, to head the temple construction committee, because he did not want to leave it to any other organisation. The credit for constructing the temple had to be claimed by the Prime Minister. The temple trust is a nominal one till the time of inauguration, a proxy for the Prime Minister, and it is he, through his trusted aides, who is orchestrating the triumphal opening ceremony. Narendra Modi outshines Lord Ram as he leads from the front the preparations for the mega event. It is now a recognisable signature of Prime Minister Modi that he does not believe in anything low key. It has to be as loud as it can be, and he does not feel embarrassed by the fact that he might be overdoing things, or that it can turn out to be crass and vulgar. He is the artist of political bling, leaving behind the big fat Indian weddings and the Bollywood extravaganzas miles behind. To what extent will the constructed and inaugurated Ram Mandir at Ayodhya influence the Lok Sabha polls this summer? Prime Minister Modi wants to turn this into an effective campaign theme, and the razzmatazz he has been creating surrounding Ayodhya is done with this in mind. The BJP has benefited from the Ram temple card in Uttar Pradesh for more than 20 years now. Now that the temple is there at last, will it still fetch votes? Uttar Pradesh has turned into an almost unassailable fortress for the Hindutva party. How much more will the temple card add to the partys kitty? Given that Prime Minister Modi is orchestrating the temple inauguration with a grand political intent shows that the party still wants to play on the sentimental quotient that the temple issue evokes in the state as it is not sure of its achievements on the economic and governance fronts in Uttar Pradesh. This also extends to the other Hindi heartland states, except for Bihar. That after 10 years in power, Mr Modi and the BJP are forced to fall back on the old Ayodhya temple theme should come as a disappointment. But Mr Modi is not too worried about these niceties. He is quite focused on winning the election, and any issue that comes in handy is good enough. The temple issue is as good as any. What is of great curiosity is his idea of turning Ayodhya into a point of revived Hindu national glory and to make it a point of international attention. Here is the inflection point when realism tips into vainglory, and fantasy takes over. This is the natural path of right-wing nationalism that Mr Modi and the BJP, with support from Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, travel, and this is the political cul de sac. The big talk of India riding the two horses of modern technology and antiquated tradition takes a beating because technology is based on science and a certain attitude of mind. It requires that you do not look back but you look forward. A country, a party and a leader who hark back to a glorious irretrievable past, and indulge in talk of the great achievements of the past, cannot be moving towards the future. But the BJP remains deeply anchored in Indias imagined past, and without an understanding of its intellectual treasures, which are of great sustenance. The right-wing worldview is warped because it invokes a past which cannot be reconstructed. The hoopla around the Ram temple in Ayodhya is a desperate attempt to invoke what was a utopia of poet Valmikis imagination, his artistic vision of a tale of human fortune and frailties. To take the Ram story in an unthinking crude manner, one ends up creating a Disneyland of Ayodhya, the small town which had seen its days of glory and honour in the days of the Buddha and the Jain Tirthankaras, of political importance in the late Gupta period. The inability to distinguish between the past and present, of dreams and reality, is the infirmity of the national mind, and it leads to sharp discordance in the day-to-day life of the people. Indians have over the centuries carried their mythology in their minds while leading their life in the present, and did not allow the myth, with its emotional resonances, to come in the way of dealing with daily challenges. The RSS, the BJP and Mr Modi are leading the country on a slippery path where the past glories are being sought to be revived in a kitschy manner, and not allowing the people to lead normal lives. What the mythological past of India transmits is a sense of values, and Indians have lived with those tales and values without having to resort to these acrobatics of theatrical recreation. Australian mining magnate Dr Andrew Twiggy Forrest has unleashed a scathing verbal attack on rival Woodsides fossil fuel expansion off the Western Australian coast. In a 10 minute video provided to Yahoo, the billionaire businessman warned emissions from the energy giant's projects around the Burrup Peninsula risk destroying our own childrens future. Wearing a shirt with the logo of his Minderoo Foundation, Forrest also revealed his scientists had quietly monitored Woodsides controversial offshore seismic testing at the site as he suspects the large underwater blasts could be harming fish and whales. Dr Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest was part of a covert operation that monitored populations of marine species during Woodside's seismic testing. Source: Mindaroo Foundation But it's Woodside's emissions that spark the most scathing language from Forrest. Australia's biggest carbon dioxide bomb... impacting everyone on Earth is how he describes the Scarborough and Browse gas ventures, and the decision to extend the life of its North West Shelf gas project by almost 50 years. If fully realised, they could emit a combined 6.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the environment, according to one estimate. Forrest believes the impact of these Burrup Peninsula projects on the climate was not adequately assessed before they were green-lit. It will become a feeding-fest, a furious zone of oil and gas development completely ignoring what's happened at COP28, he argues. His accusations were rebuffed by Woodside. When approached by Yahoo it pointed a finger back at Forrests own investments in gas distribution. Please ask Mr Forrest why his company Squadron Energy is pursuing the Port Kembla Energy Terminal, it said. Forrest's covert mission to monitor whales in blast zone Whales have evidently been occupying Forrest's mind. While most of us were celebrating with family over the festive season, the iron ore mining magnate turned green-energy investor joined his Minderoo Foundation scientists to covertly monitor the presence of marine life as Woodside completed seismic blasting off the Pilbara coast for its Scarborough gas project. Story continues "This sound shock is impacting life. We don't know the cumulative effect of that impact. It's never been studied," said Forrest, who has a doctorate in marine ecology. Seismic testing is undertaken to detect reservoirs of undersea gas by shooting air at the ocean floor. Some scientists have raised concerns about its impact on marine species as sound travels further and faster underwater. Its believed blasts can at least temporarily impact the hearing behaviour and communication of some cetaceans. And there are concerns they could actually deafen individuals within a kilometre of detonation. Woodside does not agree that its seismic blasts impact marine life. Timing of seismic testing questioned Forrest accused Woodside of trying to jam through seismic tests over the Christmas and New Year period. But Woodside says its ships simply commenced testing the day after approval was given by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) on November 30, and it continued throughout December. Endangered pygmy blue whales migrate close to its blast site, but Woodside submitted analysis to NOPSEMA in October that claimed only one whale had come close, and that it would discharge explosions 25km from their migration path. Despite its stated concerns, Minderoo Foundation has yet to reveal the findings of its own passive acoustic monitoring around the blast site. Woodside's gas hub was constructed on a cultural site on the Burrup Peninsula. Source: Getty Is Forrest's green energy U-turn real? 2023 was likely the hottest in 100,000 years with scientific consensus pointing to the burning of coal and gas as the major reason our climate is changing. Some of Forrest's competitors, who are expanding their extraction of fossil fuels, question what's motivating his attacks on the industry. They note his companies Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) and Squadron Energy have a continued presence in polluting industries. Emissions from FMG were almost 259 million tonnes in 2022, dwarfing Woodside's reported 65 million tonnes. Looking forward, FMG is currently taking a faster pathway to net zero emissions than Woodside, aiming to beat its competitor's 2050 target by a full decade. While Forrest has previously found financial success investing in industries that harm the environment, he now claims to be changing direction and embracing green energies something he was vocal about at the COP28 climate talks. Why Woodside is questioning Forrest's claims Woodside was quick to respond to the outspoken businessman's criticisms of its gas expansion. Woodside supplies energy to domestic and international customers who need it, just as Mr Forrests Squadron Energy is planning to do, it said. Woodside is referring to Squadron Energy's Port Kembla Energy port which is designed to store more than 70 per cent of the gas needed for NSW. Although his company is storing gas to generate power needed for the homes of today, Forrest doesnt believe any new extraction projects should be permitted as they will emit carbon into the atmosphere for decades to come, worsening the climate crisis. He claims his terminal is designed to facilitate gas imports until green hydrogen becomes more widely available. He argues there are over a thousand other industrialists like him who must stop peddling "poisonous energy" and "go green". But instead, what they've done is just amp up what they always have done. And that's oil and gas, he said. So you're getting this furious race to destroy the planet. The first one in before the planet dies is going to make the most money. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. The solemn ceremony in Phan Tieh following the 'paralell' one held on 29 October in Hanoi for Bishop Francois Pallu. The 17th century french missionarieswere the country's first two bishops. They encourgaed the first local priests and the first congregation of nuns in Asia. A symbolic gesture of the vitality of the Vietnamese Church. Phan Thiet (Asianews/Agencies) With an official session followed by a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the presence of 20 thousand people, the diocese of Phan Thiet yesterday officially opened the diocesan phase of the cause of beatification of Msgr. Pierre Lambert de la Motte (1624-1679), the French missionary who in the 17th century was the first bishop of Dang Trong, the southern part of Vietnam. The celebration followed by a few weeks a similar one held in the cathedral of Hanoi on 29 October, for the opening of the canonical trial on the sanctity of Msgr. Francois Pallu (1626-1684), also a pioneer of the Missions etrangeres de Paris, who in the same years was entrusted with the episcopal ministry for Dang Ngoai, the northern part of Vietnam. The official opening of the causes of beatification of the two missionary prelates considered the founding fathers of the Church in the country represents the fulfillment of a desire long cultivated by the bishops of Vietnam. Pierre Lambert de la Motte and Francois Pallu were bishops in times of persecution and both died outside the borders of the country, but with their visits and their concern they sowed a seed that bore fruit, in communities that were able to keep the faith alive despite the many tribulations experienced over the centuries. It is also a significant step in the new climate in relations between the Church and the government of Vietnam: these are the first two causes for the beatification of foreign missionaries promoted by local dioceses. The president of the Vietnamese bishops, Msgr. Joseph Nguyen Nang, archbishop of Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) underlined this in the celebration of October 29th: "We desire a missionary saint - he said - to be able to follow his examples of evangelization and to invoke him to give us pure inspiration and passion for the announcement of the Gospel" . Despite the wounds of history, they want these two Frenchmen to become blessed commented a few weeks ago in an interview with Mondo e Missione Fr. Vincent Senechal, superior general of the Missions etrangeres de Paris -. They are capable of going beyond the criticisms of those who say that Christianity in Asia is the religion of foreigners. They say: they are our bishops, this is the Church." Yesterday the archbishop of Hue, Msgr. Joseph Nguyen Chi Linh, gave the homily remembering how Msgr. Pierre Lambert de la Motte, "despite the fact that he lived only 55 years, of which 19 as a bishop and was able to visit Vietnam only 3 times, he accomplished very important and essential things for the Church in Vietnam". His base was in fact nearby Siam (today's Thailand) where, with the support of the local king, he founded the church of St. Joseph in Ayutthaya and his seminary, which became the base for missionaries in many Asian countries. Having secretly entered Vietnam during a trip there between September 1675 and June 1676, he ordained the first local priests there. He was also responsible for the foundation of the first female congregation in Asia, the Lovers of the Cross. Also present at the celebration was the president of the Episcopal Conference of Thailand, Msgr. Joseph Chusak Sirisut. In fact,given that Msgr. de La Motte died in Ayutthaya, the cause of beatification takes place in Vietnam by virtue of a letter with which, with the approval of the Holy See, the Archbishop of Bangkok transfers canonical jurisdiction to the diocese of Phan Thiet. ECCLESIA IN ASIA IS THE ASIANEWS NEWSLETTER DEDICATED TO CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES IN ASIA. TO RECEIVE A WEEKLY UPDATE EVERY SUNDAY, CLICK HERE. Photo: Garage Kept Motors Dodge also pulled the plug on the old Challenger, so Ford has remained the only player in the muscle car game with the latest Mustang. The next-gen Charger (Dodge's alleged name for their upcoming muscle car) is expected at the end of the year, and GM has yet to announce what the future holds for the Camaro. One thing is certain: the nameplate will return.In the meantime, shoppers can still pick up a brand-new Camaro. And we're not talking about the used car market, although low mileage examples are listed online at any given moment, but dealer lots, which are still stocked up on the discontinued muscle car. This is why the model still appears in multiple configurations on the bowtie brand's official U.S. website.The most affordable grade is the 1LT, with its 335 hp 3.6L V6, from $32,495. The better-equipped 2LT and 3LT start at $34,495 and $38,495, respectively. The LT1 comes from $40,395, bringing a 6.2L V8 with 455 hp. The 1SS and 2SS feature the same lump and carry respective MSRPs of $43,895 and $48,895. The ZL1 tops the range with a 650 horsepower 6.2L supercharged V8, starting at $73,695.But you don't have to pay that much to enjoy a V8-powered Camaro. Well, as long as you're into the older iterations, that is, as you could land one for far less money. And if the first-gen gets your heart racing, then you should check out the pictured example, which is a 1968 model with an open-top view of the sky above that's waiting for summer in the northern hemisphere to give its new owner tan lines on the go.Finished in red and featuring a white rag top above the black interior, this old-timer packs the 327 ci V8. The 5.4-liter mill works in concert with an automatic transmission. The vendor also mentions additional goodies, like the adjustable suspension at the front and rear and the uprated braking system that features cross-drilled discs and slotted rotors on all four corners.What else should you know about it? That it has 54,478 miles (87,674 km) on the clock. You can find this classic muscle car on the Garage Kept Motors website here , with an asking price of $38,900. Sure, that's not a bargain, considering that you could buy a new Camaro for a similar amount. Still, it is an exciting proposal boasting several mods and packing a nice V8 under that long hood. The question is, would you buy it for the sum above? Let us know in the comments area below. Photo: Mecum Auctions The service history dates all the way back to its factory birth and the last significant service was performed in October 2022 by Pocono Sportscar in Shohola, Pennsylvania. This included the usual fluid changes, water pump and seal replacement, belt service, and fresh cam cover seals. All eight spark plugs were also replaced, along with the tensioner bearing, rear cover gasket, and air conditioning belt. Unless you're a gazillionaire, $3.1 million is a stupendous amount of money. That being said, it still comes up short compared to what others paid for another automotive icon. The legendary It was previously owned by three others, and in 2021, it won the Platinum and Best Supercar awards at Cavallino. The prestigious history of this F40 doesn't stop here, no siree Bob. Ferrari North America wanted it to be displayed at the Casa Ferrari during the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance (2021). A classy Italian hand gesture with both hands is warranted.The service history dates all the way back to its factory birth and the last significant service was performed in October 2022 by Pocono Sportscar in Shohola, Pennsylvania.This included the usual fluid changes, water pump and seal replacement, belt service, and fresh cam cover seals. All eight spark plugs were also replaced, along with the tensioner bearing, rear cover gasket, and air conditioning belt.Unless you're a gazillionaire, $3.1 million is a stupendous amount of money. That being said, it still comes up short compared to what others paid for another automotive icon. The legendary 1966 Ford GT40 Mk.I was sold for $6.93 million just a day before the Ferrari F40. For that amount, you can buy almost 45 Plymouth Superbird models from 1970. What makes this model truly special is that it was part of Enzo Ferrari's last dream. Fourteen months before he passed away, when he presented the car for the first time, Enzo Ferrari said: "I expressed my wish to the engineers. Build a car to be the best in the world. And now the car is here."The F40 was the first production car to shatter the 200 mph (321.8 kph) speed barrier. It actually managed to reach 201 miles per hour (324 kph). This was possible due to its mythological-like engineering for that era.The technical RWD marvel with a 5-speed gearbox came with a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine capable of outputting 478 hp (485 ps) with 428 ft-lb or 580 Nm of torque. It also hit the 62 mph mark (100 kph) in 4.1 seconds, with a top speed of 201 mph or 323 kph.Now, the model sold at Mecum Auctions is 1-of-22 F40 units built in 1992. It's also 184th out of 213 made for the US. The odometer says it drove 8,688 miles or 13,982 kilometers, and none of those are shady ones, either. Science isnt fun if we dont try to break or bend its limits, but sometimes this rebellion doesnt work. For instance, we dont make triangular wheels, perforated windshields, or lead pistons for internal combustion engines. Unless, of course, we live in Siberia and suddenly get a wild idea. Welcome to another motoring class conducted by the Garage 54 professors from the Russian Academy of 'Physics Dont Apply to Us.' Photo: YouTube/Garage 54 Photo: YouTube/Garage 54 Photo: YouTube/Garage 54 Photo: YouTube/Garage 54 As any gearhead will impeccably recite, an internal combustion engine requires multiple simultaneous conditions to be met to function correctly. One of those requirements is that the pistons should have the lowest possible mass for reducing vibrations. Thats why the automotive industry relies on lightweight metals (thank you, Aluminum!) whenever possible.Physics states that Force equals Mass times Acceleration. In a reciprocating-pistons assembly, like in any other system where motion is involved, that equation translates into Inertia. The heavier the piston and/or the higher its mass, the stronger the forces will strain the crankshaft. Think of the difference between a diesel engine and a gasoline one. Since the compression ratio is higher in the diesel, the forces exerted on the piston are proportionally larger.The gain of this architecture is higher torque (we wont refer to the connecting rod length here), but the downside is vibration. Well, imagine if someone were to come up with the idea of casting pistons out of lead. This dreaded metal is one dense element, at 11.34 grams per cubic centimeter; its also a formidable neurotoxin, so it was removed from car fuels.And still, the boys from Garage 54 decided to give lead one more shot at automotive greatness. Since the heavy metal is also very malleable and has a relatively low melting point, its reasonably easy to cast into billets. However, carving pistons out of it requires quite a bit of skill and experience precisely because the metal is so soft.The Siberian vloggers from Novosibirsk are in no shortage of either, so their lathe-cut pistons turn out (pun intended) perfectly. (Use the Russian standard of perfection, please).Here are the cold, hard facts: the engine used in this experiment is yet another inline-four gasoline burner from a Soviet Lada. A standard piston traditionally used in this type of motor weighs 405 grams. The Garage 54-issued lead version is five times as heavy: 2,050 grams (thats 4.5 lbs!) thats one helluva banger. Let us now go back to the mathematical formula of Force. Applied to this practical (joke) experiment, it returns a crank stress value five times above the regular operating spectrum of the shaft. And the list of challenges doesnt end there.Due to its reduced hardness, lead will deform easily (take two identical one-foot/30-cm rods, one made of steel, the other of lead. Lets assume theyre both a quarter-inch/6.35 mm in diameter. I promise you will be able to bend the lead one with nothing but your bare hands and minimal effort).You can already see where this is going, right? The con rod pins will easily do the same with the lead pistons, but thats not all there is to this mechanical failed endeavor. The ultra-heavy-pistons engine doesnt start immediately (possibly because of lousy ignition advance). Still, it smokes pistons like jerky when it does.Thats a very toxic literal statement the smoke from the crankcase is thick enough to stick a knife in it, and the engine doesnt last long before refusing to be abused any further. The wrench wizards try again and again to bring it back from the dead (lead?), only to admit defeat.A quick compression test reveals the outcome of overstressing the engines internals: 1, 7.5, 2.5, and 0. The standard value should be a nudge over 9 (thats kilograms per square centimeter, roughly 130 PSI). Im not exactly a rocket scientist, but Im pretty convinced that zero has the same meaning regardless of what measurement system is used to express it.What could be the possible cause that would lead to this anomaly? Thats exactly it the lead in the pistons. The heavy metal quickly gave in to heat, friction, and tensile and compressive forces, and two of the pistons have effectively morphed from flat-top, low-compression into ultra-high-compression pistons withtall domes and valve reliefs.The wrist pins on the connecting rods have simply pushed through the piston, forcing the top into a high dome that smacked the valves. The soft metal became even softer at the temperatures inside the chamber, and you can see what happened to it in the video below.The mutilated pistons engulfed the compression rings, which scraped the lead, leaving a good tablespoon of chips on the bottom of the oil pan. Had the pistons held their own during the trial by fire , the engine would have probably disintegrated from the intense vibration. That, or the crank would have simply quit its job and broke free. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. 14 January 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Abbas Ganbay Read more Informative and lengthy interview of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev emphasises his desire to achieve peace in the South Caucasus. Reaction of jealousy and panic travelled in a wave through the information field of Armenian society, which has long been in the hands of manipulators of the separatist clan. During an interview with local media journalists, the President of Azerbaijan touched upon the issue of the eight occupied villages by Armenia and their return to Azerbaijan, where he also said that the next meeting of the commissions on delimitation of the borders of the Gazakh-Tovuz region is scheduled for January 2024. "This issue is also being discussed during my contacts with the Armenian Prime Minister, including during the conversation "on the feet" in St. Petersburg I raised this issue. It is also on the agenda of the Delimitation Commission. I must also say that the next meeting of the Delimitation Commission is scheduled for this month and there will be one topic: the issue of delimitation of this region, the Gazakh-Tovuz region," said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during the interview. Peace treaty process between Armenia and Azerbaijan depends on the will and desire of these sides to achieve it, excluding use of violence and manipulation against each other. However, there are some "forces" in Armenia that stick to decisions from the position of fear and personal gain and push others to revanchist ideas. "Each side approaches the peace treaty from different positions, where the Armenian one is to create maximum security guarantees for itself. In the three years since the end of the Second Garabagh War, one of Armenia's objectives has been to leave the issue of the Armenians of Garabagh in limbo." Political analyst Farhad Mammadov, in his comment to Azernews about the mentioned issue, noted that currently Armenia does not see a separate option in realizing the peace treaty, especially since it attaches importance to the opening of borders with its western neighbour, Turkiye. According to him, Armenia does not even address the issue of Garabagh Armenians in the terms of the peace agreement. "The main provision of the peace agreement is the issue of security. On the other hand, Armenia considers the restoration of relations with neighbouring Turkiye a priority for itself. Therefore, the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is inevitable," the expert emphasized. The expert also says that he is hopeful that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will lead to a certain level of stability, where the normalisation of relations and its transition to cooperation is expected to take a long period of time. "With the Turkish side in the very near future, Armenian relations will also lead to co-operation and its interactions. I think that this is the main position of Armenia. Azerbaijan's proposal not to burden the peace treaty with difficult to resolve issues of unblocking communications or defining some principles and framework of the delimitation and demarcation commission, this proposal of Azerbaijan should be accepted in principle," F. Mammadov added. The political analyst points out that peace is actually not that far from reach. However, the forces preventing this, especially the revanchist groups existing in the West, are constantly trying to push Armenia out of its line. For example, despite the fact that one of the principles of the peace agreement is the opening of the Zangazur corridor, the Armenian side shows mysterious hesitation on this issue. However, the territory of Zangazur was historically open and, like the territory of Azerbaijan, it was a land connecting Nakhchivan and Eastern Zangazur. Even Azerbaijani President said, recalling that in 1918 the city of Yerevan, after the Sovietisation of Zangazur, was transferred to Armenia, and during the Soviet years this process continued, and the last land transfer was carried out in May 1969. That's why some forces in Armenia and its patrons want to use the 1970s maps as a basis for determining borders. According to expert Farhad Mammadov, Armenians are just trying to turn the invalid decisions of the former Soviet Union into a flag in their hands. "As for the borders, there is some fetishisation of the 1975 maps. Or you see, the Armenians deny this and say that there were no certain borders from 1975 to 1989. In other words, they reject the idea that borders exist by expressing refuting opinions," he said. The Azerbaijani political analyst also touched on the issue of the return of enclaves belonging to Azerbaijan remaining in the Armenian territories in the direction of Gazakh and Tovuz within the framework of border delimitation and demarcation. Recall that. During his interview with local television, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that he will return to this issue next month. However, another obstacle in the middle is the influence of the West on Armenia. Given the fact that Western European countries are getting closer and closer to Armenia, where France is an example, there is a probability that Armenia will try to protract process of delimitation of Gazakh-Tovuz region with Azerbaijan in January. Farhad Mammadov added in conclusion that the decision within the framework of the commission on delimitation is first of all a political decision. "Because if we look at this particular section (of the Gazakh-Tovuz region) there are enclaves, i.e., 8 occupied villages by Armenia. This can be the beginning of decision-making on this region, it can also be the laying of the foundation for this process. As for the West, well, if the West "sincerely" wants to help Armenia, ensure its security, supply weapons and show 200 European men and women running around with binoculars is the most they can do, it is better to agree with Azerbaijan, and quickly carry out the process of delimitation and demarcation," the expert concluded. --- Abbas Ganbay is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @Noend33 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 17:41 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more The political structure in Armenia is suffering from such a complexity that it is difficult to predict the stability of the internal situation. Nikol Pashinyan's re-election as Prime Minister after a heavy defeat in 2020 was not convincing to majority, but it happened again by fluke. However, in the internal structure, it seems that anger against Pashinyan's administration has not cooled yet. It is a matter of the religious sections of Armenia, i.e. the representative of the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Archbishop Arshak Khachatryan's inability to forgive Pashinyan for the defeat. Arshak Khachtryan blames Pashinyan for political instability and notes that if he had handed over the post of the current prime minister to someone else, maybe Armenia would not have lost its "artsakh", that is, the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan. Of course, if we approach through certain calculations we may disagree with Khachatryan at some point. First of all, the Azerbaijani army was much stronger and prepared compared to Armenia, and secondly, the main reason why Armenia could not keep Garabagh under siege for a long time is that the country is closed to giant economic relations with neighboring countries (except for Iran and Georgia). It should be taken into account that Armenia's eastern neighbor, that is, Azerbaijan, has been participating in large-scale projects that have gained influence up to the borders of Europe in thirty years. Armenia has almost deprived itself of this. If we say that the main arsenal of Armenia is made up of Russian weapons, this would be a bit of a pity for Armenia. Of course, weapons and support donated by the West, especially France, as well as India, cannot be excluded here. But is the defeat of Armenia only related to armament? That is, does Khachatryan's blaming Pashinyan agree with the truth? The Armenian cleric believes that if someone other than Pashinyan was in power, he could at least ensure Armenia's stay in Garabagh, even if he/she could not lead Armenia to complete victory. So the issue is not only about weapons and war. It is clear from Khachatryan's statements that religious leaders in Armenia are mostly engaged inviting the masses to extreme revanchism and hostility by influencing the mentality. During the Second Garabagh War back in 2020, when Armenian soldiers threw down their weapons and tried to run, it became clear that the masses were fed up with the hypothetical propaganda of the government. It is impossible to think realistically and instill the concept of the homeland into the brains of the masses by appropriating someone else's territory. For this reason, it became necessary to act on the factors that can have a greater impact on the masses in the country. Etchmiadzin does not want to admit the reality under any circumstances, and therefore the visit of the Catholicos to the West can be a continuation of this war. The Armenian PM understood that the Armenian Apostolic Church is now his main opponent, because the opposition is virtually non-existent and has no power, so he did not allow the Catholicos' Christmas address on television, knowing that it would criticize the authorities for recognizing Garabagh as part of Azerbaijan. The Armenian Catholicos, in turn, calls the territory of Azerbaijan a "betrayal" to the Armenians of the world. This is the main foundational principle of the next obstacle on the way to the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews Deputy Editor-in-Chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 12:37 (UTC+04:00) In 2023, Azerbaijan entered the top three countries supplying the most lumber from Belarus, Azernews reports. Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE) of this country informs that companies from Azerbaijan, China and Russia provided 72% of the total volume of export operations with lumber products of Belarus in physical terms. In general, compared to 2022, the export of lumber from Belarus almost doubled to 1.4 million cubic meters. The buyers were companies from 17 countries. It was reported that these figures are expected to be even higher in 2024. It was noted that already in the first days of January of this year, targeted transactions with companies of Azerbaijan, Russia and Uzbekistan were registered. The total amount of the contracts was more than 1.2 million USD. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 21:21 (UTC+04:00) Nigar Hasanova Read more The volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau amounted to 3.376 million tons from January through 2023, which is 1.108 million tons more than the same period in 2022, Azernews reports. KazTransOil JSC (an oil pipeline company of the Republic of Kazakhstan that provides services for transporting oil to the domestic market, for transit purposes, and for export)informed about this. Thus, the increase in the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau is due to an increase in the volume of raw materials shipped in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, from 250,000 tons to 1.392 million tons, which is 5.5 times more compared to the same period in 2022. In particular, 1.057 million tons of oil were shipped from the Tengiz field. In addition, in the reporting period, 1.984 million tons of oil were shipped from the port of Aktau towards the port of Makhachkala. In 2022, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered to increase the volume of oil transportation along the Trans-Caspian corridor. In accordance with this instruction, KazMunayGas JSC (Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) and the state oil company of the Republic of Azerbaijan SOCAR entered into an agreement providing for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil per year from the Tengiz field in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Previously, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said that deliveries via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline from Kazakhstan will amount to 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023. "Every month, Azerbaijan receives from 12 to 14 tankers transporting Kazakh oil. This is a satisfactory development. The initial agreement between the parties provided for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil this year. However, given that deliveries began in April this year, we will be able to transport 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023," he said. KazTransOil JSC is the Kazakhstan's national operator of the main oil pipeline. It is part of the KazMunayGas JSC group. KazTransOil JSC owns a diversified network of main oil pipelines 5.4 thousand km in length. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz An Aussie mum has hit out at Officeworks over the excessive packaging of her children's booklist order after receiving 38 items delivered in 23 boxes. The woman asked Facebook group followers of the Mum of Boys Australia page to "explain the logic" behind the packaging after she submitted her children's back-to-school supplies list. "Could someone please tell me the logic behind Officeworks' delivery system? I ordered my kids booklists for the year and this is how it was delivered," she said, sharing an image of the stack of cardboard cartons. The delivery of 28 boxes for 38 items from Officeworks. Source: Facebook. The post sparked hundreds of responses from other online shoppers who were also "fuming" after receiving their small online orders in several large boxes. Mate, dont get me started, one commenter said after receiving a small packet of 12 pencils in a medium-sized box. Another follower said the box to contents [ratio] is always off these days". Several people suggested it may have happened due to the items being delivered from several warehouses, but the woman confirmed they were all sent from the same store, with the same delivery stickers on each box. Others suggested it's happening because more retailers are using artificial intelligence, and machines to pack orders in their warehouses. Officeworks responds, blames technical fault An Officeworks spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the company has isolated the incident to their Perth Customer Fulfilment Centre and say it was due to a technical fault. "We are working to rectify this with our supply chain teams to ensure minimal materials are used when packing orders," the spokesperson said. "We are sorry to hear of this customers recent online delivery experience. At Officeworks, we want everyone to have an enjoyable shopping experience with us whether it be shopping in store or online and we are disappointed that on this occasion, this did not occur. Story continues "Additionally, at Officeworks, we take our environmental impact very seriously. We have been working towards more sustainable packaging solutions for our products for several years, and this commitment continues to be a strong focus area across our business. Retailers slammed for excess packaging Officeworks isn't the only retailer to come under fire over excessive packaging and waste. A Sydney Mum hit out at retail giant Kmart, after they sent one bath bomb in a box so large, several plastic air pockets were included to cushion it. Many have also called out Amazon for using huge boxes for one or two small items. Many people have criticised Kmart for excessive packaging. Supermarkets have also been slammed for their excessive plastic use on fruit and vegetables. Customers urged the big chains to do better when it came to their sustainability practices and not wrap so many items in single-use plastic. Australia's waste issues According to Accumulate Australia, the average Aussie discards 130 kilograms of plastic per year. That equates to 20,000 plastic bags, 7000 plastic water bottles or the weight of three bar fridges. Shockingly only 12.4 percent of all waste is recycled. LucentGlobe, two brothers on TikTok who want to change our habits when it comes to waste, say the amount of plastic waste Australia produces could fill the MCG nine times. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. 14 January 2024 10:40 (UTC+04:00) During January-December 2023, the total export of Azerbaijan amounted to 33.9 billion dollars, and the export in the non-oil sector increased by 9.8 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2022 and amounted to 3.3 billion dollars, Azernews reports. Referring to the January issue of the Export Review prepared by the Trend Center for Analysis and Communication of Economic Reforms, it is reported that during January-December of last year, the export of food products amounted to 928.2 million dollars. During that period, the export of electricity increased by 3.3 times, the export of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages by 1.9 times, the export of plastic and products made from it by 19.3 percent, the export of ferrous metal products by 13.3 percent, and the export of fruits and vegetables by 8.7 percent. increased. During the past year, the statistical value of the joint export of agricultural and agro-industrial products increased by 6.2 percent and amounted to 969.2 million dollars. The value created by agro-industrial products, which occupies a significant place in the composition of non-oil and gas exports, increased by 3.2 percent compared to the corresponding period of last year and amounted to 201 million dollars. Non-oil exports in December of last year increased by 3.8 percent and amounted to 314.3 million dollars. Exports of food products amounted to 106.6 million dollars with an increase of 0.9 percent, and exports of non-food products amounted to 207.7 million dollars with an increase of 5.4 percent. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 11:48 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijan supports the one China policy, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Azernews reports. "Azerbaijan does not recognize the independence of Taiwan and condemns conducted elections. Azerbaijan is against the interference in China's internal affairs," the statement said. On January 13, Taiwan, which Beijing considers one of the provinces of the People's Republic of China, held elections for the head of the administration and members of the island's parliament. The current deputy head of administration, representative of the Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te, won the elections - he received 40.05% of the votes. Chinese authorities said Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party does not represent public opinion. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 15:12 (UTC+04:00) The heart of Iran's economic relations with neighboring countries, including Azerbaijan, is transport and transit. According to Azernews, Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan Sayed Abbas Mousavi said this in a meeting with the governor of Iran's Gilan province, Asadullah Abbasi . The diplomat says that in this framework, the current government of Iran is trying to develop relations with neighboring countries. The ambassador added that against the background of the relations between Iran and Azerbaijan, the transport infrastructures of Iran's Gilan province should be upgraded to meet their potential. He noted that conditions have been created for trade exchanges between Iran and Russia in the field of roads and railways through Azerbaijan. Thus, over the past year, 700,000 tons of products were exported from Iran to Russia via the Astara railway. It should be noted that according to the statistics of the Iranian Customs Administration, during the 9th month of the current Iranian year (March 21 - December 21, 2023), Iran exported 583 thousand tons of non-oil products worth $380 million through Astara Customs, and imported products to Iran worth $144 million 118 thousand tons, and product transit was 559 thousand tons. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 16:24 (UTC+04:00) In the liberated areas, the Engineer Troops of the Azerbaijan Army, in interaction with other government agencies, ensure that the service roads of our units serving in difficult terrain and mountainous areas are kept in working condition by clearing the snow cover. According to Azernews, the press service of the Ministry of Defense said that the necessary measures for engineering support are being implemented in order to ensure a high level of service-combat activity of the units deployed in difficult terrain and mountainous areas in any weather conditions, as well as to ensure the safe and uninterrupted movement of convoys of vehicles and military. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) German carmaker Mercedes-Benz delivered about 765,000 vehicles to customers in China last year, with the annual deliveries of pure electric models more than doubling, the company said in a press release on Thursday, Azernews reports, citing Xinhua. The company's high-end luxury product matrix sustained rapid growth, with the Mercedes-Maybach and the G-class achieving annual growth of 21 percent and 22 percent, respectively. To enhance the e-mobility experience of Chinese consumers, Mercedes-Benz supercharging stations have been put into operation in the cities of Chengdu, Foshan, Qingdao, Chongqing, Kunming, Wuhan, Suzhou and Changzhou. Its public charging service now covers nearly 590,000 public charging piles in more than 340 cities across China. According to Oliver Britz, executive vice president of sales for Beijing Mercedes-Benz Sales Services Co., Ltd., Mercedes-Benz will bring more than 15 new models to Chinese customers this year, covering multiple driving modes and multiple product matrices. The company's local R&D network now covers Beijing and Shanghai, with 2,000 people in the R&D team. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 14 January 2024 22:46 (UTC+04:00) The US president's special envoy on climate change, John Kerry, will step down this winter and help Joseph Biden campaign, Azernews reports citing foreign media. It was noted that he is currently working with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zayents on leaving his post in the coming months - by spring. 80-year-old Kerry believes that the re-election of Biden as the head of state will be the most important step for progress on climate issues both in the country and around the world. Kerry is a former secretary of state and former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, but lost to George W. Bush. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Under the cover of Covid, and now in the shadow of the infamous Election Irregularities of that fated 2020 presidential election, with current emerging alleged election fraud in Nevada and Pennsylvania inconveniently slipping into the public discourse, there is proved a colluded ongoing Election Interference in the nomination of the Republican candidate, the likes of which has never occurred in our Constitutional Republic's history, albeit, the question remains: Do you support the plain-sight Election Interference of the Democratic Socialist party, employing its minions in their Propagandistic Media, and their Two Tiered Justice System? 98.28% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.72% Yes, I do support Election Interference; the alternative, Donald Trump, to this mentally diminished president is far worse.0% "What, me worry" if elections are rigged? Australians looking to cool off have enjoyed a close encounter with a stingray with one beachgoer sparking debate about how to act around the potentially harmful creatures after he was filmed intentionally diving down behind it. A clip of the moment shows a number of swimmers near the edge of the water below a jetty as the stingray swims around, just metres from the people. While most appear apprehensive and keen to keep their distance, one man does the exact opposite. The video was posted to Facebook by a fisherman on the NSW south coast who told Yahoo News Australia the footage was sent to him. It's understood to have been taken at Bawley Point in NSW. The stingray was filmed cruising around the crowded fishing spot. Source: Facebook "Let's get killed by a stingray ... These things are dangerous and should never be taken for granted," he said when sharing the video. Others online were quick to agree. "If he only had a brain," one person chided. "Natural selection at its finest," another commented. However many were quick to defend the swimmer, calling many people "childish" for their condemning comments. "Oh please, calm down. I was there that day ... and that big ray was cruising around all the time - completely unperturbed by everyone. I've dived with them hundreds of times, hand fed them often, and love being in the water with them," one person responded. "I was there that day ... that ray was swimming back and forth while people were jumping. He never once tried to grab it or hold on he was simply swimming behind it," another said. The swimmer's actions divided viewers. Source: Facebook Are stingrays actually dangerous? The video comes just weeks after a man was rushed to hospital after a suspected stingray attack at a beach in Sydneys eastern suburbs. However, in part thanks to the death of wildlife icon Steve Irwin from a stingray, the animals have arguably earned an unfair reputation. Stingray-caused deaths are actually very rare, according to Jaelen Myers, visiting marine ecology researcher at Queensland's James Cook University. Story continues Stingrays rarely act aggressively, she says, and while all all stingrays are rays, not all rays are stingrays. "The barb is the only part of a stingray you should be wary of. Since it is located close to the base of the tail on most species, the rest of the tail and the body are harmless to touch," she wrote recently. "You're only in barbing range if you stand nearly on top of their bodies, but they usually shuffle away long before you get that close." Like most animals, when stingrays feel threatened they may react defensively by jerking their tail. Most such injuries occur in the shallows when people are stung on the foot or ankle which will vary in severity and pain degree but aren't typically life threatening. When it comes injuries caused by marine life, a 2017 report found that between 2013 and 2016 there had been 116 incidents involving stingrays in NSW, second only to bluebottles. Deaths from stingrays, although rare, do happen. In 2018, a 42-year-old man died of a heart attack after being stung while swimming in Tasmania. Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories. By Star Parker This year, 2024, marks the 60th anniversary of the signing into law of the landmark 1964 Civil Rights Act. Soon we observe the national day set aside to note and honor the leader of the movement that led to that act becoming law: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We must ask how, after 60 years, with vast changes in the world, with developments in technology unimaginable 60 years ago, that we remain obsessed with race. How is it that claims of racism, injustice and unfairness persist like nothing happened? Indeed, data suggest that Black Americans, on average, still lag behind economically. The Federal Reserve recently published its Survey of Consumer Finances showing that average Black family income is 43% that of White families. In 1989, it was 42%. Average Black household net worth now is 15.6% that of White households. In 1989, it was 17.8%. The deterioration of traditional religious values in the country has taken a toll on all American families, but proportionally more on Black families. Per the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, in 2022, 43% of Black children lived in a two-parent home down 26.5% from 1970. Among White children, 75.6% lived in a two-parent home, down 15.5% from 1970. America today is a far different country than the one where King led the Civil Rights Movement. The language King used to lead and animate his movement was the language of the Bible. He spoke as a pastor. But in 1965, according to Gallup, 70% of Americans said religion is "very important" in their life. In 2023, 45% of Americans say religion is "very important" in their life. In the last speech of his life, in 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, King spoke about "injustice," that "we are God's children." He spoke about not being afraid of death, that "I just want to do God's will," and then spoke those famous words that he'd been "to the mountain top" and that he'd seen "the promised land." "I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord." Can anyone imagine a leader of a major political or social movement today speaking this way? Over these 60 years since the Civil Rights Act became law, courts took the Bible and prayer out of public schools, legalized abortion and changed our legal understanding of what defines marriage. The godless socialism of DEI diversity, equity, inclusion has replaced good and evil as our perspective on social justice. As we have purged religion and replaced it with politics, we have lost the core of a religious worldview. There is good and evil, and the Creator gave to each individual free choice and personal responsibility to choose. Without this, the freedom we allegedly care so much about has little meaning. Government has become our new religion. In 1964, federal spending took 17.3% of our GDP. Today it takes 24.4%. In 1964, gross federal debt equaled 46.2% of our GDP. Today it equals 119.8%. It is an unfortunate quirk of history that the Civil Rights Movement, led by a Black Christian pastor, reached its peak at the moment when Americans decided to start banishing the Bible from our culture. A movement informed by good and evil and personal responsibility has been replaced by politics, interest groups and victimhood. The community most hurt by the purge of personal responsibility that defines individual freedom is the one that started out the weakest and the greatest victim of our moral failures. Without a new birth of faith, we for sure will not have a new birth of freedom in America. The whole nation and our future are in danger. And the weakest, those whom the socialists claim to care the most about, will suffer the most. Upland, Pa.-based Crozer-Chester Medical Center's surgical residency program's accreditation has been removed by the ACGME, with the program needing to close by Jan. 12. The program, which had 15 filled resident positions, has been withdrawn "under special circumstances" on ACGME's website. ACGME's policies and procedures list states that its review committee can withdraw a sponsoring institution or program's accreditation in the event of "a catastrophic loss of resources, including faculty members, facilities, or funding" or "egregious non-compliance with accreditation requirements." "We were notified by the ACGME that our surgical residency program needed to close by Friday. We are working with the ACGME and are awaiting additional details," Tony Esposito, CEO of Springfield, Pa.-based Crozer Health, told Becker's in a statement. The ACGME cannot share details on accreditation decisions apart from what is on their website, a spokesperson for ACGME told Becker's in a statement. Lorraine Kelly presents the show, which will be guest edited this week by members of the public (PA) Daytime TV show Lorraine will hand over editorial control to members of the public. Retired Welsh teacher Jonathan and Brighton grandmother and carer Suzie were selected as guest editors for the YouRaine episode on Tuesday. Presented by Lorraine Kelly, this is the first time the programme has handed over the reins to viewers, according to ITV. Guest Lorraine editors from left, Jonathan, Suzie, Ellin and Lesley with Lorraine Kelly (ITV) Kelly said: We make the show for you (the viewers) so it makes sense to let you decide what to put on the show. Ive loved meeting our guest editors and cant wait to see what they come up with. Also among the guest editors is retired magistrate, Ellin from Stevenage in Hertfordshire. The 69-year-old wants to cover topics which encourage senior women that they are still valuable and beautiful in mind and body and can still have aspirations. Similarly, Suzie a 63-year-old semi-retiree who cares for her father and husband and used to work in retail wants more focus on glamorous fashion for older women. Another editor Lesley, 62, a Glaswegian former dermatology nurse that has since gone into British Airways customer support, wants the show to look at clothes for petite women. Victoria Kennedy, Lorraine editor, said: This is the first time weve ever handed the entire hour of our air time over to our viewers every topic we cover has been hand-picked by them, from showbiz news stories to health and consumer issues. Theyve already come up with so many brilliant ideas, its going to be a great show. Jonathan, Suzie, Ellin and Lesley with the film crew on Lorraine (ITV) Guest editor Jonathan, 53, from Barry in South Wales, said he wants more focus on the show for mens fashion and wellbeing and enjoys Kelly interviewing celebrities. On Tuesday, Financial Times consumer editor Claer Barrett, fashion journalist Mark Heyes, Dr Amir Khan and presenter Davina McCall will be in the studio as health, consumer affairs, showbiz and fashion are discussed. As fashion was the main topic from the four guest Lorraine editors, McCall talked to former Glamour editor Jo Elvin before the series about when you hit midlife you feel invisible. She said: I felt that particularly when it came to lingerie, we were served a fairly drab, rather boring, rather mumsy set of underwear. Whereas I think, self-love happens with your lingerie. Its the first thing you put on, its the thing that you know youre wearing. Its not for someone else. Its the thing thats going to put a pep in your step. YouRaine airs on Tuesday from 9am on ITV1 and ITVX and Lorraine airs weekdays. Kevin Conway was shot multiple times in his west Belfast home on Tuesday night Requiem Mass has been held for murder victim Kevin Conway in his hometown of Lurgan. Mr Conway (26) was shot multiple times in his west Belfast home on Tuesday night. Mr Conway was a well-known enforcer and debt collector for the Co Armagh-based drugs gang known as The Firm. Family and friends of the father-of-two gathered at St Peters Church in Lurgan for his funeral mass, after which he was buried in St Colmans Cemetery. Mourners, some wearing Liverpool FC jerseys, flanked the hearse carrying his coffin as it made its way to St Peters Church on Sunday. Mr Conway was well known to police and was out on bail accused of another gangland murder linked to The Firm. He was shot dead almost a year to the day after his alleged victim, Shane Whitla, was also gunned down in Lurgan. He was one of three men charged in relation to Mr Whitlas murder, which took place on January 12 last year, and it was alleged in court in July that he had lured the victim to his execution. Prosecutors have claimed Mr Whitla was killed over a suspected drug debt to The Firm. It has also emerged that the west Belfast property where Mr Conway lost his life last week had been targeted in August last year. The Rossnareen Park area had been sealed off as an army bomb disposal unit examined a suspicious object which was later declared a viable device. A reward of up to 20,000 has been offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and convictions of those who murdered Mr Conway. PSNI Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said last week that Mr Conway was brutally murdered in his own home. He was shot multiple times and was, sadly, pronounced dead at the scene, she added. This barbaric murder has left behind a loving family who are absolutely heartbroken. A notice from Mr Conways family said he was the dearly beloved son of Bridie and the late Kevin and much-loved brother of Lynsey, Victoria and Maria. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the murder. In 1998, Mr Conways father, Kevin Conway Snr (30), was also shot dead. He was found in a derelict farmhouse near the village of Aghalee, Co Armagh. Its understood one possible link being examined by police is to a gun attack at the home of leading dissident Colin Duffy. The Sunday Life reported that the murder victim is believed to have been involved in an attack where two shots were fired through the window of the republicans house in the Forest Glade area of Lurgan in 2019. Detectives are now examining whether this was the catalyst for Mr Conways murder in the Andersonstown area six days ago, with an insider saying: It would be a hypothesis that we are looking at an early stage of an investigation of this nature. Conway Jnr had a deep hatred for Duffy, whom he blamed for killing his father, it was reported. The Provisional IRA abducted Conway Snr, who was babysitting his then three-month-old son, from a house in the Kilwilkie estate. Two days later at a farmhouse in Aghalee his body was found tied up and with a bullet wound to the head. Duffy has always denied involvement in any crime. Dissidents are understood to have used this as one of the reasons to gun down Conway Jnr. There is no suggestion Duffy was involved in killing the 26-year-old, whose death is being viewed as republicans laying down a marker to drugs gangs. The Conway murder is republicans saying to The Firm and other armed drugs gangs: These are the consequences if you target republicans, said a source. These are the same people who shot up Duffys house. They have been threatening republicans in Lurgan, and other drug dealers have been doing the same in Belfast. Well, that wont be happening any longer. And if it does, these are the consequences. Conor McGregor and Michael Conlan among those to donate in aid of Ryan Curtis Leah McCourt has launched a Go Fund Me page to raise funds towards the recovery of fellow fighter Ryan Curtis Conor McGregor has donated 25,000 to a fundraiser run by Belfast mixed martial artist Leah McCourt in aid of a stricken fighter. Irish fighter Ryan Curtis was hospitalised after suffering life altering injuries during a training session on Thursday. After suffering a broken back, broken neck and dislocated spine, Curtis currently has no movement in his legs and left arm. The featherweight fighter - who has a two-year-old daughter - is currently in the intensive care unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital after undergoing surgery for his injuries. Since going live on Saturday night the fundraising page has received more than 1,300 donations, raising over 70,000 towards Curtiss treatment. Irish UFC star McGregor has donated 25,000 towards the campaign a quarter of its 100,000 target. Leah McCourt has launched a Go Fund Me page to raise funds towards the recovery of fellow fighter Ryan Curtis He also sent a message to the stricken fighter on social media. Very sad news on Curta, McGregor wrote on his Instagram story. The game isnt worth the risk. Truth we dont want to speak on. Thank God for your little family Curta, keep them tight and God bless brother, get better will you! Belfast boxer Michael Conlan and renowned MMA coach Paul Rimmer have all also donated. McCourt released a statement giving details on Curtiss injuries. She said: During this injury, trauma was also caused to Ryans spinal cord. The damage is classified as the most severe that can happen to a spinal cord. He was rushed to the Royal in Belfast and underwent emergency surgery. Currently Ryan has no movement in his legs or his left arm. The road ahead is unknown and will involve at least five months of him in hospital, followed by a further period of time with a specialist spinal team. There is no exact end date to when this treatment will be complete. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content McCourt said that despite the life-changing injuries which mean Curtis will no longer be able to fight or train in MMA again, he is maintaining a positive outlook. He is still showing his positive outlook, his determination and mindset to overcome yet another challenge that life has presented, she continued. Its times like this we thank God for the team of family and friends we have around Emma, Ryan and Kassia. The outpouring of love and support is a testament to who Ryan is as a human and how many peoples lives he has made better by simply knowing him. Ryan will never be able to do what he loves, and fight or train in MMA again. A sport he has dedicated his life to from the age of 11. Ryan will be out of work for the foreseeable future and we are trying to take any additional load or stress of Ryans family and daughter by creating a page to raise some funds to help towards rehabilitation, vital treatment, recovery and supporting his family. MMA coach Ross Edmonds said it was horrible news, adding that his thoughts were with Curtis. He posted on social media: Ryan Curtis is a fighter through and through. Im heartbroken for him. Went to training like he would every day and the worst happened. Im thinking of Ryan, his family and team. Were all with you Ryan. Shelley Spiers met Glengormley contender Glenn Wilkinson who made light work of the Gladiators at King's Park Primary School in Lurgan. Rebecca Davidson cherishes the day she came face-to-face with Cobra in Fairview Primary School in Ballyclare. Gladiators fans in Northern Ireland continue to share memories of meeting the original cast when they visited schools across the region back in the 1990s. It comes after six million viewers tuned into BBC One on Saturday night to watch the second reboot of the competition show. Rebecca Davidson (above) cherishes the time she came face-to-face with Cobra in Fairview Primary School in Ballyclare, Co Antrim. Former Ballyhome Primary School pupil Rachel Robinson will never forget the day Ace came to Bangor in Co Down. Former Ballyholme Primary School pupil Rachel Robinson remembers 'Ace' day in Bangor. Despite not being the biggest fan of the pumped up action show, Shelley Spiers is thankful to have been a part of the 90s craze when she was a pupil at King's Park Primary School in Lurgan. "We had someone from the Gladiators visit us, she said. I'm not really sure who he is!". Shelley Spiers met Glengormley contender Glenn Wilkinson who made light work of the Gladiators at King's Park Primary School in Lurgan. The teacher, who now works at the Co Armagh school, is looking forward to bragging about her brush with fame on Monday. "My pupils will have a good laugh when I show them this, she said. She was pictured alongside contender Glenn Wilkinson. The bodybuilder from Glengormley showed up Wolf, Trojan and Hunter back in 1996 when he powered his way round the knock-out course before proposing to his then girlfriend. Father and son presenters Bradley and Barney Walsh fronted the new format of the classic programme which aired at 5.50pm on Saturday. TV viewers peaked at 6.4 million people on BBC One according to overnight ratings. Former Ballyholme Primary School pupil Rachel Robinson remembers 'Ace' day in Bangor. In the first episode, the classic challenge The Eliminator, a gruelling obstacle course, returned as well as Duel, where players stand on small platforms and have to knock each other off using sticks. A new game Ring, where contenders have to get past the superhumans to press a button, was also introduced. Throughout the 11-episodes in the series, Gladiators will appear and be challenged, culminating in a final. The umbrella body for Northern Irelands trade union movement has distanced itself from a call for civil disobedience as tens of thousands of workers prepare for a widespread day of strike action this Thursday. NIPSA general secretary Patrick Mulholland had urged those taking industrial action to block roads and occupy buildings to vent their frustrations at the continued lack of progress towards a new pay deal. But Gerry Murphy, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) assistant general secretary, said that is not the general position of the 26 unions he represents, though he added that the stance could change if there is no further progress towards a resolution. ICTU is the umbrella body for 26 unions across Northern Ireland, of which NIPSA is just one, a large one, but just one, Mr Murphy told the BBCs Sunday Politics. What ICTU does is represent the collective views of those 26 unions. He added: NIPSA are entitled to their view. Their call for civil disobedience is a matter for them. What will happen with ICTU going forward after Thursdays strikes? We will sit down and evaluate and collectively reach a decision on how to proceed. Those are the views of NIPSA, not of the ICTU at this point in time. Im not endorsing them at the moment, he said. I dont believe Patrick Mulholland was trying to be unhelpful. I think he was articulating the genuine views of his membership and the concern and frustration that is rising. Mr Murphy also said that talks are under way to prevent harmful complications in health and special education needs services as a result of Thursdays mass strike action, where tens of thousands of public sector workers are set to walk out over pay. I believe efforts to minimise the impact in those areas are already underway, he added. There are existing processes between employers and unions around putting in place measures to prevent unnecessary and harmful complications arising as a consequence of strikes. I would imagine that, as has happened in the past, they will reach arrangements to prevent significant harm and procedures to allow levels of service provision to be maintained in some areas. We would want as little disruption for those who require emergency assistance as possible. He added that the decision to target the Secretary of State through the strike - which will be the biggest day of industrial action seen in Northern Ireland - was made as he is the man who holds the purse strings. Mr Murphy said unions currently see local politicians as an irrelevance and have been angered as a 3.3bn carrot was waved in their faces before Christmas, with the money only to be released if the DUP agree to return to Stormont. In effect, local politicians are irrelevant at this point as far as trade unions are concerned, he added. Our job here is to negotiate with the people who hold the purse strings. At this point in time thats the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Its not the DUP, who have chosen to absent themselves from an Executive. He came out a week before Christmas and confirmed what we all knew, that he has the money available to him and that the workers in our public services deserve to be paid. If the money is available he should release it now. The Northern Ireland Office has said Mr Heaton-Harris has no authority to negotiate public sector pay. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has also said that the disputes could be resolved "rapidly" if devolved government was restored. Elsewhere, Amnesty International has hit out at a suggestion by the chairman of the Northern Affairs Committee that legislation to provide minimum service levels during strikes should be introduced in Northern Ireland. Robert Buckland, chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, said the legislation would help those who are in "dire need" to access services. Unions said it would be an "affront to democracy", and now Amnesty has voiced its concern. The idea that these draconian restrictions to the right to strike should be extended to Northern Ireland is alarming. The rights to join a trade union and withdraw ones labour through strike action are fundamental human rights, said Patrick Corrigan, NI Programme Director of Amnesty International UK. The legislation ignores key safeguards that protect workers rights under international law. It gives ministers sweeping powers to impose minimum service levels after whatever consultations they see fit, rather than requiring them to negotiate alongside unions and employers. This anti-trade union law has been just one of numerous examples of the Governments drive to erode human rights in the UK. Thankfully, this is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the legislation does not apply and should never be introduced here by our politicians. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the heartbreaking deaths of four migrants as they tried to cross the English Channel shows weve got to stop the boats (Gareth Fuller/PA) Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the heartbreaking deaths of four migrants as they tried to cross the English Channel showed weve got to stop the boats. Ministers have been informed that the people died in an attempt to launch from French waters, the PA news agency understands. The incident happened near Wimereux at around 2am on Sunday, triggering a major emergency response as 72 people, including 10 children, were rescued and taken to Calais while one person was rushed to hospital, French paper La Voix du Nord said. Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme the deaths are heartbreaking (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) Speaking on the BBCs Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Lord Cameron said: Its heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night. It breaks my heart to hear about it. But it just shows weve got to stop the boats, weve got to stop this illegal trade in human beings. The former prime minister argued that the solution is forcibly removing unauthorised arrivals to Rwanda, with Rishi Sunaks Bill to get the stalled policy up and running returning to the Commons for crunch votes this week. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the incident as a tragic loss of life but disputed the solution. I dont know the details, in a sense we dont need to know the details. To lose your life in a small dinghy or boat in the winter sea in the Channel is just awful, he told the BBC. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer agreed with Lord Cameron that the boats need to be stopped (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) But on the Rwanda plan advocated by Lord Cameron, he said: I think he is wrong about that. I absolutely agree that we need to stop these Channel crossings. They are dangerous, we have lost control of our borders, and we need to do something to stop the boats. Now I think the starting place for that is to go after the criminal gangs that are running this vile trade. French media said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. A Navy helicopter, police and 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. The Refugee Council called for decisive action to stop Channel crossings following the terrible loss of life. Chief executive Enver Solomon said: The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the Government to expand safe routes for refugees, its only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again. This must act as a wake-up call to take decisive action and reduce dangerous Channel crossings by providing safe routes for those fleeing war-torn countries or repressive regimes. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the Government must put in place safe routes and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our countrys values. Sonya Sceats, chief executive of charity Freedom from Torture, described the proposed Rwanda Bill as cruel. She said: This distressing news comes days before the cruel Rwanda Bill is back in Parliament. Time and time again, its survivors and refugees who are paying the price for this Governments inhumane and punitive policies. We urgently need an asylum system thats welcoming, fair and compassionate at its heart. The Home Office has been approached for comment. The UK Coastguard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters. Meanwhile, the leaders of three groups on the Tory right warned the Prime Minister they could vote against his Rwanda Bill if he does not bow to their demands to toughen the legislation. Mark Francois, Sir John Hayes and Danny Kruger urged colleagues to join them in standing firm when the simply not good enough legislation faces key votes this week. The Bill, which the Prime Minister has placed as central to his promise to stop the boats, will reopen a rift in the Conservatives when it returns to the Commons on Tuesday. Donald Trumps possible re-election has been highlighted as potentially problematic to UK national security (Jane Barlow/PA) Donald Trumps potential re-election could pose a threat to the UKs national security, a former head of MI6 has said. Sir Richard Dearlove said Mr Trumps possible return to the White House could be problematic for the UK if he damages the Atlantic Alliance. Mr Trump is currently the Republican frontrunner to enter the US presidential race later this year. Sir Richard Dearlove said the American nuclear umbrella is essential to Europes security (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Sir Richard, who led MI6 between 1999 and 2004, highlighted the potential issue of Mr Trumps re-election when asked on the Sky News programme Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips about the biggest threats the UK should be paying attention to in 2024. He said: From an intelligence perspective, the two things we need to worry about are, obviously, Ukraine and what Chinas long-term behaviour globally is going to be, particularly in relation to Taiwan and how threatening China is to Western interests. Sir Richard continued: You have to add a political threat, which Im worried about, which is Trumps re-election, which I think for the UKs national security is problematic because if Trump, as it were, acts hastily and damages the Atlantic Alliance, that is a big deal for the UK. Weve put all our eggs in defence terms in the Nato basket. If Trump really is serious about, as it were, changing the balance, I mean, the American nuclear umbrella for Europe is, in my view, essential to Europes security and defence. Christian denominations that follow a liturgical calendar experience a beautiful rhythm of weekly Sundays and special holy days, of times of fast and times of feast. In the Catholic Church, the Advent/Christmas season officially concluded last Sunday, Jan. 7, with the liturgical celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. Currently, we are in what is called ordinary time, which doesnt mean that these Sundays and weekdays are unimportant; it only means we are counting the Sundays in between the two major liturgical seasons. (More properly, it could be referred to as ordinal time, describing the numerical position of the particular Sunday.) This year, there are five Sundays between the end of the Advent/Christmas cycle and the beginning of the Lent/Easter cycle, and 28 Sundays between the end of the Easter season and the beginning of Advent. We cannot speak about ordinary time without speaking about Sunday. The every-seven-day celebration of the Lords Day is the basic structure upon which the church year is built. The great liturgical seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Easter are more expansive celebrations of particular aspects of the one mystery of the Lords death and Resurrection, which we celebrate every Sunday. These two special seasons focus our attention upon critical dimensions of the one mystery, a mystery so overwhelming that we are compelled to separate out various elements for particular attention. These seasons of Christmas and Easter in no way minimize the critical importance of the Sunday celebration throughout the rest of the year. Ordinary time is not very ordinary at all. The weekly Sunday celebration is the identifying mark of the Catholic Christian community that comes together, remembering that on this first day of the week the Lord of life was raised up and creation came at last to completion. This is not ordinary at all. This is the fabric of Christian living. Here is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it: The Sunday Celebration of the Lords Day with the Celebration of the Eucharist is at the heart of the Churchs life. Sunday is the day on which the Paschal Mystery is celebrated in light of the apostolic tradition and is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church, (CCC 2177). In the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, we see this practice of the Christian assembly dates from the beginnings of the apostolic age (Acts 2:42-46). The Letter to the Hebrews reminds the faithful not to neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but to encourage one another," (Hebrews 10:25). "We celebrate Sunday because of the venerable Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we do so not only at Easter but also at each turning of the week, wrote Pope Innocent I at the beginning of the fifth century, testifying to an already well-established practice that had evolved from the early years after the Lord's Resurrection. St. Basil speaks of "holy Sunday, honored by the Lord's Resurrection, the first fruits of all the other days, and St. Augustine calls Sunday "a sacrament of Easter. In the light of this constant and universal tradition, it is clear that, although the Lord's day is rooted in the very work of creation and even more in the mystery of the biblical "rest" of God, it is nonetheless to the resurrection of Christ that we must look in order to understand fully the Lord's day. The Bishops of the United States have called for a three-year Eucharistic Revival of devotion and belief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which we celebrate every Sunday at Holy Mass. They want to see Catholics across the United States healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus in the Eucharistand sent out in mission for the life of the world. These three years will culminate in the first National Eucharistic Congress in the United States in almost fifty years. Thousands of Catholics will join together in Indianapolis on July 17- 21, 2024 for a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage toward the source and summit of our Catholic faith. Sunday is so important in the life a Catholic that one of the six precepts of the Church is to attend Mass on Sunday. This obligation is just a specification of the commandment to keep holy the Sabbath. We should remember that the commandment about keeping holy the Lords Day is just as important as the commandments of not killing or not stealing. Happy Sunday! A vigil for victims and hostages of Hamas attacks in December (James Manning/PA) The sister of a UK national who remains hostage amid the conflict in the Middle East has warned there is no more time for those captured, and called for their release ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. Ayelet Svatitzky told the PA news agency she is hopeful for the release of her brother, Nadav Popplewell, but is fearful of how long he can hold on. Mr Popplewell, 51, is one of two UK nationals who remain hostage a figure announced by Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron on Tuesday. Nadav Popplewell is one of two remaining British hostages (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, 46, will be speaking at a rally on Sunday afternoon in central London calling for the release of all hostages, as Monday marks 100 days since Hamas attack on October 7 the day her life froze. The demonstration comes after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to London, Dublin and Edinburgh streets on Saturday, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict in which more than 23,800 Palestinians have been killed over the course of the Israeli response, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The protests, part of a global day of action involving 30 countries, came after the UK and US carried out airstrikes against Houthi bases in Yemen. Mr Popplewell was captured alongside his 79-year-old mother, Channah Peri, both of whom are among an estimated 240 people originally taken prisoner. Mrs Peri, released during the November ceasefire, was able to inform her family that her son had lost weight and had not been receiving medication for his diabetes, but the family have not heard anything about him since. Mrs Svatitzkys elder brother, Roi Popplewell, was found dead near his home just after the attacks. He was 53 when he died, and the family marked what would have been his 54th birthday on Christmas Eve. Mrs Svatitzky told PA how her mother has not been able to mourn his death because the family are consumed by their worry for her other brother. Thats all thats on our minds all the time is Nadavs wellbeing and his condition, and hes in danger every second of every day, she said. Ayelet Svatitzky said she still has hope for her brothers release (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, who lives in Kibbutz Yagur, said she still has hope. Hope is what gets us up in the morning, she said. My biggest fear is, I dont know how long its going to last, I dont know how long he can hold on and I dont know what his condition is. Im hoping he is going to be released soon but like I said, I saw how my mum came back after 49 days, Im very scared for how hes going to come back. She will be calling for the release of all hostages at a rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon. My main message is that the hostages are running out of time and that we should all do everything in our power to demand their release, she told PA. I think this is the prime message: There is no more time. Mrs Svatitzky called it a crime that people remained hostages almost 100 days since October 7. Theres so little that me as a family member can do, she told PA. We can only be a voice to our family members and our loved ones who are being held against their will for almost 100 days and demand their release, but there really is (only) so much we can do. Channah Peri was taken hostage but released during the November ceasefire (Family Handout/PA) Reflecting on the time that has passed, she said: Our life froze October 7. This is all I do in my life I help my mum in her rehabilitation process, and I fight for Nadavs release. I dont work. Ive got three children. I call myself a present-absent parent, because Im here in body but Im not really here because my main focus and concern is saving my brothers life. My life froze October 7, and I dont know when Im going to get it back. And I know that when we get Nadav back its going to be a really long road for recovery. When I look ahead into the future I dont know what its going to look like. I cant predict it. Mrs Svatitzky was alerted to attacks in Kibbutz Nirim where her two brothers and mother lived on October 7 by messages from a WhatsApp group she shares with childhood friends. She told of how she phoned her mother and had a brief conversation with her before hearing mens voices in the room. I realised that the Hamas terrorists got to her house, she told PA. They were speaking in English with an Arabic accent and I could hear that over the phone. So I hung up immediately because I was convinced that the next thing Im going to hear is my mum being murdered. Roi Popplewell was found dead near his home in Kibbutz Nirim (Family Handout/PA) She next phoned Mr Popplewell before hearing the same voices seconds later. She said she then received two pictures on WhatsApp from her mothers phone showing the elderly woman sitting in her living room in her nightwear beside her barefooted son, with a follow up message: Hamas. Mrs Svatitzky said a third picture, one featuring armed terrorists in the corner, was uploaded to her mothers Facebook story. Mrs Svatitzky and Mr Popplewell are both UK nationals, and so was their third sibling, Roi. Both brothers were single and had no children before the events of October 7. The destruction after an Israeli strike at a residential building in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, on Sunday (Adel Hana/AP) Two civilians were killed in northern Israel on Sunday after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border, raising new concerns of a second conflict erupting against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The deadly strike came on the 100th day of a conflict between Israel and Hamas that has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swathes of Gaza, driven about 85% of its 2.3 million residents from their homes and pushed a quarter of the population into starvation. The war was triggered by Hamas October 7 surprise attack into southern Israel in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages, about half of whom are still in captivity. Tensions have soared across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, Iran-backed militias attacking US targets in Syria and Iraq, and Yemens Houthi rebels targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of US airstrikes last week. A Palestinian woman with her baby in a tent near Kerem Shalom crossing in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Sundays missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said that his group will not stop until a ceasefire is in place for Gaza. We are continuing and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people, he said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas. The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge allegations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel adamantly denies the accusations and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop. No-one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else, Mr Netanyahu said on Saturday, referring to Iran and its allied militias. A destriyed residential building in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip (Adel Hana/AP) Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza as its leaders have faced mounting protests from their families, including a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv that began on Saturday and drew tens of thousands of supporters. Israeli forces have only managed to rescue one hostage, while more than 100 were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas says no more hostages will be released until Israel ends its offensive. Israel and Hezbollah have been careful not to allow their back-and-forth fighting to erupt into full-blown war on a second front. But they have come close on several occasions, most recently in the aftermath of an airstrike that killed a top Hamas official in Beirut on January 2. Hamas and Hezbollah have both blamed Israel for the strike. A man holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel (Leo Correa/AP) The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians on Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. The missile hit a home in the town of Yuval in northern Israel, killing a man in his 40s and his mother, who was in her 70s, Israeli rescuers said. Although Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along the northern border evacuated by the government in October, Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture. More than 115,000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire. The deadly strike came hours after the army said it killed three militants who entered a disputed Israeli-controlled enclave in the Golan Heights. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content A group called Islamic Glory Brigades claimed responsibility for the infiltration. The Associated Press could not independently verify the statement, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese branches of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad all said the group was not affiliated with them. Since October, over 2,000 rockets and 350 drones have been launched from Lebanon, according to Israel. Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but has so far been shielded by US diplomatic and military support. Israel says any ceasefire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israels destruction. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says about two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says more than 60,000 people have been wounded. Israel says 188 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive. A war of words erupted on Sunday, a day after Taiwans presidential and parliamentary elections, with Taiwan accusing China of making fallacious comments and China criticising the US for congratulating the winner. The verbal sparring highlighted the seemingly intractable divide over Taiwans fate, a major flashpoint in US-China relations that risks leading to an actual war in the future. The victory of Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, in Saturdays election was a setback for Chinas efforts to bring Taiwan under its control. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te celebrates his election victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao, right, and supporters in Taipei (Chiang Ying-ying/AP) His Democratic Progressive Party advocates maintaining the status quo, in which Taiwan governs itself but refrains from declaring formal independence a move that could trigger a Chinese military response. China, meanwhile, is calling for what it terms a peaceful reunification, but that seems increasingly unrealistic as most Taiwanese have come to oppose becoming part of China. Taiwan has said as much, taking issue with China over its often-repeated line that Taiwan is a domestic Chinese issue. China regards the island of 23 million people as a renegade province and says it should not have its own president or official relations with foreign governments. Supporters of Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, cheer his election victory (Chiang Ying-ying/AP) The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the election that the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair and the basic fact that . Taiwan is part of China will not change. Taiwan said that statement is completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values. Such cliches are not worth refuting, it said. The US, in a statement attributed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, congratulated Mr Lai on his victory and said it looks forward to working with all of Taiwans leaders to advance our shared interests and values. It congratulated the people of Taiwan for demonstrating the strength of their democracy, a nod to the Biden administrations efforts to find common ground with other democracies in the face of Chinas rise. Kuomintang (KMT) party supporters in New Taipei City react after their presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, conceded defeat (Ng Han Guan/AP) Chinas Foreign Ministry said the US statement sends a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces and goes against an American commitment to maintaining only unofficial ties with Taiwan. Mr Lais victory means the Democratic Progressive Party will continue to hold the presidency for a third four-year term, following eight years under president Tsai Ing-wen. But he won a three-way race for president with 40% of the vote, less than the clear majority Mr Tsai won in 2020. He will take office in May. The Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in the legislature, finishing with one seat fewer than the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party. Neither holds a majority, giving the Taiwan Peoples Party a relatively new force that won eight of the 113 seats a possible swing vote on legislation. A statement from the Taiwan Affairs Office in China said the results show that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion on the island. Taiwans Foreign Ministry, in its response, called on China to respect the election results, face reality and give up its oppression against Taiwan. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the skies and waters near Taiwan. Any conflict could draw in the United States, which officially dos not support Taiwans independence but opposes any attempt to change the status quo by force. Lai Ching-te celebrates his victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao (Louise Delmotte/AP) Meanwhile, former US national security adviser Stephen Hadley and former deputy secretary of state James Steinberg arrived in Taipei on Sunday for post-election meetings with political leaders. It was unclear how China would react, as it seeks to nurture a recent improvement in its troubled ties with the US while also maintaining a firm and unwavering position on Taiwan. The two men will have meetings on Monday, the American Institute in Taiwan, the de-facto US Embassy, said in a news release. The institute said the US government had asked them to travel in their private capacity to Taiwan. China has said it opposes any official interaction with Taiwan but has not indicated whether it considers the forthcoming visit an official one. The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, though it maintains an office in Taipei, the capital city, and is the main supplier of weapons for the islands military. A former director of a leading IT firm is being prosecuted for allegedly demolishing a building on one of Northern Irelands most exclusive streets. James Bradley has been accused by Belfast City Council of causing the work to be carried out on the property in Malone Park without the required consent. Court documents say he allegedly caused to be executed works for the demolition of a building in a conservation area on September 15, 2022. The case against the 45-year-old, of Balmoral Avenue in the south of the city, is to be mentioned at Belfast Departmental Magistrates Court this week. The entrance to Malone Park Sunday Life spoke to Mr Bradley, who was formerly a senior figure in the multi-million pound firm Data Intellect (previously AquaQ Analytics), but he did not wish to comment on the case. Malone Park has been called Northern Irelands most exclusive street and has earned the nickname Millionaires Row due to the prices for which some of the houses sell. One six-bedroom house on the private street is currently on the market for offers over 2.75m, while another has an asking price of just under 1.7m. The street runs between the Malone Road and the Lisburn Road, but vehicle traffic is only allowed to enter from the Malone Road end. It is part of a conservation area which according to NI Direct are areas that include important examples of social, cultural and aesthetic history must be safeguarded from indiscriminate or ill-considered change. These areas often contain listed buildings. However, it is not always enough to protect these buildings in isolation. Their surroundings and general environment are often of equal importance and conservation areas are intended to protect that environment. Demolition work in such areas requires specific council consent, even if the building is not listed. An alleged pervert from Co Antrim has appeared in court facing sex offences after an operation by a so-called paedophile hunter group. Standing in the dock of Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday, 68-year-old Stephen Ford Hutchinson was charged with two offences alleged to have been committed on August 1, 2022. The pensioner, with an address on Curran Road in Larne, faces one allegation of attempting to communicate sexually with a child for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification and one charge of having extreme pornography. Giving evidence to the court, a police officer said she believed she could connect Hutchinson to both charges. When District Judge Nigel Broderick enquired what age the child involved was, the officer confirmed its a decoy case. It is understood that Hutchinson was arrested following an investigation by a group called Child Online Protection Enforcers NI. Their members broadcast a half-hour video on social media where they alleged that Hutchinson had sent sexually explicit material to what he believed was a 14-year-old schoolgirl. In court on Thursday Hutchinson confirmed that he understood the two charges against him and the Public Prosecution Service asked for the case to be adjourned for five weeks to allow time for a full file to be prepared. Freeing Hutchinson on bail, Judge Broderick imposed bail conditions barring him from having unsupervised contact with children and also from having a device capable of internet access. First ever live heat of the competition coming to Belfasts Merchant Hotel in June The forecast for Belfast this summer is hotting up as the first ever live Miss Great Britian heat comes sashaying into town. A star-studded line-up of judges and hosts includes former Miss GB winners Gemma Garrett and Eden McAllister, as well ex-Miss Universe Ireland and Cool FM radio presenter Katherine Walker. Dundonald's Eden McAllister was also named this years Miss Beach Body Organiser Lizzy Doherty, from Derry, is delighted to be bringing the inaugural event to The Merchant Hotel in June with such a stellar line-up. Were delighted to have modelling royalty involved, she told Sunday Life: Our head judge Sally-Ann Fawcett is very well respected within the community and would judge a lot of competitions. Lizzy Doherty Shes also Miss GB historian so to have her there with us is an honour. We have Gemma hosting which is going to be fun, it was a no-brainer as a previous winner and shes great craic. We also have Miss Galaxy England, Ariana Neo, as a judge as well as Alan Wallace from Inspiring Belfast as well as Chris Suitor doing a DJ set. Chris is actually a good friend of mine so I couldnt go past him. Lizzys daughter Amy has won Miss Derry/Londonderry two years on the bounce although she will not be competing at The Merchant in June, instead looking to retain her north-western crown for a third time. Lizzy's daughter Amy Doherty I just want more girls to be able to have a platform to have their voices heard, she continued: I want to introduce more young women to the world of pageantry. Its about building life-long friendships, building their self-confidence and giving them an opportunity to raise awareness about their chosen charity or cause. The charity work which goes on is incredible, last year the Miss Great Britain finalists raised over 78,000 for Cancer Research UK and Alexs Wish. We raise so much money for charity every year and thats what its all about. Gemma Garrett The last woman to be crowned Miss Belfast was Eden McAllister in 2021 who went on to be crowned Miss GB at the final, following in the footsteps of former Miss Ulster Gemma Garret, who also snatched the Miss GB crown in 2008. Northern Ireland has only had four winners in the nearly 80-year history of Miss GB, something regional director Lizzy hopes to change in the coming years. Katherine Walker She explained: Whoever wins will be crowned Miss Belfast on the night and will get her official sash and crown, she will then represent Belfast for the remainder of the year and compete in the final in Leicester in October. Its a really good way to get girls involved and try and grow pageantry in Northern Ireland, thats the challenge. To bring Miss GB here and get more girls applying so they can walk on the national stage come the end of the year if they win is just a great opportunity for them. Its a very close-knit community and it will give the girls of Northern Ireland an opportunity and an idea of what they can get from pageantry. The Belfast heat of Miss Great Britain will be held in Belfasts Merchant Hotel on Sunday June 9. Entries can be made at www.missgreatbritainofficial.co.uk Former broadcaster tells of his joy at helping patients and visitors at place he knows well Keith Burnside in the foyer at the Ulster Hospital (Picture by Peter Morrison) The longest serving newsreader in the history of Northern Irish broadcasting may have retired from the airwaves, but Keith Burnside is still relaying crucial information to the public as a hospital volunteer. Keith, who lives in Comber, admits getting a huge boost from his new role as a meeter-and-greeter at the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, where hes part of a 360-strong team of volunteers helping patients and visitors. And its a hospital he knows well. I really do have a special affinity with the place, explained the man who spent 20 years reading the news on Ulster Television and the same amount of time at the BBC Radio Ulster with a spell at Downtown Radio in between. Keith Burnside presenting Police Six on UTV He had a kidney removed at the Ulster when he was 10 years of age, and it was in the maternity unit where his two children and three of his grandchildren were born. And, in sadder times, his parents both passed away in the hospital. He said: I look upon it as my hospital, and bizarrely it was at the Ulster that my broadcasting career actually started 50 years ago, again in a voluntary capacity as a presenter on the hospital radio station there. I was born at the Jubilee hospital in the south of the city, but as an east Belfast man, most of my medical issues were treated at the Ulster. And the removal of a kidney which hadnt developed was obviously important for me as a child. After I retired from Radio Ulster in June 2022 I wanted to do something on a voluntary basis. The option of going to the Ulster as a meeter-and-greeter appealed to me because I wanted to give something back after all that had been done for me there. I trained for a few weeks and shadowed other volunteers. Now I do one day a week based primarily at the front desk, where I point people who are coming in for appointments and visits to where they should go. With the development of the extensive new hospital facilities, including the new emergency department, the role has become even more important. Keith Burnside in the Radio Ulster studio In recent weeks he and other volunteers have been in more than one day a week to assist with the surge in numbers at the emergency department. It has been in the headlines because of ever-lengthening waiting times for treatment. The former Police Six and Crimecall presenter, who wears a distinctive purple sweatshirt or T-shirt in his volunteer role, has massive respect and admiration for the nurses and doctors at the Ulster as they try to cope with the winter pressures. There is sterling work being done by everyone at the hospital, he said. I think that despite the criticism over waiting times, most people are appreciative of what help they get, and that the hospital is doing the best it can under the circumstances. What the staff do, they do extremely well. Its just such a big ask. As volunteers, we are not clinicians. But we try to request that people arriving at the emergency department should only have one person with them if possible. And we strive to answer basic questions people might have before they reach reception. That can hopefully relieve some of the pressure. The role requires sensitivity, patience and a good listening ear. No one whos at a hospital wants to be there, apart from the maternity unit of course, Keith added. Their minds are on other things so you have got to be very sympathetic and give people a warm, encouraging welcome, reassuring them that you will get them to wherever they have to go. One of his most unusual tasks was to help a woman who couldnt find her car. It turned out shed left it in one of the car parks furthest away from the hospital. he recalled. But we eventually found it, and she promised me she would park nearer to the hospital entrance in future. REVEALED | Kevin Conway shooting: Man screaming on street alerted neighbours to brutal gangland murder Shooting took place just yards from where their children would play Kevin Conway Sharon O'Neill Sun 14 Jan 2024 at 08:00 A man screaming in the street alerted neighbours to a brutal gangland murder on their doorstep in west Belfast, it has emerged. The missed chances that left Belfast mum at mercy of her psycho partner Violent bully-boy repeatedly freed despite string of offences in lead-up to horror Caoimhe Morgan and Taylor McIlvenna Ciaran Barnes Sun 14 Jan 2024 at 08:00 Murdered mum Caoimhe Morgan could have been saved from her ticking time-bomb killer, it has been claimed Accused told cops after arrest: I will get shot in the head for this. A Co Tyrone couple have been ordered to stand trial accused of transporting 20kg of herbal cannabis on a ferry from Scotland. Cathal Patrick Day (29) and his partner Claire McLaughlin (37) confirmed that they were aware of the charges against them when they appeared in the dock of Ballymena Magistrates Court on Thursday. Day, with an address at Cave Hill Drive in Dungannon, and McLaughlin, from Mourne Crescent in Coalisland, are jointly charged with having cannabis with intent to supply and simple possession of the class B drug on April 15 last year. McLaughlin faces four further drug charges accusing her of supplying or offering to supply three different drugs, namely cannabis, class C diazepam and class A cocaine. Although none of the facts were opened when the couple were initially charged last April, the court heard how officers stopped and searched a white Renault Master van with a Southern registration at Larne Port after it disembarked from a ferry. Claire McLaughlin Day was driving with McLaughlin in the passenger seat and while seven grams of cannabis was found in her handbag, a further 20 kilos of suspected herbal cannabis was discovered in sealed bags and behind wooden panels in the van. A police officer outlined how the seizure was worth around 125,000 and that during police interviews Day had admitted to being a drugs courier, claiming that he had been contacted by persons unknown and that it was his first time doing a drugs run. Day claimed he had been collected from their house, given the keys to the van, ordered to take it and leave it at a location for a period of time before driving it back. The officer described how, after he had been formally charged to court, Day sat with his head in his hands and commented: I will get shot in the head for this. McLaughlin meanwhile admitted the cannabis in the handbag was hers but denied any knowledge of the 20 kilos in the back of the van. In court on Thursday a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was sufficient evidence to elevate the case to the Crown Court. This submission was conceded by the defence. Day and McLaughlin were told they had the right to comment on the charges and to call evidence on their own behalves, but they both declined. Freeing the pair on continuing bail, District Judge Nigel Broderick returned the case to Antrim Crown Court with the arraignment scheduled to be heard on February 8. It's a new year, but same trouble for the Republican-led House of Representatives. With reports of House Speaker Mike Johnson reaching a spending deal with Democrats, some GOP members broke with their party to defeat a procedural measure that halted voting for a day. While some Republicans objected to the vote because of Johnson's agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, others were disappointed that the deal does not include any border-related actions. Central New York's members of Congress, U.S. Reps. Claudia Tenney and Brandon Williams, were not among the Republicans who split with the party to oppose the procedural measures. Tenney, R-Cleveland, and Williams, R-Sennett, wanted to advance the legislation. After the procedural vote failed Wednesday, the House passed it Thursday. That cleared the way for final votes on one bill and two resolutions. The House passed the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act by a 211-197 vote. Tenney and Williams joined 209 other Republicans to pass the bill, while Democrats opposed the legislation. U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Texas Republican who sponsored the bill, said it would address how settlement money from federal lawsuits is distributed. Conservatives have complained about certain settlements that directed funds to what they consider "political allies" of Democratic presidential administrations. This includes, among other groups, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The bill is unlikely to advance in Congress. The Biden administration issued a statement opposing the "unnecessary" legislation because it "would harm the public interest." "The legislation seeks to address a problem that does not exist the federal government does not create or use 'slush funds,'" the statement continues. "When the federal government settles a case with those who violate the law, it seeks to hold bad actors accountable, to appropriately remedy the harms they have caused to prevent recurrence of those harms." Other votes in the House last week: A resolution to nullify a rule issued by the Federal Highway Administration passed 209-198. Tenney and Williams were among 207 Republicans and two Democrats who supported its passage. Two Republicans and 196 Democrats voted against the measure. The rule in question, issued in February 2023, waives Buy America requirements for certain materials, such as iron and steel, used to manufacture electric vehicle chargers. The China Exchange Rate Transparency Act passed 379-1, with Tenney and Williams voting for the bipartisan bill. According to the legislative summary, the bill would require the United States' executive director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate for increased exchange rate transparency from China. Tenney and Williams joined Republicans and eight Democrats in supporting a resolution to disapprove of a National Labor Relations Board rule regarding joint-employer status. The resolution passed 206-177. According to the National Labor Relations Board, its final rule would allow two or more entities to be considered joint employers "if each entity has an employment relationship with the employees, and if the entities share or codetermine one or more of the employees' essential terms and conditions of employment." The rule, which will take effect Feb. 26, rescinds the joint-employer standard by the board in 2020 under the Trump administration. According to the current board, the 2020 rule "made it easier for actual joint employers to avoid a finding of joint-employer status because it set a higher threshold of 'substantial direct and immediate control' over terms of conditions of employment. U.S. Rep. John James, a Michigan Republican who sponsored the resolution, thinks the rule is an example of "suffocating regulations" facing businesses. "The American people don't want the government telling them how to start or manage a business," James said. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Generally cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. 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. NETA Auto's third overseas plant finds home in Malaysia On January 12th, Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto, in collaboration with its Malaysian partner, successfully held the groundbreaking ceremony for its third overseas factory in the Rembau Chembong Industrial Zone in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. This milestone signifies a significant advancement in NETA Auto's global business expansion, further strengthening its influence in the Southeast Asian and global markets. Photo credit: NETA Auto Wang Jun named as new General Manager of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company, CEO of Rising Auto On the evening of January 11th, SAIC Motor announced a significant executive change, with Vice President of SAIC Motor, Wu Bing, stepping down from his dual roles as the General Manager of SAIC Motor Passenger Vehicle Company and CEO of Rising Auto. Meanwhile, the two roles have been taken over by Wang Jun, former General Manager of HASCO Automotive. All-new Lexus GX hits Chinese market The all-new generation of Lexus GX has gone on sale in the Chinese market, with prices ranging from 778,000 yuan to 88,800 yuan. The GX model, under the Lexus brand, is available in three different trim levels. The new model features a completely redesigned aesthetic, resembling a square box, with a front face equipped with the iconic spindle-style grille and a larger trapezoidal layout for the lower bumper. All-new Lexus GX; photo credit: Lexus Tesla China issues 2024's first price reduction On January 12, Tesla's official Chinese website showed significant price cuts for the Model 3 and Model Y, which also stand as the US electric vehicle maker's inaugural price adjustments for the year 2024. Mercedes-Benz Group's 2023 China deliveries remain flat over previous year Mercedes-Benz Group unveiled its annual sales data in China this week, revealing a cumulative delivery of approximately 765,000 new vehicles in the world's largest auto market, maintaining a level comparable to the previous year. CALB, Zhongcheng Dayou form strategic partnership on energy storage, fast charging fronts Chinese power and energy storage battery supplier CALB Co., Ltd. ("CALB") and Zhongcheng Dayou Industry Group Co., Ltd. ("Zhongcheng Dayou") signed a strategic cooperation agreement in Shenzhen on January 11, according to CALB's press release. DEEPAL unveils images of G318 rugged off-road SUV On January 11, Changan Automobile's dedicated new energy vehicle brand DEEPAL released the official images of its inaugural hardcore off-road vehicle model, officially named as the G318. China's annual power battery installed capacity jumps 31.6% YoY in 2023 In December 2023, China's installed capacity of power batteries reached 47.9GWh, marking a year-on-year jump of 32.6% and a month-on-month growth of 6.8%, according to data by the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance (CAPBIIA). Audi's annual deliveries in China jump 13.5% YoY in 2023 Audi in China concluded the year of 2023 with a robust sales performance in China, with a total delivery of more than 729,042 vehicles (including the Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong), marking a year-on-year increase of 13.5%, according to a post on Audi China's WeChat account. GWM to deploy Cerence's onboard voice interaction system onto vehicles worldwide On January 10, Cerence, the provider of AI-powered mobility experiences, announced a collaboration with the Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor (GWM). Dongfeng Honda's first pure electric intelligent factory nears completion Dongfeng Honda, the Sino-Japanese joint venture between Dongfeng Motor and Honda Motor, on January 11 announced the near-completion of its first-ever pure electric intelligent factory globally. ThunderX launches integrated cockpit & driving solution 'RazorDCX Tarkine' at CES 2024 At the ongoing CES 2024, ThunderX Auto Technology, the intelligent driving solution arm of the Chinese company ThunderSoft, introduced its centralized computing single SoC integrated smart cockpit & driving domain control solution, the RazorDCX Tarkine. Dermot Bannon contacted by the Department of Housing and and update on housing targets are among the headlines in Sunday's papers. The Sunday Independent reveals Dermot Bannon was contacted by the Department of Housing over the vacant homes grant which was referenced on his show Room To Improve. Advertisement The Irish Mail on Sunday leads with comments from the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who says 38,000 homes will be built this year. The Irish Sunday Mirror leads with a 50,000 donation from Conor McGregor to the Ashling Murphy fund. Advertisement The Irish Sun on Sunday leads with comments from the woman who reportedly had a child with Manchester City's Kyle Walker. The Business Post leads with comments from an IDA boss, who claims Sinn Fein plans to "woo" US firms on corporate tax. Advertisement The conflict in Yemen and the Post Office scandal lead the stories on Sundays front pages. Advertisement The Sunday Telegraph runs with words from Lord David Cameron and his warning to Houthi rebels as unrest continues in the Red Sea. Advertisement The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph: 'UK ready to strike Houthis again, says Cameron'#TomorrowsPapersToday Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/TL5CTHZN8t The Telegraph (@Telegraph) January 13, 2024 Advertisement According to The Observer, the World Bank has warned that money trouble way be on its way on a global scale, with dual conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East destabilising financial markets. The Observer: Red Sea crisis could shatter economic recovery hopes #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/j3PxbXaSjs George Mann (@sgfmann) January 13, 2024 The Independent reports Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has voiced his support for UK action against the Iranian-funded Houthi militants as conflict escalates further by the Red Sea. The Independent digital front page: Starmer backs Yemen bombing and warns 'terror sponsors' Iran #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Cnl6KPlq0A George Mann (@sgfmann) January 13, 2024 The Daily Mirror leads with a piece looking back on the last 100 days of bombardment and humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Sunday Mirror Front Page - 100 days of hell in Gaza: 'Im terrified for my children - we'll all be killed in the end'#TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/7TBENUguMy pic.twitter.com/aO2OGjmgnA Advertisement The Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 13, 2024 The Sunday Times concentrates on Paula Vennells and her CBE, with new information revealing the Theresa May government pushed for the former Post Office head to receive the honour despite fierce recommendations against it in the wake of the Horizon scandal. The Sunday Times: Vennells given CBE despite Horizon fears #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/CZZskEBvNU George Mann (@sgfmann) January 13, 2024 The Sunday Express also turned its attention to the Horizon scandal, which attracted criticism from the Post Office minister, who has called for those involved to be jailed for their misconduct. Sunday People carries a warning from the nurses union that all options are on the table in its pay row with the NHS. Introducing #TomorrowsPapersToday from:#SundayPeople Nurse strike warning For a comprehensive collection of newspapers, explore: https://t.co/NNc1XQqHEw Don't forget to support journalism #buyanewspaper or #buyapaper for the latest updates! pic.twitter.com/IvP6SIojt0 The Press Room #TomorrowsPapersToday (@channel_tsc) January 13, 2024 The Sun on Sunday carries comments from the lover of Manchester Citys Kyle Walker. On tomorrow's front page: 'Kyle Walker was living secret double life he was too weak to tell Annie, so I showed her DNA test', says Lauryn Goodmanhttps://t.co/IYa5UfqEpb pic.twitter.com/EOLYJTi22n Advertisement The Sun (@TheSun) January 13, 2024 The Daily Star Sunday leads with a warning for Brits against the imminent winter chill, with bitter weather and frost en route from the north. Lord David Cameron has insisted he cannot recall in any detail being briefed about the Horizon scandal while he was British prime minister. The British foreign secretary said on Sunday that anyone who has been involved in government in the last two decades has got to be extremely sorry for the miscarriage of justice. Advertisement The Tory peer, who was in No 10 between 2010 and 2016 as hundreds of subpostmasters were being pursued, faced questions about what action he took to stop it. He told Skys Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: I dont recall in any detail being briefed or being aware of the scale of this issue. Weve got to get to the bottom of it, and thats what inquiries do, they can look at what were ministers told, what information was put in front of them, what did they decide because its hard to remember every letter and piece of paper put in front of you. Advertisement Sir Ed Davey, the now Liberal Democrat leader who served as Lord Camerons postal affairs minister in the coalition government, has faced criticism for refusing to apologise. Advertisement Lord Cameron said: This is an appalling miscarriage of justice and anyone whos been involved in government in any way over the last 20 years has got to be extremely sorry, as I am, about what has happened. Kevin Hollinrake, the Post Office minister, has argued that figures at the Post Office who are found to be responsible for the scandal should be jailed. Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake. Photo: James Manning/PA. He argued it would be the ultimate deterrent. Lord Cameron would not go so far but argued that anyone found to have broken the law should face criminal charges. Weve got to get to the bottom of who is responsible for what and who should be accountable, he said. And if it involves lawbreaking, we have an independent judicial system in this country and if people have broken the law they should face the consequences. North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile towards the sea on Sunday, South Koreas military said its first launch this year. The move came two months after the North claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant US targets in the region. Advertisement Experts have said North Korea could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from the Norths capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew toward the Norths eastern waters. A TV screen shows a file image of North Koreas missile launch during a news programme at Seoul railway station in South Korea (Ahn Young-joon/AP) Advertisement Advertisement South Korea, the US and Japan are analysing further details of the launch as the Souths military maintains readiness, according to the statement. Japans Defence Ministry also said it spotted the Norths possible ballistic missile. The Japanese coast guard, quoting the Defence Ministry, said the suspected missile is believed to have landed in the ocean. In mid-November, North Koreas state media said it had successfully tested solid-fuel engines for a new intermediate-range ballistic missile that observers say is likely designed to hit US military bases in Okinawa, Japan, and the US Pacific territory of Guam. Advertisement Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder for outsiders to detect than liquid-fuelled missiles, which must be fuelled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing intermediate-range missiles, including the Hwasong-12, are powered by liquid-fuel engines. The last time North Korea carried out a public missile launch was on December 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the Norths only known solid-fuel ICBM and is designed to strike the mainland US. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes. Advertisement Advertisement North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits a munitions factory (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP) Leader Kim Jong Un, during visits to munitions factories last week, called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked, the Norths state media said on Wednesday. On January 5, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to carry out similar firing exercises in the same area. Advertisement South Korea accused North Korea of continuing similar artillery barrages in the area for the next two days. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999 and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. Experts say Mr Kim is likely to want to see South Korean liberals pursue rapprochement with North Korea while maintaining a parliamentary majority status and for former US president Donald Trump to be elected again. They say Mr Kim might believe he could win US concessions like sanctions relief if Mr Trump returns to the White House. In a key ruling party meeting in late December, Mr Kim vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal and launch additional spy satellites to cope with what he called US-led confrontational moves. Taiwan has condemned what it said were fallacious comments by China following the self-governing islands presidential and parliamentary election on Saturday. The verbal sparring did not bode well for the future of Taiwans relations with China under the winner, president-elect Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, or for Chinas relations with the United States. Advertisement The US said it has asked two former officials to go to Taiwan this week for post-election meetings with political leaders, a move that is likely to displease China. Supporters of Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, cheer his election victory (Chiang Ying-ying/AP) Former national security adviser Stephen Hadley and former deputy secretary of state James Steinberg will arrive in Taipei on Monday and have meetings on Tuesday, the American Institute in Taiwan said in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement The institute is the de-facto American Embassy, since the US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Mr Lais victory means the Democratic Progressive Party will continue to hold the presidency for a third four-year term, following eight years under president Tsai Ing-wen. China portrays the party as its nemesis and a major obstacle to its goal of bringing the island of 23 million people under its control. A statement from Taiwans Foreign Ministry accused Chinas Foreign Ministry and its Taiwan Affairs Office of falsehoods in the respective statements they issued on Saturday night after the results of the election were announced. Advertisement President-elect Lai Ching-te celebrates in Taipei (Louise Delmotte/AP) It took issue specifically with Chinas often-repeated line that Taiwan is a domestic Chinese issue. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and says it should not even have a foreign ministry or any official relations with foreign governments. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement: The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change. Advertisement Taiwan said that statement is completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values, adding: Such cliches are not worth refuting. Advertisement Mr Lai, who will take office in May, won a three-way race for president with 40% of the vote, less than the clear majority Mr Tsai won in 2020. Their Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in the legislature, finishing with one seat fewer than the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party. Neither holds a majority, giving the Taiwan Peoples Party a relatively new force that won eight of the 113 seats a possible swing vote on legislation. Advertisement Kuomintang (KMT) party supporters in New Taipei City react after their presidential candidate, Hou Yu-ih, conceded defeat (Ng Han Guan/AP) The statement from the Taiwan Affairs Office in China said the results showed that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion on the island. Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said: Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realising national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is rock-solid. Taiwans Foreign Ministry, in its response, called on China to respect the election results, face reality and give up its oppression against Taiwan. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the skies and waters near Taiwan. Any conflict could draw in the US, which is Taiwans main supplier of military equipment. Ghoneim, who describes her design style as super colourful, very textural with a global aesthetic, takes a similar approach, trying to remain impartial, but also taking a leaf from British Grand Designs host Kevin McClouds book of Are You Crazy? This isnt Going to Work expressions. I do wear my heart on my sleeve, Ghoneim says. You can probably tell from my facial expressions what Im truly drawn to. For anybody giving a red-hot go, which all of them are, then you know, you got to applaud them and say, Youve got to try things out and test things out and its great theyre being bold and imaginative. Loading But isnt part of the fun of the show and what makes good TV watching people stumble? Most Grand Designs fans can rattle off a favourite disastrous build, such as the saddest ever episode featuring the North Devon lighthouse to the eco-barge that ended up as a home for squatters before being washed up on a beach. I dont [want things to go wrong], but the producers do, Ghoneim says, laughing. I feel like Im there to offer advice in instances when I can foresee something going wrong or tragically looking terrible. But everyone in TV is like, No, dont tell them, make it happen. Lets witness it on screen. And Im like, Oh, OK ... But I want them to feel empowered and feel like their next renovation will be better than their last and that they can be braver than next time. For Burke, its how the homeowners respond to jeopardy that makes good TV. Some people just take it in their stride, he says. And they are natural builders, because they can take on anything and go, Yep, thats not what I thought, but lets do this. But others, they just collapse. And its those people I feel so bad for, because some peoples resilience, its like, How could this thing possibly happen to us? Were good people. But its not about you, its just the house. Australias infatuation with home renovation and real estate TV appears to show no signs of waning. Last years season of The Block had more than 1.2 million viewers tuning in for the final auction episode, while Selling Houses Australia has long been one of Foxtels highest rating shows. Ten even resuscitated Location, Location, Location last year, while Seven is throwing the hardhat in the ring this year with Dream Home hosted by Dr Chris Brown. Burke who is keen to separate architecture and real estate believes Australia is uniquely obsessed because we have been trained for such a long time to have all of our financial security bundled up in the idea of a house, the Australian dream since the 50s has been all about that. And we bought that much more than the Americans did, and much more than the Brits ever did. This has meant we are now all very trained in the language of real estate and design, Burke says, making us all armchair experts who can confidently split the difference between larch and cedar cladding. Theres a ton of [architecture and building] vocabulary in every Australians head, which is not entry level, Burke says. Its not exactly expert, but its definitely not beginner. And I think thats whats interesting, because youve got that sense of I know enough to be dangerous and maybe not enough to be correct every time. So in that space, I think thats whats a little bit different for Australians to other people around the planet. Loading Would Burke or Ghoneim ever volunteer to put their own renovations on TV? I would, Burke says. I think theres a perspective that I would see in my own projects, that would be different to others, which I think would be kind of interesting, useful, probably traumatic, at a whole other level. I am a woman. I have daughters and nieces and women friends, but internalised misogyny had me create a cognitive dissonance by outwardly expressing horror at the Weinsteins of the world, while internally qualifying it. Internalised misogyny is when women subconsciously minimise the value of other women through a misogynistic filter of prejudice and bias in favour of men: women being sexist towards women. It is with shame I admit my first thought at that time was casting couch. I knew this victim-blaming phrase that popped into my head so instantly belonged in another time and came from a younger me, and it shocked me enough to keep it to myself. In conversations Ive had with women in various vocations, it is clear internalised misogyny isnt restricted to watching the news at home. In workplaces, some women in authority who have fought hard for a seat at the table based on qualification, merit and ability, are becoming barriers for other women to succeed on the same basis. When in a position of power, these women are showing a bias in favour of men and perpetuating many of the inequities they themselves fought so hard to overcome. Loading Take heart if Ive hit a nerve: you are not a bad person. This is a learnt behaviour and comes from a lifetime of being treated as the inferior sex and having to navigate carefully to find a place in a mans world. Just because a woman personally overcomes all the pushbacks and rises to the top in a male-dominated workplace doesnt mean her subconscious believes things have changed (thats the internal bit) and she becomes the discriminator (thats the misogyny bit). Women have been pitted against each other forever. Weve been told by our families, our friends, the media that we must look prettier, younger, weigh less, and scratch each others eyes out to get a guy, a job, a place on the team. In 2022, when the prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, was at a press conference with her Finnish counterpart Sanna Marin, a journalist asked if they were meeting because they were similar in age and had a lot in common. As the male journalist stumbled over the words, it was obvious he was referring to their gender. Ardern replied with a question, I wonder if anyone asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were a similar age? Marin also weighed in, confirming, We are meeting because we are prime ministers. Is it any wonder that a woman who finally reaches a position of importance would then want to disassociate herself from being a woman? In one of three e-scooter incidents in Queensland overnight, a man in his 20s has been left in a critical condition after colliding with a vehicle in Brisbane. The man was rushed to Princess Alexandra Hospital with head injuries after paramedics were called just before 8.20pm to Gladstone Road in Highgate Hill. Gladstone Road in Highgate Hill, where a car and e-scooter collided overnight. Credit: Google Maps Another man, in his 40s, was taken to the same hospital about 11pm after falling from an e-scooter at West End. Further north, a man in his 40s was taken to Hervey Bay Hospital with facial injuries after falling off an e-scooter at Scarness just before 2am on Sunday. 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 RSPCA investigator Karen Collier drives west along the Monash Freeway, recalling a time on the job when she had to pay a visit to a member of an outlaw motorcycle gang and received an unexpected welcome. You get there and you have a huge big bloke covered in tatts that looks like hes gonna rip you to shreds, and yet, here they are, nuzzling their face into their little dog, telling you how much they love them, she says. There are few things that surprise Collier, a team leader in the RSPCA inspectorate, after 18 years in the job, but watching a bikie speak with unbridled affection about their little white dog is not something you easily forget. Inspectorate team leader Karen Collier at the site of an investigation. Credit: Simon Schluter Most bikies have their little chihuahua or their little fluffy little dog they dote on, that is their life, and they will literally burst into tears if they think that youre going to take their little white animal off them, and they absolutely love us because of the job that we do. Were on a ride-along with investigators with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), a charity that promotes animal welfare but has evolved into an all-service investigation, triage, treatment, education and adoption agency at the heart of Victorias millions of pets. In the 2022-23 financial year, 10,561 reports of animal cruelty were investigated by 36 of their inspectors, who drove 1,417,958 kilometres checking on animals. The inspectorate cost more than $9 million to operate, a price tag that includes legal costs, caring for rescued animals and large-scale operations. Advertisement Loading On this bright Wednesday morning, Collier and inspector Narelle Neate (who used to work with the Australian Border Force) are doing background checks on the home theyre about to visit in Melbournes north. Their job part detective, part social worker often brings them into contact with unorthodox and challenging cases. Todays investigation centres on new mum Bella, a female dog who was taken to a veterinary hospital two nights ago where she tested positive to parvovirus, a highly contagious disease that affects unvaccinated and partially vaccinated dogs. The concern is that the hospital said the owner left without getting Bella treatment, and the inspectors want to check if the dog and her eight 11-day-old pups are okay. Parvovirus, nicknamed parvo, is very contagious, so theres the added risk of it spreading to the pups. How people treat their pets can be an insight into greater problems, the investigators have learned. People in the midst of personal issues family violence, mental health crises, police investigations might temporarily stop caring properly for their pets. A few months back, the team investigated a report about 10 cats at one address but arrived to find 70. An RSPCA investigator examines a dog. Credit: Simon Schluter To be a successful inspector, youve got to have a very fine balance between passion for animal welfare and being able to get things done. Because if youre too passionate, youre going to crumble into a heap, burst into tears and not be able to actually accomplish what needs to be done, says Collier. What we see on a day-to-day basis is obviously very confronting. So if youre very, very passionate, and youre exposed to that all the time, and you dont have the resilience to cope, thats going to burn you out. Advertisement Collier, herself, has drawn strength from animals shes saved. She mentions one case about Skittles, a border collie who was discovered by a birdwatcher in a remote forest bound, injured, shot and close to death. The episode cost Skittles an eye and his hearing. Skittles was adopted by a senior investigator at the RSPCA, and now lives happily with him. I would just lose all trust in humanity, she says. I dont know that Id ever trust another human, but Skittles was just the most amazing dog. Hes where I draw all my resilience from because I figure if he can go through what he went through and still have faith in humanity, what can you throw at me? Collier and Neate pull up near Bellas home and have a brief conversation with the mother of the owner, who refuses them entry. The nature of the disease, and the state of Bella at the animal hospital, means they must have a look at her and the pups, so they contact police to assist them entering the home. RSPCA inspector Narelle Neate inspects a puppy that would later be voluntarily relinquished to the RSPCA. Credit: Simon Schluter Theres a tense wait while police make their way over. Inspectors have a range of ways to get inside of homes when they encounter a hostile owner: they can get a judge to sign a warrant, or, if they suspect the animal is in serious trouble, ask police for help. By a stroke of luck, a friend of Bellas owner walks by and offers to have a chat with the owner. Collier and Neate are sceptical but accept the help. The passer-by goes inside and emerges about 15 minutes later with the eight pups inside a washing basket, ready for them to be looked at. This is what they want. While they work closely with police, sometimes its easier if they can deal directly with an owner and avoid the risk of escalating the situation. And when it comes to animal welfare, the situation can escalate quickly, especially if the members of the public become aware of the alleged abuse. Advertisement This happened during the infamous 2021 pandemic protest outside the CFMEUs Melbourne headquarters. In the heat of the protest, carpenter Stipo Cicak was caught on video kicking a dog into the air. Cicak, from Keilor East, was charged and contested the matter in court, where he argued he acted in self-defence against an aggressive animal. Collier caught the case and worked it up. Community outrage was palpable, and the RSPCA was tasked with investigating and prosecuting. Stipo Cicak (centre) leaves court in September 2022 with his lawyer Samir Banga (left). Credit: Simon Schluter Magistrate Peter Reardon placed Cicak on a 12-month adjourned undertaking, without conviction, and ordered him to pay a $2000 fine to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital. He was also ordered to contribute $7000 to the RSPCAs legal costs. Loading Costs are something the RSPCA thinks about a lot. Ninety per cent of its funding comes from the community and volunteers, a huge portion considering the massive responsibility they have for animals in Victoria, and how varied their work can be. One day, they are herding dozens of adolescent horses into floats; the next, they are navigating their way into a hostile household to check on puppies. Their work is meticulous, but time-consuming and laden with risk. Advertisement Back at the northern suburbs house, Neate, Colliers partner, plucks pups out of the washing basket. The owner explains that Bella was treated at a different hospital, but their explanation is scant and concern remains for the pups. Neate sees a few signs that she doesnt like. They seem lethargic, and need to be looked at by a veterinarian back at the RSPCAs Burwood East hospital as a precaution. They load Bella and her pups into the back of their truck and drive back to Melbournes east. Neate says its an excellent outcome but is worried about the welfare of the pups squirming in the boot. Theyre 11 days old, they are so vulnerable, says Neate during the drive. If they are infected with parvo, they will go downhill incredibly fast. A basket of puppies voluntarily relinquished to the RSPCA. Credit: Simon Schluter Collier says the vets will now take over. We know that theyre going to have the best care available to them. If we hadnt got them today, the likelihood is that they would have got very sick, very quickly, and potentially when we actually got access to them, we could have lost some of them. As the pups are driven into the complex, two veterinarians come outside dressed head to toe in PPE. It would be bad if parvo made its way into their facility, with so many dogs not immunised. They test each dog, carefully separating the pups that seem lethargic, as Bella watches attentively. They also test her. Advertisement "Politically, 2024 is the Voldemort of years," reads the latest report issued by Eurasia Group, a US-based global political risk research and consulting firm. In its annual report, "Top Risks for 2024," released on Monday, Eurasia Group provided the reason for this view: Three wars will dominate world affairs in 2024: Russia vs. Ukraine, Israel vs. Hamas, and the US vs. itself. The top three global risks listed in the report are "the US vs. itself," "Middle East on the brink" and "Partitioned Ukraine." In other words, the world is entering a year of grave concern - "the Voldemort of years" because of the US, as all three top risks are related to the US. It's fair to say the US is the source of global risks in 2024. According to Eurasia Group's report, US public trust in core institutions - such as Congress, the judiciary, and the media - is at historic lows; polarization and partisanship are at historic highs. The report said that if the current Republican candidate, Donald Trump, loses to incumbent President Joe Biden in the next election, he will allege mass fraud once again and "incite widespread intimidation campaigns" against election workers and secretaries of state in both red and blue states. At the same time, Biden would be 86 years old at the end of his second term. "The vast majority of Americans want neither to lead the nation." The US election has now become an either-or choice between "worse" and "the worst." Americans are helpless, yet they have no better choices. The election risk is rooted in the internal political division within the US, and the conflict of interests between the Democratic and Republican Parties has reached an irreconcilable point. The current political system in the US cannot bridge such contradictions and conflicts, leading to a political deadlock, which means that whoever takes office will not have the ability to point out a path for the US, Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. With the increasing polarization and social division in American politics, some polls show that Americans have a more open attitude toward using violence to achieve political goals. The US has increasingly become "the United States of Political Violence." Now, the US has become a country that makes the world worry. "When a country's internal risks reach a certain level, it is highly likely that the conflict will spill over. The US wants to shift its risks to other countries and divert domestic attention, making other countries share the pressure of its internal issues. This is terrifying," Lu said. Regarding the other two top risks faced by the world mentioned in the report, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Gaza war, the US also bears an undeniable responsibility. The US' push for NATO's eastward expansion directly led to the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war and the US has acted as the biggest hurdle to a ceasefire. Michael von der Schulenburg, a former UN Assistant Secretary-General revealed at the end of 2023 that "just one month after the start of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators had come very close to an agreement for a ceasefire and to an outline for a comprehensive peace solution to the conflict." But "these peace negotiations failed due to resistance from NATO and in particular from the US and the UK. The reason is that such a peace agreement would have been tantamount to a defeat for NATO, an end to NATO's eastward expansion, and thus an end to the dream of a unipolar world dominated by the US." In 2024, the US and some other Western countries may experience "Ukraine fatigue" to some extent in terms of providing aid to Ukraine, but due to the need to maintain their geopolitical advantage, it is expected that they will continue to use Ukraine as a pawn to engage in fierce competition with Russia. On another battlefield, Gaza, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a meeting with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. However, the US has consistently maintained its "taking sides" stance. And the US has never truly had the intention and capacity to promote peace. The US is indeed the source of global risks. What is even more tragic is that even though the Eurasia Group predicted future risks, we still cannot avoid them. Furthermore, US think tanks, consulting firms, and politicians have shown little interest in restricting US' destructive actions on the world. At present, one of the core objectives for countries around the world to engage with the US should be to avoid the US bringing more risks to the world, said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University. - Global Times Dozens of young Afghan women have been detained by the Taliban over the past week in a crackdown targeting those accused of violating the groups strict hijab rules. Girls as young as 16 have been seized from markets, private classrooms and the streets of Kabul as well as other provinces for bad hijab. A Taliban fighter stands guard as women wait to receive food rations, in Kabul, Afghanistan, last year. Credit: AP Several girls have reported being lashed by their Taliban captors. Since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has banned girls from higher education, and restricted their access to the workforce. On Monday, Republicans across Iowa will meet to begin the process of selecting their partys nominee for the presidency. With the Iowa caucuses, after seemingly endless preliminary skirmishing, the first act of the 2024 US election is now officially under way. A caucus is different from a primary, which is simply a ballot. At a caucus, registered Democrats and Republicans (and, in some states, independents too) meet for a face-to-face discussion about who they should support, as a preliminary to casting their vote. In an era of mass politics, there is something quaint yet reassuring about the idea of citizens convening, in the depths of winter, in schoolrooms and meeting halls of towns and villages across the state sometimes in gatherings of as few as half a dozen to participate in such a pure exercise in democracy. US President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump. Credit: AP We can expect to hear a lot about democracy this year this is, after all, the year when more people will cast ballots in free elections across the globe than ever before in human history. A triumphant year for democracy, then? Hold your horses; there are many who want to convince you otherwise. We will also hear a lot about threats to democracy. Since 2016 the year the British people chose Brexit and Americans chose Donald Trump we have seen an avalanche of books arguing that democracy is in peril so many that democratic pessimism has become something of a cottage industry within the publishing world. While contributors to the oeuvre have included conservatives such as Jonathan Sumption, most of the doomsayers have come from the left. Predictably, the villains are right-wing demagogues (Trump, Boris Johnson, et al.), who deviously manipulate credulous populations to win elections (Trump 2016, Johnson 2019) and achieve other outcomes, such as Brexit, of which the left intelligentsia disapproves. This, so it is said, is the evil of populism. And, so goes the tortured argument, the very exercise of democracy is itself a threat to democracy. 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 Joseph Howe had been a lifelong member of the Republican Party until Donald Trump came along. But, when the former reality TV star won the presidential nomination to run against Hillary Clinton in 2016, Howe promptly quit in disgust. Eight years later, Howe has rejoined the Republicans and will vote in this weeks Iowa caucuses: the crucial event that kicks off the US election and will help determine who gets to run for the White House in November. A campaign bus for Donald Trump in snowy Urbandale, Iowa. Credit: Bloomberg The proud libertarian, of Mexican-American descent, was initially unsure which candidate hed pick as an alternative to Trump, but settled over the past few days on former UN ambassador Nikki Haley. Her less extreme views on issues such as immigration and economic freedom align more closely with his own. Im also very concerned about Trump seizing power and abusing his authority to punish political enemies, Howe said. I see a lot of an authoritarian dictator in him, and I dont think hes going to have the people around him that he had last time, who were patriots and believed in the United States, and tried to restrain him. So Im worried about our future. Whether enough Americans agree is the big question. Trump remains the overwhelming favourite as blizzards and temperatures as low as minus 26 degrees forced candidates to cancel events and rely on virtual rallies urging Iowans to turn up and vote at Monday nights caucuses. Advertisement Republican presidential candidate and former UN ambassador Nikki Haley in Ankeny, Iowa last week. Credit: AP Despite Trump facing 91 criminal charges and the prospect of jail, the latest FiveThirtyEight aggregate of Republican polling averages has the former president at 51.3 per cent, which is consistent with other polls, while Haley was on 17.3 per cent and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on 16.1 per cent. There has not been a Republican candidate with such a dominant lead this close to caucus night since George W Bush in 2000. If the polls are accurate and Trump wins Iowa with a similar vote or a record-breaking margin it will help propel him into the next round of crucial primary races in New Hampshire and South Carolina and, potentially, into the White House. Loading Conversely, a weaker than expected result could help voters who are tired of the chaos to decide which of his rivals to rally for. Veteran election analyst Charlie Cook, founder of the non-partisan newsletter The Cook Report, believes theres little chance of Trump losing, particularly in this predominantly white electorate with high numbers of Evangelicals, farmers and non-college educated voters. Advertisement DeSantis, on the other hand, has put all of his chips on Iowa and therefore needs to do phenomenally well, or hes toast. Haley needs a strong enough result to build momentum going into New Hampshire next week, where she is surging so much in the polls that some Trump insiders admit they are worried. However, according to Cook, Trump has been so dominant that the race has felt more like that of an incumbent president seeking re-election, while his rivals battle for second place. Whenever I hear Never Trumpers say theres no way Republicans are going to nominate somebody like him again the party theyre describing hasnt existed in about 10 or 15 years, says Cook. The make-up of the Republican Party today is definitely buying what Donald Trump is selling. A supporter waits for Trump to arrive at a rally in Iowa last week. Credit: AP For Iowans such as antiques dealer Dick Green, the sales pitch centres on a vision of a nation with a secure border to block illegal immigrants, where there are more jobs for American-born citizens to drive the economy, and where faith and freedom are paramount. Green, who also runs a ministry called His Healing Hands, says he was drawn to Trump because he did what he said he was gonna do when he ran for president and hes against the globalists trying to take over our world. Advertisement Vivek Ramaswamy shakes hands with a supporter at a campaign event in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: Bloomberg He doesnt trust Haley or DeSantis, he adds, because both had initially claimed they wouldnt run against the former president. And while he thinks entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy seems like a nice family man and sounds a lot like Trump, we are based on Christian values, and I, personally, do not want a practising Hindu running our country. Loading Asked what he thinks about the criminal charges against Trump, Greens answer echoes many other Republicans: that Democrats are so afraid of Trump becoming president again, he says, that theyre trying to throw everything they can at him to stop him from being elected. The unwavering loyalty of Trumps supporters partly explains the refusal of his main rivals to call him out forcefully. Indeed, Haley and DeSantis have spent more time on the campaign trail attacking each other than the man they need to beat, trading blows on everything from the economy, border security and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Advertisement Things got particularly heated in a CNN debate last Wednesday night, when the pair spent two hours attacking one another while Trump enjoyed softball questions on Fox News, in a counterprogramming event designed to steal the spotlight. At one point during the verbal slugfest, DeSantis suggested Haley was too mealy mouthed and not conservative enough for the Republican Party of 2024. Haley, in turn, accused him of lying his way through the race and blowing $150 million in campaign funds with little to show for it. Republican candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley at a CNN debate in Des Moines, Iowa. Credit: AP You are so desperate, she told him. You are just so desperate. In many ways, Trumps stronghold over the party was solidified at the first Republican debate in Milwaukee in August, when the then eight candidates on stage were asked a pertinent question: if Donald Trump was the partys nominee for president as well as a convicted criminal, would they still support him? Ramaswamy, who has modelled himself on Trump, immediately raised his hand, quickly followed by Haley and other candidates who have since dropped out of the race: senator Tim Scott, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and former vice-president Mike Pence. Chris Christie announces hes dropping out of the presidential nominee race for the Republicans. Credit: AP Advertisement Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15, a senior official here said on Sunday, nearly two months after Male sought their removal. According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. In a press briefing, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, said that President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15, the SunOnline newspaper reported. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration, he said. Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. The group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male' on Sunday morning. The meeting was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said. Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15. The Indian government did not immediately confirm the media report or comment on it. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. The request for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel comes amid a row between the two nations in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third. During his just-concluded state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Speaking to the press on Saturday after returning from China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India. Without naming any country, he said, "We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us. He also announced plans to reduce the country's dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries. We aren't in anyone's backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state, he said, addressing the reporters gathered at the Velana International Airport. He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size. He vowed that he would not allow any external influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives. Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government here. Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of three persons, including two sadhus, lynched by a mob in Palghar district in 2020. He handed over the cheques while attending a function in Virar here on Saturday. Sadhus Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were killed by a mob while their vehicle was passing through Gadchinchale village late night on April 16 that year in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. The case had made national headlines at the time and several persons who were allegedly part of the 500-strong mob were arrested and are facing trial. Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has never bothered to meet the kin of these three persons. Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds. The Uttar Pradesh government and several organisations on Sunday launched a statewide cleanliness drive, which will continue till on January 22, the day of the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took part in the campaign in Ayodhya, while other ministers and public representatives join the drive elsewhere. "On the call of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji, major cleanliness campaign was started from Shri Ayodhya Dham today. On this occasion, vehicles related to garbage disposal and cleanliness were also flagged off. We are dedicated to keeping the divinity and sanctity of Navya Ayodhya intact," the chief minister posted on X. Addressing the public in Ayodhya on December 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to them to take a pledge to make Ayodhya the cleanest city of India. "This is the responsibility of the residents of Ayodhya." He had also requested people to run a cleanliness drive at all religious sites and temples across the country from January 14 to January 22. As part of the campaign, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya cleaned the Balkeshwar Hanuman Temple in Nirala Nagar in Lucknow. Maurya swept the floor, picked up garbage and put it in a cart. He appealed to people to participate in this cleanliness campaign. Another deputy chief minister, Brajesh Pathak, participated in the cleanliness drive at Dakshinmukhi Hanuman Temple in Lucknow. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders also joined the campaign in different parts of the state. In Mirzapur, a cleanliness campaign was started from Maa Vindhyavasini Devi Dham and Ashtabhuja Temple, in which MLA Ratnakar Mishra along with District Magistrate Priyanka Niranjan participated. Cleanliness drives were also conducted at 209 other temples and places of worship in the district, in which common people participated enthusiastically. Niranjan said that in order to spread the moral, social and humanitarian values of Lord Shri Ram among people, bhajan kirtan and cultural programmes will be organised in major temples of the district from January 14 to January 22. Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari has said the IAF has indigenised more than 60,000 components in the last two to three years. He also said the Air Force cannot rely on foreign OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) for repair and overhaul maintenance activities and that it has to be done in-house. The IAF chief was speaking with reporters on the sidelines of a programme held in the Bhonsala Military School in Nagpur on Saturday. Queried on tracing the wreckage of a transport aircraft of Indian Air Force in the Bay of Bengal off the Chennai coast, the Air Chief Marshal said, "Unfortunately, it took so long but finally we at least got the technology to (explore) deep sea and locate such things in seabed". "We are grateful to the Ministry of Ocean and Earth Sciences for facilitating this and to be able to discover this wreckage. It brings closure to a long pending sad accident". The wreckage of an IAF transport aircraft has been located at a depth of around 3.4 km in the Bay of Bengal, nearly seven-and-a-half years after the plane with 29 personnel on board went missing, as per the defence ministry. When asked about the indigenisation of Base Repair Depots (BRDs), the IAF chief said, "All our BRDs have been opened up to all the industries to come and take a look as to where industries can pitch in into the work that has been done, not only in BRDs but all the Air Force units". "We have indigenised more than 60,000 components in the last two or three years. We have realised we cannot rely on foreign OEMs for repair and overhaul maintenance activities. We have to do it in-house," he added. On how the poll preparations will be handled by the party while also managing its east to west yatra, Ramesh said a party organisation is in place and Rahul Gandhi would be part of the campaign despite his preoccupation with the yatra | (Photo: Bloomberg) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has rejected the BJP's claims that the 2024 poll results are a foregone conclusion, saying "Tiger zinda hai" and that the opposition bloc will repeat the history of 2004 when the saffron party was unseated from power despite its 'shining India' campaign. In an interview with PTI, Ramesh asserted that only a strong Congress can ensure a strong opposition and the 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is an effort to strengthen the grand old party. On how the poll preparations will be handled by the party while also managing its east to west yatra, Ramesh said a party organisation is in place and Rahul Gandhi would be part of the campaign despite his preoccupation with the yatra. "The yatra will end by the time polls start. I expect the elections to start somewhere, maybe in first week of April by which time the yatra would have been over. Meetings can always be held on Zoom. I don't see it as a problem," he said, dismissing concerns that poll preparations may be hampered due to Gandhi's over 6,700 km Manipur to Mumbai yatra. When asked about the BJP's narrative that 2024 poll results were a foregone conclusion and what would he tell them, Ramesh, while borrowing from a popular Hindi film title, quipped, "Tiger zinda hai, that is my constant refrain" Several BJP leaders have asserted that a third term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi is certain in 2024 and the party has set a target of over 400 plus seats. On whether he believes that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) can spring a surprise in the 2024 general elections, Ramesh said, "All I can say is that in 2003, we lost Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, people wrote the Congress off, but in 2004, the Congress formed the government. India was shining at that time." "History will repeat itself," he told PTI on Saturday evening. People will be moved more by 'anyay kaal' (period of injustice) of the last 10 years than the dream of 'amrit kaal', Ramesh said. "Amrit kaal is a dream, anyay kaal is a nightmare," he added. In 2004, the Congress came back to power leading the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government while the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government lost the polls despite its high-decibel 'shining India' campaign. On whether the yatra will strengthen opposition unity with the Congress party also inviting all INDIA bloc leaders to join in along its route, Ramesh said, "A weak Congress cannot ensure a strong opposition. Only a strong Congress can ensure a strong opposition. This 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' is to strengthen the Congress." Talking about the need for a follow-up yatra after the Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra which was also led by Gandhi, Ramesh said the yatra from Manipur is a continuation of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and is derived from the first line of the Constitution which assures to all people of India justice. "There are four pillars to the Preamble: justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. Now much of the Yatra had to do with liberty, equality and fraternity but now we are focusing on the first pillar which is mentioned in the first line of the Preamble- justice, economic, social and political," the Congress general secretary said. "So the main focus of this yatra is to take the Bharat Jodo Yatra forward with a focus on highlighting the last ten years which were not 'amrit kaal' but 'anyay kaal' and what is the Congress' vision of ensuring political justice, economic justice and social justice," he said. The yatra is also a way of connecting the leadership with inner party organisation. "We saw the results of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and I am not judging the results by what happened in Karnataka or Telangana. As I explained once, what it did was it brought about better connectivity for Rahul Gandhi and better collectivity for the organisation," he said. So this connectivity and collectivity is very important for the organisation, he added. "This (yatra) is going to have an electoral impact or not is not my primary concern. It is a yatra by a political party. It is an ideological yatra and not an electoral yatra," he asserted. Ramesh said he is not going to judge the yatra on how many seats the Congress is going to win in 2024 polls. "What Rahul Gandhi is attempting to do in this yatra is basically reinforce the ideological message of the Congress, to highlight various injustices that have been inflicted on people and articulate over the next 66 days what the Congress and what he sees is the specific agenda for ensuring economic, social and political justice," he said. He said the yatra is also about strengthening democratic institutions, freeing the country from one-man rule and highlighting in what way injustices have been done to women, farmers and youth. "Yes, the Congress party is ideologically committed but it needs reinforcement from time to time, it needs communication from time to time and that is what he (Gandhi) is attempting to do," Ramesh said. He said it was not just about setting the agenda for the 2024 polls but about setting the agenda for the nation's politics and public discourse. "Of course 2024 is an intermediate milestone that we have to pass.Ultimately we have to fight polls, we are not an NGO. But I'm not going to use that as a yardstick for determining what we are going to do as part of the yatra," he stressed. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses. It will cover 100 LS constituencies, 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. As Davos readies to host its annual talkfest of rich and powerful from across the world, nearly 5,000 army personnel have been deployed to help police and civilian authorities secure this small Alpine resort town. Davos is estimated to have a permanent population of just about 10,000 but is frequented throughout the year by tourists including skiing enthusiasts in ski season, but it is the week of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting when it sees the maximum footfalls with at least 30,000 people in the town. Given the high-profile nature of the event, beginning Monday, the security is both discreet and visible and comprises snipers, drone jammers, regular frisking and checking and round-the-clock patrol. In addition to army personnel, there is a huge number of police men and women, support staff running into thousands and then nearly 3,000 world leaders are attending this year's summit, and so are over 500 journalists. And there is no less number of tourists, it being a ski season. Armed forces began their deployment on January 9 itself and they would be here till January 25, according to Swiss Army. Air Force has also been tasked to monitor and secure the airspace. Besides, it will use its helicopters to transport people protected under international law on behalf of the Swiss federal government. These flights are not to be confused with the private helicopter taxis for business giants, which also will be aplenty. The persons protected under international law mostly include high-ranking officials such as presidents and members of the government of foreign states, who can benefit from VIP transport by the Air Force. High-ranking members of international organizations such as the UN or the EU also belong to this group of people, including the UN Secretary General and the President of the EU Commission. More than 200 internationally protected persons, including nearly 300 heads of state and government, are expected for this year's meeting. The additional costs for security at the WEF Annual Meeting 2024 are estimated at around CHF 9 million (nearly Rs 87 crore). As in previous years, the federal government, together with the WEF Foundation and its other partners (Canton of Graubunden, commune of Davos), will contribute to the costs of WEF Annual Meeting security measures for the period 2022-2024 as part of a three-tier finance model. There is a cost ceiling of CHF 9 million a year for security. If the cost ceiling should be exceeded due to exceptional circumstances, level-2 of the finance model is applied. The federal government has set aside maximum additional funds of CHF 900,000 to cover such cases for the three annual meetings from 2022 to 2024. If the additional costs exceed this amount, the extra expenditure will be met by the finance partners according to the ratio set under level 1, unless level 3 comes into play. In the event of exceptional incidents (for example, terrorist attacks, assassination attempts, major threats or clear indications that such acts may be carried out), the federal government will meet 80 per cent of any costs exceeding those under levels 1 and 2. The remaining 20 per cent will be met by the Canton of Graubunden and the WEF. Overall, the cost of deploying troops at the WEF Annual Meeting is much the same as that incurred by the same battalions when on regular training. Deployments in connection with the WEF Annual Meetings from 2022 to 2024 will have an annual budget of CHF 32 million. Deployment costs in recent years have been under budget (2020: CHF 29.74million, 2022: CHF 21.4 million). The WEF is a foundation. In the financial year from July 2022 to June 2023, it reported total revenue of CHF 409 million. There was no surplus during this period. Given the importance of this meeting for Switzerland and its people, all cantons in Switzerland participate in the inter-cantonal police operation to maintain security and protect people and property. Authorities maintain that there are no general travel restrictions and Davos is accessible by public transport or by car. Precautionary personal, vehicle and baggage checks will, however, be carried out on all access roads. Air traffic over the Swiss territory will be restricted within a radius of 25 nautical miles (around 47 kilometer) from the centre of Davos. Similar restrictions apply to areas near the border in Austria and Italy. Arrivals and departures to the airfields within the security zone are subject to special rules and procedures that the Air Force has developed in cooperation with the Federal Office of Civil Aviation. Operation with model aircraft, drones and tethered balloons is also restricted in the area, so will be flights with delta gliders or paragliders. Taiwans election has big implications not only for the 23 million people who live on the island, but also for Chinas rivalry with the United States (US). Voters chose as their next president Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, who has vowed to continue his partys policy of protecting the islands sovereignty. The vote is a rebuke to Beijings claim over Taiwan and the growing pressure it has been exerting on the island democracy. As in all major Taiwanese elections, how to deal with China was a central focus of campaigning. What is the controversy? Since 1949, when the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek fled the Chinese mainland for Taiwan after losing a civil war to Mao Zedongs Communist forces, the islands status and future has been disputed. Democratisation in the 1990s paved the way for the emergence of a Taiwanese identity separate from the Chinese one imposed by the Nationalists on the island. However, only a handful of nations officially recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state, despite being treated almost as such by many countries. What is Chinas position? Chinas ruling Communist Party continues to claim sovereignty over Taiwan, even though it has never administered the island. Beijing refers to the island as Taiwan region, and says that any questions over its future are purely an internal Chinese affair. It demands that all countries accept its One China principle, which states that Taiwan is part of its territory. Beijing presses its claim on Taiwan on the international stage by blocking the islands attempts to join international bodies such as the World Health Organization. When Taiwan competes in the Olympics, it is referred to as Chinese Taipei. Xi Jinping, Chinas leader, has said that China would continue to press for a peaceful reunification but reserved the right to use force if Beijing deemed it necessary. Chinese jets and warships regularly run drills near Taiwan, eroding the informal boundary at the median of the Taiwan Strait, between the mainland and the island, which Chinese forces rarely crossed in the past. What is US position The US is the most important backer of Taiwans security, and the island has been a flashpoint between the United States and China since the early years of the Cold War. Two crises in the 1950s nearly led to military conflict between China and the United States, and Washington for decades backed the Chiang government in Taiwan. When the United States recognized Communist-ruled China in 1979, Washington adopted a deliberately ambiguous one China policy: acknowledging, but not endorsing, Beijings position that its territory includes Taiwan. In the decades since, the United States has maintained ties with Taiwan, including through weapons sales. Why Taiwan is a geopolitical flashpoint President Biden reiterated the longstanding US position that the country does not support the independence of Taiwan. But he has previously said he would defend the democratic island militarily if it were invaded by China,. The issue of Taiwan has flared again and again, especially as relations between Washington and Beijing have become strained in recent years. In 2022, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi infuriated Beijing with a trip to Taipei, and a visit to the United States last year by Lai drew intense scrutiny. Chinese warplanes have tested Taiwans defenses, and American warships have defied Chinese pressure. Who is Taiwans president-elect? Lai is a member of the governing Democratic Progressive Party, which has long rejected Beijings demands for unification. His main rival was a member of the opposition Nationalist Party, which has vowed to expand trade ties and restart talks with China. Lai has promised to continue the approach of President Tsai Ing-wen: keeping Beijing at arms length while seeking to avoid conflict, and strengthening ties with the US. We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy, Mr. Lai said in his victory speech on Saturday, promising to defend Taiwans identity. Polls show that most Taiwanese people support maintaining the islands ambiguous status quo instead of pursing outright independence, risking possible retaliation by Beijing. More than 150 recently repatriated artifacts from the Wounded Knee Massacre were set to be burned December 29. Instead, tribal leaders from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and later the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe asked to halt the ceremony. On December 29, instead of burning the artifacts, descendants of Wounded Knee Massacre survivors gathered to pray, sing and remember the more than 300 Lakota men, women and children killed by the United States military. The issue stems from disagreements over what to do with items repatriated from the Woods Memorial Librarys Founders Museum Collection in Barre, Massachusetts. While one group of descendants planned to burn artifacts, others requested more time to consider alternatives. In November 2022, the Woods Memorial Librarys Founders Museum gave items back to a group of descendants of Wounded Knee survivors. The group, SiTanka Ta Oyate Omniceye (Descendants of the Si Tanka (Big Foot) Nation), is comprised of Mniconju and Hunkpapa Lakota survivor descendants most of whom live in the Oglala area on Pine Ridge. Following the massacre, several survivors chose to settle in the Oglala area, said the groups historian Michael He Crow, Mniconju Lakota. He Crows own family settled in the Oglala area after the massacre. The repatriated artifacts had been taken from the mass graves of Wounded Knee Massacre victims killed in 1890. The military had been sent to Pine Ridge to stop a potential Indian uprising. Instead, they encountered a band of mostly Mniconju Lakota led by Chief Spotted Elk (nicknamed Big Foot by the military). The military misinterpreted the groups ghost dance songs as an intent to attack and opened fire on the band. The items returned from the Founders Museum were stolen from the graves of Wounded Knee victims. Most of the items are clothing moccasins and ghost dance shirts. Some moccasins have blood splatters on them. The rest of the items are several peace pipes, hand drums, a few dolls, two tomahawks, a bow with arrows, and a few beaded lizard and turtle amulets/pouches containing umbilical cords. Mixed in amongst the artifacts are items from other tribes Ojibwe-style moccasins, Dakota and Cheyenne beadwork and other items. The Founders Museum is a private collection of items. As such it is exempt from provisions from the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The repatriation did not have to follow federal guidelines. Instead, it was inspired by NAGPRA, according to the museums initial press release. As such, the items were given back to a group of the museums choice. The Founders Museum did not respond to requests for comment about the repatriation process. Since the artifacts were returned, the group has hosted public meetings once a month, sometimes twice a month, for community members. The meetings were meant to be a way for survivor descendants to voice their opinions, He Crow said. The Cheyenne River tribe supported what we planned to do up until October of this year (2023), He Crow said. The tribe published a statement on the eve of the Wounded Knee ceremony voicing its opposition to burning the artifacts. In his initial statement, Chairman Ryman LeBeau asked that the ceremony be halted until all descendants had a chance to give input. "The Wounded Knee artifacts issue is between the tribes and families of the descendants. We respect the decision to be diplomatic in dealing with such historical artifacts," LeBeau said in an email to ICT and the Rapid City Journal. "We are working collectively toward a positive outcome with our relatives. Overall, this is still an ongoing process, and we are still in communication with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on what further steps need to be taken." Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Chairwoman Janet Alkire issued a statement on December 30 in opposition to the burning ceremony. Today, I understand that the Barre Museum returned Wounded Knee artifacts to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. For the record, descendants from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe were not included in the determination of disposition for these cultural items. The massacre at Wounded Knee was a direct result of the assassination of our Grandfather Tatanka Iyotaka (Sitting Bull) and the Hunkpapa descendants of the massacre must have their voice heard as well, Alkire said in the press release. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe did not respond to requests for comment. The descendants group had chosen to burn the items as they believed the smoke from the items would carry the artifacts back to the spirits. Some items, like pipes, wouldnt be burned. The group also feared that if buried, the artifacts would be stolen and taken back to a museum like they were after the massacre. The objects are part of the people that died there. Those were real personal things to them. And so it would be like an extension of their bodies and a part of them physically. So, (putting them in a museum) it would just be like displaying a hand or foot that was repatriated. So it's not something that we would have hoped that people believe in doing, He Crow said. For example, if it was a hand or a foot you brought back, are you going to display that in a museum and charge people to see? The Oglala Sioux Tribe had been involved with the group's plans and President Frank Star Comes Out had attended meetings regularly. It feels kind of strange that they (the other tribes) would do this right now, He Crow said. I mean, they had a whole year to talk about it, but they didnt come to us. I really don't know what their motivation is. It could be outside influences that are motivating their decisions. The only way we'll know what is going on is to have these meetings and they can inform us, because at the beginning they supported what we're doing. In the days leading up to the 133rd Wounded Knee ceremony, the group had become aware of other parties requesting that items not be burned. We had a meeting on Wednesday, and I told people just to be aware that if anything happens, then we can make some changes, He Crow said. So, we were a little bit prepared, but we didn't expect it to happen that way. Now, its up to the Oglala Sioux Tribe to plan an intertribal meeting about the future of the artifacts. Its unclear when that meeting will take place. PhotoFiles: Wounded Knee trials in Lincoln Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Remembering Wounded Knee trials Missing man sought by police in Orchard Park is found dead Orchard Park Police announced Saturday afternoon that a missing, endangered 51-year-old man had been found deceased in an area where a search was being conducted. No further information was given. The search for Benjamin Trey Randle III had been centered in the area of Abbott Road, Big Tree Road, California Road and Armor-Duells Road, police said. Residents there were asked to check their yards, sheds, home surveillance cameras and doorbell and trail cameras. Police described Randle as 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 140 pounds, with green eyes and a beard. They said he was last seen Friday night leaving a home on Abbott Road wearing blue jeans, a black jacket and sneakers. Police said he represented no threat to the community. Dale Anderson photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department photo by Trion Fire Department Previous Next The Trion, Ga., Fire Department was dispatched to a house fire on Kinzey Street early Wednesday morning that left one man dead and one woman recovering. When firefighters arrived they were advised of two people trapped inside the house. Fire officials said both residents were removed from the home within a timely manner after rescuers arrived. The primary search team entered the structure through a window on one side of the structure. A woman was removed from a bedroom and a man was removed from another bedroom. Both were handed over to Atrium Health Floyd Emergency Medical services for further care as one was conscious and alert while the other was unresponsive. It was reported the man later succumbed to his injuries. Firefighters also removed three dogs that were found during the search of the structure. Two of the dogs were unresponsive and one was alert and fine. The fire suppression attack team entered and quickly got the fire under control. Firefighters extinguished all fire and hot spots. There was heavy fire and water damage throughout the structure. After extinguishing the fire and hot spots, Trion Fire turned the scene over to Georgia State Fire Investigators. Assisting agencies on scene were Summerville Fire, Hays Fire and Floyd Artium Health EMS. In 2020, Iowa Democrats tried to streamline their Caucuses setting the stage for a unified candidate to challenge Trump. Although the result was a national embarrassment for Iowa Democrats and the party, it was a portend of the next four years under Biden. Four years later they are back at it.The DNC hoped to give the appearance of a vast sweep for Biden in a friendly SC primary so they moved that primary ahead of the one in NH as well as the Iowa Caucuses. Republicans control the NH legislature so they moved the primary ahead of SC meaning Democrats could vote then if they wanted to do so.With that having been done, the DNC called a vote by Democrats on that date meaningless as it was not sanctioned by the National Party (AP 1/8/24).Since Republicans are in the majority in the IA legislature, they moved their caucuses up before the SC primary. To counter that move, Democrats abandoned the process of in-person meeting in favor of a new plan.Instead of meeting with neighbors building enthusiasm by persuading caucus-goers of the merits of one candidate over another, now Iowa Dems just mail in a preference card. Why not? When you have only one candidate, Joe, this avoids having to discuss his problems. They can do like the Soviets used to do and just go along with the party officials choice and call it an election.As the 2020 Caucus should have warned us then, what Democrats are doing now in IA and with NH should suggest how the next four years could be if Joe Biden is re-elected. If a President can prosecute his opponent, it becomes clear how his party can tell people their vote is meaningless, that it doesnt count.Ralph Miller An officer met with a woman at Papa Johns on Water Street. She said she was delivering a pizza in the area of Water Street but could not locate the correct address. While in the area she attempted to call the individual who ordered the pizza. She said while here, roughly four black males approached her claiming to be the individuals who ordered the pizza. She said they attempted to "lure" her inside the home, but she refused because the building appeared to be "abandoned". She said this scared her so she left the area. Officers arrived at the home and discovered the unit abandoned. Officers located the rear door open and made entry to check the residence for intruders. Officers were unable to locate anyone inside. * * * On Lee Highway an officer responded for a possible disorder. A man said his vehicle had been used by an unidentified homeless man who goes by "David" for more than a week. That man has not returned the vehicle nor was given permission to use it, but the owner said that he does not wish to report it as stolen at this time. * * * At West 3rd Street and Chestnut Street, officers were notified of a homeless man digging through trash cans and leaving trash all over the sidewalk. Officers made contact with the man walking near West 4th Street and Chestnut Street. He said he needed to take the trash out of the trash cans. Officers informed him that he could not take trash out of trash cans and leave it on the ground. He said he would not continue to do so and went on his way. * * * An officer responded to a noise issue on 48th Street regarding a complaint by a woman against a man due to a persistently loud alarm. Speaking with her over the phone, she mentioned an alarm from him blared for about 10 minutes earlier that morning, and it regularly disturbs her throughout the day and night within her residence. She's frustrated and seeks city intervention. The officer promised to contact the owner, suggesting a quieter alarm and mentioning the possibility of citations if the noise persists. The officer provided her with a complaint number for follow-up. * * * On Founders Way police spoke with a woman who said that she was working at the office of UPS on Founders Way when another woman walked inside to obtain a package. She recognized the lady from an altercation that occurred at Tyner High School sometime over the summer. She made some derogatory remarks to the woman and told her to step outside. The woman told her no and then management asked her to leave. The woman stated that she just needed the incident documented and told police she would call back if the woman ever came back. * * * At Hamilton Place Boulevard., a man was reported walking around the store wearing their shoes. She also said he was talking out of his head and not making sense of his words, and ultimately making them feel uncomfortable. She requested the man be trespassed. He was informed he is now trespassed and is understanding of the consequences if he returns. * * * On South Brooks Avenue, an officer spoke with a man who said to police that he witnessed a black male (wearing a blue long sleeve shirt, black pants) go behind the residency. He said that he never saw the man enter the home but just wanted it checked on. Police did not locate the person. * * * On Vance Road police made contact with a man who said his neighbors were playing music too loud. Police made contact with the man and then requested him to turn the music down. He complied. * * * On East 25th Street an officer reported a man and a woman were both trespassed from East Lake Courts. They both understand that they will be arrested if they return. * * * While on routine patrol, an officer observed a silver SUV turn its hazard lights on and swerve to avoid an obstruction in the roadway. As the officer got closer he noticed the obstruction was a blue zero turn lawn mower sitting in the cross walk on Broad Street at West 13th Street. He activated the emergency lights and started to attempt to relocate the mower out of the roadway. With the assistance of a passerby they were able to lift the mower out of the roadway and onto the sidewalk at the corner of Broad Street and West 13th Street. The officer checked with dispatch to try and locate any calls or reports taken involving the lawn mower but nothing could be located. At this time it is unclear who lost a mower in the middle of the roadway. De Wintons golden mole was last seen over 80 years ago, in 1937, and was thought to be extinct until recently. After searching the sand dunes in South Africa for two years, researchers rediscovered the mole at Port Nolloth beach on South Africas northwest coast. The beach is the only location where it has ever been observed. The sightless burrowing animal has a shimmering golden coat and navigates inaccessible burrows in the sand using its sharp hearing and sensitivity to vibrations. Due to the oils that its fur coat secretes, it is said to glide effortlessly through the sand as if it is swimming. A team of scientists searched for evidence of the mole by taking more than 100 soil samples from the dune habitat. Then, they examined the samples for any traces of DNA the mole mightve left in its environment. The environmental DNA (eDNA) could be in the form of skin cells, hair, and other bodily excretions. At Port Nolloth, they came across fresh tracks and burrows that had been revealed by heavy rainfall. With the help of a dog that was trained to sniff out golden moles, they were able to find the trails the creatures left behind. After studying an eDNA sample housed in a museum in Cape Town, the researchers were able to confirm the existence of the lost De Wintons golden mole. Since then, four more golden moles have been found. It is hoped that these findings will help emphasize the significance of turning Port Nolloth beach into a protected area. The analysis of eDNA was crucial to locating the animal. Without this method of detection, it would be incredibly difficult for scientists to obtain the information they did. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. In central Asia, archaeologists from the Kazakhstan Institute of Archaeology have unearthed two ancient gold artifacts from a 1,500-year-old tomb that were adorned with the earliest known depictions of a royal figure from an ancient civilization. The ruler featured in the relics was the great khan, or khagan, of a nomadic group of Turkic-speaking peoples called the Gokturks. They inhabited the region for around three centuries. More specifically, the gold artifacts portrayed a crowned figure sitting on a throne and surrounded by horses and kneeling servants who offered food from a bowl and plate. The finds were made at the tomb of the Eleke Sazy site in Kazakhstan near the countrys borders with China, Mongolia, and Russian Siberia. The tomb dates back to the sixth century, and aside from the gold ornaments, it held the remains of a prince. By the seventh century, his place of burial had developed into a complex memorial site where people would go to worship him. The lead archaeologist, Zainolla Samashev, states that the discovery is of great importance because it provides new information about how the Gokturks conducted enthronement ceremonies. He thinks that the prince may have been part of the royal Ashina clan. The Ashina clan founded two Turkic states between the fifth and eighth centuries. Eventually, they were conquered by another Turkic group who became known as the Uyghurs. The gold objects were discovered in the central chamber of the tomb and measured about 1.5 inches across. One of them suffered damage from the fire during the cremation of the prince. There were holes in the objects, which suggested that they were used as belt buckles. The belt buckles appeared to have been a symbol of power, dominance, and high status in the ancient Turkic states. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News Child star Ricky Schroder creates 'Patriot PBS' to counter Hollywood narratives To challenge the prevailing narratives in mainstream media, Golden Globe Award winner Ricky Schroder has launched an initiative to honor American values by focusing on the lives and stories of veterans, active soldiers, their families and first responders. Schroder, an actor, writer and director, recently founded the Reel American Heroes Foundation (RAHF) in response to what he sees as the lack of conservative values in the media. "We're a nonprofit whose mission is to tell stories, stories that entertain us, inspire us and educate us about why America is a uniquely great nation. So why is she great? Well, it's because of the people, real American heroes, past, present and future who embody the values and the principles which build this great nation," the 53-year-old said. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe "Here's the plan. We're going to build a sort of 'Patriot PBS,' an army of storytellers to counteract much of the negative program coming from Hollywood these days. Our money, our stories, our legacies," he said. "Folks, never has the need been greater for a constructive vision for our collective futures. Storytelling is at the root of our shared history. I know together we can build a foundation that will inspire the world through storytelling." According to RAHF's website, the nonprofit comprises creatives with over 100 years of collective experience in writing, producing and directing films, documentaries, television series and public service announcements. They seek to "strengthen our nation and better our communities nationwide." RAHF has also established the Council on Pornography Reform (CPR), which is dedicated to creating a safer and more responsible digital environment, particularly for younger audiences. The council aims to balance "freedom of choice and the protection of vulnerable populations, fostering a more informed and responsible digital society." RAHF and CPR are actively involved in producing documentaries that highlight the impact of pornography on both adults and children, notes the website. They are also engaging with lawmakers to advocate for raising the age limit for accessing adult content. According to RAHF, these efforts are part of a broader initiative to remind society of the "foundational values of the country." Schroder, who won a Golden Globe Award as a child actor for his role in 1979's "The Champ," is best known for his roles in "Silver Spoons," "Lonesome Dove," "Scrubs" and "24." His work also extends to documenting the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, leading to series like "The Fighting Season." In recent years, Schroder has become increasingly outspoken about his political views, including expressing strong opposition to COVID-19 government mandates and vaccine policies. In February 2022, the actor posted a video on his Instagram account urging U.S. truckers to protest against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Washington D.C. and state capitals. "There will be no peace and there will be no justice" unless "these people" are "held accountable," he said at the time. Schroder's launch of RAHF adds to the increasing number of filmmakers and TV producers developing alternative content to the predominantly left-leaning productions of Hollywood. Last month, the streaming platform Great American Pure Flix, which aims to put "God, family and country first," released "My Christmas Hero," which stars Candace Cameron Bure and pays tribute to the military. Similarly, Daily Wire recently launched Bentkey, an app featuring children's shows that seek to give parents an alternative to streaming services like Disney+, which co-founder Jeremy Boreing said "pushes all the worst excesses of the woke Left." Comedian Rob Schneider, who recently converted to Catholicism, shared with The Christian Post how the U.S. government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in part drew him to the love, compassion and peace that define Christianity. "Jesus has always been there in my life; it was just me running away. But He never ran away. He was always there. So it was just acknowledging it and also realizing there was so much evil that was happening during the COVID and the tyranny that was forcing people to do things against their will. It really did come to a head for me. You had to acknowledge that there is some sort of organized evil. And the opposite of that was much stronger, which is Jesus and God." Schneider recently lent his voice to Bentkey's new animated series "Chip Chilla" and told CP he sees the U.S. as an experiment in freedom and liberty that requires vigilance to maintain. "There is a threat to liberty," he said. "The Founding Fathers, who founded this nation under God, were very astute in saying that this freedom requires eternal vigilance. I don't think our country has been extremely vigilant, either. We've been very lax. I think it's going to take some leaders with some backbone, not just worried about getting reelected, to stand up to this tyranny and to stand up against what I can't describe in any other way but evil." Home News 80 Christians die after being displaced by violence in Manipur MANIPUR, India Tens of thousands of Christians from the Kuki-Zo tribal community in Indias northeastern state of Manipur continue to be displaced, more than eight months after the onset of ongoing violence. During this period, at least 80 individuals, including women and children, have died due to inadequate healthcare and substandard living conditions in makeshift shelters in one district alone. The conflict between the Kuki-Zo and the majority Meitei community, which is largely Hindu, over land rights and identity has been ongoing since May 3, 2023, resulting in at least 158 deaths and displacing nearly 41,000 Kuki-Zo individuals, according to the Indigenous Tribal Leaders Forum. Of these displaced individuals, at least 21,000 are in more than 110 relief camps in Churachandpur district, which is inhabited by the Kuki-Zo people. Mary Beth, who works with the Churachandpur-based Rural Women Upliftment Society, told The Christian Post that at least 80 displaced individuals, including women and children, have died primarily due to the absence of specialist doctors and essential medicine. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Most of these victims had pre-existing conditions like asthma, cancer, renal issues and diabetes, and couldnt afford to move to another state, Beth said, adding that the governments aid, consisting of only one blanket and mattress per family, was grossly insufficient for the needs of the displaced families, averaging four members each. Despite the state capital of Imphal being less than 40 miles away, no medicine or goods have been transported to Churachandpur since May 3, 2023. This has forced locals to rely on supplies from Aizawl, the capital of the neighboring Mizoram state, located roughly 220 miles away on hilly terrain. The violence, despite military presence, continues to victimize people daily, with Meitei civilians reportedly blockading key routes to hinder security personnel. The local police, dominated by the Meiteis, have been accused of attacking the Kuki-Zo community. Some young Kuki-Zo residents, known as village volunteers, have taken up arms for self-defense. The violence began on May 3 over a contentious state high court order asking the state government to consider extending special economic benefits and quotas to the Meiteis, which would also allow them to purchase land in Kuki-Zo territories. Currently, the affirmative action is only for the states tribal communities, including the Kuki-Zo. The violence has also led to destruction of over 7,000 Kuki-Zo homes and more than 350 churches. Some Kuki-Zo women were gang-raped. On Dec. 20, a mass burial was held for 87 of the Kuki-Zo victims of violence in Churachandpur. The state governments response to the violence has been severely criticized. In July 2023, the European Parliament passed a resolution urging the Indian government to urgently restore peace in Manipur. There have been concerns about politically motivated, divisive policies promoting Hindu majoritarianism, and about an increase in activity by militant groups, the resolution stated. There are also accounts of partisan involvement by security forces in the killings have increased distrust in the authorities. Home News Child Evangelism Fellowship releases animated series 'Esther' to combat 'immoral' kids' content In an effort to provide children with wholesome, biblical content in a digital age rife with harmful online material, Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) has announced the release of a new animated series titled "Esther, inspired by the biblical book of Esther. The five-part "Esther" series, which premiered on Jan. 6 with the episode "Once Upon a Time in Persia," focuses on themes such as faith, courage, prayer, grace and providence. Each episode aims to instill biblical values and principles in young viewers, according to a press release sent to The Christian Post. The series also complements the God Protects His People: The Life of Esther Good News Club series from CEF Press. Its the latest offering on CEFs U-Nite TV Series, which unites kids with the Gospel through streaming animated adventures, songs, missionary stories and more. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe More than ever, children are exposed to immoral content on social media, in advertising and on many internet platforms," said CEF Director of Digital Ministries Andrew York. Esther gives parents the confidence to know that their children are watching wholesome, entertaining programming with a biblical message. Statistics from meeting platform firm Zipdo highlight the urgency of this initiative: findings show that 27% of children between 7 and 17 years old have encountered harmful content online, and about 41% of people have experienced negative outcomes due to their online presence. Additionally, 95% of 3- to 4-year-olds access the internet for an average of eight hours per week. Barna Research supports the potential positive impact of such media, noting that children engaged with digital technology are more likely to interact with the Bible through apps, audio or video. Founded 87 years ago, CEF has a long history of reaching children worldwide with the Gospel. In 2022 alone, over 19.5 million children heard the Good News through CEF's ministries, and more than 439,000 teachers were trained globally. In a recent interview with The Christian Post, CEF Executive Vice President Moises Esteves said the international nonprofit ministry has been unwavering in its mission since 1937: ensuring every child is reached with the Gospel, spiritually nurtured and integrated into a local church. The structure is in place, the boots are on the ground to grow this ministry exponentially. And we have strict strategies, like children reaching children, which is teaching older, more mature children to evangelize their peers. Its a beautiful training that were accelerating in the coming years," he said. Children need the hope of the Gospel, they need the hope that God can give into their lives, he said. Theres a great need for the Gospel. The doors are open, and we just need more believers to get on board. Lets reach children for Christ while theyre young, while their hearts are open, because as they grow up, the backpack of sin begins to be heavy, and hearts begin to harden. In recent years, faith-based media has seen increasing success in mainstream markets, indicating a growing interest and availability of such content. Recently, Minno, Slingshot Productions, Sunrise Animation Studios and Angel Studios rolled out the original animated episodic five-part series "Young David. The series aims to give viewers a glimpse into King David's early years and explores the many facets that made him a man after God's own heart. Last year, The Daily Wires new children's show app Bentkey released "A Wonderful Day with Mabel Maclay," which follows Mabel, a cheerful redhead, as she helps children create, explore and think critically about the world around them. Creators Katy and Ryan Chase, devout Christians, told CP they were inspired to develop the show after becoming discouraged by the media options available for young children. "We felt really inspired to find a solution to this problem," Katy, who plays Mabel, said. "We'll turn off a show in the limited amount of time our kids have seen modern kids' content, and they truly have flushed cheeks, dilated eyes, and crazy behavior; they don't want to turn it off. They've obviously been so hyperstimulated by the content. But when we show them older things, the ways shows used to feel, they don't have that reaction. We thought, let's make a modern take on that stuff; it's so good. That's what we've set out to do." Home News CCP skeptic Lai Ching-te wins Taiwans presidential election in defiance of China Taiwans Vice President Lai Ching-te, a prominent skeptic of the Chinese Communist Party, has secured a decisive victory in the presidential election of the self-ruled island. Garnering 40% of the vote in a competitive three-way race, Lais win signifies a continuation of the Democratic Progressive Party's rule, underscoring Taiwans dedication to its unique political trajectory and autonomy. Lais victory over Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, by nearly 7 percentage points, symbolizes Taiwans resilient democracy and its stance against Beijings claims. In the global election year of 2024, in this most anticipated first election, Taiwan has scored the first victory for democracy, The Wall Street Journal quoted Lai as saying in his victory speech. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Domestic issues, like inequality and housing, played a significant role in the election, but Chinas influence was a constant backdrop. As president, I have an important responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, CNBC quoted Lai as saying at a press conference. He added that, at the same time, he is determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China. Lai added, I will act in accordance with our democratic and free constitutional order, in a manner that is balanced and maintains the cross-Straits status quo. Under the principles of dignity and parity, we will use exchanges to replace obstructionism, dialogue to replace confrontation, and confidently present exchanges and cooperation with China. Chinas response to the election, as articulated by a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office and reported by the official Xinhua News Agency, was immediate, reiterating Beijings determination as firm as rock to bring Taiwan to its fold. Beijing opposes any separatist activities aimed at Taiwan independence. This stance reflects the longstanding tension between Taiwans pursuit of self-governance and China's claim over the island. The United States, observing the developments closely, anticipates an escalation of pressure on Taiwan from China. U.S. officials and foreign-policy scholars expect a range of responses from Beijing, including military drills and economic measures, the Journal noted, adding that the Biden administration has urged Beijing to exercise restraint, and is concerned about the potential impact on U.S.-China relations. Lais party does not have a majority in the legislature any longer, which could impose some constraints on his administration and potentially complicating efforts to pass reforms, including those related to security. Lai expressed his intention to work collaboratively with opponents to shape policy, indicating a potential shift in Taiwans internal political dynamics. Chinas anticipated response to Lais victory could include intensified military activities, such as naval incursions into Taiwans territorial waters or drone flyovers. The Chinese Commerce Ministry hinted at suspending tariff reductions on various Taiwanese imports, signaling a possible economic pressure tactic. Analysts predict a challenging period ahead for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, with increased confrontation and clashes likely. Chinese President Xi Jinping has called Taiwans unification with the mainland a historical inevitability, to be achieved by force if necessary, CNN noted, and quoted Amanda Hsiao, senior China analyst for the International Crisis Group, as saying, A conflict involving Taiwan is unlikely in the near term. But if one were to break out, the ramifications would be globally felt. After Taiwan, other countries in the Southeast Asian regions, like South Korea, Indonesia, Cambodia and Japan, are set to hold national elections, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern said, adding that these elections are crucial in determining each nations political direction amid challenging global conditions. However, underlying these elections are significant concerns about Christian persecution and religious freedoms, issues often overshadowed in political discourse and campaigns, ICC commented. Indonesias election is particularly noteworthy, with some presidential candidates linked to hardline Islamic factions, raising concerns for the Christian minority about their ability to worship safely and religious tolerance, the group pointed out. Home News Missing pastors charred body found near Tamil Nadu border Police in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have discovered the charred body of an Evangelical pastor who had been missing for about 10 days. The family identified the body by recognizing his belt, shoes and glasses. Pastor Abraham Parambil Thekkethil, of Vayalar Nagar Manthippara St. Thomas Evangelical Church, was found deceased near the Idukki-Tamil Nadu border, local media outlet Onmanorama reported, adding that his identity was confirmed by his son. Forensic experts have claimed the death might have been a suicide. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The pastor is believed to have self-immolated using petrol. This theory is supported by the presence of an unburned arm, likely used to pour the inflammable liquid, and a nearby lighter. Tamil Nadu fingerprint experts also investigated the scene, according to the report. A missing person report for Abraham was filed last Monday by the churchs head priest, identified only as Jijo. Abraham had been missing since the previous Monday morning. Abraham, who leaves behind a wife and two sons, aged 27 and 24, had ventured into a business producing candles and frankincense, among other items, before the COVID-19 lockdowns. The pandemic severely impacted his business, leading to debts of nearly 2 million Indian rupees (roughly $24,000). Although he received some financial assistance from friends and relatives, it was insufficient to clear his debts. Abrahams visits to his home in the Pathanamthitta area of the neighboring Kerala state were infrequent, occurring roughly every three weeks. After various tests, including DNA analysis, Abrahams remains will be released to his family, according to the report. This incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing violence against Christians in India. Christians, who constitute about 2.3% of Indias population, have faced growing suppression, as noted by the U.S. State Department. The United Christian Forum (UCF) in India reports a significant rise in attacks on Christians since 2014, with a notable surge in 2021 and 2022. The year 2021 was particularly alarming, labeled as the most violent year in Indias history for Christians, with at least 486 violent incidents of persecution reported. The first half of 2023 saw a surge in violence against Christians across 23 states, according to the UCF, which identified 400 incidents, up from 274 reported over the same period the previous year. The UCFs annual report highlighted that vigilante mobs, often composed of religious extremists, frequently disrupt prayer gatherings or target individuals suspected of forcible religious conversions. The UCF attributes the high incidence of Christian persecution to a sense of impunity, leading to mobs threatening and physically assaulting people in prayer before accusing them of forcible conversions to the police. Recently I began a new term as County Executive, an honor granted to me by the people of Erie County. The inaugural ceremony provided an opportunity to review the achievements of the past, while also recognizing the challenges facing Erie County and America. Our county today is vastly different from the one that existed when I took my initial oath of office as Executive in January 2012. If you remember, county government then had been run like a business, abandoning its true owners, the people, when they needed it most. The impact showed: For decades, Erie County lost population, and many thought our best days were behind us. Today, our population is growing and our economy is the strongest it has been in decades. Our debt load was stifling future investment and dragging down our credit rating. Today, that debt load has been reduced by nearly half, and our credit rating is stronger than ever. The Bills were playing regular-season games in Toronto and were in danger of leaving. We secured a fair lease extension, and today a new stadium is being built to keep the Bills here for another 30 years. When our poorest citizens needed access to quality, affordable health care, health clinics were closed and programs cut. Today, the Office of Health Equity and the Departments of Health and Mental Health are active participants in the lives of many, improving health outcomes countywide. The Bethlehem Steel site sat vacant because many believed revitalizing it couldnt be done. Today, hundreds of acres have been transformed to the Renaissance Commerce Park, the result of good government partnering with the private sector for the betterment of all. As we embark on my final term as your County Executive, the work to create the best community possible continues. We will build the stadium, finish Erie NET and continue to strengthen health and mental health programs for all residents, but we will not stop there. We will continue to invest in our roads, parks and libraries, make our community more climate-resilient and our water cleaner. However, our generation of citizens will be remembered for the legacy we leave behind a legacy that encompasses not just the projects we build, but includes protecting the core principles of our democracy. In November, Erie County residents overwhelmingly rejected empty extremism and voted for good governance. They rejected the loud rhetoric of a small contingent of residents that would undo the good work weve done. The fight isnt over. That same extremism festers in our country. Just as cancer untreated will kill a person, there is a cancer metastasizing in America that is threatening our democratic republic. Smart, stable governance is ridiculed and defamed to undermine trust in our public offices. Science and law are dismissed, opinion and slander are considered equally with facts. Social media belligerence and misinformation gets amplified, while truth is strangled. We witnessed the culmination of this malignancy on January 6, 2021, when the institutions of democracy came under attack by our own fellow Americans. On that terrible day, we watched as a traitorous mob beat police officers, erected gallows on the Capitol grounds, and smeared feces inside the building itself while searching for public servants to hang. It is disturbing that Erie County residents were prominent at the insurrection. Sadly, only Franklin County, Ohio, had more residents arrested for participating. Just because you call yourself a patriot, does not make you one. History will decide whether you are a patriot or a traitor. Our nation has not always lived up to its ideals, but has persevered because good people have stepped up in times of crisis to work towards a better future. And the future before us holds much promise if we are brave and strong enough to claim it. I urge you to stay involved, be active in your community or at your childrens school, get involved in voter registration efforts, take part in efforts to beautify our natural assets, help the poor, volunteer your time with a community group, even run for office yourself. Dont be afraid to call out bigotry, hatred and other forms of intolerance if you encounter them. They cannot win unless we stand idly by and do nothing. Most importantly, VOTE. Our time on this stage is passing. Let it not be a time of inaction, but rather a time of common purpose to strengthen the democratic values and institutions that tie us together as Americans. The next generation is watching, waiting to see if we will protect the fundamental freedoms and rights we hold dear. We cannot let them down. Thank you for all that you do to make our community and country a better place and thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your County Executive. Mark Poloncarz was elected in November to an unprecedented fourth term as Erie County Executive. Home News Megachurch pastor on leave for alcohol use on church property, denial of wrongdoing Lead Pastor Jeff Frazier of Chapelstreet Church in Illinois, an influential Evangelical megachurch in the Chicago suburbs, has been placed on leave. The churchs executive council cited the use of alcohol on church premises while performing duties and alleged concealment of this wrongdoing as reasons for this action. On Jan. 3, Sean Glore, chairman of Chapelstreets Executive Council, informed members via email about Fraziers leave of absence, according to The Roys Report, which said Glore highlighted that the decision aims to address issues hindering Fraziers performance, including alcohol possession and use on church premises during duties, willful concealment of these actions, and denials when confronted. Brian Coffey, pastor of leadership and development at Chapelstreet, has been appointed as interim lead pastor, according to the megachurchs website. Coffey, who previously led the church for over two decades, expressed shock and pain over the news, emphasizing the impact on the churchs community of over 5,200 members. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The announcement, initially shared on the churchs website and through a video featuring Glore and Coffey, was removed hours after The Roys Report contacted a church staff member for comment. The church did not respond to the Christian media outlets inquiry about the removal of the webpage and video. However, an archived version of the page remains accessible online, it said. Glore also mentioned the initiation of a process of healing and restoration for Frazier by the church's leadership. He stated that the duration and outcome of this process are uncertain but hoped for positive results for Frazier and the church. Chapelstreet Church, formerly known as the First Baptist Church of Geneva, operates under a governance model involving both pastors and the congregation. The congregation votes on the annual budget and key decisions, while the lead pastor manages day-to-day operations. The executive council, comprising non-staff and staff members, oversees strategic leadership and the churchs mission. In his statement, Coffey reflected on his 25-year ministry alongside Frazier, urging the congregation to support Frazier during his healing journey. He emphasized the importance of accountability and redemption in this process while cautioning against gossip and speculation. Chapelstreet Church is part of Converge Worldwide, a historic Evangelical denomination. Coffey and Frazier previously discussed the church's leadership transition in 2016, which was seen as a model for other congregations. In a 2021 podcast interview, Coffey shared insights into the churchs growth and evolution under his and Fraziers leadership, highlighting the churchs expansion from a small, traditional Baptist church to a multi-campus establishment. Home News This week in Christian history: Puritans apologize for Salem witch trials, Reformation ally dies Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the Puritans holding a day of repentance over the Salem witch trials, the death of a Reformation ally, and the release of a papal edict denouncing conciliarism. Home Opinion Find your secret place: Importance of where you pray (book excerpt) Jesus said something about prayer that I find surprising (which is not surprising). His first piece of advice was not about what to pray but where: When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. The word Jesus used for room is tameion in Greek, and it can also be translated inner room. Within a typical first-century Galilean home was an inner room, kind of like a closet or pantry, used to store food stuffs and supplies. Most of life was spent outdoors, so the home was mostly for sleeping and storage. Jesus advice was to go hide in the tameion and there, in secret, pray. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Im writing this book from a little office in an Oregon forest. Its quiet, and the only distractions are those I brought in my own mind. Why here and not on a street corner downtown? Because Im a person, in a body, and environment matters. Certain environments help me focus on my work, while others sabotage my best intentions. In the same way, if we want to reach the depth of life with God that Jesus modeled, we need to find a diversion-free place to get away and be alone with the Father. It could be an office in the woods, your bedroom late at night, or a park down the street from your house. Or if all else fails, a closet or pantry. The point is that, like Jesus, we need to learn to hide. When you read the four biographies of Jesus in the New Testament, one thing is painfully clear: Jesus life template was based on a rhythm of retreat and return, like breathing in and then out. Jesus would retreat: He would slip away from the noise and press of the crowd and find a place where He could pray, alone or sometimes with a few very close friends. He would inhale. Then He would exhale, or return: He would come back to preach and teach and heal and deliver and offer love. In Mark 1, we read, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. The phrase solitary place is one word in Greek: eremos. It can be translated deserted place, lonely place, or quiet place. In Luke 5, we read the same word again: Jesus often withdrew to lonely places [eremos] and prayed. Notice, He often withdrew to the eremos. On the night before His arrest, Jesus went to Gethsemane, a park outside the city of Jerusalem. The writer Luke tells us he went there as usual. One version has as was His habit. And the writer John added that the betrayer Judas knew to go there because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. For Jesus, the secret place wasnt just a place; it was a practice, a habit, a part of his life rhythm. He seemed to have little hiding places all over Israel where he would slip away to pray. This practice from the life of Jesus has come to be called the spiritual discipline of solitude, silence, and stillness. And no matter your personality type, whether you are a thinker or more of a doer, an introvert craving time alone or an extrovert ready to party all day every day, baby, this practice is absolutely vital to your spiritual life. Henri Nouwen once said, bluntly but accurately, Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Theres a legendary story about Nouwen going to ask Mother Teresa for spiritual direction (to be a fly on that wall . . .). Her advice was spartan: Spend one hour a day in adoration of your Lord and never do anything that you know is wrong. For many of you, an hour a day may be unrealistic. But could you do a half hour? Twenty minutes? Surely you could begin with 10? We all have excuses for why its hard to make time to pray, but many of them are just that excuses. A push-pull dynamic is at work within all our hearts (myself included). Part of us deeply desires God, and part of us resists him and wants to rule over our own kingdoms, thank you very much. But one reason so many people avoid the quiet is just because they have yet to find a way of being with God that is conducive to their personalities and stages of life. Yes, Im an introvert. No, I dont have little kids anymore. Yes, I live in a house, not a tiny apartment. But I think of my friend Tyler who is nothing like mefull-tilt extrovert, action-oriented, father to three young boys. He goes to bed early and gets up every single day at five a.m. (because its the only time hes not needed); he goes outside, prays a psalm on his porch, then goes prayer walking in a park across the street. He does this all year long, including all through the Portland winter. The cold just makes me feel so alive, he confided in me (when I asked if he was crazy). Tyler and I have very different personalities, but we share an ache for God and we have both come to love prayer. I do it sitting cross-legged in the quiet of my room; he does it walking in a city park in a raincoat. Different method, same goal. When the secret place is turned into a preference-based devotional option for introverted intellectuals, its a great tragedy similar to how in the Middle Ages a serious pursuit of Jesus was perceived as only for monks and nuns, not ordinary people. Its a tragedy for extroverts because they never reach the depth of life with Jesus that is on offer. And its a tragedy for introverts, too, because a spiritual discipline that was designed to free us from ourselves and form us into people of self-giving love is twisted into a little me-time for Dad to recharge, which often does nothing but deepen our bondage to self, not liberate it. So, work with your personality, not against it; tailor your practice to your Myers-Briggs type and stage of life but find your secret place. Go there as often as you can. Prioritize it. Fall in love with it, with God. Without quiet prayer, your life with God will wither; with it, you will come alive to the greatest joy of life: a familiar friendship with Jesus. Excerpted from Practicing the Way. Copyright 2024 by John Mark Comer. To be published by WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, on January 16, 2024. Home Opinion How to expose and respond to bad arguments We hear or read arguments every day. We read them in books, newspapers, on the internet, and we hear them on TV news commentaries. Have you ever noticed how one can refute a claim by making an assertion without backing it up? Sometimes when we engage in conversation with others, and when one does not agree with our view, they simply flatly deny our view and make their own claim without an explanation. But heres the thing the person who makes the claim has the burden of proof. Whats more, all of us have had our character attacked. Especially if you are a Christian. That should come as no surprise since Jesus warned us in John 15:18, 20 that, If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you, and If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. What I want to show you here is how to expose and respond to bad arguments when someone asserts without any backup, attacks your character, or tries to lead you off track in a conversation. First, lets define what an argument is. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe What is an argument? An argument is not necessarily a shouting match, and it shouldnt be. It is simply this, a group of statements or premises (reasons) to provide support for a conclusion. In other words, the conclusion should logically follow from the premises. Logical fallacies A fallacy is a defect in an argument that comes from mistaken reasoning. Some fallacies occur so often that they have been given names. Because my audience here is mostly Christian, I will explain one tactic and three fallacies that are most commonly used against Christians. Assertions Sometimes when we are in conversation with others and we state our position on a topic, if the other person disagrees, many times our view is completely disregarded and declared as false with no argument. What people do is offer us a conclusion without any premises. That is called an assertion. For example, if I make any claim about Christianity supported by either Scriptural or historical evidence, and that person replies, Oh thats just false, or That never happened, why should I believe them? I would tell them that they have not offered me any reasons or premises to support their conclusion that what I said is false. All they have done is make an assertion or tell me their own opinion but havent told me why I should believe their claim. You will see this in the comments that are posted below this article and some of my other articles in the Christian Post. But hear this, an assertion is not an argument, and that is what I would tell them. Ad Hominem fallacy Lets face it, in todays culture, many people have lost all self-control and civility. One cant state ones view anymore without another calling them a name in response or being physically attacked. Weve seen it with our own eyes. In logic, name-calling is called an Ad Hominem response an attack on ones character. Heres how it happens one person advances a view, and the other responds by focusing their attention not to the first persons argument, but to the person himself/herself. This is an argument against the person. Lets say that I offer my view about disciplining a child, and someone tells me that Im mean. Heres how I would respond. Okay. Lets say youre right and that Im the meanest person on the planet. But you still havent addressed my argument and told me why Im wrong, and why I should believe your point of view. You have only called me a name. What is your argument for your view? If they dont have an argument, your response will probably be met with more name-calling. When that happens, we know that its no reflection on us. It is because the other person does not have an argument, and so they have to resort to name-calling because that is all they have to offer. Genetic fallacy Say that Im in a conversation with another person telling them why Im a Christian. Their response might be, Oh youre just a Christian because you were born in the U.S.A. If you were born in Saudi Arabia, you would be Muslim. This is a Genetic Fallacy because it dismisses my argument solely based on where Im from rather than addressing my original argument. My response to that would be, Okay, so what? That may be true. But where Im from has no bearing on whether or not Christianity is true. Christianity is true because an event occurred the resurrection. My place of origin has no bearing on the historical evidence of the resurrection. By responding this way, I have returned the focus of the conversation back to the original context. Red Herring fallacy This logical fallacy occurs when the arguer diverts attention from the other arguer by changing the subject to a different one that may still be subtly related to the topic at hand. They then draw a conclusion about this different issue by presuming its true. Then they think they have won the argument. The fallacy gets its name from a procedure used to train hunting dogs to follow a scent. A red herring is dragged across the trail to lead the dogs astray. Red herrings have a very potent scent. Only the best dogs will follow the original scent[1]. I saw this happen at a city council meeting in my town on one occasion. The topic in question was whether or not our city should allow the words, In God We Trust in our city council chambers. One man who was against this motion stood up and started first by degrading the character of the one council member who proposed the motion, and then by saying that this council member did not have such words posted anywhere even in his own place of business. When he sat down, I went next. I proceeded to give the council reasons why they should put these words in the council chamber and then brought their attention to the fact that the gentleman who spoke before me, only insulted the council member, changed the subject completely, and did not give the council a reason why they should not allow In God We Trust in our council chamber. This man committed a red herring fallacy. When this happens, bring the person back to the topic at hand. Do not let them lead you astray. Tell them that what they are discussing is another topic entirely, and not the topic at hand. If they want to talk about that later, you will. But for now, you are focused on the original topic. Then ask what their arguments are to support their view. For too long the Christian has been put on the defense, and most Christians are inept at knowing how to respond. But remember, the one who makes the claim has the burden of proof. When an assertion is made without a backup argument, ask the other person why you or anyone should believe their assertion. Let them defend their position. When someone calls you a name, tell the other person that an attack on your character is not an argument, and ask the other person to defend their position. If someone tries to lead you down a rabbit trail, bring them back to the topic of conversation. You can successfully navigate conversations and stay in the drivers seat when you listen well and stay focused. [1] Patrick J. Hurley, A Concise Introduction to Logic (Stamford, Ct., Cengage Learning, 2015) 136, 137 CLEVELAND -- Black voters are shifting to Donald Trump? The New York Times reported in early November that 22% of Black voters in six key battleground states (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) told pollsters they would support Donald Trump over Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election. Four years ago, only 8% of Blacks nationally voted for Trump, the Times noted. This must be a great concern for the Democratic Party in general and for President Joe Biden in particular. For me, this shift in the voting patterns is impossible to understand. What is it about the rhetoric and resume of Donald Trump that might cause Black voters to shift their support from 8% in 2020 to 22% in 2024? What do these Black voters find so appealing in this twice-impeached, four-times-indicted candidate who lost the 2020 election by over seven million votes? Do these Black voters agree with Trumps Big Lie that he actually won in 2020, but the election was stolen from him through voter fraud? Never mind the fact that over 60 courts and judges from across the country looked at Trumps claims of fraud and dismissed them as baseless. Why would Black voters support someone who referred to Haiti and many nations in Africa and Asia as s***hole nations? Why would Black voters support someone who said in 2017 that there were very fine people, on both sides after Nazis, white nationalists, and KKK members marched in Charlottesville, Virginia, chanting Jews will not replace us? Why would Black voters support someone who is currently invoking the language of Adolf Hitler when he refers to some persons already living in this country as vermin whom he will root out, and speaks about some people seeking to immigrate to this country as poisoning the blood of our country? Why would Black voters support a candidate for president who has consistently assaulted the competence and integrity of three Black law enforcement officers seeking to hold him accountable for his words and deeds? They are: Fani Willis, who is the District Attorney in Fulton County, Georgia; Alvin Bragg, who is the District Attorney in Manhattan in New York City; and Latisha James, who is the Attorney General for New York State? Why would Black voters support someone who peddled the false birther narrative claiming that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya and should have been disqualified from serving as president? Lets approach this shift to Donald Trump in another way. What is it about Joe Biden that prevents these Black voters from staying with him in the next election? Are Black voters unaware of or unimpressed with the jobs created through the American Rescue Plan and Bidenomics? During Trumps administration from January 2017 to January 2021, more jobs were lost than were gained. Are these Black voters not concerned that Trumps biggest political accomplishment was a massive tax cut for the wealthiest Americans? Meanwhile, Biden has signed into law bills that have reduced childhood poverty, begun the major renovation of this nations infrastructure, initiated the first meaningful gun control legislation in 30 years, and addressed the COVID-19 pandemic that Trump largely ignored? Are Black voters who might be struggling with diabetes unmoved that Biden has successfully capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month? Meanwhile, Trump is talking about repealing the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), with no other plan to take its place. The Rev. Marvin McMickle, pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland, recently became the interim senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland in Shaker Heights. Are Black voters concerned that Joe Biden is too old to serve as president even though Donald Trump is only three years younger and quite a few pounds heavier? Do Black voters want as their president a man with strong authoritarian tendencies and an affinity for dictators in Russia, Hungary, China, and North Korea? Do Black voters realize that, in Making America Great Again, they are embracing a return to white supremacy and a loss of many of the rights many Americans now take for granted? Is this the future that these Black voters want for themselves and their children? I certainly hope not! As Aretha Franklin once sang, You better think! The Rev. Marvin A. McMickle last week began serving as interim senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland in Shaker Heights. He is the retired president of the Colgate Rochester (N.Y.) Crozer Divinity School and pastor emeritus of Antioch Baptist Church in Cleveland. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com HARTFORD, Connecticut -- When President Joe Biden made his impassioned plea for more military aid to protect Israel and Ukraine from acts of terror, U.S. Sen. J. D. Vance of Ohio called the linkage disgusting in a social media post. Apparently, Vance would have us turn a blind eye to Vladimir Putins campaign of genocide against the Ukrainian people. He accuses Biden of using dead children in Israel as a pretext for more aid to Ukraine. But Biden was a staunch supporter of Ukraine long before the Hamas terrorist attack against Israelis. Apparently, Vance is trying to make some kind of moral distinction between Hamas slaughter of Israeli children and the Russians slaughter of Ukrainian children in Bucha, Irpin, Mariupol, and other cities. There is no such distinction. War crimes are war crimes. Atrocities are atrocities. The only difference between Hamas despicable attack on Oct. 7 and Vladimir Putins massive invasion of Ukraine is the size of the terrorist forces deployed and the selective outrage of influencers and demagogues like Vance who exploit these tragedies for political gain. Why should Vance be less outraged by Putins barbarity than he is disgusted with Bidens compassion for the Ukrainian people? Since the start of the 2022 invasion, Putins forces have destroyed over 500 churches, 120 hospitals, hundreds of schools and countless residential buildings. They have killed thousands of civilians, and they have abducted thousands of Ukrainian children, sending them into Russias interior for re-education. The Iranian Shahed drones and Kinzhal missiles raining down on Ukrainian cities are just as deadly as those that Hamas launched against Israel. Ukraines vibrant Jewish communities in Odessa and Dnipro have also come under Russian attack. It would be remarkable if, just once, Vance could muster the same outrage to condemn Putins campaign of genocide. President Biden had the courage to visit both Kyiv and Jerusalem to show his compassion and solidarity with the people of Ukraine and Israel after they suffered unspeakable crimes. There is no distinction between the moral depravity and brutality of Putins armies, and the monstrous depravity of Hamas intentional slaughter and sickening brutalities against civilians on Oct. 7. Putin and his propagandists have clearly stated their intention to destroy Ukraine, even if it means killing half its population. That would be 20 million out of 40 million people. Ukrainians have experienced genocide before. Between 1932 and 1933, Soviet leader Josef Stalin starved to death millions of Ukrainians during the Holodomor the forced famine caused by the Soviets systematic confiscation of grain and foodstuffs. If Vance has any doubts about this vile crime against humanity, he should read Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Anne Applebaums Red Famine: Stalins War on Ukraine. And there is a secondary, even more horrific genocide awaiting the world if the West does not prevent Russias blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports. Alexander Kuzma, pictured at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Ukraine, in an undated photo, is the chief development officer for the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation.J.T. Bonner As a senator from agriculturally rich Ohio, Vance should appreciate Ukraines productivity as a global agricultural powerhouse. Even in wartime, with much of its territory contaminated by Russian land mines, Ukraines farmers continue to harvest millions of tons of wheat, corn, sunflowers and other commodities. Before the 2022 invasion, Ukraine produced enough foodstuffs to feed over 400 million people each year ten times the size of its own population. Those stockpiles are now stranded in Odessa and Izmail where Russia continues to bomb Ukraines granaries and export infrastructure. Constriction of global food supplies affects the price of our groceries here in the United States, but millions of people in Ethiopia, Egypt, Somalia, Nigeria, and other countries depend on Ukraines grain exports to prevent mass starvation. Given his attraction to America First isolationism, this might be a tough reality for Vance to embrace. He may turn a blind eye to millions of starving Africans and millions of terrorized Ukrainians. But informed voters and wiser members of Congress should have enough common sense to grasp what is at stake. Alexander Kuzma is the chief development officer for the Ukrainian Catholic University Foundation. A lawyer by training, he has worked since 2010 to raise funds and awareness for the Ukrainian Catholic University -- widely considered the finest institution of higher learning in Ukraine. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com Sophia Danner-Okotie's has ambitious plans for her Nigerian-inspired clothing line but a sense of dread has punctured her optimism as she watches a legal battle being waged against a small venture capital firm that has provided funding instrumental to her boutique brand's growth. The case against the Fearless Fund alleges that one of its grant programs discriminates against non-Black women and asks the courts to imagine a similar program designed only for white applicants. It is among a growing list of lawsuits against corporate diversity and inclusion programs that are making their way through the courts this year. Most have been filed by conservative activists encouraged by the Supreme Court's June ruling ending affirmative action in college admissions and are now seeking to set a similar precedent in the working world. The battle has been a roller coaster of setbacks and victories for both sides, but some companies are already retooling their diversity programs in the face of legal challenges, and the growing expectation that the conservative-dominated Supreme Court will eventually take up the issue. Claudine Gay speaks to the crowd after being named Harvard Universitys next president. Harvard University on Thursday named Gay as its next president in a historic move that will give the nations oldest college its first Black leader. Erin Clark | Boston Globe | Getty Images One conservative activist, Christopher Rufo, claimed another victory this month with the resignation of Harvard's first Black woman president, Claudine Gay, after allegations of plagiarism and a furor over her congressional testimony about antisemitism. Rufo, who has cast Gay's appointment to the job as the culmination of diversity and inclusion efforts that have sidelined conservative voices in higher education, vowed on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, not to "stop until we have abolished DEI ideology from every institution in America." Dozens of prominent companies have already been targeted, as well as a wide array of diversity initiatives, including fellowships, hiring goals, anti-bias training and contract programs for minority or women-owned businesses. Some challenges have focused on policies adopted after the 2020 protests over George Floyd's killing by police as companies pledged more efforts to redress racial inequalities in the workplace. But others have targeted decades-old diversity programs that anti-affirmative action advocates have long tried to dismantle. Diversity and inclusion experts say the legal backlash is already having a chilling effect over corporate efforts to address workplace inequality at a time when investment and interest in such initiatives have slowed following the post-Floyd surge. Job openings for diversity officers and similar positions have declined in recent months. The combined share of venture capital funding for businesses owned by Black and Latina women has dipped back to less than 1% after briefly surpassing that threshold at 1.05% in 2021 following a jump in 2020, according to the nonprofit advocacy group digitalundivided. The case against the Fearless Fund, which provides early-stage funding to businesses led by women of color, exemplifies the unpredictable legal landscape. In late September, a federal judge in Atlanta refused to block a Fearless Fund grant contest for Black women business owners, saying they are donations protected by the First Amendment and the lawsuit was likely to fail. But days later, a three-judge federal appeals panel suspended the contest, calling it "racially exclusionary" and saying the suit was likely to succeed. "Am I going to be able to apply to grants like these? Are they even going to exist?" said Danner-Okotie, who received $10,000 from a separate Fearless Fund grant. "With this last ruling, it seems like no." Danner-Okotie first saw the potential for scaling her clothing brand when the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the boutiques and fairs that carried her designs. Searching for ways to increase her online sales, she landed a contract with subscriber-based retailer Stitch Fix and used a government pandemic relief loan to fulfill the order. But when she tried to build on that success, she ran into roadblocks as banks declined her loan applications, deeming her business model risky since her clothes are handmade by Nigerian tailors. The Fearless Fund, Danner-Okotie said, grasped her mission of designing clothes for American women looking to celebrate their African heritage. The grant was a game changer, allowing her to contract a factory in India to make uniquely designed fabrics for her team of tailors in Nigeria. But now, future funding from the program is in jeopardy. The lawsuit against the Fearless Fund is being brought by the American Alliance for Equal Rights, a nonprofit founded by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum, the man behind the college admissions cases the Supreme Court ruled on in June. The outcome of the case could be a bellwether for similar diversity programs. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for Jan. 31. Adjusting diversity programs Faced with a messy legal landscape, companies are being cautious. Most major companies have stuck by diversity initiatives that many ramped up in the face of pressure from some shareholders, employees and customers. Starbucks and Disney are among companies that have so far prevailed in court against challenges to their inclusion policies. But some have made changes to diversity programs to try to protect them from legal scrutiny. Among those are two prominent law firms that had faced lawsuits by Blum's group. The firms, Morrison Foerster and Perkins Coie, opened their diversity fellowship programs to all applicants of all races in October, changes the companies said were in the works before Blum's lawsuits, which he subsequently dropped. In February, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer dropped race-based eligibility requirements for a fellowship program designed for college students of Black, Latino and Native American descent, even though a judge had dismissed a lawsuit against the program two months earlier. Despite the change, the conservative nonprofit suing Pfizer, Do No Harm, is appealing the lawsuit's dismissal, arguing the fellowship's goals remain the same. In May, Comcast said business owners of all backgrounds would be eligible to apply for a grant program originally intended for women and people of color when it launched in 2020. The telecommunications giant settled a lawsuit last year over the program brought by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty on behalf of the white owner of a commercial cleaning business. The Wisconsin Institute filed another lawsuit in October, this one on behalf of two construction firms. The lawsuit seeks to dismantle the U.S. Department of Transportation's Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, which dates back to the Reagan administration and requires that 10% of funds authorized for highway and transit federal assistance programs be expended with small businesses owned by women, minorities or other socially and economically disadvantaged people. Dan Lennington, an attorney with the Wisconsin Institute, said he considers Comcast's changes "progress," but the anti-affirmative action movement is looking for a broader victory that could change case law on workplace diversity programs, and the lawsuit against the DOT has that potential. The Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action "opened up a whole new world," Lennington said. "This decision just really injected new life into the whole debate." A gray area on hiring Denmark's King Frederik X ascended the throne on Sunday, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, with big crowds gathered in the capital to witness history. Margrethe, 83, stunned the nation on New Year's Eve when she announced she planned to become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. The succession was formalized the moment Margrethe signed the declaration of her abdication during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation. The new king was later proclaimed by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on the balcony of the parliament, Christiansborg castle, with the words "Long live King Frederik the 10th." "My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy," Frederik said in his first speech as king from the balcony overlooking large crowds of cheerful people. Moments later, Frederik, 55, was joined on the balcony by his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who is now queen, their children Christian, 18, who is the heir to the throne, Princess Isabelle, 16, and twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, both 13. In close to freezing temperatures, people from all over Denmark converged on the capital to witness events, in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying in the nation of nearly six million. "It brought tears in a joyful way to see him do so well up on the balcony, both with his speech and when Mary came out and held his hands and finishing with a kiss," said Kasper Wiigh Larsen, 45. "It has really been worth it to stand here and wait all day," he said. The new king and queen later rode by horse carriage through packed crowds in the streets of Copenhagen back to their residence, Amalienborg, a royal complex built in the 1750s and located in central Copenhagen. The couple will continue to reside with Margrethe, who will retain her title as queen, in Amalienborg albeit in their respective palaces in the octagonal complex. The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86% said the same about Mary. Margrethe, who had previously said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give a reason for her decision to step down but said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. The China playbook is changing, after decades of rapid growth. Whether the country is headed toward an extreme of Japan-style stagnation remains to be seen. China's attempt to transition to what Beijing calls high-quality growth will take time to play out. Goldman Sachs calls the China story today one of "rebalancing," and has picked 40 buy-rated stocks to play the theme. "One key takeaway from the past year is that there are ways to make money even in a sustained bear market, akin to the experiences from Japan's lost decades," Goldman's Chief China Equity Strategist Kinger Lau and a team wrote in a Jan. 9 report. They predict certain consumer names, artificial intelligence companies and rising global players will be among the Chinese stocks that can do well. China equities have yet to shake off the doldrums of 2023. The mainland Chinese and Hong Kong stock indexes are all down for the year so far. "People often aspire for positive changes at the start of the year. However, the sentiment of investors and policy advisors attending our China New Economy Summit in Beijing last week remained weak," Morgan Stanley's Chief China Economist Robin Xing said in a Jan. 11 report. "What is the way out? Swifter shift to active fiscal easing and economic rebalancing towards consumption," the report said. December data and fourth-quarter GDP due out late Tuesday New York time may give more clues on China's economic trajectory and whether policymakers need to act. Goldman predicts China grew by 5.3% last year, and forecasts a slowdown to 4.8% this year. "While underperforming global equities in 2023, MSCI China has recorded three +10% tradable rallies during the year," Lau wrote in a separate report earlier this month, noting the gains typically centered on policy expectations. The report also pointed out that both mutual and hedge fund mandates globally are running multi-year low allocations to Chinese stocks. Against such uncertainty, China's top officials are stepping up engagement with the international finance world again. Premier Li Qiang is set to speak Tuesday at Davos. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in the past week met with global financial executives who are part of the Chinese securities regulator's international advisory council. Its listed members include executives at Invesco and Goldman Sachs. Vice Premier He is also director of the office of the Central Commission for Financial and Economic Affairs, a position once held by trade negotiator Liu He. For China's economic outlook, comparisons to Japan may ultimately be more academic as the debate has become more about the extent to which national security has replaced economic growth as the priority. Beijing has made clear it wants to bolster domestic tech capabilities, while dialing back on debt-driven growth. Goldman's picks Goldman's rebalancing stock picks include what are called "little giants," companies Chinese authorities have selected to support out of strategic interest. The four such names in the portfolio are: Friendess Electronics a Shanghai-listed company that sells hardware and software systems for laser cutting. Asymchem Laboratories a contract developer and manufacturer of drugs. Several of its facilities are registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as establishments that manufacture drugs distributed in the U.S. or available for import to the U.S. The stock is listed in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. StarPower Semiconductor a manufacturer of power semiconductors, used to control electricity flow in home appliances and solar power grids. The company is listed in Shanghai and has a branch in Europe. SICC a producer of silicon carbide, which is used to make semiconductors. The company is listed in Shanghai and has a subsidiary in Japan. Even under a state more concerned with security, private sector investment in manufacturing is "very strong," Arthur Kroeber, partner at Gavekal Dragonomics, told The Wire China late last year. "What that tells you is people are still moving ahead with a lot of opportunities in various sectors," he said, pointing to cancer drugs, industrial robots and clean energy equipment. Beijing's official language casts the matter as one of "high-quality development." "Very often I'm asked the question, will China ignore development as it talks more about security?" Liu Jianchao, minister of the international department of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, said at a Council on Foreign Relations event last week. "We believe high quality of development can only be achieved in a highly secure environment," Liu said. "But what we pursue is a balanced and positive interplay between security and development. We will never ignore development. And it holds the key to solving all the problems and challenges in China." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. With a midair emergency, disappointing profit forecast and more aircraft groundings after only two weeks, the airline industry is already off to a turbulent 2024. That only vindicates Warren Buffett, who dumped $4 billion worth of airline stocks in the pandemic and will most likely never give the industry another chance. Buffett, chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway and renowned as the "Oracle of Omaha," has long said the airline business suffers from a low-margin, capital-intensive model as well as additional risks stemming from forces outside its control, like the price of jet fuel and geopolitical uncertainty. "It's a labor intensive, capital intensive, largely commodity-type business," Buffett said during the annual meeting of Berkshire shareholders in 2013. "That's been a deathtrap for investors." Being a leader of an airline is also a thankless, burdensome job since so many problems can arise, Buffett said. "I mean, believe me, no joy being a CEO of an airline," he said in 2020. "It's a very, very, very difficult business because you're dealing with millions of people every day and if something goes wrong for 1% of them, they are very unhappy." Buffett, one of the world's biggest dealmakers with mountains of cash on hand, said he's been approached many times by investors wanting to start an airline business. But the entreaties only turned off Buffett. "I've had probably a dozen proposals over the last 25 or 30 years from people that that want to get into the airline business ... and a number of them have. It's sexy for some reason," Buffett said in 2013. As Buffett's late business partner Charlie Munger once quipped: "You really couldn't create another railroad, but you can create another airline. And that's what we don't like about it." Selling airlines In 2020, Buffett revealed that Berkshire sold all of its equity holdings in the U.S. airline industry. That included stakes worth a combined $4 billion in all four legacy carriers United Airlines , American Airlines , Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines . Buffett said at the time that the pandemic might have fundamentally changed the industry. "The world has changed for the airlines. And I don't know how it's changed and I hope it corrects itself in a reasonably prompt way," Buffett said then. "I don't know if Americans have now changed their habits or will change their habits" as a result of the shutdown, the prolonged Covid outbreak and canceled travel plans. Back then, many Buffett watchers were left disappointed as shares of those carriers soon staged an epic rebound, more than doubling from their 2020 lows. Even former President Donald Trump weighed in on the trade, saying that Buffett has been right "his whole life" but made a mistake selling airlines. However, Buffett might still get the last laugh since, despite their bounce off the lows, the carriers never fully recovered from the pandemic damage. In fact, the U.S. Global JETS ETF (JETS), which tracks 50 U.S. and international airlines, remains about 40% below pre-Covid levels in 2019. 'Bad century out of the way Buffett shocked many when he returned to the industry in 2016, buying 10% of the four largest U.S. airlines. By that time, he had avoided the sector for a decade and had been so opposed to investing there that he told shareholders in a 2007 letter that "if a farsighted capitalist had been present at Kitty Hawk, he would have done his successors a huge favor by shooting Orville down." One exception during that prior decade came when Berkshire bought NetJets, which sells fractional ownerships shares in private business jets, for $725 million in 1998 When Buffett broke his own rule to buy the airline stakes in 2016, he chose to believe that the industry had finally strengthened after being plagued by bankruptcies throughout in the 20th century. "It's true that the airlines had a bad 20th century. They're like the Chicago Cubs. And they got that bad century out of the way, I hope," Buffett said i n an CNBC interview at the time. "The hope is they will keep [aircraft] orders in reasonable relationship to potential demand." Bumpy ride all along The legendary investor's first investing experience with the industry was buying more than $350 million of USAir convertible preferred stock in 1989 . Initially Berkshire took a bath on the USAir holding, but it eventually just about broke even. But Buffett was chastened. "It could've been worse, but it was a mistake," Buffett said at Berkshire's 1995 annual meeting . In the following year's shareholder letter, in 1996 , Buffett repeated an old joke about investing in airlines: "When Richard Branson, the wealthy owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, was asked how to become a millionaire, he had a quick answer: 'There's really nothing to it. Start as a billionaire and then buy an airline.'" Hunter Biden, son of U.S. President Joe Biden, sits with his attorney Abbe Lowell as he makes a surprise appearance at a House Oversight Committee markup and meeting to vote on whether to hold Biden in contempt of Congress for failing to respond to a request to testify to the House last month, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 10, 2024. House Republicans said Sunday that they intend to issue new subpoenas for President Joe Biden's son Hunter in the coming weeks after his lawyers agreed to comply with a "proper" subpoena if it was requested. "As an accommodation to Mr. Biden and at your request, we are prepared to issue subpoenas compelling Mr. Biden's appearance at a deposition on a new date in the coming weeks," House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, wrote in a letter to the president's son lawyer, Abbe Lowell. The Sunday letter responds to Lowell's Friday message offering to accept a "new proper" subpoena should Comer and Jordan decide to issue one. In their reply, Comer and Jordan said they would take Lowell up on Biden's "newfound willingness to testify." Hunter Biden in December agreed to give public testimony but refused a congressional subpoena to testify behind closed doors, sending House Republicans into a fury. Comer and Jordan led an effort to hold Biden in contempt of Congress for defying the December subpoena, which Congress will vote on next week. In his Friday letter, Lowell called the initial subpoenas legally invalid because they were issued before the presidential impeachment inquiry that they served was formalized, which Comer and Jordan denied on Sunday. "To be clear, the issuance of these subpoenas does not in any way suggest or imply that the Committees believe the assertions in your January 12 letter to have any merit," Comer and Jordan wrote. Lowell also criticized Jordan and Comer for pursuing a vote to hold Biden in contempt for defying an initial congressional subpoena for a closed-door deposition in December, despite Biden agreeing to give public testimony. Jordan himself was unanimously referred to the bipartisan House Ethics Committee for refusing to respond to a subpoena to testify about what he knows about former President Donald Trump's role in the U.S. Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Lowell, Comer and Jordan did not immediately respond to requests for comment. House Republicans have been investigating the president's son's foreign business dealings, claiming with little concrete evidence that President Joe Biden unlawfully benefitted from them. The Biden family and the White House have denied any allegations of wrongdoing. The Hunter Biden investigation is part of a broader impeachment inquiry into the president, which is one of several impeachment probes that House Republicans are currently leading. Laguna Beach, California Luciano Lejtman | Moment | Getty Images Retirees confront high costs to stay at home The high costs of aging in place are one of the biggest obstacles that prevents older adults from fulfilling their desire to stay put, experts say. About 10,000 baby boomers are expected to turn age 65 every day until 2030. An estimated 70% of those individuals will need long-term care services at some point, according to Genworth Financial. In 2021, the highest year-over-year increase in cost was in home-care services, Genworth's research found. The median annual cost for in-home care was $61,776 for a home health aide to provide hands-on personal care and $59,488 for homemaker services to help with household tasks. Those costs have been influenced by supply and demand, according to Genworth. watch now As more people age and require care, the Covid pandemic led to an insufficient supply of professionals to meet care needs, as well as a high turnover rate. Preferences for aging in place are also showing up in the real estate market. Baby boomers currently represent the biggest portion of home buyers, according to Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at the National Association of Realtors. More than half of boomers are saying that the property they are purchasing now is where they plan on living for the rest of their lives, a sentiment that has increased since the Covid pandemic. "There definitely is a mindset change, where people are saying, 'I do want to stay put, I don't necessarily want to move into a nursing home or into assisted care,'" Lautz said. 'Forever grateful' for community Sylvia Bradshaw, an 84-year-old Laguna Beach resident who moved to the city in 1983, describes it as "paradise." She has lived there since that time, apart from a stint when she and her husband relocated to Ireland. Still, the couple held on to their home, the city's third-oldest house, which was built in 1897. "My husband had ideas about selling our home," Bradshaw said. "But I would never sell it, because I said 'Once it's gone, it's gone forever.'" Bradshaw's husband was a teacher in the city's high school and later became a lawyer. More recently, he had health struggles that made it difficult for the couple to keep up with yard work, Bradshaw said. As members of the Laguna aging-in-place community, they had access to help. Redman helped arrange for a team of workers to come to clean up the yard, which included removing 17 bags of scraps and trimming a roughly 30-year-old fig tree. "Now people can see that there's a house there; they just couldn't see it [before]," said Bradshaw, who said she is "forever grateful" for the gesture. The support of the community also was especially helpful in sorting through the hospice care issues prior to her husband's recent death. "Anything that I've needed, I've gotten help," Bradshaw said. That has included help sorting through insurance choices, legal advice, transportation assistance and classes and social events, said John Bradshaw, Sylvia's son. Having the elder community support his parents is a "big comfort," John said, particularly as he no longer lives in Laguna Beach. "It is just such a wonderful relief," John said. "It's like having a second family, this team of people really supporting my parents, and others like them, to be able to stay and enjoy this part of the country." What to do if you want to age in place If you want to age in place, it helps to start planning early to make sure it's feasible, said Carolyn McClanahan, a physician and certified financial planner who is the founder of Life Planning Partners in Jacksonville, Florida. "We actually start bringing it up with clients in their 50s and 60s: Where do you want to live out the end of your life?" McClanahan said. "Of course, most people do say, 'I want to live in my home.'" It's important to be realistic about those plans. Ask yourself whether the decision to age in place is just "rationalized inertia," or giving yourself an out when it comes to confronting other important aging decisions, said Tom West, senior partner at Signature Estate and Investment Advisors in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley participate in the Republican presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 10, 2024. Mike Segar | Reuters WASHINGTON Nikki Haley has built her presidential campaign on the support of voters eager for a serious, experienced, conventional Republican who offers an alternative to a second Trump term. As a former ambassador to the United Nations and two-term South Carolina governor, Haley has a genuine record of choices she has made, on policy issues that range from immigration reform to labor rights, to support for Israel. No surprise then, that Haley's presidential campaign website features a "Record of Results" tab with more than a dozen subtopics. Any voter curious about what Haley has done so far in her career can quickly find it on her site. But a voter curious about what Haley would do if she were elected president in November will need to look harder. A lot harder. The competition Typically, a presidential campaign makes it as easy as possible for the public to learn what the candidate would do if elected. Former president and Republican front-runner Donald Trump has dubbed his platform Agenda 47 and posted it at the top of his campaign website. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former U.S. Marine, calls his policy section the Mission. Like Trump's Agenda 47, the Mission sits on top of his campaign site. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has posted 25 policy commitments, dubbed America First 2.0, where anyone visiting his site would see them. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison calls his policy platform Solutions. Like the others, it is front and center online. But not Haley. Unlike the other Republicans vying for the 2024 nomination, Haley does not have a tab on her campaign website that lays out her presidential policy platform and explains what she would do in office Haley's missing agenda This is not to say Haley does not have policy plans. She does, and she has shared them via op-eds and speeches. But a curious voter who visited Haley's campaign website would need to navigate through press clips and TV appearances to find one. CNBC reached out to Haley's campaign to ask why they do not have a comprehensive policy agenda on the campaign site. "I don't know what you mean," a Haley spokesperson replied, along with a link to a document laying out Haley's economic agenda, dubbed the Freedom Plan, which she released in September. The link revealed something unexpected: The document did not appear under any of the sections into which Haley's campaign site was divided, like "News," or "About Nikki" or "Action Center." Instead, the plan was independently located at www.nikkihaley.com/the-freedom-plan. The reason this matters is that in practice, that document would be very difficult for a person to find unless they had been given the link. Nikki Haley, the candidate of the Republican Party in the 2024 presidential elections in the US, delivers remarks during a Town Hall campaign event in the Lowcountry in Bluffton SC, United States on November 27, 2023. Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty Images The logo of London Stock Exchange Group Plc in the office atrium in the City of London, UK, on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. London police on Sunday arrested six pro-Palestine activists for alleged plans to lock themselves to the doors of the London Stock Exchange to attempt to disrupt trading amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The arrests came after a Friday tip from U.K. newspaper The Daily Express, which had sent a reporter undercover to Palestine Action group meetings where the protests were coordinated. "I'm grateful to the Express for their willingness to provide the information gleaned from their own investigation," Metropolitan Police Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas said in a statement. "It was instrumental in helping us intervene successfully." The six Palestine Action protestors, all in their 20s or early 30s, planned to stage a week of protests, starting Monday morning. They aimed to cause financial losses for U.K. companies doing business with the Israel Defense Force amid the war in Gaza, which reached the 100-day mark on Sunday. Since the Israel-Hamas war began on Oct. 7, London has been the site of some of the largest demonstrations calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The activists intended to start their week of protests on Monday morning by chaining their necks to the doors of the London Stock Exchange to prevent anyone from entering, according to the Express' report published Sunday. They also planned to spray fire extinguishers and shoot fake bank notes painted red out of "money guns" around the stock exchange, according to the Express report. The goal was to disrupt trading that might translate to millions or billions in financial losses. London's Metropolitan Police Force is aware that the protestors intended to stage disruptions throughout the week and said it is coordinating accordingly "to deal with any disruption in the coming days." Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a joint press conference with Lithuania's President (not in picture) in Vilnius, Lithuania, on January 10, 2024. Ukraine pushed ahead with its peace formula to end nearly two years of war with Russia with a meeting of national security advisers from around the world in Davos on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos later in the week, was not in the opening morning session, which included 81 participants from countries and international organizations. Zelenskiy was represented by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak at Sunday's talks, which were also attended by the U.S. special representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, as well as James O'Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. As concerns grow about ongoing U.S. support for the war in Ukraine during an election year, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are both expected to address the WEF, which officially starts on Monday evening. Switzerland, which hosted the NSA representatives, said the Ukraine peace talks aimed to finalise principles "for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine" at the level of national security advisers. The principles, it said in a statement last week, should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. The role of the Global South in Ukraine's peace formula talks has come into focus in Davos. Many of the non-aligned countries from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that have largely stayed on the sidelines over Ukraine will be represented in the Swiss mountain resort this week. Nigeria's national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu could be seen attending the NSA meeting. Yermak said that there were participants from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and 6 South American countries. "Countries from the Global South are increasingly involved in our work," Yermak said on his Telegram account. Ukraine, with strong backing from its allies, has consistently said it will not give up until it has reclaimed every piece of territory that Russia has taken. It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula. Migrants walk by a string of buoys placed on the water along the Rio Grande border with Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 15, 2023, to prevent illegal immigration entry to the US. A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande on Friday night in Eagle Pass, Texas, after U.S. border agents were prevented from responding, federal officials said Saturday. In a statement, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said U.S. Border Patrol agents were made aware of the migrants' distress by the Mexican government but were unable to enter the area from the U.S. side after Texas National Guard troops, under the direction of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, prevented them from doing so. "In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area," the spokesperson said. The deaths were highlighted Saturday by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, who said the deceased were part of a group of six migrants in the river Friday night who were in distress. Mexican authorities recovered the bodies of three of the migrants Saturday, Cuellar said in a statement. Identities and exact ages were unavailable. "Border Patrol attempted to contact the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard, and DPS Command Post by telephone to relay the information, but were unsuccessful," Cuellar said in the statement. He continued: "Border Patrol agents then made physical contact with the Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard at the Shelby Park Entrance Gate and verbally relayed the information. However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants even in the event of an emergency and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation." In its own statement, the Texas Military Department disputed that narrative, saying its personnel were made aware of a distress report but could find no migrants needing help in the river and later were made aware of an incident nearby, on the Mexican side of the river, that did not require their help. The department said it had been in touch with Border Patrol on Friday night, and the agency said Mexican authorities did not need the Texas department's help. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," it said. Abbott's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Texas Department of Homeland Security referred such requests to the Texas Military Department, saying it was not involved in Friday night's incident. The mayor of Eagle Pass, Rolando Salinas Jr., said during a news conference Thursday he received a phone call the previous day from a Texas Department of Pubic Safety official informing him the state was taking emergency custody of Shelby Park, which lies along the river and is in the area where the three migrants were in distress. Salinas said a Texas Military Department official confirmed the takeover. The department directs the Texas National Guard. The move came amid an ongoing court battle between the Department of Homeland Security and Texas over access to the border in Eagle Pass, which DHS says is cordoned off by concertina wire erected by the state. A lower court in December ruled in favor of Texas and barred federal agents from removing the barriers. The latest U.S. Supreme Court filing by the Department of Homeland Security this week renews its request to prevent the state from blocking federal agents from area. "Border Patrol's normal access to the border through entry points in the federal border barrier is likewise blocked by the Texas National Guard installing its own gates and placing armed personnel in those locations to control entry," the filing stated. The filing continued, "And the Texas National Guard has likewise blocked Border Patrol from using an access road through the preexisting state border barrier by stationing a military Humvee there." White House spokesperson Angelo Fernandez Hernandez told Reuters in a statement on Friday that the state's efforts to block Border Patrol agents were essentially a form of political theater. "Governor Abbott continues his extreme political stunts that not only seek to demonize and dehumanize people, but that also make it harder and more dangerous for Border Patrol to do their jobs," he said. The park takeover appeared to be a component of Abbott's attempts to highlight migrant crossings and shame the Biden administration for what he and other top Republicans have characterized as an open-border policy. Abbott has been sending planeloads of migrants to cities led by elected Democrats that have vowed to care for them or otherwise provide sanctuary. At a news conference Friday, Abbott said the Eagle Pass takeover was legal and necessary to prevent border crossings and "maintain operational control." The governor was criticized for remarks during a radio appearance Jan. 5 during which he said Texas was doing everything short of killing migrants in order to stop illegal crossings. "The only thing we are not doing is we're not shooting people who come across the border, because, of course, the Biden administration would charge us with murder," he said. The Department of Homeland Security on Saturday criticized Abbott's policies as beyond everyday politics. "The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks," it said. "The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrol's enforcement of U.S. law." A CBP spokesperson expressed a similar sentiment Saturday: "We are saddened by tragic migrant drownings in Eagle Pass. We remain gravely concerned by actions that prevent the U.S. Border Patrol from performing their essential missions of arresting individuals who enter the United States unlawfully and providing humanitarian response to individuals in need." Semiconductor stocks had a good year in 2023, bouncing back from the post-pandemic underperformance of 2022. The PHLX Semiconductor index (Sox) index surged 65% in 2023, well outpacing the S & P 500. BofA says it's bullish on the sector this year despite a strong run in 2023, predicting that it could be the start of an upcycle. The last three upcycles drove an average return of 67% in the Sox index, it said in a Jan. 10 note. The bank pointed out tailwinds such as artificial intelligence infrastructure, growing chip design complexity, and chip content in vehicles. UBS said in a Jan. 10 note that it's optimistic about the memory chip sector. Memory chips have been in the spotlight as AI ramps up. For example, memory with high performance and bandwidth is used in Nvidia's H100 graphics processing units. GPUs underpin most generative AI tools. "AI to continue to 'lift all boats' for DRAM stocks," it said. DRAM, or dynamic random access memory, is a type of semiconductor memory needed for data processing. CNBC Pro pored over January's Wall Street research to identify some of analysts' top 2024 semiconductor picks. Micron Several analysts from UBS, BofA, Wolfe Research, KeyBanc Capital Markets and Mizuho named Micron as one of their top picks. Wolfe Research says Micron will likely benefit from a strong recovery in 2025 when it comes to DRAM and NAND. NAND is another type of memory that stays viable without a power source. Wolfe's bull case scenario assumes a 40% year-on-year growth in DRAM and 50% for NAND driving overall revenue growth to 42% year on year in 2025 for Micron. BofA, KeyBanc and Mizuho gave Micron a price target of $100, or potential upside of around 20%. Nvidia Despite Nvidia's epic 239% rise in 2023, several still named it as among their top picks for this year. KeyBanc says it "remains the best positioned play for generative AI." "Despite significant appreciation in 2023 (+239%), we expect outsized AI tailwinds to sustain, supported by growing demand backlog and incremental supply," KeyBanc said. "NVDA's dominant market position, matured ecosystem, and leadership in silicon performance should position it to benefit from strong genAI demand and a $150B [total addressable market] in 2027." Wolfe said Nvidia is its "Alpha List" pick given its confidence in the company's earnings over the next several quarters, and the long-term opportunities from its AI dominance. KeyBanc gave the stock a $650 price target, while BofA has a $700 price target. That represents potential upside of around 18% and 27%, respectively. BofA said Nvidia is its top sector pick, owing to its generative AI dominance, which could generate $100 billion of incremental free cash flow over the next two years. Broadcom Some "selectivity" will be needed in the semiconductor space this year, Bernstein said in a Jan. 4 note. It named Broadcom as its top pick, driven by a strong AI story, "phenomenal" financial performance, and attractive valuation. Mizuho said Broadcom "remains an industry leader" and continues to see strength in its broad semiconductor portfolio, which includes broadband, software, wireless (iPhone) and networking tech. Both Bernstein and Mizuho gave the stock a price target of $1,250, implying about 13% upside. TSMC Bernstein called Taiwan's TSMC its "2024 best idea" in its January note on Asia semiconductors. It gave TSMC an outperform rating with a price target of 750 New Taiwan dollars ($24). Bernstein said it supports TSMC's claim that its N3P product, a semiconductor process technology, will be more competitive than Intel's similar product, 18A. "We advocate TSMC will be more competitive and the best proof of that will be Intel extending the outsourcing to TSMC to include the compute tile of its CPUs," said Bernstein, referring to the CPU core. It said this is one reason it named TSMC its best idea for the year. UBS, for its part, said TSMC is "poised for a strong rebound" in 2024. "We think TSMC is in a sweet spot for growth over the next 18 months," the bank said, listing factors such as cloud AI, edge AI from the smartphone, PC and internet of things markets. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. 2024 seems to be on track to become the best year for Indian aviation. With the provisional estimates of more than 150 million domestic and 68 million international passengers taking to the sky in 2023, the total air passenger traffic is predicted to be well north of 225 million in the coming year. Yields continue to be strong and a confluence of factors notably consolidation within the airline sector, significant weakness of competitors and OEM supply chain challenges means that there is strong demand chasing limited supply. The euphoria will only be tempered by input costs, VISA processing times, operational challenges and overseas competition. For the year ahead, all data and patterns point to the fact that travel demand will continue to be strong, and the outlook for air travel out of India looks extremely strong. Domestic travel dominance of metros to continue Domestic travel in 2024 will continue to be dominated by the six metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata. Together these account for more than 55% of all passengers with Delhi leading the charge followed by Mumbai and Bengaluru. The economy class passenger dominates the skies with business and premium economy together accounting for less than 5% of the total travel demand. Interestingly Tier2 and Tier3 cities will continue to see an increase in premium demand and in associated bookings. If 2023 patterns are to be followed, the cities of Kochi, Lucknow, Bhubaneshwar, Srinagar, Udaipur witnessed consistent demand for premium offerings (business class and premium economy) through the year. With newer destinations like Ayodhya already being included in domestic networks and enhanced airport capacity in Goa, Port Blair and Tiruchirappalli the domestic traveller is set to have a better travel experience (albeit a more expensive one). For now, with only two airlines namely, Vistara and Air India - with a business class offering, the ability to capture the premium will continue to be dependent on schedule. Interestingly both airlines are owned by the Tata group and set to merge and in time this could also open up space for a domestic competitor with a similar offering. Airline-wise the market for 2024 will continue to be dominated by Indigo which ended 2023 with an average market share north of 60%. This was followed by the Tata owned airlines namely Air India, Vistara, AIX Connect (erstwhile AirAsia India) with a market share of 26%. Challenges with capacity driven by supply chain challenges impacting OEMs, engine issues on the Pratt and Whitney engines, the insolvency of GoFirst (yet to be resolved) and the weakness at SpiceJet are forecast to continue. Together these mean a variance of almost 150 aircraft from planned capacity. But the capacity shortfall is likely help keep yields strong. That too in an election year. And in a year where the travel base is only forecast to return stronger. International travel Middle East and N. America traffic to drive revenue International travel trends may have significant surprises in store. Starting with the sheer volume of travel to the shape of travel to the patterns of demand. As has been the case for several years, the Middle East will continue to dominate the traffic flows with upto 47% of all India originating international traffic headed to the region. Within the Middle East region, Dubai will continue to be a clear leader capturing almost 12% - 14% of the traffic. For 2023, Dubai had a confluence of factors aligning including VISA policies, hotel capacity, costs and an exponential growth in events. Compare this to London and Singapore, which attracted 4% - 5% of the total international travel demand but the reasons were much different. For Singapore, it was a combination of point to point and onward traffic mostly towards Australia and Oceania while for London it was driven by diaspora demand. These patterns are forecast to continue. The international traveller is likely to see additional offerings as Indigo and the Tata owned airlines led by Air India expand their international networks, Akasa starts its international operations and SpiceJet counters with offerings of its own. Air India will also continue to revise its offerings and the jury is out on Indigo and whether its newer aircraft will have a dual configuration, leveraging its position to service premium demand. Looking at the traffic spread across continents, and forecasts for 2024, Europe will continue to be dominated by London with upto 30% of traffic originating in India and flying to Europe headed there followed by Paris capturing 10% of the Europe bound traffic. The United States will continue to be dominated by New York followed by San Francisco each capturing 10% of the Indian originating traffic headed to the USA and newer cities like Dallas which have seen a growing Indian diaspora population are likely to be included in airline networks. India originating traffic headed to South East Asia will continue to be dominated by Singapore and Bangkok with the former capturing 30% of the traffic and the latter approx. 22%. Similar to last year, countries like Vietnam and Nepal will likely continued to attract significant traffic due to a combination of pricing, policies and popularity. Finally, looking at overseas hubs and traffic originating in India connecting via hubs, Dubai again is likely to lead followed by Doha and Abu Dhabi. Majority of the traffic connecting via these hubs has traditionally been bound to N. America. The weakness of the European hubs with regards to traffic originating from India is slowly but surely coming to the forefront. And with Air India focusing on an international strategy that effectively bypasses hubs and with Indigo increasing point to point international flying, the share of India originating traffic flown by Indian carriers is set to increase. The premium segment: lots of work ahead The most fascinating aspect of air travel demand and perhaps the most perplexing will continue to be the premium segment. In the domestic segment, this continues to be very small and AT-TV estimates that the premium demand (including premium economy) is less than 5% of total demand. But due to the pricing this commands and the impact on revenue this cannot be overlooked. In the year ahead, the premium demand in the international segment will continue to be driven by specific routes. On a total capacity basis this demand is less than 10% of total demand. But on specific routes, the flown premium demand can be north of 15%. This is both a function of capacity, traveller profiles on the route and pricing. Given the potential that this segment holds the rewards in the future will accrue to airlines that can develop and position a product fit for purpose. And in 2024, as Air India starts to ramp up its product offering, a competitive response from overseas airlines is all but certain. Into this mix will also be enhancements to frequent flyer programs, to complimentary offerings and most importantly to the growing premium economy segment. The author, Satyendra Pandey, is Managing Partner of the aviation services firm AT-TV. The views expressed are personal. Bhutan is gradually becoming a favourite destination for discerning Indian travellers and compared to 2022, there was a 25% surge in demand for travel to the Himalayan Kingdom last year. Seizing the opportunity, Thomas Cook (India) along with Group Company SOTC Travel has introduced exclusive charter flights to Paro (Bhutan) from Bengaluru, which is set to commence in April 2024. Southern India plays a pivotal role as a source market for Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel, contributing over 45% of their business to Bhutan. However, there is lack of direct air connectivity from southern India, which results in increased costs of approximately 15% and inconveniences related to multiple flights, airport/terminal changes, multiple check-ins, and baggage handling. This challenge prompted the companies' adoption of a Blue Ocean strategy, introducing special charters to Bhutan from Bengaluru. The Bhutan charters will cater to group and free of itinerary travellers among others. Renowned as one of the happiest, greenest and the first carbon-negative country , Bhutan offers travellers breathtaking vistas, distinctive monasteries and romantic hotspots for all type of travellers. The destination provides rejuvenating hot-stone baths, unique culture, and warm, welcoming people. Also read: Travellers to Bhutan can visit renowned monasteries like Taktsang Palphug and Rinpung Dzong, exploring the Thimphu weekend market, indulge in archery lessons, immerse in hot stone therapy at natural hot springs, and sightseeing. The tour encompasses local Bhutanese meals, farmhouse lunches, beer tasting with snacks in Paro. Outdoor and adventure enthusiasts can indulge in thrilling activities such as white water rafting at Po Chu and Moochu confluence, kayaking at Wang Chhu, trekking to the Taktsang Palphug Monastery (Tiger's Nest Monastery). Speaking about the charter operations, Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, "Charter departures will be available in the summer months of April and May 2024. The duration of each tour will be eight days. And destinations would include Thimpu, Punakha and Paro. He added, "The launch of our exclusive charters from Bengaluru is a smart strategy to leverage the growing interest towards the Himalayan kingdom." HELP 2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin 2023-2024 Undergraduate Bulletin Published by The University of Tulsa 800 South Tucker Drive Tulsa, Oklahoma 74104-9700 918-631-2000 www.utulsa.edu Brad Carson, President Welcome to The University of Tulsa Online Undergraduate Bulletin. This interactive tool is a guide to curricula, course descriptions, costs, University policies, and other information for prospective and current students, faculty, and staff at The University of Tulsa. Looking for a different Bulletin? Select it from the drop down list in the top right corner of this page. Searching for a specific program or course? Use the navigation links on the left side of this page or type a keyword into the search box at the top left corner. Want to save something to visit later? Click My Bulletin at the bottom of the list of navigation links on the left side of this page. Create an account and login to My Bulletin to bookmark your favorite Bulletin pages. Mission of the University We are a student-centered research university that cultivates interconnected learning experiences to explore complex ideas and create new knowledge in a spirit of free inquiry. Guided by our commitment to diversity, equity, and service, we prepare individuals to make meaningful contributions to our campus, our community, and our world. Institutional Learning Outcomes ILO 1: Demonstrate literacy through informed inquiry and application of knowledge in the sciences, humanities, and arts. ILO 2: Think critically by analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. ILO 3: Write and present clearly, practicing the skills of effective communication across the curriculum. ILO 4: Recognize ethical dilemmas and determine how best to respond to them. ILO 5: Apply knowledge and talents to identify and address real world problems in the local or global community. Notice The University of Tulsa Undergraduate Bulletin is published annually as a guide to curricula, course descriptions, costs, University policies, and other information. In keeping with established procedures, the University may change programs of study, academic requirements, faculty, curricula, course descriptions, costs, policies, the academic calendar, or other information without prior notice. The University reserves the right to correct factual errors whenever they are discovered. It is the students responsibility to stay abreast of current regulations, curricula, and the status of the specific program being pursued. Students are responsible for adherence to all University policies, regulations, and program requirements, including student conduct codes that apply to academic and extra-curricular activities. All University Bulletins are available on The University of Tulsa website. Graduate programs are offered by all colleges and are described in the current Graduate Bulletin. Graduate programs in law are offered by the College of Law and are described in the current Law Bulletin. Non-discrimination Policy The University of Tulsa is firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for all our community members, irrespective of a persons background. In all its activities, the University condemns and prohibits in the strongest terms the adverse treatment of any member of the TU community motivated by a bias against, or hatred toward, individuals or groups based on their characteristics such as age, ancestry, color, creed, disability or handicap, gender identity, genetic information, marital or family status, national origin, political belief, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status (hereinafter protected status). Seeking to foster an environment where free expression and speech flourish, the University finds discrimination only in acts where a person is treated adversely based on their protected status. Such an act occurs when it has a substantial, unreasonable and materially negative impact on a persons interaction with University programs, activities, opportunities or benefits. Mere minor or trivial actions or conduct, even those considered generally offensive and controversial, cannot be considered adverse treatment. The University is committed to the idea that this type of discomfort and exchange is critical to the educational experience. It is this participation in a strong and vibrant marketplace of ideas that makes TU a thought leader in our city, state, nation and global society. The Universitys full non-discrimination and harassment policy can be found here. Questions regarding implementation of this policy may be addressed to the Universitys Equal Opportunity Officer, Kathleen Smith, 104 McClure Hall, 918-631-2321. Requests for accommodation of disabilities may be addressed to the Universitys 504 Coordinator, Dr. Tawny Rigsby, 104 McClure Hall, 918-631-2315. To ensure availability of an interpreter, five to seven days notice is needed; 48 hours is recommended for all other accommodations. Back to Top | Print-Friendly Page (opens a new window) NEW MEXICO Governor proposes 10% spending boost amid oil windfall SANTA FE New Mexico's governor is proposing a nearly 10% general fund spending increase for the coming fiscal year to shore up housing opportunities, childhood literacy and health care access, with additional payouts for electric vehicles purchases. Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Jan. 4 published the $10.5 billion budget plan for the fiscal year running from July 2024 through June 2025. It would increase general fund spending by roughly $950 million over current annual obligations. The Democratic-led Legislature develops its own competing spending plan in advance of a 30-day legislative session that begins Jan. 16. The nation's No. 2 oil-producing state anticipates a multibillion-dollar surplus for the coming fiscal year, driven largely by oil and natural gas production in the Permian Basin that underlies southeastern New Mexico and western Texas. The governor has signaled affordable housing as a major priority, proposing one-time spending of $500 million to expand opportunities through down-payment assistance, and to finance affordable housing and related infrastructure. The state separately would use $40 million to launch a statewide homelessness initiative. In November, voters signaled frustration with surging home prices in fast-growing Santa Fe by approving a tax on mansions to pay for affordable-housing initiatives. Spending on public education would increase by $283 million, or 6.8%, to nearly $4.5 billion the single largest chunk of annual general fund appropriations. Her budget proposal includes a 3% increase in pay for workers at executive agencies and public schools statewide and larger increases of 8% for corrections officers and 14% for state police. Economists for state agencies say New Mexico's income surge is slowing down, but far from over, as lawmakers wrestle with how much to spend now or set aside for the future in case the world's thirst for oil falters. State proposes framework to reuse fracking wastewater SANTA FE New Mexico environmental officials have proposed a new regulatory framework for reusing wastewater with a focus on the used, salty byproducts of oil and natural gas drilling in a major U.S. production zone. The Environment Department announced on Dec. 28 its petition to the Water Quality Control Commission to begin formal deliberations on the proposed rules. New Mexico, the No. 2 state for oil production behind Texas, is looking to its energy sector and water-intensive fracking as a potential source of treated water for industrial applications and to offset water demands that are depleting freshwater aquifers amid drought. John Rhoderick, director of the water protection division at the Environment Department, said initial rules would only allow for "closed loop" projects involving treated oil-field water, with no discharge. In a related legislative proposal from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico would underwrite development of a strategic new water source by buying treated water that originates from oil and natural gas drilling. The governor is seeking a $500 million appropriation by the Legislature for the project. That initiative doesn't aim to provide potable water but rather a supply of treated water for emerging businesses ranging from microchip manufacturers to hydrogen fuel producers that separate the element from water in an energy-intensive process. Critics fear the plan might only spur more drilling for petroleum. IDAHO US Supreme Court lets state enforce its strict abortion ban WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 5 allowed Idaho to enforce its strict abortion ban, even in medical emergencies, while a legal fight continues. The justices said they would hear arguments in April and put on hold a lower court ruling that had blocked the Idaho law in hospital emergencies, based on a lawsuit filed by the Biden administration. The Idaho case gives the court its second major abortion dispute since the justices in 2022 overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to severely restrict or ban abortion. The court also in the coming months is hearing a challenge to the Food and Drug Administration's rules for obtaining mifepristone, one of two medications used in the most common method of abortion in the United States. In the case over hospital emergencies, the Biden administration has argued that hospitals that receive Medicare funds are required by federal law to provide emergency care, potentially including abortion, no matter if there's a state law banning abortion. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill in Idaho agreed with the administration. But in a separate case in Texas, a judge sided with the state. Idaho makes it a crime with a prison term of up to five years for anyone who performs or assists in an abortion. The administration argues that EMTALA requires health care providers to perform abortions for emergency room patients when needed to treat an emergency medical condition, even if doing so might conflict with a state's abortion restrictions. The state argued that the administration was misusing a law intended to prevent hospitals from dumping patients and imposing "a federal abortion mandate" on states. The justices' order takes the case away from the appeals court. A decision is expected by early summer. NAVAJO NATION 2 tribal members charged with illegally growing marijuana WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. Authorities on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. have charged two tribal members with illegally growing marijuana on the Navajo Nation, marking just the latest development in a years-long case that also has involved allegations of forced labor. Tribal prosecutors announced the charges on Jan. 4, claiming that Navajo businessman Dineh Benally and farmer Farley BlueEyes had operated a massive marijuana growing operation in and around Shiprock, New Mexico. The two men were expected to be arraigned on the charges in late January, prosecutors said. Benally had previously been charged for interference with judicial proceedings after a Navajo judge granted a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction in 2020 that was aimed at halting operations at the farms in northwestern New Mexico. David Jordan, an attorney who has represented Benally, said the interference charges were dismissed in December as those cases were set to go to trial. Jordan, who is expected to also represent Benally on the new charges, said Benally maintains he was growing hemp and declined to comment further. The lawsuit alleges that Benally, a former Navajo Nation presidential candidate who campaigned on growing hemp to boost the economy, turned a blind eye to federal and tribal laws that make it illegal to grow marijuana on the reservation. The complaint stated that he instructed his associates and the workers to refer to the marijuana as "hemp" to avoid law enforcement scrutiny. ARIZONA Jaguar sighting makes for 8th in southwestern US since 1996 PHOENIX There's been another jaguar sighting in southern Arizona and it's the eighth different jaguar documented in the southwestern U.S. since 1996, according to wildlife officials. A hobbyist wildlife videographer who posts trail camera footage online captured the image of a roaming jaguar late last month in the Huachuca Mountains near Tucson, the Arizona Republic reported. A spokesman for the Arizona Game and Fish Department said the agency has authenticated Jason Miller's footage and has confirmed this is a new jaguar to the United States. The animals were placed on the endangered species list in 1997 after being removed in 1980. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated about 750,000 acres of critical protected habitat for the jaguars along the border in southern Arizona and New Mexico. Officials said the rosette pattern on each jaguar is unique just like a human fingerprint and helps identify specific animals. The gender of the newly spotted jaguar is unclear. "Whether male or female, this new jaguar is going to need a mate. Now is the time for us to have a serious conversation and take action to bring jaguars back," Megan Southern, jaguar recovery coordinator with The Rewilding Institute, told Phoenix TV station KPNX. Offer a personal message of sympathy... By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. If you have an existing account with this site, you may log in with that below. Otherwise, you can create an account by clicking on the Log in button below, and then register to create your account. Oh no! Theres someone in your house! And he has a gun. Youre going to die! Wait, no. Turns out its a cop. Thats a relief. Though, is it a relief, actually? He came very close to killing you. And you came very close to killing him. This was a ridiculous situation that never should have happened. Still, its not as bad as the time that... 5 A Fake Army Prisoner Got Beaten for Real In 2003, military police at Guantanamo Bay received word that an inmate had attacked a guard and had been pepper sprayed. It was now the job of these five officers to follow up . They did so by entering the cell and slamming the mans head against the floor. Red! the man said, which was a codeword used when someone wants to end a simulation. Im a U.S. solider! Im a U.S. soldier! he said next. They went on beating him. They pulled down his jumpsuit. Exactly what their intentions were here, we can only speculate, but this revealed that underneath the suit, the man wore a military uniform. He was not a detainee. He was Sean Baker from Kentucky, from the 438th Military Police Company and currently stationed at Guantanamo; he had volunteered for this training exercise. CBS Whoopsie! We thought you were a pepper-sprayed inmate, who should be beaten. Baker had a seizure and was hospitalized. Later, hed have a dozen seizures every day and was discharged. The military first insisted that his medical discharge was unrelated to the beating, then they amended the position to say, Okay, it was kind of because of the beating. He tried suing the military, but it turns out thats impossible. Theirs not to reason why. Theirs but to do and die. Advertisement 4 The CDC Mailed Out a Bunch of Live Anthrax In 2001, someone mailed anthrax to a bunch of news offices in New York and Florida. This was a big deal. He even mailed the deadly spores to the building of Crackeds offices. A photo editor who worked at the building died. Cracked had to burn decades of archives due to the risk that they got contaminated. CDC Should have burned everything they wrote since 2001 instead. The man whom the FBI labeled the perpetrator killed himself in 2008. He turned out to be a scientist working for the armys Research Institute of Infectious Diseases. This doesnt, however, mean the story was an example of the government mailing out live anthrax. Ha, ha, no! If you want something like that, youd have to wait till 2014, when the government mailed out live anthrax. The culprit was the CDC, whod intended to mail out inactive anthrax, but they ended up exposing 80 people to the live stuff by mistake. Advertisement The CDC overhauled lab procedures following the error. That was why, the following year, the CDC did not mail out any live anthrax. No, this time it was the Department of Defense who mistakenly mailed anthrax to labs in nine states. Special biosafety level 3 labs are equipped to deal with live anthrax, but these other labs werent. Really, wed recommend erring on the side of not posting anthrax to anyone. 3 The CIA Slipped Explosives onto a School Bus In 2016, a mechanic was looking under the hood of a Virginia school bus, when he spotted something odd: plastic explosives. Thats definitely not supposed to be there, he said. No detonator was connected to the explosives, so this was a safe situation, as far as explosives in school buses go. Still, this was a cause for some concern. Marcelo Cidrack/Unsplash Not panic, like when they find a copy of This Book Is Gay, but concern. Advertisement Advertisement The CIA had placed the explosives there, as part of their K-9 training program. The dogs were supposed to detect the explosives, and to make the test as real as possible, they used actual school buses. Apparently the trainee dog did find the explosives but not all of them, as some of the stuff fell deep into the engine compartment. So, it was a good dog, but a bad system. 2 Airport Security Planted a Bomb on a Passenger We hope that last story just whetted your appetite for planted bombs because weve got a couple more of them for you. This next one comes from Ireland, where police arrested a man in 2010. His luggage held 90 grams of explosives, which usually is an offense worthy of arrest. He hadnt put them there himself, though. He had flown in from Bratislava, and Slovak authorities had placed the explosives in his stuff. Theyd placed the explosives in 10 passengers suitcases, and baggage screeners had caught nine of the samples but not the 10th. Steven Lek Luck of the Irish, we guess. Advertisement As with the school bus, no vehicle was in danger of exploding here. Plastic explosives, absent a detonator, are inert. That Duty Free bottle of scotch you bring with you is more dangerous. The problem was everything else about how they handled the operation. Bratislava authorities did inform Ireland about the operation, which is good. But they informed them about the operation three days afterward, which is bad. It was then that police went to the mans Dublin apartment. They cordoned off the area, which was unnecessary, and they arrested the man, which served no purpose at all. On second thought, we take it back: Bratislava should have just kept their mouths shut. Advertisement LONDON (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas have been waging war for 100 days since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group went on the rampage in southern Israel, triggering an Israeli military campaign in which nearly 24,000 Palestinians have been killed. The war between Israel and Hamas that has raged since October is the latest in a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has rumbled on for seven decades and destabilised the Middle East. Since the devastating Hamas attack on Oct. 7, in which Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage, Israel has carried out an air and land offensive on the Gaza Strip which it says aims to eradicate Hamas. WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT? ADVERTISEMENT The conflict pits Israeli demands for security in what it has long regarded as a hostile Middle East against Palestinians' unmet aspirations for a state of their own. In 1947, while Palestine was under British mandate rule, the United Nations General Assembly agreed a plan to partition it into Arab and Jewish states and for international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, giving them 56% of the land. The Arab League rejected the proposal. Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion, proclaimed the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, a day before the scheduled end of British rule, establishing a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution and seeking a national home on land to which they cite deep ties dating to antiquity. Violence had been intensifying between Arabs, who made up about two thirds of the population in the late 1940s, and Jews. A day after Israel was created in 1948, troops from five Arab states attacked. In the war that followed, some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians lament this as the "Nakba", or catastrophe. Israel contests the assertion that it forced out Palestinians. Story continues Armistice agreements halted the fighting in 1949 but there was no formal peace. Palestinians who stayed put in the war and their descendants make up about 20% of Israel's population now. WHAT MAJOR WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT SINCE THEN? In 1967, Israel made a pre-emptive strike against Egypt and Syria, launching the Six-Day War. Israel captured the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Gaza Strip from Egypt and occupied them. An Israeli census that year put Gaza's population at 394,000, at least 60% of them Palestinian refugees and their descendants. In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and Golan Heights, touching off the Yom Kippur War. Israel pushed both armies back within three weeks. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and thousands of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters under Yasser Arafat were evacuated by sea after a 10-week siege. Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon in 2000. In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, and seized full control of Gaza in 2007. Gaza saw major flare-ups of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israel in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021. In 2006, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers in the volatile border region and Israel launched military action, triggering a six-week war. Besides wars, there have been two Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, from 1987 to 1993, and 2000 to 2005. During the second, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, and Israel carried out tank and airstrikes on Palestinian cities. Since then there have been several rounds of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel and is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the European Union, the United States and other countries. Hamas says its armed activities are resistance against Israeli occupation. WHAT ATTEMPTS HAVE THERE BEEN TO MAKE PEACE? In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel. In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Arafat shook hands on the Oslo Accords establishing limited Palestinian autonomy. In 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan. U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat took part in the Camp David summit in 2000, but failed to reach a final peace deal. In 2002, an Arab League plan offered Israel normal relations with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it took in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees. The presentation of the plan was overshadowed by Hamas, which blew up an Israeli hotel full of Holocaust survivors during a Passover seder meal. Further peace efforts have been stalled since 2014. Palestinians stopped dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after he broke with decades of U.S. policy by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Qatar and Egypt have acted as mediators in the latest war, securing a truce that lasted seven days, during which hostages held by Hamas were exchanged for prisoners held by Israel, and more humanitarian aid flowed into Gaza. WHERE DO PEACE EFFORTS STAND NOW? U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has focused on trying to secure a "grand bargain" in the Middle East that includes normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines. The latest war is diplomatically awkward for Riyadh as well as for other Arab states, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia that have signed peace deals with Israel. WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES? A two-state solution, Israeli settlements on occupied land, the status of Jerusalem, agreed borders, and the fate of Palestinian refugees. Two-state solution: An agreement that would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarised so as not to threaten its security. Settlements: Most countries deem Jewish settlements built on land Israel occupied in 1967 to be illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land. Continued settlement expansion is among the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians and the international community. Jerusalem: Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City's sites sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, to be the capital of their state. Israel says Jerusalem should remain its "indivisible and eternal" capital. Israel's claim to Jerusalem's eastern part is not recognised internationally. Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, without specifying the extent of its jurisdiction in the disputed city, and moved the U.S. embassy there in 2018. Refugees: Today about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees - mainly descendants of those who fled in 1948 - live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. About half of registered refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry, many living in crowded camps. Palestinians have long demanded that refugees should be allowed to return, along with millions of their descendants. Israel says any resettlement of Palestinian refugees must occur outside its borders. (Editing by Edmund Blair and Timothy Heritage) 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. Browser Compatibility Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks. We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Supporters of uncontrolled immigration love to pose as moral superiors. In 2018, self-admiring passengers on a Turkish Airlines plane due to leave Heathrow prevented the deportation of Somali gang rapist Yaqub Ahmed. They made no effort to find out why he was being deported and so prolonged his stay in this country for five years. You might think that such people would learn from this experience. But now full details have emerged of a similar virtue-signalling revolt last November, in which the 'do-gooding' mutineers led by a Cambridge graduate prevented the wholly justified removal of a gangster gunman. Lawrence Morgan, 27, had been aboard a British Airways flight to Jamaica when other passengers refused to sit down until he was taken off the plane The thug they 'saved' from being sent back to Jamaica on a BA flight from Gatwick is Lawrence Morgan, 27. Morgan must be one of the least desirable individuals now living in this country for, thanks to his vain and misguided rescuers, he is still here. It did not perhaps occur to them that he was being deported for very good reasons. They are so assured of their goodness and rightness that they cannot imagine anybody deserves to be sent home. Well, let us hope that those involved will read today's Mail on Sunday, where they will learn that the object of their compassion took part in a gun battle with other criminals on a busy Birmingham street. CCTV film confirms this. If this were all, it would be enough. But it is not. He has twice been sent to prison for drug and firearms offences. He is associated with the gangs in Birmingham whose moronic street battles led to the wholly inexcusable deaths of two innocent young women, Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18. Letisha's mother, Dr Marcia Shakespeare, has a simple message to those who prevent such deportations: 'If someone has committed a crime they should be punished.' Of course, it was not only passengers who delayed Morgan's departure. The usual battalions of lawyers argued that he could not be deported because he was at risk in Jamaica from criminal gangs. Morgan is associated with the gangs in Birmingham whose street battles led to the wholly inexcusable deaths of two innocent young women, Letisha Shakespeare, 17, (right) and Charlene Ellis, 18 (second from left) in 2002 It would take a heart of stone not to laugh at such pleas, but there is a significant group in this country that thinks it is morally wrong for the people of Britain, through their elected Government, to choose who may live here. They should look carefully at this case and ask themselves: who was on the side of good and who was on the side of evil when these deluded fools stepped in to save a convicted gunman from justice? No time to change With impressive speed, Rishi Sunak has taken on the burden of foreign policy that always faces a British Prime Minister. Some leaders have a few years in which to accustom themselves to these heavy responsibilities. Mr Sunak had to engage in the Ukrainian war from the moment of his arrival in No 10 and is now faced with the worst crisis in the Middle East since the 1970s. After the hideous massacre of October 7 and the increasingly controversial Israeli response, he then faced the Houthi threat in the Red Sea. He did so while travelling to Ukraine to reassure President Zelensky that Britain remains firmly beside him in his battle against Russian invasion. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced the Houthi threat in the Red Sea while travelling to Ukraine to reassure President Zelensky that Britain remains firmly beside him in his battle against Russian invasion Mr Sunak has handled these crises with calmness and decisiveness, deploying our strength and staying close to our allies. Does anyone really believe that Sir Keir Starmer, the man who served under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, could perform so well? This is no time for the country to consider changing its government. Tory MP Chris Skidmore was already due to step down at the next General Election, during which his Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire is set to be abolished. So Conservative colleagues were appalled two weeks ago when the 42-year-old said he was resigning the whip and forcing a by-election just months before he was due to go anyway. Skidmore claims he was moved to act in opposition to the Government's issuing of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. But even the eco-zealots within his own party are said to be furious at the disruption. The Conservatives now face losing a humiliating and unnecessary by-election in a constituency that won't even exist next year. Tory MP Chris Skidmore was already due to step down at the next General Election, during which his Kingswood constituency in Gloucestershire is set to be abolished Skidmore claims he was moved to act in opposition to the Government's issuing of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea Perhaps the real reason Skidmore is stepping down is just how busy he is. For in the past nine months alone, he's taken on a 40,000 director's role with an education company, an 80,000 post with the Emissions Capture Company and another 80,000 post writing policy reports for the Global Insight Exchange think-tank. Considering each by-election costs the taxpayer an astonishing 250,000, perhaps moneybags Skidmore might help foot the bill? Last week saw a disastrous appearance from Post Office investigator Stephen Bradshaw who was involved in prosecuting innocent sub-postmasters at the ongoing public inquiry. I couldn't help but notice he was wearing a black suit and black shirt the same clobber favoured by Keir Starmer for non-Westminster photocalls, such as celebrating victory in the Selby and Ainsty by-election last year. The irony is, I'm not sure which of the two men would be more insulted by the comparison. The creaking Parliamentary estate has suffered 52 power cuts since 2019, new figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats reveal. Sir Ed Davey's mob are certainly experts when it comes to losing power. The Labour MP Jess Phillips, 42, tweets from her Birmingham Yardley constituency: 'Man on the doorstep in Yardley today: 'You look much younger on the telly'.' Talk about damned with faint praise. Two Tory MPs overheard in the Commons: 'Given the success of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, if we organised a film for the Stop the Boats campaign, would it have a similar effect?' Last year, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was paid 18,500 by HarperCollins for a forthcoming autobiography, which he had been working on since March 2020. The publisher revealed: 'Starmer will go back to his early life to trace the origins of his politics and the influences that have shaped him as a leader. It will make a fierce argument for the vital role of respect and integrity in political life as he sets out his vision for Britain's future.' But just last week Starmer disclosed that he has repaid the money as the book is no longer going ahead. Perhaps he hasn't had the time to write it or, like the Labour Party, has he simply run out of ideas? Bite back against leftie Abbott Veteran Lefty Diane Abbott was given short shrift by a Commons committee when she defended pro-Palestinian marches in the capital. 'On both of the big London demonstrations I have been on, I have not seen a single, solitary soul glorifying Hamas,' she insisted. Gideon Falter of the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism was quick to respond: 'We note very well that you didn't see any anti-Semitism at all in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn... We are very well familiar in the Jewish community with your particular contribution to the fight against anti-Semitism in this country.' Ouch. Few Conservative MPs are more loathed by Labour than Lee Anderson: as a defector from their party, and a former coal miner at that, his interventions are always unwelcome. Except for last week's Prime Minister's Questions, when he drew the House's attention to the embarrassed absence from the Chamber of Sir Ed Davey, and declared that the Leader of the Liberal Democrats should be 'clearing his desk, clearing his diary and clear off'. This was a reference to Davey's inglorious role, as a Minister for Postal Affairs in the Coalition government, with regard to the unjustly jailed sub-postmasters. Their avenging angel, Alan Bates, had accused Davey of having 'enabled them [the Post Office management] to carry on with impunity, regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict'. Quentin Letts observed in his Parliamentary sketch: 'As Mr Anderson resumed his seat there was an unprecedented reaction from the Labour benches: cheers.' Few Conservative MPs are more loathed by Labour than Lee Anderson: as a defector from their party, and a former coal miner at that, his interventions are always unwelcome Except for last week's Prime Minister's Questions, when he drew the House's attention to the embarrassed absence from the Chamber of Sir Ed Davey, and declared that the Leader of the Liberal Democrats should be 'clearing his desk, clearing his diary and clear off' While Conservatives and Labour Party activists are seen as each other's greatest enemy, they are actually united in their deepest contempt for the Lib Dems. This was eloquently expressed a few years ago by the then Tory MP Stewart Jackson: 'It's pretty much the one bond which still links the Conservative grassroots with the Corbyn Labour Party a visceral loathing of their local Lib Dem opponents, for many years acknowledged as the dirtiest street fighters in politics, belying their saintly and sanctimonious and always self-reverential image.' It's not just that Davey went on to be paid almost 300,000 as a consultant to the law firm used by the Post Office to defend the civil claims brought made by wronged sub-postmasters though Davey says he was unaware of the link that causes him to be singled out (both Labour and Conservative ministers had also caused Mr Bates despair). There is also the contrast between Davey's seemingly unquestioning acceptance of the Post Office's denials of any corporate malfeasance and the Lib Dems' claim to be the home of the free-thinking individualist against the complacency of the two 'big parties'. Yet we should not be so surprised, as the Liberal Democrats are the masters of malfeasance themselves, despite their perpetual air of self-righteousness. As good an example as any was their refusal to hand back 2.4 million of stolen money to the victims of a fraudster called Michael Brown. Their avenging angel, Alan Bates, had accused Davey of having 'enabled them [the Post Office management] to carry on with impunity, regardless of the human misery and suffering they inflict'. Alan Bates and his wife The party took this vast sum ahead of the 2005 general election from one of his companies Brown was not registered to vote and didn't live in this country. The Lib Dems failed to make any checks on this dodgy fellow, so didn't know that he was a villain. But what is truly shocking is they wouldn't hand back the funds to those defrauded by Brown, after he had been convicted, on the grounds that they had spent it all on electioneering. When it comes to electioneering, there is no party so unscrupulous as the pious Lib Dems. Although they would doubtless see it as just dedication to the cause. So it was only the Liberal Democrats who illegally continued with door-to-door delivery of campaign leaflets during the 'stay-at-home' guidelines at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was only the Lib Dems who broke their pledge to suspend national campaigning after the death of the Duke of Edinburgh. As to the content of such leaflets, here the Lib Dems make the other parties seem almost like innocents. Their favourite trick is to produce documents which purport to be local newspapers eulogising their candidates, but are in fact merely Lib Dem propaganda sheets. Despite demands to desist by the Electoral Commission, the Society of Editors and the News Media Association (NMA), the Lib Dems have continued with this form of fraudulent misrepresentation. It has been used by, among others, activists working for their Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Layla Moran. They pushed through letterboxes in her Oxfordshire constituency something called the 'Oxford West & Abingdon Observer', with a front-page banner headline, 'Layla Moran sets the pace', and underneath, 'Lib Dem Layla has dealt with more than 20,000 items of casework in just two and half years'. As the NMA declared on behalf of real and furious local newspapers: 'These publications are designed to fool you into thinking you are reading independent journalism. In fact, they are the exact opposite party political propaganda sheets masquerading as real newspapers. 'It has been reported that some of the leaflets are not clearly marked as being produced by the Lib Dems. We think this cynical attempt to mislead you undermines trust in both politicians and independent local newspapers.' Both the Society of Editors and the NMA have written to Sir Ed Davey to complain about this practice, but appear to have got no joy. The Society of Editors laments: 'It seems that no matter how many times this issue is raised, the Lib Dems continue to pretend there is not a problem here.' But now, Davey has a more immediate concern to deal with in his own constituency of Kingston and Surbiton. At the weekend, 68-year-old Yvonne Tracey, who for 25 years was a deputy postmistress in the constituency, declared she would stand locally against Davey in the forthcoming general election and on the precise issue of his involvement in the Post Office scandal. There is a faint echo here of an extraordinary (and farcical) electoral challenge 45 years ago. This was when my old colleague, Auberon 'Bron' Waugh, stood in the 1979 election for the North Devon constituency, then represented by the former Liberal Party leader Jeremy Thorpe. Bron had registered as a candidate for the Dog Lovers' Party in memory of Rinka, the Great Dane bitch of Thorpe's erstwhile lover, Norman Scott. Rinka had been shot dead by an incompetent hitman hired by a group of Thorpe's benefactors within the Liberal Party, with Scott the intended target to silence, permanently, the threat that he would reveal his homosexual relationship with the then party leader. Thorpe had been acquitted of all charges after what Bron referred to as 'an extraordinary summing up by Mr Justice Cantley at the Old Bailey' which is why he was able to stand in the 1979 election. Thorpe did lose his seat, then; although this was not because of the intervention of the Dog Lovers' Party. It got only 79 votes. Yvonne Tracey, who for 25 years was a deputy postmistress in the constituency of Kingston and Surbiton, declared she would stand locally against Sir Ed Davey in the forthcoming general election = and on the precise issue of his involvement in the Post Office scandal Later Lib Dem scandals can't quite match up to a conspiracy to murder charge. But still, Thorpe's successor, David Steel, resigned from the House of Lords in 2020 after being condemned by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse for recommending that his colleague, the paedophile Cyril Smith, should have a knighthood. This was despite Steel's admission to the inquiry that he had long 'assumed' Smith was guilty of abusing children, after the former Rochdale MP had made some sort of private confession to him. And the only former Cabinet Minister to have been imprisoned for perverting the course of justice happens to have been a Lib Dem: Chris Huhne, in 2013. Oh, and then there was David Laws, who was compelled to resign as Lib Dem Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the same Coalition government, after he was revealed to have improperly claimed over 50,000 in expenses rent paid to his partner, which was strictly against the rules. You will not be surprised to know that in the 2010 election, Laws had put out leaflets claiming that he was 'whiter than white' on expenses. Yes, it's that mixture of piety and reckless conceit that makes the Lib Dems so hated by both Labour and Conservative. It is the political version of how pedestrians and motorists are united only in their detestation of cyclists. The Lib Dems are like the worst sort of cyclists: so sure of their own superior morality, they can't quite believe it when they are called out. On this day six years ago, Lord Snowdon, the former husband of Princess Margaret, died at the age of 86. Antony Armstrong-Jones photographed some of the most famous faces of the 20th century, from Princess Diana to Elizabeth Taylor, in a career that lasted more than six decades. But he was best known as the man who married the Queen's younger sister in 1960, a union that ended in the bitterness divorce 18 years later. Famously charming, Snowdon's tangled affairs of the heart would eventually become the subject of widespread speculation. Photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, 1st Earl of Snowdon, pictured in 1958 Princess Margaret and her fiance, photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, pictured at Royal Lodge, Windsor, following the announcement of their betrothal in 1960 Handsome witty and talented, he had a faintly Bohemian air that entirely suited the mood of post-war excitement and, in particular, the 'Swinging Sixties'. Whether attending first nights at the ballet or mingling with famous faces in the small hours of the morning, there were few more glamorous couples than Princess Margaret and Tony. And Tony had an edge. Such was his apparent disdain for convention, there was a time when he was dubbed the 'first royal rebel'. No doubt he was victim to a certain amount of condescension, also. Snowdon was first real commoner to wed a king's daughter for 450 years, a celebrity photographer who rode a motorbike and whose parents - remember, this was a very different era - were divorced. Born Antony Charles Robert Armstrong-Jones on March 7, 1930, in London, was the son of Welsh barrister Ronald and Anne Messel. When he was a child, his parents divorced and Tony went to live with his mother, who married Lawrence Parsons, Sixth Earl of Rosse. His childhood was 'loveless and emotionally starved', according to his obituary in The Guardian - early years in which Tony was 'treated as distinctly inferior' to his mother's two sons with the earl. When he was 16, Tony contracted polio. He survived the illness but it took a toll and left him with a limp for the rest of his life. Tony attended Eton College and won a place at Cambridge, but he left after his second year and decided to devote himself to photography instead. He soon made a name as a portrait photographer and by 1957, had put on a one-man exhibition of his work and published two books of photography. Margaret and Antony pictured in the grounds of Royal Lodge on the day they announced their engagement The newly-wed Princess Margaret leaving hand in hand with her husband Antony Armstrong-Jones from London's Westminster Abbey on their wedding day in May 1960 Tony and Margaret with their two children at Kensington Palace shortly after the birth of her daughter in 1964 He was first introduced to the royals when he was commissioned to take portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and their children at Buckingham Palace. The following year, Tony fmet Princess Margaret at a dinner party thrown by the princess's lady-in-waiting, Lady Elizabeth Cavendish. He was subsequently commissioned to photograph Margaret. It took several months for romance to blossom and, when it did, few knew of the relationship. It has been reported that Tony proposed to Princess Margaret in February of 1960, on the day she learned that her former fiance, Captain Peter Townsend, was getting remarried. The engagement was announced on February 26, 1960. The wedding, on May 6, was an impressive occasion at Westminster Abbey and was the first royal marriage to be televised. Afterwards, the couple sailed around the Caribbean islands on honeymoon. The following year it was revealed that Princess Margaret was expecting a baby - the future Viscount Linley - and shortly afterwards the Queen brought Armstrong-Jones fully into the royal fold by conferring an aristocratic title on him. Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon pictured attending the Royal Ballet at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, in May 1974 Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, Viscount Linley and Lord Snowdon at the Royal College of Art in November 1991 Lord Snowdon pictured at a memorial service for fellow photographer Terence Donovan at St George's, Hanover Square, 1997 His title, Earl of Snowdon, was chosen because of his family associations with Carnarvonshire, where his father was a deputy lord lieutenant. Their second child, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, was born on May 1, 1964. Cracks began to show in the relationship. Though Antony was said to have been the first to be unfaithful while away on assignment for The Sunday Times, Princess Margaret had affairs of her own, the first of which was in 1966 with Antony Barton, Lady Sarah's godfather. By March 1976, the rift had grown too wide be mended, although many observers appeared to believe separation was unthinkable. In 1978 they officially announced their divorce - making Margaret the first royal to divorce since King Henry VIII. After his divorce, Snowdon married Lucy Lindsay-Hogg, the former wife of film director Michael Lindsay-Hogg. They remained together for more than two decades, but infidelities and the 1998 birth of Tony's youngest child, Jasper, with Melanie Cable-Alexander, ended the marriage in 2000. Despite the unhappiness of their marriage, Antony and Margaret remained friends throughout their lives, and he continued to spend time with the royals, taking a number of official royal photos. Lord Snowdon was laid to rest in 2017 at the secluded St Baglan's Church, Llanfaglan, near Caernarfon, overlooking the Menai Strait in North Wales Prince William pictured as he leaves a service of thanksgiving for Lord Snowdon Queen Elizabeth II pictured speaking to Serena Armstrong-Jones (former wife of David Snowdon), David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon and their daughter Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones following a service of thanksgiving in April 2017 The photographer died peacefully in his home on January 13, 2017. He was laid to rest at St Baglan's Church in the remote village of Llanfaglan near Caernarfon during an intimate funeral attended by just a handful of close family and friends. Lord Snowdon's coffin was taken to the remote church in a dark green Land Rover - which was adorned with a wreath of white roses - rather than in a traditional hearse. After a 30-minute memorial, he was Snowdon was laid to rest in the family's plot in the churchyard, overlooking the Menai Strait. With just a small group of family and friends in attendance, the memorial could not have been further removed from Lord Snowdon's marriage to Princess Margaret, when the golden couple were at the heart of London society in the Swinging Sixties. In 2019, her hard work paid off and the program became co-ed Sydney Ireland, 22, from New York, has become known for her hard work The young woman who fought to become a Boy Scout has lifted the lid on her nine-year battle that helped her transform the program into a co-ed club - and now her story is set to become a feature film. Sydney Ireland, 22, has spent nearly a decade pushing for young girls to be able to join Boy Scouts and has finally achieved her goal - opening the door for more than 400,000 girls to join the male-dominated group. Speaking to DailyMail.com, the New York-based trailblazer detailed how she devoted her time to the organization to put young women on equal footing with those in Boy Scouts. Sydney overcame every obstacle she encountered, and even pushed through the overwhelming grief she experienced after the tragic death of her mother, Nancy, to help inspire future generations of changemakers and allow girls to have the same opportunities as boys. Sydney Ireland, 22, fought to become a Boy Scout and has now lifted the lid on her nine-year battle that helped her transform the program into a co-ed club She has spent nearly a decade pushing for young girls to be able to join Boy Scouts and has finally achieved her goal (pictured as a child with her mom, Nancy, and her dad, Gary) Speaking to DailyMail.com, the New York-based trailblazer detailed how she devoted her time to the organization (pictured with Nancy Pelosi and Carolyn Maloney) Now, Sydney has recalled the powerful moment she realized boys had more opportunities available to them - prompting her to begin her fight. The 22-year-old first saw her brother, Bryan, participating in Boy Scouts as a child and wanted to tag along, so she joined in hopes of getting the same experience. 'I wanted to join, initially because my older brother Bryan joined the Cub Scouts,' she told DailyMail.com. 'I wanted to do the same fun things he got to do, like go camping, earn badges, and be a member of a group that cares about leadership and personal development.' However, Sydney quickly realized that the same opportunities that were given to her brother weren't given to her. At just 11 years old, Sydney earned the Arrow Light award, which is the highest achievement in Cub Scouts, which is the program dedicated to younger children. And while she was ecstatic to be recognized for all her of her hard work, Sydney was soon disheartened that none of her efforts were official because she was a girl. 'When I was 11 years old, I unofficially earned the highest award in the Cub Scouts (the younger version of the Boy Scouts), the Arrow of Light,' Sydney explained. Sydney (seen as a child with her family) overcame every obstacle she encountered, and even pushed through the overwhelming grief she experienced after the tragic death of her mother Now, Sydney has recalled the powerful moment she realized boys had more opportunities available to them - prompting her to begin her fight The 22-year-old first saw her brother, Bryan, (pictured) participating in Boy Scouts as a child and wanted to tag along, so she joined in hopes of getting the same experience 'Once I realized that all the work that I had done to achieve the award was not official, I wanted to change that for other young girls and young women, so everyone could benefit from scouting.' The 22-year-old explained that 'young women should have all the same opportunities that boys have had since the beginning of time.' And so began her fight to transform Boy Scouts into a co-ed program. She noted that she wanted everyone to have the ability to achieve the highest Boy Scouts rank, which was once just available to boys. 'The Boy Scouts' highest rank of Eagle is too highly recognized and honored to only be open for boys to achieve. Earning the Eagle Rank opens doors and everyone should have the opportunity to earn this prestigious award,' she explained. Once she decided to fight for a change, she fully immersed herself in the battle. Sydney told DailyMail.com: 'My family and I started by writing resolutions asking the Boy Scouts to open their doors to young women, and, at the time, gay scouts and adult leaders. 'I spoke at the NY Presbytery and the National Organization for Women, passing resolutions though both groups. 'We then started a Change.org petition, which catalyzed the movement to become internationally supported. However, Sydney quickly realized that the same opportunities that were given to her brother weren't given to her From speaking sharing her story with iconic activist Gloria Steinem (pictured), and even attending the State of the Union in 2019 - Sydney convinced everyone to join her campaign And her road to change wasn't easy - although she was met with overwhelming support, she also faced furious criticism and was branded an 'idiot' and 'hypocrite' for attempting to try to change the traditions of Boy Scouts. Along with the furious backlash from trolls online, Sydney was trying to stay strong for her mom, who was battling ovarian cancer. Even while watching her mom's health deteriorate, the 22-year-old didn't back down from her fight. She poured all of her efforts into making a change so that no girl ever had to feel like they couldn't accomplish the same successes as boys. From speaking with former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to sharing her story with iconic activist Gloria Steinem, and even attending the State of the Union in 2019 - Sydney convinced everyone to join her campaign. And, even at her worst, Sydney's cancer-stricken mom supported her daughter's mission and encouraged her to keep fighting. 'My family was right beside me the entire time, supporting me, helping me, and speaking out with me; I could not have done it without them. My older brother, Bryan, was the reason I wanted to join Scouts in the first place he had so much fun,' Sydney told DailyMail.com. And her road to change wasn't easy. Although she was met with overwhelming support, Sydney (seen with her dad) faced furious criticism, and was branded an 'idiot' and 'hypocrite' In addition to having her family supporting her, Sydney (seen as a child) also had former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's backing 'My dad, Gary, whose legal practice includes civil rights, helped me to develop a plan and worked with me on so many speeches and resolutions. I worked with my family and with so many supporters to get this done.' In addition to having her family supporting her, Sydney also had former Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's backing. In 2017, Sydney finally started to see some of her hard work pay off when the Boy Scouts initially announced they would start accepting girls. 'It took years from when I started my journey, to when the Boy Scout opened its program to girls, first announcing the change on October 11, 2017 (the International Day of the Girl),' she said. It took another two years until the Boy Scouts of America - which was renamed Scouts BSA - officially started allowing girls to become members and achieve the same rankings as boys. 'I've been involved in the Boy Scouts since I was four years old and finally became an official member when I was 17 years old. I was officially awarded my Eagle Scout when I was 19 years old,' Sydney told DailyMail.com. And while she was overjoyed that there was finally change taking place, the 22-year-old slammed the leaders of the program for prolonging the process. 'It didn't need to take so long to make this important change. The leadership slow walked the process,' she told DailyMail.com. It's because of Sydney that young girls can achieve the same rankings as boys. 'It is because of the work of many of us that girls can join scouting. Now, any young girl or young woman can walk into any Scout troop meeting and sign up officially and become a member. Ultimately, they have the opportunity to work towards earning the highest award in the Scouts, the Eagle Rank,' she told DailyMail.com. It took another two years until the Boy Scouts of America - which is now known as the Scouts BSA - allowed girls to become members and achieve the same rankings as boys (Sydney pictured as a child) She hopes that little girls will be inspired by her story and learn that anything is possible - something she was grateful to learn from an early age through the support of her loved ones (seen with her dad) 'Earning this badge is highly respected and a credential opening doors to colleges, in business, and many other areas. Previously, the Eagle Rank, and for no legitimate reason, was only open to young men.' Although Sydney's mom passed before she could see her daughter achieve her goal, the 22-year-old honors her in all she does and knows her mom would be proud of how far she has come. It's because of her mom that Sydney was able to give other kids a voice. Now, nearly four years after Sydney's hard work paid off, she will get to see all of her devotion aired in a film. Sydney Ireland Eagle Scout is said to be a dramatic feature film that will reveal her unrelenting determination to transform the program forever. The 22-year-old changemaker hopes that the movie will 'motivate the next generation of relentless advocates for positive change.' She hopes that little girls will be inspired by her story and learn that anything is possible - something she was grateful to learn from an early age through the support of her loved ones. She told DailyMail.com: 'This is such a crucial time for young people to be active in their communities and organizations, holding them accountable and creating change where it ought to be made. 'I hope this film inspires other young women, and young people to fight against injustice. Something that seems impossible to change is only going to be reconsidered once someone takes the courageous step to try and change it.' Japanese Head Spa treatments aim to nourish and exfoliate the scalp The latest craze in the lucrative world of self-care appeals to the scalp and its senses. Hailing from East Asia, the Japanese head spa has taken social media by storm, with individuals desperate to try the spine-tingling trend. The practice - which sees spa-goers undergo a multi-step process featuring water, hot towels, and essential oils to name a few - combines several techniques to nurture hair at the roots, increase blood circulation, and flush out toxins. While the treatment has a longstanding prevalence in Asia, it has recently found itself popping up in western cities including London and New York to meet an increased demand. The viral procedure has more than 16 million views on TikTok , and many have taken to social media to recount their positive experiences. Japanese Head Spas are the latest craze in the world of self-care. Yen, a London-based content creator dubbed it a 'bucket list' experience Hairdressers in the west typically offer a massage during the hair wash stage - but its fleeting nature often leaves customers wanting more. Japanese head spas flip the script on this tradition and make the massage a central part of a trip to the salon. While the process can vary, it aims to exfoliate and moisturise the scalp using specially created tools, unique water-based devices with steaming mechanisms, aromatherapy, and Gua Sha. Some salons will even use a close-up camera to analyse the state of the client's hair and tailor the treatment to their needs. As well as soothing and comforting the customer, the procedure also aims to rebalance the scalp and its sebum production, remove debris, and add a nourishing shine. Rave reviews from TikTokers have only added to the hype. In one instance, London-based content creator Yen visited a Shoreditch salon to undergo a Japanese Head Spa 'bucket list' experience. 'It was 50 but it was so worth it,' she concluded. The relaxing treatment incorporates water-based therapy to nourish the scalp and promote hair growth One content creator took to a salon in London to undergo the treatment, and she believed it transformed her skin Elsewhere, a video from Elite Head Spa - based in Park Royal, London - racked up more than 7,000 views and hundreds of likes as it gave viewers a glimpse of the calming beautifying process. Creator Tash, who visited the salon, also told her followers in a social media clip that not only does your hair and scalp get the luxe treatment - but you also get to enjoy feeling 'warm and cosy' as you lie under a heated blanket. Meanwhile, in New York, Hannah Bronfman - the heiress to Seagram's liquor empire and angel investor - showed her TikTok how a customised treatment had her 'whole face snatched and curls popping for days'. In conversation with FEMAIL, Ivelin Nikolov, General Manger at Japanese hair salon Hiro Miyoshi - which has four locations in Mayfair - explained the history behind the booming treatment. The Japanese Head Spa treatment, which starts at 150 at its London-based branches, has witnessed a 300 per cent increase in enquiries over the past two years. And for good reason, too. The treatment at Hiro Miyoshi involves a 60-minute massage and hair wash, with clients often surprised by the extent of relaxation experienced after the process. Customers are first treated to a rejuvenating Japanese face massage which extends to the neck and shoulders. The Japanese head spa has attracted a mass following on social media given its relaxing properties A soothing head and scalp massage is also incorporated with the help of premium Tsubaki oil. 'This ritual is steeped in ancient Japanese practices aimed at enhancing well-being from the neck upwards, ensuring an improvement in overall condition,' Ivelin explained. 'It is thought that the inspiration comes from the Japanese Shiatsu massage, which itself was popularised by Tokujiro Namikoshi in the 1900s. 'However, the Shiatsu is a relatively new holistic technique, which evolved from much older traditional Japanese massages from the 1300s.' At Hiro Miyashi, the treatment prioritises scalp rejuvenation and the promotion of new hair growth. 'As for hair health, this comprehensive treatment works to detoxify, nourish, and revitalise the hair,' Ivelin added. 'Recent studies underscore the vital link between the condition of the scalp and the health of the hair, emphasising the importance of holistic scalp care for optimal hair vitality.' He remarked that customers can expect to leave with a ;rejuvenated, relaxed mind and healthier hair' - as 'the treatment helps to significantly relieve stress and tension'. He says that the pricey cost of the procedure at the salon reflects founder Hiro Miyashi's commitment to the process. '[He] has worked with some of the best hair product scientists and cosmetologists in his native Japan for over four years to develop unique formulations for hair repair,' Ivelin revealed. 'His extensive experience in the high end of the market allowed him to test and work with most luxury product brands and he always felt that something was missing. 'Eventually, he went back to his roots to research and develop a range that strips the unnecessary processes and focuses purely on result, simplicity, and sustainability. 'With the growth of the brand, Hiro has been educating clients and the wider audience about the benefits that traditional Japanese techniques bring to the hair condition.' A heartbroken woman has revealed how her sister and her two-year-old niece were lured to a man's 'house of horrors' where they were murdered and buried under his kitchen floor. Bennylyn Burke, 25, and her young daughter, Jellica Burke, then 2, were from the Philippines but living in Bristol and her older sister Shela Aquino, has spoken of how the whole family were so proud of her generous, intelligent sibling who had moved to the UK for a better future. But then she met stranger, Andrew Innes, 52, on a dating website. who persuaded Bennylyn to come with him 440 miles to his home in Dundee, Scotland, where he murdered her with a hammer and samurai sword, before sexually abusing and strangling toddler, Jellica, to death. Innes has recently been sentenced to life at the High Court in Edinburgh and must serve a minimum of 36 years. Bennylyn Burke, 25, and her young daughter, Jellica Burke, then 2, who were from the Philippines but living in Bristol were lured to a man's house where he murdered and buried them under his kitchen floor Shela, a stay-at-home mum, said: 'My sister bravely left home to seek a better future herself and her daughter in the UK. 'Instead, she found the worst cruelty imaginable by someone she trusted. I live in agony thinking about their final moments.' Growing up, Shela and her sister, Bennylyn, lived with their parents and siblings in the Philippines. Bennylyn was very intelligent, and was an honour student, and often made her family proud. Shela says: 'Bennylyn wasn't just my sister. She was my best friend. 'Back home in the Philippines we grew up very poor. But we always made the most of what we had.' In 2015, when Bennylyn was 20, she met a British man visiting the country and they fell in love and got married. Three years later, in 2018, Bennylyn fell pregnant and gave birth to her daughter, Jellica. Bennylyn's older sister Shela Aquino, (left) who was in their hometown in the Philippines, met Innes via video-call when he was driving them 440 miles to his home in Dundee, Scotland Innes has recently been sentenced to life at the High Court in Edinburgh and must serve a minimum of 36 years Andrew was captured on CCTV again buying more materials the week after the murders He put their bodies in rubble bags and concealed them in concrete under the kitchen floor In 2019, Bennylyn's husband convinced her to move back to his hometown in the UK. He promised her that Jellica would have a better education and future there In March 2020, Bennylyn moved to her own flat in Bristol, and found a job as a selling vacuum cleaners online Shela says: 'Watching Bennylyn become a mum made me very proud. 'Jellica was Bennylyn's world. I adored my little niece too and loved babysitting her. 'But the next year, in 2019, Bennylyn's husband convinced her to move back to his hometown in the UK. 'He promised Bennylyn that Jellica would have a better education and future there. 'My family and I were gutted but I understood she wanted a better future for her child.' After six months in the UK, Jellica's marriage fell apart. But by then, she'd fallen in love with England and knew it was a better life for her little girl. In March 2020, she moved to her own flat in Bristol, and found a job as a selling vacuum cleaners online. Growing up, Shela (right) and her sister, Bennylyn, (left) lived with their parents and siblings in the Philippines Bennylyn Burke (left) then 14, and her big sister Shela Aquino in their hometown in the Philippines Shela, 36, was pictured with her young niece Jellica the year she was murdered After six months in the UK, Jellica's marriage fell apart. But by then, she'd fallen in love with England and knew it was a better life for her little girl Shela said she found Andrew's Facebook page and begged him to tell her where Bennylyn and Jellica were Shela says: 'She constantly sent us money, to help us out. She even helped her friends and was so generous. 'She dreamed of opening her own business one day. Every day, we chatted on video-call. I missed them.' Shela and her sister stayed in touch constantly, and the following year, in February 2021, Shela video-called her sister, as usual. Shela says: 'She said she was in Andrew's car and that he was taking her and Jellica to his home in Dundee, Scotland. 'I didn't know who he was, and was confused. But she quickly explained they'd recently met on a dating website. 'Suddenly, she pointed the camera to a man driving. He had pale skin, thinning hair and looked a lot older than Bennylyn. 'He smiled and said hello to me, so I waved hello back to him. He said how it was nice to meet me and began talking about how his ex-wife and kids were from Japan. Outside the 'house of horrors' where Bennylyn and her daughter were murdered in Dundee, Scotland The living room Bennylyn and Jellica spent their last days before being raped and strangled Police photographs show the sledgehammer that Andrew beat Bennylyn to death with 'Our call was cut short and I told Bennylyn to call again when she arrived. 'After the call, I had a weird feeling about Andrew. Especially as they'd met online. I found him on Facebook and saw plenty of photos of his Japanese ex and his kids.' Hours later, Shela received another call from Bennylyn, who told her they'd been sight-seeing around Dundee all day. Shela says: 'She then put the video on and showed me the kitchen, living room and TV. I also noticed a samurai sword in the back. Jellica was playing in a corner. 'While we were chatting, I heard Andrew tell Bennylyn he was going to the shops. But when Bennylyn asked to go, he said no and that he wouldn't be long. 'I told my sister to be safe and she promised to text again shortly. We said goodbye.' After that, Shela continued checking up on Bennylyn but didn't hear back from her. Andrew was seen on CCTV at B&Q buying cement before murdering Bennylyn and her daughter The kitchen floor which Andrew Innes buried Bennylyn and Jellica bodies under She called and texted non-stop for days and frantically messaged her friends. Shela said: 'Days later, I found Andrew's Facebook again and begged him to tell me where Bennylyn and Jellica was. 'I asked if they were alive and to send me a video as proof. He replied with old videos of them in Bristol and told me not to worry. 'My dad and I felt sick with worry. We had a horrible feeling something happened to them.' Days later, Innes messaged Shela 'Scotland is a very peaceful country, we don't have much crime at all. 'Please try not to worry, I'm sure your sister is perfectly safe.' After missing for two weeks, Shela received a call from the Scottish Police that Bennylyn and Jellica were dead. Soon, it was revealed shortly after Shela's video-call, Andrew went to the B&Q to buy cement and a hammer. When he returned, he beat Bennylyn on the head with the hammer. He then stabbed her with a samurai sword, before bludgeoning her with the handle of the blade and the hammer. Days later, he raped Jellica and strangled her to death. He put their bodies in rubble bags and concealed them in concrete under the kitchen floor. Bennylyn, then 25, and her daughter Jellica, then two, sightseeing in Dundee the day they were murdered Andrew beat Bennylyn on the head with the hammer. He then stabbed her with a samurai sword Police tracked his car through CCTV driving from Bristol to Dundee and arrested him at his home. After his arrest, Innes admitted everything and told them he'd done it because they reminded him of his past family. Shela says: 'Thinking about what Bennylyn and Jellica went through tore us into pieces. We just couldn't fathom it. 'It was like something out of a horror film. How could someone do that to my sister? And an innocent little girl? Jellica was only two.' Time passed and as the trial approached in February 2022, Shela and her family flew to the UK and faced Andrew at the High Court in Edinburgh. Shela says: 'In court, we discovered Andrew had targeted all Asian women on the dating app days before he spoke to my sister. 'He gave women top scores who were in their late 20s with young children. 'He'd targeted Bennylyn and promised her a good life and lured her and Jellica to Dundee that day.' That week, Andrew Innes, 52, of Dundee, was found guilty murdering and sexually assaulting Jellica. He was also found guilty of murdering Bennylyn. He was sentenced to life and had to serve a minimum of 36 years at the High Court in Edinburgh. Shela says: 'Although we had justice, nothing would ever bring them back. 'Bennylyn was the kindest, sweetest sister. She had so many hopes and dreams. 'Jellica was an innocent child with her whole life ahead of her. The light in our lives has been cruelly sniffed out.' When Michael and Kristine Barnett claimed that they had been 'abused' and 'terrorized' by a 'con artist' posing as a six-year-old orphan, the shocking allegations captured the entire nation. The Indiana-based couple alleged that they brought home who they thought to be a helpless little girl suffering from a disability - only to discover that she was actually a 'sociopathic' adult masquerading as a child. The plot only thickened when the girl in question spoke out and told a very different tale, one of a scared and innocent kid who was abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for her. The story may seem fit for the big screen - in fact, it's eerily similar to the plot of the movie The Orphan - but it is not fiction dreamed up to entertain audiences. This is the very twisted - but all too real - story of Natalia Grace. The wild and very twisted story of Natalia Grace has captured the nation for years, and thanks to a recent DNA test, we may finally have uncovered the truth about her age Michael and Kristine Barnett (seen) have claimed that Natalia was an adult 'con artist' posing as a six year old orphan, but she has maintained that she was a child the entire time The journey began in 2010, when the Barnett's adopted Ukraine-born Natalia, who has a rare form of dwarfism, after they discovered they were 'unable to have more children.' At the time, the agency provided a birth certificate that listed her birth year as 2003, which would have made her six years old. Soon after she joined the family, the couple claimed that Natalia began to display erratic, frightening, and even violent behavior that left them fearing for their lives. They alleged that she would threaten to kill them, stand over their beds with a knife at night, and once tried to poison Kristine by putting cleaning supplies in her coffee. The Barnetts said that they started to suspect she was older than they were originally told after they noticed she had developed pubic hair and had started her period. By 2012, the couple claimed that they had come to believe that Natalia was actually an adult pretending to be a little girl, so they had her age legally changed with the courts. Soon after, they packed up their things and moved hundreds of miles away, leaving Natalia all by herself in an apartment that they rented for her. Natalia has long maintained that she was just a kid when the Barnetts left her to fend for herself, one who knew little about cooking and had limited use of her arms due to her disability, which left her often hungry, scared, and alone. The journey began in 2010, when the Indiana-based couple adopted Ukraine-born Natalia, who has a rare form of dwarfism. Natalia is seen in their home after the adoption She also denied that she ever tried to hurt the Barnetts, and has claimed that Kristine was physically abusive to her. In 2019, the complicated story was thrust into the spotlight when Michael and Kristine were arrested for a series of charges including neglect of a dependent, endangering a dependent's life, and abandoning or cruelly confining a dependent. And the vastly different takes about what went down sparked a slew of burning questions: Who was the victim - Natalia or the Barnetts? Was it justified for them to leave her alone? And most importantly, was she a kid or an adult? Despite a whirlwind trial, explosive testimony, numerous medical professionals weighing in, and even interviews with Natalia's birth mother, many things still remain a mystery. As the latest twist to Natalia's story unfolds, FEMAIL went ahead and broke down each side of the horrific tale, uncovering everything that both the Barnetts and Natalia have said about what occurred. So was she a six-year-old abuse victim or an adult con artist? Take a look at everything we know about Natalia's case. The Barnetts' version: Michael and Kristine claimed that they were 'abused' and 'terrorized' by 'con artist' and 'sociopath' Natalia While many details of Natalia's childhood still remain a mystery, some things we know for sure are that she was born in Ukraine and put in an orphanage by her mother soon after. She was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism called diastrophic dysplasia - which causes short stature, joint deformities, skeletal abnormalities, and problems with vision - when she was young. Natalia first came to America in 2008 when she was adopted by a couple who remained anonymous, but it didn't work out for undisclosed reasons, and she was placed with a Florida-based agency two years later. Soon after she joined the family, the couple claimed that Natalia (pictured in 2010) began to display violent behavior that left them fearing for their lives That's when Michael and Kristine, who already had three biological sons, found Natalia. 'I always wanted to have a larger family and I had very severe complications in my pregnancies and was unable to have more children,' Kristine previously explained to DailyMail.com about their decision to adopt. 'I also at that time had a very privileged life. I felt that if I had the ability to help another person in the world then I wanted to do it.' When they adopted Natalia, they said they were given very few details regarding her background, but were told that she needed a home immediately because her previous adoptive parents suddenly gave her up. 'Out of compassion for their situation I didn't want to press them for information on what had gone wrong,' Kristine said. The agency allegedly provided the Barnetts with a Ukrainian birth certificate that listed Natalia's birthday as September 4, 2003, which would have made her six years old at the time of the adoption. Soon after they brought Natalia into their home in Westfield, Indiana, the couple claimed that she started to display bizarre, erratic, and violent behavior that they said made them believe that she was actually a full-grown adult masquerading as a child. Kristine alleged to DailyMail.com that Natalia would threaten to kill them, stand over their beds with a knife at night, and once tried to poison her by putting cleaning supplies in her coffee The Barnetts said that they started to suspect she was older than they were originally told after they noticed she had developed pubic hair and had started her period Michael claimed in Investigation Discovery's docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace that when they went to give Natalia her first bath a day after they adopted her, they noticed she had pubic hair - something doctors say starts as early as eight years old in girls. In the doc, family friends recalled how Kristine told them that she had found blood-stained socks in the trash soon after, which lead to her believing that Natalia had been having her period and trying to hide it from her new parents. Michael said he and his family were 'abused' and 'terrorized' by Natalia, branding her as a 'con artist' and a 'sociopath.' He's seen with Natalia In addition, Kristine told DailyMail.com that Natalia shunned kids' toys, sought the company of teenage girls, and appeared to use sophisticated vocabulary way beyond someone her age. 'It was very hard to decipher how old she was because she has such a unique look. But at that time I started to believe she was probably a teenager,' she said. 'But I didn't have any regrets. This was what I wanted to do. I felt overwhelming love for her.' The couple have said that over time, they began to feel threatened by Natalia, with Kristine claiming in her 2019 interview with DailyMail.com that she 'would make statements and draw pictures' that hinted she 'wanted to kill them.' She also claimed Natalia would 'stand over' their beds in the middle of the night with a knife, and that she once tried to put chemicals in their drinks - both of which Natalia has denied. '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,' Kristine said. '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."' She also alleged that Natalia would 'jump out of moving cars, smear blood on mirrors,' and do other 'things you could never imagine a little child doing.' By 2012, the couple have claimed that believed Natalia was actually an adult pretending to be a little girl, so they had her age legally changed with the courts. She's seen playing at their home Soon after, they packed up their things and moved hundreds of miles away, leaving Natalia all by herself in an apartment that they rented for her. Natalia is seen in the Barnett home In ID's doc, Michael said he and his family were 'abused' and 'terrorized' by Natalia, branding her as a 'con artist' and a 'sociopath' and comparing what they went through to 'the stuff you see in horror movies.' Throughout 2011, the parents said they sent Natalia to St Vincent Indianapolis Stress Center. But after Kristine claimed Natalia tried to drag her on to an electric fence during a 2012 birthday outing, she was moved to a Indiana State Mental Hospital for longer-term care. The couple explained to DailyMail.com that Natalia's primary care physician Andrew McLaren told them that he believed that Natalia's 2003 birth date was 'inaccurate' and that she was pretending be a young child soon after. A letter written by the doctor in 2016 would later surface as part of the court case against the Barnetts. 'I served as Natalia's primary care doctor until at least 2012. Over time, it has become increasingly apparent that this patient is substantially older than she claimed to be,' he wrote. Natalia was then taken in by a neighboring couple named Cynthia and Antwon Mans (seen), who had discovered that she was living there alone 'She was seen by a dentist in 2011, who described her dentition as adult. A neuropsychology evaluation in 2011 described her as "fully grown" and with "secondary sex characteristics." 'This signifies adult sexual development. During an inpatient psychiatric hospitalization in 2012, it was stated that she was at least 14 years of age. A normal menstrual cycle was documented during that hospitalization.' In the letter, he continued, '[Natalia] has made a career of perpetuating her age facade. She has continued to fool those who have the best intentions. 'The biggest victims here are Michael and Kristine Barnett, who did everything in their power to provide her with a better life.' In June 2012, the Barnetts decided to apply to have Natalia's age 'corrected' with Marion County Superior Court in Indianapolis, which lead to a judge revising Natalia's date of birth to September 4, 1989 - changing her legal age from eight to 22. Kristine claimed they did it so that Natalia could receive the 'appropriate' psychiatric treatment for an adult instead of a child. Three years later, in 2019, the story was thrust into the spotlight when Michael and Kristine were arrested for a series of charges. Natalia is seen after the Mans took her in 'The media is painting me to be a child abuser but there is no child here,' Kristine insisted to DailyMail.com afterwards. Natalia is seen while living with the Mans Natalia was now considered an adult by the state of Indiana - which meant she was legally responsible for herself. When she was discharged from the institution in August 2012, the Barnetts began renting an apartment for her in Lafayette, Indiana. The couple, along with their three biological children, then moved hundreds of miles away to Canada, so that their eldest son could attend a prestigious school there - leaving Natalia to fend for herself. However, Kristine insisted to DailyMail.com that they helped her get a social security number and apply for benefits, food stamps, and an ID before they left. Kristine also claimed that she was communicating daily with Natalia and said she even came up with a plan to help her enroll in college and study cosmetology. But she said Natalia stopped returning her calls soon after, and that she believed she was posing as a child again for another unsuspecting family. It was later revealed that Natalia had been taken in by a neighboring couple named Cynthia and Antwon Mans, who had discovered that she was living there alone. In 2016, the Mans applied to become Natalia's legal guardians, which meant they would have to prove she was a minor and restore her original birth date. But Natalia (seen with Cynthia) would later tell a very different story, one of a scared and innocent child who was abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for her The Barnetts - who split in 2014, and have blamed Natalia for tearing them apart - filed an objection, claiming that Natalia was an adult. While the judge upheld the original results and the Mans ultimately dropped the guardianship petition, this sparked an in-depth investigation into Natalia's odd situation. Three years later, in 2019, the story was thrust into the spotlight when Michael and Kristine were arrested for a series of charges including neglect of a dependent, endangering a dependent's life, and abandoning or cruelly confining a dependent. 'The media is painting me to be a child abuser but there is no child here,' Kristine insisted to DailyMail.com afterwards. 'Natalia was a woman. She had periods. She had adult teeth. She never grew a single inch, which would happen even with a child with dwarfism. 'The doctors all confirmed she was suffering a severe psychological illness only diagnosed in adults. 'I did not abandon anyone. These accusations are absolutely devastating. I have been cooperative the whole time. I have been truthful with people the whole time. 'I am being charged by the state of Indiana for crimes against a child when the state of Indiana has determined multiple times that Natalia was an adult. 'From day one this was a mission of love. But when you bring a child into your home, you expect them to be a child. 'To be accused of this is a unconscionable to me. It's just horrifying.' Michael was acquitted in October 2022, and Kristine had her charges dropped three weeks before her trial in March 2023. Natalia's take of the horrific tale: She has insisted that the Barnetts are 'liars' - and that she was a scared and innocent child Natalia would later tell a very different story, one of a scared and innocent child who was abandoned by the people who were supposed to care for her. She has long maintained that she was a kid when the Barnetts left her to move to Canada, and that she never tried to hurt them. Weeks after the Barnetts were arrested, Natalia sat down with Dr. Phil for an explosive interview, and she denied all of her adoptive parents' claims, stating, 'It's not true at all.' Cynthia and Antwon, who had been looking after Natalia since she was abandoned by the Barnetts, described Natalia as a 'genuine and loving young lady who has been through a horrible situation' during the interview. Weeks after the Barnetts were arrested, Natalia sat down with Dr. Phil for an explosive interview, and she denied all of her adoptive parents' claims, stating, 'It's not true at all' Cynthia and Antwon described Natalia as a 'genuine and loving young lady who has been through a horrible situation' during the interview They branded the Barnetts heartless liars who deserved to be brought to justice for what they did to the child they promised to look after. They also shut down some of Kristine's claims, with Cynthia telling Dr. Phil, 'She's been with us for almost seven years, to this day she does not have a menstrual cycle. Not one.' Afterwards, Dr. Phil stated that he believed Natalia was telling the truth. He told Good Morning America, 'I certainly don't think this individual is 30 years old. 'I think the court has done a real miscarriage of justice here in reading her the way they have. I don't think there's really medical support for that.' In court, Natalia spoke about being 'abandoned' in the Lafayette apartment, and she said she was barely able to take of herself since she had limited use of her hands and arms and didn't know how to cook. She said she sustained herself mostly on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Ramen Noodles, and an occasional pizza. In a new HBO Max documentary, called The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, which premiered last week, Natalia spoke in detail about what she allegedly went through with the Barnetts. She alleged that Kristine would 'pepper spray' her if she misbehaved, and that she once forced her to put a tampon in even though she hadn't actually started her period. 'Kristine literally just said, "You started your period," and then she forced me to put the tampon in. It hurt so bad. And I was scared,' she said in the doc. Afterwards, Dr. Phil stated that he believed Natalia was telling the truth. He told Good Morning America, 'I certainly don't think this individual is 30 years old' In a new documentary, which premiered last week, Natalia spoke in detail about what she allegedly went through with the Barnetts She claimed that Kristine would 'pepper spray' her if she misbehaved, and that she once forced her to put a tampon in even though she hadn't actually started her period In addition, she claimed that Kristine encouraged her to tell people she was older, and that if she didn't, she would physically abuse her. 'She [once] started hitting me with a belt just anywhere she could. I remember trying to move, but she kept telling me to stop moving, and then she would just hit me harder,' she said in the documentary. 'These people were supposed to be the ones to love me, to take care of me, but all they did was hurt me.' She also shut down rumors that she tried to hurt them, stating, 'It's a lie. I'm an eight-year-old, 37-pound little girl. 'I never tried to murder anybody. Kristine is the real monster. Michael is an accomplice to the monster.' When asked about the coffee incident, she insisted that she was scrubbing the table when Kristine walked in and saw her holding a bottle of cleaning liquid near her coffee, but that she never put any in the drink. What we know: Michael was found not guilty and Kristine's charges were dropped, but a recent DNA test put Natalia at 22 years old So who is telling the truth? Unfortunately, its' still hard to say but a recent DNA test has confirmed that Natalia was a child when she was in the care of the Barnetts - something that was also backed up by her birth mother. In the new HBO series, Natalia was seen reading the results of the test, which determined that she was now around age 22, which would have made her nine when she was first adopted by Kristine and Michael. In the doc, Natalia broke down in tears upon reading the results. 'This one little piece of paper throws every single lie that the Barnett's said right into the trash with a match,' she said. 'This is so big. Because literally, this has been 13 years of just two people lying their butts off. A recent DNA test has confirmed that Natalia was a child when she was in the care of the Barnetts. She's seen after reading the results In the new series, Natalia was seen reading the results of the test, which determined that she was now around age 22, which would have made her nine when she was adopted 'They ruined a kid's life. They painted me as some big monster, when in reality they were the ones.' ID's deep dive also revealed that a dentist who had examined Natalia in 2011 had determined that she still had many of her baby teeth, and placed her around eight or nine years old. In addition, a probable cause affidavit obtained by DailyMail.com following the Barnetts arrest showed that an expert at the Peyton Manning Children's Hospital had carried out bone density tests on Natalia in June 2010 - and they concluded she was aged approximately eight years old. A further skeletal test two years later at the same facility concluded she was around 11 years old. Natalia's birth mother (seen) has also spoken out, and she said that Natalia's date of birth was September 3, 2003, like the original birth certificate said Michael apologized to Natalia in the new documentary. He said he was 'overly sorry' and claimed that he too was a 'victim' of his ex-wife Kristine In order to determine her true age, prosecutors located Natalia's birth mother, Anna Volodymyrivna Gava, who told them that Natalia's date of birth was September 3, 2003, like the original birth certificate said. Anna also said that she herself was born in 1979, which would have made her only 10 years old had Natalia been born in 1989 like the Barnetts had claimed. Anna has continued to insist that her daughter was born in 2003 to numerous media outlets, including DailyMail.com, who spoke to her in 2019. Even so, Michael was found not-guilty of all charges in 2022, and Kristine's case was later dropped due to 'insufficient evidence.' They both still maintain their innocence, however, Michael did apologize to Natalia in the new documentary. After she spoke about the alleged abuse she endured in the home, he said he was 'overly sorry' and claimed that he too was a 'victim' of his ex-wife Kristine. 'I was exceptionally controlled and put down and threatened,' he said. 'Anything that was who I was ripped from me and I was guided and instructed to be exactly what she wanted me to be.' Where is she now? A decade on from separating from the Barnetts, Natalia is attempting to raise money to get her own house and start a photography business In the recent documentary, it was revealed that Natalia was officially adopted by the Mans in 2023. 'This is the day I close the door on the Barnetts and never open it again,' she said in a clip taken on the day she was adopted. But in the final moments of the series, her story took yet another shocking turn when it was revealed that the Mans had now cut ties with her, despite fiercely defending her for years. Producers said that the Mans were by her side during the entire process of making the doc, but they received a call from the couple six months after it was done. In an alleged recording to the call, Antwon could be heard saying, 'Something ain't right with Natalia. This girl is tweakin'. In the documentary, it was revealed that Natalia was officially adopted by the Mans in 2023. She's seen in 2023 But in the final moments of the series, her story took another shocking turn when it was revealed that the Mans had now cut ties with her, despite fiercely defending her for years 'I feel like she's the enemy in the house. And she said to us, we have held her hostage. Made us look like we're the enemy. 'Natalia does not have emotions for nothing but herself. We're done. We're done with her.' Cynthia added, 'Natalia is stabbing her family in the back over a complete lie.' In an interview with The Sun this week, however, Cynthia appeared to backtrack and insisted that everything was 'perfect' between them and Natalia. She said that Natalia was 'living with friends' but that the family were still in regular contact with her. 'We are absolutely perfect,' she insisted. 'No, she doesn't live with us but we are fine.' She also shared a screenshot of herself and Natalia on a FaceTime call with the publication, which was reportedly taken this week. 'It's rough, but with God, we gonna make it,' Cynthia added. 'I am in prayer.' In an interview with The Sun this week, however, Cynthia (seen with Natalia) insisted that everything was 'perfect' between them and Natalia She said that Natalia was 'living with friends' but that the family were still in regular contact with her. Natalia and Cynthia are seen Following the new show, Natalia took to social media to share an update on how she's doing. 'I am OK and doing well and thank you all for your support and prayers,' she wrote. 'I wish I could tell you more about the show but I signed an agreement with the show to keep things confidential for now. Natalia started a GoFundMe earlier this month in an attempt to raise money to get her 'own house' and launch a photography business. She's seen earlier this month 'I will let you guys know when I can for sure, but just know I am OK. Love y'all.' She also revealed that she had started a GoFundMe in an attempt to raise money to get her 'own house' and launch a photography business. 'I recently moved out and I'm saving money to get my own house so I can have a personal place of my own,' she wrote in the description of the fundraiser. 'I am wanting to start my own photography business to create a fun and awesome way to have fun and do what I love which is taking pictures and creating memories for myself and other people. 'I am doing this so I can have a fresh start in life as an adult and get past everything that happened in my life.' In addition, Natalia said she is saving up to get 'spine surgery,' adding that if she doesn't get the treatment soon she might become 'paralyzed.' 'I have a type of dwarfism called diastrophic dysplasia - a form of dwarfism that has many serious issues which often require surgery,' she continued. 'I'll likely have to have major spine surgery and even more surgery on my legs. The costs associated with these surgeries are in excess of $500,000 because the specialist does not accept my medical insurance. 'The first treatment I need is to have my spine corrected as if I leave it too long it could lead to paralysis and incontinence. 'I recently moved out and I'm saving money to get my own house so I can have a personal place of my own,' she wrote in the description of the fundraiser In addition, Natalia (seen with the Mans family) said she is saving up to get 'spine surgery,' adding that if she doesn't get the treatment soon she might become 'paralyzed' 'I would like to make enough to at least put a deposit on my own place and start a business to start earning some money so I can start saving for this expensive treatment. 'However if I reach over my goal I will be able to put that towards the treatment I require to give me a better chance at getting enough to cover it.' As for where the Barnetts are now, little is known about their whereabouts, but Kristine did release a statement on Facebook addressing Natalia's claims that she was physically abusive in the documentary. 'I have had good and bad days as a mom... I am sure there were plenty of fails and some successes I had as a parent and mom but I was not abusive to my children,' she wrote in the now-deleted post. 'The fact that these false allegations are occurring after a trial with evidence which was dismissed is disturbing. Its like being assumed guilty after being proven innocent.' It's been said Michael lives in Indiana and Kristine lives in Florida. A Carlisle man is dead after a police-involved shooting Saturday afternoon in Carlisle. ABC27 reported that Nathaniel Law Liberator, 33, of Carlisle, was identified as the man killed after a Carlisle Borough Police officer discharged his firearm during an altercation in the 300 block of C Street at 1:59 p.m. Saturday. Liberator was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the news station. State Police are investigating the incident. No further information was immediately available. Posted earlier on Cumberlink: One person is dead after a police-involved shooting in the 300 block of C Street in Carlisle Saturday afternoon, ABC27 reported. The news station reported that borough police were initially dispatched for a disturbance at 1:50 p.m., and the officers had an altercation during the investigation. Police said an officer discharged his firearm, and the person killed was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did not release the name of the person killed, according to the news station. A World War II and Korean War veteran who received a Purple Heart celebrated his 101st birthday at Hooters and has vowed to return there every year until he dies. Harry Perez Cerezo, a retiree from Texas, was joined by his family, friends, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization when he rang in his milestone birthday at the chain's El Paso location on January 5. The centenarian was serenaded by the Hooters girls and gifted a signed Hooters hat in honor of his many years of service during the emotional party. 'I have never seen him cry, and we saw him cry there. His tears just came rolling down,' his niece Josie Ramirez, 63, told DailyMail.com. Purple Heart recipient Harry Perez Cerezo celebrated his 101st birthday with his family and friends at the Hooters in El Paso, Texas, on January 5 The centenarian was serenaded by the Hooters girls and gifted a signed Hooters hat in honor of his many years of service Harry was not even 18 when he joined the U.S. Armed Forces using his mother's maiden name, and shortly after, he married his late wife, Bibiana Perez. He served in World War II and then the Korean War, during which he was shot in the back. Instead of being sent home, he was required to return to service after he recovered. Josie explained that her uncle doesn't like to talk about the wars because he gets teary-eyed thinking about the 'goodie buddies' he lost. After serving in the military for 22 years, he was awarded the Purple Heart, an honor given to those wounded or killed while in service. Harry worked in the post office until he retired, and he has been living by himself in El Paso since his wife passed away in 2018. He had never heard of Hooters until last year when Josie and her husband, Victor Ramirez, 65, took him to the restaurant for his 100th birthday. Josie explained that her uncle doesn't like to go out because he is hard of hearing and too stubborn to wear his hearing aids. When they asked what he wanted to do for his milestone birthday, he thought of his days as a G.I. and joked that he wanted them to take him somewhere to see 'some behind.' 'I have never seen him cry, and we saw him cry there. His tears just came rolling down,' his niece Josie Ramirez, 63, told DailyMail.com of the veteran's emotional reaction Harry was not even 18 when he joined the U.S. Armed Forces using his mother's maiden name. He served in World War II and the Korean War, during which he was shot in the back Harry worked in the post office until he retired, and he has been living by himself in El Paso since his wife passed away in 2018 Victor honored the veteran's wishes and took him to Hooters, where he was surprised to see scantily clad women serving wings and beer in a family-friendly setting. 'He was like, "Oh my God... If I live to be 101, I want to come back here," Josie recalled of her uncle's reaction. 'I'll be here until at least 105,' he told her. 'He liked the atmosphere, the girls, and the customers,' she said. 'Everybody was coming and buying him a drink or greeting him, and he really enjoyed all of that. He took it all in.' Josie didn't understand why he was fixated on turning 105 until she realized that it is the year the battery in his pacemaker needs to be replaced. Harry jokes that he is living on batteries and when the batteries die, he's going to die, but his niece likes to remind him that it's a simple surgery to replace the generator. Harry had never heard of Hooters until last year, when Josie and her husband, Victor Ramirez, 65, took him to the restaurant for his 100th birthday The veteran has vowed to celebrate his birthday at Hooters every year until he dies He is in excellent health for his age and many people assume he is in his 70s. The widower still lives on his own and continues to clean and do his laundry, although Josie likes to stop by to help him out and make him meals. He only recently stopped driving at the request of his niece. HARRY'S SECRETS TO LONGEVITY Harry has prioritized exercise throughout his life, and he refuses to let his age deter him from keeping his daily routine. He wakes up every morning and hops on his treadmill, walking for 15 minutes before taking a break. After about an hour, he will get back on the treadmill. He does that for a total of four times a day. Harry also rides a stationary bike while he watches TV. As for his meals, he doesn't eat a lot and is careful not to overstuff himself. The centenarian typically has a bean burrito or pancakes with coffee for breakfast. Harry only had about two chicken wings and some cake at his 101st birthday party at Hooters. Advertisement The secret to Harry's longevity seems to be nothing more than continuous exercise and eating in moderation. Josie explained that he has always worked out and has refused to let his age deter him from keeping his daily routine. He wakes up every morning and hops on his treadmill, walking for 15 minutes before taking a break and watching Mexican soap operas. After about an hour, he will get back on the treadmill. He does that four times a day and also rides a stationary bike while he watches TV. Josie added that Harry doesn't eat a lot and is careful not to overstuff himself. He typically has a bean burrito or pancakes with coffee for breakfast. He only had about two chicken wings and some cake at his birthday party at Hooters, although he did enjoy more drinks than usual. Josie said he only had one beer when he turned 100, but he confessed that he didn't take his medication this year because he wanted to 'drink it up.' Harry and his late wife weren't able to have children of their own, and he was moved to see his nieces, their children, and their grandchildren gathered at Hooters to celebrate his birthday. 'Whenever we get together like that, he always says, "I never thought that I'd have so much family in my life,"' Josie explained. The birthday was one that Harry will never forget, and he plans on continuing the tradition until he dies. 'I just want to thank Hooters and everybody who was involved [in helping] celebrate his birthday and his service to this country,' Victor said. King Charles and Queen Camilla have sent their 'very best wishes' to the newly crowned King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark as they have today ascended the throne - while the British monarchs enjoyed a Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral. The message, shared by Buckingham Palace also paid tribute to Margrethe II -Europe's longest-reigning monarch - whose surprise abdication on New Year's Eve shocked the nation. 'My wife joins me in writing to convey our very best wishes on the day of your accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Denmark,' Charles, 75, penned in the address to Frederik and Mary. 'I look forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world. 'I pay tribute to the many years of service of your mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II, and remember fondly the frequent visits between our countries, including our visit to Copenhagen and Elsinore in 2012.' King Charles and Queen Camilla have sent their 'very best wishes' to the newly crowned King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark as they have today ascended the throne - while the British monarchs enjoyed a Sunday church service at Crathie Kirk, near Balmoral Charles also reminisced of Frederik and Mary's attendance of his own Coronation in May, adding that he was 'delighted' they were able to make it. 'I much look forward to future opportunities to celebrate the close connection that unites our countries and our families,' he concluded. Today has seen Denmark welcome Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary as their new King and Queen - and the excitement was kicking off as early as last night. Margrethe, who has ruled the nation for more than 52 years was on Saturday evening seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved queen in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The clip captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. And as reported by the Guardian, hotels and accommodation in the Danish capital are booked and busy. Today has seen Denmark welcome Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary as their new King and Queen - and the excitement was kicking off as early as last night King Charles and Queen Camilla (pictured last month) have sent their 'very best wishes' to the newly crowned King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark as they have today ascended the throne Charles also reminisced of Frederik and Mary's attendance of his own Coronation in May, adding that he was 'delighted' they were able to make it Rikke Holm Petersen, of tourist organisation Wonderful Copenhagen, told the outlet that people started securing their stays as soon as Margrethe made her announcement on New Year's Eve. And one restaurant working along the procession's route added that they've had to recruit more staff to meet the expected demand. Meanwhile it was business as usual in the UK, where Charles and Camilla appeared to be in high spirits while driving to a Sunday church service near Balmoral. The King appeared animated as he sat behind the wheel, chatting with his grinning wife. The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down. However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. Meanwhile it was business as usual in the UK, where Charles and Camilla appeared to be in high spirits while driving to a Sunday church service near Balmoral The King appeared animated as he sat behind the wheel, chatting with his grinning wife earlier today The pair were all smiles despite the gloomy weather as they left a Sunday service at Crathie Kirk today This Sunday will see Denmark welcome a new King and Queen as Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary. Pictured together in January The historic occasion, which follows Queen Margrethe 's shock abdication on New Year's Eve, is sure to be an exciting event for the nation The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event Early doors! Wellwishers have already started gathering at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication in Copenhagen Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son today 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. 'The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions,' said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an 'invisible pact' between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate. Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne. Experts speaking to the Guardian have revealed that many hotels 'fully booked' Today will see Denmark welcome Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary as their new King and Queen - and the excitement has already kicked off as wellwishers have begun to set up folding chairs outside Christiansborg Palace Square. The historic occasion, which follows Queen Margrethe's shock abdication on New Year's Eve, is sure to be an exciting event for the nation - but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles's ornate Coronation in May. But crowds have been excited by the occasion nonetheless, as the 83-year-old monarch, who has ruled the nation for more than 52 years was last night seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved queen in a video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. The clip captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence last night. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. And as reported by the Guardian, hotels and accommodation in the Danish capital are booked and busy. Rikke Holm Petersen, of tourist organisation Wonderful Copenhagen, told the outlet that people started securing their stays as soon as Margrethe made her announcement on New Year's Eve. And one restaurant working along the procession's route added that they've had to recruit more staff to meet the expected demand. Today's festivities will kick off at around 1:35pm Danish time (12:35 GMT), with Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, setting off in a car from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian. Shortly after, Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage. Both will pass through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. At 2pm, there will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary. People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son on Sunday The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event The sun was yet to rise when the first royal fans started setting up to witness today's abdication This is where the succession of the throne will happen, as Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm, the couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch will then speak and conclude with the motto. It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. At 5pm, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. This Sunday will see Denmark welcome a new King and Queen as Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary. Pictured together in January The historic occasion, which follows Queen Margrethe 's shock abdication on New Year's Eve, is sure to be an exciting event for the nation It comes following reports that Prince Joachim, Frederik's younger brother, will attend the event solo to support his sibling, according to Hello!. His wife, Princess Marie, and their two children, Count Henrik, 14, and Countess Athena of Monpezat, 11, will remain in Washington DC, where the family now live after Joachim became defence industry attache at the Embassy of Denmark. A palace spokesperson said: 'Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason,' before adding that Queen Margrethe's youngest son will leave Denmark the following day to return to his home in the US. Tensions first arose in the Danish royal household after the monarch decided to strip four of her grandchildren of their HRH titles in 2022. She subsequently apologised about the timing of the announcement but stood by the move. Joachim had spoken out against his mother's decision in the days that followed - claiming that his two children, Counts Nikolai, 24, and Felix, 21 - born from his first marriage to Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg - and Henrik and Athena, had been 'harmed' in the process. Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.' The day will kick off at around 1:35pm, with Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, setting off in a car from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian It comes following reports that Prince Joachim , Frederik's younger brother, will attend the event solo to support his sibling, according to Hello!. Pictured: Counts Nikolai and Felix, Queen Margrethe, Princess Marie, Countess Athena, Prince Joachim and Count Henrik in April 2022 Shortly after his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days notice before the news was made public. Following the Queen's announcement, Joachim spoke to Danish publication Ekstra Bladet outside the Danish Embassy in Paris, where he lived with his French-born wife Princess Marie and his two youngest children, and said his four children had been 'hurt' by their grandmother's decision. 'I was given five days' notice to tell them. In May, I was presented with a plan which, by and large, was that when the children each turned 25, it would happen. Now I had only five days to tell them. Athena turns 11 in January,' he clarified at the time. Speaking to B.T., Joachim and his second wife Marie also admitted their relationship with Prince Frederik and Princess Mary is 'complicated'. Meanwhile, Joachim's ex-wife Alexandra said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' It's been a tumultuous few years for the Danish royal family. Margarethe stepping down comes two months after photographs emerged of Crown Prince Frederik enjoying a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid in October. The rumours began when Prince Frederik was photographed enjoying a night out in Spain with his friend Genoveva Casanova without his wife. The family headed for a pre-Christmas break to Mary's native Australia, as well as visiting New Zealand. Before the family's flight from New Zealand Princess Mary shared a cryptic post about loneliness and the need for positive human connection ahead of Christmas. In the letter posted on the Mary Foundation website, the future queen reflected on the past year - and said she felt it was shorter than previous years. 'And at the same time, so much has happened that it is impossible to put it all into words,' she continued. An excerpt shared on the official Instagram of the Danish Royal House had some speculating the princess was using her foundation to hint at the affair rumours. 'We need each other if we are to succeed.' And that's not only true in the working world and for those of us who are working to combat social isolation,' it read. 'This is true for all of us. Humans need humans.' The post and powerful words were pictured alongside a gorgeous picture of the royal in the snow. She wore a purple jacket beneath a warm woolen wrap and gave a soft smile toward the camera. Princess Mary has shared a cryptic post about loneliness and the need for positive human connection ahead of Christmas Her trip came after rumours of the prince having an affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova rocked the Danish Royal Household 'The Danish royal family are lucky to have you. I hope your husband realises he has embarrassed you and his children immeasurably. You will make a fine queen,' one fan commented. Another wrote: 'I think this is a sad year for Mary, her husband's (alleged) betrayal and it's public. What a brave woman, she can handle anything. I just adore her.' Some came to the defence of the royals calling for people to stop talking about the alleged affair. There has been speculation that Queen Margrethe's abdication may have been driven to save the marriage of her son and Princess Mary in the wake of the alleged 'affair'. Ms Casanova has denied allegations of any relationship with Frederik. Royal commentator Phil Dampier told The Telegraph: 'It's possible that the Queen took this action because she would have been terrified of the marriage breaking up and the royal family losing Mary. It would have caused major problems. 'The Queen has always seen Mary as a tremendous asset.' The Prince and his Australian Princess have been rocked by rumours of infidelity since November - placing their 'fairytale romance' under the microscope. The news comes as it was revealed Princess Mary's father won't be in the crowd when she ascends to the Danish throne on Monday, January 14. John Donaldson will sit out the history-making event in the comfort of his home in Australia. The Royal House's head of communications, Lene Balleby, told local media the future Queen is close with her 82-year-old dad but he is unable to travel due to his age and health. This is the second major event Mr Donaldson has had to skip in recent years: the last was Princess Isabella's Confirmation. Princess Mary's maths teacher father John Donaldson won't be in the crowd when she ascends to the Danish throne on Monday, January 14 'Unfortunately, my father is not coming. He is getting to be an elderly gentleman and he is not well enough to take the long trip back to Denmark for a confirmation, but he is with us in our hearts,' Crown Princess Mary said at the time. Mr Donaldson previously threw his full support behind his daughter - in her high profile role at court - and even lived in Denmark with his wife British author Susan Moody for a number of years. He taught at both Aarhus and Copenhagen University and became renowned for wearing a kilt on special occasions such as the royal couple's wedding. The Crown Princesses mother, Henrietta Donaldson, died from a heart condition in 1997 when Mary was just 25 years old. This is the second major event Mr Donaldson has had to skip in recent years - the last was Princess Isabella's Confirmation The Australian princess has been described as 'the real power behind the throne' and is loved by the Danish people. She stood by Queen Margrethe during her controversial decision to stream line the monarch and take away Prince Joachim's children's royal titles. The prince has revealed he will attend the event - however his wife and children will not. Mary continued to hold her head high when her 'fairy tale relationship' with Prince Frederik was called into question after he was spotted on a night out with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Spain. Queen Mary of Denmark's eldest son looked dashing and suitably confident as he stepped out for the Danish royal abdication today. The 18-year-old will now be known as Crown Prince Christian - as the heir apparent - following the transference of power from his grandmother to his father. Christian donned a formal navy suit which he paired with a white shirt and dark suit for the historic occasion. He seemed self-assured and at ease while stepping out at the balcony of Christiansborg Palace today. The teenager grinned and waved at adoring crowds as his parents were welcomed as the nation's new King and Queen. Queen Mary of Denmark 's eldest son looked dashing and suitably confident as he stepped out for the Danish royal abdication today And speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter added how Mary 'encompassed' her children to show they are her 'important focus'. 'When the children join them, they all move in together,' she explained. Today's transferrence of power has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - made their way to Christiansborg Castle. A procession of cars set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace. Both passed through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. At Christiansborg Palace, Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian all took part in a Council of State at with the Government and the Council of State secretary. This is where Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. And speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter added how Mary 'encompassed' her children to show they are her 'important focus' The 18-year-old will now be known as Crown Prince Christian - as the heir apparent - following the transference of power from his grandmother to his father Christian donned a formal navy suit which he paired with a white shirt and dark suit for the historic occasion Margrethe has now made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary are holding a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister then proclaimed the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch made an impassioned speech as he admitted his wish to be a 'unifying king'. 'I need all the support I can get,' he revealed. 'From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. 'Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.' It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. At 5pm Danish time, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. Crowds of hundreds gathered on the streets of Brunei today to watch Prince Abdul Mateen and his new wife Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah parade through the capital ahead of their wedding reception. Sunday is the eighth day of the couple's 10-day wedding - which has already seen Asia's most eligible bachelor legally taken off the market - and days of festivities. But today is the most significant, as Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, 29, embark on a parade through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan. The elaborate ceremony will also see the royal couple publicly tie the knot (despite having done so legally on Wednesday) and enjoy a glittering reception attended by an array of international royalty and dignitaries. The internet famous Prince Abdul Mateen revealed his engagement to Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah in December - an announcement which shocked the fans of Asia's most eligible bachelor. Crowds of hundreds gathered on the streets of Brunei today to watch Prince Abdul Mateen and his new wife Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah parade through the capital ahead of their wedding reception Sunday is the eighth day of the couple's 10-day wedding - which has already seen Asia 's most eligible bachelor legally taken off the market - and days of festivities His new wife is the granddaughter of an adviser to Brunei's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. It is understood she owns a fashion and tourism company, and that the couple have been dating for years. Sunday was an elaborate affair, and the 32-year-old prince was dressed for the occasion in a white and gold ceremonial uniform, while his bride wore a long white dress and jewels. The couple waved at thousands of people who had gathered on the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan before arriving at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace in an open-top Rolls Royce. This was the first time the newlywed couple had been seen together since a legal wedding ceremony took place behind closed doors earlier in the week. Photographs show the couple taking part in a public marriage ceremony beneath an opulent pergola, before heading inside the palace for a formal blessing. Later today, an estimated 5,000 people are expected to attend a reception at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. Guests reportedly include royalty from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and the leader of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. An Islamic marriage ceremony took place on Wednesday, formalising Prince Abdul Mateen's marriage to Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah. But today is the most significant, as Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, 29, embark on a parade through the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan The elaborate ceremony will also see the royal couple publicly tie the knot (despite having done so legally on Wednesday) and enjoy a glittering reception attended by an array of international royalty and dignitaries The internet famous Prince Abdul Mateen revealed his engagement to Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah in December - an announcement which shocked the fans of Asia's most eligible bachelor His new wife is the granddaughter of an adviser to Brunei's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Sunday was an elaborate affair, and the 32-year-old prince was dressed for the occasion in a white and gold ceremonial uniform, while his bride wore a long white dress and jewels However, this was only attended by male members of the wedding party, including the prince himself and his father, the Sultan of Brunei. Prince Abdul Mateen is the fourth son, and tenth child, of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, and his former second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, 67. The prince is sixth in line to the throne, and has found fame on social media, where he actively engages with the public on Instagram - and boasts 2.4 million followers. This was the first time the newlywed couple had been seen together since a legal wedding ceremony took place behind closed doors earlier in the week Photographs show the couple taking part in a public marriage ceremony beneath an opulent pergola, before heading inside the palace for a formal blessing Later today, an estimated 5,000 people are expected to attend a reception at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace Guests reportedly include royalty from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as Indonesia 's President Joko Widodo and the leader of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr His lavish lifestyle is profoundly evident on the social media platform: superyachts, exotic pets, world-class hotels and private jets, intertwined with official royal engagements around the globe. However, perhaps surprisingly, when the Prince was 24, GQ Thailand described him as 'a grounded man who doesn't like to flaunt his family's wealth.' 'He says thank you at the end of every sentence, and he makes no distinction of class or social status in his interactions with the people around him,' the publication added. The interview highlighted that the prince's charm captured attention more than his striking looks. Prince Abdul Mateen is the fourth son, and tenth child, of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, and his former second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, 67 The prince is sixth in line to the throne, and has found fame on social media, where he actively engages with the public on Instagram - and boasts 2.4 million followers His lavish lifestyle is profoundly evident on the social media platform: superyachts, exotic pets, world-class hotels and private jets, intertwined with official royal engagements around the globe It also pointed out that Mateen was more focused on sharing his interests, and discussing family and friends, rather than the monarch's wealth. Coincidentally, his father, the Sultan of Brunei, is one of the richest people in the world, having a net worth of over 24billion - thanks to crude oil and natural gas exports. Prince Mateen, who was named one of Asias 50 most eligible bachelors by Tatler Magazine in 2016, obtained a Master of Arts in International Studies and Diplomacy from the University of London in 2016. He currently serves as a helicopter pilot in the Royal Brunei Air Force, holding the rank of major. Mateen has also showcased his passion for polo by representing Brunei at the South East Asian Games in 2017 and 2019. Queen Margrethe stripped four of her grandchildren of their royal titles in 2022 The abdication of Queen Margrethe II will be formalised in Denmark today - but some Royal Family members won't be able to miss school to attend the historic event, even if it's to see their uncle be crowned King. One person who is expected to attend - albeit without his immediate family - is Margrethe's second son Prince Joachim, despite his children being stripped of their titles in a shock move in September 2022. The monarch removed royal titles (prince and princess as well as 'His/Her Highness') from Nikolai, 24, Felix, 21, Henrik, 14, and Athena, 11, who are the children of her second son, Prince Joachim. This sparked a major row in the Danish Royal Family, and came as a huge shock not only to the family themselves, but to the people of Denmark. Queen Margrethe said she hoped it would help 'shape their own lives without being limited by the special considerations and duties' that a formal affiliation with the Danish Royal Family involves. Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, Count Henrik of Monpezat and Countess Athena of Monpezat in Paris, France, in May 2023 Today, a host of festivities will take place in Copenhagen as Denmark gets ready to make Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary their new King and Queen. A palace spokesperson said: 'Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason.' The spokesperson added that Queen Margrethe's youngest son will leave Denmark the following day to return to his home in the US. A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 already shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony. Queen Margrethe announced her abdication on New Year's Eve, handing the throne over to her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary. Prince Joachim, who is now a defence industry attache at the Embassy of Denmark in Washington DC, travelled from the US to Copenhagen to attend the abdication today. However, he is without his wife Marie and their two children Henrick and Athena. Joachim's children from his first marriage, Nikolai and Felix, are also not expected to attend. After the family were stripped of their titles in September 2022, Prince Joachim claimed that his mother's decision had 'harmed' his children. Months later, the sixth-in-line to the throne admitted that 'communication was missing' within the Royal Family in the lead-up to the shock announcement. Joachim told local news outlet B.T.: 'There is a lot to work on. Communication was what was missing. Now we have met and we are on the right track.' Shortly after his children were stripped of his titles, Joachim claimed that he had only been given five days' notice before the news was made public. Meanwhile, Prince Joachim's ex-wife Alexandra said that her sons, Nikolai and Felix, had been left feeling 'ostracised' from the institution and the decision had come like a 'bolt out of the blue'. On Sunday, Denmark will welcome a new King and Queen as Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary pictured together in January) ascend the throne after the shock abdication of Queen Margrethe Counts Nikolai and Felix, Queen Margrethe, Princess Marie, Countess Athena, Prince Joachim and Count Henrik in April 2022 The Royal Household released a further statement, saying: 'As the Queen stated yesterday, the decision has been a long time coming. 'We understand that there are many emotions at stake at the moment, but we hope that the Queen's wish to future-proof the Royal Household will be respected.' The news that Joachim will attend Sunday's event comes after a royal author claimed Denmark's Crown Princess is the real 'power behind the throne', with people in the country already calling her 'King Mary'. Trine Villemann also told Hello! that the Australian mother-of-four, 51, is a 'much better communicator and public speaker' than her husband, Prince Frederik. The Prince, 55, will become King Frederik X on 14 January, following the abdication of his mother Queen Margrethe. Europe's longest reigning monarch, 83, announced her plans to step down in a dramatic New Year's Eve speech. Ahead of Margrethe's daughter-in-law becoming Queen, Danish royal author Trine said: 'Mary truly is the power behind the throne and will be for decades to come - there's no doubt about that. 'Frederik is a lovely guy and he's very popular, but Mary is a much better communicator and public speaker. She has great skill and enormous talent, and people in Demark are calling her 'King Mary'. Royal author Trine Villemann told Hello! that the Australian mother-of-four, 51, is a 'much better communicator and public speaker' than her husband, Crown Prince Frederik (pictured together in November) Queen Margrethe announced she will abdicate the throne on January 14, passing it to her son Crown Prince Frederik. Pictured: Her Majesty during her New Year's speech, in which she announced her abdication 'Her approval ratings are higher than those of the rest of the royals, too... As we say in Denmark: Long live King Mary!' The new King and Queen of Denmark, who are set to step into their roles this weekend, enjoy the support of more than 80 per cent of Danish people, a poll recently revealed. A survey carried out for Ritzau revealed that Princess Mary enjoyed a little more popularity among the Danes than Crown Prince Frederik as the royal prepares to ascend the throne on 14 January. The poll asked how well suited Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik are to become Queen Mary I and King Frederik X, ahead of the abdication of Queen Margrethe. While 82 per cent of people believed Frederik is suited for the role of king, 86 per cent believe Mary will make a good queen. Danish royal commentator Kim Bach believes that, although Frederik is popular, Mary's slight lead over her husband is likely down to rumours of an affair that circulated after the soon-to-be king was spotted on a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid. Genoveva Casanova was forced to deny what she labelled 'malicious' rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am. Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the royal couple have put on a united display in a number of public appearances. However, speculation is mounting that Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate may have been a bid to keep Frederik's wife of 19 years on side. Princess Mary, who is set to become the first Australian-born queen in a number of days, has won over the Danish public with her dedication to royal duty and her fluency in the language. She and Frederik have four children together, and their oldest son Christian will take over his father's role of Crown Prince on January 14 when Margrethe abdicates. Mary and Frederik's relationship has often been dubbed a 'real-life fairytale'. Then Mary Donaldson, the Crown Princess was 28 when she met her husband-to-be in the Slip Inn in Sydney 23 years ago. The decision means that from January 14 Crown Prince Frederik will become King, while his wife Princess Mary will become Queen. Pictured: Frederik and Mary at the Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen in November After the pub encounter, then 32-year-old Frederik - who was in Australia to support Denmark's sailing team at the 2000 Olympics - asked Mary for her phone number and a romance blossomed. 'The first time we met we shook hands. I didn't know he was the prince of Denmark. Half an hour later someone came up to me and said, 'Do you know who these people are'?' Mary revealed in an interview about meeting the heir to the Danish throne. They maintained a long-distance relationship for a year, with Frederik making secret trips Down Under before Mary moved to Denmark to study Danish language at Copenhagen's Studieskolen in 2001. In early 2003, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe publicly acknowledged the relationship and the couple announced their engagement at Amalienborg Castle later that year on October 8. Between raising her children and appearing at diplomatic events, Mary has worked tirelessly to prove her commitment to charity, becoming a patron of more than 25 international organisations since her marriage to Frederik in 2004. Patronages include the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe and the United Nations Population Fund, where she supports their work to promote maternal health in more than 150 developing nations. In 2007, the Princess launched The Mary Foundation, a charity focused on stamping out domestic violence, bullying and loneliness. In a few days time, Crown Princess Mary will become the Queen of Denmark, as Queen Margrethe formally abdicates and leaves the throne to her son, Crown Prince Frederik. Margrethe confirmed the news in a shock announcement on New Year's Eve after 52 years on the Danish throne. She said: 'I have decided that now is the right time. 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father I will step down as queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' Queen Margrethe II of Denmark showed 'no signs of nervousness' as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage en route to her abdication, a body language expert has said. This afternoon's events kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - have begun to make their way to Christiansborg Castle. A procession of cars set off with the royals setting off in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she leaft from Christian IX's Palace. Both will pass through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter said: 'Genuine smiles from the Queen in the carriage - full beaming smiles, she's enjoying seeing so many people in attendance. There are no signs of nervousness from her. The monarch, famed for her chain-smoking as well as her flamboyant sense of style, will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik. The 83-year-old queen, who took over the throne in 1972, is the longest-serving monarch in Europe following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. In February, she underwent a successful back surgery. 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' At 2pm, there will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary. Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter said there were 'no signs of nervousness' from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage - and waved This is where the succession of the throne will happen, as Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm, the couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch will then speak and conclude with the motto. It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Today Denmark says goodbye to Queen Margrethe - who shocked the nation when she announced her abdication after 52 years on the throne during a traditional New Year's Eve speech Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. At 5pm, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours Preparations for today's festivities have already kicked off in Copenhagen as Denmark gets ready to make Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary their new King and Queen. A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony. Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before the royal transferrence of power. Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning and earlier today, soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment appeared to be rehearsing for today's events. Born in 1940, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality. Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 People gather in the early in the morning at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of the proclamation of abdication of Denmark's Queen Margrethe II Queen Margrethe II (centre) pictured with her son Crown Prince Frederik (left), daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary (right) and their four children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine She is a chain smoker and is so 'normal' that she shops in the supermarket - but Queen Margrethe of Denmark is also the longest-reigning head of state in Europe. Above: The Queen lighting up in 1997 (left); and attending the annual New Year's dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen in January Margrethe enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, having bonded during several official visits to each other's countries over the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor (above) The monarch hit the headlines last year when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim. She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries down the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the decision in a news release that paid tribute to the 83-year-old monarch, offering a 'heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom'. Margrethe is the 'epitome of Denmark' Ms Frederiksen's statement read, and 'throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation'. The six-feet-tall Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer. On her 83rrd birthday on April 16, Queen Margrethe waved to crowds of well-wishers outside the Palace in Copenhagen The monarch was also joined by her son Frederik, Crown Prince and his wife Princess Mary and their four children The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women's air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow. In 2011, at age 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan wearing a military jumpsuit. As monarch, she crisscrossed the country and regularly visited Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories which are part of the Danish Realm, and was met everywhere by cheering crowds. Denmark has Europe's oldest ruling monarchy, which traces its line back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution strictly ruled out her involvement in party politics. Margrethe was born on April 16, 1940, a week after Nazi Germany had invaded Denmark. The occupation meant that the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes. She ascended the throne on January 15, 1972, after the death of her father. But, although she was his eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when Denmark's constitution was amended to allow women to inherit the throne. That followed a referendum in which more than 85 per cent of participants voted to allow female succession. She was married in 1967 to a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, later styled as Prince Henrik. They had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim. Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife. Prince Henrik died in 2018 aged 83. On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Denmark's Christiansborg Palace and pledged her allegiance to the nation. Wearing a black veil and gown adorned with the regalia of the Order of the Elephant and her father King Frederick IX's Family Order attached to her gown, the 31-year-old monarch stated: 'My beloved father, our King, is dead. 'The task that my father had carried for nearly 25 years is now resting on my shoulders. I pray to God to give me help and strength to carry the heavy heritage. May the trust that was given to my father also be granted to me.' Becoming the first queen of Denmark since Margrethe I in the early 15th-century, the monarch blazed a trail that continues to this day. A popular queen, she is known as the 'people's monarch' thanks to the fact that, as well as doing her own shopping, she has a flourishing career as an illustrator and designer and, until 2015, defied convention by lighting up in public. In 2021, it was announced she was hired as the set designer for a Netflix film based on an adaptation of a romantic fantasy novel by Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, one of Denmark's most internationally recognised women writers. Margrethe has also studied at five universities and is a committed anglophile. She spent a year at North Foreland Lodge boarding school in Hampshire, and went on to study prehistoric archaeology at Girton College, Cambridge. The then princess also studied at the London School of Economics in 1965. The young princess, pictured at the age of 18, was educated at schools in Copenhagen and England before she began studying at Cambridge University Margrethe was studying in London when she met her future husband Henrik (Pictured: Queen Ingrid, King Frederik, Princess Margrethe, Count Henri, Countess and Count Andre de Monpezat and their daughter Madam Bardin, celebrating the engagement of Crown Princess Margrethe to Count Henri) The then Princess Margrethe tied the knot in 1967, and her husband Henri Laborde de Monpezat received the style and title of 'His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark' The couple, pictured at a party in the 1970s, went on to welcome two sons in the early years of their marriage The persona of the fun-loving Queen is a far-cry from the stiff upper lip that's often associated with monarchy and she is regularly pictured in bold, vibrant outfits. Above: Margrethe aged 40 in 1980 Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife Speaking in an interview to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last June, Margrethe told how the Queen had made an 'enormous impression' on her, because of the way she has 'faced her duties, the way she is dedicated but also that she does it with a smile.' The pair are said to have used nicknames for each other, with the Queen calling her Danish counterpart 'Daisy' and Margrethe using 'Lilibet' - the name used by her closest family. Margrethe is known as 'Daisy' or 'aunt Daisy' because the flower of the same name is known as 'marguerite' in both Sweden and Denmark. Both monarchs also shared a love of dogs, with the Queen being famous for her love of corgis - having had more than 30 in her life - and Margrethe favouring Dachshunds. Queen Margrethe was related to Her Late Majesty through Queen Victoria, whose third son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, was Margrethe's great-grandfather and Her Majesty's great-uncle. Margrethe's House of Glucksburg and the House of Windsor are also linked by Margrethe's great-great-grandfather, Christian IX. His daughter, Alexandra, married Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria. He was the Queen's great-grandfather and King Charles III's great-great-grandfather. Her Majesty visited Denmark for the first time in 1957, when Margrethe's parents - King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid were on the throne. Video captured Margrethe listening to public sing to her outside Amalienborg Queen Margrethe II has signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said - and BBC reports say that her poignant last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King'. The royal, her son - the new King Frederik - and Christian all took part in a Council of State at with the Government and the Council of State secretary. Body language expert Adrianne Carter revealed that despite her emotionally heavy words, the Queen looked more 'relaxed' and 'composed' than her son - who appeared instead 'quite fidgety'. 'Once Margreth stands up and allows him the chair, we see him point to the seat, he's used to deferring to her as Queen, but this will take some getting used to for him that he's now on the throne,' she added. 'We do see him give some genuine smiles alongside the nervousness he displays.' Queen Margrethe's abdication has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - have begun to make their way to Christiansborg Castle Today's transferrence of power kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - made their way to Christiansborg Castle. A procession of cars set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace. Both passed through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. Margrethe has now made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary held a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace, where the Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch made an impassioned speech as he admitted his wish to be a 'unifying king'. 'I need all the support I can get,' he revealed. 'From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. 'Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.' It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. At 5pm Danish time, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. Queen Margrethe II has signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said Frederik and Mary grinned at crowds as they drove through the streets of Copenhagen for today's abdication A procession of cars has set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter also said there were 'no signs of nervousness' from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage - and waved - earlier today. 'Genuine smiles from the Queen in the carriage,' she explained. 'Full beaming smiles, she's enjoying seeing so many people in attendance.' Copenhagen's streets were lined to the brim as today's festivities kicked off in the morning. A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony. Queen Margrethe leaves the Council of State meeting after signing a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Castle Margrethe has now made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary are holding a formal reception for specially invited guests. Pictured at the Council of State meeting Denmark's former Queen Margrethe leaves the place at the head of the table to her son Frederik Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace A child wearing a crown, looks on as people gather on the day Danish Queen Margrethe abdicates after 52 years on the throne Pictured: The honour guard getting ready ahead of today's royal festivities in Copenhagen, Denmark Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe attend the annual opening of the parliamentary session at the Danish Parliament in October 2022 Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter said there were 'no signs of nervousness' from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage - and waved Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary look on during the drive from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle The Queen appeared in high spirits as she rode in the carriage and waved to delighted crowds in the streets Queen Margrethe II of Denmark leaves for the proclamation of HM King Frederik X and HM Queen Mary Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning Well-wishers wearing crowns and coronation robes gathered outside Christiansborg Palace this morning Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve. Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning. And earlier today, soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment appeared to be practicing for today's events. Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X, displayed in the window of the well-known confectionery shop La Glace. And the celebrations began as early as last night as Margrethe was seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen on the eve of her abdication. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and became Europe's longest-reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve The monarch delivered the news during her traditional New Year's Eve speech. The ceremony will happen today, where she will transfer power of the throne to her 55-year-old son, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe - and this morning, wellwishers have already started to set up outside Christiansborg Palace Square. A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence last night. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. Well-wishers gather in Christiansborg Palace square today, adorned in Danish flag regalia in the early hours of the morning The Danish Royal Horse Guard trains with a proxy carriage ahead of today's exciting festivities in Copenhagen Police officers gather before the ride of the royals from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle The honour guard prepares ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X and HM Queen Mary of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace Square Danish flags are waved as excited crowds gather round the Amalienborg Palace Square in Copenhagen A kangaroo balloon - in a seeming tribute to Crown Princess Mary's Australian heritage - is waved in the air A police officer directs members of the public ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X today Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son on Sunday Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd HOW WILL THE DAY UNFOLD? 1:35PM (12:35PM GMT, 11:35PM AUS): Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, set off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian 1:37PM (12:37PM GMT, 11:37PM AUS): Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage 2PM (1PM GMT, 12AM AUS): There will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary 2:15PM (1:15PM GMT, 12:15AM AUS): Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg 2:30PM (1:30PM GMT, 12:30AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests 3PM (2PM GMT, 1AM AUS): The couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne 3:10PM (2:10PM GMT, 1:10AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron 5PM (4PM GMT, 3AM AUS): There will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace Advertisement The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down. However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' Early doors! Wellwishers have already started gathering at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication in Copenhagen The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event The sun was yet to rise when the first royal fans started setting up to witness today's abdication Pictured: Danish flags fluttered on buildings close to Christiansborg Castle Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II Department store windows display the Danish flag and the Danish crown in Copenhagen A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe II with a message reading 'Thank you, Your Majesty' Thousands of people have flooded into Copenhagen to witness the abdication People look at a picture of the soon-to-be King Frederik X and his wife Queen Mary displayed in a window at a shopping street Queen Margrethe II is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign Queen Margrethe II rides through Denmark's capital in her final engagement as monarch In fairytale picturesque scenes, thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet Dressed in a fur coat, the 83-year-old uses a walking stick as she prepares to greet invited representatives of major national organisations and the royal patronage during her visit to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, on January 4 And today will see Denmark welcome the Crown Prince and Princess as their new King and Queen. Wellwishers with folding chairs donning Danish flags have already started to excitedly line the streets in preparation for this afternoon's events. The historic occasion is sure to be an exciting event for the nation - but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles's ornate Coronation in May. READ MORE: New Danish royal titles and line of succession explained as Queen Margrethe II abdicates Advertisement Queen Margrethe, who took to the throne in 1972, has become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne. However, during an interview in 2016, she expressed a different opinion. She said: 'It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too.' 'It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now,' said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. 'He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.' The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and become Europe's longest reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary Frederik and Mary will wave from the balcony. The couple are pictured on Frederik's 50th birthday Mary appeared optimistic as she arrived at the New Year's reception for officers from the Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. 'The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions,' said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an 'invisible pact' between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate. Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne. New Danish royal titles and line of succession FIRST IN LINE: Prince Christian will become Crown Prince Christian and is the heir apparent SECOND: Christian's younger sister, 16-year-old Princess Isabella will become second in lin THIRD AND FOURTH: Twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine take the next spots in the ranking (pictured with Prince Christian and Queen Margrethe last April) L to R: Felix (SEVENTH), Marie, Prince Joachim (FIFTH), Athena (NINTH), Henrik (EIGHTH) and Nikolai (SIXTH) in September TENTH: Queen Margrethe's sister Princess Benedikte, herself 79, takes the final spot in the line of succession CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK WILL BECOME KING Frederick, 55, formerly known as Crown Prince Frederick - is set to become His Majesty King Frederick X. Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be known as Her Majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe. CROWN PRINCESS MARY WILL BECOME QUEEN Meanwhile, his wife Crown Princess Mary - who is very popular with the Danish public due to her dedication to royal duty and commitment to learning the language - will become Queen Consort. She is also set to become the nation's first Australian-born queen. The couple, who met in a bar in 2000 during the Olympics in Sydney, share four children, who each occupy the next spaces in the line of succession. PRINCE CHRISTIAN WILL BECOME CROWN PRINCE Their son Prince Christian will become the next in line to the Danish throne at just 18. His title will change to Crown Prince Christian as he will be the heir apparent. He may have to act as head of state when his father is out of the country. Princess Mary, Frederik's brother Joachim, and Princess Benedikte are able to take over as head of state should Christian be too busy - however he will certainly be required to take on more official duties. Christian is often referred to as the 'most eligible bachelor in Europe' and his new title will only elevate that status even more. Mary of Denmark was elegant in an all-white ensemble as she appeared on the balcony at Christiansborg Castle today to formally become Queen. The abdication of Queen Margrethe II is well under way, and Australian-born Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik have succeeded the throne of Denmark. Margrethe, who has held the title of queen for 52 years, confirmed her intention to step aside for her eldest son on New Year's Eve, much to the surprise of the country. Thousands of people gathered outside Christiansborg Castle on Sunday, prepared with fold-up chairs and waving Danish flags as they hoped to catch a glimpse of the royals. Mary and Frederik travelled together in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg, followed by Queen Margrethe in a carriage, who departed Christian IX's Palace. The king and queen were later spotted on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle with their four children, where they shared a sweet kiss in front of excited crowds. The abdication of Queen Margrethe II is well under way, and Australian-born Mary and her husband Crown Prince Frederik have succeeded the throne of Denmark Mary and Frederik were joined by their four children: Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine Thousands of people gathered outside Christiansborg Castle on Sunday, prepared with fold-up chairs and waving Danish flags as they hoped to catch a glimpse of the royals Queen Mary and King Frederik X depart Christiansborg Castle Queen Mary laughs as she stands on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle with her family The much-anticipated balcony moment took place shortly after a Council of State was held at 2pm. This involved Margrethe, Frederik and his son Prince Christian, as well as representatives for the government and the Council of State secretary. It marked the formal succession of the throne, and the moment Her Majesty The Queen signed a declaration of her abdication - and Frederik and Mary became King and Queen. Mary was a vision in white as she joined her husband on the balcony, shortly after he was declared the King of Denmark by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Her white, silk dress (which signifies new and innocence) featured a glittering sash around her waist, which she matched with a broach and a pair of pink, opulent earrings. She swept her hair back for the occasion, fastened with a jewelled clip. Meanwhile, her husband Crown Prince Frederik wore traditional military dress, embellished with numerous medals, gold thread and a light blue sash. They were joined by their four children - Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine. Mary was a vision in white as she joined her husband on the balcony, shortly after he was declared the King of Denmark by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Her white, silk dress (which signifies new and innocence) featured a glittering sash around her waist, which she matched with a broach and a pair of pink, opulent earrings The much-anticipated balcony moment took place shortly after a Council of State was held at 2pm Mary and Frederik hold hands on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle after the abdication The couple are now the king and queen of Denmark, succeeding Queen Margrethe II King Frederik X wore traditional military dress, embellished with numerous medals, gold thread and a light blue sash While on the balcony at Christianborg Palace, the Danish prime minister formally declared the king's accession to the throne - and he becomes King Frederik X. He then make a short speech and tearful speech, addressing the hundreds gathered below. This will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Shortly, Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. Margrethe has already departed. The new king and queen of Denmark grinned at the crowds below at Christiansborg Castle Mary and Frederik travelled together in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg, followed by Queen Margrethe in a carriage, who departed Christian IX's Palace Margrethe, who has held the title of queen for 52 years, confirmed her intention to step aside for her eldest son on New Year's Eve, much to the surprise of the country The final moment of the day will be at 5pm, when there will be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. It comes as Mary has been labelled the real 'power behind the throne', with people in the country already calling her 'King Mary', according to a royal author. Trine Villemann also told Hello! that the Australian mother-of-four, 51, is a 'much better communicator and public speaker' than her husband, Crown Prince Frederik. Ahead of Margrethe's daughter-in-law becoming Queen, Danish royal author Trine said: 'Mary truly is the power behind the throne and will be for decades to come - there's no doubt about that. 'Frederik is a lovely guy and he's very popular, but Mary is a much better communicator and public speaker. She has great skill and enormous talent, and people in Demark are calling her 'King Mary'. 'Her approval ratings are higher than those of the rest of the royals, too... As we say in Denmark: Long live King Mary!' Queen Margrethe signs a declaration of abdication in the Council of State at Christiansborg Castle, after a reign of 52 years Margrethe leaves the room where the Council of State was held, leaving her son in her stead Margrethe makes her way towards Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen for the final time as queen The new King and Queen of Denmark, who are stepping into their roles this weekend, enjoy the support of more than 80 per cent of Danish people, a poll recently revealed. A survey carried out for Ritzau revealed that Princess Mary enjoyed a little more popularity among the Danes than Crown Prince Frederik as the royal prepares to ascend the throne on 14 January. The poll asked how well suited Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik are to become Queen Mary I and King Frederik X, ahead of the abdication of Queen Margrethe. A sea of Danish flags can be seen outside Christiansborg Castle as the Danish royals arrive A procession passes Christiansborg Palace ahead of the abdication of Margrethe Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace While 82 per cent of people believed Frederik is suited for the role of king, 86 per cent believe Mary will make a good queen. Danish royal commentator Kim Bach believes that, although Frederik is popular, Mary's slight lead over her husband is likely down to rumours of an affair that circulated after the soon-to-be king was spotted on a night out with a Mexican socialite in Madrid. Genoveva Casanova was forced to deny what she labelled 'malicious' rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital, where Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am. Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the royal couple have put on a united display in a number of public appearances. However, speculation is mounting that Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate may have been a bid to keep Frederik's wife of 19 years on side. Video captured Margrethe listening to public sing to her outside Amalienborg An emotional King Frederik promised to be a modern monarch 'of tomorrow' as he asked his 'beloved wife' and family for support during a new reign - but a body language expert has questioned how 'spontaneous' his kiss with Queen Mary was, as he sealed the moment with a public smooch. In his first public speech after being proclaimed King, the father-of-four, 55, as per a translation by royal blogger Gert's Royals, said: 'My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the 2nd, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. For half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point. 'She will always be remembered as a Monarch beyond the ordinary. Like few, my mother has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on. 'My hope is to become an unifying king of tomorrow. It's a task I've been waiting for all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. 'It is a deed I will take pains to carry out and carry through the position I have been entrusted with. A beaming Frederik was then joined by his wife Mary - who is now Queen of Denmark - and their children Christian, 18, Isabella, 16 and Vincent and Josephine - both 13 Fireworks were set off over Copenhagen on Sunday evening to celebrate the new Danish King 'I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. 'Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.' Frederik also shared a public kiss with his wife - the newly crowned Queen Mary of Denmark - after an exciting balcony appearance this afternoon. The royal was visibly moved at Christiansborg Castle today, and wiped away tears at the historic occasions as roaring crowds cheered him on. But Frederik's 'genuinely happy and highly emotional display' on the balcony revealed potential tensions in his marriage, a body language expert has revealed. Adrianne Carter told FEMAIL: 'When Mary joins him we initially see quite a distance between the two of them as they hold hands, he moves closer which she accepts. A literal distance can often mean a distance in a relationship. 'When the children join them, they all move in together. Mary encompasses her children showing that's her important focus.' However, when the King pulls Mary close as the children leave the balcony - Mary is 'the first to pull away'. She continued: 'Frederik gives Mary a win, which means we're in this together. He pulls her in for a kiss, which he tries to do a few times before it actually happens. This is something he has planned, rather than something spontaneous.' King Frederik's speech in full My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the 2nd, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. For half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point. She will always be remembered as a Monarch beyond the ordinary. Like few, my mother has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on. My hope is to become an unifying king of tomorrow. It's a task I've been waiting for all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. It is a deed I will take pains to carry out and carry through the position I have been entrusted with. I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark. Source: Gert's Royals Advertisement Frederik's 'genuinely happy and highly emotional display' on the balcony revealed potential tensions in his marriage, a body language expert has revealed Mary was all smiles with an elated Frederik as the pair posed up a storm for adoring crowds on the balcony today The royal, 55, was visibly moved as was proclaimed King on the balcony at Christiansborg Castle today The royal, 55, was visibly moved as was proclaimed King by the Prime Minister at Christiansborg Castle today It comes following rumours that the couple's marriage is on the rocks after Frederik was pictured with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova in Madrid without his wife in October. Just moments before his first appearance as King, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe II had signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said - and BBC reports say that her poignant last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King'. A beaming Frederik was then joined by his wife Mary - who is now Queen of Denmark - and their children Christian, 18, Isabella, 16 and Vincent and Josephine - both 13. Today's transferrence of power has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - made their way to Christiansborg Castle. A procession of cars set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace. Both passed through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. The crowd is pictured in the Christiansborg Castle square during the declaration of abdication of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark The couple put on a united front as they held hands on the balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister then proclaimed the King's accession to the throne King Frederik was visibly emotional as he was declared the monarch of Denmark on the balcony today At Christiansborg Palace, Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian all took part in a Council of State at with the Government and the Council of State secretary. This is where Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. Margrethe has now made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary are holding a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister then proclaimed the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch made an impassioned speech as he admitted his wish to be a 'unifying king'. 'I need all the support I can get,' he revealed. 'From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. 'Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.' It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. At 5pm Danish time, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. Queen Margrethe's abdication has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - have begun to make their way to Christiansborg Castle Queen Margrethe II has signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said Frederik and Mary grinned at crowds as they drove through the streets of Copenhagen for today's abdication A procession of cars has set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne also said there were 'no signs of nervousness' from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage - and waved - when the festivities kicked off today. 'Genuine smiles from the Queen in the carriage,' she explained. 'Full beaming smiles, she's enjoying seeing so many people in attendance.' Copenhagen's streets were lined to the brim as today's festivities kicked off in the morning. A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony. Queen Margrethe leaves the Council of State meeting after signing a declaration of abdication at Christiansborg Castle Margrethe has now made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary are holding a formal reception for specially invited guests. Pictured at the Council of State meeting Denmark's former Queen Margrethe leaves the place at the head of the table to her son Frederik Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace A child wearing a crown, looks on as people gather on the day Danish Queen Margrethe abdicates after 52 years on the throne Pictured: The honour guard getting ready ahead of today's royal festivities in Copenhagen, Denmark Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe attend the annual opening of the parliamentary session at the Danish Parliament in October 2022 Speaking to FEMAIL, body language expert Adrianne Carter said there were 'no signs of nervousness' from Magrethe as she beamed at delighted crowds from her carriage - and waved Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary look on during the drive from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle The Queen appeared in high spirits as she rode in the carriage and waved to delighted crowds in the streets Queen Margrethe II of Denmark leaves for the proclamation of HM King Frederik X and HM Queen Mary Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning Well-wishers wearing crowns and coronation robes gathered outside Christiansborg Palace this morning Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve. Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables this morning. And earlier today, soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment appeared to have been rehearsing for the day's events. Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X, displayed in the window of the well-known confectionery shop La Glace. And the celebrations began as early as last night as Margrethe was seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen on the eve of her abdication. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and became Europe's longest-reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve The monarch delivered the news during her traditional New Year's Eve speech. The ceremony will happen today, where she will transfer power of the throne to her 55-year-old son, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe - and this morning, wellwishers have already started to set up outside Christiansborg Palace Square. A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence last night. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. Well-wishers gather in Christiansborg Palace square today, adorned in Danish flag regalia in the early hours of the morning The Danish Royal Horse Guard trains with a proxy carriage ahead of today's exciting festivities in Copenhagen Police officers gather before the ride of the royals from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle The honour guard prepares ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X and HM Queen Mary of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace Square Danish flags are waved as excited crowds gather round the Amalienborg Palace Square in Copenhagen A kangaroo balloon - in a seeming tribute to Crown Princess Mary's Australian heritage - is waved in the air A police officer directs members of the public ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X today Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son on Sunday Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd HOW WILL THE DAY UNFOLD? 1:35PM (12:35PM GMT, 11:35PM AUS): Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, set off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian 1:37PM (12:37PM GMT, 11:37PM AUS): Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage 2PM (1PM GMT, 12AM AUS): There will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary 2:15PM (1:15PM GMT, 12:15AM AUS): Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg 2:30PM (1:30PM GMT, 12:30AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests 3PM (2PM GMT, 1AM AUS): The couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne 3:10PM (2:10PM GMT, 1:10AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron 5PM (4PM GMT, 3AM AUS): There will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace Advertisement The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down. However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' Early doors! Wellwishers have already started gathering at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication in Copenhagen The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event The sun was yet to rise when the first royal fans started setting up to witness today's abdication Pictured: Danish flags fluttered on buildings close to Christiansborg Castle Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II Department store windows display the Danish flag and the Danish crown in Copenhagen A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe II with a message reading 'Thank you, Your Majesty' Thousands of people have flooded into Copenhagen to witness the abdication People look at a picture of the soon-to-be King Frederik X and his wife Queen Mary displayed in a window at a shopping street Queen Margrethe II is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign Queen Margrethe II rides through Denmark's capital in her final engagement as monarch In fairytale picturesque scenes, thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet Dressed in a fur coat, the 83-year-old uses a walking stick as she prepares to greet invited representatives of major national organisations and the royal patronage during her visit to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, on January 4 And today will see Denmark welcome the Crown Prince and Princess as their new King and Queen. Wellwishers with folding chairs donning Danish flags have already started to excitedly line the streets in preparation for this afternoon's events. The historic occasion is sure to be an exciting event for the nation - but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles's ornate Coronation in May. READ MORE: New Danish royal titles and line of succession explained as Queen Margrethe II abdicates Advertisement Queen Margrethe, who took to the throne in 1972, has become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne. However, during an interview in 2016, she expressed a different opinion. She said: 'It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too.' 'It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now,' said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. 'He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.' The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and become Europe's longest reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary Frederik and Mary will wave from the balcony. The couple are pictured on Frederik's 50th birthday Mary appeared optimistic as she arrived at the New Year's reception for officers from the Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. 'The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions,' said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an 'invisible pact' between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate. Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne. New Danish royal titles and line of succession FIRST IN LINE: Prince Christian will become Crown Prince Christian and is the heir apparent SECOND: Christian's younger sister, 16-year-old Princess Isabella will become second in lin THIRD AND FOURTH: Twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine take the next spots in the ranking (pictured with Prince Christian and Queen Margrethe last April) L to R: Felix (SEVENTH), Marie, Prince Joachim (FIFTH), Athena (NINTH), Henrik (EIGHTH) and Nikolai (SIXTH) in September TENTH: Queen Margrethe's sister Princess Benedikte, herself 79, takes the final spot in the line of succession CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK WILL BECOME KING Frederick, 55, formerly known as Crown Prince Frederick - is set to become His Majesty King Frederick X. Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be known as Her Majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe. CROWN PRINCESS MARY WILL BECOME QUEEN Meanwhile, his wife Crown Princess Mary - who is very popular with the Danish public due to her dedication to royal duty and commitment to learning the language - will become Queen Consort. She is also set to become the nation's first Australian-born queen. The couple, who met in a bar in 2000 during the Olympics in Sydney, share four children, who each occupy the next spaces in the line of succession. PRINCE CHRISTIAN WILL BECOME CROWN PRINCE Their son Prince Christian will become the next in line to the Danish throne at just 18. His title will change to Crown Prince Christian as he will be the heir apparent. He may have to act as head of state when his father is out of the country. Princess Mary, Frederik's brother Joachim, and Princess Benedikte are able to take over as head of state should Christian be too busy - however he will certainly be required to take on more official duties. Christian is often referred to as the 'most eligible bachelor in Europe' and his new title will only elevate that status even more. The self-proclaimed gypsy chef has found her forever home. Laura Fonner has settled down as head chef at Common House, a private social club on West Market Street in downtown Charlottesville. While she started the second week of December, she waited to publicly announce the move until her new menu was finalized on Jan. 9. The news may come as a surprise to those following Fonners story. The culinary nomad spent years working in different kitchens. She started out at Blue Bird Cafe at the age of 14 and later worked at Duners and Harvest Moon Catering and consulted for other restaurateurs in the area before opening Siren, a seafood restaurant in Vinegar Hill Shopping Center that was to be entirely her own. Siren opened in 2021 as part of Hunter Smiths Champion Hospitality Group, and Fonner took full ownership of the restaurant in February of 2023. But as Smiths restaurant empire began to fall apart later that year, Fonner said she discovered he had saddled her with thousands of dollars of debt. Siren closed in July. A month later, amid a very public feud with Smith, Fonner said she had partnered with local businessman J.R. Hadley, a longtime friend, to open a new restaurant in the old Passiflora space on Charlottesvilles Downtown Mall, a Latin eatery that had itself once been part of Smiths empire. The as-yet-unnamed restaurant was to be her new home. Work began on throwing out the remnants of Passiflora. The windows were plastered with Fonners name. Then Will Richey died. Richey was a force in the Charlottesville restaurant world and owned not only Duners but Bebedero, Whiskey Jar and Revolutionary Soup. He died in a car accident on Owensville Road outside Charlottesville in the early morning hours of Dec. 12. He was on his way home from Duners. Albemarle County police said officers were dispatched to the scene around 1:21 a.m. Richey, who was not wearing a seat belt, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 47 years old. He was survived by his two children. Life comes at you fast, Fonner told The Daily Progress, sitting in the library at Common House. It changes things. She said things happen that make you reevaluate whats important, and Richeys death was one of them. After hearing of his death, she said she thought of her own children ages 20, 11 and 9 she thought about those weeks after Siren closed finding whatever work she could in other peoples kitchens Ive had more jobs during these past six months than Ive had in my entire life, she said with a laugh she thought about how the work on the new restaurant still wasnt complete, wouldnt be complete for some time. She sent Hadley an email. Bouncing around from kitchen to kitchen here, there and everywhere, she had landed a gig helping the kitchen at Common House. Common House was so impressed with her work, it had floated a full-time position for her. She had accepted. Hadley didnt immediately respond. But when he did, he gave me his blessing, she said. Theres no ill will there. He understood. He got it. Hadley did not respond to a Daily Progress request for an interview. Common House, Fonner said, offered what her career as a gypsy chef never could: structure, a schedule and security. This is the first not-reckless move Ive made in a while, joked Fonner. Im a grown-up now. Common House, which had been without an executive chef since mid-September, was thrilled with her decision. Chef Fonner brings a rare enthusiasm and authenticity to our team, and it shows in her food, Charlottesville Common House general manager Joe Scala told The Daily Progress via email. Our menu is more vibrant, but is also accessible enough to inspire daily cravings, harmonizing with the rhythms of the club. Some guests dine everyday, and some use it to celebrate special occasions. Common House No. 1 in Charlottesville the base for a chain of social clubs with existing locations in Richmond, Virginia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, and an under-construction space in New Orleans, Louisiana had hired David Root last year to lead its kitchen. Root is the former owner of the Hairy Lobster in Portland, Oregon, and executive chef at Breckenridge Distillery in Breckenridge, Colorado. He is also the husband of Melissa Root, a pastry chef and chocolatier known as one of the original cast members of Netflixs School of Chocolate. The Roots moved to the Charlottesville area after Melissa Root took a job as pastry chef at Farmington Country Club outside the city. When David Root left the club in September after an injury, Hunter Garvin, chef de cuisine at Common House Richmond, took over the Charlottesville kitchen in the interim. With all that transition, Fonner thought it best to get her menu prepared and printed before announcing her arrival. That new menu, Fonner said, is full of everyday food done well. Cooking for a club where members drop in throughout the day to eat, drink, work, read and socialize is different from cooking for a restaurant where patrons drop by for one thing and one thing only. And Fonner, who compares herself to the adorably chaotic fish Dory from Disneys Finding Nemo, seems perfectly suited to meet the changing needs, and necessary disorder, of that clientele. Fonner, who did not attend culinary school, said she works by one philosophy: Food doesnt need to be perfect, it just needs to be perfectly done. The clubs simple morning menu contains pastries, an egg pita wrap and honey vanilla labneh, a Mediterranean strained yogurt that was served as a dessert at Fonners Siren. There is not much variation between the midday and evening menus, as both include several of Fonners crazy and comfortable creations such as a steak frites wrap, barbecue jackfruit grilled cheese, Wagyu pigs in a biscuit and, her favorite, Moms meatloaf panini. Who is mom? I am mom, Fonner said. The only additions to the dinner menu are a bistro steak and eggplant moussaka, a Greek-style lasagna. The social club is also kicking off a Burger Night on Thursdays, offering a smashburger, fries and a beer for $10. Fonner said she would like to expand on the idea and eventually start a drive-thru fast food night. While Common Houses services are typically reserved for members, Fonner said she has worked with management to make the club more accessible to those who may not want or need a full membership but wouldnt mind a full plate of food. I tell people my door is always open, she said. I want to keep it that way here. After Charlottesville Restaurant Week, running this year from Jan. 29 through Feb. 4, Common House will begin serving Saturday brunch to the public. Both members and nonmembers can get a taste of Fonners fare, including a savory, steak-stuffed French toast, compressed cantaloupe and a beurre blanc that incorporates ketchup, Fonners favorite ingredient (dont tell the French.) Fonner said she has always tried to be involved and accessible in the community throughout her career. While working at Duners, she partnered with local chefs and farmers, who donated excess food to Fonner who in turn transformed it into meals for People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry, or PACEM, a nonprofit group that serves the citys homeless community. Fonner routinely refers to herself as poor, she clearly sees herself as an advocate for the working class, and so its no surprise she said she could never see herself working for some of Charlottesvilles more exclusive clubs such as tony Farmington or nearby Boars Head Resort. She found Common House to be a space to work but also to meet people, its more than what it puts off to the community. Common House, with its younger clientele, regular open houses, lively events and eclectic decor, is much more open than the closed clubs of the past. It feels like Im serving family here, said Fonner. I see a lot of the Duners customers children here. The Saturday brunch is a good example, she said, of managements willingness to compromise and benefit all parties. Common House has always been ready to adapt to and represent whomever intersects with us, from our team to our members and guests, said Scala. Ultimately the club highlights whats nice about where we live, and Laura Fonner is one of those things. King Frederik of Denmark's decision to kiss his wife Queen Mary on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle today was far from spontaneous, a body language expert has said. The new King and Queen shared a kiss shortly after Frederik succeeded the throne, in the wake of Queen Margrethe II's abdication which was formalised in Copenhagen today. After he was declared King by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, King Frederik X was joined by his wife Mary and their four children: Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine. In one moment, Frederik turned to kiss Mary - to loud applause from the crowds gathered below the Christiansborg Castle balcony. But body language expert Adrianne Carter told FEMAIL that the kiss was clearly something Frederik had planned, rather than something spontaneous. King Frederik of Denmark 's decision to kiss his wife Queen Mary on the balcony of Christiansborg Castle today was far from spontaneous, a body language expert has said She said: 'Frederik gives Mary a wink, which means we're in this together. 'He pulls her in for a kiss, which he tries to do a few times before it actually happens. 'This is something he has planned, rather than something spontaneous.' Adrianne also notes that when Frederik tries to kiss Mary on the side of the forehead, she 'doesn't react in any way; she just accepts'. The body language expert mused whether Frederik is 'still in the dog house' after rumours of an alleged affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova. Adrianne said: 'We see Frederik pull in Mary and plant a kiss on the side of her forehead. She doesn't react in any way; she just accepts. 'Is Frederik still in the doghouse I wonder?' Rumours of an affair circulated late last year, after the now King was spotted on a night out with Genoveva in Madrid. The Mexican socialite was later forced to deny what she labelled 'malicious' rumours after photos surfaced of herself with the Crown Prince in the Spanish capital. The new King and Queen shared a kiss shortly after Frederik succeeded the throne, in the wake of Queen Margrethe II's abdication which was formalised in Copenhagen today After he was declared King by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, King Frederik X was joined by his wife Mary and their four children: Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine In one moment, Frederik turned to kiss Mary - to loud applause from the crowds gathered below the Christiansborg Castle balcony Spanish magazine Lecturas reported they had dined together and watched Flamenco dancing until 1am. Mary has remained tight-lipped about her husband's dinner with the socialite, and the royal couple have put on a united display in a number of public appearances. However, speculation has mounted that Queen Margrethe's decision to abdicate may have been a bid to keep Frederik's wife of 19 years on side. Mary is incredibly popular with the Danish people, and was labelled the real 'power behind the throne' and 'king Mary' last week, according to a royal author. Body language expert Adrianne Carter told FEMAIL that the kiss was clearly something Frederik had planned, rather than something spontaneous The body language expert mused whether Frederik is 'still in the dog house' after rumours of an alleged affair with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova Rumours of an affair circulated late last year, after the now King was spotted on a night out with Genoveva in Madrid Trine Villemann also told Hello! that the Australian mother-of-four, 51, is a 'much better communicator and public speaker' than her husband, Crown Prince Frederik. Ahead of Margrethe's daughter-in-law becoming Queen, Danish royal author Trine said: 'Mary truly is the power behind the throne and will be for decades to come - there's no doubt about that. 'Frederik is a lovely guy and he's very popular, but Mary is a much better communicator and public speaker. She has great skill and enormous talent, and people in Demark are calling her 'King Mary'. 'Her approval ratings are higher than those of the rest of the royals, too... As we say in Denmark: Long live King Mary!' Copenhagen's streets were filled to the brim with excited crowds as Denmark today welcomed the former Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary as its new King and Queen. But the story was starkly different 52 years ago to the day, when Margrethe II became Queen on January 14, 1972. Archive photos show the young princess, then 31, stood at the balcony at Christiansborg Palace - just like her son did today - as the then-Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaimed her Denmark's royal ruler. When she ascended the throne in 1972 after her late father, King Frederik IX, only 42 per cent of Danes supported the monarchy. The most recent survey shows that 84 per cent of Danes favour it to a high or some degree. Archive photos show the young princess, then 31, stood at the balcony at Christiansborg Palace - just like her son did today - as the then-Prime Minister Jens Otto Krag proclaimed her Denmark's monarch Margrethe was also grieving the death of her father, who had passed away just two weeks after making his New Year's Eve address. On January 15, she was officially crowned. But, although she was Frederik IX's eldest child, she did not become heir presumptive until 1953, when Denmark's constitution was amended to allow women to inherit the throne. That followed a referendum in which more than 85 per cent of participants voted to allow female succession. She was married in 1967 to a Frenchman, Henri Marie Jean Andre de Laborde de Monpezat, later styled as Prince Henrik. They had two sons, Prince Frederick and Prince Joachim. Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife. Prince Henrik died in 2018 aged 83. On the day she became monarch, she appeared on the balcony of Denmark's Christiansborg Palace and pledged her allegiance to the nation. The royal, 55, was visibly moved as was proclaimed King by the Prime Minister at Christiansborg Castle today Wearing a black veil and gown adorned with the regalia of the Order of the Elephant and her father King Frederick IX's Family Order attached to her gown, the 31-year-old monarch stated: 'My beloved father, our King, is dead. 'The task that my father had carried for nearly 25 years is now resting on my shoulders. I pray to God to give me help and strength to carry the heavy heritage. May the trust that was given to my father also be granted to me.' Meanwhile, scenes were less mournful - and more celebratory - today. An emotional King Frederik X shared a public kiss with his wife - the newly crowned Queen Mary of Denmark - after an exciting balcony appearance this afternoon. The royal, 55, was visibly moved as was proclaimed King by the Prime Minister at Christiansborg Palace today, and wiped away tears at the historic occasion while roaring crowds cheered him on. In his speech, as per a translation by royal blogger Gert's Royals, the father-of-four said: 'I need all the support I can get. From my beloved wife, from my family, from you and from that which is greater than us. I face the future knowing that I am not alone. 'Bound, committed, for the Kingdom of Denmark.' Just moments before his first appearance as King, Frederik's mother Queen Margrethe II had signed her historic abdication after 52 years as monarch, Danish broadcaster DR has said - and BBC reports say that her poignant last words before leaving the Council of State were: 'God save the King'. An emotional King Frederik X shared a public kiss with his wife - the newly crowned Queen Mary of Denmark - after an exciting balcony appearance this afternoon Margrethe was also grieving the death of her father, who had passed away just two weeks after making his New Year's Eve address A beaming Frederik was then joined by his wife Mary - who is now Queen of Denmark - and their children Christian, 18, Isabella, 16 and Vincent and Josephine - both 13. Today's transferrence of power has kicked off as Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary - along with their son Prince Christian - made their way to Christiansborg Castle. A procession of cars set off with the royals being driven in a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg. Margrethe II followed in a carriage, waving at delighted crowds as she left from Christian IX's Palace. Both passed through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. At Christiansborg Palace, Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian all took part in a Council of State at with the Government and the Council of State secretary. The young princess, pictured at the age of 18, was educated at schools in Copenhagen and England before she began studying at Cambridge University Margrethe was studying in London when she met her future husband Henrik (Pictured: Queen Ingrid, King Frederik, Princess Margrethe, Count Henri, Countess and Count Andre de Monpezat and their daughter Madam Bardin, celebrating the engagement of Crown Princess Margrethe to Count Henri) Margrethe then made her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary held formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm Danish time, the couple made a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister then proclaimed the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch made an impassioned speech as he admitted his wish to be a 'unifying king'. He carries the beloved legacy of his mother, who - becoming the first queen of Denmark since Margrethe I in the early 15th-century - had blazed a trail that continues to this day. The then Princess Margrethe tied the knot in 1967, and her husband Henri Laborde de Monpezat received the style and title of 'His Royal Highness Prince Henrik of Denmark' A popular queen, she is known as the 'people's monarch' thanks to the fact that, as well as doing her own shopping, she has a flourishing career as an illustrator and designer and, until 2015, defied convention by lighting up in public. In 2021, it was announced she was hired as the set designer for a Netflix film based on an adaptation of a romantic fantasy novel by Out of Africa author Karen Blixen, one of Denmark's most internationally recognised women writers. Margrethe has also studied at five universities and is a committed anglophile. She spent a year at North Foreland Lodge boarding school in Hampshire, and went on to study prehistoric archaeology at Girton College, Cambridge. The then princess also studied at the London School of Economics in 1965. The couple, pictured at a party in the 1970s, went on to welcome two sons in the early years of their marriage The persona of the fun-loving Queen is a far-cry from the stiff upper lip that's often associated with monarchy and she is regularly pictured in bold, vibrant outfits. Above: Margrethe aged 40 in 1980 Despite enjoying a long marriage of 50 years, her relationship with Henrik was plagued with controversy. Henrik stunned Danes by saying he felt he had been pushed aside in his own home by his wife Speaking in an interview to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last June, Margrethe told how the Queen had made an 'enormous impression' on her, because of the way she has 'faced her duties, the way she is dedicated but also that she does it with a smile.' The pair are said to have used nicknames for each other, with the Queen calling her Danish counterpart 'Daisy' and Margrethe using 'Lilibet' - the name used by her closest family. Margrethe is known as 'Daisy' or 'aunt Daisy' because the flower of the same name is known as 'marguerite' in both Sweden and Denmark. Both monarchs also shared a love of dogs, with the Queen being famous for her love of corgis - having had more than 30 in her life - and Margrethe favouring Dachshunds. Queen Margrethe was related to Her Late Majesty through Queen Victoria, whose third son Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, was Margrethe's great-grandfather and Her Majesty's great-uncle. Margrethe's House of Glucksburg and the House of Windsor are also linked by Margrethe's great-great-grandfather, Christian IX. His daughter, Alexandra, married Edward VII, the eldest son of Queen Victoria. He was the Queen's great-grandfather and King Charles III's great-great-grandfather. Her Majesty visited Denmark for the first time in 1957, when Margrethe's parents - King Frederick IX and Queen Ingrid were on the throne. Born in 1940, Margrethe has throughout her life enjoyed broad support from Danes, who are fond of her tactful and yet creative personality. Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 Queen Margrethe II (centre) pictured with her son Crown Prince Frederik (left), daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary (right) and their four children Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine She is a chain smoker and is so 'normal' that she shops in the supermarket - but Queen Margrethe of Denmark is also the longest-reigning head of state in Europe. Above: The Queen lighting up in 1997 (left); and attending the annual New Year's dinner at Christian VII's Palace at Amalienborg, Copenhagen in January Margrethe enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, having bonded during several official visits to each other's countries over the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor (above) The monarch hit the headlines last year when she removed royal titles from the four children of her younger son Prince Joachim. She enjoyed a close relationship with her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II, both descendants of Queen Victoria, having bonded during several state visits to each other's countries down the decades - most recently in 2000, when Margrethe was received at Windsor. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen confirmed the decision in a news release that paid tribute to the 83-year-old monarch, offering a 'heartfelt thank you to Her Majesty the Queen for her lifelong dedication and tireless efforts for the Kingdom'. Margrethe is the 'epitome of Denmark' Ms Frederiksen's statement read, and 'throughout the years has put words and feelings into who we are as a people and as a nation'. The six-feet-tall Margrethe has been one of the most popular public figures in Denmark. She often walked the streets of Copenhagen virtually unescorted and won the admiration of Danes for her warm manners and for her talents as a linguist and designer. On her 83rrd birthday on April 16, Queen Margrethe waved to crowds of well-wishers outside the Palace in Copenhagen The monarch was also joined by her son Frederik, Crown Prince and his wife Princess Mary and their four children The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary A keen skier, she was a member of a Danish women's air force unit as a princess, taking part in judo courses and endurance tests in the snow. In 2011, at age 70, she visited Danish troops in southern Afghanistan wearing a military jumpsuit. As monarch, she crisscrossed the country and regularly visited Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, the two semi-independent territories which are part of the Danish Realm, and was met everywhere by cheering crowds. Denmark has Europe's oldest ruling monarchy, which traces its line back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958. Although Margrethe is head of state, the Danish Constitution strictly ruled out her involvement in party politics. Margrethe was born on April 16, 1940, a week after Nazi Germany had invaded Denmark. The occupation meant that the little princess became a symbol of hope for the Danes. No easy way to say this, so, here goes: the dress is dead, long live the skirt. I know. We've been here before. Last year, fashion-watchers announced that the easy pull-on dresses we'd all been wearing since lockdown were past it, and there was a grass-roots revolt. Fashion editors were hauled in front of TV presenters and asked to account for this attack on British women's wardrobes and their right to an easy, quick-fix solution. And in the end, the all-day midi dress won a stay of execution and everyone was happy. But you can't hold back the relentless tide of fashion, indefinitely. You can stick with your skinny jeans because you like them, and then one day they just won't feel right. You can hold onto your hardworking black tuxedo, then wear it to a party where everyone is in scarlet velvet or peacock blue and, all of a sudden, you feel like you're an undertaker. You may continue wearing the really useful three-quarter sleeve dress but, as of now, it has crossed the line from 'nothing to see here, just a regular dress', to 'Oh, now that looks a bit . . . old'. SHANE WATSON: No easy way to say this, so, here goes: the dress is dead, long live the skirt (pictured: Naomi Watts) Emily Ratajkowski wearing a denim pencil skirt paired with a leather trench and knee-high boots Every so often in fashion you get a 'ding-ding, all change' moment, and this is one of those. You can ignore it, but you just might find that the switch to skirts gives your wardrobe a fillip. And skirts, while not as simple as dresses, allow you to play with proportions the difference between looking polished and current, and not. So how to keep it easy? First, the skirt has got to be a midi because that's the easiest length to wear, and it gives you the most options. The look that's really gaining traction is a pencil skirt think a narrow mid-calf skirt, not a knee locking hobbler worn with a light sweater, or a prim cardigan, over a round-necked top. The underlying issue most of us have with skirts, apart from the bother of what to put them with, is fear of the straining waistband. Simply make sure not to buy your skirt tight and then let the sweater or cardigan drape a little over the waistband or cover it by a couple of inches. Otherwise you can sling a blazer on top (unbuttoned, it will still give you significant coverage); loosely tuck in a silky blouse; or wear your pencil with a cotton puff-sleeved top with a defined waist or a cropped open-collar sweater. Voila the easy spring skirt suit. And the point is, with a skirt rather than a dress, you can make the proportions work to suit you: a big striped shirt tucked in for day; a top with less volume and a nipped-in waistline for evening. Jennifer Garner is seen outside the 'Today Show' on April 11, 2023 in New York City A pencil shape works well for the office, but a subtly flared A-line skirt or a straight-cut cargo style are good alternatives. Cargo skirts don't need to have pockets, it's more about the utilitarian look think a denim skirt style with four pockets and a fly front. But don't necessarily be put off by thigh pockets they don't have to be bulky and can add a certain military pip. Hush does a smart khaki cargo skirt with neat flap pockets at the half-way mark (now 35, hush-uk.com) that has a sharp uniform feel, and Jigsaw has a good wool utility skirt with a D-ring belt, high patch pockets and a front split (175, jigsaw-online.com). With a tucked in mannish shirt or a black sweater and black heels, this is perfect smart office wear. Midi skirts: The new rules Keep the shape straight or subtly flared Try a utilitarian style Wear with a sweater and boots Get one in denim Advertisement A-line skirts come in lots of fabrics, including corduroy (190, cefinn.com) and denim (now 115.50, wyselondon.com) and denim is a particularly tempting option this year. It works in all weathers, whether on holiday with sandals and a T-shirt, or in the day, with a blazer, boots and a furry coat on top. This season, the denim skirt comes in literally every style, but the ones you'll get the most wear out of are the ones with a subtle flare or some variation on the straight/pencil shape. Marks & Spencer does a good straight midi with a modest front split, in black or a blue midwash (29.50, marksandspencer.com). It doesn't matter what wash you pick what counts is what you wear it with. For a chic look in the weeks to come, go for heeled knee boots, and a polo neck sweater or a tweedy jacket over a plain shirt. A belt with a shiny gold buckle will always add smart points. On the surface, Pandora Morris, 35, has everything. She's pretty, blonde, well-connected and has a posh London address the type of woman you might see on the pages of society magazine Tatler. But there is a sadness about her cornflower blue eyes which reflect a less golden story. Pandora, a lawyer by profession and scion of a large London banking dynasty, has spent decades battling obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which developed into a severe exercise addiction and eating disorder in her early teens. It has been more than three years since her last 'relapse', and though wary of describing herself as 'cured', Pandora is now in a very different place to her condition before lockdown, when her heart rate fell to 31 and doctors told her that if she didn't stop exercising eight hours a day and eat more than 700 calories, she would probably die. When we meet, Pandora has just come from the studio where she is recording the second series of Hurt To Healing, the podcast she launched in October 2022, in which she interviews experts and those who have struggled with mental health issues. Pandora certainly knows her subject. Her desperate parents spent the price of a small house on treatments none of which, including seven months in an eating disorder clinic in South Africa, seemed to work long term. Pandora Morris, 35, has battled an obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) for decades At one point, she even considered trying electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which sends an electric current through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure with the aim of altering the brain's chemistry and reversing symptoms. She tells of some of the staggeringly expensive 'recovery experts' that she and her parents have consulted, like the one who charged hundreds of pounds an hour and insisted she trailed a banana on a piece of string round the shops in London to deal with her issues around food. 'Later, my mother found her throwing up in the loo,' sighs Pandora, as the pair of us sit talking at the kitchen table of her parents' sprawling penthouse in West London. 'But, then, a lot of these so-called experts have only recently got out of rehab themselves. 'The irony is that my parents forked out all this money over the years when the NHS have some of the best doctors in the world working on OCD and eating disorders. The problem is that their work is so grossly underfunded it can't be effectively rolled out.' In the end, it was a six-month course of intensive exposure therapy at an institute in LA that enabled Pandora properly to confront her obsessive thoughts and gradually reduce her compulsion to exercise. However, she also puts her recovery down to a medically assisted trip on magic mushrooms in Ibiza. Yes, you read that correctly: magic mushrooms even though Pandora rarely drinks alcohol and had never taken an illegal drug in her life. But more of this later. As well as a course of intensive exposure therapy, Pandora also puts her recovery down to a medically assisted trip on magic mushrooms to Ibiza (file image) Characterised by recurring thoughts and repetitive behaviours you cannot control, such as checking doors or hand-washing, OCD is an often-ingrained condition that can take months or even years to change. It affects between 1 and 1.5 million people in the UK, and is defined by the World Health Organisation as the fifth most debilitating health issue in women between the ages of 15 and 44 in terms of lost income and decreased quality of life. As a little girl, Pandora was a chronic people-pleaser, she says, desperate for approval from her glamorous, high-achieving parents and plagued by self-imposed rituals to alleviate her constant feelings of anxiety, such as repeatedly looking under her bed and checking the doors in the house were locked. 'I had this phobia about the number six,' she tells me. 'In my eight-year-old head, I must have associated it with the devil. 'I started skipping page six in reading assignments, getting maths sums wrong because of having to avoid writing it down, and eventually not being able to walk past houses with numbers which were a multiple of it. 'Then there was the terror I developed of my Dad's new car. I just couldn't get in it. It got so bad that I couldn't bear the sound of it pulling up outside.' If she can isolate what specific incident triggered her into a full-on exercise addiction it was probably the trainers her mother bought her at the age of 13. 'I'd seen her and my dad getting up on Saturday morning for a run, and always thought how grown up and cool that looked. And when I tried it myself, in my new trainers, I felt this wave of euphoria.' It has now been almost three years since Pandora's last 'relapse' Vigorous exercise soon became a non-negotiable ritual with which to 'cancel out' her constant anxiety and fear of anything new. 'I remember being in Rymans, having just been given my first debit card at the age of around 13. As the assistant put it through the till, I forced myself to get down on the floor and do 20 push-ups. 'There were times when, going to a friend's house for the first time, I'd get caught in a spare room doing my push-ups.' Soon she found herself getting up in the middle of the night and sneaking out of the house in order to run. 'At one time, after a friend of my mum's spotted me, my mum tried locking me in her dressing room.' What had begun as OCD behaviour morphed into an exercise addiction, where Pandora used workout rituals to force some order and control over her life. From there, she placed the same restrictive controls over everything she ate and eventually spiralled into an all-encompassing mental health crisis. She started whittling down the foods she allowed herself to eat, limiting it to fat-free yoghurt, dry cereal and sweet potato. Soon, her weight plummeted enough for the doctor at her private girls' school to insist on weekly weigh-ins. Somehow Pandora managed to pass her GCSEs with flying colours, but the following year, while studying for A-levels, she nearly died of hypothermia when, on a family holiday, she sneaked out to go swimming in below-freezing temperatures. Again, she somehow kept up the pretence of being well enough to attend university and law school, and got a placement at a leading real estate law firm in London. Because psychedelics are not yet legal in this country unless administered as part of a medical trial, Pandora had to go abroad to take them (file image) 'I'm a classic perfectionist and I'm brilliant at keeping up appearances, pretending, for instance, that I had a doctor's appointment when really I just had to go running.' It was in March 2020, after yet another exercise-induced stress fracture and a plea from her employers that she take a leave of absence, that she endured her last serious relapse. Pandora shows me a picture of herself on her phone, taken at this time, and she looks, quite frankly, like an old woman, her skin stretched tightly over her cheekbones. On the advice of a friend who had recently made a full recovery from anorexia, she contacted a psychiatrist in the U.S. who put her in touch with the Westwood Institute in California, renowned for its hardcore intensive exposure therapy for eating disorders. Here, her therapist, Eda Gorbis, a leading authority on the treatment of OCD, had her walking through Walmart in a fat suit, studying herself in a room of distorting mirrors, and superimposing pictures of her head onto photographs of morbidly obese women. All this was to demonstrate that Pandora's true body shape was very different to the image in her head, and that being larger did not result in the catastrophic consequences that she imagined. 'It's odd how nostalgic I feel about that period,' she says, her eyes suddenly pricking with tears. 'I loved that I had my mother all to myself while there. In a sense, I think that was what I wanted all along my mother's undivided attention.' It was while she was out there that Pandora began researching the effects of psilocybin, a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in 200 kinds of fungi, on severe depression, OCD and eating disorders. According to Dr Francisco Moreno, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Arizona and a world authority on OCD, medically administered psilocybin has a similar effect on our brains as serotonin, the so-called feel-good neurotransmitter. It may be particularly effective for OCD, he believes, because it can alleviate the doubt and rumination which underpins so much of the disease's obsessive, ritualistic behaviour. Because psychedelics are not yet legal in this country unless administered as part of a medical trial, Pandora had to go abroad to take them. Accompanied by a medical doctor friend who had undergone the experience many times before, she met a shaman, a kindly-looking woman in her 60s, who gave them both a 2.5 gram dose of 'Golden Teacher' mushrooms in a piece of chocolate. In the year since her experience with magic mushrooms, Pandora has slowly been on the up After blindfolding them, the shaman started singing and playing guitar. The whole process cost a little more than 500. For the first 45 minutes, Pandora felt nothing and was convinced it wasn't going to work. The shaman then gave her some more mushroom-laced chocolate (the equivalent of a further 1.5 grams) and proceeded to blow the smoke from a mixture of medicinal herbs 'that felt like wasabi' up each of her nostrils. The 'rapee', as the smoke is called, immediately took effect. 'Every nerve ending in my body was on fire, and I was transported back to the boarding school I was sent to when I was eight, and feeling the exact same yawning loneliness I'd felt then. 'One by one, all these other traumatic memories came up and they were so vivid it was as though I was actually there.' Was she terrified? 'No, because it wasn't exactly tripping; I was just feeling very, very intensely in a way that I had never done before. I cried and I cried, which I hardly ever let myself do. I laughed, too. 'I also experienced this overwhelming sense of compassion for the people in my life. And whenever the OCD default button popped on, because I wasn't totally out of it, the shaman held me in her arms and I felt this terrific sense of peace and safety. It was like 'Ah! So this is what Pandora is like without OCD!' In the year since her experience with magic mushrooms, Pandora has slowly been on the up. Though there are still 'sticky' moments when the OCD wants her to run until she collapses, or when someone she hasn't seen for a while says 'Oh, you're looking well', which, as all women know, is code for 'You've gained weight'. But unlike before, when that remark might have made her go into a tailspin for six months, now it may last only a few days. Pandora's weight ('though above what I want it to be') is now stable, she limits exercise to a less punishing daily regime, and she has regular therapy sessions on Zoom. At last, three months ago, she got her period for the third time since she was 15 more than 20 years ago. Although she believes her experience with psychedelics helped loosen the hold OCD had over her, to anyone thinking of doing the same, she stresses the importance of speaking to a professional first, and then making absolutely sure that you are in the hands of an experienced shaman. And, of course, to remember that taking them is still illegal in this country. 'I know of people buying it online and then doing it alone with a pair of headphones, and that is so dangerous,' she cautions. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Long time coming: Six years ago, a Junior Minister - Rishi Sunak - promised to launch a fair code of practice for car park operators Mrs J.H. writes: My 82-year-old father [Mr C] is getting so upset about demands and court documents sent to a Mr Stroud at my father's home address. The demands are from car park company Parkingeye, which has used DCB Legal to get a court judgment for 304. My father has lived at the same address for 40 years and no one named Stroud has lived there. Tony Hetherington replies: This is just another example of how car park operators, their debt collection chums, and their legal pals, find it easier to churn out demands and threats than to do a decent job. Once they get someone in their sights, even if it is the wrong person, or the wrong address, their wheels keep turning. Your father has become a target for Direct Collection Bailiffs Limited, based in Runcorn in Cheshire, and its sister company DCB Legal. He told them the car registration shown on their demands is not his, and he has never heard of the car owner, Mr Stroud. The demands continued, and he reported them to the police, but got nowhere. He contacted the DVLA, but this had no effect either. When you wrote to me, you said that your father was so scared bailiffs might arrive, that he was actually thinking of paying the 304 so he could sleep easy. Not that this would have worked. The same bunch were also demanding a further 349 which the same Mr Stroud is said to owe insurance brokers. I put all this to Yasmin Mia, who, according to the watchdog Solicitors Regulation Authority, is the compliance officer at DCB Legal, tasked with ensuring correct legal conduct at the firm. I asked her to comment on why her firm continued to issue demands and threats, even when told that no one named Stroud lived at your father's home. And why was DCB Legal simply ignoring repeated warnings that they were frightening an innocent pensioner so badly? Yasmin Mia and DCB Legal failed to offer any answers. And this raised another question: had they even told their client Parkingeye about your father's protests? Parkingeye checked the original Parking Charge Notice and told me there was no sign of anything your father had told DCB Legal. I told Parkingeye that I had made my own enquiries. I gave them your father's name, address, date of birth, and confirmation he had been on the local electoral register for many years. I added that in all those records there was not a single sign anyone named Stroud had ever lived at the same address. And I asked Parkingeye to produce whatever evidence it held to show the mysterious Mr Stroud did live there. After some to-ing and fro-ing, in which Parkingeye produced not a shred of proof linking Mr Stroud to your father's address, it told me: 'When we became aware of the issue, we quickly notified DCBL to stop any further correspondence to Mr C's address.' Parkingeye refused to say exactly when it became aware, or when it called off DCBL. It did say that your father's address was supplied by the DVLA, but refused to explain why this had never been double-checked after your father protested. All of which demonstrates that car park companies and their enforcers can do as they like. Meanwhile, the Government fails miserably to act. Six years ago, a Junior Minister promised to launch a fair code of practice for car park operators. That Junior Minister is now the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak. But his fair code of practice is still nowhere to be seen. Smart meter came back from the dead R.C. writes: My wife noticed that our electricity bill from Utility Warehouse (UW) started to show smart meter readings. We have never had a smart meter. We contacted UW but customer service staff insisted that readings are done automatically at their end. Bizarre: Utility Warehouse customer service staff insisted that meter readings are done automatically at their end Tony Hetherington replies: This was bizarre. You had no smart meter. You never supplied meter readings to UW. And no meter reader ever called. Yet somehow, UW was able to bill you. The explanation goes back several years to one of the first huge problems with smart meters. Many of the early meters did not allow customers to switch from one supplier to another. If the customer did switch supplier, the smart meter became a traditional 'dumb' meter. And this is exactly what your meter was an old smart meter that was dumb when you joined UW in 2017. From 2021 onwards, the Government introduced a scheme to allow these old smart meters to use the same network as newer models. This allowed UW to revive your smart meter and start accepting its readings. UW has now reviewed all your meter readings. Your monthly payments have been cut from 199 to 145, with a goodwill payment of 75 credited to your account as well. WE'RE WATCHING YOU Car number plate trader Click4Reg Limited has told its customers that it has fallen into administration. I reported last week that the Sussex company had failed to pay an MoS reader whose personalised plate it had sold to a new owner last May. It blamed DVLA delays, the loss of its phone service, and the collapse of its payment system. Click4Reg paid the reader days before I revealed that its owner Elie Fakhoury had dipped into its funds to lend more than 830,000 to another of his businesses, which had then gone bust. A statement to customers says: 'Sadly, the combined impact of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the current financial crisis in the UK has resulted in severe financial consequences for our company.' Outside administrators will now decide whether the business can survive under new management, or should be sold off or dissolved. They will also investigate whether Click4Reg continued trading when it was clearly insolvent, which would be an offence. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Jim Redman was a legend on the 1960s motorcycle circuit. Known as the thinking man's rider, he was a six-time world champion with 46 Grand Prix wins to his name. Son Jimmy may not have been as committed a biker but he inherited his father's passion for engines, inventing a solution that makes motors more efficient, saves costs and helps the planet. Having created the product, Redman founded a company to develop and sell it. Today, SulNOx is listed on the Aquis exchange, the shares are 24p and should move substantially higher this year and beyond. Plain sailing?: Green lobbyists are campaigning vigorously for measures to combat climate change and transport accounts for around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions SulNOx offers two versions of the original technology, SulNOxEco for petrol and diesel engines and Berol for the sort of heavy fuel used by ships. The solutions improve combustion, reduce toxic emissions and cleanse engines from the inside, so cutting fuel consumption and maintenance costs. Each product is made from natural ingredients and demand is growing among customers, from German shipowners to Ghanaian bus drivers. The appeal is not hard to understand. A typical UK motorist can save more than 300 a year by using SulNOxEco and ensure their car works better for longer. For ships, annual savings can amount to more than 150,000, so fleet owners can cut costs by millions of pounds and burnish their environmental credentials at the same time. Green lobbyists are campaigning vigorously for measures to combat climate change and transport accounts for around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the United Nations. But change will take time. Today, electric cars account for little more than 2 per cent of the global market and enthusiasm is waning across the developed world. Most large vehicles, such as trucks, tractors and trains, cannot run on electricity. Nor can ships, which use particularly heavy polluting fuel. The electric vehicle sector is not entirely green either. According to carmaker Volvo, emissions from making these cars can be 70 per cent higher than those associated with traditional petrol models and they need to be driven for up to nine years to offset their carbon footprint. SulNOx reduces emissions immediately, and can be effortlessly added to a vehicle or vessel's fuel tank. Engines need no modification and improvements are instant. Products can be used for generators, tankers and trawlers too. The company has even devised a way of turning wastewater at sea into usable fuel. Estimates suggest that universal take-up of SulNOx could slash global CO2 emissions by more than 500 million tons, equivalent to Saudi Arabia's annual carbon footprint. In the UK alone, SulNOx could cut noxious emissions by 10 million tons, equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road. The benefits go further. Every year, millions of older, lower-quality cars are exported from Europe, the US and Japan to poorer countries in Africa and Asia. Most would fail safety and environmental standards in the developed world but aspiring motorists in emerging markets are only too happy to have them. SulNOx removes harmful toxins and is already in use by bus drivers in Ghana, saving them money and improving local livelihoods. CEO Ben Richardson is also in talks with fuel traders and distributors to add the product to the pump at petrol and diesel stations across Africa. Major shipowners are trialling SulNOx products too, endorsement has been wide-ranging and commercial contracts are expected to be signed this year. Shipping magnate Constantine Logothetis invested in the firm last year, amassing a stake of more than 23 per cent in the past six months. Norwegian investment firm Nistadgruppen is a substantial investor too, using its clout to introduce Richardson to the Scandinavian shipping market. Legend: SulNOx founder Jimmy Redman's father Jim SulNOx is in transition. Revenues in the year to last March amounted to 203,000, mainly from sales to individual motorists and small fleet owners. After expenses, losses were almost 2 million. The future should look very different. Advanced discussions are underway with several large potential customers so turnover should increase materially, with profits flowing thereafter. There is also a possibility of dividends, as the business becomes more established. Midas verdict: The world is under pressure to become greener fast. SulNOx products are a quick, easy and effective way to reduce emissions and save costs for motorists and big companies alike. As a loss-making company, SulNOx is not without risk but, with a fair wind, the shares could go far. At 24p, they are definitely worth a punt. Traded on: Aquis Ticker: SNOX Contact: sulnoxgroup.com or 020 3441 5363 Greenland is one of the largest countries in the world twice the size of Britain, France and Germany combined. Sparsely populated and covered in snow for most of the year, the island can be an inhospitable place for locals and visitors alike. But Greenland is also home to vast, untapped deposits of valuable minerals. Eldur Olafsson, a geologist turned entrepreneur, is on a mission to convert some of these resources into commercial mines, benefiting investors and local communities along the way. Vast: Greenland is one of the largest countries in the world twice the size of Britain Early signs suggest the 38-year-old Icelander is making good progress. Having founded Amaroq Minerals in 2017, he has acquired assets stretching across almost 4,000 square miles of the country, making this AIM-listed business the largest holder of mineral licences in Greenland. Exploration is well underway and the firm expects to move into production at its flagship goldmine, Nalunaq, later this year. Midas recommended Amaroq in June 2022 at 44p. Olafsson and his team have been working flat out since then and the shares have soared more than 60 per cent to 72p. There have been extensive drilling campaigns for copper, nickel, gold and other valuable metals, and money has been raised so the company can carry on exploring and move towards commercial production. A processing unit should be running later this year at Nalunaq, with initial gold production coming thereafter. Olafsson will start slowly but intends to create a plant capable of delivering 50,000 ounces of gold a year. Results from last year's drilling campaign are imminent, and Amaroq's supporters are highly optimistic. Millions of years ago, Greenland was part of a landmass stretching from North America to the Nordics, so it once abutted Canada to the west and Sweden to the east. Today, Canada is home to Voisey's Bay, one of the world's largest copper asses, while Northern Sweden boasts the biggest underground iron ore mine in the world, Kiruna, a happy hunting ground for rare earth minerals too. That bodes well for Amaroq and its shareholders. The company has money in the bank to cover exploration expenses and it has amassed a keen following among Nordic investors, listing on the Icelandic stock market after joining Aim. Brokers believe the company will deliver nearly 9 million of revenue in 2024, surging to 56 million in 2025 with profits of 11 million. In a show of faith, Olafsson recently spent nearly 45,000 of his own money on Amaroq shares, taking his holding to 3.45 per cent. Midas verdict: Too often, mining seems to epitomise the triumph of hope over experience. But Amaroq seems to be delivering results. The company has already proved its mettle and updates this year should give the shares a further boost. At 72p, investors may want to bank some profits but they should not sell out completely. Olafsson is committed to making this business work and the long-term outlook is sound. Traded on: AIM Ticker: AMRQ Contact: amaroqminerals.com or Camarco on 020 3 989 5712 Just a fortnight into 2024 and it has already been an impressively awful year for corporate blunders. Bosses or former bosses thrust into the spotlight include Paula Vennells of the Post Office, Sebastien de Montessus of Endeavour Mining and NatWest chairman Howard Davies. AGM season is a way off but proxy adviser Pirc has already got a number of executives in its sights. It is considering whether to back the re-election of the bosses of Airbnb, Alphabet, BNP Paribas, British American Tobacco (over a fine in Nigeria), Meta and Boeing. Pirc is known for taking a harder line with its recommendations to investors than fellow advisers Glass Lewis and ISS. Corporate blunders: AGM season is a way off but proxy adviser Pirc has already got a number of executives in its sights But perhaps Pirc should be given more heed. As it recently pointed out, in 2020 it expressed 'serious concerns' about Vennells' suitability to serve as a director at Dunelm in light of the Post Office scandal, adding: 'Worryingly the 2020 AGM results suggest only a small minority of shareholders felt so too.' Change of fortunes for Yorkshire mine? Things could be looking up for Anglo American's potash mine in Yorkshire. It has sunk 2 billion into the project since buying it in 2020 from Sirius Minerals. Up the road, Israeli group ICL's Boulby mine switched to digging the same sort of potash that Anglo will produce. Accounts at Companies House show its turnover reached 193 million in 2022. It even unearthed a profit, turning a loss of 31 million in 2021 into a 26 million gain. Revolut still putting the cart before the horse One would expect Revolut to have learned the peril of putting the cart before the horse when it boasted about being on the brink of receiving a UK banking licence which has, er, still not arrived. Almost a year later, Revolut's deputy chief executive Andrius Biceika was let loose in an interview with the tech website Wired. In it he said the development of artificial intelligence bankers, with whom punters could discuss finances, was 'inevitable'. But beyond AI, he says Revolut has already opened five in-person outlets in Europe and is going to 'launch branches in every country in Europe and eventually every country in the world', adding: 'The sky is the limit.' Promises, promises. TDR Capital try to reassure MPs It was squeaky bum time last week for Asda co-owner TDR Capital. The private equity firm's boss Gary Lindsay tried to reassure MPs about the 6.8 billion deal backed by the Issa brothers, Mohsin and Zuber, that saddled Asda with huge debt. Lindsay said Mohsin was 'not pleased and not proud' of failing to answer MPs' basic questions. The buyout baron then pledged to make Asda's myriad accounts, filed in Jersey, more transparent. But he forgot to tell MPs that he and fellow TDR director Manjit Dale had quit three Asda units before Christmas. So much for full disclosure'. Contributor: Patrick Tooher Fujitsu, whose faulty Horizon software is at the centre of the Post Office scandal, was thrown deeper into crisis this weekend after it was forced to earmark more than 500 million to plug a black hole in its main UK pension fund, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. To add to its woes, Fujitsu's UK arm also plunged into a 99 million loss last year, despite continuing to win taxpayer-funded contracts, including a 36 million deal to extend Horizon's use until spring 2025. It comes as pressure grows on the Japanese technology giant to compensate victims of what has been described as the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history. Accounts filed on Friday at Companies House also show that unlike the Post Office, Fujitsu has not set aside or paid any money to compensate victims of the Horizon fiasco because no legal action has been taken against it so far. The documents also revealed it has had to pump another 40 million into British computer firm ICL's 'gold-plated' pension scheme, where there is a huge shortfall which last year ballooned to 339 million. Under pressure: Fujitsu designed the bug-riddled Horizon IT system which falsely showed that thousands of sub-post office branch managers had stolen money Fujitsu designed the bug-riddled Horizon IT system which falsely showed that thousands of sub-post office branch managers had stolen money. The Government last week said it would use emergency legislation to overturn convictions against more than 900 sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of stealing from the Post Office. It also offered to pay 75,000 compensation to those who were pursued by the Post Office and ordered to hand cash back, but were never convicted. Ministers have urged Fujitsu to repay taxpayers for the 'fortune' the scandal has already cost the public purse. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faces calls to bar it from securing government contracts. Fujitsu bought ICL in 1998 just before the Horizon system was rolled out into thousands of Post Offices up and down the country. As part of the deal, the Japanese tech company took on the liabilities of the ICL pension scheme, which has 9,000 mostly retired members, many of whom will have worked on the Horizon project. The scheme pays a guaranteed retirement income but it is no longer open to new members. Fujitsu has committed to paying out a total 504 million in the decade to 2032 to fill the gap. Despite the black hole growing deeper last year, the ICL trustees who oversee the pension scheme expect the 3.3 billion plan to be back on track by January 2027. This, if they are right, would potentially free up millions to compensate Horizon victims. However, it is not clear why the trustees think the gap can be closed earlier than planned. 'I believe Fujitsu should urgently set aside money to pay compensation to the Post Office scandal victims and I wish they had done so already,' said former pensions minister Baroness Altmann. 'It is astonishing that they seem to believe they have no liability whatever for what happened. Even if contractually they might be receiving advice that they aren't liable, surely they should be considering their responsibility and moral obligations as well.' But she warned against using compensation 'as an excuse to short change' members of the pension scheme. MPs will quiz Paul Patterson, Fujitsu's UK boss, about the Horizon scandal on Tuesday. Patterson is also due to appear before the statutory inquiry chaired by former High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams next week. It follows ITV's acclaimed drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which charts the long-running campaign for justice led by former sub-postmaster Alan Bates. When the sub-postmasters won their legal action in December 2019, High Court Judge Sir Peter Fraser voiced 'grave concerns' about Fujitsu's honesty. He said that, 'in the interests of justice', he would send evidence heard in court to the then Director of Public Prosecutions. Fujitsu did not apologise until September 2022 18 months after the convictions of 39 innocent sub-postmasters had been quashed. Since 2019, the group has picked up 4.9 billion in Government contracts. Fujitsu declined to comment on its plans to repair the growing pension fund gap. Optimistic: Emma Walmsley says the UK is 'uniquely placed' GSK will plough hundreds of millions of pounds into the UK in the next two years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The investment of more than 200 million between 2023 and 2025 will be used to improve the pharmaceutical group's UK sites, including constructing new facilities and assembly lines. The FTSE 100 giant, meanwhile, is embarking on a 67 million upgrade project for one of its factories in Scotland. The revamp at Montrose in the east of the country will help GSK improve production of the ingredients used to make a range of medicines. Regis Simard, head of global supply chain, said: 'GSK has a proud heritage of making innovative medicines in the UK. 'Our six UK manufacturing sites, including Montrose, are an important part of our global manufacturing network and we're continuously investing in science, technology and skills to deliver medicines faster and more efficiently.' GSK's investment spree follows an upbeat assessment from chief executive Dame Emma Walmsley on the UK economy, in a powerful counterblast to doom-mongers. Walmsley, 54, said earlier this month that Britain was 'uniquely placed' to perform well in life sciences due to its high concentration of academic skill and high-profile companies. She added that she is a 'great optimist about the UK' and that the NHS gave Britain an advantage, particularly with the 'power' of its vast archive of patient data which could potentially be used to help develop new treatments. Aside from the investment plans, GSK is preparing to open a new headquarters in central London later this year. It is also preparing to kick off production at a 65 million global facility at its site in Ware, Hertfordshire which was opened in September last year. Additionally, it is pushing ahead with plans to construct a life sciences hub in Stevenage in a 900 million venture with other firms including Swiss investment bank UBS which is estimated will create 5,000 jobs. The campus is expected to open next year. GSK, which is valued at 65 billion, has also been on a shopping spree. The group last week snapped up asthma drug maker Aiolos Bio in a deal worth over 1 billion. GSK's investment in Britain contrasts with arch rival AstraZeneca, which has recently favoured other locations. Astra boss Pascal Soriot caused a stir after saying last year that the UK's 'discouraging' tax system was behind a decision to build a 330 million factory in Ireland rather than north west England. Soriot attacked the UK once again in April when he said it is 'very unattractive for companies to invest,' He is instead prioritising China as a growth area GSK's plans also provide a boost for the Government and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who has touted life sciences as one of the UK's key industries. In his Autumn Statement in November, he outlined measures which included around 520 million for the UK's life science industry as well as changes to tax credits for research and development work. Albemarle supervisors made a significant advancement Wednesday in the battle to drive down homelessness in the county. In a unanimous vote, the county's board of supervisors agreed to spend more than $2 million on affordable housing developments, including one ambitious project that could directly serve nearly half of the areas unhoused population. We talk about eradicating homelessness. People hear that, and it sounds like a moonshot goal, Scottsville District Supervisor Mike Pruitt told The Daily Progress. This is a very realistic, concrete, achievable goal. In this one step, were getting halfway there. Pruitt was referring to Premiere Circle, a project that has been in the works ever since nonprofit developers purchased the Red Carpet Inn off U.S. 29 north of Charlottesville during the pandemic. The intention of the group consisting of Piedmont Housing Alliance, the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless and Virginia Supportive Housing was to convert the site into affordable quarters for the unhoused. In February 2021, the Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning of the site to allow the construction of up to 140 affordable units, roughly 40,000 square feet of nonresidential space and up to 16,335 square feet of amenity and green space. On Wednesday, the board voted to put $700,000 toward the project, with the city of Charlottesville chipping in $750,000. That comes after the county already committed $2.4 million to the project using funds from the federal governments American Rescue Plan. The project, expected to wrap in 2026, should be able to provide permanent housing for roughly 80 people experiencing chronic homelessness. Considering the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless estimates there are currently 162 unhoused people in the region, those 80 units could provide shelter for nearly half of the area's homeless. Premiere Circle, which is being developed by nonprofit Virginia Supportive Housing, will also provide residents with access to case managers, social workers, job training and other opportunities, according to the county. The idea is to help people transition from homelessness to stability, and eventually independent living. Virginia Supportive Housing was also the force behind the Crossings at Fourth and Preston in Charlottesville, a 60-unit building dedicated to housing homeless and low-income individuals constructed in 2012. On average, people live there for 4 1/2 years before moving out, according to Stacy Pethia, Albemarle Countys assistant director of housing. We can, and I think we have a moral obligation to, eradicate homelessness, Pruitt said. Its not just something to campaign on. Its something we can do if we put our minds to it. For Pruitt, the newest supervisor on the board who made affordable housing a key part of his successful campaign last year, Premiere Circle is proof that ending homelessness in Charlottesville and surrounding Albemarle County where the number of people who have fallen into homelessness has increased 24% since 2018 is not a far-off dream, but an achievable milestone. Furthermore, the city chipping in funds for a county project is evidence that tackling homelessness will require cooperation between both localities. When you talk to leaders about homelessness in this space, they emphasize that housing and homelessness are regional problems. We need to continue to think more regionally to combat regional problems, Pruitt said. The goal is to help provide permanent supportive housing and demonstrate we believe in the project, Charlottesville city spokeswoman Afton Schneider told The Daily Progress. Obviously, we are always happy to partner with the county to make this community a better place. The county also voted Wednesday to fund and expand a preexisting project, approving $1.5 million for Southwood Apartments, part of the Habitat for Humanity-led redevelopment project of the same name that has seen a 120-plus-acre trailer park near Biscuit Run Park south of Charlottesville transformed into a mixed-income neighborhood over the past 17 years. The additional funding will allow units in Southwood Apartments to remain affordable meaning they'll be marketed to households making 80% or less of the area's median income for 28 more years. It will also allow for expansion at Southwood, where the first residents moved in last summer. There are approximately 300 families that live there now. When redevelopment is finished, probably more than 1,100 families will be able to live there, Pethia told The Daily Progress. Its a huge jump. Friday marked the groundbreaking of Hickory Hope, the latest stage in that redevelopment: 121 rental units in two apartment buildings on either side of Hickory Street adjacent to Old Lynchburg Road. Its the rejuvenation of an area that very much needed it, Supervisor Jim Andrews, who chairs the Albemarle board and represents the Samuel Miller District, told The Daily Progress. Andrews stressed that projects such as Southwood are important for meeting the regions need for more workforce housing. Andrews said a significant percentage of the county is "housing burdened," meaning more than 30% of their income goes toward housing costs; some are even paying upwards of 50%. That leaves not enough for other necessities, whether its health care, transportation or food, Andrews said. The money being spent by the county on Southwood and Premiere Circle comes from the countys affordable housing fund. Each year, the board puts a portion of the countys budget toward that fund. This is, of course, the kind of project that the housing fund was intended to assist, Andrews said. While excited about the two developments, Andrews said he believes the county has more work to do. "I think were making progress, but theres always more to be done. We all know that housing costs in this area are high and have been trending higher, Andrews said. Residential real estate in the Charlottesville area hit an "all-time high" last year, with a median price tag of $445,900, according to the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors. We have a significant percentage of people in our area who are finding that theyre in housing that is unaffordable for them. Wednesdays unanimous vote indicates that solving the countys high housing costs is a high priority for the board. This was an easy vote for me. It was a very easy vote for everyone on board, Pruitt said. The community as a whole is turning a corner reckoning with housing as a serious crisis, and youre seeing that reflected in the boards votes and community fervor around the issue. Health insurance is not most people's favourite subject. Often it is a 'grudge purchase', with customers stumping up the premiums through gritted teeth. But Neville Koopowitz, the chief executive of insurance company Vitality, has a secret weapon: the company mascot, Stanley the dachshund. Stanley, who is possibly the best-loved canine in corporate Britain after the Andrex puppy, has been the doggy embodiment of the business strategy. This is to incentivise reluctant exercisers with a policy to work out more, eat better and take care of their mental health, in return for a range of benefits and cheaper premiums. When I arrive at Vitality's London headquarters, I almost trip over an extremely realistic, life-size model of Stanley, and the branding is everywhere. Mr motivator: Neville Koopowitz with the company mascot Stanley the dachshund South Africa-born Koopowitz, who himself owns a fleet of four dachshunds: Vinny, Coco, Lolly and Cino, says the small dogs are 'the anti-heroes of exercise'. He adds: 'They have little legs, they don't want to go outside for a walk when it is wet. They love crawling into warm blankets and sleeping. Basically, they are quite cynical, a bit pampered and they don't have owners, they have staff.' Recently, after years of mocking his humans' efforts at self-improvement, Stanley has undergone a personality change. Koopowitz says: 'He has realised exercise is quite fun and now he is more active. We got him through an agency. We have had three or four Stanleys. A lot of people send us pictures of their dogs, asking if they can be in the ad.' Vitality is owned by Discovery, a leading South African insurance company with 4.4 million customers. It began 28 years ago with what Koopowitz describes as 'a hunch'. 'We thought we could encourage people to live healthier lifestyles, that it would be good for us as an insurer because there would be fewer claims and that society would also benefit. We had no evidence at that stage, but we do now.' His data suggests that members on average increase their exercise levels by 22 per cent after joining. 'Those who engage in the Vitality programme fully have 39 per cent lower mortality risk, if they get to Platinum status,' he says. The programme works by linking a smart watch or phone to the Vitality app. Then you can accumulate points for exercise, mindfulness, check-ups and healthy eating. Customers start on bronze status, then work their way up via silver and gold to platinum. 'The real benefit is for people who are unfit when they start,' Koopowitz says. 'If you have a 60-year-old who had never exercised, even a couple of thousand steps a day would make a difference.' Vitality, says Koopowitz, is the third largest health insurance operator in the UK with 15 per cent of the market, behind Axa and Aviva. It has close to 1 million customers on its health plan and a further 750,000 with life assurance policies. Around a quarter of health policies are held by individuals, including myself, but most are via employers. 'We focus on the small and medium firms,' he says. 'That has been the biggest growth area for us. 'We are seeing seven-to-eight person companies purchasing for the first time as a way of attracting talent. Benefits such as a virtual GP are very attractive.' He argues that we need to 'consumerise' health care. 'In every other market, you get reviews. You should get the same in health. If you have a great experience with Doctor X people should know. We are getting much more focused on that sort of granular information.' Preventative health measures, he says, are key to sustaining the NHS. 'I come from a country without much of a health service. The NHS is a brilliant entity, but like all health services it is facing challenges of demand. We have ageing populations and someone has to pay for it. Prevention is the best form of protection. 'We used to be worried about communicable diseases such as TB, Aids or malaria. 'Now the issue is preventable or manageable diseases to do with lifestyle and behaviour.' Isn't it hard in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, to persuade people to take out a health insurance policy or to join a gym? 'We returned to members over 100 million of value in 2022 through the benefit programme and premium reductions,' he says. Members can receive these discounts on their premiums for being active. Koopowitz is also looking at changing rules about pre-existing conditions. In some cases, these are excluded for a limited period of, say two years. After that, if there have been no claims, the condition can be covered. The only hitch is, that the onus is left on the policyholder to inform Vitality, which means there is a big risk they will forget and lose out on valuable protection. After I raise this issue, he has set up a team looking into automating the process, so customers will automatically receive cover when the exclusion period is up. He is now changing the system so they will be covered automatically after the time limit is up. Vitality employs around 2,500 in the UK, mostly in Bournemouth, as well as in spectacular London offices overlooking the Thames and in Stockport. Might a separate float on the UK stock market be on the agenda? 'At this point we have no need for capital so we have no need to look at a float,' he says. The business, he says, has an embedded value of about 1.2bn 'which puts us firmly in the FTSE 250, in the middle to top end. We are getting close to 1bn a year premium income.' Koopowitz was brought up in Queenstown, now called Komani, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. 'It is the most economically disadvantaged part of the country. Nelson Mandela grew up there.' After a commerce degree, he joined Discovery in the mid 1990s and came to the UK in 2010 to lead Vitality. He goes back to South Africa regularly, to visit his mum, who still lives in the Eastern Cape, as do his wife's family. 'I have a holiday home there. Once a year everybody congregates.' The biggest moment of his career so far was, he says, meeting Nelson Mandela. He says: 'It was a bit surreal. He wanted to meet young white South African business people. At that time, in the mid-1990s, it was a very tenuous situation and there was a lot of nervousness about what would happen. 'There was stockpiling of baked beans and candles. The build up to the elections was scary. We met at his house, in a suburb of Johannesberg called Houghton. His secretary Zelda, who became famous herself, was very protective. We had a cup of tea, for about half an hour. 'His compassion and understanding was amazing. He wanted the country to go forward and to be as inclusive as possible. UK politics seem very tame in comparison.' The public is losing trust in the pace of technological change amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), according to a global poll. A survey of 32,000 people by public affairs firm Edelman has found that twice as many people believe that innovation 'is being poorly managed' as took a positive view. And people in Britain were among the most sceptical of the 28 countries polled. The findings come as business leaders and politicians gather for the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where AI will be a big focus. Edelman said: 'Mismanaged innovations are as likely to ignite backlash as advance society. Explaining the science and managing impacts is essential.' So-called generative AI is trained on data to produce human-like content from poems to software code. The technology broke through over the past year with the release of the ChatGPT app. Hands-on: A survey of 32,000 people has found that twice as many people believe that AI 'is being poorly managed' as took a positive view Ministers want Britain to become a global centre for its development. However, many fear that it will destroy jobs. And a report by the WEF last week highlighted the threat that the misinformation, such as 'deepfake' videos produced using AI, could pose. The Edelman poll found that 39 per cent believed that innovation was mismanaged compared with 22 per cent thinking it was well managed with 39 per cent neutral. Britain was the fourth most sceptical country on technological advances with 49 per cent saying it is poorly managed, and 16 per cent taking the opposite view. The US was the most sceptical, with 56 per cent taking a negative view, followed by Australia and Germany. Overall, slightly more respondents reject AI than embrace it. Among reasons cited for the mistrust of technological developments were that science is losing its independence to politicians or financial backers. Others point to a 'system that is biased in favour of the rich'. It has led to a situation in which scientists and experts are no more trusted than 'someone like me' to tell them the truth about new technologies, the survey found. Edelman chief executive Richard Edelman said: 'Innovation should be a growth enabler, but it will be stymied if business doesn't pay as much attention to acceptance as 'fear of innovation has now become the fourth log on the populism fire.' It's a celebration of all that is best about Australia or a day of deep national shame, depending on who you ask. Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove. But, for many First Nations people, it is regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning'. This publication canvassed everyday Australians about their views, ranging from members of Generation Z who called for the date to be changed to a baby boomer who demanded people 'suck it up and get over it' - and everything in between. The growing polarisation around the national holiday is perhaps best summed up by the government-owned National Australia Day Council. 'For some, Australia Day is a day to celebrate all the opportunities provided by living in a free, multicultural society,' it wrote in its 2022 annual report. 'For others, it is a chance to reflect on their own citizenship and what it means to be Australian. And for many, 26 January represents a day of sadness, mourning and reminder of colonisation.' The annual Australia Day stoush started early this year when Anthony Albanese's high commissioner to the UK scrapped the annual black-tie fundraiser, citing 'sensitivities' over the public holiday. Anthony Albanese (pictured) has been accused of a 'cop out' by burdening local councils with the controversial decision on whether Australia Day should be celebrated after the Labor government scrapped a rule that forced councils to hold citizenship ceremonies on 26 January Then, over 80 councils across the country decided not to hold citizenship ceremonies on January 26 this year because of perceived negative connotations, with one councillor even blaming the heat. Anthony Albanse was accused of a 'cop-out' in burdening council's with the politically-sensitive decision after his government scrapped a rule forcing councils to hold Australia Day citizenship ceremonies. And then this week the fall-out reached corporate Australia when the Woolworths Group, which owns both Woolies and Big W, announced it would not be stocking Australia Day merchandise, blaming a 'gradual decline in demand'. The decision sparked uproar, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling for a boycott of the store. 'I would advise very strongly to take your business elsewhere and go to IGA or Coles or Aldi,' Mr Dutton said. A few hours later, Aldi announced it would not be stocking Australia Day merchandise this year. Prominent Indigenous leader and businessman Warren Mundine said the decision was 'disgraceful' and accused corporate Australia of being 'completely out of touch with the Australian public'. 'Its about time these corporates actually pull their head in Do your job, you are a retail store for Australia,' he said. 'If Woolworths isnt proud of this country they can pack up and bugger off.' But what do the Australian public think? Over 60 per cent of Australians agree Australia Day should be celebrated on 26 January, according to a poll conducted last year by the right-leaning Institute of Public Affairs. With the increasingly controversial day just around the corner, Daily Mail Australia took to Sydney's beaches and streets to ask proud countrymen and women what they think of their national holiday - and whether they would be celebrating it. 'I'd love them to change the date but don't hold out much hope' Bonnie (picture), 20, whose father is from the Bundjalung tribe near Lismore in NSW's Northern Rivers region, said she would 'love' the date to be changed out of respect for her fellow Indigenous Australians Bonnie, 20, whose father is from the Bundjalung tribe near Lismore in NSW's Northern Rivers region, said she would 'love' the date to be changed out of respect for her fellow Indigenous Australians. But she thought there was slim chance of that following the Yes campaign's resounding defeat at the Voice to Parliament referendum. 'Realistically, I don't think the government is going to change it but in a perfect world I think that we should have another day out of respect,' she said. Bonnie, who grew up in Petersham in Sydney's inner-west, said she was disappointed by the Voice defeat and had cut some friends off who voted No. 'Half of them don't have reasoning and it pisses me off because it doesn't impact them as non-indigenous people,' she said. Bonnie, a soon-to-be nursing student who works at Ivy nightclub in Sydney's CBD, said she would not be celebrating Australia Day and would most likely be working. 'I wouldn't be going to an Australia Day event or festival,' she said. 'If Im not working me and my sister would probably go to a protest with my dad.' 'Suck it up and get over it' Ian Rowlands, 62, who lives in Wahroonga on Sydney's Upper North Shore, was stridently against the idea of changing the date of Australia Day. Once upon a time I used to sleep through Australia Day, have a barbecue and then suddenly it's become this big political thing,' he said. 'I've got friends who now, say: "Oh, Ian, you're such a colonist". I mean, what the f*** are you talking about? I didn't colonise s***. I was born here. Ian Rowlands (pictured), 62, was stridently against the idea of changing the date of Australia Day and called for those demanding the date be changed to 'get over it' Mr Rowlands lay the blame for the debate on out-of-touch Australians who were preoccupied with 'fashion-type' issues rather than the 'real world'. When pressed on how it might feel from the perspective of Indigenous Australians, Mr Rowlands said he was sympathetic. 'I can totally understand how you would feel that suddenly once upon a time you had a 60,000 year old culture and everything had changed,' he said. But he was unapologetic about celebrating the day itself. 'So suck it up. Get over it,' he said. Poll Will YOU be celebrating on 26 January? YES NO Will YOU be celebrating on 26 January? YES 2254 votes NO 282 votes Now share your opinion Mr Rowlands said he would 'funnily enough' be spending Australia Day with a 'whole bunch of lefty friends'. 'They'll just jump on board and do what theyre told,' he said. 'Thats how I view it. They're just obedient f***ing sheep is how I view a lot of goddamn people these days.' Mr Rowlands, who works in the renewable energy sector, said he was pleased with the referendum result but was hoping it would be more like 70 per cent No and only 30 per cent Yes. 'I'm too old and too bored with all of it,' he sighed. 'I grew up in the eighties. You'd go to the pub. You'd have a smoke, you'd drink your beer out of a glass. And nobody gave a s*** about much. The music was better. 'But now, I don't know, it just seems rule upon rule upon rule. It's like we've been taken over by my mum.' 'Change the date out of respect' A trio of friends - one born-and-bred in Australia and two originally from England but now citizens - sharing coffee on a bench above Mona Vale Beach were all in favour of changing the date. Anna, 55, who lives near Batemans Bay in NSW's south coast, said she didn't think it was 'really appropriate anymore'. 'Even if we lost the public holiday, it wouldnt really change my life,' she said. A trio of friends (pictured) - one Australian and two originally from England but now citizens - sharing coffee on a bench above Mona Vale beach were all in favour of changing the date 'But I think it would change a lot of other peoples lives if we didnt celebrate Australia Day on that date. Its not that Im un-Australian. There's actually quite a large Indigenous population down where I live and a lot of people do call it Invasion Day. My partner calls it Invasion Day but shes really woke. However, Anna recognised that her position would likely be at odds with other people in her generation. I definitely think older generation probably wouldn't share our views, but the younger generation would be more likely to,' she said. Becky, 58, from Warriewood, agreed, revealing that her 22-year-old daughter refused to celebrate the public holiday. Our kids don't celebrate it anymore and that's not come from us, she said. Her husband added: I think that there should be a National Day but I see no reason why it shouldn't be moved'. 'At this point it's just overtly saying we don't care about the feelings of first nations people. But I'm not from here. I'm English. 'I've been here 20 years so I feel it hard to talk on behalf of Australians, particularly around the northern beaches where youve got to be here a hundred years before youre considered a local. He added: 'It wouldn't hurt anyone just to move it and say, "you know what, it's a day for everyone, not just for us". 'Go woke and go broke' Shelley, 47, a mother-of-three from Mona Vale, was staunchly against the date being changed, claiming we shouldn't 'touch what isn't broken'. 'I think it's really important and I don't think it should be touched,' she said. 'I think it should be left the way that it is. I know that they're trying to cancel it, whatever. You go woke, you go broke, thats my opinion. Shelley (pictured), 47, a mother-of-three from Mona Vale, was staunchly against the date being changed, claiming we shouldn't 'touch what isn't broken' Shelley, who is originally from Victoria, said she would be donning a green-and-gold jersey to celebrate the day. 'I try to celebrate it every year,' she said. 'Beach, barbie, ocean. Because I'm proud to be an Aussie, I guess. I love this country. I think we're very blessed to where we live here.' 'It should not be celebrated' Matthew, a 59-year-old photographer living in Mona Vale on Sydney's Northern Beaches, was stridently opposed to the national holiday. Matthew (pictured), a 59-year-old photographer living in Mona Vale on Sydney's Northern Beaches was stridently opposed to the national holiday. 'January 26 should not be celebrated,' he said. 'Australia Day is not inclusive. Were a land of immigrants. Where's the reflection of our multicultural richness? Clearly it's, it's a trash for First Nations people. It's a disgrace.' He added: 'Im Anglo Australian and I understand that it should be called Invasion Day. Theres no treaty. Theres no recognition of the people that lived in this land before 1788.' 'I'd be ditching Australia's national anthem. I'd 100 per cent be ditching the flag. Imagine England or Great Britain had, I dont know, Denmarks flag in the top left corner it doesn't make sense. Matthew half-jokingly suggested moving it to a day when Australia beats England at the Ashes. 'The actual day should be shifted, then it will be fair and equitable and will represent more Australians,' he said. Migrants continued to enter the US illegally in near-record numbers last year, in a trend that will weigh on President Joe Biden as he defends his record against his likely 2024 election challenger, Donald Trump. The US Border Patrol recorded 2,063,692 encounters with undocumented immigrants in the 2023 fiscal year, down just slightly from the record high reached in 2022. Over Biden's first three years in office, Border Patrol recorded a total of 5,940,511 encounters, a 277 percent increase from the same period during Trump's term, from 2017 to 2019, according to US Customs and Border Patrol data. Republicans blame Biden for the surge, after he relaxed a number of Trump-era border restrictions policies which the Democrat has called inhumane and ineffective. Immigration and the border remain top concerns for conservative voters ahead of the November 5 election, in which Biden will seek a second term and Trump is the leading candidate for his party's nomination. Over Biden's first three years in office, Border Patrol recorded a total of 5,940,511 encounters, a 277% increase from the same period during Trump's term. Trump presided over a 19% increase over his four years, compared to Obama's second term in office Enforcement encounters with migrants have remained high after the pandemic shuttered the border in 2020. Pictured: Migrants cross over razor wire on September 28 in Eagle Pass, Texas The CBP enforcement statistics can be difficult to parse, due to changes in reporting methods and fluctuations due to pandemic policies and impacts. But after the pandemic all but shuttered the border in 2020, the post-COVID surge in border crossings first seen in 2021 has showed little sign of slowing. Excluding migrants quickly expelled under pandemic-era rules, the Border Patrol recorded 3,295,029 apprehensions from fiscal years 2021 to 2023, roughly coinciding with Biden's first three years in office. That's still a 109 percent increase from the 1,574,174 apprehensions recorded during the same period during Trump's first three years in office, from fiscal 2017 to 2019. While Biden's handling of the border has long drawn harsh criticism from Republicans, increasingly his fellow Democrats are calling for stronger action including Arizona's governor and the mayors of New York and Chicago. The White House did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, but the Biden administration has previously said it is working to restore an orderly and humane immigration system. Ariel G. Ruiz Soto, a senior policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, a liberal-leaning think tank, attributed the migration surge to a number of factors, including post-pandemic recessions in origin countries, enforcement challenges in Central America, and a lack of enforcement resources in the US. 'Unfortunately, the border is clearly not working,' he told DailyMail.com in a phone interview. 'The level of migration has surpassed the current levels of capacity at the border that's not a question,' said Ruiz, adding that US agencies tasked with enforcing immigration law 'do not have the resources needed to be able to manage their operations.' 'That's something that is an executive priority that needs to change, but also a congressional one,' he said. How Biden's border policies compare with Trump's Biden has changed a number of Trump-era policies, with his administration saying its goal is to 'secure our border and rebuild a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system,' which the White House says 'was gutted by the previous administration.' Following a court battle, Biden rolled back a Trump-era policy known as 'Remain in Mexico', the official title of which was the Migrant Protection Protocols. The policy required asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for their immigration hearings to play out in the US. Biden called the policy 'inhumane' and human rights groups said it put migrants at risk from criminal gangs in Mexico as they pleaded their asylum cases. About 70,000 people were returned to Mexico under the policy, which Biden eventually rolled back in June 2022, after a Supreme Court ruling allowed his administration to terminate the policy. Border Patrol 'encounters' are seen by fiscal year. Starting in March 2020, encounters include expulsions under Title 42, a pandemic measure which was rolled back in May 2023 A U.S. Border Patrol agent holds a child from Venezuela as her parents cross through razor wire at the U.S.-Mexico border on September 27, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas Texas National Guard troops block migrants from entering a high-traffic border crossing area along Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas on December 20, 2022 as viewed from Ciudad Juarez A group of more than 1,000 immigrants walks towards a US Border Patrol field processing center after they crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas in December A US Border Patrol agent watches over more than 2,000 migrants at a field processing center on last month in Eagle Pass, Texas Biden also officially ended Trump's 'zero tolerance' policy that allowed the US to deport any adult who crossed the border illegally, which resulted in the separation of thousands of children and parents. More than 5,000 children were separated from their families under the Trump policy, according to reported estimates. The 'zero tolerance' policy had not been regularly used by the Trump administration since 2018, when the massively unpopular family separations were halted. As well, Biden eventually rolled back Title 42, the pandemic-era policy that allowed for quick expulsions of migrants, including asylum seekers, ostensibly on public health grounds. Between Trump's implementation of the policy in March 2020 and the time he left office in January 2021, 400,000 people were expelled under Title 42. Over the protests of human rights groups, Biden kept Title 42 in place until this past May. At least 2.3 million migrants were turned away under the measure during Biden's term. Biden's administration also launched the CBP One mobile app, which allows asylum seekers to submit their information and schedule appointments at a port of entry, rather than risking their lives entering illegally across river or desert. Starting in May, when the app launched, migrants who attempt to enter the US irregularly without using CBP One are largely ineligible to apply for asylum. Congressional Republicans are currently threatening to torpedo emergency funding for Ukraine and threatening to force a government shutdown if they can't extract tough new concessions on the border. Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker, has said Biden needs to reinstate Trump policies, including limits on parole for asylum seekers, and crack down on border crossings. Johnson also has called on the Democratic-led Senate to approve a bill passed by the House in May that would effectively end access to asylum at the border. At a press conference on Monday, Biden's Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas slammed Republican claims that DHS is not enforcing laws at the border as false. He said that more migrants who entered the country illegally had been expelled than allowed to remain since Biden took office, and argued that his agencies were direly under-resourced. 'We are doing everything we can within a broken system to incentivize non-citizens to use lawful pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration,' said Mayorkas, who is the target of an impeachment push by House Republicans. DHS Secretary Mayorkas, who is the target of an impeachment push by House Republicans, recently slammed claims that DHS is not enforcing laws at the border as false A Honduran migrant mother weeps as she nears the river bank holding her daughter and son, alongside her husband and their other son, as migrants cross the Rio Grande river to Eagle Pass, Texas in December A Texas National Guard member watches over a group of more than 1,000 migrants who had crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico on December 18, 2023 in Eagle Pass, Texas Immigrants keep warm by a fire at dawn after spending a night alongside the U.S.-Mexico border fence on December 22, 2022 in El Paso, Texas Immigrants gather at a makeshift camp stranded between border walls between the U.S. and Mexico on May 13, 2023 in San Diego, California. Southern border increasingly a global migration route Last year's figures included 2,045,838 Border Patrol encounters at the southern border with Mexico, as well as 10,021 at the northern border with Canada, and 7,833 at 'other' locations, including attempts to enter by the coastline from Cuba and elsewhere. For many attempting to cross the US-Mexico border illegally last year, it represented the culmination of a roughly 3,000 mile overland journey across the continent in a desperate flight from poverty, crime and violence at home. More than half a million migrants crossed the dangerous Darien Gap from South America into Central America in 2023, double the prior year's record number, and a huge increase from the roughly 9,000 recorded in 2018. The lengthy and dangerous journey is increasingly becoming a global migration route, drawing migrants from around the world, including Africa and Asia. Ruiz, the MPI senior policy analyst, said the reasons for this shift were complex, but that word-of-mouth from migrants who succeeded in the journey was a key factor in popularizing the arduous, and sometimes deadly, journey. 'They began to tell their family, and say, 'Hey look, I made it, and I made it because of this way that I traveled, this is the route that I took, this is who you should contact, here's how much it costs.' Then people begin to take more risks in doing this type of migration,' he said. A migrant caravan advances through the south of Mexico near Tapachula to try to reach the border with the United States on October 30, 2023 A group of people, including many from China, walk along the wall after crossing the border with Mexico to seek asylum, on October 24, 2023 near Jacumba, California Over the 2023 fiscal year, which ended in September, US Customs and Border Protection reported 24,048 Border Patrol apprehensions of Chinese migrants at the southern border Last year, Border Patrol agents apprehended 24,048 Chinese nationals illegally crossing the southern border, a staggering increase from the 991 encountered at the border with Mexico in 2018. Emigration from China surged following the country's years of harsh pandemic lockdowns, which put a damper on the country's economy and prompted disillusion with its authoritarian government. As well, 2023 US Customs and Border Protection statistics show 41,719 southern border encounters with Indian nationals and 15,429 with migrants from Turkey, increases of 364 percent and 29,500 percent respectively from 2018. Last year, 24 times more Cuban nationals (116,498) attempted to enter the US through the southern land border than by boat along the coast (4,716) the data show. For decades, Mexicans accounted for the vast majority of illegal crossings at the southern border, but flows have shifted over the last decade to Central Americans and, more recently, to people from South America, Africa and Asia. In September, the number of Venezuelans arrested trying to cross the southern border briefly exceeded the number of Mexican nationals. Guatemalans, Hondurans and Colombians rounded out the top five for the month. The CBP data reflect migrant encounters during the fiscal year, which runs from October 1 to September 30. Prior to March 2020, the numbers refer only to Border Patrol apprehensions, while after that date they include both Title 8 apprehensions and expulsions under Title 42, a pandemic-era measure that ended last May. Apprehensions refers to the physical control or temporary detainment of a person who is not lawfully in the US which may or may not result in an arrest, according to CBP. Sanctuary cities buckle under strain of migrant influx The influx of migrants, and a surge of buses organized by border states to transport migrants to so-called sanctuary cities, have stretched the resources of many of those cities. New York City alone has absorbed more than 126,000 new asylum seekers during the recent crisis, the city said in October. Since the spring of 2022, Texas has sent more than 95,000 migrants to cities New York, Chicago and Denver, in protest of Biden's immigration policies, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said last month. New York City is suing more than a dozen charter bus companies for $700 million, accusing them of illegally transporting tens of thousands of migrants from the southern border to the city. The lawsuit accuses 17 bus companies of participating in a 'bad faith' relocation plan that violates state restrictions on abandoning 'needy persons' in New York. It seeks financial damages to cover the cost of caring for an estimated 33,000 migrants that have arrived in the city on charter buses since the spring of 2022. Asylum seekers who sought asylum in the USA with great hopes await outside of East Village re-intake center to receive shelter in New York City earlier this month Scores of recently arrived migrants to New York City camp outside of the Roosevelt Hotel, which has been made into a reception center, seeking shelter in August Hundreds of migrants sleep in line last August as they wait for placement at the Roosevelt Hotel intake center in New York A young migrant girl eagerly shows what she made from the overnight snowfall, in a small tent community near a Northside police station in Chicago in November A migrant encampment is seen near a Northside police station in Chicago in November The lawsuit marked the latest effort by a Democratic mayor to turn back busloads of asylum seekers sent by the Republican governor of Texas. Chicago says it has spent $138 million on the crisis, that is only expected to get worse as temperatures drop in the coldest months of winter. Last week on CNN, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said about 15,000 asylum seekers were crammed into 27 shelters across the city after being bused in from the US-Mexico border, particularly Texas. Abbott has sent more than 25,300 migrants to Chicago since August 2022, on buses and more recently on charter flights. Amid an increase in bus drop-offs, both New York City and Chicago recently announced new restrictions mandating the charter companies to provide advanced notice of their arrivals. Within days, many of the buses began leaving migrants in suburbs surrounding each city without prior notice, drawing anger from local officials. Thousands of Brits and Irish are moving to Australia after being wooed with the prospect of more sun, world-class beaches, cash and even finding a partner. Up to 38,177 working holiday visas were granted to UK citizens in the 12 months to June 2023 compared to 20,090 the previous year - an increase of 90 per cent. Between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 up to 21,525 working holiday visas were granted to Irish citizens, double the 10,491 visas that were allocated last year, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs. This was the highest number of visas granted to Irish citizens in 16 years. Visa First business manager Nune Troy said she expects that number to grow. 'There are just more opportunities in the jobs market and better money, but I think it's the cost of living and housing situation as well in the big cities like Dublin,' she told Independent News & Media. 'Since Australia relaxed its visa regulations in 2022 after the pandemic, Irish citizens up to 35 years of age can now apply for a working holiday visa, whereas before the maximum age was 30. So I think this has also increased numbers.' Sally Cope, Tourism Australia's Regional General Manager for UK & Northern Europe said that many are attracted to the beach lifestyle Australia has to offer. Irishmen Kieran and Lorcan enjoyed a dip at Coogee Beach on Monday despite the rain 'Australia also offers an incredible lifestyle where else can you be in the boardroom at 4pm and by the beach an hour later?' she said. 'We're sure there are many 30-35-year-olds who thought they had missed their chance to live and work Down Under, who will jump at this exciting prospect; and Australia is ready to welcome them.' Many Irish and Brits choose to live near Sydney's eastern beaches for the vibrant expat community and the convenience of having the beach at their doorstep. Friends Killian and Grace, from Kilkenny in Ireland's southeast, were spending their morning applying for jobs in the Coogee Bay Hotel on Monday. The pair agreed that more of the friends they had made in school and college are currently living in Australia than in Ireland - making the trip a no-brainer. 'My mum's sister came out when she was younger with her boyfriend and never came home,' Killian told Daily Mail Australia. 'They live in the Central Coast now, they've got five kids and they probably go back to Ireland every couple of years. 'So I knew I would have a good support system to come out to and then just the weather, the life, like, it's more of a chilled lifestyle than back home.' Friends Killian and Grace from Kilkenny in Ireland's southeast were applying for jobs Coogee Bay Hotel in Sydney's east is a popular hangout spot for Irish and English citizens Killian spent over three years working in construction management in London and said life had felt 'rushed and busy all the time'. 'I knew from friends and family being here that it's more relaxed. So I think I needed that before I fell down,' he says with a laugh. Grace said most of her friends were already living or travelling in Australia before she arrived three weeks ago from London. She has been able to secure a rental in Clovelly where she lives with friends. 'All our friends are here. There's more here than at home at the moment,' she said. Killian has just three close friends in Ireland, who are only there because they're tied up in work contracts or in relationships with people who don't want to move. The pair said they would feel more settled once they had a job and a place to live. 'Until then you're a bit uneasy,' Grace said. Killian added that he was enjoying peaceful mornings on the beach that he would otherwise be spending on a noisy tube in London. Lorcan, a personal trainer, is hoping to stay in Australia for as long as possible Many said they were drawn to the laidback lifestyle and job opportunities in Australia James, 27, intends to stay for three to four years despite being 'below average' at surfing Several travellers were seen arriving in Coogee in a post-Christmas rush on Monday Friends Kieran and Lorcan had just enjoyed a dip at Coogee Beach despite the rain. Lorcan, a personal trainer, is hoping to stay in Australia for as long as possible. Kieran, who works in construction and lives in the eastern suburbs, conceded there were 'too many' Irish people in Australia right now. James, 27, from Dublin, has lived in Australia for just over a year and spends roughly six to seven minutes every day thinking about home. However, he insists he doesn't feel homesick due to the large Irish community in Sydney's east that has welcomed him in with open arms. He intends to stay for three to four years despite being 'below average' at surfing. Ellie, who has spent three months in Australia, says she thinks of the UK and her family often Irishman James (right) works for Seeing Eye Dogs Australia with Ellie, from the UK (left) The beachside suburb has been renamed 'Country Coogee' due to the amount of Irish arrivals James works for Seeing Eye Dogs with Ellie, 24, from Worcestershire in the UK. Ellie, who has spent three months in Australia, said she still finds it hard to be away from family and miss out on a cold Christmas. She said her friendship group consisted of more Irish and English people than Australians and that she was planning to travel along the east coast this year. Nicholas Sweeney, from Galway, had landed in Australia just hours before he headed to the Coogee Bay Hotel to have a pint with his cousin Danielle. 'I work in recruitment and apparently recruitment is booming over here,' he said. 'So I'm hopefully going to get into that. So far so good, apart from the rain. 'Everyone around has been lovely, so friendly and helpful.' Nicholas said so far the pros had been the weather, the food and the shopping and that in the short time he had been in Australia it already felt like a second home. Nicholas from Galway (pictured with his cousin Danielle) is hoping to get a job in recruitment Many were still enjoying a dip at Coogee Beach on Monday despite the gloomy day A man and woman are seen arriving at their new home on Coogee's main strip Personal trainer James Smith moved to Australia in October 2016 as a 'broke backpacker' and has never looked back. He said moving was the 'single best decision' of his life and listed reasons why Australia is a great place to live, including its affordability, lifestyle, coffee and being able to reinvent yourself. 'You should quit whatever you're doing and move to Australia,' James said. 'I can't express how great coming here was for every part of my health, my mental health, my business, my relationships and everything. 'In Australia even living in Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world, is cheaper than London and I just can't quite fathom that, so Australia is a lot more affordable.' James added Australia is a really good place to be 'poor'. 'When I came here as a backpacker, even if I was spending the least amount of money possible, I could spend my days down here [at the beach] chilling out, reading a book and figuring out myself,' he said. He said living 'a long way from home' can be tough and at times he misses his family but added the flight home is only 'a day away'. British personal trainer James Smith (pictured) moved to Australia in October 2016, claiming it was the 'single best decision of his life' 'It's a day away. Yeah it's 21 hours of flying but everywhere is a day away,' he said. Earlier this year, Western Australia's police minister Paul Papali lead a delegation of Australians on a nine-day tour of the UK with the aim of recruiting 30,000 Brits to work in Australia's police force, hospitals and hospitality industry. 'Our wages are higher and our cost of living is lower. Our health system is world class. You will be taken care of,' he said. 'The wages in the UK are far lower, the conditions are worse and resourcing appears to be far worse. So there's all manner of reasons why WA is more attractive. 'It's lower cost of living, higher wages and magnificent weather. What's not to like?' It's estimated that around a dozen users are dying per week in the capital city A new 'zombie' drug containing human bones is sweeping through Sierra Leone, killing around a dozen users every week - and leading dealers to rob graves to keep up with demand. 'Kush' is a synthetic drug made from toxic chemicals, herbs, cannabis, disinfenctant, and shockingly, human bone fragments - the Daily Star reports. The exact ingredients can vary in each batch, however killer opiods such as fentanyl, are also frequently used. At the equivalent of 20p a joint, it's making terrible inroads among the young in a West African nation ranked among the world's poorest. In the capital, Freetown, masses of young people can be found smoking the mystery drug, which is highly addictive after just one hit. A new 'zombie' drug containing human bones is sweeping through Sierra Leone, killing two users each week - and leading dealers to rob graves to keep up with demand It leaves them looking like 'zombies,' everywhere from the slums to well-heeled areas, sitting slumped with their heads lolling and sometimes sleeping standing up. While there's no official data on deaths related to 'kush,' health experts estimate that around a dozen users die weekly in Sierra Leone, the Telegraph reports. Despite actually being illegal, the life-altering drug is openly sold and smoked on the streets. A 25-year-old garbage picker found on the edge of a rubbish tip in Freetown, who goes by Mohamed, said he would 'meditate high meditation,' sleep, wake up and eat, before starting the cycle again. He said: 'We smoke it the whole day, I spend a lot of money on it every day, around 200 leones'. This equates to around 8, which is a small fortune in a country with average per capita income of under 400 a year. Nearby, Mohamed's companions were crammed into a shack shrouded in kush smoke, in the heart of a slum where children played among pigs and detritus. The synthetically-made drug surfaced half a dozen years ago, although its composition is sketchy. Pictured: People gathered in a Kush drug den in Freetown in July 2023 At 20p a joint, it's making terrible inroads among the young in a West African nation ranked among the world's poorest Pictured: A man sleeps inside a drug den at the Kington landfill site in Freetown, in July 2023 Pictured: A woman sleeping while sat down in a Kush drug den in Freetown, in July 2023 Manufactured and distributed by criminal gangs, 'the drug is an amalgamation of the various chemicals and plants that mimic the natural (cannabinoid) THC found in cannabis,' said Abdul Sheku Kargbo, head of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. The active ingredient's concentration can be 'exponentially increased,' ratcheting up potency, he said. According to the Daily Star, a medical expert revealed that the ground up human bone contains traces of sulphur, which enhance the drugs effect - and locals have broken into 'thousands' of graves to get their hands on skeletons. Another victim, Abu Bakhar, 25, told Channel 4 News he gave up hopes of a music career as the drug turned him into a 'zombie'. He said: 'Because of drugs I did not concentrate on studies. Because of drugs I did not concentrate on writing. Because of drugs I did not concentrate on anything'. Like many others, he's now homeless and lives on a landfill site on the outskirts of Freetown, amongst over a thousand others who reportedly live there. Someone else who's seen the effects it has, added: 'Kush takes you to another world where you don't know yourself. 'It's like it has something demonic in it. They see their friends and people around them dying and yet they still take it'. The victims look through the rubbish, hoping to find anything they can trade for cash to get more of the devastating drug. The synthetically-made drug surfaced half a dozen years ago, although its composition is sketchy But many kush addicts have no access to treatment whatsoever - if they are harmless they are left alone, living as 'zombies' but with no-one to care for them, said superintendent Mattia Kadiatu, 22, is another those who became hooked on 'kush' and struggles to recognise who she's become. 'Sometimes when I wake up from sleep without smoking, my body and joints ache,' she said. 'After I smoke two, three (joints), I feel okay, I feel alright, my meditation changes, my mood becomes cool. After smoking I eat a lot. 'I used to be a cheerful woman with so many fashion dresses... Look at the hair on my head - I dont plait my hair (any more)'. To pay for her hits, she resorts to sex work, bearing scars from knife attacks and, she admitted, psychic wounds as well. Ibrahim Hassan Koroma, founder of an NGO called the Mental Watch Advocacy Network, says 'Young people are dying' and the root cause of their addiction was poverty and neglect. Adding: 'We don't want to discriminate them or to point fingers at them, thats stigmatisation. 'We need a speedy and refocused strategy - at the moment it is quite alarming'. Someone else who's seen the effects it has, added: 'Kush takes you to another world where you don't know yourself' Although it's difficult to pinpoint the number of people affected, Sierra Leone's sole psychiatric hospital, a renovated facility from the British colonial era, is swamped with young addicts brought in by families desperate for help Although it's difficult to pinpoint the number of people affected, Sierra Leone's sole psychiatric hospital, a renovated facility from the British colonial era, is swamped with young addicts brought in by families desperate for help. Jusu Mattia, acting medical superintendent and resident psychiatrist, said that 60% of the hospital's admissions are 'kush' related. The hospital 'receives patients that are at the extreme end -- they are intoxicated, or they are psychotic,' he said. Care amounts to isolation treatment lasting between three to six weeks supported by anti-psychotic drugs to help wean patients off their addiction. They can have psychotherapy and join socialising activities such as sport and sewing. Michael Mannah, a 22-year-old student, said his life had been transformed after years on kush. 'I was the bad Michael, not the good Michael that I am now,' he said, speaking in one of the dormitories. 'I felt like I was in another world, different from this one,' he said. 'Abstain from kush', it's the best advice I have.' However, the facility has limited manpower to provide follow-up treatment, and relapses are common. Its budget is so tight that a US NGO called Partners in Health pays for drugs, rehabilitation programmes and staff training. But many kush addicts have no access to treatment whatsoever - if they are harmless they are left alone, living as 'zombies' but with no-one to care for them, said superintendent Mattia. The hospital can only treat 'the tip of an iceberg,' he said, 'It's a very big and widespread problem.' A Cornish town has employed its own bouncers to patrol streets and combat drunken yobs. Locals in deprived Camborne, just 20 minutes from St Ives, say they are under siege from anti-social behaviour and rough sleepers who set up a tent camp. A squad of private security staff have been brought in to walk the streets in the town centre after residents complained police are not doing enough. The marshalls, decked out in hi-viz uniforms, have been on patrol for about three weeks but one local described them as a 'waste of time'. He told MailOnline: 'The yobs just walk straight past them. They are trying to replace the police but without the powers.' Private security staff have been brought in to walk the streets of Camborne in Cornwall At one point there were five tents set up in the grounds of Camborne Parish Church where rough sleepers were living - now there is just one Camborne is just 20 minutes from thriving tourist favourite St Ives, but it is the most deprived area in Cornwall But one marshall said their presence was having a positive impact on the town, but admitted their powers to deal with people were 'still being worked out'. He said: 'We are seeing the same few faces over again. 'The first week we were here a lot of people talked to us, the response we have had is really positive. It is not hard when everybody is being so nice to recognise the ones who don't want to see us.' Camborne Town Council said it has recruited local security staff to become 'street marshalls' who will patrol the streets, visit businesses and focus on 'ASB hot-spots' including the churchyard. At one point Camborne Parish Church yard had five occupied tents set up among headstones, this has since been reduced to one - but there remains intense pressure on social housing in Cornwall. Many locals say they are fed up with petty crime with some avoiding the town centre or preferring to travel to nearby Truro instead. Shirley Rule, 80, who has lived in Camborne for 30 years, said: 'It's terrible at the moment. There are drunks and homeless people sitting out at all times. 'It's sad there are people camping in the churchyard yard but we never see the police any more. 'It's got worse in the time I've been here.' The marshalls have been patrolling the streets for weeks but locals are unconvinced they will help stop anti-social behaviour A notice has been put up in the grounds of Camborne Parish Church to stop rough sleepers Paul Collins, 72, said he doesn't believe the street wardens will be able to help turn the town centre around. He said: 'The patrols are a waste of time, the yobs just walk straight past them. They are trying to replace the police but without the powers. 'It's not their fault but they can't lay a hand on anybody and the criminals know that. 'If you walk past the police station there are 300 cars outside but you never see anybody come out. 'Camborne has turned into absolute chaos. Homeless people have set up tents in the churchyard. They are very intimidating, they keep going in the bookies asking people for money. 'There was a young lady who went to the cashpoint and got some money out then they followed her home demanding more.' Shopper Michael Miners, 79, said he had witnessed somebody shoplifting in Boots just a few minutes before he was approached by MailOnline. He said: 'The man didn't seem to care when he was caught and just dumped the stuff out and walked off. It's difficult for the staff and I'd imagine it happens a lot. 'We do have a lot of drinking and antisocial behaviour in the town - there's a lot of people on the street begging and saying they're homeless. You do sometimes see police around town but we would like them to be on patrol in the town more just to keep things in order. 'I really don't think it's right for people to camp in the churchyard, it's sacred ground. 'I don't know how we got to this situation but it certainly shouldn't be happening.' Former nightclub bouncer Aldred Smerdon, 82, said: 'We only live down the road but I don't come into town very often these days. When we do we rarely see any police. 'The more people the council can put out to take action the better but I would rather they were police. 'The town has definitely changed for the worse in recent years. Everything is closing down, there is nothing for young people to do 'We see people drinking and hanging around in the square.' Camborne Town Council said it has recruited local security staff to become 'street marshalls' who will patrol the streets, visit businesses and focus on 'ASB hot-spots' including the churchyard Camborne Town Council said the presence of the marshalls had been 'positively felt' by locals Micheal Miners (pictured) called for more police in Camborne to tackle anti-social behaviour Rev Graham Adamson, Rural Dean of Camborne Church, said the parish had been working closely with agencies to find accommodation for those living in the grounds. Camborne was once the world's richest tin mining town but is now the most deprived area of Cornwall with figures last year showing almost one in three children in the town were living in poverty. Camborne Town Council said: 'As part of the Safer Streets 5 programme, Camborne Town Council has opted to direct some of the funding to run an intensive 'Street Marshalls' intervention in Camborne Town Centre. 'The Marshalls will address the community's concerns about anti-social behaviour (ASB) issues whilst we wait for the new ASB Enforcement Officer for Camborne and Redruth to start their post in early 2024. 'Their shifts vary over the course of the week, to cover peak times and to avoid predictability and they aim to guide members of the public, support businesses with any ASB issues, intervene and professionally report any problems or concerns to relevant community partners including the Police and support agencies such as 'Streetlink' and 'We Are With You'. 'Although the Marshalls have been in post for a short time, their presence is already being positively felt in the town. 'Members of the public are reminded that although the Marshalls are in place, if you witness ASB or crime it is essential it is reported via 101 or 999.' Almost a thousand people are buried in New York City's biggest pet cemetery alongside their beloved dogs, birds, and even Mariah Carey's cat. Sometimes more upset about the deaths of their furry friends than their own parents, they arrange for a plot to be left inches away for when they join them. But never had the staff at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery been sent the remains of a person who was to be buried alone, until Patricia Chaarte's ashes arrived in 2020. The 92-year-old woman left instructions for the urn to be sent from her home in San Miguel de Allende, a small city in Mexico popular with expats. Ed Martin, who runs the cemetery his family started a century ago, was dismayed - why did she want to be buried all alone with no friends or family? Patricia Chaarte (pictured right with her friend Isaac Uribe in Mexico) stunned staff at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery in New York by asking to be buried there - alone Sometimes more upset about the deaths of their furry friends than their own parents, they arrange for a plot to be left inches away at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery for when they join them Over the next year, Chaarte's tragic story unraveled - starting with an innocuous photo of a mother and child, the New York Times explained. Chaarte, born Patricia Lou Bassett on January 11, 1928, grew up in Kansas City but moved to New York as soon as she graduated high school. There she worked as an illustrator, including for Hallmark until she was fired for creating an Easter card with a pop-up Jesus inside, captioned 'He is risen'. A friend later described this as a classic example of her particular brand of humor, and a product of 'impatience with boredom and senseless repetition of triteness'. Later, after realizing she was lesbian, she opened a needlework shop on the Upper East Side with her longtime girlfriend Wendy Johnson, called 2 Needles. The couple retired in 1991 and moved to San Miguel de Allende, where Chaarte developed a close circle of friends to whom she left thousands of dollars each in her will, along with two housekeepers and a hairdresser. Those friends described her as a loveable curmudgeon with a sharp wit and even sharper tongue. 'I knew her balance was improving when I stopped hearing four-letter words come out of her mouth,' her personal trainer and close friend Janis McDonald said. Chaarte chain smoked Camels and guzzled down Dewars whisky with just a single ice cube while crushing 'extreme' crossword puzzles and beating everyone at Scrabble. She was also such a fan of peanut butter she often ate it straight from the jar with a spoon. Over the next year, Chaarte's tragic story unraveled - starting with this innocuous photo of a mother and child Mariah Carey's cat is one of the animals buried at Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, along with a lion cub and a Bengal tiger that was discovered in a New York apartment in 2003 Mariah Carey holding her cat Clarence, who was featured in the music video for 'Always Be My Baby' in 1996 But beneath her tough New Yorker exterior was a deep, unyielding pain that broke through to the surface on certain holidays or after enough drinks. Her friends all knew, but Chaarte spent 569 days buried alone because she never told the lawyers handling her affairs. What it took was for McDonald to impulsively snap a photo of an old picture of her friend holding a baby in her arms, as part of a little shrine on her mantlepiece, and send it to attorney Brian Johnson She not only assumed he too knew she had a son who died decades ago, but that Chaarte had been buried alongside him. The little boy in her arms was Dana Bassett, whom she had in 1954 as a result of a one-night stand and was minutes away from aborting until she had a change of heart. Desperately hoping to avoid him falling in with the wrong crowd, she married her friend Abner Chaarte to provide him a with a father figure. The marriage was short lived, but she kept his last name and thus no one handling her will made the connection. But despite her best efforts as a single mother, Dana was hooked or heroin by the time he was 14, and died of an overdose just a few years later. 'She never got over it. It was the tragedy of her life,' her longtime friend Melanie Nance told the NYT. Another friend said she hated Christmas because it reminded her of Dana. Chaarte training with longtime friend and personal trainer Janis McDonald to recover from a stroke she suffered soon before her 80th birthday With a dodgy knee since she was 18 and a career spent sitting down, Chaarte started going to the gym after she squatted down at a dog cage and could not get back up After moving to Mexico, Chaarte lived in a two-bedroom house now renting for $1,500 a month and threw herself into an active social life and volunteered at a local animal shelter. With a dodgy knee since she was 18 and a career spent sitting down, Chaarte started going to the gym after she squatted down at a dog cage and could not get back up. 'Years of sitting at a drawing board causes everything to sag,' she told McDonald when she came in for help. She lost 40lbs and 10 per cent of her body fat over the next decade. 'Everyone says I am skinny now, but that's only because I was so fat before,' she said. McDonald tried to 'enlighten her on the evils of smoking' on an almost weekly basis, but gave up - only to be surprised when she cut the habit in half after a year. Just before she turned 80 she had a stroke that caused her to lose the right side of her vision in both eyes, affecting her balance and ability to read and do her crossword. She also developed severe anemia causing fatigue, depression, and loss of strength. 'I am not going to be a tissy pristle,' she told McDonald, and worked to regain her strength and train her brain to read despite her diminished eyesight. But in the last years of her life she became increasingly frail and was diagnosed with cancer, even contemplating assisted suicide. Ed Martin (pictured), who runs the cemetery his family started a century ago, was dismayed - why did she want to be buried all alone with no friends or family? The two-bedroom house now renting for $1,500 a month where Chaarte lived after leaving New York with her longtime girlfriend in 1991 Chaarte was helped by her friends who brought her groceries and played cards in her nursing home as he health failed and the pain of Dana's death weighed heavier. 'If I die, one of my dreams would be to be with my son,' she told her friend Isaac Uribe, despite being an atheist. Chaarte kept Dana's ashes with her until she left was preparing to leave New York, and in January 1989 buried him with his two beloved childhood pets. As soon as McDonald told her the story, Johnson called Martin at the cemetery and he looked up Dana's grave, using Chaarte's maiden name. The small granite headstone had no only Dana's name and that of his dog Jackie Paper, and a cat, Puff the Magic Dragon, but 'Patricia' at the very top. She was supposed to be there all along. A family is facing eviction from their second-floor apartment because their autistic four year-old son loves jumping and making lots of noise, infuriating neighbors. The child, Maverick Cusson, is a level three on the autism spectrum - the most severe classification available - and is non-verbal. His father, Dylan Cusson, told CTV News that his son is 'very loving' and 'affectionate.' 'He always wants hugs,' Cusson, who lives in Winnipeg, Canada, said. But he also acknowledged that there are significant amounts of noise coming from their unit. 'He likes jumping from high places. That's the big thing. He likes to jump from high places, he likes to make noise,' Cusson said about the ways his son expresses himself. Dylan Cusson's (left) building has threatened has threatened to evict his family due to noise complaints about his autistic four-year-old son The family live in a second floor unit, meaning Dylan's neighbors must regularly listen to banging floors. And his ongoing noise has so far yielded two letters from the management company that runs the building in south Winnipeg, Canada. They warn that a number of complaints have been filed against the Cussons, which will lead to the eventual termination of their lease if they can't figure out how to keep the noise down. Cusson said he was worried his family would be thrown out before Christmas, which did not happen, but the terror of eviction is outstanding. He said he is searching for a new place for his family to live, lest they become homeless or have an eviction on their record. Inclusion Winnipeg, an organization that assists families with a member who lives with an intellectual disability, said they have supported cases like the Cussons' before. In a similar case, an accommodation was made, said Janet Forbes, the executive director of the group. Forbes said the case involved moving the individual to a new unit in the building so that there was only one common wall. 'Then we assisted them to find some funding that would pay for soundproofing that existing wall and then they were able to stay there,' she told CTV. Cussons is now living in fear of his family being evicted. He is actively searching for a new place of residence Cusson says his autistic son, Maverick, is 'very loving' but does like to express himself by jumping from high places A representative of Inclusion Winnipeg said that in a similar case, a woman was able to move apartments within her building so that fewer common walls were shared with neighbors While tenants may be evicted for noise concerns, landlords do have to adhere to the country's Human Rights code. Marie-Lynn Hamilton, the director of advocacy at Inclusion Winnipeg said: 'There is a difference between the inconvenience of loud noises versus homelessness.' On his Facebook page, Cusson wrote that he is waiting to 'see how things go' after the CTV interview airs. He referred to a previous post he will put back up if the 'outcome' presumably of ongoing negotiations with the building 'isn't satisfactory.' As from today, home for the former Mary Donaldson, 51, will be the breathtaking Amalienborg Palace in Copenhagen with its huge retinue of guardsmen, servants and courtiers. How very different from the life of her ancestor Marion Horne, newly widowed at 40 and living a hand-to-mouth existence in a shabby two-up, two-down fisherman's cottage on the east coast of Scotland. Like almost no other queen in history, Mary's story is truly one of rags riches - for as we can now reveal, she descends from a pauper. Princess Mary's family tree - with its roots in absolute poverty of live in a Scottish fishing village. Today she becomes Queen An official portrait of the Crown Prince Couple, HRH Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark and HRH Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark. Queen Margrethe announced in her New Year's speech to the nation on 31 December that she is to step down as Queen of Denmark The future Crown Princess Mary of Denmark is pictured in the arms of her mother Henrietta Clark Donaldson in 1972 in Hobart, Tasmania East Lothian, just to the east of Edinburgh It's difficult to imagine a harder life for a mother of four with no plumbing, no heating - and absolutely no money. Marion's entry in the 1861 national census lists her humiliatingly as a 'pauper' someone who had to get by on handouts from friends and former shipmates of her late husband John, who'd died at sea the previous year. In many respects Marion's life mirrors the history of the Princess of Wales's coal-miner ancestors, first revealed by me in a Daily Mail article in 2010. In the 19th century, Kate's forbears were part of an exploited underclass in the coal-mining north-east of England, sent down the mines when still children, doomed to a life in the dark. A short one, too, for life was cheap - the sea, and the coal-mines swallowed lives greedily with no regard for age. And so it was for the fisherfolk of Tranent, Port Seton and Prestonpans, proud hardworking communities a handful of miles from the glories of Edinburgh but, in Victorian times, a lifetime away in terms of wealth and warmth. Working fishermen could only guarantee themselves one day off a year, when they'd proudly parade around the town a box containing money they'd collected to be distributed to widows and those injured at sea. The pauper Marion would be deeply grateful when that day came around each autumn. But, like Kate Middleton's forbears, Mary Donaldson's ancestors had backbones of steel and they realised that to get on, you had to get out. When Marion's daughter Annie married fisherman Peter Donaldson in June 1871, the family's centuries-long association with the area was about to change. Peter's grandson also Peter finally made the move which was to truly transform the family fortunes when in 1963 he emigrated to Tasmania. A successful merchant marine captain, he'd endured shipwrecks and high seas to make a new life, far from the bleak winters of Scotland's east coast. Peter was following in the wake of the local trailblazer, a swashbuckling explorer called Francis Cadell, who after his arrival in Australia in 1852 was the first person to navigate the Murray River, the all-important waterway which opened up south-eastern Australia for business and trade. The local connection between Scotland and Australia was established but fortunately sea captain Peter Donaldson did not suffer the fate of his predecessor Cadell, who was murdered by the cook's mate after complaining about the ship's food. Peter's son John Queen Mary's father maintained his Scottish connections, having married a local girl before emigrating to Tasmania and taking up a career in higher education. He was first a lecturer in mathematics, before being appointed a professor and teaching at universities including Oxford, Montreal and Houston. Mary Donaldson arriving for the Gala performance in Copenhagan in 2004 A proud father, John Donaldson walking his daughter down the aisle Mary's stepmother, Susan, and father, John Donaldson accompany Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik Of Denmark at the wedding of their son Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Mary Donaldson's family was granted a coat of arms by the Danish royal family. Seafaring is acknowledged at the very heart of the design The day Prince Frederik of Denmark announced his engagement to Mary Elisabeth Donaldson. Here, the families appear on the balcony of the Amalienborg Palace before crowds of Danish well-wishers. Mary's Father John Donaldson and step mother Susan Modie stand to the left The 2004 wedding of Crown Prince Frederick and Mary Donaldson Prince Vincent of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik, Princess Isabella, Prince Christian, Princess Josephine and Crown Princess Mary attend a gala dinner to celebrate Christian's 18th birthday Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark arrive at Amalienborg Palace for the traditional new year reception on January 1. The previous night, his mother had announced her impending abdication - with Frederik replacing her as monarch In 2004, with the marriage of his daughter to Crown Prince Frederick, John Donaldson finally erased the pauper tag from the family tree when he along with Mary was granted a coat of arms by the Danish royal family to signify his social elevation. It contains an eagle and boat signifying their Scottish ancestry, together with a lion from the Scottish coat of arms which, by happy coincidence, also features in the heraldic arms of Tasmania. So just like some of Catherine's ancestors the Donaldsons have made the journey, across several generations, from the lowest rung of the social ladder to the very highest. And two royal families today are all the better for that journey. Like a time-worn Abbott and Costello routine, Congress appears tangled in a circular debate about how to fund the federal government for the fiscal year that began more than three months ago. An agreement that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson and Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer reached last weekend ran into a partisan roadblock erected this past week by the same group of conservative Republicans who deposed Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy for relying on Democrats votes to pass a stopgap spending bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Led by Republican Rep. Bob Good of Virginias 5th Congressional District, the new chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, the conservative faction temporarily blocked a procedural rule on Wednesday that locked up the House from taking action. That sent a clear message to the new speaker that the spending deal estimated between $1.59 trillion and $1.66 trillion, depending on whos talking was unacceptable. By Thursday afternoon, they allowed the rule to pass after forcing Johnson into talks about potentially revising the deal to reduce spending and change policies they say harm the country. There are some things that are worse than a shutdown, Good said in an interview on Tuesday night. Its not clear how Congress will resolve the political stalemate, but time is running out before parts of the government shut down on Jan. 19. That is the first of two deadlines imposed by a second stopgap spending bill lawmakers passed in November to buy more time. Patience is running out, too, for some members of Virginias congressional delegation. I think they need to buckle down and focus on funding bills and put the sideshows away, said Democratic Rep. Jennifer McClellan of Virginias 4th, who represents Richmond, parts of Chesterfield and Henrico, and the Tri-Cities area. Democrats assert that Good and other conservative representatives are missing the obvious: The House cant get anything done without them. The speaker has to work with us and stick with us, and not cave to the chaos wing of their caucus, she said. Good, who represents a large swath of Central Virginia from Charlottesville to Danville and from Lynchburg to Richmonds western suburbs, does not see it that way. He was among a group of House conservatives who blocked McCarthys election at the beginning of the new Congress in January, voting present in the 15th and final round. He was one of eight Republicans who voted to remove McCarthy on Oct. 3, followed by three weeks of limbo as Republicans warred publicly over whom to elect as a replacement. They settled on Johnson, a low-key conservative from Louisiana who subsequently reached an agreement with Senate Democrats for a second continuing resolution to avert a shutdown. It was his idea to impose two deadlines: the first on Jan. 19 to pass four appropriations bills to fund parts of the government and the second on Feb. 2 for the remaining eight bills to fund the rest. Jan. 19 deadline If Congress misses the first deadline, money will run out for the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation and Energy. Concerns include the loss of housing vouchers for low-income residents who could face eviction and funding for the Federal Aviation Administration which oversees the nations airports and air traffic control system. Anytime we even get close to a shutdown, its a mess, Virginia Democrat Sen. Mark Warner told reporters on Thursday. Republican Rep. Rob Wittman, whose 1st Congressional District hooks around Richmond from a thin strip of western suburbs to a large collection of Hampton Roads counties, said he is optimistic that the House will move forward to approve the appropriations bills by the dual deadlines. Were back on track, Wittman said on Thursday, after the House approved the procedural rule that conservatives had blocked the previous day. He said Johnson told Republicans on Wednesday that the deal has a top-line spending number of $1.59 trillion, including $704 billion in discretionary nondefense funding. Wittman said that is in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act that McCarthy negotiated with President Biden in late May to avoid a potential default of the national debt. It funds the military, said Wittman, who also serves as vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. All of these things are good news. Top-line trouble? Senate Democrats say the top-line number which becomes the basis for all of the appropriations bills is $1.66 trillion, which reflects both the deal between McCarthy and Biden, but also a $69 billion side deal they struck for additional discretionary nondefense spending. I dont believe in reneging on deals, Virginia Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine told reporters on Thursday, saying he viewed the agreement between Johnson and Schumer as a positive sign. Wittman played down reports of Johnsons negotiations with the Freedom Caucus on potential changes to the spending agreement. I think the speaker is doing his due diligence, he said. Hes having discussions with everyone, not just the Freedom Caucus. Goods take Good continues to support Johnson, whom he said inherited an extremely difficult situation. Im going to do everything I can to help him be successful, he said. If not, Im going to do everything I can to help him get back on track. Good blames McCarthy for failing to ensure that the House passed the appropriations bills that conservatives wanted by Sept. 30, so that it would enter negotiations with the Senate on even footing. Our response seems to be, what passes out of the House is what the Senate will agree to, he said. Democrats fault House conservatives for refusing to work with them, even though their votes are essential to adopting legislation that has a chance of becoming law in a divided government. With a two-seat majority, there is no legislation that can pass the House without Democratic support, said Warner, who blamed the impasse on a radical right-wing group of bullies in the House. Hopefully, Virginians will remember who is in that group, he said. Passing all 12 spending bills is likely to require more time, meaning another short-term continuing resolution, even though everyone would prefer to avoid it. In the meantime, Senate Democrats are trying to reach a deal with Republicans over border security both increased spending and revised policies to get their support for more than $100 billion that Biden seeks in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Gaza. Kaine is optimistic in the Senate, but House Republicans are pushing for more far-reaching immigration reforms embodied in what they proposed as the Border Security Act of 2023. McClellan derided the House immigration legislation. The Child Deportation Act is dead on arrival, she said. Before reaching agreement on border security and foreign aid, McClellan said, Congress has to break out of the political circle its been spinning for more than three months and avoid a government shutdown. Obviously, the priority is weve got to fund the government or we wont be able to do anything, she said. Sgt Maciel Gray has become the first active-duty female sniper in the US army The US army announced its first female active-duty sniper in December in a welcome step forward for the world's most powerful military. But in some parts of the world, women have long been crucial members of deadly sniper cells, notching up dozens and in some cases even hundreds of kills. The Soviets trained some 2,000 women as sharpshooters to battle the Nazis, including one known as 'Lady Death' who hailed from Kyiv and is said to have taken out more than 300 enemy soldiers. This rich heritage a possible reason why Ukraine leads the way when it comes to gender balance in its sniper ranks, with women from across the country taking up arms to snipe Putin's forces. While the primary focus of markswomen is taking out the enemy, many have also come up against sexism in their own ranks - despite often outstripping their male counterparts in terms of skill. From the Kurds' battle with Islamic State in Syria to Kyiv's fight against Russian invaders, MailOnline takes a look at the incredible stories of some of the most daring and feared female snipers from around the world. Sgt Maciel Gray has become the first active-duty female sniper in the US army Maciel Hay - US army's first active duty sniper Sergeant Maciel Hay grew up shooting on her family's ranch, and earned the nickname 'sniper' as a child for her impressive talent at spotting targets. She was spurred on by the doubts of a close friend who told her she would 'never make it in the army or as a sniper'. 'Needless to say, that person is no longer part of my life. But now that I look back at it, I really do appreciate the motivation,' Sgt Hay said. She decided to become a sharpshooter when she was at Sierra College, near her hometown of Rocklin. She started off with basic training, but her sharpshooter skills caught the attention of army leadership. To qualify as an expert - like Sgt Hay had - snipers have to hit over 36 of 40 targets with their M4 assault rifle. Sgt Hay is the first ever active-duty female sniper Hay grew up shooting on her family's ranch before joining the army while at college Sgt Hay said: 'Even though I only shot sharpshooter at first, then eventually expert later on in basic training, my drill sergeant encouraged me to pursue the goal of sniper school.' Sniper school has a rigorous selection process - and candidates are usually experienced soldiers who have demonstrated exceptional marksmanship skills. Not satisfied with already making history, Sgt Hay now has her sights set on going to jumpmaster school to become an elite paratrooper. Emerald Evgenia - Dubbed Ukraine's 'Joan of Arc' Referred to as 'a punisher' by her Russian foes, Ukrainians mythologise Emerald Evgenia as a deadly killer fighting off the invaders - their answer to 'Joan of Arc'. Emerald knows that the Russians are terrified of her, and that her reputation precedes her. Despite facing sexism from fellow troops, Evgeniya said that it doesn't bother her, and that she is focused on the task at hand. 'War doesn't have a gender,' she told the BBC. Emerald Evgenia said that, in her view, women make better shooters than men. 'If a man hesitates whether to make a shot or not, a woman will never' She added that, in her view, women make better shooters than men. 'If a man hesitates whether to make a shot or not, a woman will never. Maybe that's why women are the ones giving birth, not men,' 'A war doesn't care whether you are a man or a woman. When a missile hits a house, it doesn't care if there are women, men, children - everyone dies. 'And it's the same on the front line - if you can be effective and you're a woman, why wouldn't you defend your country, your people?' Emerald previously made headlines after marrying a fellow soldier she met on the battlefield at the start of the war. The pair are now understood to have separated. Emerald has two daughters, a 12-year-old and a baby. After taking a break from battle during pregnancy, she vowed that she would return to continue to fight for her country, and her daughters' future. Emerald previously made headlines after marrying a fellow soldier she met on the battlefield at the start of the war 'It's the reason I go to war', she said. 'Ukrainian women are very strong, and all of us love our land.' Around 100 Ukrainian servicewomen have been killed in the line of duty, according to figures obtained by the BBC in August. As Vladimir Putin's bloody war on the country nears its two-year anniversary, more than 50,000 Ukrainian women are now enrolled in the army. Kurdish sniper who cheated death as she hunted ISIS An unidentified Kurdish sniper shot to fame after incredible footage captured the moment she managed to cheat death as an ISIS bullet missed her head by inches. Hemze Hamza shared a video on Twitter of a fighter from the Kurdish Women's Protections Unit, or YPJ, engaged in a shootout in the city of Raqqa, Syria, in 2017. The markswoman appears to be on the balcony of a building, peering out over the as she takes aim and shoots at a target off camera. The brave sniper was reportedly taking aim at an ISIS terrorist when a bullet hurtled towards her. A brave Kurdish sniper was reportedly taking aim at an ISIS terrorist when a bullet hurtled towards her In the footage, she reportedly says 'I killed Daesh' after taking her shot before almost getting shot herself. A bullet punctures the wall inches from her head, and she tentatively turns around as she realises what has just happened. The lucky shooter breathes a sigh of relief and even begins to laugh at her brush with death. She jokes around with her comrades as it dawns on her that she herself could have been another sniper's victim, before she tells the camera operator to stop filming. Joanna Palani - Danish student who dropped out of university to fight ISIS Joanna Palani lived a 'normal, comfortable' life with her family in Denmark before she joined the handful of foreign women who went to fight against ISIS. She dropped out of college to join the battle against jihadis in Syria, enrolling with the Peshmerga - the same ancient fighting force her ancestors fought for, before joining the all-female YPG. Joanna's battalion claim she killed 100 ISIS fanatics in morale-boosting propaganda. Joanna's battalion claim she killed 100 ISIS fanatics in morale-boosting propaganda Joanna Palani lived a 'normal, comfortable' life with her family in Denmark before she joined the handful of foreign women who went to fight against ISIS She spent nine-day stretches alone on the frontline with her Russian sniper rifle trained on her targets. 'ISIS fighters are very easy to kill,' she boasted Vice in 2016. She told MailOnline in 2017: 'I don't want ISIS to threaten European countries or people in the same way they have done in Kurdistan.' The brave sharpshooter came within inches of death when an ISIS fighter locked his sight on her during her last tour of Syria, narrowly missing her and hitting a friend instead. Joanna said her idol as a youngster was Lyudmila Pavlichenko, the female sharpshooter from the Russian Red Army dubbed 'Lady Death', who is widely recognised as one of the deadliest snipers in history. Despite the debunking, almost 100 churches have been burned or vandalized in apparent revenge for the 'mass graves' Almost 100 Christian churches in Canada have been systematically targeted in apparent revenge attacks following a hoax about mass graves containing Native American children. In 2021, a horrific story swept the internet as an indigenous group in Saskatchewan claimed to find 751 unmarked graves under the Marieval Indian Residential School, weeks after 215 children were supposedly discovered under another school in British Columbia. The schools were run by Christian churches - largely Catholic - and sought to eliminate their students' Indigenous culture so they could 'assimilate' into Canadian society. However, excavations carried out last year failed to turn up any evidence of bodies, and most experts concluded that claims of mass graves were exaggerated. At the same time the excavations failed for the past two years, at least 96 churches have been burned, vandalized and destroyed, seemingly in retaliation, with phrases smeared on the walls including: 'Where are the children.' An arson attack consumed the St Jean Baptiste Church in Morinville, Alberta in July 2021, one of at least 33 church fires to spring up in the wake of the 'mass graves' hoax Protests erupted across Canada in 2021 following claims of mass graves containing indigenous children, where graffiti was plastered on buildings reading 'dig them up' and 'return them home.' Recent excavations have cast doubt over whether the graves were a hoax Beginning in the early 19th century, tens of thousands of Native Americans were ripped from their families and placed at 'residential' boarding schools in Canada, where they suffered horrific abuse and neglect. Pictured: Students at the Kamloops Indian Residential School, where some claimed there were 'mass graves' The root cause of the apparent hoax stems from the early 19th to 20th centuries, when tens of thousands of indigenous children were ripped from their families and placed at 'residential' boarding schools across Canada. Many suffered horrendous abuse, were killed or disappeared, leading to searches in recent years that claimed to find shallow graves through the use of ground-penetrating radar. The tech only found aberrations in the ground that were mistakenly believed to be shallow graves, that may also have been rocks and tree roots disturbing the soil. Although not every 'site' has been excavated, no bodies were discovered at those that have, leading some to now feel outrage at the 'mass graves' may have been fueled more by social media hysteria than evidence. As backlash to the initial claims reached fever pitch, furious protests erupted at many sites, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau telling indigenous people that 'the hurt and trauma you feel is Canada's responsibility to bear.' Since then, almost 100 churches have been burned or vandalized, with Canadian law enforcement declaring just two of the 33 church fires to be accidents. Over 60 other churches have been marked with vandalism, including rocks thrown through windows, burglaries, and graffiti reading 'dig them up' and 'return them home'. Although the attacks have stretched for hundreds of miles, one of the worst affected cities was Calgary, which saw 11 churches vandalized in a matter of hours on the night of June 30, 2021. The torched remains of St Jean Baptiste Church after it was destroyed in a fire. Since May 2021, 33 church fires have erupted in Canada, with only two determined to be accidents Vandalism scrawled across the Saint Bonaventure Church in Calgary, Canada, after 11 churches were targeted across the city on the night of June 30, 2021 Father Fenando Genogaling stands in front of vandalism on the walls of St Luke's Catholic Church in Calgary, Canada, on July 3, 2021, one of the city churches targeted Calgary resident Maryanne Klaassen inspects the damage caused to Grace Presbyterian Church, another struck in apparent retaliatory attacks As the incidents pile up, outrage has been growing among those who feel the government's reaction was far stronger to the hoax 'mass graves' than recent attacks on Christianity. Many of the retaliatory arson attacks have occurred on First Nation territories, since many churches are found on Native American land after Catholic missionaries built them in the early 1900s and forcibly indoctrinated locals into religion. Deep divisions remain today, with indigenous hatred for the residential schools ongoing while they are blamed for apparent retribution toward hundred-year-old churches. The retribution towards Canada's history has also seen Catholic churches make up a majority of those targeted, possibly also due to the church's history of crimes against children. Rebel News reporter Drea Humphrey claims to have kept a running tally on the church attacks, with the 96 burned or vandalized buildings stretching from the northern tip of the nation to Atlantic islands past Nova Scotia. Although claims of mass genocide may have been exaggerated, some have also speculated that random graves may be the result of the refusal of local governments to pay for funerals of indigenous people in the 19th and 20th centuries. When churches used wooden crosses to mark the graves, they may have eroded over the years, leading to some remains becoming unmarked. The fury at Canada's history has only escalated, however, with one of the earliest reported arson attacks coming on July 21, 2021, when 100-year-old St Gregory's Church in British Columbia, just over the US-Canada border, was razed to the ground. At least 96 churches have been burned down or vandalized since the spring of 2021, with incidents stretching hundreds of miles from the US-Canada border to the north tip of the nation and out to Atlantic islands past Nova Scotia In July 2021, 100-year-old St Gregory's Church was razed to the ground as attacks on churches swept across Canada Native American Chief Clarence Louie, of the Osoyoos Indian Band, said she hated St Gregory's church as she was forced to attend as a child, and insisted 'I don't think white people came here and burned this down' Native American Chief Clarence Louie, of the Osoyoos Indian Band, condemned the attack, but summed up the resentment many Indigenous people still feel at Canada's history as he stood on the burned steps of the building. Recalling being forced to go to the same church as a child, Louie told CBC: 'We were heathens, right?' 'We were savages. We had to come in here and have the white man save our souls. That's what we were taught.' He said he was 'upset that some rez punks did arson', meaning youths on the Native reservation that he blamed for the attack. 'I don't think white people came here and burned this down,' he added. Just hours before St Gregory's was torched, the Sacred Heart Church around 40 kilometers north was also burned to the ground. There have been no arrests for either arson attack, two years on. Chief Derek Nepinak of Pine Creek Indian Reserve admitted after a search in August 2023 that no human remains were found under the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church Firefighters inspect the damage at the Roman Catholic St. Jean Baptiste church destroyed by fire in Morinville, Alberta on Thursday, July 1, 2021 Humphrey said she began tracking the church burnings shortly after the first claims of Native American mass graves, when the Tkemlups te Secwepemc First Nation tribe said they found 215 children's bodies under the Kamloops Indian Reserve. She wrote at the time that 'some of the stories that spread far and wide were not based on facts, even when stated by sources with great influence such as politicians and mainstream media.' 'For example, how were the remains buried? Is the discovery a mass grave, or a cemetery that had been lost in time?' she questioned. 'How was the precise number of the remains of 215 children arrived at with the specified technology, and will a thorough investigation be done to help determine the cause of death of those who were forgotten beneath the soil?' There is little debate that the indigenous children forced to attend the residential schools suffered awful abuse and neglect, however those that have questioned the claims have faced severe backlash and claims they are 'genocide deniers.' After one recent excavation on August 18 of 14 sites under Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church, experts again said the mass graves claims appeared to be baseless. 'I dont like to use the word hoax because its too strong but there are also too many falsehoods circulating about this issue with no evidence,' Jacques Rouillard, a professor emeritus in the Department of History at the Universite de Montreal, told the New York Post. 'This has all been very dark for Canada. We need more excavations so we can know the truth,' Rouillard said. 'Too much was said and decided upon before there was any proof.' Britain's first ever 'geothermal lido' has been blasted by locals after it was forced to close for winter because holes weren't drilled deep enough to access sufficiently warm water. Jubilee Pool in Penzance underwent a 1.8million upgrade three years ago and was supposed to operate year round using underground thermals to heat seawater to 35C in a cheap and eco-friendly way. But bosses have now admitted the geothermal system was 'not quite as efficient as we hoped it would be' and topping up the temperature with electric heaters made it 'extremely expensive to run'. But residents in the Cornish town - who donated 540,000 to the pool's upgrade - have blasted the winter closure. They claim the geothermal system failed because the contractors did not drill deep enough. Jubilee Pool in Penzance was Britain's first ever 'geothermal lido' when it opened 3 years ago Jubilee Pool underwent a 1.8million upgrade three years ago and was supposed to operate year round Matthew Underwood, 45, a marine engineer said the pool closing was: 'the biggest waste of money you could possibly imagine' Bosses have closed the pool because its geothermal system was 'not quite as efficient as we hoped it would be' Matthew Underwood, 45, a marine engineer said: 'It's the biggest waste of money you could possibly imagine. 'What's the point? The geothermal system doesn't work because they couldn't go deep enough. 'Last year they got given an award for it - how can you reward something that doesn't work? It's a failure. 'I grew up using that pool, you used to pay 1 to get a stamp and then you could go in and out all day. I'm up for things being modernised but there was nothing wrong with it to start with.' Local resident Alan Just, 73, said: 'I think it's a failed project and they're trying to make the best of a bad job. Without heating most of the year it's a big white elephant. 'They never drilled down far enough. I'm not a swimmer but I can understand why people feel put out. 'I wouldn't mind if it was closed for January and February but all the way through to May?' Drill bits used during the construction of the pool - as locals claim holes were dug deep enough Residents in the Cornish town - who donated 540,000 to the pool's upgrade - have blasted the winter closure Alan Just described the lido as a 'failed project' but added that without heating it would be a 'white elephant' The geothermal pool had been due to open in 2019 but shortly before the launch it was revealed contractors had 'encountered some unforeseen delays with the geothermal well. Pool bosses said Geothermal Energy Limited (GEL), which owns and operates the geothermal well next to the pool, had 'originally planned to drill deeper for higher temperatures, however encountered a zone of very high water flow at 410m below the ground. Given the risks of drilling further and potential well collapse, their geothermal team decided to stop drilling'. Lifelong Penzance resident Sue Knapman, 53, said: 'I heard they didn't go deep enough, the geothermal heating has been a problem since day one. 'I was shocked when I first heard it had closed, we thought the geopool would be all year round. 'It's a shame but more needs to be done to get people down onto the promenade year round.' The lido will reopen between May and October 2024, with sea wall repairs and works to geothermal facilities to take place over winter. Nicola Murdoch, chief executive of the pool, said: 'The risk that comes with using innovative technologies and being the first of its kind in the country is it is not necessarily going to work as it might look like it is going to on paper. 'We need to top up some of the heat ourselves, but obviously the extreme hike in energy costs that's happened in the past 18 months are completely beyond our control. 'It's cost us more than we anticipated in terms of running costs so we needed to take a proactive approach to ensure our sustainability and the future of the pool. 'Combined with that inefficiency in the system, it is just extremely expensive to run.' Penzance mayor Stephen Reynolds said the winter closure was disappointing. He said: 'It came as a bit of a surprise but I can understand the decision. 'From a personal point of view, the long-term future of the pool is the most important thing.' Uranium mining operations in Wyoming are gearing up for a potential dramatic expansion in operations, as a proposed ban on Russian imports drives up prices for the crucial nuclear reactor fuel. Uranium spot prices hit $92.50 this week, the highest since 2007 and up more than 84 percent from a year ago, according to data shared with DailyMail.com by market-tracking firm UxC, LLC. On Tuesday, the Department of Energy announced that it would seek bids from contractors to help establish a domestic supply of a uranium fuel enriched to higher levels, for use in the next generation of nuclear reactors. That kind of fuel is currently only available in commercial levels from Russia, but will be crucial for long-term plans to build hundreds of small modular nuclear power reactors throughout the US, as an alternative to plants powered by fossil fuels. Wyoming, the US state with the largest known uranium ore deposits, stands to prosper from the boom, and miners there could soon be adding hundreds of new employees, Cowboy State Daily recently reported. Uranium spot prices hit $92.50 this week, the highest since 2007 and up more than 84 percent from a year ago Uranium mining operations in Wyoming, like the one seen above, are gearing up for a potential dramatic expansion in operations, as a proposed ban on Russian imports drives up prices Uranium prices, which have fluctuated considerably over the past two decades, have been climbing steadily since early 2021, and surged rapidly in the past few months. A number of factors are behind the surge, including supply constraints during the pandemic and growing demand for nuclear power in China, Russia, and India, the three largest energy markets in the world. In the US, nuclear power plants that had been set for decommission, such as California's Diablo Canyon, are seeing their lives extended as part of the push to reduce carbon-emitting electrical generation. As well, publicly traded funds pegged to uranium prices have been buying and holding huge quantities of the ore as an investment, rapidly driving up prices, according to UcX President Jonathan Hinze. 'It's all sort of adding up right now,' said Hinze in a phone interview with DailyMail.com, adding that if a current proposal to ban imports of Russian uranium passes, 'could really supercharge this even more.' US seeks more highly enriched uranium for next-generation reactors The US Department of Energy is currently supporting and overseeing private sector development of a new class of next-generation nuclear reactors, known as small modular reactors (SMRs). While the technology is not expected to be ready for commercial use until roughly 2030, long term plans call for widespread use of the advanced reactors, which the government says offer distinct safety, security and nonproliferation advantages. President Joe Biden's administration views the new reactors and maintaining the current US fleet of 54 operational nuclear plants as critical for its agenda in fighting climate change. The administration also hopes that boosting the domestic uranium supply will increase energy security, and generate high-paying union jobs in the US. A rendering shows the design of the NuScale SMR, the type of next-generation reactor. Plans call for building hundreds of such reactors across the US in coming decades Uranium ore is seen in a file photo. Currently, the US imports far more uranium than it produces domestically, but the Department of Energy is hoping to spur production More than 20 US companies, including NuScale, X-energy and TerraPower are working on SMR technology for commercial use. The new SMRs will require a special fuel that isn't currently produced at commercial scale in the US, known as high assay low enriched uranium (HALEU). HALEU is enriched up to 20 percent, compared with the 5 percent enrichment of traditional uranium fuel used in existing reactors. Nuclear proliferation experts warn that an increased dependency on HALEU around the world could increase proliferation risks, because the fuel is closer to the fissile material used for nuclear weapons than traditional fuel. But the benefits of HALEU include its longer life, increased efficiency, and smaller waste footprint, leaving less radioactive waste behind to be stored and safeguarded. Currently, the only company selling commercial-scale shipments of HALEU is TENEX, part of Russia's state-owned energy company Rosatom. Last month, the US House passed a bill that would ban Russian imports of uranium, in a move to add pressure on Moscow over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The measure must still pass the Senate and be signed by Biden to become law. HALEU is currently only available in commercial levels from Russia, but will be crucial for long-term plans to build hundreds of small modular nuclear power reactors throughout the US 'The risks of continuing this dependence on Russia for our nuclear fuels are simply too great,' said Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, a Washington Republican, before the December 11 vote. 'It's weakening America's nuclear fuel infrastructure, which has declined significantly because of reliance on these cheap fuels.' In 2022, US nuclear power plants imported about 12 percent of their uranium from Russia, compared to 27 percent from Canada and 25 percent from Kazakhstan, according to data from the Energy Information Administration. Domestically produced uranium only accounted for about 5 percent of the fuel used in US reactors that year, the EIA said. Wyoming mines poised for a renaissance It all adds up to a potential boom for uranium mining firms in Wyoming, as well as other states with significant deposits, including Nebraska, New Mexico and Utah. Uranium Energy Corp, headquartered in Texas, says it plans to resume operations at two Wyoming production operations that have been mothballed since 2018. 'We will begin hiring people this month,' Donna Wichers, vice president of operations for the firm, told Cowboy State Daily earlier this week. 'For us, we are doing this because the price of uranium has been rising over the past several months,' she said. 'The supply and demand curve has changed significantly with small, modular reactors, and the excitement of nuclear power providing carbon-free power.' Ur-Energy Inc. in Casper, Wyoming resumed production last spring, hiring 50 workers, with plans to bring on up to 60 more in coming months. 'The commercial ramp up is underway now,' President and CEO John Cash told the newspaper. 'Renewables are great, but they can't do it on their own.' School-run parents have been blasted as a 'disgrace' by furious locals who claim they block roads and don't care where they park their cars. A backlash is brewing against mums and dads dropping off their children and now a local authority has launched a new crackdown. Middlesbrough Council has vowed to slap heavy fines on parents who flout parking rules in an effort to clear residential streets and prevent accidents. But parents were seen parking on zig-zag lines outside Captain Cook Primary School in the Middlesbrough suburb of Marton, when MailOnline visited this week. One furious resident said: 'It's an absolute bloody disgrace - they don't care where they leave their cars.' Residents have raised the alert about traffic congestion and parking around a school in Middlesbrough - warning there could be tragic accidents ahead Local resident Barry Lincoln, 71, is among those raising concerns about potentially-dangerous car parking in the Middlesbrough district of Marton Captain Cook Primary School headteacher Amy Young says improvements are planned Residents near Captain Cook primary claim the daily coming and going of parents is damaging pavements outside their homes. While teachers and other families say mums and dads in their cars show no consideration for little ones crossing the roads. Barry Lincoln, 71, walking his granddaughter to school, said: 'It makes you worried for the safety of our children when people park irresponsibly. 'People do park in the zig-zagged areas which are there for a reason - they are clearly marked but people still park there, they seem oblivious to the dangers. 'Recently there was a day when I was coming out and heard this almighty scream from a parent as her child had narrowly avoided being struck by a car. 'It was swerving around a van which had parked in the area that should be kept clear and had obscured the view of anyone driving along the road. Parents have been warned they face new fines and penalty points for transgressions The school is facing problems with parents parking at drop-off and pick-up times Local resident Bert Hebron has criticised what he calls 'inconsiderate' drivers 'It's frightening to think what could have happened and that's why it's important people pay attention. 'It's twice a day and for a short time, but the school does have a lot of children being dropped off by car. 'Schools have changed - it's not like the old days when the pupils in a primary school all live within walking distance. 'In the case of Captain Cook they come from quite a distance, it's a good school. 'We have to accept things are different now, but that's why people have to be cautious about how they drive and park.' National figures suggest the number of pupils walking to school plunged to 51 per cent, down from a recent peak of 70 per cent. Meanwhile, a mother of one of the school's pupils said: 'My daughter is only three and we live 10 minutes' away so I have to drive to drop her off, but I never park in the zig-zags and I don't understand why anyone would. 'A lot of people drive because they have to and it can get busy at dropping-off time but I welcome the council taking a stand on this. 'Anything to keep our children safe is obviously welcome and parking here has been an issue for some time.' Fears have been shared about the narrowness of the road approaching the primary school School headteacher Amy Young says they are trying to find ways to regulate parking. She said: 'There have been a few near-misses and of course that's a great worry for us - this is a narrow road with a lot of cars in it and children will be children, sometimes they don't think. 'We have been talking about introducing a walking train, which would involve finding a safe drop-off spot and having children walk the rest of the way to school under safe supervision. 'That's only at the discussion stage at the moment but we feel it might help this situation. 'We had to take action because people were parking on the pavement on a very busy main road passing the front of the school. 'To stop that from happening, we introduced wooden planters which stopped people from parking there but it moved the issue to the estate at the back of the school. 'When you speak to someone about it, the answer is usually 'I'm only going to be here a minute', but unfortunately that's all it takes. 'The children are little and don't always look where they are going.' Headteacher Amy Young said wooden planters did help yet also shifted problems elsewhere Dog-walker Barry Lincoln slammed drivers for seeming 'oblivious to the dangers' Motorists have been accused of wantonly parking on zig-zag lines in the residential area And in the Willows estate behind the school, residents fear tragic accidents. Bert Hebron, 78, said: 'The number of cars that now arrive in the street every day is ridiculous and there seems to be getting more and more people driving their kids to school. 'In my day everyone walked to school, but things aren't like that anymore and they all get dropped off at the gate - it means people living near the school have to deal with all the problems that brings. 'It's supposed to be a 20mph zone, but people don't stick to that and they park right across the pavement because the road is so narrow. 'That means pushchairs and especially wheelchairs can't get past, and this is an estate with a lot of older people on it. 'They're so inconsiderate and don't appear to care how it's affecting people who live here - there's no way an emergency vehicle would be able to get through if it needed to. 'Even the bin lorry has had to change the time it arrives because the road is blocked with school traffic twice a day.' Clive Mark, 79, said: 'It's an absolute bloody disgrace - they don't care where they leave their cars. Captain Cook Primary School has been described as a place with a 'good reputation' Parents dropping off pupils have been urged to 'take away the pressure around the school' 'My neighbour and I have had to fork out 120 each to get the pavements renewed outside our homes because they've been ruined by the constant school traffic parking up. 'When I moved here in 1989 this was a lovely quiet estate and there were no traffic problems at all. 'Once the school was built everything changed and now our lives are being disrupted more than ever because the council decided, in its wisdom, to allow Captain Cook to take in pupils from all over Middlesbrough. 'It's a school with a good reputation and parents want their kids to go there, which is all very nice for them, but we're the ones who suffer through it.' Tom Mawston, who was a councillor for Marton for 36 years, said: 'It has always been a problem, but unless there is effective enforcement from the council then it will continue. 'The trouble is that the council's budget is stretched and it can't afford to send people out around all the school to make sure people park and drive responsibly. 'What we really need is for parents to leave more time in the morning and be prepared to walk further with their children to take away the pressure around the school. 'At one time there was a venue a little down the road, the Marton Country Club, which allowed parents to park there and walk their children to school. Middlesbrough Council's road safety team has issued a new alert to drivers across the district People parking on zig-zag lines have been told they could face upto 100 fines 'It's now been closed off because of flytipping, but even when it was available there was a reluctance from many to walk that extra distance.' Now a new alert from Middlesbrough Council's road safety team comes after schools and parents have been gearing up for the start of the new spring term. Officials are reminding drivers that stopping on zig-zag lines outside a school carries a fine of up to 100 fine, while stopping on white zig-zags near a marked crossing can also lead to a fine as well as up to three penalty points. Failure to stop for a school crossing patrol officer attracts a penalty of up to 1,000 plus three penalty points. The council says lollipop staff report feeling scared to step out onto the road due to drivers failing to stop, while inconsiderate and illegal parking near schools and crossing points reduces visibility and increases the risk of accidents. Councillor Peter Gavigan, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for environment, said: 'This kind of behaviour is selfish, completely unnecessary and has the potential to put lives at risk. 'The markings near schools are clear and unambiguous and they're there for a reason to keep people safe. 'There's no excuse for parking on them and we will be making sure those who do are prosecuted.' Details of a domestic violence case against rape suspect Nicholas Rossi have been revealed for the first time after he was extradited from Scotland despite claiming for years that he is the victim of mistaken identity. Now the fugitive Harvard drop-out may have to return to Rhode Island to face charges there. Police documents obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com show that Rossi, 36, was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend at their apartment in Pawtucket in 2010. Rossi is alleged to have faked his death and fled to the UK to evade justice from allegations of other criminal cases in Ohio, Utah, and Massachusetts. He has insisted he is an Irish orphan named Arthur Knight, even after he was identified through DNA and distinctive tattoos when he was hospitalized in Scotland with Covid. Police reports obtained by DailyMail.com reveal Nicholas Rossi, 36, was arrested for allegedly assaulting his then girlfriend in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 2010. He is pictured left in his mugshot that year Rossi was arrested and booked on domestic battery, resisting arrest, and domestic disorderly conduct during the November 12, 2010 incident Records show that police were called by a concerned friend of his 22-year-old former girlfriend after an argument broke out. Rhode Island police heard the couples shouting at each other, with Rossi answering the door holding his girlfriend's child. Officers noted that she had a 'red mark around her left eye and minor swelling around her right eye', as well as a red neck 'consistent with being grabbed'. The woman was 'crying and extremely upset' as Rossi told her 'I'm sorry' and 'can we talk about this', before the pair were separated by the authorities. Police filings reveal that the couple got into an argument over their friends' child crying, and after their friends left, he tried to 'knock her to the ground and hold her there'. She fled to her son's room where Rossi 'continued to yell and scream at her', before grabbing both her arms and slapping her in the face. He is accused of hitting her again before pulling her to the ground by her neck. Neighbors told cops that they heard Rossi's girlfriend 'screaming for help', with Rossi denying hitting the woman, but admitted grabbing her to 'prevent her from leaving'. Officers arrested Rossi who shouted that he had done 'nothing wrong' and was 'not going to jail', before being 'physically carried' from the apartment into the cruiser. Rossi started 'hitting his head' against the bars in the vehicle and was categorized as a 'medium risk' of suicide. He was ordered to have no contact with his then-girlfriend and pleaded not guilty to the charges in court before admitting violating the protection order six months later. According to a police report obtained by DailyMail.com, officers arrived at the scene and immediately noted that the victim had a 'red mark around her left eye and minor swelling around her right eye', as well as a red neck 'consistent with being grabbed' The report goes on to state that Rossi began 'hitting his head' against the bars in the vehicle and was categorized as a 'medium risk' of suicide after he was placed in the back of the police car Police reports show that Rossi was a student at Harvard at the time of the offenses, with a warrant issued for his arrest in 2012 after he failed to attend a final court hearing. The domestic violence allegations come after DailyMail.com detailed the litany of allegations against Rossi, including sexual assault, harassment, and possible kidnapping from 2007 to 2019. Court filings reveal Rossi (pictured in 2008 ) has been linked to criminal cases of sexual assault, harassment, and possible kidnapping from 2007 to 2019 in Rhode Island, Ohio, Utah, and Massachusetts Following his extradition back to the US, a warrant relating to the assault of Rossi's former partner was issued, along with a charge of resisting arrest. Rossi was also convicted of a DUI in Rhode Island after he crashed his black Chrysler Pacifica into another vehicle in July 2011. He told officers that his breathalyzer was wrong, and he was not under the influence of alcohol claiming that he only had two glasses of champagne.' Rossi's January 5 extradition marks a dramatic breakthrough in the years-long rape case, which had been stymied by a backlog of DNA test kits at the Utah State Crime Lab, resulting in a 13-year delay of the suspect's arrest. The 36-year-old, who has used at least 10 aliases in his run from the law, was booked last Friday afternoon into the Davis County Jail, which houses many federal detainees in northern Utah. Rossi will likely be transferred to Utah County in the coming days, where he will stand trial for felony rape charges, according to the Utah County Attorney's Office. He faces another felony rape charge in Salt Lake County, where prosecutors say he sexually assaulted a 26-year-old former girlfriend after an argument, also in 2008. Rossi, pictured after his extradition in Edinburgh, Scotland, in July, was finally booked into a Utah jail last week after a years-long legal battle The 36-year-old was previously interviewed alongside his wife, Miranda Knight, whom he met in Bristol, England, after fleeing to the UK to escape allegations of sexual assault in the US Court filings obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com confirm Rossi was wanted for one count of first-degree felony rape after allegedly 'forcing' himself on his 21-year-old former girlfriend and penetrating her, during an incident in Orem, Utah, in 2008 Scottish ministers signed an order in September last year giving permission for Rossi, 36, to be extradited. Last month, appeal judges had quashed his bid to avoid extradition, paving the way for him to be removed from Scotland to face serious sex charges in the US. A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: 'We assisted partner agencies with the extradition of a 36-year-old man.' The order followed a battle in Scotland's courts in which Rossi was ruled to be wanted by authorities in Utah for the alleged rape of a woman in 2008. Officials in the US believe he is a fugitive who faked his death and fled to the UK to evade justice. But Rossi has repeatedly claimed he is the victim of mistaken identity and says he is an Irish orphan called Arthur Knight. The suspect, who was born Nicholas Alahverdian before changing his surname to that of his adoptive stepfather, David Rossi claimed he had been diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in late 2019 and told friends he was dying. An obituary appeared online for Rossi in early 2020 saying he had died and that his ashes had been scattered at sea. Public records online confirm Rossi was booked into Davis County jail on January 5 But the following year he was arrested in a Covid hospital ward in Scotland, where he was registered as Arthur Knight. It was then ruled that the fugitive who appeared throughout his court dates in a wheelchair, using an oxygen mask is indeed Rossi after he was identified through DNA and distinctive tattoos, which were described in an Interpol alert. Under the guise of Arthur Brown, Rossi is believed to have met his wife, Miranda Knight, in Bristol in 2019 and married her in early 2020, assuming the name Arthur Knight. They moved to Glasgow shortly afterwards but in 2021, Rossi became so ill with Covid that he had to be hospitalized. In July 2020, DNA allegedly linked him to a 2008 rape in Utah which is ultimately what led to his discovery in Scotland. He was arrested on December 13, 2021 at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital by police officers who served him with an Interpol red notice. With the assistance of medical staff at the hospital, the patient initially named as Arthur Knight was identified as Rossi, but he has continued to insist he is not the suspect. Miranda has continued to stand by her husband's side since he was first arrested in December 2021. Iowa's evangelical Christians had their doubts about twice-divorced, Democrat donor and casino magnate Donald Trump in 2016. Not any more. Leading prayers before an event for Trump supporters in Cedar Rapids last week, Brett Mason cast the former president as an anti-establishment fighter in the mold of Jesus. 'He doesn't need to be a pastor, he needs to bring us the freedoms to change our country,' he said, just ahead of the Pledge of Allegiance. His words illustrate what Republican analysts and strategists say. Trump's record in office has delivered a swath of evangelical support that might otherwise have coalesced behind a more faith-oriented candidate such as Ron DeSantis or Mike Pence, who dropped out last year after failing to make a dent in the polls. Congregation members pray during service at the First Church of God, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Des Moines, Iowa. Former President Donald Trump and his rivals for the GOP nomination have pushed for endorsements from pastors and faith communities A poll published Saturday showed that Donald Trump could rely on the support of 51 percent of Iowa's Republicans, a crucial voting block in the state EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Meet the DeSantis supporter who has knocked on more than 20,000 doors in Iowa Advertisement That marks a significant change since 2016. Then almost two-thirds of Iowas caucus-goers identified as evangelical Christians, making them a crucial bloc in the outcome. They powered Ted Cruz to victory over Trump. Ralph Reed, founder of the influential Faith and Freedom Coalition, said they shaped the entire course of that year's nomination race. 'They gave about a third of their votes to Ted Cruz, about a fifth of their votes to both Donald Trump and Marco Rubio and it was that margin among evangelicals that gave Cruz his victory, and really enabled him to go mano-a mano with Trump through Super Tuesday and all the way to the Indiana primary in April and all the way to the convention,' he said on a conference call with reporters After Trump secured the nomination in 2016, Reed joined his religious advisory board. This time around he is hedging his bets. 'We think endorsements are overrated, generally, but they're particularly overrated in Iowa,' he said. DeSantis has picked up two of the most important endorsements in the state. Gov. Kim Reynolds, who is popular with evangelical voters, has given him her backing. And in November he secured the endorsement of Bob Vander Plaats, head of the conservative Christian group The Family Leader. He is often described as the state's 'kingmaker' after picking the winner in Iowa every year since 2008. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted Jan. 7-12 with 705 likely Republican caucus goers. Its margin of error is plus-minus 3.7 percentage points Former HUD Secretary Ben Carson campaigns for Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Grace Baptist Church on January 11, 2024 in Marion, Iowa That should give DeSantis a lift in Iowa, before the contest moves on to New Hampshire, where the proportion of evangelical Christians plunges. It hasn't. Among evangelicals, Trump leads with 51% of their support, according to the influential NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll published on Saturday night. DeSantis is far behind with 22 percent. Will Rogers, a Republican operative in the state capital Des Moines, said it was clear that DeSantis had a record that evangelicals should be able to back. Yet he could not peel them away from the former president. 'Those evangelical voters that still support Donald Trump after knowing everything about the man ... they believe that he at the end of the day, he has their back, that he will fight for them,' he said. Steve Scheffler, Iowa president of the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Trump's record in office was the clincher. 'A lot of people had suspicions about him when he first ran ... because of his track record and supporting Democrats and giving money to Democrats,' he said. 'But I think two things began to change that narrative that they were supportive of Trump. Evangelicals helped Sen. Ted Cruz win the 2016 Iowa caucuses ahead of Trump. The win, and the support of evangelicals elsewhere, kept Cruz in the race until the end Bob Vander Plaats, center, an influential Iowa evangelical leader, endorsed DeSantis Florida Gov, Ron DeSantis has staked much of his campaign on success in Iowa. His track record should win him the backing of the state's evangelical voters. It hasn't 'One was when he promised that he would pick Supreme Court justices from a list that was provided to him by the Heritage Foundation [a conservative group with close links to the Republican Party]. 'And secondly, when he put Mike Pence on the on the ticket as opposed to maybe a Chris Christie.' Once in office, he appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court and moved the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Those factors are frequently cited by his supporters to explain why he is backed by evangelical voters. And then there is the idea of Trump as freedom fighter, almost like Jesus who upended religious orthodoxy and gave the world a new faith. As she waited to hear TV star Roseanne Barr set out her reasons for supporting Trump at a meeting in Cedar Rapids, Laura Steffeck said the election was about electing a commander-in-chief not a pastor. The 65-year-old business owner said her friends at church tended to agree. 'There's a lot of faults in all of us, but Jesus was anti establishment, and I think it's okay for Trump to not be a priest and be a great president,' she said. The Republican presidential candidates and their surrogates are blanketing Iowa this weekend, braving snow and frozen temperatures, with the hope of a strong performance Monday night in the Iowa caucuses. Since Iowa Democratic caucus in 1972, the gatherings have been the first opportunity for voters to have their say in the presidential race. While the Republicans and Democrats tally their caucus results differently, both are meetings that voters have to attend in-person and are held throughout the Hawkeye State. Momentum from winning the caucuses, or simply exceeding expectations, has helped propel candidates to the White House, while the results have killed many a presidential campaign. But do Iowa's voters actually predict who will become president? The Iowa caucuses will take place Monday night and have been the first nominating contest in presidential election years since 1972 - but they've rarely predicted the eventual outcome of the race Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter was the first Iowa caucus winner in the modern era to eventually win the White House. Carter was a peanut farmer who was elected Georgia's governor but had a limited national profile when he won the Iowa caucuses in 1976 The short answer is no. Since the caucuses got their modern start in 1972, they've only correctly predicted who would win the presidency three times when an incumbent wasn't on the ballot. The first time came in 1976, when a peanut farmer turned Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter won the state for the Democrats. Carter wasn't well known, but his efforts in Iowa catapulted him to the White House, where he served one term after beating incumbent Republican President Gerald Ford, who took over after President Richard Nixon resigned amid the Watergate scandal. The only time the caucuses picked a Republican president happened in 2000, when Texas Gov. George W. Bush, the son of former President George H.W. Bush, handily won the Iowa caucuses. Iowans tend to vote for more conservative candidates - like Bush - so the candidate who became the Texas governor's chief rival, Sen. John McCain, focused more of his attention on winning the New Hampshire primary, which he did. Bush and McCain battled it out in South Carolina - where the race turned particulary nasty. Bush won the first-in-the-south primary and performed better on Super Tuesday than McCain, who dropped out the morning after. Texas Gov. George W. Bush holds up a baby in Iowa in August 1999. Bush went on to win the 2000 Iowa caucuses. He won the Republican nomination over chief rival Sen. John McCain and then beat Democratic Vice President Al Gore in the general election later that year Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is captured walking around the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in August 2007. Obama beat frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the Iowa caucuses and after a tough primary battle eventually won the White House in 2008 over Sen. John McCain Then Bush went on to beat Democratic Vice President Al Gore in the general election, one of the nation's closest presidential races. In 2008 then Democratic Illinois Sen. Barack Obama jumpstarted his White House win by routing New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in Iowa. Clinton, the wife of former President Bill Clinton, had been considered the frontrunner and Obama had been trailing her in the polls in the months leading up to Iowa. The race then moved to New Hampshire, a state that Clinton won after she famously cried at a campaign stop. The Democratic race in 2008 dragged out for months, with Clinton finally dropping out of the race in June. Obama then went on to win the White House over McCain, who became the Republicans' nominee in 2008 after losing the 2000 nomination to Bush. Now President Joe Biden competed for the White House that year as well - and dropped out after his poor performance in Iowa. Overall, Iowa voters have 16 times picked candidates that didn't become commander-in-chief - and eight times chosen politicians that didn't even clinch their party's nomination. Four years ago, now Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg narrowly won the Democratic Iowa caucuses - which due to a tech malfunction weren't tabulated on caucus night. Biden, the eventual nominee and current White House occupant, came in fourth place in the Hawkeye State behind Buttigieg, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. He didn't right his campaign until South Carolina, where he easily won the primary, prompting several moderate Democratic candidates to get out of the race and clear a path for Biden to dominate Super Tuesday. Four years before that in 2016, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won the more conservative Iowa caucuses over Donald Trump, the eventual nominee and winner of the 2016 election. Trump steamrolled his opponents after winning the New Hampshire primary. Hundreds of pupils in Scotland failed to attend a single day of school last year, according to figures which paint a grim picture of children missing out entirely on education. The number of those under 16 the age at which a pupil can legally leave school who recorded zero attendance rose to a record high of more than 600. It included more than 300 Primary 1-7 children. Critics called the figures disturbing and the Commission on School Reform questioned whether Covid lockdowns had lessened societys view of the idea that schooling was compulsory. Zero attendance rates by pupils have hit a record high While the reasons for the absences vary, one senior teaching union official said they included rising violence in classrooms and cuts to education budgets. The startling numbers, disclosed today, come in the wake of analysis last month by the Programme for International Student Assessment, which reported a long-term fall in performance in Scotland in reading, maths and science. In a further alarming development, Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the Scottish Government does not hold this information when asked this month about the number of children considered to be missing from education. Instead, research and freedom of information requests to each of Scotlands 32 local authorities, by this newspaper and policy institute Reform Scotland, reveal the full extent of a shocking truancy rate. In Glasgow, 147 primary school children recorded no attendance, with another 29 not attending a single day of school at S1-S3. In South Lanarkshire, 35 children had no attendance at primary school and another 37 at S1-S3 level. Overall, at least 611 children at S3 level or younger were completely absent, with data from some areas not available. Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said the Scottish Government does not hold information on school truancy numbers Scottish Conservative education spokesman Liam Kerr said: It is extraordinary that the SNP doesnt collect data on absences when the information is clearly readily available. I have written to the Cabinet Secretary to ask her to explain why her government isnt on top of whats going on with childrens attendance. In addition to those completely absent, a record one in eight children were missing from secondaries last year. Mike Corbett, of the NASUWT teaching union, said: The decline in specialist provision, an increase in violent incidents in schools and cuts to school budgets over the past decade and more do not help parents and carers or pupils to have confidence in the education system and believe attending school every day is valuable and important. Lindsay Paterson, professor emeritus of education policy at the University of Edinburgh, said it was disturbing to know that so many children seem not to be attending school at all. He said councils need to explain why they are allowing this to happen. Reform Scotland said it was concerned that official Scottish Government data wasnt providing an accurate picture on attendance. The think tanks Commission on School Reform previously voiced alarm at the growing number of pupils who are losing school education, adding it is equally worrying that this alarming trend is being met by a lack of urgency or concern from policymakers. A Scottish Government spokesman said: Attendance is vital and ministers are willing to explore all options to make progress. That is why the Education Secretary asked Education Scotland to undertake work to better understand the current challenges which influence school attendance. A pagan is to address the Scottish parliament in a historic day for druids, witches and shamans. In a major step towards more mainstream recognition for paganism, a druid will deliver Time for Reflection in the chamber. Reverend Linda Haggerstone is set to give the four-minute address which opens the weekly business on Tuesdays. A pagan Beltane celebration in Edinburgh In doing so, Rev Haggerstone who once described how her grandmother influenced her path in life by putting out saucers of milk for the fairies will become the first pagan to give the address. With an estimated 15,000 followers in Scotland, paganism is a loose collection of faiths with a range of beliefs including druidism, shamanism and the worship of Norse gods, as well as more traditional witches who perform spells. Holyroods invitation comes two years after the Scottish Pagan Federation (SPF) first said it would like one of its representatives to lead Time for Reflection, after what it said was years of persecution. At the time, SPF presiding officer Steffy Von Scott said: Fifty years ago you could still lose your job or livelihood, have your children taken away by social services or have a brick thrown through your window, just for being pagan. 'Today we have more approved celebrants than ever and more legal pagan weddings taking place in Scotland than those carried out by the Mormon or Jewish faith communities. Rev Haggerstone will give pagan address in parliament Rev Haggerstone, 65, travelled the world experiencing different belief systems and trained to become a Buddhist nun before becoming a data analyst for the Scottish Government. She led the pagan prayer for the COP26 interfaith vigil in Glasgow in 2021. The SPF wants paganism taught in schools alongside other belief systems. MSPs already acquainted with their beliefs include Equalities Minister Emma Roddick, who wished pagans a very happy Winter Solstice. Another important event for pagans is Beltane from April 30 to May 1 which celebrates the coming of summer. Rituals include leaping fires and dancing around the Maypole. The Lord Mayor of London heads a business linked to a 'ruthless' Chinese politician accused of human rights abuses in Tibet. The Mail on Sunday last month revealed concerns over Professor Michael Mainelli's links to Beijing and his calls for a wave of Chinese nationals to be recruited into the City of London's ancient guilds. Now this newspaper has learned that Z/Yen, a consultancy Prof Mainelli founded, is sponsored by a Chinese research institute chaired by Ye Xiaowen, a hardline Communist apparatchik who for more than a decade oversaw Beijing's crackdown on followers of Tibet's exiled Dalai Lama. Ye, 73, was last year barred from entering Taiwan because of his appalling human rights record. Our revelations will fuel criticisms that Prof Mainelli figurehead of the Square Mile is 'naive' and potentially 'unfit' to help the City combat threats from Beijing. The Lord Mayor of London, Professor Michael Mainelli (Pictured) heads a business linked to a 'ruthless' Chinese politician accused of human rights abuses in Tibet MI5 has told British business China's 'covert pressure across the globe' was 'the most game-changing challenge we face'. 'The Lord Mayor should be aware that he is cooperating with a ruthless hardline party apparatchik who has played a pivotal role in extreme policies to control and eliminate religious faith in China,' said Tenzin Choekyi, from human rights campaign Tibet Watch. Z/Yen, chaired by Prof Mainelli, lists China Development Institute (CDI) among its 'platinum sponsors'. CDI's board of directors is chaired by Ye, China's head of religious affairs between 1995 and 2009, who is accused of orchestrating a series of attacks against Tibetan Buddhism. Z/Yen, a consultancy Prof Mainelli founded, is sponsored by a Chinese research institute chaired by Ye Xiaowen (Pictured), a hardline Communist apparatchik Under Ye's leadership, monks and nuns were forced to undergo 'patriotic education', while reincarnations of Tibetan religious figures must now be approved by Beijing. In 1995, senior Communist officials, including Ye, seized control of the search for Tibet's second most senior monk, the Panchen Lama. A six-year-old boy chosen by the exiled Dalai Lama was kidnapped by Chinese police and never seen again. In 2008, hundreds of Tibetans were held after protests before the Olympics. Ye is also accused of a brutal crackdown on the Falun Gong sect, calling it a 'poisonous tumour'. Last February, Taiwan said it had banned Ye from attending a commemoration ceremony on the island. It said Ye's previous visit in 2009 sparked public protests. Last night Chung Ching Kwong, analyst at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, demanded Prof Mainelli disclose how much money CDI has paid Z/Yen in sponsorship. She said: 'Ye is linked to so many human rights abuses, receiving any funding from this person is unacceptable. What kind of message does this send to the public about the image of the City of London?' The City of London Corporation said: 'The Foreign Office recently engaged with CDI, and we will continue to seek guidance from the Foreign Office on the current status of our relations with China.' Z/Yen last night said it had 'no dealings' with Ye and that Prof Mainelli is on a 'sabbatical' from the consultancy during his year as Lord Mayor. It added: 'Z/Yen has collaborated with CDI for many years in global financial centres research, as it has with other cities and institutes. Z/Yen has had no dealings with Ye Xiaowen.' The SNP is set to lose more than half of its MPs in the General Election according to a poll that heaps misery on embattled First Minister Humza Yousaf. The first survey of Scottish voting intentions in what is likely to be an election year shows Nationalist support down 10 percentage points from the 2019 election which could cost the party 24 seats. Experts predict a heavy swing to Labour would see the SNP lose a significant number of MPs, given the amount of marginal constituencies it won five years ago. Humza Yousaf is under mounting pressure following the poll results In a sign of the partys declining support, the survey puts the SNP and Labour level on 35 per cent each. The poll blow follows an admission by Mr Yousaf that the SNPs hopes of splitting up the UK will go backwards if the party suffers losses at the election. He also faced criticism last week for premature electioneering by appealing to voters before the election has even been declared. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak must hold the vote no later than January 28, 2025, although he has recently said he is working on the assumption that he will go to the country in the second half of this year. In 2019, the SNP won 45 per cent of the votes in Scotland to take 48 seats, with the Tories on 25 per cent which earned them six MPs. Labour had 19 per cent but only picked up a single Scottish seat due to the first past the post system which saw them edged out by the SNP in many constituencies. Labour won a seat off the SNP at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election last year while the Nats are now down to 43 MPs after two defections to the Alba Party and one to the Conservatives along with the decision of Angus MacNeil to sit as an independent at Westminster. The new poll, conducted by research firm Redfield and Wilton Strategies, shows the SNP and Labour tied on 35 per cent with the Tories on 17 per cent followed by the Lib Dems on 9 per cent. Experts said this could result in the SNP plummeting to 19 seats, with Labour winning 27. Scottish Labour leader Jackie Baillie has welcomed the poll that shows Labour could gain 27 seats While the Conservatives have dipped to 17 per cent, that could still be enough for them to keep their seats due to how their votes are distributed across the country. The survey also found that around two-thirds (65 per cent) of voters cite the economy as one of the three most important issues that would determine how they would vote, ahead of the NHS (59 per cent) and immigration (27 per cent). Less than a fifth (17 per cent) picked independence as one of the three issues that would most determine their vote. The poll sought opinions from a sample of 1,040 voters in Scotland. Polling expert Mark Diffley, of the Diffley Partnership, said: If the results were replicated at a General Election, it is likely Labour would overtake the SNP in Westminster seats, winning around 27 compared with 19 for the SNP. Because there are so many tight Labour-SNP marginals, particularly in the Central Belt, if the Labour vote goes up and the SNP vote goes down, then a whole group of seats will fall to Labour. 'In 2019, Labour got 19 per cent and the SNP 45 per cent and this poll suggests the SNP will fall by 10 percentage points and Labour will gain about 16 percentage points, so this is quite a big swing. Clearly, a swing of this size suggests that many SNP seats, those with small majorities, could be at risk of falling to Labour. What it certainly implies is that the SNP loses a lot of seats. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie welcomed the poll and said: More and more people are turning to Scottish Labour to deliver the change Scotland needs. This is going to be a year of change across the UK and Scotland can lead the way in delivering it. The Scottish Conservatives said: Its clear voters are deserting the scandal-ridden SNP and their independence obsession. Humza Yousaf is failing to address the real priorities of ordinary Scots who want their government to focus on our economy and fixing the NHS rather than another divisive referendum. Lib Dem MSP Willie Rennie criticised Mr Yousafs electioneering, stating: His premature move is not going to work because the SNP cannot escape their terrible record on the NHS, education and the environment. Last week Mr Yousaf admitted that if his party fares badly at the General Election then it will derail its plans to break up the UK. He said: If the message in Scotland is that Scotland votes for Labour MPs... then of course that will take our independence backwards. Nationalist MP Drew Hendry yesterday said: A strong team of SNP MPs is essential to stand up for Scotlands interests and make Scotlands voice heard. Israel has released a list of Hamas commanders killed, captured and in hiding since embarking on its military campaign in Gaza last October. A diagram shared by Mossad and ISA (Shin Bet) of 'Hamas' command structure for terrorism abroad' showed four top targets had been killed and six arrested to date. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas' political bureau and West Bank operations, was the most high-profile target, killed in a drone strike in Beirut earlier this month. Azzam al-Aqra, a leading commander of the Qassam Brigades' military operations outside Gaza, was also identified among five killed in the strike. A statement said Hamas was 'working to advance attacks against targets in the Middle East, Africa and Europe under the command of senior organization leaders'. 'Hamas draws inspiration from the terrorist activity of the Iranian regime, and like it, aspires to attack Israeli, Jewish and Western targets at any price,' it went on. 'The Mossad, the ISA and the IDF, in conjunction with the international security and enforcement bodies, will continue their efforts to thwart the terrorist intentions of Hamas and all terrorist organizations, and to settle accounts with them everywhere in the world, on behalf of the security of the State of Israel and the Jewish people.' Saleh al-Arouri (left), killed in an attack in Beirut in January, and Khalil al Kharraz (right), killed also in Lebanon in November Samir Fandi, head of operations of Hamas' armed wing in Lebanon (left) and Azzam al-Aqra, a leading commander outside of Gaza Samir Fandi, the operations officer in the military wing of Hamas in southern Lebanon, was also reportedly killed in Beirut in January. Also listed was Khalil al Kharraz, killed in an Israeli attack in Lebanon in November. Israel has pounded the Palestinian enclave with artillery for months, supported by a large ground force, in retaliation to Hamas' October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians. As well as deposing Hamas' senior commanders, the IDF aims to secure the release of the remaining hostages still held in Gaza. Earlier today, army chief Herzi Halevi said in a statement 'increased military pressure' was the only way to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since the assault. 'We do not forget and we will not forget, and we will continue to remind even those who try to deny it. We are fighting for our right to live here in safety,' he said in a televised statement. 'Tomorrow we will mark a hundred days since the beginning of the war. A hundred days in which the hostages are still held in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists,' Halevi said. 'We are operating by all means, most of them covertly, in order to return them and we will continue to do so until we return them all.' Israel has also clashed with Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters to the north, and has intercepted ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels in Yemen. Further afield, police in Europe have claimed to have uncovered alleged terrorist plots organised by Hamas since October 7. German police arrested three suspected members of Hamas in Berlin in December, accused of preparing an attack against Jewish targets in Europe. The three men, along with another suspect arrested in the Netherlands, were said to have begun preparing a weapons cache in the German capital where arms would be 'kept in a state of readiness in view of potential terrorist attacks against Jewish institutions in Europe,' German federal prosecutors said in a statement. Three men were also arrested in Denmark, suspected of plotting a terror attack in Europe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement at the time that Danish security forces had 'thwarted an attack, the goal of which was to kill innocent civilians on European soil.' Danish police did not go into details about the suspects or give any indication as to the possible target of the alleged plot. 'It was a group that was planning an act of terror,' Flemming Drejer, head of operations at the PET intelligence service, told a news conference. Anti-war activists march to the White House during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking to cease fire in Gaza, at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Saturday, January 13, 2024 People are seen holding a placard as a group of activists protest Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip and call for a ceasefire in Tel Aviv, Israel on January 13, 2024 Activists demonstrate against Israel's war in Gaza, to ask for a ceasefire, an end to the occupation and the release of all Palestinian detainees in Israel prisons on January 13, in Rome Protests have continued to mount worldwide as demonstrators call for a ceasefire. In Tel Aviv, Israel protestors were seen holding placards and calling for an end to hostilities in Gaza. While only 1.8 per cent say the bombing is too excessive, many continue to protest the government's approach to ensuring the safe return of hostages. In London, Washington and Rome, hundreds of thousands marched in solidarity with Gaza. Some also held signs and sang chants in support of the Houthis in Yemen, following the US-led coalition airstrikes over the last two days. Earlier today, Houthi media shared pictures of rebels training in mock residential areas emblazoned with the Star of David, threatening retaliation. Birmingham teenagers were caught in crossfire of feud between two gangs It was an horrific drive-by shooting that shocked Britain and threw a spotlight on two warring gangs terrorising Birmingham. At around 4am on January 2, 2003, best friends Letisha Shakespeare, 17, and Charlene Ellis, 18, were gunned down in a hail of bullets outside a New Year party. The two innocent teenagers were caught in the crossfire of an escalating feud between two rival factions: the Burger Bar Boys and the Johnson Crew. Named after cafes where black youths met in the late 1980s, the gangs initially formed as a response to far-Right activity in Birmingham. But as such extremism receded in the 1990s, they turned to the lucrative trade in crack cocaine and heroin, fighting off and displacing the city's ruthless Jamaican-born Yardie gangsters. Best friends Letisha Shakespeare, 17, (right) and Charlene Ellis, 18, (second from left) were gunned down in a hail of bullets outside a New Year party in Birmingham, in 2003 Separated by the A34, the two factions became notorious for bloody turf wars, with rival gang members using guns and appalling violence to settle scores. The Burgers, whose territory included Handsworth and Smethwick, were said to be the richer and more ruthless, while the Johnson Crew, based in Aston and Lozells, had more members. Charlene and Letisha were leaving a party at a hairdressing salon in Aston when four members of the Burger Bar Boys pulled up in a car and opened fire on a crowd with a MAC-10 machine gun and two automatic 9mm pistols. Their intended target was a member of the Johnson Crew who had been provoking them earlier on stage at a nightclub. Two other young women, Charlene's twin sister, Sophie, and Cheryl Shaw, 17, were wounded. The shooting shocked the country, with thousands flocking to a concert at Villa Park in memory of the murdered teenagers. It also prompted a police crackdown. Later that year undercover officer Neil Woods infiltrated the Burger Bar Boys in Northampton, where they had expanded their drugs operation. Speaking to the MoS last night, Mr Woods said the operation caught 96 people but had no impact on the supply of drugs. 'We managed to interrupt the drug supply in Northampton for a full two hours,' he said: 'Another gang took up the opportunity. 'Violence came afterwards, as always, and the market stayed the same.' Another outbreak of gang violence in 2015 and 2016, with 20 firearm offences, led to a 'landmark' legal injunction with 18 suspects banned from areas of Birmingham and from making rap videos. They included Lawrence Morgan, whose deportation was foiled by the passenger revolt, and his friend Naasir Francis, killed in a 2020 shootout. A multitude of street gangs has today replaced the two crews, including Armed Response, a splinter group of the Burger Bar, and 'GMG' (Guns and Money Gang), aligned with the Johnsons. Another outbreak of gang violence in 2015 and 2016, with 20 firearm offences, led to a 'landmark' legal injunction with 18 suspects banned from areas of Birmingham and from making rap videos, including Lawrence Morgan A photograph of the gun carried by Lawrence Morgan through Birmingham city centre in 2016 Some senior members of the original gangs, however, still exert huge influence and are said to spread fear and intimidation. 'They may well be in their mid-fifties but they are still players,' said one well-connected source. Less that one week after Emma Stone won a prestigious Golden Globe Award, the Hollywood actress has decided to put her Los Angeles home on the market for a cool $3.995 million. The home was bought by Stone in 2019 for $2.3 million meaning the actor will be far from a Poor Thing should the property find a buyer. Nestled in the picturesque Comstock Hills, a suburban enclave within the Westwood neighborhood of the city, the 3,276-square-foot home is not your average celebrity compound. The property appears to exude Stone's distinctive touch and sees her embracing a Spanish style throughout the home, combined with splashes of color and captivating patterns from the wallpaper to the ceilings. Emma Stone has listed her LA home for sale at an impressive $3.995 million in Comstock Hills, a suburban area within the Westwood neighborhood. Pictured, the grassy front yard Stone has put her home on sale less that one week after winning a prestigious Golden Globe award. She is pictured at the AFI Awards on Friday night in LA The home underwent renovation following its purchase in 2019. Stone kept the exposed beamed ceilings The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home was built in 1926 and features vaulted, double-height ceilings in the kitchen Stone, 35, who owns properties in Austin, Texas, and an apartment in New York City, had been using the home while working in LA and living there with her husband, writer-director Dave McCrary, 38, and their daughter Louise, who is almost three. She carried out some significant renovations after purchasing the home five years ago, expanding the kitchen and adding a guest house. Even then she made a conscious choice to preserve the home's original architectural details including a charming exposed beamed ceiling and a tiled courtyard that adds a touch of old-world charm to the residence. When it comes to celebrity real estate, opulence can often takes center stage, but Stone's decision to maintain the authenticity of her home's design is a refreshing departure. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom home was built in 1926 and features vaulted, double-height ceilings in the kitchen and a grassy front yard outside. Stone's decision to maintain the authenticity of her home's design is a refreshing departure from the usual celebrity homes that can appear sterile The property appears to exude Stone's distinctive touch with her embracing a Spanish style throughout the home, combined with splashes of color and captivating patterns The home, which was built in 1926 has kept its unique style more almost a century on The Academy Award winner chose to preserve the original architectural features a tiled courtyard The plot comes complete with a newly constructed separate guest house that has a living room, kitchen and bedroom suite with laundry. The listing by Sotheby's suggests the guest structure could also be set up as a home office. Listing agent Eric Lavey of Sotheby's International Realty believes the house will not be on the market for long. 'The sub-$5 million category in L.A., in in-demand locations, is one of the more brisk markets,' he told the WSJ. This residence at once appears to be more of a canvas reflecting Stone's personal style and artistic sensibilities in the heart of Los Angeles. Last year, Stone sold a mid-century house in Malibu for around $4.4 million. Emma Stone (pictured) plays Bella, an adult but simple-minded woman living in the care of a distinguished Scottish surgeon The actress has been booked and busy following the huge success of her performance on Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film Poor Things The actress has been booked and busy following the huge success of her performance on Yorgos Lanthimos' latest film Poor Things - which she also produced. Her acclaimed role as Bella Baxter got her a Desert Palm Achievement award at the 35th Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards earlier last week as well as Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Motion Picture at Golden Globes. Now she is one of the best bets to win Best Actress Award at the upcoming Oscars - which will take place on March 10 - battling it all out with Lily Gladstone, Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan. Emma currently has 11/8, according to The Scotsman, Carey Mulligan has 13/2 for her portrayal of Felicia Montealegre in Maestro. Margot Robbie has 14/1 odds for her acclaimed Barbie performance, while Greta Live has 18/1 for her role in romantic drama Past Lives. Queenslanders have been warned to prepare for the potential of flash flooding as a monsoon trough sweeps across the state's far north, bringing a new wave of heavy rain to the already drenched ground. The Bureau of Meteorology warned already flood-stricken areas in the state's north could be lashed with further daily totals between 50 to 100mm with monsoon trough is likely to bring further weather chaos later this week. 'More widespread heavy rainfall is likely to develop later in the weekend as the monsoon strengthens,' the BoM warned. 'Significant river, creek, and stream rises are likely with heavy rainfall, with possible minor to major flooding across the Flood Watch area during the next week.' Listen up, Far North Queensland! Slow moving, severe storms are likely to produce heavy rainfall overnight in parts of the far north, including Atherton, Millaa Millaa, Ravenshoe and Mount Garnet. Flash flooding is a risk in these areas, so, if you are impacted by heavy pic.twitter.com/uYiCAO2Csk Qld Fire & Emergency (@QldFES) January 13, 2024 Queenslanders have been warned to prepare for the potential of flash flooding as a monsoon trough sweeps across the state's far north, bringing a new wave of heavy rain to the already drenched ground The Bureau of Meteorology warned already flood-stricken areas in the state's north could be lashed with further daily totals between 50 to 100mm with monsoon trough is likely to bring further weather chaos later this week A flood watch is also in place in the Northern Territory's north Western, with concerns catchments could quickly be overrun, with further heavy downpours forecast for later this week. Although the trough is not expected to evolve into a tropical cyclone, daily rainfalls of 50 to 150mm, plus isolated heavier rains could leave to major flooding events over the next coming days. It comes as a low pressure system is forecast to develop southwest of Darwin throughout Sunday, leading to storms, plus heavy rain and winds. The Bureau warned that 'many roads, and possibly primary and secondary highways may be affected,' with the danger that some communities and homesteads could become isolated due to rising water levels. Residents have been urged to check road conditions before travelling, and to never drive into flood waters. Meanwhile, inland parts of South Australia and Western Australia have been urged to brace for a heatwave. Large parts of #WA are forecast to have well above average summer temperatures today. Heatwave Warnings are in place for large parts of the state, meaning today is not an isolated hot day. Latest: https://t.co/G0FGJFlpQK pic.twitter.com/FUz8nUjAj6 Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) January 13, 2024 A flood watch is also in place in the Northern Territory's north Western, with concerns catchments could quickly be overrun, with further heavy downpours forecast for later this week In Western Australia, maximum temperatures could soar into the mid-forties across of the north of the state, and into the mid-thirties across the far south. Severe heatwave conditions are expected to stretch into the week ahead, with key areas of concern including the Perth metro area, as well as Bunbury, Katanning, Meekatharra, Mount Magnet, Manjimup, Margaret River, Narrogin, Northam, and Paraburdoo. A severe heatwave warning is also in place for the North West Pastoral District in South Australia. Temperatures could soar into the forties across the APY Lands and Oak Valley, with the hot conditions forecasted to last until Monday. Residents of a ritzy suburb have been left outraged over plans to build a KFC on their doorstep - a month after news a Mexican restaurant was planned for their area. Residents in Mosman, on Sydney's lower north shore, are upset a KFC is opening a few suburbs away from them in North Sydney on 67-69 Mount Street. Livid locals took to Facebook to share their concerns about all aspects of the takeaway chain's store, including signage and the quality of its food. Late in 2023 the neighbourhood was appalled Guzman Y Gomez lodged an application with Mosman Council to open a 24-hour store on Military Road. In many comments on social media that have since been removed, residents complained about KFC changing the area. On the Living Mosman Facebook page people shared they were concerned about all aspects of the takeaway chain's store, including signage and quality of food Residents in Mosman on Sydney 's Lower North Shore are upset a KFC is opening a few suburbs away from them in North Sydney on 67-69 Mount Street The lower north shore is known for its pricey boutiques, restaurants and cafes. The median home price is $2.875m, according to Domain. The neighbourhood also includes the suburb of Kirribilli where the Prime Minster's Sydney residence is located. 'Being overrun with EzyMarts is probably next,' one wrote. Incredibly, one resident implied the chain will attract undesirable people to the area. 'The mark of a truly international city is late night venues offering quality food and/or fine dining,' they said. 'Guess we just dont cut the mustard, which is sad. These fast food joints attract the flotsam [rejects] of society, particularly late at night.' One sarcastically wrote it is the beginning of the demise of the area. 'Government should buy some houses and put in housing commission flats as well,' they said. Other people were quick to point out the attitude of the residents. 'Lol some people are so entitled,' they wrote. Many were excited about the possible arrival of the chain, pleased they will have somewhere to go on their way home after a late night out. If approved, the KFC will be in a two-storey dual sandstone building constructed in 1855. The venue has been sitting empty for years after Hungry Jacks vacated the premises during Covid. An application was lodged with North Sydney Council in late September 2023 asking permission to install additional signage above what heritage conservation allows. The application for the KFC is where Hungry Jacks had been operating, but closed during COVID Standard practice is to limit signs to one per 'heritage item' but KFC's application said this had not been the case in the past as Hungry Jacks had multiple signs. A final decision has not been made, although several years ago plans to open a McDonald's in a nearby street was strongly opposed and never progressed. The upmarket lower north shore does not have many takeaway chains, much to the dismay of many locals who have to travel or get deliveries from other areas. Guzman Y Gomez's development proposal was for a vacant retail space between a chemist and a Lululemon shop and sat within a Heritage Conservation Area. At the time, residents submitted their distaste to their council. 'As a Mosman resident I strongly oppose 24-hour trading of any sort in Mosman village 6am to 10pm is appropriate but 24 hours is not it is inappropriate for our community,' one wrote. '60 per cent of reviews on TripAdvisor rate this company as 2-star or less out of 5. There must be a reason,' another said. Facebook comments were divided but residents who expressed their opposition didn't mince their words. 'The reason people pay $5million to $10 million to live in Mosman and Balmoral is NOT to attract those [people] looking for 24-hour eateries,' one wrote. Many residents were strongly opposed to the proposed 24-hour Guzman Y Gomez chain opening in a Heritage Conservation Area Donald Trump is on course for a record-breaking win in the Iowa caucuses, according to the final poll before decision day, which forecasts he will take 48 percent of the vote. However, the NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows that it is Nikki Haley who continues her rise, cutting slightly into Trump's lead and giving her a clear second place with 20 percent. That leaves Florida governor Ron DeSantis sinking. He is in third place with 16 percent, in a state where he needs a strong second place to keep his stuttering campaign on track. The state is the first in the nation to pick its preferred candidate, and can make or break campaigns. On Saturday evening, Ann Selzer, the state's best-known and most-accurate pollster, released her much-anticipated final poll before caucus day. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted Jan. 7-12 with 705 likely Republican caucus goers. Its margin of error is plus-minus 3.7 percentage points Donald Trump has been crushing his opponents in Iowa polls. But things get real on Monday evening at 7pm when Republicans caucus to pick their favored candidate. The final poll before caucus puts him on 48 percent support - three points less than the same poll in December Her poll in December had Trump with 51 percent, DeSantis on 19 percent, and Haley on 16 percent. It means the former president has slipped slightly. But he is still on course to make history. If his lead holds on Monday it will be the biggest ever win for a nonincumbent in Iowa, beating Bob Dole's 13-point win in 1988. Insiders say their only worry is complacency. 'Our grassroots supporters have put us in position to win, and now we have to show up to caucus for President Trump on Monday and get the job done,' said Trump, after the poll was released. 'We have to show up.' Meanwhile it is Haley, former governor of South Carolina, who is building momentum as the candidates get to the business end of the race, while DeSantis struggles to make headway. 'This is a tough poll for Gov. DeSantis, who has bet the house on Iowa,' said Jimmy Centers, a Republican strategist who is unaligned in this race. 'The good news is that many Iowans are leaving the door open to changing their minds, or haven't settled on a candidate yet. 'But, voters generally like aligning with a winner, or a candidate on the rise - neither of which he appears to be.' With the race moving next to New Hampshire, and its more moderate Republican Party, a poor result in Iowa could deal a fatal blow to his entire campaign. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are locked in battle for second place in Iowa Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy is on eight percent DeSantis has a big ground game. It will be put to the test on Monday. Eli Weltman of Never Back Down, an independent group backing DeSantis, talks to a voter in Marion on Wednesday EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Meet the DeSantis supporter who has knocked on more than 20,000 doors in Iowa Advertisement And it is not all positive news for Haley. She fared less well in other parts of the poll, with just nine percent of her support saying they were 'extremely enthusiastic' about her. 'There is underlying weakness here,' said Selzer, who conducted the poll. 'If turnout is low, it seems to me that a disproportionate share of her supporters might stay at home.' Much of her support is also drawn from independents and Democrats, who will have to register as Republicans if they are to have a say in Monday's caucuses. Rabble rousing tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy comes fourth with eight percent. Trump lost Iowa in 2016 to Ted Cruz, who was better able to court the state's big evangelical vote. This time around, the Trump campaign has left nothing to chance, building out a big ground game to get the vote out on Monday, and hitting rivals hard. However, a string of polls that put him 30 points ahead of his nearest rivals mean that anything short of a record-breaking win will be seen as a poor result and give DeSantis and Haley encouragement to push on. For his part, DeSantis has gambled much of his campaign resources on Iowa. He knows that New Hampshire, the next state to make its decision, is less fertile ground for his conservative, anti-woke message. In contrast, Haley is polling well in the Granite State and can afford a modest showing in Iowa. They returned to campaign events Saturday, battling frigid weather to reach Republicans who have 48 hours to make up their minds. Daily Mail pollster James Johnson, of J.L. Partners, pointed out the weakness in Haley's data Strong winds sent snow blasting across Iowa on Saturday, as temperatures dropped below zero. A truck is engulfed by snow on US Highway 20 near Sac City Haley put in appearance in the college town of Iowa City, one of the state's most Democratic areas. It is in keeping with her efforts to win over independents and moderates. Both challengers finished the day with events in the Mississippi River town of Davenport, one of the more Republican towns in the east of the state. In contrast, Trump abandoned plans for two rallies and instead called in to 'tele-rallies.' DeSantis ridiculed his strategy. We're in, we're showing up. Donald Trump has phoned it in. Hes going to be in Mar-a-Lago. Its probably 75 degrees there,' he told supporters in Council Bluffs, where the outside temperature was -5F. The bitter weather could throw another twist into a notoriously hard-to-predict system. Campaigns will have to work even harder to make sure they get their supporters to Monday's caucuses. A comedian tried to sarcastically present Ron DeSantis with a 'participation trophy' when crashing his campaign stop in Atlantic, Iowa as the Florida governor makes a final push before the caucuses on January 15. Gov. DeSantis has faced a barrage of protesters, activists and hecklers throughout his final Iowa swing in the midst of a blizzard. But the weather and protesters aren't stopping DeSantis from going forward with his campaign even after candidates were forced to cancel events earlier in the week due to inclement weather with sub-zero temperatures and white-out conditions. DeSantis, in remarks in West Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday told voters he is fed-up with Donald Trump and other Republicans losing and caving to Democrats in a vow to deliver on promises if elected president. Earlier on Saturday, a heckler interrupted DeSantis' remarks to members of the media alongside wife Casey DeSantis, to try and hand a trophy to the 2024 hopeful in a quip at his predicted demise on Monday. 'Real quick, before we get started thank you, everyone,' the heckler, political comedian Davram Stiefle, said with authority while interrupting Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and wife Casey dismiss political comedian Davram Stiefle as he interrupted a press conference to present the 2024 hopeful with a 'participation trophy' at a campaign stop in Atlantic, Iowa on Saturday Members of DeSantis' security team escorted Stiefler as he tried to hand the trophy to DeSantis Atlantic, Iowa a man came up to DeSantis at his town hall & tried to hand him a participation trophy. He said DeSantis he probably wont win the election. He also called DeSantis our favorite snowflake. pic.twitter.com/fTEY9Y4kM9 Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) January 13, 2024 'Governor DeSantis, I want to present to you this participation trophy,' the heckler continued, to some laughs from even Casey and Ron. He continued: 'Now, you're probably not going to win the election, right? But we're proud of you for trying. There you go.' At this point, security began to get involved as DeSantis put a hand on the man's shoulder and said: 'I don't need a participation trophy. Sorry, buddy.' 'He's special, he's unique, and he's our little snowflake,' the heckler said as he was escorted out of the room, attempting to hand over the trophy to DeSantis with: 'Here you go, did you want the award?' The Florida First couple was not amused with the interruptions. In West Des Moines about an hour-and-a-half away from the Atlantic scene, a mascot wearing a carrot suit with a PETA handler was attempting to get into the event for DeSantis, but they were turned away at the door. On Thursday, DeSantis also faced three separate outbursts from environmental activists at a single event as they protested his appearance in Iowa and his proposed energy policies. Arriving about an hour late to his West Des Moines event on Thursday in the dismal winter weather, DeSantis made one of his final pleas to Iowa Republicans to caucus for him on Monday. Shortly after the heckler incident, DeSantis stopped at Never Back Down's Iowa headquarters where he made one of the final pleas to voters, saying he's 'sick' of Donald Trump losing to Democrats. Pictured: Ron and Casey DeSantis with son Mason, five, at a stop in West Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday 'I'm sick of Republicans basically caving on everything to the Democrats,' DeSantis lamented in his Saturday afternoon remarks. 'These guys get beat by the Democrats time and time again. They got a majority in the House and [Rep.] Chip [Roy] and some of these other guys are fighting, but they're doing budget deals that cave to the Democrats.' 'I'm sick of the Democrats winning,' he continued. 'I'm sick of the fact that the Democrats beat Donald Trump on the budget time and time again. And they added so much to the debt. I'm sick of the fact that the Democrats beat him on the border wall and we did not get a border wall over four years, like we were promised.' 'We need to win the election, of course,' the governor said, 'but winning just the election, that just gives you the ticket to the dance. You've got to actually convert on all these things. Because if you get in there and you don't follow through on these promises, yeah, that'll be slowing the decline, maybe you'll manage the decline a little bit better than the Democrats. That doesn't cut it.' 'We need to reverse the decline, and you need to deliver on all these things. So we have a chance on Monday night.' A person in a carrot suit with PETA braved the -1-degree weather to protest outside the DeSantis event in West Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday. They were turned away at the door DeSantis says Iowans need to turn up to caucus, claiming that the weather might keep Trump supporters away because they assume he will win without their backing. 'It's going to be cold. It's not going to be pleasant,' the Florida governor, used to Sunshine and warm weather, said to voters in Iowa. 'But if you're willing to brave the elements then as president I'll be fighting for you for the next eight years.' Weather in Des Moines, Iowa and across the state are reaching bone-chilling levels with the temperatures expected to drop to -20 the day of the caucuses on Monday with wind chills making the 'feels like' temperature even lower. Different services have warned Iowans from being outside too long, claiming that just 5-10 minutes in the weather could result in frostbite or hypothermia. Congressional leaders have agreed on a short-term spending deal that will avoid another government shutdown until March. The agreement will allow funding through to March 1 and March 8 and will allow for more time to craft longer-term, agency specific spending bills, according to a source familiar with the situation. It comes are Republican hardliners threatened to derail talks ahead of the first funding deadline of January 19. House Speaker Mike Johnson previously agreed a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that would fund the government in fiscal year 2024 at a $1.6 trillion level. The stopgap bill will now have to pass both the House and Senate before midnight on January 19 to avoid a partial government shutdown. Congressional leaders have agreed on a short-term spending deal that will avoid another government shutdown until March House Speaker Mike Johnson (pictured) previously agreed a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that would fund the government in fiscal year 2024 at a $1.6 trillion level The short-term bill, which is known as a continuing resolution, will run to March 1 for some federal agencies whose approved funds are set to run out Friday and extend the remainder of government operations to March 8. House speaker Johnson will reportedly hold a call with fellow House Republicans on Sunday at 8pm to speak about spending negotiations. He has been under pressure from his hard-right flank in recent days to drop a recent bipartisan spending deal with Senate Democrats. The bill would need Democratic support to pass the narrowly divided House. Johnson insisted Friday that he is sticking with the deal he struck with Senate Majority Leader Schumer, despite pressure from some conservatives to renegotiate. Moderates in the party had urged him to stay the course. 'Our top-line agreement remains,' Johnson said Friday, referring to the budget accord reached on January 7. 'We are getting our next steps together, and we are working towards a robust appropriations process.' Johnson prompted the ire of conservatives when he worked out a deal with Senate Majority Leader Schumer that would fund the government in fiscal year 2024 at a $1.6 trillion level. Johnson prompted the ire of conservatives when he worked out a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) that would fund the government in fiscal year 2024 at a $1.6 trillion level Hardline Freedom Caucus Republicans decried the deal that they said would spend too much and did not include border security. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., a Freedom Caucus member who got into a heated conversation with Johnson on the House floor, suggested that he'd gotten rolled by Schumer with the deal. 'My only lament for the speaker is that he has actually fallen into the trap of being up against a deadline and playing this game on Chuck Schumer's terms,' he told reporters, adding that his 'confidence is waning' in the speaker. Some floated the idea of firing Johnson with a motion to vacate, the new speaker spent Thursday meeting with the disgruntled hardliners. Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., chair of the Freedom Caucus, said there 'was 100% consensus in the room with everyone who was meeting with the speaker that the deal is terrible for the country.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said filing a motion to vacate 'could be something' if Johnson continues to cut deals with Democrats, or passes more funding to Ukraine. Hardline Freedom Caucus Republicans decried the deal that they said would spend too much and did not include border security 'If those deals are going to be made, then absolutely that's on the table.' Now, some have turned their fight to attaching border security to the must-pass spending deal - and aren't afraid to shut down the government to do so. Attaching border provisions would further risk throwing the government into turmoil. Moderate Republicans, meanwhile, are frustrated with their right-wing colleagues and urge Johnson to stick to the deal he made. 'The regular order crowd, those who don't like drama and dumpster fires, our concern is that maybe you get to see more mob rule,' one Republican member said. 'Their temperatures are getting up pretty high,' the member added. 'They hope Speaker Johnson upset the applecart too much. the reality is if you cut a deal you cut a deal. It's gonna be pretty tough to wiggle out of that now.' 'A deal's a deal and it's already been made and we've got to stick with it,' Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick R-Pa., told DailyMail.com. 'It's already been announced.' 'It seems like when you make a deal, you make a deal,' added Rep. Lori Chavez-Deremer, R-Wash. The situation called to mind the spending saga under Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who ultimately gave up on working with hardline Republicans and put a negotiated continuing resolution (CR) on the floor. He lost his job for backing the CR as his own GOP colleagues voted to boot him from the speakership in October. 'This is like a movie repeating itself,' Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., said. 'The frustrating thing is that the end of the day is that whatever the deal is, they'll probably vote against it anyway.' Members have also grown frustrated with the motion to vacate threats. 'I don't scream if I'm in the operating room and don't have the right equipment, I make it work,' said Rep. Greg Murphy, R-N.C., a former surgeon. The Foreign Secretary today warned the Houthi rebels in Yemen that Britain was prepared to carry out future strikes on Houthi targets if their missiles continued to threaten the free flow of trade in the Red Sea. Lord Cameron, writing in The Telegraph, said the UK 'will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions'. The former Prime Minister warned that if the Houthis are able to deter traffic from passing through the Bab el-Mandab Strait or the Red Sea, 'prices will go up in Britain and across the globe'. Britain joined the United States and allies in conducting overnight airstrikes on Yemen, killing five and injuring six, in the early hours of Friday morning after weeks of Houthi attacks on merchant trade ships in the region. The United States subsequently carried out more attacks later Friday and on Saturday. Amid fears of spiralling tensions, US President Joe Biden told reporters today: 'We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour along with our allies.' The Houthi militia threatened a 'strong and effective response' after the United States carried out its strike on Saturday, however, and shared photos of troops carrying out drills in mock residential areas emblazoned with the Star of David, and standing on American flags. Cameron wrote in The Telegraph that Britain would not allow Houthi attacks to go unchecked Houthi fighters attend the funeral procession of rebel fighters who were killed in fighting with forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government, in Sanaa, on November 24, 2021 The first moments the raids were launched on the Yemeni capital of Sana'a 'Every relevant consideration was carefully weighed. Every minister forensically quizzed that their department had done all the necessary work,' Lord Cameron wrote on the decision to send British planes over Yemen from a RAF base on Cyprus. 'In the end, the Cabinet agreed we had no choice but to act. But why? The freedom of navigation really matters.' He noted that there have been 26 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since November 19, mounted by Hamas-aligned Houthi rebels against shipping they deem 'Israeli-linked'. A number of major operators responded by rerouting trade routes, pushing up prices, or cancelling operations altogether. The additional costs would likely be pushed onto the consumer, exacerbating existing cost of living crises. Lord Cameron's comments echoed those of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said after the Friday morning attacks: 'In recent months, the Houthi militia have carried out a series of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, threatening UK and other international ships, causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices.' 'Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week,' he added. 'We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.' Defence Secretary Grant Shapps then took aim at Iran, warning Tehran to stop encouraging Yemeni Houthi rebels to intervene in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Shapps urged Iran's leaders to tell the Houthis to 'cease and desist'. He said the world is 'running out of patience' and that a 'limit has been truly crossed' after weeks of sustained missile attacks targeting trade vessels. 'We can't have thugs, essentially, harassing international shipping and running the risks. 'Its only a matter of time before there are deaths of entirely innocent people [who are] completely disconnected to whats going on in the Israel-Gaza conflict.' An unverified image appeared to show the result and British and US airstrikes in Yemen Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond pictured on January 10 leaving Gibraltar to head towards the Gulf to protect shipping from Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the area Yemen was hit by a number of coalition strikes on Friday following attacks on trade ships Protests erupted across Yemen following the coalition strikes, with demonstrators sympathetic to the Yemeni opposition movement seen wielding Kalashnikov-style rifles and burning flags of Israel and the United States in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa. READ MORE: Houthi strike troops seen conducting armed drills in Israeli themed terrain complete with Star of David tents in wake of UK and US airstrikes in Yemen Advertisement In Britain, too, protestors gathered in their thousands to call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday. Some were heard chanting against the UK's involvement in the airstrikes against Yemen. Protestors marched above all in solidarity with Gaza, and alongside demonstrators in 30 countries, to call for a ceasefire as civilian casualties reach staggering highs. The killing of civilians in Gaza, mostly in Israeli airstrikes on the beleaguered enclave, is at a scale unprecedented in recent history, monitoring groups said earlier this week. Oxfam said the daily death toll of Palestinians was more than in any major conflict of the century. Calls for a ceasefire also continue to mount in Israel, though a minority view, as Israelis seek the safe return of hostages from within Gaza. Some 100 people of the estimated 240 taken into Gaza on October 7 were returned as part of a series of deals organised in late November. Since then, talks of ceasefire have slowed. Experts told MailOnline Hamas had changed its demands as pressure mounted on Israel to de-escalate. Hamas is 'realising the IDF is not making the progress that they thought they were making and the IDF is realising that this military solution is going to take years,' Dr Andreas Krieg said. 'But there is no stomach in the US or domestically to keep this going at the current rate so something has got to give.' Supporters of the Houthi movement rally to denounce air strikes launched by the U.S. and Britain on Houthi targets, in Sanaa, Yemen, on Friday Houthi fighters brandish their weapons during a protest following US and British strikes Anti-war activists march to the White House during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking to cease fire in Gaza, at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Saturday, January 13, 2024 Still, publicly, Israel shows no willingness to scale back its operations in Gaza. Earlier today, army chief Herzi Halevi said in a statement 'increased military pressure' was the only way to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since the assault. 'We do not forget and we will not forget, and we will continue to remind even those who try to deny it. We are fighting for our right to live here in safety,' he said in a televised statement. 'Tomorrow we will mark a hundred days since the beginning of the war. A hundred days in which the hostages are still held in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists,' Halevi said. 'We are operating by all means, most of them covertly, in order to return them and we will continue to do so until we return them all.' Eagle Pass has become a flash point for the migrant crisis with a record number of crossings taking place Texas National Guards were seen using riot shields in an attempt to hold back a horde of migrants crossing at Eagle Pass. New footage taken of a clash which happened a month ago shows guardsmen narrowly avoid being hit by a rock as they struggle against the steady stream of asylum seekers. A record number of migrants have been passing through the Texan border in recent months, with 14,000 making it over in 24 hour period last month. Video shows the reality on the ground as asylum seekers are seen scrambling over razor wire and through mud in a desperate attempt to reach the US. All the while, the Texas national guard can be seen attempting to block their path using plastic riot shields. Texas National Guards were seen using riot shields to try and hold back migrants at Eagle Pass The guardsmen attempted to block the path of asylum seekers who scrambled over razor wire to reach the US NEW VIDEO: Here is TX National Guard attempting solo to manage migrants crossing in large groups in Eagle Pass, TX in Dec @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/ZRTOUAELsc Griff Jenkins (@GriffJenkins) January 13, 2024 As they jostle the crowd which contains at least one child, a rock is thrown towards one soldier's head narrowly sailing past it. At one point a female migrant is seen being shunted back across the guardsmen and falling on top of other migrants who scream. No sooner have the guardsmen closed the gap, another appears further along the border where two more migrants manage to slip through. Another clip shows a migrant who made it through being thrown to the ground by the national guard. As he gets up he is escorted to a waiting crowd of people who appears to have already crossed over. Eagle Pass has become a flashpoint for the migrant crisis with the town struggling to accommodate the steady procession of people arriving from across the Mexican border. Border Patrol agents in the town ran out of space to process the massive number, and were keeping them in an open field for up to days at a time in a make-shift holding center. Elsewhere, Border Patrol agents normally posted at roadside checkpoints leading into the US were also been redirected to help in Eagle Pass. Eagle Pass has become a flash point for the migrant crisis. Last month there were 14,000 asylum seeker encounters occurring at the gateway in just one day National guardsmen narrowly avoided being hit in the head by a rock that was sent flying towards them from the migrants Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sent more than 100,000 migrants who have arrived in the state to sanctuary cities as part of Operation Lone Star Earlier this week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an emergency order to take control of a large public park along the Rio Grande without asking permission. The park is a new tension point in Eagle Pass, where large waves of migrant arrivals last month temporarily closed a rail crossing and overwhelmed shelters. U.S. Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas visited Eagle Pass on Monday, days after Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson toured the border city. But Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas questioned why the state closed the 50-acre park now, since daily apprehensions in the region have fallen in recent weeks. Shelby Park touches the river, includes a ramp for boaters and has been used by the state to stage vehicles and equipment for its border mission known as Operation Lone Star. Operation Lone Star was introduced by Abbott in 2022 and sees the state bus thousands of migrants out of Texas and into so-called sanctuary cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington and Denver. Since its introduction more than 100,000 migrants have been dispatched to such cities so far, according to the governor. The head of the Iowa Republican Party said Saturday that only a 'massive national disaster' would prompt rescheduling Monday's Iowa caucuses, as temperatures are expected to dip to lows in the negative teens that evening. Jeff Kauffman, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, told DailyMail.com that rescheduling the caucuses would be 'virtualy impossible' because the date has been sanctioned by the Republican National Committee and 8,000 volunteers are ready to go on the ground. He predicted the show would go on - and without any major glitches. 'I still think we're going to have a robust turnout. Maybe we go from record-setting, which would be over 186,000, to a great turnout,' Kauffman said. 'But anecdotally, listening to people, I really think we're stilll going to have a very robust turnout. I think people will bundle up. I know there'a a lot of passion out there. And we're used to it,' he said of the frigid weather. Four years ago it wasn't the weather that hobbled the Democrats' Iowa caucuses, it was a snafu with an app they were using the report voting totals, holding up the final results for hours. Jeff Kauffman, the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, told DailyMail.com unless there's a 'massive national disaster' the Iowa caucuses will take place Monday night, despite a forecast that could see temperatures dipping into the negative teens Kauffman explained why there wouldn't be a repeat on the Republican side. 'The Democrats, they were handed that app at the last minute. They didn't even have a chance to train on that thing. It was an app that the DNC gave to them,' Kauffman recalled. 'We developed our own app.' He said the app the Iowa Republicans use to report results has been used for the past two election cycles. 'It's clear skies for the Republican Party because we've been there and done that and we don't take anything for granted,' he added. Kauffman also said the army of volunteers has been robustly trained. 'Literally we've had more than 200 face to face trainings in all 99 counties and that's not even including the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of phone calls and personal mentoring and such,' he said. He also said that the Republicans have back-ups in place if individuals who are supposed to run the precincts can't make it Monday night. The Republican 2024 hopefuls have had to contend with two blizzards over the course of the last week, freezing temperatures and high winds. GOP hopeful Nikki Haley is captured arriving at a campaign event Saturday in Iowa City Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, his son Mason and wife Casey walk into the Urbandale, Iowa headquarters of his 2024 presidential campaign on Friday. The weather has caused the candidates to cancel a number of campaign appearances ahead of Monday's Iowa caucuses And even if that fails, there's another plan on the table. 'We have specific instructions in terms of how you go about running that caucus so technically we could just say the caucuses are in this particular place, not even having trained them and I feel confident the system would go,' he said. 'So we're talking about triple, quadruple and even quintuple double checking that all of this goes correctly,' Kauffman added. Kauffman was on hand Saturday in Des Moines, alongside Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel, at the Iowa GOP's headquarters near the Capitol Building in snowy downtown Des Moines. Putting the weather problems aside, he was asked by a reporter what would happen if one of the candidates contested the caucus result. He argued that there was too much 'transparency' for that to happen. 'Everything that comes in can be verified and checked by anybody in the world. So I just don't see a scenario where there would be legitimate gripes on our process,' Kauffman said. 'Now in terms of what the candidates do and the candidates say, Lord if I could control that I would run for president of the United States,' he said. 'I honestly do not see a scenario where you could question our process and be legitimate doing that.' A Jewish man has been left shocked after a lesbian couple turned him down as a sperm donor because of the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Perth hair stylist Jay Lazarus, who is gay, had his generous offer to help the couple have a child thrown back at him in a blunt message. 'We don't have the capacity to navigate parts of your identity in this donor relationship,' it read. The female couple had made it clear what those parts of Mr Lazarus' identity were in saying they had 'ethical challenges' over 'the war between Israel and Gaza'. The message came despite Mr Lazarus meeting the couple more than a year ago and going to an IVF consultation to get the ball rolling. 'Initially, I just went into a full shock. I couldn't believe that my religion was being brought into what I was doing as a gift,' Mr Lazarus told Daily Mail Australia. He said the couple 'preferred to go back to square one of the donor process rather than accept my Jewish sperm'. Mr Lazarus said the couple have since gotten back in touch with him and revealed the extraordinary excuse they gave when he publicly called them out. A Jewish man (pictured, Jay Lazarus) has been left shocked after a lesbian couple turned him down as a sperm donor because of the conflict between Israel and Gaza Perth hair stylist Jay Lazarus, who is gay, had his generous offer to help another gay couple have a child thrown back at him in a blunt message The couple who rejected his sperm donation initially told him they were 'down a rabbit hole with the depth of our emotions'. 'And truth be told we feel out of our depth in proceeding with this donor relationship,' they wrote. 'We are about kindness and love. Everything we do, say, work towards, is love in action, for every human being. 'We are sad for the Israeli's (sic) and we are sad for the Palestinian people, so deeply sad. 'We don't have the capacity to navigate parts of your identity in this donor relationship so we are respectfully ending this now,' they said. After going public about the rejection on social media, Mr Lazarus has been inundated with messages of support. 'It's taken a lot of people by a big shock, which has been incredible because I honestly didn't think it was going to get this much traction or anything like that. 'It's been incredible ... the Jewish community are so angry and everyone around me has been so supportive,' he said. '(But) to have non Jewish people contacting me and messaging me privately, I mean, there's so many angry people. 'I've had nothing but good responses from it. It made me feel a lot better.' Mr Lazarus said he has heard back from the couple since he revealed what had happened on his Instagram page. 'I have heard from them just in the last day or so,' he said. '(But) I didn't open their message initially because I'm away on holiday for a friend's wedding and I didn't want to ruin things. Mr Lazarus, who is gay, had his generous offer to help another gay couple of have a child thrown back at him in a blunt message saying 'We don't have the capacity to navigate parts of your identity in this donor relationship' Mr Lazarus (pictured) has been heartened by the support he has got from both within and outside the Jewish community 'But I have opened them now, and they've tried really hard to take it back almost, and said that it's got nothing to do with me being Jewish. 'It's got to do with them being pro-Palestine, and... I don't know if that's any better,' he said. 'They just kind of threw it all on me... I'm not going to respond... it's not good enough.' Mr Lazarus had initially met the couple through a Facebook page, where he put up a post offering to be a sperm donor. 'I just wrote about myself and my husband and our journey and why we wanted to help another couple,' he said. 'And they reached out and I just really liked their first message and they sent me some photos and I was like, oh, well, let's get to know these girls. By October 2022 he and the couple had decided to go ahead with him being a sperm donor and he had his first consultation with an IVF clinic in Queensland. But a year later, the Israel-Palestine war led to the couple changing their minds over their 'ethical challenges'. Mr Lazarus had initially met the couple through a Facebook page, where he put up a post offering to be a sperm donor As well as being heartened by the support from friends and strangers alike, Mr Lazarus appreciated hearing that the upper reaches of Jewish society was also behind him. A reporter at the Australian Jewish news told him that one of Sydney's most orthodox religious rabbis had asked the journalist to contact him. 'And that to me is like a whole 'nother level, for a religious Jewish rabbi to want to write this,' Mr Lazarus said. 'Especially because I'm a gay Jewish man, you know, it just totally touched me that even orthodox religious rabbis are just absolutely disgusted by it.' A man has been charged after allegedly raping a teenage girl at a popular Western Australia beach. The girl was allegedly dragged into a male toilet block at Coogee Beach, in Perth's south, about 2.10pm on Friday. The stranger then allegedly sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene. WA Police arrested a 33-year-old Victoria Park man early on Sunday morning before charging him with one count of sexual penetration without consent. He is due to appear before Perth Magistrates Court later on Sunday. The alleged incident occurred at Coogee Beach in Perth's south on Friday A former Alabama police officer spent just 36 minutes in jail after being charged with murder 98 days after the fatal shooting of a man in front of his own home, during a dispute with a tow truck driver. Steve Perkins, 39, was shot and killed by 23-year-old police officer Mac Bailey Marquette on September 29, 2023 when several officers accompanied a tow truck driver trying to repossess Perkins' truck. A grand jury indicted Marquette, who responded to the scene, on a murder charge, accusing him of intentionally killing Perkins by shooting him with a pistol - giving just one second to comply with the officer's order. Marquette's bond was set at $30,000 which he posted almost immediately after being booked. He was then released, according to the Alabama Political Reporter. Mac Marquette spent just 36 minutes in jail after being charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a man in front of his own home, during a dispute with a tow truck driver Steve Perkins, 39, (pictured with his daughter and wife Catrela) was shot dead by cops helping a tow truck driver repossess a vehicle from his home at Decatur, Alabama on September 29 Police said the tow truck driver reported that Perkins was armed and flashed a gun, so officers accompanied him when he returned to the home. Perkins is pictured outside of his home 'The job now falls to me and my office to prosecute this case and seek justice,' Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson said as he announced the indictment during a news conference. 'It's not easy for me to be in the position of prosecuting an officer, but in this circumstance, it's the right thing to do,' he said. Anderson said there were four officers at the scene the night Perkins was killed but only one fired his weapon. He said the grand jury cleared the other three officers, Joey Williams, Vance Summers, and Christopher Mukkadam, of wrongdoing, and he agreed with that decision. Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling previously announced that three of the four officers were fired for violating department policy and a fourth was suspended. 'There were four officers at the scene when this incident occurred, and there was only one officer who fired any shot,' DA Anderson said. 'After having considered all of the facts and evidence in the case, the grand jury agreed unanimously that there were no violations with regards to the laws of the state of Alabama against any other officer.' Video from a neighbor's home surveillance camera video, published by WAFF-TV, recorded the shooting. The video shows the tow truck back into the driveway and Perkins come out of his house. The officers did not identify themselves when they appeared to run out from beside the house and from across the street where they had been lying in wait. Perkins can be heard shouting: 'Hey, put my truck down', before police officers rush out from cover with their weapons drawn. One of them yells at him: 'Hey, hey! Police! Get on the ground!' as the officers unleash a volley of bullets on him. One is heard shouting, 'Police, get on the ground,' before 18 shot were immediately fired in rapid succession. A driver from Allstar Recovery can be seen driving off with the dying man's truck as he takes his final breaths just feet away, with his final words said to have been 'help.' Alabama police officer Mac Bailey Marquette, 23, shot Steve Perkins, 39, dead while helping a tow truck driver repossess his truck from his home in Decatur Officers can be seen standing over the body of Perkins in his front lawn after gunning him down The tow driver nonchalantly makes off with Perkins' white GMC Sierra while he lays motionless on the ground Perkins' seized truck is pictured hidden in the lot of Allstar Recovery, which has been condemned over what activists say was the Alabama father's needless death That newly-released footage - first shared by Decatur Daily - has triggered outrage in the Alabama city, with both the repossession firm and police department blamed for what activists say was Perkins' needless death. Officers can be seen standing over the body of Perkins in his front lawn after gunning him down, with the tow driver nonchalantly making off with Perkins' white GMC Sierra. In the moments following the shooting, the officers appear to pat Perkins down, with one officer moving from Perkins' right side over to Perkins' legs. Out of sight, an unidentified repossession officer continues to hook the GMC to their truck before towing it away. As the officers continue, the headlights from the tow truck begin moving. The vehicle then turns left out of Perkin's driveway with his pickup truck following it. The Decatur Police Department said in September that officers came to Perkins' home after a tow truck driver reported how Perkins flashed a gun when he was attempting to repossess a vehicle. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said that Perkins was armed with a handgun equipped with a light and 'brandished the weapon towards an officer with the Decatur Police Department, causing the officer to fire at Perkins.' However, an attorney for Perkins' family has said officers essentially ambushed Perkins as he came out of his home and that Perkins did not seem aware of their presence. Lee Merritt said officers accompanied the tow truck driver onto the property without announcing themselves and opened fire within a second of telling Perkins to get on the ground. He said Perkins did not seem to be aware of the presence of police. 'They jumped up. They shouted. ... Pow,' Merritt said. 'The policy of not announcing yourself and creeping up into people's onto people's properties. 'They will tell you it's for officer protection, so that they're not ambushed, but what they did here was ambush Steve.' Perkins, 39, was given less than a second to respond to officers before one opened fire on him, unleashing 18 rounds Decatur Police officer Mac Bailey Marquette, center, received a commendation award in October of 2023. Chief of Police Todd Pinion is seen, right. Perkins' family also says there's no indication he'd even fallen behind on payments for the GMC truck, which is why he'd tried to stop it from being taken away. District Attorney Anderson has not given details as to what the evidence is in the case, including whether Perkins had a weapon. An attorney representing the Perkins family said 'we are extremely relieved that criminal charges are moving forward.' 'Steve Perkins was gunned down in front of his home by an officer with absolutely no justification for the use of force,' attorney Lee Merritt said in a statement. He said they are 'cautiously optimistic that the charges brought will culminate in a conviction and appropriate sentencing.' The family also hope the other officers will face charges for their participation in the events of that fateful night. There were four officers involved, and we would like to see all four charged with something, said Nicholas Perkins, Steve's brother, to Atlanta Black Star. The fatal shooting in Decatur has drawn regular protests in the north Alabama city with the local police department coming under intense scrutiny over his death and the action of its officers. A girl prays for Stephen Perkins during a vigil outside Decatur City Hall last October Last year, protests took place in the north Alabama city. Pictured, Jamiya Billings holds a sign during a protest in downtown Decatur last October Hundreds of people gathered outside of Decatur City Hall last October in a vigil for Perkins People march along Lee Street in downtown Decatur in October 2023 during a protest against the killing of Steve Perkins by police Last year, hundreds of people gathered outside of Decatur City Hall with protesters carrying signs reading 'You could have knocked' and 'We need answers.' Perkins is black. The officer charged in his shooting is white. Perkins' family will be allowed to view the body camera footage from the night of the shooting, Anderson said. Police Chief Todd Pinion apologized in September after the department gave a false description of the officers' commands in the police department's 'initial rush to release information'. The department inaccurately said officers ordered Perkins to drop his weapon and that he refused to do so. Pinion said what actually happened is the officers identified themselves as 'police' and ordered Perkins to 'get on the ground.' He wrote: 'I apologize for the inaccurate description of the encounter in our initial statement, and we have already taken steps to improve our public information sharing process.' Pinion promised 'transparency in providing any information we are able to share as soon as it is able to be released.' Police Chief Todd Pinion apologized in September after the department gave a false description of the officers' commands in the police department's 'initial rush to release info' Perkins' family (pictured with wife Catrela Perkins) said his truck was not in repossession, which is why he went outside to dispute the tow Steve Perkins is seen alongside his wife Catrela, in a photo posted to Facebook Perkins leaves behind a family, including his wife Catrela, and two daughters. He added: 'There is understandably much public conversation about the shooting of Stephen Perkins. Any time a police officer uses deadly force, questions should be asked, and answers provided.' A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family of Perkins, who leaves behind a family, including his wife Catrela, and two daughters. The family described him as a 'devoted husband, gym enthusiast, and a hardworking man'. Since being launched, the fundraiser has managed to bring in over $74,000 for his family. Rodney Gordon, president of the Morgan County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), said video from the night of his death shows police weren't following the right procedures. He told the Decatur Daily: 'If you knock on the door as a police officer, we don't ever have this conversation. If you pull up to the house with the lights on, I don't come outside with a gun. 'If you come knock on my door and identify yourself as a police officer, I don't come to the door with a gun. 'This whole thing could have been totally avoided. According to the film and it ain't lying it was an ambush.' White House staff had to be 'relocated' after thousands of pro Palestine supporters descended on the building, threatening to breach the security fence and lobbing over bloodied dolls as part of a huge demonstration demanding a ceasefire on Gaza. Law enforcement defending the People's House donned riot gear as a baying mob pelted them with dolls and other projectiles. Video taken at the event on Saturday shows how the metal perimeter was shaken so hard that portions of it were shunted back, forcing secret service operatives to rush to one part to prevent a breach. The secret service later confirmed that the anti-scale fencing sustained 'temporary damage' which was 'promptly repaired'. The rally is part of a global day of protests to mark 100 days since the Hamas attack of October 7 which killed 1,200 and saw hundreds more taken hostage. Thousands of pro Palestine supporters marched on the White House on Saturday demanding a ceasefire on Gaza The demonstration took place to mark 100 days since Hamas attack of October 7 and the start of retaliatory strikes by Israel Demonstrators flung bloodied dolls over the White House fence as a symbol of the child victims of the conflict so far The demonstration at the White House was the second largest pro Palestine rally held in Washington D.C. since the war began Since then, Israel's retaliatory bombardment campaign has killed more than 23,8000 people in Gaza, according to the nation's health ministry. Tonight's demonstration is the second largest in support of Gaza held outside the White House in Washington since the war began. The temporary destruction caused during the rally meant White House staff and journalists had to be evacuated from the area. 'As a precaution, some members of the media and staff in proximity to Pennsylvania Avenue were temporarily relocated while the issue was being addressed,' the secret service told Fox News. 'The Secret Service made no arrests associated with the march and there was no property damage to the White House or adjacent buildings.' Protesters calling for a ceasefire used emotive symbols to get their message across. At one point women in Palestinian dress staged a sit down protest cradling bloodied dolls bound in sheets. Nearly two-thirds of the 23,843 people killed during the conflict have been women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Demonstrators also carried Palestinian flags and held aloft signs questioning President Joe Biden's viability as a presidential candidate because of his staunch support for Israel. Some of the signs read: 'No votes for Genocide Joe,' 'Biden has blood on his hands' and 'Let Gaza live.' At one point the fence was shaken so violently parts of it were shunted back as protesters surged towards the White House, forcing secret security agents to swarm to one part to prevent a breach The rally took place in tandem with other anti war demonstrations across the world The protest was organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine and other groups Vendors were also selling South African flags as protesters chanted slogans in support of the country whose accusations of genocide against Israel prompted the International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands, to take up the case. Dan Devries, a New York resident said he attended the protest because he wants to see a free Gaza, but that he wouldn't vote for either Biden or possible Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. 'I see this war as part of the U.S.'s drive to offset its economic decline by engaging in continual war,' said Devries. Washington resident Phil Kline held up a sign calling for Pope Francis to excommunicate Biden. 'I know hes a devout Catholic. Maybe he will take this issue seriously when the pope removes him from the church. Theres no justification for bombing civilians,' Kline said, though he added he still intends to vote for Biden in the November elections. The rally was organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine and other groups. It took place in tandem with demonstrations in London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, Johannesburg and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. Family members of Palestinians killed in the conflict grief-ridden stories with thousands of protesters who gathered in downtown Washington. Palestinian protesters have shaken the fence so hard that they have moved portions of it back.@FrontlinesTPUSA @TPUSA pic.twitter.com/DOcz4DF8lg Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) January 13, 2024 The rally came a day after the US launched a second round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen The event featured emotional testimony from people whose relatives have been killed by Israel during the conflict Biden has long expressed his support for Israel but confirmed he has been working with the Israeli government to persuade them to reduce their attacks on Gaza Adam Abosherieah, one of the speakers, said over 100 family members, including his 83-year-old father, mother, and brother, have been killed in Israeli air strikes. 'Dozens of my family members' bodies are still under the rubble,' Abosherieah, a pharmacist from New Jersey, said. 'President Biden can easily put a stop to this genocide ... He can easily pick up the phone and call Israel to stop this madness.' The rally came a day after the US launched a second round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, action which also drew protests in New York and Seattle. The blitz was in response to months of attacks by the Houthis on ships in the Red Sea, which they claimed were aimed at ending Israel's siege on Gaza. However, the vessels targeted by the Iranian-backed rebels had become increasingly random and they were warned to expect consequences if they did not stop their attacks. Though long a fervent supporter of Israel, Biden has expressed concern over civilian deaths as the war has gone on. He previously described Israel's bombing campaign as 'indiscriminate,' and said on Monday he had been working 'quietly' with the Israeli government to encourage it to reduce its attacks and 'significantly get out of Gaza.' DPP wants to guide Taiwan away from totalitarianism and Beijing 's influence Tensions heightened last night between Taiwan and China after the man the Chinese have branded a dangerous separatist was elected Taiwan's new president. Lai Ching-te, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which wants to guide Taiwan away from Beijing's influence, had told voters before the polls opened that they faced a choice between democracy and totalitarianism. 'The whole world is watching,' he said in a rallying cry. Later, in his victory speech, the former doctor said the island's voters had shown the world 'how much we cherish democracy'. Beijing's preferred candidate was Hou Yu-ih, from the opposition Kuomintang party, which wants closer ties to China. Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, left, celebrates his election victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao in Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday Taiwan's 23 million people inhabit one of the world's most tense flashpoint areas. There were fears last night that the election result will further raise tensions between the US and China as they compete for influence in the Indo-Pacific region. Before the election, Beijing's defence ministry said the People's Liberation Army was 'on high alert at all times' and it would 'smash' any move towards independence. Mr Lai said in his victory speech that he is 'determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threat and intimidation from China'. But he added that his government will 'use dialogue to replace confrontation'. This is the first time in the island's 28-year democratic history that a party has won the presidency in three successive elections an endorsement of DPP policies. This is the first time in Taiwan's 28-year democratic history that a party has won the presidency in three successive elections an endorsement of DPP policies Under the outgoing president, Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP has been a voice for the growing number of Taiwanese who reject unification with mainland China, which regards the territory as its own. Beijing refuses to have any dialogue with a DPP government but Taiwan repeatedly accused China of trying to manipulate and intimidate voters ahead of the election. Warning that the island was at a 'crossroads', Beijing told voters to 'make the right choice' and said victory for the DPP could trigger a conflict across the Taiwan Strait. But the voters showed little sign of being cowed as they lined up in the bright winter sunshine to cast their ballots. A record 758,000 railway tickets were sold on the eve of the election as citizens returned to their home districts to vote. And across social media, many proudly revealed a red stamp on their hands that signalled they had made their choice. 'I don't like that China is coming to try to change this place,' said Lisa Ou, 62, after she cast her ballot at a polling station at the National Taipei University. She added: 'So many people fought to achieve democracy, so we should safeguard it.' On the campaign trail, Mr Hou had accused Mr Lai and the DPP of endangering Taiwan by provoking China, which they rebuffed by charging that he was too close to China. Beijing told voters to 'make the right choice' and said victory for the DPP could trigger a conflict across the Taiwan Strait, but the voters showed little sign of being cowed as they lined up in the bright winter sunshine to cast their ballots China is deeply suspicious of Mr Lai, accusing him of being a dangerous separatist. Mr Lai has described himself as a 'pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence'. However, the new president will face an uphill struggle domestically after his party failed to win a majority in parliament. This will potentially hinder the new president's ability to pass legislation and spending, especially for defence. The youngest Israeli hostage held by Hamas will turn one years old this week - after spending a quarter of his life in captivity in Gaza. Little Kfir Bibas is still believed to be among more than 130 hostages who continue to be held in Hamas underground tunnels in the warzone. Today marks 100 days since Hamas terrorists stormed over the border and launched a terror attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, sparking a conflict that threatens to erupt into a full-scale regional war. Footage filmed by Hamas showed Kfir's desperate mother Shiri, 30, clinging to her red-headed baby and four-year-old son Ariel as they were led away by gunmen. Her cousin Yosi told The Mail on Sunday: 'Did you see the video? Shiri is screaming but she isn't making a sound. There is no voice. Did you see that? She was so scared.' Kfir Bibas was taken on October 7, and will turn one years old this week after spending a quarter of his life in captivity in Gaza Relatives do not known if Bibas family is still alive. Hamas has released a video of the father Yarden, 37, sobbing after the terrorists informed him that the rest of his family had been killed Yosi showed our reporters around Bibas's modest family home in Kibbutz Nir Oz, which is frozen in time from that dreadful day when Hamas raided southern Israel. As he opened the front door, Yosi warned us of the stench of the family's pet dog Tony who was shot dead by Hamas gunmen. Bullet holes riddle the walls. The baby's mattress is splattered with blood. The boys' tiny shoes are neatly piled in a corner, and their toy trucks are discarded in the bathroom. Relatives in Israel do not truly know if the Bibas family is still alive. In November, Hamas released a cruel propaganda video of the father Yarden, 37, sobbing after the terrorists informed him that the rest of his family had been killed in an Israeli air strike on the tunnels in Gaza. However, the Israeli government has not confirmed they are dead - and so there is still hope. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire two months ago but the Bibas were not among them. Little Kfir turns one on Thursday. Yosi, 45, said: 'We do not know what state they're in but I have hope they are alive. We have heard from the returned hostages that Yarden was in a really bad way. I dread to think about little Kfir, if he comes back will he be OK? Does he even get nutrition to develop? How does Shiri manage to keep him from crying? We heard that hostages had to stay in silence. It doesn't bear thinking about.' Kfir is believed to be being held in a network of undergrown tunnels beneath the Gaza Strip, along with remaining Israeli hostages More than 130 hostages continue to be held in Hamas underground tunnels in Gaza Shiri's parents Margit, 63, and her husband Jose, 67, were executed along with their dog Ktana in the Hamas raid on the kibbutz in southern Israel. Their home was burned out and the terrorists beheaded the dog. On the drive way, there are small red handprints in the cement belonging to the dead couple's grandchildren. Back at the Bibas home, Yosi said: 'Shiri is an amazing mother, they are such a happy family, she loves kids, she loves her boys, it's evident from the things strewn that this was once a beautiful loving home, now it's just bleak and sad. Hamas took away three generations of my family.' Holding Ariel's drawings, Yosi said: 'Ariel is into Batman and superheros. One of the nursery pictures he created says 'Batman' in big letters, and underneath 'I fly and save people stuck in a pit' ... it's almost a prophecy. Perhaps he will, perhaps he will save everyone from the Hamas tunnels.' Post office scandal victims have accused Sir Tony Blair of having a cosy relationship with the Japanese IT firm behind the software that ruined their lives. It emerged the former PM signed off on the 900million Post Office contract with Fujitsu in 1999 despite being warned that the firm's Horizon accounting software looked 'increasingly flawed'. Now the MoS can reveal Mr Blair had close links with the firm going back years. He travelled for private briefings with Fujitsu bosses in Japan in 1996, a year before he entered No10, and met its executives in his Sedgefield constituency. He went on to oversee several billion-pound Government contracts handed to Fujitsu while he was in power. Last night, victims said Mr Blair had 'very serious questions to answer'. Chris Trousdale, 41, who was convicted of fraud, said Mr Blair's relationship with the firm was 'extremely tight'. He added: 'The Horizon system was known to be flawed, but Blair chose it anyway. We deserve to know why.' Tony Blair, seen here with his wife Cherie Blair, visited Japan in 1998. He had met Fujitsu officials during a visit to Japan two years earlier, before he was PM Blair was Prime Minister when several billion-pound Government contracts were handed to Fujitsu Fujitsu operated a plant in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, and the politician met with the site's new manager there in 1995 Last night, former postmistress Wendy Martin, 53, who was left bankrupt, said: 'Tony Blair had a very cosy relationship with Fujitsu. They were in each other's pockets. He should be held to account.' Fujitsu operated a plant in Mr Blair's Sedgefield constituency, and the politician met with the site's new manager there in 1995. The following year, he flew to Japan, where Fujitsu's bosses briefed him instead of the Tory government in power at the time about its plans to set up new laboratories in London. Two months before he signed off on the Horizon deal in May 1999, Mr Blair wrote a letter to Fujitsu's chairman Tadashi Sekizawa praising the company's 'deep and longstanding commitment to the UK'. A spokesman for the former PM said: 'Mr Blair had nothing whatever to do with awarding contracts to Fujitsu, which presumably were awarded under normal procurement rules. It is now clear the Horizon product was seriously flawed, leading to tragic and unacceptable consequences, and Mr Blair has deep sympathy with all those affected.' Video captured Margrethe listening to public sing to her outside Amalienborg Queen Margrethe was seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen on the eve of her abdication. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and became Europe's longest-reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. The monarch delivered the news during her traditional New Year's Eve speech. The ceremony will happen today, where she will transfer power of the throne to her 55-year-old son, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe - and this morning, wellwishers have already started to set up outside Christiansborg Palace Square. People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son on Sunday Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd HOW WILL THE DAY UNFOLD? 1:35PM (12:35PM GMT, 11:35PM AUS): Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, set off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian 1:37PM (12:37PM GMT, 11:37PM AUS): Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage 2PM (1PM GMT, 12AM AUS): There will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary 2:15PM (1:15PM GMT, 12:15AM AUS): Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg 2:30PM (1:30PM GMT, 12:30AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests 3PM (2PM GMT, 1AM AUS): The couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne 3:10PM (2:10PM GMT, 1:10AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron 5PM (4PM GMT, 3AM AUS): There will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace Advertisement A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence last night. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down. However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' Early doors! Wellwishers have already started gathering at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication in Copenhagen The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event The sun was yet to rise when the first royal fans started setting up to witness today's abdication Pictured: Danish flags fluttered on buildings close to Christiansborg Castle Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II Department store windows display the Danish flag and the Danish crown in Copenhagen A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe II with a message reading 'Thank you, Your Majesty' Thousands of people have flooded into Copenhagen to witness the abdication People look at a picture of the soon-to-be King Frederik X and his wife Queen Mary displayed in a window at a shopping street Queen Margrethe II is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign Queen Margrethe II rides through Denmark's capital in her final engagement as monarch In fairytale picturesque scenes, thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet Dressed in a fur coat, the 83-year-old uses a walking stick as she prepares to greet invited representatives of major national organisations and the royal patronage during her visit to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, on January 4 And today will see Denmark welcome the Crown Prince and Princess as their new King and Queen. Wellwishers with folding chairs donning Danish flags have already started to excitedly line the streets in preparation for this afternoon's events. The historic occasion is sure to be an exciting event for the nation - but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles's ornate Coronation in May. The day will kick off at around 1:35pm Danish time (12:3pm GMT), with Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, setting off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian. Shortly after, Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage. Both will pass through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. At 2pm, there will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary. This is where the succession of the throne will happen, as Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm, the couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch will then speak and conclude with the motto. It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. READ MORE: New Danish royal titles and line of succession explained as Queen Margrethe II abdicates Advertisement At 5pm, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. Queen Margrethe, who took to the throne in 1972, has become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne. However, during an interview in 2016, she expressed a different opinion. She said: 'It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too.' 'It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now,' said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. 'He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.' The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and become Europe's longest reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary Frederik and Mary will wave from the balcony. The couple are pictured on Frederik's 50th birthday Mary appeared optimistic as she arrived at the New Year's reception for officers from the Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. 'The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions,' said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an 'invisible pact' between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate. Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne. New Danish royal titles and line of succession FIRST IN LINE: Prince Christian will become Crown Prince Christian and is the heir apparent SECOND: Christian's younger sister, 16-year-old Princess Isabella will become second in lin THIRD AND FOURTH: Twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine take the next spots in the ranking (pictured with Prince Christian and Queen Margrethe last April) L to R: Felix (SEVENTH), Marie, Prince Joachim (FIFTH), Athena (NINTH), Henrik (EIGHTH) and Nikolai (SIXTH) in September TENTH: Queen Margrethe's sister Princess Benedikte, herself 79, takes the final spot in the line of succession CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK WILL BECOME KING Frederick, 55, formerly known as Crown Prince Frederick - is set to become His Majesty King Frederick X. Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be known as Her Majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe. CROWN PRINCESS MARY WILL BECOME QUEEN Meanwhile, his wife Crown Princess Mary - who is very popular with the Danish public due to her dedication to royal duty and commitment to learning the language - will become Queen Consort. She is also set to become the nation's first Australian-born queen. The couple, who met in a bar in 2000 during the Olympics in Sydney, share four children, who each occupy the next spaces in the line of succession. PRINCE CHRISTIAN WILL BECOME CROWN PRINCE Their son Prince Christian will become the next in line to the Danish throne at just 18. His title will change to Crown Prince Christian as he will be the heir apparent. He may have to act as head of state when his father is out of the country. Princess Mary, Frederik's brother Joachim, and Princess Benedikte are able to take over as head of state should Christian be too busy - however he will certainly be required to take on more official duties. Christian is often referred to as the 'most eligible bachelor in Europe' and his new title will only elevate that status even more. Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to issue a scathing reproval of fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. The criticism - aired 48 hours before the Iowa caucuses - was pointed, and saw the former president slam the only Republican who has expressed support for him in the past. Fresh off a court appearance in New York, Trump, in turn, wrote the biotech millionaire was distinctly 'not MAGA,' and that a vote for him would help the 'other side.' The comments - bolstered by another that outright painted the pharma mogul as a 'fraud' - served as the first time Trump spoke poorly of this particular competitor, a newcomer who, like the ex-head of state, has billed himself as a political outsider. They thus have an overlap in fanbases, and Ramaswamy, as a result, has defended Trump in the face of his multiple criminal cases. If elected, he has promised to pardon him 'on day one', and at the first GOP debate, he proudly praised the 77-year-old as the 'best president in generations'. Donald Trump - seen here in a Manhattan court Thursday - has taken to Truth Social to issue a scathing reproval of GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy The criticism - aired 48 hours before the Iowa caucuses - was pointed, and saw the former president slam the only Republican who has expressed support for him in the past On Saturday, Trump seemed unswayed by the 38-year-old Ohioan's previous comments - and commenced a direct attack as he continues to garner some unexpected support in the Iowa polls among Republicans. Even going as far to reference the August praise, Trump wrote: 'Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc. 'Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks,' the aspiring two-term commander-in-chief added. 'Very sly.' While not specifying those alleged misdeeds, Trump proceeded to posit that Ramaswamy was 'duping' the American public, whom he went on to warn: 'Dont get duped by this,' referring to the entrepreneur's campaign. Vote for TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA,' the post went on. 'The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! 'A vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side'. Ramaswamy, as a result, has defended Trump in the face of his several criminal cases, promising to pardon him 'on day one' if elected. At the first GOP debate, he proudly praised the 77-year-old as the 'best president in generations'. The comments came a few days after polls showed Trump remaining ahead in Iowa surveys, but is losing some ground to the famously inflammatory Ohioan The comments came a few days after polls showed how Trump remains ahead in Iowa surveys, but may be subtly losing some ground to the famously inflammatory Ramaswamy, who some contend is stealing support from the ex-president Radical Ramaswamy - who has described 'transgenderism' as a 'mental health disorder' - failed to garner the national support needed to participate in this past Thursday's debate, and that day filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in support of an also-absent Trump. In it, the Republican supported his rival's efforts to remain on state ballots despite the cases against him. "President Trumps political opponents have sought to disqualify him from the ballot in multiple states because they fear they cannot beat him in a free and fair election," Ramaswamy wrote, painting the five cases against his rival as a predatory bid by the Biden Administration. 'Needless to say, the distress of competing against a formidable opponent cannot justify disqualification under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment,' he continued. 'The consequences of affirming the Colorado Supreme Courts decision will extend far beyond the dispute over President Trumps eligibility.' The following day, at a campaign event in Des Moines, Ramaswamy attempted to again align himself with the GOP frontrunner - and possibly distance himself from other candidates - by sharing a photo to X showing a group of supporters wearing t-shirts with Trump's mugshot The shirts read, 'Save Trump. Vote Vivek', and an accompanying caption saw Ramaswamy praise the Trump-minded men as patriots The following day, at a campaign event in Des Moines, Ramaswamy attempted to again align himself with the GOP frontrunner - and possibly distance himself from other candidates - by sharing a photo to X showing a group of supporters wearing t-shirts with Trump's mugshot that read, 'Save Trump. Vote Vivek.' An accompanying caption from the battleground state billing the Trump-minded men as patriots read: 'A group of young men in Iowa came out in a blizzard. They sent a clear message.' A few hours later, Trump responded with his barb - possibly feeling threatened that Ramaswamy was stealing support away from his fanbase. That said, in most polls - including a recent Suffolk University survey of 500 Iowa voters likely to participate in Monday's GOP caucuses - Trump remains well ahead of not only Ramaswamy but others as well, including Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. According to the Suffolk survey, both Haley or DeSantis would need to peel off Trump supporters if they hope to have a chance against the former president, whose support stands above the 50 percent mark. Ramaswamy, meanwhile, would have to do even more work, according to the poll, which has him in fourth place behind all of the aforementioned candidates, with a paltry 6. According to recent polls, both Haley and DeSantis - and especially Ramaswamy - would need to peel off Trump supporters if they hope to have a chance against the former president, whose support stood above the 50 percent mark Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's term, recorded 20 percent support, while the Florida governor secured 13 percent. As the four claw for votes before the upcoming caucus, Trump seemingly caught wind of this dynamic, and happily tossed his previous relationship with Ramaswamy to the side in the hope of all but ensuring a victory. Trump's various legal woes have loomed over the primary, an issue Haley has highlighted by frequently mentioning 'chaos' following the former president, while DeSantis argues Trump's legal issues would cost votes in the general election. At least some Iowa voters who support Trump are weighing those concerns as they consider who to caucus for, according to a CNN report on Saturday. Meanwhile, four political analysts interviewed by Reuters said Trump needs a more convincing victory closer to the 30 point-plus margin suggested by the polls to blunt others' - especially Haley's - momentum, with one Republican strategist telling the paper that Trump needs to win by at least 15 to 20 percentage points or risk a loss. A pickup truck is driven down a snow covered road under an Iowa Caucus sign on Friday The unrest before the caucus shows how all gloves are off amongst candidates, seen here the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday As the candidates jostle for pole position, Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has pulled ahead of Ron DeSantis in a new Iowa poll ahead of Monday's caucuses 'That's a bare minimum for Trump. Anything below that shows - and will get blown up as - vulnerability,' stategesist Doug Heye said. Chris LaCivita, co-manager of the Trump campaign, said he was confident that the 'intensity' of the former president's base would translate into a big win despite the cold gripping the Midwestern state. However, on Thursday, he also issued a scathing rebuke of Ramaswamy alongside his high-progile comments. 'If you support @realDonaldTrump, you sure as hell dont vote for this FAKE,' the startlingly similar post to X read, resharing Ramaswamy's photo of the Trump-shirts. When asked by reporters Thursday, he stopped short of predicting the kind of win suggested by the polls. 'A win's a win, but no one has ever won by more than... 12.8,' LaCivita said. The unrest before the caucus shows how all gloves are off amongst candidates as they jostle for pole position in the all-important presidential race, which will kick off in the Midwest Monday when Republicans pick their preferred nominee. One wild card is turnout - amid worries that Trump's supporters will stay home given his comfortable polling lead. As a result, Trump has warned against complacency at recent rallies. One wild card is turnout - amid worries that Trump's supporters will stay home given his comfortable polling lead. He is seen here participating in a Fox News Town Hall on Wednesday, as other candidates took part in the debate 'Ten days from now, the people of this state are going to cast the most important vote of your entire lives,' Trump told several hundred supporters gathered in Sioux Center Friday evening. He implored them to turn out on caucus night, warning, 'Bad things happen when you sit back.' Another risk for Trump is a strong showing by Haley, who has surfaced as his biggest threat, if polls are to be taken seriously. If she were to secure second place, it could establish her as the clear alternative to Trump, giving her a boost in New Hampshire, analysts said. 'We will have a strong showing in Iowa and ride that momentum into New Hampshire,' Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said Saturday. She would not quantify how close they hoped to come to Trump Monday. Nikki Haley has campaigned in Iowa with a sweater by a pro-Palestinian celebrity designer who called the Hamas terrorist attack 'revenge' against Israel for being 'trapped in massive prison'. The Republican presidential hopeful and former United Nations Ambassador first donned the $235 'She Who Dares Wins' Alice Temperley pullover during an on-camera interview in Cedar Rapids with KCRG. The candidate, who is battling for second place in the caucus behind Donald Trump, also wore the green design on Saturday as she told her supporters to wrap up to get out to vote in the sub-zero temperatures. Temperley, a favorite of Kate Middleton and Hollywood stars, sparked outrage in October when she expressed support for a Gaza ceasefire in a now-edited Instagram message in October. The British designer went so far as to suggest that Hamas terrorists were justified in wanting 'revenge' against Israel. In the post, Temperley said 'the West helped create Hamas through decades of torment and devastation in Gaza'. Nikki Haley donned a sweater from pro-Palestine designer Alice Temperley with the phrase 'She Who Dares Wins' across the front during a campaign stop in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday Alice Temperley (left) posted a message to her Instagram in the midst of Israeli-Palestinian war suggested Hamas terrorists were justified in their deadly attack because of wanting 'revenge' against the Jewish State. Pictured right: The website image of the Temperley London sweater that urges buyers to 'wear with pride this International Women's Day' Haley has been staunch in her support of Israel on the campaign trail, rejected any calls for a ceasefire and told Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to 'finish' Hamas. But her choice of designer has raised eyebrows after her social media response to the October 7 attacks that killed thousands of Israeli civilians. In the post, Temperley continued: 'If you blow kids and their family's [sic] up and trap them in a massive prison with constant kidnapping and bombardment - then of course they are going to seek revenge and be very angry (as I would be in their position) 'No freedom, no rights and now genocide threatening 2.2 million people who are being refused aid, food and water. The designer's post was met with a wave of criticism, with one follower asking: 'Are you seriously implying Hamas were somehow justified in brutally raping, murdering and kidnapping women and small children two weeks ago? Shame on you indeed.' In response to one of her critics, she wrote: 'If someone came and cut your child up, you would want to retaliate is all I am saying I can see how the 70 years has created this.' Temperley later edited her original Instagram post to include a condemnation of any acts of violence. She wrote that she was 'heartbroken for the innocent lives lost on both sides of yet another tragic unimaginable war'. The designer added that she 'empathized with both sides' and 'do not agree with any acts of violence'. The comments on the edited post have been turned off. Temperly's website notes that the designer 'pays homage to the women in our lives' with the sweater's banner and prompts those who buy it to 'wear with pride this International Women's Day.' Notably, Haley is the only woman running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary and she switches off-and-on with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the race for second place behind former President Donald Trump. A voter attending a DeSantis' campaign stop in West Des Moines, Iowa on Saturday told DailyMail.com that one of the reasons she doesn't support the former South Carolina Governor is because of her giving into identity politics. 'She pulls the identity politics thing, like 'I'm a girl,' or, you know, being a daughter of immigrants and that kind of stuff,' said Amy Meyer, 51, from Urbandale, Iowa. 'It's like what you accomplish and do is much more important than, you know, immutable characteristics,' she added of why she doesn't feel Haley is an option in the caucus on Monday. 'It's the wrong messaging for me.' She took to Instagram on Saturday to share her thoughts on the conflict between Israel and Hamas In response to one of her critics, she wrote: 'If someone came and cut your child up, you would want to retaliate is all I am saying I can see how the 70 years has created this.' Amy Meyer, 51, is a data analyst from Urbandale, Iowa supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in Monday's caucus. She told DailyMail.com at a campaign stop in West Des Moines on Saturday that she doesn't support Haley because of her identity politics. 'She pulls the identity politics thing, like 'I'm a girl,' or, you know, being a daughter of immigrants and that kind of stuff... It's the wrong messaging for me,' Meyer said DeSantis' campaign has noted that Haley has previously said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton inspired her to run for office in an attack line suggesting his competitor is too far left. Haley has said on several occasions over the years that Clinton was a big reason she got into public service because of her statements on the importance of women being in politics. But that comment is usually followed up with criticism of the failed 2016 Democratic presidential candidate. In addition to Haley's sweater being designed by someone who has expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments in the midst of the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza, it also has a China manufacturer. A customer care executive at Temperley London noted when reached about the top that the sweater was 'produced in a factory that's a family business and our longstanding partner in China.' Haley and DeSantis have publicly shared words slamming each other for not being tough enough on China or having links to the communist party in their roles as leaders of their respective states. Speaking in Cedar Falls, Iowa on Saturday, Haley marked her seventh straight in-person event where she did not take questions from the audience. During Friday's telerallies held in lieu of her canceled events due to the ongoing blizzard in Iowa Haley did open the floor for questions. DeSantis has canceled minimal events, though his schedule has been pushed a number of times due to inclement weather. The Florida governor has also opened up the floor for questions from audience members at his campaign stops, while also holding press conferences after his public remarks. A 37-year-old hairdresser who was rejected from a job because she was 'too old' has not ruled out taking legal action against the Sydney barbershop. Maria Neilsen told Daily Mail Australia she is weighing up her options after the store's male manager knocked back her job application because of her age. Ms Neilsen, who has more than 10 years experiencing in the hairstyling industry, messaged the manager in December to express interest in an online job advertisement - only to be told he wanted 'someone younger' to fill the role. Ms Neilsen said she is considering the potential next steps she could take - which could include lodging a complaint to Anti-Discrimination NSW or taking legal action. 'I was shocked, I never imagined I would receive a message like that,' she said. 'I've been a hairdresser since 2011 and worked as a barber since 2016 and I'm good at what I do. Ms Nielsen (above) was left 'shocked and offended' by the employer's response in which he said he was looking for 'someone a bit younger' 'So the fact that he chose to make a decision on my age instead of giving me a trial to see what I can do, has just become a big question to me.' Ms Neilsen applied for a position at the store in late 2023 but was turned away at the final stage when the employee she would have replaced decided to stay on. However, she saw the same shop was advertising another job a few months later so decided to apply again. Ms Nielsen texted the manager to let him know she was interested in the position but his reply left her stunned. 'Hi, I saw your ad on Indeed. I would like to apply for the job again,' she wrote. The employer wrote back: 'I'm sorry but honestly, I don't want to be rude but, with all my respect, as I have a lot of young clients I'm looking for someone a bit younger to work with me. 'Hope you don't get offended. Thanks again.' Ms Neilsen said she was so shocked by the reply that she initially laughed. It wasn't until she showed her husband that the nastiness of the message hit her. 'I showed my husband and he was like, "Wow, that's very offensive" and I was like, "Yeah, it is",' she said. Maria Nielsen, 37, was told by an employer (above) she was too old to work at his barbershop 'Afterwards, it's just made me feel like I need to think a bit more about my future and what options I have.' While she is still looking for employment in hair industry, Ms Neilsen said her hobby baking business, Sweets'n'Danes, which sells Danish-inspired desserts, has fortunately been busy. It is illegal for an employer to reject someone based on their age - as well as race, religion or gender - in Australia. The offence is known as 'ageism'. The main defence for discrimination is if the candidate cannot properly perform the 'inherent requirements' of job. For example, a candidate that's too young to hold a driver's licence can't be hired as a delivery driver. Macpherson Kelley principal lawyer for employment, safety and migration John-Anthony Hodgens said applicants can sue employers for discrimination. Compensation could reach up to $30,000. 'We can see an increased willingness on the behalf of courts to increase compensation with a view to sending a message of deterrence to prevent people from engaging in this sort of behaviour,' Mr Hodgens said. He warned employers: 'Be conscious of recruiting practices and procedures.' Violent crime on London's tube network has risen by a staggering 75 per cent in the last two years under Sadiq Khan's leadership, official figures show. Data compiled by the British Transport Police recorded 3,542 incidents on the underground in the 12 months to last November, compared to 2,029 two years ago. As many as 909 sexual offences, excluding rape, were reported between December 1 and November 30, 2023, compared to 866 in the previous 12 months. The number of robberies also rose steeply to 736, up from 442. Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrat MP for Richmond Park, who obtained the BTP figures through a Freedom of Information request, said that 'women deserve to feel safe on public transport. Yet these alarming figures risk telling a different story'. Ms Olney called on the Mayor and the government to develop a strategy to tackle the rise in crime, previously a named priority for Mr Khan. Speaking to the rise in violent crime, the MP told The Sun on Sunday: 'Violent crime is becoming a much bigger anxiety for my constituents. 'That has to do with falling numbers of police officers on the streets and not being able to get hold of them. The Government and the Mayor of London cannot stand by and let this happen.' Ms Olney called on the Mayor and the government to develop a strategy to tackle the rise in crime, previously a named priority for Mr Khan (pictured on the tube) Mayor Sadiq Khan travels on the London Underground's Jubilee line on August 29 last year British Transport Police attributed the rise in crime on the tube to traveller numbers returning to pre-Covid levels. Daily passenger levels were 85 per cent of those recorded pre-pandemic by August 2023. They were as low as half those levels in May 2021, the BBC reported. READ MORE: Met Police bosses plan to cut the number of murder detectives in London as homicide rates remain high Advertisement Detective Chief Supt Paul Furnell, head of crime and public protection with BTP, told The Sun: 'Public safety is our number one priority and our officers are working hard to deter and detect crime.' He said there had been 'an increase in solve rates' for robbery and sexual offences' and assured that BTP use a 'variety of tactics' to ensure journeys 'stay safe'. Among its campaigns, the British Transport Police has introduced an app allowing travellers to report crime, and is running a campaign against sexual harassment on the network. Londoners can also text 61016 to report crime on rail services. A full guidance page can be found here. A spokesperson for the Mayor of London told MailOnline: 'It is vital that everyone is safe and feels safe when travelling around London. 'Crime rates on the TfL network are considerably lower than on National Rail services and you can't directly compare the figures with previous years when far fewer people were travelling on the tube due to the pandemic. 'The Mayor continues to work with TfL, National Rail and policing partners in the Met, City of London and British Transport Police to tackle sexual assaults, stamp out predatory behaviour and ensure a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of sexual harassment across London's transport network. 'This includes ensuring we have 2,500 police officers and police community support officers and 500 TfL enforcement officers patrolling the network.' The office also urged anyone who experiences or witnesses harassment on the TfL network to report it to the police or a member of TfL's staff 'so that swift action can be taken against the perpetrator to help ensure they face justice and prevent it from happening to others.' Late last year it was revealed tube crime had soared by 56 per cent in the space of a year. The number of crimes between April and September on the underground was 10,836, compared with 6,924 in the same period in 2022. That included a rise in the number of thefts recorded from 2,935 in 2022 to 5,378 in 2023. The number of robberies soared from 164 to 340. The Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) said the 56 per cent increase in reported crime on the Tube this year was fuelled by a big rise in thefts and robberies. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said at the time: 'These soaring crime rates come as no surprise to Tube workers who are on the frontline every day in this increasingly hostile environment. 'RMT has been warning for many years that instead of an agenda of austerity and constant cutbacks we need decent staffing levels and investment to ensure a safe and secure transport network for London.' Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London. PA Photo. Picture date: Monday December 16, 2019 A passenger waits for an underground train in London, Britain, 6 January 2024 The Metropolitan Police has also reported challenges linked to a lack of adequate funding to tackle serious crime. In August last year it was reported the government had withdrawn 31 million in recruitment funding from Scotland Yard in spite of warnings it was already anticipating a shortfall in staff of some 2,000 officers by 2024. Ministers had set aside funding as part of a Tory manifesto pledge to recruit 20,000 new officers over a period of five years by March 2023, dubbed the Police Uplift Programme. As the Met did not meet its recruitment targets, it was then hit with an compounded loss of 30.8 million earmarked as grant funding. A spokesperson for mayor Sadiq Khan said at the time the decision was 'ill-judged' and 'deeply regrettable', as reported by the Evening Standard. Powerful 'puberty blocker' drugs given to hundreds of young people who are confused about their gender significantly risks lowering their IQs, a leading scientific expert has warned. In an alarming study, Sallie Baxendale, professor of clinical neuropsychology at University College London, called for 'urgent' research into the impact of the drugs on children's brain functions. NHS England stopped routinely prescribing the drugs, which halt bodily changes in puberty, last year after a damning review found that the treatment could interrupt the process of the brain maturing. But private gender clinics are still giving puberty suppressants to under 16s in the UK and trans activists insist the drugs are safe. Now Prof Baxendale has presented evidence about the 'detrimental impact' of the controversial drugs on young people's IQ levels. Sallie Baxendale, professor of clinical neuropsychology at University College London , called for 'urgent' research into the impact of the drugs on children's brain functions Powerful 'puberty blocker' drugs given to hundreds of young people who are confused about their gender significantly risks lowering their IQs A study, which looked at 25 girls being treated with the puberty blockers, found there was an average drop of seven points in their IQs. One patient experienced a 'significant loss' of 15 points or more, Prof Baxendale said. The girls all suffered from 'precocious puberty' leading to the early onset of adulthood. 'Young people and their families are unable to give truly informed consent for these treatments as their doctors cannot tell them what the long-term effects on their cognitive development will be,' said Prof Baxendale. Stephanie Davies-Arai, of Transgender Trend, which has campaigned against the prescription of puberty blockers to young people, said: 'Proper long-term studies have never been done to prove they are safe. It is a myth blockers are 'reversible' when given at the time of natural puberty. They prevent a critical period of growth and cognitive development.' A senior Tory MP has been secretly recorded saying that Rishi Sunak's flagship Rwanda Bill is going to be 'ripped to pieces' and claimed that voters are not really interested in efforts to tackle immigration. The remarks by Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Board and Cities of London MP Nickie Aiken a member of the One Nation faction that objects to Mr Sunak's plans to legislate to circumvent human rights laws came as the Prime Minister told The Mail on Sunday that he 'won't let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off'. In an exclusive interview ahead of a Commons showdown this week over his Safety of Rwanda Bill, Mr Sunak said that he was confident it will work and the key is to get it up and running as soon as possible. Mr Sunak is facing opposition from more than 50 Tory MPs on the Right of the party who want to toughen the Bill with a series of amendments designed to close more legal loopholes, but also from Ms Aiken's One Nation wing who think it already goes too far. Speaking at a private fundraising event in Wimbledon on the eve of the Rwanda Bill's second reading in December, Ms Aiken said the Tory Party needed to 'move away' from talking about immigration. MP Nickie Aiken a member of the One Nation faction that objects to Mr Sunak's plans to legislate to circumvent human rights laws - has said the Rwanda plan is going to be 'ripped to pieces' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said that he was confident his Rwanda plan will work and the key is to get it up and running as soon as possible She said: 'Honestly, when people keep talking about immigration, I personally think we need to move away from immigration. 'It's about the cost of living. It's about the economy. It's about making sure people have got jobs because when people have got good jobs, highly skilled jobs, and we've got the education and the degrees or the apprenticeships or whatever it is, that's what people want.' Ms Aiken, who started by thanking the party supporters for 'sticking with us' because, in reference to splits over issues such as Rwanda, 'it can't have been easy at the moment because my colleagues in the parliamentary party don't make it that easy', went on to say that 'for too long' the party had been 'putting immigration all in one big pot'. She said: 'It's not one big pot, there is illegal immigration, there are refugees, and then there is what we need from immigration for our economy. We've got to keep those separate and we've got to ensure we have policies for all three. 'And that's why I think at the moment, with the Rwanda Bill, it is important to get it through second reading, then David [Hunt, Tory peer] and his House can rip it to pieces probably and bring it back to us for third reading.' The comments highlight the almost impossible juggling act Mr Sunak is trying to perform to keep both wings of his party happy. In his MoS interview, Mr Sunak said that the Bill would allow migrants to be stopped from using the European Court of Human Rights 'Rule 39' to injunct attempted deportations. The Rwanda Bill would allow migrants to be stopped from using the European Court of Human Rights 'Rule 39' to injunct attempted deportations. Pictured: Migrants arrive in Dover on Saturday He said: 'I won't let a foreign court stop us from getting flights off and from getting this deterrent up and running. 'There shouldn't be a reason for Strasbourg to intervene, given the checks and balances that exist in our system. If you are asking me if there are circumstances in which I can imagine ignoring Rule 39 from Strasbourg then the answer is clearly yes, there are.' He added: 'You can look at the comments from eminent lawyers, all of whom have come out and said that they believe this is the toughest form of law that has ever been brought to Parliament in this area. 'It closes off all the avenues that people have used to stop it in the past. People claiming asylum this Bill blocks it. 'People claiming modern slavery this Bill blocks it. People making spurious human rights claims this Bill disapplies those bits. People saying Rwanda isn't safe this Bill deals with that.' Stressing that he was 'determined to stick it out', despite the opposition from his party, Mr Sunak said: 'I'm confident it will work and the key is just to get it up and running as quickly as possible. 'Anyone who wants to tackle this problem should share that ambition and get behind it. 'We've made progress in the first year that I've been Prime Minister... and I want to finish the job.' Last night, Ms Aiken issued a statement saying: 'It is imperative we stop the boats and illegal immigration and I do think the Lords will amend and attempt to change the Bill. I voted at second reading and plan to vote for the Bill as it stands at third reading.' No 10 is braced for the release on Monday of a detailed constituency-by-constituency poll that is expected to paint a bleak picture of the party's prospects, and in particular on the failure of the Tories to make headway on immigration. A source said: 'This will allow MPs to look up their individual seats and see whether they are going to keep their jobs after the Election. It is not going to be pretty'. An ABU Dhabi-backed firm hoping to take over the Telegraph newspapers has recruited former Chancellor George Osborne to help, it was reported last night. RedBird IMI, which is part-funded by an Emirati royal, is understood to have hired Robey Warshaw, a boutique investment bank which has Mr Osborne among its four partners, shortly before Christmas. The move is thought to be designed to boost chances of winning control of The Telegraph and Spectator. More than 70 MPs have voiced opposition to its bid, due to the threat to Press freedom. Broadcast regulator Ofcom is investigating public interest concerns and is due to report its findings to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer. An ABU Dhabi-backed firm hoping to take over the Telegraph newspapers has recruited former Chancellor George Osborne to help The move is thought to be designed to boost chances of winning control of The Telegraph and Spectator Chief executive of RedBird IMI Jeff Zucker, a former CNN boss, hopes Mr Osborne's clout with the Conservative Party will help the firm navigate its way through Westminster, The Sunday Times claimed last night. Mr Osborne has had a string of high-profile jobs since quitting politics. He became Robey Warshaw's fourth partner in 2021. Emily Sheffield, who succeeded Mr Osborne as editor of the London Evening Standard in 2020, accused him of lacking principles over his reported role in the takeover. She wrote on X/Twitter: 'A former Chancellor aiding a state to buy one of our media institutions? There is a precedent being set here. Principles do matter.' If Ofcom's findings derail RedBird IMI's plans, The Telegraph's directors would relaunch an auction, which previously attracted bidders including the Mail's publisher. Last night, the MoS tried to contact RedBird IMI and Mr Osborne for comment. Millions of Aussies will soon be able to change their gender on their birth certificate as one state gets set to usher in a massive change. The change is taking place in Western Australia and comes weeks after Premier Roger Cook's government ruled out genderless birth certificates for newborns. The new gender selection is part of an update to the Equal Opportunity Act which was announced in late 2022. However, a year on and the changes are still being drafted. The proposed changes will include a third gender option that will retrospectively allow a person to change their identity to non-binary. The government has not disclosed what the minimum age will be for teenagers who want to be recognised as non-binary. A massive change to birth certificates will ensure millions of adults and teenagers will now be able select non-binary for their gender (non-binary flag pictured) The reforms mean people who want to update their sex or gender information on their birth certificate no longer have to show they have undertaken surgical or medical intervention Teenagers will be required to gain parental consent to change their sex status on their document. 'WAs proposed reforms will take into account the extensive 2018 review and report by the WA Law Reform Commission,' a state government spokesperson told The West Australian. 'As announced at the time, the report recommended that the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1998 be amended to provide for the gender classifications of male, female and non-binary. They said having the third option is in line with the Commonwealth Government's approach to passports as well as being aligned with other states and territories. It had also been announced the Gender Reassignment Board would be abolished. The government instead introduced legislation for a more streamlined process for gender recognition in Western Australia. The reforms mean people who want to update their sex or gender information on their birth certificate no longer have to show they have undertaken surgical or medical intervention. They instead need to be able to provide a certificate from their doctor or psychologist that confirms they have received treatment in relation to their sex or gender identity. The Government has not disclosed what the minimum age will be for teenagers who want to be recognised as non-binary Millions of Western Australian teens and adults will be able to apply to change their document Applications would be processed by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Sources in the government said they had thought about instigating the Tasmanian model which allows selecting gender on birth certificates to be optional. But they said the government was too nervous to bring this in as it was too politically sensitive. 'There will be no change to the way in which a childs sex at birth is recorded or displayed on a birth certificate under any reform dealing with gender recognition, a spokesperson for Mr Quigley said. The family of a Louisiana grandmother who died in a violent carjacking which saw her arm torn off has issued a scathing message to her killer. John Honore, 18, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years on Friday for the murder of Linda Frickey, 73, on March 21, 2022. He and a gang of teens ripped open the elderly woman's car door and dragged her out of the vehicle. They sped away with her still in the car, trapped by her seatbelt, until the force severed one of her arms. She died of her injuries shortly afterwards. Her sister-in-law, Kathy Richard, issued an emotional message to Honore from the witness stand, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune. 'When you take your last breath, may the only thing you hear be the hellhounds coming for you, to drag your a back down to where you belong,' she said. Linda Frickey, 73, was killed in March 2022 when four teens sped away with her still in the car in Louisiana She was trapped by her seatbelt and the force severed one of her arms John Honore, 18, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years on Friday for the murder of Linda Frickey, 73, on March 21, 2022 Prosecutors refused to give Honore a plea deal and it took a jury less than four hours to convict him of second degree murder on November 27. 'Personally, I hope you dont make it out of there [prison], and that those hellhounds come after you quick,' Richard said in court on Friday. Linda's sister Jinnylynn Griffin provided a statement outside of court following the sentencing. 'We got justice. He got what he deserved,' she said. 'He's a little punk, okay. 'He deserves to go where he is going. He is a demon and God saw that demon that day. Linda's arm got severed and God let her die with good people who loved her. 'We're put away the demons now and the future demons they better look out because the DA's office is not playing anymore.' When Linda was attacked last year, shocking surveillance footage captured the moment four youths zeroed in on her car, ripping open the door and tearing her out of the vehicle. After police shared surveillance footage from the day of the attack in a search for information, one of the girls' mothers recognized her and marched her to the police station. Attorneys for Hodges tried to plead his case, claiming he was an idiotic adolescent who didn't have the ability to make decisions knowing the weight of their consequences. In a letter to Frickey's family, he begged for mercy. Linda's sister Jinnylynn Griffin provided a statement outside of court following the sentencing. 'We got justice. He got what he deserved,' she said. 'He's a little punk, okay' The grandmother screamed for her assailants to let her go before her arm was severed and clothes were torn off 'To the family of Ms. Linda Frickey, I am John and I am so sorry I apologize for you having to go through what you are going through. No person's family should have to go through that type of hurt. 'I made the biggest mistake of my life that day. I think about what you and the family may be going through every day. I say the 'our father' prayer every day and night. 'I ask for forgiveness everyday. I have wanted to write you all a letter for a long time but I didn't know what to say and I still don't know what to say. 'I just want you to know sincerely I am sorry. 'I know words may change how you feel but I want you to know that I'm aware of how serious this is and I think I am doing the right thing.' His accomplices were all given plea deals for manslaughter and were jailed for 20 years. They are Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar'Qel Curtis. All four were arrested in 2022 after police shared surveillance footage of them on the day of the attack. Briniyah Baker, 17, Lenyra Theophile, 16, and Mar'Qel Curtis (pictured) pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter before Honore's conviction Honore wrote a letter to Frickey's family to beg for mercy At a vigil for the grandmother last year, Rickey Frickey paid a heartbreaking tribute to his late wife after her life was ended so abruptly. 'I love her and I miss her very much,' he told WDSU. 'It's just hard going on without her, she did everything.' Speaking beside her gravestone, he continued: 'I come here every Sunday morning to see her... sometimes I don't believe it.' Rickey is suing the parents of four teenagers who dismembered his wife by viciously dragging her along behind her own SUV. He launched a lawsuit to hold the parents 'responsible', his attorney said, holding them partly to blame for her death in a newly filed suit, seeking at least $50,000 in damages. The uncle of a promising young surfer who took his own life has opened up about his nephew's death and suicide note. Logan Steinwede, 20, was known as a 'super happy kid' and was on the verge of going professional before he took his life on November 6. His death was a thunderbolt for his mum Karina Foran, and her brother Justin Coulson, 48, who is a well-known psychologist specialising in parenting. Dr Coulson, who co-hosts Channel Nine's Parental Guidance show and has written nine books on raising children, said they were shattered by Mr Steinwede's death. 'Nobody in the family had any hint it was coming. We can draw a line through a whole lot of things, but as for a trigger, we just don't know,' he told the Sunday Mail. Mr Steinwede left a suicide note which was 'almost entirely expressions of love and sadness', his uncle said, while Ms Foran, 44, said she will never recover from her son's death. The suicide death of a promising young surfer Logan Steinwede - who was on the verge of going professional - on November 6 shocked and devastated his family, especially as they didn't see it coming. Mr Steinwede is pictured with his mum, Karina Foran Dr Coulson (pictured), who hosts Channel Nine's Parental Guidance program, said his nephew was 'the most energetic and delightful kid I know. Kind. Fun. Laughing all the time' The mum of six, who is also a step-mum to two with her husband, Gold Coast Titans player Kieran Foran, said she would 'do anything to change the outcome, I would trade my life to get his back'. Dr Coulson, who is the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, said he didn't think his nephew had any idea of how much sadness his death would cause. Mr Steinwede took his own life while staying at his maternal grandparents' house on the NSW Central Coast. In stark words written on social media two days later, Dr Coulson said: 'My nephew died on Sunday night. He died by suicide.' 'My mum and dad his Nan and Pop found him on Monday morning,' Dr Coulson wrote. After realising it was too late for Logan to be saved, the grandparents then faced the awful task of calling their daughter, Ms Foran, to break the devastating news. She was in Melbourne with her husband and they had to tell her she needed to come home because her son had just died. Dr Coulson said his nephew was 'the most energetic and delightful kid I know. Kind. Fun. Laughing all the time.' He said his children loved hanging out with their cousin Logan, and he did too. 'We surfed together at Kirra last year when the surf was as good as it gets,' he wrote. 'Surfing was his thing... so much so that he was close to pro.' The psychologist detailed the horrific moment when his parents found their grandson's body. He said it was 'too late to help. Too late to do anything except scream "No". 'Too late for him to hear them as they cried his name over and over again: "Logan! Logan! Logan! Logan!" "No, no, no, no, no!!!!" 'How do you hold the body of your grandson for the last time? That was what my parents did on Monday morning.' He also spoke of what he called 'the ripple effect... as each new person discovers the awful truth'. 'Logan is dead? How? Suicide? No! Not Logan! How can that be? He was so happy. No! Please no.' Logan Steinwede (pictured) loved surfing and was so good he was close to being a professional In stark words on social media, Dr Coulson said 'My nephew died on Sunday night. He died by suicide.' Logan is pictured Dr Coulson (pictured left) co-hosts Parental Guidance with Ally Langdon (right) Dr Coulson said the suicide note 'won't bring peace or relief to anyone... Because he's dead'. Ms Foran remembered her son as 'fearless and impulsive and maybe there was something that was missed you run around a million times in your head and it's f***** up'. She said she had 'an amazing bond' with her son and that they talked about everything. 'Logan knew how much he was loved, so his death is earth-shattering.' The mum, who works as a gym instructor and retail assistant, said her husband has been a rock for her, asking her 'what do you need today, babe?' every morning. 'But nothing can replace a part of you that's no longer there,' she said. Ms Foran said if she could talk to other people with suicidal thoughts she would tell them they should ask for help and tell others how they are feeling, that there is nothing that can't be solved with someone's help. 'The space he has left is so empty all those things you think suck as a parent, they're the things I miss I most.' Dr Coulson said the family's grief was never ending, but that constantly searching for reasons was not helpful - even though they have done that themselves. He said when people wake up in the morning they can feel okay for 10 seconds or a minute, but then their brain reminds them of what happened. 'You don't just lose somebody once, you lose them every single day for the rest of your life it is overwhelmingly and tragically said because it feels like it should have been completely avoidable.' Writing last November, Dr Coulson said he wanted people to know some facts about suicide in this country - and to reach out to anyone who might be struggling. 'There are nine suicides every single day in Australia,' he wrote. 'Seven of those nine suicides each day are men. Two of those nine are women.' Suicide is the leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. 'Suicide is a complex issue and rarely is there just one factor that leads to someone taking their own life,' he wrote. He pointed out what can be done to help, saying that strong social connections reduce the chance of suicide. Logan Steinwede (pictured right) has been remembered as being a 'super happy kid' Dr Couson said his children loved hanging out with their cousin Logan (pictured) and he did too 'Please, please, please, PLEASE be kind. Be compassionate. Be gentle. Be inclusive. Be supportive. Be less critical and judgmental and more of a cheerleader,' Dr Coulson said. 'Don't be on your kid's back (or your partner/spouse's back). Instead, make sure you've got their back. Love them and make sure they know it. They have to know they matter.' Dr Coulson also said that people should stop saying 'I have no words' when they are confronted with tragic news, even though using that phrase is well-intentioned. In October, on his Happy Families Podcast, he spoke with Colin Campbell, the author of a book called Finding the Words, which he wrote after his two teenagers died in a car crash. 'Colin makes the point that when we say "there are no words" we are, in some sense, reducing the person's life to nothing. 'We have to find the words, because the words we find tell the stories of those we love. And those stories help us to celebrate their life and our love for them,' he said. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 An alleged survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking ring has detailed her reaction to this month's 'retraumatizing' document dump - which has her lawyer already airing plans to sue the FBI. Joined by attorney Jennifer Freeman, Elizabeth Stein said she is also suing Ghislaine Maxwell and the late sex pest's estate, after reading an impact statement at the socialite's sentencing that claimed she was a student when Maxwell approached her. Speaking to Law&Crime, she provided a similar account of how she was allegedly thrust into Epstein's sordid syndicate - before detailing how the document's release has impacted her and others who have come forward. She called the release and subsequent lack of action 'triggering', but necessary if those involved - apart from Maxwell - are ever to be held accountable. Freeman, meanwhile, unveiled her plans to sue the US's foremost federal law enforcement agency, claiming they ignored reports from another Epstein accuser - and that the government knew what the financier was doing and 'allowed it.' Scroll down for video: Elizabeth Stein, an alleged survivor of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking ring, has revealeed her reaction to this month's document dump - calling it 'retraumatizing' Representing Stein in a suit against Ghislaine Maxwell and the sex pest's estate is Jennifer Freeman, who was present for the interview and aired tentative plans to sue the FBI on behalf of another accuser. She alleged the government knew what Epstein was doing and 'allowed it' The conversation began with host Jesse Weber asking Stein how she feels now that more than 100 previously redacted names on a long-settled suit against Maxwell from fellow accuser Virginia Giuffre have been made public. To that, the woman who claims she was assaulted, raped, and trafficked 'countless times' over the course of a three year period replied: 'I think that you know one of the pieces that we really haven't heard a lot about in the media, is what the impact of this all is on survivors.' 'I think that, you know, all of us who have come forward and told our stories, it's taken a lot- you know... it takes a lot for someone to talk about the worst things that ever happened to them,' she continued. She went on to explain why tying the nitty gritty of details in Giuffre's suit - which was settled out of court in 2017 - to certain names is important, claiming that without them, the public will never know the true extent of Epstein's and others' crimes. 'To some extent, I think that you are able to - I don't want to say control the public narrative, because that's not what I mean - but I think that when you tell your story, you're telling your general story, without all of the details,' Stein said. 'And I think that one of the things that we need to consider is that this document release is a release of all of the intimate details of these survivors experiences - so while people might know that these women are survivors, they might not know, you know, the minutia of what their experience was. 'And I think that it's important to remember that this is re-traumatizing to survivors,' she continued. She alleges that she was lured into Epstein's sordid sex trafficking ring after Epstein approached her while she worked at a department store, before being trafficked over a three-year period in both Florida and New York The remarks came after Stein - seen here leaving Maxwell's June 2022 sentencing with fellow accusers Sarah Ransome - was asked how she feels now that more than 100 previously redacted names on a settled suit against the socialite have been made public. Stein, who contends she was trafficked 'countless times' over the course of a three year period in New York and Florida, said: 'I think that you know one of the pieces that we really haven't heard a lot about in the media, is what the impact of this all is on survivors' 'You know, it's one thing to have the public know, generally, that you're a survivor of human trafficking,' she added. 'It's another thing to have them know the very gory details - and the most the most intimate secrets - of your life.' She went on to concede that while having such details available to the greater public 'is really difficult,' it provides a solution for what she said has 'been missing from [the Epstein] conversation until now - 'survivor voice.' 'It's, what is the impact on us, and for a lot of us, you know,' Stein said. 'This is a sex trafficking ring that went on for decades, and all of the survivors are at various places in their recovery.' She added: 'And to be bombarded by this constantly in the news - and to feel the invalidation that nothing's really being done about it - is consistently triggering to the victims.' The conversation, at that point, hovered around the potential ethical and legal implications of the recent document release, which Freeman explained likely would have gone unnoticed if it was still an ongoing litigation between two people. 'If it were [a private deposition]' she said, '[other accusers] might not have known that these details were going to be released.' She went on to concede that while having such details available to the greater public 'is really difficult,' it provides a solution for what she said has 'been missing from [the Epstein] conversation until now - 'survivor voice.' 'It's, what is the impact on us, and for a lot of us, you know,' Stein said The attorney went on to offer a theory as to why Epstein's crimes went unnoticed for so many years - one that involved another one of her clients in Maria Farmer (pictured), the first to file a formal complaint against Epstein, and the Federal Bureau of investigation She went on to offer a theory as to why Epstein's crimes went unnoticed for so many years - one that involved another one of her clients in Maria Farmer, the first to file a formal complaint against Epstein, and the Federal Bureau of investigation. The Bureau was the agency that Farmer - a visual artist based in New York who was diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor in 2019 - contacted in 1996 and again in 2006 to report how she was her then 15-year-old sister had been allegedly sexually assaulted by Epstein and Maxwell in separate locations in 1996. The FBI never made an arrest - a decision Freeman called dubious, at best. 'I've filed what's called a notice of claim - which is a statutory prerequisite to bringing a claim against a federal agency like the FBI,' she explained. 'We will be filing a lawsuit in the near future against the FBI to find out why, when Maria Farmer... reported Epstein and Maxwell and others in 1996 the FBI did nothing, and then why in 2006, when she reported again, they did nothing.' Referencing Giuffre - whose alleged plight at the hands of Epstein lasted from 1999 to 2002 - Freeman went on: 'And why was another of our clients trafficked at the very time that uh he was supposedly Epstein was supposedly being investigated in Florida. 'Yet she was trafficked in New York and in at the his little island,' she concluded, after US District Judge Loretta Preska's 51-page order last month revealed how Giuffre previously alleged she was forced to have sex with the Duke of York three times at the behest of both Epstein and Maxwell - in London, New York and on his private Caribbean island. 'How could this happen under the FBI's nose?' the attorney at this point asked, citing Stein's similar plight that she claims took place in New York and Florida between 1994 and 1997.' 'We have lots of theories,' she went on, 'but we [would] really love to be able to get the information to understand what really happened here Did they just not care about these young girls, or was there some kind of - this is just an allegation - confidential relationship with Epstein so the government knew what that he was doing and allowed it, because he was serving some function for the government 'We just don't know,' she admitted. Citing the recent document dump as a sort of first step to securing this sort of knowledge, Freeman saind: 'It's really hard to know without a litigation without having the facts getting to the bottom of what really happened 'And for anybody who needed a crash course in. you know. litigation,' she added, 'clearly seeing this litigation between Maxwell and Giuffre, you see how much information can actually come up. In the settled filing, Giuffre accuses Maxwell of helping Epstein traffic her as a minor, before naming various influential figures allegedly involved. Preska's 51-page order issued on December 18 unmasked 184 of those figures previously listed as either John and Jane Does - leading to a litany of discoveries. Its release has been highly anticipated, as many had alleged they were being withheld from the public eye after the lawsuit was settled out of court in 2017. Republicans in Congress have since fought for its release - including the names of powerful friends and acquaintances of the financier who flew on his private jet. Maxwell, meanwhile, been sentenced to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking as part of a separate criminal case at age 62 Preska's 51-page order issued on December 18 unmasked 184 of those figures previously listed as either John and Jane Does - leading to a litany of discoveries. One of them was Prince Andrew, who was named in a separate suit filed by her that was also settled, but appeared again in the unredacted lawsuit Other names included former President Bill Clinton (seen here with Epstein and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell at the White House in 1993) though he was not accused of any wrongdoing One of them was Prince Andrew, who was named in a separate suit filed by her that was also settled, but appeared again in the unredacted lawsuit. A total of 15 others were accused of 'serious wrongdoing,' while 90 are described as having been 'affiliated' with Epstein in some way. Stein, meanwhile, read an impact statement at the socialite's sentencing, saying she was a student when Maxwell approached her and brought her into the syndicate. 'I was assaulted, raped, and trafficked countless times in New York and Florida during a three-year period,' Stein said in court, adding that she at one point became pregnant and had an abortion. She seeks damages in a lawsuit filed Wednesday, which names two executors for Epstein's estate along with Maxwell. In 1992, when Stein was a teenager attending Fashion Institute of Technology, she began interning at the now-defunct Henri Bendel department store. Stein previously said that she had to have an abortion after getting pregnant at the hands of one of the many men she was trafficked to She alleged that she was lured into Epstein's sordid sex trafficking ring after Epstein approached her while she worked at a department store Maxwell allegedly asked Stein to deliver her purchases to a hotel room, where she was later forced to have a threesome About two years into the job, when she was 21, Maxwell approached her, according to the criminal complaint. As Maxwell shopped, she allegedly claimed that her colleague was close friends with Les Wexner, former CEO of Victoria's Secret, whose retailing and marketing conglomerate once owned Henri Bendel. The complaint states that Maxwell later asked Stein to deliver her purchases to the St. Regis on Fifth Avenue. There, the concierge directed her to the bar, where Maxwell and Epstein were drinking. Stein joined Maxwell and Epstein in a hotel room to deliver the packages. The pair allegedly changed into monogrammed bathrobes before asking about Stein's 'personal and sex life.' They allegedly began kissing and touching each other before asking if Stein had ever participated in a threesome. 'Maxwell then encouraged [Stein] to join them and assured her 'it would be fun,' the complaint reads. As Stein was 'hesitant and afraid of Epstein or Maxwell hurting her physically and professionally,' she complied. At one point, Stein allegedly asked to stop and was ignored. The duo relented after she said her then-boyfriend was on his way home - but as she headed out, Epstein 'handed her cash and stated it was a 'tip,'' the complaint reads. Stein felt 'confused, betrayed, humiliated, and completely violated' by the gesture. What followed was 'a three-year nightmare,' according to the complaint. Despite her efforts to get away from the duo, Maxwell tracked Stein down when she began working at a different store and invited her to a party in fall 1995, the criminal complaint says To 'make up for the assault,' Maxwell invited Stein on a vacation to Epstein's Palm Beach home, where she was raped while other guests looked on, the complaint states In 1994, Stein was asked to be an assistant manager at Henri Bendel, but she declined the role to focus on her schooling. Months later, Maxwell called Stein, furious that she turned down the job offer that 'Maxwell and Epstein were involved in securing,' the complaint says. Stein took a job at Bloomingdale's after graduation. But Maxwell allegedly came in a few months later and 'befriended' her again. In the fall of 1995, Maxwell invited Stein over to Epstein's home for a dinner party, where Stein was brought to a room with a massage table. According to the complaint, she was made to 'engage in sexual acts with others in the room.' Months later, Maxwell allegedly invited Stein to a New Year's Eve party at the Waldorf Astoria and bought her a dress to wear. Stein later learned that her 'date' was Maxwell and Epstein, who allegedly told her to have sex with them. When she resisted, the duo 'became physically aggressive,' made fun of her for taking the subway to the party, and said they were 'going to show her what a train is tonight.' Epstein then raped her vaginally, anally and orally while Maxwell held her down, the complaint says. Afterward, Stein was allegedly raped by an unknown man as she was restrained by Maxwell and Epstein before they all went downstairs. The complaint states that Stein left after she started vomiting. 'To make up for the New Year's sexual assault,' Maxwell invited Stein on a Florida vacation, the complaint alleges. In Florida, Stein was taken to Epstein's Palm Beach home, where she was 'sexually assaulted by the pool while other guests watched.' According to the complaint, Stein began to resist the abuse, which resulted in her being punished. She was allegedly barred from leaving Florida for several days, which led to her being fired from her job. Maxwell was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment last year She earned the nickname 'prison Karen' after filing more than 400 complaints over the unfavorable conditions at FCI Tallahassee After returning home, she learned she had gotten pregnant and was allegedly forced by Maxwell to get an abortion. The duo 'continued stalking her with repeated phone calls and cabled messages to her,' the complaint reads. Stein first attended Maxwell's trial in 2021, watching the proceedings as a member of the public. She returned to Manhattan for the heiress's sentencing in June 2022 and read a victim impact statement, describing the events as 'so traumatizing that to this day I'm unable to speak about them.' She said Epstein and Maxwell 'terrified' her and threatened to kill her if she told anyone what they did. Epstein was found dead in his jail cell in 2019 as he awaited trial. His death was ruled a suicide. Maxwell was convicted two years later and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. She earned the moniker 'prison Karen' at FCI Tallahassee in Florida after filing over 400 complaints about prison conditions. In May, accuser Carolyn Adriano - whose testimony helped put Maxwell behind bars -was found dead in a hotel room of a suspected overdose. Following Maxwell's sentencing, Adriano spoke with Dailymail.com, saying she was glad that her voice had been heard. 'It's so important because I have my own daughters now,' she said during an exclusive interview in 2022. During the trial, Carolyn didn't use her last name, but revealed it to help empower other abuse victims. 'I'm not ashamed at being a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell,' Adriano said. 'For other girls that have been victimized, I want them to know that it is OK to come out and tell somebody even if you don't want to be identified and the sooner the better.' A Woolworths customer was left stunned after a checkout showed the wrong price on screen - with the supermarket blaming it on a technical glitch. The shopper took photos from their check-out screen at the Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane. The screen showed the total cost was $17.90 even though the man calculated himself that the shopping haul should have only been $15.90. The confused customer posted the picture to the Reddit on Saturday, which left other shoppers also unsure why the machine had made the mistake. 'Was annoyed that the amount due on my Woolies purchase did not equate to the individual items I purchased,' the shopper wrote. The shopper took photos from their check-out screen at Woolworths Macarthur Metro store in Brisbane The confused customer posted the picture to the Reddit Australia group on Saturday, which left other shoppers also unsure why the machine had made the mistake The customer warned others to be aware of such mistakes. 'Hoping that you all don't get taken advantage by 'colesworth' further amidst all the already inflated prices,' he said. The Brisbane shopper said he doesn't always add up his shop totals but he wanted to check this time as there weren't many items so the total 'looked fishy'. The shopper asked staff about the discrepancy and they 'double checked' his math before also arriving at the same total as him. The staff removed the mangoes from the man's total, and gave them to him for free. 'I ended up paying $14.10 (on checking my bank records just now) which I just paid and didnt think further,' he wrote. A Woolworths spokesman told Daily Mail Australia the price of $17.90 was actually correct and that the price of the mangoes had been incorrectly displayed on screen. 'The mango price of 80 cents each that appeared on the screen was incorrect due to a technical error - they were on clearance for $1.90 each,' they said. A Woolworths spokesperson has since told Daily Mail Australia the price of $17.90 was actually correct, but the incorrect sale price of mangoes were shown 'We understand why this customer was concerned and we apologise for the confusion caused.' Daily Mail Australia believes Calypso Mangoes are currently $3 and the technical glitch involved the unit pricing which displayed an incorrect sale price. However, the overall total of the man's shop was reached using the correct sale price of the mangoes. 'Our team resolved this with the customer in-store, providing the mangoes free of charge,' the Woolworths spokesman said. 'This appears to be an isolated incident at our Macarthur Metro store, involving the clearance price of a batch of our Calypso Mangoes.' A cafe is being heaped with praised for asking customers to pay with cash and pointing out that it costs them more to use an electronic payment system. Helga's Pancake House in Cairns, in Far North Queensland, has been lauded since a sign in the shop was raised in its store. 'Join the cash revolution! Banks make up to $1million per hour on payment fees! Don't let the banks cash in on you! Pay with cash today!' the sign reads. Owner Birgit Machnitzke said her restaurant isn't cash only, but she put the sign up to let people know about the cost of using a credit or debit card. 'For me, it's all about choices,' Ms Machnitzke told news.com.au. The cafe is just one of several businesses that have been discovered around Australia taking a stand against a cashless society and encouraging cash payments. A cafe owned by Birgit Machnitzke (pictured) is being heaped with praised for asking customers to pay with cash and pointing out it costs them more to use an electronic payment Helga's Pancake House in Cairns in far north Queensland has been lauded since a sign (pictured) in the shop was featured in the Cash is King Australia Facebook group Ms Machnitzke said until six months ago, the cafe was paying fees of up to $1,200 a month to banks after deciding not to pass card payment charges onto its customers. But with the cost of most of stock, power and other bills rising, she decided to no longer absorb the payment fees and added a surcharge to customers paying by EFTPOS or credit cards. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Australia could go cashless by 2026 as the nation's biggest cash delivery services announce huge change Advertisement Despite the added cost, most of her customers still pay by card. She said paying by cash would 'save them money, but a lot don't care'. Credit card and debit card surcharges typically range from 0.5 per cent to 2 per cent of a transaction's value, according to comparison site finder.com.au. But businesses can set their own surcharge amount as long as it is based on the cost of accepting a particular type of payment. With most of her customers happy to still pay by card, Ms Machnitzke has started trying to entice them back to cash offering customers who pay with notes and coins a five per cent discount. Her sign telling people about the charges has led to a lot of conversations about the benefits of cash, as well as a lot of praise online. 'That's the best sign yet,' one Facebook group member wrote, while another said 'Onya Cairns Pancake House. Well done.' Other commenters said she was a 'hero' for taking a stance against electronic payments. The overall trend is going the other way, though, with more than 90 per cent of payments now being done by cards and some predicting Australia could be almost entirely cashless by 2026. Owner Birgit Machnitzke said her restaurant (pictured) isn't cash only, but she put the sign up to let people know about the cost of using a credit or debit card The Heritage Bakery in the NSW south eastern town of Milton recently put up a sign that claims it is 'Australias First Cashless Bakery'. Above an image of a smiling gingerbread man the sign spruiks the benefits of not using physical currency. 'Cashless is quick..., Cashless is clean... Cashless is accurate,' the sign says. 'Thank you for being an early adopter.' Helga's Pancake House is not alone in trying to stem to move away from cash, though, with many other shops, restaurants and businesses putting up similar signs. One in the Victorian town of Kyabram, 200km north of Melbourne, asks people to 'Please pay cash if you can.' A shop (pictured) in the Victorian town of Kyabram, 200km north of Melbourne, asks people to 'Please pay cash if you can' The 'cash is king' movement has become a new favourite of conspiracy theorists, who see electronic payments as something sinister (pictured) It adds that this is a good idea because it avoids banks fees, keeps cash alive, supports local businesses rather than banks and teaches children about money. The sign then finishes with a stark warning that 'Cash is king. Use it or lose it.' The 'cash is king' movement has become a new favourite of conspiracy theorists, who see electronic payments as something sinister. 'Removing our CASH is only possible because of the continuing betrayal of their citizens by the UN-controlled Government Politician TRAITORS in most UN member country governments,' wrote one beside a posting of the Kyabram sign. Donald Trump, 77, took to Truth Social on Saturday to issue a scathing assessment of his fellow GOP candidate just 48 hours before the Iowa caucuses Vivek Ramaswamy has claimed he is 'worried' for Donald Trump after the former president accused him of 'deceitful campaign tricks' in a surprise attack. Trump, 77, took to Truth Social on Saturday to issue a scathing assessment of his fellow GOP candidate just 48 hours before the Iowa caucuses. He wrote the biotech millionaire was distinctly 'not MAGA,' and that a vote for him would help the 'other side.' Ramaswamy, who has expressed support for the former president in the past, took to X later that evening to express his shock at Trump's post. 'Im worried for Trump. Im worried for our country. Ive stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and Ive defended him at every step,' he wrote. Vivek Ramaswamy (center) has claimed he is 'worried' for Donald Trump after the former president accused him of 'deceitful campaign tricks' in a surprise attack Trump, 77, took to Truth Social on Saturday to issue a scathing review of his fellow GOP candidate just 48 hours before the Iowa caucuses Ramaswamy, who has expressed support for the former president in the past, took to X later that evening to express his shock at Trump's post Fresh off a court appearance in New York, Trump hit out Ramaswamy for the first time and told his supporters not to be duped by him. Ramaswamy responded with a lengthy statement on X. He wrote: 'Yes, I saw President Trumps Truth Social post. Its an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I dont think friendly fire is helpful. 'Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and Im not going to criticize him in response to this late attack. 'Ive met tens of thousands of Iowans across 390+ events here, and they are deeply worried - and so am I - that this system wont allow Donald J. Trump anywhere near the White House again. 'It seems they will stop at *nothing* to keep him away from power.' He pointed to how he has always been a supporter of Trump and said: 'I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. 'I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorados ruling. 'I pledged to remove myself from Maines & Colorados primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same.' Ramaswamy went on to claim billionaires are funding lawsuits against Trump to 'prop up Nikki Haley'. He added: 'They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House. 'We cant fall for that trap. 1 year from now, we wont look back and say we were shocked that it happened. Well kick ourselves for not stopping it. 'I want to save Trump & to save this country. Lets do it together. You wont hear any friendly fire from me.' Trump's comments served as the first time he spoke poorly of Ramaswamy who has defended him in the face of his multiple criminal cases. If elected, Ramaswamy has promised to pardon him 'on day one', and at the first GOP debate, he proudly praised the 77-year-old as the 'best president in generations'. Donald Trump - seen here in a Manhattan court Thursday - took to Truth Social to issue a scathing assessment of GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy The criticism was pointed, and saw the former president slam the only Republican who has expressed support for him in the past But Trump seemed unswayed by the 38-year-old Ohioan's previous comments - and commenced a direct attack as he continues to garner some unexpected support in the Iowa polls among Republicans. Even going as far to reference the August praise, Trump wrote: 'Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc. 'Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks,' the aspiring two-term commander-in-chief added. 'Very sly.' While not specifying those alleged misdeeds, Trump proceeded to posit that Ramaswamy was 'duping' the American public, whom he went on to warn: 'Dont get duped by this,' referring to the entrepreneur's campaign. 'Vote for "TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA,' the post went on. 'The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! 'A vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side'. Ramaswamy has defended Trump in the face of his several criminal cases, promising to pardon him 'on day one' if elected. At the first GOP debate, he proudly praised the 77-year-old as the 'best president in generations' Trump's comments came a few days after polls showed Trump remaining ahead in Iowa surveys, but is losing some ground to the famously inflammatory Ohioan The comments came a few days after polls showed how Trump remains ahead in Iowa surveys, but may be subtly losing some ground to the famously inflammatory Ramaswamy, who some contend is stealing support from the ex-president Radical Ramaswamy - who has described 'transgenderism' as a 'mental health disorder' - failed to garner the national support needed to participate in this past Thursday's debate, and that day filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court in support of an also-absent Trump. In it, the Republican supported his rival's efforts to remain on state ballots despite the cases against him. "President Trumps political opponents have sought to disqualify him from the ballot in multiple states because they fear they cannot beat him in a free and fair election," Ramaswamy wrote, painting the five cases against his rival as a predatory bid by the Biden Administration. 'Needless to say, the distress of competing against a formidable opponent cannot justify disqualification under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment,' he continued. 'The consequences of affirming the Colorado Supreme Courts decision will extend far beyond the dispute over President Trumps eligibility.' At a campaign event in Des Moines, Ramaswamy attempted to again align himself with the GOP frontrunner - and possibly distance himself from other candidates - by sharing a photo to X showing a group of supporters wearing t-shirts with Trump's mugshot According to recent polls, both Haley and DeSantis - and especially Ramaswamy - would need to peel off Trump supporters if they hope to have a chance against the former president, whose support stood above the 50 percent mark The following day, at a campaign event in Des Moines, Ramaswamy attempted to again align himself with the GOP frontrunner - and possibly distance himself from other candidates - by sharing a photo to X showing a group of supporters wearing t-shirts with Trump's mugshot that read, 'Save Trump. Vote Vivek.' An accompanying caption from the battleground state billing the Trump-minded men as patriots read: 'A group of young men in Iowa came out in a blizzard. They sent a clear message.' A few hours later, Trump responded with his barb - possibly feeling threatened that Ramaswamy was stealing support away from his fanbase. That said, in most polls - including a recent Suffolk University survey of 500 Iowa voters likely to participate in Monday's GOP caucuses - Trump remains well ahead of not only Ramaswamy but others as well, including Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. According to the Suffolk survey, both Haley or DeSantis would need to peel off Trump supporters if they hope to have a chance against the former president, whose support stands above the 50 percent mark. Ramaswamy, meanwhile, would have to do even more work, according to the poll, which has him in fourth place behind all of the aforementioned candidates, with a paltry 6. Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during Trump's term, recorded 20 percent support, while the Florida governor secured 13 percent. As the four claw for votes before the upcoming caucus, Trump seemingly caught wind of this dynamic, and happily tossed his previous relationship with Ramaswamy to the side in the hope of all but ensuring a victory. Trump's various legal woes have loomed over the primary, an issue Haley has highlighted by frequently mentioning 'chaos' following the former president, while DeSantis argues Trump's legal issues would cost votes in the general election. At least some Iowa voters who support Trump are weighing those concerns as they consider who to caucus for, according to a CNN report on Saturday. Meanwhile, four political analysts interviewed by Reuters said Trump needs a more convincing victory closer to the 30 point-plus margin suggested by the polls to blunt others' - especially Haley's - momentum, with one Republican strategist telling the paper that Trump needs to win by at least 15 to 20 percentage points or risk a loss. A pickup truck is driven down a snow covered road under an Iowa Caucus sign on Friday The unrest before the caucus shows how all gloves are off amongst candidates, seen here the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Wednesday As the candidates jostle for pole position, Republican presidential candidate former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has pulled ahead of Ron DeSantis in a new Iowa poll ahead of Monday's caucuses 'That's a bare minimum for Trump. Anything below that shows - and will get blown up as - vulnerability,' stategesist Doug Heye said. Chris LaCivita, co-manager of the Trump campaign, said he was confident that the 'intensity' of the former president's base would translate into a big win despite the cold gripping the Midwestern state. However, on Thursday, he also issued a scathing rebuke of Ramaswamy alongside his high-progile comments. 'If you support @realDonaldTrump, you sure as hell dont vote for this FAKE,' the startlingly similar post to X read, resharing Ramaswamy's photo of the Trump-shirts. When asked by reporters Thursday, he stopped short of predicting the kind of win suggested by the polls. 'A win's a win, but no one has ever won by more than... 12.8,' LaCivita said. The unrest before the caucus shows how all gloves are off amongst candidates as they jostle for pole position in the all-important presidential race, which will kick off in the Midwest Monday when Republicans pick their preferred nominee. One wild card is turnout - amid worries that Trump's supporters will stay home given his comfortable polling lead. As a result, Trump has warned against complacency at recent rallies. One wild card is turnout - amid worries that Trump's supporters will stay home given his comfortable polling lead. He is seen here participating in a Fox News Town Hall on Wednesday, as other candidates took part in the debate 'Ten days from now, the people of this state are going to cast the most important vote of your entire lives,' Trump told several hundred supporters gathered in Sioux Center Friday evening. He implored them to turn out on caucus night, warning, 'Bad things happen when you sit back.' Another risk for Trump is a strong showing by Haley, who has surfaced as his biggest threat, if polls are to be taken seriously. If she were to secure second place, it could establish her as the clear alternative to Trump, giving her a boost in New Hampshire, analysts said. 'We will have a strong showing in Iowa and ride that momentum into New Hampshire,' Haley campaign spokesperson Olivia Perez-Cubas said Saturday. She would not quantify how close they hoped to come to Trump Monday. Bodycam footage shows the moment police respond to former Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler's rape accuser. The video from October 4 shows officers responding to a wellness check called in by a friend of the woman before asking her a few questions about her complaint. The clip does not identify the woman, who claims she was raped by Ziegler after she canceled plans to have sex with him and his wife Bridget. Ziegler has denied the accusations and said he and his Moms for Liberty founder wife are being targeted for their outspoken conservative views. He was ousted as Florida GOP chair earlier this week amid the probe but is yet to face any charges. In the clip, officers talked to the alleged victim can be heard asking her if Ziegler is 'the political guy'. Christian Ziegler and his wife had allegedly planned to meet up with the third woman however it is claimed Bridget did not end up attending Police bodycam footage has been released showing the moment they responded to former Florida GOP chairman Christian Ziegler's rape accuser The woman is seen being driven to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where police confirm if she would like a sexual assault kit The alleged victim sits in the back seat as cops quiz her for more information before driving her to Sarasota Memorial Hospital. 'Before we go in, I just want to clarify you want to get a sexual assault kit?' one of the officers asks as they approach the building. The woman says yes, but her face and voice have been obscured to protect her privacy. 'Now let me ask you because this is important, do you want this to be reported or unreported?' the cop continues. When the woman states she would like it to be reported, the officer continues: 'Okay, let's go get you in there and get everything squared away.' The woman claims she was raped by Ziegler at her home on October 2. The alleged victim, who claims she was in a 'consensual three-way sexual relationship' with the couple, told investigators she had made plans to have sex with Ziegler and his wife. However, when his wife backed out the woman texted Christian 'Sorry I was mostly in for her,' according to the affidavit. Ziegler has said he is innocent following a woman's claims that he raped her after she canceled plans to have sex with him and his wife Ziegler was ousted as chairman of the Republican party in Florida amid the investigation although he has yet to face any charges Later that evening the woman claims that as she went to leave her apartment she discovered Ziegler outside in the hallway - and alleges he then entered her property and raped her. The GOP heavyweight is also under investigation for allegedly secretly recording alleged encounters between the couple and the woman. Weeks later, detectives began to monitor calls and messages sent by Christian Ziegler to the accuser, according to the affidavit. 'Where r u? Wanna meet and chat? Worried about you. You are my friend,' Ziegler allegedly wrote in one message via Instagram. 'Hell no not after what you did to me,' the woman responded. 'Do you not understand I am terrified of you?' A 911 call, obtained by the Florida Center for Government Accountability, made by a friend of the alleged victim's reveals she confided in the friend about being raped. 'She told me she was raped,' the friend informed the dispatcher on October 4. 'She's saying she's scared, that the person who raped her came to her house, so she's scared to leave... I'm worried about her right now,' the friend explained. The school board's Chair Karen Rose said she was 'shocked and saddened' to hear of the allegations against the couple The alleged incident, now under investigation by Sarasota police, say happened when Christian and the unnamed accuser were alone in her home on October 2. Pictured: Christian and Bridget Ziegler with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (middle) Ziegler had ignored calls to resign his position by the likes of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis among others. He was suspended Ziegler on December 17, removing his salary. But Monday's executive meeting removed him from the role completely. Bridget Ziegler is considered a rising star in the conservative movement. She previously received the personal endorsement of DeSantis for her school board seat. She has become well known in her own state and across the country as the co-founder of Mom for Liberty, a group founded in the wake of COVID-19 school policies that parents across the nation felt were unnecessarily impeding their children's development. She helped establish the framework for what would become DeSantis' Parental Rights in Education Bill, which became known in the media as the 'Don't Say Gay' law. However, she was booted out of her board position with Sarasota County School Board amid the scandal. A young doctor who was stabbed in a terrifying home invasion chased after his attackers in a car before he died. Ash Gordon, 33, was stabbed by a gang of intruders in the early hours of Saturday morning at his Doncaster home, in Melbourne's east. It's understood Dr Gordon pursued the thugs but was rammed off the road in Eildon St, some 500m from his Sargent St home. Frightened neighbours called police after hearing the commotion and Dr Gordon's body was discovered a short time later. His attackers remain on the run and no arrests have been made. His loved ones described him as a 'true gentleman' who was 'humble and dearly loved'. Ash Gordon (above) was killed during a home invasion in the early hours of Saturday morning It's understood Dr Gordon pursued the thugs but was rammed off the road in Eildon St, some 500m from his Sargent St home (pictured) 'Ash was one of the nicest most humble guys you could meet, no matter your differences in life he was always up for a chat and meeting new people,' Dr Gordon's friend, Jovanne Pieterse, told the Herald Sun. 'He had this energy that would light up any room, and was dearly loved by so many.' Dr Gordon graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 2015. He worked as a doctor from 2016. He went on to own Richmond-based cosmetic clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin health, wellness and anti-ageing. Dr Gordon described himself online as a 'young doctor who lifts weights and loves a good burger'. His website reads: 'Dr Ash believes in forming strong relationships with his patients that value honesty and transparency in all aspects of the treatment.' 'He utilises shared decision-making when it comes to achieving the patients goals, and is always willing to tailor treatments based on what the patient desires. 'Furthermore, he gives guidance on the most effective means with which to achieve the desired outcomes.' Dr Gordon (above) worked as a doctor from 2016 and owned the Richmond-based clinic Redefine Aesthetics Dr Gordon's home in Doncaster is pictured No arrests have been made in relation to Dr Gordon's death (pictured, police at the scene) Flowers were left at the scene on Sunday, with a note from a friend saying he couldn't 'make sense of this'. 'I'm lost for words. A true gentleman, intelligent, honest, compassionate, friendly generous. I don't think there is one positive characteristic I could leave out,' he said. 'Gone way too soon brother. I truly thank you for all that you helped me with. Tragic. Rest easy bud.' It's understood Dr Gordon had lived in his rental for four years. His housemate told the Herald Sun he heard a loud 'bang' and a group of people talking during the robbery. Neighbours reported hearing young people partying on the street in the days before the Dr Gordon's death. Sargent St residents said Saturday's incident followed a recent spate of crimes. Dr Gordon (above) was described by loved ones as a 'true gentleman' who was 'humble and dearly loved' In November, an elderly couple found their home had been ransacked with all their valuables stolen. On Wednesday a woman living next door to Dr Gordon had her car stolen from her garage. One neighbour said Dr Gordon's death was hard to accept as 'no amount of material is worth a life'. 'It's pretty terrifying to be honest. You don't really think that's happening five metres away from your door, so it's a little bit confronting,' he said. Any witnesses or anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Woman, 34, claims she had to 'clean up' after male students A teacher's aide at a special needs school has demanded compensation after she was forced to 'clean up' after male students had masturbated. The woman, 34, will seek damages from the State of Victoria after she was left 'permanently incapacitated for employment' following a harrowing experience at the Waratah Special Development School in Melbourne's north. The teaching assistant claims she was paired with a class of teenage boys who were 'constant' masturbators from May 2014 to November 2015. 'One of her tasks was to clean up after them, after they had masturbated,' the County Court of Victoria judgement states. 'She did this work for about one week before she broke down and resigned, and has not worked since.' The documents did not detail how the woman cleaned up after the students, how old they were and where in the school they had masturbated. The woman claims she had been teamed with an 'inexperienced' teacher who would belittle her with 'racist and inappropriate' remarks. She also alleges she was assaulted by a student in another class who would 'frequently get upset and try and choke her'. A teacher's aide at a special needs school has demanded compensation after she was forced to 'clean up' after male students had masturbated (stock image) The teacher's aide was left 'permanently incapacitated for employment' following a harrowing experience at the Waratah Special Development School (pictured) in Melbourne's north The woman claims that when she came forward with complaints and disclosed she was experiencing panic attacks, she was simply moved to a new class. Judge Andrew Fraatz last month gave the woman the green light to seek damages from the state for 'pain and suffering' and 'loss of earnings capacity'. The State of Victoria argued in June last year the aide should not be able to claim damages as she was capable of living a 'full and productive life'. Judge Fraatz disagreed, ruling the woman's anxiety/panic disorder and bipolar affective disorder had left her 'permanently incapacitated for employment'. The woman claims she has been unable to work since she resigned in late 2015. 'She has dreams where she is being physically or sexually assaulted by students,' the County Court judgment states. 'The nightmares have also extended to dreams of her son being targeted. She wakes from these vomiting and having night sweats. 'She also has flashbacks of what occurred at work.' Judge Andrew Fraatz last month gave the teacher's aide the green light to seek damages from the state for 'pain and suffering' and 'loss of earnings capacity' (pictured is the school) Judge Fraatz said there was no evidence the woman had tried to exaggerate her symptoms during sessions with psychiatrists. 'I found her to be an honest, although psychiatrically-ill young woman,' he said. 'Every psychiatrist who has examined her accepts the genuineness of her complaints associated with her psychiatric illness.' His ruling comes after the state attempted to stop weekly payments the woman had been receiving through a workers' injury claim. The teacher's aide was admitted to a psychiatric hospital in July 2018, but despite this the state terminated the payments. The payments were eventually restored following a decision by a medical panel. The woman will now commence a legal proceeding for damages from the state. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Waratah Special Development School for comment. The US Department of Homeland Security has claimed Texas officials denied feds access to a stretch of border where they had been trying to rescue three migrants who drowned. The federal government's account was offered Saturday, hours after US Rep. Henry Cuellar said the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard 'did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants' Friday night. Mexican authorities recovered the bodies of a woman and two children Saturday across the border from Eagle Pass, amid escalating tensions between the state and the US government over immigration enforcement. A day before, the Justice Department had warned Supreme Court jurists that officials in The Lone Star State had taken control of an area in the border town known as Shelby Park and were not letting Border Patrol agents enter. The Texas Military Department said in a statement that it had searched the river, but could not find the migrants. Cuellar, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee for homeland security, called the deaths 'a tragedy.' Texas Department of Public Safety officers work inside a fenced off Shelby Park, Thursday. The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Abbott's aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star The team was Abbott's state-sponsored attempt at stopping illegal immigration, and had been presided over by both the Texas Military Department the Texas Department of Public Safety 'This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility,' said Cuellar in a statement, which neither confirmed nor rejected the government's claims that lawmen 'physically barred' agents from entering the park. Homeland Security, meanwhile, echoed Cuellar's account of the distress call, thrusting the blame on the incident on Governor Gregg Abbott and his handling of the ongoing migrant crisis. The agency said: 'In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the park.' The bulletin added of Abbott's administration: 'The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks.' The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Abbott's aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star. The effort was Abbott's state-sponsored attempt at stopping illegal immigration, and had been presided over by both the Texas Military Department the Texas Department of Public Safety. A recent probe carried out by the Military Times and the Texas Tribune found that at least four of their intelligence officers faced disciplinary action because of alleged illegal behavior - which the publications said was actually uncovered nearly a year ago, in September 2022, but was only set out over the summer. The Texas Military Department - the state's security watchdog - reportedly told the outlets it concluded its investigation in September 2022, but is still waiting to release its report and 'finalize' discipline until leaders receive it. After announcing the deaths, feds slammed Gov. Greg Abbott's policies that seek to stop illegal immigration, calling them 'cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and [a] blatant disregard for federal authority' Texas Department of Public Safety officers guard an entrance to Shelby Park on Thursday, a day before the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard 'did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants', feds said As problematic stretches of the border remain manned, migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the infamous Rio Grande - which, despite its inherent dangers, is a popular crossing point While only four were said have faced interim discipline from administrators in the meantime, six in total were claimed to have taken part in the debacle - turning over a list of names of prospective migrants at a February 2022 meeting. Those names, investigators reportedly said, were compiled after the agents secretly infiltrated invite-only WhatsApp groups to spy on asylum seekers and track their movements. Lt. Col. David Tyler, the leader the intelligence wing from December 2021 to fall 2022 and one of the four said to have already faced internal discipline, told the outlets that 'all the Generals wanted to know about the next mass migration.' The state has so far spent more than $4.5 billion over two years stationing the groups at the Southern border, and Abbot's office has continued to double-down on its legally questionable practices. As problematic stretches of the border remain manned, migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the infamous Rio Grande - which, despite its inherent dangers, is a popular crossing point. Abbott's office referred questions about the Friday drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river about 45 minutes after Border Patrol made the state aware of the situation. The department said it maintains water rescue equipment and works with local paramedics to assist migrants needing medical care. 'At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period,' the department insisted in the statement. Cuellar, who represents a Texas border district, reiterated how it was Mexican authorities alerted the Border Patrol to the distressed migrants struggling in the river late Friday. Aerial view showing migrants queuing at the border fence in an attempt to cross into the US, in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico Migrants queue at the border fence to try to cross into the US, in Ciudad Juarez Chihuahua, Mexico He said federal agents attempted to call and relay the information to Texas National Guard members at Shelby Park, without success. Agents then visited the entrance to the park but were turned away, according to the congressman, who said they were told a Guard member would be sent to investigate the situation. The 50-acre park is owned by the city, but it is used by the state Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings. Although daily crossings diminished from the thousands to about 500, state authorities put up fences and stationed military vehicles by the entry to deny access to the public and Border Patrol agents this week, according to a court filing. In its Supreme Court filing, Texas challenged claims that Border Patrol agents were denied access. They said the Border Patrol has scaled down its presence since summer, when the state moved its resources and manpower to the park. Federal agents were also granted access to the area to secure supplies, the state said. Abbott's office referred questions about the Friday drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river 45 minutes after Border Patrol made local officials aware of the situation. An investigation, as of Sunday morning, was ongoing Cuellar said there was no immediate information available about the victims' nationalities, relationship and ages. The Mexican government made no public statements. On Saturday members of the public held a ceremony at the park to mark the deaths of migrants in their region. Julio Vasquez, a pastor, said access was granted after making requests with the city and sharing pictures showing the entry still fenced up and guarded by members of the National Guard and military vehicles. An investigation into the deaths remains ongoing. Less than one in five Australians want to change the date of Australia Day while nine in ten Aussies say they're 'proud to be Australian'. A new poll from the Institute of Public Affairs surveyed more than 1,000 Australians about their attitude towards Australia Day. It found nearly two-thirds of Australians, 63 per cent, agree the date of Australia Day should stay as January 26 - the day the First Fleet landed at Sydney Cove in 1788. In recent years, the national holiday has grown increasingly controversial with many Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians referring to it as 'Invasion Day' because it marks the beginning of Australia's colonisation. However, only 17 per cent of survey participants believe the date should be changed while 20 per cent had no opinion. The 2024 result closely aligns with the IPA's previous annual survey results, which also found the majority of Australians want to keep Australia Day on January 26. Data collected also revealed the only age group in which the majority supported a date change was 18-24-year-olds. More than two-thirds of Australians want to keep celebrating Australia Day on January 26 (pictured, Australia Day revellers in 2022) IPA deputy executive director Daniel Wild blames young Australians' attitude on 'relentless indoctrination' in schools. 'Australia is the greatest nation on earth. Our way of life and freedoms are the envy of the world and they must be cherished and celebrated,' he told the Daily Telegraph. 'It is concerning just 42 per cent of those aged 18-24 support Australia Day on January 26. 'This is a direct result of relentless indoctrination taking place at schools and universities - a strong majority of younger Australians beyond the years of formal education support our national day. 'You can hardly blame young Australians for having a negative view of their country given they are continually told it is not worth celebrating or fighting for.' The majority of voters in every other age bracket voted to keep Australia Day on its current date with 61 per cent of 25-34 year olds and 71 per cent of over 55s backing January 26. Even more participants told surveyors they were 'proud to be Australians', 87 per cent, and are proud of Australia's history, 69 per cent. The new figures follow calls for Australia Day supporters to boycott Woolworths. The supermarket giant announced it would not sell Australia Day merchandise this year, citing a lack of demand and changing attitudes towards the holiday. Other major retailers who have also stop selling Australia Day merchandise include Kmart, Aldi and Big W. Similar moves away from January 26 have been taken by more than 81 councils across the country who moved their citizenship day ceremonies away from Australia Day. In recent years, the national holiday has grown increasingly controversial with many Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians referring to it as 'Invasion Day' because it marks the beginning of Australia's colonisation Their decision was supported by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. NSW upper house member Rachel Merton has been a vocal for keeping Australia Day on the 26th. 'On the 26th of January we celebrate the miracle of modern Australia,' she said. 'We recognise the incredible courage and vision of Arthur Phillip and the First Fleet, and give thanks for the privilege of living in the world's greatest democracy.' Tory rebels are threatening an all-out assault on the Rwanda plan this week unless Rishi Sunak agrees to toughen up the legislation. Leaders of three right-wing Conservative blocs have made clear they are ready to defy the PM in crunch Commons votes on Tuesday and Wednesday. Mark Francois, Sir John Hayes and Danny Kruger urged colleagues to join them in 'standing firm' saying the new law is 'simply not good enough'. Mr Sunak insists the Bill is essential for keeping his vow to 'stop the boats', but it is threatening to tear the Tories to shreds. Rishi Sunak insists the Rwanda Bill is essential for keeping his vow to 'stop the boats', but it is threatening to tear the Tories to shreds. Pictured, this weekend saw the first crossing of the year Mr Sunak is trying to manage the warring factions in the Conservative Party More than 50 MPs on the right of the party have backed amendments seeking to ignore international law and curtail asylum seekers' rights to appeal against flights to Kigali. Mr Francois, chair of the European Research Group; Sir John, of the Common Sense Group; and the New Conservatives' Mr Kruger made a joint intervention in the Sunday Telegraph. Lord Cameron says Channel migrant deaths 'heartbreaking' Lord Cameron has said the latest deaths of migrants in Channel 'breaks my heart'. The Foreign Secretary expressed his sorrow after it emerged that four people died after launching from a beach south of Calais. But he insisted it only showed that the government must press ahead with action to 'stop the boats'. The incident happened near Wimereux in the early hours of this morning. French paper La Voix du Nord said 72 people, including 10 children, were rescued and taken to Calais while one person was taken to hospital in Boulogne. The paper said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. Lord Cameron told BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'It's heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. 'And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night, it breaks my heart to hear about it. 'But it just shows we've got to stop the boats, we've got to stop this illegal trade in human beings.' Advertisement They said they were among around 30 MPs who abstained at the first vote on the Bill before Christmas because Mr Sunak promised he was prepared to see the Bill 'tightened', adding: 'We took him at his word.' Comparing themselves to the Tory 'spartans' who destroyed Theresa May's Brexit deal, they said they will again 'face criticism from colleagues that we are letting the perfect be the enemy of the good'. 'But the point is that the Bill is simply not good enough in its current form to deliver the outcome we all seek,' they wrote. 'Failing to deliver for the British people carries a much greater cost than temporary discomfort in Parliament. 'Standing firm is no more or less than our duty, for it means keeping our promise to those we serve our constituents.' Mr Sunak, however, has argued that moving a further 'inch' on the Bill would risk the Rwandans quitting the deal. More moderate Tories in the One Nation group could also oppose any changes that threaten international law. Labour will not back any of the right-wing amendments, meaning the Tory rebels' are unlikely to be able to scupper the legislation entirely. Their best chance of doing so would be at third reading stage, although there are rumours that Labour could opt to abstain. If they were successful, blocking the Prime Minister's flagship Bill would trigger fresh chaos something that may make opponents toe the line to let it pass. The Tory right had made a big show of unity when at the last vote, forming a self-styled faction of 'five families'. But the letter in the Telegraph lacked signatures from two other groups: the Conservative Growth Group and the Northern Research Group. The former home secretary and rival to Mr Sunak, Suella Braverman, has said she will this time vote against the Bill if there are 'no improvements' having previously abstained. Robert Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister over the legislation, was also making a push for Mr Sunak to bolster the Bill. Writing in the Sun on Sunday, he compared it to 'a bucket riddled with holes'. The mystery of the two 'aliens' which were said to be proof of extraterrestrial life, after being seized by Peruvian customs agents in October has finally been solved by forensic scientists. The two objects, each around a foot long and shaped to look like small grey humanoids with three fingers on each hand, took the world by storm in October, with many claiming that they were the corpses of two aliens. But, a forensic analysis has now found that they are in fact made out of paper, glue, metal, and human and animal bones. Forensic archaeologist Flavio Estrada, who lead the analysis, said the claims that the two objects came from another words are 'totally false.' 'The conclusion is simple: they are dolls assembled with bones of animals from this planet, with modern synthetic glues, therefore they were not assembled during pre-Hispanic times. The two dolls took the world by storm in October Scientists said that they were made using modern, synthetic glues The forensic scientists categorically ruled out the notion that they were of extra-terrestrial origin 'They are not extraterrestrials; they are not aliens.' Scientists told reporters that the three-fingered hands were 'very poorly' built, and were created with human bones, while the rest of the dolls' bodies were built with the bones of dogs, birds and other animals. Peru's prosecutor's office has not yet figured out who the dolls belong to. Officials only said that a Mexican citizen was the intended recipient of the dolls, but did not name them. Mexico's Congress was the subject of ridicule last year after UFO enthusiast Jaime Maussan held court several times to prove that the mummified remains were of extraterrestrial origin. The 'very poorly' built figures were made of paper, glue, metal and human and animal bones Peruvian prosecutors still don't know who the intended recipient of the dolls is The hands were made up of human bones In November, Maussan ushered in a team of researchers who performed a DNA analysis on the figures that showed 30 percent was 'not from any known species' and stated that the figures were 'authentic,' comprising a single skeleton. 'This is the first time extraterrestrial life has been presented in this manner, Maussan said to Congress. 'We have a clear example of non-human specimens unrelated to any known species on our planet. 'The public has the right to know about non-human technology and beings. This reality unites humanity rather than dividing us. We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this truth.' Maussan added that the two corpses have sturdy bones, are toothless, and contain implants made of the soft, slivery-white metal cadmium and the bluish-white metal osmium - rare elements on Earth. The dolls were made using the bones of dogs, birds and other animals The dolls were seized by Peruvian customs officials in October They were later handed over to prosecutors, who sent them off for analysis The figures underwent carbon dating by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), which determined the bodies had three-fingered hands, no teeth and were more than 1,000 years old, Maussan claimed. 'These specimens are not part of our terrestrial evolution [...] These aren't beings that were found after a UFO wreckage,' Maussan said to Congress in September. 'They were found in diatom [algae] mines and were later fossilised.' He later added: 'Whether they are aliens or not, we don't know, but they were intelligent and they lived with us. They should rewrite history.' 'We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this reality.' A fleet of electric buses have been taken out of service after one burst into flames in Wimbledon during the school-run this week. Commuters were swiftly evacuated after a huge blast ripped off the back of an Optare Metrodecker 1050 bus travelling from Mitcham to Raynes Park in South West London at 7.20am on Friday, January 12. As a result, Transport for London (TfL) have removed buses serving the 200 route as a 'precaution' while an investigation into the fire on Wimbledon Hill Road is carried out. TfL is now working with the bus operator London General and manufacturer Switch to investigate the cause, which fire expert Neil Pedersen said was most likely due to an electrical fault and not linked to lithium batteries. Tom Cunnington, TfL's head of bus business development, told the Guardian: 'As a precaution, the fleet of buses that normally operate on route 200 is being temporarily withdrawn from service by GoAhead while the investigation continues, with other vehicles being brought in to cover. Commuters were swiftly evacuated huge blast ripped off the back of an Optare Metrodecker 1050 bus travelling from Mitcham to Raynes Park in South West London at 7.20am on Friday, January 12 As a result, Transport for London (TfL) have removed buses serving the route as a 'precaution' while an investigation into the fire on Wimbledon Hill Road is carried out There are more than 80 Metrodecker buses on the London network - operating on these routes 'All buses made by the relevant manufacturer will be checked thoroughly as a matter of priority. 'Other buses in the fleet remain in service and TfL and bus operators will not hesitate to take further action if required to ensure the network remains safe.' More than 80 Metrodecker buses operate on eight London routes around the capital the others being the numbers 23, 28, 134, 295, 317, 626 and N28. Following the fire on Friday, TfL, which has about 1,000 electric buses across its network, said it will not withdraw any Metrodeckers and has insisted they are safe. A TfL spokeswoman told MailOnline at the time: 'London's bus network remains safe to use and other buses in the fleet remain in service. TfL and bus operators will not hesitate to take action if required to ensure the network remains safe.' Meanwhile, a second London bus burst into flames this morning, completely destroying it less than 24 hours after the Wimbledon incident. The hybrid vehicle caught fire in North Woolwich, East London, just before 7am - with onlookers shouting 'what the f***' as they were urged to 'move back, get back'. The bus involved in today's blaze was an Alexander Dennis Enviro400 hybrid that runs on diesel and electricity, with about 900 in use across 78 routes in London. It comes as Mr Khan faced calls to launch a 'full and urgent investigation' into the Wimbledon double decker explosion as he ploughs ahead with his stated ambition to make the capital's entire bus fleet 'zero-emission' by 2034. But yesterday's incident was just the latest example of safety faults with electric vehicles which were the fastest growing cause of fires in the capital last year, according to the London Fire Brigade. In 2023 there were 150 e-bike fires in London, along with 28 e-scooter fires, which was 53 per cent more than in 2022. Britain is ready to carry out more strikes on Houthis to stop Red Sea shipping raids, Lord Cameron warned today. The Foreign Secretary sent a blunt message that the UK is 'prepared to back our words with actions' following joint bombing raids with the US. He also highlighted the 'malign' influence in the region of the terrorists' paymasters Iran, saying that Britain and her allies 'know what they are doing'. The comments came in interviews ahead of Rishi Sunak coming to the House of Commons tomorrow to be grilled on the strikes. Lord Cameron insisted that the PM carefully considered the impact of military action, and rejected criticism from Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the US and UK risked turning the Red Sea into a 'sea of blood'. 'We don't agree with what President Erdogan has said. If you look at the action we have taken, it is actually backed by a very wide coalition of countries,' the former premier said. He added: 'He is an important Nato ally but in this case we don't agree. We see this as completely separate from the Israel-Gaza conflict.' Britain joined the United States and allies in conducting overnight airstrikes on Yemen, killing five and injuring six, in the early hours of Friday morning after weeks of Houthi attacks on merchant trade ships in the region. The United States subsequently carried out more attacks later Friday and on Saturday. Amid fears of spiralling tensions, US President Joe Biden told reporters today: 'We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour along with our allies.' The Houthi militia threatened a 'strong and effective response' after the United States carried out its strike yesterday, however, and shared photos of troops carrying out drills in mock residential areas emblazoned with the Star of David, and standing on American flags. Lord Cameron warned that Britain will not allow Houthi attacks to go unchecked Yemen was hit by a number of coalition strikes on Friday following attacks on trade ships A before and after image of a radar station near Sanaa International Airport targeted in US and UK strikes Pro-Palestinian protests taking place in London yesterday Houthi fighters attend the funeral procession of rebel fighters who were killed in fighting with forces of Yemen's internationally recognized government, in Sanaa, on November 24, 2021 The first moments the raids were launched on the Yemeni capital of Sana'a Lord Cameron denied that the UK and US had escalated the situation, and argued that 'not acting is also a policy'. 'No. The escalation has been caused by the Houthis. I mean the point is since November 19, you have had these 26 attacks. 'There have been more of them, they have been getting worse, and you know, not acting is also a policy, it is a policy that doesn't work.' Writing in The Telegraph, the peer said the UK 'will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions'. The former Prime Minister warned that if the Houthis are able to deter traffic from passing through the Bab el-Mandab Strait or the Red Sea, 'prices will go up in Britain and across the globe'. 'Every relevant consideration was carefully weighed. Every minister forensically quizzed that their department had done all the necessary work,' Lord Cameron wrote on the decision to send British planes over Yemen from a RAF base on Cyprus. 'In the end, the Cabinet agreed we had no choice but to act. But why? The freedom of navigation really matters.' He noted that there have been 26 attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since November 19, mounted by Hamas-aligned Houthi rebels against shipping they deem 'Israeli-linked'. A number of major operators responded by rerouting trade routes, pushing up prices, or cancelling operations altogether. The additional costs would likely be pushed onto the consumer, exacerbating existing cost of living crises. Lord Cameron's comments echoed those of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said after the Friday morning attacks: 'In recent months, the Houthi militia have carried out a series of dangerous and destabilising attacks against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, threatening UK and other international ships, causing major disruption to a vital trade route and driving up commodity prices.' 'Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week,' he added. 'We have therefore taken limited, necessary and proportionate action in self-defence, alongside the United States with non-operational support from the Netherlands, Canada and Bahrain against targets tied to these attacks, to degrade Houthi military capabilities and protect global shipping.' Defence Secretary Grant Shapps then took aim at Iran, warning Tehran to stop encouraging Yemeni Houthi rebels to intervene in the conflict between Israel and Gaza. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Shapps urged Iran's leaders to tell the Houthis to 'cease and desist'. He said the world is 'running out of patience' and that a 'limit has been truly crossed' after weeks of sustained missile attacks targeting trade vessels. 'We can't have thugs, essentially, harassing international shipping and running the risks. 'It's only a matter of time before there are deaths of entirely innocent people [who are] completely disconnected to what's going on in the Israel-Gaza conflict.' An unverified image appeared to show the result and British and US airstrikes in Yemen Royal Navy warship HMS Richmond pictured on January 10 leaving Gibraltar to head towards the Gulf to protect shipping from Houthi rebel attacks on shipping in the area Protests erupted across Yemen following the coalition strikes, with demonstrators sympathetic to the Yemeni opposition movement seen wielding Kalashnikov-style rifles and burning flags of Israel and the United States in the Houthi-controlled capital of Sanaa. In Britain, too, protestors gathered in their thousands to call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Saturday. Some were heard chanting against the UK's involvement in the airstrikes against Yemen. Protestors marched above all in solidarity with Gaza, and alongside demonstrators in 30 countries, to call for a ceasefire as civilian casualties reach staggering highs. The killing of civilians in Gaza, mostly in Israeli airstrikes on the beleaguered enclave, is at a scale unprecedented in recent history, monitoring groups said earlier this week. Oxfam said the daily death toll of Palestinians was more than in any major conflict of the century. Calls for a ceasefire also continue to mount in Israel, though a minority view, as Israelis seek the safe return of hostages from within Gaza. Some 100 people of the estimated 240 taken into Gaza on October 7 were returned as part of a series of deals organised in late November. Since then, talks of ceasefire have slowed. Experts told MailOnline Hamas had changed its demands as pressure mounted on Israel to de-escalate. Hamas is 'realising the IDF is not making the progress that they thought they were making and the IDF is realising that this military solution is going to take years,' Dr Andreas Krieg said. 'But there is no stomach in the US or domestically to keep this going at the current rate so something has got to give.' Supporters of the Houthi movement rally to denounce air strikes launched by the U.S. and Britain on Houthi targets, in Sanaa, Yemen, on Friday Houthi fighters brandish their weapons during a protest following US and British strikes Anti-war activists march to the White House during a pro-Palestinian demonstration asking to cease fire in Gaza, at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Saturday, January 13, 2024 Still, publicly, Israel shows no willingness to scale back its operations in Gaza. Earlier today, army chief Herzi Halevi said in a statement 'increased military pressure' was the only way to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza since the assault. 'We do not forget and we will not forget, and we will continue to remind even those who try to deny it. We are fighting for our right to live here in safety,' he said in a televised statement. 'Tomorrow we will mark a hundred days since the beginning of the war. A hundred days in which the hostages are still held in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists,' Halevi said. 'We are operating by all means, most of them covertly, in order to return them and we will continue to do so until we return them all.' Accused cop, 49, spent over 10 years with the police force A former Victoria Police senior constable has been hit with 110 charges after he was allegedly caught with 168 hours of child sexual abuse footage. Alan Hawley, 49, was allegedly found in possession of 19,856 images and videos of child abuse material across six different devices. Nearly half of the files depict real children under the age of 13, while more than half were teenagers, according to court documents obtained by the Herald Sun. A large number of 'computer-generated' child abuse material was also allegedly found on two phones, three USBs and an SD card belonging to Hawley. The combined 'playing time' of the footage amounted to more than 168 hours of children being 'sexually exploited/abused', the court documents state. Ex-cop Alan Hawley, 49, was hit with 110 charges after he was allegedly found in possession of 19,856 images and videos of child abuse across six devices (stock image) It's understood Hawley retired from the force after he was arrested last January. He had been a senior constable working as a leading crime scene officer at the Sunshine Police Station in Melbourne's west and had spent 11 years with the force. The former cop had been at home with his wife when police arrived to raid the property, court documents state. 'Do you know why we are here?' the officers asked him. 'Yep. Child exploitation,' he replied according to court documents. Victoria's anti-child exploitation team was first alerted to Hawley in December 2022. Officers received intel he was allegedly uploading child abuse material via Google and the instant messaging app Kik. An iPhone found at his home allegedly contained a large amount of child abuse material in the photo gallery and in chats where files had been shared. Hawley's work locker was searched, where a second Samsung mobile was allegedly located. The former senior constable fronted Melbourne Magistrates' Court late last year where he indicated he would plead guilty to over 100 charges (stock image) Hawley was charged with 34 counts of producing child abuse material, 36 counts of transmitting child abuse material, 22 counts of using a carriage service to cause offence and six counts of possessing child abuse material, among other charges. In December, the former cop told Magistrate Belinda Wallington he intends to plead guilty to the charges when he appears before Victoria's County Court. He will negotiate with prosecutors to decide which charges he will plead guilty to. Hawley requested his name be suppressed in media reporting, citing his family's mental health, but was denied by the magistrate. He is scheduled to appear in court on February 1. Lava has creeped within 500m of homes in the fishing town An Icelandic volcano has spewed lava within 500m of homes in the town of Grindavik, just weeks after residents were allowed to return to their homes following a major eruption. Video footage shows an eruption took place at 7.57am local time today, with magma, smoke and ash spurting high into the sky above the town of Grindavik, 25 miles away from Iceland's capital Reykjavik. The fissure grew many times its initial size within just thirty minutes, meteorologists reported. Geologist Magnus Tumi Gumundsson told local media that the crack is currently a kilometre (3,280 ft) long, adding that he wasn't certain when it would stop growing. Pictures show the lava slowly creeping towards the fishing town, with officials saying that the flow is just 500m (1,500 ft) away from hitting the northernmost buildings. Video posted to X shows a second eruption taking place just after midday today. Iceland's president, Gudni Johannesson, said in a post to X: 'No lives are in danger, although infrastructure may be under threat.' The January 14 eruption (pictured) began north of the fishing town of Grindavik, and photos appear to show lava slowly flowing towards the town itself The lava from this morning's eruption was seen creeping towards homes in the northernmost part of the town of Grindavik. Officials said the lava is currently just 1,500 ft away The Icelandic Meteorological Office said that lava is currently just 1,500 ft away from the northernmost houses in the town of Grindavik Analysis of departure and arrival schedules for nearby Keflavik Airport shows that flights do not appear to be affected by the news of this morning's eruption, with no arrivals or departures showing signs of being delayed or cancelled at time of publication. Iceland Air, the country's national carrier, said today: 'Our schedule and the operation of Keflavik airport are not affected.' Local tourism hotspot, the Blue Lagoon hotel, however was evacuated last night, after reopening just a week ago. Seismic activity intensified overnight and residents of Grindavik were evacuated around 3am local time, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported. The broadcaster also reported that around 200 of the town's 4,000 residents have elected to stay, despite the warnings. The Public Safety Department of the National Police reported that last night, 200 earthquakes were recorded, and the town of Grindavik is understood to have lost power at around 5am. 'A crack has opened up on both sides of the dikes that have begun to be built north of Grindavik,' the Icelandic Meteorological Office said, with an official adding that this morning's eruption is about a quarter of the size of the one in December. A coast guard helicopter has been dispatched to assess the situation, Iceland's Civil Protection agency said, adding that the evacuation order will likely be in place for the 'upcoming three weeks.' The eruption began north of the fishing town of Grindavik, and photos appear to show lava slowly flowing towards the town itself, having bypassed the eruption defences that were set up in the weeks after the December eruption. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said that lava is currently just 1,500 ft away from the northernmost houses in the town of Grindavik. Police have asked Icelanders not to go anywhere near the eruption Analysis of departure and arrival schedules for nearby Keflavik Airport shows that flights do not appear to be affected by the news of this morning's eruption Today's eruption is understood to be around a quarter of the size of the one in December Around 200 residents still remain in nearby Grindavik Iceland Air, the country's national carrier, said today: 'Our schedule and the operation of Keflavik airport are not affected.' READ MORE: Scientists reveal just how bad the eruption could get as bubbling lava and smoke are spewed into the sky at Reykjanes peninsula after weeks of activity Advertisement Police have asked Icelanders not to go anywhere near the eruption, with local police saying: 'We ask people not to go to the eruption on foot. It is extremely cold outside and the walk is long and the ground is unstable in terms of cracks and other things. 'In addition, all responders are busy and do not have the manpower to pick up people who leave on foot. 'The area is dangerous in terms of fissures, gas and more.' Iceland's prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has admitted that today's eruption was 'frightening.' She told local media: 'It is, of course, frightening to see how close this is to the town. 'The Civil Defense has of course been very keen to observe from day to day. Once again, I want to say that it was the right decision to evacuate tonight, even though we expected it wouldn't happen until tomorrow. General view of the lava field near the evacuated town of Grindavik, in Iceland, December 22, 2023 People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on December 18 2023 'Of course, we have all eyes on this area to ensure the safety of the residents. However, it is quite clear that this is a huge burden for the townspeople. Naturally, the pressure is starting to take its toll on people. 'As the situation is now, we are seeing that the lava is flowing towards Grindavik. The ramparts, however, may be useful even if the southern part of the fissure extends into them. We are monitoring the situation from minute to minute.' Iceland's president, Guni Thorlacius Johannesson, meanwhile said in a statement posted to social media: 'We are still reminded of the power of the forces of nature. 'And still we hope for the best, as we do everything in our power to ensure people's lives. '[We are trying] to protect structures to the best of our ability. Members of a rescue team watch a volcanic eruption north of the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik. Iceland's president, Guni Thorlacius Johannesson, said in a statement posted to social media: 'We are still reminded of the power of the forces of nature.' A police car blocks the access to the road that leads to Grindavik, after a volcano erupted in Iceland on Sunday January 14 2024 A massive plume of gas was seen rising from the site of today's eruption 'Together we Icelanders think warmly of [residents of Grindavik], and everyone who takes care of public protection and operations on the scene. Now we are all tested.' The last eruption on the peninsula started in the Svartsengi volcanic system on December 18, following the complete evacuation of the town of Grindavik's 4,000 inhabitants and the closing of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot. Grindavik was ultimately spared as the lava flowed in a different direction from the town. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. While volcanic eruptions aren't uncommon in Iceland, volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula were dormant for 800 years until 2021. Lying between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two plates move in opposite directions. The residents of Grindavik were forced to evacuate overnight, following a series of earthquakes The first eruption on January 14 is understood to have taken place at 7:57am today Lava from today's eruption was seen slowly creeping towards infrastructure in Grindavik In December, thrill-seekers were criticised for venturing towards, not away, from the eruption that forced thousands to flee their homes. 'It's just something from a movie!' Robert Donald Forrester III, a tourist from the United States, said at the time. Four boys named Joi, Halli, Stefan and Stefan, told local media in December that they always head towards eruptions in Reykjanes. 'We are trying to see the eruption. Unfortunately, we didn't get any closer. It's a hobby that we've had for four years, attending every single eruption, and we'll continue to do so.' For local residents, the emotions are mixed. 'The town involved might end up under the lava,' said Ael Kermarec, a French tour guide living in Iceland. 'It's amazing to see but, there's kind of a bittersweet feeling at the moment.' The Reykjanesbraut, a key Icelandic highway in the area, was lit up with white headlights from cars travelling towards, not away from, the crater (left) while cars were parked nearby (right) in December Despite the obvious dangers, the Ministry of the Environment was forced to issue repeated warnings to those thinking about getting close to the volcano in December A group watches as smoke billows into the sky from the volcano explosion in December Despite the obvious dangers, the Ministry of the Environment was forced to issue repeated warnings to those thinking about getting close to the volcano. 'Think about someone other than yourself and follow the guidelines of the public safety. Please,' one spokesman begged. Icelandic Police added: 'An eruption has begun. We ask people not to be in front of the responders and not to go in the direction of the eruption. It is important that roads and other things are as accessible as possible.' Police said they had raised their alert level and the country's civil defence warned the public not to approach the area while emergency personnel assessed the situation. The December eruption began around 2.4 miles from the town of Grindavik at the Sundhjuka crater, on the Reykjanes peninsula. This is the touching moment Israelis dance at dawn to the last DJ to perform before Hamas stormed the Nova festival and butchered innocent revellers. In Tel Aviv, thousands attended a demonstration on Saturday calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas terrorists to mark 100 days since the October 7 attacks that triggered the country's bloodiest conflict. Images show young people dancing to an electronic music set by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Nova festival in the Negev desert. Music events throughout the day in the city drew crowds who danced, chanted and joined arms in the cold and rain, often under umbrellas. At another rally in the city today, people stood still for 100 seconds, with some holding yellow balloons, to mark the 100 days that the hostages have been held. Scenes of young revellers scrambling from armed gunmen at the festival resonated around the world, in an attack that saw more than 360 people killed and dozens taken hostage to Gaza. Just after dawn 100 days ago, thousands of heavily armed Hamas gunmen stormed across the Gaza border fence in several different locations. People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 The central assembly for the return of the kidnapped At this time, the track that was played at the Nova party at 06:29, the time the attack began, is played#TelAviv #Israel #hostages #Hamas #Gaza pic.twitter.com/d9p47PGc0F WBC Defenders (@WBCdefenders) January 14, 2024 As well as the Nova festival, they targeted kibbutzim, military bases and border towns, which were accustomed to missile strikes from Gaza, but left helpless by the devastating surprise assault. The large-scale commemorative event in Tel Aviv on Saturday saw families of the missing among the crowd members holding posters and wearing T-shirts carrying images of the faces of their relatives. While the public in Israel has rallied behind the military's war effort, it remains deeply traumatized. Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people during its assault on southern Israel on October 7, the worst loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust. Vowing to destroy Hamas, it has responded with a military offensive on Gaza that has so far killed close to 24,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced most of the population and caused widespread hunger and disease. Of the 240 hostages who were kidnapped on October 7, more than 130 are still being held captive in Gaza, although some of them may not still be alive. Their plight, and the anguish of their families, are deeply felt across Israeli society. The country seems to be reliving October 7 - when families were killed in their homes, partygoers gunned down at the music festival and children and older people abducted on motorcycles - every day. Posters of the hostages who remain in Hamas captivity line public streets, and people wear T-shirts calling on leaders to 'Bring Them Home'. Israeli news channels devote their broadcasts to round-the-clock coverage of the war. A woman fleeing the terrorists at the Nova electronic festival near Kibbutz Re'im on October 7 People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 People in Tel Aviv dance at dawn to electronic music played by Artifex, the last DJ to perform at the open-air Tribe of Nova festival in the Negev desert before it was attacked by Hamas gunmen on October 7, 2023, to mark the 100th day after the attack, on January 14, 2024 People take part in the '100 Days of Hell' rally in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, on what is now known as Hostages Square, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 13, 2024 They broadcast non-stop tales of tragedy and heroism from October 7, stories about hostages and their families, tearful funerals of soldiers killed in action and reports from Gaza by correspondents smiling alongside the troops. There is little discussion or sympathy over the skyrocketing death toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Plans for postwar Gaza are rarely mentioned. On Israeli city streets and on television, in shops and in cafes, one symbol of solidarity with hostages held in Gaza has become ubiquitous in the 100 days since Hamas abducted them: military-style dog tags worn on neckchains. The small metal rectangles, similar to those soldiers carry for identification, are typically inscribed with two slogans in Hebrew, 'our hearts are held hostage in Gaza' and 'together we will win', and one in English, 'bring them home now'. 'Everyone wants to show their support one way or another,' said Shayna Roth, 36, a digital marketing specialist and mother of three from Modi'in, near Tel Aviv. 'It just makes you feel that no matter where you go, no matter who you meet or talk to, we're all a nation, undivided.' 'Wearing these dog tags really allows us to connect to the families that have been directly affected,' said Roth, who also has pictures of hostages by her Shabbat candles, which in Jewish tradition are lit on Friday evenings to usher in the Sabbath. Supporters and families hold pictures of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza as they take part in a '100 Days of Hell' rally calling for their immediate release and marking the upcoming 100th day of their captivity, outside the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 13, 2024 Supporters and families hold pictures of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza as they take part in a '100 Days of Hell' rally calling for their immediate release and marking the upcoming 100th day of their captivity, outside the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 13, 2024 People stand still for 100 seconds during a rally to mark 100 days that the hostages have been held in captivity in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 14, 2024 People release 100 balloons to symbolise 100 days since the October 7 attack by Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem campus, in Jerusalem, on January 14, 2024 In New York on Saturday, families of hostages and supporters spoke before turning a large hourglass in Times Square to mark 100 days since October 7. On Sunday, thousands gathered in London's Trafalgar Square for a pro-Israel rally. People stood holding posters that bore the faces of those who were taken hostage, as well as ones that read: '100 days in hell'. The crowd chanted 'Bring Them Home Now' and cheered as an organiser declared on stage that he has 'never been prouder to be Jewish'. Several hundred people also marched through the streets of Berlin on Sunday, waving Israeli flags to demand the 'immediate' release of the hostages. In Paris, a series of events took place at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. 'The French nation is determined that... all the hostages of the terrorist attacks of October 7 should be freed,' French President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday. The demonstrations on Sunday came as Israeli strikes pounded Gaza on the 100th day of the war sparked by the Hamas attack which has claimed a surging civilian death toll and ravaged the besieged Palestinian territory. Since October 7, Israel has relentlessly targeted the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and a ground offensive that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighbourhoods. The offensive has displaced the vast majority of Palestinians in Gaza, shuttered operations in more than half of Gaza's hospitals and caused widespread hunger, UN monitors say. A girl holds a poster of hostages near a large hourglass in Times Square in New York City, on January 13, 2024 Pro-Israeli supporters wave Israeli and pre-revolution Iranian flags as they gather for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London to show support for the bereaved families, families of hostages, soldiers and the people of Israel, on January 14, 2024 Britain's former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, who was sacked for her attack on policing double standards when it comes to protesters, joins pro-Israeli supporters as they gather for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London, on January 14, 2024 Pro-Israeli supporters hold placards as they gather for a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in central London to show support for the bereaved families, families of hostages, soldiers and the people of Israel, on January 14, 2024 People gather in front of the Berlin Cathedral as they attend a commemorative march with family members of German citizens who have been kidnapped by Hamas, in Berlin, Germany, on January 14, 2024 People hold posters depicting Israeli hostages in Gaza during the event '100 days 100 voices' to mark 100 days since the October 7 Hamas attack, calling for their release, in front of the Opera Bastille in Paris, France, on January 14, 2024 The Israeli military says it has now scaled back operations in the hard-hit north. But in the south, where it says Hamas's leaders are hiding, it presses forward at full strength. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and Israel have engaged in cross-border skirmishes nearly every day since the war began. READ MORE: Youngest Israeli hostage held by Hamas will turn one this week - after baby spends 100 days of his life as a hostage Advertisement The Israeli military says the war will stretch on throughout 2024. In a defiant speech on Saturday, referring to Iran and its allied militias, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else.' He was speaking after the International Court of Justice at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africa's allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has rejected as libelous and hypocritical. South Africa asked the court to order Israel to halt its blistering air and ground offensive in an interim step. Gaza's Hamas government media office said on Sunday that 'more than 100 people were martyred in the attacks last night until 6.00 am in all areas of the Gaza Strip'. On the Israel-Lebanon border, which has seen regular exchanges of fire with Hamas ally Hezbollah, the Israeli army said it killed three gunmen who had crossed the frontier overnight and 'fired at the forces'. On Sunday, two civilians were killed in northern Israel after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border. Keir Starmer today denied ditching another flagship promise on getting Commons consent before UK military action. Sir Keir was grilled about the commitment he made as he pitched to left-wingers during Labour's leadership contest four years ago. At the time the candidate said he would pass a law enshrining three principles, that there must be a 'lawful case', a 'viable objective' and 'the consent of the Commons'. But on Friday Sir Keir backed Rishi Sunak launching bombing raids on Houthis who having been attacking crucial Red Sea shipping routes. In a New Year interview on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Labour leader said he had only meant that a parliamentary vote would be needed if the UK was putting 'boots on the ground'. Sir Keir also admitted that he might not pass a law to enforce the principles if he could find another way of implementing them. And he appeared to retreat another commitment to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia. 'We will review the situation,' he said. Keir Starmer today denied ditching another flagship promise on getting Commons consent before UK military action On Friday Sir Keir backed Rishi Sunak launching bombing raids on Houthis who having been attacking crucial Red Sea shipping routes Sir Keir appeared to retreat on another commitment to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia Sir Keir has been accused of backing off a series of pledges he made to secure support from the Left to succeed Jeremy Corbyn in 2020. He argues that many of the shifts are down to dramatic changes in the country's circumstances, such as from Covid and the Ukraine war. Sir Keir insisted there is 'no inconsistency' between his stance on Yemen and previous promises. 'There is obviously a huge distinction between an operation, the like of which we have seen in the last few days, and military action, a sustained campaign, military action usually involving troops on the ground,' he said. On the pledge to ban arms sales to Saudi, Sir Keir said: 'We will do a review to look at the sales, look at the countries and the relationships we have.' The comments came as Lord Cameron said Britain is ready to carry out more strikes on Houthis to stop Red Sea shipping raids. The Foreign Secretary sent a blunt message that the UK is 'prepared to back our words with actions' following joint bombing raids with the US. He also highlighted the 'malign' influence in the region of the terrorists' paymasters Iran, saying that Britain and her allies 'know what they are doing'. Rishi Sunak is due in the House of Commons tomorrow to be grilled on the strikes. Lord Cameron insisted that the PM carefully considered the impact of military action, and rejected criticism from Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the US and UK risked turning the Red Sea into a 'sea of blood'. 'We don't agree with what President Erdogan has said. If you look at the action we have taken, it is actually backed by a very wide coalition of countries,' the former premier said. He added: 'He is an important Nato ally but in this case we don't agree. We see this as completely separate from the Israel-Gaza conflict.' Sir Keir said he would decide whether to back further action 'on its merits'. Sir Keir was on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg after Lord Cameron (left) Britain joined the United States and allies in conducting overnight airstrikes on Yemen, killing five and injuring six, in the early hours of Friday morning after weeks of Houthi attacks on merchant trade ships in the region. The United States subsequently carried out more attacks later Friday and on Saturday. Amid fears of spiralling tensions, US President Joe Biden told reporters today: 'We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behaviour along with our allies.' The Houthi militia threatened a 'strong and effective response' after the United States carried out its strike yesterday, however, and shared photos of troops carrying out drills in mock residential areas emblazoned with the Star of David, and standing on American flags. Video captured Margrethe listening to public sing to her outside Amalienborg Preparations for today's festivities have kicked in Copenhagen as Denmark gets ready to make Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary their new King and Queen. A live broadcast from regional channel DR1 shows soldiers marching up and down the streets as excited crowds have lined up, donning plastic crowds, Danish flag and various regalia to celebrate the low-key ceremony. Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve. Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning. And earlier today, soldiers from the Danish Guard Hussar regiment appeared to be practicing for today's events. Preparations for today's festivities have kicked in Copenhagen as Denmark gets ready to make Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary their new King and Queen Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X, displayed in the window of the well-known confectionery shop La Glace. And the celebrations began as early as last night as Margrethe was seen listening to the public sing to her in Copenhagen on the eve of her abdication. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and became Europe's longest-reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022. The monarch delivered the news during her traditional New Year's Eve speech. The ceremony will happen today, where she will transfer power of the throne to her 55-year-old son, Crown Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51. Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe - and this morning, wellwishers have already started to set up outside Christiansborg Palace Square. A video posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, captured the public singing to Margrethe outside Amalienborg, Margrethe's winter residence last night. One of the windows to the palace was left wide open, so that she could hear those who came to sing to her. Stable keepers have also been readying the horses in the royal stables of Christiansborg Palace this morning Well-wishers wearing crowns and coronation robes gathered outside Christiansborg Palace this morning Photos from the event also show security making checks at the balcony of Christiansborg Castle, with only hours to go before Queen Margrethe II's abdication - which she announced on New Year's Eve Well-wishers gather in Christiansborg Palace square today, adorned in Danish flag regalia in the early hours of the morning Pictured: Crown Princess Mary, Crown Prince Frederik and Queen Margrethe attend the annual opening of the parliamentary session at the Danish Parliament in October 2022 The Danish Royal Horse Guard trains with a proxy carriage ahead of today's exciting festivities in Copenhagen Police officers gather before the ride of the royals from Amalienborg Castle to Christiansborg Castle A child wearing a crown, looks on as people gather on the day Danish Queen Margrethe abdicates after 52 years on the throne The honour guard prepares ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X and HM Queen Mary of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace Square Pictured: The honour guard getting ready ahead of today's royal festivities in Copenhagen, Denmark Danish flags are waved as excited crowds gather round the Amalienborg Palace Square in Copenhagen A kangaroo balloon - in a seeming tribute to Crown Princess Mary's Australian heritage - is waved in the air A police officer directs members of the public ahead of the proclamation of HM King Frederik X today Elsewhere, excited royal fans in Copenhagen have been queueing to buy cakes decorated with a seal of the soon to be crowned King Frederik X People pass an image of Queen Margrethe in Copenhagen, Denmark, ahead of of her passing on the throne to her son on Sunday Danish royalists took to the streets of Copenhagen this weekend and waved red and white flags to honour their beloved Queen Margrethe The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd HOW WILL THE DAY UNFOLD? 1:35PM (12:35PM GMT, 11:35PM AUS): Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, set off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian 1:37PM (12:37PM GMT, 11:37PM AUS): Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage 2PM (1PM GMT, 12AM AUS): There will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary 2:15PM (1:15PM GMT, 12:15AM AUS): Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg 2:30PM (1:30PM GMT, 12:30AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests 3PM (2PM GMT, 1AM AUS): The couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne 3:10PM (2:10PM GMT, 1:10AM AUS): Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron 5PM (4PM GMT, 3AM AUS): There will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace Advertisement The Queen, known for her chain-smoking and flamboyant style - was seen on the clip walking around her home and peering out at the crowd. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down. However, she said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. 'The surgery naturally gave rise to thinking about the future - whether the time had come to leave the responsibility to the next generation,' she said in her speech. 'I have decided that now is the right time. On January 14, 2024, 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father, I will step down as Queen of Denmark. 'I leave the throne to my son, Crown Prince Frederik.' Early doors! Wellwishers have already started gathering at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication in Copenhagen The first crowds have started coming together outside the palace for today's historic stripped-back event The sun was yet to rise when the first royal fans started setting up to witness today's abdication Pictured: Danish flags fluttered on buildings close to Christiansborg Castle Square ahead of Queen Margrethe's abdication Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik takes over the crown on Sunday from his mother, Queen Margrethe II Department store windows display the Danish flag and the Danish crown in Copenhagen A picture of Danish Queen Margrethe II with a message reading 'Thank you, Your Majesty' Thousands of people have flooded into Copenhagen to witness the abdication People look at a picture of the soon-to-be King Frederik X and his wife Queen Mary displayed in a window at a shopping street Queen Margrethe II is breaking with centuries of Danish royal tradition and retiring after a 52-year reign Queen Margrethe II rides through Denmark's capital in her final engagement as monarch In fairytale picturesque scenes, thousands, many cheering and waving flags, braved the freezing temperatures, strong winds, snow and sleet Dressed in a fur coat, the 83-year-old uses a walking stick as she prepares to greet invited representatives of major national organisations and the royal patronage during her visit to Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen, on January 4 And today will see Denmark welcome the Crown Prince and Princess as their new King and Queen. Wellwishers with folding chairs donning Danish flags have already started to excitedly line the streets in preparation for this afternoon's events. The historic occasion is sure to be an exciting event for the nation - but is set to be a much more stripped down transferrence of power compared to King Charles's ornate Coronation in May. The day will kick off at around 1:35pm Danish time (12:3pm GMT), with Frederik, 55, and Mary, 51, setting off in a a 1958 Rolls-Royce from Amalienborg to Christiansborg Palace, along with their son HRH Prince Christian. Shortly after, Margrethe will follow, leaving from Christian IX's Palace in a carriage. Both will pass through Frederiksgade, Bredgade, Kongens Nytorv, Holmens Canal and Prince Jrgen's Courtyard on the way. At 2pm, there will be a Council of State at Christiansborg Palace, which Margrethe, Frederik, and Christian will take part in together with the Government and the Council of State secretary. This is where the succession of the throne will happen, as Her Majesty The Queen will sign a declaration of her abdication. Margrethe will then make her way back to Amalienborg, while Frederik and Mary will hold a formal reception for specially invited guests. At 3pm, the couple will make a balcony appearance at Christiansborg Palace. The Prime Minister will then proclaim the King's accession to the throne. After this, the newly crowned monarch will then speak and conclude with the motto. It will be followed by an honourary cannon salute from the Sixtus Battery - a heritage site on Holmen, Copenhagen - and the Royal Standard will then be lowered at Christian IX's Palace (Margrethe's home) and reraised at Frederik VIII's Palace, where the new King and Queen are based. Frederik and Mary will take a carriage from Christiansborg Palace back to Amalienborg, which will be escorted by a mounted squadron. READ MORE: New Danish royal titles and line of succession explained as Queen Margrethe II abdicates Advertisement At 5pm, there will also be a transfer of the royal colours from Christian IX's Palace to Frederik VIII's Palace. Queen Margrethe, who took to the throne in 1972, has become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to relinquish the throne. However, during an interview in 2016, she expressed a different opinion. She said: 'It's always been: you stay as long as you live. That's what my father did and my predecessors. And the way I see it too.' 'It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now,' said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. 'He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles.' The new Danish royal couple will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The royal, 83, has ruled Denmark for more than 52 years and become Europe's longest reigning monarch after Queen Elizabeth II passed away in September 2022 The Danish Queen (right) will be succeeded by her eldest son Crown Prince Frederik (centre) pictured with his Australian-born wife Crown Princess Mary Frederik and Mary will wave from the balcony. The couple are pictured on Frederik's 50th birthday Mary appeared optimistic as she arrived at the New Year's reception for officers from the Armed Forces and the National Emergency Management Agency Margrethe II was the eldest of the three daughters of King Frederik IX of Denmark, and succeeded him to the throne in 1972 The most recent survey, which was done after the queen announced she would abdicate, indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. 'The royal family means everything that is Danish. It's fairytales and traditions,' said Anna Karina Laursen, 59, a nod to the country's famous fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. However, a royal expert said that the Danish Queen broke an 'invisible pact' between Scandinavian monarchs to never abdicate. Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway, 86, and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden, 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne. New Danish royal titles and line of succession FIRST IN LINE: Prince Christian will become Crown Prince Christian and is the heir apparent SECOND: Christian's younger sister, 16-year-old Princess Isabella will become second in lin THIRD AND FOURTH: Twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine take the next spots in the ranking (pictured with Prince Christian and Queen Margrethe last April) L to R: Felix (SEVENTH), Marie, Prince Joachim (FIFTH), Athena (NINTH), Henrik (EIGHTH) and Nikolai (SIXTH) in September TENTH: Queen Margrethe's sister Princess Benedikte, herself 79, takes the final spot in the line of succession CROWN PRINCE FREDERIK WILL BECOME KING Frederick, 55, formerly known as Crown Prince Frederick - is set to become His Majesty King Frederick X. Her Majesty The Queen will continue to be known as Her Majesty and bear the title HM Queen Margrethe. CROWN PRINCESS MARY WILL BECOME QUEEN Meanwhile, his wife Crown Princess Mary - who is very popular with the Danish public due to her dedication to royal duty and commitment to learning the language - will become Queen Consort. She is also set to become the nation's first Australian-born queen. The couple, who met in a bar in 2000 during the Olympics in Sydney, share four children, who each occupy the next spaces in the line of succession. PRINCE CHRISTIAN WILL BECOME CROWN PRINCE Their son Prince Christian will become the next in line to the Danish throne at just 18. His title will change to Crown Prince Christian as he will be the heir apparent. He may have to act as head of state when his father is out of the country. Princess Mary, Frederik's brother Joachim, and Princess Benedikte are able to take over as head of state should Christian be too busy - however he will certainly be required to take on more official duties. Christian is often referred to as the 'most eligible bachelor in Europe' and his new title will only elevate that status even more. The first stage of the rocket landed on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship This is the incredible moment a person captured a rocket flying into space from Elon Musks SpaceX launch. Footage from the onlooker in Santa Barbara, California shows a bright orange light ascending into the sky following the launch of the Falcon 9 ship carrying 22 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. Another eyewitness posted a similar video onto X, formally known as Twitter, of the rocket rising high into the night's sky with the caption: 'That was pretty cool.' The launch took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:59am local time with a live webcast of the mission taking place on the company's social media pages. SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the 22 satellites just after 2am PT, which the company believe will help them to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity across the globe. Footage from the onlooker in Santa Barbara, California shows a bright orange light ascending into the sky following the launch of the Falcon 9 launch of 22 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit The launch took place at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 12:59am local time with a live webcast of the mission taking place on the company's social media pages SpaceX confirmed the successful deployment of the 22 satellites just after 2am PT, which the company believe will help them to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity across the globe Another eyewitness posted a similar video onto X, formally known as twitter , of the rocket rising high into the night's sky with the caption: 'That was pretty cool' Following the separation of the multistage rocket, the first stage of the spacecraft has land on the Of Course I Still Love You drone ship, which is stationed in the Pacific Ocean. This was the 18th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched Crew-1, Crew-2, SXM-8, CRS-23, IXPE, Transporter-4, Transporter-5, Globalstar FM15, ISI EROS C-3, Korea 425 and seven Starlink missions. The company's latest launch has excited a large number of social media user, with one writing: 'SpaceX continuing to make history while we all sleep!', another said: 'Always a pleasure to watch'. SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and to colonize Mars. The company currently operates the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets along with the Dragon and Starship spacecraft. Starlink is Musk's costly satellite internet system which prides itself on offering an experience which requires minimal support and most elements, including setting up a dish, are managed through their app. However, rural homeowners who have switched to the system have slammed the company's customer service. While some villagers have hailed Starlink as 'life-changing', other users who are paying 449 plus 75 a month have fumed at the lack of help available when they suffer connection problems. The hands-off approach may be favoured when things are going well, but it is infuriating users who have flocked to social media and Trustpilot to share complaints. It was reported that villagers have been forced to endure endless roadworks and temporary traffic lights as trenches have been dug and telegraph poles erected in preparation for a big digital roll out in Stocksfield, Northumberland. Slow broadband speeds are something felt around the country, with experts telling MailOnline there is 'a lot of red tape' around connecting these rural areas. Scientists are worried about the potentially damaging effects of Musk's 'space junk' and what it could do to the earth's orbit Fed up with waiting for faster broadband, some have switched to Musk's 449 satellite internet system which helps connect the most isolated parts of the British countryside by using broadband beamed from space. Alex Tofts, broadband expert at Broadband Genie, told MailOnline: 'I wouldn't be surprised if more people go down this route just because of the wider issue of the rural broadband landscape where households and people are clearly getting left behind.' Starlink has been hailed for providing internet in war-torn Ukraine, but astronomers fear that the devices may soon obstruct our view of the cosmos - with around 9,000 stars visible from our planet. New research showed that low-frequency radio waves - like the ones produced by Musk's machines - are leaking into the sky which makes it difficult for scientists to make astronomical observations. Scientists are also concerned that Musk's 'space junk' could cause an extreme collision event. The 'Kessler syndrome' - proposed by NASA scientist Donald Kessler in 1978 - said that if there is too much space junk in the earth's orbit then the objects could collide and make MORE space junk. This would result in Earth's orbit becoming unstable. A 70-year-old woman has been arrested and charged after a car drove through crowds of pro-Palestine protesters in Edinburgh. Police responded to reports of a crash involving a vehicle and pedestrians at Mount Place in the Scottish city at 2:30pm yesterday. It is understood a black Seat allegedly attempted to drive through the crowds, leaving a number of people with minor injuries. Pictures on social media show the vehicle among a group of protesters and police officers on The Mound in the city centre. Officers intervened to remove a 70-year-old woman from the vehicle. One activist at the event to call for a ceasefire in Gaza said: 'As speakers were addressing the protest, a driver tried to drive their way through the crowd. 'Police tried to forcibly clear away protesters in order to facilitate the driver to get through. People resisted and they eventually had to intervene and take the driver out of the car.' The black Seat allegedly attempted to drive through the crowds at a pro-Palestine march today A Police Scotland spokesperson said: 'Around 2.30pm on Saturday, 13 January, 2024, we were made aware of a road crash involving a car and a small number of pedestrians in Mount Place Edinburgh. 'Officers received reports of minor injuries from pedestrians, but no medical attention was required. 'A 70-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a driving offence. 'A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.' Organisers said 'several thousand' people attended the march in Edinburgh. It came amid multiple protests across the country in favour of a permanent ceasefire during the Israel-Hamas war. Events took place in several city centre locations on Saturday including in Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen and Dundee. The Metropolitan Police said nine people were arrested following marches in central London. The protests came a day after the UK and the US launched strikes in Yemen to target Houthi bases. At least 23,469 Palestinians have been killed and 59,604 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. In the meantime, Gaza remains under intense attack from Israel as it attempts to dismantle the Hamas terror group. Aid supplies have dwindled and road closures have been enforced, according to the United Nations humanitarian aid office. It will be featured on social media and dating apps Campaign encourages Aussies to tested for STI's Popular dating apps like Tinder and Grindr will soon feature ads warning young Australians about sexually transmitted infections, as part of a new government initiative. Health Minister Mark Butler launched the Beforeplay campaign as a 'timely reminder' to those aged 20 to 34, amid a rise in sexually transmitted diseases. The public health message encourages young people to get tested for STI's like syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia 'before the fun starts'. The nine-week campaign will been seen on all major dating apps and social media apps and will be plastered around universities, bars and clubs. A new government campaign (pictured) encouraging young Australians to get tested for STI's will be featured on popular dating apps like Tinder and Grindr The campaign features phrases like 'make STI testing your beforeplay' and to 'check your fun parts before the fun starts'. It comes as government data reveals syphilis infections have more than doubled between 2015 and 2020, with up to 6,000 cases in 2023 alone. Despite not showing symptoms, syphilis can have serious health implications for pregnant women and their babies if it goes untreated. It is the first major STI awareness campaign to be rolled out in Australia in 15 years. Mr Butler said the campaign will reduce the stigma around STI testing with one in six Australians getting an STI in their lifetime. 'This is an important health issue, not a taboo topic,' he said. 'The campaign is a timely reminder of the simple steps everyone should follow to stay in control of their sexual health and prevent STI transmission.' Material will be translated for multicultural and First Nations audiences. The inclusive campaign (pictured) features phrases like 'make STI testing your beforeplay' and to 'check your fun parts before the fun starts' It comes as government data reveals syphilis infections have more than doubled between 2015 and 2020, with up to 6,000 cases in the last year Syphilis cases are rising at an alarming rate across Australia with the number of people contracting the disease tripling in the last decade. Leading health research agency the Kirby Institute at the UNSW in Sydney found 6,036 Aussies were diagnosed with the sexually transmitted infection (STI) in 2022, 466 more cases than the previous year. Cases among Indigenous Australians are five times higher than non-Indigenous Australians and men are affected more than women. The disease can damage vital organs such as the brain and heart, and can also lead to death if it goes untreated. Health experts are particularly concerned about the rise in the number of women infected with the disease, with the number of cases among females increasing six-fold over a 10-year period. Congenital syphilis occurs as a result of 'transplacental transmission' during pregnancy or from mother to baby during birth. There has been a concerning rise in the number of syphilis cases in Australia with 6,036 Aussies diagnosed with the disease in 2022, 466 more cases than the previous year People can avoid getting infected by using a condom (stock image) and getting tested for STI's The coronavirus pandemic reduced the number of people getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases which could have led to the rise in cases. Outbreaks in rural areas of Queensland which started in 2011 have also contributed to the rising number of infections. Since then the disease has grown at epidemic rates in remote parts of far north Queensland, with more communities at risk. Syphilis is simple to cure when it's detected and treated in its early stages. The preferred treatment is a dose of penicillin. People can avoid transmitting the disease by practising safe sex practices like wearing a condom and be regularly tested for STIs. An Ecuadorian journalist who was live on air as hooded gunmen rushed a TV studio has revealed that they stuffed his jacket with an improvised explosive and threatened to kill him if police arrived. Jose Luis Calderon was in TC network's studios in Guayaquil on Tuesday night when masked gunmen, spurred on by the wave of gang crime that has put Ecuador on its knees, burst into the studio. He was seen calmly speaking as a gunman held a shotgun to his throat. Calderon told Sky News: 'They kept on repeating, "if the police come in, we'll kill you". 'It was a really chaotic moment, but in that instant, I kept my calm. Jose Luis Calderon (pictured) told Sky News: 'They kept on repeating, 'if the police come in, we'll kill you'' Calderon was in TC network's studios in Guayaquil on Tuesday night when masked gunmen, spurred on by the wave of gang crime that has put Ecuador on its knees, burst into the studio LIVE READ MORE: Ecuador unrest: At least 10 dead and more taken hostage by cartels as President orders brutal crackdown Advertisement 'There was no explanation about what was happening at that moment. 'The news programme was on air and that's why you were able to see the footage. You could see what was happening when they pointed a gun at me, they put an explosive in my jacket pocket. 'They were really unnerving moments, but at the same time, I managed to stay calm.' He and two colleagues hid in a nearby bathroom, upon hearing people shouting when the gunmen burst into the studio. 'We managed to speak to our relatives and warn the police about what was happening without knowing the exact details of what was going on and who was behind it. Ecuadorian soldiers stand guard during a security patrol at the Ecuador-Colombia border, in Tulcan, Ecuador Ecuadorian Marine Corps personnel guard the entrance to the Deprivation of Liberty Center Regional Guayas where notorious gang leader Adolfo Macias Salazar, nicknamed 'Fito', escaped cuadorian soldiers search a man during an operation to control and search for weapons and to enforce the curfew in Quito, Ecuador, 14 January 2024 Ecuador's attorney general's office said 13 were arrested for breaking into the TV studio, an are set to be charged with terror offences Relatives of prison officials held hostage by inmates wait for their loved one's release, outside Machala prison, in Machala, Ecuador, on January 13, 2024 'They made threats constantly. My colleagues were touched inappropriately. 'They led us to the studio, which was still live on air. When we arrived, just metres away there were colleagues, people working for the channel who were on the floor, very worried, on their knees, and they took us hostage.' Police eventually arrived, and began shooting at the armed group, who dispersed and were later arrested. 'I've covered events like this, and I've seen tragic events - but I've never been part of one,' Calderon said. Ecuador's attorney general's office said 13 were arrested for breaking into the TV studio, an are set to be charged with terror offences. Members of the armed forces of Ecuador search people stopped on the street during a security operation in the neighborhood La Lucha de los Pobres Citizens provide food and drink to members of the Armed Forces of Ecuador who stand guard in front of Litoral Penitentiary against possible attacks by criminal groups as the state of emergency continues Inmates lie on the floor after Ecuador's police and armed forces freed prison staff members who had been held hostage by the prisoners Soldiers stand outside the Zonal 8 prison, from where Jose Adolfo Macias alias "Fito" disappeared almost a week ago Prison staff members, who had been held hostage by inmates, sit together after they were freed by Ecuador's police and armed forces at a jail, in Ambato, Ecuador If convicted, each of the gunmen could be imprisoned for up to 13 years. Violence erupted across the country this week after drug lord, Adolfo Macias - also known as Fito - was reported missing from his cell last Sunday. The leader of the Los Choneros gang was serving a 34-year sentence behind bars in La Regional prison, and was due to be transferred to a maximum security facility in Guayaquil on the day of his escape. He was reportedly tipped off about the transfer. Ecuadorian prosecutors have filed charges against two prison guards as part of their investigation into the escape. Fito's location is still unknown, and the country was driven to a civil war, with terrified citizens resorting to taking up arms in an attempt to defend themselves, according to various reports on social media, as Ecuador's military and armed police battle with gangs in the streets who are torching cars and conducting executions in broad daylight. Violence erupted across the country this week after drug lord, Adolfo Macias - also known as Fito - was reported missing from his cell last Sunday Fito's location is still unknown, and the country was driven to a civil war, with terrified citizens resorting to taking up arms in an attempt to defend themselves Ecuadorian soldiers pat down people during an operation to control and search for weapons and to enforce the curfew in Quito, Ecuador Today, all 136 hostages seized during prison riots in Ecuador were freed on Saturday night, prison authorities said Today, all 136 hostages seized during prison riots in Ecuador were freed on Saturday night, prison authorities said. 'Security protocols and the joint work of the police and the national army enabled the release of all the hostages who were being held in various prisons across the country,' the SNAI prison authorities said in a statement on X. President Daniel Noboa celebrated their release. 'Congratulations to the patriotic, professional and courageous work of the armed forces, national police and the SNAI (...) for achieving the release of the prison guards and administrative staff held in the detention centers of Azuay, Canar, Esmeraldas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, El Oro and Loja,' Noboa wrote on X. Police said 46 guards and one civil servant were released from the Cotopaxi prison, 13 from Tungurahua prison, and 15 others from El Oro prison, where the body of a civil servant was found. Police said 46 guards and one civil servant were released from the Cotopaxi prison, 13 from Tungurahua prison, and 15 others from El Oro prison, where the body of a civil servant was found An explosives expert checks a bag prior to a visit by President Daniel Noboa on TC Television channel in Guayaquil Members of a special motorized unit of the National Police participate in a manhunt after the escape of several prisoners from the Litoral penitentiary in Guayaquil Local residents prepare to be frisked by police officers Images broadcast by the police showed the guards, many in tears, exhausted and supported by their colleagues shortly after their release. During their ordeal, the hostages had often begged authorities for help via videos posted on social media. At least two hostages were killed by the inmates, one of them hanged, according to the videos. Nearly 180 prison guards and civil servants were taken hostage by the end of last week, with 41 freed earlier. The prison workers were taken hostage after Noboa launched a military takedown of criminal groups this week, sparking a deadly confrontation with narco gangs in the South American nation. The crisis was triggered by the escape from Guayaquil prison of one of the country's most powerful narco bosses, Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias 'Fito,' triggering riots in at least five prisons and attacks on security forces aimed at spreading terror. More than 22,400 military personnel were deployed across the country and in prisons, while a nightly curfew was imposed. Wolverhampton has been revealed as the UK's capital for drink and drug driving, with nearly 10 per cent of all crashes in the city happening while motorists are under the influence. According to data from the Department for Transport, 9.4 per cent of all road collisions in the city of 260,000 people happened when drivers were over the limit for drinks or drugs. This is nearly double the national average, with figures showing that around 5 per cent of crashes were caused by people breaking the law by having high amounts of alcohol or drugs in their system. Two other cities in the Midlands - Leicester and Coventry - were also in the top three drink and drug driving hotspots with 8.8 and 8.6 per cent of crashes happening under the influence. By comparison the City of London, Westminster and Edinburgh had the lowest proportion of drink or drug driving crashes, according to data studied by rehab provider Abbeycare. According to an analysis of data from the Department for Transport, 9.4 per cent of crashes in Wolverhampton take place when a motorist is under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Pictured: A map showing the 10 places in Britain with the highest proportion of drink or drug driving crashes Joseph Large, 30, (pictured) was jailed after he killed a cyclist in his 32-tonne refuse truck while high on cocaine and cannabis Paul Thompson (pictured), from Bilston in the West Midlands, was 12 weeks away from retiring when he was killed in the crash in Culwick Street, Wolverhampton on November 26, 2018 There are around 130,000 road accidents in the UK each year, meaning around 6,500 are caused by the driver being drunk or high on drugs. Giles Craighouse, from the city, said the streets were a 'war zone' and he had been forced to quit driving due to drink drivers ploughing into him. The 44-year-old: 'I stopped driving last year after being hit three times in the past two years. 'Two of the ones who hit me were over the limit for alcohol and I suspect the other one was high on cannabis. 'My insurance went through the roof and I just decided I'd had enough.' Among the victims of this type of crime in recent years was Paul Thompson, who was crushed to death by a lorry driver who was high on cocaine and cannabis while he cycled through the city. Joseph Large, then 30, ploughed his 32-tonne refuse truck into Mr Thompson in Culwick Street, Wolverhampton, killing him instantly on November 26, 2018. Police arrested Large at the scene and tests revealed he had taken cannabis and had 158mcg of cocaine in his blood - three times the permitted level. He initially told police he did not see Mr Thompson because he was dazzled by the sun when he pulled out of a junction at 2.30pm. But he was later found guilty of causing death by careless driving while under the influence of drugs, and was jailed for three-and-a-half years and banned from driving for two years. In November last year two elderly women were killed and three other pensioners left in hospital after a suspected drug driver ploughed into their vehicle as they travelled in Ettingshall in the city. Two women, aged 82 and 76, were found in critical condition and pronounced dead at the scene. Three men were taken to hospital where one of them, aged 90, remained in a serious condition while the other two, aged 79 and 78, were stable, police said. A 51-year-old man from a separate vehicle was arrested at the scene on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and was later released under investigation. A spokesman for Abbeycare said: 'We wanted to find the cities and regions most affected by intoxicated drivers and found that Wolverhampton is the UK's drink and drug driving hotspot. 'Nearly one in ten of the road collisions in Wolverhampton involve alcohol or drugs.' Places with HIGHEST proportion of drink or drug driving crashes 1 - Wolverhampton - 9.4% 2 - Leicester - 8.8% 3 - Coventry - 8.6% 4 - Plymouth - 8.5% 5 - Wrexham - 8.5% 6 - Swansea - 8.3% 7 - Peterborough - 8.2% 8 - Sunderland - 8% 9 - Wakefield - 7.5% 10 - Southend-on-Sea - 7.5% Advertisement A 33-year-old man accused of raping a teenage girl at a popular beach was charged over the alleged toilet attack while he was already in police custody. Fernando Collard, a father of one, faced Northbridge Magistrates Court on Sunday following the alleged sexual assault at Coogee Beach, south Perth, on Friday. Collard was already wanted by police over allegations of criminal damage during an aggravated armed robbery in Maddington last August and driving without a licence in September. He was arrested by police on Saturday in relation to last year's alleged offences and was later charged with sexual penetration without consent and a breach of bail. It's alleged Collard dragged a young girl into the male toilet block at Coogee Beach and sexually assaulted her before fleeing the scene at about 2.10pm on Friday. Fernando Collard (above) was charged with raping a teenage girl at Coogee Beach, Perth, after he was arrested on separate charges WA Police released this CCTV footage of the alleged offender The toilet block was just metres from the sand and car park. Western Australia Police issued a CCTV photo of a man it believed could help with the investigation as well as a description. It described the man as having olive or dark skin, aged between 30 and 35 years old, with tattoos on his neck and shoulder. Officers believe he may have been at the beach and jetty with another man and young boy before the alleged attack. Collard was charged for the alleged rape early Sunday morning and briefly appeared in Northbridge Magistrates Court the same day. He did not apply for bail and was remanded to spend the next two weeks behind bars. He is expected to appear in Armadale Magistrates Court later this month. Farmer spun the calf in circles to unblock its airways A stockman has saved a dying calf using an unusual 'farmer's trick'. Bryan Littlely was forced to think fast after the calf failed to take her first breaths after being born in a dam on his property in Victor Harbor, 80km from Adelaide. In footage of the miraculous recovery, Mr Littlely is seen picking up the limp calf by her back legs and swinging her around in circles several times. He then places the calf back on the grass and begins to massage her neck, torso and inside her nostrils to help unblock her airways. Just as the video ends the calf is seen taking a deep lungful of air. 'This is what saving a cow and a calf looks like,' Mr Littley captioned the footage. In footage of the miraculous recovery, Mr Littlely is seen picking up the limp calf by her back legs and swinging her around in circles several times (pictured) 'On my routine check I found Netty looking a bit distressed in calving. 'I kept a watch on her from the deck with binoculars and the drone and we determined she was going to need some help. 'Went and got the calf pulled and prepped to catch her. Went back to her, she was down and calf stuck half out with one front leg under it. 'They were in big trouble.' Mr Littlely said he was unable to get a rope around the calf before the mother took off and headed straight into the nearby dam. 'Both useful and challenging,' he continued. 'We could get her moving which helped dislodge the wedged leg and ultimately the dead looking calf came out into 3ft (0.9metres) of water. 'Mum bolted and Crissina hauled the calf out [of the dam].' Mr Littley then places the calf back on the grass and begins to massage her neck, torso and inside her nostrils to help unblock her airways (pictured) The farmer explained the 'whizzy' clears the air passages of the birthsack and in this case, the dam water the cow had ingested during birth. 'I massaged her chest, throat, a second whizzy, stuck my fingers down her throat and nostrils... and contemplated mouth to mouth but got her breathing after a few minutes as Crissina rounded mum back,' he explained. 'It took a couple more hours, patience, and a couple of calf moves but Ducky is sitting up now with a doting mum. Fingers crossed she finds her feet, drinks up and takes her place in the herd as a very lucky little girl.' The farmer was applauded in the comments of the video, with many other Aussie farmers sharing when they were forced to use the life-saving trick. 'Have done this plenty of times with lambs as well if sticking your fingers in their nose/mouth to clear the mucous doesn't work either. Good job!' one said. Mr Littlely explained the 'whizzy' clears the air passages of the birthsack and in this case, the dam water the cow had ingested during birth (pictured, Mr Littlely and 'Lucky Ducky') 'This is very normal. When a calf has trouble breathing when it's born we used to hang them on the fence upside down to get them breathing and stimulate them. The fluid drains from their lungs. Very lucky calf,' a second wrote. A third shared: 'It's common to do this in the dairy industry, clears the muck out of airways fast so calf can breathe, done this for 30+ years.' Mr Littely provided an update on the calf's recovery, saying she had been reunited with her mum. The farmer decided to name the calf 'Lucky Ducky' in tribute to her birth story. Mr Littlely said hundreds of farmers used the unusual technique on a weekly basis and said he had learnt how to do it from his father. 'She's absolutely beautiful and we're very, very happy she's pulled through,' he said. The nation's top surf athletes have detailed their heroic rescue efforts after 25 people were sucked into a dangerous rip at a Sydney beach. The Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series had only just wrapped its competition for the day when a group of swimmers were sucked into a 'flash rip' at Maroubra about 4pm on Sunday. In a matter of seconds, the swimmers were forced out to sea in the powerful current and became stranded in deep waters. Ironwoman Lana Rogers had reclaimed her title for the second year and was celebrating on the beach with friends when she heard a call over the loudspeaker. The Nutri-Grain Ironman and Ironwoman Series had only just wrapped its competition for the day when a group of swimmers were sucked into a 'flash rip' at Maroubra about 4pm on Sunday (scene pictured)_ In a matter of seconds, the swimmers were forced out to sea in the powerful current and became stranded in deep waters (scene pictured) Star Ironwoman Lana Rogers was among the rescuers 'We just heard 'massive rescue' and lucky all of us were here still,' she told Nine. A group of eight athletes looked out to sea and saw dozens of people fighting to keep their heads above water. Surf Life Saving NSW rescue boat co-ordinator Tony Carle was among those who involved in the rescue but remained humble saying its what the athletes are trained to do. 'They reacted as lifesavers do, when the call goes out, we go into action,' he said. 'The gentlemen I rescued goes, 'It just happened so fast'.' Surf Life Saving Australia national sport manager Wayne Druery described the fast-moving waters as a 'flash rip', which are bigger and flow faster than a regular rip. No one was seriously injured in the incident, however witnesses described 'confronting' scenes as people lay unmoving on the sand while lifeguards treated them. Surf Life Saving NSW rescue boat co-ordinator Tony Carle was among those who involved in the rescue but remained humble saying its what the athletes are trained to do It comes less than 24 hours after an emergency unfolded a bit further north along the coast at Bronte Beach. Four people became caught in the rip at Bronte Beach at around 8pm on Saturday evening. A man and three women, all aged in their 30s, were pulled from the water and were taken to hospital. The decline is likely due to routine list maintenance after a new law requires people who have not voter in two election cycles to become inactive Voters with the Democratic Party dropped by nearly 10 percent and approximately three percent for Republicans Nearly one million voters have been wiped from Florida's voter registration rolls in the past year, leading to speculation over how that will effect the 2024 election. As of November 30, the number of active registered voters in the Sunshine State decreased by 996,676 voters from 2022 to 2023, according to data from the Florida Department of State. The active registered voters with the Florida Democratic Party fell by 467,337 voters or nearly 10 percent. The active registered voters with the Republican Part of Florida decreased by 153,369 or approximately three percent. The overall number of voters purged from the rolls is likely to increase after Decembers data is collected, according to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, due to routine list maintenance. However, the decline in registered voters is concerning to some heading into this years election season as people brace for a highly contentious presidential race and hot-button issues like abortion are expected to be on the state ballot. The number of active registered voters in the Sunshine State has decreased by nearly 1 million from 2022 to 2023. Pictured two women have a voter registration booth setup on St. Augustine Beach in Florida in 2020 Broward County, the state's second largest county, had 1.3 million total registered voters from November 2022 through November 2023, then dropped to 1.1 million in December, according to data from the Broward County Supervisors of Elections. In Palm Beach County, supervisor of elections data shows they went from 946,189 total registered voters in September to 847,617 in October. The drop-off in voters seems to becoming from routine registration list maintenance conducted by each county elections supervisor, which is required by the state. Florida state law says, 'The supervisor must conduct a general registration list maintenance program to protect the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring the maintenance of accurate and current voter registration records in the statewide voter registration system.' 'A registration list maintenance program must be conducted by each supervisor, at a minimum, once each year, beginning no later than April 1, and must be completed at least 90 days before the date of any federal election.' In 2023, the state legislature enacted new laws that is likely behind the large jump in numbers. Supervisors are required to send notices to voters who have not participated in the last two general elections. If those voters do not respond, they get moved to the inactive list. 'You need to do something to let us know that you're still here and that you intend to continue participating and continue voting. You will get re-active,' said Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott. 'This group of folks will basically become ineligible if they do not participate in anything between now and December of 2026, that's when they will become ineligible. They've got the '24 (election) cycle and the '26 cycle.' A ballot initiative that would enshrine abortion rights in the Florida constitution reached the necessary number of verified signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot. The drop-off in voters seems to becoming from routine registration list that moves people who have not voted in the past two elections to inactive status. Pictured voters line up to cast their ballot in Palm Harbor, Florida on October 27, 2020 The decline in registered voters is concerning to some heading into the 2024 election season. Pictured generic polling place One TikTok user speculated the voter roll purge in the state could be connected to preventing that ballot initiative from being passed. In April, Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis signed a law banning abortions six weeks into pregnancies in the Sunshine State. 'It's because they know Florida women are about to put abortion rights on the constitution in 2024 here in the state of Florida,' said the TikTok user Chasing Oz. Fact checking organization PolitiFact said, 'County election officials must follow state law to remove voters from the active list, and voters on the inactive list are teed up for removal years later.' 'A question could be placed on the November ballot to protect abortion rights, but there is no evidence that this influenced election officials who were updating voter rolls.' Once a year, global elites from all sectors attend a five-day conference in the snow-capped town of Davos, Switzerland - which is supplemented by caviar, champagne, and all types of debauchery after hard work is over. The World Economic Forum 2024 is kicking off this week, with world leaders and business executives convening for discussions and events surrounding the most prominent issues of the day. The theme this year is 'Rebuilding Trust' - and will be attended by 3,000 guests. But when they descend on the small Alpine resort town of Davos, attendees do more than just discuss global conflicts, the economy, and the evolution of technology. They bond and build business bridges with one another at A-list soirees and parties. CEOs and dignitaries mingle over caviar bumps, $1,000 bottles of champagne and luxurious parties that only the elite in the world are able to get an invite to. Technogym founder and CEO Nerio Alessandri at the Davos party held by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff The World Economic Forum 2024 is kicking off this week, with world leaders and business executives convening for discussions and events surrounding the most prominent issues of the day The theme this year is 'Rebuilding Trust' - and will be attended by 3,000 guests One person, who attends the forum often, told The NYPost: 'You can almost smell the magic of the place when you're there. Everyone's got an agenda and you never know who you're going to run into when you come out of the restroom. It could be Bill Gates. 'You're around some of the smartest people in the world but one thing you learn is that they're not always so smart.' Skybridge Capital founder and chairman Anthony Scaramucci said: 'If you look up namedropping in the dictionary you'll see a photo of Davos. 'But you know what? I've never left the mountain without learning something important or making a new friend.' Scaramucci, who has attended Davos for years, is hosting a wine soiree at the Hotel Europe during the conference - where bottles of wine and champagne will set you back nearly $1,000 a bottle. In the past, Scaramucci has had the likes of Matt Damon, Richard Branson, Andrea Bocelli and Jill Biden at his WEF parties. Other world heavyweights, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, previously declined to attend, in his own words, 'because it sounded boring af lol.' Last year, other high-end events and selective soirees organized after the talks ended for the day offered esteemed guests more than just alcohol. A psychedelics company offered people micro-doses of magic mushrooms to delegates during the 40-session and speaker 'Medical Psychedelics House of Davos.' In 2022, Maria Velcova, one of the organizers of Psychedelic House of Davos, said: 'We spark curiosity with the neon sign out front. Once people get curious and brave enough to come down here, they realize that this isn't some underground electronic dance party. Scaramucci, who has attended Davos for years, is hosting a wine soiree at the Hotel Europe during the conference - where bottles of wine and champagne will set you back nearly $1,000 a bottle Food for the attendees of the Welcome Reception ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland Skybridge Capital founder and chairman Anthony Scaramucci hosts a soiree at WEF each year Guests attend the closing reception of World Economic Forum Other world heavyweights, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk , previously declined to attend, in his own words, 'because it sounded boring af lol' Deepak Chopra came to Davos last year, working at a forum about microdosing drugs Lenny Kravitz playing guitar on stage. Kravitz was the big draw at the Salesforce party in 2020, and got tagged on Instagram despite the party being supposed to be private Salome Balthus (pictured), a sex worker and writer, stayed at a hotel near Davos during the summit last year 'They find themselves meeting world-renowned scientists, clinicians, policymakers, people from for-profit and non-profit sectors, and experts from leading academic institutions.' In 2016, five Swiss soldiers deployed to protect the World Economic Forum in Davos were sent home after testing positively for cocaine, the Swiss army said. Seven more were disciplined for cannabis consumption after all 12, returning from leave, were suspected of intoxication. 'All 12 soldiers consumed cannabis and five of them additionally consumed cocaine,' Swiss army spokesman Stefan Holder said. 'These five were immediately sent home. The others are receiving disciplinary punishment during their duty.' Other debaucheries are also present at Davos. Last year, it was reported that sex workers who descended the snowy Swiss town were charging $2,500 a night for their services during the forum. This year, politicians from across the globe are expected to attend the forum - including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Leaders in the tech and celebrity world, including Sam Altman and Naomi Campbell, will also be at the event, fighting for invites to Davos' most exclusive after-parties. Secret cocktail parties with caviar-flecked canapes, private dinners rubbing shoulders with billionaires, followed by a night of dancing, will be how the elites at WEF spend their evenings unwinding. Artists such as Lenny Kravitz and the Black Eyed Peas have performed at private parties in the past - and Nile Rodgers, Will.i.am and Cool and Dre are down to make appearances this year. Rodgers will be receiving the 30th annual Crystal Award at the WEF this year. At the elite, snowy event, everyone has to wear colored badges with their names on it - on full display. But even the color schemes show a social hierarchy. White badges are for top-tier business leaders and CEOs - and are the most expensive to get accreditation for. Less important CEOs, bosses, the media, and staff working at the event will then receive an array of colored badges. Bozoma Saint John (top left) with Dancing With The Stars Julianne Hough (front) and British television executive June Sarpong (right) Founders Games Finals at the WEF. Pictured: Founder Dr. Plamen Russev, Ph.D and judge for the competition with Anthony Scaramucci When world leaders descend on the small Alpine resort town of Davos, attendees do more than just discuss global conflicts, the economy, and the evolution of technology. They bond and build business bridges with one another at A-list soirees and parties This year, politicians from across the globe are expected to attend the forum - including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, French president Emmanuel Macron, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken Meanwhile, Ukraine pushed ahead with its peace formula to end nearly two years of war with Russia with a meeting of national security advisers from around the world in Davos on Sunday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is scheduled to address the World Economic Forum in Davos later in the week, was not in the opening morning session, which included 81 participants from countries and international organizations. Zelenskiy was represented by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak at Sunday's talks, which were also attended by the U.S. special representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, as well as James O'Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. As concerns grow about ongoing U.S. support for the war in Ukraine during an election year, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are both expected to address the WEF, which officially starts on Monday evening. Meanwhile, Ukraine pushed ahead with its peace formula to end nearly two years of war with Russia with a meeting of national security advisers from around the world in Davos on Sunday Switzerland, which hosted the NSA representatives, said the Ukraine peace talks aimed to finalise principles 'for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine' at the level of national security advisers. The principles, it said in a statement last week, should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. The role of the Global South in Ukraine's peace formula talks has come into focus in Davos. Many of the non-aligned countries from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that have largely stayed on the sidelines over Ukraine will be represented in the Swiss mountain resort this week. Nigeria's national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu could be seen attending the NSA meeting. Yermak said that there were participants from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and 6 South American countries. 'Countries from the Global South are increasingly involved in our work,' Yermak said on his Telegram account. Ukraine, with strong backing from its allies, has consistently said it will not give up until it has reclaimed every piece of territory that Russia has taken. It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula. President Joe Biden didn't learn what Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's diagnosis was on the first call after finding out he was secretly in the ICU for days and only wished him well. Biden had been kept in the dark about Austin's health crisis, but even as public outcry over the secrecy grew, he reportedly didn't chastise him or ask for any details. Instead, the pair had a brief 'warm' phone call during which Austin didn't volunteer any information, according to the Washington Post. It's unclear if Biden didn't ask about his diagnosis or Austin didn't reveal it during the phone conversation. Austin has faced a barrage of criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike for failing to disclose he was in the hospital while the country was facing national security situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. His second-in-command, Kathleen Hicks, was vacationing in the Caribbean at the time and only found out Austin was seriously ill on January 4, two days after he was placed in intensive care. President Joe Biden spoke to Austin for the first time on January 6, but reportedly didn't ask for any details of his condition Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was hospitalized to be treated for prostate cancer but didn't tell anyone for several days even when he was placed under general anesthesia She reportedly planned to cut her holiday in Puerto Rico short, but decided to stay away after learning Austin was planning to return to work the following day. Pentagon officials only learned of Austin's illness and hospitalization on January 2, but no one informed the White House or Hicks of his whereabouts for another two days, despite Hicks then being de facto in charge. After finally finding out that Austin was unwell and in intensive care on the evening of January 4, Biden didn't speak with him for another two days. On January 6, he called the defense secretary, but rather than being angry about his secrecy and the ensuing public outcry, Biden reportedly just asked him how he was doing and wished him well. Officials told the Post that the call was brief and 'warm'. Austin had learned he had prostate cancer in early December when the disease was in its early stages and was considered highly treatable. He kept his original surgery on December 22 a secret from Biden and his administration despite being placed under general anesthesia and being unconscious. Hicks was given Austin's powers at the time but was not told the reason. Officials only found out he was unwell when he was placed into the ICU on January 2 But Pentagon officials also didn't tell the White House for days that Austin had returned to the hospital by ambulance on January 1 after experiencing severe pain. As public outcry grew over the seeming breach in national security, and with ongoing crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, Biden was still in the dark over the nature of Austin's illness. He only learned of his diagnosis on January 9 - the same day that the Pentagon released the details to the public - a month after Austin first learned he was unwell, and more than two weeks after his first operation. Timeline on Lloyd Austin's illness Dec. 22: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has procedure at Walter Reed Dec. 23: Austin returns home Dec. 27: President Biden leaves for St. Croix for New Year's vacation Jan. 1: Austin participates in national security phone call Jan. 1: Austin admitted to ICU Jan. 2: Austin top staffers informed of his hospitalization Jan. 2: Biden returns to White House Jan. 2: Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks takes some of Austin's duties Jan. 4: Biden and Hicks told Austin is in hospital Jan. 5: Congress informed Jan. 6: Biden and Austin speak via phone Jan. 9: Pentagon announces Austin was being treated for prostate cancer Advertisement In a statement on the day, White House spokesman John Kirby said: 'Nobody at the White House knew that Secretary Austin had prostate cancer until this morning and the President was informed immediately after we were.' The same day, the Pentagon said it is correcting its procedures. 'The department is taking immediate steps to correct our notification procedures,' Pentagon press secretary Major General Patrick Ryder said at his briefing. 'Nothing is more important to the Secretary of Defense and the Department of Defense than the trust and confidence of the American people and the public we serve and will continue to work every day and work hard every day to earn and deserve that trust,' he said. He added that the Pentagon was conducting an internal review of the matter. 'We want to make sure that notifications are happening in a timely way. And this way, as we've acknowledged, there were some shortfalls and so it's important that we go back and look at what those shortfalls work. What could have been done better and make sure that going forward. We're improving those processes,' Ryder said. The secrecy came days before the US launched a bombing on Houthi targets in Yemen. On January 11, the US led a collation of nations in the attacks in response to Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. On Friday, Biden expressed his first displeasure with Austin, saying he had shown a lapse in judgment by choosing not to reveal his hospitalization. While visiting small businesses in Allentown, Pa., Biden was asked if he has confidence in Austin, to which he responded: 'I do.' Asked if it was a lapse in judgment for Austin to not inform him of his hospitalization, Biden said: 'Yes.' Eight in ten men and six in ten black men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. The risk grows for men as they age. It is the most common cancer among men in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in the United States is 97 percent. Tolentino underscores strong devotion to Sto. Nino during Sinulog in Cebu CEBU CITY -- Senator Francis "Tol" Tolentino joined thousands of Cebuanos and tourists in celebrating Sinulog sa Lalawigan 2024 on Sunday. During his remarks, Sen. Tol underscored his strong devotion to the Sto. Nino which was being celebrated by the said feast. "Bago ako kumuha ng bar exams noong araw, and I attribute this to prayers as well as graces coming from Sto. Nino, ako po ay sumimba nang matagal dito sa Basilica. Before the results of the bar exams, nandito na naman ako sa Cebu para magdasal ulit," the Senator recalled. He added that his strong belief in the reverence of Sto. Nino has been unwavering through the years. Further, Tolentino lauded the active participation of all those who performed in Sinulog. "Let the echoes of your joyful festivities reach the heavens creating a symphony of gratitude and devotion," Senator Tolentino concluded. Armed police shot an 'out of control' dog on a street in west London today, just moments after it killed another dog. Video footage shows a firearms officer pointing their gun at the black-and-tan dog as it drags a smaller dog along the pavement. A puff of smoke flies into the air as the officer fires a bullet at the dog, before it whines and scampers up the street on Queens Avenue, Ealing. People can be heard screaming in the background as two officers then chase after the dog. A woman's voice can be heard saying: 'They've just shot the dog. Oh my god. S**t.' Footage posted on X, formerly Twitter, shows the moment an armed office shoots an 'out of control' dog in Ealing, west London Two officers can be seen chasing the mutt (left) after it ran away (right). The dog had killed another canine just moments before. The Met Police has confirmed the dog has been destroyed The Metropolitan Police confirmed in a statement the dog has since been destroyed to 'prevent it from causing further serious harm'. The force did not give details of the breed of dog and said: 'We were called at 10.39am on 14 January to a report of a dog out of control having killed another dog in Queens Ave, Greenford. 'Officers attended and took the decision to destroy the dog at the scene in order to prevent it from causing further serious harm. 'We know that this will have been upsetting for those present.' The 15-second clip has been viewed nearly 15,000 times on the social media platform. It comes almost a year since Met Police officers shot dead two 'dangerously out of control' dogs that had reportedly attacked a woman. Videos posted on social media by horrified witnesses in May last year showed a group of police officers following a man with two barking dogs on short leads along a canal in Limehouse, east London. Officers were seen in a heated row with the man as he continued to hold on to his dogs and attempt to calm them down. The situation quickly escalated with one of the black dogs being shot dead, while the screaming owner was then tasered and pinned to the ground. The second dog was subsequently shot dead as screaming witnesses looked down at the scene from balconies of surrounding flat blocks. Shocking footage last May showed the moment a group of Met police officers shot dead two 'dangerously out of control' dogs In the video the man who had the two dogs on short leads is also tasered as horrified witnesses scream in the background The London police force defended its actions explaining that the officers had 'a duty to act where necessary before any further injury was caused'. The Met said at the time they were forced to act swiftly because 'the aggressive behaviour of two dogs was of considerable concern'. Officers had been called to the scene following reports of a woman being attacked by the dog on Commercial Road in Tower Hamlets. The dogs were said to be 'of considerable concern' and posed a 'significant threat to' officers who attended the scene. No one was taken to hospital as a result of the attack, but a man was arrested in connection with having a dangerously out of control dog. Republican Speaker Johnson said staffers who walk out should be disciplined The walk out will mark 100 days of Israel's siege on Gaza, which has killed upwards of 23,000 people, mostly civilians Speaker Mike Johnson insists any Biden administration employee who walks out over U.S. support for Israel should be fired for 'abusing the trust of taxpayer'. The top Republican issued the stark warning to the hundreds of government staffers reportedly planning a protest on Tuesday to mark 100 days since the start of the conflict in Gaza. An anonymous internal cabal calling itself 'Feds United for Peace' have organized the strike as President Joe Biden faces fury from the left over his response to Israel's strikes. Biden's support for the conflict could cost him significant political currency, particularly with young voters, just as his 2024 re-election campaign heats up. The reports emerged as pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the White House, chanted 'f***' Joe Biden and threw bloodied dolls over the security fence. Johnson said the GOP will make sure federal agencies discipline in anyone who 'walks out on the job', 'Any government worker who walks off the job to protest U.S. support for our ally Israel is ignoring their responsibility and abusing the trust of taxpayers,' Johnson said on X. 'They deserve to be fired. Oversight Chairman (James) Comer and I will be working together to ensure that each federal agency initiates appropriate disciplinary proceedings against any person who walks out on their job.' The White House is bracing for a walkout of hundreds of employees in protest to its handling of the Middle East crisis and funding of Israel's war efforts President Biden (pictured January 12) is facing the internal revolt from a group calling itself 'Feds United for Peace.' There are fears his support for Israel is costing the White House significant political capital, especially with young voters, as he heads into the 2024 election The walk out is a drastic departure from how top federal employees have shown their disapproval toward White House policy in the past, which was typically reserved to media leaks or public resignations over policy. But the organizers, who have remained anonymous, say they are intent on changing direction from within, and they expect 'easily hundreds' of staffers to join their efforts on Tuesday. They say they have commitments from people inside 22 federal agencies for the strike, including from the Executive Office of the President, the National Security Agency, Homeland Security, Defense Department, and the FDA. The Biden administration has so far sent upwards of $14 billion to Israel alongside significant military support, with United Nations estimates placing the number of displaced Palestinians since at 1.9 million people - 85 percent of its population. One of the organizers of the strike told AI Monitor that they decided to launch the protest as it 'grew out of a collective desire to do what we could to influence the Biden administrations policy on this issue.' 'What you're seeing with this effort is something very unusual, and that is for dissent to be manifested via a physical act,' they added. The unrest has also reportedly seen a number of letters also drafted through the State Department's private 'dissent channel', a way for staffers to raise concerns anonymously that was set up during the Vietnam War. To curb the internal revolts, White House officials have reportedly held meetings with their aides to hear out their concerns, including 'listening sessions' between Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Arab American, Muslim and Jewish staffers. There is mounting internal backlash to Biden's approach to the crisis in Gaza, as he has sent upwards of $14 billion to Israel alongside significant military support The United Nations estimates the number of displaced Palestinians stands at 1.9 million people - 85 percent of its population The organizer said they had 'unequivocally' tried to raise their points internally, but feel the mass walkout is one of their last resorts. 'Its one thing to write letters from within, but when policy discussions and dissent cables yield no shift in policy and in some views, a double down on that policy then people feel they have no other option because theyre not being heard,' they added. While top federal staffers in years past have resigned in protest over disagreements, the organizer said they felt a 'moral obligation and patriotic duty' to change Biden's approach from the inside. Specific issues cited for the walkout also included America's obstruction of ceasefire campaigns within the United Nations, and the bypassing of Congress to send weapons to Israel. The demonstration comes as reports cite growing anger from Washington elites over the attitude of young staffers in showing their disapproval to their bosses. A series of anonymous letters penned by staffers in the White House, State Department and Biden's re-election campaign have been levied since the conflict erupted in October, a move that would have been unthinkable decades ago. Amid the internal revolt, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken (pictured) has reportedly been holding 'listening sessions' with Arab American, Muslim and Jewish staffers. James Carville (pictured in 2018), a longtime Democratic operative and former campaign strategist for President Bill Clinton, said the demonstrations from staffers mark a dramatic departure from how aides showed their disapproval in years past, and a strike 'wouldn't even cross your mind' James Carville, a longtime Democratic operative and former campaign strategist for President Bill Clinton, told Politico that the letters mark a turning point to how young staffers speak their minds. 'Theres this whole, "Youre not the boss of me" attitude now. "I might work for you but I have my own views,"' he said. 'If you said you didnt like some of President Clintons policies, the idea that you would go public with that would be insane. Just wouldnt do that. It wouldnt even cross your mind.' 'The bargain a staffer strikes has always been this: You get to influence the decisions of the most powerful government in the history of the world,' added Paul Begala, who worked alongside Carville in the Clinton White House. 'In exchange for that influence, you agree to back the final decision even if it goes against your advice. If confronted with a decision that crosses ones ethical, moral, social, political lines, the choice is clear: Shut up and support it, or resign.' A Conservative councillor is facing a police investigation for election fraud after he forgot to declare his part-job as a lollipop man. Peter Dickenson put himself forward as the Tory candidate for a Dorset Council by-election not realising his part-time community role would disqualify him from standing. Mr Dickenson, who is employed by the council for 10 hours a week to help children from St Andrews' Primary School in Weymouth cross the road safely, said he 'unwittingly' forgot to mention the role when he filled out his election nomination. It was a political rival who noticed the 'genuine mistake' and complained to the council's elections officer as well as Dorset Police. But by that stage it was too late for the 66-year-old to withdraw his candidacy from the Littlemoor and Preston by-election, which went ahead as planned on Thursday. Conservative councillor Peter Dickenson (pictured) is facing a police investigation for election fraud after he forgot to declare his part-job as a lollipop man, which is paid for by Dorset Council Mr Dickenson put himself forward as the Tory candidate for a Dorset Council by-election not realising his part-time community role would disqualify him from standing Mr Dickenson won the seat with 1,237 votes, beating his Lib Dem rival, who sat at second place by 404 votes. But the retired prison officer immediately had to resign as a councillor because of the technical breach of rules. Dorset Police confirmed they had received a complaint of a 'possible election offence' against Mr Dickenson on December 20 but said the matter was on hold until after the election. A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: 'Investigative activity will take place after polling day. We are unable to comment further at this time.' Another by-election will be held in May with Dickenson offering his support to volunteer to be a lollipop man for free if it means he can stand again. He said: 'I am elated and gutted at the same time. I won the election but then had to immediately resign. 'I am a lollipop man two hours a day and I do get paid by Dorset Council. I love doing the job and helping the kids cross the road and meeting the parents. 'I really don't want to give it up but if a solution can't be found I may have to resign the lollipop role so I can stand later in the year. The election still went ahead, with Mr Dickenson winning the seat with 1,237 votes, beating his Lib Dem rival, who sat at second place by 404 votes but the lollipop man was forced to resign immediately In a previous council election, where Mr Dickenson was elected a councillor on Weymouth council, he did declare he was a schools crossing officer 'But I cannot comment any further because there is a police investigation and I don't want to do anything that may affect that.' In a previous statement, Mr Dickensen said it had been a 'genuine mistake' on his part in omitting his lollipop man role on the council forms. He also slammed his rival candidate for reporting the matter to the police and trying to make political capital out of it. He said: 'I have been reported to the police by another party due to my failure to declare my role as a lollipop man for St Andrews School, which is a Dorset Council position, while running for a seat on the council. 'While I unwittingly made a mistake in not declaring this it was a genuine mistake and for that I do apologise. 'I don't do this job for money, I do it to support our community. The school has struggled to find anyone to fill this role. I would happily do this role for free and will be offering this to Dorset Council. 'To report this matter directly to the police without contacting me first out of courtesy has caused a great deal of upset. While I have made mistake I feel this is only being done for political purposes.' Mr Dickenson's wife, Joanna, also successfully stood as a Tory candidate for Weymouth Town Council on the same polling day and won Local Lib Dem councillor Ryan Hope said the invalid by-election had cost the taxpayer 13,000. He said: 'They have deprived the residents of Littlemoor and Preston of a democratic voice on Dorset Council.' Mr Dickenson is already an elected member for Weymouth Town Council. In the register of members' interests on the council website in May 2021 he listed his employment as a 'schools crossing officer.' He said after he filled out the nomination form for the Dorset Council by-election nobody from the authority's elections team had contacted him about the matter. The council later received a complaint that Mr Dickenson was in breach of election rules but by then it was too late for him to withdraw. Jonathan Mair, the council's legal officer, said: 'Anyone who wishes to allege an election offence should contact Dorset Police themselves. 'Dorset Council will of course cooperate with the police, including by confirming the facts as to Mr Dickenson's employment position.' Mr Dickenson's wife, Joanna, also successfully stood as a Tory candidate for Weymouth Town Council on the same polling day and won. In making her acceptance speech at Preston Village Hall the retired dentist paid tribute to her husband. In Iowa, wind chills are dropping to minus 40 degrees and those brave enough to go outside are warned they could get frostbite in 10 minutes. The life-threatening, sub-zero temperatures mean most are wearing multiple layers and will be bundling up to vote in the crucial Republican caucus on Monday. For Rocky, it will mean putting many clothes on. The 69-year-old retiree from Davenport is a practicing nudist who fully intends to participate in his first caucus to support Donald Trump. He will brave the snow left by blizzards over the weekend to join the democratic tradition that dates back to 1972. It's personal for Rocky. He believes Trump is a 'survivor', something he knows all too well having suffered a severe stroke, thirteen stints and open-heart surgery. James Johnson, DailyMail.com pollster and co-founder of J.L. Partners, spoke to Rocky at his home last week with his wife of 40 years beside him. Below, he describes his confrontation with one of the many eccentric characters who make the Iowa caucuses a political event like no other. Johnson also shares his views on the significant polls heading into the first official contest of the Republican primary. On Wednesday afternoon, I did briefly question what I do for a living. For the last week, I have been struggling through Iowa blizzards and jack-knifed trucks to interview Republican voters ahead of the first caucus of 2024. I had ended up in Davenport, a city on the eastern edge of the state. I had just pulled up to a bungalow in the suburbs, draped with American flags. Two minutes later I was sat opposite a naked man. Rocky, a 69-year-old retiree from Davenport, is a practicing nudist who fully intends to participate in his first Iowa caucus to support Donald Trump Sans all clothes bar some blue slippers, perched on his sofa on a small towel, this is Rocky, a 69-year-old retiree and a fully-fledged nudist. It stems from his childhood, growing up in the woods in California. After years of work as a caretaker, he has been stripped down since retiring and he's never felt more free. He has had a few complaints, and the police were called once. His wife of forty years doesn't much like it. But after suffering a serious stroke, thirteen stints and open-heart surgery, life is too short for Rocky to cover up. We settle in. 'Can I audio record this, Rocky?', I ask. I needn't have worried: 'You can video it if you like'. After being briefly taken aback when he sat back and put his left leg up on a footstool (I appear to have scribbled 'FULLY NAKED' in my notes as the reality hit me) we launch into conversation about the race to be the 2024 Republican nominee. Despite his unusual dressing habits, Rocky is a middle-of-the-road Republican. He has voted for the party since 1972. For Rocky it's personal. He believes Trump is a 'survivor', something he knows all too well, having suffered a severe stroke, thirteen stints and open-heart surgery He does not think the 2020 election was stolen. Nor does he think the events on January 6 were legal or permissible. But on Monday he will head out to caucus for the first time in his life. And he will support Donald Trump. The reason is the same as it is for many Republicans who will brave the snow and give the former president the most votes on Monday night. Despite his faults, Trump is strong, can get things done, and has a proven record. Rocky leans forward. His voice clear, confident and to the point - is as unwavering as his dress sense. 'I don't like his style, but I do like what he's accomplished.' Trump left his first term with 'lower prices', a 'good economy', and a 'tough' approach to foreign affairs. Rocky is a middle-of-the road Republican. He does not think the 2020 election was stolen. Nor does he think the events on January 6 were legal or permissible Rocky and his wife are now paying 50 percent more for staple goods; Trump will fix it. Rocky despairs at the situation on the southern border where hundreds of thousands cross illegally every month: Trump will finish the wall. Rocky worries that we will need to 'prepare for war' under a second Biden term as aggressors like Russia and North Korea sniff out our weakness: Trump has the 'strong hand' to face them down. Why is he so confident Trump will do so? 'Trump follows through. Unlike other politicians, he doesn't bulls***. He would go through on his word'. He isn't 'in it for the money. He just wants to serve'. Polls show it is that sense of Trump's strength that is so vital to his support. The plain-speaking, the saying it how it is, the no messing. Many Iowans I spoke to do not just see a desirable politician but an archetype for how Americans in the twenty-first century should be. Trump embodies an old-school frankness they have seen expunged from society and their politics, replaced by woke softness and political spin. Those feelings have only been bolstered by what people see as political persecution through numerous criminal indictments. That makes it personal for Rocky. He has also been pursued in the past, sacked three times because he says people were threatened by his ambition in the workplace. Rocky, with his wife of 40 years, despairs at the situation on the southern border where hundreds of thousands cross illegally every month. But he believes Trump will finish the wall 'You don't go after someone if you're not afraid of them'. The same logic applies to Trump: court case after court case simply shows that if Trump got into power, he would face down his political opponents like no one has ever done before. Rocky speaks more quietly: 'I survived. Trump's going to survive.' Ron DeSantis, with a strong Iowa ground game, may well finish second in the state but will find it hard to catch Trump. His approval ratings in Iowa are strong, almost as high as Trump's on around +40 net positivity. But that is not translating into votes. If Trump wasn't in the race, Rocky thinks DeSantis would win in a landslide. He started off liking him. But he's been disappointed by how easily DeSantis has 'allowed people to lead him'. He has been to a DeSantis event (he tried to ask the Florida Governor for his views on social nudity but couldn't get to him in time). Rocky felt he was a classic politician, eager to please the attendees. Vivek Ramaswamy's presence in the race has entrenched this. His impact has been slight: he is on track to poll less than 10 percent. But the one legacy of his straight-talking campaign, anchored by the slogan of 'TRUTH', has been to expose further the relatively polished operation of Ron DeSantis. That polish is not an asset in the 2020s, but a weakness. What about the other candidates? Rocky fidgets (I won't tell you with what). He thinks Chris Christie, who dropped out that day, is a 'mobster'. Nikki Haley is a 'blowhard' who 'doesn't have the experience'. The final Selzer Iowa poll shows there are many other Rockies in Iowa. Though Haley takes 20 percent of the vote in the survey, half of her support comes from Democrats and Independents. Her approval rating overall is a measly +2. With those numbers I would be surprised if she comes second. She may perform well in New Hampshire, where independents vote in large numbers, but is unlikely to have the support in later states to take on Trump. For all his current support in Iowa, twelve months ago Trump was beatable. Doubts about his temperament were widespread and DeSantis was nipping at his heels in the polls. But the indictments changed everything as voters rallied around their man. His support jumped overnight, and it has only gone up since. Rocky might be a nudist but when it comes to politics he speaks for many other Iowans. On Monday night, he will put on some clothes and traipse through Arctic temperatures to a community center. And there, alongside those many, he will crown Donald Trump. Prince Andrew appears to be pushing on with daily life after being spotted driving to Windsor Castle to take the late Queen's beloved corgis out for a walk. The outing comes as the shamed Duke of York continues to weather further fallout from the ongoing Epstein scandal, just days after the final batch of unsealed court documents were released. The bombshell files had initially caused the Duke to go into hiding, with sources claiming he had 'locked himself away in a room', but over the past few days the sheepish Prince has made a few public appearances. This afternoon, the Duke of York, wearing a dark jumper and yellow polo top, looked glum as he drove a dark green Land Rover Defender through Windsor Park to reach the royal residence before taking the late monarch's dogs out on a stroll. It is the third outing Andrew, 63, has made since the files were unsealed, with a source telling the Mail earlier: 'He doesn't have the emotional bandwidth to deal with this. Prince Andrew was seen driving a green Land Rover defender to Windsor Castle today to walk the late Queen's corgis The Duke of York wore a dark jumper and yellow polo top, looked glum as he drove in a convoy through Windsor Park today Prince Andrew pictured with Virginia Roberts, aged 17, at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse in London in 2001 'He has locked himself away in a room and has no idea how to respond. He's devastated.' Yesterday the 63-year-old Prince was seen at the Royal Lodge alongside around a 20 men, after missing out on his weekly shooting session last Saturday. He was seen driving in a convoy to meet his friends. The group then shot pheasants at Windsor Great Park before returning just before 1pm. Andrew was first seen on Tuesday after not making any public appearances since he walked to the church at Sandringham alongside the King and Queen, as well as his ex-wife Fergie, the Duchess of York. The court documents have mounted further pressure upon the already under-fire duke who is alleged to have committed 'acts of sexual abuse' and taken part in an 'underage orgy'. Prince Andrew has been engulfed in the scandal ever since sex abuse claims were first made about his friend Epstein, a convicted paedophile who died in prison. In 2022, the duke settled an out of court settlement with Virginia Giuffre - one of Epstein's victim after she claimed he sexually assaulted her. Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations made against him. He previously claimed he did not even remember meeting Ms Giuffre. It is the third outing the Prince has made in a week, following the release of the Epstein files Yesterday he was seen hosting a shooting party for a group of around 20 men at Windsor Great Park Andrew (pictured yesterday) has been engulfed by scandal ever since sex abuse claims first emerged against his friend Epstein The latest tranche of unsealed documents revealed that Ms Giuffre had claimed Epstein paid her $15,000 to have sex with the Prince when she was 17. Ms Giuffre, now 40 and living in Australia, made the allegations while being questioned under oath in 2017. 'I did receive $15,000. I do not know the equivalent to what that is in pounds,' she said. She was then quizzed by a lawyer on whether she paid tax on the amount, with Mrs Giuffre replying 'no'. Throughout the deposition, she testified that she was trafficked to have sex with the Duke in a bath at Ghislaine Maxwell's townhouse after dancing with a 'sweating' Andrew at a London's Faces nightclub. During his infamous interview with Newsnight, the Prince claimed this was untrue as he had been at a Pizza Express in Woking at the time. He also claimed he cannot sweat because he had an 'overdose of adrenaline in the Falklands War, when I was shot at ... it was almost impossible for me to sweat'. Other sordid claims made throughout the documents include allegations that Epstein secretly filmed the royal having sex. Sarah Ransome, who gave a victim impact statement ahead of the sentencing of British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell for sex-trafficking, appeared to write communications claiming Andrew, Richard Branson and Bill Clinton were all filmed. Prince Andrew pictured walking with Jeffrey Epstein in New York's Central Park in 2011 Sarah Ransome, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein, walk out of court after the sentencing in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial in the Manhattan in June 2022 A letter from Miss Ransome states: 'When my friend had sexual intercourse with Clinton, Prince Andrew and Richard Branson, sex tapes were in fact filmed on each separate occasion by Jeffrey. 'I personally can confirm that I have, with my own two eyes, seen the evidence of these sexual acts, which clearly identifies Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Richard Branson having sexual intercourse with my friend. 'I will be more then [sic] willing to swear under oath and testify in court.' A New Yorker article, released in 2019, reported that she admitted 'she had invented the tapes to draw attention to Epstein's behaviour, and to make him believe that she had 'evidence that would come out if he harmed me'. All three men have strenously denied any wrong doing, while the allegations of the sex tapes were branded 'baseless and unfounded' by the Virgin tycoon's spokesman'. A Virgin Group spokesperson confirmed: 'We categorically reject all allegations made by Sarah Ransome. 'In 2016, Ms Ransome retracted her claims and then in 2019 after settling her claims with Epstein and Maxwell, she also admitted to The New Yorker that the 'tapes' had been 'invented'. The allegations are baseless and unfounded. 'The actions of Jeffrey Epstein were abhorrent and we support the right to justice for the many victims impacted by his abuse.' Prince Andrew was pictured earlier this week leaving Royal Lodge in a rare outing since the release of the papers Pictured: Charles and Andrew pictured in April 2023 at Windsor Castle, with Princess Anne walking behind In 2022, Prince Andrew settled a lawsuit out of court with Giuffre for an estimated 12million without accepting liability Mrs Guiffre has previously claimed she was trafficked to the UK at the age of 17 by Epstein and Maxwell and forced to have sex with Andrew. Many of the allegations made in the documents are not new, however, reveals the uncomfortable closeness of the Queen's son to Epstein - who was accused of abusing dozens of underage girls over several decades. Claims suggest that Andrew spent 'weeks' with the abuser and received 'daily' massages from the largely female staff. The scandal has once again raised questions about Andrew's role within the royal family. Andrew was stripped of his HRH titles and royal duties by the Queen in 2019 but the King has since made clear his brother can be a part of the firm as a working royal, being able to attend family events. There has been much speculation over whether Andrew, long considered to be the late Queen's favourite child, will be evicted from the Royal Lodge. But a friend of the Duke told the Times this week that King Charles will allow his brother to stay in the residence as 'blood is thicker than water'. Andrew has lived in the 30-room mansion in Windsor Great Park for 20 years. He will be allowed to remain until 2078 when his lease expires. 'The King is somebody with a high level of integrity,' the source told the Times. 'There are people in the royal household who would take a more aggressive stance, but in that family, blood is thicker than water.' Ed Davey's woes deepened today as he faces an election battle with an ex-postmistress and a poll showed his personal ratings slumping. The Lib Dem leader has been struggling to shake off a backlash over his handling of the Horizon scandal as postal services minister in the Coalition. Sir Ed initially refused even to meet campaigning postmaster Alan Bates in May 2010, although he did later agree to talks. A toe-curling interview on Friday saw the MP refuse to apologise to victims at least 10 times, instead blaming 'lies' he was told about the faulty IT system. Yvonne Tracey, who was a deputy postmistress in South West London for 25 years, is now vowing to stand against Sir Ed at the general election. The 68-year-old grandmother, an independent councillor for the borough of Kingston, insisted she is only standing because no-one else was willing to do so. 'I don't want to be an MP but I don't want Ed Davey to be elected,' the 68-year-old grandmother told the Sunday Times. Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary and former PM Lord Cameron said everyone involved in government over the past two decades should be 'extremely sorry' for the miscarriage of justice. Ed Davey desperately dodged as he was pressed over his handling of the outrage while minister for postal services in the coalition Yvonne Tracey, who was a deputy postmistress in South West London for 25 years, is now vowing to stand against Sir Ed at the general election The 68-year-old grandmother, an independent councillor for the borough of Kingston, insisted she is only standing because no-one else was willing to do so Opinium polling released this weekend showed Sir Ed's net rating dropping from minus five to minus 13 Sir Ed had a 10,400 majority in Kingston and Surbiton at the 2019 election, but some believe he could be vulnerable to a challenge. Lord Cameron, who was in No10 between 2010 and 2016 as hundreds of subpostmasters were being pursued, told Sky News: 'I don't recall in any detail being briefed or being aware of the scale of this issue. 'We've got to get to the bottom of it, and that's what inquiries do, they can look at what were ministers told, what information was put in front of them, what did they decide because it's hard to remember every letter and piece of paper put in front of you.' But unlike Sir Ed, Lord Cameron said he was sorry for the way the scandal was dealt with. 'This is an appalling miscarriage of justice and anyone who's been involved in government in any way over the last 20 years has got to be extremely sorry, as I am, about what has happened,' he said. Opinium polling released this weekend showed Sir Ed's net rating dropping from minus four to minus 13. The researchers pointed out that the Lib Dem chief finally seemed to be cutting through to the public, but not for a good reason. In the previous survey carried out on November 15-17, 16 per cent approved of Sir Ed's performance, while 20 per cent disapproved. By the latest poll on January 10-12, 13 per cent had a positive opinion and 26 per cent a negative one. Adam Drummond of Opinium said: 'The most noticed story by far was the Post Office scandal and this is behind the drop in Ed Davey's approval rating. 'The Lib Dems will be worried that the first time their leader has cut through to voters is for his connection to a huge scandal.' In a brutal ITV interview on Friday, Sir Ed was repeatedly challenged to 'draw a line' under days of ducking and diving by simply apologising for his part in the scandal not being addressed earlier. But when he started his reply by saying 'of course I regret', reporter Paul Brand interrupted to insist: 'That's not an apology. Why don't you say ''I am sorry''?' Sir Ed pressed on: I've said time and time again, that I deeply regret...' However, the interviewer told him: 'That's not an apology Sir Ed.' Ignoring the entreaty, the MP tried again with his argument that he had been 'lied to'. This video is no longer available This video is no longer available A volcanic eruption has engulfed homes in Grindavik, southwest Iceland, with fast-flowing lava and a huge lava tunnel beneath the town being regarded as the 'worst case scenario' by experts. Dramatic footage shows molten lava consuming several homes on the northernmost tip of the fishing town, which lies around 25 miles away from Iceland's capital Reykjavik. The eruption began just before 8am local time today, before a second fissure, which is currently a kilometre (3,280ft) wide and growing, opened up at around midday. Experts have said that more fissures may open up over the coming days. Police chief Viir Reynisson, citing the Icelandic Met Office, warned that 'there is no end to magma inflow into the tunnel, and as a result we need to be prepared and focus our actions on the real danger, a large crack opening in Grindavik, major gas pollution from this and then the possible opening of new eruptions.' Flights to and from the country have so far not been affected, and the nation's president earlier said there was no risk to life, but said there was a risk that infrastructure would be damaged. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said that lava is currently just 1,500 ft away from the northernmost houses in the town of Grindavik A plume of smoke, illuminated by lava spewing from a volcano near the town of Grindavik, is seen from a distance over the country's capital of Reykjavik Lava bursts from the ground in Iceland near the town of Grindavik, January 14 People look at the volcanic eruption near Grindavik, Reykjanes peninsula, Iceland on January 14 2024 The homes were seen burning next to the ever-growing wash of molten lava Lava explosions and billowing smoke are seen near residential buildings in the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik Molten lava has spread across the land around the town while houses on the northern edge of the town are consumed The January 14 eruption (pictured) began north of the fishing town of Grindavik, and photos appear to show lava slowly flowing towards the town itself The lava from this morning's eruption was seen creeping towards homes in the northernmost part of the town of Grindavik. Officials said the lava is currently just 1,500 ft away Analysis of departure and arrival schedules for nearby Keflavik Airport shows that flights do not appear to be affected by the news of this morning's eruption, with no arrivals or departures showing signs of being delayed or cancelled at time of publication. Iceland Air, the country's national carrier, said today: 'Our schedule and the operation of Keflavik airport are not affected.' Local tourism hotspot, the Blue Lagoon hotel, however was evacuated last night, after reopening just a week ago. At least three homes in Grindavik have been destroyed, according to local media. Met Office expert Benedikt Halldorsson said to RUV: 'I don't think it's possible to imagine anything worse than it erupting in a settlement and lava flowing onto houses.' Iceland's president, Gudni Johannesson, said in a post to X: 'No lives are in danger, although infrastructure may be under threat.' Lovisa Mjoll Gumundsdottir, a natural disaster expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told local media: 'It cannot be ruled out that more cracks will open. 'The GPS data showed us that there is increased magma inflow into the tunnel and with that there is a possibility of more fissures opening up.' Lava and smoke billows over the landscape during a volcanic eruption near the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik Smoke rises following a volcanic eruption near Grindavik, Reykjanes peninsula Lava explosions and rising smoke are seen near a house in Iceland after a volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavik, in the Reykjanes peninsula Emergency personnel use diggers to build a protective wall trying to prevent flowing lava to reach the centre of the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik after a volcanic eruption. Heavy construction equipment work on a protective wall near the town of Grindavik after a volcanic eruption, in the Reykjanes peninsula, southwestern Iceland, January 14 Seismic activity had intensified overnight and residents of Grindavik were evacuated Aerial images show flowing lava close to houses of the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik The town of Grindavik is understood to have lost power at around 5am Lava is seen engulfing a house in Grindavik, Iceland over the weekend Seismic activity intensified overnight and residents of Grindavik were evacuated around 3am local time, Icelandic public broadcaster RUV reported. The broadcaster also reported that around 200 of the town's 4,000 residents have elected to stay, despite the warnings. The Public Safety Department of the National Police reported that last night, 200 earthquakes were recorded, and the town of Grindavik is understood to have lost power at around 5am. 'A crack has opened up on both sides of the dikes that have begun to be built north of Grindavik,' the Icelandic Meteorological Office said, with an official adding that this morning's eruption is about a quarter of the size of the one in December. A coast guard helicopter has been dispatched to assess the situation, Iceland's Civil Protection agency said, adding that the evacuation order will likely be in place for the 'upcoming three weeks.' The eruption began north of the fishing town of Grindavik, and photos appear to show lava slowly flowing towards the town itself, having bypassed the eruption defences that were set up in the weeks after the December eruption. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said that lava is currently just 1,500 ft away from the northernmost houses in the town of Grindavik. Police have asked Icelanders not to go anywhere near the eruption Analysis of departure and arrival schedules for nearby Keflavik Airport shows that flights do not appear to be affected by the news of this morning's eruption Today's eruption is understood to be around a quarter of the size of the one in December Around 200 residents still remain in nearby Grindavik Iceland Air, the country's national carrier, said today: 'Our schedule and the operation of Keflavik airport are not affected.' READ MORE: Scientists reveal just how bad the eruption could get as bubbling lava and smoke are spewed into the sky at Reykjanes peninsula after weeks of activity Advertisement Police have asked Icelanders not to go anywhere near the eruption, with local police saying: 'We ask people not to go to the eruption on foot. It is extremely cold outside and the walk is long and the ground is unstable in terms of cracks and other things. 'In addition, all responders are busy and do not have the manpower to pick up people who leave on foot. 'The area is dangerous in terms of fissures, gas and more.' Iceland's prime minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has admitted that today's eruption was 'frightening.' She told local media: 'It is, of course, frightening to see how close this is to the town. 'The Civil Defense has of course been very keen to observe from day to day. Once again, I want to say that it was the right decision to evacuate tonight, even though we expected it wouldn't happen until tomorrow. General view of the lava field near the evacuated town of Grindavik, in Iceland, December 22, 2023 People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula on December 18 2023 'Of course, we have all eyes on this area to ensure the safety of the residents. However, it is quite clear that this is a huge burden for the townspeople. Naturally, the pressure is starting to take its toll on people. 'As the situation is now, we are seeing that the lava is flowing towards Grindavik. The ramparts, however, may be useful even if the southern part of the fissure extends into them. We are monitoring the situation from minute to minute.' Iceland's president, Guni Thorlacius Johannesson, meanwhile said in a statement posted to social media: 'We are still reminded of the power of the forces of nature. 'And still we hope for the best, as we do everything in our power to ensure people's lives. '[We are trying] to protect structures to the best of our ability. Members of a rescue team watch a volcanic eruption north of the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik. Iceland's president, Guni Thorlacius Johannesson, said in a statement posted to social media: 'We are still reminded of the power of the forces of nature.' A police car blocks the access to the road that leads to Grindavik, after a volcano erupted in Iceland on Sunday January 14 2024 A massive plume of gas was seen rising from the site of today's eruption 'Together we Icelanders think warmly of [residents of Grindavik], and everyone who takes care of public protection and operations on the scene. Now we are all tested.' The last eruption on the peninsula started in the Svartsengi volcanic system on December 18, following the complete evacuation of the town of Grindavik's 4,000 inhabitants and the closing of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot. Grindavik was ultimately spared as the lava flowed in a different direction from the town. Iceland is home to 33 active volcano systems, the highest number in Europe. While volcanic eruptions aren't uncommon in Iceland, volcanoes on the Reykjanes peninsula were dormant for 800 years until 2021. Lying between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two plates move in opposite directions. The residents of Grindavik were forced to evacuate overnight, following a series of earthquakes The first eruption on January 14 is understood to have taken place at 7:57am today Lava from today's eruption was seen slowly creeping towards infrastructure in Grindavik In December, thrill-seekers were criticised for venturing towards, not away, from the eruption that forced thousands to flee their homes. 'It's just something from a movie!' Robert Donald Forrester III, a tourist from the United States, said at the time. Four boys named Joi, Halli, Stefan and Stefan, told local media in December that they always head towards eruptions in Reykjanes. 'We are trying to see the eruption. Unfortunately, we didn't get any closer. It's a hobby that we've had for four years, attending every single eruption, and we'll continue to do so.' For local residents, the emotions are mixed. 'The town involved might end up under the lava,' said Ael Kermarec, a French tour guide living in Iceland. 'It's amazing to see but, there's kind of a bittersweet feeling at the moment.' The Reykjanesbraut, a key Icelandic highway in the area, was lit up with white headlights from cars travelling towards, not away from, the crater (left) while cars were parked nearby (right) in December Despite the obvious dangers, the Ministry of the Environment was forced to issue repeated warnings to those thinking about getting close to the volcano in December A group watches as smoke billows into the sky from the volcano explosion in December Despite the obvious dangers, the Ministry of the Environment was forced to issue repeated warnings to those thinking about getting close to the volcano. 'Think about someone other than yourself and follow the guidelines of the public safety. Please,' one spokesman begged. Icelandic Police added: 'An eruption has begun. We ask people not to be in front of the responders and not to go in the direction of the eruption. It is important that roads and other things are as accessible as possible.' Police said they had raised their alert level and the country's civil defence warned the public not to approach the area while emergency personnel assessed the situation. The December eruption began around 2.4 miles from the town of Grindavik at the Sundhjuka crater, on the Reykjanes peninsula. Whistleblowers, including US government officials have also supported claims of UFO activity Jeremy Corbell, a documentary filmmaker involved in the series said the series shows 'How the American people have been lied to' about UFOs A new docuseries called UFO Revolutions has introduced key figures who helped force Congress and the Pentagon to look into extraterrestrial crafts A new docuseries called UFO Revolutions has introduced key figures who helped force Congress and the Pentagon to investigate if extraterrestrial crafts exist. The series has gone on to 'blow up decades of conspiracies' about the cover up of UFO's threatening national security in the US. Investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, who is featured in the three-part series said that video of a UFO captured in Iraq by US military 'was treated with spectacular secrecy.' Corbell has long followed extraterrestrial activity on the planet and the movement of UFOs as they approach the earth. The US government has been under constant scrutiny that they are concealing key evidence of UFOs flying into the county and around the world. 'It's really powerful, man. This is more than just a docuseries. It really peels back the veil and lets people see how many people are fighting for this. How the American people have been lied to. It just blows up decades of conspiracies,' Corbell told Fox News Digital. Investigative journalist and documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, who is featured in the three-part series said that it 'is more than just a docuseries' and that it shows 'How American people have been lied to' The Pentagon explained the previously released video of green triangles that looked like alien spacecraft were simply drones photographed through night-vision lenses He noted that he and everyone else involved in this production took 'big risks coming forward,' as whistleblowers attacked the US government for concealing information on the topic. David Grusch, a United States Air Force Officer and former intelligence official is one of the whistleblowers who decided to testify under oath in front of Congress. Grusch revealed at a Cognresssional hearing that his life was in danger after he came forward about a secretive government-run crashed UFO retrieval program that he claimed was used to reverse engineer UFO technology. Included it the docuseries is a video of a 'jellyfish' or 'chandelier' shaped UFO that was captured on raw footage in 2018 as it flew over a military base. Corbell said that the UFO 'was filmed over the Persian Gulf' and has officially been designated as a UAP, also known as an unidentified aerial phenomenon. US Marine veteran Michael Cincoski, who was stationed at the base when the obscure object flew over, said that he and other crew members saw what they described as a 'spagehetti monster.' 'Seeing a portion of the video again after 6 years is very exciting, especially now that it's available to the public,' Cincoski said. The veteran also added that since then, he has spoken to his fellow team members who have said that there were multiple videos of the mysterious floating object in various durations. In 2021 the US Navy filmed 'pyramid-shaped' UFOs as they hovered over USS Russell Navy ship off the coast of California. The Pentagon later explained that the green triangle were simply drones photographed through night-vision lenses. Included it the docuseries is a video of a 'jellyfish' or 'chandelier' shaped UFO that was captured on raw footage in 2018 as it flew over a military base This metallic-like orb was the first time that the public saw a UFO in an active war zone. 'This is a problem, because if we get two nations firing upon these unknowns, these unidentified flying objects, then what we have is a potential for crossfire and a potential for each country thinking it's the other's asset,' Corbell said in an interview with Fox Digital in February. Another person who has gone on to warn the American public of these designated UFOs was Tennessee Representative Tim Burchett. Burchett has been outspoken about the threat and is featured in the docuseries. In July, he warned the public that humanity 'can't handle' the technology that he's witnessed in these shocking videos. 'If they're out there, they're out there, and if they have this kind of technology, then they could turn us into a charcoal briquette,' the Congressman admitted. In other news, bizarre footage of a group of UFOs was recently spotted hovering over Philadelphia as two of the crafts seemed to merge together. A witness uploaded the bizarre video of the sighting on Reddit and described the large cluster of lights as 'spinning and darting back and forth.' The user said the multicolored lights were flying 'very high' above the city. Footage of the peculiar sighting was very shaky, which the witness said was because their wife couldn't stop the car, so the mysterious objects were unclear. A different Reddit user joked 'next time you see UFO's in the sky, please, politely, tell your wife to STOP THE F***ING CAR!' Despite the shaky footage - the group of strange lights were obviously seen floating amid the bright blue sky in the middle of the day. Mysterious footage shows a group of UFOs flying above Philadelphia - with two of the crafts even strangely merging together On New Year's Day another eerie video captured Miami Police responding to an incident that appeared to show an alien-type creature floating around. It was widely shared by conspiracy theorists on social media who claimed a 10-foot-tall silhouette walking near cop cars was from another planet. One user claimed a 'glowing figure' was walking through smoke during the chaotic scene. It came after around 50 teenagers started a riot outside Bayside Marketplace and caused a panic by setting off loud fireworks. The Miami Police Department has since revealed that the strange figure in the video was actually just a shadow of someone walking. Ivanka Trump celebrated husband Jared Kushner's 43rd birthday at the weekend as she posted sweet snaps online with their brood of 'favorite little people.' The former First Daughter, 42, wore a leggy, black one-shoulder dress as she smiled and posed with her husband and three kids in one of the pictures she shared on Instagram following Jared's birthday on Wednesday. 'Belated but brimming with love: Celebrating Jareds special day surrounded by our favorite little people,' said Ivanka. Their three kids, Arabella, Theodore and Joseph were pictured hugging their dad and helping him to blow out the candles on his cake. Ivanka Trump took to Instagram sharing photos of her family celebrating husband Jared Kushner's 43rd birthday Ivanka, 42, wearing a leggy, black one-shoulder dress said, 'Belated but brimming with love: Celebrating Jareds special day surrounded by our favorite little people' Jared's sons Theodore and Joseph are seen helping him blow out the candles on his birthday cake Jared and Ivanka appeared to be very affectionate, kissing and holding hands while celebrating his 43rd birthday Jared and Ivanka embraced for a kiss after making a wish on his birthday cake. The couple appeared to be holding hands as they sat at a table for two. Meanwhile, Ivanka's father Donald Trump is holding a commanding lead of 30+ points over his rivals in polls of Iowa GOP voters ahead of the Iowa caucus. The Republican presidential candidates and their surrogates are blanketing the Hawkeye State this weekend, braving snow and frozen temperatures, with the hope of a strong performance Monday night in the Iowa caucuses. The USA Today/Suffolk poll on Friday has Trump at 54 points, Haley at 20, and DeSantis at 13 percent. Other recent polls have had Haley and DeSantis tied, with both still trailing Trump by more than 30 points. Some of Trump's Iowa supporters are expressing last-minute jitters over his electability in the general, raising the possibility of a surprise upset from challengers Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis. The former presidents various legal woes have loomed over the primary, an issue Haley has highlighted by frequently mentioning 'chaos' following the former president, while DeSantis argues Trump's legal issues would cost votes in the general election. The latest poll from Iowa showed Haley surging ahead of DeSantis but both remain well behind Trump A pickup truck is driven down a snow covered road under an Iowa Caucus sign on Friday Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is far ahead in Iowa surveys, was back in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday Trump, 77, took a surprise attack at fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy just 48 hours before the caucuses being. He took to Truth Social on Saturday writing the biotech millionaire was distinctly 'not MAGA,' and that a vote for him would help the 'other side.' Ramaswamy, who has expressed support for the former president in the past, took to X later that evening to express his shock at Trump's post. 'Im worried for Trump. Im worried for our country. Ive stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and Ive defended him at every step,' he wrote. Biden is annoyed Netanyahu won't release Palestinian tax revenues and is worried they aren't going to wind down their bombardment of Gaza The pair haven't spoken in 20 days since December 23 when Biden ended a phone call saying 'this conversation is over' Biden and other officials are reportedly frustrated with Netanyahu's refusal to carry out key US priorities Joe Biden has grown frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they haven't spoken in 20 days as the president's patience has reportedly run out with the non-stop bombing of Gaza. Since the October 7 attack by Hamas, Biden has given the Israel administration his full support, but is reportedly now angry the prime minister keeps rejecting his proposals. The two last spoke on December 23, when Netanyahu rejected Biden's request that Israel release Palestinian tax revenues, and an angry Biden ended the phone call saying 'this conversation is over.' Senator Chris Van Hollen told Axios: 'At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger. They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again.' The long period of silence is unusual as the pair had previously spoken almost every other day since October. Joe Biden and Benjamin Netanyahu last spoke in October when Biden ended a phone call saying 'this conversation is over' Before the lapse in communications, the pair spoke almost every other day since October when Hamas launched an attack on Israel National Security Council spokesman John Kirby has downplayed the situation, telling reporters the decrease in communication 'doesn't say anything' about the state of the relationship. But an anonymous official told Axios: 'The situation sucks and we are stuck. The president's patience is running out.' Another said that 'there is immense frustration' with the Israeli regime. The main issue of contention is Netanyahu's refusal to comply with US strategic priorities in the Israel-Hamas war. Biden believes Israel isn't doing enough to allow humanitarian aid in to Gaza. He is also frustrated by Netanyahu's refusal to seriously discuss plans for the post-war landscape and his rejection of the US' proposals for the Palestinian Authority to have a role in determining the outcomes. US officials are also concerned Israel won't wind down its bombardment of Gaza in January as promised. If they fail to meet their timetable to transition to lower-intensity operations, it will be hard for Biden to justify maintaining the same level of support for their campaign. A plume of smoke rises in the sky of Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on Monday A Palestinian emergency responder directs other after an Israeli airstrike on buildings in the refugee camp of Jabalia in the Gaza Strip on Monday Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in Gaza on Monday Last week, the United Nations rebuked Israel for imposing a siege on the Gaza Strip. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was 'deeply distressed' after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a 'complete siege' of Gaza by cutting off food and electricity in the area. Guterres added: 'The humanitarian situation in Gaza was extremely dire before these hostilities. Now it will only deteriorate exponentially.' In the weeks after the October 7 attack, Israel's military has responded with an unprecedented military campaign in Gaza, displacing some 90 percent of the population and killing more than 20,000. The violence has provoked strong international reactions, many urging a ceasefire to limit casualties and allow aid to reach the places it is needed most. Secretary of State Tony Blinken visited Israel last week but failed to make headway with Netanyahu. The prime minister agreed to allow a UN mission to enter northern Gaza but refused his other demands. Blinken told Netanyahu that their plans for after the war were 'pie in the sky' and that 'no Arab country is going to bail them out' if they don't allow the Palestinian Authority to have a role in the rebuilding of Gaza. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan snuffed talks he is considering a third-party bid by endorsing Nikki Haley's 2024 presidential run on Sunday. Hogan said 'it's time' for Republicans to rally behind the former United Nations ambassador. It comes days after Hogan stepped down from the board of No Labels a third party aiming to launch a bipartisan ticket in 2024. Some thought he left the movement to launch his own bid, but Sunday's announcement signals he has other plans for this election cycle. Haley has seen a polling bump in recent months ahead of Iowa's caucuses on Monday and New Hampshire's primary election on January 23. Once in a solid third place, she now battles it out with DeSantis for second place behind former President Donald Trump. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (right) endorsed Nikki Haley's presidential bid during an interview with CNN on Sunday the day before the January 15 Iowa caucuses. It snuffs speculation that Hogan left the No Labels movement board this week to launch his own presidential bid Former Gov. @LarryHogan endorses @NikkiHaley on #CNNSOTU: "It's time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley." pic.twitter.com/D8PimSHG6x State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 14, 2024 Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has seen a polling bump over the last month, putting her in a solid second place ahead of the primary contests kicking off on Monday in Iowa and followed by New Hampshire on January 23 Hogan's goal has always been to give the Republican Party the best chance at getting a candidate on the ticket that could beat Trump. He joined No Labels last year, sparking speculation he could run on a unity ticket with a Democrat. 'You know, I have been saying since last spring when I made the decision not to run that I really did not want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump,' Hogan told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. He says he believes Haley has the best chance of winning in 2024. 'I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November,' Hogan added in an interview with Jake Tapper. 'Polls show that is Nikki Haley that she's 17 points ahead of Joe Biden, and it's a toss-up with Trump and Biden and DeSantis is losing.' 'So, yes, I think it's time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley,' the former governor noted. 'My friend Chris Christie dropped out of the race in New Hampshire. I appreciate his effort. But I believe that Nikki Haley is the strongest chance for us to put forth our best possible candidate for November.' The latest polling for Iowa's caucus isn't promising for either DeSantis or Haley. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted Jan. 7-12 with 705 likely Republican caucus goers. Its margin of error is plus-minus 3.7 percentage points The last pre-caucus poll from NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom released Saturday night shows Trump still solidly in first place with 48 percent support in the first primary contest state. While Haley rose to second place with 20 percent, it's still not looking like enough to emerge victorious on Monday. Meanwhile, DeSantis dropped to third in Iowa with 16 percent, which is a gap with Haley just outside the 3.7 percent margin of error. Separate polling showing hypothetical general election match-ups with Joe Biden reveals that Haley has a bigger lead over the current president than Trump. A Wall Street Journal poll from December placed Haley 17 points ahead of Biden, compared to Trump's just four-point lead over the incumbent president. Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis shrugged off the results of the final poll in Iowa before caucus day, saying Sunday that his supporters were committed and would turn out in sub-zero temperatures. And he dismissed questions about whether his campaign was heading for disaster after he was forecast to finish in third place on Monday. That is despite gambling huge resources in the state, where he visited every one of its 99 counties. 'We're going to do well on Monday,' he said on CNN's 'State of the Union. 'Our voters are very motivated. I think it is very hard to poll an Iowa caucus period.' Ron DeSantis was on CNN on Sunday morning to defend his campaign after the final poll before the Iowa caucuses showed him slumping to third place in the crucial state The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll was conducted Jan. 7-12 with 705 likely Republican caucus goers. Its margin of error is plus-minus 3.7 percentage points READ MORE: How final Iowa poll is bad news for DeSantis AND Haley Advertisement Republicans will gather at school gyms, front rooms and church halls on Monday evening to pick their favored candidate. It is the first real test of who is doing best with voters after a year of campaigning. The result can make or break presidential campaigns. The hugely anticipated NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll published Saturday gave Donald Trump a 28-point lead. And it showed Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, overtaking DeSantis. That will be a huge blow for the Florida governor if it is replicated in the caucus results Monday. But there are signs that his vast ground game could still have a role to play. The poll found that his supporters are the most likely to turn out on the day and caucus. Among DeSantis supporters, 62 percent said they will definitely turn up. The figure falls to 56 percent among Trump supporters and is only 51 percent for Haley. 'And so these are folks ... are very motivated. We have spent a lot of time in Iowa because we've gone door-to-door getting people to commit to caucus to us' he said, as he brushed off the idea that a poor result might mean the end of his campaign. DeSantis has a big ground game. It will be put to the test on Monday. Eli Weltman of Never Back Down, an independent group backing DeSantis, talks to a voter in Marion on Wednesday 'We've got a huge number of people that have committed to caucus and we expect these are the people that turn out. So there's a lot of excitement on the ground. 'We're in this for the long haul.' But it was not supposed to be like this. DeSantis' conservative and Christian credentials were meant to give him a lift in Iowa and a chance to take on Trump, before the race heads to New Hampshire and its more moderate Republicans. Haley is challenging Trump there for the win, with DeSantis trailing badly. A heavy defeat there after a bad result in Iowa would make it very hard for him to continue. DeSantis said he would fight every state. 'My view would be if you're in it to win it, you got to compete for every single delegate,' he said. Iowa's caucus format requires voters to show up in person. Bitter weather is complicating the whole process and forecasters predict the coldest Iowa caucus night ever - with temperatures down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The final Iowa poll gave Donald Trump a 28-point lead over second placed Haley. That puts him on course for a record-breaking win if he gets anywhere close to that on Monday Trump campaign insiders admit their biggest problem may be complacency, with supporters staying home because of the former president's apparently insurmountable lead. And the Saturday poll also suggests that Haley's support may be soft, with much of her backing drawn from Democrats and independents, who will have jump through the bureaucratic hurdle of registering as a Republican in order to attend a caucus. That leaves DeSantis hoping his big investment can still return the sort of result that allows him to fight on. 'We're telling our supporters: You go out, you bring some friends and family. That is going to pack a big punch,' he said. Commentators said the poll suggested DeSantis was struggling badly. 'This is a tough poll for Gov. DeSantis, who has bet the house on Iowa,' said Jimmy Centers, a Republican strategist who is unaligned in this race. 'The good news is that many Iowans are leaving the door open to changing their minds, or haven't settled on a candidate yet. 'But, voters generally like aligning with a winner, or a candidate on the rise - neither of which he appears to be.' All prison staff held by inmates at prisons across Ecuador have been freed following military operations to retake control over the weekend, the SNAI prisons agency has confirmed. Some 158 guards and 20 administrative staffers were taken hostage last Monday in at least seven prisons as the country grapples with an escalating security crisis sparked by new policy aimed at tackling the country's vicious drug gangs. A guard was reported to have died following confrontation with inmates at a prison in El Oro province on Saturday. But by the evening, President Daniel Noboa publicly congratulated SNAI, police and armed forces on the successful release of prison staff. Ecuador's police and military were pictured today aiming to restore order inside the prisons, handout photos showing shirtless prisoners on their knees with their hands on their heads as soldiers wrestled back control. The end of the hostage crisis is a significant victory for the 36-year-old president, who came to power this month on the back of a campaign to bring drug gangs under control with a string of innovative policy ideas. But tensions remain high as gangsters revolt against the new 'state of emergency' with businesses shut and prisoners still missing across the country. Prisoners sit huddled, guarded by police and armed forces, during an operation said to be at Turi prison to regain control for the prison, in Cuenca, Ecuador, given as January 14, 2024 Handout picture released by the Ecuadorian Armed Forces showing security forces keeping watch over inmates after regaining control of the Turi prison in Cuenca, on January 14 Ecuadorian soldiers stand guard next to inmates lying in the courtyard after taking control of the Cuenca prison, in Cuenca, Ecuador Handout picture released by the Ecuadorian Armed Forces showing security forces keeping watch over inmates after regaining control of a prison in Machala, Ecuador, on January 14 Soldiers and police forces regaining control of the Turi prison in Cuenca, on January 14 Weapons seized after security forces regained control of a prison in Machala this weekend Security forces were still conducting searches and regaining control of the prisons on Sunday, the military said after the initial announcement late Saturday. Pictures shared by the Ecuadorian Armed Forces showed security personnel watching over prisoners in the Turi prison in Cuenca and a prison in Machala on January 14. READ MORE: Ecuadorian journalist reveals terrifying threats hooded gang made as they held gun to his neck after storming TV studio while live on air Advertisement 'The national police are respecting the human rights of these people. We are doing so in a very calm manner,' Norman Cano, police chief at the Esmeraldas prison, said on social media. There will now be an investigation to determine those responsible for the hostage-taking, SNAI said in its statement. Still, Ecuador remains in a state of emergency following the escape of Los Choneros drug baron Adolfo Macias on January 7. The escape came as President Noboa designated 22 gangs as terrorist groups, making them official military targets. Mr Noboa declared a state of emergency on January 8, enforced a nationwide curfew and ordered the military onto the streets. Gangs responded with a wave of national violence, including the seizure of a television news studio on January 9 and attacks on a university. In Riobamba, around 39 inmates escaped from a prison but some were recaptured by the authorities. And videos circulating social media showed armed men burning vehicles in the street in Esmeraldas on Tuesday. Streets in Quito and Guayaquil were quiet on Wednesday morning, with many businesses closed. Schools were shut nationally, with classes taking place virtually. Residents said it felt like a return to pandemic lockdowns. 'It's horrible, the streets are very empty,' said Guayaquil security guard Rodolfo Tuaz, 40. 'It's a very cold environment, as if there were a new COVID.' Police are yet to share the full details of the events that led to the hostage takings in prisons across the country on January 8. But the release of the hostages is a significant win for the state, which has been criticised for its inability to deal with Ecuador's gang problem over the years. Authorities confirmed police and armed forces are continuing to carry out operations around the country, with the tide appearing to turn. More than 1,000 people have been arrested since a state of emergency began on Monday, the government claims. But Ecuador, situated between leading cocaine producers, has a deeply entrenched problem with violent gangs operating within its borders. The security situation has also worsened since the pandemic, weakening the economy and reducing the number of legitimate avenues for employment. The number of violent deaths in Ecuador rose to 8,008 last year, nearly doubling the reported figure for 2022, according to government data. Prisoners lie restrained, bound with zip-ties by police and armed forces, during an operation said to be at Turi prison to regain control for the prison, in Cuenca, January 14, 2024 Ecuadorian soldiers search a man during an operation to control and search for weapons and to enforce the curfew in Quito, Ecuador, 14 January 2024 Ecuadorian soldiers conduct a search during an operation to control and search for weapons and to enforce the curfew in Quito, Ecuador, 14 January 2024 Security forces keeping watch over inmates after regaining control of a prison in Machala, Ecuador, on January 14, 2024 Ecuadorian armed forces stand guard next to inmates with their hands restrained in the courtyard after taking control of the Machala prison, in Machala, Ecuador, January 14, 2024 Members of the military run outside a prison, as Ecuador's armed forces are entering jails around the country in a bid to restore order, in Cotopaxi, Ecuador, January 14, 2024 A member of the Coast Guard Command sails on a patrol along the Guayas River next to port terminals during an anti-drug trafficking patrol in Guayaquil on January 14, 2024 Since coming to power this month, President Noboa has heralded his renaissance 'Phoenix Plan' for security in Ecuador. Some 20,000 people have been included in his new designation of terrorist groups, he told media on Wednesday. His plan also includes a new intelligence unit, new tactical weapons for security forces, new high-security prisons, and better security at ports. The upgrades are expected to cost $800mn (630mn). In 2022, Ecuador had an estimated GDP of $115bn. Noboa also plans to hold a plebiscite on future security issues, asking the public to vote on matters including the extradition of criminals. 'They're fighting oil to basically say 'let's close up our country,' Trump said of the young protesters, claiming: 'They'll grow up Comes the day before the January 15 caucuses in Iowa Environmental activist got into Trump's rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday Donald Trump told young protesters who infiltrated his campaign stop in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday to 'go home to mommy' and to 'grow up' after experiencing his first outburst at a rally in years. A group of environmental protesters interrupted Trump's rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday, holding up banners accusing the former president of being a 'climate criminal.' The demonstrators were littered throughout the crowd, and were escorted out of a student union building where Trump was holding a final rally before Iowa's caucuses on Monday. Not only those backing Trump were inspired to come out in the -18-degree weather, but those opposing his candidacy also decided it was worth it to brave the cold. 'Thank you darling, thank you. That's alright,' Trump said to the first protesters who interrupted the rally saying. 'Go home to mommy, you're mommy's waiting. Go home to mommy.' Climate activists interrupted Donald Trump's rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday with signs accusing the former president of being a 'climate cirminal' Former President Donald Trump told climate activists who protested his rally to 'grow up' and 'go home to mommy.' He kept a straight face as he donned a white and gold 'Trump Caucus Captain' cap while the demonstrators were taken out of the room 'So young. So young,' he continued after a few other protesters burst out in chants. 'You know, it's amazing because that used to happen all of the time, and I don't think it's happen in two-and-a-half or three years.' 'So anyway, so young and immature.' The ex-president said the interruptions 'always add excitement.' 'They'll grow up and understand that it's very important what we're doing when we speak from common sense,' the former president said of the young protesters. He noted that protesters have not descended on his rallies in more than two years. The same group of protesters also appeared at rallies held by biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the Des Moines rea the week leading up to the Iowa caucuses. An anti-oil protester was dragged out of Trump's rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday Another protester held up a banner with the message: 'Trump: Climate Criminal' Teeing up the former president's remarks was a slew of politicians and lawmakers supporting him, including Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Trump's former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker. A message was also played from Lara Trump, the wife of the ex-president's middle son Eric Trump. The venue, a room inside the campus center for Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, held a few hundred seats along with additional standing room. While a final count of attendees was not readily available, at least 500 people appeared to be present for the rally. It's been a while since protesters have descended on Trump's rallies something that used to be an occurrence at nearly all of the former president's events. Trump would bask in the moments of protest, waiting for security to escort the opposing demonstrators out before continuing his remarks. Supporters lined-up outside the venue hours before Trump was set to arrive despite the sub-zero-degree temperatures. 'You've got to see outside, there are hundreds of people. The storm has had zero effect,' Trump said at the top of his remarks after canceling all events over the weekend except for the indoor rally in Indianola. 'Dress warmly tomorrow night.' Suella Braverman was among the thousands who attended a pro-Israel demonstration in central London on Sunday to mark 100 days since Hamas launched its bloody October 7 attack. Police said that a man was arrested for allegedly shouting 'antisemitic abuse' from a moving car near the rally, which was held in Trafalgar Square. Protesters gathered with Israeli flags and posters calling for those who were taken hostage by Hamas and remain captive in Gaza to be returned home immediately. The crowd chanted 'Bring Them Home Now' and '100 days in hell' as they highlighted the plight of some 136 people still being held captive after Hamas stormed southern Israel on October 7, killing around 1,200 and kidnapping 200. Israel responded by declaring war on Hamas, vowing to destroy the group and rescue those taken hostage. The devastating military campaign has seen almost 24,000 people killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas authorities. Just over 100 Israeli hostages have been returned home safely. Thousands gathered in central London with Israeli flags as well as placards and posters Suella Braverman sheds a tear as she joins thousands of people joined Solidarity With Israel rally held in London to mark 100 days since the terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas People gather during the event "100 days 100 voices" to mark 100 days since the October 7 Hamas attack The Met Police said they were present throughout Sunday's pro-Israel rally to ensure the safety of those attending The former home secretary wiped away tears as she listened to speakers at the event, which she said she was attending 'to stand in solidarity' with Israel and demand the return of the hostages. She said: 'It has been 100 days since innocent people have been taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists and we need to bring them home now.' Various speakers took to the stage at the rally and were met with claps and cheers of support from those gathered. In a video message played to the audience, President of Israel Isaac Herzog thanked the King for his support to the people of Israel. He also thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. Former home secretary Suella Braverman was among those attending the protest in London He said: 'In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, you've stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride and passion but it isn't only within the Jewish community, across every branch of British leadership... the truth reigns clear. 'In the name of the state and people of Israel, I thank you all. 'I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III. I want to thank Prime Minister Sunak. I want to thank the UK Government and I want to thank Opposition leader Starmer and his colleagues.' It came a day after more than 200,000 Pro-Palestinian protesters marched through London for the first major demonstration of 2024. The crowd chanted 'Bring Them Home Now' and '100 days in hell', with many holding up banners to highlight the landmark The UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues said those who took part in a pro-Palestine march on Saturday are 'happy to walk with people who are antisemitic'. Speaking at a pro-Israel demonstration in Trafalgar Square, Lord Eric Pickles said: 'I stand before you a committed and unapologetic Zionist. I am proud to stand with Israel.' He said: 'The people who were marching yesterday, the overwhelming majority of them are not antisemitic but they are happy to walk with people who are antisemitic.' Nine arrests were made on Saturday for alleged offences including inciting racial hatred, a suspected racially aggravated public order offence, and on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation. The protesters highlighted the plight of some 136 people still being held captive after Hamas stormed southern Israel on October 7 Around 1,700 police officers from the Met and other UK forces were mobilised on Saturday amid fears the escalating tensions in the Middle East would bring more activists to the streets of the capital. The Met Police said they were present throughout Sunday's pro-Israel rally to ensure the safety of those attending. The force said in a statement posted to X: 'A short time ago a man who shouted antisemitic abuse from a passing car was stopped by officers. 'He has been arrested for a racially aggravated public order offence.' Ministers have already begun using AI systems to read documents and determine which are more important, it has been revealed. Conservative minister Alex Burghart has admitted that he uses an experimental 'AI Red Box', which has been developed by the Cabinet Office, to wade through mountains of papers he's given to read every day. The Minister for Implementation also claimed that another minister is also using the experimental system, as well as top civil servant Alex Chisolm. He also revealed officials had tried to install a chatbot to feature on the Gov.UK website to assist with enquiries from the public, which would have access to the entire database of government information. However, this experiment was ultimately scrapped when it did 'some strange things' which included randomly speaking French as well as being incorrect about a fifth of the time. Ministers have already begun using an AI system named 'AI Red Box' to read documents and determine which are more important It was also revealed that officials had tried to install a chatbot to feature on the Gov.UK website to assist with enquiries from the public When describing the 'AI red box', Mr Burghart told an event in Westminster: 'What it does is it can read documents that go into your red box, it can summarise them, it can highlight connections between papers, connections between previous papers. 'And over time, as we fine-tune this model, it will become, I believe, the institutional memory of the department.' He said that while a lot of good people pass through the Cabinet Office, 'they don't always stay that long.' He continued: 'It means that things that happened three, four or five years ago, those people are not around anymore. 'But with an effective AI red box, that won't be a problem any more.' Lib Dem Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: 'MPs and Ministers spending time to look over casework and policy is bread and butter. 'If they can't be bothered to read things for themselves, we may as well let the robots run the country. Which can't be much more worse than this Conservative mess.' Mr Burghart, Member of Parliament for Brentwood and Ongar said his team hoped to go to the Treasury in the Spring with the aim of securing funding to roll the system out across Whitehall. The Government Digital Service had tried to build a ChatGPT-style bot to act as a front end for Gov.UK - the first system of its kind in the world. However, this idea was eventually put on ice. Conservative minister Alex Burghart admitted to using an experimental 'AI Red Box', which has been developed by the Cabinet Office to prioritise work However, the 46-year-old MP said: 'It's ultimately the minister's responsibility to check the working' 'If you asked it questions in a particular way it responded in French,' Mr Burghart admitted. 'And having pursued it as far as we could, we found we could only get accuracy of about 80%.' When quizzed about how much they could trust the AI system to sift through ministerial papers as well as crucially provide good advice, Mr Burghart said: 'It's ultimately the minister's responsibility to check the working. 'Where we are at the moment is that nothing is going unread because of the red box. 'You get the summaries, you get the long reports, but my private office is still reading the long reports and so am I. 'It will be a question for ministers how they prioritise their time with the summaries they get and how reliable they think the summaries are.' Regardless, the 46-year-old minister also acknowledged that the same was true of human officials, saying ministers would often have some staff on their team 'whose work you might want to check more thoroughly than others.' 'We proceed with caution,' he added. While some are calling for the resignation of PM Bibi Netanyahu, others gathered to experience the tunnel exhibit that represents underground confinement Israelis gathered in Hostage Square on Saturday to mark nearly 100 days since Hamas kidnapped hundreds of Israelis, 136 of whom are not yet home Thousands of Israelis called for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they railed on the streets of Tel Aviv Saturday to mark 100 days of captivity for hostages taken by Hamas. Some protestors called for the ouster of Netanyahu, who they believe has not been adequately focused on bringing home the hostages. Others blocked the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv. Six people were arrested for disturbing the peace, according to Israeli police. The rally marked the 100th day of captivity in Gaza for the 136 Israelis kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7 who have not yet been returned. While some are calling for the resignation of Israel's political leader, others gathered in Tel Aviv to experience a new tunnel exhibit that represents underground confinement for those who still remained kidnapped. A person in prison clothes wears a mask depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a demonstration against Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv, Israel last week Israelis block the high way as protesters demand release of the hostages. Israelis mark today the 100 days of hostage being held by Hamas by 24 hour protest around Tel Aviv US Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew was at the protest and told the crowd: 'I stand with you. President Biden and the US are determined to bring all the remaining abductees home.' He added that the US is 'working around the clock with the governments of Israel, Qatar, Egypt, and any other nation that can aid in this mission. We won't rest until everyone is returned home. We are united in the demand to bring them back now.' French President Emmanuel Macron also chimed in remotely to tell the family's of the Gaza hostages that they could put their faith in him to 'bring them all home.' Prior to the protest, a 100-foot-long tunnel exhibit was unveiled at the plaza. The display is meant to illustrate the difficulty of being confined underground. Family members of those currently being held underground signed the exhibit before access was opened to the general public. The exhibit is just feet away from the massive Shabbat tablescape, which was set up during the first days of the war, that stands in the square in honor of the kidnapped hostages. Ofir Engel, a teenager who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 and released after 54 days, toured the tunnel on Saturday with his girlfriend, Yuval Sharabi, whose father remains a captive of the Palestinian terrorists. 'Walking in this tunnel is terrifying, and being a hostage underground is unbearable. Their time is running out,' Engel said. Anti-war and anti-government protesters block a highway during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, on January 13 after 100 days of war between Israel and the militant Hamas group in Gaza A woman is seen holding a placard as a group of activists protest Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip and call for a ceasefire in Tel Aviv Earlier in January, Israeli Jewish activists gather to protest the Israeli army's attacks on Gaza and calling for a ceasefire People hold photos of hostages during a rally to mark 100 days of captivity for hostages by Hamas in Gaza on Saturday in Tel Aviv An anti-war demonstrator Cindy Anna takes part in a demonstration organized by thousands of anti-government protesters demanding early elections for the country People take part in the '100 Days of Hell' rally in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, on what is now known as Hostages Square. To date, 136 hostages remain in the hands of Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, held captive in tunnels One Kibbutz Hatzor resident who has hosted many lone soldiers over the years was there on behalf of 20-year-old hostage Edan Alexander, who arrived to join the IDF last year and spent many shabbats with the man and his family. 'Edan is an amazing boy. Every time he came to the kibbutz, he came to us,' said the man, whose name is Doron. 'On bloody Saturday, he was kidnapped from his base early in the morning. He was kidnapped alive. We are calling on the government, they need to bring him back alive,' he said. Raz Ben-Ami, who was also kidnapped and released after 54 days in captivity, spoke about her husband Ohad who remains in the custody of terrorists. 'Being abducted means constant uncertainty about your next meal, feeling suffocated all the time, and not knowing when you'll see daylight again. As long as Ohad isn't home, I feel abducted too. Time is running out for Ohad and the other abductees,' she said. Thousands of pro Palestine supporters marched on the White House on Saturday demanding a ceasefire on Gaza The demonstration took place to mark 100 days since Hamas attack of October 7 and the start of retaliatory strikes by Israel The head of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said on Sunday Israel had failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza and this will force it to negotiate with Hamas. 'What has the enemy achieved in 100 days, other than killing?' Hassan Nasrallah asked in a televised speech as Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to call for the release of hostages still held in Gaza since Hamas' bloody October 7 incursion into Israel. 'It has not achieved any real victory or semblance of victory,' he said. 'It has failed in achieving its declared, half-declared and implicit objectives.' It came as a spokesperson for Hamas' armed wing claimed on Sunday that many of the hostages are likely to have been killed, blaming the Israeli leadership for their deaths. 'The fate of many of the enemy's hostages and detainees has become unknown in recent weeks and the rest have all entered the tunnel of the unknown due to the Zionist aggression,' Abu Obeida said in a televised statement. Israel has embarked on a military campaign in Gaza since Hamas gunmen stormed into southern Israel in October, killing around 1,140 people, mostly civilians, and taking some 240 hostage. The rally took place in tandem with other anti war demonstrations across the world including on at the White House in Washington, DC Staffers at the White House had to be 'relocated' after thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters descended on the White House and threatened to breach security on Saturday. Dolls covered in red paint were thrown over the fencing to represent those killed in Gaza Elsewhere in the world, staffers at the White House had to be 'relocated' after thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters descended on the White House and threatened to breach security on Saturday. The huge protest included demonstrators lobbing bloodied dolls over the White House fence as they shouted their demands for a ceasefire. Video taken at the event on Saturday shows how the metal perimeter was shaken so hard that portions of it were shunted back, forcing secret service operatives to rush to one part to prevent a breach. The Secret Service later confirmed that the anti-scale fencing sustained 'temporary damage' which was 'promptly repaired.' The temporary destruction caused during the rally meant White House staff and journalists had to be evacuated from the area. Demonstrators also carried Palestinian flags and held aloft signs questioning President Joe Biden's viability as a presidential candidate because of his staunch support for Israel. Some of the signs read: 'No votes for Genocide Joe,' 'Biden has blood on his hands' and 'Let Gaza live.' The rally was organized by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine and other groups. It took place in tandem with demonstrations in London, Paris, Rome, Dublin, Johannesburg and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. A pretty Virginia driver joked about her reckless driving charge saying she was rushing to get Starbucks before work after her mugshot went viral. Veronica Koval, 27, was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving on May 18, 2023. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 10 days in jail, ordered to pay a $750 fine and had her license suspended for 30 days. Her mugshot went viral several months later after the Instagram account mugshawtys posted it. Koval, an aesthetic nurse injector and laser technician commented on the post explaining her side of the incident. 'I had to get my Starbucks and get to work people,' she said. Veronica Koval, 27, was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving on May 18, 2023. Her mugshot went viral on Instagram several months later Koval, an aesthetic nurse injector and laser technician commented on the post explaining her side of the incident: 'I had to get my Starbucks and get to work people' The 27-year-old confirmed the mugshot is her responding to a comment from one user named Gatlin who said, 'What's her insta handle?!?' Koval responded: 'Here ya go it's me!' Comments on her glamorous looks began pouring in. 'Call Elite Models they need to send a driver to pickup their girl. Set her free she was late for a shoot,' said one user named Quoc Phan. A user name Cael said, 'She can recklessly operate my heart.' 'This woman is beautiful. Super model material,' said a user named Shelby. Instagram user Kate said, 'This is literally the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.' While many commenters called Koval beautiful, others were not so postive. Koval pleaded, 'People hella mean, don't hurt my feelings.' One user named Frank said, 'This the "My daddy has money to fix this" look.' Koval responded, 'My dad is dead but good try.' He was the principal at the high school since 1995 and has been hailed a 'hero' for his actions Marburger distracted the shooter to save students as Dylan Butler, 17, opened fire on January 4 The Iowa principal who risked his life to protect students during a school shooting has died. Dan Marburger died around 8am on Sunday as his heartbroken family said 'he fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.' Marburger was critically injured during the January 4 attack when Dylan Butler, 17, opened fire in the cafeteria at Perry High School. During the shooting, Marburger's daughter said that her father tried to distract the gunman so students could flee. He was the principal at the school since 1995. The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger 'acted selflessly and placed himself in harm's way in an apparent effort to protect his students.' Dan Marburger, the Iowa principal died around 8am on Sunday after he selflessley put himself infornt of the other students on January 4 as Dylan Butler, 17 opened fire in Perry High School Dylan Butler, 17, a senior at Perry High School, opened fire Thursday morning - shooting dead a 6th grader and injuring 5 others. Hours before the shooting, Butler posted a TikTok of himself, posing in what appeared to be in the school bathroom, with the text: 'Now we wait' Marburger, who was one of the five people injured in the shooting, was rushed to the hospital to undergo surgery for his gunshot wounds. Since that day, his daughter, Claire Marburger told We Are Iowa that he was 'nowhere near out of the woods' as he was in and out of surgery. In a Facebook post she expressed her devastation upon hearing about the tragic incident and claimed her father began speaking to the shooter - attempting to talk him down and allow students to flee. She said she 'instantly had a feeling' that her father would place himself in harms way to save students and staff. 'As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,' she wrote. 'It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria. That's just Dad.' Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks called Marburger a 'hero' who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape. News of Marburger's death was first posted on a GoFundMe page for his family. The post, by his wife, Elizabeth, said: 'Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.' Donations are set to go toward his family and medical costs. Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa on Thursday January, 4 In a Facebook post, Claire Marburger, expressed her devastation upon hearing about the tragic incident and claimed her father began speaking to the shooter - attempting to talk him down and allow students to flee Sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff, 11, was also killed in the attack after he was shot three times. Four other students and two other staff members were also injured before Butler turned the gun on himself. The shooting happened just after 7.30am, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school. Butler who was a senior at the school was armed with a pump-action shotgun and handgun - both of which are illegal for a 17-year-old to obtain in Iowa. He also had a rudimentary explosive device - which was undetonated and was later rendered safe by fire marshals. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound by the time first responders arrived at the school, shortly after 7.40am. The ordeal triggered a mass evacuation of 1,785 students on their first day of classes after winter break. Cops have yet to provide a possible motive. Hours before the shooting took place, Butler posted a TikTok posing in what appeared to be the school bathroom, with the caption: 'Now we wait.' The TikTok used the same song that one of the high school shooters involved in the notorious Columbine massacre cited online. Prior to the savage attack, Butler also posted on the social media site Discord and said that he was ready 'for what's to come' and that he was 'f****** nervous.' 'I'm in the bathroom gearing up,' the user wrote, according to screenshots seen by the outlet. 'There's a n----- in the bathroom, I need him to leave so I can assemble my guns' the account wrote two minutes later,' Butler added. 'The user was also part of a chatroom dedicated to discussing school shootings called "School Massacres Discussion,"' a Discord user who saw the user in the chat told NBC. The Discord user said they had flagged the chatroom to the FBI in November, after which an FBI agent reached out over email and asked for more information. Children hold hands with a man wearing an Iowa sweatshirt as they are reunited following the shooting Perry High School is taped off as investigators continue to work at the scene of the shooting The shooting happened just after 7.30 am and it was the first day back for students and staff after their winter break The user emailed the FBI agent screenshots of the server but did not hear back. The chatroom was closed before the shooting. 'Our deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and the community in Perry, Iowa following yesterday's horrific shooting' a Discord spokesperson said. 'Discord has a zero-tolerance policy against content that glorifies violence and violent extremism, which is reflected in our Community Guidelines. Adding: 'We took immediate action against the suspect and his content, and are currently cooperating with law enforcement to assist them in their continuing investigation.' Discord has previously been used by mass shooters, including the convicted shooter in the Buffalo shooting in 2022. Investigators are still working to get a 'good grasp of who Dylan was,' and the parents have been cooperating, Mortvedt said. The investigation will include Butlers background along with the 'environment of the school,' he said. Friends of Butler told the AP he had been bullied, but Wicks would not discuss that and said the school district takes bullying seriously. Asia's former most eligible bachelor Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei has shared an adorable picture of him and his new wife Anisha Isa Kalebic when they were both children. The childhood sweethearts publicly tied the knot today and enjoyed a glittering reception on day eight of their 10-day wedding which saw them legally married on Wednesday. The internet famous Prince Abdul Mateen, 32, shared a selection of photos from the glitzy celebrations with his new wife, 29, while one photo showed the pair as young kids together. A young prince can be seen sitting next to his future wife who appears to be holding a milk bottle. His new spouse is the granddaughter of an adviser to Brunei's leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. It is understood she owns a fashion and tourism company, and that the couple have been dating for years. Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei shared an adorable picture of him and his new wife Anisha Isa Kalebic when they were both children The couple publicly tied the knot today and enjoyed a glittering reception on day eight of their 10-day wedding Today saw an elaborate affair take place, with the 32-year-old prince dressed for the occasion in a white and gold ceremonial uniform, while his bride wore a long white dress and jewels READ MORE: Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei and his new wife Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah arrive at glittering wedding reception attended by royals from around the world - as hundreds line the streets Advertisement Other photos in the post, captioned with today's date, include one of the newly weds smiling in a carriage on the eighth day of celebrations, which has seen Asia's most eligible bachelor taken off the market. The Prince revealed his engagement to Anisha in December - an announcement which shocked the many fans of the royal. Today saw an elaborate affair take place, with the prince dressed for the occasion in a white and gold ceremonial uniform, while his bride wore a long white dress and jewels. The couple waved at thousands of people who gathered on the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan before arriving at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace in an open-top Rolls Royce. This was the first time the newlywed couple had been seen together since a legal wedding ceremony took place behind closed doors earlier in the week. Photos show the couple taking part in a public marriage ceremony beneath an opulent pergola, before heading inside the palace for a formal blessing. Later today, an estimated 5,000 people are expected to attend a reception at the Istana Nurul Iman Palace. The bridge wore a stunning long white dress and jewels for her wedding to the prince The prince was seen today wearing a white and gold ceremonial uniform for his wedding The couple waved at thousands of people who gathered on the streets of Bandar Seri Begawan The Prince is pictured holding a tiger cub while on holiday in an exotic location Guests reportedly include royalty from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as well as Indonesia's President Joko Widodo and the leader of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. An Islamic marriage ceremony took place on Wednesday, formalising Prince Abdul Mateen's marriage to Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah. However, this was only attended by male members of the wedding party, including the prince himself and his father, the Sultan of Brunei. Prince Abdul Mateen is the fourth son, and tenth child, of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 77, and his former second wife Mariam Abdul Aziz, 67. CARLIN A woman was arrested on drug and DUI charges after threatening to hit children she was babysitting in front of patrons at a Carlin restaurant on Saturday. Jessica L. Woods, 33, was booked into the Elko County Jail on two counts of felony child neglect, one count of felony possession of methamphetamine and one count of misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs. She was also charged with misdemeanor traffic charges of driving without a drivers license and a suspended registration. According to court documents, Carlin police responded to a restaurant at 6:12 p.m. on a report of an intoxicated female who had threatened to hit children in the face while inside the establishment. Woods and the children had already left the business before police arrived, but the officer determined Woods was the suspect based on descriptions given to him by witnesses. The officer pulled Woods over on an equipment violation. He reported Woods had thick, unclear speech and had a noticeable sway while trying to stand after exiting the vehicle. Woods admitted to drinking alcohol. A body search recovered a burned piece of foil inside a pants pocket that held a glass-like substance that tested positive as methamphetamine. Two minor children were in the vehicle, and they confirmed Woods had threatened to hit them in the face and she was babysitting them. In 2019, Woods was arrested in Winnemucca on charges of accessory to burglary and eluding police. In that case, Woods and Shannon McCoy led Winnemucca police, the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office and Nevada State Police on a chase for several miles before their vehicle crashed into a slough of the Humboldt River at the Heckman Ranch. The pair fled on foot and eluded law enforcement and the Humboldt General Hospitals Air One helicopter for a full day before they were spotted by a Nevada State Police trooper and taken into custody with the assistance of Winnemucca and Humboldt County authorities. Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has warned the Conservative party has 'one last chance' to stop illegal small boat crossings each estimated to cost the British public, on average, thirty million pounds. Robert Jenrick, Minister of State for Immigration from 2022 to 2023, wrote in The Sun that small boat crossings had 'blown our borders open' and lambasted the government's Rwanda policy as a 'bucket riddled with holes'. 'We can't pass legislation to secure our borders three times, fail on each occasion and retain the confidence of the public,' he wrote, calling for amendments to the perceived 'fatal flaws' of plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Claiming it costs more than 500,000 to integrate and support an illegal migrant, he said 'billions of taxpayers [sic] money' had been wasted on failed policies to tackle illegal migration, adding that the average small boat crossing costs taxpayers the equivalent of rebuilding a school or hiring 1,000 NHS nurses. 'It is high time politicians had the courage and determination to do what's necessary, placing the interests of the British people above their reputations on the gilded international circuit,' he added. More than 50 MPs on the Conservative Party's right, including former Prime Minister Liz Truss, are putting pressure on the government to 'toughen up' the Rwanda Bill, the BBC reported ahead of a vote on a series of amendments next week. Robert Jenrick, then Secretary of State for Housing and Communities, is seen leaving No 10 Downing Street after attending the weekly cabinet meeting on September 17, 2019 Migrants are pictured in a vessel crossing the English Channel on January 1, 2024 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who pledged to 'stop the boats' among his five key priorities for 2023, is trying to revive his plan to send some illegal migrants to Rwanda. But the bill still faces criticism from the courts, human rights organisations and parts of the Tory party who demand various amends to ensure the plan works. Last week, Mr Jenrick warned he would suggest amends to the bill to ensure it was 'sufficiently robust'. And in today's piece in The Sun, he outlined the perceived issues with the current bill, claiming 'the activist Strasbourg Court will still be able to ground removals at the 11th hour with pyjama injunctions' without amends. 'And illegal migrants, ably assisted by small boat-chasing firms, will still be able to concoct reasons to prevent their removal,' he said. Suella Braverman also recently warned she would vote against the bill unless Mr Sunak accepts 'improvements' to strengthen it. In her first television interview since she was sacked as Home Secretary, she told GB News the bill 'doesn't work' and said the government should 'start again' to reboot it. 'If we don't get it right, and if we don't stop the boats, the British people are not going to forgive us,' she said, echoing Mr Jenrick's comments. The bill will return to the Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday for MPs to vote on amendments. The controversial bill was first proposed by the government in April 2022 as a means of processing and resettling asylum seekers. Those successful in claiming asylum would have remained in Rwanda and not allowed to return to the UK. The bill became entangled in legal issues and was ultimately shot down by the Supreme Court in November, finding the plan unlawful on the grounds of issues with Rwanda's asylum system. In a unanimous judgment, the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal that there are substantial grounds for believing asylum seekers - i.e. claiming to have been forcibly displaced from their home country - would face a significant risk of being returned to their home country where they could face ill-treatment. British authorities guide migrants picked up by an RNLI lifeboat while attempting to cross the English Channel, in Dungeness on the southeast coast of England, on December 9, 2022 Rishi Sunak speaks to the media during a press conference at Downing Street in London, Britain, December 7, 2023 The government nonetheless secured a new reading of the bill on December 7 after concluding a 'landmark treaty' with Rwanda to provide additional safeguards. The Institute for Government, an independent think tank, said the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill was 'rather extraordinary' in attempting to 'reverse by law a finding of fact by the Supreme Court (that Rwanda was not safe for asylum purposes)'. It suggested the new treaty was attempting to 'steer a course' between MPs 'including... it seems, the former immigration minister, Robert Jenrick' who 'wanted to close off all possible ground of challenge under either national or international law' and MPs who 'weren't ready to do quite such violence to the rule of law'. The cramped conditions on the site mean that residents often fall sick Brooklyn residents and cops are left fuming after a perceived spike in crime from their newest neighbors - migrants at the Floyd Bennett Field shelter. Nearly 2,000 migrants were moved to the isolated temporary shelter in mid-November as the city ran out of housing options. Local residents told the New York Post there has been an increase in shoplifting, panhandling, scams and street prostitution since the migrants were moved there. A NYPD cop told the Post: 'This s*** is out of control.' New York City is currently caring for over 68,000 migrants and with hotels and other accommodation supplies reaching capacity, options are increasingly limited. More than 116,000 migrants have flooded the city since April 2022 when southern governors started to bus them to northern cities to help deal with the crisis at the US-Mexico border. Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn is being used to house 2,000 migrants in a makeshift shelter Families are crammed into the tents with many falling sick in the cramped conditions. Locals have complained about a rise in crime including prostitution and robberies The temporary tents were constructed after hotels and other shelters had hit capacity through the city. More than 116,000 migrants have arrived in the Big Apple since April 2022 Residents told the Post migrants from the Floyd Bennett shelter have been running a scam along Flatbush Avenue near Kings Plaza, where they walk into traffic and pretend to be hit before asking drivers for $500. 'They're scaring people saying "You just hit me, and I'm going to report it if you don't give me the money,"' the unnamed cops said. President of the Bergen Beach Civic Association, Sal Calise, told the Post he nearly was a victim of the scheme on January 6 when a man walked into traffic, causing him to swerve and nearly hit a parked car. 'I looked back in my rear-view mirror, and hes turning around laughing at the migrants sitting on the corner," Calise said. 'They had all their phones in their hands like theyre ready to film. I thought "This is obviously a set up".' Calise said the scam was discussed at an association meeting on Tuesday, but police told the Post no one has formally reported the scam so they have nothing to act on. There have been five arrests at the center since it opened. Families are forced to resort to stealing necessities from nearby stores, some locals say Residents complained that the camp has led to a spike in crime in the local area Josue Parica Villanueba, 25, formerly of Venezuela, was arrested on December 20 for allegedly choking and beating his girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty. Two women were arrested for assaulting men and another man was arrested for punching his father. They all pleaded not guilty. A 36-year-old Ecuadorian staying at the tent center with her three children told the Post: 'Its a small space with a lot of people in it, so people argue like this, and they fight about things like food and clothes. 'They also get mad about other people being too loud, not watching their kids.' There is also reportedly a problem with shoplifting at the nearby Target in Kings Plaza. One security guard told the Post than an estimated ten migrants a day steal food and said he routinely looks the other way as he feels bad for them. 'Its always a family, a single mother with her kid who has a toy,' the unnamed guard said. Target security guards at Kings Plaza said they regularly see migrant families trying to shoplift. 'Its always a family, a single mother with her kid who has a toy,' one unnamed guard said 'I let them take the food, I have a nice heart.' Tay Ross, another Target security guard, said: 'Theyre quick to give up the items. I think people realize theres no sense in going to jail. If theyre trying to feed themselves, it doesnt bother me.' A manager at the next door Primark said they have noticed migrants trying to steal 'necessities' of socks, coats and underwear. The cramped conditions at the site means people routinely fall sick. A 36-year-old Ecuadorian woman told the Post: 'People are always sick here, especially the kids, because there are too many people in small rooms, all enclosed here. Councilwoman Joann Ariola, a frequent critic of Adams' handling of the migrant crisis, said she predicted problems with the Floyd Bennett shelter from the start. New York City kicked students out of a Brooklyn high school in order to relocate nearly 2,000 migrants housed at Floyd Bennett Field ahead of a potentially damaging storm She said: 'Floyd Bennett Field is entirely unsuitable for a tent complex, and how we are wasting tax-payer dollars to evacuate nearly 2,000 people when they should have been placed somewhere like the Park Slope Armory.' Some residents claim that a vacant lot nearby is being used by migrant women for prostitution. The community was angered last week after the city sent children home from a school so that they could use the building to house the Floyd Bennett Field migrants during a dangerous storm. 'To be clear, this relocation is a proactive measure being taken out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals working and living at the center,' Kayla Mamelak, spokesperson for mayor Eric Adams, said in a statement. DailyMail.com contacted Target and the NYPD for comment. City officials have yet to comment on the reported spike of crimes. Police have arrested six 'pro-Palestine' activists who were allegedly plotting to disrupt the London Stock Exchange in an effort to prevent it from opening on Monday morning. The suspects are members of the Palestine Action Group and were intending to cause criminal damage, the Metropolitan Police claimed. They group were also allegedly planning on 'locking on' at the building to stop it from opening for trading. The stunt may have been 'one part of a planned week of action', according to Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas. She described the arrests as 'significant' and said their planned activities would have been 'disruptive and damaging'. The suspects were allegedly planning on 'locking on' at the building to stop it from opening for trading (file image) Early this morning, Met and Merseyside Police officers arrested a 31-year-old man in Liverpool on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage. A further five people, all believed to be part of the same plot, were arrested later on for the same offence. A 29-year-old woman was arrested in Albert Road, Brent and a 23-year-old man was arrested in Voss Street, Tower Hamlets. Two women, aged 28 and 26, were arrested in Liverpool. A 27-year-old man was arrested in Brighton. All six of those arrested remain in custody, the police said. Detective Supt Thomas said in a statement: 'We believe this group was ready to carry out a disruptive and damaging stunt which could have had serious implications had it been carried out successfully.' The suspects are said to be members of the Palestine Action Group. Pictured: File image shows protesters during a pro-Palestine march last month 'Having only been provided with the material on Friday afternoon we had limited time to act. 'It is thanks to the determined efforts from our Public Order Crime team and our colleagues in Merseyside that we were able to identify, locate and arrest those we suspect to be involved in this plot. 'Mindful of the suggestion that this was one part of a planned week of action, we are in contact with the City of London Police as well as other forces across the UK to ensure that appropriate resources are in place to deal with any disruption in the coming days.' A man has been rescued after spending more than 24 hours trapped in a mine shaft in an outback town in South Australia. The 47-year-old man from the Riverland region was reported missing to police by his wife on Friday night. Police called the experienced local mine rescue team after fears the man had fallen down one of Coober Pedy's many mine shafts. The man was found more than 24 hours after he disappeared, desperately calling for help while trapped 25 metres down a shaft at the Nine Mile Opal field. The 47-year-old man spent more than 24 hours trapped down a 25 metre mind shaft at the Nine Mile Opal field in Coober Pedy, South Australia It took three hours for the 16-strong rescue team to bring the haul the man out of the mine shaft. Country Fire Service Brigade Captain Matthew Corner said it was the first mine rescue in three years, adding the man had 'luck on his side' after surviving the fall. 'I was quite surprised, considering there was reports it was a 90-foot (27 metres) mine shaft that's quite a long distance,' Mr Corner told 9News. 'Volunteers helped haul up the patient and the amazing mine rescue squad member who went down there to retrieve him. He obviously had some luck on his side.' State Emergency Service technical rescue coordinator Vincent Scully explained the rescue was 'very complex' and involved multiple agencies. It took a 16-strong rescue team (pictured) three hours to haul the man to the surface The man suffered multiple broken bones in the accident and was rushed to Coober Pedy hospital before being later flown to Royal Adelaide hospital. He was treated for a dislocated shoulder, a broken leg, was also severely dehydrated and may have suffered internal injuries. The man was rushed to Coober Pedy hospital and later flown to Royal Adelaide hospital with a dislocated shoulder and broken leg. It is still unknown how the man became trapped in the mine. Over 10,000 people have signed a petition demanding Wales be referred to as Cymru - following the decision to only refer to the Brecon Beacons and Mount Snowdon by their Welsh names. The petition, titled 'abolish the name 'Wales' and make 'Cymru' the only name for our country', has reached 10,560 signatures. The name 'Wales' is derived from an Anglo-Saxon word meaning 'foreigners' and the petition says it is 'essentially not a Welsh word at all'. Cymru means 'fellow countrymen', Cymry is the name for those from the country, and Cymraeg is the name for the language - unlike in English, under which people both are Welsh and speak Welsh. It comes after the English names of Snowdon and Snowdonia were ditched in favour of Yr Wyddfa and Eryri. The Brecon Beacons was also changed to Bannau Brycheiniog - but Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently clashed with Welshman and celebrity Michael Sheen when he refused to use the Welsh name. Despite the backlash, national park officials also voted to refer to over 200 lakes and waterfalls by their Welsh names only. Over 10,000 people have signed a petition demanding Wales be referred to as Cymru The petition, titled 'abolish the name 'Wales' and make 'Cymru' the only name for our country', has reached 10,560 signatures. Pictured is the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff Pictured is Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog, previously the Brecon Beacons Llyn Padarn, Llanberis, in Snowdonia/Eryri National Park The Senedd petition, which was put forward by Arfon Jones, reads: 'Wales is a name imposed on Cymru and is essentially not a Welsh word at all. The world knows about Wales because of its English connection since 1282. 'Hardly anyone has heard of Cymru or realises that we have our own unique language and culture which is totally different from the other countries within the United Kingdom.' READ MORE - Rishi Sunak clashes with Michael Sheen as PM refuses to use Brecon Beacons national park's Welsh name after officials dropped English title over alleged links to climate change following luvvy-backed campaign Advertisement The petition was posted last week and has already surpassed the number of signatures required to go to the Petitions Committee for a debate in the Senedd. A poll asking the Welsh public if they prefer the name Wales or Cymru found that 59 per cent of people think the country should only be referred to as Cymru. Under half (41 per cent) wanted to keep the name Wales while 19 per cent said they didn't mind. Andrew RT Davies, Member of the Senedd for South Wales Central, said on X: 'I'd prefer to see petitions highlighting where Welsh Labour Government are failing on education, failing on the economy and failing on the Health Service. 'We've only recently just seen that massive petition that came to the Welsh Parliament that identified people's frustration over the blanket 20mph across the whole of Wales where nearly half a million people signed that petition. 'Let's not try and put both languages against each other, let's celebrate both languages and celebrate the bilingualism of Wales.' An aerial view of Snowdonia/Eryri. National park bosses were accused by both UK Government ministers and Welsh Conservatives for attempting to look 'trendy' Brecon Beacons national park also rebranded itself as Bannau Brycheiniog Campaigners are also pushing to axe English spellings of Welsh places which would see Gavin and Stacey's seaside town change from Barry to Barri But Welsh independence campaigner Gwern Gwynfil said: 'There is nothing unusual about nations deciding on their own official names. Turkiey and Czechia are recent examples of this. 'In no way does this force others to change the names they use but it is a clear and confident expression of identity in a modern international context. READ MORE - National park officials vote to refer to names of more than 200 lakes and waterfalls in Welsh only Advertisement 'More broadly it reflects a wider pride and recognition of authentic cultural values, from Uluru to Bannau Brycheiniog, this is also a global phenomenon. 'This is a normal thing for nations to do. Perhaps the more relevant issue here is why are some people so viscerally against the idea? What are they afraid of?' In November 2022, the Snowdonia National Park Authority said Mount Snowdon and the Snowdonia National Park would be referred to by their Welsh names following a petition with 5,000 signatures. Critics had said the proposed name change - championed by Welsh language enthusiasts - was 'confusing' and a backward step when the name Snowdon was known 'throughout the world'. But supporters said scrapping the English name - meaning 'snow hill' - showed 'respect' for the Welsh language. The Welsh name, which is pronounced 'Er Withva' and means 'burial mound', has long been used in Welsh translations. But the national park will now use Yr Wyddfa and Eryri in English 'contexts' as well. The Brecon Beacons National Park is changing its name as a direct response to the climate and ecological crisis, the park's chief executive has said Then in April 2023, it was announced that the Brecon Beacons will also be referred to by its more 'eco-friendly' Welsh name after the change was promoted by Michael Sheen. Those behind the national park agreed that the use of the word 'beacons', with its echoes of wood-burning braziers chucking out carbon emissions, had to go. The change to Bannau Brycheiniog National Park pronounced Ban-eye Bruck-ein-iog or the Bannau for short, was announced in a video presented by the Welsh celebrity where he said it is 'an old name for a new way to be'. Talking about the new name, Sheen said: 'I'm delighted to see them facing their challenges head-on and welcome the reclamation of the old Welsh name, an old name for a new way of being.' He added: 'National parks have a vital role to play in providing for nature, for people and for our shared future.' In November last year, another petition called for 'Welsh names for Welsh places' in the saga of reclaiming Welsh culture. The 1,300 petition presented to the Cardiff-based Senedd by linguist Mihangel ap Rhisiart would mean that Caerphilly cheese would become Caerffili Cheese - and TV comedy Gavin and Stacey's seaside home town would switch from Barry to Barri. Mr Ap Rhisiart also hit out at the 'cultural oppression' by the English against Welsh speakers. Labour's Welsh Language Minister Jeremy Miles - a contender to take over from First Minister Mark Drakeford - said there was 'a strong argument' for using just the Welsh in some cases. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum endorsed Donald Trump while appearing alongside the ex-president at a rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday. Right as he was taking stage with his wife Kathryn, another outburst occurred after several protesters were able to make it into the rally site the day before the Iowa caucuses. 'Four years ago, I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City. And today I'm here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done and that's endorse Donald J. Trump,' Burgum said. The governor was among those running in the presidential primary, but he dropped out of the race in early December without endorsing anyone. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, alongside wife Kathryn' endorsed Donald Trump at Sunday's rally in Indianola, Iowa Burgum said when Trump took office in 2017 that 'everything changed' from when President Barack Obama was in office. He said 'heartland' states like Iowa and North Dakota were 'respected' again. 'We had a friend and partner in the White House who understood us and wanted to see our states succeed versus being regulated out of business,' the North Dakota leader said. He added: 'Now, I've had a chance as governor to see what the world is like under Joe Biden and America needs an 180-degree change in the direction of where Joe Biden has taken us.' Burgum was still in the race for the Republican presidential nomination up until December, when he did not qualify for the final Republican National Committee (RNC) debate. He joined a crowded field for the race that thinned out to just six candidates by the Iowa caucuses thought a few candidates are still in massive longshot status. This includes former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Texas-based businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are also still in the race and battling for second place against Trump. Burgum's endorsement comes during Trump's final bid to Iowans to caucus for him on Monday in the first-in-the-nation primary contest. The start of Burgum's endorsement was interrupted by a protester who got into Trump's remarks. She was the latest in a string of outbursts from climate activists who came to oppose the ex-president's candidacy and call him a 'climate criminal.' The woman was escorted out by security after at least three others were also booted from the room for unfurling banners and yelling their environmentalist sentiments at the ex-president. A protester was escorted out of the room as her outburst interrupted the start of Gov. Burgum's endorsement of Donald Trump Although Burgum says he's the only 2024 candidates to endorse Trump after dropping out, he is just the candidate who made it the furthest to then end their bid and back the ex-president. Larry Elder, who never qualified for a debate in the 2024 cycle, also backed Trump when ending his presidential bid in October. Fellow former candidate Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) endorsed Nikki Haley when he dropped his bid in early October. Others have said they either have no intention to endorse anyone in the primary. Also the day before the caucus, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) issued his endorsement of Trump in his third bid for the White House. 'When Trump was in WH I achieved major policies I had worked on for years... because we had a President who didn't cave to special interests or let bureaucrats block us,' the senator wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'I support Trump because that kind of leadership is the ONLY way we will get the extraordinary actions needed to fix the disaster Biden has created. It's time to get on with the work of beating Biden & saving America!' wrote Rubio, who ran against Trump in the 2016 primary. This is the dramatic moment Yemeni Houthi rebels stormed a mock Jewish residential area as part of a training exercise after the militant group's leaders promised a 'strong and effective response' to allied bombing efforts this week. Aerial footage shared by the rebels showed Houthi troops conducting drills around a training area consisting of several houses marked with the Star of David. Men wielding Kalashnikov-style assault rifles are seen advancing on the makeshift compound, storming tents and shooting at a portrait of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They then appear to practice taking hostages, seen using assault rifles to usher cowering actors dressed as Orthodox Jews out of the tents. The troops are seen from above to drive away from the compound before blowing the site up entirely in an apparently controlled demolition. Images of the drills were first shared on Saturday after the Houthi leadership promised revenge for strikes conducted by allies in response to rebel attacks on trade vessels in recent weeks. A joint exercise between Britain, the US and allies in the early hours of Friday morning was followed by subsequent attacks late Friday and on Saturday afternoon. Despite the threats, Foreign Secretary David Cameron yesterday warned the rebels that Britain was prepared to carry out future strikes on Houthi targets if their missiles continued to threaten the free flow of trade in the Red Sea. Footage showed troops storming a makeshift compound containing Israeli flags Houthi soldiers take part in military drills in mock residential areas on January 11, 2024 The training areas are seen from above emblazoned with the Star of David A soldier is seen shooting at a portrait of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Soldiers breached a mock building and took hostages dressed as Orthodox Jews The actors were paraded out of the camp before being driven away from the site Aerial footage released January 13 and dated January 11 - before the coalition airstrikes - also showed drone operators practicing while stood on American flags. And the exercises saw missiles and tanks tested near the northern Yemen-Saudi Arabia border at Al-Baqaa area. Protests broke out in Yemen over the weekend as supporters of the Houthi rebels, who have been embroiled in a brutal civil war with the internationally-recognised government since 2014, condemned the United States and Israel. US and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen in the early hours of Friday morning in retaliation for repeated Houthi attacks in and around the Red Sea in recent weeks. The Houthis called the attacks 'barbaric' and said in a statement 'all US, UK interest have become 'legitimate targets'' without elaborating. 'The Americans and the British should not believe that they will escape the punishment of our heroic armed forces,' the Houthi Supreme Political Council said in a statement on their official media. The Houthis, who say they are acting in solidarity with Gaza, have carried out a number of missile and drone attacks on what they deem Israeli-linked shipping in the region. The attacks were widely condemned as commercial shipping lines sought alternate routes or suspended operations altogether, raising fears the price of essential commodities could rise significantly. The US followed its attack on Friday morning with another strike later that day and a third on Saturday afternoon. The Houthi movement's TV channel Al-Masirah erroneously reported in the early hours of Saturday morning that Britain had been involved in the second round of strikes. Houthi media then accused Britain and the US of carrying out more strikes on rebel-held Hodeida on Sunday, which western allies also denied. Still, the airstrikes have galvanised Houthi supporters in Yemen. Houthi fighters and supporters were seen holding rifles and burning British and US flags at a rally near Sanaa. In London, some protestors on a march to show solidarity with civilians killed in Gaza were filmed shouting 'Yemen, Yemen make us proud. Turn another ship around' in reference to the missile strikes against merchant ships. The Houthis Media Centre also shared images of militants operating drones on US flags THURSDAY: An unverified image appeared to show the result and British and US airstrikes in Yemen Yemen was hit by a number of coalition strikes Friday early morning following attacks on ships The Houthi outfit emerged in the 1990s but gained international attention in 2014 during a rebellion against Yemen's government, sparking the ongoing civil war. Yemen's government subsequently stepped down, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Houthi forces continue to clash with a Saudi-led coalition and allies in the United States and a number of European powers. The Houthis continue to receive millions in aid from Iran each year, which also provides aid and training to Hamas in Gaza and as much as $700mn a year to Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Houthis have been accused of several violations of international law - beyond targeting non-combatant merchant vessels in the Red Sea - including using child soldiers, expected to make up a third of all fighters in Yemen. Human Rights Watch published a report in 2018 detailing how Houthi soldiers would take hostages, arbitrarily detain people and use torture methods to extort money from relatives. The UN also reported in 2018 the Houthis were diverting food aid from distribution areas intended for civilians affected by the humanitarian crisis. And in 2019, there were allegations the Houthis supported the restoration of slavery in Yemen with the families of leaders holding some 1,800 citizens as slaves and servants in their personal residences. At his Sunday sermon on the book of John, Senior Pastor Phil Winfield at Grace Church in Des Moines reminds his flock that even biblical figures like St. Peter strayed and turned away from Jesus at times. 'Are you aware that the only people God chooses for anything are sinners, and only sinners can be saved? ' he asks worshippers who braved sub-zero temperatures after the weather caused the closure of multiple services and religious activities. Outside the megachurch auditorium that typically packs many hundreds but had a smaller crowd Sunday with the mercury at -18, registered nurse Mary Cook said she is planning to caucus for Donald Trump Monday because he did 'a lot' of good things. 'I'm sick and tired of people complaining about him,' she vents. 'The problem that they have with Trump is his personality. That's like saying you won't go to the doctor because they have a bad bedside manner,' she continues. She says she worked with one of the very best surgeons who 'has the personality of a rattlesnake. That doesn't bother me at all.' She is much less taken with Nikki Haley, who has been rising in the Iowa polls. 'I think she's the biggest phony that ever drew breath,' she said. Cook prefers Trump over Ron DeSantis, who visited Grace Church recently and has made faith issues a prominent part of his campaign while showcasing his young family and his battle with Disney. 'I sure like his idea of getting rid of the gay parade,' she says. 'The problem that they have with Trump is his personality,' says retired nurse Mary Cook after Sunday worship at Grace Church in Des Moines. 'That's like saying you won't go to the doctor because they have a bad bedside manner. Cook is one of many worshippers who sang Trump's praises Sunday while the former president got back on the campaign trail in nearby Indianola and told an environmental protester who heckled him to 'go home to your mommy.' Trump is riding high in the polls, and enjoying strong support from Iowans who identify as evangelical, who made up about two-thirds of Republican caucus-goers four years ago. Another congregant, cardiovascular ultrasound sonographer Jennifer Hyde, 39, hasn't made up her mind yet on who to back, but she likes Trump. 'He's not a puppet. Most politicians are puppets,' she said. 'He does what he says he's going to do. He's not a typical politician.' She does think Ron DeSantis has 'really good values, family morals.' You 'have to practice what you preach,' she says. But she might not caucus on Monday due to work. Grace has a devoted following who engage in multiple works in the community. Sunday's service began with an immersion baptism, a nine-piece band, and a few light-hearted prayers to cable provider Mediacom. (A livestream for worshippers who were snowed in didn't work). Trump, who was at 48 per cent in the latest Des Moines Register poll, has made multiple appeals to Iowa's evangelical voters, while also giving a lengthy explanation in his belief in the importance of winning elections as well as his support for exceptions to abortion laws during Fox News town hall last week. DeSantis gave an interview Saturday with the National Catholic Register where he spoke about the 'power of prayer' and spoke about so-called gender affirming care. 'A 14-year-old would not be able to sit at a bar and take a shot of whiskey, but yet somehow they could have their private parts taken off,' he said. Dana Wyatt, a facilities worker at the church, says DeSantis is probably the only candidate who has proven himself 'in terms of stepping up to the job,' and has some ethical concerns about Trump. 'He has a lot of potential that I had hoped in Trump, without all of the baggage,' he said of DeSantis. He's got concerns about Trump's temperament, saying the former president talked about draining the swamp 'but he has surrounded himself with people you would classify as swamp people.' 'He does what he says he's going to do. He's not a typical politician,' says Jennifer Hyde, who operates sonogram machines Dana Wyatt, a facilities worker at the church, didn't like 'insulting' things Trump said about Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, who signed a bill that banned abortion at six weeks. Reynolds has backed Ron DeSantis Worshippers attended Sunday services at the Grace megachurch in Des Moines a day before the caucuses Former President Donald Trump ridiculed a heckler Sunday, telling her to 'go home to your mommy' Trump tore into protesters at his rally Sunday. He is far ahead of his GOP opponents in pre-caucus polling Ron DeSantis visited Grace church recently. He is counting on organization and support from religious conservatives, although many evangelical voters say they are backing Trump And he appreciates how Trump's Supreme Court nominees struck down Roe. v. Wade. But he doesn't like how Trump 'comes into Iowa [and] was pretty insulting to the governor about passing the heartbeat bill.' [Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a six-week abortion ban, and is backing DeSantis]. 'He talks about loyalty, but is not loyal to people that supported him,' he vents. And he says Trump has shown 'little or no loyalty' to the people who stormed the Capitol on his behalf on January 6. 'He could have pardoned them before he left, but he didn't,' he said. (Trump accused her of 'disloyalty' and said it would be the end of her career). Jeannett Griner, who is self-employed and lives in Des Moines, likes Trump because he is 'not owned by the globalists' and points to 'who's paying the bills' for his competitors. 'They have tried to dismantle him and his family, and he's still standing,' she says. Steve Miller, a retired elementary school teacher who brought a pair of bibles to services Sunday, is leaning toward Nikki Haley, and says she 'must be getting to some people because of the negative ads she's taking.' He was at church when DeSantis briefly attended. 'He was shorter than I thought he'd be,' he said, wondering if the hubbub about the Florida governor's footwear impacted his thinking. The Altoona native supported Trump in the past, but not this time. 'He's a little too aggressive for me. Sometimes he talks before his brain kicks in,' he said. READ MORE: What the forecast looks like near you Australia's east coast is being deluged with 'intense' rain with warnings the wet weather will stick around for days and the threat of flash flooding looming. Sydney, the Illawarra and Central Coast regions are forecast to be pummeled with up to 80mm of rain on Monday - with heavy falls expected to ease later in the day. That rain is likely to linger throughout the rest of the week with an up to 30mm downpour forecast for Tuesday. Hot, drizzly and humid conditions are forecast through Thursday. Brisbane is expected to cop up to 10mm on Monday while Melbourne will welcome dry conditions for the second full day of the Australian Open. No rain is forecast for the Victorian capital today except slight showers in some north-east suburbs and the chance of a thunderstorm. Little rain is expected in Melbourne this week. Australia's east coast is being deluged with 'intense' rain with warnings the wet weather will stick around for days and the threat of flash flooding looming. Pedestrians are pictured in the rain in Sydney The Sydney, Central Coast and Illawarra regions are set to cop a heavy drenching on Monday, according to forecasts Weatherzone meteorologist Yoska Hernandez warned that residents of Sydney, the Illawarra and Central Cost should exercise caution. '60-80mm of rain is anticipated, mainly falling during the morning and afternoon,' she warned. READ MORE: Water cascades down streets and into shops, pubs and restaurants after a major leak Advertisement 'If thunderstorms or particularly heavy showers develop, some coastal and adjacent inland areas could potentially receive 80-120mm.' The strongest part of the wet weather system will start to shift north later on Monday, transitioning into lighter showers as the day progresses. 'Meanwhile, the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers districts are likely to experience the most substantial rainfall in the afternoon and evening,' Ms Hernandez said. 'In other regions along the NSW coast and adjacent inland, falls of 30-60mm are expected during Monday, with isolated heavy downpours also possible for parts of the Mid North Coast, with the potential for rainfall exceeding 100mm.' Despite showers easing, another 20 to 40mm of rain is projected to fall across the NSW coast, and the wet weather is likely to persist until Friday. Meanwhile, warmer than usual ocean temperatures have caused record-high humidity in Sydney, with the sticky conditions also felt in Brisbane. It comes as severe weather continues to plague Queensland, with those in south-east areas of the state inundated with rain along with monsoon affected residents in the far north. The hardest hit areas remain in the north, where some flood affected parts will be hit with up to 30mm of rain each day this week. A flood watch remains in place for the Cape York Peninsula and parts of the Gulf of Carpentaria as flood warnings are enacted for the Paroo, Tully, Murray, Barcoo, Bulloo and Diamantia Rivers. A major flood warning has been enacted for the Paroo River around Eulo, as the rain pushes river levels to rise 'significantly'. 'The Paroo River at Eulo is currently at 3.8metres and expected to be rising slowly, with moderate flooding (moderate flood level 3metres),' the Bureau warned. Elsewhere, Adelaide will be sunny with a maximum of 34 on Monday, while Perth will be mostly sunny and also get to a high of 34. This tree at Castle Hill is one of many that fell across NSW overnight. Intense rain has lashed Sydney. @9NewsSyd #9news pic.twitter.com/lUVAOyM8nN Maggie Raworth (@MaggieRaworth) January 14, 2024 A ferry is pictured passing under the Sydney Harbour Bridge through fog A map of areas affected by storms in Queensland overnight is pictured But while the WA capital will stay sunny over the coming days, Adelaide is headed for clouds and some rain. It will get up to 29C in Darwin on Monday, but it will be windy, with heavy rain showers. The coming days will also bring rain and storms to the NT capital. Canberra is in for a wet few days, with the temperature ranging from a low of 13 on Tuesday to a high of 27 on Wednesday. Hobart will be mostly cloudy and wet in the coming days, with the exception of Tuesday, which will be sunny and get to a high of 29 degrees. A female counselor who 'had sex with an 11-year-old girl under her care' in Texas was nabbed in Mexico after nearly a decade on the run. Authorities announced Friday that Iris Iliana Rodriguez, 34, was arrested in December 11 in Jalisco, Mexico by members of the International Criminal Police Organization after she was tipped off to Crime Stoppers. Rodriguez had been on the run since January 2015 after it was discovered that she had an inappropriate relationship with a female minor in Laredo, Texas, approximately 150 miles from San Antonio. At the time, Webb County issued warrants for her arrest, including three counts of indecency with a child and three counts of unlawful restraint and harassment. She has since been hit with two additional charges for indecency with a child by sexual contact and flight to avoid prosecution. Before she could be arrested nearly 10 years ago, she fled to Mexico and was placed on Texas' Top 10 Most Wanted list. Iris Iliana Rodriguez, 34, was arrested in December 11 in Jalisco, Mexico after she fled the US in January 2015 after it was discovered that she had an inappropriate relationship with a female minor in Laredo, Texas Following the incident, Rodriguez fled south of the border and was discovered in Jalisco, Mexico, after nearly a decade According to authorities, the tipster has been rewarded $5,000 for informing them of Rodriguez's whereabouts. 'The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), along with DPS Criminal Investigations Special Agents from Laredo, coordinated efforts with the USMS Country Attache in Mexico to develop a plan with the assistance of INTERPOL Mexico to make the arrest,' Texas Department of Public Safety said in a Facebook post on Friday. Rodriquez's inappropriate engagement with the 11-year-old girl reportedly occurred while she was working as a counselor for the Child, Adolescent and Parent Services program in Laredo. The program is designed to 'provide comprehensive services and adolescents ages 3 through 17 with a diagnosis of mental illness, who may exhibit an emotional, behavioral or mental disorder with a serious functional impairment,' according to the program's website. She then moved on to a new job at the Border Region Behavioral Health Center which is also located in Laredo. Her new job 'allowed her to visit the little girl at school under the guise of offering guidance and counselling,' according to WOAI-TV. It is unclear how long she will face jail time and if she is due in court for her crimes. It is also unclear where exactly in Jalisco she was discovered. ELKO Meghan Collins would like to share how Nevadans can contribute to weather and climate research with just their smartphones. As an associate research scientist with Desert Research Institute who is based in Elko, she enjoys the unique responsibility of connecting the general public with the world of scientific discovery. Collins achieves this connection by heading up citizen science projects, which allow internet users to process data collected from nature. One such project, which she has helped run for five winter seasons, is called Mountain Rain or Snow. This is a citizen science project focused on water, and we all know how important water is for our arid mountain region. What makes this project unique is that it is helping move the needle for NASA Earth Science monitoring. This monitoring comes from the Global Precipitation Measurement project, which has 12 satellites circling Earth and tracking weather patterns. We are improving the back-end technologies that NASA uses to track rain versus snow. And we do so by issuing NASA report cards with Elko residents help, Collins said. This project grew out of another citizen science project that I used to run called Stories in the Snow, she said. Equipped with special macro lens attachments for their phone cameras, participants in the project took up-close photographs of snowflakes, providing the Desert Research Institute with data for improving their understanding of how snowstorms form and how climate change affects these storms. Collins unpacked some of the science behind the Mountain Rain or Snow project, which has a different snow-related goal. Have you ever noticed snow falling when the temperature is above freezing? she asked. It is kind of confounding to us because we know that the laws of physics say the melting point of water is zero degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The reason that this happens has to do with evaporative cooling. If it is cold in the upper atmosphere, and the snow does not melt, or it retains its kind of coldness before it falls all the way to the ground, then we see it falling as snow, even though the temperature is warm enough. So it is kind of in the process of melting, but we recognize it as rain or snow. Humidity and elevation both affect the temperature threshold at which falling snow turns to rain, she said. Transition temperatures differ based on region; an area with lower humidity might require snow to hit a slightly warmer temperature for the change to happen. This poses a real challenge for hydrologists and water managers to estimate how much winter precipitation falls as snow versus rain. In short, an inch of snow is very different than an inch of rain when it comes to the amount of water that falls, Collins noted. That kind of zone, up to 7 or 8 degrees above freezing, can have big implications for weather predictions, flooding, avalanches, she said. According to Collins, when researchers misidentify the rain-snow transition, it affects their predictions of important weather details, such as snow accumulation and avalanche hazards. And that is where we come in, Collins said. It is really cool that we get to contribute to this project, she said. It is based right here out of the Great Basin. We have a network of over 1,000 observers nationwide, who thus far have contributed over 35,000 observations of rain, snow and mixed and this is only in five winter seasons. So people have really been the driving force of this project. Anytime that it is raining, or snowing, people send us real-time observations through a little app that you can access through the browser on your phone. It takes about 30 seconds to participate. And with your help, we have learned a lot about hydrology and meteorology. Last year, Mountain Rain or Snow collected 21,823 weather observations from 1,069 observers, with 14,061 of the observations falling into the snow category. We are primarily focused on mountainous places, places where there are big elevational gradients so we can fill in the gaps where satellites and weather stations are missing, Collins said. As the NASA research seeks to create regional-specific snowfall probability curves, observations from geographically and climatically diverse areas are extremely important to this project, Collins said. It's really easy to get involved. We have specific text lists, and we send out weather alerts to each region when there's a storm of interest. I'm the voice behind the weather alerts, Collins explained. And I respond to all kinds of all observer questions that come in, if you are curious about What do I do if it's hailing? What do I do if it's sleeting? What if I see those little fuzzy snow pellets called graupel? Participants can sign up for the Great Basin section of the program by texting GreatBasin to 855-909-0798. They will receive a link to access a free citizen science data collection web app. When you see precipitation falling, you log a report, about whether the weather is snowy, rainy or mixed, Collins said. She defined mixed weather as when you see melting snow crystallizing, sort of in between. The app will grab your location, it will grab your timestamp. And then we compare it. We go through a whole really expensive data processing on the back end to validate and essentially send NASA a report card. So this is really important work that you are all doing, Collins said. As we collect this big database, we will be able to crosswalk it with the kind of climate trends like the trends that drive drought. And so we are hoping that this will be a long-term project that the data set can be used to contribute to those studies. If you want to join the over 1,000 observers, we welcome you to do that, Collins said. Text the project anytime with your comments, text us pictures, we love hearing it. And most of all, we love knowing what is going on for you. Is it raining, snowing or mixed right now? A gang of intruders stole laptops and shoes before stabbing a young doctor to death and leaving him to die alone on a street after he chased them out of his house. Ash Gordon, 33, was stabbed by a gang of intruders at about 5.30am on Saturday at his home in Doncaster, Melbourne's east. Dr Gordon is believed to have pursued the thugs but was rammed off the road on Eildon Street, some 500m from his Sargent Street home. Frightened neighbours called police after hearing the commotion as the thieves left Dr Gordon on the street to die, with his body discovered a short time later. Dr Gordon's partner told police the heartless thieves stole a few items from the home, including laptops and shoes. Ash Gordon (above) was killed during a home invasion in the early hours of Saturday morning It's understood Dr Gordon pursued the thugs but was rammed off the road in Eildon St, some 500m from his Sargent St home (pictured) His attackers remain on the run and no arrests have been made, with police issuing a public appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. His loved ones described him as a 'true gentleman' who was 'humble and dearly loved'. 'Ash was one of the nicest most humble guys you could meet, no matter your differences in life he was always up for a chat and meeting new people,' Dr Gordon's friend, Jovanne Pieterse, told the Herald Sun. 'He had this energy that would light up any room, and was dearly loved by so many.' Dr Gordon graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in 2015. He worked as a doctor from 2016. He went on to run Richmond-based cosmetic clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin health, wellness and anti-ageing. Dr Gordon described himself online as a 'young doctor who lifts weights and loves a good burger'. His website reads: 'Dr Ash believes in forming strong relationships with his patients that value honesty and transparency in all aspects of the treatment.' 'He utilises shared decision-making when it comes to achieving the patients goals, and is always willing to tailor treatments based on what the patient desires. 'Furthermore, he gives guidance on the most effective means with which to achieve the desired outcomes.' Dr Gordon (above) worked as a doctor from 2016 and owned the Richmond-based clinic Redefine Aesthetics Dr Gordon's partner told police the robbers stole laptops and shoes from the home in Doncaster (pictured) No arrests have been made in relation to Dr Gordon's death (pictured, police at the scene) Flowers were left at the scene on Sunday, with a note from a friend saying he couldn't 'make sense of this'. 'I'm lost for words. A true gentleman, intelligent, honest, compassionate, friendly generous. I don't think there is one positive characteristic I could leave out,' he said. 'Gone way too soon brother. I truly thank you for all that you helped me with. Tragic. Rest easy bud.' It's understood Dr Gordon had lived in his rental for four years. His housemate told the Herald Sun he heard a loud 'bang' and a group of people talking during the robbery. Neighbours reported hearing young people partying on the street in the days before Dr Gordon's death. Sargent St residents said Saturday's incident followed a recent spate of crimes. Dr Gordon (above) was described by loved ones as a 'true gentleman' who was 'humble and dearly loved' In November, an elderly couple found their home had been ransacked with all their valuables stolen. On Wednesday a woman living next door to Dr Gordon had her car stolen from her garage. One neighbour said Dr Gordon's death was hard to accept as 'no amount of material is worth a life'. 'It's pretty terrifying to be honest. You don't really think that's happening five metres away from your door, so it's a little bit confronting,' he said. Any witnesses or anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers. Donald Trump paid tribute to his late mother-in-law Amalija Knavs and called a New York judge an 'animal' for refusing to delay the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial so he can go to her funeral. The former president, 77, told one of his final campaign events before the Iowa caucuses that Melania's mother was an 'incredible woman' with 'great beauty inside'. Knavs passed away last week at the age of 78 after spending the holidays in a Miami hospital with her daughter by her side. The funeral is set to be in Florida on Thursday, after Manhattan federal judge Lewis Kaplan refused to push back the trial a week to accommodate for the funeral of the former first lady's mother. Donald Trump paid tribute to his late mother-in-law Amalija Knavs and called a New York judge an 'animal' for refusing to delay the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial so he can go to her funeral The Republican frontrunner, who goes into Monday's caucuses 28 points ahead of Nikki Haley , insists he wants to be at wife Melania's side during the service Trump is facing up to $10 million in defamation damages to columnist Carroll after a jury last year found he sexually assaulted her. The Republican frontrunner, who goes into Monday's caucuses 28 points ahead of Nikki Haley, wants to be at wife Melania's side during the service. 'My wife's mother, who was incredible and a great beauty inside and out incredible woman she just died,' Trump told the Indianola crowd on Sunday. 'And my wife was pretty devastated by that. I have a trial going on, a totally fake trial,' he added. 'And we asked the judge if I could take a day off for a funeral for my mother-in-law, who was very close to me also.' 'And he said, 'No.' These are animals. Can you imagine that.' 'These are bad people, these are radical left lunatics that want to hurt me, because they think it's gonna hurt me at the polls so that Biden can win the election,' the ex-president said to a fired-up crowd braving sub-zero temperatures to wait in line for his remarks. 'I don't think the people are going to fall for it,' Trump said to sounds of agreement from the crowd. 'I'd like to support my wife who is going to be standing at a funeral of her mother, who is a very special woman.' 'Is she supposed to stand there alone? No, no, I'll be there,' he insisted. Former First Lady Melania Trump 's mother Amalija Knavs, 78, after being hospitalized in Miami, Florida, over the holidays. She is pictured center with her daughter and Donald Trump in 2018 'One way or the other, I'll be there,' Trump said. 'But what a disgrace that a judge would not say, 'Yes, we can take a day off.'' He then went into a tirade on how all the prosecutions against him started when he emerged a the frontrunner in the Republican presidential race. 'You know, all of these indictments they could have been done three years ago. They saved them all for the election every one of them,' he lamented. 'I got one during Iowa. I got one during New Hampshire the day before New Hampshire,' he said, adding that the Washington, D.C. case is scheduled for the day before Super Tuesday. Knavs was a textile factory dealer in her native Slovenia when she met husband Viktor. The pair then moved to the U.S. and have been by Melania's side during her career from modeling to the East Wing. She is pictured with her daughter in 2004 The former president, 77, told one of his final campaign events before the Iowa caucuses that Melania's mother as an 'incredible woman' with 'great beauty inside Trump is facing up to $10 million in defamation damages to columnist Carroll after a jury last year found he sexually assaulted her Earlier in the rally, Trump told climate protesters to 'go home to mommy' after they started heckling. A group of environmental protesters interrupted Trump's rally in Indianola, Iowa on Sunday, holding up banners accusing the former president of being a 'climate criminal.' The demonstrators were littered throughout the crowd, and were escorted out of a student union building where Trump was holding a final rally before Iowa's caucuses on Monday. Not only those backing Trump were inspired to come out in the -18-degree weather, but those opposing his candidacy also decided it was worth it to brave the cold. 'Thank you darling, thank you. That's alright,' Trump said to the first protesters who interrupted the rally saying. 'Go home to mommy, you're mommy's waiting. Go home to mommy.' 'Suitcase Killer' Heather Mack is seeking a reduced sentence for conspiring to murder her mother, hoping to avoid nearly three decades in prison. Mack, 27, pleaded guilty to conspiring to murder her mother, Sheila von Wiese-Mack, while on vacation in Bali in 2014, in a Chicago court in June. She had been charged in Indonesia with the same crime, but was charged in the US after her release. Mack helped her then-boyfriend, Tommy Schaefer, gain access to Wiese-Mack's room where he bludgeoned the Illinois native with a fruit bowl. Her body was later found stuffed in a suitcase. At the time of the murder, Mack was 18 years old and pregnant. The prosecution is calling for a sentence of up to 28 years, but Mack's lawyers are seeking 15 years with credit for the seven years she spent in an Indonesian prison for being an accessory to her mother's murder. Earlier this month, Heather Mack, 27, pictured here with her prison-born child, announced that she was striking a deal with Illinois prosecutors Mack and her former boyfriend - Stella's dad - were convicted in 2015 of plotting together to kill Mack's mom, socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack (with her left,) at a luxury resort on Bali during a family trip, and then stuffing her body in a suitcase (right) She spent seven years in prison in Indonesia before being deported November 2021 following her early release for good behavior. Upon her arrival back in the US, she was arrested at O'Hare Airport and charged with conspiracy to commit murder. US Prosecutors said the recommended 28-year sentence 'is warranted and sufficient, but not greater than necessary to serve a just and appropriate punishment for Macks heinous crime.' But Mack's lawyers said: 'For the taxpayers to incur the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to incarcerate Ms. Mack for an extended period of time within the BOP is particularly unnecessary.' Custody of her daughter, Stella, 7, was given to a maternal cousin in Colorado. Since then, Mack has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Authorities allege Mack committed the crime so that she could gain control of her $1.5 million trust fund. Mack's wealthy mother was married to the late James L. Mack, a renowned composer who died during a family trip to Greece in 2006 - was killed and stuffed in a suitcase before being left in a taxi on the island of Bali. Schaefer's cousin Robert Bibbs was sentenced to nine years in a US prison for advising Mack and Schaefer on how to kill von Weise-Mack. Schaefer remains in prison in Indonesia. Mack stood before US District Judge Matthew Kennelly in orange jail garb and orange slippers as he asked her questions before she was set to enter a plea. She spoke confidently and calmly as the judge asks her that she was giving up her rights to remain silent at the motion hearing. 'Yes, your honor,' she responded from a podium. Mack in 2015 when she was on trial for her mother's murder in Indonesia Sheila Von Wiese Mack who was murdered by her daughter and her boyfriend in 204 After the judge explained the charge against her, Mack pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to kill a US national. The judge set a Dec. 18 sentencing date for Mack. Her plea deal calls for a sentence of no more than 28 years. Von Wiese-Mack's siblings William Wiese and Debbi Curran released a statement declaring that they were 'relieved' that Mack decided to plead guilty. 'After almost nine years, we are very relieved that the mastermind of Sheila's murder admitted her guilt today. We will continue to be our sister Sheila's voice throughout the sentencing process to ensure that real justice is achieved,' the statement read. 'It has been devastating to witness the corruption in Indonesia which prevented true justice from being obtained eight years ago. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the US Attorney's Office and FBI, we are hopeful for a sentence that more appropriately reflects the heinous and premediated nature of the crime,' the release read. Speaking to The New York Post earlier this month, Mack laid bare her plans to strike a deal with prosecutors ahead of her trial in the US. 'We were offered a good plea. First, it was 15 to 35 [years]; now they are saying zero to 25 years, including time served,' Mack, who was also sentenced in Indonesia but was released early for good behavior, told the paper Wednesday. 'I have served nearly ten years in prison. I felt that I had done my time, so I was gung-ho for trial,' the convicted criminal added of her decision. 'Now, after sitting for so long, I know what I have to do.' Mack is seen inside an immigration car after being released from Kerobokan Prison in Bali, Indonesia on October 29. She was released 34 months early for good behavior after being found guilty of plotting to kill von Wiese-Mack Currently in Indonesian prison on an 18-year bid, Tommy Schaefer shares a child with Mack - born after the pair were convicted in 2015 - and was the one to brutally beat von Wiese-Mack to death with a metal bowl in a bid to get a hold of her millions Mack gave birth to daughter Stella during the couple's 2015 trial in Indonesia. She was allowed to live with the child during her incarceration overseas, but her daughter now lives with her mother's relative Mack's attorney Michael Leonard agreed with his high-profile client's assessment, but conceded he was unsure how severe a sentence Mack. 'The hope is that the judge will seriously consider the time she has already served and all the underlying circumstances of her life and her relationship with her mom,' Leonard said. 'Any federal criminal case requires a constant reassessment of risk and reward. Balancing risk in terms of a potential sentence and trying to minimize the risk to yourself.' This uncertainty, the lawyer said, is still preferable to taking a chance of fighting the case in court - after prosecutors presented texts that showed how Schaefer encouraged Mack to suffocate her mom in her sleep during what was meant to be a relaxing Indonesia vacation - a task she could not bring herself to go through with. In previous statements to the court, Mack claimed she hid in a bathroom a few days later at Bali's Regis hotel, as Schaefer bludgeoned her mom to death with a fruit bowl. Mack was eighteen and pregnant at the time, and prosecutors contend she helped him cram the body into the case and wheel it downstairs where they hailed a cab and loaded it into the trunk. The pair ran away when the driver became suspicious something foul was afoot, and were arrested shortly afterward at a nearby budget hotel and put on trial. Both were convicted the next year, as US prosecutors filed their own case that accused Mack of conspiring with Schaefer prior to their Bali trip, stealing her mom's credit card and using it to fly him out in a $12,000 business class seat. In text messages presented during those proceedings, Schaefer urged his teen lover to suffocate von Wiese-Mack so they could claim her estate, which he believed was worth up to $11million. A younger Stella is pictured here with her father, Tommy Schaefer. Mack said Stella, now seven, does not know why both her mother and father are imprisoned, and she wants to keep it that way He ended up doing the job himself - in gruesome fashion - battering the political strategist with the metal bowl until she suffocated on her own blood after sustaining a broken nose. Schaefer later testified that Sheila had racially abused him and tried to strangle him during an argument about the pregnancy. In reality, the besotted lovers had plotted to kill her for months and had already tried but failed to kill her by overdose, prosecutors were able to prove. Speaking to the Post in June, 20 months after she was cuffed by federal agents in front of her daughter after stepping off the plane at Chicago's O'Hare airport, Mack explained how she looked forward to assimilating into society after serving the duration of her US sentence. 'Im going to be a felon in America, and that is fine. I understand from [the US governments] perspective that, if I dont plead guilty and they didnt indict me, I wouldnt be a felon. I could become a police officer and work for the government.' She even added: 'I could carry a firearm on the street.' Prior to her mother's death, Mack reportedly had a fraught and often violent relationship with her mother. According to the Associated Press, police responded many times to the family's Oak Park, Illinois house. Hotel cameras show the three arguing in the lobby of the St. Regis on August 12, 2014, the night he arrived. Stella, meanwhile, lives in Colorado with Lisa Hellman, a teacher who is the niece of the late von Wiese. Under Indonesian law, Stella was allowed to live with her mother in her cell until she turned two when Mack gave custody of her to Australian native Suartama, whom she befriended during her trial. Behind bars in Bali, Mack - who enjoyed a privileged upbringing in Chicago's upscale Oak Park suburb, growing up in a $1.5 million mansion - was said to have left her life of crime behind, going to church, organizing fashion shows and teaching other inmates to dance. In her a 2019 interview with DailyMail.com she said felt 'more Indonesian than American', could speak their language and had no desire to return to the US. 'My daughter is more Indonesian than American. She has a good life here,' Mack said. A recently filed lawsuit alleges a mentally ill man was starved to death while being held at a Las Vegas jail after staff failed to properly treat him. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed on December 29 by Sonia Esparza, claimed that her son Fernando Martinez Jr. lost 64 pounds over 73 days before he died while incarcerated at the Clark County Detention Center. It alleges jail staff and Wellpath LLC, the company in charge of medical care at the detention center failed to properly treat Martinez Jr., which lead to his death. On December 3, 2022, 33-year-old Martinez Jr. was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for making terrorist threats. According to court documents, at the time of his arrest Martinez Jr. suffered from schizophrenia, psychosis, paranoia and undiagnosed depression. The wrongful death lawsuit, filed on December 29 by Sonia Esparza (right), claimed that her son Fernando Martinez Jr. (left) starved to death in jail The lawsuit alleges Clark County Detention Center staff and Wellpath LLC, the company in charge of medical care at the detention center failed to properly treat Martinez Jr. He reportedly weighed 220 pounds when he was arrested and had dropped to 156 pounds when his body was found dead in his jail cell on February 15, 2023. 'Despite being well-aware of Martinez Jrs impairments and diagnoses, due to prior incarcerations, and his lack of competency, Defendants failed to properly house, treat, monitor, and otherwise protect Martinez Jr. during his confinement,' said the lawsuit. The lawsuit claims he had become paranoid about the food being served reportedly told a nurse that he was refusing to eat as 'the food was all poisoned.' Martinez Jr.'s cellmate claimed Martinez Jr. would sometimes eat but force himself to vomit right after. According to the lawsuit a nurse had reported seeing him forcing himself to throw up, but the defendants failed to address it. 'Martinez Jr. died because of starvation and dehydration, essentially inanition, caused by Defendants' lack of adequate care and deliberate disregard for Martinez Jr.'s physical and mental condition,' said the lawsuit. On the day of his death, Martinez Jr. was supposedly seen 'stumbling and had an abnormal appearance in his eyes,' then later in his cell 'sleeping with out snoring,' but was not attended to for several hours. According to court documents, at the time of his arrest Martinez Jr. (right) suffered from schizophrenia, psychosis, paranoia and undiagnosed depression. He was supposed to have been transferred to a mental health facility by the time of his death Martinez Jr. (right) reportedly weighted 220 pounds when he was arrested and weighed 156 pounds when his body was found dead in his jail cell on February 15, 2023 When an officer did go into the cell the 33-year-old was unresponsive. CPR was attempted but according to the lawsuit rigor mortis was already set in. The lawsuit also claims that Martinez Jr. was not supposed to be held at the Clark County Detention Center at the time of his death. On January 18, 2023 Martinez Jr. was found not competent and order to be moved to a mental health facility. Esparza is suing for compensatory damages, survival damages and wrongful deaths damages in an amount to be proven at trial. Wellpath has been under fire in the past in connection to jailhouse deaths. A CNN investigation from 2019 connected Wellpath to over 70 deaths in a five-year period. The balloon fell to the ground in a desert around five miles from the city of Eloy A 28-year-old nurse from Indiana has been identified as one of the four people killed in a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert. Katie Bartrom's family revealed she died in the Sunday morning crash that left four dead and one seriously injured. Bartrom's mother told ABC Arizona that the young woman loved skydiving and adventure. According to police, the aircraft plummeted to the ground at around 7.50am, coming to rest in a rural area around five miles north of the city of Eloy. Thirteen people - eight skydivers, four passengers and a pilot - had been in the balloon, according to Eloy Mayor Micah Powell. Katie Bartrom, 28, was identified as one of the four people killed in Sunday morning's hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert Thirteen people had been in the balloon - eight skydivers, four passengers and a pilot - according to Eloy Mayor Micah Powell According to a witness, the balloon was 'shapeless' and 'deflated' before it came crashing down The aircraft hit the ground by the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road, in a rural area by the Eloy Municipal Airport The skydivers on board planned to leap from the balloon and land in Eloy Municipal Airport, according to Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney A witness who saw the last 10 seconds of the balloon's descent described it as shapeless, deflated and coming straight down, the mayor added. The eight skydivers leaped from the aircraft before the incident, leaving five people on board. 'What we know at this point is the skydivers were able to exit the balloon without incident and completed their planned skydiving event, and then shortly thereafter something catastrophic happened with the balloon causing it to crash to the ground,' Eloy Police Chief Byron Gwaltney told reporters. Gwaltney said the balloon came from outside the city and the skydivers intended to touch down at the Eloy Municipal Airport, just down the road from the scene of the accident. 'The incident appeared to occur very quickly,' he added, calling it 'an absolute tragedy' for the community. Bartrom's mother described the registered nurse as someone who loved 'skydiving and adventure' The skydivers jumped from the aircraft before the accident to complete their 'planned skydiving event,' Gwaltney said Four passengers and a pilot were on board at the time of the accident One person was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other three died at a hospital. Another passenger remains in critical condition at a Phoenix-area trauma center. 'Out of respect for their privacy, the names of the victims are being withheld at this time pending notification of next of kin,' the Eloy Police Department said in a press release. 'The Eloy Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the families and friends of those involved in this heartbreaking incident.' Officials have yet to release any information about the deceased, other than that they are all adults and not all of them hail from Arizona. Flyover video from FOX 10 Phoenix shows the balloon crumpled in the dirt near the intersection of Sunshine Boulevard and Hanna Road. The aircraft plummeted to the ground around five miles north of the city of Eloy in Pinal County. Bartrom was among the four dead, while another person sustained serious injuries The 28-year-old (pictured here during an unrelated skydiving trip) is the only victim who has been publicly named. Police simply described the others as 'adults' Federal agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration arrived on scene to investigate An NTSB spokesperson said preliminary information shows the balloon crashed following a problem with its envelope Trucks arrived on scene to tow the gondola away, hoisting it by crane onto a trailer. Investigators could be seen walking across the face of the mangled balloon and folding it up before carrying it away. Federal agencies including the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration continue to look into the incident. An NTSB spokesperson said preliminary information shows that the balloon crashed following an 'unspecified problem' with its envelope. One of Britain's most senior law enforcement chiefs has been sacked after sending 'sensitive' and 'secret' material using her personal email address. Nikki Holland was dismissed by the National Crime Agency last month despite leading a major investigation into an encrypted phone network used in organised crime. The former director of investigations at the NCA dubbed Britain's FBI was found guilty of gross misconduct over 'serious data breaches', it was reported. A disciplinary panel found two instances of gross misconduct connected to Ms Holland's use of a private email. Misconduct was also found in two cases where WhatsApp was used to send sensitive NCA material, and where the platform was used on personal devices for NCA business. The agency said Ms Holland had no malicious intent and the matter has not been referred for criminal investigation. Nikki Holland was dismissed by the National Crime Agency last month despite leading a major investigation into an encrypted phone network used in organised crime An NCA spokesman said: 'Following a hearing that concluded on December 21, 2023, Nikki Holland was found to have committed gross misconduct. The allegations upheld against her related to serious information security breaches. 'As a result of the panel's findings she was dismissed from her position with immediate effect.' Since Ms Holland was suspended in March 2022, the NCA has issued guidance to staff on the use of encrypted apps such as WhatsApp. Meanwhile, the Independent Office of Police Conduct continues to examine separate accusations of data protection breaches, bullying and misuse of a corporate credit card against the former director of investigations. Ms Holland, who led the NCA's Operation Venetic into those allegedly found using EncroChat dubbed an Amazon for criminals is also at the centre of another NCA probe, the Sunday Express reported. This comes after it emerged during a recent Venetic prosecution that she told staff to set WhatsApp messages to 'auto delete'. The agency said Ms Holland had no malicious intent and the matter has not been referred for criminal investigation The operation has seen more than 3,000 organised crime suspects arrested in the UK. More than 1,800 alleged EncroChat users have been charged, with around 400 already convicted. Developed in the Netherlands, EncroChat boasted of being the most secure network in the world and was considered by its users to be impenetrable before it closed four years ago. The system had 60,000 global subscribers, paying 1,500 for a six-month contract, and allowed users to order weapons, plot crimes or move drugs. It included a self-destruct system and a 'panic password' to wipe data. It was infiltrated by French police in 2020, who passed the supposedly secret messages on to the NCA. Ms Holland, who was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the 2019 New Year's Honours, can appeal the termination of her employment. An elderly man accused of sexually assaulting an 87-year-old woman with dementia at an aged care home has been released on bail. William John Newbold, 80, was arrested at his home in Asquith, in Sydney's northwest, on Friday shortly after police were called to a nearby aged care facility to reports a woman, 87, had been sexually assaulted. NSW Police allege Newbold sexually assaulted the woman, who couldn't give consent because she's cognitively impaired, at the Galston facility on January 8 and 11. He was known to visit the facility and had 'entered the womans room on two occasions before allegedly sexually assaulting her'. Newbold was taken to Hornsby Police Station and charged with a string of offences including aggravated sex assault victim with cognitive impairment. William John Newbold, 80, (pictured) has been released on bail after allegedly sexually an 87-year-old woman at an aged care home in Sydney's northwest on Friday Aggravated sexually touch another person and fail to comply with direction storage of firearm were also among the charges. The woman was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital where she was found to not have suffered 'serious physical injuries'. Newbold was initially refused bail before his appearance via video link in Parramatta Local Court on Saturday. He did not enter a plea during his appearance and was granted bail unopposed by prosecutors. Prosecutors argued bail must be met with conditions that mitigate risks such as failing to appear at court, interfering with witnesses, or endangering the alleged victim's safety, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Newbold's Legal Aid lawyer told the court that there are 'concerns' about his client's deteriorating cognitive health. He was granted bail and ordered not to be within 500m of the aged care home and to report to police weekly. Newbold is expected to next appear before the Hornsby Local Court on March 14. Queen Elizabeth was infuriated by Harry and Meghan's claim that she had given her blessing to their daughter being named Lilibet, a new book reveals. One member of her staff says the monarch was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname if she had not been 'supportive'. The couple even ordered their aggressive firm of lawyers, Schillings, to write to news broadcasters and publishers - most notably the BBC - saying claims she was not asked for permission were false and defamatory and should not be repeated. But when the Sussexes attempted to 'co-opt' Buckingham Palace into 'propping up' their version of events, they were 'rebuffed'. The illuminating revelation comes in the latest instalment of a fascinating new biography - Charles III: New King, New Court. The Inside Story, by the Mail's writer Robert Hardman, currently being serialised exclusively in the Daily Mail. One member of her staff says the late monarch was 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly stated they would not have used her private family nickname for their daughter had she not been 'supportive' In 2021, Harry and Meghan's decision to call their new daughter Lilibet, who was born in California and has only once briefly been to the UK, raised eyebrows It has already revealed the existence of a remarkable memo detailing the late Queen's last moments, now contained in the Royal Archives, in which her private secretary recorded that she had 'slipped away' peacefully - but not before completing her last box of paperwork and leaving two sealed letters in it, one addressed to her son and heir. In today's instalment, Hardman explores the fall-out as a result of the Sussexes' decision to acrimoniously quit royal duties and the ongoing issues around Prince Andrew, including how: Prince William felt his brother's attacks on his wife, Kate - particularly the suggestion that male members of the Royal Family simply marry women who 'fit the mould' - was 'the lowest of the low'. The prince was also 'mortified' by Harry's 'casual betrayal' of so many fraternal secrets in his memoir, Spare. Neither King Charles nor William has read Spare, or ever will. But staff have informed them of 'the key points'. Charles was left deeply hurt by Harry's actions but has learnt to 'compartmentalise' domestic trauma. He now feels 'exasperation' over the situation. 'He has done what he can and now he is King, there are many more things to think about,' says a friend. However, he insists the door is always open to his youngest son. 'You'd always like your child back,' says a senior official. A Sussexes' spokesperson insisted they would not have used the name had the Queen not been 'supportive' Speaking to members of the Royal Family, friends and palace staff both past and present, Hardman's insight into Harry's relations with family members are captivating. In 2021, his and Meghan's decision to call their new daughter Lilibet, who was born in California and has only once briefly been to the UK, raised eyebrows. Lilibet was the affectionate childhood nickname of the late Queen, said to have come about because as a child Princess Elizabeth could never pronounce her name properly. It was only ever used by her parents, King George VI, the Queen Mother, and her sister, Princess Margaret, as well as her husband, Prince Philip, and a handful of close friends. At the time, the BBC reported it had been told by a palace source that the Queen was not asked by the duke and duchess as to whether they could use it. Other sources told media, including the Mail, that while the Queen was called by her grandson and his wife, she felt she wasn't in a position to say no. But the Sussexes' spokesman insisted the couple would not have used the name had the Queen not been 'supportive'. They said at the time: 'The duke spoke with his family in advance of the announcement - in fact his grandmother was the first family member he called. Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in a picture issued in June 2022 'During that conversation, he shared their hope of naming their daughter Lilibet in her honour. Had she not been supportive, they would not have used the name.' Strongly-worded legal letters were then sent out. EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Secret summits over making Charles regent in Queen's last years Advertisement Hardman writes that some of the late monarch's household were particularly 'interested' that amidst a wealth of private family information and criticism of staff members, Harry mysteriously 'omitted' the entire incident from his memoir. The author says: 'One privately recalled that Elizabeth II had been 'as angry as I'd ever seen her' in 2021 after the Sussexes announced that she had given them her blessing to call their baby daughter 'Lilibet', the Queen's childhood nickname. 'The couple subsequently fired off warnings of legal action against anyone who dared to suggest otherwise, as the BBC had done. However, when the Sussexes tried to co-opt the Palace into propping up their version of events, they were rebuffed. 'Once again, it was a case of "recollections may vary" - the late Queen's reaction to the Oprah Winfrey interview - as far as Her Majesty was concerned. 'Those noisy threats of legal action duly evaporated and the libel actions against the BBC never materialised.' Of Harry's relationship with his father, Hardman quotes one friend: 'Of course the King is extremely sad about Harry and Meghan but there is a sense of exasperation, that he has done what he can and now he is King, there are many more things to think about. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry pictured together at the Chelsea Flower show on May 18, 2015 'He has tried listening. Now he just says: "I don't want to know what the problem is. I'm just getting on with my life".' As for Prince William, staff say he hopes people will understand and respect the fact that he had kept his counsel over his brother's repeated attacks, particularly as regards his wife. However, the suggestion, as many have interpreted it, from Harry that Windsor men, including his elder brother are 'tempted' to marry someone 'who would fit the mould - as opposed to somebody who you perhaps are destined to be with' had landed badly. 'On top of all the other breaches of trust, here was Harry making a blatant attack on Catherine. For William, this was the lowest of the low,' he quotes one family friends as saying. Elsewhere, Hardman commends Harry for showing respect at the end of the Coronation. He notes that as the congregation bowed to the King after the ceremony, the Duke of Sussex dropped his head 'for longer than most.' I knew and loved Teresa, though our two-year relationship ended years before she became a spy, and I didn't meet her again. She was beautiful and intelligent, but neurotic. A joke would send her into peals of laughter one day; the next time I made it, she might throw a book at my head and storm out of the room, slamming the door. Any long-term relationship with her was impossible. Terezia Javorska, a BBC broadcaster, was exposed in The Mail a couple of weeks ago as a spy for communist Czechoslovakia in the 1980s. She betrayed Britain, which gave her asylum, and the BBC, which trusted and promoted her. But she was also one of thousands of victims of Soviet Bloc intelligence. Teresa, as she was known to her friends and colleagues, was approached by a Czech agent in 1985, during the final years of the Cold War. Czechoslovak intelligence, the StB, reported that she had agreed to work for them willingly. It's far more likely her handlers threatened her, that if she didn't cooperate, her family in Slovakia would suffer. Her background moulded her character. She was born in 1950 two years after the communist takeover of Czechoslovakia in rural Slovakia. Her father was a farmer, and she grew up in a loving family. Life under communism was hard, but the family were strong Catholics and their faith supported them. Terezia Javorska pictured sitting at her computer in the BBC offices, taken in 1990 I knew and loved Teresa, though our two-year relationship ended years before she became a spy, and I didn't meet her again. Pictured: John Simpson in 2018 In 1968, when Teresa was 18, the Communist Party under First Secretary Alexander Dubcek underwent a process of political reform, which became known as the Prague Spring. In August that year, the Soviet Union and its allies invaded Czechoslovakia and rooted out every hint of liberalism. Teresa couldn't bear to live like this, and in 1969 she slipped out of the country and came to Britain. She won a place at the School of Slavonic & Eastern European Studies (SSEES), part of University College London, and received a good degree. In 1976, she was hired by the BBC's Slovak section, broadcasting news and current affairs to her homeland. The Soviet Bloc hated the BBC and the unbiased information it put out, so Teresa and the other employees had to cut their links with their families and use assumed names. She had a romantic sense of the British, based on reading Jules Verne's Around The World In Eighty Days as a child. She adored the Royal Family, and bought a tiny flat at the top of a grand building in Queen's Gate, South Kensington, because she liked the name of the street. Her hatred of communism and the Soviet Union, I'm certain, was genuine, and her Catholicism became more heart-felt than ever. But she was racked with guilt about the damage her defection to Britain had caused her extended family. After her defection, not a single member of her family was allowed to go to university nor get a job in any state organisation. She never forgave herself. I met Teresa in Brighton in October 1980. We were both reporting on the Conservative Party Conference, where Margaret Thatcher gave one of her bravura performances ('The Lady's not for turning'). I was the BBC's political editor, and Teresa was in a senior position in the Slovak service. She admired Mrs Thatcher, especially for her powerful opposition to the Soviet Union and communism. When she told me she was planning to praise her in her report that evening, I had to remind her about the concept of BBC impartiality. Reluctantly, she agreed she would stick to the facts. Teresa's brilliance and good looks made her a figure of note in the BBC's overseas service. We broke up in 1982; we never met again, but I heard of her stellar progress. Teresa's brilliance and good looks made her a figure of note in the BBC's overseas service. We broke up in 1982; we never met again, but I heard of her stellar progress. Simpson in 1981 Terezia pictured outside the Bush House central London BBC World Service HQ surrounded by the colleagues she was secretly spying upon In 1985, according to the Mail's discoveries in the archives of the StB, she met an StB agent at a cocktail party in London. What precise threat he made to recruit her we can't know, but I assume it must have had something to do with her family. She was brave, and reasonably well-off, so neither warnings nor offers of money would have had much effect. But the threat that the StB could destroy the lives of her parents or brothers might well have caused her to give way. As a spy, she may have given her handlers the real names and addresses of those working for the BBC's Eastern European services. It would have been harder for her to broadcast anything favourable to the Soviet Bloc because that would have attracted attention. Maybe the StB didn't care too much. Spies are civil servants, and civil servants have to tick boxes. Recruiting a senior BBC executive was one of the biggest boxes imaginable. Teresa didn't need to hand over anything very important; merely having her on the books was a spectacular success. She is the only known Soviet Bloc agent to have worked inside the BBC World Service throughout the entire Cold War. What ought she to have done? Weirdly, I once found myself in something of a similar position. In 1983, I went to Prague to cover a Warsaw Pact 'peace' conference, which was part of Moscow's attempt to stop the U.S. stationing cruise missiles in West Germany. Charter 77 dissidents, an anti-government protest group formed in 1977 and led by the playwright (and later president of Czechoslovakia) Vaclav Havel, decided to risk their lives and liberty by staging several events of their own. The Czechoslovak government, which had promised Moscow that it had Charter 77 under control, was humiliated. My reports on Charter 77 were broadcast night after night from Prague until I was finally thrown out. A year later, Czech intelligence tried to get its revenge. I had a call from someone with a faint accent who said a friend had sent me a package from Prague; where should he send it? I gave him my BBC address. It contained several photos of the attractive receptionist from the hotel we'd stayed at in Prague. I'd exchanged some pleasantries with her nothing more. Now she wrote to say how she would love to see me again. The photos were certainly glamorous and a bit provocative. When I showed them to a photographer friend, he pointed out that you could see the reflection of a couple of men standing in the background of one of them. A few days later, I received another letter: she was visiting Hungary soon; could I meet her there? I realised then that something dodgy was going on, so I told my BBC boss about it all. He gave MI5 a ring and a chap in a three-piece suit and regimental tie came to see me. It was all very clear, he said: I would arrive in Budapest, which was behind the Iron Curtain but a lot easier for Westerners to travel to. When I was tucked up in bed with the Prague receptionist, there would be a loud knock at the door, and her husband would rush in. A fight would break out, he'd fall to the floor with fake head injuries, the cops would be called and a smooth character would say to me in good English that I'd be charged with attempted murder unless, of course, I cooperated with his colleagues. 'Oh, come on,' I said to the MI5 man, 'that kind of thing just happens in spy novels.' 'Well, it happened to a British journalist you probably know, just a couple of months ago,' he replied. Some months later, I got a call from MI5. They'd traced the man who sent me the photos and through him they had netted a Czech spy-ring operating in London. Two Czech 'diplomats' were thrown out of the country. If Teresa had told me that she had been trapped by Czech intelligence, I would have advised her to tell MI5. They would probably have fed the StB some harmless information through her, which would have protected her family and saved her from betraying the country that had taken her in and which she genuinely loved. As it was, the Berlin Wall fell and communism was swept away in Czechoslovakia only five years later. Teresa carried on working as the boss of the BBC Slovak service until it closed in 2005. When the Mail discovered her name in the StB files, no one had the slightest suspicion that she had been a traitor. Teresa herself still knows nothing about the way her treachery has been uncovered. Three years ago she was involved a bad car crash and is in a coma from which she'll never emerge. She is now living in a care home. To me, she was a victim of a clever, manipulative intelligence organisation, and of her own weakness. But maybe, of course, I'm still swayed by my affection for her. John Simpson is the BBC's world affairs editor. His weekly programme, Unspun World, starts a new season on BBC2 and other BBC outlets next week. Three in ten troops from across the Armed Forces are not fully fit for combat, official figures have revealed. The Royal Air Force has the biggest problem with medically unfit combatants, with 32.9 per cent of its 29,010 personnel affected by physical injuries or mental health problems. Meanwhile, the British Army has 28.2 per cent of its 74,110 soldiers with conditions that could rule them out of frontline operations. Just 25.9 per cent of the Royal Navy's 29,220 personnel have reported health issues that mean they may not fit for service. Overall, 38,033 of the Armed Forces' total complement of 132,340 - or 28.7 per cent - are not fully combat-ready, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The crisis will put pressure on Defence Secretary Grant Shapps at a time when Britain is struggling to retain its global influence due to recruitment problems. The British Army has 28.2 per cent of its 74,110 soldiers with conditions that could rule them out of frontline operations (Stock photo) In December, the combined number of regular troops and volunteer reserves in all services fell to 184,865 - 7,440 lower than the previous year and the lowest since the Napoleonic Wars in the 19th century. Former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt last year warned the UK was no longer able to carry out simultaneous operations, such as campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. Concerns about operational readiness were highlighted recently when it emerged that 3billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth was unable to assist with operations against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen because its support ship, RFA Fort Victoria has a skeleton staff. Former Army intelligence officer Colonel Phil Ingram said: 'The Ministry of Defence has serious recruitment problems - they can't recruit enough to replace those leaving and it seems a large percentage of those they keep in are not fit to fight. 'This is a clear indication of a broken system and the MoD needs to realise this and come up with a plan to fix it quickly. 'Otherwise, in a world growing more unstable by the day, our very national security could be compromised because we might find ourselves in a situation where we need a large number of troops very quickly and we haven't got them.' Those downgraded from frontline operations include 13,727 with musculoskeletal injuries sustained in training or combat. The Royal Air Force has the biggest problem with medically unfit combatants, with 32.9 per cent of its 29,010 personnel affected by physical injuries or mental health problems (Stock photo) Another 4,214 troops are being treated for mental health problems. Some 540 are receiving treatment for orthopaedic or spinal injuries under an NHS Fast Track Surgery contract in 2023-24 - more than double the 203 in 2020-21. The figures, obtained under Freedom of Information laws, showed just 53,192 Army personnel are classed as Medically Fully Deployable. There are 7,449 who cannot be deployed at all, known as Medical Non-Deployable. Others are Medically Limited Deployable, meaning they are limited to certain duties if sent on operations. The Navy has 21,649 personnel who are fully fit, while the RAF has 19,466. Recruitment problems in all three Armed Forces have been attributed to a range of issues, including opposition to some military operations, young adults being unwilling to sign up and sub-standard accommodation for soldiers. Just 5,560 regular soldiers were taken on last year, compared to a target of 8,220. An MoD spokesman said the figures included personnel whose ailments would not affect their ability to do their job, such as an Army chef with an eye condition. Others could perform restricted duties. 'Our personnel are highly trained and at any point around 90 per cent of the UK Armed Forces are deployable, with over 98 per cent able to fulfil wider military roles,' the spokesman said. 'The Armed Forces provide world-class medical treatment and recovery programmes to enable wounded, injured or sick personnel to return to duty where possible, or to support transition to civilian life.' Vietnam successfully sells 10.3 million forest carbon credits (10.3 million tonnes of CO2) in 2023. (Photo: vneconomy.vn) The sale was part of the Emission Reductions Payment Agreements (ERPA) in the north central region signed on October 22, 2020 between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) of the WB and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). In early August 2023, the WB paid the first ERPA instalment of 41.2 million USD to the Vietnamese ministry, or 80% of the contract. The remaining 10.3 million USD will be paid after the transfer of 10.3 million tonnes of CO2 is completed. The Vietnam Forest Protection and Development Fund has received and disbursed all the first payment so that six north central provinces can urgently make payment plans for forest owners. In addition to the number of credits sold, the WB has confirmed the emission reduction results of the entire north central region in the first period (January 1, 2018 - December 31, 2019), reaching 16.21 million tonnes of CO2 (equivalent to 16.21 million credits). Deputy Minister Tri also said that 2023 was a struggling year for the forestry industry, including supply and demand chain disruptions affecting trade, logistics problems, and climate change. However, he acknowledged the sector's efforts to overcome difficulties in the past year to achieve remarkable results. In 2024, he suggested that the forestry industry promptly issue appropriate policies and mechanisms to facitiate its development. According to the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, the country planted about 250,000 hectares of forest last year, surpassing the yearly plan by 2%. The forest coverage rate was 42.02%, matching the target. Total revenue from all forest environment services reached more than 4.1 trillion VND (169 million USD)./. When there are royal family gatherings away from the public gaze, Prince Andrew is still welcome. Indeed, he remains eager to be included. 'The King will not just cast his brother adrift. He is very fond of his nieces [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie]. And at least [Andrew] hasn't been disloyal,' says one source. 'But any return to public life is out of the question. His legal problems are not resolved, the public don't want him and many people still remember his rudeness last time round.' Privately, within diplomatic circles or the county lieutenancies, it is seldom long before mere mention of the Duke of York prompts a rolling of the eyes and a less than flattering anecdote. One year into the new reign, fresh details about Prince Andrew's friendship with dead convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to surface with embarrassing frequency. For example, in June 2023, U.S.court proceedings threw up email correspondence which suggested the Duke of York was still communicating with the paedophile long after he claimed (during his disastrous 2019 Newsnight interview) to have severed all contact. It is precisely this potential for further surprises which makes any prospect of public rehabilitation impossible in the foreseeable future. When there are royal family gatherings away from the public gaze, Prince Andrew is still welcome. Pictured: King Charles with Prince Andrew Prince Andrew is seen walking with fanancier Jeffrey Epstein (right) in 2011 Royal insiders highlight two other considerations. First, Prince Andrew remains penitent and eager to please, though he might not remain so were he to be cast out of the royal fold. As one source points out: 'Andrew could be far more damaging outside the loop.' Second, there are those who fear for his mental well-being. One official, who had known him for many years, was astonished by the transformation in him when they met again, describing him as 'almost incoherent'. Whether he remains in residence at the Queen Mother's spacious former home, Royal Lodge, is another matter. There will be no eviction order from the King. Contrary to reports that he wanted to give Royal Lodge to Prince William (who, in any case, was not looking for another house move), it is more a question of cost. Royal Lodge sits outside the main Windsor security cordon and requires separate protection. The King's position, according to one source, is quite simple: his brother can either foot the annual security bill of around 1 million himself or move inside the Windsor cordon, where Prince Harry's old home, Frogmore Cottage, is available. With no regular private income, Prince Andrew may find that moving there makes more sense. Royal officials would then look to secure a private tenant. Royal Lodge (pictured) sits outside the main Windsor security cordon and requires separate protection One year into King Charles's new reign, fresh details about Prince Andrew's friendship with dead convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continue to surface with embarrassing frequency Previously, Prince Andrew's huge security bill - following his withdrawal from public life - had been funded by his mother. 'Andrew was the weak one,' says a close family friend. 'She was always protecting him and all that certainly took its toll on her health at the end.' Her heir, however, was less indulgent. Back in 2019, Prince Andrew had announced he would be withdrawing from public duties - yet, just hours later, he let it be known he would still be pressing ahead with a business visit to Bahrain. Buckingham Palace did not, initially, intervene. With the Prince of Wales away on a tour of New Zealand, Prince Andrew had been to see the Queen and secured her acquiescence to his plan. No sooner had dawn broken in New Zealand, however, than the Duke's Bahrain trip was very firmly off. Prince Charles had seen to that. 'When you get an issue like a Newsnight, which will suddenly get worse, you just have to be brutal and fast,' says a senior Palace aide. 'Charles knows that.' For now, Prince Andrew is still to be found riding around the Windsor estate by way of something to do. So long as he has a (limited) number of family events to shape his year, and the presence of grandchildren to occupy some of his time, he retains some sort of framework to life, albeit with no obvious direction. Fit, teetotal and still in his early 60s, he seems destined to remain an unanswered question for many years to come. Adapted from Charles III New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, to be published by Macmillan on January 18 at 22. Robert Hardman 2024. To order a copy for 17.60 (offer valid until February 29, 2024; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to mailshop.co.uk/ books or call 020 3176 2937 The Post Office was already mired in the Horizon IT scandal when its deeply- religious chief executive, Reverend Paula Vennells, agreed to take part in a panel discussion about business ethics. The talk, attended by City firm executives, was held at London's Canary Wharf in May 2018. Apparently undeterred by the crisis unfolding on her watch and certainly making no mention of it Ms Vennells declared herself 'proud of the Post Office a really special organisation in terms of its values'. After explaining how her values came 'from the glory of God', she turned to the subject of making mistakes. 'When we mess up, which we do every day,' she told the audience, 'my faith tells me that I can be forgiven, that shortfalls are a perfectly human thing to do and that I can always start again; always, always, always, start again. You can put things right. 'And for me, I found that very liberating because you can get it wrong and you can move on.' The Post Office was already mired in the Horizon IT scandal when its deeply- religious chief executive, Reverend Paula Vennells (pictured), agreed to take part in a panel discussion about business ethics Ms Vennells, who faces accusations of covering up the Horizon scandal by refusing to properly investigate faults in the system, is facing a massive public backlash in the wake of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. Pictured: Convicted postmasters celebrate as their convictions are quashed Ms Vennells is facing a massive public backlash in the wake of Mr Bates Vs The Post Office It comes as ITV's new drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office has drawn a renewed interest in the scandal after airing last week, with Mr Bates being played by Toby Jones (pictured in the role) Alas! If recent events have shown anything it is that, in the temporal world at least, forgiveness is not quite so easy to come by. Ms Vennells, who faces accusations of covering up the Horizon scandal by refusing to properly investigate faults in the system, is facing a massive public backlash in the wake of ITV drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office. READ MORE - Ex-Post Office boss Paula Vennells says she WILL hand back her CBE over Horizon scandal after one million signed petition demanding she return honour in wake of hit ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office Advertisement Amid intensifying pressure, the 64-year-old mother of two, who was the Post Office's chief executive between 2012 and 2019, announced on Tuesday she would hand back her CBE, awarded to her at the start of 2019 for services to the Post Office and charity. Even at the time there were rumblings about Ms Vennells getting a gong because of the situation, and Sir Ian Cheshire, then the chairman of the sub-committee that recommended her for a CBE, was said to have 'brushed aside' concerns by other committee members, according to a report in yesterday's The Sunday Times. Meanwhile, a source close to Sir Ian, now the chairman of Channel 4, denied he had done this and said both the sub-committee and main honours committee had been reassured by civil servants about her suitability. Giving back her honour, Ms Vennells said she was 'truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system'. But, crucially, she stopped short of admitting responsibility for the debacle which saw more than 700 sub-postmasters prosecuted for crimes they hadn't committed. Hundreds were left bankrupt, humiliated or in prison. Among those convicted, four committed suicide and 33 others have since died without seeing justice. Giving back her honour, Ms Vennells said she was 'truly sorry for the devastation caused to the sub-postmasters and their families, whose lives were torn apart by being wrongly accused and wrongly prosecuted as a result of the Horizon system' Rishi Sunak (pictured) said that the Government is looking at exonerating all subpostmasters caught up in the Horizon scandal 'Forgiveness comes when you admit the mistakes you've made and atone for them,' Tom Hedges, a 70-year-old former sub-postmaster in the village of Hogsthorpe, Lincolnshire, told the Mail. Mr Hedges, who is also a lay minister and church warden, was wrongly convicted in 2010 of 60,000 worth of theft and false accounting and given a seven-month prison sentence. His conviction was overturned at the Court of Appeal in 2021. 'It's not as simple as saying sorry and moving on,' he added. 'We've had apologies from her before but they're all couched in words along the lines that none of it was her fault. Before we can forgive, we need to hear the truth.' So who is the russet-haired sexagenarian at the centre of this terrible fiasco? Ms Vennells said: 'I have listened and I confirm that I return my CBE with immediate effect' (Stock image) Ms Vennells, the eldest of three children, grew up in Denton, five miles east of Manchester. Her father was an industrial chemist and later a research fellow at Manchester University. Her mother was a bookkeeper. A keen Girl Guide, she won a funded place at private Manchester High School and, after graduating with a degree in French and Russian at Bradford University, was accepted on to Unilever's graduate scheme before climbing the managerial ladder at companies including Lunn Poly, L'Oreal, Dixons Retail, Argos and Whitbread. She joined the Post Office in 2007 as group network director. Ms Vennells, who likes to ski and sails dinghies, lives with her husband John, an engineer, in a 2million farmhouse in Bedfordshire. Despite giving back her gong, she is now facing demands to hand back the 2.2million bonuses she got during her tenure as Post Office chief. Including her salary, she took home a total of 4.5million for that period. In the weeks ahead, she is due to give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Preparing her is the law firm Mishcon de Reya, which once represented the late Diana, Princess of Wales. While many of the wrongful prosecutions against sub-postmasters took place before Ms Vennells joined the Post Office in 2007, her detractors claim she played a key role in prolonging and covering up the scandal, continuing to defend the Horizon IT system even as its faults were being exposed. As the Mail has discovered, as early as 2009 Ms Vennells sent out a company-wide 'Horizon defence piece' containing what has been described at the public inquiry as 'a written rebuttal and position that the business was adopting'. In 2012, after she was promoted to chief executive, she brought in forensic accountant firm, Second Sight, to conduct an independent inquiry into the Fujitsu software. Before agreeing, Second Sight's managing director Ron Warmington had a face-to-face meeting with Ms Vennells and the Post Office's 100,000-a-year chairman, Alice Perkins, wife of former Labour minister Jack Straw. In the weeks ahead, she is due to give evidence to the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry. Preparing her is the law firm Mishcon de Reya, which once represented the late Diana, Princess of Wales Paula Vennells, 65, pocketed as much as 5million for being in charge during the Horizon IT scandal in which hundreds of postmasters were wrongfully prosecuted The Mail understands that after asking both women twice if they were really committed to finding the truth, they replied they were. Mr Warmington told the Mail: 'But as soon as we started discovering stuff, the howitzers were brought in and shells were being fired across at us. The Post Office tried to discredit us. Everything they did was underhand, unscrupulous, amateurish trickery.' A source close to the audit admitted shock at the number of errors being made within the company. 'I remember thinking they'd be better off making decisions with a dart board because they were getting everything wrong all the time,' the source said. 'They couldn't even get post codes right on some outgoing letters. And there were thousands of documents which had misspelled Paula Vennells' name.' As for Ms Vennells herself, the source found her to be 'dim' and 'over-promoted' and 'like dealing with a mosquito'. 'If you're going to take that top job with the bucks that go with it, you'd better be as sharp as a tack. And she wasn't.' Second Sight's final report described the Horizon system as 'not fit for purpose' and warned of 'potential miscarriages of justice and misconduct by prosecutors acting on behalf of the Post Office'. But the Post Office insisted that there was 'absolutely no evidence of any systematic issues with the computer system'. Ms Vennells left the Post Office in 2019, months before a damning High Court judgment ruled that Horizon was not 'remotely robust' and had 'bugs, errors and defects'. Ten months after her departure, the Post Office agreed to settle claims with a tranche of 555 sub-postmasters, admitting for the first time that it 'got things wrong'. Meanwhile, as well as taking jobs as a non-executive director of Morrisons supermarket and retailer Dunelm which brought in 140,000 a year Ms Vennells was appointed as an adviser to the Cabinet Office, made a member of the Church of England ethical investments committee and became chairman of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, a paid post. She was even being considered for the role of Bishop of London, one of the most high-ranking positions in the Church of England. One of the most disturbing aspects of this story is how those in authority continued to promote her despite the very visible chaos left in her wake. READ MORE - Shamed former Post Office boss Paula Vennells faces calls to return 3 million in bonuses and pension after handing back her CBE Advertisement An NHS whistleblower, retired consultant psychiatrist Dr Minh Alexander, told the Mail she wrote to the NHS Trust and Care Quality Commission in 2020 to question whether Ms Vennells was a 'fit and proper person' to become chairman in light of what had happened at the Post Office. 'It is very damaging to NHS patients' safety culture when those who are prepared to cover up are appointed to senior positions,' said Dr Alexander. She was stunned to receive a lengthy 'private' email from former BBC Crimewatch presenter Nick Ross, who at the time was a non-executive board member at the trust, telling her: 'I truly fear you may come to regret your attempts to have Paula Vennells sacked from her existing roles,' and adding: 'I worry that, for the best of intentions, you are pursuing a vendetta that may backfire on you.' Two months after that December 2020 email exchange, Ms Vennells stood down. In April 2021, following the quashing of 39 sub-postmasters convictions, she resigned as an Anglican priest and from her Morrisons and Dunelm directorships. She also stepped down as governor of private Bedford School, where her two sons were educated. Poonam Bajwa, who has worked for 15 years in the post office in the Bedfordshire village where Ms Vennells lives, told the Mail that while it was right she had handed back her CBE, 'more needs to be done, considering her role at the time. It should be dealt with properly. Customers have been coming in speaking about it because she lives in the area'. The findings of the public inquiry remain to be seen. But Ms Vennells is by no means the only senior figure who must give an account of themselves. Former sub-postmaster Mr Hedges said: 'She is now experiencing the wrath of public opinion that I and all the other innocent people felt when we were convicted and thrown out of our post offices. 'My human and Christian side feels for her for that. But the other side of me thinks that she brought it upon herself.' Electric car charging firm ChargePoint will shut down its network of almost 50 stations in a major blow to Anthony Albanese's plan to turn Australia green. The US-owned company confirmed in an email to company members that it would shut down its charging stations in NSW, Victoria and Queensland from February 1. ChargePoint told its customers it will 'no longer maintain a presence in Australia' and would cease operations of its 46 charging ports. Electric vehicle owners have until the end of January to use the charging stations - which can only be accessed with a credit or ChargePoint card - despite the brand's app no longer working. US-owned firm ChargePoint (pictured) will shut down its entire network of stations in Australia from February 1 ChargePoint told its customers it will 'no longer maintain a presence in Australia', and would cease operations of its 46 charging ports in NSW, Victoria and Queensland ChargePoint installed its first EV station in Australia in 2010 and expanded across the country's east coast as popularity of electric cars rose among motorists. However, in 2020 the brand stopped maintaining its charging ports in Australia, with its network of stations operating via remote support from the US. ChargePoint claimed it would shut down its charging ports in May, last year, after its local and US divisions split. However, it took an additional seven months for the company to finalise its exit from the Australian market. The move comes after ChargePoint announced it would be firing 12 per cent of its global workforce. The Californian-based company share price reached a peak of $US46.10 in late 2020 but is now sitting at an all-time low of $US2. Customers who have remaining credit on their accounts after February 1 will be refunded their full amount. Electric vehicle owners have until the end of January to use the charging stations, while customers who have credit remaining on their accounts after February 1 will be refunded It comes after Australian EV charging company Tritium closed its doors on its local factory before Christmas, leaving the jobs of up to 400 workers uncertain. The troubled fast-charging firm announced the closure at the company's annual general meeting that it would shut Murrarie, Brisbane factory on December 22. Tritium confirmed it would consolidate manufacturing operations at its Tennesse base in the US in a desperate bid to save money after its share price plummeted 98 per cent. The company will keep a research and development business in Brisbane and has claimed only 75 workers will be laid off when the factory shuts, but did not disclose if there will be further rounds of redundancies. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the factory in March, last year, to publicise it as a shining example of his advanced green manufacturing ambitions. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visitingTritium in March 2023 (pictured), before the factory shut its doors in December due to high costs The Prime Minister labelled the achievements of the Aussie start-up, founded in 2001, as 'extraordinary'. 'This company has grown in a very short period of time to operate in 42 different countries,' Mr Albanese said. 'This is my third visit to Tritium. Every time I come back, I hear about more revenue, more jobs being created, and more countries where Australia is exporting to. 'This is a great success story here... and the capacity that they have to grow further is just extraordinary.' The federal government refused to step in with a rescue package for Tritium despite the importance of chargers for the increased take-up of electric vehicles. Tritium submitted an application to the government's National Reconstruction Fund, which aims to rebuild Australias industrial base, but was reportedly rejected. The $15 billion fund was created to provide loans, guarantees, and equity for projects to create secure, well-paid jobs and drive regional development. However, Tritium failed to secure new funding to safeguard their factory's future and was forced to shut its doors. Tony Blair was warned that ditching the flawed Horizon system would have 'profound implications' for the UK's relations with Japan, documents show. Then prime minister, he said he favoured pressing ahead with Fujitsu's software for the Post Office despite being warned it had been 'plagued with problems'. Notes from 1998 show the prime minister was warned by the UK's ambassador to Japan that abandoning the deal, agreed under John Major's Conservative government, would have 'profound implications... for bilateral ties' with Tokyo. Sir Geoff Mulgan, a No 10 adviser to Sir Tony, told the Sunday Telegraph that a reluctance to strain relations with Japan 'had a big influence' on decision-making over Horizon. In another memo that year, Sir Geoff warned the prime minister: 'Overall, Horizon now looks increasingly flawed.' Tony Blair (pictured) was warned that ditching the flawed Horizon system would have 'profound implications' for the UK's relations with Japan , documents show A Horizon system that was designed to record the transactions carried out in Post Office branches He added: 'Fujitsu have provided the financial commitment to secure a deal. This is a sign of how important the project is for them.' The then Labour leader wrote that the primary concern was the system's technical capability, adding: 'The risks are pretty even, probably coming down on the side of continuing.' The then trade and industry secretary Peter Mandelson, in a memo, said he believed the 'only sensible choice is to proceed with the Horizon project', because it offered the least risk. He wrote of the potential impact of tearing up the agreement: 'Our relations with Fujitsu, a major inward investor into the UK over the past decade, would be severely damaged.' The flawed accounting software led to the prosecution of hundreds of subpostmasters. A spokesman for Sir Tony said: 'In respect of the issue of the relationship with Japan, as [Sir Tony] made clear in his evidence to the (public) inquiry, that was one of a number of factors. It is now clear that the Horizon product was seriously flawed, leading to tragic and completely unacceptable consequences, and [Sir Tony] has deep sympathy with all those affected.' The revelations came as Lord Cameron told Sky's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that he did not recall being briefed about the scandal in his time as prime minister, from 2010 to 2016. A huge fire has broken out in south Wales, shocking images showing plumes of smoke billowing near the station as firefighters battle desperately to put it out. Pictures showed residents gathering to watch the brave efforts of the emergency services near an industrial estate in Newport. The fire was reported to have started around 8:50pm on Sunday night. The cause of the inferno was not immediately clear, but an eyewitness claimed on X, formerly Twitter, 'the warehouse next to Tiny Rebel brewery in Rogestone has just gone completely up in flames'. A South Wales Fire and Rescue spokesperson said firefighters are still 'trying to get to grips' with the blaze. The cause of the inferno was not immediately clear Police said the fire started at 8:50pm this evening Gwent police cordoned off nearby streets and urged people to avoid the area. A spokesperson for the police said: 'We received a report of a fire at a commercial premises on Wern Industrial Estate, Chartist Drive, Rogerstone at around 20.50pm on Sunday 14 January. 'Officers have attended in support of colleagues from South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to assist traffic access for fire appliances and to maintain cordons to keep the public safe. Tiny Rebel posted on X shortly before 11pm to confirm that the brewery was 'fine'. 'There has been a major fire break out in the building adjacent to our brewery,' a statement read. 'The fire is currently being dealt with by the [heroes] at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. 'Fortunately the brewery is fine and is currently untouched by the blaze. 'Please remain [away] from the area while the Fire Service [deals] with the incident.' Brad Cummings, founder of the brewery, told MailOnline: 'This is a very devastating incident for the business on the Wern Industrial Estate and residents in the area.' A new uranium mine has opened near the Grand Canyon despite experts warning that it could wreak havoc on the environment and local water sources. A 20-year law that banned mining on the uranium-rich land surrounding the national park expired in 2023, allowing the Pinyon Plain Mine to open in December - about 10 miles south of the Grand Canyon's southern brim. The mine's proximity to the national park has sparked pushback from environmental activists who fear that radioactive chemicals will contaminate the water and pose a health hazard to people who live in the area, as well as tourists. The Havasupai Tribe has repeatedly tried to prevent the mine from opening, arguing that it will contaminate local groundwater and threaten cultural and spiritual religious sites. Environmentalists argue that uranium mining contaminates groundwater and pollutes the air Pinyon Plain Mine has a total of 1.6 million pounds of proven and probable uranium, and the current sale of the mineral in the US is around $62.00 a pound in 2023, giving the site a potential revenue of $100million. The Pinyon Plain Mine, formerly known as the Canyon Mine, was already in development before President Obama instated the original mining ban in 2012, meaning it falls under the Mining Act of 1872. The Mining Act authorized mining for economic minerals, like uranium, making Pinyon Plain Mine exempt from both presidential bans. Although uranium itself is minimally radioactive, the ore that is mined can release radioactive elements like radon gas. Radon gas is a radioactive gas that forms when radioactive metals, like uranium, break down during the mining process. When breathed in, radon gas is linked to major health risks including lung cancer, diminished bone growth, and renal failure. Critics say the mine could also destroy one of the most beautiful natural parts of the by contaminating the environment with radioactive dust, water-borne toxins, and increased background radiation levels, according to a study published in the National Library of Medicine. 'From habitat destruction and disruption of wildlife to bio-accumulation and irreversible pollution of waters, today's boom threatens to build upon uranium's legacy of environmental and social harm.' The Havasupai Tribe protested against the Pinyon Plain Mine, saying it would contaminate local drinking water and harm their religious sites The Canyon Plain Mine opened in December and extends across 17 acres Energy Fuels Resources owns the mine and claims that arguments that it contaminates groundwater is 'unscientific' Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive element that has been mined and used for its chemical properties for over a thousand years. The US was the world's leading producer from 1953 to 1980 when the government offered incentives for discovering on American soil. It is now primarily used as fuel for nuclear reactors that make electricity. A federal judge ruled against the Havasupai Tribe's request to shut down the mine in 2022, instead siding with the company that owns the mine, Energy Fuels, and the U.S. Forest Service's environmental assessment. Last year, President Joe Biden issued the Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni National Monument to permanently prevent mine development across 917,000 acres near the Grand Canyon to protect local tribes. The monument's name translates to 'Where Indigenous peoples roam' and is meant to protect the tribal nations, but a loophole meant the monument only applied to mining sites that haven't been developed. Environmentalists argue that uranium mining contaminates groundwater and pollutes the air Uranium is minimally radioactive, but mining it causes radioactive radon gas to be released into the air The World Nuclear Association (WNA) - an international organization that aims to promote a greater understanding of nuclear energy - directed Dailymail.com to articles concerning the environmental aspects of uranium mining. 'When radium emitted from the mine undergoes natural radioactive decay, it releases radioactive radon gas,' according to the WNA. 'At the concentrations associated with uranium mining, radioactivity is a potential health hazard,' the WNA said, adding that mining companies need to take precautions to protect the health of workers. The WNA said process water discharged from uranium mines still contains traces of radium which could flow downstream and contaminate bodies of water. Uranium mining threatens the ecosystem for hundreds of years, with pollutants overwhelming aquatic wildlife by poisoning fish and causing deformities and reproductive problems. 'All phases of uranium development exploration, mining and milling can pose unique threats to species, ecosystems, and human communities,' the Center for Biological Diversity said. 'Uranium mining leaves behind radioactive waste, and when the mining process is complete, the waste is stored in ponds, also called impoundments, and can remain radioactive,' Alec Sprague, the director at Environment America, told Dailymail.com. 'As uranium decays, it becomes radium and eventually, it becomes radioactive radon gas. 'Uranium waste can be radioactive for thousands of years, meaning mining sites can be dangerous for years after they stop operating.' Sprague compared the outflow of waste from the mine to pouring a glass of water on the ground from the top of the Grand Canyon, saying it's impossible to know where the water will end up. There are 640 members of the Havasupai Tribe that consume nearby drinking water and whose home is in the Supai Village which stretches alongside the Grand Canyon. Because of the mine's proximity to the Grand Canyon, Sprague said, 'This means that the mine's waste could flow into the Colorado River and Havasu Creek, harming the health of the residents of Supai Village at the bottom of the Canyon.' Energy Fuels spokesperson Curtis Moore told Dailymail.com claimed that there isn't any validity to claims that uranium mining contaminates or impacts groundwater, saying this is the 10th mine to be opened in the area. When asked if this would harm people in the area, Moore said radon gas is already emitted into the air, adding that 'radiation is like water It's necessary to life but too much will kill you.' An EPA spokesperson directed Dailymail.com to its site that explains that all uranium mining leaves behind radioactive waste, regardless of how big or small the mine is or how much uranium is extracted from the ore. The Grand Canyon hosts 1.3 percent of the U.S.' uranium reserves The Grand Canyon holds 1.3 percent of uranium reserves in the country, and despite Moore's claims to the contrary, the Center for Biological Diversity said uranium mining makes it soluble in groundwater and risks polluting the Grand Canyon's springs. Large drilling sites are often left open after the mining company leaves the area, the CBD reported, adding that it leads to groundwater leaks, airborne uranium pollution, and dust dispersed into the air, and creates unsafe conditions for people visiting the national park's public lands. 'Uranium mining has left a toxic trail across the Westincluding at the Grand Canyon itself,' Sprague said. 'From uranium dust to contaminated springs, the wildlife of the region are just as affected by uranium mining as the people.' Energy Fuels denied the accusations, calling them 'unscientific' and claimed people should not be concerned about the effect the mine will have on the environment. 'There is no 'radioactive waste' from uranium mining at the mine, nor is there any drinking water to impact,' Moore said. 'Despite the unscientific claims of the anti-nuclear NGOs, there is truly nothing to be concerned about from this small, low-impact mine,' he added. Energy Fuels senior associate Sam Stookesberry told Dailymail.com that claims that the Pinyon Plain Mine poses an environmental danger, 'is a coordinated scare campaign being waged by the activists who contacted you about this story.' Nuclear energy is a low-cost, low-carbon way of producing electricity that is sorely needed amid the fight against climate change, but researchers Robert Barron from the Western New England University and Mary Hill from the University of Kansas found that the opposite is true. Their study revealed that nuclear waste disposal is actually 2.5 to four times more expensive than previously thought because the radioactive levels remain dangerously high for hundreds of years. Nuclear power has contributed to some of the worst environmental disasters in recent history including Chernobyl and Fukushima, but the question still remains: Do the benefits outweigh the risk? To beat the dreaded post-Christmas blues, many Brits will be escaping the dark and rainy skies of the UK to jet off on a January getaway. With a lower budget after the holidays, many people may think this is unattainable, however there are a multitude of return flight deals for under 100 that travelers can get their hands on. Instagram travel influencer Jazz Crawford, who posts under the handle @lifeofjazz_, helped out hopeful sun seekers by posting a reel with her roundup of cheap flights - including how she found them. From Tenerife to Venice, there is a destination to suit every traveller, flying from four different airports: London, Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham. Read on for the full list of locations and prices, as well as advice on booking that much-needed January holiday. Instagram travel influencer Jazz Crawford, who posts under the handle @lifeofjazz_ , helped out hopeful sun seekers by posting a reel with her roundup of cheap flights - including how she found them Jazz's reel has already been seen by more than 1.5 million people, who later flocked to the comments to ask further questions. The influencer captioned the clip: 'Happy New Year. No better way to start the new year than with cheap flights! 'Here are flights under 100 departing from popular UK airports. January is here but there are so many beautiful destinations! Best way to start the year is with a flight! Jan is a great time for a winter break and some destinations are still warm. 'Ive included flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham & East Midlands. All of these flights are RTN'. She went on to explain how she found the deals using Google Flights. Simply head to the website, click explore and type in the location you would be flying from. Next, select flexible dates, but within January and add the filters 'non stop' and 'flights only' before clicking price and putting your 100 budget in. Lots of travellers don't know about Google flights, with one TikToker calling it a 'cheat code' for finding cheap flights in October last year and getting more than a million views in just 24 hours. From Tenerife to Venice, there is a destination to suit every traveller, flying from four different airports: London , Manchester, East Midlands and Birmingham Jazz said: 'January is a great time to getaway. Flights tend to be cheaper, as the Christmas and New Years Eve peak has ended and everyone is getting back into the flow of work' The influencer used Google Flights to find the cheapest possible return flights in January - all under 100 Flight prices are constantly changing, so not every number will be exact - the sooner you search, the more likely they are to be the same. You can jet off to European destinations such as Palma, Milan and Athens for less than 40, meanwhile return flights to Tenerife in the Canary Islands are only 55. There are more options to choose from if you're flying from London - ranging from Sharm El-Sheikh to Seville and Paphos. The cheapest January return flights to Prague will set you back 40, meanwhile Malaga is as little as 29. If you want to fly from Manchester to Bucharest, you can get a non stop return flight from Sunday January 21 to Friday January 26 for 52. Birmingham to Fuerteventura from January 24 to January 30 would be just 40 for a round trip. If you're flexible and don't have a specific destination in mind, you can use Google Flights 'anywhere' feature. Simply select 'anywhere' in the destination box and make sure 'round trip' is selected. After pressing explore, your screen will fill with an interactive map of the world, with destinations and prices pinpointed wherever you scroll. Jazz said: 'It''s my Birthday in January so I have a tradition of going away for my birthday. This time it's a super long haul flight and takes around 22hrs to get there. 'January is a great time to getaway. Flights tend to be cheaper, as the Christmas and New Years Eve peak has ended and everyone is getting back into the flow of work. 'When I'm searching for travel inspiration, I use a website called TimeAndDate.com to see where is currently warm as it displays countries tempurates in real time. I tend to sort by temperature and use the results to search for cheap destinations'. She added: 'There are some wonderful warm destinations with cheap direct return flights in January such as Sharm El-Sheikh (81), Hurghada 95), Marrakesh (34), Agadir (34), Lanzarote (35) , Tenerife (45) & Fuertevantura (37). 'In January you can really grab a great deal and start the year with a lovely trip'. Others say book backup flights using frequent flier points if possible Travelers have shared their tried and tested travel tips for a hassle-free holiday Travel hacks may be a dime-a-dozen - but beyond checking in online and making sure you know what gate your flight leaves from, are there actually helpful tips? With 2024 upon us - and for some another year of travel ahead - eager frequent flyers have shared their tricks to a smoother journey. In a round up by The New York Times, readers shared their tried-and-tested tricks for travel, with some uncommon ones making it onto the list. One traveler named Robert Cohen suggested booking different flights with multiple airlines to avoid the event that something goes wrong. One traveler suggested booking different flights with multiple airlines to avoid the event that something goes wrong with your flight of preference (stock image) Robert suggested doing so if you had frequent flier points available to use with multiple airlines. The 79-year-old, from Oklahoma, suggests using them to book backup tickets on alternative airlines in case something goes wrong with your preferred flight. However, he reminded travelers to remember to cancel the backup flight before boarding. 'Cancel the backups on your day of travel before they depart so the unused miles get redeposited,' he explained to The New York Times. 'Those cutoff times vary by airline and may be as tight as 10 minutes before departure,' Robert added. He then suggested booking outbound and return flights separately rather than a round trip. 'Some carriers won't permit a cancellation on just a portion of the itinerary,' he pointed out. Other frequent travelers also shared their favorite hacks for a hassle-free experience. Mobile Passport Control app is free and available to use at 33 U.S. international airports without any wait time (stock image) One woman, Celia Paerels, said she made sure all of her luggage and travel items color coordinated in a bold red color. 'Everybody clues into red,' the New York-based woman explained. 'If you see a cardinal, you'll know it's a cardinal. You don't notice a sparrow.' She shared she had a Kindle case, sweater, sunglasses, headphones and charging cord in an eye-catching shade of scarlet, which was how she avoided leaving anything behind in her seat. Another hack was for those inclined to learn another language, with Derek Middleton, 42, suggesting setting your phone background as a screenshot of the basic and more commonly used phrases. He opts to have the local language for 'hello,' 'good morning/good evening,' 'please/thank you,' 'excuse me' and 'do you speak English?' as his screensaver, so whenever he looks at his phone he is getting a mini lesson and reminder. 'I've found on my travels that if you put forth somewhat of an effort to speak the language, people are much more receptive,' Derek, from Dublin, explained. 'And it usually starts with a laugh at me butchering the words.' Once you've landed at your destination, the line for border control can be daunting - but there is a way to ease the pain of the seemingly endless wait. Sarah Miller, 62, recommends downloading the U.S. Customs and Border Protection app to shorten the wait, which she said helped bypass a long wait she had after disembarking a flight from England to Portland. 'The line for standard passport control was several hundred passengers, and no one was in the M.P.C. (mobile passport control) line,' she explained. 'After I opened the app, I could snap a photo, answer a few questions (all done while I was walking over to the correct line), and I was done.' She added that Mobile Passport Control app was free and available to use at 33 U.S. international airports without any wait time, as opposed to the Global Entry Program, which costs $100 and currently has an 11-month wait. 'It's a timesaving tool for those of us who don't travel abroad often,' Sarah advised. Home Alone celebrated its 33rd anniversary back in November - with the Macaulay Culkin classic now a firm staple of the holiday season. Culkin played precocious Kevin McCallister, a trouble-making eight-year-old boy who is mistakenly left home alone while his family spends Christmas in Paris - but the film could have boasted a very different cast line-up. Oscar-winner Robert De Niro was originally offered the iconic role of Wet Bandit Harry Lyme - a role made famous by Joe Pesci in the film and its 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. Crooks Lyme and Marv Murchins (Daniel Stern) target the McCallister family home in Chicago but are taken down by Kevin's ingenious contraptions. Home Alone was the highest-grossing movie of 1990, with $285 million from just an $18 million budget, which at the time was the highest-grossing comedy of all time. Home Alone celebrated its 33rd anniversary back in November - and Robert De Niro was nearly part of the cast in a shock role While De Niro has never personally confirmed he was up for the role of Harry Lyme, director Chris Columbus confirmed he was approached in a 2020 Insider interview. However, when asked if he ever 'seriously' considered taking the role, Columbus admitted, 'No, I don't think so.' 'It was talked about a little internally, but when Pesci said yes, I was stunned,' Columbus admitted. De Niro is certainly best known for his dramatic fare, though he's no stranger to the comedy genre either. He played stand-up comic Rupert Pupkin in Martin Scorsese's 1978 film The King of Comedy, and he's taken on comedic roles in Analyze This and he played a legendary stand-up in 2016's The Comedian. Still, it seemed De Niro had no interest in playing Harry Lyme, with the actor even admitting to CinemaBlend in 2020 that he's never even seen Home Alone yet. 'Ill be honest with you, I never saw Home Alone. I would see it but I just didnt. Maybe Ill see it with one of my kids,' he said. Two months before Home Alone hit theaters, De Niro and Pesci would star in Goodfellas, with Pesci winning an Oscar for playing Tommy DeVito. The Christmas classic starred Macaulay Culkin as precocious Kevin McCallister, a trouble-making eight-year-old boy who is mistakenly left home alone while his family spends Christmas in Paris Oscar-winner De Niro was originally offered the iconic role of Wet Bandit Harry Lyme - a role made famous by Joe Pesci (pictured in the film with Daniel Stern as Marv Murchins) While De Niro has never personally confirmed he was up for the role of Harry Lyme, director Chris Columbus confirmed he was approached in a 2020 Insider interview , when asked if he ever 'seriously' considered taking the role, Columbus admitted, 'No, I don't think so' Still, it seemed De Niro had no interest in playing Harry Lyme, with the actor even admitting to CinemaBlend in 2020 that he's never even seen Home Alone yet (pictured Sunday at the Golden Globes) Two months before Home Alone hit theaters, De Niro and Pesci would star in Goodfellas, with Pesci winning an Oscar for playing Tommy DeVito (pictured with Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino) While Goodfellas is considered by many to be one of the greatest movies of all time, Home Alone may be the more enduring classic. Columbus also revealed to Insider that he ran into Goodfellas director Martin Scorsese, after he reunited with Pesci for the first time in years on his 2019 film The Irishman. 'I ran into Marty Scorsese after he had done "The Irishman" and he told me, "We're out in the streets shooting and all anyone wanted to talk to Joe about was 'Home Alone,"' Columbus said. He added: 'Quite a compliment from the guy who directed Joe's best work. I find it hilarious that people are still coming up to Joe Pesci and they want to talk about him in Home Alone.' Hollywood beauty icon Lauren Hutton put her legendary charm to use as she ran errands in Los Angeles. DailyMail.com spotted the American Gigolo star persuading a young grocery store worker to carry her shopping bags to her car after she was told by staff at upscale market Erewhon that she couldn't take her grocery cart to her vehicle parked up the street. She asked an employee for help and could be seen flashing her trademark gap tooth smile as she handed him a generous tip once he'd loaded the bags into her trunk. This is the first time the actress - who wore a trendy tweed jacket, green hat and ankle boots - has been seen since celebrating her 80th birthday in November. DailyMail.com spotted Lauren Hutton, 80, running errands in Los Angeles this week sporting a trendy tweed jacket, green hat and ankle-high boots The American Gigolo star persuaded a young grocery store worker to carry her shopping bags to her car and was seen tipping him generously Hutton made her name modeling - and is known as the original supermodel - but went on to enjoy an illustrious TV and movie career She handed the employee a generous tip once he'd loaded the bags into her trunk This is the first time the actress has been seen since celebrating her 80th birthday in November Hutton, who has been modeling in the industry for nearly six decades, moved to New York City in the 1960s, where she modeled for luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel Hutton made her name modeling but went on to enjoy an illustrious TV and movie career. She has continued to land modeling campaigns in recent years despite her age, even posing topless for Harper's Bazaar in 2022. The 80-year-old, who is still very involved in the beauty and skincare business, gave an interview in recent years in which she discussed her philosophies about growing older gracefully. 'Whether it's beauty or fashion, there's an obsession with youth. But if we're lucky, we're all going to get old,' she told beauty publication Byrdie. 'I think it's time to realize that anti-aging is an old-fashioned term.' She explained that there was plenty of 'research that shows that our attitudes have so much to do with how we age,' and that we should not stress and worry about a particular wrinkle or spot. Instead, she said, the main focus should be, 'on taking good care of our skin and ourselves, and the industry can help shift that conversation for the future.' She has continued to land modeling campaigns in recent years despite her age, even posing topless for Harper's Bazaar in 2022 She is well known for the iconic gap in her two front teeth, which she used to hide in her youth but went on to embrace as her signature look Aside from modeling, she took on acting roles and starred alongside Richard Gere in American Gigolo in 1980 Hutton, who has been modeling in the industry for nearly six decades, moved to New York City in the 1960s, where she modeled for luxury brands such as Dior and Chanel. Before signing a contract with Revlon in 1973 when she was near 30, she had only been making around $50 a week through other modeling work. Hutton made her acting debut in the 1968 movie classic Paper Lion opposite Alan Alda. She went on to star in a string of other hits including The Gambler (1974) and American Gigolo (1980) alongside Richard Gere. While she has never been married, Hutton was known to have had high profile relationships at the height of her fame with fellow celebrities including, Malcolm McLaren, Burt Reynolds, Lou Adler, Steve McQueen, and Ryan O'Neal. She is well known for the iconic gap in her teeth, which she used to hide in her youth but went on to embrace as her signature look. A screenshot of the article on the website. (Photo: VNA) The article was released ahead of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhs attendance at the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The author said that in the early 2000s, he visited Vietnam many times to prepare for a book on the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina in 1954 and was fascinated by the remarkable changes in the country since then. According to the article, 2023 was a busy year for Vietnam with its "bamboo diplomacy" policy and efforts to become a new hub of the semiconductor industry. Taking full advantage of opportunities brought by the international situation, Vietnam increased its foreign activities and strengthened relations with its partners. Last year, the country had a range of high-level foreign activities with other countries, including state visits to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. For the first time, the Holy See has a resident papal representative in Vietnam, adding that this marked a historic moment in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Holy See. The author wrote that Vietnam expects GDP growth of 6-6.5% in 2024 thanks to robust imports and exports, as well as stronger manufacturing activity. The Southeast Asia country has an ambition to become a new centre of the semiconductor industry with a series of investment projects worth billions of dollars. It targets to master 100% of the production stages of Make in Vietnam chips and intends to train 50,000 specialised engineers by 2030. Vietnam is attracting more big semiconductor companies from the US, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China). It accounts for more than 10% of the total number of semiconductor chips imported into the US, ranking third in chip exports to the US, after Malaysia and Taiwan (China)./. The BBC have axed gangster Kenneth Noye from the second series of The Gold its hit drama about the 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery. The decision follows fierce criticism that the first series glamorised the violent killer. The corporation came under fire for portraying Noye who went on to murder a 21-year-old in a road rage attack 13 years after the robbery as a 'handsome class warrior' . Scottish heart-throb actor Jack Lowden played Noye and won rave reviews for his performance. A source close to the show said: 'Work has started on the second series of The Gold, and there was a big surprise not to see Jack back. Scottish heart-throb actor Jack Lowden played Noye and won rave reviews for his performance 'But then it transpired that the whole character has been axed. 'There is a view that Noye was totally glamorised and this overshadowed the rest of the story. 'Relatives of his victims were also very upset about it all and the BBC clearly did not want to take the risk of more of those accusations. 'Jack very much made the show but there's just too many politics involved with including him again. 'But viewers are going to be really surprised it seems like a very odd decision. Instead, it will focus on the rest of the gang and the aftermath of it all.' Gary Cameron, the uncle of Stephen Cameron, who Noye killed years in a road-rage attack on the M25 in 1996, 13 years after the Brink's Mat robbery, lambasted the BBC for portraying Noye as 'some kind of a good guy when he is a cold-blooded murderer'. The corporation came under fire for portraying Noye (pictured) who went on to murder a 21-year-old in a road rage attack 13 years after the robbery as a 'handsome class warrior' A friend of Noye, who was released from jail in 2019 after serving 19 years from Cameron's murder, claimed the gangster was 'over the moon' with Lowden's portrayal, and that people now approach him in the street and ask to shake his hand. The Gold followed the story of the Brink's-Mat heist, which remains the largest robbery ever committed in the UK, with the gang making off with more than 26 million the equivalent to more than 93 million today in gold, cash, and diamonds. It also starred Hugh Bonneville as DCI Brian Boyce, the Met detective who led the investigation, and Dominic Cooper as Edwyn Cooper, a solicitor who helped launder the gang's loot. Despite the initial success of the robbery, many of those involved were brought to justice. Noye was charged with handling stolen gold and conspiracy to evade VAT and was jailed for 14 years in 1986. Filming for the second series began this month. It is expected to be screened at the end of the year. Australia's Next Top Model star Didier Cohen shocked his fans on Saturday when he unveiled his gym-toned new look. The former reality star, 35, shared a jaw-dropping clip to Instagram capturing him flexing his bulging biceps and red complexion as he lifted weights at a gym in Mexico. He sported a focused expressed in the clip as he worked up a sweat in a white singlet and grey shorts as he flexed his muscles to the camera. The Los Angeles-born star looked world's away from the hunky heart-throb who captivated viewers of Australia's Next Top Model in 2015. He has completely transformed his once slender frame, brunette locks and boyish grin, replacing it with a Herculean physique and shaved head, akin to action star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson. Australia's Next Top Model star Didier Cohen, 35, (pictured) shocked his fans on Saturday when he unveiled his gym-toned new look The hunk looked like an action star in training as he rigorously went through his workout routine, providing his fans with an eye-popping view of just how far he has come since his reality star days. In December 2021, Didier welcomed his first child with fiancee Chanel Wolf, sharing a slew of photos when she arrived. 'Marigold Love Cohen. 12.15.21 7:11am My Golden Flower,' he wrote. The former reality star shared a jaw-dropping clip to Instagram capturing him flexing his six-pack abs and bulging biceps as he lifted weights at the gym 'Chanel Wolf you're the most incredible warrior woman. Our daughter is the luckiest girl to have a mother like you. We love you,' he added. Didier announced he was expecting his first child with Chanel back in June that year, sharing a heartwarming photo cradling her stomach. The Australia's Next Top Model star captioned the shot with: 'Mom & Dad', alongside the hashtag 'Baby Girl December 2021'. The Los Angeles-born star looked world's away from the hunky heart-throb who captivated viewers of Australia's Next Top Model in 2015 The loved-up couple are believed to have started their relationship in 2019, shortly after Didier confirmed his split from his model fiancee Jade Cara. Didier moved from Los Angeles to Australia at the age of 17. He shot to fame Down Under after being cast as a judge on Channel Seven's now-defunct reality show Beauty and the Geek. Didier then went on to enjoy a stint on The Celebrity Apprentice Australia before joining Australia's Next Top Model as a mentor in 2015. Fans will remember Didier shot to stardom on Australian TV back in the early 2010s, appearing on Beauty and the Geek and The Celebrity Apprentice Australia. Here: Sydney, 2011 Advertisement Emily Blunt exuded elegance alongside stylish Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike and Elizabeth Debicki as a bevy of stars attended the annual BAFTA tea in Beverly Hills on Saturday. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts holds the pre-awards ceremony every year and it is attended by nominees, their guests and other film industry luminaries. The event was held at The Maybourne Hotel and many more of this year's most buzzed-about actors, actresses and filmmakers also made appearances with the awards season now in full swing. Blunt, 40 - who recently stunned at the AFI Awards Luncheon - looked gorgeous in a seafoam green structured dress that was strapless and had an A-line skirt that fell to her ankles. She slipped into a pair of open-toed, nude-colored heels that were secured with thin straps that wrapped around her ankles. Emily Blunt exuded elegance alongside stylish Carey Mulligan, Rosamund Pike and Elizabeth Debicki as a bevy of stars attended the annual BAFTA tea in Beverly Hills on Saturday The A Quiet Place actress added a pair of silver earrings that offered a flashy flare to her eye-catching look. Her locks were parted in the middle, and effortlessly flowed down past her shoulders in natural waves. Emily's makeup was classically done, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a shimmering shadow around her eyes. A light blush was added to her cheekbones for a radiant glow, while a glossy, rosy pink tint was worn on her lips for a finishing touch. The beauty flashed a cheerful smile as she showed off one-of-a-kind ensemble while walking the red carpet. Carey Mulligan was also spotted at the event on Saturday, and turned heads donning a pastel yellow suit that comprised of loose-fitting slacks as well as an oversized blazer. Underneath, the Maestro star added a white shirt and slipped into a pair of tan-colored shoes to complete her look. Her blonde hair was parted in the middle, and fell down in light curls to nearly brush the tips of her shoulders. Blunt - who recently stunned at the AFI Awards Luncheon - looked gorgeous in a seafoam green structured dress that was strapless and had an A-line skirt that fell to her ankles While posing for a few snaps upon arriving to the venue, the star crossed paths with Emerald Fennell who donned a brown and white-patterned dress that clung to her frame Rosamund Pike was glamorous wearing a sheer, light blue dress with floral embellishments. Underneath, the Gone Girl actress donned a nude-colored slip The Crown star, Elizabeth Debicki, was classy wearing a fitted, black blazer dress that contained a hem that stopped a few inches above her knees The blonde beauty also slipped into a pair of sheer, black tights as well as black, knee-high boots Her locks were parted in the middle, and flowed down past her shoulders in elegant waves Mulligan added a pair of dainty earrings but chose to not add any other flashy pieces of jewelry to the outfit. While posing for a few snaps upon arriving to the venue, the star crossed paths with Emerald Fennell who donned a brown and white-patterned dress that clung to her frame. Rosamund Pike was glamorous wearing a sheer, light blue dress with floral embellishments. Underneath, the Gone Girl actress donned a nude-colored slip. She additionally donned a pair of open-toed, gold shoes that had bow details on the top. Her dark blonde locks were pulled back and styled into a chic up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. Pike added a pair of small, rhinestone earrings but no other pieces of jewelry to allow her outfit to be the main focal point for the event. Rosamund had fun on the red carpet and flaunted a variety of poses before joining other celebrities at the festivities. The Crown star, Elizabeth Debicki, was classy wearing a fitted, black blazer dress that contained a hem that stopped a few inches above her knees. Barbie director, Greta Gerwig, still had her newlywed glow in a high-necked, short-sleeved, floor-length dress Eva Longoria showed off her stunning figure in a sheer, black blouse and donned a black bra underneath Longoria was also pictured with Jesse Garcia - who opted for a classic black suit as well as black dress shirt and sleek shoes Ayo Edebiri wowed in a sleeveless, black minidress that contained a hem that stopped inches above her knees The blonde beauty also slipped into a pair of sheer, black tights as well as black, knee-high boots. Her locks were parted in the middle, and flowed down past her shoulders in elegant waves. Barbie director, Greta Gerwig, still had her newlywed glow in a high-necked, short-sleeved, floor-length dress. She paired the ensemble with a silver necklace that fell perfectly around the neckline of her frock. The filmmaker also wore a pair of open-toed, black heels and parted her short, blonde locks in the middle. Eva Longoria showed off her stunning figure in a sheer, black blouse and donned a black bra underneath. She tucked the shirt into the waist of a satin maxi skirt that contained lace details on the top and also bottom hem. The Desperate Housewives alum slipped into a pair of closed-toed, black pumps and allowed her dark hair to be slicked back away from her face. Longoria was also pictured with Jesse Garcia - who opted for a classic black suit as well as black dress shirt and sleek shoes. Ayo Edebiri wowed in a sleeveless, black minidress that contained a hem that stopped inches above her knees. The Bear actress also opted for a pair of closed-toed black pumps to complete her look. Julianne Hough wowed in a sheer, white dress with a high neck that flowed down to nearly brush the ground She was joined by her brother, Derek Hough, who put on a stylish display in a pair of black slacks as well as a white shirt and suede jacket America Ferrera was fashionable in a form-fitting, sleeveless black dress that was wrapped with pink material that draped down the right side The Ugly Betty alum was accompanied by her husband, Ryan Piers, as the couple happily posed for photos on the red carpet together Quinta Brunson put on a classy display wearing a white, strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt Julianne Hough wowed in a sheer, white dress with a high neck that flowed down to nearly brush the ground. The beauty also slipped into a pair of black tights and shoes that offered a bit of color contrast to the overall look. She was joined by her brother, Derek Hough, who put on a stylish display in a pair of black slacks as well as a white shirt and suede jacket. To complete his overall ensemble for the big event, the dancer donned a pair of brown loafers. America Ferrera was fashionable in a form-fitting, sleeveless black dress that was wrapped with pink material that draped down the right side. The Barbie actress opted for open-toed, black heels and allowed her locks to fall down to nearly brush her shoulders. The Ugly Betty alum was accompanied by her husband, Ryan Piers, as the couple happily posed for photos on the red carpet together. Quinta Brunson put on a classy display wearing a white, strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline and a full skirt. The ensemble contained floral details and the star also donned a pair of closed-toed, brown heels for a finishing touch. Bella Ramsey was stylish in a blue and white-striped blazer and matching shorts, and also donned a white shirt underneath Ramsey also added a white handkerchief into the left pocket on the blazer Julianne Moore was elegant in a black, off-the-shoulder black shirt which was tucked into the waist of a long, gray skirt that contained a small slit on the front Bel Powley was radiant wearing a sleeveless, gold minidress that stopped inches above her knees Her dark locks were pulled back away from her face, and styled into a half ponytail She added a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings that coincided with the color scheme of her outfit for the day Bridgerton star, Phoebe Dynevor, was stunning in a cream-colored, fitted dress that contained ruffled sleeves and floral details embroidered into the fabric The British-born star also donned black, strappy heels and allowed her hair to effortlessly flow down straight past her shoulders Bella Ramsey was stylish in a blue and white-striped blazer and matching shorts, and also donned a white shirt underneath. The Last Of Us star added a patterned tie and also opted for a pair of dark navy crew socks as well as black loafers to complete the look for the event. Julianne Moore was elegant in a black, off-the-shoulder black shirt which was tucked into the waist of a long, gray skirt that contained a small slit on the front. The May December actress also donned a pair of closed-toed, black heels and for a final touch, added a gold, snake necklace. Bel Powley was radiant wearing a sleeveless, gold Miu Miu minidress that stopped inches above her knees. The actress also donned a pair of gray, crew socks as well as a pair of closed-toed, black heels that were secured with straps on top. She added a pair of large, gold-hooped earrings that coincided with the color scheme of her outfit for the day. Bridgerton star, Phoebe Dynevor, was stunning in a cream-colored, fitted dress that contained ruffled sleeves and floral details embroidered into the fabric. The British-born star also donned black, strappy heels and allowed her hair to effortlessly flow down straight past her shoulders. Leonardo DiCaprio donned a sleek, blue suit as well as a darker button up that was worn underneath at the event. He completed his outfit by slipping into a pair of shiny, black shoes that were secured with laces. Leonardo DiCaprio donned a sleek, blue suit as well as a darker button up that was worn underneath at the event He completed his outfit by slipping into a pair of shiny, black shoes that were secured with laces The Killers Of The Flower Moon actor paused for a slew of pictures while standing outside Tom Hiddleston attended with his stunning wife Zawe Ashton. He looked every bit the English gentleman in a tan linen suit and matching tie with a yellow shirt Meanwhile Zawe wore an eye-catching, strapless red dress with ruffles across the bodice and added dangly, silver earrings The happy couple sweetly held hands while they paused for snaps on the red carpet The Color Purple actress, Fantasia Barrino, wowed in a colorful floral dress that clung to her figure Andrea Riseborough exuded confidence on the red carpet wearing a fitted, gold gown that had an empire waist and a lace overlay Trace Lysette wore a tan and black-striped dress that had a black belt wrapped around her midriff to better accentuate her waist Ariana Greenblatt donned a cropped, pink jacket as well as matching shorts and open-toed, pastel pink heels Tom Hiddleston attended with his stunning wife Zawe Ashton. He looked every bit the English gentleman in a tan linen suit and matching tie with a yellow shirt. Meanwhile Zawe wore an eye-catching, strapless red dress with ruffles across the bodice and added dangly, silver earrings. The beauty also donned a pair of black pumps that were secured with straps that wrapped around her ankles. The Color Purple actress, Fantasia Barrino, wowed in a colorful floral dress that clung to her figure. She added pastel floral clips into her hair and also donned a pair of fashionable heels to complete her look. Abby Ryder put on a stylish display of her own in a printed blazer as well as black trousers. The star also slipped into a pair of sleek loafers with a chunky sole for a finishing touch. Andrea Riseborough exuded confidence on the red carpet wearing a fitted, gold gown that had an empire waist and a lace overlay. She opted for a pair of black earrings and also carried a black purse with a gold-chained strap in her hand. Trace Lysette wore a tan and black-striped dress that had a black belt wrapped around her midriff to better accentuate her waist. The star opted for black lace tights as well as closed-toed pumps to complete the outfit. Rhea Seehorn turned heads in a strapless, white dress that contained floral details throughout the fabric Diane Warren opted for stylish comfort in a pair of black pants as well as a printed shirt and a black blazer that had gold details on the lapels Cillian Murphy was spotted on the red carpet wearing a plain, black shirt which he tucked into the waist of black trousers He added a silver watch onto his left wrist and later crossed paths with his Oppenheimer co-star, Emily Blunt The pair flashed big smiles as they posed for a few photos together while at the star-studded event Mark Ruffalo looked like everyone's favorite eccentric college professor in a brown checked suit while Maria Bello was glowing in a lemon yellow dress over a long sleeved white shirt Ariana Greenblatt donned a cropped, pink jacket as well as matching shorts and open-toed, pastel pink heels. She held a small, pink purse in her hand and added bow clips into her brunette locks. Rhea Seehorn turned heads in a strapless, white dress that contained floral details throughout the fabric. She slipped into a pair of sleek, nude-colored heels and easily held a white clutch bag in her hand. Jessica Williams also opted for florals in a long, black dress that contained a white collar as well as white arm cuffs. Diane Warren opted for stylish comfort in a pair of black pants as well as a printed shirt and a black blazer that had gold details on the lapels. For a final touch, she also slipped into a pair of black sneakers. Cillian Murphy was spotted on the red carpet wearing a plain, black shirt which he tucked into the waist of black trousers. He added a silver watch onto his left wrist and later crossed paths with his Oppenheimer co-star, Emily Blunt. The pair flashed big smiles as they posed for a few photos together while at the star-studded event. Mark Ruffalo looked like everyone's favorite eccentric college professor in a brown checked suit while Maria Bello was glowing in a lemon yellow dress over a long sleeved white shirt. Trisha LaFache held a big smile while wearing a long-sleeved, black velvet dress that fell down to brush the floor and had a gold trim around the hem Jillian Dion opted for a pink ruffled shirt as well as a floral coat that had a black hem as well as fuzzy pink details on the side Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti came in a chambray blue shirt, chocolate brown pants and a steel blue jacket Willem Defoe and wife Giada Colagrande happily walked the red carpet together with the Poor Things star in a grey suit over a collarless black shirt Brett Goldstein and took a more casual approach to the day. The Ted Lasso alum wore black pants and a black t-shirt with an olive green shirt worn open over it Trisha LaFache held a big smile while wearing a long-sleeved, black velvet dress that fell down to brush the floor and had a gold trim around the hem. A gold bow embellishment was added onto the left sleeve for a unique flare to the outfit. Greta Lee was chic in a long-sleeved, white dress with an asymmetrical hem and also donned a pair of closed-toed, white heels. Jillian Dion opted for a pink ruffled shirt as well as a floral coat that had a black hem as well as fuzzy pink details on the side. Golden Globe winner Paul Giamatti came in a chambray blue shirt, chocolate brown pants and a steel blue jacket. Willem Defoe and wife Giada Colagrande happily walked the red carpet together with the Poor Things star in a grey suit over a collarless black shirt. Brett Goldstein and took a more casual approach to the day. The Ted Lasso alum wore black pants and a black t-shirt with an olive green shirt worn open over it. Scream Star, Neve Campbell, wore a creme blouse and matching pants. Alfonso Ribeiro attended with his wife Angela Unkrich. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum wore a monochromatic look with a blue suit, shirt and tie. Alfonso Ribeiro attended with his wife Angela Unkrich. The Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum wore a monochromatic look with a blue suit, shirt and tie Succession star, Brian Cox, dressed to impress in a gray suit jacket which he paired with dark navy slacks as well as a white dress shirt underneath He was joined by Nicole Ansari-Cox who opted for a gold velvet suit as well as a pink blouse He also wore a patterned tie and a light blue handkerchief which was placed into the left pocket on his blazer Dominica Sessa was dapper in a dark gold suit as well as a pastel yellow button up. He completed his outfit by slipped into a pair of snakeskin shoes Phil Dunster donned a classic black suit and added a plain black shirt which was tucked into the waist of his trousers Glenn Howerton was stylish in a blue suit and was accompanied by Jill Latiano who was classy in a shirt-sleeved, black dress Cristo Fernandez opted for a green suit as well as a floral button up that was left partially unfastened towards the top Joseph Lee opted for an all-black outfit that comprised of a black sweater which was tucked into the waist of black slacks Jeffrey Wright opted for a tan-colored suit as well as a white shirt and for a final touch, slipped into a pair of tan shoes that were secured with laces Succession star, Brian Cox, dressed to impress in a gray suit jacket which he paired with dark navy slacks as well as a white dress shirt underneath. He was joined by Nicole Ansari-Cox who opted for a gold velvet suit as well as a pink blouse. Dominica Sessa was dapper in a dark gold suit as well as a pastel yellow button up. He completed his outfit by slipped into a pair of snakeskin shoes. Harry Jowsey was casual in a pair of white trousers and also donned a white shirt as well as a black jacket on top. Phil Dunster donned a classic black suit and added a plain black shirt which was tucked into the waist of his trousers. Glenn Howerton was stylish in a blue suit and was accompanied by Jill Latiano who was classy in a shirt-sleeved, black dress. Cristo Fernandez opted for a green suit as well as a floral button up that was left partially unfastened towards the top. Joseph Lee opted for an all-black outfit that comprised of a black sweater which was tucked into the waist of black slacks. Sam Richardson was dapper in a pastel yellow suit and slipped into a pair of sleek, dark brown loafers. Jeffrey Wright opted for a tan-colored suit as well as a white shirt and for a final touch, slipped into a pair of tan shoes that were secured with laces Cassie Amato donned a satin gold dress while Sam Claflin opted for a stylish, dark brown suit as they attended the event Emily Hampshire and Bobby Berk were also showing off their sense of style as they stepped onto the red carpet together Colman Doming donned a pair of dark brown, satin slacks as well as a button up and black coat while making an appearance at the festivities He was seen posing for a picture with Teo Yoo as they crossed paths once the event commenced Danielle Brooks stunned in a yellow blazer dress with feathery details while Dominique Fishback also put on a fashionable display Gael Garcia Bernal was seen mingling with America Ferrera and the two paused for a quick photo together Cassie Amato donned a satin gold dress while Sam Claflin opted for a stylish, dark brown suit as they attended the event. Emily Hampshire and Bobby Berk were also showing off their sense of style as they stepped onto the red carpet together. Colman Doming donned a pair of dark brown, satin slacks as well as a button up and black coat while making an appearance at the festivities. Danielle Brooks stunned in a yellow blazer dress with feathery details while Dominique Fishback also put on a fashionable display. Domingo was also later seen with Jane Millichip - the BAFTA CEO - who opted for an all-black outfit and carried a red clutch bag in her hand Ayo Edebiri, Seth Rogan and Jeff Rowe were also spotted catching up at the event on Saturday Bella Ramsey was spotted shaking hands with Joyce Pierpoline as the pair met up at the festivities which was held outside Gael Garcia Bernal was seen mingling with America Ferrera and the two paused for a quick photo together. Domingo was also later seen with Jane Millichip - the BAFTA CEO - who opted for an all-black outfit and carried a red clutch bag in her hand. Ayo Edebiri, Seth Rogan and Jeff Rowe were also spotted catching up at the event on Saturday. Bella Ramsey was spotted shaking hands with Joyce Pierpoline as the pair met up at the festivities which was held outside. Kali Uchis bared her blossoming baby bump when she and Don Toliver surfaced to celebrate her new album this week. The 29-year-old songstress and her longtime boyfriend ecstatically announced on Friday that she is pregnant with their first child. That same day, Kali released her latest album Orquideas, which was showered with praise from the critics and inaugurated what she called a 'new era' of her career. With so much to be happy about, Kali beamed as she and Don emerged from a listening party from Orquides on Thursday. She was decked out in a lacy, powder pink crop top that was designed to look like a corset but allowed her to flaunt her burgeoning belly. Kali Uchis bared her blossoming baby bump when she and Don Toliver surfaced to celebrate her new album this week The 29-year-old songstress and her longtime boyfriend (right) ecstatically announced on Friday that she is pregnant with their first child That same day, Kali released her latest album Orquideas, which was showered with praise from the critics and inaugurated what she called a 'new era' of her career With so much to be happy about, Kali beamed as she and Don emerged from a listening party from Orquides on Thursday Her blouse was a perfect complement to her see-through skirt, and she rounded off the look by wrapping herself in a fleece-lined off-white jacket. Meanwhile Don, a rapper who has appeared on Travis Scott's Astroworld album, bundled up in a splashy sweater and a pair of camo trousers. The pair were also spotted this week going out to dinner at Nobu Malibu, the Japanese restaurant famous for being a Kardashian hot spot. Kali teamed a pair of statement monochrome trousers with a black bandeau, putting her baby bum proudly on display as she crossed the parking lot. Don on the other hand opted for an ultra-casual look, popping on a flowy pair of white shorts and trendily oversized boots for his latest dinner date. The pair were first linked in 2020 but did not publicly confirm the relationship until 2021, when Don spilled the beans in a profile for W. 'Were not crazy public or nothing like that,' he explained to the magazine while breaking cover about his romance with Kali. 'We just vibe.' They announced their pregnancy on Friday with an Instagram montage that included footage of them attending one of Kali's ultrasound appointments. The pair were also spotted this week going out to dinner at Nobu Malibu, the Japanese restaurant famous for being a Kardashian hot spot Kali teamed a pair of statement monochrome trousers with a black bandeau, putting her baby bum proudly on display as she crossed the parking lot Don dropped to a squat in order to tenderly kiss and caress her baby bump as she stood in front of him at the doctor's office. 'Starting our family,' they wrote in a joint caption: 'don't take too long to get here little pooks, mom & dad can't wait to share our life with you.' Taking the show to her Insta Stories, Kali gushed: 'The greatest moment of my life was when we first heard your heartbeat.' The Telepatia songstress added: ''Since then, our new little family has already taught me a love I've never known. To a lifetime of more greatest moments.' Leonardo DiCaprio kept it casual as he enjoyed a romantic dinner with girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, at newly opened Cipriani in Beverly Hills on Friday. The Oscar winner, 49 - who was snubbed after the 2024 SAG Awards nominees were announced earlier this week - was seen holding a conversation on his phone while exiting the Italian restaurant. The Killers Of The Flower Moon actor dressed down in a pair of black jeans as well as a black shirt. He layered the monochromatic look with a black jacket that was zipped up at the front to help him stay warm in the cooler temperatures. For a finishing touch, DiCaprio slipped into a pair of black sneakers that were secured with laces and also added a black, Los Angeles Dodgers cap on top of his head. Leonardo DiCaprio, 49, kept it casual as he enjoyed a romantic dinner with girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, 25, at newly opened Cipriani in Beverly Hills on Friday The Italian supermodel put on a dazzling display wearing a silver, glittering top that contained a scooped neckline and was tucked into the waist of loose-fitting, black pants While Leonardo left through the front entrance, Ceretti slipped out the back after the pair enjoyed a relaxing meal together at the hotspot. Vittoria put on a dazzling display wearing a silver, glittering top that contained a scooped neckline and was tucked into the waist of loose-fitting, black pants. She added a white jacket on top that had a fuzzy trim around the neckline and was left unfastened at the front. Her dark locks were parted to the side and slicked back into an up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. The star accessorized her fashionable look for the evening by donning a dainty necklace as well as flashy, silver earrings. Ceretti's makeup was classically done for the date night, and comprised of a layer of mascara to her lashes as well as a light pink blush on her cheekbones. To complete her overall look, the supermodel also added a darker, matte tint to her lips. Leonardo and Vittoria were first romantically linked last year in August 2023 when they were spotted spending time together on an ice cream date in Santa Barbara. The Oscar winner was seen holding a conversation on his phone while exiting the Italian restaurant The Killers Of The Flower Moon actor dressed down in a pair of black jeans as well as a black shirt For a finishing touch, DiCaprio slipped into a pair of black sneakers that were secured with laces and also added a black, Los Angeles Dodgers cap on top of his head The star was seen strolling towards a vehicle while talking on the phone following a yummy meal at the celebrity hotspot She added a white jacket on top that had a fuzzy trim around the neckline and was left unfastened at the front Shortly after, sources informed Page Six that the pair had, 'been spending quite a bit of time together over the past few months' and that they were 'enjoying getting to know one another on a deeper level.' And late last year in November, a separate insider revealed to DailyMail.com that the Hollywood actor was 'crazy about' Vittoria and added he was dating the beauty exclusively. 'Leo is crazy about Vittoria and he finds every aspect of her intriguing. He likes where this is going and he is only seeing her right now. She is very intelligent and has all of the qualities that he looks for in a partner.' The source also explained that DiCaprio and Ceretti were able to bond over their passion for environmental causes. 'This gives them so much to talk about,' the insider continued. 'She was an environmentalist before meeting Leo, so it's not like she met him and suddenly she cares about the earth.' 'Vittoria is successful and beyond financially independent. She is obviously stunning and he finds her incredible. But for now, they are intent on keeping much of their romance private.' And earlier this month, the Titanic star was seen heading on a family vacation with Vittoria and his close pal and fellow actor, Tobey Maguire. Most recently, Leonardo has been filtering through a busy schedule with awards season now in full swing. On Friday, he made an appearance at the star-studded AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills. Her dark locks were parted to the side and slicked back into an up do, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face The star accessorized her fashionable look for the evening by donning a dainty necklace as well as flashy, silver earrings Leonardo has been keeping busy and on Friday, he made an appearance at the star-studded AFI Awards Luncheon at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills (seen above) And last weekend, he also attended the 81st Golden Globe Awards alongside some his Killers Of The Flower Moon co-stars, including Lily Gladstone - who won the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama. On Wednesday, the list of nominees for the 2024 SAG Awards were officially announced, but DiCaprio was snubbed - with other A-list names such as Natalie Portman and Zac Efron also not making the list. However, Martin Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Man did receive other SAG nods - including Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. Gladstone also garnered another Best Actress nomination, while Robert De Niro received a Best Actor in a Supporting Role nod. And last weekend, he also attended the 81st Golden Globe Awards alongside some his Killers Of The Flower Moon co-stars, including Lily Gladstone - who won the award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama The anticipated awards ceremony is slated to be held later next month on February 24th and will stream live on Netflix. DiCaprio also has another project under his belt, and is set star in an untitled film from Warner Bros. alongside Sean Penn and Regina Hall, per Deadline. While the premise of the movie is currently under wraps, it is slated to be directed by Paul Thomas Anderson - who also wrote the script and will be one of the producers. Anderson is known for working on other productions such as There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012) and Phantom Thread (2017). Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling has returned to the gym just weeks after undergoing surgery and treatment for colon cancer. The relationship expert, 50, documented her first workout via Instagram Stories on Saturday, sharing a smiley selfie in a gym locker room. 'OK... so I'm ready for my first (very gentle) workout post-surgery', a makeup-free Mel wrote as she clutched a water bottle. Mel, who recently returned to filming MAFS just weeks after undergoing surgery, also shared a video of herself performing exercises including lunges, squats and bicep curls. 'Post-op gym session #1', she captioned the video, adding: 'PS: My surgeon gave me permission to return to the gym... gently.' Married At First Sight expert Mel Schilling returned to the gym on Saturday just weeks after undergoing surgery and treatment for colon cancer. The relationship expert, 50, documented her first workout via Instagram Stories, sharing this smiley selfie in a gym locker room Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she had colon cancer in an Instagram post on December 19. She posted a photo of herself hugging her husband Gareth Brisbane, 51, and their daughter Madison, eight, alongside the caption: '"You have cancer." Three little words that everyone dreads but no one ever expects to hear. 'Last Thursday my consultant told me those three words.' Mel, who recently returned to filming MAFS just weeks after undergoing surgery, also shared a video of herself performing exercises including lunges, squats and bicep curls 'Post-op gym session #1', she captioned the video, adding: 'PS: My surgeon gave me permission to return to the gym... gently' Mel, who appears on the British and Australian versions of the show, revealed she had colon cancer in an Instagram post on December 19. (Pictured with fellow MAFS Australia experts Alessandra Rampolla and John Aiken) Mel said she was diagnosed just one month after she began to feel pain in her stomach while filming MAFS Australia's upcoming eleventh season. 'About a month ago, when I was filming in Australia, I developed severe stomach cramps on set. I put it down to all the travel I'd been doing and the upset it caused to my system,' she explained. 'I saw my GP in Sydney and he put it down to constipation, gave me some laxatives and sent me on my way.' Despite her doctor's initial assessment, Schilling said she knew her condition was more serious and booked herself a scan when she travelled to the UK. 'On Thursday I was told I had colon cancer and in an instant my whole life changed,' she wrote. In addition to the UK version, Mel will soon return to screens alongside fellow experts John Aiken and Alessandra Rampolla for the eleventh season of the Aussie version of the hit dating show. Happy Valley star Sarah Lancashire has seen her dreams of Hollywood stardom dealt a blow with the axing of her latest show. Lancashire, 59, received rave reviews from critics playing acclaimed US chef Julia Child in the show 'Julia' which has just begun airing its second season on Sky. The actress, who shot to fame playing feisty barmaid Raquel Watts in Coronation Street from 1991 to 1996, was described as a 'British acting treasure' by Vanity Fair while Hollywood 'bible' Variety called her portrayal 'poignant, funny and magnificent.' Lancashire was earning a reported $50,000 an episode to star as Child, a middle-aged woman who introduced French cuisine to America through her long-running '60s television show 'The French Chef.' The BAFTA-winning actress spoke of her love for the role saying: 'She's unlike anybody I've ever encountered before. She's pioneering. She's a frontierswoman.' Sarah Lancashire, seen here in character, won rave reviews playing US TV chef Julia Child in 'Julia' Julia Child, a TV chef, introduced French cuisine to America through her long-running '60s television show 'The French Chef' While she admitted she had never heard of Child before starting filming she grew to love the character: 'I won't have a word said against her,' Lancaster said in a recent interview. The actress started filming the first series of Julia just before the pandemic shut-down production. She called resuming the show under strict Covid regulations 'very hard' and called spending months away from her family in the UK 'the hardest thing ever.' A spokesman for Max, which aired the show in the US, praised the 'dynamic cast led by Sarah Lancashire, as they cooked up Julia.' He said: 'Thanks to their beautiful work over two seasons of this heartfelt, sensual and inspiring show, we can forever celebrate the incredible legacy of Julia Child.' Oldham-born Lancashire played matriarch Sgt. Catherine Cawood for three seasons on the BBC1 series 'Happy Valley.' Last night a source said: 'This is a real shock. Critics and fans loved Julia and it was Sarah's big break in the US. This will come as a huge blow for her. The second season has been getting her the best reviews of her career.' Social media immediately blew up with heartbroken fans mourning the show's cancelation. 'How can they cancel the wittiest and most charming series ever? This is a travesty. It's the best show around!' wrote one fan on X, formerly Twitter. Another added: 'I can't believe they've cancelled Julia. Sarah Lancashire is a joy and the best thing on TV.' Lancashire has yet to comment on the cancellation but an agent at a major Hollywood talent agency told the MoS: 'Don't write her off. She's won an army of new fans in Hollywood and, while this is obviously a short term set-back for her career, there's no doubt she will be offered other roles. 'Happy Valley isn't coming back so it will be interesting to see where she goes from here.' Elizabeth Debikini cut an elegant figure as she graced the red carpet for the 2024 BAFTA tea party on Saturday, in LA. The Crown actress, 33, oozed grace and class as she posed up a storm in a fitted black dress with button detailing at the star-studded event. Elizabeth, who played Princess Diana in the Netflix series, flaunted her svelte physique in the tailored gown with sheer tights and knee high boots. The Golden Globe nominee wore a bronzed eye palette of makeup and let her blonde locks fall loosely over her shoulders. The outing comes after Elizabeth said she stuck to show creator Peter Morgan's 'emotional blueprint' for portraying Princess Diana in the Netflix hit series. Elizabeth Debikini cut an elegant figure as she graced the red carpet for the 2024 BAFTA tea party on Saturday, in LA The Crown actress, 33, oozed grace and class as she posed up a storm in a fitted black dress with button detailing at the star-studded event In comments published by The Mirror, the actress spoke candidly about the challenges involved in playing such a beloved royal figure. 'I think it's a unique challenge as an actor, to portray those last days,' the star said, referring to Princess Diana in 1997. Elizabeth went on to say that Peter's interpretation made 'emotional sense' to her, using it to guide her acting style. 'It's his interpretation and it made emotional sense to me, so I clung to that. Because obviously it's devastating, and it's fraught and we can never know,' she added. The final season of the Netflix hit explores Diana's final days and her relationship with Dodi Al Fayed. Diana and Dodi are seen on his super-yacht in the Saint Tropez in July, 1997, just months before her tragic death in the Alma tunnel in Paris. It also explores Tony Blair's election, Charles and Camilla's marriage and the early days of Kate and William dating, which gained a loyal audience around the globe. The Golden Globe nominee wore a bronzed eye palette of makeup and let her blonde locks fall loosely over her shoulders Elizabeth flaunted her svelte physique in the tailored gown with sheer tights and knee high boots as she posed solo at the event The actress has spoken candidly about the challenges involved in playing such a beloved royal figure (Pictured playing Princess Diana in The Crown) In a controversial move, Diana also appears as a ghost in the new series. The BAFTA Tea Party is 'a staple fixture' in glitzy Los Angeles. According to its official website, it invites various 'nominees, members and guests for a uniquely elegant gathering. 'The party has a long tradition of recognising the very best filmmaking talent and is hugely popular with nominees seeking a respite from the hectic and demanding Awards season.' Eva Longoria looked stunning at brunch celebrating her directorial debut for Flamin' Hot on Saturday. The Desperate Housewives star, 48, showed off her incredible figure in a skintight dress with sheer geometric pattern at the star-studded event hosted by Ariana DeBose in Beverly Hills. She certainly turned heads in the figure-hugging, long-sleeved dress teamed with brown, pointed-toe pumps. She left her brunette tresses down and slicked back her hair for an effortlessly chic appearance. The Young and the Restless alumna who enjoyed a romantic dinner date with her husband, Jose Baston, 55, on Friday also sported chunky gold hoop earrings and rocked a sultry, soft makeup look. Eva Longoria looked stunning at brunch celebrating her directorial debut for Flamin' Hot on Saturday. The Desperate Housewives star, 48, showed off her incredible figure in a skintight gown with sheer geometric pattern at the star-studded event hosted by Ariana DeBose in Beverly Hills The celebratory brunch was hosted by the ever stunning Hamilton star, 32, at the Mandarin Oriental Residences to honor Longoria's Flamin' Hot film which premiered at SXSW Festival on March 11, 2023. DeBose put on an elegant display as she modeled a pastel blue button-down dress with a matching blazer. She sported silver chrome pumps and rolled up her sleeves to showcase her eye-catching jewelry. The Oscar winner donned a shiny gold watch and two dazzling diamond rings. She styled her dark brunette hair in a slicked back topknot at the crown of her head to showcase her stunning, statement stud earrings. She also opted for monochromatic pastel pink makeup to complement her baby blue outfit. Inside of the venue, Longoria and DeBose posed for a photo with Jessica Alba who donned a stylish all-black ensemble. The Honey star, 42, wore a black sweater with a flannel collar peeking out and a gray pleated miniskirt. The celebratory brunch was hosted by the ever stunning Hamilton star, 32, at the Mandarin Oriental Residences. DeBose put on an elegant display as she modeled a pastel blue button-down dress with a matching blazer Inside of the venue, Longoria and DeBose posed for a photo with Jessica Alba who donned a stylish all-black ensemble. The Honey star, 42, wore a black sweater with a flannel collar peeking out and a gray pleated miniskirt Longoria and DeBose were also pictured mingling and smiling next to Julianne Hough, 35. The Dancing with the Stars host donned a white slip dress with a sexy, low-cut black bra and an oversize blazer At the event, they were also joined by Jeannie Mai as seen in a photo of her posing alongside Longoria. The television personality, 45, donned a simple black top and a gray skort but bundled up in a flannel, fleece poncho coat She also sported sheer tights, chunky boots and completed her outfit with a dark trench coat. Longoria and DeBose were also pictured mingling and smiling next to Julianne Hough, 35. The Dancing with the Stars host donned a white slip dress with a sexy, low-cut black bra and an oversize blazer. She donned skinny black sandal heels and a rectangular clutch purse to go with her effortlessly stylish look. At the event, they were also joined by Jeannie Mai as seen in a photo of her posing alongside Longoria. The television personality, 45, donned a simple black top and a gray skort but bundled up in a flannel, fleece poncho coat. Longoria was also seen at one point standing closely beside filmmaker Gloria Calderon Kellett as they listened to a speaker together. She was later seen posing for a group photo with Emilio Rivera, Amaury Nolasco, Wilmer Valderrama, Jesse Garcia and Bobby Soto. Longoria was also seen at one point standing closely beside filmmaker Gloria Calderon Kellett as they listened to a speaker together She was later seen posing for a group photo with Emilio Rivera, Amaury Nolasco, Wilmer Valderrama, Jesse Garcia and Bobby Soto During the brunch event, she was also seen giving a warm hug to Valderrama During the brunch event, she was also seen giving a warm hug to Valderrama. Longoria's directorial debut, Flamin' Hot, is based on the inspirational story of the son of a Mexican immigrant. Richard Montanez was a janitor at Frito Lay when he came up with the idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos and changed the food industry. Flamin' Hot was initially released at the SXSW Festival back in March 2023. Chelsea Handler excitedly introduced her new rescue pup Doug to her Instagram followers on Saturday. The comedian, 48, uploaded adorable photos of the dog, revealing that he's a 'full blown chow chow rescue.' She humorously noted that Doug has her 'favorite body type. FULL-BODIED.' Poking fun at herself, Handler teased that Doug 'slept in my bed on our first night. Just the way I like it!' She went on to lovingly embrace her new dog while posing for a duo of snaps during one of his first outings. Chelsea Handler excitedly introduced her new rescue pup Doug to her Instagram followers on Saturday Handler shared her post just one day before the Critics Choice Awards ceremony, which she is set to host. She previously served as the host of the awards show during last year's iteration of the event. It was revealed that the comedian had signed on to reprise her role as the program's host this past December. Handler went on to share a statement to publicly express her excitement about her return to the awards show. She stated via The Hollywood Reporter: 'I am very happy and excited to be hosting the Critics Choice Awards again this year, as last year was one of the most fun nights Ive had.' 'There is no greater reward than making fun of actors and then getting drunk with them afterward. Its an honor,' she added. The Critics Choice Awards' CEO Joey Berlin also stated: 'We are thrilled to have Chelsea Handler join us once again to host the Critics Choice Awards. After having her as our host last year, we couldnt wait to have her back up on the stage again.' The comedian, 48, uploaded adorable photos of the dog, revealing that he's a 'full blown chow chow rescue' She humorously noted that Doug has her 'favorite body type. FULL-BODIED' Poking fun at herself, Handler teased that Doug 'slept in my bed on our first night. Just the way I like it!' Handler also shared a video that showed her working out in the company of her new four-legged friend Handler shared her post just one day before the Critics Choice Awards ceremony, which she is set to host; she is seen in 2023 Handler is also preparing for the kickoff of her upcoming run of standup performances, entitled the Little Big B*** tour. The television personality is currently set to begin her run of shows with an appearance in Edmonton, Alberta on January 19. The comedian will then spend much of April touring throughout the United States, and the second leg of her tour will conclude in Verona, New York, on May 26. Handler is then scheduled to make her way through Australia and New Zealand, and her run of shows will finish off with a show in Sydney on July 13. After visiting the electric automobile manufacturing factory in Hai Phong, the Indonesian President pledges to create conditions for VinFast to complete procedures to invest and do business in the Indonesian market. (Photo: VNA) After visiting the electric automobile manufacturing factory there, the President pledged to create conditions for VinFast, a subsidiary of private conglomerate Vingroup, to complete procedures to invest and do business in the Indonesian market. Earlier, the EV maker said it plans to invest at least 1.2 billion USD in Indonesia in the long-term. Apart from distributing imported cars from Vietnam in the first phase, VinFast will build a 200-million-USD EV factory in the country with an expected annual capacity of 30,000 - 50,000 vehicles. Earlier the same day in Hanoi, President Widodo and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with representatives of businesses operating in the respective markets, where they were reported that VinFast and GSM, which offers VinFast electric car and motorbike rental and taxi services, and PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia Tbk, an Indonesian technology company, have signed a MoU aiming to promote green transport in Indonesia. GSM is also planning to invest 900 million USD in Indonesia in the coming time./. Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon has come out swinging against Woolworths after the supermarket revealed it would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise. The outspoken adult performer expressed her frustration over the decision via Instagram Stories on Sunday, and questioned why society has become so sensitive. 'Why is Australia boycotting Australia Day? Thank god I don't shop with them anyway,' Hayley began. 'Now I know to some, this is going to be controversial but at what point do we stop having to aplogise for the wrongdoings of people many generations before us?' Hayley said she is shocked by people's reaction to January 26th, and revealed a woman living in her apartment block had to apologise for suggesting her neighbours have an Australia Day barbecue. Married At First Sight star Hayley Vernon (pictured) has come out swinging against Woolworths after the supermarket revealed it would no longer sell Australia Day merchandise 'She was worried she'd be attacked. FNK MADNESS,' Hayley wrote. She also took a dig at the rise of political correctness in society, and questiooned why childcare centres 'are saying "happy holidays" so as not to offend people who don't celebrate Christmas.' Finally, she turned her attention to the recent rebranding of products that had names some deemed offensive. The outspoken adult performer expressed her frustration over the decision via Instagram Stories on Sunday, and questioned why society has become so sensitive 'There's no Redskins anymore, or Chico babies. I can't actually remember what they have renamed them to but ffs stop with all of this!' In 2020, Nestle rebranded the confectionary Redskins as Red Ripper and Chicos to Cheekies due to the racist connotations of redskins (Native Americans) and chicos (Latin Americans). Woolworths, which also owns Big W, shocked the country on Wednesday when it announced it will not sell any Australia Day merchandise due to a decline in demand. Woolworths, which also owns Big W, announced on Wednesday that Australia Day would be dumped from stores due to a 'gradual decline in demand' Kmart made a similar announcement in 2023. 'There has been a gradual decline in demand for Australia Day merchandise from our stores over recent years,' the supermarket giant said in a statement. 'At the same time, there's been broader discussion about 26 January and what it means to different parts of the community.' The decision from Woolworths has been met with widespread outrage, including from NSW Premier Chris Minns and millionaire businessman Dick Smith. Australia Day, observed each year on January 26, marks the landing of the First Fleet in 1788 when the first governor of the British colony of New South Wales, Arthur Philip, hoisted the Union Jack at Sydney Cove. But for many First Nations people, it is regarded as 'Invasion Day' or the 'Day of Mourning', with many campaigning for the holiday to be abolished completely or the date changed. The decision from Woolworths has been met with widespread outrage, including from NSW Premier Chris Minns and millionaire businessman Dick Smith While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hasn't explicitly mentioned any plans to change the date, a rising number of councils and state governments are choosing to cancel traditional Australia Day activities, including citizenship ceremonies. In recent years Invasion Day protests have overshadowed any festivities with thousands attending rallies in major cities demanding the date be changed. Large protests are expected this year after the referendum to enshrine an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in the constitution was voted down in October. Australian model Montana Cox and actress Olivia DeJonge led the style stakes as they partied at the Ralph Lauren suite during day one of the Australian Open 2024 at Melbourne Park in Victoria on Sunday. Montana, 30, looked chic in a knitted black-and-white outfit by Ralph Lauren. She sported a crop top and shorts that showcased her enviable figure and decolletage, along with a matching blazer and black heels. The Melbourne-born beauty allowed her brunette locks to hang in loose waves around her shoulders and accentuated her natural beauty with a light layer of makeup. Montana complemented her look with a black Ralph Lauren handbag. Australian model Montana Cox, 30, (pictured) led the style stakes as they partied at the Ralph Lauren suite during day one of the Australian Open 2024 at Melbourne Park in Victoria on Sunday. Elsewhere, actress Olivia DeJonge, 25, turned heads in a navy pin stripe plunging blazer and matching trousers by Ralph Lauren. Her look was accessorised with a delicate chain necklace, rings, sunglasses and a black leather $4000 Ralph Lauren handbag. She completed her outfit by showcasing her taste in luxury fashion with a $4000 Ralph Lauren handbag. She sported a crop top and shorts that showcased her enviable figure and decolletage, along with a matching blazer and black heels The Melbourne-born beauty allowed her brunette locks to hang in loose waves around her shoulders and accentuated her natural beauty with a light layer of makeup Montana complemented her look with a black Ralph Lauren handbag She posed up a storm for photos, pouting and placing her hands in the pockets of her cardigan The Elvis star's caramel coloured locks were worn out in natural curls, parted in the middle. Ralph Lauren is the official outfitter of the Australian Open 2024 for a fourth consecutive year. The brand has dressed 4000 staffers working at the high-profile event, including all on-court officials, and ball boys and girls. The fashion house has also released a special Australian Open 2024 collection of apparel and accessories that can be purchased online. Elsewhere, actress Olivia DeJonge (pictured) turned heads in a navy pin stripe plunging blazer and matching trousers Her look was accessorised with a delicate chain necklace, rings, sunglasses and a black leather $4000 Ralph Lauren handbag Natasha Lyonne cozied up next to Colman Domingo at the Film Independent presents An Evening With Colman Domingo event, which was held at the Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles on Saturday. The 44-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of her time with the 54-year-old actor, as they posed for several snaps prior to the official star of the function. The Russian Doll star, who recently attended a star-studded party hosted by Universal, and the actor later took part in a conversation while relaxing on the main stage of the theater. Lyonne showed off her toned arms while wearing a sleeveless black top during the event. The performer also donned matching pairs of shorts and lace leggings as she posed for several photos. Natasha Lyonne cozied up next to Colman Domingo at the Film Independent presents An Evening With Colman Domingo event, which was held at the Billy Wilder Theater at The Hammer Museum in Los Angeles on Saturday The 44-year-old actress appeared to be making the most of her time with the 54-year-old actor, as they posed for several snaps prior to the official star of the function The Russian Doll star, who recently attended a star-studded party hosted by Universal, and the actor later took part in a conversation while relaxing on the main stage of the theater The Orange Is The New Black actress wore a pair of jet-black high-heeled shoes and accessorized with various pieces of jewelry. The Primetime Emmy Award-nominated performer also donned a sizable pair of sunglasses that added a bit of extra shine to her look outside of the theater. Lyonne's bright red hair stood out perfectly against the darker tones of her clothing for the evening. Domingo looked sharp while wearing a patterned sweater underneath a light yellow button-up jacket. The 54-year-old actor also donned a pair of slightly wide-legged brown trousers, which were contrasted with bright white shoes. The Primetime Emmy Award-winning performer completed his look for the event with several pieces of jewelry. Lyonne and Domingo recently sat down for a conversation for Interview Magazine, during which the latter spoke about how they quickly established a close friendship after they met at a premiere event. 'It was an immediate connection. We were a little bit in love with each other and we exchanged numbers and made a plan. Within a week, you were in my backyard eating ribs by the pool,' he recalled. Lyonne showed off her toned arms while wearing a sleeveless black top during the event The Orange Is The New Black actress wore a pair of jet-black high-heeled shoes and accessorized with various pieces of jewelry Domingo looked sharp while wearing a patterned sweater underneath a light yellow button-up jacket The Primetime Emmy Award-winning performer completed his look for the event with several pieces of jewelry Sporting her sexy and chic look, Lyonne sat beside Domingo as they conversed onstage At one point, she put on her cat-eye glasses as they chatted The pair listened attentively to each other as they had an animated talk in front of the audience Lyonne and Domingo recently sat down for a conversation for Interview Magazine, during which the latter spoke about how they quickly established a close friendship after they met at a premiere event The Euphoria actor went on to speak about how his interest in working behind the camera had grown over the past few years Domingo and Lyonne went on to speak about their career paths, and the former expressed that he was grateful for the missteps he had navigated in the past The Euphoria actor went on to speak about how his interest in working behind the camera had grown over the past few years. 'I love producing, especially things that have nothing to do with me. I'm like, "Let me see what I can do to help amplify it, give it access, funds, you name it." I love throwing the party. I don't have to always be the party,' he said. Domingo and Lyonne went on to speak about their career paths, and the former expressed that he was grateful for the missteps he had navigated in the past. 'Nothing's ever a failure. That's the one thing I've started to understand, as an artist who's been doing this for a long time: that the pitfalls were helping me move to the place that I needed to be,' he stated. Last King of the Cross is already filming a second season. Streaming service Paramount+ has confirmed that shooting is underway in and around Sydney, TV Tonight reports. Returning from the first season are Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour, who play brothers John and Sam Ibrahim. Likewise, Detective Liz Doyle, played by Tess Haubrich, Big Tony, played by Matt Nable), Tongan Sam played by Uli Latukefu and Simone played by Janet Anderson will all reprise their roles. TV Tonight reports that 'the family dynamic takes centre stage this season' with new characters spicing up the mix. Last King of the Cross (pictured) is already filming a second season. Paramount+ has confirmed that shooting is underway in and around Sydney Dave Hoey steps in as younger brother Michael Ibrahim, and another new role, Fadi, is played by newcomer Alex Kaan. Speaking to TV Tonight, Helium Pictures' Mark Fennessy said: 'We're super excited to continue the story of Last King of The Cross bringing more extreme and fascinating untold stories of John Ibrahim and his family. 'Season two will surprise and thrill our audience in unexpected ways as we enter the seductive, dangerous, and ecstasy-fuelled world of the early 2000s'. The streaming giant announced that after the success of the first season, they are set to make another eight episodes of the popular crime drama, which is based on Ibrahim's bestselling 2017 book. According to Variety, the first season of the show was sold into multiple overseas territories including Germany, Italy, the UK, and Ireland. Returning from the first season are Lincoln Younes and Claude Jabbour, who play brothers John and Sam Ibrahim. A scene from the show is pictured Daniel Monaghan, senior VP, content and programming, Paramount Australia and New Zealand, said in a statement that The Last King of the Cross was the most watched local show on Paramount+. The first 10-part season starred heartthrob Lincoln Younes as the Kings Cross identity and focused on his relationship with his brother Sam (played by Claude Jabbour). Both men were prominent figures in Sydney's nightclub district and the series explored key events in their lives, including John's near fatal stabbing and other attempts on his life. Younes, who was recently nominated for a Gold Logie, scored the role after an exhaustive search spanning almost two years. The first season of the show was sold into multiple overseas territories including Germany, Italy, the UK, and Ireland. The cast is pictured Ryan Gosling donned a stylish suit as he joined Greta Gerwig at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday. The Hollywood actor, 43 - who recently reunited with his La La Land co-star Emma Stone at the Golden Globes - was honored with the Kirk Douglas award at the event, which was held at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara. The star stepped onto the red carpet wearing a black button up that was partially unfastened at the top and tucked into the waist of slacks. He layered the monochromatic look with a sleek jacket and slipped into a pair of shiny black shoes for a finishing touch. Gosling was soon accompanied by the Barbie director, 40, who turned heads in a sleeveless, black dress that contained dazzling, silver floral embellishments throughout the material. Ryan Gosling, 43, donned a stylish suit as he joined Greta Gerwig, 40, at the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Saturday The Hollywood actor was honored with the Kirk Douglas award at the event, which was held at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara They posed up together The hem of the eye-catching ensemble fell down to stop inches above her ankles, easily revealing a pair of silver boots. She opted to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry to allow the dress to be the main focal point during the special evening. Greta's hair was parted to the side and combed back, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face. Both she and Ryan were seen crossing paths while at the venue and the pair paused for a quick photo session together. During the festivities on Saturday, the Drive actor was the recipient of the 16th Annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film. According to the festival's website, the award is given 'to a lifelong contributor to cinema through their work in front of the camera, behind, or both.' Other past recipients of the honor have included Hugh Jackman, Michelle Yeoh, Martin Scorsese, Jane Fonda and also Harrison Ford. The ceremony also 'benefits Santa Barbara International Film Festival's year-round educational programs and was the most successful fundraiser in SBIFF's history.' The star wore a black button up that was partially unfastened at the top and tucked into the waist of slacks and layered the monochromatic look with a sleek suit jacket He layered the monochromatic look with a sleek jacket and slipped into a pair of shiny black shoes for a finishing touch Gosling was soon accompanied by the Barbie director who turned heads in a sleeveless, black dress that contained dazzling, silver floral embellishments throughout the material She opted to not add any flashy pieces of jewelry to allow the dress to be the main focal point during the special evening Greta's hair was parted to the side and combed back, preventing any loose strands from falling onto her face Both she and Ryan were seen crossing paths while at the venue and the pair paused for a quick photo session together During the festivities on Saturday, the Drive actor was the recipient of the 16th Annual Kirk Douglas Award For Excellence In Film The Oscar-nominated actor and the filmmaker were also seen sending excited waves as they attended the event Once inside the venue, both Gosling and Gerwig were spotted mingling with other attendees, and paused for a memorable photo with Steve Carell. Ryan notably portrayed the character of Ken in the Barbie movie - which was released earlier last year in July. While talking to W Magazine earlier this month, the actor opened up about taking on the role and also his first impression of the character. 'It was the title page of the script, which said Barbie and Ken, but 'and Ken' was scratched out. And the next impression was, this is the hardest part I'll ever play,' he admitted to the outlet. 'How do you approach playing a 70-year-old crotchless doll? There's no research you can do for that.' Ryan added, 'There's no one you can shadow, no documentaries you can watch, no books written about Ken. You're on your own.' His portrayal of Ken garnered the star a Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Gosling attended the star-studded ceremony last weekend, and reunited with his fellow co-stars, including Margot Robbie and America Ferrera. Once inside the venue, both Gosling and Gerwig were spotted mingling with other attendees, and paused for a memorable photo with Steve Carell The Office alum and Ryan also paused for another snap together as they stood next to a table inside the crowded space Later in the night, the star was seen taking to the stage and gave a heartfelt speech as he accepted the award He held a small smile on his face as he addressed the audience that were in attendance Steve Carrell also was seen standing at the podium to say a few words before Ryan accepted the honor After he accepted the honor, Ryan posed for another photo with Gerwig and Carell as he held the award in his hand Ryan and Greta shared a special moment during the event on Saturday and were spotted sharing a quick embrace While sitting at one of the tables inside the venue, the award-winning actor was seen sharing a laugh His portrayal of Ken garnered the star a Golden Globe nod for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical or Comedy and he attended the ceremony last weekend, and reunited with his fellow co-stars, including Margot Robbie and America Ferrera He looked as dapper as always at the event He looked in great spirits as they had dinner and drinks at the party He chatted to Steve Carell at the event Steve looked dapper in a black suit as he spoke on the stage Ryan and Greta chatted away at the table Steve teamed his black suit with a bow tie and white shirt They looked delighted to be reunited They worked together on the film Crazy Stupid Love Ryan opted for a black suit and black shirt He dressed for the occasion in a black suit that comprised of trousers as well as a blazer that contained a white trim. The star added a shirt underneath that also had a similar trim. Ryan's role as Ken also earned him a SAG nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Critics' Choice Awards - which will take place on Sunday, January 14th while hosted by Chelsea Handler. Barbie broke the record by receiving a whopping total of 18 nods for the event, including Best Picture, Best Director for Gerwig and also Best Actress for Margot Robbie. He showed off his handsome smile He chatted to the others on his table The event saw a host of stars attend Steve looked confident as he spoke on stage He sported a beard and donned glasses Ryan looked grateful for his words The pair have a close friendship The premiere date for Three Women starring Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin has been revealed. On Monday morning streaming giant Stan announced the highly anticipated TV series will drop on February 16th. Woodley, 31, stars as Gia, a stand-in for the author who travels across the US to interview three women who sexual and emotional lives have caused them significant turmoil. The series centres around three women on a crash course to radically overturn their lives. Betty Gilpin stars as Lina, a homemaker in suburban Indiana, who is a decade into a passionless marriage. The brand new series, Three Women, premieres February 16 only on Stan. The premiere date for Three Women starring Shailene Woodley and Betty Gilpin has been revealed. Pictured: Woodley as Gia On Monday morning streaming giant Stan announced the highly anticipated TV series will drop on February 16th. Betty Gilpin stars as Lina, a homemaker in suburban Indiana, who is a decade into a passionless marriage. Pictured When she embarks on an affair it quickly becomes all-consuming and transforms her life. Elsewhere, DeWanda Wise stars as glamorous entrepreneur Sloane who has a committed open marriage with husband Richard (Blair Underwood). That all changed when two sexy new strangers threaten their love story. Gabrielle Creevy plays Maggie, a student who weathers an intense storm after she accuses her married English teacher of an inappropriate relationship. Elsewhere, DeWanda Wise (pictured) stars as glamorous entrepreneur Sloane who has a committed open marriage with husband Richard (Blair Underwood) Gabrielle Creevy plays Maggie, a student who weathers an intense storm after she accuses her married English teacher of an inappropriate relationship. Pictured Rounding out the cast is Shailene Woodley as Gia, a writer grieving the loss of her family. She persuades each of the three ordinary women to tell her their stories and her relationships with them changes the course of her life forever. Three Women is executive produced by the author Taddeo, along with showrunner Laura Eason, Kathy Ciric and the actress Emmy Rossum, who is not part of the cast. The first two episodes had been directed by Louise Friedberg, who is also executive producing. Hailey Bieber looked stunning in her latest social media update posted on Saturday. The 27-year-old model took to Instagram to share a photo of her effortlessly stylish evening look before heading out to gal pal Lori Harvey's birthday bash. In her closet mirror selfie, she bared her long legs in a heather gray sweater dress teamed with a matching scarf. The entrepreneur who was sitting in the passenger seat when Kendall Jenner got pulled over in her $200k Mercedes earlier this week also donned a pair of sheer, black tights. To complete her look, she wore a black leather shoulder bag on her arm. Hailey Bieber looked stunning in her latest social media update posted on Saturday. The 27-year-old model took to Instagram to share a photo of her effortlessly stylish evening look before heading out to gal pal Lori Harvey's birthday bash For the occasion, she slicked back her light brunette bob into a chic updo with a claw clip. She opted for simple jewelry as she sported just her gold wedding band and a pair of textured hoop earrings. The Rhode Skin founder looked radiant in a dewy, pink makeup look featuring an ample amount of rosy blush and a mauve pink lip. She also shared a clip of Lori at her 27th birthday dinner dancing alongside their mutual friend, Justine Skye. While sitting at the table at Lori's birthday dinner, she also shared a photo of a caviar beignet with the caption: 'Correct.' Lori also posted a video of her intimate birthday dinner, which showed Hailey sitting at the end of the table. This comes shortly after Hailey returned back to Los Angeles after celebrating New Year's with her husband, Justin Bieber, and their pal, Kendall Jenner, in the Caribbean. During their Barbados trip, Hailey shared a photo of herself in a skimpy green and yellow bikini while relaxing on a yacht. She also shared a clip of Lori at her 27th birthday dinner dancing alongside their mutual friend, Justine Skye While sitting at the table at Lori's birthday dinner, she also shared a photo of a caviar beignet with the caption: 'Correct.' This comes shortly after Hailey returned back to Los Angeles after celebrating New Year's with her husband, Justin Bieber, and their pal, Kendall Jenner, in the Caribbean During their Barbados trip, Hailey shared a photo of herself in a skimpy green and yellow bikini while relaxing on a yacht She had also posed for stunning sunset snaps on the beach alongside Kendall as the duo sported long, white dresses. During their holiday, the Biebers reportedly celebrated with Kendall and her ex-boyfriend, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny. As for Lori, she enjoyed her own trip to Thailand and shared photos of her vacation just days before her birthday. Eagle-eyed fans noticed that her snaps had the same background as her ex-boyfriend, Damson Idris' own posts, which sparked reconciliation rumors for the pair. Rapper Yo Gotti's brother, Anthony 'Big Jook' Mims, was among two men gunned down near a restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee Saturday afternoon. A number of publications, including TMZ and Fox 13, have confirmed that Mims was pronounced dead at the scene just outside Perignons Restaurant & Event Center. The second victim was rushed to nearby St. Francis Hospital by someone driving a private vehicle, and at last check was listed in critical condition. Shot were first reported to police around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, January 13. TMZ reported that the shooting took place soon after Big Jook had attended a funeral service in the area. Rapper Yo Gotti's (left) brother, Anthony 'Big Jook' Mims (right), was among two men gunned down near a restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee Saturday afternoon Police believe the two men were targeted in the shooting. Investigators have been combing through photos and videos circulating online that show Big Jook bleeding while laying on the ground, as people tried to tend to his injuries. At this point it remains unclear whether Memphis-based Gotti (born Mario Sentell Giden Mims), himself, was with his brother at the time of the shooting. The Doin 2 Much rapper hasn't addressed his brother's death just yet. The Memphis native, who was said to have had very close relationship with his famous brother, was affiliated with Gotti's record label Collective Music Group (CMG), mostly working on the business side of things, like promoting artists. Founded in 2012, Collective Music Group has gone on to sign successful acts including Moneybagg Yo. 42 Dugg, Blac Youngsta, GloRilla, EST Gee and Mozzy. Gotti first broke on to the hip-hop scene when he released his debut album Youngsta's On A Come Up (1996) under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release 10 more studio albums, with the most recent being CM10: Free Game (2022). Police believe Big Jook, who reportedly had a close relationship with his famous brother, was targeted by the shooter Some people have taken to the internet to reveal that they believe the shooting of Mims might be related to the murder of Young Dolph (born Adolph Robert Thornton Jr.) in November 2021. The rapper, who was 36 at the time, was fatally shot in Memphis whilst visiting Makeda's Homemade Butter Cookies, a bakery he frequently visited whenever he was back home. That shooting, along with Saturday's homicide that claimed the life of Mims, both happened not too far from Gotti's restaurant. At last check, investigators had not released any information about any suspects connected to the case. Robert Irwin and his girlfriend Rorie Buckey have taken their relationship to new heights as they enjoyed a romantic snow trip together. On Sunday, the wildlife warrior, 20, took to Instagram to share photos and footage from his trip, swapping the soaring Queensland sun for snow fall. In one photo, Robert can be seen posing alongside an oversized stuffed bear, dressed in winter gear. He also shared a video of him soaking up the scenic views of the snowy landscape, with snow-capped trees and mountains in the background. Another clip sees an excited Robert trying his luck at snowboarding down a mountain. Robert Irwin and his girlfriend Rorie Buckey have taken their relationship to new heights as they enjoyed a romantic snow trip together. Both pictured On Sunday, the wildlife warrior, 20, took to Instagram to share photos and footage from his trip, swapping the soaring Queensland sun for snow fall Robert also shared candid moments of the couple taking a break, sipping on hot drinks, while huddled together in the cold. The loved-up couple appeared to be having a ball in Canada as seen in Rorie's several Instagram snaps. It comes after Robert revealed his girlfriend would be accompanying him when he goes to South Africa to shoot I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! early this year. He also shared a video of him soaking up the scenic views of the snowy landscape Robert looked like the ultimate snowboard pro with his black and blue board 'Rorie's coming over,' Irwin told the Daily Telegraph last week. He also revealed the rest of the Irwin clan would be joining him for the trip. 'I've got everyone, including my little niece Grace, coming over, so the whole family are there.' The loved-up couple appeared to be having a ball in Canada as seen in Rorie's several Instagram snaps. Pictured holding hands as they strolled along a footpath Robert and Rorie went Instagram official in August, after months of rumours they were dating. Rorie reportedly completed an Irwin-approved 'wildlife warrior boot camp' before she and Robert became an official couple. Woman's Day claimed last month that Rorie had to win over the family by having a willingness to get out into nature. The pair are currently in a long-distance relationship, with Robert based at Australia Zoo in Queensland while Rorie is in Perth. Other snaps include Rorie showing off her sleek black ski outfit Robert is also reportedly planning to pop the question to his girlfriend. According to New Idea magazine, he could propose when his girlfriend visits him in Africa while he films I'm A Celebrity in the coming months. 'Everyone is convinced he is aiming to pop the question when they're in Africa,' an insider said. 'Robert is crazy about her and is planning something unforgettable when he formally proposes. They both know it is part of their plans so he's been dreaming up special ways to make it a surprise.' Rorie also shared breathtaking scenic shots of the snowy resort landscape And a gorgeous river peppered with snow The source went on to say Robert and Rorie are taking their relationship 'very serious' and have been planning a future together. Robert and Rorie, who is the niece of legendary Australian actor Heath Ledger, have plenty in common and both grew up in the public eye after suffering the devastating loss of a family member. Heath was at the top of his Hollywood career when he was found dead in January 2008 following an accidental prescription drug overdose. Robert's father Steve Irwin, known to the world as the 'Crocodile Hunter', died aged 44 on September 4, 2006, after being pierced in the chest by a stingray. Simone Holtznagel is getting into the swing of celebrations ahead of the birth of her first child. The Australian model, who is expecting the baby with celebrity trainer partner Jono Castano, attended a luxurious baby shower on Sunday. The 30-year-old strolled into the Hotel Centennial in Sydney's Woollahra in a white sheer dress. The gown clung to her figure and her blossoming bump with the lace panel putting it on show. Simone piled her blonde locks high on her head in a 1960s style hairdo and chose a warm toned makeup look with a dark nude lipstick. Simone Holtznagel (pictured) is getting into the swing of celebrations ahead of the birth of her first child The Australian model, who is expecting the baby with celebrity trainer partner Jono Castano, attended a luxurious baby shower on Sunday The 30-year-old strolled into the Hotel Centennial in Sydney 's Woollahra in a white sheer dress She kept her accessories light, adding some fine chains, while carrying a white designer purse and finishing the ensemble with a number of bracelets. The beauty looked delighted as she embraced her friends at the function, flaunting the revealing back of the dress. The pink themed party appears to indicate that the couple are having a baby girl. Inside the shindig, Simone posed alongside friends and family including her partner's ex Amy Castano. The gown clung to her figure and her blossoming bump with the lace panel putting it on show Simone piled her blonde locks high on her head in a 1960s style hairdo She also chose a warm toned makeup look with a dark nude lipstick She kept her accessories light, adding some fine chains, while carrying a white designer purse and finishing the ensemble with a number of bracelets The beauty looked delighted as she embraced her friends at the function The model also invited along Christian Wilkins, with the pair smiling for selfies side by side. Loved ones were all too keen to congratulate the mother-to-be as she posed alongside a sign welcoming guests. Simone went public with the exciting news that she and Jono were expecting their first child together in November. She revealed in an Instagram post that the couple are due in March and they had already decided on a name. Inside the shindig, Simone posed alongside friends and family including her partner's ex Amy Castano (right) Loved ones were all too keen to congratulate the mother-to-be She posed alongside a sign welcoming guests The model also invited along Christian Wilkins (left), with the pair smiling for selfies side by side as Christian held a pink fan The beauty's bump was on show during the event Simone recently said she has been 'preparing her body to give birth' by seeing a pelvic floor health expert. 'I am working with Saila @wonderawayofbeing in the lead up to giving birth. She's an expert in pelvic floor health and does the best pregnancy massage,' she wrote. 'Feeling so much more confident after only two visits. I'll be seeing her postpartum to and so will the baby.' The stunner, who went public with her relationship with the celebrity trainer in 2022, told Who magazine she was overjoyed with the news. Simone recently said she has been 'preparing her body to give birth' by seeing a pelvic floor health expert She showed off the revealing back of her dress The stunner, who went public with her relationship with the celebrity trainer in 2022, told Who magazine she was overjoyed with the news 'Kids have always been in our plan. We started talking about it more and more and then it just happened,' she told the publication Simone was seen opening some of her baby shower gifts Simone told the magazine she discovered she was pregnant after she felt unusually sick following a holiday to the Maldives to celebrate her 30th birthday She decided to take a pregnancy test 'on a whim' and it turned out to be morning sickness The pink theme of the party seems to indicate that Simone is having a girl 'Kids have always been in our plan. We started talking about it more and more and then it just happened,' she told the publication. Simone told the magazine she discovered she was pregnant after she felt unusually sick following a holiday to the Maldives to celebrate her 30th birthday. She decided to take a pregnancy test 'on a whim' and it turned out to be morning sickness. 'The first couple of weeks were a little bit tricky but not as bad as some people have it. We're very grateful,' she added. Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) and his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong. (Photo: VNA) The leader was seen off at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong municipal Peoples Committee Nguyen Duc Tho, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong, and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi, among others. During his visit, President Widodo laid a wreath in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi and fallen combatants at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs in the capital city. Following the official welcome ceremony, he held talks with President Vo Van Thuong, witnessed the singing of cooperation documents, met with the press and attended a banquet hosted by the Vietnamese leader. The President had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and the two leaders co-chaired a high-level business dialogue. He also met with Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue. At the talks and meetings, the host leaders stressed the importance Vietnam attaches to the traditional relationship and strategic partnership between the two countries. They highly valued achievements that Indonesia has recorded in both home and external affairs under the leadership of President Widodo over the past two tenures, and congratulated Indonesia on its successful performance of the G20 Presidency in 2022, and ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Chairmanship last year. The leaders noted their hope that Indonesia will successfully organise its upcoming general election and further develop, for peace and cooperation in the region and the world. For his part, President Widodo expressed his delight to visit Vietnam for the second time in his capacity as the President of Indonesia, and thanked Vietnam for supporting Indonesia in performing the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, saying Indonesia wishes to enhance its traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam its only strategic partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Both sides rejoiced at the strong, dynamic development of the bilateral strategic partnership, saying Indonesia is Vietnams third largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is Indonesias fourth biggest trading partner in the group. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade still grew significantly, from 9 billion USD in 2019 to nearly 14 billion USD last year. For future cooperation orientations, the leaders consented to foster political trust through delegation exchanges and contacts, the effective implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and the early building of the 2024-2028 action programme. Given the significant cooperative outcomes over the past nearly 70 years, the two countries should early lift their strategic partnership to a new level, they said. The leaders witnessed the exchange of an MoU on cooperation in information and communications technology, and another on cooperation in fishing. Within the visit, the two Presidents watched a martial arts and musical programme performed by athletes, soldiers, and artists of the Vietnam Peoples Army in Hanoi./. Christine McGuinness put on a racy display on Saturday as she headed for a night out in Leeds in a leather mini-dress and thigh-high boots. The model, 35, was spotted linking arms with a male friend as she headed to Habbibi by Abdu Rozik Bar and Restaurant Launch. She looked sensational in the all-black ensemble, which she layered with a cropped blazer. The mother-of-three finished off the look with a collection of silver necklaces and bracelets, including a handcuffs earrings-necklace set, and wore her blonde locks in loose waves. Her appearance comes as she was reportedly left 'devastated' after finding out her ex husband Paddy is making a 'mockumentary about their divorce.' Christine McGuinness put on a racy display on Saturday as she headed for a night out in Leeds in a leather mini-dress and thigh-high boots The model, 35, was spotted linking arms with a male friend as she headed to Hibbibi Bar and Restaurant Launch Christine and the presenter, 50, announced they had parted ways in July last year after 11 years of marriage, later adding that they ended their relationship earlier in the year. The amicable former couple still live together in their family home to co-parent their children, Penelope, nine, and twins Felicity and Leo, seven - who all have autism. According to The Sun, a friend close to Christine has revealed that she found out about Paddy's plan after reading about it online. They told the publication: 'Christine is distraught that their divorce is going to be the butt of the jokes.' The source continued: 'She's completely broken over the divorce and we are genuinely worried about her. 'Paddy didn't tell her about the pilot. The fact she had to find out online, like everyone else, that he was doing this has broken her even more.' MailOnline contacted Christine's representative for comment when the news broke. News of the mockumentary came after Christine revealed to MailOnline that she has more meltdowns now than ever before and is ready to show her authentic self after hiding behind a smile. The mother-of-three looked sensational in the all-black ensemble, which she layered with a cropped blazer Christine finished off the look with a collection of silver necklaces and bracelets, including a hadncuffs earrings-necklace set, and wore her blonde locks in loose waves The TV personality and the presenter, 50, announced they had parted ways in July last year after 11 years of marriage (pictured in 2019) She opened up about how much she has been struggling recently and admitted that it is 'exhausting pretending to be fine'. In an exclusive chat with MailOnline, Christine, from Liverpool, revealed that she still has days when she needs to cancel plans because she is so burnt out. Christine, who has autism and ADHD, lives a busy life as she balances the workload of motherhood, presenting gigs, making TV appearances, and launching her own line of lifestyle products. When asked how she manages her seemingly endless list of responsibilities, Christine told MailOnline: 'I don't, and that is to be completely honest. I don't manage it as well as what I present like I manage it. I still have meltdowns. I probably have more meltdowns than ever.' She continued: 'I still have days where, you know, I'll cancel plans because I burn out. My main resolution this year is to try and plan better try and make sure that I schedule things to make sure that I get time off in between. 'The most important thing for me is to focus on my children, be a good mum and be present as much as possible while trying to be a businesswoman and try and look after myself. But it is something I'm still learning about.' Christine was diagnosed with autism and ADHD in 2020 after spending the majority of her life confused as to why she acted differently from everyone else growing up. The blonde beauty still lives with comedian and estranged husband Paddy despite announcing their split last July after 11 years of marriage In an exclusive chat with MailOnline, Christine, from Liverpool, revealed that she still has days when she needs to cancel plans because she is so burnt out Now, after four years of living with her diagnosis, the TV personality is still trying to understand herself and how her 'brain works differently to others'. While promoting her new launch, Lifestyle By Christine McGuinness, she said: 'I got diagnosed autistic about four years ago, and then ADHD. And not long after that I am trying to understand myself and figure out how my brain works differently to others. It is still a learning curve every day, but I am getting there.' Christine has had a difficult couple of years following her split from Paddy and supporting her mother, who has spent nearly half a decade battling cancer. Claire Danes ensured she claimed the spotlight on Saturday evening as FX and Vanity Fair co-hosted a star-studded Hollywood party. The Homeland actress commanded attention in a shimmering silver gown as she posed for photos at Sunset Towers, where she was attending the Fearless Television Emmy party. The sleeveless halter-neck proved to be a fashion high-point as Danes, 44, rubbed shoulders with guests including her Fleishman Is In Trouble co-star Lizzy Caplan. Caplan, 41, was accompanied by her husband, British actor Tom Riley, while making her way into the Hollywood venue ahead of her latest public appearance. While Danes stole the show, her co-star looked equally stylish in a plunging black lace and silk evening gown that accentuated her slender physique. Claire Danes ensured she claimed the spotlight on Saturday evening as FX and Vanity Fair co-hosted a star-studded Hollywood party Her sleeveless halter-neck proved to be a fashion high-point as Danes rubbed shoulders with guests including fellow actress Lizzy Caplan at the Sunset Towers event Other guests on the night included man-of-the-moment Jeremy Allen White, whose profile has soared courtesy of his starring role in a recent Calvin Klein underwear campaign. Fortunately the briefs were covered beneath a pair of loose-fitting dress trousers as White, 32, greeted onlookers on the red carpet. Hollywood legend Danny DeVito, 79, also joined the party alongside his actress daughter Lucy, 40. Both Danes and Kaplan have received Emmy nominations for their respective roles in FX drama Fleishman Is In Trouble, while White features for his lead role in HBO smash The Bear. HBO's Succession has topped this year's nominations list with 27, followed by post-apocalyptic drama The Last of Us at 24 and The White Lotus at 23. Perennial favorite Ted Lasso leads the comedy section with 21 nods. Danes appeared to be attending the event without husband Hugh Dancy, with whom she also shares sons Cyrus, 11, and Rowan, six. The couple met in 2006 while working together on the film Evening, with their engagement following little more than a year later. In 2009 they exchanged vows during an intimate service in France. Caplan was accompanied by her husband, British actor Tom Riley, while making her way into the Hollywood venue ahead of her latest public appearance Both Danes and Kaplan have received Emmy nominations for their respective roles in FX drama Fleishman Is In Trouble Other guests on the night included man-of-the-moment Jeremy Allen White , whose profile has soared courtesy of his starring role in a recent Calvin Klein underwear campaign Abby Elliott (left) and Ayo Edebiri (right) are pictured at the FX and Vanity Fair party on Saturday evening Hollywood legend Danny DeVito also joined the party alongside his actress daughter Lucy This romantic union unfolded shortly after Danes had garnered attention for her involvement with Billy Crudup, who, at the time, left his pregnant wife, Mary-Louise Parker. Danes and Cruddup's relationship lasted for two years before they decided to part ways. 'That was a scary thing,' Danes said of the scandal to Howard Stern in 2015. 'That was really hard. I didnt know how to not do that. 'I was just in love with him and needed to explore that, and I was 24 I didnt quite know what those consequences would be But its OK I went through it.' Danes had spoken out about the affair before: 'That was a choice I made to fall in love,' she told BlackBook in 2009. 'Its unpleasant to be cast in such an unflattering role, but I just had to remain steadfast.' Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis posed for a red carpet photo on Saturday evening Danes (left) stole the show in her silver gown as she joined actress Diane Lane (right) at the star-studded event Hannah Waddingham looked like she was having a ball on Saturday, as she attended the Warner Bros. Television Group's pre-Emmys party in Los Angeles. The network threw a glitzy bash ahead of the Emmy Awards on Monday evening, in celebration of their nominees. Hannah, 49, has been nominated this year for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso. She has been nominated for the prize every year for the past three ceremonies and won the gong in 2021. The actress ensured all eyes were on her as she donned a blue satin suit for the star-studded event. Hannah Waddingham looked like she was having a ball on Saturday, as she attended the Warner Bros. Television Group's pre-Emmys party in LA (pictured with Channing Dungey) The network threw a glitzy bash ahead of the Emmy Awards on Monday evening, in celebration of their nominees (Hannah pictured with Zach Braff) Hannah, 49, has been nominated this year for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Rebecca Welton in Ted Lasso (pictured) She opted to wear only a black bra underneath her blazer, showing a peek at her ample cleavage. Hannah added a touch of sparkle to her outfit with a pair of large silver hoop earrings, while her blonde hair was artfully styled into a voluminous quiff. She happily posed alongside Warner Bros. CEO and Chairwoman Channing Dungey, and her Ted Lasso co-stars. She hugged a dapper looking Kola Bokinni, who plays Isaac McAdoo and who sported a white suit and striped shirt with quirky sleeves. Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas in the series, looked handsome in a deep rose coloured jacket and purple shirt. Sam Richardson is up for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Edwin Akufo in Ted Lasso, which he won last year. Phil Dunster and Brett Goldstein, who star in the series as Jamie Tartt and Roy Kent respectively, playfully acted up for the cameras. They posed with Shrinking star Jessica Williams, who is up against Hannah in her Emmy category, and who dazzled in a gold beaded gown. She has been nominated for the prize every year for the past three ceremonies and won the gong in 2021 (pictured) The actress ensured all eyes were on her as she donned a blue satin suit, opting to wear only a black bra underneath to show a peek at her ample cleavage (pictured with Arianna DeBose and Jason Segel) She hugged a dapper looking Kola Bokinni, who plays Isaac McAdoo in Ted Lasso and who sported a white suit and striped shirt with quirky sleeves Cristo Fernandez, who plays Dani Rojas in the series, looked handsome in a deep rose coloured jacket and purple shirt Sam Richardson is up for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for playing Edwin Akufo in Ted Lasso, which he won last year Phil Dunster and Brett Goldstein, who star in the series as Jamie Tartt and Roy Kent respectively, playfully acted up for the cameras Her co-star Jason Segel, who co-created the series and is nominated for Lead Comedy Actor for playing Jimmy Laird, looked suave in a black suit. He was joined by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, who holds the record for the most Emmy nominated individual with 98 nods. Jason also cosied up to Quinta Brunson, creator and star of Abbott Elementary, who looked stunning in a floral black dress with daring lace cutouts. She is up for three Emmy Awards this year and was proudly joined by her glamorous co-stars Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Fellow Abbott Elementary stars William Stanford Davis, Tyler James Williams and Chris Perfetti cut handsome figures as they arrived at the bash. Gregory Eddie' actor Tyler caught the eye in a tiger-striped jumper alongside Lisa, who plays Melissa Schemmenti, who stood out in a red leather dress. The 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will honour the best in American prime time television programming from June 1, 2022, until May 31, 2023, will be taking place at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on January 15. They posed with Shrinking star Jessica Williams, who is up against Hannah in her Emmy category, and who dazzled in a gold beaded gown Her co-star Jason Segel, who co-created the series and is nominated for Lead Comedy Actor for playing Jimmy Laird, looked suave in a black suit He was joined by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, who holds the record for the most Emmy nominated individual with 98 nods Quinta Brunson, creator and star of Abbott Elementary, looked stunning in a floral black dress with daring lace cutouts (pictured with Channing and Brett) She is up for three Emmy Awards this year and was proudly joined by her glamorous co-stars Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, and Sheryl Lee Ralph Fellow Abbott Elementary stars William Stanford Davis, Tyler James Williams and Chris Perfetti cut handsome figures as they arrived at the bash Costumes and props from the hit TV drama Succession have sold at auction for over 200,000. They included designer suits and outfits worn by the three bickering siblings - Kendall, Roman and Shiv Roy. However it was a prop used by one of the Roys which fetched the highest price when sold at auction - a copy of the speech disastrously made by Roman Roy at his father's funeral which sold for 19,600. Greg Hirsch's iconic Doderick the dog furry costume and customised backpack, which he wore in the very first episode of the Emmy-award winning drama, fetched 6,100. The high-grossing auction comes days after Kieran Culkin, 41, and Sarah Snook, 36, triumphed at the 2024 Golden Globes, snapping up the Best Actor and Best Actress in a TV drama awards for their roles as Roman and Shiv. Kieran's 'Roman Roy' Walmart children's t-shirt and old navy shorts combo was one of the outfits from TV drama Succession that was sold at auction Greg Hirsch's iconic Doderick the dog furry costume (pictured with other props and costumes up for auction) and customised backpack, which he wore in the very first episode of the Emmy-award winning drama, fetched 6,100 Some of the stylish power suits worn by actress Sarah included the black ensemble she wore for father Logan Roy's funeral - which took in 1,700. Max Mara size 6, black and white dress she wore in an episode in season two where she deals with a company sex scandal achieved a price of 1,100. A Tom Ford black blazer and Sergio Hudson tuxedo trousers she wore at elder brother Connor's wedding, also in season four, sold for 2,100. And an Alexander McQueen grey blazer with Michael Kors black trousers and Jimmy Choo stiletto shoes ensemble sold for 1,750. Meanwhile, a grey Prada suit worn by Kendall sold for almost 6,000 while a pair of his Oliver Peoples sunglasses went for 5,000. And a large Burberry handbag carried by Greg's date Bridget for Logan Roy's birthday party in season four went for almost 15,000. Kieran's 'Roman Roy' Walmart children's t-shirt and old navy shorts combo was also sold at auction. Of the high-priced props, the prepared Waystar Royco statement meant to publicly absolve the company of any wrong-doing in a scandal only to be ripped up by Kendall Roy who instead called his father a 'malignant presence, a bully, and a liar', sold for almost 15,000. The handwritten statement Shiv hastily prepared and read from after her father's untimely death sold for almost 14,000. A mock-up Forbes magazine with a photo of Kendall Roy on the front cover sold for 3,750. A mock-up Forbes magazine with a photo of Kendall Roy on the front cover sold for 3,750 It was a prop used by one of the Roys which fetched the highest price when sold at auction - a copy of the speech disastrously made by Roman Roy at his father's funeral which sold for 19,600 Some of the stylish power suits worn by actress Sarah included her Max Mara suit from season 4 and a grey Prada suit worn by Kendall sold for almost 6,000 while a pair of his Oliver Peoples sunglasses went for 5,000 Logan Roy's Boar on the Floor game prop sausages, boar tag, photo album and shot glasses also went up for auction Other props included the Waystar Royco lanyard ID passes from Kendall and for Tom Wambsgans, played by British actor Matthew Macfadyen. They sold for a combined 10,000. In all over 200 props and costumes from the HBO show, which has run for four series since 2017, were sold at Heritage Auctions, of Dallas, US. A spokesperson for Heritage said: 'This auction was akin to stepping into the Roys' endless closets full of fashion that merely whisper wealth; it's brand-name bingo, four seasons' worth of coveted, craveable clothing available in a single sitting. 'The sale was a singular opportunity for fans to own something iconic from one of their favourite characters or sets.' Sarah won a Golden Globe on Sunday for her critically acclaimed role in the HBO drama as Siobhan 'Shiv' Roy. The Australian actress, who hails from Adelaide, took home the Best Actress in TV series, Drama statuette for her portrayal of the political strategist and media heir. She beat the likes of Emma Stone (The Curse), Imelda Staunton (The Crown), Helen Mirren (1923), Kerri Russell (The Diplomat) and Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) in her category. 'This show, it's changed my life,' Snook said in her acceptance speech, before thanking her fellow cast and crew. 'This was a team effort, it was always that was what made the show amazing.' Meanwhile, later on in the evening it was Kieran Culkin who earned Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series Drama. Other props included the Waystar Royco lanyard ID passes from Kendall and for Tom Wambsgans, played by British actor Matthew Macfadyen. They sold for a combined 10,000 Australian actress Sarah Snook won a Golden Globe for her critically acclaimed role in HBO drama Succession Later on in the evening it was Kieran Culkin who earned Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series Drama The actor and brother of Macaulay Culkin began his speech as hilariously as predicted as he said: 'Oh, nightmare! Ugh! Sit down! Boy, thank you. Sorry, I'm burping indigestion. Didn't need to say that. 'Otherwise, this is a nice moment for me. I've blown it already. You are right. You said "Just say thanks and leave." You are right. I was nominated for a golden globe like 20 years ago, and when that moment passed, I still remember thinking, I'm never going to be back in this room again. Which is fine, whatever. But thanks to Succession I've been in here a couple times.' He then poked fun at fellow nominee Pedro Pascal. Kieran continued: 'It's nice, but I excepted I would never be on the stage, so this is a nice moment. Suck it, Pedro. [Laughter] Mine! Really quickly, I'd like to thank everybody on Succession. Our writers, the amazing cast, everybody that showed up that believed in this thing and that it was very cool.' Matthew Macfadyen was the first person in the Succession cast to earn a Golden Globe on Sunday evening. The 49-year-old British actor beat out two of his castmates on the highly-popular HBO series to win Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role on Television. The Queen's third cousin Princess Olga Romanoff is reportedly in talks to star in the new Celebrity Big Brother series. The Sunday Mirror reports that the aristocrat, 73, is being looked into to feature in the line-up after the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson ruled herself out. ITV are thought to be wanting someone with a royal connection on the show which returns in March after Sarah, 64, denied her involvement. Her spokesperson said in December: 'The duchess will not be appearing on this show'. Olga could join a host of rumoured stars in the Big Brother house including Shirley Ballas, Rebekah Vardy and Louis Walsh. The Queen's third cousin Princess Olga Romanoff is reportedly in talks to star in the new Celebrity Big Brother series The Sunday Mirror reports that the aristocrat, 73, is being looked into to feature in the line-up after the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson ruled herself out Princess Olga has done a string of Channel 4 shows including The Royal House of Windsor and The Big Celebrity Detox. A source said of Olga's potential involvement: 'They're determined Celebrity Big Brother's comeback will be a real attention-grabber so they're thinking outside the box. 'Sarah's decision to rule herself out was a blow so when Princess Olga's team agreed to a virtual meeting they were really interested to meet her and see what she could bring to the table.' A Big Brother spokesperson said: 'Any housemate suggestions for Celebrity Big Brother are pure speculation.' Despite her aristocratic heritage, the outspoken Princess has a no-nonsense attitude and previously said she was unsuited to royal life. Olga told the Telegraph that she would have made a 'lousy imperial princess,' adding that she 'would rather shovel s*** than have to be very charming and dressed up on a daily basis.' Princess Olga added that if she was to liken herself to a Downton Abbey character, it would be Lady Sybil - a non-conforming aristocrat who ran off with a chauffeur. Having been branded the Queen's 'rebellious cousin' due to her forthright manners, Olga said she felt the soubriquet didn't really apply to her, because she never did drugs of strayed from conventions when she was younger. ITV are thought to be wanting someone with a royal connection on the show which returns in March after Sarah, 64, (seen) denied her involvement Olga (seen) could join a host of rumoured stars in the Big Brother house including Shirley Ballas , Rebekah Vardy and Louis Walsh Princess Olga has done a string of Channel 4 shows including The Royal House of Windsor and The Big Celebrity Detox Princess Olga is pictured here with her parents, Nadine and Prince Andrei Alexandrovich Romanoff She said she never drank or 'screwed around,' as a young woman, but admitted she would have liked to rebel against the establishment. Speaking to the publication, she also insisted that the interviewer called her Olga, adding: 'No one gives a stuff about titles any more.' The Romanov family ruled Russia since the 17th century. But their reign met a bloody end with the Russian Revolution, which saw 15 members of the royal family murdered. The Bolsheviks assassinated Tsar Nicholas II, his wife Alexandra and their five children in 1918 bringing the Russian monarchy to an end. Princess Olga Romanoff is the daughter of Nadine Sylvia Ada McDougall and Prince Andrei Alexandrovich, Tsar Nicholas II's oldest nephew, who fled Russia on a British warship in 1919. He was 'due to be shot', says Princess Olga, who believes family escaped Russia 'by the skin of their teeth'. The Romanoffs are linked to the British monarchy because Victoria's daughter Princess Alice was mother-in-law to Tsar Nicholas II and grandmother to his children, including Anastasia. Olga Romanoff is descended from Nicholas's sister, Grand Duchess Xenia. Prince Philip was also related to the Romanovs through his parents. Philip was the great-nephew of Alexandra Romanov, Tsar Nicholas II's wife, and the last Tsarina of Russia. This means that King Charles III and Prince William and Prince Harry are related to the Romanovs, too. When the remains of two of Nicholas's children, thought to be Maria and Alexei Romanov, were discovered in a field in 2007, Prince Philip's DNA was used to try and identify them. Nicholas II was Russia's last ruler and also the first cousin of King George V, Elizabeth's grandfather. There is another connection between the families on the female side. Queen Elizabeth's great-grandmother Queen Alexandra of Denmark, who married King Edward VII, had a sister, Maria Feodorovna who married Alexander III of Russia. Princess Olga's grandmother Xenia set up home in the UK with the help of her cousin, King George V. A family tree showing our Royal Family's links with the Romanoffs Other celebrities in talks to take part are said to be WAG Rebekah Vardy (pictured) and former X Factor judge Louis Walsh A TV insider said: 'The team don't just want big names in there they want stars who will bring something truly intriguing. Louis is just the kind of figure they want in the house, he has something to say and isn't afraid to say it' (Louis Walsh pictured 2021) She says that, after they fled Russia, her family spent some time living at Buckingham Palace. Queen Elizabeth was a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and Prince Philip was Victoria's great-great-grandson - the royal married couple were third cousins. Victoria is widely known as the 'grandmother of Europe' as her children married into various different royal families across different countries in the continent. Through her mother, Princess Olga is also a descendant of William Paterson, who founded the Bank of England in 1694. BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell has revealed that he was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer after a tumour was discovered following a bike crash. Glenn, 48, said the rare tumour is 'almost certainly what will kill me' but revealed it was a type which tends to 'respond to treatment better than many other types'. The journalist spent several days in hospital in Edinburgh in June last year after coming off his bike in an accident which saw him break 10 ribs. Six weeks later, while recovering at home, Glenn found he couldn't walk or talk and after being taken to hospital, an MRI scan revealed a tumour on the right hand side of his brain. Speaking in detail about his diagnosis since revealing he was to have surgery last August, Glenn said: 'I do have an incurable brain cancer. It is almost certainly what will kill me, but I am optimistic that need not happen for a long time yet. Glenn underwent successful surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, with Campbell saying neurosurgeon Paul Brennan and his team managed to remove 'almost all' of the tumour without damaging healthy brain tissue 'I have a rare tumour called an oligodendroglioma, which tends to respond better to treatment than many other types.' He underwent successful surgery at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, with Campbell saying neurosurgeon Paul Brennan and his team managed to remove 'almost all' of the tumour without damaging healthy brain tissue. When the cancer type was confirmed after 'a few weeks' wait, he said: 'I was lucky. About as lucky as someone in my position can be.' In an article for the BBC, Glenn, who revealed he was diagnosed with brain cancer in August last year, said the hardest thing had been telling his children Cameron, 20, and Katie, 17, what was happening to him. 'Getting through that without breaking down was a relief,' he admitted. 'I was surprised to discover that I am not afraid of dying. It turns out my biggest fear is FOMO - the fear of missing out. 'Missing out on growing old with my wife. Missing out on seeing my children complete their journeys into adulthood. Missing out on their graduations, weddings and the arrival of any children they might have.' Weeks after the bike crash, Glenn woke clutching his arm, suffering from a 'strong burning sensation' and 'could not walk or talk coherently'. In an article for the BBC, Glenn, who revealed he was diagnosed with brain cancer in August last year, said the hardest thing had been telling his children Cameron, 20, and Katie, 17, what was happening to him He recalled how he involuntarily bit his tongue and started bleeding, and how his wife Claire thought he was having a stroke. After the seizure he was diagnosed with incurable cancer. Since then he has had 33 'blasts' of radiotherapy treatment, along with chemotherapy, which he started before Christmas. Campbell says he has 'remained healthy and active' throughout, having been able to 'keep working, keep walking my dog and climb a few mountains'. However he said radiotherapy has been very tiring while chemotherapy leaves him nauseous and fatigued. But he added: 'If this phase of my treatment is successful it should be possible to keep my tumour in check for some years to come. He said he wanted to speak about his cancer diagnosis and treatment 'in the hope that it might offer encouragement to others'. The journalist also said he has started a 'fundraising community called Brain Power to raise money for the charity Brain Tumour Research'. Campbell said the charity is working to establish its fifth UK research centre in Scotland, 'to scale up the work scientists are already doing at Edinburgh and Glasgow universities and help them progress promising new therapies into clinical trials'. Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell looked very close following Strictly tour rehearsals this week. The EastEnders actor, 20, and the pro dancer, 34, were busy working on their routines before heading back to the hotel were they appeared very affectionate with each other. He held her head in an embrace before touching her mouth with his finger after they got out of a taxi. It comes after Bobby called Dianne the 'love of his life' in a recent TikTok video which The Sun claims prompted one of his followers to call him 'disrespectful' to Dianne's partner Joe Sugg. The publication also reports that the clip prompted Bobby to hit back at another comment - which has now been deleted - that read: 'He rlly is not beating these allegations saying stuff like that', as he wrote in response: 'Not my job to beat allegations.' Bobby Brazier and Dianne Buswell looked very close following Strictly tour rehearsals this week The EastEnders actor, 20, and the pro dancer, 34, were busy working on their routines before heading back to the hotel were they appeared very affectionate with each other He held her head in an embrace before touching her mouth with his finger after they got out of a taxi He avoided responding to comments about Joe, as one more allegedly put: 'It shows he's not the nice cheeky lad he makes out to be so disrespectful.' However, some fans did jump to defend Bobby, with one writing: 'Why do people assume if someone says they're the love of my life it means romantically? The love of my life is my best mate.' Another agreed: 'Aww, leave Bobby alone he's only being kind or isn't that allowed bless him he deserves respect. Not knocking down.' The actor, who plays Freddie Slater in the BBC soap, made the revelation about his feelings on TikTok earlier this week. While running to the shops he said: 'As you all know, Dianne is the love of my life. So, this morning I'm baking her some carrot muffins that she fancies.' He then fed his creation to the dancer who declared them: 'Very very good!'. The Strictly Come Dancing live UK tour begins its 30-date leg on January 19 in Birmingham and will travel around the country. Celebrities including Angela Scanlon, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Annabel Croft, Bobby and Ellie will join the Strictly professional dancers on the tour across the UK. It comes after Bobby called Dianne the 'love of his life' in a recent TikTok video which The Sun claims prompted one of his followers to call him 'disrespectful' to Dianne's partner Joe Sugg The publication also reports that the clip prompted Bobby to hit back at another comment - which has now been deleted It read: 'He rlly is not beating these allegations saying stuff like that', as he wrote in response: 'Not my job to beat allegations' He avoided responding to comments about Joe, as one more allegedly put: 'It shows he's not the nice cheeky lad he makes out to beso disrespectful' However, some fans did jump in to defend Bobby's antics, with one writing: 'Why do people assume if someone says they're the love of my life it means romantically? The love of my life is my best mate' Another agreed: 'Aww, leave Bobby alone he's only being kind or isn't that allowed bless him he deserves respect. Not knocking down' The actor, who plays Freddie Slater in the BBC soap, made the revelation about his feelings on TikTok earlier this week While running to the shops he said: 'As you all know, Dianne is the love of my life. So, this morning I'm baking her some carrot muffins that she fancies' Since the series ended, Dianne has revealed her surprising career plans as she said she has 'other ambitions'. Speaking to Heat magazine, the Australian star revealed that she is keen to give acting ago. She said: 'It'll be my eighth year of Strictly next year and I've been so lucky with all my partners. They've all brought something different, and you learn a lot from each person. 'But I have other ambitions, too. I've always wanted to dip into acting, so I'd like to try and explore that.' Dianne is a woman of many talents, having transitioning to dancing from hairdressing while she also designs a casual clothing range, Buswellness. If she returns to Strictly for the 2024 series, Dianne will be one of the longest-serving dancers on the BBC show. In her first year back in 2017, Dianne was partnered with Reverend Richard Coles. A year later, she was teamed with social media star Joe Sugg and the pair made it all the way to the final, while they also fell in love. She has recently returned back to the UK after jetting off to her native Australia for Christmas, when she shared an array of sweet snaps with her boyfriend Joe. Dianne travelled to her homeland of Australia to spend the whole of Christmas with her cancer-stricken father Mark and the rest of her family. The Strictly Come Dancing live UK tour begins its 30-date leg on January 19 in Birmingham and will travel around the country Celebs including Angela Scanlon, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Angela Rippon, Layton Williams, Annabel Croft, Bobby and Ellie Leach will join the pro dancers on the tour across the UK Since the series ended, Dianne has revealed her surprising career plans as she said she has 'other ambitions' Speaking to Heat magazine, the Australian star revealed that she is quite keen to give acting ago If she returns to Strictly for the 2024 series, Dianne will be one of the longest-serving dancers on the BBC show In her first year back in 2017, Dianne was partnered with Reverend Richard Coles. A year later, she was teamed with social media star Joe Sugg and the pair made it all the way to the final, while they also fell in love She has recently returned back to the UK after jetting off to her native Australia for Christmas, when she shared an array of sweet snaps with her boyfriend Joe Dianne travelled to her homeland of Australia to spend the whole of Christmas with her cancer-stricken father Mark and the rest of her family She recently gave fans an update, sharing that her father started the third round of his chemotherapy treatment last week She recently gave fans an update, sharing that her father started the third round of his chemotherapy treatment last week. Enjoying some well-needed family time with Joe, 32, and family, Dianne shared photos from their swanky Christmas spread. Joe and Dianne looked happier than ever as they posed cuddling up on the sand, enjoying the hot weather. Captioning her post, she wrote: 'I feel so blessed to have all these people in my life. Sending you all a merry Christmas, I hope your day is filled with love and happiness.' Keri Russell exuded glam as she and her partner Matthew Rhys, 49, attended the FX pre-Emmys party at the Tower Bar in West Hollywood on Saturday. The Diplomat star, 47, is nominated for an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama for her role in the Netflix spy thriller series. The mom of three who attended the Golden Globes last week wore a classic little black dress with a square neckline, long sleeves and a flounce at the hem, which ended several inches above her knees. The Felicity alum had her famous curly hair pulled into a low chignon and her makeup was flawlessly radiant and gave her complexion a dewy glow. Rhys, who is best known for playing Kevin Walker on Brothers & Sisters, wore a black suit and white shirt and eschewed a tie. The two started their romance 10 years ago after meeting on the set of their hit KGB-themed series The Americans. Keri Russell exuded glam as she and her partner Matthew Rhys , 49, attended the FX pre-Emmys party at the Tower Bar in West Hollywood Keri faces stiff competition in the Best Actress category on Monday night. She is up against Sharon Horgan, Bella Ramsey, Elisabeth Moss, Melanie Lynsky and Sarah Snook. Russell and Rhys played husband and wife on The Americans. Life imitated art and they fell in love and have been together since 2014. But that wasn't the first time the lovebirds met. In 2002 Rhys and Russell both attended a kick ball party and with some liquid courage he asked her out. 'I very drunkenly asked her for her number when she was a young, single slip of a thing,' the Girls alum revealed during a 2017 appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen. Russell didn't remember that until they reconnected on the set of The Americans a decade later, which she recalled in a back and forth with Rhys. 'We did all the readings together, and after a heavy dose of fight training, all sweaty at a lunch, you said, "You know, we've met before." The Diplomat star, 47, is nominated for an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama for her role in the Netflix spy thriller series The mom of three wore a classic little black dress with a square neckline, long sleeves and a flounce at the hem, which ended several inches above her knees The Diplomat poster with star Russell 'I said, "No, we haven't." You said, "Yeah, 10 years ago at a kickball party." As soon as you said that, I went, "Of course I remember that!"' When Russell and Rhys started shooting the FX drama she was still married to her first husband Shane Deary, a contractor. They married in February 2007. The former couple welcomed son River, 16, and daughter Willa, 12, before splitting in 2013. Russel and Rhys welcomed their son Sam in May 2016. Iconic actress Shirley MacLaine was seen heading to lunch in Malibu on Saturday. The Terms of Endearment actress, 89, looked to be in good spirits as she was accompanied by a female aide in the coastal town of California. The sister of Bonnie And Clyde actor Warren Beatty walked well with just a hand on the aide's arm. The Steel Magnolias actress wore a vibrant Kelly green ombre sweater with navy blue slacks and a black fuzzy vest. Her white hair looked amazing as it caught and reflected the sun's rays in the beach town. Legendary Oscar, Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe winner Shirley MacLaine, 89, was seen in Malibu on Saturday MacLaine made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's black comedy The Trouble with Harry (1955), earning her the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year Actress; she is pictured in a scene from the movie The Sweet Charity star is a Hollywood icon. She will turn 90 in April and her career has spanned seven decades. As a young girl, Shirley who was born Shirley MacLean Beaty wanted to be a ballerina. She started dancing at the age of three in 1937 after doctors told her it would strengthen her weak ankles. The Richmond, Virginia native moved to New York City to try her hand at acting the summer before her senior year in high school and made her acting debut on Broadway as a teenager. She landed roles in the chorus of Oklahoma! and The Pajama Game. In 1955 she made her film debut in Alfred Hitchcock's The Trouble with Harry and won the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year. Shirley rose to prominence with her starring roles in 1956's Around the World in 80 Days, 1958's Some Came Running, 1959's Ask Any Girl, 1960's The Apartment, 1961's The Children's Hour, 1963's Irma la Douce and 1969's Sweet Charity. Her ballet dancing dreams came true when she was cast in one of the lead roles in The Turning Point in 1977. The film was about the world of ballet in New York City and featured choreography by George Balanchine and the famed Alvin Ailey. She won her first Academy Award in 1984 for her role in the tearjerker Terms of Endearment. One of MacLaine's most memorable performances was in 1989's Steel Magnolias alongside Daryl Hannah, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton and Sally Field. The Terms of Endearment actress was accompanied by an aide for lunch in Malibu The Steel Magnolias actress wore a vibrant Kelly green sweater with navy blue pants and a black vest Her white hair looked amazing as it caught and reflected the sun's rays in the beach town The Sweet Charity star is an absolute Hollywood icon. She will turn 90 in April and her career has spanned seven decades MacLaine has been nominated for six Academy Awards during her illustrious career, five for Best Actress and once for Best documentary for her 1976 effort The Other Half of the Sky. She has also won six Golden Globes and an Emmy for Gypsy in My Soul. And she's not the only star or Oscar winner in her family. Her brother is Academy Award winner Warren Beatty, 86, and her sister-in-law is four time Oscar nominee Annette Bening, 65. She does not have an Instagram account, but she was on the social media platform last week. The actress was seen posing with French actress Juliette Binoche. The two pals were seen side by side on a sofa in a restaurant. Shirley had on a blue denim jacket over a turquoise top while The English Patient star wore a pale gray shirt over a Courreges T-shirt. 'Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2024 with Shirley MacLaine,' the European artist wrote in the caption for the selfies. MacLaine was seen posing with French actress Juliette Binoche last week. The two pals were seen side by side on a sofa in a restaurant Both have played French designer Coco Chanel. MacLaine portrayed the late fashion designer and businesswoman in the 2008 biopic Coco Chanel. Binoche is preparing to play Chanel in the Apple TV+ series The New Look, released February 14. The star, right, with Shirley Booth in Hot Spell in 1958 A report has emerged about Tracy Grimshaw's next TV project after leaving A Current Affair. The TV veteran, 63, is rumoured to be set to host a series called Do You Want To Live Forever? according to TV Blackbox. The Channel Nine docuseries was announced at the network's upfronts last September. According to the industry site's sources, Grimshaw will be announced as host at a media event in Melbourne on January 19. Do You Want To Live Forever? will examine if we really can wind back our biological clocks, analyse the secrets of living younger longer according to Nine's press release. A report has emerged about Tracy Grimshaw's next TV project after leaving A Current Affair. Pictured: Grimshaw It will also star Dr. Nick Coatsworth, who guides six Aussies on a powerful journey to stop the clock and turn back time. Tracy stepped away from ACA in 2022 with former Today co-host Ally Langdon filling her seat from January last year. Langdon revealed she was given priceless advice from Grimshaw, who helmed the show for 17 years. 'I spoke to Trace a lot in the lead up to the host announcement being made and I remember a conversation we had as she was driving in ahead of her final show,' she told The Herald Sun. Tracy stepped away from ACA in 2022 with former Today co-host Ally Langdon (pictured) filling her seat from January last year 'She said, 'Just be yourself, Ally, and follow what you want to follow''. Allison went on to say that Tracy advised her to know her audience. 'She told me to listen to the ACA audience; they are smart, they know what they are talking about, but find your own way and be authentic,' Allison explained. Channel Nine confirmed in December, 2022 that Ally would abandon her co-hosting role at Today to replace outgoing Grimshaw. 60 Minutes reporter Sarah Abo stepped in to fill Ally's spot alongside Karl Stefanovic as Today's new co-host. Ally shot down rumours of a 'professional rivalry' between herself and former colleague Stefanovic, describing him as being like a 'brother' to her. She has since settled into her role at ACA, with viewers praising her compassionate approach to difficult stories. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 13. The polling stations have already been equipped with webcams, said Deputy Chairman of Central Election Commission (CEC) Rovzat Gasimov during the meeting of the commission, Trend reports. According to Gasimov, webcams have been installed at 1000 polling stations, the process of technical regulation is underway and will be completed next week. CEC Chairman Mazahir Panahov noted that only CEC webcams should operate at polling stations during the election. He added that there are fire safety cameras at polling stations in secondary schools, but international organizations also sometimes express claims on this issue. On December 7, 2023, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on holding an extraordinary presidential election in the country on February 7, 2024. The Central Election Commission of Azerbaijan (CEC) on Dec. 19 approved the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev, nominated by the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (YAP), for participation in the extraordinary presidential election. A total of 17 candidates have been registered to run in the extraordinary presidential election. Azerbaijan has seven registered presidential candidates. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Sofia Richie stepped out for dinner with her friends in Beverly Hills on Saturday night. The 25-year-old influencer whose older sister is Nicole Richie looked as stylish as she always does in a pair of luxe-looking, chocolate brown leather slacks and a black top. She added a cozy, double breasted brown coat. Sofia had her light brown hair parted in the middle and pulled back into a low bun. Black boots, gold earrings and dewy, radiant makeup completed her look. Sofia Richie stepped out for dinner with her friends in Beverly Hills on Saturday night The beauty, who tied the knot with Elliot Grainge, 30, in France last April, carried a black handbag as she made her way back to her car. Last month Sofia was the cover girl for Porter Magazine. Inside the glossy, Sofia revealed that she and her famous father Lionel Richie, 74, took seven and a half minutes to walk down the aisle and confessed they were laughing all the way. She told the publication: 'We were giggling, crying, it was so surreal.' The model also revealed a special moment she shared with her husband on their wedding day, saying: 'We have this little look we give each other [so] we just gave each other this smirk. 'We were like two giddy little kids following the rabbi, who was telling us what to do.' Sofia also shared that Elliot was very 'traditional' when it came to proposing and asked for her father Lionel's blessing beforehand. 'He went over to my dad's house for Sunday tea, and asked for my hand, which means the world to me; and I know it means the world to my dad,' she said. The 25-year-old influencer looked as stylish as she always does in a pair of luxe-looking, chocolate brown leather pants and a black top. Just a hint of her peeked out from the top of her super cozy, double breasted brown coat Sofia with her husband Elliot Grainge at the British Consulate's celebration of Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022 Sofia also shared that her older sister Nicole reminds her that not all of her life needs to be shared as she discussed navigating her personal life in the spotlight. Her husband Elliot is notoriously private and tends to stay out of the limelight. Elliot proposed to Sofia with an emerald-cut diamond ring that various experts quoted by Page Six estimated to be anywhere between four and eight carats. Sofia and Elliot's wedding ceremony was held at the legendary Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, which has enjoyed a reputation for high-octane glamour for decades. Maya Jama looked nothing short of sensational in first look snaps from the Love Island All Stars opening episode, which airs on Monday evening. The host, 29, sizzled in a very racy sheer dress with plunging neckline as she posed at the show's sun-soaked South African villa. Maya's frock hugged every inch of curvaceous figure with floral embellishments strategically placed to retain her modesty. The look also featured a saucy thigh-high split and teased a glimpse of her lingerie beneath as she completed the ensemble with silver strappy heels. The new series feature singletons from previous seasons as they continue their quest to find their dream partner. Maya Jama, 29, looked nothing short of sensational in first look snaps from the Love Island All Stars opening episode, which airs on Monday evening The host sizzled in a very racy sheer dress with plunging neckline as she posed at the show's sun-soaked South African villa Maya has been making the most of her time off ahead of the series starting as she posed in some sexy swimsuit snaps for her Instagram on Thursday. The presenter flaunted her incredible curves in a cut-out black one-piece as she posed up a storm. Her ample assets and toned abs were on display as she worked all her best angles by the pool. She wore her long dark tresses in beachy waves and went makeup free to show off her natural beauty. The star penned in her caption: 'Everything's better in the sunshine.' Maya has said she will host Love Island for as long as it remains on screens - calling it her favourite job ever. The TV presenter became the face of the ITV2 dating show when former host Laura Whitmore left in 2022 after three series. Maya's frock hugged every inch of curvaceous figure with floral embellishments strategically placed to retain her modesty The new series feature singletons from previous seasons as they continue their quest to find their dream partner With the show set to air its first ever All Stars season, Maya is already looking ahead at what's to come. Speaking to The Sun, she said: 'I'll stay for as long as it's going. It's been fun actually. It's been my favourite job ever.' As well as being host, Maya also turned casting agent this year as she helped producers choose the line-up. She recommended they ask Hannah Elizabeth from season one to return for another shot at love, a decision which has paid off as she agreed to take part again. However the spin-off Aftersun will not air, meaning Maya can stay out in South Africa for the show's entirety rather than having to jet back to London. She said of the shake-up: 'I'm doing interviews as soon as they leave... with this new exit interview format, I feel like you'll get the raw emotion. I'm really excited about that actually'. Maya has been making the most of her time off ahead of the series starting as she posed in some sexy swimsuit snaps for her Instagram on Thursday She put her incredible figure on display as she worked all her best angles by the swimming pool Elsewhere, Maya promised she has some 'good looks' in store for when she enters the villa after wowing viewers with her previous racy ensembles. She also excitedly looked ahead to the Love Island All Stars launch show on January 15. She said: 'My hair is getting lighter and lighter in the sun. I have the pool to myself, today is a day off before you ask. Love Island is starting soon though! Topping up my tan!' Love Island: All Stars launches on Monday 15th January at 9pm on ITV1, ITV2, ITVX & STV Anna Marie 'Chickadee' Toney was every bit the beaming bride in newly-unveiled snaps from her March 4th wedding to Eldridge Toney in a 'surprise' backyard ceremony held in Wilkinson County of her native Georgia. The Mama June: Family Crisis star wanted to be well enough to enjoy the romantic occasion as, just nine months later, she tragically lost her 10-month battle to stage four adrenal carcinoma at age 29. Anna had a huge smile plastered on her face as she held hands with her second husband - whom she began dating in June 2017 - at the blue and white-themed nuptials officiated by her brother-in-law Joshua Efird. Toney permitted the We TV cameras to roll in order to capture her special day for the upcoming seventh season of her family's reality series. 'The filming was something that Anna wanted to do,' Eldridge told People last month. Anna Marie 'Chickadee' Toney was every bit the beaming bride in newly-unveiled snaps from her March 4th wedding to Eldridge Toney in a 'surprise' backyard ceremony held in Wilkinson County of her native Georgia 'She wanted to bring awareness to her rare type of cancer because there is still so much unknown about it and it is very rare.' The Five Star Toyota salesperson - who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time - wore a cleavage-boosting sleeveless wedding gown while Toney wore a Mattco Tools hat with a button-up shirt and teal trousers. Anna was surrounded by family including her mother 'Mama' June Shannon as well as three half-sisters Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, Jessica 'Chubbs' Shannon, and Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson. Toney's 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn Elizabeth Clark (with Caleb Clark) clutched her bouquet in a blue mini-dress, and her eight-year-old daughter Kylee Madison Cardwell (with ex-husband Michael Cardwell) wore a blue daisy-print dress. It was evening by the time the former Walmart stocker got to have her first dance with her groom. In behind-the-scenes snaps, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird could be seen applying Anna's make-up as Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson curled ringlets in her hair. The 44-year-old mother-of-the-bride wore a blue top and black slacks as she fussed over Toney's dress. Fans will get to see Anna's entire journey from shopping for wedding gowns to saying her vows in the 16-episode seventh season of Mama June: Family Crisis, which premieres February 9 on We TV. The Mama June: Family Crisis star wanted to be well enough to enjoy the romantic occasion as, just nine months later, she tragically lost her 10-month battle to stage four adrenal carcinoma at age 29 Anna had a huge smile plastered on her face as she held hands with her second husband - whom she began dating in June 2017 - at the blue and white-themed nuptials officiated by her brother-in-law Joshua Efird Toney permitted the We TV cameras to roll in order to capture her special day for the upcoming seventh season of her family's reality series Eldridge told People last month: 'The filming was something that Anna wanted to do. She wanted to bring awareness to her rare type of cancer because there is still so much unknown about it and it is very rare' The Five Star Toyota salesperson - who was undergoing chemotherapy at the time - wore a cleavage-boosting sleeveless wedding gown while Toney wore a Mattco Tools hat with a button-up shirt and teal trousers Anna was surrounded by family including her mother 'Mama' June Shannon as well as three half-sisters Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird, Jessica 'Chubbs' Shannon, and Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson Toney's 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn Elizabeth Clark (with Caleb Clark) clutched her bouquet in a blue mini-dress, and her eight-year-old daughter Kylee Madison Cardwell (with ex-husband Michael Cardwell) wore a blue daisy-print dress It was evening by the time the former Walmart stocker got to have her first dance with her groom In behind-the-scenes snaps, Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird could be seen applying Anna's make-up as Alana 'Honey Boo Boo' Thompson curled ringlets in her hair The 44-year-old mother-of-the-bride wore a blue top and black slacks as she fussed over Toney's dress 'We were shocked she wanted a wedding so quickly,' Lauryn marveled. June revealed to The US Sun last Thursday that the new season will also show the moment Toney asked her to have custody of little Kaitlyn: 'The world will hear it from Anna's mouth.' At the end of December, Shannon treated her grieving granddaughters and the rest of her family to a trip to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, FL As of last week, the entire Mama June: Family Crisis ensemble was still in production on season seven: 'Reliving it for us, is going to be like ripping that Band-Aid off again. Reliving what we went through for the last 10 months, and where we are today is a lot.' And since 'Anna did not want to rot in the ground' June had some of her cremated remains placed inside a heart-shaped charm on a bracelet and other such jewelry keepsakes for her family. 'It has her fingerprint and it also has her ashes in it,' Shannon explained, 'because Anna wanted us to carry her around everywhere that we went and that's what we're doing.' The former warehouse worker was only 15 when she welcomed Toney, who was first introduced to audiences on TLC's Toddlers and Tiaras. The family's spin-off Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled by the cable network in 2014 after four seasons due to June's boyfriend Mark McDaniel who was convicted of molesting Anna. Fans will get to see Anna's entire journey from shopping for wedding gowns to saying her vows in the 16-episode seventh season of Mama June: Family Crisis, which premieres February 9 on We TV 'We were shocked she wanted a wedding so quickly,' Lauryn marveled June revealed to The US Sun last Thursday that the new season will also show the moment Toney asked her to have custody of little Kaitlyn: 'The world will hear it from Anna's mouth' At the end of December, Shannon treated her grieving granddaughters and the rest of her family to a trip to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park in Orlando, FL As of last week, the entire Mama June: Family Crisis ensemble was still in production on season seven 'Reliving it for us, is going to be like ripping that Band-Aid off again. Reliving what we went through for the last 10 months, and where we are today is a lot' And since 'Anna did not want to rot in the ground' June had some of her cremated remains placed inside a heart-shaped charm on a bracelet and other such jewelry keepsakes for her family Advertisement Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski looked every inch the happy couple as they gazed adoringly at each other at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday evening. While arriving to the ceremony, held at The Barker Hangar, the pair, who wed back in 2010, looked inseparable as he made her laugh hysterically on the red carpet. As the mother-of-two stood by the four-time Emmy Award nominee's side, he could be seen holding her waist and smiling. For the occasion, the The Devil Wears Prada star, 40, stood out from the crowd in a one-shoulder Armani gown, covered in sequins, while her spouse, 44, cut a dapper figure in an Dolce&Gabbana suit jacket, with a $33,000 gold and platinum broach on the lapel, brown slacks, black bowtie, a stainless steel watch and rectangle cuff links. Looking good! Emily Blunt and her husband John Krasinski looked every inch the happy couple as they gazed adoringly at each other at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California on Sunday evening Happy couple: While arriving to the ceremony, held at The Barker Hangar, the pair, who wed back in 2010, looked inseparable as they posed for photos with their arms wrapped around the other's waist Funny guy: Krasinski, best known for his role as Jim Halpert on the NBC sitcom The Office, was seen making his wife laugh Blunt, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Kitty in the film Oppenheimer, was dressed to impress, from her scarlet pout and fiery red nail polish to diamond earrings, from Jean Schlumberger's oceanic-inspired collection. She was dripping in stunning jewels, all from Tiffany & Co., including a gorgeous bracelet, featuring sapphires, opals and diamonds and diamond ring 'over six carats.' Krasinski's accessorizes were also from the American luxury jewelry and specialty design house. Ahead of the awards ceremony, Blunt worked with celebrity facialist Lord Gavin McLeod Valentine to prepare her complexion - with the beauty pro using The Method by Augustinus Bader to ensure the actress looked her very best on the red carpet. The special method sees Valentine using an array of Augustinus Bader products on the skin, including the Face Oil, the Face Cream Mask, and the celebrity-loved Rich Cream, before ending the process with a guided meditation. Their latest sighting comes after sparking a debate last Sunday, after social media sleuths tried to decipher what Krasinski said to his wife on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, with some believing he told her: 'I can't wait for a divorce.' However, the couple 'are absolutely not talking about divorce' according to a source who spoke with Us Weekly. 'There are no issues with Emily and John,' the insider shared, adding, 'They think the rumors are funny and ridiculous.' Earlier this week, MailOnline's expert lip reader shared what the couple really said to each other. The expert shared that the pair appeared to note that photographers were 'waiting for them.' They explained that in the TikTok footage, Emily turned to John and said: 'It's a bit chilly John right,' before he laughed and said: 'Theyre waiting for us.' As Emily added: 'Yeah,' John said to someone off-camera: 'You alright?' Same sense of humor: Blunt let out a hearty laugh after her spouse whispered something funny in her ear Red hot: For the occasion, the Oppenheimer star, 40, stood out from the crowd in a one-shoulder red gown, covered in sequins Dazzling: Blunt was dressed to impress, from her scarlet pout and fiery red nail polish to mesmerizing diamond earrings The 10-second clip ended with Emily asking: 'Should we...' Forensic lip reader Jeremy Freeman also confirmed to DailyMail.com that divorce wasn't mentioned by the actor. This seems a far calmer exchange than the wild theories being circulated by fans, who were divided over whether John made an innocuous remark about the weather or if he was joking about marital trouble. 'I've watched this 500 times trying to convince myself he said something other than divorce,' one TikTok user wrote while others pointed out that the couple of 14 years were more likely to making a remark about the chilly weather and John was saying: 'I can't wait to get indoors.' One TikTok user commented: 'Did he say I can't wait to divorce? And she said hey and he stated I'm serious.' Another 'swears' John said 'divorce' but wants him to be saying 'get through this.' Blunt is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Kitty in the film Oppenheimer Friendly: The couple posed for a picture with actor Paul Giamatti on the red carpet United front: Their latest sighting comes after sparking a debate last Sunday, after social media sleuths tried to decipher what Krasinski said to his wife on the red carpet at the Golden Globes, with some believing he told her: 'I can't wait for a divorce' Critics Choice Awards Winners 2024: Film and Television FILM BEST PICTURE American Fiction Barbie The Color Purple The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Maestro Oppenheimer - WINNER Past Lives Poor Things Saltburn Oppenheimer earned top honor Best Picture as Charles Roven, Emma Thomas, and Christopher Nolan seen left to right BEST ACTOR Bradley Cooper - Maestro Leonardo DiCaprio - Killers of the Flower Moon Colman Domingo - Rustin Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers - WINNER Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction BEST ACTRESS Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon Sandra Huller - Anatomy of a Fall Greta Lee - Past Lives Carey Mulligan - Maestro Margot Robbie - Barbie Emma Stone - Poor Things - WINNER Emma Stone triumphed in the Best Actress category for Poor Things BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer - WINNER Ryan Gosling - Barbie Charles Melton - May December Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple America Ferrera - Barbie Jodie Foster - Nyad Julianne Moore - May December Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers - WINNER Da'Vine Joy Randolph continued her winning ways in the Best Supporting Actress category for The Holdovers BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS Abby Ryder Fortson, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Ariana Greenblatt, Barbie Calah Lane, Wonka Milo Machado Graner, Anatomy of a Fall Dominic Sessa, The Holdovers - WINNER Madeleine Yuna Voyles, The Creator BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE Air Barbie The Color Purple The Holdovers Killers of the Flower Moon Oppenheimer - WINNER BEST DIRECTOR Bradley Cooper - Maestro Greta Gerwig - Barbie Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer - WINNER Alexander Payne - The Holdovers Martin Scorsese, - Killers of the Flower Moon Christopher Nolan was presented with the Best Director award for Oppenheimer BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Kelly Fremon Craig - Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Andrew Haigh - All of Us Strangers Cord Jefferson - American Fiction - WIINNER Tony McNamara - Poor Things Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Samy Burch - May December Alex Convery - Air Bradley Cooper & Josh Singer - Maestro Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach - Barbie - WINNER David Hemingson - The Holdovers Celine Song - Past Lives BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Matthew Libatique - Maestro Rodrigo Prieto - Barbie Rodrigo Prieto - Killers of the Flower Moon Robbie Ryan - Poor Things Linus Sandgren - Saltburn Hoyte van Hoytema - Oppenheimer - WINNER BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Suzie Davies, Charlotte Dirickx - Saltburn Ruth De Jong, Claire Kaufman - Oppenheimer Jack Fisk, Adam Willis - Killers of the Flower Moon Sarah Greenwood, Katie Spencer - Barbie - WINNER James Price, Shona Heath, Szusza Mihalek - Poor Things Adam Stockhausen, Kris Moran - Asteroid City BEST EDITING William Goldenberg Air Nick Houy Barbie Jennifer Lame Oppenheimer - WINNER Yorgos Mavropsaridis Poor Things Thelma Schoonmaker Killers of the Flower Moon Michelle Tesoro Maestro BEST COSTUME DESIGN Jacqueline Durran - Barbie - WINNER Lindy Hemming - Wonka Francine Jamison-Tanchuck - The Color Purple Holly Waddington - Poor Things Jacqueline West - Killers of the Flower Moon Janty Yates, David Crossman - Napoleon BEST HAIR AND MAKE-UP Barbie - WINNER The Color Purple Maestro Oppenheimer Poor Things Priscilla BEST VISUAL EFFECTS The Creator Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One Oppenheimer - WINNER Poor Things Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse BEST COMEDY American Fiction Barbie - WINNER Bottoms The Holdovers No Hard Feelings Poor Things Greta Gerwig (left) and Margot Robbie accepted Best Comedy for Barbie in an impromptu moment on the show BEST ANIMATED FILM The Boy and the Heron Elemental Nimona Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse - WINNER Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Wish BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM Anatomy of a Fall - WINNER Godzilla Minus One Perfect Days Society of the Snow The Taste of Things The Zone of Interest BEST SONG Dance the Night" - Barbie Im Just Ken" - Barbie - WINNER Peaches" - The Super Mario Bros. Movie Road to Freedom" - Rustin "This Wish" - Wish "What Was I Made For" - Barbie Barbie was also recognized in the Best Song Category for 'I'm Just Ken' as Andrew Wyatt (left) and Mark Ronson accepted the gong BEST SCORE Jerskin Fendrix - Poor Things Michael Giacchino - Society of the Snow Ludwig Goransson - Oppenheimer - WINNER Daniel Pemberton - Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Robbie Robertson - Killers of the Flower Moon Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt - Barbie TELEVISION BEST DRAMA SERIES The Crown (Netflix) The Diplomat (Netflix) The Last of Us (HBO | Max) Loki (Disney+) The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) Succession (HBO | Max) - WINNER Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO | Max) Succession conquered all again as it won Best Drama Series BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Kieran Culkin Succession (HBO | Max) - WINNER Tom Hiddleston Loki (Disney+) Timothy Olyphant Justified: City Primeval (FX) Pedro Pascal The Last of Us (HBO | Max) Ramon Rodriguez Will Trent (ABC) Jeremy Strong Succession (HBO | Max) BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Jennifer Aniston The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Aunjanue Ellis Justified: City Primeval (FX) Bella Ramsey The Last of Us (HBO | Max) Keri Russell The Diplomat (Netflix) Sarah Snook Succession (HBO | Max) - WINNER Reese Witherspoon The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Sarah Snook earned Best Actress in a Drama Series BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Khalid Abdalla The Crown (Netflix) Billy Crudup The Morning Show (Apple TV+) - WINNER Ron Cephas Jones Truth Be Told (Apple TV+) Matthew MacFadyen Succession (HBO | Max) Ke Huy Quan Loki (Disney+) Rufus Sewell The Diplomat (Netflix) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Nicole Beharie The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Elizabeth Debicki The Crown (Netflix) - WINNER Sophia Di Martino Loki (Disney+) Celia Rose Gooding Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Paramount+) Karen Pittman The Morning Show (Apple TV+) Christina Ricci Yellowjackets (Showtime) Aussie Elizabeth Debicki earned Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work as Princess Diana in The Crown BEST COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary (ABC) Barry (HBO | Max) The Bear (FX) - WINNER The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) Poker Face (Peacock) Reservation Dogs (FX) Shrinking (Apple TV+) What We Do in the Shadows (FX) The Bear won Best Comedy Series as Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White each earned Best Actress/Actor in a Comedy Series, respectively BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Bill Hader Barry (HBO | Max) Steve Martin Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) Kayvan Novak What We Do in the Shadows (FX) Drew Tarver The Other Two (HBO | Max) Jeremy Allen White The Bear (FX) - WINNER DPharaoh Woon-A-Tai Reservation Dogs (FX) BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Rachel Brosnahan The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) Quinta Brunson Abbott Elementary (ABC) Ayo Edebiri The Bear (FX) - WINNER Bridget Everett Somebody Somewhere (HBO | Max) Devery Jacobs Reservation Dogs (FX) Natasha Lyonne Poker Face (Peacock) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Phil Dunster Ted Lasso (Apple TV+) Harrison Ford Shrinking (Apple TV+) Harvey Guillen What We Do in the Shadows (FX) James Marsden Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee) Ebon Moss-Bachrach The Bear (FX) - WINNER Henry Winkler Barry (HBO | Max) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Paulina Alexis Reservation Dogs (FX) Alex Borstein The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Prime Video) Janelle James Abbott Elementary (ABC) Sheryl Lee Ralph Abbott Elementary (ABC) Meryl Streep Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) - WINNER Jessica Williams Shrinking (Apple TV+) BEST LIMITED SERIES Beef (Netflix) - WINNER Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video) Fargo (FX) Fellow Travelers (Showtime) Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Love & Death (HBO | Max) A Murder at the End of the World (FX) A Small Light (National Geographic) BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime) Finestkind (Paramount+) Mr. Monks Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock) No One Will Save You (Hulu) Quiz Lady (Hulu) - WINNER Reality (HBO | Max) BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Matt Bomer Fellow Travelers (Showtime) Tom Holland The Crowded Room (Apple TV+) David Oyelowo Lawmen: Bass Reeves (Paramount+) Tony Shalhoub Mr. Monks Last Case: A Monk Movie (Peacock) Kiefer Sutherland The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Showtime) Steven Yeun Beef (Netflix) - WINNER BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Kaitlyn Dever No One Will Save You (Hulu) Brie Larson Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Bel Powley A Small Light (National Geographic) Sydney Sweeney Reality (HBO | Max) Juno Temple Fargo (FX) Ali Wong Beef (Netflix) - WINNER Ali Wong earned Best Actress in a Limited Series or Movie Made For Television for Beef BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Jonathan Bailey Fellow Travelers (Showtime) - WINNER Taylor Kitsch Painkiller (Netflix) Jesse Plemons Love & Death (HBO | Max) Lewis Pullman Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Liev Schreiber A Small Light (National Geographic) Justin Theroux White House Plumbers (HBO | Max) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Maria Bello Beef (Netflix) - WINNER Billie Boullet A Small Light (National Geographic) Willa Fitzgerald The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix) Aja Naomi King Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+) Mary McDonnell The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix) Camila Morrone Daisy Jones & the Six (Prime Video) BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES Bargain (Paramount+) The Glory (Netflix) The Good Mothers (Hulu) The Interpreter of Silence (Hulu) Lupin (Netflix) - WINNER Mask Girl (Netflix) Moving (Hulu) BEST ANIMATED SERIES Bluey (Disney+) Bobs Burgers (Fox) Harley Quinn (HBO | Max) Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (Netflix) - WINNER Star Trek: Lower Decks (Paramount+) Young Love (HBO | Max) BEST TALK SHOW The Graham Norton Show (BBC America) Jimmy Kimmel Live! (ABC) The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC) Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO | Max) - WINNER Late Night with Seth Meyers (NBC) The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS) BEST COMEDY SPECIAL Mike Birbiglia: The Old Man and the Pool (Netflix) Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (Prime Video) John Early: Now More Than Ever (HBO | Max) John Mulaney: Baby J (Netflix) - WINNER Trevor Noah: Where Was I (Netflix) Wanda Sykes Im an Entertainer (Netflix) Advertisement Others pointed out though that any mention of 'divorce' could simply be a joke between the couple. 'He said divorce. But perhaps that's their brand of humor/flirting' commented one fan. 'Even if he did say that, maybe it was just a joke between them that went over all of our heads lol. Seems like the kind of joke he would make,' agreed another. One fan commented: 'it kinda does look like he's saying it as a joke, Emily says something first so maybe he was just joking back.' 'Why would he say divorce with all those cameras and microphones on them?' pointed out others. Another theory from fans is that the pair were talking about the very windy weather. One claimed John said: 'I can't wait to get indoors.' Meanwhile, one TikTok user said Emily was clearly saying: 'It's actually kinda chilly right now' and her spouse replying: 'I can't wait to get indoors.' Backing up the cold weather theory, many fans pointed to the fact that Emily was later seen wearing her husband's jacket. The pair, who tied the knot with in 2010, share daughters Hazel, nine, and Violet, seven. No drama: Earlier this week, MailOnline's expert lip reader shared what the couple really said to each other However, MailOnline's expert lip reader has now revealed that the couple actually appeared to note that photographers were 'waiting for them' The theories under a now-viral TikTok video, shared by CBS, were divided over whether John made an innocuous remark about the weather or if the actor was joking about marital trouble Others pointed out though that any 'divorce' mention could simply be a joke between the couple Meanwhile, one TikTok user said Blunt was clearly saying: 'It's actually kinda chilly right now' and her spouse replying: 'I can't wait to get indoors' Despite appearing in numerous projects in 2023, Blunt recently revealed that she made the decision to step away from the camera this year to focus on motherhood. Emily explained on the Table For Two With Bruce Bozzi podcast, per The Hollywood Reporter, 'This year, I'm not working. I worked quite a bit last year and my oldest baby is 9, so we're in the last year of single digits.' 'And I just feel [like] there are cornerstones to their day that are so important when they're little. And it's, 'Will you wake me up? Will you take me to school? Will you pick me up? Will you put me to bed?'' 'And I just need to be there for all of them for a good stretch. And I just felt that in my bones,' the actress added. Over the years, Krasinski has showered his wife with plenty of praise in interviews. 'I wouldn't be anywhere in my life without her,' he told Parade in 2022. Fans of the E4 soap Hollyoaks are in for a treat in the upcoming months as a major star swaps Hollywood for the Village. Emma Rigby has announced her return to the soap, where she played Hannah Ashworth, and has reportedly signed a one-year contract with bosses. The actress, 34, was last seen in 2010, though she announced her departure in 2008 and was originally supposed to leave in 2009. In the 14 years she has been gone, Emma has taken Hollywood by storm, appearing in the 2014 remake of Endless Love and fantasy drama series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland. Emma began appearing in the soap in 2005 and her storylines included a struggle with eating disorders and the death of her best friend. Fans of the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks are in for a treat in the upcoming months as a major star swaps Hollywood for the Village Emma Rigby, 34, has announced her return to the soap, where she played Hannah Ashworth, and has reportedly signed a one-year contract with bosses The actress, 34, was last seen in 2010, though she announced her departure in 2008 and was originally supposed to leave in 2009 (pictured in with on-screen brother Rhys in 2009) A Hollyoaks source told The Sun: 'Emma agreed to return for a little guest stint but after a few weeks of filming she felt like she was back home. 'She had a number of conversations with bosses and has since signed a year-long contract. Everyone is over the moon to have her back permanently. 'Bosses were so happy when she agreed to return for a few weeks so to have her back as a regular cast member again is very exciting. Shes got come big things coming up.' Veteran actress Emma, who is also a trained ballerina, will return to Hollyoaks as Hannah later in January. With her will be mum Suzanne (Suzanne Hall), and the twins she had with popular Darren Osborne (Ashley Taylor Dawson). As well as Hollywood films, such as The Counsellor alongside Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz, Emma starred in British series such as Prisoners Wives and Ripper Street. It was revealed towards the end of 2023 that Hollyoaks also intends to bring back three more iconic characters, in a bid to regain lost viewership. Hollyoaks airs weekdays at 7 pm on E4. In the 14 years she has been gone, Emma has taken Hollywood by storm, appearing in the 2014 remake of Endless Love and fantasy drama series Once Upon A Time In Wonderland Emma starred in the 2019 action thriller Netflix film The Protector as the main character Camille Logan Emma's return comes after an executive producer left the soap in 2023 after just two years in charge. The Sun claimed at the time that Lucy Allan left due to plunging ratings which led to a complete change at the top. Soon after Lucy's departure, which came not long after Bryan Kirkwood's, Hannah Cheers was brought in. Hannah had previously spent a decade at Hollyoaks, working under Bryan, before she moved to ITV soap Emmerdale. Kym Marsh has broken her silence after her father David Marsh died aged 78 following a battle with prostate cancer. A spokesperson for the former Coronation Street actress, 47, confirmed his death, saying he passed away peacefully at home. And on Sunday, Kym took to Instagram to share a touching tribute to her late dad David. She wrote: 'For the first time in my life.I have no words. I love you dad. Always and forever. Rest easy Pops. Goodnight godbless.' Kym's celebrity pals showed her support in the comment section, with her former co-star Faye Brookes penning: 'Sending you and your family all the love beautiful lady.' Kym Marsh has broken her silence after her father David Marsh died aged 78 following a battle with prostate cancer She wrote: 'For the first time in my life.I have no words. I love you dad. Always and forever. Rest easy Pops. Goodnight godbless.' Helen Skelton wrote: 'Sending love to you and the family.' Paddy McGuinness said: 'A lovely, lovely man. Sorry for your loss Kym x' On Friday, a statement to the PA news agency said: 'It is with immense sadness that we confirm the passing of David Marsh. 'A much loved husband, dad, grandad, great grandad and friend to many, David passed away peacefully at home yesterday surrounded by his family. 'We are truly heartbroken and ask for privacy at this incredibly difficult time.' Kym was very close with her father, who was diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer three years ago, and previously said he 'inspires' her on a daily basis. Last Father's Day, she posted a heartfelt tribute to him on Instagram, writing: 'Your strength in life has always been immeasurable. 'You tackle everything life throws at you with a smile on your face and always a joke at hand. A spokesperson for the former Coronation Street actress, 47, confirmed his death, saying he passed away peacefully at home on Friday Kym's celebrity pals showed her support in the comment section, with her former co-star Faye Brookes penning: 'Sending you and your family all the love beautiful lady.' 'You are the best dad anyone could wish for and I'm so glad you are mine. Here's to you poppa bear! Always your shadow. Love you always and forever.' David made an appearance on BBC's Morning Live, which Kym co-hosts, in November where he discussed living with prostate cancer. 'It's daily,' he told host Gethin Jones. 'One day I'm alright and the next I'm bad, you know? That's the way it is now.' Kym said: 'It really is day by day, you don't know. We plan for things and we are trying to plan and make as many memories aren't we?' The star said coping with her father's illness had brought her and her siblings closer adding: 'I've got two older brothers and an older sister. Very rare that we all get together but we've all been doing lots together.' A statement said: 'A much loved husband, dad, grandad, great grandad and friend to many, David passed away peacefully at home yesterday surrounded by his family' On Christmas Eve, Kym shared a photo of her father and mother Pauline taken on their wedding day, saying she wanted to dedicate the festive season to them On Christmas Eve, Kym shared a photo of her father and mother Pauline taken on their wedding day, saying she wanted to dedicate the festive season to them. She wrote: 'Thank you both for giving us the best Christmas's ever. For all the fun and laughter! For all the joy and love! For queuing endlessly for our favourite toys. 'For never making us feel like your Christmas was a struggle, which now we know it was. Thank you for loving us, for bringing us so much happiness and for being the best parents we could ever have wished for. 'So this Christmas I toast you!!!!! My amazing mum and dad!! Merry Christmas! I love you more than you will ever know.' Taking your mind off cigarettes and alcohol by being active can help you quit Giving up booze and ditching cigarettes are easily two of the most popular New Year's resolutions. But finding yourself faced with the offer of a pint at the pub or being surrounded by smokers can make these health ambitions difficult to stick to. Addiction specialists say there are a few ways you can trick your brain into sticking to your sober or cigarette-free goal, however. Planning an escape route from social events, taking up a sport or leaving positive notes for yourself are all methods that can help you stick it out. So, if you are contemplating giving up on your goal, this ultimate survival guide devised by experts to quitting may just help. To avoid giving in to temptation, experts suggest having a sober buddy at social events or planning a time to leave Be active Keeping active through exercise, a hobby or even just a walk can be a healthy distraction from alcohol or cigarettes, experts say. 'Filling your time in active, enjoyable ways sports, friends, books will keep you engaged and will help shift your focus from the thought of drinking,' says Dr Ryan Wade, an addiction specialist at Silver Hill Hospital in Connecticut, US. Georgia Foster, a Melbourne-based therapist who runs The Drink Less Mind programme, told MailOnline that finding a healthier habit to replace drinking or smoking is key to giving it up, whether for Dry January or permanently. 'When we drink our brains release dopamine, so we are actually getting hooked on the dopamine rather than the alcohol,' she says. Therefore, another activity that provides a dopamine hit can help with quitting. The body also release dopamine in response to exercise, as dose listening to music, getting outdoors and meditating. Make an alcohol free space It may sound obvious, but not having any alcohol or cigarettes at home will create a physical hurdle to accessing either making it easier to abstain for a month. 'Make your living space alcohol-free; the easier the access, the harder it is to resist', says Dr Wade. How dangerous is smoking for the heart? How does tobacco damage the heart? Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including tar and others that can narrow arteries and damage blood vessels. While nicotine - a highly addictive toxin found in tobacco - is heavily linked with dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Smoking also unleashes poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide, which replaces oxygen in the blood - reducing the availability of oxygen for the heart. How many people does smoking kill? Smoking is known to kill more than seven million people across the world each year, including 890,000 from breathing in second-hand smoke. But many people are unaware that nearly half of those deaths, around three million, are due to heart disease, including heart attacks and strokes. Advertisement He adds: 'If you have to drive to a store to buy alcohol, it gives you a window to rethink your decision and stay committed to your sobriety goals. 'Beyond your home, be mindful of your social surroundings.' When attending social events where exposure to booze and smoking is likely, it's best to stick with someone who will support your goals. He says: 'If you are intent on attending a social event where alcohol is present or people are smoking cigarettes or vaping nicotine, it can be helpful to have a friend with you who is similarly maintaining their sobriety. 'Staying with them at a social gathering can help to reduce the pressure of feeling that you have to go to the bar or go outside for a smoke.' Distract your brain Every time you feel the urge to reach for a cigarette or a drink, you need to replace that thought with something else to distract your brain, experts recommend. Focusing on something positive such as reading positive notes or looking at funny pictures or videos will 'trick your brain into thinking other thoughts,' explains Ms Foster. 'In that nanosecond it will shift you away from that instant go to thought to have a smoke or a drink,' says Ms Foster. Spending time with friends can also help. 'What often seems to be effective as a "replacement" when people are entering recovery is increasing social contact and connection with others,' says Dr Wade. 'If you are able to occupy your time and attention with communication with others, the distraction can be quite effective and reduce the amount of idle time that might lead to cravings,' he adds. Addiction specialists say it's easier to avoid smoking if you do not have any cigarettes in the house and instead fill your time with seeing friends or doing sports Plan your exit Even if you have a friend that is joining you in abstaining from alcohol or cigarettes, there is bound to be a situation where the temptation to give up on Dry Jan is high. To avoid being led astray, experts say it's important to have an exit strategy in place. Whether that is an excuse, a set time or a route for heading home, planning ahead can help you avoid difficult scenarios. Dr Wade recommends being strategic with your arrival and departure times, which can act as a 'protective barrier'. Arriving a little late can help you slip in unnoticed without a drink in your hand, while having a clock-off time can aid with leaving an event as alcohol consumption increases, he says. Dr Wade says: 'Temptation may be heightened, and you want to avoid potentially uncomfortable situations with those who want you to join the party. Leaving before this stage can help you maintain your sobriety.' Additionally, planning a schedule for how the night will go can act as a 'support system' and as a 'buffer against temptation', Dr Wade says. Overall, the approach can help 'reduce the temptation and potential triggers associated with alcohol consumption at social events', he adds. Gone are the days when you had to subscribe to any number of streaming services to keep up with the latest must-watch movies. For Netflix has 'won the streaming wars' - and is so dominant the major studios have capitulated and are allowing the No1 platform to show their major releases instead of keeping them exclusively for their own channels. That's the stark verdict from one leading industry observer, former Hollywood Reporter editor Matthew Belloni, who backed up his opinion with a startling finding. 'ALL of the Netflix Top 10 movies right now are licensed from legacy studios, and 9 are from studios with their own streaming services (including 4 recent hits from Warner Bros.). The Streaming Wars are officially over,' he tweeted. The landmark moment effectively means that Netflix's rivals have handed in the towel, with the major movie and TV studios who spent fortunes developing competitors an estimated $5bn in the past year alone admitting they will never topple the streaming giant. By any measure, Netflix is so far ahead that everyone is at best competing for second place. In terms of sheer subscriber numbers, it can boast about 250 million people who have signed up that's more than Max (formerly HBO Max) and Disney Plus put together. Even the behemoth that is Amazon Prime lags 50 million subscriptions behind. Logging the amount of time viewers spent on each platform and network yields results that testify even more brutally to the dominance of Netflix. In a snapshot of US viewing over last Thanksgiving, ratings expert Nielsen found the streamer had a share of all output including broadcast and cable of 7.4 per cent. That may not sound that much, but bear in mind that Amazon Prime could boast just 3.4 per cent and everyone else struggles far further behind. NBC Universal - which owns Peacock - has handed over rights to Suits, the legal show featuring Meghan Markle as Rachel Zane and Patrick J. Adams as Mike Ross Amazon's Prime Video is second to Netflix - but trailing by 50 million subsribers. Candy Cane Lane with Eddie Murphy was a bit hit this Chrismtas Ashoka has been a hit on Disney+. Mary Elizabeth Winstead played Hera Syndulla These are the kind of figures that get mouths watering on Wall Street, translating into a share price that has climbed from under $200 back in 2022 to near enough $500 this week. So how did Netflix see off the threat from rival corporations which had once been determined to invest virtually unlimited amounts of cash to grab its streaming crown? Go back just a few years and the future seemed uncertain for the pioneering streamer that had begun life as a DVD mail order service before CEO Ted Sarandos oversaw its transformation to meet the challenges of the digital age. Long-standing titans of traditional media had started up their own streamers and were now determined to see off the challenge of the upstart new kid on the block. That meant cutting off the supply of popular content: Warner Bros Discovery took Friends off Netflix to show it instead on Max. The Office also came off Netflix so NBCUniversal could show it on the Peaccock service. Meanwhile, the reputation Netflix had won for 'prestige TV' with landmark series such as House Of Cards and Stranger Things was evaporating as later new shows left critics disappointed. Hollywood historian Peter Biskind author of Easy Riders, Raging Bulls in December pronounced his savage verdict to Fortune: Netflix in-house productions are simply 'unwatchable'. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez Hulu in Only Murders in the Building on Hulu Ember, voiced by Leah Lewis, left, and Wade, voiced by Mamoudou Athie in a scene from the animated film Elemental - a hit on Disney+ Legions of viewers of Bridgerton, The Crown and You would disagree, and later this year Netflix will be unveiling hotly awaited new shows including the romantic comedy One Day and epic sci-fi blockbuster The 3 Body Problem. But its seemingly unassailable pole position means it no longer has to worry about surviving on the attractions of its own shows. Hollywood knows there is only one distributor that will give you exposure to the biggest possible audience. That's why DC superhero blockbuster Aquaman was among four Warner Bros films in the Netflix top 10. NBC Universal has handed over rights to Suits, the legal show featuring Meghan Markle. Disney is offering to stream 14 titles including Lost on Netflix. For Warners chief David Zaslav, the hope is that 'People come back and then they want to see the full bouquet of DC movies and the only place to do that is with us,' meaning his company's own streaming service, Max. Time will tell if such hopes are borne out, but the only certainty now is the winner in the streaming wars of the early 2020s. While Disney and Paramount nurse their wounds and consider cutbacks, 'Netflix has pulled away,' as former Turner Broadcasting chief executive John Founder recently pronounced in the Financial Times. Not only can it boast enviable figures, but its latest innovation of a two-tier subscription scheme appears to be working well, with 23 million subscribers signing up to its cut-price advertising-based plan (costing $6.99 a month against the standard fee of $15.49) after just two months. While other streamers face an uncertain future, it seems budget-conscious viewers will be drawn in ever-increasing numbers to Netflix. Its slogan 'See what's next' has never been more prescient. The vast majority of streaming platforms have increased in price in the last year - some by as much as 43 percent It now costs over $120 to sign up to nine major streaming services in the US, it would have cost just over $100 a year ago, DailyMail.com analysis found. Increasing numbers of Americans are canceling their subscriptions as the monthly cost of the leading services soar. In November, across the eight main services, defections rose to 6.3 percent. That is up from 5.1 percent a year earlier, according to analytics firm Antenna. Over the past two years, around a quarter of US subscribers to the major streaming services - AppleTV+, Amazons Prime Video, Max, Peacock, Paramount+, Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ - have ditched at least three of them. Subscribing to a suite of streaming services has previously been seen as a more cost effective alternative to cable TV - but it may not actually save money to cut the cable cord completely. Fraudulent merchandise returns cost US retailers $101 billion last year, with roughly one in seven returns involving some kind of scam, according to new industry data. The figures from the National Federation of Retailers underline the growing problem for retailers in the age of free and easy online returns, with scammers cooking up exotic new way to cheat the system. The NFR report found that consumers returned $743 billion worth of merchandise in 2023, with returns constituting 14.5 percent of total sales. The share of returned items deemed fraudulent or abusive jumped to 13.7 percent, more than double the prior year, as dishonest customers adopted inventive new schemes such as 'bracketing' and 'wardrobing.' Bracketing refers to buying multiple similar items in the same order, and then keeping one and returning the rest, while wardrobing involves buying an expensive item, wearing it extensively, and then returning it. Fraudulent merchandise returns cost US retailers $101 billion last year, with roughly one in seven returns involving some kind of scam (file photo) The NFR report found that consumers returned $743 billion worth of merchandise in 2023, with returns constituting 14.5 percent of total sales Return fraud 'is definitely becoming more and more of a concern to retailers,' Amena Ali, chief executive of returns-service provider Optoro, told the Wall Street Journal. Some of the simplest scams rely on the hope that a refund will be issued as soon as a shipping return label is scanned, before a retailer has the chance to inspect the goods. Some people are 'sending back a box of bricks instead of a television set,' Tom Enright, an analyst with research firm Gartner, told the Journal. Other reported schemes involve returning stolen goods, buying luxury goods and returning counterfeits, or returning a lower-priced item with the wrong price tag. In one infamous UK case, British influencer Angelica Zabrodina was charged in 2020 with raking in $1,576 in bogus refunds for luxury clothing, by returning cheap clothes with designer labels sewn inside. Prosecutors said Zabrodina, with her chihuahua in her handbag, targeted TK Maxx stores in London, purporting to return genuine items she had either bought in other locations or online, including an expensive Dolce & Gabanna dress. Zabrodina was found guilty by jury of seven counts of fraud by false representation. Industry experts say fake returns often spike during the busy post-holiday season, when scammers hope that workers will be less likely to notice their tricks while processing a deluge of returned items. The NFR report found that retailers expect the fraudulent return rate to jump to 16.5 percent in the current period of post-Christmas returns. In one infamous UK case, British influencer Angelica Zabrodina (above) was convicted in 2020 of raking in 1,236 ($1,576) in bogus refunds for designer clothing Some of the simplest scams rely on the hope that a refund will be issued as soon as a shipping return label is scanned, before a retailer has the chance to inspect the goods (file photo) Return scams not only hurt huge retailers, but also the small online sellers who run specialty stores as a side hustle on platforms such as eBay or Amazon Marketplace As the problem rises, some retailers are trying to fight back by encouraging customers to make returns at physical store locations, where items can be more easily inspected for issues. Some companies are using advanced algorithms and analytics to identify suspicious patterns, and cut off 'serial shoppers' who make large numbers of returns. An Amazon spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the company uses 'advanced machine learning models to proactively detect and prevent fraud, as well as employs specialized teams dedicated to detecting, investigating and stopping fraud.' 'When bad actors attempt to evade our controls, we take action and work with law enforcement to hold them accountable,' the spokesperson added. A few fashion brands, including Zara, J.Crew and Uniqlo, have even started to charge a fee for returns, in order to discourage abuse of the system. Return scams not only hurt huge retailers, but also the small online sellers who run specialty stores as a side hustle on platforms such as eBay or Amazon Marketplace. Forums dedicated to such online marketplace are filled with tales of woe about dishonest customers. 'I get people buying my product, then returning their old used version for a refund. I've gotten all kinds of weird stuff in the returns,' wrote one Reddit user. 'It's just a cost of doing business.' Sears' last remaining store in the New York area is shutting its doors - in another blow for the once-legendary retailer. A store in Jersey City, just over the Hudson river from Manhattan, announced a 70 percent off closing sale in a Facebook post - ending 40-years in the Newport Centre Mall. At its peak, the 138-year-old department store was not just the biggest retailer in the US - but the world. It boasted over 4,000 stores as recently as 2012. But the vast majority have now shuttered since the company filed for bankruptcy in October 2018. Sears previously had 11 locations in New Jersey alone, but now has only a dozen across the whole country. The closest location for New York and New Jersey shoppers is now over 200 miles away in Braintree, Massachusetts. Further down we trace the ups and downs of Sears - with some fascinating photos from the past... A store in Jersey City announced a closing sale in a Facebook post - ending its 40-year tenure in the Newport Centre Mall. Pictured here is the final sale of a store in Chicago that shut in 2021 Clothes and household appliances are now going for as much as 70 percent off in the store The company, which was established in 1886 by railroad station agent Richard Sears, is now owned by Transformco, a retail company headed by hedge fund operator Eddie Lampert. Lampert bought control of Sears for $11 billion in 2005 - merging it with Kmart, which he had bought out of bankruptcy two years previously. But the combined brands have struggled to stave off competition from other big-box retailers including Walmart and Target and e-commerce giant Amazon. It is a familiar story for many companies amid the so-called 'retail apocalypse' sweeping the US - which is seeing big-name stores shutter in their thousands. The troubled retailer quietly reopened two stores last year, including one in Burbank Town Center mall, north of Los Angeles. But visitors branded it the 'saddest thing Ive ever seen' with empty shelves and stained carpet. So, just what went wrong for the retailer? The Sears store at Burbank Town Centre reopened in October 2023 after closing in November 2022 Visitors labelled it 'depressing' and said it was largely unchanged from before it closed The beginning Railroad agent Richard Sears began selling watches in North Redwood, Minnesota, in 1886. The next year, he teamed up with watchmaker Alvah Roebuck, creating a catalog business selling watches and jewelry from their first office in Chicago. The catalog The Sears catalog began selling clothing, furniture and other general merchandise, providing a market for goods made in factories and selling to people living in small towns. Kenmore The Sears catalog started selling Kenmore washing machines in 1927 - and came to dominate the household appliance market. The first retail store The company opened its first retail store in Chicago in 1925 - next to its warehouse which it had used for catalog orders. Sales boom Following the end of World War II, shopping surged among American consumers. Sales boomed at Sears - reaching $1 billion in 1945. The company became the anchor store in malls, and Art Deco-style locations popped up across the US (Pictured: A Wisconsin location in 1934). Internet service launch In 1984, Sears created Prodigy, one of the first home internet services in a joint venture with IBM and CBS. Sears later sold Prodigy in 1996. The first credit card In 1985, Sears launched a credit card business with its Discover card, as part of a push into financial services. Catalog discontinued Sears discontinued its catalog in 1993 - just short of its 100 year anniversary (Pictured: The Sears bumper Christmas catalog from 1968). Continued expansion Sears continued to expand its number of locations across the US, becoming the biggest retailer in the country (Pictured: The Sears flagship store in Chicago in 2014). Buy out After losing its place in the Dow to rival Home Depot in 1999, hedge fund operator Eddie Lampert bought Sears for $11 billion in 2005. Lampert already owned about 15 percent of Sears and had bought Kmart out of bankruptcy court two years earlier. He merged the two companies in an attempt to rival rising competitors including Walmart, Target and Amazon. Losses begin to mount Sears began making losses in 2011 as sales began to plummet amid a deadly combination of a lack of investment in store updates, a slower pivot to e-commerce and more and more competition. Lampert began closing less profitable stores, but the company continued to be starved for cash. Files for bankruptcy Sears finally filed for bankruptcy in October 2018, announcing another substantial round of store closures. Lampert stepped down as CEO, but remained chairman of the company. In February 2019, a New York bankruptcy judge approved the sale of most of Sears' assets to a hedge fund controlled by Lampert for $5.2 billion, in order to keep 425 stores open and salvage the jobs of more than 45,000 employees. Last store in New York area shuts This store in the Newport Centre Mall n Jersey City, just over the Hudson river from Manhattan, announced a 70 percent off closing sale in a Facebook post this week. It had been open for 40 years. Its closure leaves just 12 Sears left nationally. Is there a future? BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 14. US diplomat David Satterfield, appointed by President Joe Biden in October 2023 as special envoy for humanitarian issues in the Gaza Strip and the Middle East, expects to leave his post in the coming weeks, Trend reports. According to the information, the exact date of his resignation and reasons were not disclosed. Satterfield is leading the US diplomatic program to respond to the Gaza Strip's humanitarian crisis promptly. 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, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists. Stay up to date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Common Service Centres are transforming lives in rural India by offering employment opportunities and delivering digital services In the expansive rural landscapes of India, where digital access was once a distant aspiration, Common Service Centres (CSCs) have emerged as transformative agents. Operated by CSC e-Governance, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) of the Government of India, these centers provide a myriad of services to citizens in rural areas. The objective of these centers is to provide the benefits of government schemes by providing e-governance facilities to the people, especially in the villages of the country. Boasting over 500 services, CSCs act as vital information and communication technology access points, seamlessly connecting citizens to digital government resources and business services. The Success of CSCs: The impact of CSCs on rural India becomes apparent when examining the statistics. Since their inception, these centres have touched the lives of millions, becoming a beacon of digital inclusion across the country. The success of CSCs transcends mere numbers; it is a narrative of empowerment, closing the gap between urban and rural areas through digital avenues. Tele-Law Scheme: Among the multitude of services offered by CSCs, the Tele-Law Scheme stands out as a beacon of justice. Department of Justice (DoJ) has entrusted a task to CSC e-Governance Service India Limited for mainstreaming legal information, legal aid, and advice to the marginalized communities through Common Services Center (CSC). Launched in 2017 as a pilot project in the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir, this initiative aimed to bring legal aid to the doorsteps of marginalized communities. Utilizing video-conferencing infrastructure at CSC centers, citizens can connect with panel lawyers, seeking advice and assistance. The success of the pilot project led to its expansion in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and subsequently to all aspirational districts across the country. As of April 2023, Tele-Law has reached an impressive 2,50,000 CSCs in 765 districts, providing free legal services to all sections of the community. Real-time data from the Tele-Law Dashboard showcases its impact, with over 65 lakh cases registered and legal advice extended to more than 64 lakh beneficiaries. Online Resume Maker: In the digital age, job hunting has evolved, and CSCs have adapted to this change by introducing the Online Resume Maker tool. This AI-based product, available on the Digital Seva Portal, empowers individuals to create professional resumes tailored to their skill sets. "The impact of the Online Resume Maker service is evident in its features, providing AI-driven content, a choice of professional templates, and seamless integration with job portals like Rozgar.com. The service not only enhances the job application process but also opens doors to daily job alerts, direct calls from recruiters, and downloadable mobile applications with advanced features," says Sanjay Kumar Rakesh, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer at CSC e-Governance Services India Limited. Cultivating Prosperity The Agriculture Department of CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd, established in 2019-20, has redefined the landscape of agricultural services in the country. Operating through the CSC eAgri portal, the department has achieved significant milestones, surpassing business turnovers and fostering collaborations with leading agricultural brands. The success of the Agriculture Department is marked by its achievements in FPO network expansion, business growth, brand collaborations, retail portals for VLEs, KVK Crop Healthcare Service, PACS Project, and SFAC Value Chain Organization. Digital transformation, financial transactions, PACS onboarding, and progress in the SFAC project highlight the impact of the CSC eAgri portal on the agricultural sector. With over 46 lakh transactions and the onboarding of 50,000+ PACS into the CSC network, the department's role in promoting e-governance services and digital agribusiness is commendable. "The journey of Common Service Centres (CSCs) in India continues to be one of sustained growth and innovation. As of the latest data available, the network of CSCs has expanded its reach to even the remotest corners of the country, acting as catalysts for rural development. The commitment to providing over 500 services reflects the adaptability and responsiveness of CSCs to the evolving needs of the population," says Sanjay Kumar Rakesh. (The writer is a senior journalist; views are personal) The Maldives must not let political theatrics erode the core principles that have defined its history, interests and relations with India The ongoing dispute between a select few individuals in one of the world's behemoth nations and the tiniest sovereign state is a stark illustration of the contemporary diplomatic landscape heavily shaped by media biases and their exaggerated, contentious rhetoric. Unfortunately, a substantial portion of Indian analysts adopted a narrative that further inflamed tensions, giving the Maldivians reasons to amplify their dissent against India. In contrast, astute Maldivian analysts swiftly engaged in damage control, countering the repercussions spurred by the ceaseless prattle of inept politicians. The Maldives' shrewd pragmatism in forging alliances with major powers while safeguarding its autonomy is central to understanding its global approach. Unlike many larger nations in the region, including India, the Maldives evaded British colonization, strategically orchestrating a protectorate agreement in 1887 that preserved its political independence while deferring only on foreign affairs to London. Consequently, Male never flew the British flag, and no British governor held sway, except during the threat posed by Japan in 1941 when Britain established a naval and air base at Addu Atoll in the southern reaches of the archipelago. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi showcased his strategic response in a brief video highlighting Lakshadweep as an alternative destination to the Maldives, 35 days after meeting the newly elected President of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai. The subsequent action in this video, not a mere coincidence but rather a calculated response with long-term aims aligned with the evolving policies of the Maldivian administration, echoes Otto von Bismarck's perspective that politics is the art of the possible, the attainable the art of the next best. On the flip side, there is no cause for jubilation or satisfaction regarding the responses to the video by three young anti-Indian politicians in the Maldives who, a few days ago, exploited their social media platforms, proving in politics, nothing is contemptible. The ensuing disgraceful comments directed at Prime Minister Modi prompted the government to issue clarifications, emphasizing that the statements emanated from individual members of the cabinet and did not reflect the official stance of the government. President Muizzu, revelling in the triumph of his recent electoral victory, appears to be basking in the dubious glory of long-standing anti-Indian sentiments prevailing in the country. This revelry, however, exposes him as still ensnared in the psychological labyrinth typical of a mere politician. Despite his judicious decision to take swift action against his errant colleagues, suspending Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna, and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid from their positions as deputy ministers in the so-called Youth Ministry, the repercussions of their fervent anti-Indian rhetoric remain unpredictable. The lingering discontent among the populace has the potential to ignite a fresh wave of violence, inevitably causing further harm to the nation. Simply seeking attention without a nuanced understanding of the intricate political dynamics within the region and the country offers no tangible benefits for individuals making such inflammatory remarks, either for society or personally. Foreign Affairs Minister Moosa Sameer aptly stated, "The recent remarks against foreign leaders and our close neighbours are unacceptable and do not reflect the official position of the Government of Maldives. We remain committed to fostering a positive and constructive dialogue with all our partners, especially our neighbours, based on mutual respect and understanding." Following decisive actions, President Muizzu swiftly embarked on a state visit to China, marking the first visit since assuming the presidency, where he reaffirmed the long-delayed Free Trade Agreement initiated in December 2014 and many more. Muizzu, under the banner of "India Out," seeks to reshape the social fabric, leveraging existing political culture. His methods, irrespective of perception, place him on a precarious edge, with the stability of his presidency contingent on the outcomes of the upcoming parliamentary elections. Having solidified his position within the party, Muizzu strategically secures loyalty by distributing governmental positions among senior figures in the PPM and the PNC, even appointing his wife. The lack of anti-defection laws in the Maldives introduces complications, as the repercussions of his juniors' statements could greatly influence whether Muizzu continues to wield power unchecked or experiences a tumultuous political decline. Feeble minds, devoid of strategic principles and ethical conduct, persist in their unabated campaign of animosity against India, shamelessly unleashing their vitriol through various social media channels. This toxic behaviour, although not a recent development, has been an enduring characteristic of these politicians. On the contrary, India has unexpectedly taken these provocations more seriously than the juvenile politicians who, in their recent diatribes against India, never anticipated the sudden surge in popularity. India's strategic response seems to revolve around globally tarnishing Maldives' reputation, utilizing its own carefully crafted narratives. However, this ploy is destined for a short-lived existence, as an entrenched ideological revolt against India continues to simmer throughout the region. Those fanning the flames of anti-India sentiment perceive India not as a benevolent caretaker in times of need but as a manipulator, underscoring the pivotal role played by strategies and counter-strategies in this ongoing narrative. Acknowledging deep cultural, ethnic, and economic ties between the Maldives and India is crucial. Historical connections are evident in linguistic roots, shared exposure to Hindi music, and a history of educational exchanges. Recent collaborations, notably in healthcare, exemplify India's pivotal role, as seen in the timely supply of Covishield vaccines during the pandemic peak. The Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital stands as a tangible testament to India's enduring assistance, and India remains a primary source of tourists for the Maldives, enhancing the bilateral relationship. Both nations strengthened ties through agreements, including significant financial support for maritime connectivity and credit lines. Despite this positive trajectory, the Maldivian current administration holds diverse sentiments towards India, ranging from nationalist fervour against military presence to concerns about transparency in agreements. Doubts persist over projects like the new police academy and Uthuru Thila Falhu, fueled by baseless rumours. Despite reservations, the overall relationship, which reached new heights in the previous administration, now faces challenges. India's understanding of the internal power dynamics in the Maldives seems miscalculated, considering its profound strategic and economic interests in the region. The Maldives strategically holds a pivotal position in the Indian Ocean Sea Lanes of Communication (SLOC). Its historical context, from British operational bases to Soviet attempts at naval facilities, underscores its significance. India's concerns about the Maldives' strategic location heightened after the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack, with reports suggesting the potential adversarial use of the Maldives' position in the region. In the Maldives, prioritizing juvenile political mentality over mature diplomatic skills is not only foolhardy but also a perverse dance that revels in instant gratification, inflicting unimaginable pain on society. This misguided approach exposes a grotesque disparity between intent and justification, rendering any sympathetic validity null. It represents a condemnable manifestation of disregard, turning governmental relations into a mockery. This is not a call for 'India first' or 'India out,' but an impassioned plea for the Maldives to strengthen its sovereignty and prioritize its interests under the banner of 'Maldives First.' The nation must not let political theatrics erode the core principles that have defined its history true friendship and sovereignty. Vigilance is paramount against separatist forces exploiting public sentiment, as risking the essence that made this sovereign archipelago unique throughout history is not an option. Unfortunately, many countries and leaders in the world are yet to learn from the untold lessons to be learned from Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. (The writer is a Sri Lankan journalist and worked as a communications consultant for the Government of Sri Lanka. Views are personal) Unlike many celebrities who are busy earning quick bucks by surrogate tobacco advertising at the cost of health of the youth getting addicted to the lethal products, international wrestler Sangram Singh has chosen to use his influence for a positive cause by joining forces with health experts like Alok Thakar, Head, National Cancer Institute and Professor of Otolaryngology & Head-Neck Surgery, AIIMS Delhi, and Urvashi Prasad, Director of NITI Aayog to advocate against the tobacco menace. On the occasion of National Youth Day, the youth icon Sangarm Singh who is also the brand ambassador for the Government's 'Fit India' campaign, said, This young population is particularly vulnerable to the hazards of tobacco; implementing tobacco warnings is crucial. He was sharing his concerns at the webinar Viksit Bharat-Tambaku Mukt Bharat organized by Tobacco Free India, a citizens initiative recently. Along with other participants he too underscored the importance of implementing tobacco warning rules on Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, akin to the regulations previously enforced for film and television. The experts also called for prohibiting surrogate advertisements, point-of-sale tobacco ads, and smoking zones. Alok Thakar brought attention to the alarming surge in cancer cases associated with tobacco consumption. He said, In the past year, there has been a proliferation of surrogate advertisements, particularly for smokeless tobacco products. Epidemiologist and public health expert Chandrakant Lahariya cited findings from the GYTS-India Survey conducted by the Government and said, Approximately one-fifth of individuals aged 13-15 had used some form of tobacco product, and this proportion was even higher among older age groups. He emphasised that on-screen tobacco warnings not only have a direct impact on youth but also result in a reduction of tobacco-related scenes in the media. He also cited the Health Ministrys report on Indias tobacco-free film and television policy, illustrating the positive outcomes of implementing tobacco warnings. Lahariya also stressed that even a 10 per cent reduction in tobacco use among these individuals through warning rules could potentially save up to 20 million lives in the long run. Urvashi Prasad emphasised the profound damage tobacco inflicts on well-being, with a definite link to diseases like cancer while Uma Kumar, Founder Head of Rheumatology at AIIMS, New Delhi, noted that the median age for initiating tobacco product use is between 10 and 11.5 years, putting young individuals at risk of life-threatening diseases like cancer. She called upon public figures to responsibly wield their influence and cited the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, revealing that 52 percent of school-going children aged 13-15 had observed anti-tobacco messages in films and TV. The Government had extended COTPA rules to OTT platforms, effective September 1, 2023. These rules mandate that all OTT platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Hotstar, Jio Cinema, etc., display anti-tobacco health spots, prominent static messages, and audio-visual disclaimers regarding the ill effects of tobacco. In yet another setback for the Congress, on the day it launched the second leg of the 6,500 km Bharat Jodo Yatra on Sunday, former Union Minister Milind Deora quit the party to walk the path of development and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Congress alleged that the timing of Deoras departure from the party was orchestrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it would have no impact. On his part, Deora ended a 55-year-old association of the Deora family with the Grand Old Party. The former Mumbai South MP announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party on the social media platform. Deora was the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time and is the son of the party stalwart late Murli Deora. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, thereby ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues, and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years, said Deora. Later, he went to Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers. In the afternoon, Deora joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Eknath Shinde at Varsha, the official residence of the Chief Minister. Earlier in the day, when Deora stepped out of his residence Ramalayam in south Mumbai, he told reporters that he was going to walk on the path of development. Deora also launched a veiled attack on the Congress leadership after joining the Shiv Sena, saying that his parent party is not the same as it used to be when Manmohan Singh launched economic reforms. He emphasised that the Congress is now criticising industrialists and businessmen, labeling them as anti-nationals. Deora expressed his belief that PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have a vision for developing the country. He also praised Shinde as the most accessible chief minister. Deora, recently appointed as the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had previously expressed disapproval of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, which he had represented in the past. In the undivided Shiv Sena, Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in both the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh remarked that while one Milind Deora departs, lakhs of Milinds who believe in our organisation and ideology stay. Ramesh revealed that Deora had contacted him over the phone last Friday, expressing his desire to speak with Rahul Gandhi regarding his concerns about the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) claiming the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 am, and then at 2:47 pm, I replied, Are you planning a switch?. At 2:48, he sent a message, Is speaking to you not possible? I said I will call you, and at 3:40, I spoke to him, recounted Ramesh. He (Deora) expressed concern that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat. He wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi, explain the situation about the seat, and also requested me to talk to Mr Gandhi about it, added the Congress general secretary. However, it became apparent that this was all a farce, and he had already decided to leave. Ramesh alleged the timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, however, asserted that there would be no compromise on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. In a swipe at the BJP, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule questioned whether the saffron party had no talent of its own. Following Deoras announcement of his resignation, Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad expressed regret, stating that it was unfortunate he had chosen to leave the party on the day when Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra commenced from Manipur. Deoras departure from the Congress adds to a growing list of young leaders who have left the party to embark on new journeys in other political entities, predominantly the BJP. The lack of resolution for lingering issues and intra-party factionalism has previously prompted several promising leaders from the Rahul camp to leave. The list is extensive, with former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot standing out as the sole exception. Pilot chose to remain with the Congress despite promises made to him by the top brass, which were not fulfilled when he called off his revolt in 2020 and returned to the Congress, citing a resolution of differences with his adversary Ashok Gehlot, the then CM. Union Minister under the Congress-led UPA regime, Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the Congress to join the BJP in March 2020 and is currently a minister in the Modi Cabinet. Scindia stated that he could no longer tolerate the disrespect coming from veteran Kamal Nath. Another ex-UPA minister, Jitin Prasada, left the Congress, citing the partys growing disconnect with the people. Subsequently, a series of exits occurred, with Priyanka Chaturvedi joining the erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena, former Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev quitting for the TMC, former Union Minister RPN Singh, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, and party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill joining the BJP. The exodus began with then Assam Congress stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma leaving the party for the BJP on the eve of the 2014 polls. Congress stalwarts Amarinder Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Kapil Sibal also remain on the list of Congress exodus. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15 even as the two sides deliberated on finding a mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of the Indian military platforms in the island nation. The issue was extensively discussed at the first meeting of the India-Maldives high-level core group in Male. The two sides decided to set up the core group on the contentious issue following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai last month. Both sides also held discussions on finding a mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the principal secretary to the Maldivian President, said at a media briefing in Male that Muizzu asked the Maldivian delegation to inform Indian officials in the core group meeting that the troops must be withdrawn by March 15. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of president Muizzu and that of this administration, Ibrahim said. During the meeting, both sides held discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects, the MEA said in a statement. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the high-level core group in India on a mutually convenient date, it said. Around 90 Indian personnel are currently staying in the Maldives primarily to operate and maintain two helicopters and an aircraft. The Indian delegation at the meeting comprised High Commissioner Munu Mahawar and a number of other diplomats from the Indian mission. The Maldivian team comprised the Ambassador at large in the foreign ministry, Ali Naseer Mohamed, and the Maldivian high commissioner to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, among several other officials. The India-Maldives ties came under some stress as Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president that he would keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. The Maldives is one of Indias key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. Muizzu was sworn in as the new Maldivian president on November 17. A day after taking charge of the top office, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. Muizzu has been maintaining that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. The Maldivian president returned from a six-day visit to China on Saturday. The visit saw both sides ink a number of pacts to expand ties. Speaking to the media in Male on his return, Muizzu indirectly took a jibe at India. We may be small, but that doesnt give you the licence to bully us, he said. He also announced plans to reduce the countrys dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries. A massive row erupted last week after three deputy ministers in Muizzus Government made derogatory posts against Modi. Deputy ministers in the youth ministry Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid were suspended by the Maldivian Government after India strongly raised the issue with Male. The three deputy ministers used disparaging comments against Modi for his post on X following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi embarked on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur on Sunday, promising to bring peace and harmony to the ethnically violence-hit State. Addressing a public meeting in Thoubal, south of Manipurs capital Imphal, Rahul criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, suggesting that, for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur might not be considered a part of India. Lakhs of people faced losses, but the Prime Minister has not come here to wipe your tears, hold your hand, or embrace you. Maybe for Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India. Your pain is not their pain, Rahul said. The violence that erupted in the northeastern State in May last year has claimed more than 180 lives and left thousands homeless. We understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through, we understand the hurt, the sadness. We will bring back the harmony, peace, and affection for which this State was known, he said. The yatra will cover a distance of 6,713 km, spanning 100 Lok Sabha constituencies and 337 assembly segments, covering 110 districts. It will conclude in Mumbai on March 20 after 67 days. Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also criticised the Prime Minister, stating that he came to the northeastern State only to seek votes and not to share the grief of the people when they are in pain. Modi has time to drive by the sea, take a dip in the sea but has not come to Manipur. Modi keeps chanting Ram, Ram, but he should not do it just to seek votes. The BJP mixes religion and politics, inciting people, he said at the launch of the yatra. The BJP has Ram on its lips but carries a knife by their side. They should not have such an approach towards the people, the Congress president said. Kharge said the Congress stood for social justice, secularism, and equity. Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is being undertaken to safeguard the Constitution and democracy and to combat fascist forces, he said. The Congress president expressed pride that a leader of his party was moving from door-to-door to spread the message of peace. Earlier, Kharge unveiled the bus on which Gandhi and other Congress leaders will travel from Manipur to Mumbai as part of the yatra. The Congress leaders also paid homage at the Khongjom War Memorial in Thoubal. Rahul reached the Imphal airport in the afternoon and was accorded a rousing welcome by Congress supporters. He then went to a nearby private ground, named Nyay Maidan, from where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began. Lok Sabha member Danish Ali, recently suspended by the BSP, also joined the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, stating that he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not participate in the biggest drive for unity and justice. Ali has actively aligned himself with the opposition, criticising the BJP and its policies, even though the Mayawati-led BSP has maintained a distance from the BJP-led NDA as well as the opposition bloc INDIA. BSP suspended him in December for anti-party activities. Ali sat alongside Congress leaders in the front row on the dais at the Yatra flag-off event in Thoubal on Sunday and later joined Gandhi on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra bus. He recalled that Rahul Gandhi was the first leader to express solidarity with him after he faced a hate attack in Parliament when a BJP MP used derogatory words against him. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said on Sunday the Lodhi community made huge contributions to the independence struggle. Today, this community is progressing due to its hard work, integrity and unity. Sai paid tribute to Avanti Bai Lodhi, the queen of the Lodhi community who fought against the British. He was addressing an oath-taking and felicitation ceremony of the Chhattisgarh Lodhi Samaj in Mungeli district. Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao was present. Sao said: Taking inspiration from history, this society is progressing in all fields including education, employment and politics. In view of the upcoming Ram temple consecration ceremony on January 22 and the immense potential for tourism in Ayodhya, investors have signed agreements for big investments in the hospitality sector in the city. Renowned hotel brands are establishing their branches in Ayodhya, and approximately 50 major hotel construction projects are currently underway in the city. With several small hotels, resorts and homestays also investing in the region, Ayodhya is emerging as a new hotspot in the hotel industry. In addition, good highways and roads, wall paintings depicting the life of Lord Ram, facade lighting and a grand entrance adorned with Victorian lamps add to the attraction of Ayodhya. According to Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal, during the UP Global Investors Summit last year, approximately 102 intent agreements worth around Rs 18,000 crore were signed for tourism in Ayodhya. Even after the GIS, many entrepreneurs have presented their proposals to the government and the district administration for investment in the tourism sector in Ayodhya. Currently, there are 126 projects related to tourism in Ayodhya, ready to be implemented through the groundbreaking ceremony. Out of these 126 projects, 46 have received memorandums of understanding (MoUs), while 80 projects are non-MoU related. The total cost of all these 126 projects ready for groundbreaking ceremony is around Rs 4,000 crore. The combined cost of MoU and non-MoU projects is approximately Rs 2,000 crore each. Several popular hotels will soon become a reality in Ayodhya. Gaurav Dayal revealed that currently around 50 renowned hotels have invested in Ayodhya for large-scale projects and the construction of their buildings is underway. These hotels, including Taj, Marriott, Ginger, Oberoi, Trident and Radisson, will soon be completed and become operational. Additionally, there are plans to develop the Raja Ki Building as a heritage hotel, with a major hotel chain expressing interest in investing in this project. Apart from these, a significant number of both small and large hotels are expected to commence operations in and around the Ayodhya region. The hotels will ensure accommodation of a large number of devotees and tourists visiting Ayodhya. Ayodhya is set to witness an investment of approximately Rs 420 crore through four large projects in the hotel industry. The first on the list is Panche Dreamworld LLP, which will establish the O Rama Hotels and Resorts project in Ayodhya at a total cost of Rs 140 crore. Following this, The Innovators Digital Ads Pvt. Ltd will build the Solitaire Ayodhya 5 Star hotel with an investment of Rs 100 crore, while Evergreen Infrastructure Pvt Ltd will establish the Shri Ramya Hotel with an investment of Rs 90 crore. Additionally, Samruddhi Swastik Trading and Investment Ltd will set up the Vishranti Grah with an investment of Rs 86 crore. A total of 139 new projects with an investment of around Rs 2,700 crore have been registered in Ayodhya, out of which 87 new projects with an investment of approximately Rs 1,650 crore have been certified. Furthermore, renewal applications have been submitted for 25 projects with a total cost of Rs 920 crore, and renewal certificates have been issued for 21 projects with an investment of Rs 806 crore. In total, certificates have been issued for around 108 projects with an investment of approximately Rs 2,500 crore. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, different cultures from across the country will meet in Ayodhya. Several new events will take place starting from Makar Sankranti (January 15). At various locations, including Ram Ki Paidi, Dharam Path, Tulsi Udyan, Circuit House, Saket College, the visitors will be acquainted with cultural activities of different states. The event will introduce the cultural theme of the new Ayodhya. From January 15, renowned spiritual speaker Devkinandan Thakur will narrate the Ram Katha at Ram Katha Park. The katha, which will continue till January 23, will take place from 11 am to 2 pm. On the directive of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, continuous Ram Katha has been organised from January 8. The Ram Katha, spanning 70 days, will feature different narrators each week, allowing devotees to listen to various versions of the epic. From January 8 to 14, Shri Chinmayanand Bapu narrated the Ram Katha to devotees. People from several states of the country will present their offerings at the Ram Ki Paidi. On the Ram Ki Paidi, Shailesh Bhagwat from Maharashtra will play the shehnai. Harsh Vardhan from Maharashtra will express his devotion to Lord Ram through the sarangi, and Shashwat Mandal from Delhi will present devotional songs. In addition, Anuj Mishra will perform Kathak dance, Jyoti Srivastava will perform Odissi dance, and Anjana Jha and Surbhi Shukla will present Kathak. Meenu Thakur will mesmerise the audience at the Ram Ki Paidi with the Kuchipudi dance. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed the organisation of cultural programmes at public places. As part of this, on Makar Sankranti, a bhajan programme by Shashikant Dubey will be held near Saket Petrol Pump while Ayodhyas Shitala Prasad Verma will present Faruwahi folk dance. On the Dharma Path, Rajesh Gaud from Ayodhya will present Kaharwa dance and Sweta Singh from Gonda will present bhajans and folk songs. Furthermore, at Ram Ghat Halt, Rama Prajapati will showcase the Badhawa dance, and Manavendra Das and Manas Das will present devotional songs. Near Saket College, Sultanpurs Dayashankar Pandey will present an Awadhi folk song and Prakriti Yadav will perform a folk dance. In addition, at Parag Dairy, Mukesh Kumar will present the Faruwahi folk dance. On the Tulsi Udyan stage, Jhansis Seetaram Kushwaha will sing bhajans, and Ashok Kumar from Jaunpur will present folk songs. Omprakash Sharma from Prayagraj will play the shehnai. KPMG, a global network of professional services firms providing audit, tax and advisory services, is organising an event this month for corporates to discuss the impact of Kuwait joining the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting). Through the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS (Inclusive Framework), Kuwait joins 140+ countries that are already signatories, to strengthen the efforts against tax avoidance. In its announcement regarding Kuwait joining the Inclusive Framework, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mentioned that Kuwait had agreed to take part in the Two-Pillar Solution to bring about reforms in the tax laws and ensure that multinational enterprises paid their fair share of taxes in the regions they operated. This change would mean that any Kuwaiti multinational company, including government entities, that are operating outside Kuwait and have an annual revenue greater than 750 million euros will be subject to 15% tax on their profits in Kuwait, said the statement from KPMG. The implementation is expected to be in place 2025 onwards, it added. An in-person event to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 23, KPMG's annual tax event aims to shed more light on the potential changes to corporate income tax in Kuwait. This comes as part of Kuwaits commitment to address the tax challenges emerging from digitalization of the economy, said a top official. "This measure is a positive shift toward attaining tax transparency both locally and globally. Kuwaits participation in the implementation of the BEPS package of 15 measures will make for increased coherence of international tax laws," remarked Zubair Patel, the Head of Tax, KPMG in Kuwait. As a second phase for 2026, it is anticipated that the Kuwait Government will introduce new legislation in the form of Business Profits Tax Law (BPT Law) whereby all Kuwaiti companies/businesses will be subject to local corporate tax. Kuwaits current corporate income tax rate stands at 15% and applies only to non-Kuwaiti companies that are earning income of Kuwait source. On the Kuwaits evolving tax ecosystem, Fahim Bashir, Partner (Tax & Corporate Services) at KPMG, emphasized on the need for businesses to stay on top of the changes that the Kuwait Government may make in terms of the BEPS minimum standards along with the implementation of the BPT Law in Kuwait. "These changes are setting the stage to have meaningful conversations, seek consensus and collaborate with finance functions in Kuwaiti companies," stated Bashir. "Companies are not only seeking to understand the financial impact and disclosure requirements of new taxes but also identify what changes in finance functions are necessary given that more resources will be dedicated to tax matters," he noted. Bashir pointed out that this was in addition to recognizing which systems or tools will be required to support those responsible for tax matters in an organization and planning in advance where changes are required. "In our event, we will cover the potential changes to Kuwaits corporate income tax framework and provide key information around BEPS Pillar 2 that businesses can leverage to plan ahead as further announcements are made by the Kuwait Government," he added. An in-person event to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel, Kuwait City, the KPMG's annual tax event will comprise panel discussions on matters pertaining to tax as well as Kuwaits economic landscape. The guest speakers include: Daniel Kaye, Group Chief Economist, National Bank of Kuwait, Mubeen Khadir, Partner and Head of Tax & Corporate Services, KPMG in Bahrain, and Anand Krishnan, Director International Tax Services, KPMG in Qatar.-TradeArabia News Service ASTANA, Kazakhstan, January 14. The volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau amounted to 3.376 million tons from January through 2023, which is 1.108 million tons more than the same period in 2022, KazTransOil JSC (an oil pipeline company of the Republic of Kazakhstan that provides services for transporting oil to the domestic market, for transit purposes, and for export) told Trend. Thus, the increase in the volume of transportation of Kazakh oil for export from the port of Aktau is due to an increase in the volume of raw materials shipped in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, from 250,000 tons to 1.392 million tons, which is 5.5 times more compared to the same period in 2022. In particular, 1.057 million tons of oil were shipped from the Tengiz field. In addition, in the reporting period, 1.984 million tons of oil were shipped from the port of Aktau towards the port of Makhachkala. In 2022, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ordered to increase the volume of oil transportation along the Trans-Caspian corridor. In accordance with this instruction, KazMunayGas JSC (Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company) and the state oil company of the Republic of Azerbaijan SOCAR entered into an agreement providing for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil per year from the Tengiz field in the direction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. Previously, Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov said that deliveries via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline from Kazakhstan will amount to 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023. "Every month, Azerbaijan receives from 12 to 14 tankers transporting Kazakh oil. This is a satisfactory development. The initial agreement between the parties provided for the transportation of 1.5 million tons of oil this year. However, given that deliveries began in April this year, we will be able to transport 1.1 million tons of oil by the end of 2023," he said. KazTransOil JSC is the Kazakhstan's national operator of the main oil pipeline. It is part of the KazMunayGas JSC group. KazTransOil JSC owns a diversified network of main oil pipelines 5.4 thousand km in length. With the air quality in Delhi turning severe, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to impose restrictions under phase III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This includes a ban on running BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers. Car owners may be fined Rs 20,000 for violating the ban. This measure will be enforced in Delhi and the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. The objective is to reduce vehicular emissions, a significant contributor to air pollution. The air quality index (AQI) on Sunday stood at 447. The Delhi government banned the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital on Friday in response to an order from the Centre's air quality monitoring panel, citing poor air quality in the city and NCR The Commission also advised state governments to take a decision on discontinuing schools for up to Class 5. Delhis air quality deteriorated to severe for the first time this year due to low temperatures and low wind speed over the last 48 hours. Construction work related to national security or defence, projects of national importance, healthcare, railways, metro rail, airports, inter-state bus terminals, highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, sanitation and water supply are exempted from the ban. The CAQM, a statutory body responsible for forming air pollution reduction strategies for the region and their implementation, noted a significant rise in Delhi's AQI (458 and 457 at 10 am and 11 am) due to unfavourable climatic conditions and local pollution sources. Anticipating a prolonged period of severe air quality, the committee decided to implement GRAP Stage-III curbs ('severe' air quality index (AQI) range) immediately to prevent further deterioration. CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalisation of GRAP called on an emergency meeting Sunday morning in view of sudden deterioration of air quality of Delhi-NCR from last evening. The Sub-Committee decides to invoke 8 point action plan as per Stage-III of revised GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect, the panel said. Make a decision on discontinuing physical classes in schools for children up to class 4 and conduct classes in an online mode. Intensify public transport services and introduce differential rates to encourage off-peak travel. Enforce a strict ban on construction and demolition activities in the entire NCR, except essential projects, it added. CAQM measures, invoked for the third time this winter, effectively ban BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four-wheelers from plying in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. The measures also put an immediate ban on private construction in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). On January 1, the Centre has ordered the revocation of anti-pollution restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP in the entire Delhi-NCR with immediate effect after improvement in the air quality index. On Sunday, the air quality at Anand Vihar plummeted in the "severe" category with PM 2.5 and PM 10 crossing 500 while the NO2 reached 133 and CO at 132, both in the "moderate" category, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) at 6 p.m. The AQI at ITO also remained in severe category with PM 2.5 breaching the 500 mark and PM 10 at 480, or severe. The CO was recorded at 110 or moderate. The PM 2.5 at Punjabi Bagh also reached 477 while PM 10 was at 404, both in the severe category. The air quality at Jahangirpuri air quality monitoring station also entered into severe category with PM 2.5 at 462 and PM 10 455. The CO was also reached at 97 or satisfactory. The PM 2.5 at Okhla Phase-II was recorded above 500 mark and PM 10 at 487 both in the severe category. At Mundka the AQI remained in the very poor category with PM 2.5 at 365 and PM 10 at 210 or very poor. However, at Bawana, the air quality was in very poor category with PM 2.5 at 342 and PM 10 at 196, or moderate. The AQI monitoring station at Dwarka sector 8 recorded PM 2.5 at 470 and PM 10 was at 433, both in the severe category. The AQI at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport station plummeted with PM 10 at 469 and PM 2.5 was at 413, both in the severe levels. The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is the Centre's air pollution control plan implemented in the region during the winter season. It categorises actions into four stages: Stage I - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'Severe Plus' (AQI>450). Delhi University Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh has been invited for the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, according to an official statement. The invitation for the "Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha" programme was given to Singh by Vishwa Hindu Parishad international working president Alok Kumar, it said. Accepting the invitation at his residence here, the vice chancellor said it is a matter of pride and honour for the country that the "Pran Pratishtha" (consecration) of the idol of Lord Ram is taking place in his temple in Ayodhya. "January 22, 2024, will prove to be a day to be written in the history of India when the world will see India's identity, India's resolve and India's glory," Singh said and added that the Ram temple in Ayodhya is the symbol of India's identity and its pride. The vice chancellor said that "today, International Working President of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Alok Kumar, had come for the invitation to Ram Lalla Pran Pratishtha", according to the statement. "I feel very fortunate that they have extended me such an invitation here. For this I express my heartfelt gratitude to him," Singh said The vice chancellor said that the University of Delhi is associated with this campaign in every way possible and it is a matter of great honour. Chhattisgarh Police arrested two more persons including a shooter who was on the run for the contract killing of local BJP leader Asim Rai at Pakhanjur town in Kanker district. Shooter Vikas Talukdar and Sonu Sahu, who allegedly supplied the gun, have been taken into custody, Kanker Superintendent of Police Divyang Patel said. Talukdar was nabbed from Maharashtra and Sahu from Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh. A 7.65 MM pistol, two magazines and eight rounds were recovered from Talukdar. Two pistols, two magazines and 30 rounds of cartridges were seized from Sahu. Rai (50), a former chairman of the Pakhanjur Nagar Panchayat, was the corporator and also vice president of the Kanker district unit of the BJP. He was killed in the Purana Bazar area last Sunday. On Friday, 11 persons including two local Congress leaders were arrested for Rai's killing. Delhi Cabinet ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj on Sunday visited slum clusters in the national capital and accused the BJP of conspiring to remove slum dwellers. Atishi visited B R camp slum while her Cabinet colleague Bharadwaj met residents of slums near the Safdarjung Flying Club in south Delhi. "The BJP-led central government is conspiring to raze the slum areas of Delhi and relocate its residents 40 to 50 km away from their homes. AAP and (Delhi) Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are standing with them (slum dwellers)," Atishi said, during her visit to the slum cluster. Echoing similar views, Bharadwaj said that drivers, maids, cooks, etc have been living in Delhi's JJ clusters with their families. "The BJP-led central government is conspiring against them to remove these people (slum dwellers) out of their houses. As per the law, the authorities cannot demolish a listed cluster without giving them proper houses. What the BJP is doing is illegal and inhumane," he alleged. Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who remains suspended by the BSP, on Sunday announced his decision to join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not join biggest drive for unity and justice. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had suspended Ali last month for "anti-party" activities. Ali had been actively joining opposition ranks in attacking the BJP and its policies even though the Mayawati-led BSP has maintained a distance from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition bloc INDIA. In a post on X, Ali announced after landing in Imphal that he has decided to join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul-searching. I had two options either to accept the status quo and ignore the exploitation of Dalits, backwards, tribals, minorities and other marginalised and poor sections, or to launch an all-out campaign against this atmosphere of fear, hate, exploitation and the deepening divide in the country, he said. My conscience pushed me to take the second option. Taking this decision came naturally to me as I was myself at the receiving end of a similar attack in Parliament, where swear words were used by a member of the ruling party against me and my religion, the BSP leader said. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri had used derogatory words for Ali in Parliament which had led to a massive outrage and the matter was sent to privilege committee before which the BJP MP had apologised. Ali claimed that his call for justice and action against the guilty member of Parliament fell on deaf ears. Instead of punishing my attacker, the ruling establishment rewarded him. I have realised that the attack on me was part of a larger plan to create an atmosphere of fear and hate in the country, Ali alleged. In that hour of distress, Rahul Gandhi ji was the first leader to express solidarity with me and stand by me and my family, he asserted. The purpose of Rahul Gandhi's yatra is to get justice for the marginalised and for the exploited sections, Ali said. This yatra is a call for action against divisive forces. This yatra is a drive to unite the people of our country against fear, hate, exploitation and divisiveness. I have decided to join him in this yatra because I feel I would be failing in my duty as a politician and a social worker if I did not join the biggest drive for unity and justice, the Lok Sabha MP said. He wished for success of the yatra and for the future of the country. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses. It will cover 100 Lok Sabha constituencies, 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. In a setback for Congress in Mumbai ahead of Lok Sabha polls, former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday quit the party "to walk the path of development" and joined the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, ending a "55 years old association" of the Deora family with the Grand Old Party. With Deora resigning just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it would have no impact. The former Mumbai South MP announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party on social media platform X in the morning hours on Sunday. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Deora stated. He later went to Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers. In the afternoon, Deora joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Eknath Shinde in a function at Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister. Earlier in the day, when Deora stepped out of his residence 'Ramalayam' in south Mumbai, he told reporters that he was "going to walk on the path of development". Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency which he had represented in the past. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time. He is the son of party stalwart late Murli Deora. After Deora announced his resignation on X, Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad said it was unfortunate that he had quit the party on the day when the Rahul Gandhi-led 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' commences from Manipur. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole called it a ploy by the Bharatiya Janata Party to divert the attention from the Yatra and mocked Deora as a "twice defeated candidate". Former chief minister Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from the Mumbai South constituency but the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance's understanding is that the sitting MP must not be disturbed. "The BJP was spreading rumours that the Congress will split. Now the BJP and its allies are taking along with them a twice-defeated candidate to divert attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This attempt will not be successful," Patole said. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, however, said there would be no compromise on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. "Arvind Sawant is a two-time MP (of Shiv Sena-UBT). What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this," Raut asserted. In a swipe at BJP, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule asked if the saffron party had no talent of its own. Asked about Deora's resignation, Sule said the BJP and its allies were becoming the Congress, an apparent reference to leaders from the grand old party switching allegiance to the ruling side. BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 14. Iran has the ability to make nuclear weapons, but it does not want to own nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction, said Vice President and Chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Mohammad Eslami, Trend reports. Eslami stated that Irans defense and security doctrine has never and will never include having weapons of mass destruction. The vice president also said that Iran has a high-level security assurance and deterrent defense system. This is a level of defense system that very few countries possess. Some media outlets on December 26, 2023 citing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), reported that Iran had increased its 60 percent uranium enrichment rate at the Natanz and Fordo sites since late November 2023. They claimed that Iran was producing about 9 kg of highly enriched uranium every month, which could be used to make 3 atomic bombs. 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. In discussions on the nuclear program, Iran is mainly trying to achieve the abolition of sanctions imposed by the US and Western countries, the removal of its funds frozen abroad, and the abolition of the restriction on the export of crude oil. In return, the US and Western countries want Iran not to acquire an atomic bomb, to keep its nuclear program under control, and to reduce the level of uranium enrichment. --- Follow the author on X (Twitter):@BaghishovElnur BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 14. Pakistan has rejected reports, including on social media, that the country's navy is participating in a US-led international coalition operation against the Houthis in the Arabian Sea, a Pakistani Navy spokesman said, Trend reports. According to him, the ships are sent to the region to protect international shipping, which also affects Pakistani interests. He stressed that the decision was not related to the conflict between Hamas and Israel and supported the Palestinian cause in accordance with government policy. The spokesman added that the Pakistan Navy's mission is to ensure the security of merchant ships and maritime communications in its territorial waters in accordance with international obligations. Informed sources also say Pakistan has rejected Washington's offer to join the US-led Task Force 153 in the Red Sea. Pakistan is not participating in Operation Prosperity Guardian and has no plans to participate in it. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Hyderabad: Two Telugu students, one each from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, were found dead in their room in New York, USA under mysterious circumstances, as per information received on Sunday. The Telangana native was identified as Gattu Dinesh, who had left for the US around 16 days ago. The other student was from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh. The bodies were found next to one another, with both suspected to have died in their sleep. The US police said they would ascertain the cause after autopsies and the bodies would be sent to India soon. Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday set off for Davos in Switzerland, along with his entourage, to take part in the 54th edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) between January 15 and 19, marking the first time the Telangana stae delegation is led by the Chief Minister. Revanth Reddy had earlier in the day participated in the inaugural of the Bharat Jodo Nyay yatra by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at Imphal, Manipur. IT and legislative affairs minister D. Sridhar Babu will accompany him for the meeting, along with a delegation of officials. The delegation will meet CEOs and CXOs of top global companies like Novartis, Medtronic, AstraZeneca, Google, Uber, Mastercard, Bayer, LDC and UPL, among others, to seek investments in the state. They will also meet major Indian firms, including Tata, Wipro, HCL Tech, JSW, Godrej, Airtel and Bajaj, among others. The delegation will interact with leading business chambers like CII and Nasscom, as well as media networks. Reddy and Babu will meet the top management of the WEF, including its president Brende Borge and sector heads. Telangana state has a strong institutional engagement with WEF, given that Hyderabad is the only city in India to host WEFs Centre for 4th Industrial Revolution (C4IR) for the healthcare and life sciences sector. In addition, WEF is an active supporter of multiple tech initiatives in the agriculture and food processing sectors. In a release, Sridhar Babu said, The CM was invited by the WEF to participate in this years event soon after he assumed office. Since Telangana formation, this is the first time for the Chief Minister to lead the official delegation. Principal secretary (IT and Industries) and principal secretary to CM are also part of our delegation. My team has worked out a very packed schedule at Davos. CM and I will be meeting as many as 70 industry leaders in 3 days (sic). WEF is an invite-only event and attracts participation from over 3,000 delegates every year that includes representatives from 100 governments, the top 1,000 global companies, all leading international organisations, NGOs and media. We are leaving no stone unturned to make it a very successful and productive trip. We expect to sign several MOUs and close significant investment deals in different sectors like pharma, electronics, data centres, defence and aerospace, food processing and renewable energy. We will be sharing more details about these every day from Davos, Sridhar Babu said. The CM will be sharing his views during the panel discussion on transforming healthcare digitally, which is also a key priority for the state government. He will also be attending another high-level WEF event on Food Systems and Local Action, where he will speak about impact of climate change on agri-economy and measures to promote climate-resilient agriculture while protecting farmers livelihoods, he said. Mumbai: Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years." Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their Milind Deora | aaaaaa aaaaa ai (@milinddeora) January 14, 2024 Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress at one time. He is the son of party stalwart late Murli Deora. Famous Russian comedian and TV presenter Maxim Galkin was fined 100,000 dirhams (over a million hryvnias) by the government of the United Arab Emirates for allegedly making pro-Ukrainian and anti-Russian statements at a concert in Dubai. Meanwhile, the famous Ukrainian musician, showman, and impersonator Andrii Danylko, who plays the beloved Verka Serduchka on stage, was banned from entering the country for the same reason and ordered to pay a fine. ADVERTISIMENT At least that's what a number of Russian resources claim. It is noted that Galkin's concert, which the UAE government agencies did not like, took place in 2023, and Serduchka's performance at a corporate event took place in 2022. During Galkin's performance, which allegedly provoked the fine, the comedian, in his typical manner, ridiculed the Russian government and Putin's jesters. Obviously, this refers to the artist's performance in January last year when he responded to a spectator's shout of "Glory to Ukraine." "I was asked to be neutral but how can I be neutral? Glory to the heroes!" the showman said during the concert. ADVERTISIMENT The source says that on the eve of the concert, Galkin allegedly agreed to remove all "sharp" jokes from the program, but in the end, apparently, he changed his mind and still ridiculed the Kremlin and expressed support for Ukraine. He was fined for this immediately after the concert. As for Andrii Danylko, according to propagandists, he was banned from entering the UAE in 2022 after a patriotic show in Dubai. At the time, Serduchka traditionally shouted anti-Russian and anti-war slogans at the corporate event. Certain authorities in the UAE allegedly did not like this either and accused the star of "inciting ethnic conflict." As a result, Andrii was fined and given an "inbound" status. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! Imphal: Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who remains suspended by the BSP, on Sunday announced his decision to join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not join "biggest drive for unity and justice". The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had suspended Ali last month for "anti-party" activities. Ali had been actively joining opposition ranks in attacking the BJP and its policies even though the Mayawati-led BSP has maintained a distance from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition bloc INDIA. In a post on X, Ali announced after landing in Imphal that he has decided to join the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. "This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul-searching. I had two options either to accept the status quo and ignore the exploitation of Dalits, backwards, tribals, minorities and other marginalised and poor sections, or to launch an all-out campaign against this atmosphere of fear, hate, exploitation and the deepening divide in the country," he said. Today, I have decided to join Shri Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul searching. In the atmosphere prevailing in the country, I had two options. 1/7 pic.twitter.com/TKvJv46YSI Kunwar Danish Ali (@KDanishAli) January 14, 2024 "My conscience pushed me to take the second option. Taking this decision came naturally to me as I was myself at the receiving end of a similar attack in Parliament, where swear words were used by a member of the ruling party against me and my religion," the BSP leader said. BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri had used derogatory words for Ali in Parliament which had led to a massive outrage and the matter was sent to privilege committee before which the BJP MP had apologised. Ali claimed that his call for justice and action against the "guilty member of Parliament fell on deaf ears". "Instead of punishing my attacker, the ruling establishment rewarded him. I have realised that the attack on me was part of a larger plan to create an atmosphere of fear and hate in the country," Ali alleged. "In that hour of distress, Rahul Gandhi ji was the first leader to express solidarity with me and stand by me and my family," he asserted. The purpose of Rahul Gandhi's yatra is to get justice for the marginalised and for the exploited sections, Ali said. "This yatra is a call for action against divisive forces. This yatra is a drive to unite the people of our country against fear, hate, exploitation and divisiveness. I have decided to join him in this yatra because I feel I would be failing in my duty as a politician and a social worker if I did not join the biggest drive for unity and justice," the Lok Sabha MP said. He wished for success of the yatra and for the future of the country. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses. It will cover 100 Lok Sabha constituencies, 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. Hyderabad: The Telangana state government is confident of beating its southern counterparts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to clinch a Rs 30,000-crore investment from Taiwanese major Foxconn, for setting up a fab display facility. If successful, this would mark the largest investment attracted by the newly formed Congress government in its three-month tenure. Official sources in the industries department told Deccan Chronicle that Telangana has offered better incentives to Foxconn than Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and that the company was willing to set up the facility in Hyderabad. The Centre announced 50 per cent incentives as part of its incentive scheme for developing the semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem in the country in December 2021. Telangana government has offered 30 per cent incentives from its side, while Karnataka and Tamil Nadu offered 20 per cent to 25 per cent incentives, a source said. In addition, the Telangana government even offered to take 10 per cent equity in the company, if required, which is a first-of-its-kind offer in the country. All these factors gave Telangana an edge over other states, the source said. The Telangana government has offered 100 acres on Hyderabads outskirts, power and water at subsidised rates and development of bearing the expenses to develop basic infrastructure at the allotted site. The other incentives offered by the Telangana government were quick facilitation and support for all approvals under the state government, industry-ready workforce to be trained by TASK (Telangana Academy for Skill and Knowledge) for operations from Day 1 of the plant commencing operations, hand-holding by TSIIC and electronics wing through a single point of contact for all requirements, who shall coordinate and liaison with Centre and key departments for facilitating approvals. Foxconn has already launched the construction of a manufacturing facility in Kongakalan on city outskirts to manufacture Apple iPhones last May, with the facility expected to be ready by the year-end. The company has committed to investments worth Rs 4,500 crore in Telangana so far on this unit. 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Read More Ad InvestorPlace They said crypto was dead. It went up 100X. Bitcoins haters are out again. Despite the price doubling in the last six months alone That hasnt stopped the experts from piling on. Warren Buffetts right-hand man Charlie Munger called crypto investors idiots in one of his last interviews. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, recently called Bitcoin a pet rock and a hyped-up fraud. But when it comes to cryptos, these are exactly the people you shouldnt listen to. Theyve predicted cryptos demise for years. There are five coins you must take a look at right away. Medtronic PLC is a world-leading medical technology company that develops and manufactures device-based medical therapies to improve patient outcomes. Founded in 1949 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Medtronic has grown to become one of the largest medical device companies in the world. The company's operational and executive headquarters are in Dublin, Ireland, with over 90,000 employees in more than 150 countries. Medtronic's portfolio of medical technologies includes products for diagnosing, treating and managing cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease, spinal and biologics, diabetes management and neuromodulation. The company's cardiac and vascular group is the oldest and largest business unit, which develops pacemakers, defibrillators and heart valves. Medtronic's spinal and biologics business is the second-largest business unit and produces a range of implants, instruments and services to treat spinal disorders. The diabetes group develops insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitoring systems and consumables. At the same time, the neuromodulation business focuses on therapies to treat chronic pain, movement disorders and other neurological conditions. In 2015, Medtronic acquired Covidien PLC, an Irish-based medical technology company, and moved its legal headquarters to Ireland. This transaction was the most significant U.S. corporate tax inversion in history and allowed the company to take advantage of lower corporate taxes in Ireland. The company also achieved a 100% gender and ethnically diverse pay equity in the U.S. and 99% gender pay equity globally, as reported in its Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity 2022 annual report. Medtronic joined the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI) in 2023, becoming one of the 483 companies listed in the index. Medtronic's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol MDT and is a member of the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA). The company has had several recent recalls, including the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device in February 2021 and the controller ports in June 2021. Medtronic has continued to focus on developing its medical technology portfolio and announced several acquisitions and partnerships in 2021. In January, the company announced its intention to acquire Affera, Inc., Stimgenics LLC and Medicrea. In May, Medtronic announced a strategic partnership with CathWorks, and in March 2022, a contract with Vizient. The company is also working with GE Healthcare to support the needs and care demands at Ambulatory Surgery Centers in April 2022. In October 2022, Medtronic announced its intention to pursue a separation of the company's combined patient monitoring and respiratory interventions businesses. Medtronic PLC is a world-leading medical technology company that has grown to become one of the largest medical device companies in the world. With its portfolio of medical technologies and recent acquisitions and partnerships, the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growth of the medical device industry. The company's commitment to gender and ethnic pay equity and inclusion and its strategic partnerships and acquisitions make Medtronic PLC an attractive option for investors looking for a long-term growth opportunity. There is information on the Internet that some houseplants should not be kept in the bedroom because they absorb oxygen and release carbon dioxide at night. In fact, this is a myth. All plants suitable for growing at home enrich the atmosphere of the house with oxygen. However, some of them should not be kept at least near the bed. ADVERTISIMENT And the point is not their particular toxicity, but their ability to provoke allergies. Sometimes they release pollen from flowers or spores into the air, and contact with them can provoke a rash on sensitive skin. And sometimes the cause is microorganisms that live in the soil under such plants. OBOZ.UA has compiled a list of indoor plants that you shouldn't have if you or someone close to you, including animals, is prone to allergies. Ferns Since ferns do not bloom, you might think that these plants are hypoallergenic. However, they reproduce by spores that are released into the air. And they can cause allergies no worse than pollen. Also, prolonged contact with ferns can provoke contact dermatitis. If you still want to have a fern at home, pay attention to Nephrolepsis (Boston fern) or Platyspermum deerhorneum - they should be safe even for sensitive people. ADVERTISIMENT Ficuses Ornamental ficuses don't bloom either, but their sap contains latex-like proteins that can also cause allergies. So if you are sensitive to latex, you should stay away from ficuses. These plants can cause skin or eye irritation, coughing, or other symptoms through contact with the sap, or by inhalation. Also, ficus sap makes the skin more sensitive to the sun's ultraviolet radiation, which makes burns appear much easier and faster. Orchids Although orchid juice has a very poetic name, "honeydew," it can cause a rash or blistering if it comes into contact with sensitive skin. But the pollen of this flower is quite sticky, so it will not fly in the room air. Therefore, in general, allergy sufferers can have this plant, but only if they work with it with gloves. Ivies There are openly poisonous species of ivy that can cause a severe skin reaction. English and Canarian ivy, which can be grown at home, are not so dangerous. But they also contain a substance called falcarinol in their sap that causes skin irritation. Therefore, you should only work with them with protected hands, or avoid breeding them at home altogether. ADVERTISIMENT Saintpaulias Uzambar violets, also known as Saintpaulias, although they bloom, do not release pollen into the air. But they collect a lot of household dust on their velvety leaves. And it is not easy to clean such a flower. Therefore, people who are sensitive to dust are not advised to keep them. Chrysanthemums The flowers of this species are biologically related to one of the strongest allergens, ragweed. Thus, chrysanthemum pollen can cause symptoms of hay fever. In addition, the sap of the plant can irritate sensitive skin. So chrysanthemums definitely have no place in the bedroom. Palm trees Indoor palms add chic to the interior. But when choosing something like this for home landscaping, pay attention to whether you are buying a male or female plant. Male plants produce pollen that can be dangerous for sensitive people and animals. Female plants can also cause problems, but much less often. ADVERTISIMENT Juniper A coniferous plant can come indoors in the form of a bonsai tree. It looks simply beautiful. But, as with palm trees, male plants are dangerous because they produce pollen. It is on the male juniper that cones appear, and the pollen of the plant is so fine and spreads so quickly that it can affect even insensitive people. Subscribe to the OBOZ.UA channels in Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest events. Advanced manufacturing specialist, FAST Technologies (part of the Bloc Group) is expanding its digital transformation capabilities in response to growing demand for its smart manufacturing solutions. This includes plans to invest in excess of 5 million in the business over the next five years. Headquartered in Derry, the initial focus for FAST (Factory Automation & Systems Technologies) is the opening of its Automation Accelerator Hub, based in the citys Catalyst Innovation Centre. The investment also supports the creation of 20 new jobs at FAST. FAST designs and develops advanced technical solutions automation, software and robotics which are integrated into a businesss manufacturing processes to increase productivity, reduce risk and drive cost efficiencies. The Automation Accelerator Hub known as A2 enables FAST to showcase its range of automation solutions to its growing client base, 40% of which are outside the UK and Ireland. It provides a space to engage with manufacturing businesses, assess their digital readiness, map out potential solutions and de-risk any investment. The A2 Hub will create a collaborative zone for companies, educators and specialists to test drive the latest innovations and factory of the future technologies. It well as providing training which will collectively support NIs ambitious 10X vision for growth. While furthering its development work for global customers such as DuPont, Unilever, Caterpillar and Seagate, the Hub will also enable FAST to leverage and extend support to local SMEs, accelerating their automation and digital transformation journey. Mark Higgins who has almost 30 years high-volume manufacturing experience, including eight at FAST Technologies, has been appointed Director of the A2 Hub. Commenting on the significance of the new facility and its potential to help businesses garner the benefits of advanced automation, Mark Higgins said: The opening of our A2 Hub is an important milestone for FAST, and our vision of accelerating companies on their automation journey. It presents unrivalled opportunities to showcase our capabilities in an environment which is renowned for fostering and supporting innovation. Our focus throughout is to create solutions to the everyday and often unidentified problems which may be hindering businesses on their journey to excellence. Through our robust engineering skills, we can identify and deliver the system improvements and processes which create the production efficiencies, time and cost savings businesses need to thrive. We are excited to launch our A2 Hub and further utilise our extensive portfolio of solutions. Marrying this with our collective knowledge and experience, we look forward to supporting customers both local and global on their sustainable growth journey. The past few months (and the almost eight decades before that) have seen the mass slaughter of innocent Palestinians at the hands of Israel. Its a cause that has always hit close to home for the people of Ireland due to our own history of occupation and oppression. Since Israel stepped up its campaign of genocide over the past four months, there have been numerous concerts and fundraisers throughout the country to try and do whatever small part we can to help the people of Palestine. This week Im talking once again to Declan McLaughlin about the concert taking place in the Museum of Free Derry on the 25th of this month. The concert, featuring the Henry Girls, Jeanette Hutton, Eileen Webster and Sianna Ni Laithbheartaigh (of TRAMP fame), will be raising money for the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. Speaking about the event, Declan said: Its part of the [Bloody Sunday] anniversary and a lot of the stuff happening over the anniversary this year is focusing on whats going on in Palestine. Theres always been that level of solidarity here. Just before Christmas we sent off 17,000 to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. "As I see it, its great to show solidarity but you do kind of have to be doing something. All the events Ive seen around the town, the stuff that happened in Sandinos, and even that gathering on the bridge on New Years Eve, its a long time since Ive seen that amount of people out in that weather at that time of year. Its a good indication of how people in Derry relate to it as well. "I think people in Derry see whats going on in Palestine and they relate to it, thats why theres such an outpouring. If you look at whats going on, its a sin. I cant even watch the news anymore because it just makes me angry. "Thats why I think its important to put stuff on where people are actively contributing in a positive way, that they feel like theyre doing something and its not just standing holding a flag or listening to somebody making a speech, that they feel like theyre doing something thats making some kind of positive contribution to it. The fact that its an all-female line-up, theres a full range, everything from Sianna from TRAMP, right through to the Henry Girls and Eileen Webster. Every genre is covered. The fact that we use this space is good. The museum shouldnt be just looked at as a tourist attraction, it should also offer something to the community in Derry and it should also be politically active around other issues, not just Bloody Sunday. "Thats important to me, and the Trust as well. Next, we spoke a bit about the museum itself and what other events its putting on: Siddhartha Joag, who is an Indian-American artist, hes really well known in America, he has this Nightmares and Landscapes, he has been going round helping artists living in areas of the world where there is conflict, but he also has been producing work from wherever hes been. "That exhibition is on the 23rd. We then have four Mexican artists coming. They have a piece of work called What Remains. "Where it started was Monica Lozano, whos a photographer based in El Paso but shes from Juarez in Mexico and over the last ten-fifteen years shes been going out into that border area and photographing what she finds because, what happens is, a lot of the people that are making their way across, they drop stuff. I went out and saw this stuff myself. It would break your heart. Thats on the Wednesday, then on the Thursday were going to have a vigil over at the [Bloody Sunday] monument where were going to light up the monument in the Palestinian colours, then that night is the music night. "On the Friday night the Pat Finucane Centre have an event on the impunity stuff going on with the British government trying to cover up all the stuff that happened in the past, then theres the lecture thats going to happen in Culturlann Ui Chanain, and thats Omar Barghouti, hes the guy that was the head of the boycott campaign [BDS], hes giving the annual Bloody Sunday lecture, then on the Saturday theres going to be a workshop about what people can do and what Derry can do. "A lot of people see this stuff happening at the other side of the world and they feel helpless, they want to do something, so were going to have a lot of different groups who are actively involved in Palestine and theyre going to talk about what people can do on a local level, on a social level, on a political level. And we have to leave it here for this week. Now time for the socials. Declan McLaughlin can be found on Facebook and Instagram @declanmclaughlin_derry, the Henry Girls @thehenrygirlsmusic, Jeanette Hutton @jeanettehutton2019, Sianna @sianna_banana and the Museum of Free Derry @museumfreederry. Some very impressive cars have just arrived in Ireland for the start of the 2024 sales year. First up is the Kia EV9 which is a gargantuan 6/7-seater SUV. Kia don't know which will be the bestseller here, but the 6-seater seems to be the one most are gravitating to if early interest is any measure. A very futuristic design and landing firmly in the premium SUV sector, with prices starting at 77,500, this car has an impressive 563km range that can be recharged via 800V charging to give a top-up of 249kms in 15 minutes. If only all electric cars could do this, then charging anxiety would evaporate. When it comes to luxury and premium cars Mercedes-Benz are synonymous with the sector. They have just launched the new E-Class which, together with the BMW5 series, used to dominate the premium sector. Above: Mercede - Benz E-Class There is a 75-year history of the E-Class with tons of loyal buyers who have high expectations, and this car has to deliver. It has a slightly longer wheelbase, increased interior headroom, greater rear leg and knee space, and that so important elbow space grows by 25mm. And, of course, the boot is bigger, now at 540litres. It's a car that spans a number of demographics with the hi-tec afficionados well catered for with the excellent MBUX infotainment system. No doubt hedging against buyer sentiment there are petrol, diesel, mild hybrid petrol & diesel and before the end of March, a plug-in hybrid. You'll need a minimum of 80,525 to get the keys to one and, surprisingly, the cheapest model has a diesel engine. Mercedes have also launched one car to replace two cars now there's a new trend. Before there would be so many variations of one model, you'd be dizzy trying to figure out how they all fit in together. That new model is the CLE Coupe. Above: Mercedes - Benz CLE Coupe The name gives a big clue in that it replaces both the C Class and E Class Coupes. Both of those cars are stunning looking and very desirable I have a longstanding hankering for the C Class Coupe. Owners of either model won't be disappointed by the look of the new model as it hasn't wandered too far away from the original why would it with them being the excellent looking cars they both are? There are petrol and diesel models as well as mild hybrid versions and the CLE 220d starts at73, 215. BYD has had a massive impact in the EV space in 2023 with their ATTO3 selling 506 of them in Ireland last year making it the 16th best-selling EV in Ireland - and they only started in April. They have a serious pipeline of cars coming our way with the first being the Dolphin - think Ford Focus size. Above: The BYD Dolphin It comes with two battery sizes with a maximum claimed range of 427kms. I'm going to have to stop thinking that the most important feature of an EV is its range. You should always buy an EV based on your needs/use and pick from that perspective. Prices start from 29,318 to add to the increasing number of EVs that cost under 30k. Make no mistake there will be much more keener pricing in this EV sector and brands like BYD are at the vanguard in this respect. Full reviews of all the above cars coming soon in Dundalk Democrat/Louth Live Motoring. Above: Representing Louth at Showcase 2024 are local makers Caoilfionn Murphy OHanlon of Cushla of Gullion, Fiona Lynch of Almond Rose Designs and Caroline Duffy of Caroline Duffy Designs. They are proudly supported by Local Enterprise Office Louth, represented here by Sarah Mallon. Photo: Jenny Callanan Photography Showcase 2024 at the RDS, from 21-23 January, is where Louth's finest creative entrepreneurs are making big waves. This year's contingent from Louth are truly showcasing local talent and Irish creativity, bringing a vibrant mix of tradition and innovation. Sarah Mallon from Local Enterprise Office Louth explains: "Showcase is a fantastic opportunity for local creatives to get in front of global buyers. We all know that people buy from people, and Showcase provides the chance for makers to meet buyers face to face, forge relationships and talk about their products. "We are delighted to support three incredible makers as they step onto a global stage, highlighting their talent and Louth's creative gems. Showcase - Irelands Creative Expo is now the foremost place for retailers to discover unique, design-led fashion and knitwear, jewellery, craft, gift and interiors. The event showcases the very best emerging, homegrown creative talent. Attendance is free, but for trade only. New to Showcase 2024 is Fiona Lynch of Almond Rose Design, with a really innovative and creative new product offering. Celebrating the way that animals communicate with humans on a daily basis, Fiona has created a large range of pet cards to celebrate the big (and little) occasions in life. All cards are designed in-house, printed in Ireland on sustainably sourced card paper with eco-friendly inks. A visit to Fionas website almondrosedesigns.ie will reveal cards for every occasion including Good Luck, Get Well, Love, Sympathy, Wedding cards and much more, theres even pet cards as Gaeilge! Visual artist Caoilfionn Murphy OHanlon, of Cushla of Gullion, creates stunning wall art and home accessories from her base in Dundalk. Founded in 2014, textile artist Caoilfionn is inspired by the land, legends and lore of her surroundings. Her quirky, nostalgic and vibrant prints, gifts and homewares bring the rugged Irish Landscape into homes across Ireland and the world. Cushla Of Gullion's stunning work has been exhibited and exported internationally and is designed and made in Ireland. Visit cushlaofgullion.com to see her work. Caroline Duffy of Caroline Duffy Designs is showcasing her stunning hand printed floral artwork at Showcase for the second year running. Her collection includes a range of striking art, prints, silk dresses, kimonos, scarves and woven blankets. Her signature style is instantly recognisable and has garnered significant media and buyer interest in the past year. View her collection on carolineduffydesigns.com Sarah Mallon concludes Showcase 2024 is not just a display of products; it's where creativity, sustainability, beautiful materials and incredible makers come together to remind Irish and international buyers how local talent can make a global splash. "Visitors will find unique, handcrafted Irish products, each with its own story. From exquisite jewellery to bespoke textiles, and so much more, Showcase 2024 is the highlight of the year in Ireland's craft sector and we are thrilled to offer three local makers the chance to be part of it. The famous Russian poet Lev Rubinstein, who opposed the war in Ukraine, has died in Moscow. The writer was 76 years old. ADVERTISIMENT The death of the poet was reported by the Russian media outlet Meduza, citing a statement by Rubinstein's daughter. On January 8, Rubinstein was hit by a car in Moscow. As a result, the poet was hospitalized at the Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care in serious condition. After surgery, he was put into a therapeutic sleep. On January 12, the media reported Rubinstein's death. Relatives and doctors denied these reports. However, two days later, on January 14, the poet's daughter reported that he had died. A criminal case was opened against the driver who hit the poet. "My dad Lev Rubinstein died today," she wrote on the morning of January 14. Lev Rubinstein was one of the founders of Moscow conceptualism and an NOS Prize winner. The poet received this prize in 2012 for his book Signs of Attention. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, in an interview with Meduza, Rubinstein said that he condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that all Russian narratives, including those spread in the so-called Z-poetry, are 100% false. "It seems to me that any pro-government line is 100% false now. Some say there is a truth there but there isn't. All conversations begin with the fact that someone is defending the homeland, which is initially a lie. How can you defend your homeland in a foreign country? Which country? From whom? I'm not even talking about the fact that there are no "fascists" and NATO soldiers," the poet said. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Councillors at the Dundalk Municipal District January meeting called for action to be taken in relation to clothes banks in the town, following the recent Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) report which ranked Dundalk 39th out of 40 towns and cities surveyed, and highlighted the Recycle Centre on Castletown Road, which received a Grade D in the survey. Cllr Emma Coffey raised the matter at the January meeting, saying that it seemed to be the same areas that are dragging us down, including recycle areas, clothing banks, and in particular, an uptake on vaping utensils and alcohol related refuse. Cllr Coffey mentioned areas mentioned positively in the report including the train station and the Red Barns road, highlighting that volunteers from Dundalk Tidy Towns tidy it at least once a week. Commenting on the report, Cllr Coffey said that "it's very, very disappointing and that it was a report that receives a lot of publication, both nationally and internationally. She said that "to have a former winner of this survey to go down to the second last is very disappointing", asking, "is there anything we can do to stamp this out? Cllr Coffey went on to say that it appears that clothing seems to be pushed behind the actual bins, and asked if it was the owners of the property who are responsible or is it the licensed owners of the clothing banks. The Dundalk South councillor highlighted the "hard work of the council and the community volunteers that are pushing hard", and that the result of the report was in stark contrast to the news that the town been nominated for an international award for one of its murals." Cllr Maeve Yore reminded the meeting that they had been told previously that an audit of all the clothes bins in the town was to take place, but there has been no update on that. Highlighting the work done by Dundalk Tidy Towns, Cllr Yore added that "IBAL report is all well and good [but] we made tremendous progress." Cllr Edel Corrigan said that there was previous discussions at Dundalk Municipal District meetings about what could be done to improve and it's disappointing to see that lessons have not been learned. She said that some, including herself, had made suggestions around more community involvement so people could take ownership and get involved in keeping areas clean and to stream funding into those type of campaigns. Cllr Tomas Sharkey said that no one would diminish any of their praise for the the work of Dundalk Tidy Towns. "They keep it going seven days a week and they don't ask for any praise, they're the heroes in the town", he commented. Cllr Sharkey added that the IBAL report seems to have different criteria to Tidy Towns criteria and that the town has done better in the Tidy Towns awards in the last few years than in the IBAL survey. He further added that they "have to make sure that one of the criteria for all funding and all the work and plans that we take, that we need a sustainable goals and a good clean environment is one". Cllr Sharkey also said that he had mentioned nitrous oxide cannisters in the past that were showing up. He said they shouldn't be shocked about vapes being dropped or about alcohol cans being dumped but that they should be shocked when reading about nitrous oxide and other substances. Cllr Marianne Butler said that it was very disheartening for Dundalk Tidy Towns to get a gold medal in September from the national Tidy Towns awards and to turn around and get a kick in the face from IBAL". Cllr Butler said that she was aware of the work that has gone into problem locations "and then you look at the report and they're throwing up North Gate Street the street between Linenhall Street and Bridge Street, they call it the street with no name." "That's definitely something that the council can address, put a name up on that street and give it an identity", she said, further adding that the Part 8 planning permission for the regeneration plans for that part of the town is something else they can do as a council. Cllr Butler added that the location on the Castletown Road is the one problem location in the town that has never improved and that "it just needs to be shut down. Its consistently bad and badly managed." She said that Section 254 licences are one way of addressing this issue, suggesting that they would only need to charge a "peppercorn amount" for the licences and "if its not working, we can turn around and say, we're not reissuing that licence." Responding to the comments from the councillors, Senior Engineer Paddy Connolly said that he would pass on their queries and suggestions to the executive. Female students in County Louth are encouraged to sign up for the I Wish STEM Showcase 2024, where former President of Ireland and current chair for elders, Mary Robinson, will speak to over 3,000 female teenage students at the 10th annual I Wish Showcase at the RDS Dublin on 8 February. Joining her at the annual event that inspires teenage girls towards careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) will be Irish science communicator, scientist and entrepreneur Ciara Judge, who spoke at the first I Wish event in 2015 after her BT Young Scientist Award and Google Science Fair wins. Over the last 10 years, I Wish has engaged with over 60,000 students along with partnering with over 50 industry partners and 80 I Wish ambassadors. Registration for the event is still open at iwish.ie/register. Speaking ahead of the event, Ciara Judge said: As a young girl I benefitted hugely from my involvement in youth science. I found my passion and future career and have had the opportunity to travel the world and make a difference. "Showing these young women that there is so much more to careers in STEM than just being stuck in a lab all day, is an absolute privilege and I am so grateful that I Wish has invited me back. Multi-award-winning diversity and inclusion speaker and author, Furkan Karayel will also speak at the event while MC is 2FM DJ and the new host of Ireland's Fittest Family, Laura Fox. More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. There will also be over 30 exhibitors including Deloitte. The upcoming 2024 I Wish Showcase aims to shift the narrative surrounding careers in STEM. In their recent Report, I Wish identified a significant gap where many girls struggle to connect their work-related values with the perceived values of a STEM career. The Showcase will address this by featuring inspiring STEM role models who exemplify how careers in STEM can fulfil the work-related values these young women seek, including opportunities to travel, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and making a positive contribution to the world they inhabit. Speaking on the event, I Wish co-founder Gillian Keating said: Just weeks out from our 10th Showcase, we reflect on how far we have come in the past decade. We started with a dream to deliver change by positively influencing the next generation of young women to increase female participation in STEM. We never thought I Wish would evolve in the way that it did. We have seen significant positive change, we have seen increases in uptake in STEM college courses, and we have seen improvement in gender equality in STEM. "However, it is clear that we need to continue to deliver I Wish to girls both in secondary school and in primary to ensure they make an informed choice about their future. Knowledge is key to the gateway to their future. How we deliver it to the next generation is certainly on us. Beginning with an annual showcase, I Wish has now expanded its activities to a year-round suite of programmes, including a Tech for Good programme and entrepreneurship programmes. This year it will pilot an I Wish Primary programme. I Wish has extended its partnership with Iarnrod Eireann and Bus Eireann for 2024, with complimentary train services from multiple locations across Ireland. Dr Orla Sherlock and Dr Chiara Hanlon from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) recently hosted Ardee Community College and Breifne College, Cavan at the newly combined Germ Lab & Pharma Lab one day workshops on Campus. These two workshops combined both biology and chemistry labs for Leaving Cert students. This was the Pharma Labs first one day workshop and it was a huge hit with the secondary school students. Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Pharma Lab offers students an opportunity to try chemistry at third level with an emphasis on pharmaceutical chemistry. Dr Hanlon said: These workshops help address the common misconception that Chemistry is a tough subject, students not only learnt how to apply a variety of chemistry laboratory skills and techniques to the synthesis of aspirin but also applied the technique of 3D molecule models to visualise the actual structure of the aspirin they had just synthesised in the laboratory during the workshop. In the Germ Lab, funded by the Society of Microbiology, students learned all about their microbiomes, a very hot topic in human health just now. Completing several hands-on experiments, students looked at their own microbiomes and most importantly learnt how to nourish their microbiomes for better health and wellbeing. Students competed fiercely to design a playdoh microbiome friendly meal with a microbiome food hamper being presented to the winners. Dr Sherlock commented: Our goal is simple, through school engagement we aim to foster awareness, interest and participation in Science. The secondary school students also got to experience a fun day in the life of third level students and were given the opportunity to directly interact and ask questions of the current undergraduate students. Claire Collins, a teacher from Breifne College Cavan said: I have nothing but praise for the considered and meaningful outreach programme designed by Dr Sherlock and Dr Hanlon. The programmes utilised active teaching methodologies to inspire students and use higher order thinking skills to complete their practical elements. I cannot recommend this outreach programme enough. I was thoroughly impressed from start to finish and would gladly bring groups again to take part. When surveyed 100% of students who participated at the labs reported they enjoyed the day, with comments including: Great experience, really made me love biology a lot more, I learned a lot more about microbiomes that I never knew before, the student assistants that helped in the lab were really great too and it was very interesting, I enjoyed picturing in my head the bonds taking place as we synthesised the aspirin using the theory I learnt in school, the teacher was brilliant. Dr Sherlock noted that DkITs recently launched School of Health and Science Outreach website was extremely busy in 2023, with workshops booked out for 2024 and waiting lists in place. School talks remain available where schools can request a talk with a scientist from a specific discipline that is of interest to their student group. Dr Sherlock added: Our Talking Scientists can tell you about our Programmes here in DkIT, discuss studying Science, working in Science, their research and answer questions such as, What skills are needed? What are the career paths? And what subjects should I study?. DkIT Science Outreach is available year-round and recently kicked off 2024 with the DkIT Loves STEM roadshow which visited 5 schools in the Northeast Region and met approximately 1000 TY students. For More schools outreach information check out School of Health & Science Outreach at Dundalk Institute of Technology / DkIT - Dundalk Institute of Technology Cabinet minister Jack Chambers has announced on social media that he is gay. The Fianna Fail TD said he has often found it difficult to talk about his personal life but said it was important to be true to himself. In a post on Instagram, Mr Chambers wrote: As I look forward to 2024, I am sharing with you something a little different but its something I wanted to do for a while. As a politician it can sometimes be difficult to speak about my own personal life and that can lead to things drifting. However, its important for me to be true to myself firstly and to you all in my public service role. I am starting 2024 by telling you all that I am proud to say that I am gay. Mr Chambers said he had the confidence and courage to share the information publicly after being given love and support from close family and friends. The Minister of State at the Department of Transport said he was fortunate that Ireland is a country that has made many strides in recent years. He said Ireland has become a much more inclusive and equal society to the extent that sharing of this information is becoming increasingly unremarkable. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who announced he was gay in 2015 the first time a serving minister did so, congratulated Mr Chambers on his announcement. In a reply to the Instagram post, Mr Varadkar said: Youll have no regrets and life is going to get so much better for you. The absence of Russian athletes does not affect the competition and results of various tournaments, and their level remains very high. At the same time, the competitors of the Russian Federation feel at ease and continue to make progress, and they are not particularly looking forward to the return of athletes from the aggressor country. ADVERTISIMENT Olympic short track champion Semyon Yelistratov expressed his confidence in this in a commentary to the Metaratings portal. The 33-year-old native of Ufa, who won gold in Sochi 2014 and was caught using meldonium and banned for four months, added that he was closely following the competition. "Many people want to hear that the level has dropped. I will speak specifically about short track (I don't know about other types): we are not expected on the international stage. And I wouldn't say that the level of results has dropped. Again, this is only in our sport. Because I have not heard any athlete in our sport say the following: "There are not enough Russian athletes, without Russians the competition would be higher." Have you heard foreign athletes say that they miss Russian athletes? I haven't heard it in my sport," Yelistratov said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, fencer Sofia Velikaya refused to participate in the 2024 Olympic Games. For their part, the leaders of the Russian rhythmic gymnastics team, Dina and Arina Averina, with the words "we don't really want to" confirmed that they will not perform in Paris. As OBOZ.UA previously reported, the president of the All-Russian Rhythmic Gymnastics Federation (ARGF) Irina Viner forbade athletes to "die and talk with hope" about being admitted to the 2024 Olympics. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Don't fall for fakes! DR Alex George, social media star and author of best-selling self-help guides for adults and children, is reflecting on the measures hes taken to look after his own wellbeing. He has weekly therapy, gave up alcohol a year ago, takes medication for ADHD - which was diagnosed 18 months ago, and which explains a lot about his struggles growing up - and is still grieving for his 19-year-old brother, Llyr, who died by suicide in 2020, just as he was about to start medical school. Ive had to prioritise my mental health above everything else, to be able to do everything else, explains the 32-year-old former Love Island star, who hails from Carmarthen, Wales. He has a good team around him and puts his health first, he adds. I have therapy, I get support, I prioritise sleep and exercise, says George, who also hosts the walking and wellness podcast, Stompcast, and is the UK governments youth mental health ambassador, He adds: But there are ups and downs. I still go through difficult times. The anniversaries are hard. Christmas is hard. We sit around the table and, you know, my brother was 10 years younger than me and should be at that Christmas dinner table. Its very hard to sit there and not feel that pain. I dont think that ever goes away. That terrible event was one of the factors to spark his determination to help those are suffering with mental health issues, and in 2021 Boris Johnson appointed George as youth ambassador for mental health, helping to shape mental health policy for young people. His debut book for children, A Better Day, a positive mental health handbook, was a Sunday Times bestseller and won the Childrens Non Fiction Book of the Year 2022. He has now written the follow-up, A Better Day Journal, comprising fun and calming activities, exercises including mindfulness, visualisation and a range of techniques to deal with anxiety, as well as a mood journal. Its been really hard, he says. One of the things I try and tell people is that Im not sitting here as an author or an ambassador telling you Ive got everything sorted, and do this and your life will be perfect, because in reality life is hard, things happen and we have to learn how to deal with them. My brother passed away three years ago now, and I went from yellow/green on the mental health spectrum straight down to that red end, trying to climb up that while doing everything else. There are times I struggled, and what I found is that for me its been incredibly helpful actually sharing those experiences, which is why I talk about the highs and lows of mental health medications, why Ive talked about my experiences with depression and ADHD, because I really want to help other people with those experiences, but its really helped me as well because theres a sense of community. His youth ambassador role is voluntary and takes up 80% of his time - he raises enough money doing brand campaigns and business talks to generate an income to pay his staff and give himself a wage. And its brought to his attention what he agrees is an epidemic for childrens mental health. Recent Uk figures (RCPCH) show there are over 400,000 young people waiting for support with mental health, waiting lists are longer than ever and these are real challenges. A lot of people look at the data and ask quite sensibly, Is this because were telling people to talk more and people are opening up more - is that contributing to those figures? But even taking that into account, we are just seeing much higher prevalence of [mental] illness among groups of young people. A Better Day Journal, by Dr Alex George Its easy to point the finger at social media, but we live in a hyper-connected digital age yet young people are more disconnected than ever, they are lonelier than ever before. With everything going on in the world at the moment, all of those things are like an information overload for young people. Expectations and pressure on young people are significant, as well as the pressures they place upon themselves with comparison culture, he adds. In the journal, he reveals to his young readers that he was a world-class worrier, gently encouraging them to write down their thoughts and feelings, offering advice on how they can open up about their anxieties and turn negative feelings into positive ones. He knows the problems social media can create but he also thinks there are times it can be really powerful in a good way. For instance, Ive found so much support in the ADHD community online, which has probably been more helpful than any kind of professional website or information service that Ive seen. George, who gave up being an A&E doctor two years ago - he couldnt fit everything in - was initially sad when he got the ADHD diagnosis, as he has lived with it all his life. I struggled a lot at school with attention, sensitivity, connecting in relationships with others, the way you interpret the world, the way that your energy levels work is so different. If Id have known this stuff, people could have supported me differently, but I could have also done X, Y and Z to change my life. The medication helps, but his lifestyle changes have also proved hugely beneficial, he explains. The first thing I did was think about what I eat, the role of exercise, the importance of sleep and routine with ADHD, learning and understanding the psychology of ADHD. Stopping alcohol is one of the biggest things. If you drink alcohol with ADHD, youre looking at someone who is likely to be more impulsive. Within a few months of the diagnosis, I stopped drinking. He has a 24-hour rule, where if he is prone to react impulsively to a situation - it might be a purchase or a decision - hes trained himself to think about it for 24 hours first. The net change of all these things is that Im calmer, probably kinder to myself and compassionate. Im certainly a lot healthier, physically and mentally. I cant explain how different my health is from a year ago, he adds. I probably have a more positive outlook on the world because I just understand the way I see it better. He lives in London and is single, but doesnt feel so alone since the ADHD diagnosis. Feeling isolated is an awful thing. Ive always felt very different from others, but not really understood why, whereas now I know there are loads of people that also feel like this. Love Island, which he appeared on in 2018, seems like a lifetime ago, he agrees, but he doesnt regret it. Its part of why Im doing what I do. You cant change the past, and you are who you are today because of everything thats happened. I think that to regret is foolish, says George. If you were to remove something that has happened in the past, you will alter your present. A Better Day Journal, by Dr Alex George is published by Wren & Rook. CORK County Council is inviting applications for its Creative Communities Programme Fund 2024. The programme supports projects that establish cultural and creative activities with communities across Co Cork. It also assists projects that involve both community groups and the creative sector, such as artists, designers, makers, or arts organisations. In 2023, Cork County Councils Creative Communities Programme funded, among others, the Company of Trees an intergenerational art collaboration between a group of children in West Corks Kilmeen National School and a collection of older persons from the wider Kilmeen community, affectionately known as the Gransterz. The project was initiated in 2018 and culminated with a multimedia exhibition representing all six years of an intergenerational journey that revolved around exploring and experiencing trees through art sessions on location in Kilmeen and Castlefreke Woods. The Mayor of County Cork Frank OFlynn said that Cork County Council is delighted to support creativity across communities with the support of Creative Ireland. The ambition to make creativity part of everyones life is vital to placemaking, community building, and our own wellbeing, he said. With this fund, I hope to see communities come together to work on creative projects. Applications can be made for projects that will be one, two, or three years in duration. There will be a maximum award of 10,000 for a one-year project, 20,000 for a two-year project, or 30,000 for a three-year project, with a minimum award of 2,000, 4,000, and 6,000. Applications can be made until February 23, 2024. See www.corkcoco.ie. The Creative Communities Programme is funded by Creative Ireland. ON JANUARY 19, 1851, a small boat and other debris which appeared to be from a sailing ship washed onto Ballycroneen beach in east Cork. The beach is located between Ballycotton and the entrance to Cork Harbour at Roches Point. There were pieces of what seemed to be furniture, possibly from the cabin of a ship. The name Heroine was inscribed in gilt-edged lettering on what looked to be a headboard from a bed. Over the next few days, more wreckage washed ashore along that stretch of Cork coastline. In those days communication was not as fast as now, so it took some time to establish if a vessel named Heroine was missing. It was established that a ship of that name had sailed from Waterford Port on January 6. Further information was that it had originally sailed from Liverpool and was bound for Africa. Nothing more was ever heard of the Heroine which, it was then speculated, must have foundered after leaving Waterford. A severe gale had hit the Cork coast around January 15 when it could have been passing the Cork coast. There is not a lot of information available about that ship, whether it was a trading vessel or an emigrant transport. In 1851 Liverpool was the leading emigration port in Europe with 159,840 passengers leaving that year, some having crossed from Ireland, but their major destination was to North America. Until the 1860s sailing vessels were the main transport from there for emigrants. However, Liverpool was also a base for shipping companies bringing raw materials for British industry and also trading overseas. It is intriguing that there is not a lot of information about this ship available, how many people were aboard or its cargo. Shipping incidents The Heroine is one of 12 shipping incidents that happened in the month of January during the 19th century, some minor, others serious. Seven days before the finding of ships debris at Ballycroneen, on January 12, 1851 a ship carrying grain, the Voran, reported to be coming from Odessa, went aground in Ringabella Bay, south/west of the entrance to Cork Harbour. Tugs were unable to free her and she was wrecked in a gale a few days later. The crew had been safely rescued. Some 26 years later, in one of those unfortunate maritime coincidences, Ringabella was involved in a maritime tragedy in which five men died. On Monday January 16, 1877 a small boat set out from there heading towards a barque called the Jones which was heading for Cork Harbour. In those days arriving vessels would be approached by what were known as local trading boats or described by ships crews as bum boats which offered to sell local goods and produce to the ships arriving into port. To do so, the small boats would move close to the arriving vessel, secure onto it and then local men would jump from the small boat onto the arrival to trade while their own boat was towed along behind. There were five men in the small boat when it left Ringabella near Fountainstown. However, there was some misjudgement in this potentially dangerous operation and it seemed that the speed of the arriving sailing barque was too great for the small boat behind when it connected to the bigger vessel. It suddenly parted from the barque, possibly because the rope between the two vessels was not strong enough and snapped. Later it was found overturned near Roches Point. The five occupants had drowned. In two days of January 1863 two merchant sailing vessels got into difficulties approaching Cork Harbour. An Italian-owned ship didnt make the entrance and went aground, but the crew got off. The vessel became a wreck. The following day, January 20, a ship arriving from Gibraltar also didnt manage to manoeuvre safely through the harbour entrance and went aground below Fort Camden. It took six days for two harbour tugs to get her off, fortunately undamaged and with no loss of life. Salmon and trout angling The Minister for the Environment, Eamon Ryan, has decided that 81 rivers around the country will be available for salmon and sea trout fishing this year. 42 will be open fully, with a further 39 only to catch and release angling. 66 rivers are to be closed as they have no sustainable surplus available. General improvements in stocks from 2023 have been maintained for 2024. The Department of the Environment in a statement clarifying what is allowable said: The 42 Rivers open for harvesting salmon are those with numbers indicating tags that may be issued for fishing 0 indicating no fishing can take place as no tags will be issued - and these rivers are effectively closed. The conservation limit is the number of adult spawning fish required to maintain a healthy and sustainable stock in each individual river. The key issue to support increased stocks is improvement in water quality. Many of our rivers are not at a sufficiently high-water quality level to support sustainable stocks, often caused by agricultural activities, and to a lesser extent, insufficient treatment of waste water. Details of what is allowed in Cork rivers by the Department are shown left. Podcast thanks My thanks to readers for their encouragement following the launch of my new podcast at the weekend, with suggestions for content items, all gratefully received. It is being broadcast on all major podcast services, on the Community Radio Network stations around Ireland and on https://tommacsweeneymaritimepodcast.ie. Email: tommacsweeneymarine@gmail.com The stewardship of the native Irish trees in the Fota Island Adventure Centre by a Gaeltacht Mhuscrai tree lover is to be commemorated in a trail bearing his name which, thanks to his wife, will include the names of the trees in Irish, English and the ancient Ogham script. Donal O Laoire from Reidh na nDoiri spent decades travelling the length and breadth of Munster and, according to Derek Binchy of Fota Island Adventure, he tended to the needs of the woodlands of the resort for nearly half a century. Donal passed away almost four years ago but Fota Island Adventure was keen to ensure his contribution would be remembered and the centres head instructor, Terry Healy, decided to mark it in a way which honoured Donals love of trees. Working with Maire Ui Laoire, Donals wife, who has an extensive knowledge of Irish and the ancient Irish Ogham script, Terry created the Sli Dhonal O Laoire native Irish tree trail. The O Laoire family was invited to Fota to see the trail and for the unveiling of a plaque bearing the name of Donal OLaoire. Were tremendously proud of this gesture from Fota, Donal spent years going there as its all Irish native trees that are growing there, Maire Ui Laoire told The Echo. The Adventure Park was also able to draw on Maires knowledge of Irish and Ogham to develop a family- focused attraction with a huge amount of help from Fanny Jungers, the Irish Tree Council and Nora White of Ogham in 3D Project. The net result is Cabin Fever, a family escape room that you have to solve puzzles to break into, which unlocks more clues (this time in Ogham), and grants you access to the Ogham Room. The Ogham Room is a purpose-built cabin, where you learn about the ancient Irish language as a family while you solve the riddles and complete your task. MORE than 1,000 people marched through the streets of Cork for the 14th weekend in a row in solidarity with Palestine, according to the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign. As part of a Global Day of Action for Gaza, thousands of people also attended a demonstration in Dublin endorsed by more than 70 Irish civil society groups. Martin Shiel, co-chairperson of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said of the marches on Saturday: The eye-watering numbers marching in Dublin and Cork today highlight Irish peoples huge desire for real action to be taken to stop Israels genocide of the Palestinian people. People have been marching for 14 weeks and numbers on the streets continue to grow. The Irish Governments refusal to formally back South Africas case against Israel is clearly out of step with the will of the Irish people. Speaking at the march, Cork North Central People Before Profit/Solidarity TD Mick Barry said: It is very disappointing that the Irish Government did not have the guts to join South Africa in bringing forward genocide charges against Israel. But todays march shows the feelings of the ordinary people on this matter. The Government must back the legal action. David Raleigh Updated at 21:55 A male in his 40s has been arrested by gardai in connection with a shooting in Limerick city. The man is currently being held at a Garda Station in the city. Another man in his 30s was rushed to hospital after being shot, and is understood to have been shot twice in the back around 4pm on Saturday. He was rushed by ambulance from the Ballinacurra Weston area to University Hospital Limerick. His condition is described as serious, but it is not believed to be life-threatening. Gardai believe the man was outside a house on Crecora Avenue, located on the south side of Limerick city, when he was shot. They have cordoned off the road for a forensic examination, and detectives are investigating a motive for the shooting. Gardai are conducting a number of searches in the hunt for the firearm used. Anyone with information is asked to contact gardai at Roxboro Road 061-214340 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111 or any garda station. MY first memory of my cousin, Ann OHalloran, is seeing her clad in black leather, riding on the back of her boyfriends BSA bike while speeding past Cork City Hall. She was 16. It was the mid-1950s, and she was about as far away from a nun as you could imagine. But two years later, Sister Ann did indeed join holy orders. It was a decision that led to a remarkable career as a nun and teacher that earned her love and respect across the USA, South America and Africa. A passionate advocate of peace, Ann even riled parts of the establishment when she went on an 11-day hunger strike in support of dying IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands in 1981. Truly, she was a nun like no other... ****** Ann OHalloran was born in Cork city on July 6, 1941, one of five children, who included her brother John, the 1966 Cork All-Ireland winning hurler. She joined the international Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM) in 1959 after graduating from the Marymount School in Neuilly, France, and was posted to a semi-cloistered order in Tarrytown, New York. Her timing was good. A year later, Pope John XXIII convened Vatican II and ordered the Church and religious orders to open their doors and go out as Jesus did to live among the poor. Ann needed no encouragement, at a time when civil rights and anti-war movements were rising up. She befriended the top New York journalists of their time, Pulitzer-winning Jimmy Breslin and Pete Hamill, both of whom had Irish roots. Through them, she met the Berrigan brothers, pacifist priests who led opposition to the Vietnam War. The Cork woman joined them in organising an escape from the Vietnam draft for young men, shepherding them to Canada and Mexico for safety. It was perilous work, with the FBI in pursuit, but Ann had her Orders full support. Sr Rosaleen with her family including, from left, Michael, Mary, mother Ciss, father John, Rosemary, John Kevin, and Clare I picture her then, in the early 1970s, a petite, pretty 30-year-old. It is a hot summers evening and she is walking alone through the run-down streets of Harlem. Her worn blue shoes are flat, shes dressed in a calf-length dark skirt and matching cotton jacket. Her hair is tucked under a beige cloth cap pulled low on her forehead. Anns life work was simple: help, educate and empower the poor wherever she found them. She did that in New York, in the jungles of South America, and in Africa, carrying out the words of the RSHM Mission Statement: The challenge of the gospel and the spirit of faith and zeal which marked our founding Sisters, urge us to respond to the needs of our time and to work with others in action for evangelical justice. Under her adopted name Sister Rosaleen, Ann furthered her education. After receiving a BA degree from Marymount College and an MA in Anthropology from the New School for Social Research in New York, she volunteered to teach in South America. In 1964, Ann arrived, fluent in Spanish, at the Marymount School in Bogota, Colombia. It was a febrile time. The FARC revolutionaries had just formed into a military force and clashed openly with the Government and the Catholic Churchs teaching. Young Ann worked amid these social upheavals as an advocate for the poor around her. With the help of river guides, she and her religious colleagues frequently ventured by boat into the jungle interiors with food, water, and the Holy Eucharist to administer to fleeing civilians and rebels alike. They were perilous times in Colombia, religious personnel were targets for kidnappings, murder, and intimidation. In 1968, the RSHM order closed its Marymount Schools in the country, evacuating the nuns to the U.S. Back in New York, Ann resumed her educational ministry and taught in its dangerous, deprived neighbourhoods. The people trusted and confided in her. She was invited into their lives and bore witness to their family celebrations, setbacks and despairs. She rallied politicians, lawmakers, educators, journalists, captains of industry, and the Catholic hierarchy, to assist her. She played a key role as restaurants donated food to the needy, politicians moved to better represent local peoples needs, educators offered scholarships for students, and journalists highlighted segregation as a blot on New Yorks good name. Ann also had the ear of Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Terence Cooke, whose Galway parents named him after Terence MacSwiney, martyr Lord Mayor of Cork. He sought her counsel on his pastoral reforming agenda to aid the citys poor. Ann loved the spirit and resilience of Harlems black women. She told me of the poor mother who had rented furniture for an Easter weekend when her family visited from North Carolina. She wanted them to think she was doing well. The furniture would be returned next morning. When Ann asked her how she kept her spirits up in the face of such challenges, she replied: Sister Rosaleen, I refuse to be unhappy. It was that spirit that motivated Ann as she set up community centres focusing on adult education, drop-in food banks, after-school tutoring, counselling sessions, nutrition guidance, and small business start-ups. Into Africa During Anns educational and social ministry in Harlem, she developed a strong bond with the African-American community. She had long wanted to work in Africa, and transferred to a teaching post in Dangamvura, Zimbabwe, from 1991 to 1994. Here, she taught large groups of women, giving them confidence to set up small businesses so they could feed and educate their kin. Initially, Ann had great hope for Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe because of his close ties to Church and Irish missionaries in his youth. But, by 1991, he had abandoned his socialist ideology and violently formed a one-party state. It deeply saddened her. By 1994, Catholic religious groups were being targeted in remote rural outposts. Ann, now in her mid-50s, and her community of middle-aged nuns were attacked and robbed in their huts. Local women tended to them until help arrived. The RSHM had no choice but to evacuate the nuns. The Sisters were heartbroken to leave the local women and young children who depended on them, but Ann was not done with Zimbabwe. She had been diagnosed with early macular degeneration and was treated in New York and Ireland. Recharged, she resumed her educational ministry in Africa. She told me they were some of the happiest years of her life. By 2016, her eyesight failing, Ann finally and sadly left Africa. Heartbreakingly, she totally lost her sight soon after and retired to the Marymount Convent in Tarrytown. She had ministered during some of the most socially and politically tumultuous decades in history and in some of the worlds most dangerous regions. In 2021, Ann was close to death. I left my home in Florida to see her one last time and entered her tiny, sparse room in the beautiful convent. She was sedated and comfortable. In a panic, I turned to Sr Francesca, her dear friend, and whispered: What will I say to her? She replied simply: Ask her to say a prayer with you. Ann, its Breda, I said, and I leaned over her. Her eyes shut, she flashed her broad smile, reached up and clasped both of my hands. Youre very good to come, she whispered. Will we say a prayer together, Ann? We started in union - Our Father... Ann and nuns like her were warriors. Some were traumatised, like war veterans. They had come to the Order as young middle-class nun recruits to teach middle-class kids in Catholic schools and ended up on the frontlines of war, poverty and danger. Many, including Ann, had been seriously assaulted. Their teaching salaries were handed to the Order and they just kept money for basics. Often, their families in Ireland sent the airfare for them to visit home. Ann died on November 7, 2021. She was a warrior - and her name was Sister Rosaleen. Ar dheis De go raibh a hanam dilis. Hunger strike in solidarity with Sands ON May 2, 1981, a petite lady approaching her 40th birthday deftly put her shoe through the glass front door of the British Airways offices in Manhattan. This was all part of a series of protests by Cork nun Ann OHalloran - Sister Rosaleen - to draw attention in the U.S to the plight of Bobby Sands and his fellow hunger strikers in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland. Sr Rosaleen O'Halloran while on hunger strike in May, 1981, talking to the Jesuit Fr Daniel Berrigan across the street from the United Nations Building Ann went on an 11-day hunger strike outside the United Nations building in Manhattan in solidarity, and did a similar protest in Washington and an all-night vigil on the steps of St Patricks Cathedral in New York. TV camera crews followed her protests, which made headlines around the world. Sands eventually died on May 5, in a protest - which included the deaths of nine other hunger strikers - against the British removal of Special Category Status for IRA prisoners. The deaths attracted both praise and criticism and put the Troubles on the global map. On May 12, 1981, Ann caried out another public protest, when she rushed onto the stage at a charity dinner function for the Ireland Fund Awards in New York, and pleaded with the audience to recognise the martyrdoms of Sands and his fellow hunger strikers. The spotlight on the stage was shut off, but the nun resisted attempts to remove her and persisted to call for support for the hunger strikers, before being led away sobbing. Ann was passionate about starting a serious dialogue to bring about peace on her home island, and worked with other religious leaders toward a peaceful and just solution to the conflict. After decades of searching for alien life and many theories about the likelihood of its existence, humanity has only two hypotheses that can explain why we are still a lonely species. Neither of them is likely to appeal to those who are most eager to see representatives of extraterrestrial civilization. ADVERTISIMENT This is the message of a study by Ian Crawford, Professor of Planetary Science and Astrobiology at the School of Natural Sciences and Center for Planetary Science at the University of Burbank, and Dirk Schulze-Makuch, Professor of Planetary Habitability and Astrobiology at the Technical University of Berlin, GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, and Adjunct Professor at Washington State University, published in the journal Nature Astronomy. The main question that space scientists ask themselves sounds extremely simple, "Where is everyone?" It was first formulated in 1950 by the famous physicist Enrico Fermi. He assumed that, given the age of the universe (13.8 billion years), the fact that the solar system has existed for 4.5 billion years and that the ingredients for life are everywhere in abundance, it seems strange that humanity still has no evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. ADVERTISIMENT The so-called Fermi paradox was once again discussed when humanity began to find potentially habitable exoplanets in distant star systems. It turned out that although the planets were biologically self-sufficient for life to emerge on them, none of them showed technosignatures, signs of technological activity that would indicate the existence of an advanced extraterrestrial civilization. Over time, the Fermi paradox has been extended. In 1975, astronomer Michael Hart estimated that it would take only 650,000 years for an advanced civilization to spread across the Milky Way galaxy, so Earth should have been visited by an extraterrestrial civilization long ago. According to Universe Today, in 1980, mathematical physicist and cosmologist Frank Tipler refined Hart's arguments using the Copernican principle, according to which neither humanity nor the Earth is in a privileged position to observe the universe. He estimated that it would take "less than 300 million years" for an extraterrestrial civilization to explore our entire galaxy. ADVERTISIMENT This gave rise to the Hart-Tipler hypothesis, which essentially stated that the lack of evidence could only be explained by the absence of extraterrestrial civilizations. However, in 1983, the famous astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan and physicist, astronomer, and mathematician William Newman refuted this hypothesis in their own work, arguing that "absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." As arguments, they used numerous assumptions contained in the Hart-Tipler hypothesis. Subsequently, other scientists have proposed potential solutions to why we have not yet seen any extraterrestrial bodies. However, 40 years later, humanity still has no definitive proof that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations exist. This is despite decades of observations and research by the SETI Institute, which searches for radio signals and anomalous infrared signatures among distant stars and galaxies. Scientists call this situation The Great Silence. ADVERTISIMENT According to Crawford and Schulze-Makuch, this can mean only one of two things. First, there is a possibility that the Hart-Tipler hypothesis is correct and no advanced extraterrestrial civilizations exist, or that intelligent life (or life in general) is rare in the universe because the chances of its emergence or evolution are too low. Second, the ruthless "zoo" hypothesis may also be correct. It states that advanced civilizations understand the risks of the universe, so they keep their distance to avoid being detected. The authors of the latest study note that both the existence and absence of extraterrestrial civilizations will be a miracle, but one of these options must be true. In fact, everything can be reduced to two answers: we will never see aliens because space is too big, etc. we will not see them because they have taken measures to prevent us from seeing them. ADVERTISIMENT The second option is an explanation of the zoo hypothesis, which was proposed in 1973 by John A. Ball, an astrophysicist at Harvard University and a scientist at the Haystack Observatory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He argued that evolved species "deliberately avoid interaction and that they have set aside the territory in which we live as a zoo. That is, we will never find them because they don't want to be found, and they have the technological capabilities to ensure that. The good news is that the zoo hypothesis assumes that the intentions of extraterrestrial civilizations are benevolent and they probably want to avoid interfering with our technological or social development. However, based on the above, Crawford and Schulze-Makuch urge not to give up and continue to systematically explore the universe. According to them, humanity will be able to claim that there is no evidence of the existence of aliens only when it searches for it thoroughly enough. ADVERTISIMENT Further research, as Schulze-Makuch notes, may reveal that the zoo hypothesis is correct because even if we are not able to make contact, we will be able to detect traces of an alien civilization. Given the development of Earth's technology, he suggests that it is possible to find traces of aliens within the next 15 years but admits that "the time frame is, of course, difficult to predict." Subscribe to OBOZ.UA on Telegram and Viber to keep up with the latest developments. It looks like the Peregrine lunar landers final resting place will be back at home where it started. The doomed spacecraft, which experienced an anomaly shortly after launch and has been leaking propellant ever since, is expected to burn up in Earths atmosphere, Astrobotic wrote in an update on X this weekend. The company plans to host a press conference with NASA on Thursday January 18 at 12PM ET to discuss the landers fate. Peregrine has so far hung on much longer than anyone thought it would after the leak was first detected on January 8, and Astrobotic has been posting round-the-clock status updates. The company days ago ruled out a soft landing on the moons surface, but theres been some uncertainty about where exactly itll end up. Peregrine did manage to make it to lunar distance reaching 238,000 miles from Earth on Friday and then 242,000 as of Saturday but because of where the moon currently is in its orbit, nothing was there to meet it. Update #16 for Peregrine Mission One: pic.twitter.com/TiLr4AU4rB Astrobotic (@astrobotic) January 13, 2024 If all had gone according to plan, Peregrine would have met up with the moon about 15 days after launch, at which point it could begin the transition from Earth orbit to lunar orbit. Its only been six days, and Peregrines dwindling fuel supply isnt likely to carry it for nine more. Our analysis efforts have been challenging due to the propellant leak, which have been adding uncertainty to predictions of the vehicles trajectory, Astrobotic wrote in its most recent update on Saturday. Our latest assessment now shows the spacecraft is on a path towards Earth, where it will likely burn up in the Earths atmosphere. It was always a known risk that Peregrine Mission One might end this way; moon landings are notoriously hard. The commercial mission marked the first of those contracted under NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, and in a briefing ahead of last weeks launch, NASAs CLPS Program Manager Chris Culbert said, We recognize that success cannot be ensured. Ukraine has initiated negotiations on a bilateral security agreement with Romania. They commenced on the sidelines of the fourth meeting of national security advisers and political advisers to the leaders of the states on the implementation of the Peace Formula in Davos, Switzerland, on January 14. ADVERTISIMENT Romania became the ninth country with which such talks have begun. The details were disclosed by the Office of the President of Ukraine. Negotiations between Ukraine and Romania on a bilateral security agreement, which, if signed, will be in effect until Ukraine joins NATO, have started in Davos. The Ukrainian negotiating team is headed by Presidential Administration Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak, and the Romanian delegation is led by Romanian Foreign Ministry State Secretary Iulian Foto. "The talks were initiated pursuant to the instruction of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. They marked an increase in bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. This was a logical continuation of the agreements following the telephone conversation between the Presidents of Ukraine and Romania on January 9, 2024, and a step towards the implementation of the Joint Declaration of the leaders of the two states on October 10, 2023," the statement published on the President's website reads. ADVERTISIMENT In particular, according to Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ihor Zhovkva, Romania can help Ukraine obtain full security guarantees in Europe, especially in the Black Sea region. During the first round of talks, according to an official statement, "the parties discussed the main elements of a future bilateral security agreement and agreed on modalities for further negotiations." Romania, according to the Presidential Office, has become the ninth country to initiate such negotiations with Ukraine. By doing so, the Presidential Office is convinced that the neighboring country "has once again confirmed its unwavering support for the independence and territorial integrity of our country, as well as its European and Euro-Atlantic path." Ukraine is currently actively discussing bilateral security guarantees with the United States, Germany, Italy, France, Canada, and Poland. On January 12, the first such agreement was signed with the United Kingdom. ADVERTISIMENT "We are working on very similar documents with them, and the idea is identical for all countries - to provide security guarantees for Ukraine. This is a gradual integration into the NATO coordinate system through these security treaties," Vladyslav Vlasiuk, an advisor to the Presidential Administration, said during the telethon. In general, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, about 30 countries are ready to sign security agreements with Ukraine similar to the British one. As a reminder, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky celebrated the signing of the security agreement with the UK: he called the day of the agreement "historic." According to the head of state, such agreements "make Ukraine stronger." Shortly after the agreement was signed, its full text was published. As explained later by the Presidential Office, the agreements stipulate that in the event of future aggression against Ukraine, Britain undertakes to help with weapons, equipment, finances, and sanctions, but not with soldiers. ADVERTISIMENT (The Center Square) Former President Donald Trump is the heavy favorite to win Iowa's Republican presidential caucuses Monday, leading his closest challengers in polls by more than 30 percentage points. RealClearPolitics Poll Average of major polls across the country shows Trump with more than 52% support in The Hawkeye State. His closest challenger there, former South Carolina Gov. and Ambassador Nikki Haley, shows 18.2% support, a nearly 34% percentage point gap between the No. 1 and No. 2 candidates in the state. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is an even more distant third with 15.6% support. Monday's caucuses in Iowa where temperatures are expected to hover just below 0 degrees and wind chills could hit minus 35 degrees or worse are the first time voters get to weigh in during the Republican primary season. Unlike a standard primary election where voters simply go to the polls and cast their ballots for the candidate of their choice (or in more recent years, mail in their ballots), voters at a caucus must show up in person and listen to supporters lobby for candidates before choosing sides. A significant win by Trump in Iowa could all but deflate the candidacies of most if not all of the former president's Republican opponents. Following Monday's caucuses, GOP voters in New Hampshire head to the polls Jan. 23 for the first-in-the-nation primary. Trump also holds a significant lead in polling there with 43.5% support, according to RealClear, but Haley has closed the gap down to about 14 percentage points with 29.3% support. Trump leads all challengers by large amounts nationally as well. The latest The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll shows Trump with 61% support across the country, with Haley (13%) and DeSantis (12%) far behind. Nevada follows with a Feb. 8 caucus, followed by primaries on Feb. 24 in South Carolina and Feb. 27 in Michigan (though not all delegates will be awarded on this date in Michigan; more than half will be awarded at the state convention March 2); and caucuses in Idaho March 2 and North Dakota March 4. On Super Tuesday March 5, Republican voters from 15 states will select the candidate of their choice: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. Trump could have the nomination locked up by then. On Iowa, Colin Reed, a Republican strategist, former campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass., and co-founder of South and Hill Strategies, told The Center Square: For Trump, he needs to show a result thats consistent with his lead in the polls or risk losing the veneer of inevitability, Reed continued. For DeSantis, he needs a decisive second place showing or loses a credible rationale to continue on. Nikki Haley placed more of her chips in New Hampshire so she has the least to lose and most to gain. Either way, the events in Iowa have the potential to reshuffle the deck in the eight days between the caucuses and New Hampshire primary. DeSantis received the coveted endorsement of Iowa's popular Republican governor, Kim Reynolds, but that hasn't helped him in polling there. Trump also faces nearly 100 criminal charges across several states as well as ongoing efforts to remove him from the ballot for his role in the Jan. 6 protests at the U.S. Capitol. Translated, those challenges mean Trumps campaign could be upended later this year and make second place in the GOP primary more important than ever. To read the full story, become a PRIME member today. PRIME Unlimited Access to Insightful Industry Information All Corporate Members and TexPro Subscribers are eligible to access F2F PRIME CONTENT using the same login credentials. Bigg Boss Tamil 7, which is hosted by Kamal Haasan, is just 1 hour away from its grand finale and the excitement about the same is palpable among the audience. After an interesting journey of over three months, the popular reality show will finally be getting its winner tonight and the speculations for the same continue to be rife. Interestingly, five contestants made it to the grand finale - Vishnu Vijay, Dinesh Gopalsamy, Maya Krishnan, VJ Archana and Manichandra. While the competition is quite tough, the audience has been voting in large numbers for their favourite finalist, it is reported that Bigg Boss Tamil 7 finale will be starting with an elimination. Yes! You read it right. One of the five finalists will reportedly by eliminated on the basis of the audience's votes. Given the voting trends, while VJ Archana has been leading with over 50% votes followed by Dinesha and Maya respectively, Dinesh and Vishnu have been in bottom two positions. In fact, among the two, Vishnu has reportedly received the lowest votes and is likely to be the first contestant to get eliminated from Bigg Boss Tamil 7 during the grand finale. However, an official confirmation about the first elimination of Bigg Boss Tamil 7 grand finale is yet to be made. To note Vishnu was the first finalist of Bigg Boss Tamil 7 who had won the ticket to finale task. While there hasn't been any official announcement about the winner and first runner up, the makers also made sure to add up new spice in lately. Interestingly, the former contestants of Bigg Boss Tamil 7 had also entered the Bigg Boss house like Vinusha, Jovika Vijayakumar, Cool Suresh, RJ Bravo, Ananya S Rao, etc. Who are you supporting on Bigg Boss Tamil 7? Let us know in the comment section below. After an intriguing journey of over three months, Bigg Boss Tamil 7 is all set to pull its curtains down tonight and we can't keep calm about it. The popular reality show, which has been hosted by Kamal Haasan, will be having a grand finale with an intense fight for the winner's trophy and the audience is looking forward to seeing who will be lifting the trophy. Interestingly, it is going to be a fight between top 5 finalists Vishnu Vijay, Manichandra, Dinesh Gopalsamy, Maya Krishnan and VJ Archana. Needless to say, fans have been voting in large numbers for their favourite finalists as the speculations are rife about who will clinch the title tonight. Amid this, several polls have been doing the rounds about Bigg Bos Tamil 7 winner and social media is abuzz with tweets of opinions. Interestingly, we have got our hands on a poll conducted by Bigg Boss Booster which states that it is Maya who will claim the title. The poll results suggested that Maya and Archana had neck to neck competition wherein Maya got 47.7% votes while Archana got 46.2% votes. While as per the poll result it is Maya who will be lifting the winner's trophy on Bigg Boss Tamil 7, the reports about Archana creating history tonight are also equally rife. Yes! As there are massive speculations about Archana winning Bigg Boss Tamil 7, if the reports turned out to be true, she will be the first wild card contestant to lift the trophy. To note, the Raja Rani 2 actress had entered Bigg Boss Tamil 7 as a wild card contestant and won millions of hearts with her strong game. Interestingly, we also got our hands on Archana's salary for Bigg Boss Tamil 7 and it will leave you surprised. According to a report published in Cinefry, Archana charged Rs 2.25 lakhs for her stint in Bigg Boss Tamil 7. OMV: OMV, the integrated company for energy, fuels & feedstock, chemicals and materials, headquartered in Vienna, and Microsoft, announced the signing of an agreement to procure Sustainable Aviation Fuel certificates (SAFc). Since March 2022, OMV has been producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel by co-processing sustainable and regional raw materials, specifically used cooking oil, at its Schwechat refinery in Austria. Compared to conventional jet fuel, SAF contributes to a reduction of CO2 emissions of more than 80%. Now, OMV is taking the next step. The newly developed SAF Business solutions are tailored to help organizations accomplish their Scope 3 indirect emission reduction goals, such as from air travel and/or the air transportation of goods. In cooperation with the independent ... 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. Mercor, a San Francisco, California-based provider of a fully-automated platform, which uses AI to assess and match talent with companies, raised $3.6M in funding. The round was led by General Catalyst and includes participation from Scott Sandell (Chairman, CEO and CIO of NEA), Soma Capital, Link Ventures, and 2 | Twelve Angels. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Founded in January of 2023 by Brendan Foody (CEO), Adarsh Hiremath (CTO), and Surya Midha (COO), Mercor has built an AI vetting infrastructure that brings a high level of scrutiny to the top of a hiring funnel. For example, its AI interviewer joins a video call and has a real-time conversation based on full context about a candidates background, from companies theyve previously worked at to their most impressive personal projects. The platforms crawlers automatically pull information from resumes, GitHubs, personal portfolio websites, and more to create a complete picture of every applicant. This enables the platform to navigate millions of profiles, conduct thousands of interviews, and pinpoint the one or two individuals in the world who are the perfect fit for a specific role. Companies can immediately watch AI interviews of candidates and add them to their team with one click, managing payments through our platform. Before raising capital, the company bootstrapped the business to 7-figures in annual recurring revenue and a talent pool of 100,000 users spanning 25 countries. FinSMEs 14/01/2024 Ankita Lokhande, who has emerged as one of the popular contestants, has been recently going through a lot of emotional turmoil due to the ongoing conflict with her husband Vicky Jain, and the other challenges that have taken a toll on her well-being The Bigg Boss 17 house is turning out to be way too chaotic for a couple of contestants, particularly Vicky Jain and Ankita Lokhande. And the latest episode saw the return of Karan Johar as the host, who asked Vicky to stand by Ankita. Johar said, When your mother questions Ankita on national television, as a husband, you should stand by her. And Im not saying that he should say anything against hius mother. All he needed to do was ask you, Ankita, what happened? Advertisement In case youre unaware, the family members of the contestants have entered the house to have an interaction. Vickys mother Ranjana questioned Ankita over certain issues. Vicky then asks Ankita- What was said? Tell me. The actress says, Your dad called my mom and said, Did you used to hit your husband with slippers like that? Advertisement Ankita Lokhande , who has emerged as one of the popular contestants, has been recently going through a lot of emotional turmoil due to the ongoing conflict with her husband Vicky Jain, and the other challenges that have taken a toll on her well-being. In a promotion shared by the channel few days back, Ankitas mother was among the first ones to enter the house. As she stepped inside the Bigg Boss house, Ankita got overwhelmed and immediately broke down into tears. Later, her mother not only comforted her but also urged her daughter to find peace. Advertisement Ankita s mothers advice to the couple As the promo proceeds, Ankitas mother can be seen sharing a few words of advice with her daughter and Vicky. Notably, Vicky, overwhelmed with emotions, hurriedly approached his mother-in-law and welcomed her with a warm hug. United Insurance, a leading Bahraini insurance company established to provide coverage to vehicles passing through King Fahad Causeway from and to the kingdom, has unveiled its new logo and visual identity. This move signals the initiation of a transformative phase in the company's trajectory, spanning from its inception in 1986 to the present day. More than just a visual refresh, the new identity symbolizes a new era of growth and development for United Insurance, said the company in a statement. At the recent launch ceremony, the company's dedicated team not only introduced the refined logo but also shared their vision for the future - one filled with innovative insurance solutions, streamlined operations, and a seamless digital experience. Their unwavering commitment to exceeding customer expectations shines through in every initiative, as they strive to solidify their position as the leading name in cross-border vehicle insurance, it stated. CEO Maysa Al Kooheji said: "Today, we unveil not just a new identity, but a new future for United Insurance. This identity represents our unwavering commitment to keep pace with the kingdom's evolving insurance landscape, and it's a promise to become the leading light, guiding our customers toward comprehensive solutions and exceptional service, aligned with Bahrain's 2022-2026 financial services strategy." "We aim to contribute meaningfully to the kingdom's economic prosperity, leaving our mark on every vehicle passing through King Fahd Causeway," she stated. Al Kooheji said: "Our ambition thrives alongside this refreshed identity. We're poised for growth, fueled by innovative insurance products and a digital revolution across our operations. From streamlined services for Causeway vehicles to leveraging our expertise for maximum value, we're ready to unlock new opportunities and empower every stakeholder." "United Insurance eagerly anticipates building upon its successful track record and achieving new milestones in the future. As we explore opportunities aligned with our strategic objectives, we remain committed to the continued enhancement of our established achievements," she noted. United Insurance Company was established in 1986 as a closed Bahraini joint-stock company, coinciding with the inauguration of the King Fahd Causeway connecting the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia. The firm is jointly owned by five prominent Bahraini insurance entities and a reputable Saudi Arabian counterpart and holds a significant position within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it operates under the licensure and supervision of the Central Bank of Bahrain, said the top official. "We proudly represent Bahrain as a member of the General Arab Insurance Federation, and as a key player, the firm is entrusted with the issuance of the orange card for transit vehicle insurance across all member states," she added.-TradeArabia News Service The priority in the development of the Ukrainian Air Force is the introduction of F-16 aircraft, on which Ukrainian pilots are already undergoing retraining. However, experts are considering other opportunities to increase the combat potential of aviation. ADVERTISIMENT This was announced by Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk. He noted that the Ukrainian Air Force currently has four main types of combat aircraft, which will be gradually replaced by Western equipment. "To make it clear, I, as the commander of the Air Force, fully support the position of the Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, on strengthening the capabilities of strike aircraft to support the offensive and defensive actions of the Defense Forces. I emphasize that the Air Force has considered and is considering various aviation platforms to strengthen and further develop Ukraine's combat aviation," Oleshchuk said. The Air Force Commander emphasized that Ukraine is considering receiving assistance from partners in providing multi-role aircraft, attack aircraft, and helicopters. However, it will be difficult to immediately abandon the operation of Soviet aircraft, so both F-16s and MiG-29s will continue to operate in the Ukrainian sky. It is possible that Mirage-2000Ds may be used to increase the combat capabilities of Su-24M bombers, and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs may be used for Su-25 attack aircraft. ADVERTISIMENT "Recently, we have discussed with Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi promising areas for further work in the development and strengthening of the aviation component of the Air Force and Army Aviation of the Land Forces. We are doing everything to ensure that our troops are covered from the air and that the enemy feels the powerful fist of strike aircraft," Oleshchuk said. Earlier, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine commented on the statement of the Commander of the Land Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, about the need for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for American A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft. They emphasized that Ukraine has not sent an official request for A-10s, as the number one issue is the development of the F-16. The day before, Syrskyi said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces needed American A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft to support infantry and aircraft that could fire long-range cruise missiles. According to the colonel general, they will provide decisive support to ground forces when trying to seize the initiative against a well-equipped enemy. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Three men covered in metal suits and masks were standing outside Khans abode holding a gun and the poster of the film, and the image went viral in no time Prabhas, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan are gearing up for Nag Ashwins Kalki 2898 AD thats all set for a release on May 9. As a part of the promotions, three men covered in metal suits and masks were standing outside Shah Rukh Khans abode Mannat holding a gun and the poster of the film, and the image went viral in no time. Advertisement The viral image has garnered immense reactions on social media, especially from Khans fans. Here are some of them: Prabhas fans : Prabhas is bigger star than SRK LE Prabhas : Promoting #Kalki2898 in front of Mannat He knows Mannat is bigger brand than him leave #ShahRukhKhan aside. pic.twitter.com/u4Q75lY3yq Aman (@amanaggar02) January 12, 2024 Prabhas is promoting #Kalki2898AD in front of Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat. After Salaar, once again he is using the brand SRK for promotions pic.twitter.com/R9SupR85UJ sohom (@AwaaraHoon) January 12, 2024 Advertisement khan saab @iamsrk pls give them some cents pic.twitter.com/IZmtuMq4Zm mizan (@mizsayani) January 12, 2024 Advertisement #ShahRukhKhan is so rich that he can buy anyone and make them a guard outside Mannat got real. Prabhas Fans must be thinking why a mega-budget film of Baahubali Star with Mega Starcasts promoting #Kalki2898 outside Mannat. That's because everyone is MANNAT KA LABOUR. pic.twitter.com/sKnAoueTjL JUST A FAN. (@iamsrk_brk) January 12, 2024 Advertisement About Kalki The grand unveiling of Kalki 2898 AD took place at the prestigious San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), where the film captivated audiences with its visionary concept and spellbinding visuals. The new title perfectly encapsulates the essence of the film, generating curiosity and excitement among fans and cinephiles worldwide. Advertisement The films premise, set in the distant future of 2898 AD, seamlessly blends futuristic elements with rich storytelling, offering an unparalleled and immersive cinematic experience. As the buzz around Kalki 2898 AD continues to grow, fans eagerly await the films release but one thing we are sure of at this point is that Vyjayanthi Movies is set to redefine storytelling and showcase Indian cinemas potential on the global stage with this groundbreaking sci-fi masterpiece. Sound bathing is a therapy in which sound is used for healing. It is branded as one of the safest and most efficient self-care practices for reducing stress and promoting inner peace In recent years, sound bathing, a therapy in which sound is used for healing, has been marketed as one of many self-care practices, such as journal-keeping or candle-burning, in support of personal well-being. Sold also as sound immersions, or sound healing or therapy, sound baths are pitched as a safe and effective way to reduce stress and increase inner peace. Advertisement Do they, though? If so, how? As a medical anthropologist who has conducted research on the sound bath boom , I have some evidence-based insights to offer. About sound bath Dedicated yogic sound baths are typically intimate, hourlong, small group events hosted in yoga studios or other private settings. Lights dimmed, perhaps with essential oils diffusing, providers surround their typically recumbent clients with sound generated from simple instruments such as tuning forks, gongs and bowls. In my research, sound bath receivers and providers say this leads to a deep sense of peace or harmony. Some people claim erroneously that what we call sound baths are an ancient practice. There is a long-standing tradition in yoga of using sound to focus ones meditative efforts , perhaps most famously in chanting Aum. But sound baths emerged in their present form largely as an outgrowth of the rise of modern yoga the kind that focuses on postures, or asanas. These classes generally include, at the end, a short, meditative, rest and receive phase, or savasana. A yogic sound bath is, essentially, a sound-enhanced, extended, savasana-only sound immersion session. Advertisement The commodification of yogic practices in the West, along with celebrity endorsements , have resulted in the modern-day sound bath industry. Many yoga studios now offer sound baths regularly: It draws people in, explained one owner. Health benefits There is evidence that shows that yogic sound therapy can bring benefits. Data confirms associations between yoga practice and better physical and mental health. Advertisement Regarding sound baths specifically, in a study involving the controlled exposure of 62 people to singing bowls, gongs, cymbals called ting-shas, and other simple instruments, subjects reported decreased tension, anger and fatigue . A review including several other somewhat smaller studies found that sound immersion can also improve blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and other clinical indicators . Advertisement Scientific understanding of the mechanics of sound therapy is in its infancy. But preliminary studies have shown that a well-executed sound bath may help reduce anxiety and even improve blood pressure and heart rate, among other clinical outcomes. In my research, many participants pointed to science in explaining why sound baths worked so well for them, referencing, for instance, the nervous systems capacity to move us into a rest and digest , or relaxation, state. Many also referenced spiritualized concepts, such as the chakras, seven wheel-like energy or spiritual power centres running up the spine, which they believe the vibrations can unblock. Advertisement Choosing from alternatives The sound bath experience varies. For instance, some are held outside. Some providers play lots of different instruments, not just simple percussive ones or singing bowls. Some bring in lots of yogic philosophy; others leave that unspoken. Some infuse sessions with what I call trauma talk, inviting clients to focus on inner pain; others remain silent regarding client motivations for participating. Advertisement With sound baths so widely available, no regulations, and a wellness market hungry for profit , how do you choose what kind to attend? Here are some guidelines, based on my study. To begin, participants said that the ideal sound bath site enables clients to let down their guard. This may mean locking studio doors or providing warm blankets and cushioning so that receivers can comfortably relax into the soundscape offered. Advertisement Outdoor sound baths can be nice, but concern about onlookers, noise intrusions and imperfect weather could undermine a sense of sanctuary. The same was true for baths conducted in noisy fitness centers or other locations not built to promote inner peace. Practitioner style also mattered. Interviewees recommended backing out if a provider makes you uncomfortable, because relaxation will be difficult. They also noted that providers with less experience often play too loudly, make jarring versus gentle transitions and forget to pause. Relatedly, baths with lots of diverse or complex instruments, or songs that tell a story, make maintaining meditation difficult. Advertisement Yet another distraction came from providers focused on suffering, stress or trauma. Observations confirmed that too much trauma talk might prime clients to focus on and even amplify any sense of distress , diverting them from the simple pleasure of an immersion and from their own resilience . Even the best sound bath cannot relieve stress long term if the causes of that stress remain in place . Nevertheless, in a world where inner peace is hard to find, let alone maintain, an hour spent in meditative repose can be a godsend. Advertisement This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article . The US and the UK strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen have raised concerns that Israels war with Hamas could spread further in the West Asia region. France has a new prime minister and the youngest ever to hold the post. Heres our weekly roundup of important developments around the globe The first two weeks of 2024 are over. The world has already seen many major developments in just the second week of January. While the Maldives found itself embroiled in a diplomatic row with India this week, South Africa took Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing it of genocide in Gaza. Advertisement Taiwan has elected a new president. The presidential polls were keenly watched around the globe as it came amid rising tensions between the self-governing island and China. France got its youngest prime minister after President Emmanuel Macron appointed his ally Gabriel Attal to the post. He is just 34 and Frances first openly gay PM. As we get ready for the remainder of January, it is important to keep track of what went down in the world this week. If you have missed any developments, fret not! Heres our weekly roundup of explainers of stories from around the world. 1. There are concerns that Israels war with Hamas could spread further in West Asia. The United States and the United Kingdom struck Houthi sites in Yemen, further increasing the possibility of a wider conflict in the region. This came after the drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by the Iran-backed militia. Advertisement The Houthi rebels have vowed retaliation after the US and Britain airstrikes this week. The rebel group, which has declared support for Hamas, has been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November, saying they are avenging Israels offensive in Gaza. Read our story here to understand what is going on. Advertisement 2. India and the Maldives have traditionally enjoyed close ties. However, tensions arose between the two countries after some Maldivian ministers made racist and derogatory remarks against India and its leader following Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Lakshadweep last week. The Maldives government promptly suspended the three deputy ministers Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid after a massive backlash on social media over their remarks, but the damage was done. Advertisement The row has brought the relations between the two nations into the spotlight. India has always been the first responder to the Indian Ocean country. India is among the top sources of tourism for the Maldives. Beyond tourism, New Delhi has often come to the island nations assistance in its time of need. We explain in our report here how a rift with India would only hurt common Maldivians. Advertisement 3. Taiwan has made a choice between war and peace or democracy and autocracy. The island nation of 24 million people that went to polls on Saturday (13 January) elected Lai Ching-te of the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive party (DPP) as its next president. Lai will replace President Tsai Ing-wen who stepped down because of term limits. The polls were held amid the looming threat of China, which views Taiwan as a province and has pledged to re-unify it with the mainland. Heres how Beijing tried to meddle in the polls. Advertisement 4. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) heard South Africas genocide case against Israel this week. Israel has denied the charges, claiming South Africa distorted the truth in its case. South Africa moved the ICJ against Israel on 29 December under United Nations 1948 Genocide Convention. The convention defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, wholly or partly, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. Advertisement South Africa accused the West Asian country of committing genocide against the Palestinians in its war in Gaza. It has asked the UNs highest court to order Israel to immediately halt its military operations in the narrow enclave. Heres our explainer on the case. 5. The Iranian navy seized an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, raising worries that Tehran could threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the worlds most important oil chokepoint. The US denounced Iran for seizing the Greek-operated oil tanker, the St. Nikolas, and demanded the release of its crew. But, why did Iran target the oil tanker? Read our explainer here to find out. Advertisement 6. Gabriel Attal was made Frances youngest PM as President Emmanuel Macrons seeks to rejuvenate the remainder of his second term. Attal has served as the education minister of the country. His star has only risen under Macron, who is battling unpopularity amid growing political pressure from the far right. Attals appointment comes ahead of Junes European Union ballot and the upcoming Olympics in Paris. You can read our profile on the new France PM here . Advertisement 7. Ecuador was rattled by a series of violent acts this week. Heavily armed gangsters stormed the studio of a major television station during a live broadcast. Several other seemingly coordinated attacks were witnessed across the South American country, prompting President Daniel Noboa to declare an emergency and a virtual war on the gangs by authorising the military to act against them. Read our report here to understand whats happening in Ecuador. Advertisement 8. The Nepal police arrested a controversial spiritual leader known as Buddha Boy over allegations of rape and sexual abuse. Ram Bahadur Bomjon, 33, was nabbed from a house on the outskirts of Kathmandu. He is also allegedly involved in the disappearance of at least four of his followers two men and two women from his camp. Thousands in Nepal believed Bomjon was a reincarnation of the Buddha and had grabbed international attention as a teenager. Heres our explainer on Nepals Buddha Boy . Advertisement You are all caught up for the week. If you like our explainers and want to remain updated, bookmark this page . Recently named joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, Deora had voiced dissatisfaction of the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray claiming the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat Congress politician and former Union minister Milind Deora resigned from the partys main membership on Sunday. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my familys 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Advertisement Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their Milind Deora | (@milinddeora) January 14, 2024 In recent days, there has been much conjecture in political circles over his possible joining of the Shiv Sena, which is run by Eknath Shinde. Advertisement From 2012 to 2014, Milind Deora was the Congressmans Union Minister of State for Communications, Information Technology, and Shipping. In addition, he had once served as the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committees president. Recently named joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, Deora voiced his disapproval of the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat, which Deora had previously held. Advertisement The united Shiv Senas Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had beaten Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. At one point, Deora led the Mumbai Congress as well. His father, late party leader Murli Deora, is his son. Goa is aspirational to become a meeting and budding place for the digital nomads. The smallest Indian state is on the way of becoming a hotspot for emerging startups Post Covid-19, Goa is at a crossroads with a very different set of challenges and opportunities Goa, a southwest state of India, embraced by the lateritic plateaus of the Sahyadris and the Arabian Sea, is well known for its pristine beaches and lush greenery. A day in January could have been the best time to find tourists drinking coconut water, dancing on the shores, and tanning under the sun beside the sea. Booze and rejuvenation are things the little state is known for. Advertisement But now the Goan government looks beyond the sea, sun, and sands. Coming to tourism, it is a sector that contributes to 16.4 per cent of the state GDP (GSDP) and as much as 33 per cent of the employment of the former Portuguese colony. An ordinary street view in Goa Goa is conventionally conceptualised as a place possessing breathtaking shores. A dream honeymoon destination that has impressive churches, basilicas, and cathedrals with a harmonious construct of multiple cultures where 450 years of colonial influence silently yet prominently tells its tale. But as a poet has beautifully said, Trees are much more than the shades they give. Basilica of Bom Jesus The state government of Goa is getting prepared to look up to Regenerative Tourism as a new model of sustainable bottom-up approach to include environmental restoration, cultural preservation, and community empowerment. Acknowledging the complex relationship between tourism and indigenous communities, this path seeks to bring economic opportunities and cultural exchange together while addressing the challenges to cultural integrity, social structures, and the natural environment. Advertisement Post Covid-19, Goa is at a crossroads with a very different set of challenges and opportunities. Minister for Tourism, IT, and E&C in the Government of Goa, Rohan Ashok Khaunte, addressing a press meeting Facing unique challenges, including competition from countries like Thailand and Indonesia, modern cities like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, and large Indian states, Goa has set its sights on innovative solutions post-COVID. Emphasising technology adoption and collaboration, the focus is on making people and communities decision-makers in the tourism sector, said Rohan Khaunte, the Minister of Tourism, IT, and E&C, Goa government, adding that Goa is transitioning from a sea-shore-centric tourism model to a more inclusive, people-centric approach. Advertisement In conformity with this, Goa seeks to become a Global Opportunities Aggregator. The idea is being shaped by the Department of Information Technology, Electronics, and Communication. So Goa seeks to synergise innovation, emerging technologies, programming, and software with the tourism sector in a very imaginative manner. The approach seeks to move beyond sun, sand, and sea to add software in the jargon defining the coastal state while leveraging its natural ingredients conducive to fostering creative development. Advertisement Goa is aspirational to become a meeting and budding place for the digital nomads. The smallest Indian state is becoming a hotspot for emerging startups and professionals choosing it as a preferred workplace, drawn by its natural beauty, robust infrastructure, and supportive government policies. The model of meet, negotiate, and profit is being promoted. The author himself visited various private incubators and facilitators that help people with innovative thoughts meet together, discuss, chill, and relax in the soothing, moderate coastal climate while enjoying the cosmopolitan charm of a city known for its symphony of culture and chime of life. Advertisement One such Venture Studio is the Build 3 community, which seeks to play its part in creating the startup atmosphere the Goan government seeks to build. A member of the Build 3 community showcases the objectives of the organisation The government seeks to facilitate seamless remote collaboration, safeguard Intellectual Property, provide mentorship, and introduce a universal access card for accessing facilities like medical services, transportation, internet, co-living, and more in Goa. Advertisement A scenic view of the Goan landscape As the state is focusing on enhancing connectivity and harbouring a talent pool, Design in Goa is an illustrious slogan being pushed. The emphasis is on attracting service- and product-based companies/MSMEs and freelancers through the creation of a digital village while promoting interoperability and ensuring sustainability and inclusion. Community workshops to facilitate innovation The dream is to make women and youth drivers of change and the creation of a vibrant IT ecosystem because this sector will be there everywhere and must be there for everyone! The state asks you to come to Goa and build out of it. The Sea Hubs call for work and relaxation together, helping one maintain a good work-life balance. Advertisement The model includes the visitors in the responsibilities and profits associated with the state, and thus the visitor is not merely an irresponsible consumer but a responsible partner. Bridges, ferries, and boats form an important aspect of connectivity in Goa In line with the dream of creating a developed India by 2047, the state government seemingly aspires towards achieving sustainable but exponential growth. Hence, Industry 4.0 is the best tool found to shape this dream out of the open skies of thoughts. Objectives oriented towards high-value growth, giving prominence to emerging technologies, and promoting internships, research, and development all appear very promising. Advertisement The vision of the Goan government apparently shows changes becoming visible in the next three years, and the confidence is indeed praiseworthy. Still, great things take a little longer; however, if a decade later, Goa gains repute beyond the beaches and pubs, the author would not be surprised. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Advertisement Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . The helplessness on the part of the Biden Administration to contain the ongoing war for over three months has caused accusations of complicity and a loss of credibility among various regional partners This is a war of losers, and possibly so is every war nowadays, as they dont swiftly conclude and tend to defy all standard postulates. As such, wars are being launched for expansion of territory and influence, to enforce politico-military superiority and influence, to support an alliance partner, and for revenge and retribution, which may or may not serve geopolitical or geoeconomic objectives. But unfortunately, the only thing that is assured is destruction and humanitarian disaster. Advertisement This over-three-month-old ongoing Israel-Hamas war has witnessed many firsts, but not many of them might be flattering to the warring sides. Terror attacks by Hamas on October 7 against Israeli civilians were unprecedented in scope and scale and perhaps went beyond their own expectations being compared to a dozen 9/11s. They may have achieved certain objectives but at what cost knowing too well that fury and might of Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and that of Hawkish Netanyahu will bring unprecedented death and destruction to Gazans and Palestinians. When the dust settles down both sides will face searching and uncomfortable questions on strategic lapses. Netanyahu is yet to achieve his singular objective of destroying Hamas, with which he was in a truck once. Regional countries lost as they were not able to take a decisive course of action to prevent unprecedented civilian casualties which some of them and others call genocide and South Africa and Malaysia have gone to International Court of Justice against Israel. Clearly they were unable to largely differentiate between their utter dislike of Hamas and disproportionate mayhem caused by Israeli bombings. A house divided leads to its destruction. Advertisement Israel has also lost a great deal as it not only did not achieve its military objectives but its myth of invincibility has been busted despite tremendous superiority. It also lost a great deal on regional and international sympathy and budding friendships with regional majors whose leaders were moving to normalise ties despite or perhaps due to the waning importance of the Palestinian cause in their strategic calculations. Advertisement In fact, President Biden warned Netanyahu that he was losing international support, which was also a headache for the American foreign policy establishment. Abraham Accords, I2U2, and IMEC are all on the backburner for fear of the ire of the Arab street, which has been recharged due to the continued spate of killings of hapless women and children. But Bibi is sitting on a lion for as long as he can, since the moment he comes down, his political fate is unknown as the 130 hostages await their release. Advertisement Russia and China have also not acquitted themselves creditably, even though furtive, unimplementable statements and paper tiger resolutions flew around with alacrity from condemnation to quietude, with verbosity galore as usual but maintaining eventual ambivalence. Moscow may have benefited somewhat from the US distraction, as is evident from the Zelenskyy tirades in Western capitals. But they may have also lost their dependency quotient, which both Moscow and Beijing are trying to project in the region. Advertisement Emerging and leading powers like India also adopted a wait and watch approach even though at the UNGA and BRICS and bilaterally right messaging was conveyed seeking end of the conflict and humanitarian assistance was provided promptly to Gazans. We are not living an era of swift wars. Today they impact everyone. Irony is that if a superpower is involved in a war, others become only a limiting factor. However, only the redeeming outcome of this terrible war and sequence could emerge, if there is a move forward for a solution to this age-old Palestinian issue as the Day After scenario unfolds. Now, the Arab countries and leaders would find it difficult to settle for anything less than a viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. Advertisement The worst casualty in this and the Russia-Ukraine war has been the much-lauded multilateralism. The helplessness of the UN and Antonio Guterres has merely led to hopelessness. One cant even say that the King is dead; long live the King. Dysfunctional global order and governance have definitely led the way to disorder and Jungle Raj with dire consequences, as the fear of the West Asian war expanding to other horizons is clear and present. Advertisement The US maintained a singular objective of supporting fully and unconditionally its all-weather ally, Israel, for its geostrategic as well as equally important ideological and domestic compulsions and considerations, while hoping and working on preventing the war from expanding as Houthis, Hezbollah, and Iran extend support to Hamas and Palestinians, complicating the uncertainty even more. Advertisement President Biden repeatedly despatched his Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Austin even as he himself dashed to Tel Aviv in the immediate aftermath, despite his old age, to assure and extend sympathy and support to Israeli people, even if not necessarily to Netanyahu and his ultra-right government with which the two had developed fundamental differences. Advertisement Given his experience in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere he had warned Bibi early on about the dangers of ground offensive and downside of raging battles ahead, but to no avail. No one learns from history. The US diplomatic heft was compromised as even the smaller countries, dependent on the US, cancelled the Amman meet that Biden was seeking due to growing mistrust with Washingtons designs. His talk of a two-state solution appeared to them like a sham. Advertisement Secretary Blinken is back the fourth time in Israel and the region for his vital shuttle diplomatic engagements as Netanyahus ultra-rightist divided cabinet and only war time allies are thinking of the Day after scenario in Gaza with vertically opposite positions. Harassed President Biden, at one of his election rallies, muttered that he was in touch with the Israeli government and trying to get them out of Gaza. Advertisement But Netanyahu does not want to give up security and governing control and is not ready to oblige Biden and Blinken. From day one Biden has advised Bibi against designs to hang on to Gaza yet again. Some Israeli leaders from the Far-Right want the Gaza Palestinians to go to some other countries including in Africa projecting it as a Voluntary migration of the already displaced. Although Blinken tried to persuade Bibi to stick to a quick timeline for withdrawal and ending the campaign, the Israeli government with Smotrich and Ben Gvir is unlikely to yield. Even the war cabinet is likely to break up due to these fundamental differences as all of them want future threats from Hamas decimated. This will again be a litmus test for the US foreign policy which has arguably been run by Bibi with alacrity and impunity. This helplessness on the part of the Biden Administration to contain the ongoing war, for over three months, has caused accusations of complicity and loss of credibility among various regional partners and in the Global South who are all worried and disenchanted by the prevailing emasculated global order. Their hopelessness is increasingly manifested in the imbecile UNGA resolutions as the UN and multilateral organisations have simply been rendered useless. After the Afghanistan fiasco and at least the overt ambivalence and duality of approaches, Washington would need to do a real Manthan and strategic introspection if it still wishes to guide the world on some principles of international law. But time is not on their side, or at least not much, as fragmentation of the so-called world order is spiralling fast. 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. Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . Most of the foreign adventure lovers dreamt of touring Badrinath during the British period to get a feel for the annual Hindu pilgrimage. They also wanted to explore the chances of entering mysterious Tibet The mass movement of pilgrims to the Hindu shrines located in the high Himalayas used to surprise foreigners during British rule. The devotees heading for Badrinath and Kedarnath in low-resource clothing and walking long distances in extremely challenging terrain used to baffle them. In the process of understanding the annual pilgrimage in the Indian Himalayas, many foreigners used to explore Badrinath and other shrines in Garhwal. Many took the pilgrimage route to secretly enter mysterious Tibet. Advertisement First foreign explorer in Badrinath Portuguese Jesuit Antonio de Andrade was the first ever foreigner to reach Badrinath. Disguised as a Hindu devotee Antonio and his brother Manuel join a group of pilgrims in Agra on 20 March 1624. They had one intention of entering Tibet through Badrinath. Antonio perfectly adopted the costumes and language used by common Hindu pilgrims and he was hard to be identified as a foreigner. After Agra, he moved with the group to Haridwar and reached Srinagar (Garhwal). On suspicion, he was detained by the Garhwal king force. The security grilled him for 5-6 days in which the Portuguese disclosed his intention of exploring Tibet and entering the bordering country through Badrinath. He was allowed to move forward. After 15 days Antonio de Andrade reached Badrinath. Advertisement The Garhwal King had issued strict instructions that the foreigner should not be allowed to cross Mana, a village near Badrinath. After staying 20 days in Mana and despite strong resistance from villagers, the Portuguese, his two Christian servants and a local villager started off for Tibet. After a six day trek the team got stuck in a snowstorm and abandoned their expedition. They would have died had the Mana villagers not come for their rescue. After getting clearance, Jesuit Antonio de Andrade crossed the border and established the first Catholic church on Tibetan soil. Advertisement Historian Shekhar Pathak says, Foreigners were barred from entering Tibet. Free entry of foreigners started in 1903-04 after invasion by British Indian Armed Forces to Lhasa. Before British rule the Garhwal King and the Tibetan Jong Pong used to provide permission to traders and to a limited number of pilgrims to visit Tibet. Both used to charge tax from them. Advertisement First painter English veterinarian and explorer William Moorcroft adopted Portuguese Jesuit Antonios formula to visit Garhwal in 1812. Disguised as Hindu pilgrims, William and his friend Hyder Young Hearseym born to a British father and Indian mother entered the Garhwal hills. The situation was challenging as the Gorkhas were ruling the area at that time. Both the travellers managed to comfortably enter the territory and they had a clear agenda to explore the Mansarovar lake in Tibet. Advertisement Hyder Young Hearseym was a skilled painter and made a stunning watercolour painting of Badrinath on 29 May, with a view of Badrinath, snow-covered mountain in the background, three yaks and two boys in the foreground. On the backside of the painting the year mentioned was 1808. Hyder came once in the Chamoli area and it can be said, after matching his tour dates, that the Badrinath painting was made in 1812 and not in 1808. After waiting for 15 days to get permission to cross the border, Moorcroft realised that the Niti village headman was deliberately delaying the process. Moorcroft had to sacrifice a bottle of brandy to sweeten his relationship with the headman. The trick worked and they finally crossed the border on the last day of June. Advertisement Early photographer The lure of the Himalayas brought Colonel Henry John Senior of the Bengal Native Infantry to Badrinath. In1870, he made his tour to Badrinath and documented his execution in an article, A visit to Badrinath temple in the Himalayas for Womens Work for Women magazine in 1892. Henry John Senior was stunned by the grandeur of the Hindu shrines and wrote, The temple of Badrinath was evidently intended to be a magnificent edifice. The gateway is beautifully designed and carved with elaborate sculpturing of elephants, peafowl, lions and emblems of royalty. Senior was also a member of the Bengal Photographic Society and photographed a variety of subjects in India. He was possibly the first photographer to visit Badrinath. Advertisement Early reference of pilgrimage Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Badrinath shrine in district Chamoli attracts visitors from far and near. The earliest reference about the pilgrimage trend in Badrinath can be found in East-India Gazetteer by Walter Hamilton, published in 1828. Proving vivid detail about the temple and the pilgrimage centre, the gazetteer states that in 1808 there were thirty huts in Badrinath for accommodation of priests and their attendants. Even in those days the movement of devotees in Badrinath was high as the book states, The number of pilgrims who visit Badrinath has been estimated to 50,000, mostly religious mendicants and devotees from all quarters of India. Advertisement The Badrinath shrine is presently well connected with the road network. Last year over 18.36 lakh pilgrims came to offer prayers at the sacred temple in Uttarakhand. In the past covering the distance from Rishikesh to Badrinath on foot used to take months. The total foot-march, including the return journey, was about 540 km and pilgrims used to walk 16-24 km per day, depending on their fitness. Advertisement Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._ Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram . The SNAI prisons agency announced that 24 guards and 17 administrative staff members had been released, but it did not provide any further information. Three staff members and 133 guards are still being held captive As the nation struggles with a vicious campaign of gang terror, the Ecuadorian prisons authorities said on Saturday that more than 40 prison personnel who were held captive by convicts had been released. The SNAI prisons agency announced that 24 guards and 17 administrative staff members had been released, but it did not provide any further information. Three staff members and 133 guards are still being held captive. Advertisement The workers were brought into custody following President Daniel Noboas military takedown of criminal organisations last week, which resulted in a violent conflict with narco gangs in the country of South America. The crisis began when Jose Adolfo Macias, also known as Fito, one of the most potent drug lords in the nation, escaped from jail in Guayaquil. His escape was followed by prison riots, hostage-taking and attacks on the police. More than 22,000 troops have been deployed to carry out land, air and sea patrols. Authorities were raiding prisons, and a curfew was in place. At least 19 people have died in the violence, SNAI said, including a guard killed Saturday in clashes with inmates in El Oro near the border with Peru. Advertisement There were armed clashes at the southwestern Machala prison, while army and police raided detention centers in six cities to restore order and normality. Escape from Guayaquil At least five inmates escaped Friday evening from the vast Guayaquil prison complex, with two of them caught shortly afterward during a search operation, police sources said. Advertisement Soon after their escape, two helicopters and drones were seen flying over the surroundings of the huge prison, on the northern outskirts of the city. Dozens of police officers supported by soldiers patrolled around the prison, where Ecuadors most dangerous criminals are held. Once a bastion of peace situated between major cocaine producers, Ecuador has been plunged into crisis after years of growing control by transnational cartels that use its ports to ship the drug to the United States and Europe. Advertisement Criminal gangs in the country of about 17 million people are thought to have more than 20,000 members. According to the latest official report, 859 suspects have been arrested, 25 escaped detainees have been recaptured, five terrorists shot dead and 57 kidnapped people have been released. A chilling video filmed in Machala prison and confirmed by police shows the corpse of a prisoner wrapped in plastic thrown into the street from inside the jail, which is under the control of inmates. Advertisement Other images have emerged over the past days showing arrested suspected gang members being ridiculed, forced to sing, hitting each other or being mistreated by soldiers. In order to help lower the demand for accommodation in both the first and second quarters of this year, Canada is considering the prospect of imposing a cap on international students Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Saturday that he will be considering the prospect of capping the number of foreign students residing in Canada in the coming months, in light of the countrys mounting housing problem and unemployment. This was reported by CTV News on Saturday. The minister did not state how much of a reduction in immigration the government intends to implement. Advertisement In an interview to CTVs Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, the minister said, This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis. That volume is disconcerting, Miller said, with reference to the number of international students in Canada. Its really a system that has gotten out of control, he added. In order to help lower the demand for accommodation in both the first and second quarters of this year, Miller stated he will be considering the prospect of imposing a cap on international students. When asked why his government is only now considering a cap, given that the idea was first proposed months ago, Miller responded that federal data needs to be sorted out before looking a little more granularly at what specific academic institutions are doing in various provinces, potentially making money by attracting more foreign students, CTV News reported. Advertisement We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that were actually verifying offer letters, Miller said, adding, And now its time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that is having in certain areas. Advertisement Miller pointed out that imposing a quota on foreign students would not be a one-size-fits-all solution to Canadas housing crisis. Miller added that housing is only one factor in immigration targets, noting that the number of foreign students entering Canada is significantly more than the number of homes the federal government plans to assist in building. He remarked that it is imperative to take into account the urgent need to lower the average age of the workforce. Advertisement Miller stated that while details are being considered, the federal government will continue to consider imposing a cap on international students. (With agency inputs) Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China Chinas embassy in Japan declared on Sunday that it resolutely opposed the remarks made by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa praising Taiwans incoming president, Lai Ching-te. In a statement released on the website of the Japanese foreign ministry on Saturday following the announcement of the results of the Taiwan presidential election, Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his win and referred to the self-governing island that Beijing claims as an extremely crucial partner and an important friend. Advertisement The Chinese embassy in Japan responded by calling Kamikawas remarks a serious interference in Chinas internal affairs in a statement released on the embassys official WeChat account on Sunday. The message did not mention Lai or acknowledge his win. We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side, the embassy said. Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China. But Japans alliance with the United States, Taiwans most important backer, and its proximity to the island, along with recent tensions in its ties with China, have prompted Tokyo to pursue closer ties with Taipei. Advertisement The Government of Japan will work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan, Kamikawa said in her statement. The Chinese embassy also said that Japan should refrain from sending any wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, a label Beijing uses to describe Lai and his political party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions Taiwans separate identity and rejects Chinas territorial claims. Advertisement Lai said he would maintain the status quo in relations across the Taiwan Strait, but that he was determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China. During the combined air attack by the aggressor country Russia on Ukraine on the morning of January 13, more than two dozen Russian missiles and drones failed to reach their targets due to self-detonation, hitting deserted areas, and successful countermeasures by electronic warfare. Disabling such a large number of missiles with electronic warfare means could be a turning point in the capabilities of the Ukrainian army. ADVERTISIMENT This was written by military analysts of the Institute for War Studies. Experts note that electronic warfare was usually attributed to the ability to disable Russian drones but not missiles. Earlier, the ISW estimated that the Russian campaign of strikes against Ukraine and the adaptation of Ukrainian forces to counteract new Russian strike systems are part of a tactical and technological offense and defense race between long-range aviation and air defense capabilities. Yurii Ihnat, a representative of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that the Russian missile strike on January 13 was similar to previous attacks on January 8 and earlier. According to the representative of the Institute of War Studies, this indicates that Ukrainian forces can identify certain patterns in Russian attacks and adapt to them by introducing innovations. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! India and Iran are working to expand connectivity and economic relations at the Chabahar port, which is situated in the energy-rich Sistan-Balochistan province on the southern coast of Iran In light of the extraordinary security circumstances surrounding the Red Sea, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will visit Iran for two days starting on Monday to talk with his counterpart, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. According to the announcement provided by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two ministers would discourse on bilateral, regional and global problems. Advertisement External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit Iran on January 14 to 15 as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two sides, the MEA said in a statement on Saturday. He will meet Foreign Minister of Iran Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues, the statement added. It added political collaboration, connectivity initiatives and strong people-to-people ties will represent major components of the agenda of the talks between Jaishankar and Amir-Abdollahian. In light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and Houthi terrorists targeting of merchant vessels in the Red Sea, Jaishankars scheduled travel to Tehran coincides with escalating global worries. Airstrikes against the Houthi positions in Yemen have already been carried out by the US and the UK. India has been keeping a careful eye on the events in the Red Sea. Advertisement Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed the matter over the phone on Thursday. With respect to the marine environment in the important sea lanes, such as the North and Central Arabian Sea, the Indian Navy has already improved the deployment of its frontline ships and observation planes for maritime security operations. US President Joe Biden declared he would not think twice about ordering additional action in response to the attacks that targeted the Houthi sites. Advertisement It is probable that Jaishankar and Amir-Abdollahian would discuss enhancing regional connectivity via the Chabahar port. India and Iran are working to expand connectivity and economic relations at the Chabahar port, which is situated in the energy-rich Sistan-Balochistan province on the southern coast of Iran. India has been advocating for the Chabahar port project in order to increase trade throughout the region, particularly considering its proximity to Afghanistan. Jaishankar presented the Chabahar port as a major regional transit hub, including to Afghanistan, at a connectivity conference in Tashkent in 2021. The Chabahar port is also viewed as a vital center for the INSTC project. Advertisement A multi-mode transport project spanning 7,200 km, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is designed to move freight between India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia, and Europe. In November, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra traveled to Tehran to co-chair an India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) meeting with Ali Bagheri Kani, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs. Advertisement (With agency inputs) Israel has faced increasing international pressure to stop the conflict, which has killed over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and caused immense misery in the beleaguered territory, but has been sheltered so far by US diplomatic and military assistance In a forceful address on Saturday, as the conflict in Gaza reached the 100-day mark, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that Israel will continue its war against Hamas until triumph and that no one, not even the international court, could stop it. The battle has produced a humanitarian catastrophe, with over 23,000 people allegedly killed in Gaza and most of the besieged Palestinian enclave left to rubble, as worries mount that the violence may spread to the rest of the region. Advertisement Netanyahu spoke during two days of proceedings at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on South Africas charges that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has dismissed as libellous and hypocritical. In the meanwhile, South Africa sought the court to force Israel to cease its ferocious air and ground onslaught. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else, Netanyahu said in televised remarks Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. The lawsuit before the International Court of Justice is anticipated to last years, but a decision on interim measures might be issued within weeks. Court decisions are legally binding but difficult to enforce. Netanyahu made it plain that Israel will defy instructions to stop war, thereby further isolating itself. Advertisement Israel has faced increasing international pressure to stop the conflict, which has killed over 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and caused immense misery in the beleaguered territory, but has been sheltered so far by US diplomatic and military assistance. On Saturday, thousands flocked to the streets of Washington, London, Paris, Rome, Milan, and Dublin to urge an end to the war. Protesters gathered outside the White House holding posters criticising President Joe Bidens candidature due to his unwavering support for Israel during the conflict. Advertisement Ending the battle, Israel claims, means triumph for Hamas, the Islamic terrorist organisation that has dominated Gaza since 2007 and is determined to destroy Israel. The conflict was sparked by a horrific Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas and other terrorists murdered over 1,200 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians. Around 250 additional people were kidnapped, and while some have been freed or verified dead, more than half are still thought to remain in captivity. Sunday will be the 100th day of battle. Advertisement Since the beginning of the war, there has been a tangible fear of a larger conflagration. New fronts quickly opened, with Iran-backed groups Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria carrying out a range of attacks. From the start, the US increased its military presence in the region to deter an escalation. Advertisement Following a Houthi campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the US and Britain launched multiple airstrikes against the rebels Friday, and the US hit another site Saturday. In more fallout from the war, the world court this week heard arguments on South Africas complaint against Israel. South Africa cited the soaring death toll and hardships among Gaza civilians, along with inflammatory comments from Israeli leaders presented, as proof of what it called genocidal intent. Advertisement In counter arguments Friday, Israel asked for the case to be dismissed as meritless. Israels defense argued that the country has the right to fight back against a ruthless enemy, that South Africa had barely mentioned Hamas, and that it ignored what Israel considers attempts to mitigate civilian harm. Meanwhile, Netanyahu and his army chief, Herzl Halevi, said they have no immediate plans to allow the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, the initial focus of Israels offensive. Fighting in the northern half has been scaled back, with forces now focusing on the southern city of Khan Younis, though combat continues in parts of the north. Advertisement Netanyahu said the issue had been raised by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit earlier this week. The Israeli leader said he told Blinken that we will not return residents (to their homes) when there is fighting. At the same time, Netanyahu said Israel would eventually need to close what he said were breaches along Gazas border with Egypt. Over the years of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, smuggling tunnels under Egypt-Gaza border had constituted a major supply line for Gaza. Advertisement However, the border area, particularly the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, is packed with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had fled northern Gaza, and their presence would complicate any plans to widen Israels ground offensive. We will not end the war until we close this breach, Netanyahu said Saturday, adding that the government has not yet decided how to do that. Advertisement In Gaza, where Hamas has put up stiff resistance to Israels blistering air and ground campaign, the war continued unabated. The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that 135 Palestinians had been killed in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall toll of the war to 23,843. The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry has said about two-thirds of the dead are women and children. The ministry said the total number of war-wounded surpassed 60,000. Advertisement Following an Israeli airstrike before dawn Saturday, video provided by Gazas Civil Defense department showed rescue workers searching through the twisted rubble of a building in Gaza City by flashlight. Footage showed them carrying a young girl wrapped in blankets with injuries to her face, and at least two other children who appeared dead. A boy, covered in dust, winced as he was loaded into an ambulance. Advertisement The attack on the home in the Daraj neighborhood killed at least 20 people, according to Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. Another strike late Friday near the southern city of Rafah on the Egyptian border killed at least 13 people, including two children. The bodies of those killed, primarily from a family displaced from central Gaza, were taken to the citys Abu Youssef al-Najjar hospital where they were seen by an Associated Press reporter. The Palestinian telecommunications company Jawwal said two of its employees were killed Saturday as they tried to repair the network in Khan Younis. They company said the two were hit by shelling. Jawwal said it has lost 13 employees since the start of the war. Israel has argued that Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The Israeli military released a video Saturday that it said showed the destruction of two ready-to-use rocket launching compounds in Al-Muharraqa in central Gaza. A large grove of palm trees and some homes are seen in the frame. In the video, a rocket is being thrown into the air by the blast. The military said there had been dozens of launchers ready to be used. Since the start of Israels ground operation in late October, 187 Israeli soldiers have been killed and another 1,099 injured in Gaza, according to the military. More than 85% of Gazas population of 2.3 million has been displaced as a result of Israels air and ground offensive, and vast swaths of the territory have been leveled. Fewer than half of the territorys 36 hospitals are still partially functional, according to OCHA, the United Nations humanitarian affairs agency. Amid already severe shortages of food, clean water and fuel in Gaza, OCHA said in its daily report that Israels severe constraints on humanitarian missions and outright denials had increased since the start of the year. The agency said only 21% of planned deliveries of food, medicine, water and other supplies have been successfully reaching northern Gaza. American and other international efforts pushing Israel to do more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians have met with little success. In reaction to Hamas historic cross-border raid on October 7, which saw the Islamic terrorist organisation kill almost 1,200 peoplemostly civiliansand kidnap 250 more, Israel declared war This Sunday commemorates one hundred days of hostilities between Israel and Hamas. Since Israels founding in 1948, this conflict has already been the bloodiest and longest between Israel and the Palestinians, and there are no indicators that it will soon come to a conclusion. In reaction to Hamas historic cross-border raid on October 7, which saw the Islamic terrorist organisation kill almost 1,200 peoplemostly civiliansand kidnap 250 more, Israel declared war. It was the bloodiest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust and the deadliest in Israels history. Advertisement In response, Israel launched heavy bombardment on Gaza for weeks before escalating the campaign into a ground invasion. It claims to want to destroy Hamas and secure the release of the more than 100 captives that the organisation is still holding. The offensive has wrought unprecedented destruction upon Gaza. But more than three months later, Hamas remains largely intact and hostages remain in captivity. The Israeli military says the war will stretch on throughout 2024. Here are five takeaways from the first 100 days of a conflict that has upended the region. Israel will never be the same The Oct. 7 attack blindsided Israel and shattered the nations faith in its leaders. While the public has rallied behind the militarys war effort, it remains deeply traumatized. The country seems to be reliving Oct. 7 when families were killed in their homes, partygoers gunned down at a music festival and children and older people abducted on motorcycles every day. Advertisement Posters of the hostages who remain in Hamas captivity line public streets, and people wear T-shirts calling on leaders to Bring Them Home. Israeli news channels devote their broadcasts to round-the-clock coverage of the war. They broadcast nonstop tales of tragedy and heroism from Oct. 7, stories about hostages and their families, tearful funerals of soldiers killed in action and reports from Gaza by correspondents smiling alongside the troops. Advertisement There is little discussion or sympathy over the skyrocketing death toll and deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. Plans for postwar Gaza are rarely mentioned. One thing has remained constant. While chastened Israeli security officials have apologized and signaled that they will resign after the war, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains firmly entrenched. Advertisement Despite a sharp drop in his public approval ratings, Netanyahu has resisted calls to apologize, step down or investigate his governments failings. Netanyahu, who has led the country for almost all of the past 15 years, says there will be a time for investigations after the war. Historian Tom Segev said the war will shake the country for years, and perhaps generations, to come. He said the failures of Oct. 7 and the inability to bring the hostages home have fomented a widespread feeling of betrayal and lack of faith in the government. Advertisement Israelis like their wars to go well. This war doesnt go so well, he said. Lots of people have the feeling that something very, very deep is wrong here. Gaza will never be the same Conditions before Oct. 7 were already difficult in Gaza after a stifling blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt following Hamas takeover in 2007. Today, the territory is unrecognizable. Advertisement Experts say the Israeli bombing is among the most intense in modern history. Gaza health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, roughly 1% of the Palestinian territorys population. Thousands more remain missing or badly wounded. Over 80% of the population has been displaced, and tens of thousands of people are now crammed into sprawling tent camps on small slivers of space in southern Gaza that also come under Israeli fire. Advertisement Jamon Van Den Hoek, an Oregon State University mapping expert, and colleague Corey Scher of the City University of New Yorks Graduate Center, estimate that roughly half of Gazas buildings have likely been damaged or destroyed, based on satellite analysis. The scale of likely damage or destruction across Gaza is remarkable, Van Den Hoek wrote on LinkedIn. Advertisement The human cost is equally mind-boggling. The United Nations estimates that about one-quarter of Gazas population is starving. Just 15 of Gazas 36 hospitals are partially operational, according to the UN, leaving the medical system close to collapse. Children have missed months of school and have no prospects for returning to their studies. Advertisement Gaza has simply become uninhabitable, wrote Martin Griffiths, the UNs humanitarian chief. Its all connected The war has rippled across the entire Middle East, threatening to escalate into a broader conflict pitting a US-led alliance against Iranian-backed militant groups. Almost immediately after the Hamas attack, Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon began striking Israel, triggering Israeli retaliatory attacks. Advertisement The back-and-forth fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has not erupted into a full-blown war. But it has come perilously close, most recently after a Jan. 2 airstrike blamed on Israel that killed a top Hamas official in Beirut. Hezbollah responded with heavy barrages on Israeli military bases, while Israel has assassinated several Hezbollah commanders in targeted airstrikes. Advertisement At the same time, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have carried out a series of attacks on civilian cargo ships in the Red Sea. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed militias have attacked US forces in Iraq and Syria. The United States has dispatched warships to the Mediterranean and Red Seas to contain the violence. Late Thursday, the US and British militaries bombed more than a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen. The Houthis vowed to retaliate, raising the prospect of an even wider conflict. Israel cant ignore the Palestinians Throughout his time in office, Netanyahu has repeatedly attempted to sideline the Palestinian issue. He has rejected various peace initiatives, dismissed the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority as weak or irrelevant, and promoted policies that left Palestinians divided between rival governments in Gaza and the West Bank. Instead, he has tried to normalize relations with other Arab countries in hopes of isolating the Palestinians and pressuring them to accept an arrangement that falls short of their dreams of independence. Just before Oct. 7, Netanyahu was boasting of efforts to forge ties with Saudi Arabia. The Hamas attack, along with a spike in violence in the West Bank, have put the Israeli-Palestinian conflict back on center stage. The war now tops the newscasts worldwide, has prompted four visits by Blinken to the region and resulted in a genocide case against Israel in the UN world court. The Saudis have revived the possibility of establishing ties with Israel, but only if this included the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The painful developments of the last 100 days have proven beyond doubt that the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people cannot be ignored, said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Theres no postwar plan As the war drags on and the death toll mounts, there is no clear path for when the fighting will end or what will follow. Israel says Hamas can play no part in Gazas future. Hamas says thats an illusion. The US and the international community want a revitalized Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza, and steps toward a two-state solution. Israel objects. Israel wants to maintain a long-term military presence in Gaza. The US does not want Israel to reoccupy the territory. Reconstruction will take years. It is unclear who will pay for it or how the required materials will enter the territory through its limited crossings. And with so many homes destroyed, where will people stay during this lengthy process? Our lives 100 days ago was excellent. We had cars and houses, said Halima Abu Daqa, a Palestinian woman who was displaced from her home in southern Gaza and is now living in a tent camp. We have been deprived of everything, she said. Everything has changed and nothing remains. MDP candidate Adam Azim has been elected as the next mayor of Male; Muizzu had held the position until recently. Muizzu had resigned from the post to run for president last year. Azims victory was described as a landslide and a victory by a large margin by the Maldivian media Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu suffered a serious blow when the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), which supports India, won handily in the capital city of Males municipal election amid strained diplomatic relations with that country. MDP candidate Adam Azim has been elected as the next mayor of Male; Muizzu had held the position until recently. Muizzu had resigned from the post to run for president last year. Azims victory was described as a landslide and a victory by a large margin by the Maldivian media. Former president and pro-Indian Muhammad Solih, who lost the presidential election to pro-China Muizzu, is the head of the MDP. Advertisement With 5,303 votes, Azim has a commanding lead after 41 boxes have been counted. 3,301 votes were cast for his opponent, Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzus Peoples National Congress (PNC), according to the Maldives news portal Sun Online. Reports state that there was a minimal turnout for the Saturday poll. The MDP, which still has a majority in the Parliament, is predicted to see a boost in its political fortunes following its victory in the mayoral race. A diplomatic spat with India erupted after three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government posted disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, setting the stage for the mayoral elections. Muizzu aimed to bring the Maldives closer to Beijing during his well-publicized tour to China. The three ministers were suspended by Muizzu following their social media posts that caused an uproar in India and prompted calls for a boycott by the countrys tourists, who were second only to Russians in terms of quantity. Chinese visitors came in third. Advertisement (With agency inputs) A high-level core group has been established by India and the Maldives to negotiate the troop withdrawal. On Sunday morning, the group met for the first time at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male India has been set a deadline by Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu to remove its soldiers from the island nation. The president of the Maldives declared that the Indian military soldiers must depart the country by March 15. The event occurred just a few days after Mohamed Muizzus first state visit to China following his election, during which he met Xi Jinping. Advertisement The Maldives and China recently strengthened their diplomatic ties, after remarks made by Maldivian ministers disparaging Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his visit to the Lakshadweep islands. The three ministers were removed and the Maldivian Opposition denounced the comments, but the President replied We may be small but no one has the license to bully us. The deadline was set by the president of the Maldives, who only said that the country has to ensure that there is no presence of a foreign military on their soil and demanded the removal of Indian troops about two months ago. The India Out movement helped the current president of the Maldives win election. One of Muizzus main electoral promises was the evacuation of Indian forces from the Maldives. Advertisement A high-level core group has been established by India and the Maldives to negotiate the troop withdrawal. On Sunday morning, the group met for the first time at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male. According to the report, Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar was also present at the meeting. These employees fly surveillance aircraft and operate radars sponsored by India. The regions Indian warships assist in policing the nations exclusive economic zone. The Maldives, despite its tiny size, is an important toll gate in the Indian Ocean and plays a major role in regional affairs, especially because of the important marine passageways in its northern and southern regions. Advertisement The important contribution that two Indian helicopters, the Dhruv, played in multiple emergency medical evacuations was already acknowledged by President Muizzu. For a number of years, this tiny contingent of Indian soldiers has been stationed in the Maldives. India and the Maldives partnership, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, is predicated on working together to meet common goals and issues. Advertisement According to the government, Indias platforms and aid have made a substantial difference in the island nations public welfare, humanitarian relief, disaster relief, and fight against illicit maritime operations. It is not an abrupt change from the India First to India Out policies of Ibrahim Solih, the President before to Muizzu. Ibrahim Solihs predecessor, Abdullah Yameen, is claimed to be the first Maldivian leader who initiated the campaign against India in 2013 and pulled the island nations ties closer to China. Friendly relations were maintained between India and his successor, Ibrahim Solih, from 2018 to 2023. During Abdullah Yameens administration, social media and Dhiyares News from the Maldives are seen to have played a key role in shaping the narrative against India. Advertisement Abdulla Yameen was forbidden from contesting the election because of a criminal record and an 11-year jail term for corruption, he nominated Muizzu. As previously stated, Muizzu had no intention of upending the balance of power in the region by substituting Chinese forces for the Indian military. The Maldives President is striving to maintain a precise balance in its ties with India and China. Beijing is the Maldives biggest external borrower and has economic interests in the country, but worries about the island nation falling victim to Chinas debt trap policy are warranted. Advertisement (With agency inputs) The missile went 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), according to the JCS, who added that officials in Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo were reviewing the details North Korea allegedly fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile on Sunday, according to Seouls military, only days after Pyongyang conducted live-fire exercises along the countrys sensitive maritime border with South Korea. Our military detected one suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile launched from the Pyongyang area towards the East Sea at around 14:55 (0555 GMT), Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. Advertisement The missile went 1,000 kilometres (621 miles), according to the JCS, who added that officials in Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo were reviewing the details. We strongly condemn the latest missile launch by North Korea as it is a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, it said. The Japanese coast guard also reported a possible North Korean missile launch, citing intelligence from the countrys defence ministry and warned sailors to exercise caution. North Koreas most recent missile test was the launch of a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) into the East Sea on December 18. The purported test comes just days after North Korea conducted a series of unusual live-fire drills along its maritime border with South Korea, prompting counter-exercises and evacuation orders for certain border islands in South Korea. Advertisement As he toured key weapons facilities earlier this week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labelled Seoul his principal enemy and threatened that he would not hesitate to devastate South Korea. The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea), Kim was reported as saying by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Advertisement Analysts said at the time that the change in language was significant, signifying a shift in Pyongyangs approach to an ultra-hawkish mode. Ties woeful Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in decades, after Kim enshrined the countrys permanent status as a nuclear power into the constitution and test-fired several advanced intercontinental ballistic missiles. Advertisement Last year, Pyongyang also successfully put a reconnaissance satellite into orbit, after receiving what South Korea claimed was Russian assistance, in exchange for arms shipments for Moscows war in Ukraine. Traditional allies Russia and North Korea have recently boosted ties anew, with Kim making a rare overseas trip to see President Vladimir Putin in Russias far east in September. Advertisement Top Russian officials, including Moscows defence and foreign ministers, also visited North Korea last year, with the flurry of trips both ways fanning concern among Kyivs allies over the possibility of a potential arms deal. KCNA said Sunday that Pyongyangs foreign minister would visit Russia this week. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University, said the latest missile launch was more than just a test, given its timing. Advertisement It comes immediately after the Kim regime escalated warlike rhetoric toward South Korea and just before North Koreas foreign minister travels to Russia, he said. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the US and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East. Advertisement In 2023, Kim test-fired a string of advanced ICBMs including a purported solid-fuel version. At Pyongyangs year-end policy meetings, Kim threatened a nuclear attack on South Korea and called for a build-up of his countrys military arsenal ahead of armed conflict that he warned could break out any time. Pyongyang declared itself an irreversible nuclear power in 2022 and has repeatedly said it will never give up its nuclear weapons programme, which the regime views as essential for its survival. Advertisement The United Nations Security Council has adopted many resolutions calling on North Korea to halt its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes since Pyongyang first conducted a nuclear test in 2006. In a move that is sure to enrage China, the US announced it had invited two former officials to travel to Taiwan this week for discussions with political leaders following the election Following the days presidential and legislative elections on the self-governing island, Taiwan denounced on Sunday what it called fallacious comments made by China. The winner, President-elect Lai Ching-te, had a poor record on verbal sparring and it was unclear how China would interact with the United States or Taiwan. In a move that is sure to enrage China, the US announced it had invited two former officials to travel to Taiwan this week for discussions with political leaders following the election. Advertisement Former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg will come in Taipei on Monday and hold talks on Tuesday, according to a news release from the American Institute in Taiwan. Because the US does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, the institution serves as the de facto US Embassy. With Lais victory, the Democratic Progressive Party will retain the president for a third four-year term, after eight years under President Tsai Ing-wen. China considers the party as its rival and a key impediment to its objective of gaining control of the island of 23 million people. Taiwans Foreign Ministry released a statement on Saturday night accusing Chinas Foreign Ministry and Taiwan Affairs Office of lying in their separate comments following the announcement of the election results. Advertisement It especially objected to Chinas frequently stated claim that Taiwan is a Chinese domestic matter. China believes Taiwan to be a province gone rogue and claims Taiwan shouldnt even have an official foreign ministry or diplomatic ties with other countries. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in its statement that the Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change. Advertisement That statement is completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values, the Taiwanese statement said. Such cliches are not worth refuting. Lai, who will take office in May, won a three-way race for president with 40% of the vote, less than the clear majority Tsai won in 2020. Their Democratic Progressive Party lost its majority in the legislature, finishing with one seat fewer than the Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party. Neither holds a majority, giving the Taiwan Peoples Party a relatively new force that won eight of the 113 seats a possible swing vote on legislation. Advertisement The statement from the Taiwan Affairs Office in China said that the results showed that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream public opinion on the island. Our stance on resolving the Taiwan question and realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is rockvsolid, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a written statement. Advertisement Taiwans Foreign Ministry, in its response, called on China " to respect the election results, face reality and give up its oppression against Taiwan." The Chinese military regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the skies and waters near Taiwan. Any conflict could draw in the United States, which is Taiwans main supplier of military equipment for its defense. The islands foreign ministry instructed Beijing to accept the outcome on Sunday after Lai, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), promised to protect the territory from Chinas intimidation After voters rejected Beijings admonitions and selected pro-sovereignty candidate Lai Ching-te as president, Taiwan on Sunday urged Beijing to face reality and accept the outcome of the election. Beijings repeated pleas for voters not to support Lai were met with a resounding win for the man the countrys ruling Communist Party views as a dangerous separatist. Advertisement In response to Lais triumph, Beijing, which maintains Taiwan as its territory and has never given up using force to annex the island, said that it will not budge from the inevitable trend of Chinas reunification. The islands foreign ministry instructed Beijing to accept the outcome on Sunday after Lai, a member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), promised to protect the territory from Chinas intimidation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Beijing authorities to respect the election results, face reality and give up suppressing Taiwan in order for positive cross-strait interactions to return to the right track, it said in a statement. After a campaign marked by diplomatic pressure from Beijing and near-daily incursions by Chinese fighter jets, Lai beat his nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday by more than 900,000 votes. Advertisement In his victory speech the 64-year-old Lai congratulated voters for refusing to be swayed by external forces trying to influence the election. He said he wanted to cooperate with China Taiwans biggest trade partner and maintain peace and stability, but pledged not to be cowed by Chinese belligerence. We are determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China, he told supporters. Advertisement Four Chinese naval vessels were seen in waters around the island on polling day, according to Taiwans defence ministry, and one high-altitude balloon passed over. In the days leading up the election, China warned Taiwans voters to make the correct choice, and that Lai would take the island closer to war. Lai will take power on May 20 alongside his vice-presidential pick Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans former representative to the United States. Advertisement Both Lai and Hsiao were the targets of disinformation efforts during the campaign that experts linked to China. Turnout of 72 per cent showed an enthusiastic electorate, and on Sunday, voter Tsai Jin-hui said Beijing should mind its own business. What China thinks is a matter for China. We are electing the president of our own country, the 62-year-old taxi driver told AFP. Advertisement I believe one day the world will recognise Taiwan as an independent sovereign state. The United States and Britain congratulated Lai on his win, while the EU welcomed the successful holding of the election. Continuity World powers are keen to see as much stability as possible between China and Taiwan, not least because of the vital role the island plays in the global economy. Advertisement The Taiwan Strait is one of the worlds most important maritime trade arteries, and the island itself is a major tech manufacturer, particularly of vital semiconductors the tiny chips used in everything from smartphones to missile systems. Lai and the DPP have toned down past calls for independence, saying there is no need for a formal declaration since Taiwan is effectively independent already, defending the islands sovereignty. Advertisement But China still sees them as skirting too close to the I-word a red line for the communist giant. Beijing cut off official contact with current President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP in 2016 and is not expected to budge with Lai, setting the stage for four more years of frosty cross-strait relations. Advertisement The ruling partys unprecedented third consecutive presidential victory will disappoint China, but it is unlikely to spur any near-term change in Beijings reunification strategy, Bonnie Glaser, a Taiwan-China affairs expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, wrote in an analysis piece. But the question in the coming days will be whether China decides on merely a diplomatic and rhetorical response to the election or steps up with a big show of force. Advertisement A possible flashpoint will be the planned visit by an unofficial US delegation, announced by a senior official in President Joe Bidens administration for the days after the election. In line with most countries, Washington does not formally recognise Taiwan but maintains close unofficial ties and is the islands main arms supplier. Advertisement A visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022 sent Beijing into a fury, triggering Chinas biggest ever military exercises around the island, involving warships, missiles and fighter jets Further ahead, Lais presidency could be affected by the US election in November, with the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House offering a very different prospect than Biden. Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the catastrophic battle, and concerns of a regional escalation have grown after US and British forces attacked pro-Hamas Huthi rebels in Yemen on Friday in response to attacks on Red Sea trade On the eve of the conflicts 100th day, the UN said on Saturday that the Gaza War was staining humanity as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to crushing Hamas. Gaza is experiencing a humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the catastrophic battle, and concerns of a regional escalation have grown after US and British forces attacked pro-Hamas Huthi rebels in Yemen on Friday in response to attacks on Red Sea trade. Advertisement According to an AFP count based on official numbers, 1,140 people died in Israel as a result of the unprecedented offensive launched by Hamas terrorists from the Gaza Strip on October 7, which started the conflict. The majority of the casualties were civilians. Hamas, considered a terrorist group by the United States and the European Union, also seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to have been killed. Israel vowed to destroy Gazas Islamist rulers and launched a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the territorys health ministry. An Israeli siege has sparked acute shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel in Gaza, where the health system is collapsing. Advertisement Visiting the Gaza Strip, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said the massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity. An entire generation of children in Gaza were being traumatised, diseases were spreading and the clock is ticking fast towards famine, he warned. Advertisement No one will stop us The Hague-based International Court of Justice this week heard arguments in a case launched by South Africa and welcomed by Gazans accusing Israel of breaching the UN Genocide Convention. The case seeks a halt to the military campaign, which Israel stressed to the court was in self-defence and not aimed at Palestinian residents. Advertisement But Netanyahu insisted no court or military foe could stop Israel from achieving its aim of destroying Hamas. No one will stop us not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and no one else, he told a televised press conference, referring to the Iran-aligned axis of resistance groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Advertisement It is possible and necessary to continue until victory and we will do it, he added, saying most Hamas battalions in Gaza had been eliminated. Israels army chief Herzi Halevi said the war in Gaza was a struggle for our right to live here in safety, adding that the October 7 attacks would never be forgotten. Advertisement We started to scream Health officials in Gaza said that Israeli strikes killed at least 60 people in the besieged territory. Nimma al-Akhras, 80, described the strike that destroyed her home. It was very powerful, she said. We started to scream and I couldnt move but someone pulled me out and put me on a cart. Advertisement The Israeli army said it struck dozens of rocket launchers that were ready to be used in central Gaza and eliminated four terrorists in air strikes on Khan Yunis, Gazas main southern city. The military also reported that its engineers had destroyed a Hamas command centre and weapons found there, after a raid in central Gaza. Advertisement At Rafahs Al-Najjar hospital, mourners gathered and prayed around the bodies of slain relatives. One man, Bassem Araf, held up a photo of a child. She died hungry with bread in her hand. We tried to remove the bread from her hand but it was held tight, Araf said. This is the resistance they are targeting in Gaza, just children. Advertisement Devastating repercussions An AFP reporter in Rafah said telecommunications had been partially restored, a day after Gazas main operator Paltel reported the latest outage. Paltel did not immediately confirm the service restoration but said an Israeli strike killed two of its employees in Khan Yunis while they were repairing the network. Winter rains have exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the UN estimates 1.9 million nearly 85 percent of the population have been displaced. Advertisement Many have sought shelter in Rafah and other southern areas where the health ministry says there isnt the infrastructure to support them. Gazas health ministry spokesman accused Israel of deliberately targeting hospitals to put them out of service, warning of devastating repercussions. Hospitals, protected under international humanitarian law, have repeatedly been hit by Israeli strikes in Gaza since the war erupted. Advertisement The Israeli military accuses Hamas of operating command centres in tunnels under hospitals, a charge the Islamist group denies. Fewer than half of Gazas hospitals are functioning and those only partly, the World Health Organization says. In Israel, concern grew for hostages held in Gaza as they approach their 100th day in captivity, with Netanyahu under domestic pressure to get them home. Thousands rallied in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for their release, after relatives unveiled a replica of the Gaza tunnels where the captives are believed to be held. We will continue to come here week after week until everybody is released, Edan Begerano, 47, told AFP. Separately, about 100 people gathered to call for an end to the war, brandishing signs saying: Revenge is not victory and: No to the occupation. Minor scuffles broke out between them and government supporters. Kerry, 80, plans to support Joe Bidens campaign by highlighting the presidents efforts to address global warming, according to several US media sites that have officials with knowledge of the matter to report Leading the Biden administrations effort to address climate change, US climate envoy John Kerry will stand down to focus on the presidents reelection campaign, according to media reports on Saturday. Over the last three years, the former senator and secretary of state has been in contact with other nations to increase their climate change pledges. This includes attending the most recent COP28 UN climate meeting in Dubai. Advertisement Kerry, 80, plans to support Joe Bidens campaign by highlighting the presidents efforts to address global warming, according to several US media sites that have officials with knowledge of the matter to report. According to those people, Kerry told Biden on Wednesday that he planned to step down, and his staff found out on Saturday. Apart from leading the US delegation at three UN climate summits, Kerry worked effectively with China despite complicated diplomatic relations. Together, the countries are the worlds two largest polluters, accounting for 41 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. In a rare display of unity, the United States and China helped carry the COP28 December climate summit in Dubai, where negotiators sealed a historic although watered-down agreement to begin to transition away from oil, gas and coal. Advertisement Kerry had welcomed his Chinese counterpart Xie Zhenhua a month earlier in California, where the two countries agreed on outlines of climate action that partly served as a basis for the nearly 200-nation Dubai deal. News of Kerrys stepping down comes one day after Xie retired on health grounds. One of Bidens first moves in office after his inauguration on January 20, 2021 was to rejoin the Paris climate agreement, which former president Donald Trump had exited. Advertisement Under the 2015 UN deal countries committed to limiting the Earths warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and preferably to the safer 1.5C threshold. That said, the year of 2023 was the hottest on record, with the increase in Earths surface temperature nearly crossing the critical 1.5C threshold, according to EU climate monitors. Advertisement Kerry, himself a onetime Democratic presidential nominee, will step down sometime in the coming months, according to Axios, which first reported the news. The White House and Kerrys office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP. The terrorist state of Russia, which continues the war against Ukraine, must be completely defeated just as Nazi Germany was in 1945. To do this, Europe must stop using half-measures in helping to repel Russian aggression. ADVERTISIMENT This opinion was expressed by Nicholas Tenzer, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). He warned EU leaders of the danger of "war fatigue". "The fact is that the outcome of the war will essentially be something like the moment of 1945. Either we win or we lose," said the French civil servant, scholar and writer. He emphasized that by "we" he means not only Ukraine but also Europe as well. In his opinion, the outcome of this war will determine the fate of the whole world for the next decades. "In fact, this is not a zero-sum game, there can be no half-measures," Tenzer said, warning of the danger of "war fatigue" among EU leaders even though European citizens, in his opinion, are concerned about the Russian threat. ADVERTISIMENT He says that the outcome of the war cannot be a "half-defeat" for Russia or a "half-victory" for Ukraine. "Russia must be completely defeated just like Germany and Japan in 1945," Tenzer reiterated. Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! With a commanding lead in surveys, the former president is projected to comfortably win the first-in-the-nation vote in the Midwestern state as he seeks to be the Republican standard-bearer against President Joe Biden in November On Monday, voters will brave sub-zero temperatures to kick off the Republican presidential nomination battle with the Iowa caucuses, the first big test of whether runaway front-runner Donald Trump is as confident as he looks. With a commanding lead in surveys, the former president is projected to comfortably win the first-in-the-nation vote in the Midwestern state as he seeks to be the Republican standard-bearer against President Joe Biden in November. Advertisement But with blizzards and a possible wind chill of -26 degrees Fahrenheit (-32 degrees Celsius) predicted, Iowans may have to deal with the coldest circumstances in the modern period of presidential election campaigns. In the last stretch of the campaign, Trump and his main opponents, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, were forced to postpone events as the uncertainty surrounding Mondays voter turnout added excitement to an already unpredictable campaign season. Trump was still scheduled to host a campaign rally on Sunday in Indianola, which is located just south of Des Moines, even though he had cancelled three rallies. In spite of his seeming strength, Trump is facing the possibility of his corporate empire collapsing in his home state of New York during a civil fraud trial, having been indicted four times since his previous campaign. Advertisement If DeSantiss massive ground effort, coupled with a recent Haley surge, can drag Trump under 50 percent by several points, that will be the first meaningful sign that Trump can be defeated, said political analyst Alex Avetoom, who worked on Republican John McCains 2008 presidential campaign. However, this paradigm-shifting reality that Trump could be defeated happens if, and only if, the rest of the field consolidates behind one anti-Trump candidate. Advertisement Poor predictor For all the talk of miracle bounces, the Iowa race is hardly competitive: A new NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll has Trump at 48 percent among likely caucus-goers, with Haley surging into second place but still only at 20 percent. Im voting for Trump again, 37-year-old trucker Jeff Nikolas told AFP, adding that he may be bullheaded, but he can actually get stuff done. Advertisement The poll was more bad news for Florida Governor DeSantis, who scored just 16 percent and has seen his claim to be heir apparent to the post-Trump Republican Party eclipsed by Haley. The former South Carolina governor is looking to outperform expectations to cement her claim to be Trumps top challenger going into her preferred state of New Hampshire the following week. Advertisement Iowa is a notoriously poor predictor of the eventual nominee but it is considered crucial for winnowing the field and as a springboard to the next few battlegrounds, which include Haleys home state. Stung by defeat in 2016 after skipping much of Iowas campaign trail, Trump has built up an impressive network of precinct captains to corral votes this time around but he has been as notable for courtroom appearances as campaign events. Advertisement In a state that likes to meet its candidates face-to-face, DeSantis has been at pains to highlight his own ground game, which has taken him to all 99 counties. Eye candy The Iraq veteran and conservative hard-liner will be under heavy pressure to drop out however if he finishes third although Avetoom cautioned against counting him out. Advertisement Poll respondents are not necessarily Iowa caucus-goers, and the DeSantis precinct operations are run by first-in-class operatives that have collected an impressive tally of caucus support pledges, he said. Edward Segal, a former press secretary for Democratic and Republican lawmakers, echoed the benefits of a strong ground game, pointing to at least nine presidents who toured Iowa by train during campaigns. Advertisement Whistle-stop campaign trains can still serve as eye candy to help attract the attention of voters and the media, the analyst told AFP. A good night for Trump on Monday, he added, would be getting 60 percent or more of the vote. The Republican primary also features a number of low-polling candidates, including biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has promised a third-place finish in Iowa but didnt qualify for the final televised debate. Advertisement Iowas Democrats will also attend caucuses meetings at which local members of a political party gather to register their candidate preferences on Monday but will vote by mail from January until March. Biden is expected to comfortably defeat self-help author Marianne Williamson and Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips. The United States has long maintained that it opposes Taiwan issuing a formal declaration of independence from China, having moved its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979 After voters in Taiwan rejected China and awarded the ruling party a third term in office, US President Joe Biden declared on Saturday that the US does not support Taiwans independence. Earlier in the day, Lai Ching-te, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taiwan, emerged victorious, vehemently rejecting Chinese attempts to oust him, and promising to both defy Beijing and pursue dialogue. Advertisement The United States has long maintained that it opposes Taiwan issuing a formal declaration of independence from China, having moved its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. It does, however, continue to have informal ties with the self-governing island and continues to be its main source of support and weaponry. Beijing believes that Lai may declare the foundation of a Republic of Taiwan, which he has stated he will not do. Beijing has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its rule. Biden has already angered the Chinese government by seeming to depart from the USs long-standing stance of strategic ambiguity and hint that the US would defend the island if it were attacked. Advertisement His remarks on Saturday seem to be an attempt to reassure China. Since hosting its first direct presidential election in 1996the result of decades of struggle against authoritarian rule and martial lawTaiwan, which borders China, has been a democratic success story. Congratulating Lai Ching-te on his win, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that the US is committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure.According to him, the United States is eager to collaborate with Lai and Taiwans political leaders to further their longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the U.S. one China policy. Advertisement The Biden administration was concerned that tensions between the US and China would worsen as a result of the election, transition, and new government. In an effort to improve ties with China, Biden has agreed to resolve security-related disagreements with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a November visit in California. According to two senior government officials, Taiwan anticipates that China would try to exert pressure on its future president following the vote by, among other things, holding military drills close to the island this spring. China has never denied the right to use force to annex Taiwan. Advertisement According to a senior Biden administration official, Biden intends to send an unofficial delegation to the self-governing island as a show of support for the government. The official said the names are still being decided, but it is probable that some former high-ranking American officials will be in the trip. Comparable delegations have been dispatched. Advertisement President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan and then-President-elect Donald Trump had their first phone conversation in 2016, which infuriated China. This was the first time since President Jimmy Carter had transferred diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. (With agency inputs) The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star. Migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the Rio Grande According to the US Homeland Security Department, Texas refused federal officials access to a section of border as they were attempting to rescue three migrants who perished. The federal governments statement came just hours after US Representative Henry Cuellar claimed that the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants on Friday night. Mexican officials discovered the dead of a woman and two children over the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, on Saturday. Advertisement This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility, said Cuellar, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committees subcommittee for homeland security, in a statement. The drownings occur as tensions between Texas and the US government over immigration enforcement rise. The Justice Department informed the US Supreme Court on Friday that Texas had taken control of Shelby Park near Eagle Pass and was refusing to allow Border Patrol agents to enter. According to a statement issued by the Texas Military Department on Saturday night, one of its troops investigated the river after Border Patrol informed them to the situation but found no migrants. The statement made no mention of the US governments accusations that at the time, Texas officials physically barred Border Patrol agents from accessing the park. Advertisement Cuellars version of the distress call was confirmed by Homeland Security. Texas acknowledged taking the border city park in a brief to the US Supreme Court on Saturday, but said the federal government mischaracterized its actions and that it was attempting to address any access problems. In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the park, Homeland Security said in a statement. The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. Advertisement The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star. Migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the Rio Grande. Abbotts office referred questions about the drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river about 45 minutes after Border Patrol made the state aware of the situation. The department said it maintains water rescue equipment and works with local paramedics to assist migrants needing medical care. Advertisement At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period, the department said in the statement. Cuellar, who represents a Texas border district, said Mexican authorities alerted the Border Patrol to the distressed migrants struggling in the river late Friday. He said federal agents attempted to call and relay the information to Texas National Guard members at Shelby Park, without success. Agents then visited the entrance to the park but were turned away, according to the congressman, who said they were told a Guard member would be sent to investigate the situation. Advertisement The 50-acre park is owned by the city, but it is used by the state Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings. Although daily crossings diminished from the thousands to about 500, state authorities put up fences and stationed military vehicles by the entry to deny access to the public and Border Patrol agents this week, according to a court filing. Advertisement In its Supreme Court filing, Texas challenged claims that Border Patrol agents were denied access. They said the Border Patrol has scaled down its presence since summer, when the state moved its resources and manpower to the park. Federal agents were also granted access to the area to secure supplies, the state said. Advertisement Cuellar said there was no immediate information available about the victims nationalities, relationship and ages. The Mexican government made no public statements. On Saturday members of the public held a ceremony at the park to mark the deaths of migrants in their region. Julio Vasquez, a pastor, said access was granted after making requests with the city and sharing pictures showing the entry still fenced up and guarded by members of the National Guard and military vehicles. According to Israel, the purpose of administrative detention is to give authorities the ability to detain suspects while they continue to gather evidence, thus averting attacks or other security breaches in the interim Two sisters of Hamas leader Saleh al-Aruri, who was slain in Lebanon this month, were taken into custody by Israeli soldiers, according to information released on Sunday by the Israeli army. When Aruri, the deputy leader of Hamas, was killed on January 2 in a Beirut suburb, it was widely believed that an Israeli drone strike was to blame. This increased concerns that Israels war in Gaza might escalate into a conflict with other countries. Advertisement Without providing further details, the Israeli army stated on Sunday that it had arrested the two women in the occupied West Bank after they incited to terrorism against the state of Israel. The two ladies and a number of other family members, according to Aruris brother-in-law Awar al-Aruri, had been placed in administrative detention. Campaign organization Palestinian Prisoners Club reported that two Palestinians, 52-year-old Dalal al-Aruri and 47-year-old Fatima al-Aruri, were taken into custody at different locations close to Ramallah. According to an AFP count based on official Israeli data, the Israeli army had accused Aruri of aiding in the planning of the October 7 attack in southern Israel by Hamas gunmen from Gaza, which claimed 1,140 lives. Advertisement According to the Gaza Health Ministry, at least 23,843 Palestinians have died as a result of Israels military action in Gaza, the majority of them were women and children. Since the Gaza War, 5,875 Palestinians have been imprisoned in the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club. Of them, 1,970 were reportedly placed under administrative detention, which permits suspects to be detained for up to six months in renewal terms without being charged or facing a trial. Advertisement According to Israel, the purpose of administrative detention is to give authorities the ability to detain suspects while they continue to gather evidence, thus averting attacks or other security breaches in the interim. Since the 1967 Six-Day War, Israel has occupied the West Bank. With the exception of east Jerusalem, which it has annexed, 490,000 Israelis now reside there in settlements that are illegal according to international law. Advertisement (With agency inputs) Sweden plans to increase the production of 155-mm artillery ammunition and supply it to Ukraine. The Swedish Defense Property Administration (DPA) has already signed an agreement with ammunition manufacturer Nammo. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated on the website of DPA. The proposed investment is funded partly by the Swedish government and partly by the EU under the ASAP program. The plan will be implemented provided that the EU allocates funds in the first quarter of 2024. Jonas Lotzne, Head of the Armaments business area at AOM, said that the company is now taking the next important step to accelerate investment in the industry's production capacity. "This will shorten the delivery time, increase our ability to support Ukraine and at the same time strengthen the security of artillery ammunition supply in Sweden and the Nordic region in the long term," he said. Earlier, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom warned that the aggressor country Russia would remain a serious threat to the security of all European states in the future. He called on Europe to be prepared for a long confrontation with Moscow. The Minister assured that Sweden's military and political support for Ukraine will continue. ADVERTISIMENT Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, Choe Song Hee, is planning to visit the capital of the Russian Federation, Moscow. The North Korean official's visit is scheduled to last from January 15 to 17. ADVERTISIMENT It is worth noting that Choe Song Hee was invited to Moscow by her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov. This information was reported by the North Korean propaganda news agency KCNA. The program of Choe Song Hee's visit to Moscow has not been disclosed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea only mentioned that the representative of the North Korean authorities was invited by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea, Choe Song Hee, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation from January 15 to 17 at the invitation of its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov," the statement said. It is noteworthy that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Korea will arrive in Russia a few days after it became known that the country had received and had already begun to use North Korean ballistic missiles in the war against Ukraine. ADVERTISIMENT At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the visit is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and North Korea. As a reminder, Russia received ballistic missiles from North Korea in violation of international sanctions and is using them in the war against Ukraine. During the recent attacks on our country, the Russian Federation used, among other things, North Korean "ballistics." Earlier, the United States received evidence that Russian forces have continued to attack peaceful cities in Ukraine with North Korean-made ballistic missiles in recent days. The US will continue to impose sanctions against those who facilitate the illegal transfer of weapons to the aggressor. As reported by OBOZ.UA, Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin said that Russia had already used missiles from North Korea during the attack on Kharkiv on January 2, 2024. There is some initial evidence, but confirmation requires the joint work of prosecutors, investigators, and experts. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Sat Saturday 69 /43 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 60s and lows in the low 40s. It is in the prisons that much of the gang wars are fought, with brutal clashes between inmates leaving more than 460 dead, many beheaded or burned alive, since February 2021 Army intelligence leader: 'cultural shift' will help service become data centric By Joe Lacdan, Army News Service January 12, 2024 WASHINGTON -- To better acquire and access data on the battlefield, the Army has revamped how it integrates data across warfighting functions, an Army intelligence leader said. To continue on its maturity path in fiscal year 2024, the Army needs a "cultural shift" to organically transform how the service uses data, said the service's chief intelligence officer David Pierce. "While the Army is taking the right steps toward becoming more data-centric, technology is not enough to solve enterprise data challenges," Pierce said. "Cultural shifts are required to change how the Army views the value of data." The branch will take its next steps toward becoming more data centric by moving from a "managed" maturity level to a "proactive" one, Pierce said. This includes bolstering its data literacy programs, improving data management processes, and raising the level of how Army intelligence shares and communicates with data, he added. To improve the Army's ability to work with data, Soldiers and civilians of all ranks must become more data literate; improving how they write, understand, analyze, and communicate information. Introduced in fall 2022, the Army Data Plan established a service-wide framework that adopted a new governance model focused on giving the warfighter advantages through proper data use. The initiative falls in line with the Secretary of the Army Christine E. Wormuth's pledge for the Army to become more data centric. Accurate, timely data will enable commanders to make informed battlefield decisions according to the Army's Data Plan. The Army changed roles and responsibilities for to become more effective in its data management process, Pierce said. Army units assigned "data champions" to foster a culture of data centricity. Pierce added that Army Intelligence has encouraged innovation by supporting small, successful intelligence communities including one at Fort Eisenhower, Georgia. There, the 513th Military Intelligence Brigade Pierce said Army Intelligence wanted to learn from the brigade's successes and adopt and scale their practices across all of Army Intelligence. Similar to what the 513th created at Fort Eisenhower, Army Intelligence and Security Command, or INSCOM, intelligence data science groups scheduled "hackathons" where intelligence professionals could meet and share ideas while solving real world challenges. The 513th MIB and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point formed a Data Literacy Task Force to improve the unit's understanding and use of data. The task force achieved that goal by having intelligence professionals take Data 101, West Point's data literacy course. The task force encourages innovative solutions while boosting data literacy and readiness, which in turn helps intelligence brigades in real world missions, said Col. Molly Solsbury, 513th MI Brigade commander. Pierce said data accessibly also plays a significant role in multi domain operations, part of joint, all-domain operations. "Multi-domain operations is largely informed by what a commander can see, both strategically across the globe and within their battlespace," Pierce said. "Access to the data ... is critical to achieving decision advantage. While the Army still has improvements it needs to make to its sensor capacity, the data we have today still needs to be able to be discovered and delivered to the right platforms and tools of choice. Pierce said that as the Army's access to data expands, the service will have more emerging opportunities to find insights that inform commanders' decisions and create better strategic outcomes. Accessible data will also raise the speed of those decisions." "The landscape of data has foundationally changed with globalization and the overwhelming increase of digital information," Pierce said. "While data has always been critical, the growing scale with which the Army works with data and the breadth of available digital systems and networks that connect them changes how the Army consumes and transforms data into actionable insights and knowledge that commanders can use for decision-making." Pierce added that the service's ability to access and use data directly impacts the Army's global operations dedicated to addressing worldwide security threats. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC has not authorized force against Yemen; China urges all parties concerned to abide by international law: China's UN envoy Global Times By Global Times Published: Jan 13, 2024 08:35 PM China opposes any forcible transfer of the Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip, and all measures must be taken to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe and make a cease-fire the most urgent task of the moment, China's permanent representative to the UN Zhang Jun said during a UN Security Council conference on Friday local time. An immediate ceasefire has become the overwhelming call of the international community, but a permanent member of UN Security Council (UNSC) has vetoed the consensus reached by the UNSC in this regard on various grounds, which is a blatant defiance of international fairness, justice and the authority of UNSC, Zhang said. The UNSC failed to adopt a draft resolution on December 8, 2023 that would have demanded an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza due to a veto cast by the US. Many countries expressed disappointment over the US veto of the Gaza-related draft. It is a blatant double standard for some people to talk about the protection of human rights and the prevention of genocide while pretending to be deaf and dumb, covering up and diverting attention from the tragic situation in Gaza, Zhang remarked, "We must remove all interference and take vigorous action to quell the war, save lives and restore peace." In addition, Zhang stressed that that any forcible transfer of the Palestinian people must be firmly rejected. Over the past three months, millions of Palestinian people have been forced to relocate repeatedly and were under constant threat to their lives, said Zhang, noting that China is gravely concerned about the "voluntary emigration" of Gaza people, which has been advocated by some Israeli politicians. The horrific idea of displacing two million people from Gaza and turning it into a "safe zone" devoid of human habitation, if implemented, would constitute a grave crime under international law and completely destroy prospects for the "Two-State solution," Zhang remarked. The Chinese envoy called for all measures to be taken to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. Zhang said it was totally unacceptable for Israel to accuse the UN of not having the will and capacity to provide humanitarian relief when it was clear that Israel was accountable for the continued bombing and striking in Gaza and setting obstacles to the entry of humanitarian supplies. He urged Israel to immediately cease its indiscriminate military attacks and destruction of Gaza. UNSC resolutions 2712 and 2720 must be fully implemented, and Israel must fulfil its obligations as the occupying party to guarantee the safety of humanitarian workers and provide full cooperation with humanitarian relief efforts, Zhang said. The envoy reiterated that a ceasefire must be implemented with the utmost urgency. "Only a ceasefire can prevent greater civilian casualties and humanitarian disasters and create conditions for the early release of all hostages; only a ceasefire can prevent the complete destruction of the basis of the Two-State solution; and only a ceasefire can prevent the entire Middle East region from being drawn into a catastrophe." Regarding the recent attacks launched by US and UK on Yemen against the Houthi rebels, which targeted Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea, Zhang expressed concerns about the spillover effects of the Gaza crisis. Zhang said at a UNSC emergency conference on the Red Sea situation on the same day that the UNSC has never authorized any country to use force against Yemen. The military action taken by the related countries runs counter to the UN resolution 2722, which the Security Council has just adopted. The envoy warned that the Middle East region is on the brink of extreme danger, and what should be avoided now is reckless military adventurism. He added that what is needed most of all is calm and restraint to prevent further expansion of the conflict. China urges all parties concerned, especially the influential powers, to abide by the Charter of the UN and international law, adhere to the direction of dialogue and consultation, and make practical efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Red Sea and the Middle East region, Zhang said. The US carried out further strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Friday night a day after launching a coordinated multi-nation attack on nearly 30 Houthi locations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, January 13, 2024 IDF Press Release War Against Hamas 13.01.24 IDF Full statement: "Today, we approved plans for the Southern Command to continue combat and to increase military pressure on Hamas. Pressure that will lead to the dismantling of Hamas and the return of the hostages. This pressure, and only it, has succeeded in returning many hostages. Tomorrow we will mark a hundred days since the beginning of the war. A hundred days in which the hostages are still held in Gaza by the cruel Hamas terrorists. We are operating by all means, most of them covertly, in order to return them and we will continue to do so until we return them all. This task has not yet been completed. I know that every minute has critical significance and we are not indifferent to this. Time is pressing for the return of the hostages and we do not forget for a moment and do not abandon this noble goal. To achieve real results, we must continue to operate in enemy territory, not to allow extortion attempts for a ceasefire that seemingly will not bring about real results. We must continue applying pressure and that is exactly what we are doing. The Hamas leadership pins its hopes on a ceasefire, and is convinced that this moment is near. For the extremely just goals, we are determined and persistent. These goals are complex to achieve and will take a long time - we said this from the first moment. To dismantle Hamas, patience is both necessary and essential. Today, four combat divisions are operating in Gaza. The forces are advancing in the field according to plan, and adapting their operational methods to the tasks, the terrain, and the enemy. We completed the dismantling of Hamas' military frameworks in the northern Strip, and now the forces are embarking on missions to deepen and maintain the achievement in this area. There are still terrorists there, there is a little infrastructure, we will continue to strike, pursue and destroy. We have moved the focus of our efforts to the center and south of the Strip, where we exposed, including today, weapons manufacturing facilities above and below ground, including missiles intended for the Israeli home front, a real military industry. Destroying these, is very important to prevent future strengthening, and it is important to understand, without maneuvering in the field, it would not have been possible to do this. The forces are thoroughly and methodically dismantling infrastructure, and at the same time, the forces continue to eliminate terrorists from the air, sea, and in brave face-to-face combat on the ground in a very complex area. As part of the advancement of the combat, we released some of the reserve forces, whose mobilization is worthy of praise from the entire state. You, dear reservists, are an exemplary group in Israeli society. We of course will also need you in 2024. We will do this within a sufficient time for preparation, alongside recognition and appropriate compensation - for you and no less importantly for your families, who have looked after the homes throughout this period. We are managing combat in several arenas simultaneously, with varying intensity. We are operating everywhere. There will be no immunity for those seeking to kill us: not in Gaza, not in Judea and Samaria, and also not in other arenas throughout the Middle East. Hezbollah has chosen to serve as "Hamas' shield" on behalf of Iran, and increasingly, we are exacting a price from it. Whoever conditions the end to the friction in the north on an end to the combat in the Gaza Strip will pay increasing prices. This was and will be the case going forward. The security reality in the north is already being shaped during these days. We are pushing Radwan terrorists away from the border and hitting Hezbollah's capabilities that it has built up over the years. We are operating freely in Lebanese airspace and strike any threat we identify. The area of southern Lebanon is a combat zone, and it will remain so, as long as Hezbollah operates from it. Hezbollah risks turning the entire state of Lebanon into a combat zone, at a heavy price. We are prepared for war, even today, and are constantly improving our capabilities. We are committed to changing the security situation in such a way that will allow the residents to return safely to their homes - in the north and in the south. In Judea and Samaria, we operate around the clock in the communities and along the axes. During the war, we conducted an unprecedented number of offensive activities and apprehended terrorists, some of which were on their way to commit terror attacks. Together with the communities, we investigate every incident and strengthen their defense. Just last night, in the community of Adora, there was an attempted terror attack, a combination of the communities' forces, with the military forces, alertness and decisive actions, led to a result in which three terrorists were killed without reaching the civilians, and more importantly, without civilians being harmed, and we wish a speedy recovery to one soldier who was injured. An honest investigation is part of the army's DNA. We are constantly investigating. This is how it is in the IDF, this is our way of learning and improving. The IDF is responsible for the security of the state and is committed to improving and adapting itself to combat needs. Operational investigation, of course, does not replace external examination or investigation. We understand that the war will continue for a long time, and therefore we have begun to plan the structure of the investigations. We must learn also during this war, with the fighting always remaining as the first priority - we will not harm it, after all, we are the ones who carry it out. We have not yet determined when we will start investigating, but we have determined that we will investigate the events that led to the outbreak of the war and the events of October 7 as soon as possible. We must begin by understanding what happened, to better protect the residents of the communities near the Gaza Strip and to ensure that this day does not repeat itself. In order to know how to return them to their homes in greater security. The IDF of course is subject to the political echelon and respects it. It is right and proper to ask us questions and to criticize us. We listen and learn from every statement, but the decision regarding the investigation is an operational requirement and an internal decision, and it is not a policy decision. The IDF wants and needs to be better. I am convinced that everyone understands and identifies with this desire. These days, it is important to remember, we are fighting an unparalleled just war, a war that a murderous enemy began, when it slaughtered innocents in an inhuman way. We do not forget and will not forget, and will continue to remind even those who try to deny it. We are fighting for our right to live here in security. The IDF fights professionally while operating according to its values and according to the principles of international law. The IDF, with all its soldiers and commanders, is focused entirely on the objectives of the war; we will continue to fight until they are achieved." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India protests visit of British High Commissioner in Islamabad to Pakistan occupied Kashmir India - Ministry of External Affairs January 13, 2024 India has taken a serious note of the highly objectionable visit of the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, along with a UK Foreign Office official, to Pakistan occupied Kashmir on 10 January 2024. Such infringement of India's sovereignty and territorial integrity is unacceptable. Foreign Secretary has lodged a strong protest with the British High Commissioner in India on this infringement. The Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are, have been and shall always remain an integral part of India. New Delhi January 13, 2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ansarullah enjoys capacities, strengths to defend Yemenis IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 New York, IRNA -- Iranian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani has said that the Gaza war is indicative of the success of the Israeli regime's lobbying in Washington to draw the US into direct war, adding that Ansarullah enjoys enough capacities and strengths to defend its nations and citizens. In an exclusive interview with Newsweek on Saturday, Iravani said, "While the resistance groups in Iraq and Lebanon are integral to their respective governments, with decisions subject to governmental considerations, Ansarullah stands apart as an independent government possessing national sovereignty". The following is the full text of the interview: Newsweek: How does Iran perceive the joint US-British airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen? Iravani: The actions taken by the United States and the UK in attacking Yemen constitute a flagrant violation of national sovereignty, a breach of international law, and a transgression of the United Nations Charter, ultimately amounting to a declaration of war against the Yemeni people. This military aggression is indicative of the success of the Israeli regime's lobbying in Washington to draw the US into direct war and exacerbate the spill-over of conflicts to other parts of the region. Despite the Israeli regime falling short of achieving most of its stated objectives in the Gaza war, it seeks a more-extensive crisis than the Gaza conflict to facilitate a so-called face-saving exit from the current quagmire. The Israeli regime's demands from the United States extend beyond a mere solicitation for weapons, intelligence, financial, and political support; instead, it encompasses a desire for direct participation in the war, carefully delineated by a division of labor. Specifically, the regime envisions that the conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria fall under its jurisdiction, while the wars in Iraq and Yemen are to be associated with the United States. Compelling evidence suggests that the regime has effectively maneuvered to involve the US in these conflicts, aligning with its own interests. Newsweek: Will the US-UK military action improve the security situation for commercial shipping in the Red Sea region, and in the broader Middle East? Iravani: A proverbial wisdom asserts that one cannot wash off blood with blood. An essential query arises: when did the Red Sea transition into an insecure domain, and what factors contributed to this shift? The unequivocal response points directly to the unfolding war in Gaza. The safety concerns surrounding the Red Sea are intricately tied to the developments in Gaza. The precise details of how and why this transformation occurred warrant a comprehensive examination in the context of the ongoing events in the besieged Gaza Strip. In a situation where international mechanisms display a lack of both the will and capability to halt the ongoing crimes in Gaza, and the very fact that the region is under a stringent siege, with essential supplies such as fuel and food being denied to the people of Gaza, a severe humanitarian crisis unfolds. In response to this dire circumstance, Yemen's Ansarullah Movement, driven by a sense of human duty, has assumed the role of defending the oppressed Palestinian nation. It has declared that all shipping lines in the Red Sea waterway are secure, except for vessels associated with Israel or engaged in the transportation of goods to or from Israel. This pronouncement positions Ansarullah Yemen as a proponent of humanitarian principles, seeking to defend the oppressed people of Palestine. However, in light of the recent aggression and as a prospective outcome, it is anticipated that any country engaging in this military aggression or subsequent hostilities may expose itself to potential danger, or to be considered as a justified operational target by the Ansarullah Movement. Newsweek: There have long been accusations of Iranian backing for the Houthis, whether through military training, weapon supplies, or other forms of support. Does Iran consider this American-British attack on the Houthis to be an attack on the wider "Axis of Resistance"? Iravani: We perceive the arms embargo resolution imposed on Yemen as unjust and oppressive, akin to a situation wherein stones are tethered, and [instead] dogs are set loose. Despite our reservations about the fairness of this resolution, we acknowledge our responsibility as a conscientious UN Member State and adhere to its provisions. For the past eight years, Ansarullah has endured an all-out siege, encompassing land, air, and sea. Despite facing this protracted embargo and blockade, Yemen has demonstrated resilience by relying on its internal capacities. Since the commencement of the war on Yemen in 2015, Ansarullah initially depended on the weapons stockpiles inherited from the former Yemeni army, which were predominantly imported. Remarkably, over the years, Ansarullah has evolved into a formidable regional force, achieving self-sufficiency in advanced domestically manufactured weaponry. Newsweek: What is the danger of subsequent escalation by the Houthis or by groups sympathetic to their causeincluding those aligned with Iranelsewhere in the region who have been angered by the US-UK action? Iravani: While the resistance groups in Iraq and Lebanon are integral to their respective governments, with decisions subject to governmental considerations, Ansarullah stands apart as an independent government possessing national sovereignty. Notably, Ansarullah operates with a distinctive status, enjoying the highest level of support from its people. In the aftermath of the recent aggression, within a few hours, millions of Yemeni people took to the streets to express their unwavering support for their government's policy, concurrently expressing disdain towards America and Israel. Considering this significant show of support, it is anticipated that other resistance groups may not recognize the necessity to extend operational assistance to Ansarullah in this critical juncture. That is despite the fact that Ansarullah, fortified by the backing of its people and the demonstrated capacity and strength, can defend its nation and its citizens effectively. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Al-Qassam Brigades says killed some Israeli soldiers, destroyed tanks IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas resistance movement, has said its fighters have killed some Israeli soldiers on the battlefield in the central city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. According to Palestinian sources on Saturday, Al-Qassam announced that its fighters destroyed two Merkava tanks, as well as a bulldozer of the Israeli army, by using Showaz bombs in the central city of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza. The Al-Qassam combatants also directly targeted Israeli military forces and killed two Zionists on the battlefield. In another operation, al-Qassam fighters destroyed an armored vehicle belonging to the Israeli army's special forces carrying four of the regime's soldiers advancing toward the tunnel in the east of Khan Yunis, killing and wounding the soldiers. The Qassam Brigades added that it targeted the special forces of the Zionist regime with TBG mortars. Combatants of al-Qassam Brigades also targeted an Israeli infantry force with a Thunder rocket in the east of Khan Yunis, killing and wounding the soldiers. Earlier today, there have been intense armed clashes between Hamas fighters and the Israeli army, during which Hamas fighters are targeting Israeli army units with anti-armor bullets and RPG bullets. Also, al-Qassam Brigades has announced that its fighters destroyed four tanks and one personnel carrier of the Zionist regime and fired a surface-to-air missile at the regime's helicopter. The Zionist regime waged the war on the Gaza strip on October 7 after the Gaza-based Palestinian resistance groups of Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response to the occupying regime's intensified crimes against the Palestinian people. At least 23,708 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the war, and more than 60,050 individuals injured. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah launches fresh attacks on two Zionist bases IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah has launched fresh attacks against two Zionist bases in northern parts of the Palestinian occupied lands, local media reported. Al Mayadeen reported on Saturday that the Zionist Biranit army base has come under direct attack from the Lebanese soil. Hezbollah also said in a statement that its forces have targeted the Birkat Risha site. It said that the Zionist sites were directly hit. Local media have also reported that an anti-armor missile have been fired from Lebanon to west Al-Jalil. Hezbollah's attacks on the Zionist bases have begun following the Zionist invasion of Gaza which have killed more than 22,000 civilians since October 7. 9341**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen to definitely respond to US-UK aggression: Minister IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Yemen will definitely respond to any aggression by parties who target the Arab country in support of the Israeli regime, the minister of Human Rights in the Yemeni caretaker government said. Ali Al-Dailami made the remarks in an exclusive interview with IRNA on Saturday, saying that the Yemenis will not leave any act of aggression unanswered and they will target any party who backs the Israeli regime. The US cannot defend its own interests as well as the interests of the Israeli regime and other parties who want to harm Yemen, Dailami emphasized, adding that it has been the US that has turned the Red Sea into the scene of military confrontation and has threatened international shipping. The minister urged Arab states to avoid being a tool in the hands of Washington, London, and the Israeli regime, adding that that the enemies cannot hurt Yemen's military because it has learned great lessons from the war in the past years. He also reiterated that Yemen's stance in support of Palestine is purely humanitarian , adding that the Yemeni people will continue to call for an end to the massacre of innocent children and women and the lifting of the siege on Gaza. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance hits two targets in Israeli-occupied territories IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has targeted two positions of the Zionist regime in the occupied Palestinian territories in support of the innocent people of Gaza who are being killed in a relentless Israeli military campaign. In a statement issued on Friday evening, the Iraqi resistance said it had hit a military target in the occupied territories near the Jordan River Parkway earlier in the day. "The Islamic Resistance reaffirms that it will continue to conduct attacks against enemy positions," it said. It came hours after the Lebanon-based al-Mayadeen television channel reported that the target was hit in a retaliatory move just after the United States and Britain launched attacks against Yemen. In another statement late on Friday, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said it had struck a "vital" Israeli target in Eilat (occupied Umm al-Rashash), putting it out of service. The Iraqi resistance has repeatedly pounded US and Israeli targets in support of the people of Gaza since the Zionist regime launched a devastating war on the besieged territory in early October. 4354**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two Zionist regime's commanders injured in Gaza: Report IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Two Israeli battalion commanders have been wounded in Gaza by Palestinian fighters over the past few hours, media outlets have reported. The commanders injured in fighting in Gaza were members of battalions 8226 and 363, Israeli news outlet Walla said in a report. As many as 4,000 Israeli soldiers have become disabled since the onset of the war against the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Israeli military said 514 soldiers had been killed since the beginning of the regime's ground offensive against Gaza in late October. According to the Zionist media, the actual number of Israeli military personnel wounded in the war in Gaza is very different from figures announced by the regime's army. 7129**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US says it struck Yemen with missiles IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The United States has conducted a fresh strike on Yemen in yet another move raising fears of a wider conflict in the region amid the Israeli regime's war on Gaza. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X, formerly Twitter, that it struck a radar site in Yemen early on Saturday used by Houthis, a term Western states use to refer to the Yemeni government in Sana'a. "At 3:45 a.m. (Sana'a time) on Jan 13., U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi radar site in Yemen. This strike was conducted by the USS Carney (DDG 64) using Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles", CENTCOM said on its X account on Saturday. Yemeni media confirmed the strike and said it targeted Sana'a. The attack came a day after joint US-UK assaults on Yemen which targeted several cities including the capital Sana'a. Canada, Bahrain, Australia and the Netherlands supported the early Friday strikes which US President Joe Biden said "were a direct response to" Yemeni attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. CENTCOM said in its X post that the latest US strike was "a follow-on action on a specific military target associated with strikes taken on Jan. 12 designed to degrade the Houthi's ability to attack maritime vessels, including commercial vessels." On Friday, the Yemeni army spokesman issued a statement, saying that the US and the UK "bear full responsibility for the criminal aggression". Yahya Saree said that the aggression will not go unpunished and unanswered, and added that five Yemeni armed forces were killed in the joint strikes by Washington and London on Friday. Yemen also said that the aggression was unjustified, because the Yemeni attacks in the Red Sea only targeted Israeli-linked ships and there was no threat to other vessels. Despite the Western strikes, Yemen has promised to continue its attacks on Israeli-linked vessels until the regime stops its crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Yemen has already warned the US against any hostile act on Yemeni soil ever since Washington announced an international coalition in December to confront operations against Israeli-linked ships in the Red Sea. 4194**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance warns it will hit US-led coalition targets after attacks on Yemen IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jan 13, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Islamic resistance group based in Iraq, has reacted to the recent US-UK aggression against Yemen by warning that the "evil US and its treacherous allies" will be within the range of attacks by resistance groups in the region. AN al-Najba's representative in the Iranian capital Tehran issued a statement on Friday condemning the attack overnight on Yemeni cities by US and UK forces. The statement said that a new US aggression has taken place against "dear Yemeni brothers" resulting in the martyrdom of civilians and innocent people before the eyes of the global public. It added that the American officials have once again shown their criminal nature and the fact that they do not care about international norms and laws, while they pursue merely their own agenda on the basis of a unipolar system. The movement also underlined that the interests of the US-led coalition will come under fire by all resistance groups in the region. We, as part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, will stand shoulder to shoulder with fighters of the Yemeni Ansarullah movement in their fight against the global arrogance and their confrontation with US bullying, said the statement. 4208**4261 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office: Mossad and ISA Announcement Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 13.01.2024 The following has been cleared for publication: Orders from the organization leadership, acquisition of UAVs and use of criminal elements: This is how Hamas terrorist organization senior operatives advanced attacks against innocents around the world. The Hamas terrorist organization is working to advance attacks against targets in the Middle East, Africa and Europe under the command of senior organization leaders. On 14 December 2023, the Danish and German security and enforcement authorities announced the widespread arrest of suspects in Europe who are now the subject of judicial proceedings. In a continuing intelligence effort, considerable information has been uncovered that proves how the Hamas terrorist organization has acted to expand its violent activity abroad in order to attack innocents around the world. Thanks to combined inter-organizational forces in Israel and abroad, a comprehensive and in-depth picture of Hamas's terrorist activities has been revealed, including details of areas of action, targets for attacks and those involved in implementing the activity - from Hamas commanders in Lebanon to the last attackers in the operational infrastructure, as well as information on the intention to attack the Israeli Embassy in Sweden, the acquisition of UAVs and the use of elements from criminal organizations in Europe. Hamas draws inspiration from the terrorist activity of the Iranian regime, and like it, aspires to attack Israeli, Jewish and Western targets at any price. The Mossad, the ISA and the IDF, in conjunction with the international security and enforcement bodies, will continue their efforts to thwart the terrorist intentions of Hamas and all terrorist organizations, and to settle accounts with them everywhere in the world, on behalf of the security of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. See attached English flow chart of Hamas's command structure for terrorism abroad (PDF file) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen ambassador to Iran: US seeks to spread war across region, we warned them against any foolish act Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 10:13 PM The Yemeni ambassador to Iran says the United States and its Western allies seek to prevent Yemen from supporting the people of Gaza amid Israel's genocidal war on the besieged Palestinian territory. Ibrahim Mohammad al-Deilami made the comment while elaborating on the recent attacks on Yemen by the US and the UK in an interview with Iran's ISNA news agency on Saturday. "The Americans seek to expand the scope of the war across the region, and we have already warned them to avoid any foolish act," Deilami said, adding, "The United States is responsible for whatever that may happen in the Red Sea." The Yemeni diplomat asserted that his country does not want further spread of the war in the region, adding, "However, the Americans are trying to expand the scope of the war [in order] to deflect attention from the issue of Palestine." The attacks on Yemen began on Friday, when the United States and Britain started targeting the country with warplanes and Tomahawk missiles. The attacks came in response to a series of anti-Israel operations that Yemeni forces have been staging in the Red Sea in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which is under a genocidal Israeli war with Washington's full support. The relentless Israeli military aggression has so far killed at least 23,843 people, most of them women and children, while 60,317 others have been wounded. Dailami said the attacks carried out against his country by the US and the UK lacked legitimacy from the viewpoint of international law, because "Americans tried to get the United Nations' authorization for attacking Yemen, but failed to do so." "Their main goal is to prevent [Yemen from providing] support for the people of Palestine," he said, noting that the Western allies also seek to support and protect the Zionist regime through their strikes on Yemen. Ever since Friday, the US has followed up the attacks with more offensives against various parts of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the western port city of Hudaydah. The US-led attacks came after Washington failed to get a resolution passed through the United Nations Security Council that would accuse Yemen of endangering maritime security in the Red Sea with its anti-Israeli strikes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New strikes hit Yemen's strategic port city of Hudaydah as conflict intensifies Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 6:24 PM A wave of new strikes has targeted the strategic western Yemeni port city of Hudaydah, only hours after the United States launched attacks against targets in Yemen for a second straight day after the Ansarullah resistance movement warned it would retaliate for a series of attacks on its facilities. A military source allied with the Sana'a-based National Salvation Government told the AFP news agency that a site on the outskirts of Hudaydah, which Ansarullah fighters used to launch a rocket was hit. The source adding that it was not clear whether the strike came from the sea or the air. A police source confirmed the new strike. Earlier on Saturday, the US military's Central Command (CENTCOM) said that Tomahawk missiles were fired from the US Navy's USS Carney at a radar site run by Yemeni forces. It described the attack as a "follow-on action" related to the previous day's strikes. Yemen's Arabic-language al-Masirah television network said al-Dailami airbase in the capital Sana'a had been struck in the latest bombardment. Nasreddin Amer, Deputy Minister of Information in the Sana'a-based administration, said the overnight US strike caused no damage or casualties. "There were no injuries, no material nor human losses," Amer said, adding that the Ansarullah would come back with a "strong and effective response". Meanwhile, Ansarullah spokesperson Mohammed Abdul-Salam told Reuters news agency the US attack would not deter it from waging attacks on Israeli-owned ships or merchant vessels destined to Israeli ports. 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 23,843 people, most of them women and children. Another 60,317 individuals have been wounded. Reports revealed 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 after the regime's aggression on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Time has come for EU to unite, push for end to Israeli hostilities in Gaza: Borrell Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 5:56 PM The European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says the continent has been kept in the dark over the scale of the tragedy in Gaza as many journalists have either died or not been able to access the territory because of incessant Israeli attacks. "The absolutely tragic situation experienced by the civilian population in Gaza is unfortunately not always sufficiently known in Europe, not least because Western journalists do not have access to the enclave and many Palestinian journalists have lost their lives," said Borrell in an opinion piece published on EU's website on Saturday. In the article, the EU diplomat urged members of the bloc to unite and push for a solution to the conflict in Gaza, where the Israeli regime has killed nearly 24,000 people since it launched an aggression on the enclave in early October. He said that lack of consensus among EU members about how to react to the conflict in Gaza has weakened the bloc's position in the region, preventing it from having influence on events. The EU foreign policy noted that, "Gaza people are in desperate need of food, water, medicine and healthcare. Beyond bombs and bullets, famine and epidemics are beginning to threaten the lives of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians." Borrell said that some 1.9 million people, or nearly 85% of the population of Gaza, are now forcibly displaced because of the destruction left by Israeli army's incessant military attacks in the enclave. The diplomat said, however, that the EU will firmly oppose any forced displacement of the Gaza population outside of the enclave as proposed by some members of the Israeli government "when they talk about getting rid of the Palestinians of Gaza". Borrell also warned EU members that lack of a united effort to end the conflict in Palestine may cause it to spread to already volatile regions in Yemen and Lebanon. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi resistance targets US military base in eastern Syria in retaliatory strike Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 4:27 PM Amid simmering anti-US sentiment over Washington's support for the Israeli air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, Iraqi anti-terror resistance groups have carried out an attack against a US military installation in the eastern Syrian province of Dayr al-Zawr. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, in a statement published on its Telegram channel claimed responsibility for the rocket strike against the facility that houses US troops at the Conoco gas field. The group noted that the attack was carried out in retaliation for US support of Israel's bloody war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. There were no immediate reports about the extent of damage at the military facility, or possible casualties. The United States, Israel's biggest ally, has provided the regime with arms and ammunitions since the initiation of the Gaza war. The US House of Representatives on November 2 passed a standalone $14.3-billion military assistance package for Israel. The legislation, however, is yet to clear the Senate. Washington has also vetoed United Nations Security Council resolutions that called on the occupying regime to cease its aggression. Israel waged the war on October 7 after the Gaza Strip-based Palestinian resistance groups of Hamas and Islamic Jihad carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response to the occupying regime's intensified crimes against the Palestinian people. According to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 23,843 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the strikes, and another 60,317 individuals injured. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US missile strikes on Yemen encouraging genocide in Gaza: Cuba Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 4:15 PM Cuba has vehemently condemned recent missile strikes carried out by the United States and its allies on Yemen, saying the US's move encourages the Israeli regime to press ahead with its genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said the airstrikes came "in violation of international law." "Acts of this nature encourage genocide in Gaza," the Cuban diplomat wrote on X. On Friday, the US and British warplanes targeted five regions of Yemen with 73 missiles, including the capital Sana'a, killing at least five people and wounding six others. The US military claimed on Saturday that it conducted a new attack against a radar site that belonged to the Ansarollah resistance movement in Yemen's capital. Rodriguez also expressed Havana's support for South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Criminal Court of Justice. "We will never be among the indifferent," he said, calling for an immediate halt to Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip. South Africa presented the case in front of the UN court - based in The Hague - on Thursday, saying Israel has shown "chilling" and "incontrovertible" intent to commit genocide in Gaza, with full knowledge of how many civilians it is killing. The Israeli devastating onslaught on the besieged Palestinian territory has so far killed more than 23,800 people, including 10,000 children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. President Joe Biden of the United States said he ordered the strikes in response to "unprecedented" attacks against vessels heading to Israeli ports. Yemen's Armed Forces have recently been staging missile and drone strikes against vessels heading to Israeli ports in support of the Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Yemen has vowed to continue to prevent the passage through the Red Sea of all ships owned by Israel or heading to Israeli ports as long as the regime's genocidal campaign in Gaza goes on. The United States recently announced the establishment of a multi-national naval force in the Red Sea. According to the announcement, so far NATO states such as Britain, Canada, Norway, and the Netherlands have pledged support for "Operation Prosperity Guardian" led by the US. Military and naval experts warn such a move runs the risk of making matters worse in the volatile region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 4,000 Israeli soldiers disabled in Gaza war; regime blurs magnitudes of own losses: Report Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 4:08 PM Four thousand Israeli regime forces have become disabled since the beginning of the Tel Aviv regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October, according to Israeli media reports, stressing that the number could rise to 30,000 forces. "Currently, about 4,000 soldiers (with disabilities) have been recognized according to classification 3, meaning they are entitled to all treatments and rights enjoyed by a disabled person in the Israeli army without being officially recognized in this way," the regime's Hebrew news site, Walla reported on Friday. The report added that the regime authorities were now preparing themselves to deal with the huge number of disabled forces who needed extensive rehabilitation services. According to the report, the Israeli regime tries to censor media coverage of the aggression on Gaza, while also blurring the magnitudes of its own losses, and "does not provide all data about the wounded to the public, for fear that it will lower people's morale". Idan Kaliman, chairman of the Israel Occupation Forces (IOF) Organization for the Disabled was quoted by Walla as saying, "I have been in the organization for 30 years, and I have never encountered such a large number of severely wounded individuals. There are many wounded with amputated limbs, blindness, or paralysis." The news site noted those injured were paid and received treatment without the need to prove that they were wounded in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. It cited the official as saying that a rehabilitation plan for the disabled was in hand and "will begin soon to reintegrate them into life." Walla added that now the disabled are entering the most significant battle of their lives - the rehabilitation struggle, physically and mentally, which is getting longer. It said the definition of a disabled can also lead to weakening when one has to prove that s/he is "unfit" to receive their treatment. Kaliman, who is himself an amputee who sustained an injury in Khan Yunis in the 1992 Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, complains about the bureaucratic problems that he had faced during the rehabilitation process that continues to this day. "We need to triple our strength immediately to support our soldiers and we are prepared to face this challenge," he said. "For every physiotherapist we've worked with, we now ask for four to meet the scale of the wounded, the same for all treatment professions," Kaliman said. Kaliman was at pains to say that the regime forces were mentally damaged too, and needed psychological help after the war. "We are still in the middle of the war, so our soldiers are not yet completely available for psychological help," Kaliman said. He warned that some of the mentally deranged and demented Israeli forces are still in denial. "When I sit with the soldiers alone, without the families, I also hear the mental difficulty. Little by little they will be able to talk more and we will be there, at the moment it is very quiet." The Israeli so-called war ministry's rehabilitation department is reportedly admitting approximately 60 injured forces daily, most of them in serious condition with severe disability. As of Friday, the Tel Aviv regime put the death total of all those killed since Oct. 7 at around 1,200 with the number of Israeli forces killed at 520. Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours alone, 135 more Palestinians have been killed as the Israeli forces continue the genocidal onslaught on the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry in besieged Gaza Strip said on Saturday. The death toll of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7 has reached 23,843 with 60,317 injured and an unknown number buried under the debris. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dozens killed in Israeli bombing barrage as Gaza genocidal war nears 100 days Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 2:19 PM Dozens of Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed over the past few hours in the northern and central Gaza Strip, as the Israeli regime continues its deadly bombing campaign in the besieged territory. Palestine's official news agency Wafa, citing local and medical sources, reported on Saturday that an Israeli airstrike targeted a house in the al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City, killing at least 20 Palestinians. Israeli warplanes also bombed homes in the al-Dawa neighborhood, near the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing and wounding dozens more, as several people are still trapped under the rubble. The occupying regime also shelled Nuseirat, al-Maghazi, and al-Burei refugee camps, as well as the al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, the only remaining hospital in central Gaza. Israeli warplanes also launched a strike against Qazan al-Najjar and al-Batn al-Samin in the southeastern areas of Khan Yunis. A number of wounded individuals were transferred to Nasser Hospital, following intense Israeli bombardment in the center and south of Khan Yunis. Communications and internet services were also completely cut off as a result of Israel's ongoing genocidal war against the blockaded territory, which has entered its 99th consecutive day. This is the seventh time that communications and internet services have been completely cut off since the start of Israel's aggression on Gaza in early October. On Friday night, 13 people, including two children, were killed after an Israeli airstrike hit a house in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip. Abu Youssef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah said the bodies of victims, mostly from a displaced family from central Gaza, were taken there. Palestinians in Rafah called on the United Nations' top court to put an end to Israel's war and to send its delegations to witness Israeli crimes against Palestinians. "I demand the International Court of Justice send delegations to witness with their eyes what Israel is doing and the crimes it is committing against the Palestinian people, including the children and women of the Palestinian people," said Basem Arafa, a relative of the family members who were killed during the regime strikes. "This entire family, with its children and women, has been wiped off the civil registry," he said, asking whether they pose a threat to the Israeli entity and the United States. "Do these children, including the little girl who is two and a half years old, holding bread in her hand, pose a threat to Israel? Does the location where they were struck on the Egyptian border pose a threat to the security of Israel?" he added. The Israeli regime waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm against the occupying entity in response to the Israeli regime's atrocities against Palestinians. Since the start of the aggression, Israel has killed more than 23,843 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Nearly 60,317 Palestinians have also been wounded, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The Tel Aviv regime has also imposed a "complete siege" on the territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah retaliates, strikes Israeli military outposts in support of Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 1:59 PM Fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement have conducted strikes against Israeli military positions, including barracks and gathering sites, in the northern sector of the 1948-occupied territories, in response to the ongoing Israeli genocidal campaign in the besieged Gaza Strip. Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network, citing a Hezbollah statement, reported that the group targeted the Israeli outpost of al-Assi, opposite the southern Lebanese village of Meiss Ej Jabal, at 11:20 a.m. local time (0920 GMT) on Saturday. The statement added that the Lebanese resistance forces hit the designated target with appropriate weapons, causing casualties among Israeli troops. Hezbollah also targeted Israeli soldiers at Birket Risha site. Later on Saturday, Lebanese resistance fighters struck the Branit barracks and its garrison with a salvo of missiles, and destroyed targets there. A gathering of Israeli soldiers in Hunin Castle also came under attack. Hezbollah also targeted a gathering of Israeli troops in the Tallet al-Tayhat region, leaving a number of the soldiers injured. The developments came a day after Hezbollah fighters conducted multiple operations against Israeli military sites. Hezbollah announced that its first operation was conducted at 11:15 a.m. on Friday, targeting a gathering of Israeli soldiers close to the Hadab al-Bustan site. There were casualties among the forces. Later in the afternoon, the resistance fighters successfully struck al-Malkiya military site, directly pounding the designated targets. Hezbollah also carried out three simultaneous operations, hitting Hanita, al-Assi and Manara military outposts. A number of Israeli soldiers were injured as a result. The Israeli regime launched its devastating hostilities in the Gaza Strip on October 7 after the territory's Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a surprise retaliatory attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, against the occupying entity. The Israeli military has also been carrying out attacks against the Lebanese territory since then, prompting retaliatory strikes from Lebanon's resistance movement Hezbollah in support of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The movement has vowed to keep up its retaliatory operations as long as the Tel Aviv regime continues its onslaught on Gaza. The Israeli campaign in Gaza has killed at least 23, 843 people, most of them women and children. Another 60,317 individuals have also been wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen says will target US vessels, warships in multi-pronged retaliatory operation Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 11:22 AM Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement says the Yemeni response to the US aggression against the Arab country will be carried out on the land and sea, and sternly warned that the American vessels and warships will be targeted in the Red Sea. Nasreddin Amer, head of Ansarullah's Information Department, made the warning on Friday and said the US attacks on Yemeni sites and infrastructure were "unsuccessful" and that Washington had failed to achieve any of its goals during the aggression. "There were no injuries, no human or material losses," Amer said, asserting that Ansarullah would come back with a "strong and effective response." He noted, "We have fully preserved our strength and forces and have the ability to target Israeli and American ships," adding that international shipping is completely safe for international ships in the strategic Red Sea and we will not target them. "The response to the US aggression will be on land and sea and we will target its vessels and warships," he underlined. The Ansarullah official also said the US aggression was meant to serve Israel's interests and that the Yemeni forces were not surprised by the attacks. "It was Washington that stepped on international laws in order to serve the interests of the Zionist regime," Amer said, adding that, "Before the start of the American attacks, we received threats but we did not pay attention to." 'Unsurprised by US, UK attack' Ibrahim al-Dailami, Yemen's ambassador to Tehran, also said the Yemeni armed forces were not surprised by the Western attack as they had already been engaged in the Red Sea waters with the American and British forces. "It is the Americans who are endangering the security of shipping by starting the war and committing foolish acts," he added. "The Americans have a great desire to escalate the tension and like to militarize the Red Sea, we consider it our duty to confront the Americans in the region, and as emphasized in the official statements on Friday, this attack will not go unanswered," the ambassador added. Early on Friday, the American and British warplanes targeted with 73 missiles five regions of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah, Ta'izz, Hajjah, and Sa'ada, killing at least five people and wounding six others. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said the United States and the United Kingdom bear full responsibility for the "criminal aggression," and the attack against the country would not go "unanswered and unpunished." 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 23,357 people, most of them women and children. Another 59,410 individuals have been wounded. Reports revealed 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 after the regime's aggression on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Jan. 12: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 10:34 AM By Press TV Website Staff Resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against Israel and its Western backers amid the regime's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, which has claimed the lives of more than 23,500 Palestinians, mostly children and women. The operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Friday, January 12, are as follows: Quds Brigades' operations on Jan. 12: Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli regime soldiers in the center of Khan Yunis city in southern Gaza, and targeted a bulldozer with an RPG shell. Bombed Israeli military concentrations with a barrage of 60-caliber regular mortar shells around the Halima Mosque in central Khan Yunis city. In a joint operation with Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the fighters bombed Israeli military concentrations around the Halima Mosque in the center of Khan Yunis with a barrage of 60-caliber regular mortar shells. At exactly 9:00 pm local time, bombed the occupied city of 'Ashdod' and the settlements surrounding the Gaza Strip with intense rocket barrages. Hezbollah's operations on Jan. 12: Eastern sector: At around 15:50 local time, the Al-Assi site was targeted with appropriate weapons. At around 15:50 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Al-Manara site were targeted with appropriate weapons. Western sector: At around 11:15 local time, Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Hadab Al-Bustan site were targeted with appropriate weapons. At around 14:30 local time, the Al-Malikiyah site was targeted with appropriate weapons. At around 15:50 local time, the Hanita site was targeted with appropriate weapons. Iraqi resistance's operations on Jan. 12: Attacked the US occupation base in the Conoco field deep in Syria with a rocket salvo, resulting in casualties and large-scale destruction Attacked a vital target in the occupied Umm al-Rashrash (Eilat) with appropriate weapons, causing damage and casualties. Using appropriate weapons, attacked an Israeli military target in occupied territories near Jordan River Park. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC clashes: Russia condemns strikes on Yemen; US, UK defend deadly attack Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 10:15 AM Russia has vehemently censured the recent strikes by the United States and its allies against Yemen as "unjustified" and in violation of the United Nations' Charter, amid rising escalating tensions off the Yemeni coast. Vassily Nebenzia, the Russian ambassador to the United Nations, said on Friday that the US-led coalition's strikes under the pretext of supporting maritime transit in the Red Sea are "contrary to Article 2 of the UN Charter." "It is one thing to protect commercial shipping, attacks on which are unacceptable, but it is completely different to disproportionately and illegally bomb another state," Nebenzia told a Security Council meeting. The Russian diplomat said "no legitimate mandate" exists for bombing Yemen and it is even more ridiculous to talk about the right to self-defense "a thousand miles from one's own borders." Nebenzia stressed that the US assesses the alleged threats and plans its response "without the slightest regard for international law," as result of which, "the situation in the already burning Middle East" will deteriorate even more. Khaled Khiari, the assistant secretary-general for the Middle East at the UN, also warned against escalated tensions in the strategic waterway, saying, "We are witnessing the cycle of violence that risks grave political security, economic and humanitarian repercussions in Yemen and the region." This is while US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield defended Washington's dealdy attacks and claimed that no countries' vessels were immune to "threats" posed by Yemen's Houthi Ansarullah resistance movement to shipping in the Red Sea. "Whether your ship flies an American flag, or the flag of another nation... all of our ships are vulnerable," Thomas-Greenfield said, claiming that the strikes were designed "to disrupt and degrade the Houthis' ability to continue the reckless attacks against vessels and commercial shipping." British Ambassador Susan Woodward also said the Western strikes were regarded as "limited, necessary, and proportionate action in self-defense." Major cities across the United States have been the scene of widespread rallies against recent Washington-led attacks on Yemen in support of Israel's months-long genocidal war on Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip. Early on Friday, the American and British warplanes targeted with 73 missiles five regions of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah, Ta'izz, Hajjah, and Sa'ada, killing at least five people and wounding six others. On Saturday morning, the US military claimed to have conducted a new attack against a radar site that belonged to Ansarullah resistance movement in the capital Sana'a. In a firm response to the Western strikes, the Yemeni Armed Forces have vowed that the any "criminal aggression" by the US and UK against their country will not go "unanswered and unpunished." Yemen's Armed Forces and the popular resistance movement have repeatedly asserted that international vessels will be safe in the Red Sea and only Israeli-owned and -bound ships will be targeted in the strategic waterway in support of Palestinians in Gaza. 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 23,357 people, most of them women and children. Another 59,410 individuals have been wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN 'deeply alarmed' by Israeli leaders' plan for forced 'mass transfer' of Gazans Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 9:37 AM The UN humanitarian chief says the world body is "deeply alarmed" by latest statements from Israeli leaders about deportation of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip, stressing that any attempt by the Tel Aviv regime to change the composition of the besieged coastal territory "must be firmly rejected." "We are deeply alarmed by recent statements by Israeli ministers regarding plans to encourage the mass transfer of civilians from Gaza to third countries, currently being referred to as "voluntary relocation,"' Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory on Friday. He added, "These statements raise grave concerns about the possible forcible mass transfer or deportation of the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip, something that would be strictly prohibited under international law." The UN humanitarian chief underscored that "Any attempt to change the demographic composition of Gaza must be firmly rejected." Corpses on Gaza streets amid 'utter horror' Griffiths said his colleagues who have managed to make it to the North in recent days describe scenes of utter horror: Corpses left lying in the road. People with evident signs of starvation stopping trucks in search of anything they can get to survive. And even if people were able to return home, many no longer have homes to go to, he noted. The UN relief chief went on to describe the situation in Gaza as horrific amid relentless Israeli military strikes on neighborhoods across the region, lamenting the death and injury of thousands of people, the vast majority women and children, as a result of the Tel Aviv regime's ongoing offensives. "There is no safe place in Gaza. Dignified human life is a near impossibility," Griffiths said. He noted that the escalation of Israeli onslaught further southwards would significantly increase pressure for the mass displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into neighboring countries. "Some countries have already offered to host civilians who want to leave Gaza for their protection," the UN relief chief said. "I want to emphasize that any persons displaced from Gaza must be allowed to return, as international law demands." He noted that the UN's efforts to send humanitarian convoys to the northern Gaza have been met with delays, denials, and the imposition of impossible conditions. "The lack of respect for the humanitarian notification system puts every movement of aid workers in danger, as do the wholly insufficient quantities of armored vehicles and the limited communications equipment that we have been allowed to bring in. "In the South, an expansion of the offensive into Rafah would seriously challenge already overstretched humanitarian operations that require extraordinary measures just to deliver the most meager assistance," Griffiths said. He reiterated his call for far greater compliance with international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians and the infrastructure they depend on; the provision of essentials for survival; the facilitation of humanitarian assistance at the scale required; and the humane treatment and immediate release of all hostages. Griffiths finally demand a ceasefire and urged the Security Council to take urgent action to bring the Gaza war to an end. Israel waged the war on Gaza on October 7 after the Strip-based Palestinian resistance groups of Hamas and Islamic Jihad carried out the surprise Operation Al-Aqsa Storm into the occupied territories in response to the occupying regime's intensified crimes against the Palestinian people. According to the Gaza-based health ministry, at least 23,708 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the strikes, and more than 60,000 other individuals injured. Tel Aviv has also imposed a "complete siege" on Gaza, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to the more than two million Palestinians living there. More than three months into the offensive, the usurping Israeli regime has failed to achieve its objectives of "destroying Hamas" and finding Israeli captives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US-UK naval fleet 'legitimate' target for Yemenis, warns Ansarullah Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 7:40 AM A senior official of Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement has warned that the American and British naval fleet will be a "legitimate" target for the country's armed forces following a wave of attack on Yemen in response to anti-Israeli strikes. Mohammad al-Bakhiti, a member of Ansarullah's politburo, made the warning in an interview with Lebanon's Arabic-language al-Manar television channel following deadly strikes by the American and British warplanes on several Yemeni provinces. He stressed that Yemen has entered a new stage of direct confrontation with the United States and Britain. "The American and British naval fleet will be the legitimate target of the Yemeni forces after changing their strategic approach. The US, along with the Zionist enemy, is involved in the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and the battle is now between truth and falsehood." The Ansarullah official said, "Yemen and Lebanon's support for Palestine caused fears to be shattered and the US's claims to fall flat. We are facing major changes in the region and the Arab governments must prepare themselves for popular changes in the future." Bakhiti also warned Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against any involvement in the US-led escalation in the strategic Red Sea. "If Saudi Arabia and the UAE directly involve in aggression against Yemen, we will target their vital centers. The apparent neutrality of Saudi Arabia towards aggression against Yemen is the result of the fear from Yemen's reaction," he underlined. Early on Friday, the American and British warplanes targeted with 73 missiles five regions of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah, Ta'izz, Hajjah, and Sa'ada, killing at least five people and wounding six others. On Saturday morning, the US military claimed to have conducted a new attack against a radar site that belonged to Ansarullah resistance movement in the capital Sana'a. 'Enemies lined up in crosshairs' Mohammad Nasser al-Atefi, the Yemeni National Salvation Government's Defense Minister, underscored Sana'a's readiness to deter and respond to any Western aggression and said Yemen has the "upper hand" in the Red and Arabian Sea. "As long as the war against the people of Gaza continues, we have surprises and they will happen at the appropriate time specified by our leader," Atefi said, adding, "We advise you to leave the region and do not make false excuses and justifications. Our hands are on the trigger and our spirit is harder than steel." Underlining that the Red Sea is "forbidden" for the Zionist regime, the defense minister said, "We only target Israeli ships or ships supporting it or bound for this regime. We assure international ships crossing the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea that they will not be harmed." The Yemeni Armed Forces have vowed that the any "criminal aggression" by the US and UK against their country will not go "unanswered and unpunished." 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 23,357 people, most of them women and children. Another 59,410 individuals have been wounded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Four young Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces across occupied West Bank Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 7:28 AM At least four young Palestinian men have been shot dead by Israeli forces in two separate incidents in the West Bank, as violence escalates in the occupied territory concurrent with the Tel Aviv regime's relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA, citing medical sources, said Israeli forces opened fire on three teenagers near the illegal Adora settlement, west of al-Khalil, on Friday evening. The three victims were identified as 19-year-old Ismail Ahmed Yousef Abu Jahisha and his cousin Mahmoud Arafat Yousef Abu Jahisha, 16, as well as Odai Ismaeil Yousef, also 16. Local sources, requesting anonymity, said Israeli troops sealed off entrances to the towns of Idhna and Tarqumiyah in the aftermath of the shooting, and deployed their forces heavily in the vicinity of the settlement. Flares were also fired in the area by the Israeli troops. WAFA report appears to dismiss Israeli media narratives that the three had "infiltrated" the settlement. The Israeli military alleged in a statement that the three Palestinians opened fire at troops conducting a patrol in Adora. It further claimed that a 34-year-old settler was shot in the leg during the purported attack, and was in good-to-moderate condition. He was reportedly conscious when taken to hospital. The military said troops were continuing to search the settlement. Separately, a Palestinian university student was killed and two others suffered gunshot wounds in their lower extremities during an Israeli military raid into the town of Zeita, located 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) northeast of Tulkarm. Confrontations broke out following the Israeli military incursion into the town, during which Israeli forces attacked residents and injured three youths. Local sources said Israeli troops opened live fire and tear gas canisters heavily toward locals, and prevented ambulances from reaching the scene. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) said its crews dealt with very serious injuries as a result of the attack, which caused a 19-year-old teenager to suffer a cardiopulmonary arrest. He was transferred to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. WAFA identified the teenager as Khalid Ahmed Zubeid, a sophomore student specializing in communications engineering at Palestine Technical University - Kadoorie (PTUK). Dr. Amin Khader, the head of Thabet Thabet Government Hospital in Tulkarm, said bruises were widespread across the teenager's body, suggesting that he had been severely beaten by Israeli troops. Israel has ramped up its aggression in the West Bank since its bombardment of Gaza began in early October. At least 344 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank since October 7 when Israel waged the genocidal war on Gaza after Hamas carried out a historic operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Israeli aggression has so far killed at least 23,708 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and wounded more than 60,000 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US military conducts new missile strike on Yemeni capital Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 5:23 AM The US military say it has conducted a new missile strike on Yemen, targeting a radar site in the capital Sana'a in response to Yemenis' pro-Palestinian strikes. The US military claimed that the new attack, which was carried out at 03:45 a.m. local time (0045 GMT) on Saturday morning, struck a radar site that belonged to Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the attack on the radar infrastructure was launched from the US Navy's US Carney and with the use of Tomahawk missiles. In a social media post, CENTCOM described the attack as a "follow-on action" from the joint US-UK missile barrages late on Thursday night, which the US said had targeted Houthi Ansarullah military sites across Yemen. Yemeni Arabic-language al-Masirah television network reported the US missile strike early on Saturday and cited a local corresponded as saying that the aggression had targeted the al-Dailami base in the capital Sana'a. Early on Friday, the American and British warplanes targeted with 73 missiles five regions of Yemen, including the capital Sana'a and the provinces of Hudaydah, Ta'izz, Hajjah, and Sa'ada, killing at least five people and wounding six others. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces, said the United States and the United Kingdom bear full responsibility for the "criminal aggression," and the attack against the country would not go "unanswered and unpunished." 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 23,357 people, most of them women and children. Another 59,410 individuals have been wounded. Reports revealed 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 after the regime's aggression on Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China: US, UK attack on Yemen will definitely exacerbate regional tensions Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 2:36 AM China's envoy to the United Nations warns about the pending regional consequences of the United States and Britain's recent military attack against Yemen. Zhang Jun made the remarks at a UN Security Council meeting on Friday, a day after the Western allies attacked the Arab Peninsula nation with warplanes and Tomahawk missiles. The attack came in response to Yemen's strikes in support of the Gaza Strip that has come under a genocidal and Washington-backed Israeli war. "The military action launched by the US and the UK against Yemen will undoubtedly exacerbate regional tensions," Zhang said. "We call on all parties to effectively abide by the UN Charter and international law. And to make joint efforts to maintain peace and security in the Red Sea and the Middle East," he added. The Chinese official also took aim at the Israeli regime's hypocritical accusations against the UN of not being able to provide humanitarian assistance for Gaza amid the incessant Israeli war. "It is Israel that has continued its indiscriminate bombardment against Gaza, and has placed numerous obstacles blocking access to humanitarian supplies. But it is also Israel that has accused the United Nations of not having the ability to provide humanitarian assistance. This is totally unacceptable," Zhang pointed out. Also addressing the meeting, Palestine's UN ambassador Riyad Mansour called for immediate cessation of the Israeli war. "If you want to send humanitarian assistance up to scale, if you want to prevent the forced displacement, if you want an army of humanitarian officers from the United Nations to be able to deliver humanitarian assistance to every corner in the Gaza Strip, you cannot do it without a ceasefire," Mansour said. More than 23,500 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have died so far during the military campaign that the Israeli regime began on October 7 following an operation staged by Gaza's resistance movements. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbia Blasts Kosovo's Rearming Of Police As 'Extremely Provocative, Dangerous' By RFE/RL's Balkan Service January 13, 2024 Serbian Interior Minister Bratislav Gasic has accused Pristina of dangerously stoking tensions after his Kosovar counterpart, Xhelal Svecla, said that all police on patrol in the former Serbian province would be equipped with rifles. Svecla announced the move on January 12 with immediate effect, ratcheting up tensions after deadly violence last year near the border between the neighboring Balkan states. Gasic called the additional firepower for the mostly ethnic Albanian police force "extremely provocative and dangerous for increasing tensions." Svecla thanked "the Croatia friendly state" in his post announcing the move. "With the purchase of these weapons for all police patrols around the Republic of Kosovo, the efficiency in the fight against crime increases, which enables a safer environment, calmer public order, and more security for our police officers," Svecla said. The addition of rifles to Kosovar patrols follows a deadly incident in September that sent shock waves through Kosovo and the international community, which is seeking normalized relations between Pristina and Belgrade. An ethnic Albanian Kosovar police officer was left dead after the September encounter with masked commandos allegedly led by a Kosovar Serb politician who has long enjoyed Belgrade's support and is now thought to be in Serbia. Three of the gunmen were also killed amid an hours-long standoff at the Banjska Monastery complex near Kosovo's border with Serbia that Svecla and Kosovo's president and prime minister blamed on Serbia and its proxies. NATO KFOR peacekeepers were dragged into the violence last May when angry Serbs who live in the mostly Serb north mobilized to resist the forcible installment of ethnic Albanians after mostly boycotted local elections. International pressure has mounted on both sides to make progress in EU-moderated negotiations that have lasted more than a decade to regularize diplomatic and other relations between Kosovo and the much larger Serbia. Belgrade and its ally Russia still refuse to recognize Kosovo's sovereignty since a 2008 declaration of independence that followed a decade of UN administration after a bloody ethnically fueled war. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kosovo-police-arming-serbia- provocation/32772891.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Abkhaz Separatists Say Work Set To Begin On Russian Naval Base In Georgian Region By Current Time January 13, 2024 The head of a de facto security body in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia has been quoted by Russian state media as saying Moscow is preparing to build a naval base in the Black Sea coastal enclave. RIA Novosti also quoted separatist Security Council head Sergei Shamba as saying on January 12 that construction on the purported facility should begin this year. Tbilisi and the overwhelming majority of the international community regard Abkhazia and nearby South Ossetia as Georgian territory occupied by Russia. Aside from Russia, only Venezuela, Nicaragua, Nauru, and Syria have recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent. Shamba did not say what kind of Russian vessels were expected to use the planned base. The Abkhaz region's Moscow-backed de facto president, Aslan Bjaniya, said in October that a deal had been signed to locate a Russian naval base in the port of Ochamchira. Separatists in Abkhazia tried to declare independence from Georgia in 1992, a move that set up 16 years of tensions with Tbilisi before a 2008 war involving Russian troops. Russian forces supporting the separatists in Abkhazia and South Ossetia control around one-fifth of internationally recognized Georgian territory. Moscow's invasion and the annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in 2014 marked a grab at another strategically sensitive Black Sea coastal region. Russia's Black Sea Fleet is headquartered in the port of Sevastopol in Crimea and has come under repeated attack from Ukrainian forces since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/abkhazia-russia-naval-base- georgia/32772824.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Council Of Europe Urges Armenia, Azerbaijan To Focus On Rights, Safe Return Of Karabakh Refugees By RFE/RL's Armenian Service January 13, 2024 The Council of Europe's commissioner for human rights, Dunja Mijatovic, has urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to focus in their ongoing peace talks on ensuring rights for everyone affected by the conflict between the two Caucasus rivals. In a statement on January 12, she said her visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh region in late October -- the highest-profile rights visit to the Nagorno-Karabakh region in decades -- highlighted the plight of more than 100,000 Karabakh Armenian refugees. Following decades of control by ethnic Armenians, nearly all of the residents fled Nagorno-Karabakh after Baku wrested control of the internationally recognized Azerbaijani region in a lightning offensive in September. Mijatovic said "Karabakh Armenians found themselves abandoned without any reliable security or protection guarantees by any party, and...leaving home was the only reasonable option available." She said those former residents must be allowed to return with their properties intact. Ethnic Armenians have accused Baku's forces of retributive attacks and other abuses, including the widespread destruction of property. Mijatovic welcomed "the steps taken by the Azerbaijani government to facilitate the return of internally displaced persons to the Karabakh region" but "expressed the hope that all internally displaced persons who so wish will be able to return as soon as possible in safety and dignity." She said that "pending a possible return, ways should be promptly found, including by establishing security guarantees, for Karabakh Armenians to temporarily access their homes or places of habitual residence, and visit graveyards where loved ones are buried." She said the Azerbaijani authorities were responsible for ensuring the protection of property and the prevention of looting. "The few ethnic Armenians who have stayed in the Karabakh region should also benefit from all human rights protection, including by having their freedom of movement secured," she added. She encouraged both sides to build trust. Mijatovic's statement was a follow-up to her visit to the region from October 16-23. As international officials have pressed peace talks, the leader of Nagorno-Karabakh separatists ousted from the region in September, Samvel Shahramanian, said in December that a decree he signed on the dissolution of separatist institutions was no longer valid. The United States in January put mostly Muslim Azerbaijan on a watch list for engaging in or tolerating "severe violations of religious freedom" since Baku retook Nagorno-Karabakh from mostly Christian ethnic Armenians. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/council-of-europe- mijatovic-nagorno-karabakh-rights/32772799.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany to Send Frigate to Red Sea Amid Increased Houthi Attacks - Reports Sputnik News 20240113 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany will send its frigate Hessen to the Red Sea on February 1 and use its military force to intercept missiles and drones of Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, as part of the upcoming EU naval operation in the region, German newspaper Welt am Sonntag reported on Saturday. Germany's frigate Hessen is equipped with anti-aircraft missiles, a radar reconnaissance system capable of tracking 1,000 targets simultaneously, and attack helicopters, the report said. Until recently, the frigate was involved in NATO exercises in the North Sea and the Arctic for six months, the newspaper reported. Berlin's decision to send the frigate will contribute to the EU's upcoming naval operation in the Red Sea, Welt am Sonntag reported, adding that the bloc was expected to announce its official decision on the establishment of the mission at a meeting of the EU foreign ministers on February 19. The operation itself is scheduled to be launched at the end of February, the report said. On Monday, lead spokesman for EU foreign affairs Peter Stano said that top EU diplomat Josep Borrell was planning to launch consultations with the bloc's member states regarding the potential creation of a specific EU mission to the Red Sea amid a surge in attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on cargo ships. In November 2023, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, UK Carrying Out New Strikes on Naval Base in Western Yemen Sputnik News 20240113 DOHA (Sputnik) - The United States and the United Kingdom are carrying out new strikes against a Yemeni military naval base that is located opposite the coast of the port city of Al Hudaydah in western Yemen, a source in the local government told Sputnik on Saturday. "US and UK aircraft are carrying out strikes on a naval base in the western Yemeni city of Al Hudaydah," the source said. At the same time, Lebanese broadcaster Al Mayadeen reported that explosions were heard in southern Al Hudaydah. In the early hours of Friday, the United States and the UK carried out air strikes against Houthi positions in retaliation for attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea. The strikes hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations, US Air Forces Central said. Russia has condemned the air strikes on Yemen conducted in absence of a UN mandate, calling them a direct threat to global peace and security. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Death Toll From Israeli Strikes on Gaza Strip Rises to Over 23,800 - Gaza Health Ministry Sputnik News 20240113 DOHA (Sputnik) - The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, when the Israel-Hamas conflict escalated, has increased to 23,843, while 60,317 others have been injured, the enclave's health ministry said on Saturday. "The death toll from Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 23,843, and 60,317 others have been injured," a spokesperson for the ministry told a press briefing broadcast by Al Jazeera. As many as 135 people of this number were killed in 12 Israeli airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in the past 24 hours, the representative added. "One in twenty Palestinians is already dead, wounded or missing," the spokesperson said at the press briefing. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. 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. 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 ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address How is the UN helping civilians in Gaza? 13 January 2024 - Despite the immense dangers and obstacles, the UN continues to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid in Gaza. Here is an overview of the humanitarian efforts in the occupied territory. In conflict zones across the world, UN humanitarian workers work under extreme conditions, but it is hard to exaggerate the risks they are facing in Gaza, where hospitals, schools, and refugee camps are not immune to the threats of bombardment. Evacuation orders continue to be issued, pushing more people south in fear for their safety. Many roads are becoming impassable as more informal sites continue to spring up. In addition, the cold winter season, with strong winds and torrential rains, is adding another layer of challenges to UN convoys carrying supplies to the people in need. The UN is leading aid efforts in Gaza, working closely with all humanitarian partners, including international and national NGOs. Keeping track of the aid The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) is tasked with ensuring that the flurry of response efforts is as efficient as possible, avoiding duplication, and accurately prioritizing aid delivery according to needs. The situation is catastrophic: food and water are in short supply and nearly non-existent in northern Gaza, and the few remaining health centres in the Strip are overwhelmed with patients. Aid is available, but convoys face excessive delays at Israeli checkpoints, agreed routes that are impossible to navigate because of the bombings, and repeated access denials by Israeli authorities. As a result, only a fraction of planned aid deliveries is getting through. Shelters under fire UNRWA, one of the oldest and largest of the UN agencies, was set up seven decades ago, to provide relief for Palestine refugees. In Gaza, UNRWA operates schools, runs relief and social programmes, and healthcare services. The crisis has severely affected all of UNRWA's operations in the Strip: as of 10 January, some 1.7 million people were sheltering in, or nearby, 155 UNRWA facilities, which are "far exceeding their intended capacity" and have been targeted by bombardments: the agency says that their installations have received more than 60 direct hits, with at least 319 displaced people killed in the agency's shelters and more than 1,135 injured since 7 October. In addition, more than 140 UNRWA colleagues are known to have been killed to date. 'High-risk" missions Since October, UN teams have undertaken high risk missions to deliver supplies, visiting badly damaged health facilities overflowing with patients, with extremely limited resources: In Gaza City, there are no fully operational hospitals remaining. In recent days, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has insisted that the agency, along with its partners, is "completely ready" to deliver assistance, but has been sorely hampered by access issues and ongoing hostilities: on 10 January, the head of WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus, stated that 6 planned missions to northern Gaza have been cancelled since 26 December. Giving birth in a warzone UNFPA is recognized as the sole provider of family planning in Gaza, and coordinates between service providers to harmonize family planning services. The four-day humanitarian pause in late November 2023 allowed life-saving reproductive health kits from the UN reproductive and maternal health agency (UNFPA) to be brought into Gaza. Since then, the delivery of UNFPA aid has been extremely limited, but UNFPA has continued to take part in high-risk missions with other agencies and has committed to continue doing everything possible to bring much needed aid into the occupied territory. Cash, clothing, and child protection Even before the crisis that erupted in October, almost a third of Palestinians were living in poverty, unable to afford enough food, clothing or housing. The UN Children's agency, UNICEF, provides invaluable support for young people, from early childhood to adolescence, in areas such as education, health, child protection, and sanitation. Since the conflict, an estimated 10,000 children in Gaza have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, according to NGO Save The Children. The agency has managed to provide thousands of litres of fuel, allowing public and private water wells and desalination plants to produce clean water; drinkable water; winter clothing; vaccines; and cash assistance. However, this amount of fuel is just a drop in the ocean, in comparison to the needs. On 9 January, a UNICEF cash-for-work pilot project was launched in northern Gaza, where 100 workers will be paid to support the cleaning of solid waste and sanitation for the next three months. 2.2 million in food crisis Some 2.2 million people in Gaza are in crisis, or worse, levels of acute food insecurity in Gaza, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned. WFP has managed to provide emergency food and cash assistance to over 856,700 people across Gaza and the West Bank since the beginning of the conflict, but describes humanitarian operations as being "on the brink of collapse", and has called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, the opening of all border crossings, and the resumption of commercial cargo to provide relief and put an end to the suffering. UN Entities in Palestine In all, 23 UN agencies, funds, and programmes are present in Palestine, under the leadership of the Resident Coordinator, The United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Palestine comprises all heads of UN agencies operating in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). As well the entities mentioned above, many major agencies are represented in the oPt, including the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN Women, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and UNESCO. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Gaza Strip: 100 days of death, destruction and displacement UNRWA 13 Jan 2024 FROM UNRWA COMMISSIONER-GENERAL PHILIPPE LAZZARINI THE GAZA STRIP, "The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss, and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity. "It's been 100 days since the devastating war started, killing and displacing people in Gaza, following the horrific attacks that Hamas and other groups carried out against people in Israel. It's been 100 days of ordeal and anxiety for hostages and their families. "In the past 100 days, sustained bombardment across the Gaza Strip caused the mass displacement of a population that is in a state of flux - constantly uprooted and forced to leave overnight, only to move to places which are just as unsafe. This has been the largest displacement of the Palestinian people since 1948. "This war affected more than 2 million people - the entire population of Gaza. Many will carry lifelong scars, both physical and psychological. The vast majority, including children, are deeply traumatized. "Overcrowded and unsanitary UNRWA shelters have now become "home" to more than 1.4 million people. They lack everything, from food to hygiene to privacy. People live in inhumane conditions, where diseases are spreading, including among children. They live through the unlivable, with the clock ticking fast towards famine. "The plight of children in Gaza is especially heartbreaking. An entire generation of children is traumatized and will take years to heal. Thousands have been killed, maimed, and orphaned. Hundreds of thousands are deprived of education. Their future is in jeopardy, with far-reaching and long-lasting consequences. "The crisis in Gaza is a man-made disaster compounded by dehumanizing language and the use of food, water and fuel as instruments of war. The humanitarian operation has fast become one of the most complex and challenging in the world; largely due to cumbersome procedures for the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and a myriad of obstacles to the safe and orderly distribution of aid, including ongoing hostilities. Humanitarian aid alone will not be sufficient to reverse a looming famine. A flow of commercial goods must also be allowed in. "International Humanitarian Law, put in place to protect civilians and regulate the conduct of hostilities, is regularly flouted. Civilians and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and UNRWA shelters, were hit over the last three months, killing hundreds of civilians and injuring thousands. UNRWA installations should be protected at all times, and provide the protection civilians are seeking. They should never be used for military purposes by any party. "Despite repeated calls, a humanitarian ceasefire is still not in place to stop the killing of people in Gaza and enable the safe delivery of food, medicine, water and shelter. The onset of winter makes life even more unbearable, especially for those living out in the open. "Aid workers, including 146 of my own UNRWA colleagues, were killed alongside doctors, journalists and children - no one is spared. Entire residential neighborhoods, places of worship, and historic buildings were razed, wiping out centuries of history, civilization and people's memories. "For the people of Gaza, the past 100 days have felt like 100 years. "It is high time we restore the value of human life". ENDS NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Launches Follow-Up Strike on Houthi Radar Site By Jeff Seldin January 13, 2024 The United States launched a follow-up strike against a Houthi target in Yemen early Saturday, after officials said they were not satisfied with the damage inflicted during the initial round of airstrikes late Thursday. U.S. Central Command said it launched the additional strike from the USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, firing multiple Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles to take out a radar site that it said presented a continuing threat to maritime traffic. The strike comes a little more than a day after the U.S. and British militaries carried out dozens of strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen in retaliation for weeks of Houthi attacks that have disrupted shipping and damaged vessels transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Early Friday, Houthi militants launched an anti-ship ballistic missile, U.S. military officials confirmed, though it did not hit any ships. U.S. and British officials had expressed optimism Friday that the initial strikes late Thursday, which are now being described as two waves of strikes, were successful. A U.S. defense official told VOA on Friday that the initial assessment indicates the first wave of precision strikes late on Thursday degraded the ability of the Houthis to launch further attacks. The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss operational details, said a more comprehensive assessment of the strikes was still underway. But the sentiment echoed other early assessments by senior U.S. officials, who have described the damage to Houthi capabilities as "significant." "We feel very confident about where our munitions struck," Lieutenant General Douglas Sims, the director of the Joint Staff, told reporters Friday. "But we don't know at this point the complete battle damage assessment." More than 150 munitions aimed at Houthis U.S. Central Command late Thursday said that U.S. fighter jets, naval vessels and submarines hit more than 60 targets at 16 locations across Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen, including command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, and production facilities. But, Sims said Friday, the U.S. and Britain launched a second wave of strikes against another 12 locations 30 minutes to an hour after the initial strikes were carried out. The additional sites, each with multiple targets, "had been identified as possessing articles that could be potentially used against forces, maritime and air," he said, noting the strikes were taken in self-defense. U.S. officials said, in all, more than 150 precision guided munitions were aimed at Houthi targets, including Tomahawk missiles. At least three U.S. guided missile cruisers and destroyers the USS Gravely, the USS Philippine Sea, and the USS Mason took part in the strikes along with an Ohio-class submarine, fighter jets from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier, and U.S. Air Force jets. A separate statement Friday from the British Defense Ministry said four of its Typhoon fighter jets, accompanied by an air refueling tanker, used laser-guided bombs to hit two locations: a drone launch site in Bani, in northwestern Yemen, and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones at ships in the Red Sea. "Early indications are that the Houthis' ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow," the ministry said. Retaliation likely, say US officials Despite the optimistic strike assessments, U.S. officials said they believe the Houthis are likely to retaliate. "My guess is that the Houthis are trying to figure things out on the ground and trying to determine what capabilities still exist for them," Sims said. "Their rhetoric has been pretty strong and pretty high, and I would expect that they will attempt some sort of retaliation." "I would hope they wouldn't," he added, describing the Houthi efforts as "generally fruitless." But the White House repeated its warning Friday that the Houthis would face additional consequences if their attacks persisted. "We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior, along with our allies," U.S. President Joe Biden said in response to reporters' questions during a stop at a coffee shop in Pennsylvania on Friday. Reporters asked him if the Houthis are terrorists, and he replied, "I think they are." In 2021, his administration removed the Houthis from the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations. Also Friday, the U.S. unveiled new sanctions aimed at commodity shipments that have been funding the Houthis and their Iranian backers. U.S. Treasury Department officials imposed sanctions on a Hong-Kong-based company and another company in the United Arab Emirates, both of which have been working with Sa'id al-Jamal, a financier who has been supporting both the Houthis and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force. "We will take all available measures to stop the destabilizing activities of the Houthis and their threats to global commerce," Treasury Undersecretary Brian Nelson said in a statement. Since mid-November, the Houthis have launched at least 28 attacks, affecting citizens, cargo and vessels from more than 50 countries, according to the U.S. U.S. officials have said that Biden made the decision to launch Thursday's strikes following a Houthi attack on shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on Tuesday that involved 18 one-way attack drones, two cruise missiles and one ballistic missile. U.S. combat jets, along with U.S. and British military vessels, responded by shooting down the drones and missiles, averting any damage to ships or injuries to their crews in the area. Last week, the United States and 12 allies issued a statement warning the Houthis of unspecified consequences if their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea continued. The statement followed the launch in mid-December of Operation Prosperity Guardian by the United States, Britain and nearly 20 other countries to protect ships from Houthi attacks. Since the launch of Prosperity Guardian, at least 1,500 vessels have passed safely through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. The U.N. Security Council adopted its own resolution Wednesday, calling on the Houthis to stop the attacks immediately. But Russia, which abstained in the vote, called for an emergency meeting of the council Friday evening to discuss the strikes. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the U.S.-British strikes a "blatant armed aggression against another country." He argued that the strikes did not meet the conditions for self-defense under Article 51 of the U.N. Charter. "Article 51 does not apply to the situation with commercial shipping," Nebenzia said. "The right to self-defense cannot be exercised in order to ensure the freedom of shipping. Our American colleagues know this fact very well." In a statement Friday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea area are "not acceptable" and endanger the safety and security of global supply chains and have a negative impact on the economic and humanitarian situation worldwide. He urged the Houthis to immediately cease their attacks and called for all parties to respect the Security Council resolution in its entirety. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told the Council that the strikes were consistent with international law and Article 51. She said Washington does not take such strikes lightly and they were only carried out "after non-military options proved inadequate to address the threat." VOA White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara and U.N. Correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt Worries US-British Attacks on Houthis Could Escalate Gaza Conflict By Edward Yeranian January 13, 2024 After the latest U.S. and British airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to Houthi drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, some commentators in Egypt said that more attacks could reduce Suez Canal traffic and damage the Egyptian and world economy. Former Egyptian deputy foreign minister Hussein Haridi told Arab media that the U.S. and British attacks would probably damage Egypt's already-struggling economy and cut shipping through the Suez Canal even more than the 30% decline that occurred in December. He said if the U.S.-British attacks on the Houthis continue, it's not going to resolve the problem but exacerbate it and cause a widening of the conflict to other fronts in the region and affect both the security and the economies of the [Middle East] and Europe. Haridi noted that an escalating conflict could result in an attack on a U.S. or British warship, that would force a more robust response from the U.S. or Britain. Khattar Abou Diab, who teaches political science at the University of Paris, told VOA that the U.S. and British strikes against the Houthis come after dozens of Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and are intended to dissuade them from conducting more attacks: He said that the U.S. and British strikes come after 32 Houthi attacks, not just against ships heading toward Israel but international shipping, in addition to a major attack on January 9 using 13 drones and a barrage of missiles, causing over 2,000 ships to divert from the Red Sea and Suez Canal [to take the longer route around the Horn of Africa]. Professor Said Sadek at Egypt's Japanese University in Alexandria told VOA that he thinks the U.S. would have killed Houthi leaders or commanders if it had really wanted to escalate the situation and that Yemen's tribal society would have pushed the Houthis to seek revenge. Egypt, he suggested, may also have turned a blind eye to the U.S. attack. "[Egypt] may have turned a blind eye [to the attack] because it's 3,200 kilometers from Cyprus [where there's a British base] to Yemen," he said. London-based Iran expert Ali Nourizadeh told VOA that he thinks that Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders are working closely with the Houthis to coordinate drone strikes and other attacks on Red Sea shipping. "The Iranians, one way or the other, insisted that they were not involved [in the attacks on Red Sea shipping]," he said. "While they were involved, but [Iran] doesn't want to put America in a corner and force them to attack, so they said they were not involved, and they keep saying that." Nourizadeh also said he thinks that Israel doesn't want to expand the scope of its proxy conflict with Iran, either. "One front is enough for [Israel]," he argued. "Israel hasn't even fought with [Lebanon's] Hezbollah militia group the way they thought they would fight." Israel, has nevertheless, attacked pro-Iranian militia forces in Syria on a number of occasions since the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which ignited the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Remarks by President Biden Before Marine One Departure January 13, 2024 South Lawn Q Mr. President, do you have a reaction to the Taiwan election? THE PRESIDENT: We do not support independence. (Inaudible.) Q Mr. President, would you call the situation on the southern border a "crisis"? THE PRESIDENT: No, but I wish they would react. I've been pushing them my Republican colleagues since I got into office. I think we have to make major changes at the border. I've been pushing it. I'm prepared to make significant alterations at the border. And there are negotiations going on for the last five weeks, so I'm hopeful we'll get there. (Cross-talk.) THE PRESIDENT: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Q Any comment any comment Q What's your message to Iran THE PRESIDENT: Pardon me? Q What's next with support for Ukraine? THE PRESIDENT: Well, if my Republican colleagues don't fund Ukraine, they're going to have an awful lot of to pay for, in terms of (inaudible). Q Mr. President, any comment any comment on the political change in Poland as the new pro-European Union government is taking over? THE PRESIDENT: I think that's very good pro-European. Q Are you going to invite Polish the new Polish Prime Minister to the White House? Q Do you have a message to Iran in the face of all these attacks from the Houthis? THE PRESIDENT: I've delivered we've delivered it privately, and we're confident we're well prepared. Q Are you (inaudible) executive action when it comes to the border to address the border crisis if Republicans don't pass more funding? THE PRESIDENT: Well, Republicans have to pass funding. They have to I've read one Republican said, "We don't want our border (inaudible) it'll only help Biden." I've been pushing for fundamental change on the border for a long time a long time. And so, I'm hopeful. I'm going to let those negotiations play out. But other than that, I'm going to take action myself. Thank you. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 13 January 2024 - Day 688 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of January 13, there were 49x combat engagements. During the day of January 13, Russian forces launched a total of 32x missile, 65x air strikes, and 42x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Private residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed or 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. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Vovchans'k and Vesele (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 35x settlements, including Kostyantynivka, Khotin', Popivka, Volfyne (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Pletenivka, Vovchans'k, and Potykhonove (Kharkiv oblast). Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x Russian attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). In that area, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of settlements of Pishchane and Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Lyman axis: Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and Terny (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces attempted to improve its tactical position in that area. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka, Serebryans'ke forestry (Luhansk oblast), and Sivers'k (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x Russian attack in the vicinity of Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Bohdanivka (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka, and 10x more attacks in the vicinities of Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Ocheretyne (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Avdiivka, and Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). With the air support, Russian forces made 16x unsuccessful attempts to break through the defense of Ukrainian troops. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka, and Paraskoviivka (Donetsk oblast) were under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Shakhtars'ke axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x adversary attacks south of Prechystivka and west of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to improve its tactical position in that area. Russian forces launched 1x air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), came under artillery and mortar fire. Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces made unsuccessful attempts to regain the lost ground in that area. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlement of Novoandriivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Mala Tokmachka, and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Kherson and the vicinities of Mykhailivka, Sadove, Dniprovske, and Veletens'ke (Kherson oblast) came under Russian artillery fire. Also, Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of settlements of Chervonyi Mayak and Zmiivka (Kherson oblast). Russian forces do not abandon their intention to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River. For instance, during the day of January 13, Russian forces attempted 4x unsuccessful assault operations, but the Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and inflict significant losses on the Russian adversary. During the day of January 13, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 11x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons, and military equipment. Also, the Ukrainian Air Defense forces and means destroyed 7x Kh-101 / Kh-555 / Kh-55 guided missiles and 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile. The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x concentrations of troops, weapons, and military equipment, 9x artillery systems, 4x air defense systems, 1x ammunition depot, and 1x electronic warfare station of the Russian invaders. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in the morning, the Russian Armed Forces delivered a group strike by high-precision long-range sea- and air-based weapons, including by Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles at Ukrainian military-industrial complex facilities producing 155, 152 and 125-mm shells, gunpowder, and unmanned aerial vehicles. The goal of the strike has been achieved. All the assigned targets have been engaged. In Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by artillery and aviation repelled three attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 30th and 60th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, one tank, five motor vehicles, one Krab self-propelled artillery system, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system. In addition, one ammunition depot of the AFU 27th Missile Troops Brigade was wiped out near Volchansk (Kharkov region). In Krasny Liman direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces supported by ground-attack aircraft, helicopters, and artillery repelled two attacks launched by assault detachments of the 5th and 13th Ukrainian national guard brigades near Chevonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic) and Serebryansky forestry. The AFU losses amounted to more than 280 Ukrainian troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer. In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces supported by aviation, artillery, and heavy flamethrower systems inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade, 46th Airmobile Brigade, 95th Air Assault Brigade, 112th and 122nd territorial defence brigades near Georgiyevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 320 Ukrainian troops, four tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, eight pickup trucks, one Strela-10 air defence system, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and two D-30 howitzers. In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade and 79th Air Assault Brigade near Novodonetskoye and Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 110 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one D-20 howitzer. In Zaporozhye direction, units of the Russian Group of Forces delivered integrated strikes at manpower and hardware of the AFU 65th Mechanised Brigade and 128th Mountain Assault Brigade near Rabotino and Zherebyanki (Zaporozhye region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, four 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 systematic strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 40 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems. Missile Troops and Artillery, attack unmanned aerial vehicles of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation neutralised 107 AFU artillery units at firing positions, as well as engaged enemy manpower and hardware in 131 areas. Air defence units shot down 21 unmanned aerial vehicles close to Veliky Vyselok, Olshana (Kharkov region), Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Berestovoye, Georgiyevka, Gorlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Tokmak, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region), as well as intercepted eight HIMARS MLRS shells. In total, 567 airplanes and 265 helicopters, 10,641 unmanned aerial vehicles, 448 air defence missile systems, 14,588 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,202 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 7,704 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 17,376 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister Joly meets with Japan's Foreign Affairs Minister Global Affairs Canada Readout January 13, 2024 - MontrAal, Quebec - Global Affairs Canada The Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today met with KAMIKAWA Yoko, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, during her visit in MontrAal, Quebec. Minister Joly extended Canada's sympathies to Minister Kamikawa following the recent earthquake in Japan and reiterated Canada's offer of support. During the meeting, the Ministers discussed the regional and global peace and security challenges stemming from Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, ongoing tensions in the Indo-Pacific region and the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ministers also discussed the progress made in strengthening collaboration between Canada and Japan under the Canada-Japan Action Plan and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, particularly in the areas of rule of law, regional security, multilateral cooperation and economic relations, and how they can better leverage these strategic plans to deepen our overall cooperation in the future. They also expressed their common commitment to advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda, as well as their shared belief in the important role it plays in promoting peace, resilience and security in the Indo-Pacific Region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with PRC Minister of the International Liaison Department of the CCP Central Committee Liu US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 12, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with People's Republic of China (PRC) Minister of the International Liaison Department Liu Jianchao in Washington, D.C. The two sides had a constructive discussion on a range of bilateral, regional, and global issues, including areas of potential cooperation and areas of difference. They reaffirmed the importance of continuing to implement the progress made on key issues in the Summit between President Biden and President Xi in Woodside, California, in November 2023, particularly counter-narcotics cooperation and military-to-military communications. The Secretary emphasized the importance of resolving the cases of American citizens who are wrongfully detained or subject to exit bans in China and raised U.S. concerns about PRC human rights abuses. The Secretary reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea. The two sides exchanged views on regional and global issues, including Russia's war against Ukraine, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Middle East, and the Secretary noted the importance of upholding and defending navigational rights and freedoms in the Red Sea and avoiding further escalation. Both sides recognized the importance of continuing to maintain open channels of communication between the U.S. and the PRC. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Seized Marshall Islands-Flagged Tanker Located Off Iran's Qeshm Island By RFE/RL's Radio Farda January 13, 2024 The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker seized by Iran in the Gulf of Oman on January 11 has been located east of Iran's Qeshm Island, monitoring service TankerTrackers.com said in a post on the X, formerly Twitter. Iran seized the St. Nikolas, loaded with Iraqi crude destined for Turkey, in retaliation for the confiscation last year of the same vessel and its Iranian oil cargo by the United States, Iranian state media reported. The semiofficial Fars news agency quoted by Reuters cited an Iranian Navy statement saying that the St. Nikolas tanker was en route to Iranian ports. The United States on January 11 condemned Iran's seizure of the tanker off the coast of Oman and called for the immediate release of the ship and its crew. "This unlawful seizure of a commercial vessel is just the latest behavior by Iran or enabled by Iran aimed at disrupting international commerce," State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters at a briefing. The U.S. will continue to consult with regional partners about appropriate steps to hold Iran accountable, he added. The seizure of the Marshall Islands-flagged St. Nikolas coincided with weeks of attacks by Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen who have targeted Red Sea shipping routes. Iranian state media said earlier that the ship was seized close to the Strait of Hormuz between Oman and Iran under an Iranian judicial order. "The Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized an American oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in accordance with a court order," Iran's official IRNA news agency said. It was unclear why the tanker was described as American. The seizure was in retaliation for a "violation committed by the Suez Rajan ship...and the theft of Iranian oil by the United States," IRNA said. TankerTrackers said the St. Nikolas was previously seized by the United States because it was breaking international sanctions by transporting Iranian oil. The cargo was eventually offloaded before the ship, which was called Suez Rajan at the time, was released. In July 2023, Iran threatened retaliation over the U.S. seizure of the Suez Rajan, heightening tensions between Washington and Tehran. The St. Nikolas was reportedly carrying Iraqi oil from the port of Basra in Iraq to an oil refinery in Turkey when it was seized. It has a crew of 18 Filipino nationals and one Greek national, according to the tanker's Greece-based management company, Empire Navigation. The U.K.-based maritime security company Ambrey said the vessel was boarded by about six "unauthorized" people who were armed and wearing black military uniforms. Ambrey said the group covered the ship's cameras, and communications with the vessel have since been lost. Iran has been reeling from crippling U.S. sanctions targeting Iran's oil exports restored after the United States unilaterally withdrew in 2018 from the Iran nuclear deal. Tehran has been amassing a "dark fleet" of oil tankers to circumvent the sanctions and offload contraband Iranian oil that helps keep Iran's economy afloat. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-seizes-oil- tanker-oman-gulf-sanctions-nikolas/32770424.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prime Minister's Office announcement Israel - Prime Minister's Office The 37th Government 13.01.2024 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke a short while ago with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and thanked him for Germany's decision to join as a third party in the proceedings instituted by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The Prime Minister told Chancellor Scholz that all Israelis were moved by his and Germany's standing on the side of truth, and that this blood libel, which is pure hypocrisy and malice, could not be allowed to triumph over the moral principles that are shared by our two countries and the entire civilized world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson January 12, 2024 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko and reaffirmed the vital importance of the ironclad U.S.-Japan Alliance in promoting global peace, security, and prosperity. Secretary Blinken expressed his condolences for those who lost their lives in the January 1 earthquake in Ishikawa Prefecture, as well as in the January 2 collision of a Japan Coast Guard aircraft and a passenger aircraft at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kamikawa discussed the situation in the Middle East, the two countries' enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as well as in the South China Sea. They also discussed the possibility of collaboration on Women, Peace, and Security initiatives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Logjam At Afghan-Pakistani Border, As Islamabad Tightens Document Requirements By RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal January 13, 2024 Hundreds of trucks and other cargo vehicles have been stranded at the Torkham border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan after Pakistan implemented a requirement for passports and valid visas for Afghan drivers beginning early on January 13. A countermove by authorities of the Taliban-led Afghan government appears to be compounding the chaos. A Pakistani official at Torkham told RFERL's Radio Mashaal that Afghan drivers without passports were now barred from entering the country. Hundreds of goods-laden trucks were stranded on the Afghan side of the heavily trafficked border as a result of the measure's implementation. The Afghan Taliban authorities have also stopped Pakistani cargo vehicles from entering Afghanistan in response. "Pakistan has repeatedly extended and given time on the valid visa and passport condition," a Pakistani official told RFERL. Afghan Taliban security officials had called for Afghan drivers' exemptions from the passport and visa requirement. The Taliban was said to have regarded the tightening as a unilateral decision. The federal government of Pakistan implemented a border-control policy in 2016, known as Border Management, that does not allow anyone without a passport or visa to travel through the Torkham border crossing. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- pakistan-torkham-logjam-document-requirements/32772899.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's comment on Boris Katkov's expulsion by the Latvian authorities 13 January 2024 17:04 23-13-01-2024 On January 12, retired Russian veteran and chair of the Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association Board Boris Katkov was expelled from the Republic of Latvia. In accordance with the decision by the Latvian Interior Ministry, our 82-year-old compatriot was expelled and will "never be allowed to come back" since he poses a "national security threat," which has become a common pretext for the police state in this Baltic country. This is an absolutely cynical verdict on behalf of the Latvian government, which violates the principle intended to prevent the separation of family members. In fact, Boris Katkov's spouse, children and grandchildren all remain in Latvia. This also runs counter to the 1994 Russia-Latvia intergovernmental agreement on social safeguards for Russian retired war veterans and their family members. We are convinced that this move is a provocation and a political manoeuvre violating human rights and freedoms, and is designed to intimidate Russian-speaking residents of Latvia who have become victims of neo-Nazi manifestations and Russophobia. We have little doubt that international human rights bodies will once again fail to speak against this latest manifestation of Riga's discriminatory policy towards our compatriots. Considering Boris Katkov's age and the stress he has had to endure, officials in the Pskov Regions have helped him find accommodation, and provided medical services and other forms of support. Our compatriot asked them to help him travel to Kaliningrad and received the assistance he needed. We will do everything to support him and provide for his comfort. Russia will stand by the people expelled from Latvia and will offer them the assistance they need. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Counting underway in Taiwan's pivotal presidential election The Saturday elections have been framed by Beijing as a choice between war and peace. By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.01.12 -- Voting has ended and counting is underway in Taiwan's presidential election, a ballot that will shape its future relationship with China and stance on independence and stability. Polls opened at 8:00 a.m. at nearly 18,000 locations, from the island's south to its capital Taipei and closed at 4 p.m with votes immediately being counted and reported to the election authorities soon after. The result for Saturday's election should be clear by late evening when the losers concede and the winner gives a victory speech. At stake is the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait between the Chinese mainland and the self-governed island, claimed by Beijing as its own, but equally important are bread-and-butter issues. Key candidates in the presidential race are: Vice President Lai Ching-te of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Hou Yu-ih of the Beijing-favored Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je of Taiwan's People's Party (TPP). Former physician and mayor of Tainan, Lai, known for his support of Taiwan independence, aims to continue President Tsai's policies of maintaining Taiwan's de facto independence amidst heightened tensions with Beijing. Facing challenges like slow wage growth and high housing costs, Lai's DPP, once an opposition to the KMT's rule, now faces criticisms of being the establishment. "Today is a glorious day, great weather to vote. I encourage everyone to go vote, demonstrate the vigor of Taiwanese democracy," said Lai after casting his vote in his hometown of Tainan. "Let Taiwan continue to move forward." Hou from the KMT, a former police officer and mayor of New Taipei City, represents a "Taiwanese flavor" in politics, which his party believes could help attract a broader voter base beyond its traditional supporters; he advocates for dialogue with Beijing under the "1992 consensus" to reduce cross-strait tensions. However, the viability of this consensus is in question since Chinese President Xi Jinping's 2019 interpretation aligned it with a stringent "one China principle," echoing the increasingly restrictive model seen in Hong Kong. "I am very happy to see people voluntarily come out to vote early in the morning. This demonstrates a very important voting behavior of Taiwanese democracy in the electoral process - where democracy is used to select the most ideal president, vice president and legislators," said Hou after voting in New Taipei City. "More importantly, no matter how chaotic the election process is, everyone must unite after the election." Ko, a former surgeon turned politician, founded the TPP four years ago, focusing on domestic issues like energy and housing, after a surprising victory in Taipei's mayoral race as an independent. While the TPP isn't strong enough to dominate the legislature, Ko aims to position it as a parliamentary power broker, advocating for a coalition with the KMT and offering a "third choice" to voters, with policies aligning more closely with the KMT's stance on China. Asked by journalists how he felt after casting his ballot in Taipei, Ko said: "Keep a normal mind, finish what one needs to finish every day, and plan for the next stage after each is completed." Just hours before the polls got underway China continued to assert its presence in the region. Taiwan's defense ministry said eight People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and six PLA Navy vessels were detected around the island as of 6 a.m. local time, with one aircraft entering Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone. Some voters may be dissuaded from supporting independence-leaning candidates by China's military threats, but the United States has pledged support for whichever government forms. A White House official said on Wednesday that U.S. President Joe Biden will send an "unofficial" delegation of former officials to Taiwan following the presidential elections. Aside from tensions with China, the Taiwan election is also predominantly determined by domestic concerns. In November 2023, Taiwan's statistics bureau reported its GDP growth forecast as 1.42%, the lowest since 2008. Taiwan is grappling with soaring housing prices, ranked among the highest globally, while its wage levels were among the lowest compared to other developed economies, according to March figures. The outcome of the elections will also impact the security and economy of neighboring countries like Japan and South Korea. Taro Aso, the former Prime Minister of Japan, recently warned that China's territorial claims on Taiwan could lead to a dire crisis for Japan, necessitating Tokyo's intervention in the Taiwan Strait during any conflict to protect its citizens. Additionally, a Bloomberg Economics report released on Tuesday indicated that South Korea's GDP would face the second-largest drop, after Taiwan, if a war were to break out between China and the democratic island. Experts who spoke to Radio Free Asia said they believe maintaining the status quo is considered the safest approach regardless of the outcome of the elections. Despite Beijing's ongoing threats to use force to reclaim Taiwan, there's little belief in an immediate invasion by China, they said, citing several factors at play: Taiwan's determination to maintain its freedom and identity, the relations between Washington and Beijing, and the U.S.'s commitment to protecting Taiwan's interests. Above all, the economic cost of a conflict could be devastating for the region and the world. For one, Taiwan is the leading global producer of the most advanced semiconductors. Beyond the presidential and vice presidential elections, there are also 113 legislative seats up for grabs. More than 83% of the total population, or approximately 19.55 million voters, are eligible to cast their ballot. In 2020, DPP President Tsai Ing-wen and her running mate Lai won over 8.17 million votes, or 57.13% of the total, to defeat Han Kuo-yu and Chang San-cheng of the KMT. Additionally, a majority of seats was gained by the DPP in the 2020 legislative election. Edited by Mike Firn and Elaine Chan. Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No party gets legislative majority; small TPP to play key role ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 11:41 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Neither of Taiwan's two major parties won an absolute majority in the Legislative Yuan on Saturday, leaving the upstart Taiwan People's Party in a position to influence the inner workings of the 113-seat body. The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has had an outright majority in the Legislature over the past eight years, lost 11 seats, including 10 held by incumbents, to finish with 51, while the Kuomintang (KMT) gained 15 seats to 52. Two independents ideologically leaning toward the KMT were also elected, leaving the final eight seats, all at-large legislators based on a separate vote for political parties, to the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) led by former Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je (). It was three more than the five the TPP has had the past four years, but the new distribution of seats means Ko will have a major say in which party the legislative speaker will come from, a key post given the speaker's power to direct the agenda and get the different caucuses to work together. Ko's party will also have the votes to support or block legislation, but it is unclear what strategy the party will adopt and how focused it will be on legislating rather than on trying to carve out its own brand. The last time no party had an absolute majority was in 2004, when Taiwan's Legislature had 225 seats. The DPP had 89 seats, the KMT 79, the People First Party (PFP) 34, and the Taiwan Solidarity Union 12. The KMT continued to work in a coalition with the PFP that began in 2001 to dominate legislative proceedings and serve as a check on some of the policies of then DPP President Chen Shui-bian (). Though the TPP gained an additional three seats Saturday, the election was a disaster for other small parties, with the other 13 parties competing for seats all shut out. The New Power Party (NPP), which held three seats entering Saturday, won only 2.57 percent of the party vote for at-large seats, well short of the 5 percent threshold needed to win seats. Also, neither of its candidates in Hsinchu City and Hsinchu County won election in their districts. Taipei In notable individual races, one of Taiwan's first-ever openly lesbian councilors, Miao Po-ya () of the Social Democratic Party, who had the DPP's backing, lost in Taipei's 6th electoral district (Daan District) to the KMT's Lo Chih-chiang (). The pro-independence Taiwan Statebuilding Party's Wu Hsin-tai () challenged the support base of incumbent DPP Legislator Kao Chia-yu () in Taipei's 4th electoral district (Neihu/Nangang), contributing to a win for the KMT's Lee Yan-hsiu (). Kao edged Lee in 2020 in a strong year for DPP candidates by just under 3 percentage points. In Taipei's 5th electoral district (Wanhua/Zhongzheng), where incumbent Freddy Lim () joined the DPP last year but did not seek re-election, a total of 10 candidates competed for the seat -- the most of any electoral district in the country. The DPP's Wu Pei-yi () won the race with 39.81 percent of the vote, topping Chung Hsiao-ping () of the KMT, who had 34.3 percent support, and media personality Belle Yu (), who run as an independent and garnered 23.1 percent support. Hsinchu, Taichung Hsinchu City was another district that saw a close battle between the two main parties, as their support bases were also challenged by NPP candidate Chiu Hsien-chih () and TPP Chairman Ko Wen-je's () sister Ko Mei-lan (), who ran as an independent. The incumbent, Cheng Cheng-chien () of the KMT won by 3.4 percentage points over DPP candidate Lin Chih-chieh (). Ko finished third, followed by Chiu. In Taichung, the TPP's Tsai Pi-ru (), who had the strong backing of the KMT and KMT Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen (), nearly pulled off a major upset, losing to the DPP's incumbent deputy Legislative Speaker Tsai Chi-chang () by 4.5 percentage points. Tsai Chi-chang won the seat in 2020 by a 37-point margin. Kaohsiung In Kaohsiung, 30-year-old Huang Jie () of the DPP stepped into the ring after three-term DPP Legislator Chao Tien-lin () ended his re-election bid following an extramarital affair scandal with a Chinese woman. Huang successfully kept the seat for the DPP and will be Taiwan's first openly lesbian legislator. Meanwhile, two seats were won by candidates with no party affiliation. Independent lawmakers Chen Chao-ming (), a former KMT lawmaker, and Indigenous Legislator May Chin (), who is also ideologically aligned with the KMT, were both re-elected. Of the DPP's 51 seats won Saturday, 36 were from single-member districts, two were from Indigenous constituencies, and 13 were elected as at-large legislators based on the political party vote. The KMT also won 36 single-member district constituencies, three Indigenous seats, and 13 at-large seats. (By Alison Hsiao) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Election result shows TPP has ushered in three-party politics in Taiwan: Ko ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 10:44 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Taiwan People's Party (TPP) founder Ko Wen-je () said on Saturday that despite losing the election, the TPP has ushered in a new era of Taiwanese politics that includes three major parties, with the TPP set to become a "critical minority" in the legislature. Saturday's election reaffirmed the widely held belief that Taiwan needs a voice other than the pan-green and the pan-blue political camps, and that that voice will be critical in guiding the country, Ko told thousands of supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters in New Taipei. The TPP secured eight legislative seats on the back of the party vote on Saturday, while the Kuomintang (KMT) secured 52 and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) finished with 51. The remaining two were won by independent candidates. Neither of the two major parties won an absolute majority. With the new batch of lawmakers set to be sworn in on Feb. 1, there is no time to wallow in sadness, Ko told the crowd, adding that he will still be up early for work tomorrow morning. Vowing to continue working hard, Ko said he believed four years down the line, TPP supporters will be just as confident as they were on Saturday when they voted for him and the TPP. Meanwhile, Ko said during a post-election press conference that he will stay on as TPP chairman, in response to media queries about whether he plans to resign from the post to take responsibility for his loss. "At this juncture, this party would fall apart if I resigned. So, for the time being, I have to continue working to deal with the written report [on the elections] and issues surrounding our lawmakers." There is no need to resign for the sake of resigning, as the TPP has its own schedule for electing its chair, Ko added. Asked to comment on Ko's defeat, a member of his campaign team, who asked not to be named, said the discussions with the KMT about a joint ticket and the subsequent collapse of those efforts had eroded Ko's support base, which comprised mainly borderline KMT and DPP supporters and people who were unenthusiastic about backing either of those two parties. When Ko initiated dialogue with the KMT, he alienated the causal supporters of the DPP, and when the proposed KMT-TPP alliance fell through in November, moderate KMT supporters largely rallied behind Hou, according to the TPP source. That sealed Ko's fate as the underdog in the three-way race, the source said. Opposition unravels With Vice President Lai Ching-te () of the DPP consistently leading in polls, an alliance between Ko and KMT's Hou Yu-ih () was widely viewed as crucial if Lai were to be defeated. However, talks about a joint KMT-TPP ticket seemed doomed from the outset, even as the two opposition parties started in mid-October to explore the possibility of a joint presidential ticket. Despite engaging in multiple rounds of negotiations, the two camps were constantly at loggerheads, bickering over the method that should be used to choose the ticket leader and, later, how to evaluate opinion polls, until all chances of compromise disappeared. The months-long attempt to form a joint ticket officially ended when Ko and Hou separately registered their presidential candidacies on Nov. 24, the deadline set by the Centra Election Commission (CEC). It was the unraveling of that potential alliance that marked Ko's decline in the opinion polls, as he dropped from second to third place in a majority of them. A look back at the journey Nevertheless, Ko, who had founded the TPP in 2019 as Taiwan's undisputed "third political party," succeeded during the campaign in propelling the TPP to greater prominence by appealing to the public to reject the "DPP and KMT" dichotomy. Rallying under the slogan "Abandon the Blue, Green camps; Safeguard Taiwan," Ko bolstered the confidence of supporters, after the KMT-TPP negotiations broke down. During the presidential campaign, he focused primarily on livelihood issues, but he chose to maintain an ambiguous stance on politically divisive matters, particularly his cross-strait policy, which drew heavy criticism of him as being evasive. On Jan. 5, for example, when asked about his views on Beijing's "one China" principle, Ko told reporters, "Mainstream opinion in the world does not accept that there are 'two Chinas.' Full stop," and he declined to comment further. A former physician, Ko attracted younger voters, who loved his perceived candor and flair for channeling plain and often acerbic language when discussing national issues. Among eligible voters under the age of 40, Ko consistently maintained a big lead over his rivals, in the pre-election polls. His popularity among older voters, however, remained weak, according to TPP insiders. While Ko had put forth various social welfare proposals in a bid to appeal to seniors and had urged his young supporters to help win over their elderly relatives, the election results indicated that he failed to make a dent in the older demographic. Ko's perceived future According to a source within the TPP, Ko's loss in the 2024 presidential race is not the end of road for him politically. The eight seats grabbed by the TPP, an increase of three compared to the 2020 elections, could position the party as a critical minority in the Legislature, the source said. In addition, Ko managed to secure more than 26 percent of the popular vote, which the TPP sees as a "passing score," the source said. According to the vote count from the CEC, Lai secured victory with 5,584,920 votes, or 40.05 percent of the total. Hou garnered 4,671,021 votes, or 33.49 percent, while Ko received 3,690,466 votes, representing 26.46 percent. Ko could become a force to be reckoned with in the next presidential election in 2028, if he could extend his appeal to older voters and if the TPP makes a strong showing in the 2026 local government elections under his leadership, the source said. (By Sean Lin and Kuo Chien-shen) Enditem/kb/AW/pc/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KMT's Hou concedes defeat in Taiwan presidential election (update) ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 09:55 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Opposition Kuomintang (KMT) presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih () has conceded defeat in the 2024 presidential campaign after losing to Vice President Lai Ching-te () of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). At around 8 p.m. Saturday, Hou appeared onstage at a vote-counting venue in New Taipei's Banqiao District to address his supporters. He congratulated Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim () on their victory. He said he was sorry for letting his supporters down as he was unable to win the presidency to end the DPP's eight-year rule. He called for a unified Taiwan following Saturday's elections while asking Lai to listen to the voice of the people. With 99.99 percent of Taiwan's 17,795 polling stations reporting as of 9:44 p.m., Hou had 4,670,335 votes, or 33.49 percent. Lai garnered 5,585,462 votes, or 40.05 percent, while Taiwan People's Party (TPP) candidate Ko Wen-je () had 3,689,951 votes, or 26.46 percent. The final result will be officially announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC) later Saturday night. Meanwhile, KMT Chairman Eric Chu () also showed up alongside with Hou and other top-ranking party members. Chu, however, did not speak or announce his resignation to take responsibility for the defeat, a routine practice for a party leader following a defeat in a major election. Once officially approved by the CEC, Lai's victory will bring about a third consecutive four-year term for the DPP in office, unprecedented for any party in the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) since the country held its first direct presidential election in 1996. Hou had lagged behind Lai and even behind the TPP's Ko at times in the polls since announcing his candidacy in May. A senior KMT member attributed Hou's loss to the relatively late start of Hou's presidential bid and the inability of Hou and Ko to form a joint presidential ticket in November. The New Taipei mayor was widely considered to be the odds-on KMT presidential nominee after winning re-election as mayor in November 2022 by a 25-point margin. But having just won a second term, Hou was reluctant to announce his presidential bid for several months to avoid alienating voters who had just given him another four years as head of New Taipei. That did not prevent Hou's candidacy from getting off a rough start. After the KMT "drafted" him to be the party's nominee, a split immediately emerged within the KMT-led "pan-blue" camp as business tycoon Terry Gou (), who had also sought the nomination but was snubbed, decided to make an independent run. Though Gou ultimately decided in November not to go through with his candidacy, his decision not to back Hou created a rift that left Hou with too much ground to make up, and forced him to spend too much time consolidating his own base rather than appealing to a broader coalition of voters. Starting in May and in the months that followed, Hou garnered only about 20 percent support, not only trailing Lai by double digits but consistently polling behind Ko by about 5 to 7 points. His chance to win the presidency seemed even slimmer when the KMT failed to pair up with TPP's Ko for a joint presidential ticket in November. Instead, Hou picked Jaw Shau-kong (), chairman of Taiwan's Broadcasting Corporation of China and veteran political talk show host to be his running mate. The Hou-Jaw ticket led to a rebound in support into late December as KMT heavyweights, including former Kaohsiung Mayor Han Kuo-yu () and former Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (), helping consolidate pan-blue support, the source said. However, Hou's inability to effectively respond to the DPP's attack on his wife's Taipei property that served as a university student dorm and its efforts to paint him as being too close to China dealt major blows to his campaign that made it impossible to make up the deficit in the polls, the source said. (By Liu Kuan-ting and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Over 45,000 trade visitors from around the world are expected to attend the worlds leading safety, security and fire protection trade show, Intersec 2024 in Dubai from January 16 to 18. Of the 1,000 exhibitors from 60 countries are featured this year with about 25% making their debut at show held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The show theme for 2024 is Innovating security for a quarter-century. Grant Tuchten, Portfolio Director at Intersec organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: Intersec has established itself as a leading platform for innovation in the security industry over the past 25 years. The shows value goes beyond just the exhibition floors, offering an extensive conference programme that addresses the latest trends, challenges, and advancements across various security sectors. Largest-ever edition Tuchten added: We are delighted to host the largest-ever edition for the silver jubilee and can report that 25% of exhibitors featured are new for this year. Intersec 2024 comprises five key pillars Fire & Rescue, Commercial and Perimeter Security, Homeland Security and Policing, Safety & Health and Cyber Security. Each pillar is represented by corresponding UAE government bodies, highlighting the countrys commitment to these vital sectors. The Fire & Rescue segment is supported by Dubai Civil Defence, while the Homeland Security & Policing pillar is backed by Dubai Police and the Security Industry Regulatory Authority (SIRA). Dubai Municipality has collaborated with Intersec 2024 on the Safety & Health section of the event, while the shows Cyber Security feature is held in association with the Cyber Security Council and Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC). Attendees can explore a series of conferences and workshops that are at the forefront of global security, safety and fire protection. The Security Leaders Summit will feature a world-class lineup of sessions and speakers, uncovering the topics and tactics to shape a safer, more secure world. Meanwhile, the Cyber Security Conference will discuss pressing concerns such as countering cyber-enabled terrorism and policing in the virtual realm. Rogue drone threat Jeffrey Starr, Chief Marketing Officer at Intersec exhibitor D-Fend Solutions, said: Since the end of the pandemic, the rogue drone threat has persisted and grown across regions and sectors. Security agencies have rushed to adopt new technologies which can confront the constantly changing threat. Intersecs focus on cutting-edge innovations for safety and security makes it the perfect setting to showcase Enforce Air, the ultimate next-generation RF-Cyber C-UAS. Covering areas such as Fire Safety in High-Rise and Complex Structures and Innovations in Fire Prevention and Detection the Fire and Rescue Conference is a pivotal gathering point each year for global leaders in the fire and emergency services industries. Also exhibiting at Intersec 2024, Gustavo Lopez, Vice President of Product Strategy and Pricing at MSA Safety, said: Intersec is a unique opportunity for us in the region to work directly with decision-makers and key stakeholders on their challenges and needs. At the event, we will showcase our connected solutions, the Connected Firefighter Platform, and will show how data can play a big role in the Middle East region when it comes to firefighting. The Safety and Health Conference explores the latest trends in workplace safety and well-being. Other conferences include the SIRA Forum which fosters collaboration in the commercial security community, and the Thought Leadership Pavilion, hosted by Access Control Security Brief. Attack Zone Other event features include the Attack Zone showcasing the capabilities and effectiveness of a range of security products. Supported by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, in{: Cyber} is a dedicated area for cybersecurity vendors and technology experts, which includes a future defenders hack arena and a three-day comprehensive conference. Safety and Health exhibitors will also showcase their safety wear and equipment at the Safety Walk. The Intersec Awards 2024, to be held on January 17, will recognise the leaders in fire, safety and security at a prestigious event at the Palazzo Versace Hotel. The Premium Club at Intersec meanwhile, offers the ultimate networking space, enabling buyers to connect with exhibitors. Sponsors for Intersec include Naffco and IDEX Group (Fire & Rescue), PBI and Karam Safety (Safety & Health), Johnson Controls Limited and Motorola Solutions UK Ltd (Commercial Security), Automatic Systems and FAAC Middle East FZE (Perimeter Security).--TradeArabia News Service No party gets majority in Legislature; KMT wins most seats ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 09:45 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) No party won a majority in Taiwan's Legislative Yuan for the first time since 2004, after Saturday's elections saw the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) win 51 seats, the Kuomintang (KMT) 52, and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) eight. The DPP, which had held a majority in the 113-seat body since 2016, suffered a net loss of 11 seats on Saturday, dropping from 62 to 51 and losing its position of dominance. With no party able to command a majority, which would need at least 57 seats, it is widely expected that the KMT and the TPP will negotiate a deal to prevent the DPP from retaining the speakership. Outside of the big three, the New Power Party, which went into the election with three seats, won none in the first-past-the-post electoral districts, nor did it meet the 5 percent threshold to win at-large seats. In addition to the party seats, two independent legislators won seats, both of whom are ideologically aligned with the KMT in the Legislative Yuan. In the 2020 legislative election, the DPP won 61 legislative seats, of which 46 were from single-member districts, two were Indigenous legislators, and 13 were at-large. The KMT won 38 seats in 2020, of which 22 were single-member district legislators, three were Indigenous legislators, and 13 were at-large legislators. The TPP won five at-large legislative seats in 2020, while the New Power Party had three and the Taiwan Statebuilding Party one. Four single-member district legislators and one Indigenous lawmaker were without party affiliation. The last time no party had a majority was in 2004, when Taiwan's Legislature had 225 seats. The DPP won 89 seats, the KMT 79, the People First Party (PFP) 34, and the Taiwan Solidarity Union 12. The KMT, along with the ideologically aligned PFP and some members of the Non-Partisan Solidarity Alliance continued a working majority from 2004 to 2008, when the Legislative Yuan was reduced to 113 seats after a constitutional amendment was passed. (By Alison Hsiao) Enditem/ls Update NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPP's Lai Ching-te elected as Taiwan's new president ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 09:32 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te () of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won Taiwan's presidential election, helped by a split of the opposition vote that gave him a victory even without an absolute majority of the ballots cast. With 99.97 percent of Taiwan's 17,795 polling stations reporting as of 9:24 p.m. Saturday, Lai had garnered 5,584,920 votes, or 40.05 percent, according to the official vote count from the Central Election Commission (CEC). Lai's main rival, Hou Yu-ih () of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), received 4,669,130 votes, or 33.49 percent, and Ko Wen-je () of the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP) came in third with 3,689,251 votes, or 26.46 percent, according to CEC figures. With Lai's victory, the DPP has made history as the first political party in the Republic of China (Taiwan) to win three consecutive terms since the first direct presidential election was held in 1996. In his victory speech, Lai expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for supporting the DPP ticket, noting that they had "written a new chapter in our democracy." The result of the presidential election has shown the international community that "between democracy and authoritarianism, we stand on the side of democracy," the president-elect said. "The Republic of China, Taiwan, will continue to walk side by side with democracies around the world," he said. On Saturday night, KMT's Hou conceded defeat and extended his congratulations to Lai, who is also chairman of the DPP, and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (). TPP's Ko urged his supporters not to be disheartened but to continue their hard work to secure victory for Taiwan at the next election. During the election campaign, Lai had maintained a commanding lead in the opinion polls, despite persistent attacks on his pro-Taiwan independence statements of the past and allegations that he had illegally expanded his family home in New Taipei's Wanli District. Lai, 64, benefited from the three-way competition, in which Hou and Ko split the votes of people who wanted to see an end to the eight years of DPP rule and the supporters of the KMT-led "pan-blue" camp. A senior DPP member of Lai's campaign team told CNA that the party had some "concerns" that the pan-blue supporters would cast their ballots strategically for either Hou or Ko and abandon the other candidate, in order to hinder Lai's chance of winning the election. To the campaign team's relief, that scenario did not materialize. Shen Yu-chung (), a political science professor at Tunghai University in Taichung, said the three-way race worked to Lai's advantage, but it left him well short of the 8.17 million votes President Tsai Ing-wen () had received four years earlier. Apart from the dilution of Lai's support in the three-way race, Shen said, another factor was the migration of young voter support from Tsai in 2020 to Ko in 2024. Meanwhile, the DPP team member, who spoke with CNA on condition of anonymity, said Lai's cross-strait policy, which essentially is that of the Tsai administration, earned the support of a wider section of the electorate. The election results indicate that Lai's "pro-Taiwan" approach was better accepted by mainstream society than the "pro-China" positions put forth by the KMT and TPP candidates, the source said. Over the past few months, Lai's team had been presenting the DPP as an advocate for maintaining Taiwan's democratic system and the cross-Taiwan Strait status-quo, and had accused the opposition parties of willingly yielding to China. Former DPP Secretary General Lo Wen-jia () made the same argument, saying the biggest difference between the DPP and its main rival the KMT was their respective positions on the China issue. The DPP sought to forge an alliance with other democracies in the face of Chinese threats, while the KMT wanted to "lock Taiwan into China," Lo said. The KMT and the TPP, however, had denied throughout the campaign that they were sacrificing Taiwan's freedom and interests with their advocacy for friendlier relations with China. They argued that it was in Taiwan's best interests to maintain cordial relations with its democratic allies, as well as with China, to avoid war and conflict across the Taiwan Strait. Lai -- son of a coal miner who was killed in an accident in the pit when Lai was two years old -- was trained as a doctor at National Cheng Kung University in Tainan and later in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health in the United States. He has said in multiple interviews that China's missile tests in waters around Taiwan in 1996, just before the country's first direct presidential election, served as a catalyst for his entry into politics. Over the past three decades, he worked his way from serving as a lawmaker to being elected mayor of Tainan (2010 to 2017). He served as premier from 2017 to 2019 during Tsai's first term, and he has held the position of vice president since 2020. Lai's close associates, including Legislator Lin Chun-hsien (), have described him as projecting an image of a "serious [and] reserved" person who upholds "high moral standards" and refuses to compromise on his principles. That explained why the DPP swiftly withdrew its nominations of those who had negative issues, Lin said, referring to the likes of Legislator Chao Tien-lin (), who was reported during his re-election campaign to have been involved in an extramarital relationship with a Chinese woman years ago. Meanwhile, Tsai, who cannot run again as she is nearing the end of her second and final four-year term, has praised Lai's performance as vice president, saying he shared a lot of responsibility as her deputy. Lai has made tremendous progress over the past few years and has become a figure not only well-known but also trusted by the international community, Tsai said. (By Yeh Su-ping and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ls/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DPP's Lai claims victory in Taiwan presidential election ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 08:44 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Vice President Lai Ching-te () of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) declared victory in Taiwan's presidential race on Saturday, garnering an unprecedented third consecutive term for his party. With 99 percent of the 17,795 polling stations reporting as of 8:40 p.m. Saturday, Lai had 5,543,447 votes, or 40.1 percent, ahead of his two opponents, Hou Yu-ih () of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) and Ko Wen-je () of the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), according to official Central Election Commission (CEC) vote counts. Hou had 33.46 percent and Ko had 26.44 percent, the CEC figures showed. The outcome of the election will not be confirmed until the results are officially announced by the Central Election Commission. Lai's victory gave the DPP a third straight term in power, the first time a political party has won three consecutive terms in the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name) since it held its first direct presidential election in 1996. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. carrier in Pacific to deter China as Taiwanese vote: Scholars ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 07:29 PM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) The current deployment of a United States aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson, east of Taiwan is meant to serve as a deterrent to China during Taiwan's election period, when voters are picking a new president, two defense scholars said Saturday. Shen Ming-shih (Za) and Su Tzu-yun (ece), research fellows at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research (INDSR), told CNA that the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier's deployment near Taiwan was a "strategic precaution" in case the Chinese military decided to make a move following Saturday's presidential and legislative elections. As of Jan. 11, the USS Carl Vinson was in the Pacific Ocean east of Taiwan, after departing the Philippines, according to information released by the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI), a Beijing-based defense think tank. The vessel, which is the flagship of the American Carrier Strike Group 1, had made a port call in the Philippines on Jan.5 to highlight the significance of the U.S.-Philippine Alliance and the U.S.' broader commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, according to U.S. Naval Institute News. Asked to comment on the carrier's deployment, Shen told CNA Saturday that by moving the USS Carl Vinson nearer to Taiwan, the U.S. will be able to closely monitor every move of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China and made a timely response, if necessary. Expressing a similar view, Su said the USS Ronald Reagan , another Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier and flagship of Carrier Strike Group 5, was also currently in the Pacific region, in Japan's Yokosuka Port. That means there are two U.S. carriers currently deployed in the region, north and west of the Taiwan Strait, indicating that the U.S. is standing by to deter the PLA on both fronts, if necessary, Su said. Another Taiwanese defense scholar, Lin Ying-yu (zcZa), told CNA that the USS Carl Vinson's deployment in the Pacific was meant not only to monitor the PLA's movements near the Taiwan Strait but also to keep a close eye on North Korea, which recently launched a number of missiles near South Korea and Japan. The deployment of the carrier is aimed at contributing to stability in the wider Indo-Pacific region, not only in the Taiwan Strait, said Lin, who is an assistant professor at Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies. (By Matt Yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/pc NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. House oks bills to safeguard Taiwan's participation in int'l financial institutions ROC Central News Agency 01/13/2024 12:16 PM Washington, Jan. 12 (CNA) The United States House of Representatives on Friday passed the "Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023" and "Pressure Regulatory Organizations To End Chinese Threats to (PROTECT) Taiwan Act" aimed at countering efforts by China to exclude Taiwan from participating in international financial institutions. In a statement, the House Financial Services Committee stated that the "Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act of 2023," sponsored by Representative Young Kim, will require the U.S. to advocate for Taiwan's membership at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The bill makes the argument that Taiwan is the 21st largest economy in the world and the 10th largest goods trading partner of the U.S., and that although Taiwan is not an IMF member, it is a member of the World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. It further stated that the experience of Taiwan in developing a vibrant and advanced economy under democratic governance and the rule of law should inform the work of the international financial institutions, including through increased its participation in the institutions. At the same time, the "PROTECT Taiwan Act," sponsored by Representative Frank Lucas, is aimed at isolating the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from the international financial system by directing the Federal Reserve, the Secretary of Treasury, and the Securities and Exchange Commission to exclude representatives from China from proceedings of various international financial groups and organizations in the event of an invasion of Taiwan. The international financial organizations listed in the bill included the Group of Twenty, the Bank for International Settlements, the Financial Stability Board, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision, the International Association of Insurance Supervisors and the International Organization of Securities Commissions. In the wake of the House passing the bills, Kim shared on the social media platform X the message: "We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to keep Taiwan out of international organizations." She added that she will "always be a voice for our freedom-loving partners across the globe." The bill will now proceed to the Senate, and if passed there, would be sent to the president to be signed into law. (By Chiang Chin-yeh and Evelyn Yang) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China hopes U.S. will handle Taiwan-related issues prudently, properly: spokesperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:00, January 13, 2024 BEIJING, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson on Friday said that China hopes the United States will honor commitments, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly, and refrain from interfering in the elections of the Taiwan region in any form. It is reported that recently the National Security Council of the White House held a press call on Taiwan elections via teleconference. An anonymous official from the White House said that the United States is committed to the one-China policy, does not support "Taiwan independence" and supports cross-Strait dialogue. The official added that the United States does not take a position on the ultimate resolution of cross-Strait differences, provided they are resolved peacefully. In response to a related query, spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily news briefing that China noted the remarks of the U.S. official. The one-China principle is a prevailing international consensus and the political foundation of the China-U.S. relationship. "Taiwan independence" is the biggest threat to cross-Strait peace and stability and is doomed to failure. U.S. leaders have repeatedly said that they are committed to the one-China policy, do not support "Taiwan independence," do not support "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," and do not seek to use the Taiwan question as a tool to contain China, Mao noted. China hopes the United States will honor these commitments, handle Taiwan-related issues prudently and properly, stop official interactions with Taiwan, stop sending wrong signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and refrain from interfering in the elections of the Taiwan region in any form, Mao said. If the United States truly hopes to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it needs to explicitly oppose "Taiwan independence" and support China's peaceful reunification, she added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan ruling party's Lai Ching-te wins crucial presidential election Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 2:14 PM Ruling-party candidate William Lai Ching-te has won Taiwan's presidential election, securing a total of more than 5 million votes. Lai from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) had secured 40.2 percent of the roughly 13.9 million votes cast in a poll that saw a turnout of 70.6 percent, with ballots counted from 98 percent of polling stations, according to official data from Chinese Taipei's Central Election Commission published on Saturday. The DPP party has been in power for the past eight years under President Tsai Ing-wen. Lai's nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) trailed in second place with 33.2 percent. Hou conceded defeat, saying, "When the people have made their decision, we face them and we listen to the voices of the people." The president-elect addressed people in his victory speech on Saturday, once again reiterating that he is "determined to safeguard Taiwan from China." China, which has sovereignty over the self-ruled island, warned in the run-up to the election that Lai is a dangerous "separatist" who could trigger "cross-Strait confrontation and conflict." The 64-year-old winner of the island's crucial vote has promised to stick to incumbent President Tsai's policy of maintaining the status quo, which rejects Beijing's sovereignty over Chinese Taipei. Under the "One China" policy, almost all world countries recognize China's sovereignty over Taiwan. 'No tolerance for separatism' China on Saturday affirmed that its reunification with Taiwan was "inevitable", despite the election of independence-leaning Lai in the vote. The vote "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification", Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement carried by state news agency Xinhua. China also lashed out against Taiwan's president-elect, vowing it would not tolerate "separatist activities" in the self-ruled island that it claims as its own. "We will adhere to the 1992 Consensus that embodies the one-China principle and firmly oppose the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference," Chen asserted. Saturday's race has been closely watched by Taiwan's major arms supplier, the United States, who also recognizes the Chinese sovereignty over the island, but has long courted Taiwan in an attempt to unnerve Beijing. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan chooses Vice President Lai as new leader in rebuke to China But the results split between 3 parties spells a tough path for him balancing Beijing's pressure and domestic issues. By Taejun Kang and Elaine Chan for RFA 2024.01.13 -- Taiwanese voters elected Vice President Lai Ching-te from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, as their new president on Saturday, signaling a continuation of the island's policies aimed at preserving its de facto independence, despite increasing tensions with China. Nonetheless, the results were split between three main candidates, and Lai and his party will face a challenging journey in managing the escalating pressure from Beijing. As of 11:00 p.m. local time, with the vote still being tallied, Lai had received 5.58 million votes, or 40.1%, while Lai's main opposition Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang, or KMT, had received about 4.67 million votes, or 33.5%. Ko Wen-je of Taiwan's People's Party, or TPP, considered an "alternative option," garnered 3.69 million votes, or 26.5%. In a press conference on Saturday night after his win, Lai thanked the Taiwanese people for writing a new chapter in democracy and likened it as the "first victory for the global community of democracy" for 2024. "We have shown the world how much we cherish our democracy; this is our unwavering commitment," said Lai, thanking his opponents for demonstrating the spirit of democracy. Hou, Beijing's preferred candidate, conceded the election by saying he respects the final choice that the Taiwanese people made. "I would not only like to extend my congratulations to Lai Ching-te and Hsiao Bi-khim [Lai's running mate] for being elected, but also hope that they will live up to Taiwanese people's expectations of a ruling party," said Hou, calling for all parties to unite, and urged the DPP to build a new and efficient government that Taiwan could trust. Separately, Ko noted that despite the defeat, the election has turned the TPP into a significant force, highlighting a positive outcome from the setback. "Every vote represented an endorsement of us. This is also the first time in Taiwan, amid the blue-green [KMT-DPP] structure, that a three-party situation has emerged. It shows that Taiwan needs another voice." Voters from the island of 24 million people journeyed back to their hometowns to participate in the presidential and legislative elections on Saturday. They cast their votes in a variety of locations, including schools, temples, parking lots and community centers. Taiwanese also voted for representatives in the 113-seat legislature, and no party was able to command a majority, which would need at least 57 seats. The DPP won 51 seats, the KMT secured 52, and the TPP obtained eight. Two independent legislators also won seats, both of whom are ideologically aligned with the KMT, according to media reports. Viewed with suspicion Lai, a former physician and mayor of Tainan, is viewed with suspicion by China's ruling Communist Party. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that should be politically reunited with the mainland, by force if necessary. The democratic island of Taiwan has been self-governing since it effectively separated from mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese civil war. China has dialed up diplomatic and economic pressure on the island since the incumbent Tsai Ing-wen's administration first came to power in 2016, as Tsai and her party refuse to acknowledge that Taiwan and the mainland belong to "One China." During the election period, China's actions, such as floating balloons through Taiwan airspace and deploying aircraft carriers in the critical Taiwan Strait, heightened its unpopularity in Taiwan. These military maneuvers, viewed by Taipei as intimidation tactics, exacerbated the already tense relationship. China also has successfully swayed several of Taipei's diplomatic allies to shift their recognition to Beijing. As a result, only 13 countries currently maintain official diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Dialogue, not confrontation Lai's election triumph doesn't solve the issue of Beijing's aggression and is more likely to heighten tensions. Nevertheless, Lai expressed confidence that despite dwindling official recognition on the world stage, support for Taiwan's de facto independence remains robust. During his Saturday winning speech, Lai said that he has the important responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, while keeping the cross-strait status quo. "We will use changes to replace obstructionism, dialogues to replace confrontations," said Lai, adding Taiwan "will stand on the side of democracy" between democracy and authoritarianism. "Taiwanese people resisted the efforts from external influence to this election and trusted only that they themselves had the right to choose their leader," he said. In response to the election result, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said on Saturday the victory of Lai would not change the basic landscape of cross strait relations. In a statement carried on China's state Xinhua news agency, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said the results showed the DPP cannot represent mainstream public opinion on the island. 'One China policy' The U.S. State Department released a statement congratulating Lai on his victory, and the Taiwanese people for "demonstrating their robust democratic system." "The United States is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure," the statement said. "The partnership between the American people and the people on Taiwan, rooted in democratic values, continues to broaden and deepen across economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties." The statement went on say that Washington looks forward to working with Lai and the leaders of all parties to "advance our shared interests and values, and to further our longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the U.S. one China policy as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. We are confident that Taiwan will continue to serve as an example for all who strive for freedom, democracy, and prosperity." In contrast to Beijing's "one China principle," which holds that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China and that it should be governed from Beijing, Washington espouses a "one China policy" that takes no position on sovereignty over Taiwan. While acknowledging Beijing's position, Washington does not take a stance on its validity. George Ren, a political analyst, believes that Lai's win would not deal the Chinese Communist Party, or CPP, an unknown card, as a Ko victory could. "I'd be more concerned if the DPP was able to warrant a majority win in the legislature. If there was one, it would be easier for Lai to implement his policy, which means the CCP may have some countermeasures," Ren said. He also pointed out that the bigger worry is implementing domestic policies in the legislature that address issues critical to the voting public such as policies to improve infrastructure and housing construction. Economic worries The DPP has recently faced criticism for becoming the establishment, particularly from the younger generation. Under Tsai's rule, issues like slow wage growth, high housing costs, and power shortages have become points of contention. In November, Taiwan's statistics bureau reported a reduction in the island's 2023 GDP growth forecast to just 1.42%, the lowest since the 2008 global financial crisis. Furthermore, Taiwan is grappling with soaring housing prices, ranked among the highest globally, while its wage levels were among the lowest compared to other developed economies, according to March figures. Addressing these challenges will be a primary focus for Lai and the DPP moving forward. The president-elect said he will "prioritize issues that have consensus with other political parties and would embrace them as long as they benefit the people." Edited by Mike Firn and Malcolm Foster. Updates to add comment from U.S. State Department, and explanation of difference between Beijing's "one China principle" and Washington's "one China policy." Copyright 1998-2024, 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 January 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question regarding Russia's position on the Taiwan issue 13 January 2024 17:12 24-13-01-2024 Question: Taiwan held elections today to choose the so-called president and MPs. What is the Russian Federation's position on this matter? Maria Zakharova: Russia's position on Taiwan is well-known and consistent, as set forth in Presidential Executive Order No 1072 of September 15, 1992, On the Relations between the Russian Federation and Taiwan. This position is also set forth in the key documents governing Russia-China relations, primarily Article 5 of the Russian-Chinese Treaty on Neighbourly Relations, Friendship and Cooperation between the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China, dated July 16, 2001. It reads: "The Russian side reaffirms that the principled stand on the Taiwan issue as expounded in the political documents signed and adopted by the heads of state of the two countries from 1992 to 2000 remain unchanged. The Russian side acknowledges that there is only one China, that the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Russian side opposes any form of Taiwan's independence." This approach was reaffirmed in the Joint Statement by the Russian Federation and the People's Republic of China on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era, which was signed by the leaders of the two countries on March 21, 2023, during the state visit by President of China Xi Jinping to Russia. It also contains a provision whereby "the Russian side firmly supports actions by the Chinese side to defend its state sovereignty and territorial integrity." We believe that relations between the two parties in the Taiwan Strait constitute an internal matter for China. Attempts by certain countries to use the elections in Taiwan to pressure Beijing and destabilise the situation in the strait and across the region are counterproductive and must be condemned by the international community. We call on all outside forces to refrain from provocative actions undermining regional stability and international security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China to Firmly Oppose Actions Aimed at Promoting Taiwan's Independence Sputnik News 20240113 BEIJING (Sputnik) - China will firmly oppose any actions aimed at promoting Taiwan's independence and interference by external forces in the country's internal affairs, spokesman for China's Taiwan Affairs Office Chen Binhua said on Saturday, commenting on the results of the island's elections. Earlier in the day, the Taiwanese Central Election Commission named Lai Ching-te, the candidate from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the winner of the regional leader's election as he secured 40.05% of the vote. The DPP itself, however, lost 11 seats in the Legislative Yuan, the island's parliament, as a result of the elections. "We will adhere to the 1992 consensus, which embodies the One China principle, and firmly oppose separatist actions aimed at achieving Taiwan's independence, as well as interference by external forces," Chen told a briefing. Beijing will work with all political parties and groups of Taiwan's society to promote exchanges and cooperation with the island, as well as peaceful relations with Taipei and the "reunification of the motherland," the spokesman added, "Today's elections in the Taiwan region showed that the Democratic Progressive Party does not represent mainstream opinion on the island. Taiwan is part of China," Chen added. In this regard, the island's elections will not change the main direction of the development of relations on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and "the common desire of compatriots on both sides of the strait to become closer," the spokesman also said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's Pro-Independence Candidate Lai Ching-te Wins Election With 40.05% - Election Body Sputnik News 20240113 Taiwan held regional leadership election on Saturday. The regional leader is elected by a simple majority of votes for a four-year term. Lai Ching-te, pro-independence candidate from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, has officially won the election of the regional leader, securing 40.05% of the vote, the Taiwanese Central Election Commission said on Saturday after counting ballots from all polling stations. Lai received the support of 5,586,019 voters, while Hou Yu-ih, a candidate of the main opposition Kuomintang party, received 4,671,021 votes or 33.49%, and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party secured 26.45% or 3,690,466 votes, the election commission added. "I want to thank the people of Taiwan for writing a new chapter of our democracy. We have shown the world how we value democracy," Lai said earlier in his address to the voters. He also thanked his opponents, adding that he had spoken to them on the phone and accepted congratulations. Further, Lai highlighted he was committed to protecting the island from alleged threats and intimidation from mainland China. "We are determined to protect Taiwan from China's continued threats and intimidation," Lai said during a press conference. He also announced his intention to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and use dialogue instead of confrontation "to confidently continue exchanges and cooperation with China." "If there is parity and dignity, Taiwan is keen to engage in dialogue and cooperation with China for the benefit of the peoples on both sides of the strait to create a peaceful and prosperous environment," the politician added. Meanwhile, Hou Yu-ih, the candidate of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang party, conceded defeat in the island's general election and asked voters for forgiveness. "I have disappointed everyone. I am here to express my deepest regret. Please, forgive me," Hou said in his address to the voters. Earlier, Taiwanese media reported, citing vote counting data that Lai Ching-te was maintaining his leadership with 2.7 million of the votes received in his favor in the election. He is followed by Hou Yu-ih, the candidate from the main opposition Kuomintang party who advocates dialogue with mainland China, with 32.5% or 2.3 million of the votes, and Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan People's Party, who favors dialogue with both Beijing and Washington, with 28.9% or 2.07 million of the votes, Taiwanese broadcaster Sanlih E-Television reported. The polling stations on the island closed at 4 p.m. local time (08:00 GMT). Some 19.5 million people were eligible to vote. Taiwan's leader is elected by a simple majority of votes for a four-year term, without the possibility of a second round. The election winner is scheduled to be inaugurated on May 20, 2024. Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949, but Beijing views the island as part of its sovereign territory. Taiwan's outgoing DPP-led administration has been largely perceived as pro-independence, chiefly due to its frequent contacts with US officials and international activism, which prompted Beijing to ramp up military drills in the Taiwan Strait in recent years. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lai Ching-te Wins Taiwan Presidential Election By William Yang January 13, 2024 Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party secured an unprecedented third consecutive presidential term on Saturday, with the party's candidate, current Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te, winning 40% of the ballot. He defeated Hou You-ih, a presidential candidate for the China-friendly opposition party Kuomintang (KMT) and a former police chief, as well as Ko Wen-je, the presidential candidate of Taiwan People's Party, who has tried to present his party as an alternative to the two main parties. During his victory speech, Lai said his win on Saturday is a victory for the global community democracies. "We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy," he told a room of more than 100 local and international journalists. He noted that Taiwanese people have successfully resisted external forces' attempts to interfere in the election, hinting at the wide range of tactics used by China during the months-long presidential campaign. "We trust that only the people of Taiwan have the right to choose their own president," he added. Because he and his vice-presidential candidate Hsiao Bi-Khim received the most votes in the election, Lai said Taiwan will continue to "walk on the right path forward." "We will not turn around or look backward," he emphasized. Reiterating his commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Lai expressed his willingness to engage with Beijing on the basis of dignity and parity. "We will use exchanges to replace obstructionism, dialogue to replace confrontation, and confidently pursue exchanges and cooperation with China," he said. 'I've let you down,' says Hou KMT's Hou gave his concession speech at 8 p.m. local time, apologizing for failing to help the main opposition party return to power but emphasizing that he had done everything he could throughout the campaign. "I've let you down and I'm here to express my deepest apology," he told a group of disappointed supporters and bowed twice. Some analysts say the presidential election outcome shows that more Taiwanese people support Taiwan in maintaining the current administration's foreign policy approach of maintaining a distance from Beijing and continuing to deepen ties with the U.S. "This result shows that many Taiwanese people approve the Tsai administration's approach of building closer ties with like-minded countries," Yen Wei-Ting, an expert on Taiwan politics at Franklin and Marshall College, told VOA by phone. Other experts say the presidential election result also suggests that Taiwanese voters remain cautious about electing a leader who advocates closer ties with China. "This certainly shows that there's no consensus on a more conciliatory approach with China," Timothy Rich, an expert on Taiwan politics at Western Kentucky University, told VOA in a written response. During the presidential campaign, DPP's Lai repeatedly characterized the election as "a choice between democracy and autocracy" while the KMT's Hou framed the election as "a choice between war and peace." Over the last few months, Lai focused on highlighting the threats posed by China's growing military maneuvers around Taiwan and Beijing's coercive economic measures. On the other hand, KMT's Hou vowed to restart dialogue and exchange with China, blaming the DPP-led government for taunting Beijing and heightening the risk of a war across the Taiwan Strait over the last eight years. Some voters express relief Some Taiwanese voters told VOA that the election outcome makes them feel relieved because Lai's victory suggests Taiwan will continue to deepen ties with like-minded democracies like the U.S. and this approach can help Taiwan counter the growing pressure and threats imposed by Beijing. "I think there won't be much change to Taiwan's diplomatic approach and defense policies, and this will allow Taiwan to further increase its international visibility, which is something positive for us," Anthony Yang, a 36-year-old commercial airplane pilot in Taoyuan City, told VOA in a written response. However, with no political party securing a majority in Taiwan's legislature, Yang worries that the DPP-led government won't be able to smoothly implement certain policies, such as policies aimed at strengthening Taiwan's defense capabilities. "Since the DPP fails to secure a majority in the legislature, its attempt to implement policies won't be smooth and Taiwan will likely make much less progress for the next four years," he said. While some voters feel relieved by the election outcome, others say nothing will change in Taiwan for the next four years, and they worry China's pressure on Taiwan will continue to increase. "China will likely put more pressure on Taiwan, and it will be much harder for Taiwanese companies to do business in China," Chin Szu, a 38-year-old engineer in Taipei City, told VOA in a phone call. In his view, the next Taiwanese government should focus on improving Taiwan's economy and avoid putting too much effort into confronting China. "They should do whatever they can to help improve Taiwan's economy because that's what many Taiwanese people like me would prefer," Szu said. China, US offer different takes Following the DPP's historic victory Saturday, China and the U.S. provided opposing reactions to the election outcome. In a brief statement, the U.S. State Department congratulated Lai on his victory and praised the Taiwanese people for "demonstrating the strength" of the island's robust democratic system and electoral process. "The United States is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure," the State Department said, underscoring the people-to-people ties between Taipei and Washington are rooted in democratic values and will continue to broaden and deepen across multiple sectors. When asked what he thought about the outcome of the Taiwan election, U.S. President Joe Biden said the U.S. doesn't support independence, without elaborating. On the same night, the Chinese Communist Party's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a stern warning, claiming the election outcome doesn't represent Taiwan's mainstream public opinion. "Taiwan is China's Taiwan, and the election can't change the basic pattern and direction of development of cross-strait relations," Chen Binhua, the spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement. "The outcome can't stop the trend that the motherland will eventually be reunified [with Taiwan.]" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan elections Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 14 January 2024 Category: International relations Australia congratulates Dr Lai Ching-te on his victory in the Taiwan elections held on 13 January. We also congratulate the people of Taiwan on the peaceful exercise of their democratic rights. The smooth conduct of the elections is a testament to the maturity and strength of Taiwan's democracy. Australia looks forward to continuing to work with Taiwan to advance our important trade and investment relationship, as well as our deep and longstanding educational, scientific, cultural and people-to-people ties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S, Japan, EU congratulate Taiwan on elections, emphasize cross-strait peace ROC Central News Agency 01/14/2024 01:59 AM Taipei, Jan. 14 (CNA) The United States, Japan, United Kingdom and the European Union offered congratulations to Taiwan on Saturday, following the completion of the presidential and legislative elections, while emphasizing the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. congratulated Lai Ching-te (ea) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on his victory in Taiwan's presidential election, and the Taiwanese people for demonstrating the strength of its robust democratic system and electoral process, according to a statement from the Department of State. The U.S. is committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure, the statement read. "We look forward to working with Dr. Lai and Taiwan's leaders of all parties to advance our shared interests and values, and to further our longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with U.S. one China policy as guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances," it said. The U.S. said it is confident that Taiwan will continue to serve as an example for all who strive for freedom, democracy and prosperity. President Joe Biden also commented briefly on Taiwan after the election's results were known in Washington on Saturday morning. Asked about Washington's position on Taiwan, Biden said "We do not support Taiwan independence," according to wire service reports. Meanwhile, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson congratulated Lai on his victory. "We are happy to see democracy thriving among the Taiwanese people," he said in a post on social media platform X, formally known as Twitter. Johnson said he will be asking the chairs of the relevant House Committees to lead a delegation to Taipei following Lai's inauguration in May to underscore the ongoing commitment of Congress to security and democracy. In a statement, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said the government of Japan congratulates Taiwan on the smooth implementation of the democratic election and Lai on his victory. "The Government of Japan will work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan, based on its position to maintain a working relationship on a non-governmental basis," Kamikawa said. Japan expects that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue, thereby contributing to the peace and stability in the region, Kamikawa said. In the U.K., Foreign Secretary David Cameron offered his congratulations to Lai via a statement. "The elections today are testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy. I offer warm congratulations to the people of Taiwan on the smooth conduct of those elections and to Dr Lai Ching-te and his party on his election," Cameron said. "I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion," he said. In addition, the EU congratulates all voters who participated in this democratic exercise, according to a statement by the European External Action Service (EEAS). The EU underlined in the statement that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are key to regional and global security and prosperity. The EU remains concerned about growing tensions in the Taiwan Strait and opposes any unilateral attempt to change the status quo, according to the statement. Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament Viktorija AmilytA-Nielsen, Paraguayan President Santiago PeAa, and Chairwoman of the British House of Commons' Foreign Affairs Select Committee Alicia Kearns also offered their congratulations to Taiwan. (By Shih Hsiu-chuan) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scholars predict rising China pressure, political gridlock after Taiwan election ROC Central News Agency 01/14/2024 12:58 AM Taipei, Jan. 14 (CNA) The victory of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te () on Saturday will likely bring increased pressure from China, as well as gridlock in the legislature after no party won a majority, according to scholars. A new round of Chinese military, economic and trade pressure on Taiwan could begin soon, according to Kuo Yu-jen (), deputy head of Taipei-based think tank the Institute for National Policy Research (INPR). Lai has been targeted by Beijing's propaganda machine for his earlier description of himself as a "pragmatic independence worker," although he has sought to back track from that characterization in recent months. The pressure can be expected from Sunday to early March when the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will be held, the expert said. There could be another wave of pressure from late March when the two conferences are set to conclude, to May 20 when Lai takes office, he said. Subsequently, China might adopt a low-profile approach to avoid becoming a focal point during the United States' presidential election in November, he suggested. However, following the U.S. election, there is a possibility that China will once again escalate the pressure on Taiwan, Kuo said. Kuo argued that Chinese President Xi Jinping () will be more assertive than in 2016, indicating that Lai will encounter more pressure from China than the current President Tsai Ing-wen () did when she took office eight years ago. He further noted that, aside from military and economic coercion, China could escalate its disinformation campaign against Taiwan. This might involve characterizing Lai as a "troublemaker" both in terms of cross-strait relations and on the international stage, he said. On the domestic political front, experts believe political gridlock in Taiwan's 113-seat Legislative Yuan is likely as Saturday's elections saw the DPP win 51 seats, the Kuomintang (KMT) 52, and the Taiwan People's Party (TPP) eight. In other words, Lai faces a Legislature where no party has a majority - the same situation faced by DPP President Chen Shui-bian () from 2000 to 2008, according to Political scientist Dachi Liao (). However, Chen at that time had KMT Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (), who was an outstanding mediator between different parties, Liao told CNA. The future head of the Legislative Yuan, whether it is the DPP's current speaker You Si-kun (), the KMT's preferred candidate Han Kuo-yu (), who topped the party's list of 34 legislator-at-large nominations, or a TPP candidate, is likely to be less skilled than Wang, she said. The number of bills passed by the Legislative Yuan during Chen's administration was higher than under former KMT president Ma Ying-jeou () from 2008 to 2016 when the KMT had a majority in the lawmaking body, Liao said, citing statistics. Meanwhile, military experts have said they do not foresee any major change in Lai's national defense policies from those of the current government. With the People's Liberation Army continuing to build up its capabilities and Xi pushing for re-unification with Taiwan, by force if necessary, it is unlikely that Taiwan's national defense policies will change significantly, Lin Ying-yu (), an assistant professor at Tamkang University Graduate Institute of International Affairs and Strategic Studies, told CNA. Chieh-chung (), a researcher at the Taiwan-based Association of Strategic Foresight agreed, saying the DPP is unlikely to cancel any major defense policies, including the Indigenous Defense Submarine program, which sparked debate in the run-up to Saturday's elections. Generally speaking, Taiwan only makes major changes to its defense policies at the behest of the United States, and this is not likely to change, he added. However, Lin noted, with the DPP failing to secure a legislative majority in Saturday's legislative election, its military projects could face more hurdles in the legislature. As a result, the Ministry of National Defense will have to work harder to communicate with the opposition legislative caucuses, maintain a good relationship with the media, and explain policies to the public if related bills are to pass smoothly, Lin said. (By Chung Yu-chen, Sean Lin, Huang Ya-shi, Lin Ching-yi and Matt Yu) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President-elect Lai Ching-te promises to maintain cross-strait status quo ROC Central News Agency 01/14/2024 12:08 AM Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) President-elect Lai Ching-te () said Saturday night he would commit to working to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and urged Beijing to change its approach towards Taipei in this "new situation." "It is my important responsibility, as president, to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," Lai told a press conference in Taipei, shortly after he and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim () declared victory in the race for the country's two top jobs. "I will act in accordance with the constitutional order of the Republic of China (Taiwan's official name), in a manner that is balanced and that maintains the cross-strait status quo," the 64-year-old president-elect said. He added that while his administration would seek dialogue and engagement with Beijing, it remained "determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China." Lai's remarks aligned with his election campaign pledges to continue implementing President Tsai Ing-wen's () cross-strait and foreign policies, which underscore the importance of upholding the status quo and expanding cooperation with democratic nations around the world. He defended Tsai's policy as "steady" and "supported by the international community," in response to a question by a Bloomberg Television reporter about whether he would consider softening his approach towards China given his failure to win an absolute majority of the ballots cast on Saturday. Lai received 5,586,019 votes, or 40.05 percent of the total, defeating main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Hou Yu-ih (), who took 33.49 percent of the vote, and Ko Wen-je () of the smaller Taiwan People's Party (TPP), who garnered 26.46 percent, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC). "Taiwan [under Tsai's leadership] did not engage in any provocative actions, [and] we only want to maintain a free and democratic way of life," Lai said. He went on to urge Beijing, which has never positively responded to Tsai's repeated proposals to talk with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, to "recognize the new situation" and its responsibility for maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait. The victory of Lai and Hsiao in the presidential race came as no surprise, as the DPP ticket had maintained a healthy lead in most of the opinion polls in the lead-up to election day. However, the party failed to win an absolute majority in the legislative elections, also held on Saturday, after they took 51 of the 113 seats in the Legislature, 10 less than four years ago. The result of the legislative elections showed that "we did not work hard enough" and that "there are areas we must humbly review and look back on," Lai said. Nevertheless, Lai said he looked forward to working with the new hung Legislature and would seek to enhance "communication, consultation, participation and cooperation" with lawmakers from other political parties. "I will carefully study the policies and positions of my two electoral opponents," he went on, "As long as they bring benefit to the people and further our national development, they will be incorporated into my policy framework." He also vowed to build a "democratic alliance" by "bringing in talent from different political parties" in his administration, without elaborating on how he planned to achieve his goal. Shen Yu-chung (), a political science professor at Tunghai University in Taichung, expressed concern that Beijing would take a tougher line on the Lai administration and that cross-Taiwan Strait relations would be even frostier than they are at present. At the same time, it will be more difficult for Taipei to navigate its relationship with both Beijing and Washington if the competition between the two superpowers continues to escalate, Shen observed. Lai has on more than one occasion described himself as a "pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence," with the last instance taking place in 2017, when he was the country's premier, in charge of government administration. He has toned down his rhetoric since 2020, however, when he took over as vice president, proclaiming that "Taiwan is already an independent sovereign country" and that there is "no need to declare independence." As part of his pledges to continue President Tsai's cross-strait and foreign policy, Lai promised to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. Despite having secured an unprecedented third consecutive four-year term for the DPP, Lai is now faced with some domestic challenges, one of which is that his party failed to win a majority of the seats in the legislative elections concurrently held Saturday. According to Shen, it will be more challenging for the Lai administration to have its proposed budget plans and bills approved by the new Legislature, especially given that the president-elect is known for "not easily backing down." The last time there was a hung Legislature in Taiwan was when the DPP's Chen Shui-bian () was in office, but at that time, the legislative speaker was Wang Jin-pyng (), a then-KMT heavyweight noted for brokering deals among different parties, Shen said. (By Teng Pei-ju and Yeh Su-ping) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President ErdoAYan chairs security meeting Presidency of The Republic of Turkey 13.01.2024 President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan chaired a security meeting at DolmabahAe Presidential Office in Istanbul. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of Interior Ali Yerlikaya, Minister of National Defense YaAYar GAler, Chief of General Staff Gen. Metin GArak, Director of National Intelligence Organization Abrahim KalAn, Presidency's Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun and Chief Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to the President Akif AaAYatay KAlAA were present at the meeting. The statement issued following the meeting reads: "During the meeting, our counter-terrorism strategies were evaluated in a holistic manner, and the treacherous terrorist attack organized yesterday in the Operation Claw-Lock Zone in the north of Iraq and the steps we have taken and will take in the context of the fight against terrorism were discussed. We explicitly and unequivocally state that the Republic of TArkiye continues its fight against the terrorist organization PKK/YPG/KCK and its supporters with determination and resolution within the framework of its strategy of blocking and eliminating threats to its survival at the source. In the operations launched after the treacherous attack, a total of 45 terroristsa36 in the north of Iraq and 9 in northern Syriaawere neutralized. This struggle will continue until the last terrorist is neutralized and the terror reservoirs in Iraq and Syria are entirely wiped out. The terrorist separatist organization, which had nearly vanished within our borders, sustained severe losses as a result of our successful cross-border operations. There has been a surge in attempts to reinvigorate the terrorist organization since it has found itself in a precarious situation in Syria and Iraq. The recent terrorist attacks that have targeted our troops operating outside of our borders are a sneaky part of the plans to strengthen the organization. TArkiye will not consent to the establishment of a 'terrorististan' on its southern borders, regardless of the excuse or the justification. No matter who is behind a terrorist threat, camp, shelter, formation, or cluster, our primary priority is to permanently destroy it within the framework of our right to self-defense and bilateral agreements. The separatist scoundrels who subcontract TArkiye's adversaries are and will be held accountable for each drop of blood they shed. We are resolved to thwart the plans of those who control the strings and those who serve as pawns in the traps laid to prevent us from achieving our goal of the Century of TArkiye. We wish Allah's mercy upon our soldiers who were martyred in the treacherous terrorist attack carried out yesterday in the Operation Claw-Lock zone in the north of Iraq. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and relatives of our martyrs, our Turkish Armed Forces and our beloved nation. We wish a speedy recovery to our soldiers who were injured in the attack and are still being treated." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New French foreign minister in Ukraine capital for first trip abroad Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 1:32 PM The New French foreign minister has visited Ukrainian Capital Kiev as his first official trip abroad, amid Ukraine's war with Russia. Stephane Sojourner made the visit on Saturday, signaling his country's ever growing support for Ukraine. According to the French foreign ministry, the Sojourner's trip was made "to reiterate France's commitment to its allies and to the civilian population." The 38-year-old minister, a close ally to the French President Emmanuel Macron, had already pledged continuing strong support for Ukraine, claiming that, "Helping Ukraine means guaranteeing the victory of democracy." France's military support to Ukraine amounts to 3.2 billion euros ($3.5 billion), according to a parliamentary report published in November. In the meantime, an EU aid package worth 50 billion euros ($55 billion) has been stuck in Brussels, while the US Congress remains divided on sending additional aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pushing for more "air defense", as his country has been facing renewed aerial strikes from Russia. The visit takes place after British Prime minister's trip to Kiev in which he pledged the largest military aid package for Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia. France pledged to send dozens of armored vehicles and light tanks to Ukraine last year. The military weapons included AMX-10RCs fighting vehicles. Russia launched what it calls a special military operation in Ukraine on February 22, 2022, after the ex-Soviet republic declared its plan to join the US-led military alliance of NATO. Since then, the United States and Ukraine's other Western allies have supplied Kiev with tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK pledges thousands of drones for Ukraine in 'largest' military aid package Iran Press TV Saturday, 13 January 2024 7:58 AM British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged the largest military aid package for Ukraine since the beginning of the war with Russia, including thousands of deadly drones. Sunak made the pledge during a visit to Ukraine on Friday. The funding package for 2024 is A200 million higher than the A2.3 billion pledged per year in both 2022 and 2023. It will ensure the "largest ever commitment of drones", Sunak's office said in a statement. At least A200 million of the latest military package is to be spent on "a major push to rapidly procure and produce thousands of military drones for Ukraine, including surveillance, long-range strike and sea drones". In a statement, the British government explained that the G7 nations agreed to provide Ukraine with bilateral security assurances at the NATO Summit in Vilnius last year, and the UK is the first country to deliver a final agreement. "The totemic agreement is intended to be the first step in developing an unshakeable hundred-year partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom." Sunak also said the aid currently in place was due to run through to the "early part of this year." During his visit, Sunak and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year agreement on military cooperation. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov also said that "A200 million from this package will be allocated for the production of combat drones for Ukraine, in particular reconnaissance, long-range, and maritime drones." "This will be the largest drone delivery to Ukraine among all countries," he added In a Facebook post on Friday, . UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps also revealed two weeks ago that London was sending hundreds of missiles to Kiev in an attempt to boost its air power against Russia. "The UK is moving rapidly to bolster Ukraine's air defense, in the wake of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's murderous air strikes. Hundreds of British-made air-defense missiles are being sent to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself from Putin's barbaric bombardment," he said. In a separate visit to Kiev in November, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron reiterated his country's support for Ukraine. Cameron's decision came after Zelensky claimed that Western support for his country had dropped since the beginning of the Israeli war on Gaza on October 7th. "We will continue to give you the moral support, diplomatic support, the economic support, but above all, the military support, that you need not just this year, and next year, but for however long it takes," Cameron said during a meeting with Zelensky. Since the onset of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022, the UK has supplied Kiev with various weapons, including the NLAW anti-tank missile launcher and Brimstone 2 missiles. Britain also became the first Western country to provide Ukrainian forces with a long-range cruise missile named the Storm Shadow. The Storm Shadow is a turbojet-powered missile that cruises at Mach 0.8 to a max range of 560 kilometers. Furthermore, over 20,000 recruits from the Ukrainian armed forces received training in the UK since the beginning of 2022 under the British-led Operation Interflex. The US has also led a Western coalition sending tens of billions of dollars in weaponry and munitions to Kiev. Moscow has repeatedly warned Western leaders against the continued supply of weapons and munitions to Ukraine, pointing out that such measures will not stop Russian troops from pursuing the country's objectives and that arming Kiev would only prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Ukraine, France's New Foreign Minister Tells Kyiv 'Our Determination Is Intact' By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service January 13, 2024 KYIV -- New French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne on a surprise visit sought to reassure Kyiv that it can count on support from Paris following the cabinet reshuffle in France over the past week and that Ukraine will remain "France's priority" as it continues to battle the Russian invasion. "Ukraine is and will remain France's priority. The defense of the fundamental principles of international law is being played out in Ukraine," he told a Kyiv news conference alongside his counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, on January 13. "Russia is hoping that Ukraine and its supporters will tire before it does. We will not weaken. That is the message that I am carrying here to the Ukrainians. Our determination is intact," said Sejourne, who was making his first foreign journey since being appointed to the position on January 11. Kuleba thanked Sejourne for making his journey to Kyiv despite "another massive shelling by Russia. I am grateful to him for his courage, for not turning back." Sejourne arrived in the Ukrainian capital within hours of a combined missile-and-drone attack by Russia that triggered Ukrainian air defenses in several southern and eastern regions early on January 13. Sejourne's visit represented the latest Western show of support for Kyiv in its ongoing war to repel Russia's 22-month-old full-scale invasion. "For almost 2 years, Ukraine has been on the front line to defend its sovereignty and ensure the security of Europe," Sejourne said on X, formerly Twitter. "France's aid is long-term." Ukraine has struggled to secure further funding for its campaign from the United States and the European Union, the latter of which is grappling with opposition from member Hungary. The French Foreign Ministry posted an image of Sejourne and said he'd "arrived in Kyiv for his first trip to the field, in order to continue French diplomatic action there and to reiterate France's commitment to its allies and alongside civilian populations." "Despite the multiplying crisis, Ukraine is and will remain France's priority," AFP later quoted Sejourne as saying in Kyiv. He said "the fundamental principles of international law and the values of Europe, as well as the security interests of the French" are at stake there. Earlier, the General Staff of Ukraine's military said Russia had launched 40 missiles and attack drones targeting Ukrainian territory. It said Ukrainian air defenses shot down eight of the incoming attacks and 20 others missed their targets. It said the Russian weapons included "winged, aerobic, ballistic, aviation, anti-controlled missiles, and impact BPLAs." They reportedly targeted the eastern Kharkiv, Luhansk, and Donetsk regions. RFE/RL cannot independently confirm claims by either side in areas of the heaviest combat. Air alerts sounded in several regions of Ukraine. A day earlier, Polish radio and other reports quoted recently inaugurated Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk as saying he would visit Ukraine soon to discuss joint security efforts and to talk about Polish truckers' grievances over EU advantages for Ukrainian haulers. Tusk, a former Polish leader and European Council president who was sworn in for a new term as Polish prime minister in mid-December, has been a vocal advocate of strong Polish and EU support for Ukraine. "I really want the Ukrainian problems of war and, more broadly security, as well as policy toward Russia, to be joint, so that not only the president and the prime minister, but the Polish state as a whole act in solidarity in these issues," Tusk said. The U.S. Congress has been divided over additional aid to Ukraine, with many Republicans opposing President Joe Biden's hopes for billions more in support. An EU aid proposal of around 50 billion euros ($55 billion) was blocked by Hungary, although other members have said they will pursue "technical" or other means of skirting Budapest's resistance as soon as possible. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has warned that delays in aid can severely hamper Ukrainians' ongoing efforts to defeat invading Russian forces. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/france-ukraine-visit-sejourne- russia-war-missiles-drones/32772925.html Copyright (c) 2024. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Forces Hit Ukrainian Shell and Drone Factories With Precision Strikes Sputnik News 20240113 Russian troops carried out a massive strike using Kinzhal missiles and other precision weapons on military facilities in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense reported Saturday. "This morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out a massed strike with high-precision, long-range sea- and air-based weapons, including the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, on the objects of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine, producing 155, 152 and 125-millimeter shells, gunpowder and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)," the ministry said. The ministry emphasized that the goals of the strike were achieved. Overnight, Ukrainian media and local authorities reported explosions in Kremenchug, Kropivnitsky (previously Kirovograd), Dnepropetrovsk, Chernigov, the outskirts of Kiev, Sumy region and in part of Kherson. The Russian Armed Forces also hit five Ukrainian brigades in the Donetsk area over the past 24 hours, with Kiev losing up to 320 soldiers killed and wounded in the area. "In the Donetsk direction, the coordinated actions of units of the Southern Battlegroup, air strikes, artillery fire and heavy flamethrower systems defeated the living forces and equipment of the 28th Mechanized, 46th Airmobile, [and] 95th Airborne Assault Brigades, the 112th and 122nd Brigades in the areas of [villages] Heorhiivka, Klishchiivka and Kurdyumivka of the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. In the Donetsk area alone, the Ukrainian military also lost four tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles and eight pickup trucks, as well as one Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer and two D-30 howitzers, the Russian Defense Ministry added. In addition, Kiev lost over 110 troops, three vehicles and one D-20 howitzer in South Donetsk. Moreover, in Krasnyi Lyman, the Russian Army repelled two Ukrainian attacks, eliminating more than 280 Ukrainian soldiers, three armed vehicles and nine vehicles, as well as a D-30 howitzer, the ministry added. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Independence is gained by the brave - address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 13 January 2024 - 19:29 I wish you good health, dear Ukrainians! Today, I had several international meetings. First, via a video link with the leaders of the Bulgarian parliamentary coalition. Leading political forces. Our relations. Our common security - for everyone in Europe. It was a good and meaningful conversation. I am grateful for the understanding - the understanding that Russian aggression is a threat to the happiness and prosperity of all European nations. I also had a meeting today with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs of France. It is very symbolic that the minister's first visit is to Ukraine and precisely at a time when Russia is trying various ways to increase strikes on Ukraine and bypass our air defense. I am grateful to all countries and, in particular, France, for substantial strengthening our air shield, for unwavering support on the battlefield for our soldiers, and assistance to our people. Today, we discussed our defense needs, including joint production of drones, artillery, and further strengthening of air defense. I briefed him on the progress regarding the Peace Formula. I am thankful to France for its active role in this global effort. We are already preparing for the forum in Davos, presenting our position and joint opportunities for everyone in the world who strives to leave a world of stability and freedom for their children. Our values, not the madness of any dictator. And, of course, gratitude to our soldiers. Today, I want to particularly commend the soldiers of our National Guard, who, along with all the Armed Forces and security units, courageously and steadfastly defend Ukrainian positions. The 15th National Guard Brigade - Senior Soldier Valeriy Semenets and Junior Sergeant Serhiy Koval, warriors of the special operations unit. Thank you for your strength! The third Special Operations Brigade - Soldier Vitaliy Saschuk, Soldier Mykola Nahaichuk, Soldier Yuriy Kosiuta. The 14th Brigade - Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Oliynyk, Senior Sergeant Vasyl Cherniuiuk. Thank you, guys! I also want to commend the warriors of the National Guard's Omega special operations center Omega, especially the guys from the first unit who effectively carry out tasks on the Avdiivka direction, as well as all the warriors of the third Omega unit who fight on the Melitopol direction, reinforcing the units of the Armed Forces. Thank you for destroying the enemy, guys! I thank all your comrades, everyone who knows that independence is not a reward. Independence is gained by the brave. I thank everyone in Ukraine who is just like that! And everyone in the world who helps our state! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The President of Ukraine had a video call with the leaders of the Bulgarian parliamentary coalition President of Ukraine 13 January 2024 - 18:56 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a video call with the leaders of the coalition in the Bulgarian Parliament: Boyko Borisov, Delyan Peevski, and Kiril Petkov. The Head of State expressed gratitude to the Bulgarian Parliament for their recent decisions to support Ukraine. "I want to thank you for these decisions. They substantially strengthen Ukraine and enhance the resilience of our resistance to the aggressor. Strengthening our army means strengthening our society," he said. The President also conveyed appreciation for Bulgaria's support of Ukraine on the Euro-Atlantic and European integration pathways, particularly during the opening of negotiations for Ukraine's membership in the European Union. The coalition leaders in the Bulgarian Parliament wished Ukraine victory and peace, assuring continued support from Bulgaria. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed the participants about the situation on the battlefield and recent heavy missile attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities. He emphasized the urgent need for more air defense systems, missiles for them, artillery rounds, and other necessities. The participants discussed further defensive support for Ukraine. They also focused on the issue of using frozen Russian assets to compensate for the damage caused by its aggression. The Head of State expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for their clear sanctions against the aggressor state and underscored the importance of continuing support for EU sanctions mechanisms. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Oleksiy Kuleba, Viktor Liashko met with representatives of American medical, charitable organizations, who presented the concept of building several healthcare facilities President of Ukraine 13 January 2024 - 09:36 Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Oleksiy Kuleba and Minister of Health of Ukraine Viktor Liashko held a meeting with representatives of American medical and charitable organizations. International partners, including President of the charitable organization Ukraine Focus, former Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at USAID (2018-2021) Brock Daniel Bierman, General Counsel at the medical company AMC Healthcare Brent W. Yessin, and Director of Ukraine Focus in Ukraine Oleksandr Reshetkov, presented the concept of a project on the construction of four emergency hospitals and rehabilitation centers for veterans. "We, Ukraine Focus and AMC Healthcare, look forward to collaborating with the government of Ukraine and the Ministry of Health to provide even more necessary assistance to the Ukrainian people," Brock Bierman said. Ukraine Focus has already signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Health. On its part, the medical company AMC Healthcare provides professional advice in the healthcare sector, builds modular hospitals and medical facilities, and establishes management services for them. Oleksiy Kuleba expressed gratitude to the partners for their timely and important assistance and initiatives already being implemented in Ukraine. "The support of partner countries is crucial for Ukraine in the face of the full-scale invasion. On our part, we are ready to take all steps to ensure that the necessary assistance arrives as quickly as possible," the Deputy Head of the Office of the President said. The hospitals proposed by the partners are planned to be built according to EU standards and can function either as independent facilities or as part of existing hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Additionally, each such facility will be equipped with a bomb shelter. Health Minister Viktor Liashko said that during the full-scale war, nearly 1,700 medical facilities have already suffered due to hostile actions of the Russian army: 1,501 medical infrastructure objects have been damaged, and another 195 have been completely destroyed, with no possibility of further restoration. According to him, the biggest losses were incurred by the medical infrastructure in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions. "It is crucial for us, despite such challenges to the healthcare system, to provide Ukrainians with access to medical assistance. The developments presented today - both the experience and technologies - are extremely relevant for Ukraine, especially for the de-occupied territories," the minister said. The company Northwell Health is ready to contribute to the implementation of the ambitious project to build medical facilities by providing equipment and training specialists. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Massive Russian Airstrikes Hit Ukraine By VOA News January 13, 2024 Russia launched a wave of missiles into Ukraine early Saturday morning, Ukraine's air force said, adding that it was able to shoot down a handful. In all, Russia launched 37 missiles and three drones, Ukraine's air force said in a statement on social media. Most of the missiles were ballistic missiles that are harder to shoot down, the statement said. "It should be noted that more than 20 of all the listed (weapons) which were not included in the number of the downed, did not reach their targets as a result of active countermeasures by electronic warfare," the statement said. The air force's spokesperson said earlier this week that Ukraine is running out of air defense missiles, but it is not clear how much of a role that played in the low hit rate. Ukraine's air defenses shot down Russian missiles in at least five regions across Ukraine, according to local officials from those provinces. Russia's defense ministry claimed it was targeting factories that make shells, gunpowder and unmanned aerial vehicles. "All designated facilities were hit," it said. Ukraine provided no target details. French official visits French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne visited Kyiv on Saturday, just hours after Russia's attack. He said France will continue backing Ukraine in its defensive war against Russia and will support defense manufacturing cooperation between the two countries. It was Sejourne's first official visit since starting his new role this week. "Russia hopes Ukraine and its supporters will get tired before them. We will not grow weaker," Sejourne said during a news conference in the center of the Ukrainian capital. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak traveled to Kyiv on Friday to unveil nearly $3.2 billion in new military funding for Ukraine, Britain's largest annual commitment since Russia invaded the country. Sunak said he was sending a message to Ukraine on behalf of his nation and Ukraine's allies around the world, that they will never be alone. He said the war in Ukraine is about the nation's right to defend itself and to be an independent democracy. "If [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wins in Ukraine, he will not stop there," Sunak said. He said any wavering in support for Ukraine will embolden Putin and his allies in North Korea, Iran, and elsewhere. National security advisers are to convene in the Swiss ski resort town of Davos on Sunday for another round of closed-door talks on Ukraine's peace plan. The meeting on the eve of the World Economic Forum's big annual gathering excludes Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will promote his 10-point peace plan at the convention. "We are already preparing for the forum in Davos, presenting our position and joint opportunities for everyone in the world who strives to leave a world of stability and freedom for their children. Our values, not the madness of any dictator," he said in his video address Saturday. Zelenskyy also met Friday with Penny Pritzker, the U.S. special representative for Ukraine's economic recovery. "We are eagerly awaiting the decision of Congress regarding further support for Ukraine," Zelenskyy said, "support that matters not only to us, but also to every state whose stability depends on the strength of international law." Some members of the U.S. Congress are wavering on the continued support for Ukraine. Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New York, NY, Jan. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Retail Pro International, developer of the worldclass Point of Sale and retail management platform, Retail Pro Prism, today made its first official appearance as a Nayax company at NRF 2024: Retails Big Show. Technology from Nayax and Retail Pro offers retailers unrivaled value of innovation in retail solutions like POS, payment technology, and loyalty platforms designed to help merchants improve their retail experiences and scale their business with more repeat purchases. Retailers attending NRF 2024 are invited to join Nayax and Retail Pro at Retail Pro Booth #6211 for a Happy Hour on Monday, 15 January 2024 from 3:00pm to 4:00pm to celebrate the new partnership. We are pleased to be part of a great company like Nayax, which shares our dedication to continued product innovation and empowering excellent customer experiences within the retail market, said Kerry Lemos, Chief Executive Officer of Retail Pro. In our 30+ years, customers have come to trust our robust technology platform to optimize their complex retail operations. As part of a larger, multinational organization, we can continue to deliver on that mission on a much larger scale. We look forward to working closely together with Nayaxs team, as this coalition represents an ideal fit and strong win for our customers, partners, and employees globally. Since their inception, Retail Pro has built a full-featured, flexible product empowering the complex, global retail industry, said Yair Nechmad, Nayax Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. We are pleased to be joining forces with Retail Pros expert team of technologists. Our combined businesses, together with Retail Pros 80 distributors, will triple our reach in the global retail market and create a powerful end-to-end solution with Nayaxs payment and loyalty platform. Retailers visiting the Retail Pro booth will get a preview of what will be available jointly from the new partnership and its broader ecosystem, including: Powerful point of sale and retail management software Versatile countertop, mobile and kiosk POS hardware Marketing and loyalty tools to boost repeat purchases Integrated RFID readers for a sleek self-checkout experience The combination of integrated loyalty and payments with POS software gives Nayax a vertically integrated solution that answers the needs of most retailers, allowing them to manage their entire retail operation from one platform. We are excited and looking forward to focusing on our integration and executing our shared mission, added Mr. Nechmad. Retailers are invited to visit the Retail Pro booth #6211 at NRF 2024 on January 14 16 to discuss their operational needs and see how Nayax and Retail Pro's solutions can help them improve their customer experiences and win more repeat purchases. ### About Retail Pro International Retail Pro International, a Nayax company, is a global leader in retail management software that is recognized world-wide for rich functionality, multi-national capabilities, and unparalleled flexibility, and has been named top POS for mid-market retail by IHL Group. For over 30 years, RPI has innovated retail software solutions to help retailers optimize business operations and have more time to focus on what really matters cultivating customer engagement and capitalizing on retail trends. Today, Retail Pro software powers unified commerce strategy for retailers in 130 countries with full POS, replenishment, inventory, promotions, and customer management functionalities available on any mobile or desktop Android, IOS, and Windows devices. About Nayax Nayax is a global commerce enablement, payments and loyalty platform designed to help merchants scale their business. Nayax offers a complete solution including localized cashless payment acceptance, management suite, and loyalty tools, enabling merchants to conduct commerce anywhere, at any time. With foundations and global leadership in serving unattended retail, Nayax has transformed into a comprehensive solution focused on our customers' growth across multiple channels. Today, Nayax has 9 global offices, approximately 800 employees, connections to more than 80 merchant acquirers and payment method integrations and is a recognized payment facilitator worldwide. Nayax's mission is to improve our customers' revenue potential and operational efficiency. For more information, please visit www.nayax.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as anticipate, believe, could, expect, should, plan, intend, estimate and potential, among others. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations. Forward-looking statements are based on our managements beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to our management. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements due to of various factors, including, but not limited to: our expectations regarding general market conditions, including as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other global economic trends; changes in consumer tastes and preferences; fluctuations in inflation, interest rate and exchange rates in the global economic environment; the availability of qualified personnel and the ability to retain such personnel; changes in commodity costs, labor, distribution and other operating costs; our ability to implement our growth strategy; changes in government regulation and tax matters; other factors that may affect our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations; general economic, political, demographic and business conditions in Israel, including the ongoing war in Israel that began on October 7, 2023 and global perspectives regarding that conflict; the success of operating initiatives, including advertising and promotional efforts and new product and concept development by us and our competitors; factors relating to the acquisition of Retail Pro, including but not limited to the financing for and payment of the acquisition and our ability to effectively and efficiently integrate the acquired business into our existing business; and other risk factors discussed under Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC on March 1, 2023 (our "Annual Report"). The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These statements are only estimates based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, you should consider the risks provided under Risk Factors in our Annual Report. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations. Attachment NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NRF Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, NYC, Booth #507 - Pathr.ai , the industry's first and only artificial intelligence (AI) powered spatial intelligence solution, announced today its expanded Lenovo AI Innovator partnership . Pathr.ais Spatial Intelligence analytics and Loss Prevention solution will be showcased at Lenovos booth during NRF 2024: Retails Big Show in New York City (January 14 - 16, 2024). In todays market, retailers are faced with increasing levels of shrink inside their stores and with a lack of customer behavior data, they are at a disadvantage to make informed decisions that help prevent loss, said George Shaw, CEO and Founder of Pathr.ai. Our Spatial Intelligence solution is designed to enable retailers to detect suspicious behavior happening inside their stores and take action in real-time. Alongside Lenovo, were poised to scale Edge AI to thousands of retail customers worldwide and deliver robust retail analytics to their organizations. Pathr.ais AI-powered Spatial Intelligence solution leverages existing camera infrastructure and data sources to anonymously capture customer and staff movements in real-time. The solution delivers scalable, real-time, and privacy-preserving insights that drive loss prevention, store operations, and merchandising optimizations across a store fleet. The company is currently working with leading global brands and retailers to scale its Spatial Intelligence analytics. Pathr.ai uses Lenovo edge servers and workstations, including Lenovo ThinkSystem SE350, Lenovo ThinkEdge SE450 and Lenovo ThinkStation P360 workstation to run its computer vision detection and video analytics at the edge inside retail stores. Together with Lenovo, Pathr.ai empowers retailers at scale with data-driven insights around their customer behavior that enable growth and optimizations around strategic retail initiatives. Working with Pathr.ai as part of our best-in-class Lenovo AI Innovators ecosystem, we are helping customers easily deploy AI with confidence and taking data intelligence from concept to reality, said Nicholas Borsotto, Global Lead for Lenovo AI Innovators . Our partnership with Pathr.ai showcases how cutting-edge Spatial Intelligence technology enables retailers to connect the dots on new opportunities that address their biggest challenges, like loss prevention and improved customer experiences, and strengthen their store performances at scale. Pathr.ai provides a privacy-centric solution that delivers unbiased data without requiring any personally identifiable information (PII) or demographic information, empowering retailers to achieve positive business outcomes in an unbiased way. Pathr.ai complies with The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) privacy regulations. To learn more, visit https://pathr.ai/ or visit Booth #507 and the Lenovo Booth #3665 at the show. About Pathr.ai Pathr.ai is the industrys first AI-powered spatial intelligence software company that uses anonymous location data from available and existing infrastructure to observe human behavior in any physical space. Its sophisticated technology turns raw behavioral and spatial data from existing sensors into actionable and applied business learnings - allowing companies to drive the business results that matter most to the growth of their companies in real-time. Founded in 2019, Pathr.ai is headquartered in Mountain View, California. To learn more about Pathr.ai, please visit https://pathr.ai/ . Samsung has started pushing its flagship phones' first security patch for January 2024. Users have already spotted the package in Europe. Galaxy S23 owners can look out for firmware version S91xBXXS3BWL3, while S22 and S21 devices should be getting versions S90xBXXS7DWL3 and G99xBXXS9FWL9 respectively. The update seems to weigh around 400MB and seems very "dense," for lack of a better term. Looking at the official patch notes, we can see that Samsung squashed one critical security issue and a whopping 67 other ones labeled as "High" priority by the Korean giant. Reading a bit into the notes themselves, we see that there was apparently a vulnerability in Samsung's Bluetooth pairing process that would allow attackers to establish a pairing process without user interaction. Another interesting bug would potentially allow Samsung DeX users in multi-user environments to access another user's notifications. It is unclear whether this update features a screen burn-in protection measure that Samsung had previously promised to arrive in January. As mentioned, the new January security patch has already been spotted on flagship Galaxy devices in Europe and should be coming to the US shortly. Beyond the already mentioned device families, the patch should also be coming to the Galaxy Z Fold5, Z Flip5, Z Fold4, Z Flip4, A54 and Note20 in this same wave. It is interesting to note that not FE edition devices seem to currently be in this wave. Soource | Via A man who was released on probation will now spend three more years in jail for violating his release condition to attend drug treatment. Shawn Michael Blas Santos, 36, was on probation as part of his plea agreement and was required to attend drug treatment, but didnt do so. Superior Court of Guam Judge Arthur Barcinas revoked Santos probation in an Jan. 8 order. On Aug. 18, 2021, Santos pled guilty to several charges, including attempted theft and criminal trespass, according to court documents. As part of his agreement, he agreed to be placed on three years of supervised probation and seek drug treatment and report to the probation office once a month. The probation office reported to the court that Santos did not seek treatment and failed to report to the office. Attorney General Douglas Moylan, in a media statement, said this is another example of what deterrence looks like. Tough on criminals means that when a criminal fails to follow the courts order, that they justly reap the consequences, he said. The plea agreement meant Santos would spend five years in jail, all but three years suspended, if he didnt adhere to the terms of his agreement that required drug treatment. With the recent murder of a Korean tourist that was drug-related, Barcinas is taking actions that punish defendants and push back against the problems associated with catch, release and reoffend defendants, especially when they dont help themselves to cure their addiction, as they promised, Moylan stated in the release. The attorney general said the decision sends a strong message to meth addicts that second chances will not be given. The people of Guam and crime victims are the foremost party that needs to be protected from thieves who have meth addiction problems. The courts are crucial to sending a strong deterrent message throughout this community to keep us and our loved ones safe, Moylan said. Guam Homeland Security Advisor Esther Aguigui speaks at an Oct. 19, 2023 cybersecurity conference in this file photo. Aguigui said theres no immediate threat assessed for the Marianas from a reported North Korean launch of an unidentified projectile. A routine traffic stop on a black Toyota Rav4 late Thursday night led to the arrest of two people on a slew of drug-related charges and other felony charges, according to documents filed at the Superior Court of Guam. Corina Jamel Taitingfong and Clayton Pangelinan Taitingfong both showed signs of methamphetamine use, according to police officers. They consented to a police search of the vehicle. Police found a firearm that was locked and chambered, a number of resealable bags, a white crystalline substance and a large sum of money in the defendants wallet. Police called in the vehicles details and learned that it was reported stolen. Neither defendant had a valid drivers license. One defendants jerking motion led police to a soft case underneath the car, which contained more bags and residue. Samples of the substances were field-tested and found positive for methamphetamine. Police confiscated about 50 grams of the suspected drugs. Both suspects were charged with two felony drug charges and two felony firearms charges. Corina Taitingfong was additionally charged with operating a vehicle without a valid license. Man charged in rock-throwing incident Police responded to an assault complaint at the Macheche Plaza in Dededo Thursday afternoon and found a victim bleeding from a laceration under his eye. The rock that hit him was confiscated by police. The victim saw a man walking away and described him to police. Police found a man matching that description at a nearby game room, and the victim positively identified the suspect. Ichi Jack was arrested for assault as a misdemeanor. He had an outstanding bench warrant for arrest for a family violence charge from 2019. Guam Regional Medical City, on behalf of more than 800 employees, on Sunday issued a statement offering condolences to the family of the late Peter R. Sgro Jr., co-founder of the private hospital. The statement honors Sgros legacy of improving health care on Guam. Sgro, an attorney, businessman and philanthropist, died on Jan. 9. He was 64. He was one of the founders of the Guam Healthcare and Hospital Development Foundation in 2008, with the goal of attracting an investor to build a private hospital on the island. Peter and his local foundation members, who were all volunteers, confronted many challenges along the way, but in 2009, they helped convince The Medical City to begin exploring the opportunity to expand to Guam. In November 2011, TMC broke ground on a property in Dededo that would evolve into what is now known as GRMC Hospital, and on July 15, 2015, GRMC opened its doors to the public, GRMC said in a statement. During the grand opening ceremony, Sgro and his foundation members were recognized for their contribution in helping make the new hospital a reality. Since then, GRMC has added more than 130 inpatient beds and many specialty care services that were never before available on Guam, greatly reducing the need for residents to travel off island for treatment. GRMC has tremendous gratitude for Peters passion for healthcare and improving the lives of the people of Guam and his legacy as a healthcare visionary will long be remembered, GRMC said. Peter, may you Rest in Peace. Mass of intentions is offered at St. Anthonys Church in Tamuning. For those who want to pay their last respects, the ceremony will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, at St. Anthonys Church in Tamuning. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon that day, followed by interment services at the Guam Memorial Park in Barrigada. Guam Regional Medical City, on behalf of more than 800 employees, on Sunday issued a statement offering condolences to the family of the late Peter R. Sgro Jr., co-founder of the private hospital. The statement honors Sgros legacy of improving health care on Guam. Sgro, an attorney, businessman and philanthropist, died on Jan. 9. He was 64. He was one of the founders of the Guam Healthcare and Hospital Development Foundation in 2008, with the goal of attracting an investor to build a private hospital on the island. Peter and his local foundation members, who were all volunteers, confronted many challenges along the way, but in 2009, they helped convince The Medical City to begin exploring the opportunity to expand to Guam. In November 2011, TMC broke ground on a property in Dededo that would evolve into what is now known as GRMC Hospital, and on July 15, 2015, GRMC opened its doors to the public, GRMC said in a statement. During the grand opening ceremony, Sgro and his foundation members were recognized for their contribution in helping make the new hospital a reality. Since then, GRMC has added more than 130 inpatient beds and many specialty care services that were never before available on Guam, greatly reducing the need for residents to travel off island for treatment. GRMC has tremendous gratitude for Peters passion for healthcare and improving the lives of the people of Guam and his legacy as a healthcare visionary will long be remembered, GRMC said. Peter, may you Rest in Peace. Mass of intentions is offered at St. Anthonys Church in Tamuning. For those who want to pay their last respects, the ceremony will be from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, at St. Anthonys Church in Tamuning. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon that day, followed by interment services at the Guam Memorial Park in Barrigada. Wild Card weekend has arrived, and for the Miami Dolphins, it entails a very chilly trip to Kansas City. Following a 21-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Dolphins dropped to the sixth seed in the AFC playoff picture. As a result, Tua Tagovailoa and Co. square off against the third-seed Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs match the Dolphins 11-6 record, their lowest regular-season win percentage since 2017. The Patrick Mahomes-led squad shouldnt be overlooked, however, as the defending Super Bowl champs are known to thrive under the bright lights, especially in Arrowhead Stadium. The postseason outing is set to be the coldest Dolphins game in history with a temperature of minus 2 degrees at kickoff. By 10:00 p.m., temperatures are expected to drop to minus 5 degrees. The extreme cold could heavily impact play and lead to run-heavy offenses. Luckily for the Dolphins, running back Raheem Mostert is expected to make a return. The Chiefs enter the matchup as 4.5-point favorites, per FanDuel Sportsbook. First Quarter 15:00 -- Chiefs 0, Dolphins 0 The Dolphins win the coin toss and opt to defer. The fourth coldest game in NFL history is underway. 11:05 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 The weather appears to impact the Chiefs for all of two plays before Mahomes returns to his typical playoff form. Isiah Pacheco and Travis Kelce dominate on the opening drive before Rashee Rice runs the ball in for an 11-yard touchdown. 8:35 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 The Dolphins dont get the hot start they hoped for with two unsuccessful runs and a false start call resulting in a three-and-out on their opening drive. 7:07 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 A deep ball to Mecole Hardman Jr. falls incomplete. The Chiefs go three-and-out on their second drive. 3:10 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 A 7-play, 29-yard drive ends abruptly as Tagovailoas pass intended for Jaylen Waddle is picked off by Mike Edwards at Kansas Citys 42-yard line. 2:10 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 In the midst of Kansas Citys third drive, Eli Apple goes down with an injury. Rookie cornerback Ethan Bonner goes in for Apple. 0:56 -- Chiefs 7, Dolphins 0 A 7-yard reception by Rice is initially ruled short of the first down. Andy Reid challenges the call, and the ruling is reversed. Second Quarter 14:51 -- Chiefs 10, Dolphins 0 Harrison Butker extends the Chiefs lead with a 28-yard field goal. Fullback Alec Ingold returns the punt for 19 yards. Tagovailoa and Co. take the field at the 38-yard line. 14:01 -- Chiefs 10, Dolphins 7 After a quiet first quarter, Tyreek Hill makes his presence known. The speedy receiver follows up a 9-yard gain with a 53-yard touchdown reception. 9:49 -- Chiefs 10, Dolphins 7 Mahomes scrambles on a 4th & 4 and picks up the first down, putting the Chiefs in the red zone. 7:36 -- Chiefs 13, Dolphins 7 An 8-yard touchdown by Rice is reversed due to an illegal block. The Chiefs fail to pick up the first down and opt for a 26-yard field goal. Braxton Berrios gains 30 yards on the punt return, giving Tagovailoa the ball at the 35-yard line. 4:35 -- Chiefs 13, Dolphins 7 The Dolphins test their luck on a 4th & 1, but Tagovailoas pass to Hill falls incomplete. The Chiefs gain possession at their 44-yard line. 3:09 -- Chiefs 13, Dolphins 7 The Chiefs go three-and-out. Tommy Townsend punts into the end zone for a Dolphins touchback. 1:55 -- Chiefs 13, Dolphins 7 George Karlaftis sacks Tagovailoa for a loss of 7. With under two minutes remaining, the Chiefs regain possession. 0:18 -- Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7 Mahomes and Rice continue to connect. A 39 yard completion by Rice puts the Chiefs in the red zone. Butker kicks a 32-yard field goal to put the Chiefs ahead by 9. Halftime -- Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7 Third Quarter 13:30 -- Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7 A 5-yard gain by Mostert and 1-yard scramble by Tagovailoa arent enough for a first down. The Dolphins go three-and-out to kick off the second half. 11:09 -- Chiefs 16, Dolphins 7 Rice is slow to get up following his seventh reception of the night, a 10-yard gain. 7:49 -- Chiefs 19, Dolphins 7 The Chiefs cap off a 13-play, 69-yard drive with another field goal as a result of back-to-back incomplete passes. Midway through the third quarter, the Dolphins trail by two touchdowns. Fourth Quarter 11:06 -- Chiefs 26, Dolphins 7 The Chiefs slowly ground down Miamis defense on a methodical 14-play, 7-minute drive that would seem to doom Miami. Mahomes found Rashee Rice for 28 yards, but otherwise, no play was longer than 10 yards. Kansas City has run almost twice as many plays -- 67 to 34 -- and its beginning to show. Isiah Pacheco scored on a direct-snap three-yard run to extend KCs lead. Haiti - Agricultural insurance : Historic first, small farmers compensated WFP Haiti, in partnership with the local insurance company AIC, WRMS (technical provider) and SCOR (reinsurer), launched an index microinsurance pilot project in 2022 in the departments of Grand Anse and South. This insurance product covers losses caused by excess rain or insufficient rainfall. As part of this pilot project, WFP is working with one of the largest farmers' federations in the Grand Anse region, as well as a group of FFA beneficiaries in the southern coastal zone. This pilot project aims to complement and further develop a comprehensive resilience program for targeted beneficiaries and communities. This new index insurance scheme supports agricultural communities as well as extremely vulnerable households dependent on agriculture. The product considers the cost of production over a period of one year as the sum insured, resulting in maximum compensation of approximately US$900 for both risks. The coverage aims to improve household resilience, allowing participants to protect their productive investments and meet their needs in the event of a covered event. To help strengthen the adaptive capacity of farmers and reduce their exposure to climate-related risks in the Grand Anse department, selected cooperatives provided agricultural insurance participants with technical assistance to help them reduce risks for their agricultural activities. In 2023 the WFP paid an agricultural insurance premium for 9,400 Haitian producers. For the first time in Haiti, 3,500 farmers received compensation following the torrential rains of November 2023. The focus being mainly on small farmers involved in school feeding activities produced on site and beneficiaries of the system of social protection. Although this project is still in the pilot stage, the process of designing the scaling strategy is ongoing. WFP and its partners have already started product design for two other departments in anticipation of launching for the next 2023-2024 agricultural season. This scale-up will deploy a hybrid approach to insurance product development, including both ground-based and satellite data. Strategic partnerships with other UN agencies, as well as financial partners, are also envisaged to achieve greater reach and impact. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Taekwondo : 1st gold medal in 2024 The Haitian Taekwondo Federation sends its congratulations to the valiant Grenadier, Gregory Jean Baptiste, for his gold medal won Saturday January 13, 2024 at the US Master in the United States. Taiwan elections : Congratulations from PM Henry "On behalf of the Haitian people and Government, and on my own behalf, I welcome the election of the new Taiwanese President, Mr. Lai Ching-te. I wish him success in his new role in the service of the Taiwanese people and Peace. The organization of free and transparent elections is an eloquent testimony to the deep attachment of the Taiwanese people to the ideals of democracy and progress," Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Crisis : no more dialogue for 1 month Discussions between the protagonists of the crisis have been interrupted since the failure of the negotiations of the mission of the group of eminent personalities of CARICOM from December 6 to 14, 2023. at the end of the 7th meeting of Heads of State and Government of the regional community on Haiti on January 7, CARICOM called on Haitian actors to find an urgent solution to the political crisis. Romania Scholarships The Consulate General of Romania in Haiti announces the opening on January 16 of registrations for scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. 20 new school infrastructures in 2024 This week, the Ministry of National Education presented the major projects for 2024 including, among other things, the construction of 20 new school infrastructures in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince. "Kore Pep" : Donation of US$1.5 million from Taiwan As part of the partnership agreement signed on February 24, 2023 between Taiwan (Republic of China) and Haiti https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-38963-haiti-social-security-$10m-from-taiwan-in-support-of-the-kore-pep-program.html Ambassador Wen-Jiann KU of Taiwan presented this week a check for US$1.5 million representing the fourth tranche of 6, financing of the "Kore Pep" program. HL/ HaitiLibre Former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday said that attempts have been made to hush up the moral policing incident of Haveri in which the police have charged the accused with gangrape, by offering money to the victim. Attempted to hush up Haveri gangrape case by offering money, alleges Bommai Also Read - Bengaluru stands top in number of private vehicles on road, surpassing Delhi: Report Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. According to a video that has gone viral, six people barged into a hotel room and assaulted an interfaith couple during their stay in Hangal Taluk of Haveri district on January 8, following which two of the accused were arrested. In a statement, Bommai claimed that Haveri police have offered money to the victim to close the Hangal incident. "The government must constitute a Special Investigation Team to probe this incident. As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would visit Haveri on Monday, the BJP expects him to make an announcement in this regard," he said. Bommai said that under the garb of investigation, the victim was taken to Sirsi after the local police got information about the visit of the BJP women's delegation to Haveri. "The Congress party had been doing this kind of politics. What more can be expected from them," he remarked. According to the survivor, a 26-year-old married woman who belongs to a minority community, the incident took place on January 8. She checked into a hotel room at 1 pm with a KSRTC driver aged 40, with whom she has been in a relationship for the past three years, police said. The police added gang rape charges on the basis of a complaint by the woman. She had also deposed before the magistrate. The woman has also said that people close to the accused are pressuring her to withdraw the case, offering her lakhs of rupees. The entire incident of assault inside the hotel room was filmed by the gang. The videos later became viral after they got circulated on social media platforms, police said. In one of the purported videos, six men are seen knocking on the door of a room. When a man opens the door, the assailants are seen barging in and heading towards the woman. The gang verbally abuses the couple, assaults them and films the woman while she tries to cover her face with a burqa. Keeping in view the falling apple production amid low survival rates of imported saplings, the Himachal government has decided to rope in Italian companies to set up nurseries in the state itself. The government has directed the revenue department to identify 200 bighas of land in a region that is suitable for apple growing. (HT File Photo) We have approached Italian companies to set up state-of-the-art nurseries in Himachal. Apple import is a time-consuming process and the success rate of imported apple plants is low due to the delays, said state horticulture and revenue minister Jagat Singh Negi. There has been a drastic decline in apple production after 2010, we are now studying the partners and factors that are responsible for the fall, he added. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The government has directed the revenue department to identify 200 bighas of land in a region that is suitable for apple growing. The Italian apple nurseries in Himachal Pradesh will in turn supply hybrid saplings to growers in Uttarakhand, and Jammu and Kashmir. Fruit growers will get apple saplings at affordable rates and will not have to bear the expense of importing saplings from abroad, Negi said. The highest-ever production figure of 5.11 crore boxes of apples in Himachal Pradesh was registered in 2010, but the mark has never been crossed since. In 2018, the production had hit a low of 1.65 crore boxes. The state government had been importing apple saplings from other countries, including Italy, every year. The plants are kept in the nurseries of the horticulture department for quarantine, although a large number of these plants dry up due to one or the other reasons. After setting up the nursery in Himachal, the plants will grow in a favourable environment, boosting the survival rate. The apple economy is valued at 6,000 crore. Being a commercially important fruit, as many as 450 cultivars of apples collected from all over the world are grown in the state. Of the 12 districts apple is now grown in seven districts of the state including, Shimla, Kullu, Sirmaur, Chamba, Mandi, Kinnaur and Lahual and Spiti. The widely-grown varieties are Royal Delicious, Rich-A-Red, Red Delicious and Golden Delicious. But the apple growers over the last decade have gradually replaced the senile apple plants with foreign varieties. In the lower heights between 4,500 to 6,500 feet above sea level, the orchard owners are gradually replacing the traditional variety with Scarlet Spur two an improved variety of red delicious that was first grown in Washington in 1980. Jeromine, a variety grown in Italy, is in high demand in the orchards situated in the lower elevations. The Jerome tree has strong vigour with upright branches. It is grafted on a moderate rootstock. It is more suitable for the lower elevation where fruit colour is a problem. The tree is highly productive with excellent size. The Jeromine tree produces high-quality fruit with an intense blushed red colour. The shape of the Jeromine apple is oblong. The fruit starts colouring from the walnut stage and can be harvested early. Super Chief, another apple variety that is grown in America, is in high demand in Himachal Pradesh. Six people, including four members of a family, died allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes from coal braziers in two separate incidents in the national capital, officials said on Sunday. Six people, including four members of a family, died allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes from coal braziers in two separate incidents in the national capital, officials said on Sunday.( (Representational photo)) Delhi is reeling under severe cold conditions as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.5 degrees Celsius -- this winter's lowest -- on Sunday morning. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Two children were among the four killed in the incident in Alipur area in outer north Delhi, police said. The deceased have been identified as Rakesh (40), who was a driver of a water tanker, his wife Lalita (38), their two sons Piyush (8), and Sunny (7), they said. "On Sunday morning around 7 am, a PCR call was received at Alipur police station, saying one person was found lying unconscious at Khera Kalan village in Delhi. Immediately staff was rushed to the spot," a senior police officer said. ALSO READ| Delhi shivers at 3.5C, GRAP 3 restrictions reimposed as AQI plummets to severe Police found that the door of the room was locked from inside. "Our teams first broke the glass window and managed to open the door. Later, the team found four people inside of the room in an unconscious state. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead," the officer said. Police said that the forensic team and the crime team found a coal brazier (angithi) inside the room. Prima facie, it seems that all four died due to suffocation, police said. Further investigation and proceedings into the matter has been started under section 174 of the CrPC, they said. In a similar incident, two Nepal-native men were found dead in their room after they allegedly inhaled toxic fumes from a coal brazier in Inderpuri area of west Delhi, police said. According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Ram Bahadur (57) and Abhishek (22). Police said Bahadur was a driver by profession and Abhishek was working as a domestic help. "A call was received at 8.30 am that two persons residing in a room are not opening their rented house door," a police officer said. Police said that it was found that the two men were locked in their third-floor room from the inside. "The door was forced open and two people were found unconscious. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead, the officer said. One angithi with burnt residue was found in the room. There was one window that was found to be closed. No injuries were found on the bodies," said the officer. Police have started further investigation and proceedings into the matter under section 174 CrPC. Over the last three days, the national capital has experienced severe cold, reaching the lowest minimum temperature of the winter season on Sunday. Within the enveloping dense fog in the city, passengers at Delhi Airport are encountering discomfort, as flight operations were disrupted on Sunday due to thick fog. Officials, as reported by the news agency PTI, indicated that about 10 flights were diverted, and more than 100 faced delays due to the low visibility caused by the dense fog. Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport was nearly zero between 4 am and 10 am on Sunday, according to sources quoted by PTI. (File)(Vipin Kumar/HT Photo) Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport was nearly zero between 4 am and 10 am, resulting in no flight departures and only 15 arrivals during that period, PTI report further said citing sources. Under normal weather conditions, the airport manages around 60 departures and arrivals per hour. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Officials also stated that the 10 diversions occurred because the pilots were not trained for CAT III landings on the concerned flights. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that this season's dense fog was the longest duration experienced so far. Disruptions with various airlines IndiGo: IndiGo Airlines released an official statement acknowledging the impact of low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India on their flight operations on Sunday. Due to the low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India, IndiGo flight operations were impacted on January 14, 2024. This had a cascading effect on our operations throughout the day. Our staff kept passengers apprised of all delays and cancellations across airports and made every possible effort to facilitate the passengers. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers, the airlines said. Air India: In regard to Air India, one of the affected flights at Delhi airport, specifically AI 185 to Vancouver, faced rescheduling due to the dense fog. Passengers experienced prolonged waiting times on the aircraft before deboarding. The flight, originally scheduled for a little past 5.00 am, could not take off, leading to a decision to reschedule the departure in compliance with flight duty timing requirements. The rescheduled departure is now expected around 11.30 pm, and affected passengers have been provided accommodation. Vistara and Akasa Air: Vistara and Akasa Air also addressed the impact of dense fog on their operations. Vistara communicated potential disruptions in arrivals and departures from Delhi due to poor visibility. Similarly, Akasa Air acknowledged the adverse weather conditions in Delhi, Chennai, Varanasi, Bagdogra, and Lucknow, resulting in affected flight schedules and consequential delays on Sunday. Akasa Air further highlighted specific flight cancellations attributed to fog in Varanasi. The affected flights included Bengaluru-Varanasi, Varanasi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Bengaluru, with the cancellations communicated in posts at 12.12 pm and 1.35 pm. Fog to prevail for next three to four days As bone-chilling temperatures persist, the weather department has issued an alert predicting that a dense fog is likely to endure in isolated pockets of northwest India for the next three to four days Very dense fog layer extends over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, North Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Passengers on highways need to drive extremely carefully and only with fog lights, the IMD posted from its X handle. Journeys need to be halted until fog reduction by morning especially on expressways. Very Dense fog reporting over Amritsar, Chandigarh, Patiala, Ambala, Ganganagar, Palam, Safdarjung, Lucknow with visibility 0 meter since 0230 hrs IST of today, it added. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The Indian armed forces have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the "entire spectrum of warfare," IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari said on Sunday. HT Image In his address at an event hosted here to mark the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day, he also asserted that resilient spirit, leadership, and vision of its veterans have laid the foundation of today's armed forces. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The programme held at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment was also attended by Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, various senior officers of the three Services, a large number of veterans or their family members. "The Indian armed forces, we will all agree, are one of the finest in the world, and have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the entire spectrum of warfare," he said. The Indian Air Force, in particular, has grown from a very modest beginning just about 90 years ago, to being "one of the most formidable air forces in the world", the IAF chief said. This has been possible only through the "sustained efforts and yeoman services" rendered by the forces' veterans over the years, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari added. "I acknowledge with gratitude the sterling contributions made by all our veterans, whose resilient spirit, leadership, and vision have laid the foundation of today's armed forces," he said. Today is also a day to poignantly remember all the veterans who laid down their lives for the nation, the IAF chief said, adding, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty". The IAF, the youngest of the Services, is only 91-years-old. And, as of December 31, 2023, "we have on record, 2,21,204 veterans," he said. The IAF chief shared that it has been a diligent effort to reach out to each and every veteran. "I am aware there are teething issues, we are taking up these issues constantly with the service providers and the Controller General of Defence Accounts," he said. In his address, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari also shared some data regarding SPARSH and other initiatives. The System for Pension Administration (Raksha) or SPARSH is a web-based system for processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary. "In the year gone by, 1.85 lakh legacy pensioners have been migrated onto SPARSH," the IAF chief said. The Navy chief, in his address, underlined the contribution made by the veterans to the armed forces. "I can say with conviction that our armed forces of today are a product of the visionary leadership, unflinching efforts and selfless service of our veterans. I would like to assure each and every one of you that we will leave no water uncharted in carrying forward this legacy," Admiral Kumar said. So, towards that end, Navy's efforts have been focused on being a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force, he said. "While pursuing our many operational commitments, the 'Bharatiya Nav Sena' remains committed to ensuring the welfare of our ex-servicemen," the Navy chief added. The Navy has been following a multi-pronged approach of proactive outreach, positive interaction, and persistent communication to address various issues faced by our veteran community, Admiral Kumar said. He noted that the outreach programme has been expanded. "We are aware that the serving Navy is a transit Navy, while the veteran Navy is a permanent Navy, that is where finally all of us will reach," the Navy chief said. The Indian Navy is privileged to have the continuing benefit of "your experience and wisdom", and, it looks forward to "your invaluable guidance, unstinted support and forthright suggestions to help us better address issues faced by both the services as well as the veteran community," he added. West Bengals North 24 Parganas district police arrested two more persons on Sunday in connection with the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a raid at the residence of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader at Sandeshkhali, police officials said. The number of arrests in the case has now gone up to four. (Representative Image) The two suspects were identified as Ali Hossain Gharami and Sanjay Mondal. They were held from the districts Minakhan and Nazat areas respectively and produced before the Basirhat court, a police official said on condition of anonymity. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. With this, the number of arrests has gone up to four although the TMC leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been accused by opposition parties of instructing local villagers to attack the ED team, could not be traced till Sunday evening. Three ED officials were admitted in hospital with multiple injuries after they somehow managed to flee Sandeshkhali on January 5. Their vehicles were ransacked despite the presence of armed central paramilitary personnel escorting the ED team. Media persons covering the raid were attacked too. ED officials said Sheikh Shahjahan is a suspect in the alleged public distribution system scam in which the federal agency arrested former food minister Jyotipriya Mallick on October 27. Mallick is currently in judicial custody. The North 24 Parganas district police are conducting investigations against the ED officials as well on the basis of complaints lodged by the villagers. The police registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Didar Baksh Mollah, the caretaker of the TMC leaders house. Mollah alleged that a sum of 1.35 lakh and some documents were stolen during raid although the ED team members claimed they could not even enter the house because it was locked from inside. The police also pressed charges against the ED officials under sections 354 (assault on woman to outrage modesty), 447 (criminal trespass) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The FIR was registered at the Nazat police station. ED moved the Calcutta high court on January 10 challenging the FIR. On January 11, the single bench of justice Rajasekhar Mantha ordered an interim stay on the police proceedings till March 31. The court will hear the matter again on January 22. Rahul Sinha, former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lashed out at the TMC government alleging that police were shielding Sheikh Shahjahan. The police are hoodwinking citizens of Bengal by arresting some small fries while Sheikh Shahjahan has gone scot-free. He is being shielded, Sinha said. TMCs state vice-president Jay Prakash Majumdar said: Police are doing their best to arrest those who allegedly attacked the ED officials. Although BJP leaders have targeted Sheikh Shahjahan, the federal agency has not officially announced what charges he faces. KOLKATA: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in West Bengals Howrah district created a stir on Sunday by claiming that his family has been trading in marijuana since he was a child and accused his party of conspiring his arrest the day before. The BJP leader said he had stopped the marijuana business after his wife was elected as a BJP panchayat member in the 2018 rural polls but started again to meet some debts. (Representative Image) My father used to trade in marijuana since I was a child. My two brothers and I subsequently took over the business to run our families. Thats how I paid for my daughters education, Nimai Roy, vice-president of the BJPs farmers front (Kishan Morcha) at Sankrail in Howrah district told the media on Sunday while he was being taken to court. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I stopped the business after my wife was elected as a BJP panchayat member in the 2018 rural polls but started again to meet some debts. The BJP hatched a conspiracy to get me arrested. Trinamool Congress has no role in this, he added. Charged under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, Roy was remanded in police custody. His wife, panchayat member Rupa Roy, avoided the media. HT has seen a copy of the first information report (FIR). A district police officer said on condition of anonymity that Roy and two alleged associates, Satyadhar Sahani and Anwara Begum, were arrested on Saturday after the detective department seized 41 kilos of marijuana from Roys residence. The TMC targeted the saffron camp on social media by releasing photographs purportedly showing Roy with BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar, former state president Dilip Ghosh and leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. We urge the police to conduct a probe against these BJP leaders as well. Why was a man who deals in narcotics made a leader by the opposition party? TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said. The BJP made no attempt to defend Roy. Seizure of marijuana in huge quantities is a regular affair in Bengal. The police should investigate how the trade has flourished during the TMC regime with chief minister Mamata Banerjee in charge of the home department as well, said Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya. Navi Mumbai 1,300 reported sick during MTHL inauguration event Of the approximate 1.5 lakh attendees that attended the Prime Ministers programme in Navi Mumbai on Friday, approximately 1,300 had reported sick due to dehydration, acidity and body ache and were given basic medical treatment at the ambulances stationed near the venue and at the makeshift hospital set up close to the rally venue at Nai Mumbai airport grounds. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Raigad district administration played down such a large number reporting sick. Officials said in any huge event, at least two per cent of the total attendees are expected to fall sick as per the norm and of those reporting sick, 10% are expected to require admission. But in this case, not even 1% had reported to be unwell and only 14 of them who reported unwell were referred to MGM hospital and two among them were admitted for a day, We were appreciated by the Special Protection Group (SPG) Commandos of the Prime Minister for the hospital that was set up for the event. We were told that nowhere in any similar function have they ever seen such medical preparations, Raigad district civil surgeon Nitin Deomane said. A makeshift hospital with 250 beds and 500 beds on standby was erected cloe to the rally venue in a short span to avoid any repeat of the Kharghar tragedy at a rally addressed by Home Minister Amit Shah last year. T50 ICU and ventilator beds were also made. Besides, around 2200 beds in total were reserved in all nearby hospitals including Dy Patil Hospital, NMMC hospital, MGM, GD Pol, Terna and Apollo hospitals for any untoward situation. Around 47 ambulances were made available at the parking lot along with the hospital. Some of the ambulances were reserved for VIPs as well. Each of the 47 teams had two doctors, two nurses, two attendants and one ambulance along with the driver. For the hospital, 30 class one officers in management, 100 speciality plus general doctors, 200 nursing staff, 50 technical staff, 100 attendants and ward boys with all essential medicines in hospital were made available. Reserve stock of three big vehicles was parked with all types of medicines to counter act any type of situation. We were prepared for any kind of situation will all specialty doctors, dressing material and suture tray, Dr Deomane added. According to the doctor, the people who fell sick complained of acidity, body pain and dehydration. Due to long hours of travelling, many faced acidity and dehydration issues. They were given ORS, glucose and other necessary medication. Water and food were made available right from the parking area to the seating arrangement so that anyone who is hungry or thirsty need not go anywhere out. Of the 1300 people who complained of illness, 14 were referred to MGM Kamothe hospital as they required tests like blood check, ECG and X Ray. Of the 14 of them only two were admitted overnight among which one was an engineer of MTHL who suffered from high blood pressure and his pressure had shot up and other person had severe dehydration. Mumbai: Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan has purchased a plot in The Sarayu, a 7-star mixed-use enclave in Ayodhya by Mumbai-based developer The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL). Though HoABL refused to comment on the size and value of the deal citing client confidentiality, real estate industry sources said the plot where Bachchan intends to build a home measured around 10,000 square feet and was valued at 14.5 crore. Amitabh Bachchan has purchased a plot in The Sarayu, a 7-star mixed-use enclave in Ayodhya by Mumbai-based developer The House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL). Set to be formally launched on January 22, the day prime minster Narendra Modi inaugurates the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, The Sarayu is spread over 51 acres. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking about his investment in the project, Amitabh Bachchan said, I am looking forward to embark on this journey with The House of Abhinandan Lodha for The Sarayu in Ayodhya, a city that holds a special place in my heart. The timeless spirituality and cultural richness of Ayodhya have forged an emotional connection that transcends geographical boundaries. This is a start of a heartfelt journey into the soul of Ayodhya, where tradition and modernity seamlessly co-exist, creating an emotional tapestry that resonates with me deeply. I am looking forward to building my home in the global spiritual capital. Also read: Flights to Ayodhya sees 150% increase in bookings, three-times higher prices The actors birthplace Allahabad (now Prayagraj) is a four-hour drive from Ayodhya through National Highway 330. Calling it a milestone moment for his company, Abhinandan Lodha, chairman, HoABL said they were thrilled to welcome Bachchan as the first citizen of The Sarayu, which is located about 15 mins away from the ram temple, and 30 mins away from the Ayodhya international airport. His investment in our Ayodhya project reflects confidence in the citys economic potential and deep appreciation for its spiritual heritage, he said, adding that Bachchans association would turn the project into a symbol of Ayodhyas global spiritual significance. Also read- Railways modifies train schedules for Ayodhya ahead of Ram temple event: Check list Amitabh Bachchans investment is in the plotted development of the enclave, which will also have a five-star palace hotel in partnership with the Brookfield group-owned Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. The project is scheduled to be completed by March 2028. Ayodhya has been witnessing massive infrastructure development since 2019, when the Supreme Court awarded the title of the site that housed the Babri Masjid to the Hindus, with a corresponding spike in land prices within the city and on its outskirts towards Lucknow and Gorakhpur. Also read- Inauguration of Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Astro-Numerological Significance of January 22 In an assessment in October 2023, Anuj Puri, chairman, Anarock Group, said property prices in the city shot up by nearly 25-30% immediately after the verdict. Average land prices on the outskirts of Ayodhya have shot up to anywhere between 1,500 per sqft to 3,000 per sqft, whereas prices within city limits have spiked to 4,000 per sqft to 6,000 per sqft. Thus, there has been a significant jump in average prices between 2019 and 2023, he said. Launched in 2021, HoABL is credited with transforming the land buying experience by bringing in transparency, while use of technology has made it possible to buy land anywhere in the world. Our last project had customers from 19 countries, said Lodha, who is the younger son of Maharashtra tourism minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha. HoABL also has plans for four other luxury hotels in Benares, Vrindavan, Shimla and Amritsar with total investment of 2,000 crore. MUMBAI: That Milind Deora was unhappy in the Congress was visible for the past couple of years. A former Mumbai unit chief and two-term MP, he was expecting a bigger role, especially when the party was struggling to revive its fortunes in the city where it was founded in 1885. He was also keen on contesting from the South Mumbai constituency in the coming Lok Sabha elections, but the party conceded the seat to ally Shiv Sena (UBT), which had won it in 2014 and 2019. This proved to be the proverbial last straw, and Deora quit, severing his familys 55-year long association with the Congress. Milind Deora, Congress MP and party candidate from Mumbai South, at an election campaign in Mumbai. PTI Photo His exit will hurt the Congress as well as the MVAs prospects in Mumbai in the coming parliamentary and assembly elections. Deora has a considerable number of supporters in the party organisation who may follow him. Besides, Murli and Milind Deora had a connect with voters in several parts of the city, and many of them may not support the Congress in this years elections. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: Who is Milind Deora? A look at his family's 5-decades-long ties with Congress The bigger issue hereproved by Deoras exitis that the Congress leadership has not managed to stop its downward slide in Mumbai. For years, the party had staunch support from slum dwellers, minorities, Dalits and the non-Marathi-speaking population such as North Indians and Gujarati-Marwaris. Its main rival, the Shiv Sena, had a hold over largely Marathi-speaking areas. With the emergence of Narendra Modi at the national level, the BJP built a strong base in the two largest sections after MaharashtriansGujarati-Marwaris and North Indians. The Congress, however, has failed to recover lost groundas of now, it does not have a single MP in six parliamentary seats and just four MLAs in 36 assembly constituencies. The debacles in successive elections coincided with the leadership crisis in the Mumbai Congress. In the past decade, the party has rarely shown its strength on the ground by way of agitations or cornering the government over people-centric issues. It is riddled with factionalism, with local leaders publicly targeting each other without fear of consequences. For over three decades, two stalwart leaders of the Mumbai CongressMurli Deora and Gurudas Kamatensured that the party organisation remained strong in the city and all factions worked together. After them, the party has been facing a big leadership crisis in its Mumbai unit. The Congress top brass tried handing over the reins of Mumbai to different leaders, including Kripashankar Singh, Sanjay Nirupam, Bhai Jagtap and Deora too, but none of them could succeed as the party had failed to rebuild its support base and, more importantly, could not control the factionalism within. Also read: 'Timing determined by PM': Jairam Ramesh reveals last conversation with Milind Deora Dharavi MLA Varsha Gaikwad, who was appointed as Mumbai Congress president in June 2023, is still struggling to work with various warring factions and in the face of a credibility crisis among voters. There is considerable unease in the party after it teamed up with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, its rival in Mumbai for decadesseveral Congress leaders said there was no dialogue with the partys rank and file on this issue. Firstly, the top brass is not even trying seriously to find out what is ailing the Congress in Mumbai and resolve the problems, lamented a senior Congress leader who was once closely associated with Deora. And no serious efforts were made when it was evident that Deora was on the verge of quitting the party. We spoke to him, and he said he wanted to talk with the central leadership. It seems he was not given an appointment. There is no crisis management mechanism in the party. Atul Londhe, general secretary of the Maharashtra Congress and chief spokesperson, denied the allegations that the party leadership did not take cognisance of Deoras concerns. As far as I know, the top brass responded to Deora after he expressed his unhappiness, he said. He was even made joint treasurer at the national level recently. The reasons that are being cited now are excuses. He could pick up the phone any time and talk to our leadership. Political analyst Abhay Deshpande said the Congress top brass had not been able to figure out how to revive the partys fortunes in Mumbai. They tried various measures but nothing seems to have worked out, he said. Things have become more complicated since the formation of the MVA. With the Shiv Sena becoming an ally, there is a clash of interest between the two parties, and various Congress leaders are unhappy because of the adjustments the party has had to make. Deoras exit is the outcome of all of this put together. Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia on Sunday said that as a Maratha, he feels proud as he paid homage to the martyrs of the third war of Panipat from the Maratha and Scindia community. Union minister of civil aviation Jyotiraditya M Scindia pays homage to the martyrs of the third war of Panipat at the historical Kala Amb site on Sunday. He was in the industrial town of Panipat to participate at the Shourya Diwas Samaroh at the historical Kala Amb site. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kala Amb is a well-known place in Haryana, where the third Battle of Panipat was fought and Maratha forces clashed with the Afghan army in 1761. I feel proud to belong to a family that scarified its life for its country. My 16 descendants contributed in the battle of Panipat, he said, adding that the people of Panipat are like his family. The minister said that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has grown as an economic as well as spiritual power in the world. As a tribute to the martyrs, we should all join hands and contribute towards realising PM Modis resolution towards the country, Scindia said. Karnal member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Bhatia said that we should learn from the history, how Marathas travelled for several kilometres to Panipat to fight for the countrys integrity. Meanwhile, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Indian Oil Foundation Vinay Mishra said that the body has approved a sum of 20 crore to develop a huge memorial at the site that would include an auditorium, an open-air theatre, a digital museum and a cafeteria. A crew member of a bulk carrier from where cocaine worth 220 crore was seized after its arrival at Paradip port in Odisha in November last year allegedly tried to die by suicide by jumping off the deck on Sunday. Customs officials seized more than 20 kg of cocaine from the Panama registered ship during the intervening night of November 30 and December 1. Officials said the Vietnam national, working as third engineer in bulk container MV Debi, jumped into the sea after allegedly slitting his right hand. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. He was rescued and admitted to the Paradip Port Authority Hospital. He was later shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack for advanced treatment. He might have done this as the crew has been in detention for over one and a half months, said an official of the Paradip Port Authority. MV Debi arrived at Paradip port from Gresik Port in Indonesia on November 29. Based on intelligence that a few suspected packets of drugs were concealed in the ship, the customs officers searched the ship during the intervening night of November 30 and December 1. Twenty-two packets, wrapped and affixed with magnet, were recovered from the cranes of the ship. The vessel, manned by a crew of Vietnamese nationals, operates under the Asia Pacific Shipping Co Ltd, registered in Panama. Having departed from Gresik Port and en route to Denmark, the ship raised suspicions due to its last port of call. Customs officials seized more than 20 kg of cocaine from the Panama registered ship, the market value of which is estimated at 220 crores. Ten individuals, including three Vietnamese crew members, six crane operators from Paradip port, and a managerial-level employee of a stevedoring agency, are under the scrutiny of probe agencies. The Orissa high court has directed the district and sessions judges in all the 30 districts to take appropriate and effective steps for disposal of cases involving MPs and MLAs and furnish monthly statement showing institution, disposal and pendency of the cases every month. The Orissa high court. (File) The division bench of acting chief justice Dr. BR Sarangi and justice Murahari Sri Raman, who went through the 423 cases pending against MPs and MLAs in various courts of the state, in their order said the sessions courts have to give priority to the criminal cases punishable with death or life imprisonment, then to the cases punishable with imprisonment for 5 years or more and then hear all other cases and not to adjourn the cases except for rare and compelling reasons. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A writ petition was registered suo-motu by the deputy registrar (judicial) of the Orissa high court to monitor early disposal of criminal cases pending against the members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies as per the direction of the Supreme Court. Accordingly, the district and sessions judges were directed to take appropriate and effective steps for disposal of cases involving members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies and furnish monthly statement showing institution, disposal and pendency of the cases in every English calendar month, so as to reach the HC by 3rd of succeeding month. The cases in which the orders of stay of trial have been passed, may be listed before the court hearing suo-motu cases and the district and sessions judges throughout the state would ensure sufficient infrastructure facility for the designated courts and also enable them to adopt such technology as is expedient for effective and efficient functioning. They have to further create an independent tab on their website of this court providing district-wise information about the details of the year of filing, number of subject cases pending and stage of proceedings. Out of the 423 cases, a majority of the cases are in their appearance stage or initial stages with a few cases dating back to 1991. In the most recent scam that has come to light, cybercrooks are conning chemists in the city under the deception of placing an online order for medicines. The chemists are conned to share their Unified Payments Interface (UPI) to make payment and later discover they have been scammed, said officials. This has become rampant and we have also taken up the issue in our recent association meeting and told all members to be cautious. The scammers always claim to be an employee of the armed forces, said an official. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO) In the past one month at least 40 such cases have been received by the cyber crime department of Pune police and Wakad police, said officials. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As per the chemist association, the caller claims to work with the armed forces and places orders for the medicines. Later the conman asks the chemist to share the UPI and assures to make payment online and collect the medicines. The hackers trick the chemist by claiming to have sent excess money and then the actual bill amount and ask the chemist to accept a money request for the excess amount. Once the money request is accepted the money starts to get deducted from the bank account. Vivek Tapkir, vice-president of Chemist Association Pune District (CAPD), said, last week in a similar incident we have complained to the Wakad police wherein a chemist was conned. This has become rampant and we have also taken up the issue in our recent association meeting and told all members to be cautious. The scammers always claim to be an employee of the armed forces. I have come across a female scammer who even shared her canteen card given to defence employees by the government. The order placed for medicines is always around 15,000 to 20,000, he said. Kailas Tandale, president of Maharashtra Practising Pharmacists Association (MPPA), said, We have started to share messages amongst the association members and on social media to inform everyone about this new scam. We have over 1.20 lakh registered pharmacists in the state. Minal Patil, senior police inspector attached to the cyber crime department of Pune police, said, its not just happening with the chemist but everyone. The scammers are calling citizens to place orders and asking to share the UPI details, scan or accept the payment. In all these cases the scammer claims to be from armed forces and citizens should not trust them and verify facts before making the payment, she said. Patil, further, said the citizens should complain immediately on the cyber crime helpline 1930 and cybercrime.gov.in when they are scammed. The earlier the complaint, the higher the possibility of freezing the further money transfer and withdrawal. However, the time differs as per the policy of the bank and Money transfer platform, she said. Bihar School Examination Board has released BSEB Matric Admit Card 2024 on January 14, 2024. The schools can download the Bihar Board 10th hall ticket through the official website of BSEB at appsecondary.biharboardonline.com and hand it over to the appearing students. BSEB Matric Admit Card 2024: Bihar Board 10th hall ticket out, download link here (Santosh Kumar) As per the schedule, the Class 10 board exam is in two shifts from February 15 to February 23, 2024. The practical examination will be conducted from January 18 to January 20, 2024, at various exam centres across the state. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Direct link to download BSEB Matric Admit Card 2024 BSEB Matric Admit Card 2024: How to download To download the admit card, candidates can follow the steps given below. Visit the official website of BSEB at appsecondary.biharboardonline.com. Click onBSEB Matric Admit Card 2024 link available on the home page. A new page will open where candidates will have to click on enter the login details. Click on submit and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. The admit card is valid for the sent-up / sent-up / sent-up students/students who have passed the sent-up examination. Students who are non-sent-up/failed/absent in the sent-up/screening examination will never appear in the Annual Secondary Examination, 2024. For more related details candidates can check the official website of BSEB. Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education has released RBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam 2024 Datesheet. The Rajasthan Class 10, 12 timetable is available to candidates on the official website of RBSE at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. RBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam 2024 Datesheet: Rajasthan Class 10, 12 timetable out(HT File) As per the official schedule, the Rajasthan Board Class 10 examination will begin on March 7 and will end on March 30, 2024. The exam will be conducted form 8.30 am to 11.45 pm. RBSE Class 10, or Madhyamik CWSN examination, will be conducted from March 7 to March 27, 2024, in a single shift- from 8.30 am to 12.45 pm. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Rajasthan Board 12th examination will be conducted from February 29 to April 4, 2024, and the Class 12 CWSN examination will be conducted from March 1 to April 4, 2024. The regular examination will be conducted from 8.30 am to 11.45 pm, and the CWSN examination will be conducted from 8.30 am to 12.45 pm. Direct link to download RBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam 2024 Datesheet RBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam 2024 Datesheet: How to download To download the date sheet, candidates can follow the steps given below. Visit the official website of RBSE at rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in. Click on Board exam 2024 link available on the home page. A new page will open where RBSE 10th, 12th Board Exam 2024 Datesheet link will be available. The date sheet will be displayed. Check the date sheet and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. For more related details candidates can check the official website of RBSE. Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, RSMSSB will reopen the registration process for Animal Attendant posts. The registration process will reopen on January 19, 2024. Candidates can apply through the official website of RSMSSB at rsmssb.rajasthan.gov.in. RSMSSB Animal Attendant Recruitment 2023: Registration reopens on January 19 As per the official notice, the last date to apply is till February 17, 2024. This recruitment drive will fill up 5934 posts in the organisation. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Earlier, the registration process was started on October 13 and ended on November 11, 2023. The eligibility criteria include candidates who should have passed secondary or its equivalent examination from a recognized Board established by law in India to apply for the post. Knowledge of working in Hindi written in Devanagari script and knowledge of the culture of Rajasthan. The age limit should be between 18 to 40 years of age. RSMSSB Animal Attendant Recruitment 2023: How to apply To apply online candidates can follow the steps given below. Visit the official website of RSMSSB at rsmssb.rajasthan.gov.in. Click on RSMSSB Animal Attendant Recruitment 2023 link available on the home page. Enter the registration details and register yourself. Once done, fill the application form and make the payment of application fees. Click on submit and download the page. Keep a hard copy of the same for further need. For more related details candidates can check the official website of RSMSSB. Official Notice Here High Court of Judicature at Allahabad has postponed the registration process for UP Higher Judicial Service 2023. Candidates can check the official notification through the official website of Allahabad High Court at allahabadhighcourt.in. UP Higher Judicial Service 2023: Registration date postponed for 85 Advocate posts As per the official notice, the Uttar Pradesh Higher Judicial Service 2023 examination registration process has been postponed and will now begin on February 15 and end on March 31, 2024. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The eligibility criteria involves and advocate candidate must be a person not already in the service of the Union or of State and has been for not less than seven years an advocate having continuous practice and only such advocates shall be permitted to appear in the examination process who have been engaged independently for conducting not less than 30 cases for UR category and 24 cases for SC, ST and OBC in the preceding three years, from the year of publication of advertisement for recruitment, before any Court. The age limit of the candidate should be between 35 years to 45 years as on 01.01.2024. The examination fees is 1400/- for General/ OBC/ EWS category candidates, 1200/- for SC/ ST category, 750/- for PwD category of General/ OBC/ EWS category, 500/- for PwD category for SC/ ST category. For more related details candidates can check the official website of Allahabad High Court. Official Notice Here Step into the delectable world of "Delicious in Dungeon," where culinary creativity meets dungeon exploration. As Episode 3 approaches, let's unravel the enticing details that make this anime a must-watch! Netflix brings manga sensation Delicious in Dungeon to screens in January 2024.(Netflix) Delicious in Dungeon Episode 3 Release Date and Time: Gear up for the release of "Delicious in Dungeon" Episode 3 on January 18, 2024. Catch the culinary action unfold at 5:30 AM PT, 8:30 AM ET, 1:30 PM GMT. Available exclusively on Netflix, it promises a delightful journey for fans. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Where to Watch Delicious in Dungeon Episode 3: Don't miss a bite! Stream "Delicious in Dungeon" exclusively on Netflix, either through the website or the app. The delectable adventure awaits, with both subbed and dubbed versions available. Recap of Delicious in Dungeon Episode 2: Episode 2, titled "Roast Basilisk/Omelet/Kakiage," showcased the party's culinary quest. From roasting a basilisk to harvesting mandrakes for a unique omelet, each segment added flavor to character dynamics. Comedy blended seamlessly with character development, proving the series is more than just laughs. What to Expect from Delicious in Dungeon Episode 3: Episode 3 promises to adapt manga chapters 5 and 6, offering a glimpse into Laios' encounter with a monster from his past. Get ready for more culinary escapades, comedic chaos, and heartfelt moments as the party navigates the dungeon's culinary delights. What Delicious in Dungeon Episode 3 about: "Delicious in Dungeon" revolves around a unique premise - dungeon exploration with a culinary twist. Laios and his party venture into the dungeon, facing monsters not just as foes but as potential ingredients for delectable dishes. It's a blend of comedy, adventure, and culinary creativity. Embark on a flavorful journey with "Delicious in Dungeon" Episode 3. Whether you're a seasoned viewer or new to the series, the blend of comedy, adventure, and culinary creativity is sure to leave you craving for more. Kingdom is a highly acclaimed anime series based on Japanese illustrator Yasuhisa Hara's manga of the same name. The action-drama animated series first premiered in 2012. Although the fifth season of Kingdom was slated for an early January release this year, its release date was pushed by a week due to an earthquake in Japan. Kingdom Season 5 Episode 1 was pushed by a week after earthquake in Japan(Crunchyroll) Kingdom Season 5 release date and time The first episode of Kingdom Season 5 was originally scheduled to be released on January 7 but was postponed due to the tragic 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Japan on New Year's Day. However, the new release date was set for Saturday, January 13. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. When will Episode 2 air? Although only one episode of Kingdom has aired till now, there will be 12 episodes in total for Season 5. However, some sources claim more episodes could be added later on. The next episode is scheduled to air on Saturday, January 20, at 10 am PST/ 7 pm GMT. Where to watch Kingdom Season 5? Viewers in Japan can catch the broadcast on TV networks like NHK BS Premium and NHK General TV. However, international audiences can stream Kingdom Season 5 online on Crunchyroll after a short delay. ALSO READ: Winter 2024 anime season - All anime releases of January and where to watch them What is Kingdom about? The official synopsis for Kingdom reads, In the Warring States Period of ancient China (475221 BCE), Shin and Hyou are war-orphans in the kingdom of Qin. They dream of one day proving themselves on the battlefield. One day, however, Hyou is taken to the palace by a minister. Winding up on the losing side of a power-struggle, Hyou manages to return to the village, barely alive. Shin then meets a boy who closely resembles Hyou, Ei Sei. For now he is the king of Qin; later he will become the emperor Shi Huangdi. One Piece's live-action series is gearing up for its second season on Netflix, promising more epic adventures with the Straw Hat crew. The show has been a hit, and fans are eagerly anticipating the return of their favorite characters. Emily Rudd committed to role of Nami in One Piece Season 2 as well.(Netflix) Netflix's winning adaptation: The live-action adaptation of One Piece has been a standout success, making waves not only as a commercial triumph for Netflix but also winning the hearts of fans of the original manga and anime. The show's popularity owes much to its talented cast, who bring the beloved characters to life. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Nami's commitment: Emily Rudd, the actress behind the spirited Nami, is all in for the long haul. Responding to a fan's question about her commitment to the role, Rudd exclaimed, "[I] am her and she is me as long as they let me amen." It seems like Nami's navigator skills will be steering the ship for a while! What's next for the Straw Hat crew? Although Netflix has confirmed the production of One Piece Season 2, details about its release date are still under wraps. However, with the cast expected to return, including Emily Rudd's dedicated Nami, the future looks bright for more Straw Hat adventures. Emily Rudd's commitment suggests a promising and enduring run for the live-action series. With One Piece's original releases ongoing, fans can look forward to an extended and successful journey through the vast seas of this legendary high-seas adventure. Catch up One Piece Live Action adaptation before season 2 sets sail: If you're itching to catch up with the crew before Season 2, Netflix has got you covered. The first season, consisting of eight episodes, is available for streaming. Dive into the legendary world crafted by Eiichiro Oda, Japan's highest-selling manga series creator. For those new to the One Piece world, Netflix teases the series as a "legendary high-seas adventure unlike any other." Follow Monkey D. Luffy's quest for freedom and the fabled treasure, ONE PIECE, as he assembles his dream crew, faces perilous challenges, and outwits rivals on the vast blue seas. Actor Parineeti Chopra and her husband, Aam Aadmi Party leader Raghav Chadha, celebrated their first Lohri together post marriage. Pictures of the adorable moments surfaced online, shared by Parineetis family friend Shweta Singh, according to ANI. The friend shared pictures of the couple on her Instagram stories, much to the delight of fans. (Also Read: Parineeti Chopra shares new Chamkila still to wish Diljit Dosanjh on his birthday) A sneek peek of Parineeti and Raghav's first Lohri First Lohri for Mr and Mrs Chadha In one of the pictures, Parineeti and Raghav can be seen clicking selfies with their friends. Sharing it, their buddy wrote, Happy 1st Lohri Mrs Mr Chadha (sic) In another picture of just Shweta and Parineeti, she called her the cutest and tells her she loves her. She also thanks Parineeti and Raghav for a lovely evening. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Parineeti can be seen bundled up in a dark outfit paired with a printed scarf and sindhoor on her forehead, while Raghav is dressed in an all-black sherwani and a matching shawl around his shoulders. One of the pictures shows them posing with Raghavs mother and uncle. Parineeti and Raghavs wedding After much speculation, Parineeti and Raghav made things official when they got engaged in a close-knit ceremony in May last year. The couple were often spotted together at the airport or out and about in Delhi post that, with many curious when theyd tie the knot. They got married in September last year at The Leela Palace in Udaipur, Rajasthan in the presence of their loved ones. Upcoming work Parineeti will soon be seen in Imtiaz Alis next after the 2020 reboot of Love Aaj Kal starring Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan. The film failed to make a mark at the box office and with critics alike. Chamkila will see her share the screen with Diljith Dosanjh. The film revolves around two Punjabi singers, Amarjot Kaur and Amar Singh Chamkila, with Parineeti playing Amarjot and Diljit playing the titular role. The film tells the story of how Chamkila, his wife Amarjot and members of their troupe were assassinated on March 8, 1988. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Alec Musser, known for his role in All My Children, has passed away at 50, as announced by his fiancee Paige Press on Instagram. "RIP to the love of my life," expressed Press, sharing heartfelt memories and expressing the feelings of a shattered heart. Musser's passing occurred on Friday night at his Del Mar, Calif., residence, with no reported cause of death disclosed at the time. Actor Alec Musser(Instagram/alecmusser) Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Alec Musser's Soap Opera Journey A 2005 victor of SOAPnet's reality contest, I Wanna Be a Soap Star, Musser debuted on All My Children, assuming the role of Del Henry until 2007. Post-AMC, he recurred in Lifetime's Rita Rocks (2009) and featured in the web series Road to the Altar (2009). His final TV role was in a 2011 episode of hit show Desperate Housewives. Adam Sandler Pays Tribute Adam Sandler mourned Alec Musser's passing, sharing condolences on social media. Musser, who featured in Sandler's 2010 film Grown Ups, is remembered fondly. Sandler expressed his disbelief and shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram. Describing Musser as a funny, wonderful and good man. The post included a still image of Musser from the film. Sandler extended thoughts to Musser's family, sending love and remembering him as a true sweetheart. A native of New York, Musser, in addition to his acting career, was a prominent fitness model and bodybuilder, gracing the covers of reputed magazines such as Mens Health, Mens Workout, Exercise Health, and more. While he hadn't been active in recent acting projects, Musser maintained a robust presence on social media before his passing. Musser's final social media update, posted on Tuesday, featured a seemingly serene photo of him surfing against a winter sunset. The caption read, "Silhouette by Baja Winter twilight." Following the announcement of his passing, numerous fans expressed their condolences in the comment section of this poignant post. A background actor involved in the movie has initiated a lawsuit against British actor Mia Goth. The complaint alleges that the 30-year-old actress, known for her role in Infinity Pool, engaged in battery against him and played a role in his unjust termination from the film, which occurred after he filed a complaint against her. The lawsuit also names the film's director, Ti West, and studio A24. A photograph of British actor Mia Goth for the Looking for Juliet 2020 Pirelli Calendar. (REUTERS) According to court documents obtained by People, the background actor identified as James Hunter stated in the lawsuit that he was contracted for a three-day period in April to portray a Dad Parishioner" in the A24 horror film. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The film revolves around a girl who survived a massacre. Hunter alleges that he was instructed to lie in the dirt on set "for several hours" and had to endure the presence of "ants and mosquitoes" while Mia Goth ran past him on the ground for the scene. Allegations of On-Set Misconduct Hunter claims that during the fourth take, Mia Goth came dangerously close to stepping on him. He asserts that he promptly reported the incident to the second assistant director, who, as stated in the filing, "warned" the actress to "exercise caution in her steps." Subsequently, Hunter alleges that in the following take, Goth "intentionally kicked" him in the head with her foot. Following the kick, he reported experiencing a "headache" and "stiffness in his neck," which he promptly communicated to the second assistant director. The information was then relayed to both Goth and West. Notably, he mentioned the absence of any medical assistance provided on set, and West continued filming until the scene was finished. Allegations of On-Set Harassment The background actor further claimed that Mia Goth "invaded" his privacy in the set bathroom, where she allegedly "laughed," "taunted," "mocked," and "belittled" him, and even "dared" him to do anything about it. On the subsequent day, Hunter asserted that he received an email from a casting agency, informing him that he had been removed for the "remaining two days of production" and was "banned" from the movie set, with "no reason" provided. As stated in the lawsuit, Hunter is pursuing charges of $250,000 for "medical expenses," "rehabilitation," and "related expenses," in addition to seeking "punitive and/or exemplary damages." Yasiin Bey, a.k.a Mos Def, is one of the most famous rappers in the 90s. His career sky-rocketed in 1997 with the release of his first single, Universal Magnetic. In recent years, Drake has secured a top spot in the hip-hop industry. However, Yasiin seems to disagree with this. Despite Drake's popularity and chart-topping success, the 50-year-old rapper has claimed the God's Plan hitmaker's music is not real hip-hop. Yasiin Bey (Mos Def) slams Drake, calling his music 'pop' Mos Def slams Drake's music, dubs it pop During his appearance on a recent episode of The Cutting Room Floor podcast, Yasiin spoke at length about Drake's music not qualifying as hip-hop. However, before sharing his opinion, Yasiin hesitated at first when podcaster Omondi asked, Is Drake hip-hop? To this, he remarked, Why you doing this to me? Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Do It Now rapper continued, In the sense, like, if I was in Target in Houston and I heard a Drake song... It feels like a lot of his music is compatible with shopping. Or, you know, shopping with an edge in certain instances. He went on to call Drake's music likeable as he gave a side-eye to the podcaster. Yasiin then chuckled and sarcastically added, So many products! So many SKUS! Look at all these SKUs! I love this mall. Look at this place! I mean, look at this place! They have everything! Everything's here. Oh, this is great. This is the new Drake, you hear it? It's great. Proposing the idea that Drake's fame won't last for long, Yasiin remarked, What happens when this thing collapses? What happens when the columns start buckling? Are we not in some early stage of that at this present hour? Are we seeing the collapse of an empire? Buying and selling, where's the message that I can use? You know, what's in it for your audience apart from banging the pom-poms? he added. Every year, the Mega family, including the three brothers Chiranjeevi, Pawan Kalyan and Naga Babu, celebrate Bhogi and Sankranthi at the Megastars residence in Hyderabad. The cousins, including Ram Charan, Allu Arjun, Varun Tej, Sai Dharam Tej, Niharika Konidela and others, also take part in the festivities. But this year, the family shifted to Bengaluru to ring in Sankranthi. (Also Read: Ram Charan, Pawan Kalyans family heads to Bengaluru for Sankranthi) Upasana shared a glimpse of the family's celebrations From biryani to mousse Upasana took to her Instagram stories to share a glimpse of the delicious food the family has been gorging on. From flavourful biryani and chocolate mousse to mirchi bajji (fritters) and sunnundalu (a type of ladoo). Sharing a glimpse of Lavanya Tripathi making sunnundalu, she wrote, What a sweet new Konidela kodalu (daughter-in-law). Making sunnunda for the whole family, to which Lavanya replied, Thank you super sweet pedda kodalu (elder daughter-in-law) hehe. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Surekha whipped up dosas for the whole family and spent time with Klin Kaara Dosas galore While the breakfast in the last two days seems to have featured an array of chutneys and idli, the live idli counter managed by Rams mom Surekha seems like a hit. Sharing a video of her mom-in-law making dosas accompanied by the music of Chiranjeevis Star Star, Upasana wrote, Athamma Rockstar. In the video, Surekha can be seen whipping up dosas for the whole family. Ram also seemed to have taken over the counter from his mom, because Upasana shared a video of him whipping dosas, writing, Athamma (mom-in-law) good training. Vaisshnav Tejs birthday Vaisshnav turned a year older on January 13, and the family celebrated the occasion with multiple cakes. Wishing the Uppena actor a happy birthday, Upasana shared a video that shows him all smiles as he poses for a click with Ram. The RRR star also shared a candid click with Vaisshnav, Sai Dharam Tej and Varun, writing, Happy birthday kiddo! Lots of love! On January 14, the family celebrated Bhogi with a massive bonfire. Entertainment! Entertainment! Entertainment! Click to follow our Whatsapp Channel Your daily dose of gossip, films, shows, celebrities updates all in one place Lucknowite and filmmaker Zishan Haider has shot a song Maa which he has dedicated to his mother who passed away in the Alaya Apartment collapse tragedy at the Wazir Hasan Road in the city, on January 24 last year. The song directed by the Maharani 2 director Ravindra Gautam was shot with actors Sudhanshu Pandey and Aparna Buch in Lucknow. Sudhanshu Pandey and Aparna Buch during shoot of song Maa in Lucknow Zishan with her mother Begum Haider on her 50th marriage anniversary, a day before the tragic incident happened. Its a small tribute to my mother (Begum Haider) who passed away a day after celebrating her 50th marriage anniversary in the tragic incident where we also lost my sister-in-law. More than a tribute, its an emotion of every son towards their mother Mujhe ek baar tu paas bula leti, phir daant ke gaale laga leti...Maa, shares Haider. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The song has been penned by Mumbai-based lyricist Harsh Vardhan Deo and sung-composed by Ankit Tiwari, a Kanpurite. Sudhanshu Pandey during the shoot of song in Lucknow We shot the song at different locations in the city including a school at Mall Avenue, The song is a feeling of a son who lost his mother, and how realises what he has lost when she is no more. Its a beautiful emotion that we have tried to capture. The entire project is very special for me, says Anupamaa-fame actor Pandey who played the son to his on-screen serial mother Buch. Director Ravindra Gautam shooting the song The director who hails from Lucknow says he connected with the project more as he lives far in Mumbai while his mother stays in the state capital. I have shot the project with tears in my eyes. I could connect with it in every manner when I miss her calls, stay far from her and so much more. I am sure every listener and viewer will feel the same connection, says Gautam. The song with shot in Lucknow The song has been shot at the bank of Gomti, a school in Mall Avenue, 1090 crossing, Old City, Gokhale Marg, Nishatganj graveyard and other locations. This project has been solely done for the emotion of mother-child. I have opened a foundation on her name and whatever proceeds will be generated will go towards education of less fortunate children, concludes Haider, who is next working on a web series. New Delhi: After former MP Milind Deora quit the Congress and joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena on Sunday, an old photo of several young leaders who resigned from the party since 2019 went viral. P Chidambaram, Jitin Prasad, Sachin Pilot and Milind Deora. (File photo) The photo shows young former Congress leaders -- Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasad, RPN Singh and Milind Deora -- standing together in one frame with Sachin Pilot. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Referring to the exit of all the other leaders apart from Pilot, an X user wrote: Four left, one 1 remaining. Pilot, whose public spat with former Rajasthhan CM Ashok Gehlot went on for years, downplayed Deora's exit today. "Everyone is free to choose their party and ideology, only time will tell whether his decision was right or not, he said. Also read: 'Politics of PAIN': Milind Deora reveals why he quit Congress In 2020, Pilot came close to quitting the party after his office issued a statement that Gehlot's government was in a minority. He was sacked as the deputy CM and Rajasthan Congress president. He, however, later refused to quit the party. However, even after the controversy, Gehlot kept making adversarial remarks against Pilot. Before the Rajasthan Assembly elections, however, the two leaders claimed they had no differences. Milind Deora today claimed the party hadn't focussed on the "constructive suggestions and merit". "I want to say one thing, I was loyal to Congress when it was going through a difficult phase. I joined Congress in 2004. If Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had focused on constructive suggestions and merit, we would not be sitting here," he said. The blow came to the Congress leadership on the day the party embarked on its nationwide Yatra from Manipur. According to reports, Deora was upset with the party's inclination to give the South Mumbai seat to Shiv Sena (UBT) for the 2024 general elections. Deora had been the MP from the seat till 2014, when he was defeated by the Sena's Arvind Sawant. The Congress today appeared to be unfazed with Deora's exit as it said "lakhs of Milind Deoras will join us". Bengaluru: The traffic police department in Bengaluru has launched an app based on artificial intelligence to improve traffic management in the city, officials said. The Bengaluru traffic polices plans involve leveraging data analytics to predict traffic congestion (HT) The AI-backed Actionable Intelligence for Sustainable Traffic Management (ASTraM) app is designed to offer holistic insights into road traffic scenarios, aligning with the objectives of the Road Safety Awareness Week. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) MN Anucheth said the apps role as a smart traffic engine provides comprehensive insights for data-driven decisions to the traffic police officials. The ASTraM app encompasses congestion alerts, incident reporting through a mobile application bot, special event management, and dashboard analytics, he said. Also read- Generative vs traditional AI: Getting the fundamentals of data right A bot, a shortened form of the word robot, is a software program that performs automated, repetitive, pre-defined tasks. Anucheth explained that the app would deliver real-time congestion alerts to jurisdictional traffic officials every 15 minutes. These alerts, integrated with the e-attendance system, aim at providing timely notifications to junction jockeys and sector officers. The goal is to keep various stakeholders informed for more effective traffic planning and management, he said. The Bengaluru traffic polices plans involve leveraging data analytics to predict traffic congestion. This involves monitoring data and conducting a comparative analysis with real-time traffic to enhance responsiveness to deviations from regular traffic volumes, he said. Meanwhile, Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar highlighted the citys persistent traffic challenges and the need for advanced technology to address them. Shivakumar said the use of artificial intelligence technology to monitor traffic will ensure a proactive approach to alleviate traffic snarls. Speaking at a road safety event in Bengalurus Kanteerva stadium, the deputy chief minister said, The National Crime Records Bureau data suggests that most of the accidents in Karnataka are caused by two-wheelers and most of the bikers lose their lives in these accidents. It is important to follow traffic rules and wear a helmet while driving, he said, I still see many people on bikes without helmets and they must understand that life is precious. The government has already directed traffic police not to spare anyone who violates traffic rules. They have cancelled almost 6,000 driving licences over the past few months, he added. Also read- 76th Army Day Parade: Marching contingents to be judged with the help of AI Shivakumar also said that they would be using high-end technology including artificial intelligence to monitor traffic in Bengaluru. Thousands of new vehicles come to the city every day and managing traffic in Bengaluru is a challenging task. We would be using artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor vehicles movements and act accordingly. We are joining hands with the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) in charting a plan for better management of traffic. The officials are also studying the traffic management systems of developed nations to implement similar strategies here, he said. Narharpur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 14 (ANI): A 35-year-old woman autopsy assistant, who has conducted more than 700 postmortems, received an invitation from the Ram Mandir Trust for the Pran Pratistha program of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya on January 22. HT Image Speaking to ANI, Santoshi Durga shared that she had served as a sanitation worker for the Jeevan Deep Committee at Narharpur Primary Health for nearly 18 years. Throughout this time, she conducted over 700 postmortems and received recognition from various societies for her contributions. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Stunned by the invitation, Santoshi said, "Even in my whole life, I never thought that I would be called from Ayodhya, but Lord Ram has called me by sending an invitation letter." She revealed that when she received the letter, she was astonished, and tears of joy came out of her eyes. Santoshi Durga conveyed her thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the invitation letter. She mentioned that she plans to depart from Narharpur on January 18, attend the Pran Pratishtha program in Ayodhya, and pray for the happiness, peace, and progress of the people of Narharpur. Narharpur BMO Prashant Kumar Singh also congratulated Santoshi and said that it is a matter of pride for us that she has received the invitation letter from Ayodhya. Civilian award recipients, retired Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, and family members of Kar Sevaks--who died during the Ram Temple movement--are among the invitees for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The lawyers who represented Ram Lalla during the gruelling legal battle are also extended invitations to the grand event on January 22, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sources said. According to sources, the attendees at the event will include family members of deceased Kar Sevaks, relatives of leaders involved in the Ram Temple movement, a contingent of lawyers, Hindu saints, influential figures from the saint community in Nepal, individuals from Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh communities, representatives from tribal societies, notable personalities from the fields of newspapers and television channels, recipients of prestigious awards such as Nobel Prize, Bharat Ratna, Paramveer Chakra, and Padma Awards, up to three retired Chief Justices of the Supreme Court, retired heads of the army's tri-services, former ambassadors, administrative officers, intellectuals, athletes, leaders of major political parties, and entrepreneurs. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. (ANI) InterContinental Abu Dhabi has opened its doors to Porto Gina, the latest addition to its distinctive offerings. Overlooking the Yacht Bay, this Italian haven is here to bring La Dolce Vita to life! Porto Gina brings to Abu Dhabi a day-to-day dining experience, offering a menu that celebrates simplicity, homemade goodness, and the comfort of authentic Italian flavours with a twist. Helmed by Chef Andres Luduena, Porto Gina will showcase signature homemade pastas and a fresh antipasti bar, placing a strong emphasis on seasonal ingredients. The menu is inspired by the soulful essence of Italian cuisine; keeping in mind the convivial spirit and playfulness of Italy, Porto Gina will serve generous portions to ensure a great get-together! From tantalising appetisers to hearty mains and indulgent desserts, the Porto Gina menu is a harmonious blend of simple, yet authentic Italian dishes infused with a modern twist. Signature delights await, featuring Burrata di Capri, Pizza Burrata e Tartufo Nero, Ravioli di Gamberi, Risotto alla Milanese, La Divina Cotoletta Milanese, and Tiramisu. The beverage menu draws inspiration from nostalgic flavours, featuring highlights like the Spritz Veneziano, The Negroni Thymes, Limoncello, and Grappa. Enthusiasts of Italian wines will appreciate the extensive wine list, offering a diverse range for diners to select from and complement their culinary experience at Porto Gina. "I spent a significant part of my life immersed in the vibrant culinary culture of Italy. While I was born in Argentina, but my heart found its home in the flavours of Italian cuisine, rooted in my grandparents' heritage. Drawing inspiration from the Italian experiences I encountered during my stay, I have cultivated a profound love for the country's culinary heritage. With a career spanning global kitchens, I now proudly lead the culinary journey at Porto Gina within InterContinental Abu Dhabi," remarked Andres Luduena, the Head Chef at Porto Gina. "My unwavering passion finds its true expression in crafting unforgettable pasta dishes, paying homage not only to my grandmother's legacy but also to the rich tapestry of flavors I discovered during my time in Italy," noted Luduena. "At Porto Gina, we are committed to delivering an unparalleled level of service, inviting guests to partake in an unforgettable journey through the heart of Italy. A warm setting, table side dish preparations, along with indoor and outdoor seating are sure to create an immersive dining experience," he added. Dani Demerijan, Cluster General Manager, said: "InterContinental Abu Dhabi remains dedicated to achieving excellence, with a commitment to providing a culinary experience that stands out in the area." "Presenting an exquisite taste of Italy and its cuisine, we look forward to offering our guests a distinctive and memorable experience through our exceptional service, making Porto Gina their preferred destination for modern Italian comfort food," stated the top official. "Palate-tingling appetisers and mains, indulgent desserts, and a specially curated beverage and wine list, Porto Gina promises to be the comfort destination one visits again and again!," added Demerijan.-TradeArabia News Service The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over Milind Deora's resignation from Congress, saying he should first do justice to his party leaders before taking out nyay yatra. Milind Deora and Rahul Gandhi. Deora, a former union minister, announced his resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending his family's decades-old relationship with the party. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party, Deora said in a social media post. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. BJP IT cell Amit Malviya in a social media post said, Rahul Gandhi should first do nyay (justice) to his party leaders. Nyay Yatra later. BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla echoed Malviya's remarks and said Gandhi should give justice to the leaders of Congress who are leaving the party one by one. "It would be better if he (Rahul Gandhi) starts 'Congress Ke Netao Ki Nyay Yatra' instead of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. There should be a 'Congress Jodo Yatra' because from north to south and east to west, Congress leaders are fighting each other and leaving the party because Congress has become a talent-free zone under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi," Poonawalla told PTI. Deora's resignation came amid intense speculation that he would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. He recently expressed his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) publicly staking claim on the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency as an alliance partner of the Congress-led INDIA bloc. Deora said if such statements by an alliance partner dont stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He lost the subsequent Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. Shortly after Deora's resignation, Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in charge of communications, said, I recall my long years of association with MURLI Deora with great fondness. He had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who ALWAYS stood by the Congress party through thick and thin. Tathastu! Deora's father, Murli Deora, was a veteran Congress leader who held various ministerial positions in the central government. Before venturing into national politics, Murli Deora also served as the Mayor of Mumbai in the 1970s. Lok Sabha member Danish Ali, who was recently suspended by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for anti-party activities, landed in Manipur on Sunday to participate in the Congress Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. In a series of social media posts, Ali said he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he didn't join the biggest drive for unity and justice. Suspended BSP leader Danish Ali and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. This is a very important moment for me. I have arrived here after much soul-searching. I had two options either to accept the status quo and ignore the exploitation of Dalits, backwards, tribals, minorities and other marginalised and poor sections, or to launch an all-out campaign against this atmosphere of fear, hate, exploitation and the deepening divide in the country, he said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. My conscience pushed me to take the second option. Taking this decision came naturally to me as I was myself at the receiving end of a similar attack in Parliament, where swear words were used by a member of the ruling party against me and my religion, the BSP leader added, referring to the objectionable remarks made by BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri on the floor of Parliament. Explaining his decision to join the yatra, he further wrote, I have realised that the attack on me was part of a larger plan to create an atmosphere of fear and hate in the country. The BSP led by former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati suspended Danish Ali last month amid reports of him cosying up to Congress leaders. Former Congress president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi visited Ali at his official residence in Delhi to extend his support following Bidhuris derogatory remarks against the BSP lawmaker. Danish Ali has kept the suspense going on his proposed entry into the Congress even though he maintained that irrespective of the suspension, he would continue to fight the BJP. I will always be grateful to BSP chief Mayawati for making me a Lok Sabha MP and, on my part, I have always strived to work for making the BSP strong. Yes, I had raised my voice against loot of the countrys resources by select industrialists and will continue to do so, he had said. Congresss Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai had described the action as unwarranted and assured that his party "will do everything to strengthen Ali and all that he stands for." Dense fog has gripped several northern and eastern states of India, severely impacting visibility and prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue weather warnings. Very dense fog was observed in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Bihar, and East Uttar Pradesh, according to the meteorological department. Commuters ply on a road near Mayur Vihar Phase-1 amid low visibility on a foggy winter morning, in New Delhi on Saturday(ANI) Visibility recorded at the same time paints a challenging picture for commuters, with Ganganagar, Patiala, Ambala, Chandigarh, Palam, Safdarjung, Bareilly, Lucknow, Bahraich, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Tezpur recording zero-metre visibility for the first time this winter season. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In areas such as Purnea, Dibrugarh, Kailashahar, and Agartala, visibility dropped to 25 meters. At least 22 trains to Delhi from various parts of the country were running late due to dense fog conditions, according to Northern Railways. The IMD has urged commuters on highways to exercise extreme caution and use fog lights during their journeys. Moreover, considering the hazardous conditions, it is advised to halt journeys until visibility improves, especially on expressways. The meteorological department has issued a comprehensive weather warning for the day, forecasting dense to very dense fog at many places over Punjab, Chandigarh, and Uttar Pradesh. Haryana, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand are expected to experience fog in few places, while isolated areas over Rajasthan may also be affected. In addition to fog warnings, the IMD has highlighted the likelihood of cold day to severe cold day conditions in many parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and a few places in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Cold wave to severe cold wave conditions are predicted in certain areas of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh & Delhi, and isolated places in Uttar Pradesh and east Rajasthan. The IMD's warnings indicate that dense to very dense fog conditions are likely to prevail during the night and morning hours till January 16 in various parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi. Uttar Pradesh may experience similar conditions till January 15, with isolated pockets facing dense fog on January 16 and 17. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to witness dense fog during the morning hours on January 14, with isolated pockets affected on January 15. Former Maharashtra minister and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray levelled a massive charge against chief minister Eknath Shinde that he is taking over 50 people along with him to Davos World Economic Forum without the clearance of the ministry of the external affairs. The national delegation is not this big and even if some of this huge group pay for their own travel, they will use the cars, hotels and food paid by the taxpayers, Aaditya Thackeray said. "Is the @FinMinIndia and @MEAIndia aware of this junket and has political clearance been given to this 70+ group? All 50 should typically need political clearance as they represent formal agencies of the Govt of Maharashtra, therefore Govt of India," the Uddhav Sena leader posted on X. Aaditya Thackeray alleged that only 10 of the delegation has MEA clearance and the rest did not even apply for it. The World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland is scheduled from January 15 to 19. Earlier, it was said that Eknath Shinde, industrialist minister Uday Samant and a 10-member delegation would be attending the WEF in Davos. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Then what is the 70-people delegation that Aaditya alleged? Uddhav's son said spouses and kids are also being taken as if this is a holiday. "While it is understood that only about 10 have sought the MEAs necessary political clearance as a delegation, the rest are being taken along for this Swiss trip, without even applying for the MEAs clearance apparently," Aaditya wrote. "This holiday for the 75 people includes the likes of a current MP, a former MP (both whose roles in Davos summit are not specified), some publicists from private agencies, a whole battery of PAs to CM and DCM, OSDs of the CM, PSs (shown on various govt agency names), brokers and dealers, and then 4 from MMRDA, 8 from MAHAPREIT!! The list of the staff of the cm including PA, PS and @CMOMaharashtra is 20! Unless its for picking up someones bags, or sight seeing, or some physical work, what will 50 people do at Davos where they will only sign MoUs?" Aaditya added. MahaPreit is Mahatma Phule Renewable Energy and Infrastructure Technology Limited, MMRDA is Mumbai Metropolitan Religion Development Authority. Is Milind Deora in Eknath Shinde's Davos delegation? Amid the major upheaval in Maharashtra politics resulting from Milind Deora's exit from the Congress, it was speculated that he was also part of the delegation. On Saturday, before he resigned from the party when he said he had not taken any decision and was consulting with the party workers, he reacted to the Davos speculations and said he might visit Davos in his personal capacity and not as part of Shinde's delegation. NCP leader (Sharad Pawar faction) Rohit Pawar triggered the speculations as he said one politician who is not even in power will be attending the World Economic Forum. "Please do not ask me the name of the politician," Rohit Pawar said. New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested two more people in connection with its money laundering probe into the Mahadev online betting and gaming app case even as efforts were being made to bring the main promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, from the UAE, people familiar with the development said on Saturday. The agency has identified those arrested on Friday as Nitin Tibrewal, a resident of Kolkata in West Bengal, and Amit Agrawal, a resident of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. The agency has identified those arrested on Friday as Nitin Tibrewal, a resident of Kolkata in West Bengal, and Amit Agrawal, a resident of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Niten Tibrewal, ED said, is the majority shareholder of a company, Techpro IT Solutions Ltd, which was allegedly acting as front for Mahadev Online Book and investing the proceeds of crime generated out of illegal operations in India by way of Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI). Nitin Tibrewal tried to conceal this fact despite multiple opportunities granted to him. He also did not reveal his foreign bank accounts and assets before ED which have been discovered by ED during the course of investigations. Thus, Tibrewal was found to be knowingly assisting in layering the proceeds of crime by investing it in his name and through associated Indian and foreign entities, the federal agency said in a statement on Saturday. Agrawal is the brother of Anil Kumar Agrawal, who is also a partner in Mahadev Online Book, ED said. Agrawal has knowingly utilised the proceeds of crime emanating out of Mahadev Online Book in purchasing assets in his name and his wifes name. To fund these purchases, Agrawal arranged entries totalling 2.5 crore in his and his wifes bank accounts against cash, ED said. In the statements recorded before ED, he maintained these bank entries are loans, however, the entry operator involved in the transactions revealed the truth. Thus, Agrawal was found to be knowingly assisting in concealing the proceeds of crime emanating out of the betting operations of Mahadev Online Book. ED had earlier arrested alleged cash courier Asim Das, police constable Bheem Singh Yadav, assistant sub-inspector Chandrabhushan Verma, alleged hawala operator brothers Anil and Sunil Dammani and a man identified as Satish Chandrakar in connection with the case. It has also alleged that funds generated by the app were used to pay bribes to politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh, where the sensational case had become the major political issue ahead of the assembly polls in November last year. So far, ED has filed two charge sheets in the case, including the one against the main promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal of the illegal betting and gaming app, among others. The two were recently detained in Dubai based on Interpol red notices issued at the behest of ED and the agency is trying to have them deported or extradited to India. A formal request in this regard has already been sent, officials said. ED has alleged in its charge sheet that Chandrakar got married at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023 and about 200 crore in cash was spent for this event and private jets were hired to ferry his relatives from India to the UAE and celebrities were paid to perform at the wedding. The projected proceeds of crime in the case are about 6,000 crore, according to the federal agency. So far, assets worth 572.41 crore have been seized or frozen by ED in the case. Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday reacted to reports that Congress stalwart Milind Deora will join Shiv Sena today, saying he will welcome him.Deora, a former Congress MP, resigned from the primary membership of the party amid reports that he will join the Shinde faction of the bifurcated Shiv Sena. Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde takes part in a cleanliness drive at Kopineshwar temple, in Thane, Saturday, Jan. 13. (PTI) "I have heard about his move. If he is joining the party, I will welcome him," Eknath Shinde said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Deora, whose family had been associated with the Congress for over five decades, thanked the party for their support over the years. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he wrote on X early this morning. Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan said Milind Deora wanted to contest the Lok Sabha elections from the South Mumbai constituency but the alliance partners had been insisting on the sitting MP, Arvind Sawant. Sawant belongs to the Uddhav Thackeray camp of the Sena. He defeated Milind Deora in 2014 and 2019 from the South Mumbai seat. Also read: 'Greed, fear': Congress launches lakhs of Milind Deoras attack after snub The Congress on Sunday said Deora's exit won't impact the party. "It will have no effect. One Milind Deora will go, but lakhs of other Milind Deoras will join us. It will not affect our organisation at all," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said. He also blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for engineering the high-profile exit. "The Prime Minister has decided this, there is no doubt about it," he added. Putting forth a brave face, Ramesh said "lakhs of Murli Deoras will join the Congress". Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit blamed "greed and fear" for the politician's decision. "I will be surprised if someone like him, after leaving Congress, would join an alliance party of the BJP. There are two big weaknesses in humans and those are greed and fear, he said. With inputs from PTI, ANI LUCKNOW: Noted Urdu poet Munawwar Rana passed away at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow on Sunday. He was on ventilator for the last six days, according to his daughter Somaiyya Rana. Munawwar Rana, a modern Hindi and Urdu poet. Born on November 26, 1952, he left a mark on Indian literature and his work, "Shahdaba", earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 but he returned it due to political reasons. During the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act), his daughter and he supported the protesters. He was also in the news during the farmers' agitation for purportedly controversial remarks. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read- Poet Munawwar Ranas daughters among 16 held for anti-CAA protests in Lucknow Expressing grief over Munawwar Rana's death, poet Sanjay Mishra Shauq said, "His contributions to Urdu poetry continue to resonate, leaving a lasting legacy in the realm of literature. Munawwar Rana was a luminary in the tapestry of Indian literature. His literary brilliance shone through his notable work, "Shahdaba," which not only captivated the hearts of readers but also earned him the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014." "The profound impact of his verses, often delving into the complexities of life, love, and society, resonates beyond his mortal existence. Munawwar Rana's contributions to Urdu poetry endure as a timeless legacy, inspiring future generations to explore the richness of language and the depth of human experience through the written word," he added. Also read- Another FIR registered against poet Munawwar Rana for comparing Taliban with Valmiki Noted poet Sarvesh Asthana said, Tragically, the final chapter of Munawwar Rana's life concluded at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, where he breathed his last on Sunday. His passing marked the end of an era, as Lucknowites mourn the loss of a poetic soul who had woven emotions and thoughts into the fabric of Urdu poetry. He was someone who used more of Hindi or Hindustani words in his poetry instead of tough Arabic or Persian words. That's why his poetry was an instant hit among the masses." "Though he remained in controversies, when we reflect on the life and works of Munawwar Rana, we are reminded that though the poet may have left the physical realm, his words remain etched in the hearts of those who found solace and inspiration in the eloquence of his ghazal ,especially Mohajirnama in which he has written 'Mohajir hain magar hum ek duniya chhor aye hain," Urdu critic Parvez Mallikzada said. "In the realm of literature, his legacy persists, as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to transcend time and connect the human spirit across generations," he said. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, in a social media post said, The demise of the country's renowned poet Munawwar Rana is extremely heartbreaking. Wishing peace to the departed soul. Heartfelt tribute. Munawwar Rana suffered infection in the lungs and throat in 2017 and was also receiving treatment regularly due to kidney problems for which he had to undergo dialysis. Mumbai: After losing yet another young politician Milind Deora to the ruling National Democratic Alliance on Sunday, the Congress put forth a brave face.. The Mallikarjun Kharge-led party said the Mumbai stalwart's exit will not impact the Congress as "lakhs of Milind Deoras will join us". Milind Deora (PTI file photo) The Congress accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of engineering the high-profile exit and blamed "greed and fear" for the Mumbai stalwart's decision to join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I will be surprised if someone like him, after leaving Congress, would join an alliance party of the BJP. There are two big weaknesses in humans and those are greed and fear, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said Deora's exit won't impact the party. "It will have no effect. One Milind Deora will go, but lakhs of other Milind Deoras will join us. It will not affect our organisation at all," he said. "The Prime Minister has decided this, there is no doubt about it," he added. Ramesh told PTI that he had spoken with Deora on Friday. He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, Are you planning a switch?. At 2:48 he sent a message, is speaking to you not possible? I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him. He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it. Obviously all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM, he said. Also read: Milind Deora, who quit Congress, to join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena today: Full itinerary Why Deora resigned? Deora today announced his resignation from the Congress on X. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he said. He later said he was choosing the path of development. Former chief minister and Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan said Milind Deora wanted to contest from South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat but the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliance's understanding was that the sitting MP must not be disturbed. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant is the sitting MP from the South Mumbai seat. He had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. The former is in the Uddhav Thackeray camp. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the Bharatiya Janata Party is scared of Rahul Gandhi's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. "The BJP was spreading rumours that the Congress will split. Now the BJP and its allies are taking along with them a twice defeated candidate to divert attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This attempt will not be successful," he said. With inputs from PTI, ANI Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday took a dig at Milind Deora quitting the Congress. Calling Milind Deora a big leader, Sanjay Raut, however, said the former Union minister had a special attachment with the Congress. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut (ANI) Even from Shiv Sena people have cut 25-30 years of ties and left It is all politics now. I knew Milind Deora, he was a big leader and had a special attachment with the Congress, Raut told the media. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Milind Deora, who announced his resignation from the Congress on Sunday morning, is set to join Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena along with 400 of his supporters. The son of Congress stalwart late Murli Deora Deora, ended his family's decades-old relationship with the party. We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change localities to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state, Raut said. Milind Deora has served as the union minister of state for communications and information technology and shipping during the Congress tenure from 2012 to 2014. He has also served as the former president of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years, he wrote on X on Sunday. Recently, he expressed his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) claiming the South Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency, which Deora had represented earlier. Reacting to this, Sanjay Raut said that there would be no compromise on the seat. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday, reacting to Milind Deora quitting the grand old party, said they have arrived in Manipur to kick start the mega campaign Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, but it was the former Union minister's loss that he wasn't there. Congress leader Milind Deora quit the party on Sunday (File Photo) We have come to Manipur and the people here have welcomed us because only the Congress and INDIA alliance talk about the issues of Manipur. At this time, if Milind Deora ji is not here then it's his loss, Gaurav Gogoi told news agency ANI. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Milind Deora, the son of Congress stalwart late Murli Deora, ended his family's decades-old relationship with the party as he announced his resignation from the primary membership of Congress on Sunday morning. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Deora wrote, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Deora is set to join Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena along with 400 of his supporters. Earlier, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that Deora's resignation was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling his concern over the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat a farce. He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, Are you planning a switch?. At 2:48 he sent a message, is speaking to you not possible? I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him, Ramesh said as quoted by PTI. "He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about itObviously all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM, he added. (With inputs from agencies) New Delhi: After a successful start to 2024, with two significant missions already completed, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) is now gearing up to launch INSAT-3DS satellites on-board the Geosynchronous Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F14), its more advanced rocket that uses liquid propellant. Senior officials from the space agency said that the launch is likely to happen around the first week of February. Crucially, this will be the first launch of the GSLV in around eight months. (PTI) Also read- PSLV-C58 XPoSat: India successfully launches satellite to study black holes from Sriharikota Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Isro officials said that the launch was previously planned for January, but it is now likely to happen in February. They, however, said that the satellite is already in the process of being integrated with the launch vehicle and the agency is only waiting for a final launch date. It is likely to happen by the first week of February itself, a senior official confirmed, asking not to be named. The INSAT-3DS mission will carry satellites for the India Meteorological Organisation (IMD) as a part of its series of climate observatory satellites. This mission was initiated as a part of a collaboration between Isro and IMD to improve the network of climate services. The multi-mission meteorological data receiving and propulsion system collaboration includes three dedicated Earth observation satellites INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR --- which are already in orbit, with the INSAT-3DS due next. Also read- All about Sukrayaan 1: ISRO's mission to Venus Crucially, this will be the first launch of the GSLV in around eight months. The rocket has a higher capacity, and uses cryogenic liquid propellants for all its three stages --- this use of liquid fuel makes for a more complicated engineering, but it allows for much higher lift-off weight capacity. Indias other rocket, the workhorse PSLV, uses solid fuel. Isro chairman S Somanath said during a media briefing earlier this month that the space agency was planning at least 12 launches in 2024. The space agency is already on to a good start towards attaining that goal, as it has already successfully launched Indias first polarimetry mission, X-ray Polarimeter Satellite or XPoSat, on January 1 and on January 6 successfully placed the Aditya-L1 satelliteIndia first solar observatory which was launched on September 2 last yearin the intended orbit to initiate its five-year mission. The upcoming months will also see rounds of tests and technology demonstration for Gaganyaan, Indias first human spaceflight project. The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate Isros human spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400km for a three-day mission and bringing them back safely. Leading up to the actual manned mission, the space agency will be conducting several rounds of tests to ensure the systems are safe to carry and bring back astronauts safely to Earth. After the TV-D1 test flight demonstration, which was carried out in October last year, the space agency will also be carrying out a test flight with a robot, Vyomitra, a humanoid astronaut, and an unmanned flight before the manned mission, possibly scheduled for 2025, according to officials from the department of space. Also read- Astronauts for Gaganyaan mission ready and waiting for flight to happen in 2025: ISRO chief Isro has also lined up the launch of Indias collaboration with USs National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR), which is expected to take flight by March. All constituents of the INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) bloc accepted Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge as chairperson of the opposition grouping while most of them, except Trinamool Congress (TMC), backed Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar as convener during a virtual meeting held on Saturday, people familiar with the details said. HT Image West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjees opposition to Kumars candidature led the alliance partners to keep the decisions under wraps for now, said two leaders present during the deliberations. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar have been asked to convince Banerjee to give her approval to the decision, the leaders said, seeking anonymity. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kumar in the meeting said he did not aspire for the post of convener, but all members except Trinamool were keen that he take it up. Representatives of the Janata Dal (United), which included Rajiv Ranjan, the partys former president also known as Lalan Singh, were upset with Banerjees opposition coming out in the open. Please discuss this with Kharge. Only he is authorised to speak, Singh told HT after the meeting. Later in the evening, there was a separate in-person meeting at Kharges residence between the Congress president and Kejriwal. Both sides remained tight-lipped about what transpired but when asked Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, it was just a courtesy meeting. A third person said the reason for the meeting was that Gandhi and Kejriwal had not met in person before. They had met on various occasions but it was the first time Delhi CM called on him. Coming a day after AAPs bilateral meeting with party representatives, it was an indicator of the growing willingness to work together and work out a relationship, this person said. The virtual meeting began with discussions on contentious states where the Congress has local units opposed to a larger alliance, which include Punjab, West Bengal and Kerala. Banerjee did not attend the meeting as she said that she needed to be informed sooner, instead of just 16 hours before a scheduled meeting, one of the people cited above said. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, whose team had travelled to Delhi the previous day, also stayed away. Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin told the meeting that he needed time till Pongal, after which seat-sharing in his state could be sorted out. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi informed the alliance partners that he was starting his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Sunday and wanted all the other parties to participate. After the seat-sharing niggles were discussed, the issue of appointing a chairperson and convener came up, when Kharges name was proposed for the first position, as the Congress is the largest party in the coalition. Kharge proposed Gandhis name as chairperson but Gandhi said Kharge was the better man for the job, said one of the leaders cited earlier. However, differences arose on the conveners position. As Kumar expressed his reservations, other members discussed whether the announcement should be made immediately. It was then pointed out that it would not be appropriate as both Banerjee and Yadav were absent and their approvals were essential. At this point, members were told that Gandhi had already told Banerjee about Kumars candidature and she was not in agreement. Kumar and Singh were present when this was discussed, the leader said. Other members of the bloc suggested roping in Kejriwal and Pawar to bring Banerjee on board while stressing that everyone else was on the same page. An angry Singh told the meeting that the JD(U) was opposed to this appointment and so the Congress should choose someone else. One person suggested that the announcement on Saturday could be limited to just Kharges appointment, which was considered unsuitable. It was then decided that Kumars allies in Bihar, Lalu Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, would convince Kumar to accept the post of convener. In Kolkata, a senior Trinamool leader too confirmed Banerjees position on the issue. Only Mamata Banerjee will speak on this INDIA alliance issue. But if I am correct, she has already cleared the partys stand on the proposal of making Nitish Kumar the convener with other members of the alliance, this person said, adding that it is not always rational to bring each and every of these processes out in the open and discuss them. Former TMC MP and senior party leader Kunal Ghosh, however, said there is ongoing engagement on the top roles. Mamata Banerjee received the invitation at the last moment. She already had something scheduled. The primary issue is whether there is communication between allies or not. There is communication. In Patna, JD(U) leaders, who asked not to be named, said there was some unease in how the matter was discussed but in public statements, the party indicated there was no rift per se. Our leaders agenda is not to become a convener. We have only one agenda, remove BJP and save the country. INDIA alliance has taken a big shape, due to which the BJP is feeling uneasy, said JD(U) state president Umesh Kushwaha said. A second leader, who asked not to be named, said Kumar would make some decision regarding the issue soon. He may announce some decision between January 24 (Karpoori Jayanti) and January 27 before PMs visit, said this JD(U) functionary. The members agreed that they would inform each other of the outcomes of these two assignments, which included getting Kumar to accept the conveners position and getting Banerjee to accept him, the leaders cited in the first instance said. When asked about this task for Kejriwal, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha of the Aam Aadmi Party, who is also the coordinator in the INDIA alliance, said, We will inform you when there is something to be shared. Everyone is happy that the seat sharing talks are progressing in a positive way. We also discussed about joint programs in the coming days by INDIA Parties. I, along with @RahulGandhi ji invited all INDIA Parties to join Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra at their convenience and use the opportunity to raise the social, political and economic issues plaguing common people of this country, Kharge posted on X (formerly Twiiter), without referring to the contentious issues. (With inputs from Joydeep Thakur in Kolkata and Vijay Swaroop in Patna) Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Lakshadweep has led to a resurgence of interest in visiting the archipelago although aircraft movement to the islands last year was the lowest since 2015, barring the pandemic year of 2020, official data show. PM Modi was in Lakshadweep on January 2 and 3 (Twitter/@narendramodi) The airport in Agatti island in Lakshadweep received the lowest number of flights during the April-November 2023 period, the lowest in eight years, according to the data from the Airports Authority of India. There were 1,080 flight movements during this period, compared to 1,482 during April-November 2022 and 1,202 during April-November 2021. The trend is similar in earlier years, except in 2020, when travel and tourism was disrupted. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Aircraft movements are the number of times aircraft take off and land at an airport. One take-off and landing is considered as two aircraft movements. Lakshadweep has been in the news after a row was triggered last week over intemperate remarks made by Maldivian ministers regarding Modis trip on January 2, photos of which were shared on social media. The controversy led to many Indian celebrities announcing plans for a Lakshadweep vacation, generating interest in the archipelago. But a lack of direct connectivity and insufficient hotels and tourist conveniences would deter people from visiting the islands, industry executives said. Unlike Lakshadweep, Indians now have more direct connectivity to various beach destinations in and around the country, said VP Narula, owner of Apex Travel and Tours. Direct air connectivity not only helps a traveller to save on cost but also provides convenience, he added. Limited access due to limited flights and the mandatory permits required to land at the airport are all cumbersome and have restricted Lakshadweeps tourism, said Jyoti Mayal, president of the Travel Agents Association of India, a lobby group. The archipelago has not been promoted as required, leading to a lack of awareness, she added. Currently, only Alliance Air operates a daily flight to Agatti, which has an airstrip capable of handling only small aircraft. Agatti is the only airport in the archipelago that comprises 36 islands, of which 10 are inhabited. The government has been planning to develop a new airport at Minicoy Island to promote tourism in Lakshadweep. The proposed airport would boost tourism, as well as, extend surveillance capabilities of the defence forces. Lakshadweep is not geared to handle tourists in terms of infrastructure for not only flights but also hotels, said Jay Bhatia, vice-president of the association. Flights and ferries from Kochi are the only regular modes of transport for locals and a few visitors who intend to visit the unexplored islands, he added. No airline will operate there if there is limited traffic, an airline official said, declining to be named. New Delhi: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw all Indian military personnel deployed in the Indian Ocean archipelago by March 15, even as senior officials of the two countries met in Male to discuss the issue. Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu (Reuters Photo) Muizzu directed the Maldivian delegation participating in the meeting to inform Indian officials that the troops must be withdrawn by mid-March, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, principal secretary to the Maldivian president, told a media briefing in Male. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This is the 12th meeting to discuss the withdrawal of Indian troops, and the talks are evidence of the governments desire to move ahead with the withdrawal of Indian troops in a civilised and diplomatic matter without endangering the relationship between the two countries, Ibrahim was quoted as saying by the local media. Also Read: Maldives president amid India row: We arent in anyones backyard, so The meeting was held against the backdrop of a dramatic downturn in bilateral relations since Muizzu was elected last year, who has sought to move the Maldives closer to China. Following his return from a visit to China, Muizzu announced a slew of measures apparently aimed at curtailing the Maldives dependence on India in key sectors, including healthcare and food security. Ibrahim Khaleel, a spokesperson for the Maldivian Presidents Office, told the local media that the high-level committee, which the two sides had agreed to set up during a meeting between Muizzu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the margins of COP28 in December, was holding its meeting at the foreign ministry in Male. The talks were focused on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives and expediting India-backed development projects, Khaleel told the media. Besides Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar, other diplomats and military attaches from the Indian mission participated in the meeting. The Maldivian side was represented by Abdulla Fayyaz, chief of staff of the Presidents Office, chief of defence forces, Maj Gen Abdul Raheem Latheef, Ali Naseer Mohamed, ambassador at large in the foreign ministry, and the Maldivian envoy to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb. Muizzu, whose campaign for last years presidential election centred around an India out platform, has called on New Delhi to withdraw 77 military personnel posted in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and an aircraft. Following his return to Male from a nearly week-long visit to China, Muizzu made several remarks and announcements at a news briefing that were apparently aimed against India. Speaking mostly in the local Dhivehi language, Muizzu noted that relations between China and the Maldives were based on the four pillars of mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal matters. Without naming any country, he said in English, We may be small but that does not give you the licence to bully us. Muizzu announced the governments universal healthcare insurance scheme, which now covers treatment in India and Sri Lanka, will be expanded to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand. According to an official statement, Muizzu said this will diminish reliance on confined medical facilities in a select group of countries. The Chinese will facilitate the construction of a 100-bed hospital and Chinese assistance will encompass all essential facilities for health centre laboratories across 17 islands, he said. India is currently the main destination for Maldivians seeking medical treatment, and the helicopters and aircraft provided by India have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations in recent years. Muizzu announced that agreements were signed with China to help the Maldives expand agricultural growth to ensure food security, according to an official statement. Without naming India, he added his government would end its dependence on one country for imported staple foods such as rice, sugar, and flour. Also Read: View: China drops all diplomatic pretences on Taiwan, Maldives An agreement has also been concluded with Turkey, the destination of Muizzus first foreign visit, for importing rice, sugar and wheat. Medicines will be imported from manufacturers in Europe and the US, he said. In an apparent reference to the troubled ties with India, Muizzu also said the Maldives is not in any countrys backyard and the Indian Ocean does not belong to a single country. He said China would provide 920 million yuan in free aid to the Maldives and that agreements regarding the same were signed during his visit to China to build 30,000 social housing units and a commercial district in Hulhumale. The already troubled bilateral relations plummeted further after three junior Maldivian ministers recently posted derogatory remarks against India and its leadership. The ministers were suspended after a strong protest by India, but the row led to a call on Indian social media to boycott the Maldives as a tourist destination. NEW DELHI: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw all Indian military personnel deployed in the Indian Ocean archipelago by March 15, with New Delhi saying the two sides would hold further discussions on the matter. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. (File) Muizzu made the demand as a high-level core group set up by the two countries to address the issue held its first meeting in Male. Muizzu informed the Maldivian delegation participating in the meeting to inform Indian officials that the troops must be withdrawn by mid-March, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, principal secretary to the Maldivian president, told a media briefing in Male. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This is the 12th meeting to discuss the withdrawal of Indian troops and the talks are evidence of the governments desire to move ahead with the withdrawal of Indian troops in a civilised and diplomatic manner without endangering the relationship between the two countries, Ibrahim was quoted as saying by the local media. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration, Ibrahim said. A statement issued by the external affairs ministry said both sides discussed ways to find a mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and [medical evacuation] services to the people of Maldives. There are some 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian sorties. The two sides also discussed issues related to bilateral cooperation to identify steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects, the statement said. The two sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the high-level core group in India on a mutually convenient date, it added. India and the Maldives agreed to set up the high-level core group when Muizzu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi met on the margins of COP28 in December. The groups meeting was held against the backdrop of a dramatic downturn in bilateral relations since the election victory last year of Muizzu, who has sought to move the Maldives closer to China. Following his return from a visit to China, Muizzu announced a slew of measures apparently aimed at curtailing the Maldives dependence on India in key sectors such as healthcare and food security. Besides Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar, other diplomats and military attaches from the Indian mission participated in the meeting. The Maldivian side was represented by Abdulla Fayyaz, chief of staff of the Presidents Office, chief of defence forces, Maj Gen Abdul Raheem Latheef, Ali Naseer Mohamed, ambassador at large in the foreign ministry, and the Maldivian envoy to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb. Muizzu, whose campaign for last years presidential election centred round an India out platform, has repeatedly called on New Delhi to withdraw military personnel posted in the Maldives to operate the helicopters and aircraft. Following his return to Male from a nearly week-long visit to China, Muizzu made several remarks and announcements at a news briefing that were apparently aimed against India. Speaking mostly in the local Dhivehi language, Muizzu noted that relations between China and the Maldives were based on the four pillars of mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal matters. Without naming any country, he said in English: We may be small but that doesnt give you the licence to bully us. Muizzu announced the governments universal healthcare insurance scheme, which now covers treatment in India and Sri Lanka, will be expanded to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand. According to an official statement, Muizzu said this will diminish reliance on confined medical facilities in a select group of countries. The Chinese will facilitate the construction of a 100-bed hospital and Chinese assistance will encompass all essential facilities for health centre laboratories across 17 islands, he said. India is currently the main destination for Maldivians seeking medical treatment and the helicopters and aircraft provided by India have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations in recent years. Muizzu announced that agreements were signed with China to help the Maldives expand agricultural growth to ensure food security, according to an official statement. Without naming India, he added his government will end its dependence on one country for imported staple foods such as rice, sugar, and flour. An agreement has also been concluded with Turkiye, the destination of Muizzus first foreign visit, for importing rice, sugar and wheat. Medicines will be imported from manufacturers in Europe and the US, he said. In an apparent reference to the troubled ties with India, Muizzu also said the Maldives is not in any countrys backyard and the Indian Ocean doesnt belong to a single country. He said China will provide 920 million yuan in free aid to the Maldives, and that agreements were signed during his visit to China to build 30,000 social housing units and a commercial district in Hulhumale. The already troubled bilateral relations plummeted further after three junior Maldivian ministers recently posted derogatory remarks against India and its leadership. The ministers were suspended after a strong protest by India but the row led to a call on Indian social media to boycott the Maldives as a tourist destination. Manipur chief minister Biren Singh criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra which took off from Manipur on Sunday. Biren Singh, who heads the BJP government in the northeastern state questioned whether Gandhi came to Manipur to mess with the present situation which was getting better. Speaking at a programme in Imphal Singh said, Given the current situation in the state, is it a time for politics by holding a rally? It is the time to protect lives and properties, and provide consolation. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh(PTI) The situation is becoming better and we doubt if he (Gandhi) has come to mess with it. Whenever he comes, there is a problem. This time, Manipur is on alert. If he comes, we have to be on alert so that he does not mess with things," the CM said. Biren Singh further went on to add that the Congress leader had undertaken Bharat Todo (Break India) yatra and not Bharat Jodo (Unite India) Yatra. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur's Thoubal on Sunday. Speaking at the launch of the Yatra Rahul Gandhi said, We dont want to tell you about our mann ki baat but to hear about your mann ki baat. We want to know about your pain. We want to share a vision of brotherhood and harmony. "I've been in politics since 2004 and for the first time, I visited a place in India where the entire infrastructure of governance has collapsed. After 29th June (his visit to state), Manipur wasn't Manipur anymore, it got divided and hatred was spread everywhere, lakhs of people suffered loss And till now, the Indian PM has not come here to wipe your tears and hold your hand. It is a shameful thing," Rahul said. Gandhi made a two-day visit to Manipur weeks after the outbreak of violence in the state in June last year. During his visit, he met with the affected individuals residing in relief camps across various districts. Nevertheless, the police intervened and halted his convoy en route to Churachandpur from Imphal due to concerns about potential violence along the route. This resulted in several hours of chaos. Ultimately, the Congress leader opted for a helicopter journey to reach Churachandpur. (With inputs from PTI) Mumbai: Senior Congress leader and former Union minister Milind Deora resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday. In a post on social media platform X, Deora said that he was ending his familys 55-year relationship with the party. Veteran Congress leader Milind Deora quit the party on Sunday (File Photo) Milind, son of Congress veteran leader Murli Deora, confirmed his resignation in a post on X. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relations with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & Karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years, he wrote. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years, Deora added. Deora served as a Union minister in the then-Congress-led government from 2012 to 2014. He was also a former president of Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee. The resignation comes even as speculation was rife over the past few days that Deora would join the Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. According to the people familiar with the matter, Deora, along with 10 former corporators, 20 office bearers of the party from South Mumbai and representatives of key business organisations, would join Shiv Sena in the presence of CM Shinde today. Around 1.30pm, Deora is expected to leave to meet Shinde at his official residence Varsha bungalow. Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat as an alliance partner of the Congress-led INDIA bloc. The South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat was held by Deora twice in 2004 and 2009. He, however, had lost the seat in 2014 and 2019 to Shiv Senas Arvind Sawant for two terms. Thackeray-led Sena faction has staked the claim on the seat again for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as part of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi, the three-party alliance with Congress and Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Sharad Pawar. Amid the speculations that he would quit the party, Deora had said on Saturday that he was holding talks with his supporters. Shinde-led Sena leader Uday Samant had said on Saturday, It will help them in expanding their base in Mumbai if the senior leader like Deor joined us. Senior Congress leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat said that the decision by Deora was unfortunate. The ominous bid by tendering his resignation on the occasion of the launch of the second phase of Bharat Jodo Yatra by Rahul Gandhi was unfortunate and unsuccessful too. His late father Murli Deora, too, would have not liked the attempt to create troubles in Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra which has begun to safeguard the interest of the poor and downtrodden, he has said in a post on X. Mumbai Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad has appealed to Deora to reconsider his decision to quit the party. Maharashtra in-charge of the party and I were constantly in touch with Deora for the last few days. Congress is like a Pariwar and the Deora family has very important different standing in the party. We believe that the party should remain united. It is unfortunate and painful that the resignation has come on the day of the launching of the Bharat Jodi Nyay Yatra by Rahulji, she said. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over Deoras resignation from the party, saying he should first do justice to his party leaders before taking out nyay yatra. BJP IT cell Amit Malviya in a social media post said, Rahul Gandhi should first do nyay (justice) to his party leaders. Nyay Yatra later. Milind Deora, the former Union minister who resigned from the Congress, will join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years." Milind Deora (Pratik Chorge/HT Photo) The resignation comes even as speculation was rife in political circles over the past few days that Milind Deora, the son of Congress stalwart late Murli Deora, would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Along with Milind Deora, 10 former municipal corporations, 25 senior party functionaries and 20 top trader and merchant unions will also join the Shiv Sena. About 400 workers will also be joining the Shiv Sena under the leadership of Deora in Varsha on Sunday. Milind Deora to join Shiv Sena today: Full itinerary At 10.30am, Milind Deora will leave from his residence - Ramalayam - for Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai - where MLA Sada Sarvankar will be present. At 11am, Deora will offer prayers at Siddhivinayak temple. Around noon, he will pay respect at Balasaheb Thackeray statue at Regal Cinema. At 12.30pm, he will arrive at Ramalayam. Around 1.30pm, Deora will leave for the official residence of Eknath Shinde's Varsha bungalow in Malabar Hill. At 2pm, at Paksh Pravesh, Shinde will be present along with senior ministers and party leaders. Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress earlier. What Congress said Milind Deora's resignation The Congress alleged that the timing of the announcement of Deora's departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told news agency PTI that Deora, the former minister of state in the ministry of information and broadcasting, had spoken with him over phone this Friday and requested that he wanted to speak with Rahul Gandhi about his concerns over the Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. Both Deora and his father Murli Deora had served as MPs from Mumbai South. He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, Are you planning a switch?. At 2:48 he sent a message, is speaking to you not possible? I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him, Ramesh said. He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it, Ramesh said. Obviously, all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was determined by the PM, the senior Congress leader alleged. In a post on X, Ramesh recalled his long years of association with seven-time Congress MP Murli Deora with great fondness. Former Union minister Milind Deora who ended his family's 55-year relationship with the Congress on Sunday, hours before Rahul Gandhi's east-west Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began, joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in the afternoon -- in a major blow to the Grand Old Party. Hours before the official induction of Milind Deora and several other Congress leaders to the Shinde fold, Eknath Shinde said he was not aware of the developments but Milid Deora was welcome to the party. Milind Deora joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena hours after quitting the Congress. Ending days of speculation, Milind Deora, disgruntled over the seat-sharing talks between Uddhav Sena and the Congress, Deora on Sunday announced that he would be quitting the Congress. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Milind Deora tweeted at 8.36am. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Milind Deora explains politics of GAIN and PAIN After joining the Shinde Sena, Milind Deora explained why he decided the quit the Congress severing the ties of decades. Milind said the Congress his father joined was different from present-day Congress as their focus now is to only oppose PM Modi. "If PM Modi today says Congress is a good party, they would oppose it," Milind said adding that he wanted to be part of politics of GAIN - growth, aspiration, inclusivity, nationalism and not politics of PAIN, personal attack, injustice and negativity. Why was Milind Deora upset with Congress? Milind Deora has been the two-time MP of the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency. In 2019, it was won by Uddhav MP Arvind Sawant. In the seat-sharing talks between Uddhav Sena and the Congress as part of the INDIA bloc, Sena said it should contest the seats that it already has. Going by this, the Mumbai South will go to the Uddhav Sena while Milind Deora wants to contest from it. Uddhav Sena leader Sanjay Raut said Uddhav Sena is the largest party in Maharashtra and hence the Congress should start from zero in Maharashtra. After Scindia, Jitin Prasada, RPN Singh, Hardik Patel, Milind Deora leaves Congress Milind Deora's exit takes forward the exodus started by Jyotiraditya Scindia and then continued by Jitin Prasada, Alpesh Thakor, Anil Antony, Hardik Patel, Jaiveer Shergill -- all young leaders. Apart from them, the party in the last three years witnessed the exit of senior leaders like Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Sunil Jakhar, Ashwani Kumar, RPN Singh, and Amarinder Singh. Milind Deora on Sunday announced his resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending his familys 55-year relationship with the party. Former Union minister Milind Deora. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party...," Milind Deora, the son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, wrote on social media X. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years, Deora added. His resignation comes amid speculation that the former Union minister would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. Deora, however, on Saturday dismissed the speculation as rumours. Deora, who recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public, had told reporters that he was holding discussions with his supporters. "I am listening to my supporters...Haven't taken a decision yet," the former Mumbai South MP said when asked if he was chalking out a plan with his supporters. Deora said these are rumours, while responding to a question on reports in some sections of the media that he was quitting the Congress to join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which seemed to have not gone down well with the Congress leader. In a video statement issued last Sunday, Deora said that if such statements by an alliance partner dont stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra. Deora had said since the formal talks on sharing of seats were yet to be concluded, nobody should make claims and counter-claims. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. Deora had said his family represented the seat for 50 years and wasn't elected on any wave. Former Union minister Milind Deora ended his family's 55-year relationship with Congress on Sunday after he announced his resignation from the party's primary membership. Earlier, he dismissed speculations of cutting ties with the party as rumours. File photo, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Milind Deora in Mumbai.(PTI) Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Deora wrote, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The outgoing senior Congress leader is set to join Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena today along with 400 of his supporters. The former Union minister is the son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, and his family has had over five decades of long-standing association with the grand old party. End of over a five-decade-long era: Milind Deora, who has lost two successive Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019 to Shiv Senas Arvind Sawant, was unhappy over the possibility of Mumbai South seat going to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in the Maha Vikas Aghadi seat-sharing formula. On Sunday, Milind Deora, a former Union minister, said he had resigned from the primary membership of the Congress. Former Congress leader Milind Deora (PTI) In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Deora will join Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Sunday afternoon. The development comes even as the speculation was rife in political circles over the past few days that Deora would join the Sena faction. On Saturday, Deora, however, had dismissed as "rumours" the speculation that he was on his way out and would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He also told reporters that he is holding discussions with his supporters. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. In a video statement issued last Sunday, Deora said if such statements by an alliance partner dont stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party led by Sharad Pawar in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Deora was also the head of the Mumbai Congress earlier. Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined the Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena today, criticised his former party, for abusing industrialists, and businesspersons and calling them anti-nationals, PTI reported. Former Congress Leader Milind Deora joined the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde fraction) on Sunday.(ANI) When Manmohan Singh was the finance minister 30 years ago, the Congress party ushered in economic reforms, but now it is abusing industrialists and businessmen, and calling them anti-nationals, he said. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Though he did not name any Congress leader in particular, he was apparently referring to Rahul Gandhi, who often criticises the Adani Group and its alleged connection with the ruling BJP. Deora on Sunday joined the Shiv Sena in Mumbai's Varsha bungalow, the official residence of the chief minister of Maharashtra. A former Congress MP from South Mumbai, Deora resigned from the primary membership of the party. Addressing reporters at Varsha bungalow, Deora hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and said that they have a vision for developing the country. He also praised Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde, calling him as the "most accessible" chief minister. "It is not easy to decide to quit Congress with whom the Deora family has been associated for 55 years. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde requires good people. It is the opinion of Shinde and Lok Sabha member Shrikant Shinde that I can represent his vision and I am thankful to them for trusting me," he said. Deora added: "I want to tell you one thing, I was loyal to Congress when it was going through a difficult phase. I joined Congress in 2004. If Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) had focused on the constructive suggestions and merit, we would not be sitting here," he said. Deora also alleged the Congress party's only goal is to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal -- speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity," he said. Mumbai: Milind Deora, who quit the Congress and joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena today, said he wouldn't have quit the party had its leadership given importance to his "constructive" and positive suggestions, merit and capabilities. In his first reaction after joining the dominant Sena faction, Deora accused his former party of indulging in the politics of what he called PAIN -- personal attacks, injustice and negativity. Veteran Congress leader Milind Deora quit the party on Sunday (File Photo) Referring to his family's 55-year-old association with the Congress, Milind Deora claimed "today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968". Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. This is a very emotional day for me. I had never thought that I would quit Congress. Today, I joined Shiv Sena, he was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI. Milind Deora said he remained with the Congress during its most challenging decade. "I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since this morning. Why did I sever 55-year-old ties of my family with the Congress party? I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and UBT given importance to constructive and positive suggestions and merit and capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn't have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision," he said. Milind Deora said the Congress party's only goal is to oppose Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal -- speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity," he said. Also read: 'Greed, fear': Congress launches lakhs of Milind Deoras attack after snub Deora on Sunday joined the Shiv Sena in Mumbai's Varsha bungalow, the official residence of the chief minister of Maharashtra. Earlier today, Deora, a former Congress MP from South Mumbai, resigned from the primary membership of the party. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he wrote on X. According to former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan, Deora was upset over Shiv Sena (UBT) insisting on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from the South Mumbai seat. Deora himself wanted to contest from the seat. The undivided Shiv Sena's Arvind Sawant defeated Milind Deora in 2014 and 2019 general elections from South Mumbai. After the Sena's vertical split in 2022, Sawant supported the Uddhav Thackeray faction, which will contest the 2024 general elections in alliance with the Congress. Also read: Eknath Shinde's first reaction on Milind Deora joining Shiv Sena reports: Welcome Earlier today, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed his exit wouldn't impact the party as "lakhs of Milind Deoras will join". Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit hinted that Deora gave in to fear and greed. Speaking on Deora's resignation, Chairman of Congress' Media and Publicity Department, Pawan Khera, told ANI, "Ask them (BJP). They get so nervous whenever we kickstart a Yatra; they hatch some conspiracy." Congress leader Pramod Tiwari called his exit a "petty matter". After Jitin Prasad and Jyotiraditya Scindia, this is the third major exit of the young leaders of the Congress party over the last five years. With inputs from agencies Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday claimed that Shahjahan Sheikh, a Trinamool Congress strongman and panchayat leader in West Bengal, would be tracked down and arrested from wherever he is hiding. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma((ANI)) Sheikh continues to remain absconding after his supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that was out raiding his residence recently in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam in Bengal. The ED has issued a lookout notice for Sheikh amid rumours that he might flee India. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking with the media, Sarma emphasised how Union home minister Amit Shah would ensure that Sheikh is found and brought to book. Paatal se bhi dhhondh ke nikal lenge jab zaroorat hogi (no matter where he is in hiding, he will be found and brought to justice), news agency ANI quoted Sarma as saying. "Amit Shah is our home minister and he will go to any lengths to track him down and make him crawl out of the hole he is hiding in. He will chase him to the abyss, if need be, and bring him to book. Make no mistake about it," he added. ALSO READ| Timing determined by PM Modi, seat concern a farce: Congress on Milind Deora's resignation Recently, the ED teams were attacked at Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district while they were on their way to carry out raids at the residence of Sheikh and fellow TMC leader Shankar Adhya. In the incident, three ED officials suffered injuries. After the incident, West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose summoned the state home secretary and DGP and sought the arrest of Sheikh. Meanwhile, the West Bengal Police arrested two persons on Friday in connection with the attacks. The arrested persons, identified as Mehaboob Mollah and Sukomal Sardar, were produced before a court and sent to three-day police custody, the police revealed. BJP leaders have condemned the attack on ED officials and blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government for a complete failure of law and order in the state. Sheikh's family has filed a complaint alleging that the ED team raided their home without prior notice and broke locks to gain entry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will release the first instalment of 540 crore to 100,000 tribal beneficiaries to build residences, with each household receiving 2.39 lakh, under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, according to an official statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the welfare scheme on November 15 in Khunti in Jharkhand (PTI) The welfare scheme, announced by Modi on November 15 in Khunti in Jharkhand, aims to build 490,000 houses for tribal communities by spending 2,390 crore by 2026. It is part of the the Pradhan Mantri Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups Development Mission that finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget in February last year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The PVTG development mission will saturate the particularly vulnerable tribal groups with safe housing, clean drinking water, education, nutrition, road and telecom connection and livelihood, Sitharaman had said. A budget of 15,000 crore will be dedicated to this mission in the next three years. Also read: PM Modi unveils 24k-cr tribal welfare plan The tribal welfare scheme has a total budgetary outlay of 24,104 crore, where the Centres share is 15,336 crore and the states share is 8,768 crore, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. It will focus on 11 schemes across nine ministries. Nine ministries including ministries of rural development, jal shakti, health and family welfare, tribal affairs, education, and communications have already approved projects worth 4,700 crore in the two months since the scheme was announced, it said. In the past two months, 916 day care centres, or anganwadi centres, were sanctioned at 12 lakh per centre for a total of 126 crore. Of this, 816 will be operational by the end of January. The government plans to establish 2,500 anganwadis by 2026, the statement said. It also plans to set up 1,000 medical mobile units with a budget of 34 crore in three years. Of this, 100 MMUs have been sanctioned at 34 lakh per MMU for a total of 34 crore. The ministry of education aims to construct and run 500 hostels by 2026. Of this, 100 hostels have been sanctioned at 2.75 crore per hostel for a total of 275 crore. Also read: PM Modi to address Ram Temple consecration from 'Singh Dwar' The communications ministry aims to install cellphone towers in all uncovered villages and habitations by 2026. To that effect, 206 towers which will cover 503 villages have been sanctioned at a cost of 243 crore. The government has also approved building 405 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (forest resource centres) at 5 lakh each for a total of 20 crore, the statement said. At least 500 such centres will be built by 2026. The government has approved 893 crore to construct 1207-km road. The aim is to lay down 8,000 km by 2026. The ministry of tribal affairs has sanctioned a total of 270 crore for 450 multipurpose centres at 60 lakh per centre. The government is targeting 1000 such centres by 2026. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat as he conveyed his wishes to all the citizens for the ongoing festive period. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended the Pongal celebrations at Union minister L Murugarns residence in New Delhi (Twitter Photo) PM took part in Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union minister of state L Murugan in New Delhi and said that this feeling of unity is the biggest force to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As the Pongal stream flows from every house in Tamil Nadu, I wish for the flow of happiness and prosperity in everyones life, the PM said while addressing the occasion. Modi thanked the Union minister for the invitation and called on everyone to rededicate themselves to the resolution of strengthening the unity of the nation on the auspicious occasion of Pongal. The main element of the Panch Pran that I have invoked from the Red Fort is to energise the unity of the country and to strengthen the unity, he said. The PM also highlighted the role of citizens, businessmen, and good crops in nation-buildin and underlined the connections to farmers and crops in every festival in India. Recalling one of his speeches that dwelt on the connection between millets and Tamil traditions, Modi said, I remember, the last time I highlighted how our millets are connected to Tamil traditionsIm happy that there is a new awareness about the superfood Shri Anna (millets) in India and the world and many youth have taken up ventures on millets. More than 30 million farmers engaging in millet farming have benefited from millet promotion, the PM said. Drawing a comparison between the diversity of India and Kolam, a decorative art drawn using rice flour usually, the PM said that when every corner of the country connects emotionally with each other, the nations strength appears in a new form. The PM also noted the Lohri celebrations taking place on Saturday, the festive occasion of Makar Uttarayan on Sunday, Makar Sankranti on Monday, and the upcoming festivities of Magh Bihu in Assam, and conveyed his wishes to all citizens in the country. Pongal also referred to as Thai Pongal, is a four-day harvest festival celebrated by Tamils. Defence minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal to provide insurance cover to tens of thousands of casual workers employed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to build infrastructure in the countrys farthest frontiers. Defence minister Rajnath Singh had earlier approved the policy for the preservation and transportation of the mortal remains of casual paid labourers to their native place (PIB) This scheme will provide 10 lakh as insurance in any kind of death to the family of casual paid labourers, the defence ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The latest welfare measure comes months after the ministry rolled out a new policy in September 2023 for BROs casual workers to give them dignity in case of death. Singh had then approved the policy for the preservation and transportation of the mortal remains of casual paid labourers to their native place while also raising funeral expenses from 1,000 to 10,000 for those whose last rites are performed at the worksite. These moves by the ministry have brought into focus the risky roles these workers fill in treacherous terrain. Keeping in view the severe risk posed to the lives of casual paid labourers posted in hazardous worksites, inclement weather, inhospitable terrain and occupational health hazards, and considering the deaths occurred/reported during their engagement, the provision of insurance coverage on humanitarian grounds will prove to be a great morale booster, the statement said. BRO employs up to one lakh casual workers to build border infrastructure in areas stretching from Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. These projects include roads, bridges, tunnels, airfields and helipads. The insurance scheme will serve as a social security and welfare measure and will go a long way in securing the livelihoods of their families, it added. Welfare measures in place from these workers in forward areas include portable cabins, prefabricated shelters, bio toilets, snow tents with polyurethane insulation panels, special winter clothing and rations for high altitude, healthcare facilities, training in emergency medical management and make-shift schools for their children. The 1,800 special guests, among the 25,000 people who attended the 77th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort last year, included 50 BRO workers, again a recognition of their role. Indias infrastructure push in forward areas, a firm and focussed response to Chinas thrust on developing its border areas, has supported the militarys pursuit of robust deterrence against the neighbour with whom the country has been locked in a standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. The militarys readiness, among other things, depends on infrastructure in forward areas, a landscape dotted with towering mountains, valleys and rivers. BRO has completed around 300 crucial projects during the last three years at a cost of 8,000 crore. India lags China in border infrastructure but the country is catching up fast on the back of speedy execution of strategic projects to support military operations, increased spending, and focussed adoption of technology and techniques to fill gaps that came into focus after the standoff with China began. BROs funding has increased over the years to enable faster development of infrastructure. Its expenditure, which ranged from 3,305 crore per year to 4,670 crore per year during 2008-17, has climbed steadily in recent years and is projected to be around 15,000 crore in 2023-24, according to government data. The expenditure stood at 12,340 crore in 2022-23, 9,375 crore in 2021-22, 8,763 crore in 2020-21 and 7,737 crore in 2019-20. New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has predicted the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will emerge as the single-largest party in the upcoming 2024 general elections. However, he said, the BJP can be stopped from forming a government at the Centre by significantly bringing down its seats tally and forcing its allies to lose confidence in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Shashi Tharoor is a member of the Congress Working Committee and one of the popular faces of the party in the country. (ANI file photo) The BJP-led NDA won 303 seats in the 2019 general elections. The alliance is aiming for the magical 400-mark in the 2024 general elections. The Congress and 27 other opposition parties have formed an alliance to challenge the BJP juggernaut. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor said the BJP's "numbers can be brought down" to stop it from forming a government. "I still expect that the BJP will emerge as the single-largest party. But I do believe their numbers can be brought down to a level where their potential allies required to form a government may no longer be willing to ally with them and may be willing to ally with us. So we have to give it a try," the former Union minister said in a session, 'India: The Future is Now', PTI reported. Tharoor said preventable defeats can be avoided if INDIA bloc secures seats-sharing agreements in sufficient states. "That's the best thing they can do, and if it so happens, and there is enough divergence of views, maybe the BJP candidate will win. But that's democracy in our first-past-the-post system," he added. Tharoor said in Kerala it was impossible for the CPI(M) and the Congress to agree to a seat-sharing agreement. "In Kerala, it is almost impossible to imagine the two major opponents here of the INDIA alliance, namely the CPI(M) and the Congress, ever agreeing on seat-sharing, but right next door in Tamil Nadu, the CPI, CPI(M), Congress and DMK are all allied together and there is no debate, no dispute. They already fought the last election together. They are likely to fight this one too," he said, per PTI. The INDIA bloc has been having seat-sharing talks in several states. However, in many statesstriking agreements between the alliance partners is tough as the constituents had been political rivals. . In Bengal, Mamata Banerjee had said her TMC could only defeat the BJP, hinting she is averse to sharing seats in the state. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury later claimed her party had only offered two seats. In Punjab and Delhi, the Congress and the AAP are bitter rivals. After verbal duels hinting the two parties don't want to share seats, the two sides have made some progress with AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal meeting Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge was on Saturday selected as the chairperson of the alliance after Nitish Kumar refused to become the convenor. Priest of the Hanumangarhi temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya, Mahant Raju Das on Sunday attacked Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah for declining the invitation to attend the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Mahant Raju Das said, ...Siddaramaiah is such a good name, associated to Lord Ram, but his actions are like that of Kalanemi (an asura)...Their worry about Babar, about attackers and the way they are toying with the sentiments of the majority of the population - what CT Ravi said is not wrong... Hanumangarhi temple priest Mahant Raju Das (ANI) BJP leader CT Ravi launched an attack on Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday saying the Congress leader and his party would not participate in the consecration ceremony of Lord Ram in Ayodhya as they 'couldn't leave Babar. "Their party has said that they will not go (to pran pratishtha). They have boycotted... They cannot leave Babar and hold Ram... It would be easy to hold Ram if they leave Babar... They will not get the bulk votes if they leave Babar... Ram is for everyone. Pran pratishtha should be celebrated like a festival..." Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah along with other leaders including Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury earlier said that they would not be attending the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Amid a heated verbal exchange regarding the Congress party's decision to decline an invitation to the consecration ceremony of Ayodhya's Ram Temple on January 22, BJP on Thursday posted an old photograph of Rahul Gandhi at the 'Babur Tomb' in Afghanistan. They asserted that three generations of the Gandhi family had visited the site, suggesting that their animosity was exclusively directed towards Hindus. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma who trained guns at the Congress leadership for their love for Babar wrote on X, Three generations of the Gandhi family, including Rahul Gandhi in 2005, visited the Babar Tomb in Afghanistan. Why is there so much hatred for Ram Lala? Why do you hate Hindus so much? Meanwhile, the Congress in its response said that it would not be attending the pran pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya as the construction of the temple was incomplete and attending the ceremony would not be the right thing to do. "The party felt that going for a political event for an incomplete temple appears to be designed to benefit the political interests of the ruling party (BJP). And therefore, if we participate, then it will become a political choice, not just a personal one and people need to understand this as well, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday. (With inputs from agencies) Suchana Seth, a Bengaluru-based CEO of artificial intelligence start-up Mindful AI Lab who allegedly killed her four-year-old son, was made to confront her estranged husband PR Venkat Raman by the Goa Police on Saturday. While the confrontation lasted 15 minutes, Venkat Raman asked Suchana Seth why she killed their child. Suchana Setha and estranged husband PR Venkat Raman The estranged couple, whose divorce process is underway, came face to face at the Calangute police station and what followed was later described by the police as a blame game. When they faced each other, it led to arguments between the two. Venkatraman asked her what have you done to my child? How could you do this to me? To which, Suchana replied she hadnt done anything, a police officer told HT about the meeting. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. India Today reported that during the confrontation, when Venkat asked about the murder of their child, Suchana replied that she didn't know anything about the death. Interestingly, Suchana Seth gave similar statements to the Goa Police. In her police statements, the Mindful AI Lab CEO said fell asleep when her son, at the service apartment in Goa, was alive and when she woke up, the child was found dead. Also Read | Was not allowed to meet son: Estranged husband of Bengaluru CEO tells police He (Venkat) vented his anger and asked her why did you do this? She replied, I did not commit the crime. There was a brief verbal argument, where both blamed each other, The Indian Express quoted a police officer as saying. Venkat Raman records statement The confrontation comes after Venkat Raman was deposed before the Goa Police and recorded his statement before investigating officer (IO) Paresh Naik as part of the probe. Venkat Raman claimed that he last met his son on December 10 and that Suchana had not allowed him to meet their child for the past five Sundays in violation of the court order. While Venkat Raman refused to speak to the media, his lawyer, Azhar Meer, said the father who just lost his son was numb with grief. Bacche ko kya justice milega? Maybe as a society, we will say there should be justice. But jo gaya wo wapas nahi aane wala It does not matter who wins or loses. The child is always at a loss in this. I dont think he cares what happens after his. Whether Suchana Seth goes to jail or she gets bail or she is convicted or not, Meer was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. Also Read | Bengaluru CEO Suchana Seth's son murder in Goa: Postmortem report reveals gruesome details "He can die for his son but will now have to live without him," Meer added. The lawyers said Venkant Raman did not know what led to the killing, adding that only Suchana Seth would be able to say why she committed such an act. "The trigger for the offence is just a guess. Maybe she did not want the child to meet his father or have an emotional connect," he added. The custody case of their son has been going on in the Bengaluru family court for the last one year or so, the lawyer said. Initially the court had allowed the father to speak to the child over phone or through video call. Subsequently, he was allowed to meet once in two weeks within the court, later in a public place. In November, the court allowed the father to visit the child at home from morning till evening, he added. Was not allowed to meet son for past five Sundays: Venkat Raman Venkat Raman told the Goa Police that Suchana Seth had not allowed him to meet their child for the past five Sundays. He met his son for the last time on Sunday, December 10, the lawyer said. On January 6 (Saturday), Suchana wrote an email to Venkat asking him to come to Sadashiv Nagar in Bengaluru and pick up his son from there on Sunday. He had gone there at 10am and waited for one hour before returning home. Later that evening, he left for work (to Indonesia), Meer claimed. He sent a message to Suchana but got no reply. NDTV, quoting the lawyer, reported that the estranged husband was not aware that his wife and child were in Goa and he went to the designated meeting spot, waited for an hour, sent her a WhatsApp message and two e-mails asking if everything was okay, and then left when she did not turn up. Child was smothered to death Suchana Seth allegedly smothered her son to death in a service apartment in Candolim in north Goa, packed his corpse in a bag and hailed a taxi to go back to Bengaluru but was arrested mid-way on January 8 in Chitradurga in Karnataka, the police said. (With inputs from Gerard de Souza in Panaji) The Telangana government will nominate former Osmania University professor M Kodandaram to the Telangana state legislative council under Governors quota, people familiar with the matter said. Former Osmania University professor M Kodandarams name is among the four candidates whose names are expected to be finalised by the Congress high command. (Wikimedia Commons) Kodandarams name is among the four candidates whose names are expected to be finalised by the Congress high command in a day or two. While two of them would be nominated under Governors quota, two others under the MLAs quota, polling for which would be held on January 29. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Election Commission of India on Thursday issued two separate notifications for the election to two MLC seats in Telangana under MLAs quota. The elections to these two seats were necessitated with the resignation of Bharat Rashtra Samithi MLCs Kadiyam Srihari and Padi Kaushik Reddy after they were elected to the assembly in the recent elections. The Congress, which recently won the elections to the state assembly, can bag both the seats comfortably without any contest. The last date for filing of nominations is January 18. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president and chief minister A Revanth Reddy, who is presently in New Delhi, held discussions with the party on Saturday to get approval for the candidates for the four MLC seats. Once a protege of BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao during the days of separate Telangana agitation, heading the Telangana Joint Action Committee (TJAC) that spearheaded the movement, Kodandaram differed with the BRS policies subsequently and had been leading the peoples movements even after the formation of Telangana. In April 2018, Kodandaram floated his own regional political outfit Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) -- and contested the December 2018 assembly elections in alliance with the Congress, Telugu Desam Party and CPI. But his party failed to make any mark in the elections and has subsequently become defunct. Kodandaram, however, has been fighting for the cause of the people in his individual capacity. In the recent assembly elections, Kodandaram extended support to the Congress. After the Congress came to power, Revanth Reddy declared that his government would appropriately use the services of Kodandaram. We shall honour him with the MLC seat and make use of his knowledge for the development of Telangana, Revanth Reddy said in an interview to a television channel last Sunday. A PCC leader privy to the development said apart from Kodandaram, the chief minister has suggested two names that of popular poet Andesri and Federation of Minority Educational Institutions chairman Zafar Javeed for the second MLC seat under Governors quota. For the remaining two MLC seats, to be elected under MLAs quota, several Congress leaders are contenders. Since the Congress doesnt have any Muslim representation in the assembly, the party might nominate former minister Mohammed Ali Shabbir, who lost the assembly elections from Nizamabad (urban), for the MLC seat. For the other seat under the MLAs quota, the names of AICC member S A Sampath Kumar, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, former Minister G Chinna Reddy, Dalit leader Addanki Dayakar, TPCC working president Mahesh Kumar Goud and NSUI state president Balmuri Venkat were discussed in the party. The chief minister has presented some of these names to the high command. After taking its approval, the party will announce the names in a day or two, the party leader quoted above said. Silchar: Two persons were arrested in Assams Karimganj district with 22,000 Yaba tablets and fake currency on Saturday, police said. The accused were arrested with 22,000 Yaba tablets, police said (Ht Photo) Police said that the narcotics weighing 2.156 kilograms, amounting to Rs.2.2 crore in the international markets, along with fake currency, were recovered from their possession. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Karimganj district superintendent of police (SP) Partha Pratim Das on Sunday told HT the accused, both residents of Tripura, were arrested by the Assam Rifles in a joint operation with the local police. The Assam Rifles initially received information from their intelligence sources, based on which a joint operation was conducted, the SP said. The two arrested persons are residents of Tripura, and they came to receive the consignment. They were supposed to take the Yaba tablets to their state, Das said. It is suspected that the consignment came from Mizoram and more people were involved in this, the SP said. We are interrogating the arrested persons, and by following the backward links, we will get more details, he added. The arrested persons have been identified as Pritiranjan Talukdar and Kajal Sarkar, both residents of Tripuras Unakoti district, according to the police. We are investigating the matter further and both of them will be produced before the court today. Further legal actions will follow, the SP said. Ahmedabad, Jan 14 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday offered prayers at Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad in Gujarat and flew kites along with supporters here as part of Uttarayan celebrations. HT Image Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel began the day by launching a week-long drive to clean religious places in the state to mark Makar Sankranti. He cleaned the premises of a temple near Gandhinagar as part of the drive. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Political leaders and other public figures celebrated Uttarayan festival by flying kites along with kin and friends, with many people being seen on the terraces of buildings. Shah visited Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad and offered prayers along with family members and then flew kites in Vejalpur. He is also scheduled to take part in Uttarayan celebrations in two Assembly seats in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar later in the day. "Best wishes to everyone on the auspicious festival of Uttarayan. May this auspicious festival bring happiness, prosperity and good health in your life," Shah said in a post in Gujarati on X, formerly Twitter. In his message on X, CM Patel said, "The auspicious occasion of the prana pratistha (consecration) of the magnificent temple of Lord Shri Ram at Ayodhya is to be held on January 22, regarding which honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendrabhai Modi has called upon countrymen to undertake a campaign to clean all small and big places of worship across the country. "Taking this call of the Honorable Prime Minister, we should make all the religious places in Gujarat clean and tidy. A state-wide public cleanliness campaign has been launched from January 14 to 22," he added. Patel said on Makar Sankranti he got an opportunity to participate in the cleaning work of the Dholeshwar Mahadev temple premises near Gandhinagar. Indians in the US organised a car rally in New Jersey on Saturday ahead of the much-awaited opening ceremony of the grand Ram temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya. As many as 350 cars participated in the New Jersey rally. Indians in US organise car rally ahead of Ram Temple opening ceremony Videos posted by news agency ANI on X (formerly known as Twitter) showed several cars lined up on the streets with a large group of people from the Hindu community holding flags inscribed with images of Lord Ram. The members participating in the rally can also be heard singing devotional songs on Lord Ram. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) in America organised an Epic Tesla Musical light show near Sri Bhakta Anjaneya temple in Maryland. In a video posted by ANI, the car show can be seen synchronised to the tunes of Jai Shri Ram. Members of the Hindu community can be seen holding flags with images of Lord Ram on them and chanting slogans like Jai Shree Ram, Ram Lakshman Janki, and Jai Shri Hanuman Ki. Earlier this week, the Hindu American community organised a massive car rally across Houston that saw a participation of around 500 people. The members carried saffron banners with images of the Ram temple on them and participated in a three-mile-long line of 216 cars escorted by eight policemen on bikes. The VHP in America has also put up more than 40 billboards in 10 states displaying a message about the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple. "The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony," General Secretary of Hindu Parishad of America, Amitabh VW Mittal, told ANI. The Ram temple consecration ceremony will be held on January 22, while the rituals for the event will begin on January 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the chief guest at the grand event where thousands of people, including celebrities, saints, and politicians have been invited. (With inputs from ANI) Bhubaneshwar: The Odisha government has asked doctors working across the state to write postmortem reports and prescriptions in capital letters or legible handwriting to ease reading. (Representative Photo) The state government notification came following an order from the Orissa high court last week in which it had directed the health department to ensure that doctors write all prescriptions, postmortem reports and other documentation in legible handwriting, if possible, in capital letters or a typed form. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Justice SK Panigrahi of the Orissa high court issued the order on January 4 after coming across a postmortem report which was not legible, and the doctor had to be summoned to explain it. Delivering his judgement in a case of payment of ex-gratia to a snakebite victim, the court noted that the doctor who conducted the postmortem examination had written something which was not legible and could not be comprehended in an ordinary course of reading unless the writer himself or a handwriting expert was invited to examine such description. Following a zig-zag handwriting has become a norm among doctors, which makes it difficult for the common man and the judiciary to read those documents. This will ensure that the judicial system does not suffer from unnecessary fatigue in reading those documents, the HC order said. Following the HC order, the state health and family welfare department ordered all doctors in government and private health sectors to write prescriptions and medicolegal reports in clear handwriting or capital letters for better understanding. Bhogi Pongal is celebrated with great zeal and devotion across the country and is fast approaching. A harvest festival wouldn't be the same without lighting bonfires, indulging in spicy seasonal foods and decorating homes with exquisite flower arrangements. The country observes different customs and practices to commemorate the same event: Pongal, Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Uttarayan. In South India, Pongal celebrations can last up to four days. The first day of Pongal is celebrated as Bhogi Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Artists perform during the celebration of Bhogi, the first day of the four-day festival of Pongal, in Hyderabad.(PTI Photo) The final day of the Bhogi Festival marks the completion of the Tamil Calendar's Margazhi month. The Bhogi celebration is customarily dedicated to Lord Indiran, who is known as the "God of rain." This is an occasion to express gratitude to Lord Indiran for sending enough rain to support the harvest. (Also read: Bhogi Pongal 2024: From thayir sadam to parippu payasam, 5 delicious traditional recipes to make on this day ) Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Bhogi Pongal 2024 date According to Drik Panchang, the auspicious festival is scheduled to be observed on Sunday, January 14, 2024. The propitious puja timings indicate the Bhogi Sankranti Moment at 02:54 AM on January 15. History of Bhogi Pongal The first day of the four-day harvest festival, Pongal is known as Bhogi Pongal and has profound cultural and historical roots in South Indian customs. "Bhogi" comes from the Sanskrit word "Bhog," which denotes pleasure and gluttony. The main purpose of Bhogi Pongal is to honour Lord Indra, the god of rain, and it represents the discarding of useless items to make room for a new beginning and crop. Bhogi Pongal's origins can be found in traditional agricultural customs, where farmers would thank the sun, the land, and their livestock for a bountiful harvest. The story of Lord Krishna raising the Govardhan Hill to save the Gokuli people from Lord Indra's anger is also connected to this day. This incident serves as a reminder of the value of the natural world and environmental preservation. Bhogi Pongal significance On Bhogi day, a traditional practice involves the disposal of old and unused items that have become derelict. People light a bonfire, also called Bhogi Mantalu, with wood and other solid fuels before sunrise. As part of the Bhogi ritual, objects that are no longer in use, including furniture, clothing, mats, and old wooden things, are ceremoniously offered to the fire. Getting rid of the old and making room for the new is symbolized by the burning. Families and communities gather around the bonfire, singing and dancing, savouring the fire's warmth, and soaking in the lively atmosphere. Households are also meticulously cleaned, painted, and embellished with vibrant rangolis, mango leaves, and flowers. Magh Bihu, also known as Bhogali Bihu, is an Assam festival dedicated to 'Agni Dev,' the Fire God. It signifies the conclusion of the harvest season and is closely associated with lavish feasting. Assam's culinary offerings are as diverse as the state's rich flora and fauna. The distinct blend of flavours in these dishes is sure to take your taste buds on a delightful culinary journey. Magh Bihu is celebrated with much fervour among the Northeast, with a variety of home-made pithas.(File Photo) Magh Bihu begins with the eve known as Uruka and continues through the next day. This year, Uruka will be observed on January 14, followed by Bihu on January 15. During Uruka, people build temporary huts called Meji or Bhelaghar using bamboo, leaves, and thatch, where they prepare food, feast and then burn the huts the next morning. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. 'Meji' is being burnt ahead of the Bhogali Bihu festival at a school in Guwahati, Assam.(ANI) On the morning of Magh Bihu, people start their day by eating 'jolpan' which is a sweet platter prepared from various types of rice like bora saul, kumol saul and served with milk or curd and jaggery. Another ingredient used in jolpan is 'xandoh,' roasted rice flour that is made by lightly toasting boiled rice and stone-ground to a powder. Alongside Pitha, Bihu festivities feature other delightful treats like Narikol Laru (coconut laddoo), ghila pitha (fried rice dumplings), Tekeli pitha, Kachi pitha, and Sunga Pithas. Dr Hareswar Deka, Vice President of the Assam Association, Delhi, a resident of Delhi since 1990, explained, "The name 'Bhogali' suggests indulgence, indicating that this festival is centered around feasting. Among the three Bihus, this one is celebrated with particular enthusiasm. It mirrors the agricultural lifestyle, communal harmony, and dynamic cultural heritage of Assam. Women prepare 'pitha' (rice cake) as part of Magh Bihu (Bhogali Bihu) celebration at Da-Bassariya village, Tezpur in Sonitpur District of Assam.(ANI) In recent years, there has been a trend of experimentation with traditional items, with some people using locally grown black aromatic rice known as Chak-hao to make these dishes. This particular grain has gained recognition as an important health-promoting crop due to its high anthocyanin content in the aleurone layer. Scented glutinous rice like Chak-hao has been cultivated in Manipur for centuries. The incorporation of black rice into the making of Pithas is drawing attention to the nutritional advantages of this variety of rice. Talking about the recent trend of using black rice to make pithas, Dr Deka noted that "black rice, known as kola bora saul, has been increasingly utilized in pitha making in recent years and is gaining recognition among people. Social media has played a significant role in bringing attention to this distinctive rice." Another unique culinary creation prepared solely for Magh Bihu is Mah Korai. This special dish combines fried bora rice with sesame seeds, black grams, green grams, black chickpeas, and peanuts. The vibrant and auspicious harvesting festival of Pongal or Bhogi Pongal is widely celebrated in India and holds immense significance in Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls every year in January, during the Tai month of the Tamil Solar calendar, and lasts four days. This year, it starts on January 15 and will end on January 18. The festival is dedicated to the Sun God (Lord Surya). It marks the beginning of Uttarayan and the Sun's transition into the Capricorn (Makar) zodiac, symbolising the end of winter and the onset of the harvest season. While in Tamil Nadu, the festival is called Pongal, it is called Magh Bihu in Assam, Lohri in Punjab, and Makar Sankranti in Northern parts of India. There are many rituals and traditions involved with this prosperous harvest festival. Scroll down to read all about them. All you need to know about the rituals and traditions of Pongal. (HT Photo) Pongal 2024: All the rituals of the harvest festival Pongal begins on January 15 and ends on January 18. While Bhogi Pongal is on the first day, Surya Pongal is on January 16, Mattu Pongal is on January 17, and Kannam Pongal is on January 18. Pongal is named after the traditional dish prepared during this festival - Pongal. It's a special rice dish made with freshly harvested crops, milk, and jaggery. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. On Bhogi Pongal, people celebrate the festival by lighting bonfires to symbolise burning away negativity and mark new beginnings. They also deep clean their homes and decorate them with flowers, diyas, lights and Kolam. A special Pongal dish is prepared with freshly harvested rice, jaggery, and milk. The second day of Pongal - Surya Pongal - is dedicated to Lord Surya. Devotees offer prayers at sunrise, express gratitude for the Sun God's blessings, and prepare Pongal as an offering. Meanwhile, during Mattu Pongal, people worship cattle as they are considered sacred in our culture. People decorate cows with bells, colourful beads and flower garlands. They also make special offerings to the cows. Lastly, farmers are also celebrated on this day for their tireless hard work and for ensuring a bountiful harvest. On the last day of Pongal, Kannam Pongal, families get together to celebrate the festivities and share love, laughter and warmth. People visit their relatives, exchange gifts, enjoy traditional games, dance to traditional songs, and offer gratitude for the blessings of nature. Meanwhile, a few other traditions associated with Pongal are making Kolams at the entrance to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, discarding old items from home, decorating the puja house to welcome the divine gods and goddesses, cooking food items for Pongal in clay pots or stoves, and tying manjal kothu around the pot. Additionally, they draw three lines with viboothi and a kumkum dot on the pot. People wear cotton and silk ensembles during Pongal - men prefer kurta, dhoti and angavastram, and women wear silk sarees in myriad hues. In the end, Pongal is all about rice. Cooking Pongal is the most important part of this festival. While there are many versions of Pongal, people make its sweet version during the festival. It is called Sakkarai Pongal, and it is made with rice mixed with moong dal and cooked with ghee, cashew nuts, raisins, and jaggery. The spicy version is called Ven Pongal and is made with lots of ghee and spices like pepper & cumin. A woman from Australias Tasmania won the first-ever Worlds Ugliest Lawn competition. Kathleen Murrays bandicoot-ravaged yard received the first prize in the contest organised by the Municipality of Gotland in Sweden. She took home a second-hand brown T-shirt donated by the winner of Gotlands Ugliest Lawn 2023, which reads: Proud owner of The Worlds Ugliest Lawn. Kathleen Murray standing on her lawn that won the Worlds Ugliest Lawn competition. (Gotland.com) According to news.com.au, the Municipality of Gotland launched the contest to conserve water during a near-disastrous drought in the town. This year, the contest was launched globally with the help of actor and environmental activist Shailene Woodley. During the launch, she said, This challenge is a great way to influence people to use less water. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. What is unique about Murrays lawn? Murrays lawn has yellow patches of grass, shrivelled plants and divots caused by bandicoots. Its pretty shock-and-awe. The bandicoots love digging thats how they find their favourite food. Now my back yard looks like a real-life Hungry Hungry Hippo game. I also have an echidna that helps, and some chooks, Murray told The Guardian. She added, I used to think the bandicoots were wildlife of mass destruction invading my lawn, but now I see that theyve actually liberated me from ever having to mow it again. Murray and her four teenage children live in an area without access to mains water. Therefore, the rainwater they collect in tanks is too valuable to use for their lawn. During summer, if they run out of water, they have to wait as long as two weeks for a tanker to deliver water, reports The Guardian. The jury deliberated nearly two hours to reach their verdict on the ugliest lawn. All of them were hideous and well worthy of winning, but the winning entry was really, really bad, Mimmi Gibson, representing the municipality of Gotland, told The Guardian. According to Gotland.com, the 2023 competition reduced water consumption on the island by 5 per cent compared to the previous summer. A video of a US state trooper plunging into the frigid water of a Vermont pond to save a kid was shared online. The incredible clip captures how the trooper risks her life and rushes to help the kid. The 8-year-old girl immediately received medical treatment after rescue and has since made a complete recovery. The image shows a girl after being rescued from an icy pond in Vermont. (Vermont State Police ) Vermont State Police issued a press release to share how Trooper Michelle Archer saved the kid. The kid fell through the ice into a pond when she was playing near the waterbody, located on private property, with her siblings. Turns out, two children fell together and the 80-year-old homeowner managed to save one of them. As the other kid was further away, near the centre of the deep pond, the homeowner called 911 for help. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Archer rushed to the spot and jumped into the near-freezing pond without hesitations to rescue the kid. The girl was taken to the nearest hospital by another state trooper present at the scene. Initially, the girls injuries were thought to be life-threatening but she made a complete recovery and returned home. As for Archer, she didnt require any medical treatment. Body-camera video of the rescue was released by the state police. Heres the video that was shared on Instagram. How did netizens react to this incident? The video received tons of comments from people. Thank you Vermont State Trooper Michelle Archer! wrote an Instagram user. She is a brave hero, posted another. Wow. Someone get that trooper an award, she did an incredible job, shared a third. The police department has recommended Archer and the homeowner for their Lifesaving Award for their heroic conduct in times of crisis. More than 80 countries were holding talks on Sunday seeking common ground on Ukraine's peace formula, as the Swiss co-hosts admitted that being ready to include Russia remains some way off. Russia-Ukraine War: Servicemen of Ukraine's 3rd Separate Assault Brigade prepare to conduct a reconnaissance mission, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Bakhmut.(Reuters) National security advisors from 83 countries held a fourth round of discussions based on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point proposals for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine, nearly two years on from Russia's full-scale invasion. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The talks were co-chaired by Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who heads Zelensky's office, and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. "The purpose is to prepare so that we are ready and ripe to launch a process with Russia -- when the time comes," Cassis told a press conference. He said the talks had to find a way to include Russia at some point, but thus far, neither Kyiv nor Moscow was ready to take such a step. The meeting was being held in the luxury ski resort of Davos in eastern Switzerland, on the eve of the five-day World Economic Forum summit of the globe's business and political elite. Cassis said that rather than groups such as the G7, the G20 or the European Union coming up with their own positions, or working through the "too polarised" UN Security Council, "here we try to speak together" and find common language. Brazil, India and South Africa participated in the talks -- countries that sit alongside Russia in the BRICS group. Cassis said their involvement was highly important as they were still in dialogue with Moscow and therefore retained a certain degree of trust. He said that getting collective momentum across a wide range of countries beyond simply those in the West made it more likely that a conflict exit route could be found. Getting Russia on board "We will need to find a path to include Russia in the process. There will be no peace without Russia having its word to say," Cassis noted. "But this does not mean -- quite the contrary -- that we should just be depressed and sit there and wait for Russia to do something. Every minute that we wait, dozens of civilians in Ukraine are killed or wounded. We have no right to wait forever." Three previous national security advisor-level meetings have been held: in Copenhagen in June 2023, Jeddah in August and Malta in October. The Davos talks were particularly focused on the criteria to end hostilities, the withdrawal of Russian troops, justice for crimes committed and the prevention of further escalation. Cassis said it would likely be the last meeting in the national security advisor format but a higher-level gathering was possible. He said the process was aimed at finding common approaches on the means to achieve peace, which could potentially be applied to other conflicts. Dubai [UAE], January 14 (ANI/WAM): Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO), has partnered with the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), to showcase the unique culinary creations of homegrown businesses from the 'Proudly from Dubai' network at the 'Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert' festival. HT Image The third edition of the festival, organised by Dubai Culture at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve from January 12-21, is a key highlight of the latest #DubaiDestinations winter campaign. The campaign, implemented by Brand Dubai, is a celebration of the places, activities and attractions that provide memorable experiences in the cooler months of the year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. As part of the collaboration, 19 of Dubai's most-loved homegrown food outlets have set up pop-ups, showcasing a variety of their top-selling savoury dishes, desserts and popular coffee blends at the 'Proudly from Dubai Market' during the festival. Festival visitors have the opportunity to enjoy a delightful array of food and beverages, experiencing a diverse range of cuisines that showcase both local and international flavours. Shaima Al Suwaidi, Director of Brand Dubai, said: "Brand Dubai is delighted to collaborate once again with Dubai Culture to highlight FB businesses within its 'Proudly from Dubai' network at the 'Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert' festival. The festival, dedicated to showcasing local and regional creative talent, provides an ideal stage to enhance the recognition of these promising homegrown businesses and offers an opportunity to bolster their entrepreneurial journey and growth by showcasing their distinctive products and culinary creations. The festival also offers them a platform to engage with Dubai's food enthusiasts and broaden their customer base." Mouza Al Falasi, Project Manager of the 'Al Marmoom: A Film in the Desert' festival, highlighted Dubai Culture's commitment to expanding opportunities for filmmakers and the festival's role in providing a platform for creators to showcase their diverse works and stories to the community. "The festival offers an exceptional experience, fostering a creative environment that brings together industry professionals, inspires emerging talents and introduces the capabilities, ideas and diverse styles of its creators in addressing societal issues." Expressing her delight in the participation of members from the 'Proudly from Dubai' network in the festival, she underscored Dubai Culture's dedication to supporting entrepreneurs through its programmes and projects. She added, "The participation of homegrown businesses in the festival offers a valuable opportunity to enhance the visibility of their products and improve the prospects of success for their projects." To easily explore the culinary offerings throughout the festival, Brand Dubai unveiled a new interactive guide that lists all the participating outlets from its 'Proudly from Dubai' network.The guide, available in both English and Arabic, can be viewed through the following link: https://www.dubaidestinations.ae/guides/PDF/Proudly-From-Dubai-Market.pdf An initiative launched by Brand Dubai to highlight the success stories of businesses born and initiated in Dubai, 'Proudly from Dubai' aims to tell the story of innovation and creativity shaping Dubai's emerging business and entrepreneurial culture. 'Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert' Festival The third edition of the festival showcases a diverse selection of over 70 films, spanning from Emirati and GCC productions to works by Arab and international filmmakers. Complementing the film screenings are more than 30 workshops, over 10 talks, and panel sessions featuring distinguished speakers, directors, and industry specialists. These sessions delve into various aspects of filmmaking, including actor preparation, film cost calculation, script distinctions, and the arts of cinematography, lighting, editing, and colouring. The festival also addresses the intricacies of crafting documentary and short films, children's films, and the significance of dubbing in both Arab and international cinematic works. Furthermore, it explores the challenges faced by professionals in the seventh art, along with topics pertinent to the film industry. Open to the public for free on weekdays from 5 pm to 10 pm and weekends from 5 pm to 12 am, the festival aims to support and empower local and GCC cinema talents while fostering the growth of the film industry in the UAE and the GCC. Additionally, it celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the Emirates, particularly the historic Saruq Al-Hadid area dating back to the Iron Age, and the diverse ecological life in the Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve, constituting 25% of Dubai's total area and recognised as the largest unfenced natural reserve in the UAE. Held under the theme 'Stories at One with Nature,' the festival is held in collaboration with various public and private entities in Dubai. Notable partners include the Dubai Film And TV Commission as the Lead Partner, Proudly from Dubai (an initiative of Brand Dubai) as the FB Partner, and Dubai Media Incorporated, Awaan TV, and UAE Media Council as Media Partners. Additionally, several organisations such as Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Police, Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, and Hala Ride (Careem) are Supporters of the event. VOX Cinemas, Sandooq Al Watan, Vision3000, Gamma Engineering, Raindance, Rashid Center for People of Determination, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, and Akaas Visual Arts contribute as Content Supporters. The latest #DubaiDestinations winter campaign highlights the attractions and experiences that make the emirate a top pick among global destinations this season. The collaborative campaign weaves together compelling content from diverse stakeholders and creatives, to tell the story of Dubai's emergence as one of the world's best winter destinations. Running until February 2024, the campaign encourages residents and visitors to discover Dubai's diverse leisure, dining, adventure and family-friendly activities in the winter months. The #DubaiDestinations campaign is being rolled out over digital, broadcast, print and outdoor media to ensure it reaches large sections of local and international audiences. Brand Dubai is implementing the campaign in cooperation with various stakeholders and the creative media community. (ANI/WAM) The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2024 is set to begin on Monday. More than 2800 leaders from across the globe will gather in Switzerland's Davos for the five-day event which involves discussions on various political, business, cultural and other issues concerning world society. In the prestigious event, more than 60 heads of state and governments will be present. India is set to be represented by three union ministers, three chief ministers along with their ministerial colleagues and over a hundred CEOs. The Davos Congress Center, center, where the World Economic Forum will take place is covered in snow in Davos, Switzerland(AP) In the 54th edition of the world event, issues related to climate change, threats from artificial intelligence, economic issues and other problems being across the globe will be discussed. Ongoing conflicts like the Ukraine War, Israel-Hamas war will also be part of the agenda. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. World leaders like Li Qiang (Premier of the People's Republic of China), Emmanuel Macron (President of France), Antonio Guterres (UN Secretary-General), Kristalina Georgieva (Managing Director, International Monetary Fund), Ajay S. Banga ( President, World Bank Group), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (Director-General, World Trade Organization) are among the eminent personalities who will attend the meeting. Check out the Indian representation at Davos WEF meet 2024 Union Ministers Smriti Irani, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Hardeep Singh Puri are the three union ministers who will be representing India at the big event. Ashwini Vaishnaw: He is the minister for railways, communications, electronics & information Technology in the government of India. He is an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He served as an IAS officer before joining politics. Hardeep Singh Puri : India's union minister for housing & urban Affairs and minister for petroleum and natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri is a former Indian Foreign Service officer. He is an alumnus of Delhi University. He also taught at St. Stephens College in Delhi. Smriti Irani: She is the minister for women & child development and minister for minority affairs in the government of India. She is Indias youngest union cabinet minister and earlier served as the education minister. Chief Ministers Three chief ministers -- Maharashtra's Eknath Shinde, Telangana's Revanth Reddy and Karnataka's Siddaramaiah will also be part of the Indian delegation at the World Economic Forum. Other Indian leaders and VVIPs RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and ministers from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Telangana will also be there at the highly important event. CEOs, Industrialists and VVIPs, including Gautam Adani, Sanjiv Bajaj, Kumar Mangalam Birla, N Chandrasekaran, Nadir Godrej, Sajjan Jindal, Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Nandan Nilekani, Rishad Premji and Sumant Sinha will be part of the Indian delegation. Denmarks prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark arrives for a State Banquet at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen on November 6, 2023.(AFP) Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Many thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the royal succession was taking place, the mood jubilant as the Nordic nation experienced in first royal succession in more than a half-century, and one not caused by the death of a monarch. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Wearing a magenta outfit, Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the Danish Cabinet at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime ministers office and the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen next proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before thousands of people. The abdication document was presented to Margrethe as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated. Frederik, who was in a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals, said beside her. After signing it, Margrethe rose and gestured to Frederik to take her place. God save the king, she said as she left the room. The abdication leaves Denmark with two queens: Margrethe keeps her title while Frederiks Australian-born wife becomes Queen Mary. Frederik and Marys eldest son Christian, 18, has become crown prince and heir to the throne. Christian handed Margrethe her walking stick as she departed her abdication ceremony. Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Year's Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is tradition in the Danish monarchy. Margrethe underwent major back surgery last February and didnt return to work until April. Even the prime minister was unaware of the queens intentions until right before the announcement. Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace. People from across Denmark gathered outside parliament, with many swarming streets decorated with the red and white Danish flags. Several shops hung photos of the queen and king-to-be, while city buses were adorned with smaller Danish flags as is customary during royal events. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live television broadcast of the historic event. The royal guards' music band made their daily parade through downtown Copenhagen but wore red jackets, instead of their usual black, to mark major events. COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to former President Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. HT Image Trump canceled his two in-person rallies Saturday due to a blizzard blanketing much of the state, scheduling two virtual tele-rallies instead. That left DeSantis and Haley, the two strongest candidates of the other Republicans competing in Iowa, with the chance to meet voters in person at several sites. Both were planning to finish the day with events in the Mississippi River town of Davenport. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Trump is the heavy front-runner in Monday's caucuses. Thats a lot of cold weather, Trump said, after he arrived at his Iowa hotel Saturday evening long after he was originally scheduled. Weve got a lot of meetings tonight. Were doing well. We have a lot of tremendous support, But its nasty out there. Perhaps more important than the margin of Trumps expected victory is whether either of his remaining top rivals can claim a clear second-place finish and gain momentum as the race moves forward to New Hampshire and other states. DeSantis in particular is under great pressure in Iowa given his campaign's heavy bet on a strong finish in the caucuses. Youre going to pack so much more punch on Monday night than in any other election youll ever be able to participate in, the Florida governor told about 60 voters at his first event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the western edge of the state. DeSantis is hoping for more voters like Michael Durham, a former Trump supporter who braved sub-freezing temperatures to hear the Florida governor and plans to caucus for him Monday night. Hes just kind of no nonsense, said Durham, a 47-year-old from Council Bluffs. Durham praised DeSantis for opening Florida schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging federal power. He is who he is. He doesnt make any apologies for the way he thinks. Other Iowans showed why DeSantis and Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, still have work to do in their respective final pushes. Courtney Raines, a special education teacher, came to hear Haley on Saturday morning and said she would try to see DeSantis later in the day. Id like to know how shes going to handle the border crisis and mitigate the racial divide, said Raines, who said she is concerned about the divisiveness she perceives among Americans. Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the conservative Koch Brothers' network, canvassed the state through the winter storm on Haley's behalf. Patti Parlee, a 65-year-old accountant from Urbandale, was among the Iowans who were visited at home Saturday by AFP. But Parlee said she is choosing between Trump and DeSantis and likely wont make a decision until Monday night, when she will hear the two candidates representatives make a pitch at her caucus site. Thats what the caucuses are all about is people get to speak for their candidates, Parlee said. And we have to keep in mind: This isnt the final election. It goes on from here. Parlee said she believes DeSantis has not gotten fair treatment from political media, while Trump has not been treated fairly by prosecutors who have charged him in four separate criminal cases. She said she loved Trump's policies during his administration but thinks he sometimes acts like a fifth-grader. I almost want to vote DeSantis just to say yes, he should be getting more support than it seems like he is, Parlee said. I almost want to vote Trump just to say: We know that all this bullcrap out there is bullcrap. Independents and moderate voters could be notable wildcards Monday. Haley, speaking Saturday in the liberal college town of Iowa City, drew enthusiastic applause when she hit her signature line aimed at raising doubts about Trump without attacking him head-on: Chaos follows him. You know Im right. We cant defeat Democratic chaos with Republican chaos. It was a line made for an audience that included a number of independents like Julie Slinger, who voted for Trump in 2016 but then for President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the 2020 general election. Hes a disaster waiting to happen. A time bomb, said Slinger, a 57-year-old accountant. Even if you like Trump, he is going to be crippled by this mayhem swirling around him. Haley's appearance in Iowa City, part of the state's most Democratic county, underscores her pitch to more moderate voters. Slinger entered the event undecided. She left committed to Haley. Carroll Hinchion, a 30-year-old independent, is considering caucusing with Republicans as well and came to hear DeSantis in Council Bluffs. Hinchion voted for Biden in 2020. She said she could end up supporting him again and will not back Trump. She explained that she is especially interested in candidates plans for mental health care services. But after DeSantis spoke, she said she was unmoved: Nothing that he talked about resonated with me. Trump, meanwhile, is looking for as wide a margin of victory as possible on Monday, with his campaign aides arguing for months that the former president can become the presumptive nominee early in the primary calendar with big victories that keep DeSantis and Haley from mounting a sustained threat. His advisers have also privately reminded reporters that no Republican presidential candidate has won a contested Iowa caucus by more than 12 points since Bob Dole in 1988. While Trump was delayed returning to the state and his Saturday rallies canceled, Kari Lake, the failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate who is now running for Senate, paid a visit to the campaigns Urbandale, Iowa, campaign headquarters, where dozens of volunteers were gathered making calls. Lake, who grew up in Iowa and is one of Trumps most vocal supporters, made several calls herself after delivering remarks and taking questions from the crowd, which included volunteers from Florida and Texas. The Republican caucus thats going to happen on Monday night is going to send a shockwave. Were going to see such huge numbers, she said. After days of storm conditions, Monday's weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history, with temperatures falling below 0 degrees Fahrenheit when Republicans are supposed to head to their caucus sites to hear pitches for the candidates and cast their ballots. Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was hit from behind Saturday by a semi-trailer on her way to Haley's event in Iowa City, according to fellow GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who spoke to the crowd in Miller-Meeks' place. Miller-Meeks said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she did not require medical attention. Aides for multiple campaigns and longtime Iowa political observers have suggested the weather could sharply depress turnout. Republican caucus turnout peaked at more than 180,000 in 2016, Trumps first campaign. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won the caucuses narrowly that year. Trumps campaign has put considerably more effort this time into building a caucus turnout structure. ___ Beaumont reported from Iowa City, Iowa. Colvin reported from Urbandale, Iowa. Barrow reported from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Meg Kinnard in Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Hannah Fingerhut in Davenport, Iowa, contributed to this report. The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah said on Sunday U.S. actions in the Red Sea would harm the security of all shipping as the area had now become a conflict zone, saying the Houthis of Yemen would keep up attacks despite U.S. and British strikes. Hezbollah movement leader Hassan Nasrallah delivers a televised speech in Kherbet Selm in southern Lebanon.(AFP) Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, whose group is a leading part of an Iran-aligned regional alliance which includes the Houthis, said Houthi targeting of ships belonging to Israel or heading to its ports would continue. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "The more dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm the security of all maritime navigation, even the ships that are not going to Palestine, even the ships which are not Israeli, even the ships that have nothing to do with the matter, because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones and war ships," he said. "Security has been disrupted." U.S. and British forces on Friday launched dozens of air strikes against Houthi forces in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping. The group says it took the action to support Palestinians under Israeli siege and attack in Gaza. Washington launched another strike overnight Friday-Saturday. The Houthis have vowed to retaliate for the attacks. The Red Sea crisis has fueled fears of a further escalation of the conflict that has rippled around the Middle East since war erupted between the Palestinian group Hamas and Israel on Oct. 7. Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq have all entered the fray since then, with Hezbollah firing at Israeli positions along the Lebanese-Israeli frontier, and Iraqi militias firing on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria. Nasrallah said envoys sent to Lebanon had been seeking to "extinguish" the Lebanon front by delivering a warning that if the group did not stop its attacks "Israel will launch a war on Lebanon". He did not identify the envoys. Nasrallah said the aim of the Lebanon front was to "stop the aggression against Gaza". The United States should understand "that the security of the Red Sea and calm on Lebanons front, the situation in Iraq, and all developments in the region is tied to one thing: to stop the aggression against Gaza", Nasrallah said. "You are trying to deal with the consequences and the results, go fix the reason." Nasrallah was speaking to commemorate the death of a top Hezbollah commander, Wissam Tawil, who was killed in south Lebanon last week, the most senior Hezbollah commander to die in three months of hostilities with Israel. The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters stormed Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 240 more, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, nearly 24,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli offensive which has laid waste to the territory, according to the toll of the health authorities in Hamas-run Gaza. The Houthis have also fired drones and missiles up the Red Sea at Israel itself. Many of the vessels attacked by the Houthis have had no known connection to Israel. Iranian authorities on Sunday freed two journalists who spent more than a year behind bars for covering the death of Mahsa Amini, which sparked months-long nationwide protests, local media said. Iran Anti-Hijab Protests: A woman holds a placard with a picture of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a protest against her death.(AP) Niloufar Hamedi, 31, and Elaheh Mohammadi, 36, were "released from Evin prison on bail," according to the reformist Shargh newspaper. Other outlets in Iran also reported their release. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Tasnim news agency said that each "will pay a bail of 100 billion rials ($192,307)." The journalists are appealing their sentences of several years in prison, and Tasnim said they "will remain out of jail until the appeals court makes a decision." They are also banned from travel abroad, it said. Images of the two journalists smiling and holding hands outside the prison circulated on social media following their release. Mohammadi, a reporter for Ham Mihan newspaper, and Hamedi, a photographer for Shargh newspaper, had been held in Tehran's Evin prison following Amini's death in September 2022. Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, had been arrested for an alleged breach of strict dress rules for women. She died in custody of the morality policy. Hamedi was arrested less than a week after Amini's death when she went to the hospital where Amini was being treated and posted a photo of the grieving family on social media. Mohammadi was detained after going to Amini's hometown of Saqez, in the western Iranian province of Kurdistan, to cover her funeral which turned into a demonstration. In October, the judiciary's Mizan Online website said they were found guilty of collaboration with Iran's arch enemy the United States, conspiring against state security and propaganda against the Islamic republic. Mohammadi was subsequently given six years in prison and Hamedi was handed a seven-year term for the same offence, said Mizan. The two also received five-year sentences each for the conspiracy charges and one each for propaganda, the website said, adding the sentences would be served concurrently. In August, Iranian media reported that authorities had questioned or arrested more than 90 journalists since the protests triggered by Amini's death in different cities erupted across the country. Hundreds of people, including dozens of security personnel, were killed in the protests and thousands of demonstrators were arrested, accused by the authorities of taking part in "riots" fomented by the West. The head of Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah movement said on Sunday that Israel had failed to achieve its objectives in Gaza and this will force it to negotiate. A man waves a Hezbollah movement flag as its leader Hassan Nasrallah delivers a televised speech in Kherbet Selm in southern Lebanon on January 14, 2024.(AFP) "What has the enemy achieved in 100 days, other than killing?" Hassan Nasrallah asked in a televised speech. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. "It has not achieved any real victory or semblance of victory. It has failed in achieving its declared, half-declared and implicit objectives," he added, on the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas war. Nasrallah's speech commemorated the death of a senior Hezbollah commander, Wissam Tawil, killed by Israel in southern Lebanon on January 8. Also read: Israeli forces kill three Palestinians in West Bank The war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,140 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures. In retaliation, Israel vowed to destroy Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment and ground offensive in Gaza which has killed at least 23,968 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. Since the war began there have been near daily exchanges of fire across the Israel-Lebanon border between Hamas ally Hezbollah and the Israeli military. At the same time, Yemen's Huthi rebels, also backed by Iran, have attacked shipping they say is linked to Israel, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. And in Iraq and Syria, pro-Iran fighters have ramped up their attacks against American forces and others in an anti-jihadist coalition. "If this path continues, be it in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Yemen or Iraq, the enemy government will have no other choice but to accept the conditions of the resistance in Gaza, thereby putting an end to the aggression against Gaza and entering into negotiations," said Nasrallah, whose organisation is sanctioned as a "terrorist" group by the United States. Also read: How the Iran-Israel rivalry is playing out in Gaza The Hezbollah leader also denounced air strikes by the US and Britain, which on Friday hit scores of rebel targets in Yemen in response to the Huthis' attacks on shipping. "What the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm the security of all maritime navigation," Nasrallah said. In more than three months of violence on the Israel-Lebanon border, 190 people have been killed in Lebanon, including 141 Hezbollah fighters and more than 20 civilians, according to an AFP tally. On Sunday, Israeli authorities announced that two Israelis had been killed by a missile fired from Lebanon that hit a house near the border. Israel's military also said it killed three gunmen who had crossed the frontier and "fired at the forces". The ongoing Israel-Hamas war has completed 100 days since it began on October 7 after Hamas terrorists launched an unprovoked attack on southern Israel and massacred hundreds of innocent civilians, raped women and abducted hostages. Since the war began, both sides have lost thousands of lives, making the ongoing war the longest, bloodiest, and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies. Israeli soldiers in Gaza(REUTERS) Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to completely eliminate Hamas terror network in Gaza. Israel Defence Forces conducted airstrikes and ground offensive in Gaza. The heavy bombardment of the region has resulted in the displacement of thousands of Gazans while hundreds of Hamas terrorists have been eliminated. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The entire operation has resulted in a grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza. During its offensive, Israel also destroyed some hospitals and schools which it said acted as centres of Hamas terror. The war has claimed the lives of journalists, health workers, UN staff and humanitarian aid workers as well. ALSO READ| Canada considers putting cap on international students, will it affect Indians? Amid the ongoing war, there was a brief ceasefire between Israel and Hamas from 24 November 2023 to 30 November 2023 during which 105 hostages including 80 Israelis were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners lodged in Israeli jails. However, more than a hundred hostages are still held captive by Hamas in Gaza. Heres a look in numbers at the toll of the Israel-Hamas war, sourced from Palestinian Health Ministry and Israeli officials as well as international observers and aid groups, as reported by AP. TOTAL DEATHS Number of Palestinians killed in Gaza: 23,843 Number of people killed in Israel: more than 1,200 Number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank: 347 CIVILIAN DEATHS Civilians killed in Gaza: The civilian toll of the war is unknown, with women and minors making up an estimated two-thirds of those killed Number of civilians killed in Israel on Oct. 7: 790 UN staff killed in Gaza: 148 Health workers killed in Gaza: at least 337 Journalists killed in Gaza: 82 SOLDIERS/MILITANTS Number of Israeli soldiers killed on Oct. 7: 314 Number of militants killed by Israel: Over 8,000 Number of Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza ground offensive: 187 Number of Israeli soldiers killed on the northern front: 9 Number of Israeli soldiers killed by friendly fire or accidents in Gaza and the north: 29 DESTRUCTION/HUMANITARIAN SITUATION IN GAZA Percentage of Gazas buildings likely damaged/destroyed: 45-56% Hospitals in Gaza partially functioning: 15/36 Palestinian civilians facing catastrophic hunger and starvation: 576,600 (26% of the population) Percentage of school buildings in Gaza damaged: over 69% Mosques damaged: 142 Churches damaged: 3 Ambulances damaged: 121 Students out of school: 625,000 (100% of students) INJURIES Palestinians injured in Gaza: 60,005 Palestinians injured in West Bank: more than 4,000 Total Israeli injuries: 12,415 Israeli soldiers injured in ground offensive: 1,085 Israeli soldiers injured since Oct. 7: 2,496 DISPLACEMENT Number of Palestinians displaced in Gaza: 1.9 million (85% of Gazas population) Number of Israelis displaced from northern and southern border communities: 249,263 (2.6% of the population) HOSTAGES/PRISONERS Hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7: around 250 Hostages released: 121 Hostages taken Oct. 7 who remain in the strip: 132 1. 111 men, 19 women, 2 children 2. 121 Israelis, 11 foreigners Hostages who were killed or died in Hamas captivity: 33 Palestinian prisoners released during weeklong pause in fighting: 240 MUNITIONS Number of rockets launched towards Israel: 14,000 Meanwhile, the International community including the UN is trying to convince Israel to implement cease-fire. However, negotiations to ensure the release of remaining hostages and cease hostilities have failed multiple times. With inputs from AP Israeli forces killed three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, including two who were shot dead when their car broke through a checkpoint, sources on both sides said. A Palestinian man walks on a street at the Nur Shams camp for Palestinian refugees, where Israeli raids have been conducted, near the occupied West Bank city of Tulkarm on January 8, 2024. (AFP) Troops chased a car that had broken through a checkpoint near the city of Hebron and "fired toward the terrorists and neutralised them", the Israeli army said in a statement. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah confirmed the men were killed, while the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said it had received their bodies. Also read: How the Iran-Israel rivalry is playing out in Gaza In a separate incident further north, the health ministry said another young man had been shot dead by Israeli forces in a refugee camp near the city of Jericho. Medical sources in Jericho told an AFP correspondent that a 16-year-old was killed during an army raid on the camp to arrest a wanted man. No clashes were reported and the Israeli army has not yet commented on the incident. Violence has surged in the West Bank since October 7, when the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel that sparked a full-scale conflict in the Gaza Strip. Israeli army raids and attacks by settlers have killed at least 341 people in the West Bank since then, according to an AFP tally based on sources on both sides. Also read: Israel failed in Gaza and will be forced to negotiate: Hezbollah chief More than 520 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank last year, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Over the same period, Palestinian militants carried out attacks in Israel and the West Bank that killed at least 41 people, according to the Shin Bet security agency. Israel has occupied the West Bank, home to about three million Palestinians, since the Six-Day War of 1967. Excluding annexed east Jerusalem, the territory is now home to around 490,000 Israelis who live in settlements considered illegal under international law. Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15, a senior official as per news agency PTI. This comes nearly two months after Male sought removal of Indian troops. As per government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. Chinese president Xi Jinping with Maldives' president Mohamed Muizzu, in Beijing.(PTI) The public policy secretary at the Maldivian presidents office, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, said that the island nation has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15. He said as per the SunOnline newspaper, Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration." Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. What has happened so far? Maldives and India set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. The group held its first meeting which was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, it was reported. Talking about the meeting, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that the agenda was to request withdrawal of troops by March 15. What Mohamed Muizzu said earlier on Indian troop withdrawal? Mohamed Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, after taking oath in November. The Maldivian people have given us a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi, he said then. More on India-Maldives recent controversy Derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Maldivian government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post on Lakshadweep triggered a controversy between the two countries amid calls for a boycott of travel to Maldives by Indian tourists. Mohamed Muizzu's recent China visit During a visit to China, Mohamed Muizzu sought to align Maldives closet to Beijing as he indirectly jabbed India over the recent row. Without naming any country, Maldivian president said, We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us. We arent in anyones backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state, he added asserting that no country has the right to exert influence the domestic affairs of Maldives. Amid Male's diplomatic row with New Delhi, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu dealt a blow as pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Saturday secured a landslide victory in the capital's mayoral election. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu addresses a press briefing. (ANI file) MDP's candidate Adam Azim has been elected as the new mayor of Male, a post held by Mohamed Muizzu till recently before Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The Maldives media reported Azims win as a landslide and victory by a large margin. The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. The Maldives reported that Adam Azim, who is a former CEO of Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC), was in the lead in the mayoral race. With 41 boxes counted, Adam Azim had taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes. Mohamed Muizzu's Peoples National Congress (PNC) candidate Aishath Azima Shakoor was trailing at 3,301 votes, followed by Mohamed Saif Fathih (Democrats) with 1,634 votes. The Male by-elections saw a low voter turnout. According to the Elections Commission (EC), only 17,500 out of 54,680 eligible voters participated in the elections. Adam Azim, the younger brother of Colonel (retired) Mohamed Nazim the leader of Maldives National Party (MNP) and parliamentary representative for Dhangethi constituency had reportedly run projects worth millions under his direct supervision as MTCCs chief during the MDP administration. The mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority in the Parliament. India-Maldives diplomatic row Mohamed Muizzu returned to Male on Saturday after a five-day state visit to China. Mohamed Muizzu, speaking to reporters on his return, said the Maldives is not in any country's backyard and that the Indian Ocean does not belong to a single country a reference to a recent row between the Maldives and India. We may be small but that doesn't give you the license to bully us, Muizzu concluded in English, after making his statement in the native Dhivehi language. The latest tussle began with Prime Minister Narendra Modi posting photos on X (formerly Twitter), showing him strolling and snorkelling in Lakshadweep, which his government believes has an untapped tourism potential. However, in the Maldives, some saw it as an attempt to draw visitors away from its sandy white beaches and high-end island resorts popular with celebrities. During his high-profile visit to China, Mohamed Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. The Maldives president suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian celebrities and social media influencers who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third. Mohamed Muizzu was elected president November last year on an India Out platform vowing to remove some Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. He accused his predecessor of compromising national sovereignty. (With inputs from agencies) National Dress Up Your Pet Day 2024: It's January 14 and that time of year again, pet parents! Fluff up your furry friends as the world gears up to celebrate National Dress Up Your Pet Day 2024. Polish your pup's pompoms and unleash their inner fashionista during this adorable holiday dedicated to celebrating our lovable, clingy family members. Before choosing your cat's outfit, whether it's a regal queen or Cleopatra, or if your dog is more of a goofy explorer, here's everything you need to know about this special day. National Dress Up Your Pet Day: History, significance, costume ideas, wishes and more National Dress Up Your Pet Day history Even though we're not exactly sure where the idea came from, it's believed to have started in the early 2000s. The day was first coined in 2009 by Celebrity Pet Lifestyle Expert and Animal Behaviorist, Colleen Paige. Every January 14th, pet lovers around the world celebrate Dress Up Your Pet Day with lots of excitement and love. The day encourages pet owners to have fun and connect with their furry friends by dressing them up in creative ways. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Also read: Who Is MatPat? YouTuber exits game theorists: Age, wife, net worth, children, and more National Dress Up Your Pet Day significance The name itself says a lot about the importance of this day. While it's undoubtedly a joyful time with cute images of pets in colorful outfits popping up in front of our eyes, there's more to it than just being adorable. The day serves as a boost for animal welfare: Many people who love pets use this day to talk about adopting pets and being responsible pet owners. It also encourages pet owners to be creative and have fun with their furry friends. Additionally, taking some time from the hectic life schedule to invest in lighthearted activities is good for your health. National Dress Up Your Pet Day costume ideas This year the most popular pet costumes include superheroes, pirates, and adorable food items like hot dogs and donuts. Also read: Netflix confirms fourth Fear Street movie by R.L. Stine, breaking away from trilogy mold National Dress Up Your Pet Day wishes (from one pet parent to another) Wishing you and your furry fashionista a day filled with belly rubs, endless treats, and enough adorableness to melt even the coldest of hearts Here's to celebrating the inner superstar in every pet! May your pups strut, your cats sashay, and your feathery friends strut their stuff in true diva style. May your pet's costume be the talk of the town Wishing you and your four-legged companion a day of giggles, goofy poses, and enough photo ops to fill your entire phone's memory. From couch potatoes to costume stars, today's your pet's day to shine! Wishing you and your furry (or feathery) friend a day filled with enough smiles and tail wag May your pet's costume be the most epic, the most hilarious, the most ridiculously adorable masterpiece Pope Francis said on Sunday war was "a crime against humanity" as he reiterated a call for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. Pope Francis delivers his address at the Vatican.(Reuters) "Let us not forget this (...) People need peace, the world needs peace," the pope said after the weekly Angelus prayer. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. In the prayer, he urged people not to forget those suffering due to the "cruelty of war" in several parts of the world. He has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and in the war in Gaza. "Let us pray that those who have power over these conflicts reflect on the fact that war is not the way to resolve them, as it sows death among civilians and destroys cities and infrastructure," the pope said. Sunday marked 100 days since Hamas gunmen broke out of Gaza to launch the deadliest attack in Israel's history, triggering an Israeli campaign to eliminate Hamas that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the Palestinian enclave. Prince William and Kate Middleton's Windsor home- Adelaide Cottage- is at risk of floods from the River Thames, it has been claimed. The couple's home is located close to the banks of the Thames and recent images showed the river overflowing near the Windsor cottage as a flurry of wind, rain, and snow hit the UK in recent days. Many areas across the nation have been affected owing to the same. Prince William-Kate Middleton: Britain's Kate, the Princess of Wales, from right, Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William and Princess Charlotte are seen.(AP) But many Britons will have to deal with water damage from flooded homes as warnings were issued. For Adelaide Cottage, this could be the same as well. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. West Mid Showground owner Ian Bebbington told the BBC that unusual floods have started to happen more frequently as "10 years ago, nine years ago, the flood over New Year would have been absolutely horrific. Today I am sitting here thinking that's just par for the course now. Our climate has changed... and where it would happen once a year, it is now multiple times a year." More about Adelaide Cottage The Prince and Princess of Wales moved to Adelaide Cottage in 2022 as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis started school at Lambrook which is close to the royal home. Moreover, it was reported that Kate Middleton is "heartbroken" that Prince William wants to send Prince George to Eton College when he turns 13 as the Prince of Wales and his brother Prince Harry attended the boarding school. Kate Middleton was keen for son George to attend her former school- Marlborough College. In Touch Weekly reported, "Kate long disagreed with her husband about sending him away, even though it's tradition. Kate thinks sending him to such a stuffy, upper-crust institution goes against all of their efforts to modernise the monarchy. Plus, she'll miss George desperately." An Iowa principal who put himself in harms way to protect students during a school shooting earlier this month died Sunday, a funeral home confirmed. FILE - A local resident prays during a candlelight vigil following a shooting at Perry High School, Jan. 4, 2024, in Perry, Iowa.(AP) Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory confirmed the death of Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger after the family announced it on a GoFundMe page. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Marburger was critically injured during the Jan. 4 attack, which began in the school's cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before class. An 11-year-old middle school student was killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harms way in an apparent effort to protect his students. Also read- 'Move forward...', Donald Trump makes insensitive remark on deadly Iowa school shooting News of Marburger's death was first posted on a GoFundMe page for his family. The post, by Marburger's wife, Elizabeth, said he died at about 8 a.m. Sunday, and said: Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever. The news that Marburger died triggered a flood of support on the Perry Facebook page with nearly 200 people posting condolences within the first hour after it was posted. Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds offered her condolences. Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburgers death," she said in a statement Sunday. "Dan courageously put himself in harms way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace. Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday and to remain that way until sunset on the day of Marburgers funeral and interment. People, businesses, schools and local governments are also encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect, the statement said. In a Facebook post on the night of the shooting, the principals daughter, Claire Marburger, called her father a gentle giant and said it wasnt surprising that her father tried to protect his students. As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff, his daughter wrote. Thats just Dad. Marburger had been principal since 1995. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said after the shooting that Marburger did some pretty significant things to protect others, but didnt release details. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger was a hero who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape. Also read- Vivek Ramaswamy torches knee-jerk gun control policy after Iowa school shooting: Stop the guns, thats the problem An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed in the shooting. Authorities said he was shot three times. The shooting happened just after 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria but was contained to the north end of the school. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt told The Associated Press that authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device in Butlers belongings, and that experts advised it was something that they needed to disarm. It was rendered safe. The GoFundMe page for Marburger was further updated on Sunday. All of the Marburger family and the entire Perry Community will forever be touched by the selflessness of Mr. Marburger. This GoFundMe will continue to be used for the Marburger family as they process through and live out Dans legacy," it said. Singapore troops are taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian -- an international maritime security force formed to respond to attacks on shipping vessels by the Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) said. HT Image "Operation Prosperity Guardian is unrelated to the military strikes against the Houthis," the ministry said in the statement, quoted by The Straits Times. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Tension is growing globally over the Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Iran-backed rebels have said the attacks are meant to show support for Hamas -- a Palestinian armed group -- in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. The US and the UK have already launched air strikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. In December, the Singapore-flagged Danish container ship Maersk Hangzhou was hit by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea. Two US destroyers responded to its call for help and one of the warships shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being fired towards the vessel. That same month, the rebel group said it would target all vessels, regardless of nationality, heading to Israel and warned international shipping companies against docking at Israeli ports. US helicopters directly struck Houthi forces for the first time on December 31, sinking three boats and killing fighters attempting to board a ship. On Tuesday, the US and the UK shot down 21 missiles and drones in what the two countries described as the biggest Houthi attack so far that directly targeted their warships in the region. On Friday, the two countries launched air and sea strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. The Houthis -- an armed rebel movement -- have come to control large parts of Yemen over the past decade. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the attacks by the Houthi rebels resulted in all five of the world's largest shipping companies suspending transit through the Red Sea -- the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. He added that the Singapore Armed Forces will send a team from the Republic of Singapore Navy's Information Fusion Centre to support information sharing, and a team of planners to work with international partners on operational plans. The Mindef statement said Operation Prosperity Guardian is an effort that comes under the ambit of the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain. One of the missions is the Combined Task Force 153: Red Sea Maritime Security -- involving more than 20 countries and focusing on efforts to protect shipping vessels against security threats such as through information sharing and maritime patrols. About 12 per cent of the world's seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea. China needs to be involved in efforts to end the war between Ukraine and Russia, Switzerland's co-chair of a meeting of top diplomats to prepare the ground for a peace plan said on Sunday. China was not represented at the gathering of national security advisers ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos. (Representational Image)(REUTERS) "China plays a significant role. We must find ways to work with China on this," Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis told a news conference after a session of the meeting. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. China was not represented at the gathering of national security advisers ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The meeting of more than 80 officials is the fourth such gathering organised by Ukraine, which Cassis said must pave the way to talks between Moscow and Kyiv on ending the war. "A peace for the Ukrainian people is urgently necessary ... We must do everything to end this war," Cassis said, adding that so far Russia and Ukraine were not willing to make concessions. President Vladimir Putin sent thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022, triggering the biggest confrontation between Russia and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Cassis said that countries that had a dialogue with Russia, such as Brazil, India and South Africa, were involved in the discussions in Davos and could play an important role. "The participation of the BRICs alliance is very important because these countries have a relationship to Russia ... All this can create this collective movement to bring in countries that are far from the conflict but can play a role in influencing China and Russia," Cassis said. Global south in focus The role of the Global South in Ukraine's peace formula talks has come into focus in Davos. Many of the non-aligned countries from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia that have largely stayed on the sidelines over Ukraine will be represented in the Swiss mountain resort this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was not at Sunday's meeting. But Cassis said he would appear at the summit and there would be opportunities for diplomats to speak to him. Zelenskiy was represented by his chief of staff Andriy Yermak, who said there were participants from 18 Asian countries, 12 African countries and 6 South American countries. "Countries from the Global South are increasingly involved in our work," Yermak said earlier on his Telegram account. Ukraine, with strong backing from its allies, has consistently said it will not give up until it has reclaimed every piece of territory that Russia has taken. It is unclear, however, if countries in the Global South agree with that as a peace formula. Nigeria's national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu told Reuters that the African oil exporting country stood by Zelenskiy's side, saying it will deal with the consequences of rising food prices as a result of the war. The talks were also attended by the U.S. special representative for Ukraine's Economic Recovery Penny Pritzker, as well as James O'Brien, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. As concerns grow about ongoing U.S. support for the war in Ukraine during an election year, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are both expected to address the WEF, which officially starts on Monday evening. Zelenskiy's 10-point peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities and the restoration of Ukraine's state borders with Russia. Russia, which controls a little under a fifth of Ukrainian territory, has dismissed Zelenskiy's "peace formula" as absurd as it aims to find peace without Moscow's participation. Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska said on Sunday there is unlikely to be peace in Ukraine until at least May 2025. "It is a pity that a constructive talk about the situation in Ukraine will not happen there will be no Russian delegation," Deripaska said in a post on the Telegram app. Taiwan told China on Sunday to "face reality" and respect its election result, after voters defied Beijing's warnings and chose pro-sovereignty candidate Lai Ching-te as president. Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, center, celebrates his victory with running mate Bi-khim Hsiao, right, and supporters in Taipei, Taiwan.(AP) Voters spurned Beijing's repeated calls not to vote for Lai, delivering a comfortable victory for a man China's ruling Communist Party sees as a dangerous separatist. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced force to bring it under its control, responded to Lai's victory by saying it would not change the "inevitable trend of China's reunification". Lai, of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), had vowed to defend the island from China's "intimidation" and on Sunday Taipei's foreign ministry told Beijing to accept the result. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Beijing authorities to respect the election results, face reality and give up suppressing Taiwan in order for positive cross-strait interactions to return to the right track," it said in a statement. An unofficial US delegation sent by President Joe Biden's administration will arrive in Taipei on Sunday, a move sure to draw condemnation from Beijing. The delegation, including a former US national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state, will meet "a range of leading political figures" on Monday, the island's de facto US embassy said in a statement. China on Sunday condemned a statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulating Lai on his win. "We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side," a foreign ministry spokesperson said. External forces After a campaign marked by diplomatic pressure from Beijing and near-daily incursions by Chinese fighter jets, Lai beat his nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday by more than 900,000 votes. In his victory speech, the 64-year-old Lai congratulated voters for refusing to be swayed by "external forces" trying to influence the election. He said he wanted to cooperate with China -- Taiwan's biggest trade partner -- and maintain peace and stability, but pledged not to be cowed by Chinese belligerence. "We are determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China," he told supporters. Four Chinese naval vessels were seen in waters around the island on polling day, according to Taiwan's defence ministry, and one high-altitude balloon passed over. China warned Taiwan's voters in the days leading up to the election to make the "correct choice", saying that Lai would take the island closer to war. Lai will take power on May 20 alongside his vice-presidential pick Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's former representative to the United States. Both were the targets of disinformation efforts during the campaign that experts linked to China. Turnout of 72 percent showed an enthusiastic electorate and voter Tsai Jin-hui said on Sunday Beijing should mind its own business. "What China thinks is a matter for China. We are electing the president of our own country," the 62-year-old taxi driver told AFP. On January 1, 2024, Celeste Saulo (Buenos Aires, 59 years old) was appointed Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), becoming the first woman to head the organization, which plays a leading role in the global fight against climate change. A meteorologist and director of Argentinas National Meteorological Service since 2014, Saulo was appointed to the post by the World Meteorological Congress a body linked to the UN and involving all 193 countries in June of last year. From her newly opened office in Geneva, Switzerland, she spoke to EL PAIS via video call. Question: Where do we stand right now with respect to climate change? Answer: The warnings are clear, and are detailed in last years IPCC report. Global warming is increasing, and its undoubtedly due to human activity: the burning of fossil fuels, agricultural exploitation, and the use of fertilizers and changes in land use practices. On top of this, all calculations indicate that the concentration of greenhouse gases continues to increase. In the words of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the window of opportunity for taking action is getting smaller and smaller. This is the reality, and in the face of this, as global citizens with varying levels of responsibility, we need to act. Q: Within this window of action, which, as you say, is shrinking, what are your objectives for the next four years as head of the WMO? A: The most important role the organization plays is to provide information that allows productive sectors to make decisions on how to produce goods in a sustainable way, while ensuring access to food and water, of course. And to support adaptation measures, so that we can use meteorological and hydrological services, which provide forecasts and early warnings, to protect populations, their assets and material resources, and their sources of employment. Q: How? A: Through the provision of information about the climate. Through the continuous monitoring of how the atmosphere is evolving, which is the instrument that the WMO uses to support the meteorological and hydrological services of other countries, so they can take action. This can come in the form of very short-term actions, such as preparing for an acute extreme weather event, or medium-term actions, such as planning for a scenario where, for example, the precipitation patterns are changing, either increasing or decreasing. Q: What are the main challenges for 2024? A: The WMO has made it a priority for all citizens of the world to have access to early warning systems. Unfortunately, theres still a lot of work to do. Approximately 50% of countries do not have early warning systems. I view this as a fundamental aspiration, and we will all have to mobilize resources to make it possible. We also need to maintain state systems to measure and monitor the atmosphere, the oceans, the ice, the rivers, as well as the sustaining and strengthening permanent monitoring. You cant really intervene or understand whats happening to complex systems like climate, water, ice, if you dont take measurements, if you dont study it, and if you dont give scientists what they need to understand whats happening. And, thirdly, we need to work directly with individual countries. Decisions can be made from the top down, but things happen at the state level. Q: And are individual countries taking action fast enough? A: No, and this has to change. I want to distinguish opinion from fact: we are a very technical organization; we deal with numbers, and the numbers say no. The temperature is increasing, greenhouse gas emissions are increasing. The actions that we are taking are evidently neither sufficient nor do they result in what one would expect to see reflected. Its true, yes, that there are commitments from countries and actions that are being taken; it would be unfair not to recognize this, but these action are insufficient. On this point, I dont think theres any room for debate. Q: So, are we headed in the right direction? A: We need to accelerate our actions, to make them effective. Countrys make various commitments at different meetings, but then they dont turn those commitments into concrete actions. There are barriers of all kinds: governance, administrative, political. Were still not doing what we should be doing, and all the actors involved need to be moving faster. This involves decision making, it involves the management of funds, just transitions, which there has been a lot of talk about, but ultimately the funds that developing countries are demanding are not arriving, theyre not being effective. Q: Why are things not moving faster? A: I think its a collective responsibility, and each actor in the cycle has to speed up their part of the process. Were all are aware that organizations like the United Nations have their own bureaucracies, their own discussions, debates, agreements and consensus, but when things get down to the more local level, we find the same kind of obstacles or bureaucracies. There are mechanisms that must be put into play to accelerate what we say we want to accelerate. Theres a disconnect between what the science obviously shows us, and the speed of our response. If you try to stop a vehicle and the brakes arent responding, then you ask yourself: Am I not pressing the pedal hard enough, or are my brakes not working properly? Q: In an interview last summer, you said that the climate system did not react in a linear fashion. What does that mean? A: It means that if you have a glass full of water and you dump half of it out, you havent solved the problem of having too much water. What can sometimes be difficult to put in perspective is that the emission of greenhouse gases needs to be decreasing, so that in 20 years we can start to see a reduction in global warming. There are some interactions that are still not fully understood, such as the melting of the poles, and the warming or acidification of the oceans. Were still trying to understand how changing just one thing can end up changing the system as a whole, because its a very nonlinear system. Once you disturb it, its very difficult to know how its going to evolve. The system has already been forced out of equilibrium, and what we have to try to do now is get it back into balance, within the parameters available to us. Q: Do we have greater climate awareness now? A: We are becoming more aware of the impact of climate change for the simple reason that there are fewer and fewer people who can say they were surprised by an extreme event to which they had never been exposed before. Now, getting from that point to the point of awareness that everyone can do something about it, so that warming doesnt continue to increase, is different. There are different sectors with important roles, from politics, to education, to non-governmental organizations or the UN as a whole. So thats where see a call to action, an awareness that what I do every day can contribute or not contribute to this continuing to happen, and I think its part of what we need to take on. Q: Do you worry about an increase in denialism? A: I would say that denialism is decreasing substantially, and that what were seeing now is a somewhat exaggerated expectation about what science can do to solve what we have not been able to solve as a global society. I think its asking too much of science, and its a way of externalizing responsibility. Of course, science, as long as it can do something, will do it. It will provide data, just as it has done for many years. The Nobel Prize in physics in 2021 was awarded to a scientist precisely for his early research on the impact of increased carbon dioxide on the average temperature of the planet, and that research dates back to the late sixties. So, are we going to ask science for everything, when science has been telling us what to do for many years? Q: What worries you the most? A: All the structures of our global community need to start moving, and everyone needs to do their part. Everyone has a role to play, and Im concerned that the level of dialogue is insufficient to move things from meeting agendas and to concrete action. Im also worried that countries wont be able to do what they need to do, that they dont have the means to do it, or the financial and technical support they need. Q: Youve mentioned on more than one occasion that its wrong to talk about natural disasters. Why? A: A volcanic eruption is a threat that is natural: it happens in nature and its uncontrollable, and the same goes for a storm or a hurricane, a flood, or a drought. Now, what makes it become a disaster? That there is a population that is exposed, that has not been able to protect itself, whose homes are too vulnerable or are located in places where people shouldnt be living. So what was a natural threat and a natural phenomenon becomes a disaster, but not because nature produced the disaster. Its a combination of factors that are created by humans: how we live, where we live, how we prepare ourselves, how we plan, and what decisions we make determine whether a threat, which can be very serious, becomes a disaster or is simply a threat with manageable damage. Q: This year has been the warmest on record, and 2024 could be even warmer yet. There has been a lot of talk about the El Nino phenomenon what exactly is it, and what are its consequences? A: El Nino is a phenomenon that we have already documented quite extensively. Its part of the natural variability of the climate; its a natural oscillation that repeats itself. The effects are not the same all over the world, which is something we need to keep in mind, but on average, globally, it balances out as a generally warmer period. In an El Nino scenario, we expect that 2024 could also be a much warmer year than average, which will just mean even warmer trends than we would otherwise be experiencing. The concern is not with El Nino per se, but rather the general trend towards higher temperatures. Q: Do you think we will surpass the 1.5 degree limit in the next few years? A: The IPCC clearly states that the possibilities of exceeding that limit are high, because measures have not been taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We also need to distinguish between one year of exceeding the limit and a decade where the average exceeds the limit, and thats the biggest warning sign. Statistics allow for fluctuations and we understand these fluctuations, but they are superimposed over an upward trend, and its this trend thats worrying. Q: Is there any room for optimism when talking about climate change? A: Yes, theres always room for optimism. Theres something for everyone to do. I dont think we have permission to do nothing. No person has permission to do nothing. In that sense, I think we should be optimistic, if we trust in human nature, in the possibility of rescuing our planet, because were not just thinking about ourselves, but about those who come after us. Future generations deserve a livable planet. And in the face of that reality, I think its impossible to take the position that we just dont care about anything. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The public has gained access to thousands of pages of court documents related to the late sex offender and notorious paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, after a US judge ordered the unsealing of the records in a lawsuit filed by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell. Maxwell lawsuit unseals Jeffrey Epstein's dark web of influence(Vanity Fair archive) The documents revealed the names of many influential people and A-listers, such as Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Victorias Secret owner Les Wexner. However, being named in the documents does not imply that they had any knowledge or involvement in Epsteins crimes. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The last set of documents, which came out on Tuesday, contained the depositions of Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein. Epsteins deposition showed how he evaded questions about his abuse of young and underage girls. He invoked his Fifth Amendment right over 1,000 times. ALSO READ| Another pervert prince? Epstein victim says she was sex trafficked to another royal Maxwells deposition included disturbing messages that were sent to Epstein one of which seemed to be a code for getting an underage Russian girl for Epstein. She is two times eight years old. Not blond. Lessons are free, and you can have your first today if you call, it said. Why is the secret Epstein list being released now? These documents are not new They are part of a defamation case that was brought by Epstein victim Giuffre against Maxwell in 2015. Giuffre sued Maxwell after she denied her claims of being abused by Epstein and some of his associates for years. The case lasted for two years, and many people gave depositions and testimonies for both sides before it was settled in 2017. At that time, a judge put the documents under a protective seal, and the identities of those named in the documents were hidden. ALSO READ| Jeffrey Epstein list: Paedophile hung nude photographs of victims in his property, new names revealed But, The Miami Herald whose investigative journalism exposed Epsteins crimes challenged the sealing of the documents in court. About 2,000 pages of documents were unsealed in 2019, and more documents followed in the next years. But, this current batch of documents remained sealed and the names of hundreds of people connected to the deceased paedophile were kept secret, known only as Jane and John Does. Maxwells lawyers tried to stop the release of the documents for years but they gave up the fight in 2022. Finally the list unsealed Then, in a historic decision in December, US District Judge Loretta Preska ruled that the documents could be unsealed and the names revealed in full, saying that there was no legal reason to keep the names of Epsteins associates hidden as John and Jane Does. ALSO READ| Jeffrey Epstein list: Was Donald Trump Doe 174? Read to know She also said that much of the information was already public, having been disclosed through other lawsuits, criminal cases or media reports. The judges decision opened the way for the release of the documents and the unmasking of the names and connections of those linked to the infamous disgraced financier. Those named in the documents had 14 days to appeal, before the documents were to be unsealed entirely from 1 January. The federal judge also ordered the names of some of Epsteins victims to remain anonymous. US President Joe Biden expressed his views on Taiwans election shortly after the results were announced. He said on the South Lawn, We do not support independence, reaffirming the U.S. position of adhering to the One China policy. This policy acknowledges Chinas claim over Taiwan, but also maintains informal ties with the islands government. US President Joe Biden speaks to members of the media on the South Lawn of the White House before boarding Marine One in Washington, DC, US, on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Photographer: Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg(Bloomberg) On Saturday, Taiwan held its presidential election and re-elected its incumbent leader, Vice President Lai Ching-te, aka William. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Lai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for three consecutive terms. The election outcome will shape Taiwans future relations with China, which considers the island as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if it declares independence. Biden had met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November and warned him not to interfere in Taiwans election. He said he was committed to the One China agreement and had no intention of changing it. He also said he would continue to send unofficial delegations of former U.S. officials to Taiwan, as he had done in 2021 and 2022. Biden will send unofficial delegations to Taiwan A senior Biden administration official explained, Given our unofficial relationship with Taiwan, we often send these high-level unofficial delegations of former government officials to Taipei. We have a decades-long tradition of doing so. The U.S. announced on Wednesday that it would send another unofficial delegation to Taiwan to congratulate Lai on his victory. The delegation would consist of former senior U.S. officials. It is unclear how China will react to this move and to Lais re-election, but it has previously stated that it will not make any concession or compromise on Taiwan. Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a statement on Saturday praising Lai for his win and commending the Taiwanese people for demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process. Lai, who has said he is willing to talk to China, thanked his supporters on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. He vowed to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait and to be a force of good in the international community. John Kerry, the US special climate envoy and former secretary of state and presidential candidate, will soon leave the Biden administration to join Joe Bidens re-election campaign, his office announced. FILE - John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate is stepping down from the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to two people familiar with his plans. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili, File)(AP) A Kerry spokesperson told Reuters that he informed his staff on Saturday after meeting with Biden this week. Axios first broke the news about Kerry, 80, on Saturday. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Kerry helped negotiate the 2015 Paris Climate Deal and the UAE consensus on fossil fuel transition at Cop28 in Dubai last December. He thinks that Bidens second term would be the single biggest factor for climate progress, Axios reported, citing a source close to the administration. Kerry and Biden discussed this in the Oval Office this week, following Kerrys attendance at the Cop28 summit in Dubai. The climate envoy wants to boost Bidens climate agenda by playing a key role in the 2024 campaign, the outlet added. ALSO READ| US reports Covid hospitalisation surge for 9th straight week as JN.1 variant sweeps world Kerry became the special envoy on climate after Biden defeated Donald Trump in the 2020 election and started building his team in November. The Biden transition team said Kerry would fight climate change full time and have a seat on the National Security Council, highlighting the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and global warming. Kerry was Obamas secretary of state, replacing Hillary Clinton, and led the global effort to forge the Paris Agreement, which aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate impacts. A group tried to malify Kerry's image Kerry left the government in January 2017 when Trump took over and reversed Obamas climate policies and withdrew the US from the Paris pact. Biden rejoined the accord as soon as he took office in 2021. Kerry ran for president in 2004 and secured the Democratic nomination but lost to George W Bush, who won a second term. His campaign was hurt by a pro-Bush group that attacked his military service as a decorated Vietnam veteran who turned anti-war activist. ALSO READ| Biden makes first public comments on Austin's secret hospitalisation, faults him for judgement lapse The group, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, appeared in August 2004 when Kerry, a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, was leading the polls against Bush, who had only served in the Texas Air National Guard. The group tried to ruin Kerrys image. On Saturday night, a group of Pro-Palestinian protesters chanted f**k Joe Biden and tried to tear down a fence outside the White House. A Pro-Palestinian protester holds a placard depicting US President Joe Biden (L on poster) and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R on poster). (Photo by DAVIDE LONGARI / AFP)(AFP) The Secret Service said they evacuated non-essential staff from the area as the protest became more violent. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. A video captured the protesters shaking the fence so hard that it came loose in one part. Secret Service officers resisted the protesters and prevented them from entering the White House grounds. F**k Joe Biden The protesters threw water bottles and flag sticks at the officers and attempted to climb over the fence. They shouted, F**k Joe Biden! and Break it down! You support the murder of children! A protest caused some minor damage to the anti-scale fencing outside the White House, but the main fence and nearby buildings were not affected, according to The New York Post. U.S. Secret Service support teams quickly fixed the issues on site, said Lt. Paul Mayhair. For safety reasons, we temporarily moved some media and staff members who were close to Pennsylvania Avenue while we dealt with the problem. No one was arrested at the time of writing this article. Biden has always backed Israel The Secret Service had put up the fencing a few hours before the protest, which was the final destination of a march through Washington DC, demanding an end to Israeli violence in Gaza. The protest attracted thousands of people, who held signs that said, No votes for Genocide Joe, Biden has blood on his hands and Let Gaza live. Biden has backed Israel and authorized an emergency sale of almost 14000 rounds of tank ammunition worth $106M to the country last month. The protest focused on the high number of deaths in Gaza that have resulted from Israels retaliation to Hamas surprise attack on Oct. 7, which targeted Israeli civilians. The Health Ministry in Gaza, which Hamas controls, reported that more than 23,800 people in Gaza mostly women and children have died in Israels counteroffensive. Israel went to war after Hamas launched an unprecedented attack across the border on Oct. 7, which killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapped 250 others It is estimated that 132 hostages are still in Hamas custody. After his rival Donald Trumps scathing attack, Vivek Ramaswamy has refrained from giving a response. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, the GOP hopeful called the former US presidents remark an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors. Ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Trump accused Ramaswamy of using deceitful campaign tricks, warning voters, Vivek is not MAGA. Republican presidential candidate businessman Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at a campaign event, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)(AP) Vivek Ramaswamy says he wont criticise Trump Ramaswamy began his X post by admitting hes aware of Trumps criticism of him. However, the 38-year-old candidate will not be giving any response. Despite the brutal comments by his opponent, Ramaswamy expressed his admiration for the Trump presidency. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. Yes, I saw President Trumps Truth Social post. Its an unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I dont think friendly fire is helpful. Donald Trump was the greatest President of the 21st century, and Im not going to criticize him in response to this late attack, he wrote. He continued, Ive met tens of thousands of Iowans across 390+ events here, and they are deeply worried - and so am I - that this system wont allow Donald J. Trump anywhere near the White House again. It seems they will stop at *nothing* to keep him away from power. Furthermore, Ramaswamy confessed to being worried for Trump and for our country. He also recounted the times he supported Trump, saying, Ive stood up against the persecutions against Trump, and Ive defended him at every step. I showed up at the Miami courthouse in solidarity following his first federal indictment. I filed a FOIA demand to the Biden DOJ. I submitted an amicus brief this week with the U.S. Supreme Court calling on them to overturn Colorados ruling. I pledged to remove myself from Maines & Colorados primary ballots if they remove Trump, calling on DeSantis and Haley to do the same, Ramaswamy added. We have to open our eyes The American entrepreneur also told voters to open their eyes ahead of the 2024 elections. Last time it was a man-made pandemic & Big Tech election interference, he wrote. Ramaswamy also mentioned opponent Nikki Haley, calling her a puppet. Now, the same billionaires funding the lawsuits against Trump are the ones trying to prop up Nikki Haley, he said. Ramaswamy continued, The same MSM blasting Trump is lavishing praise on Nikki. They want to narrow this to a two-horse race between Trump & Haley, eliminate Trump (one way or other), & trot their puppet into the White House. We cant fall for that trap. 1 year from now, we wont look back and say we were shocked that it happened. Well kick ourselves for not stopping it. Our movement must live on. America-First didnt start in 2016. It started in 1776. We owe it to our Founding Fathers to do the right thing for our country. I want to save Trump & to save this country. Lets do it together. You wont hear any friendly fire from me, Ramaswamy added. A dozen individuals, including an unnamed woman, are taking legal action against Novo Nordisk, the parent company of Ozempic and Wegovy, after allegedly experiencing life-changing bowel injuries linked to the popular weight loss drug. The injectable drug Ozempic is shown Saturday, July 1, 2023, in Houston. A preliminary review of side effects from popular drugs used to treat diabetes and obesity shows no link with suicidal thoughts or actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. But the agency also said officials cannot definitively rule out that a small risk may exist" and that they'll continue to look into reports regarding more than a dozen drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro.(AP) Gastroparesis and its toll: All the plaintiffs claim that the injections led to gastroparesis, a rare condition affecting stomach muscles' movement. This condition brings nausea, bloating, severe abdominal pain, vomiting, weight loss, and malnutrition, as per the Mayo Clinic. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. The unidentified woman, after using Ozempic, received a diagnosis of a "life-threatening bowel injury." She underwent an eight-hour surgery in an attempt to repair her colon, but doctors delivered the grim newsshe will suffer from diarrhea for life and never have a solid bowel movement again. Allegations against Novo Nordisk: The woman accuses Novo Nordisk of failing to adequately warn about the risk of gastroparesis associated with the drug, sparking concerns about transparency in drug packaging. It's unclear whether the woman was using Ozempic for weight loss or diabetes treatment, and the duration of her medication use before the bowel injury remains unknown. Weight loss drugs' dual purpose: Originally designed for Type 2 diabetes, both Ozempic and Wegovy have been prescribed by doctors to aid weight loss. Injected weekly into the stomach, thigh, or arm, these drugs, known as semaglutides, help regulate insulin release and induce a feeling of fullness. Also Read: Other weight loss injections from different pharmaceutical companies, like Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, have allegedly caused similar problems. A separate lawsuit claims that a woman using both Ozempic and Mounjaro was diagnosed with gastroparesis, leading to severe vomiting and tooth loss. Mounting lawsuits and concerns: Numerous lawsuits, including at least nine against Eli Lilly alone, suggest a growing trend of serious side effects associated with weight loss injections. Florida attorney Cameron Stephenson predicts an impending surge in cases, estimating thousands more individuals affected. Brea Hand, a 23-year-old Ozempic user, filed a suit after experiencing gastroparesis symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Her frightening journey led to intensive care, emphasizing the need for increased transparency regarding potential side effects. While Chinese propaganda media accuses India of hegemonic mentality in South Asia, Beijings comments after anti-China Lai Ching-te won the Taiwan election with a 40 per cent vote in spite of mainland machinations reveals an imperial Middle-Kingdom mindset of the Xi Jinping regime. Chinese President Xi Jinping. The electoral victory of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in a three-cornered contest is definitely a setback for China as the Communist regime may have to reconsider its 2026-2027 military plans to annex democratic Taiwan. Just as Chinas founding father Mao Zedong was seen to give respect, Deng Xiaoping gave economic empowerment, paramount leader Xi Jinping sees himself as a unifier of the Middle Kingdom. The man who will translate One China Policy into reality. Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now. China's stated resolve to conquer Taiwan despite the democratically held election in the island nation and its support in upholding national sovereignty and opposing external interference (read India) for a pro-Beijing Mohammed Muizzu regime in Maldives reveals the coercive diplomatic mindset by the Xi Jinping regime. The statement said: China firmly supports the Maldives in upholding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity.firmly opposes external interference in the internal affairs of Maldives....The Maldives is committed to the one-China principleand Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory.supports all efforts made by China to achieve national unification. This is a standard text for Middle-Kingdoms diplomacy with all tributary states. Although it is up to Taiwans backers in the West to come to terms with its ambiguity over the One China Policy and help Taipei against Beijings unilateral coercion, Beijing clearly has dropped all pretence with India as is evident from the joint statement issued after President Muizzus four-day visit to Beijing. The statement is clearly aimed against Indian interests in the Maldives and totally in support of China against Taiwan with Male virtually acting as a tributary state to the Middle Kingdom. With China playing anti-India games overtly in the Indo-Pacific and at multilateral institutions, it is time that the Modi regime also upped its counter to the challenge from the northern neighbour and its proxies in the Indian sub-continent. Its economic support to Sri Lanka during its hour of economic crisis clearly has paid dividends with Colombo ready to have inter-grid connectivity, oil pipeline and land connectivity with the Indian mainland via the Rameswaram-TalaiMannar axis. On December 22, Sri Lanka informed India through diplomatic channels that it would not allow any surveillance-scientific research vessels in 2024, delivering a snub to China. Sri Lanka has agreed to a ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanturai port in the north of the Island nation. It has also agreed to flights between Chennai and Jaffna. While it is quite evident that the Muizzu regime in Maldives will give access to Chinese spy ships to explore the Indian Ocean seabed for future submarine activity, India will have to counter the challenge with the support of allies like Mauritius and Mozambique. But given the distances between China and Maldives and the present capacities of the PLA Navy, a natural disaster-prone Male will soon realize like Nepal that only India has the capacity and can help in the worst-case scenario. We cant sleep because our rooms are flooded. Besides, this place is full of snakes and mosquitoes and the water is polluted due to the sewers and the filth, says Boley Maalin Abikar, an 80-year-old blind woman who lives with two children and several grandchildren, most of them also with some type of disability, in the Al Baraka displaced persons camp, outside the city of Baidoa, in southwestern Somalia. When the floods reached the place, everyone who could fled to safer, higher ground. However, some 800 families remain trapped in this camp. The heavy rains that began in October have already left at least 118 dead and affected more than 2.4 million people in Somalia, according to the United Nations. The impact of these rains was heightened by the climate crisis: the torrential rainfall that punished cities, towns, fields and farms came shortly after the country was hit by the worst drought in the last 40 years. Earlier this year, Abikars family fled more than 125 miles from their home in Qoryoley after the devastating drought that wiped out their 260 cows and goats. They were also escaping from the Islamist group Al Shabab, which controls a large part of the country and to whom they had to pay taxes that were impossible to bear, especially after the drought. These floods have forced 1.2 million people to leave their homes, according to UN data, based on official Somali figures. The total number of displaced people in this African country has already reached four million; more than 20% of the population. Abikars orange scarf is the same color as the plastic that covers the makeshift shelters of Al Baraka, located in a crater-shaped depression. Her daughter, Batulo Mohamed Ibrahim, does not move from her wheelchair. Her clothes are faded and ragged, and her feet are covered in mud. Her legs and arms are deformed and she has never been able to speak. Before the floods, her relatives used to take her to the city, where she would beg in order to contribute some money to the family. Now she is trapped: pushing her wheelchair through the thick, heavy mud is simply impossible. Just moving her a few feet takes three or four people. Like her, other displaced people from the countryside used to live off the charity they received in the center of Baidoa. Now they are helpless, unable to go out to look for food, drinking water, medicine, or other essential items. Abikar also lives with her son, Mohamed Ibrahim, his wife and their 10 children, all of whom were born with disabilities. Some are blind, others have special physical needs and others suffer from mental problems. Ibrahim used to be able to find work in the city as a doorman and cleaner, but now he is unemployed. The longer Abikars family stays in the camp, the greater the risk of contracting water-borne diseases. The United Nations says that 384 informal settlements in Somalia have been affected by flooding in the Baidoa area, endangering more than 250,000 people displaced by war and drought. The UN, which has described these as the floods of the century, has warned of a 70% surge in cholera cases in the country in the last three weeks. An emergency with no funding With the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza absorbing most of the international attention and resources, humanitarian agencies are struggling to fund emergency responses in countries like Somalia, which has endured 35 years of conflict. The 2023 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan, which requires $2.6 billion to help the countrys 7.6 million most vulnerable people, has only been 42% funded. On December 3, the UN estimated that aid had reached approximately 820,000 people, around 30% of those affected by the floods. Some areas remain inaccessible because they are controlled by Al Shabab, have been affected by the conflict, or have difficult access conditions, as is the case of the Baidoa camp. So far, no humanitarian agency has provided aid to these families. Mustaf Salad Ali coordinates care for disabled people in southwestern Somalia. NAIMA SAID SALAH Mustaf Salad Ali, appointed by the government as responsible for looking after people with disabilities in the southwest of the country, knows the difficulties faced by the camps residents. Some cant see or hear. Others cant move. So they cant escape the terrible floods; they cannot even realize that they are coming. The community and the government have to work together to help them, he says, aware that the authorities are overwhelmed with the help they must provide to those affected by the rains. His words offer little comfort to people like Ibrahim Ali Jesow, who was born with leg malformations. He cannot leave the camp because his crutches sink in the mud. Before, he used to earn a living teaching the Koran to children with disabilities. I taught about 50 students in a makeshift classroom. Their parents paid me whatever they could. Some gave me [two or three dollars] a month; others didnt pay me anything, he recalls. Now, the classroom has been washed away by the floods, so the children cant learn, I cant teach and I cant make a living, he laments. We dont have water to drink or to wash before praying. We are at great risk of contracting diseases from the contaminated water we are forced to drink. Buying water in the countryside costs around $0.50, something most would not be able to afford even if they were able to make their way to the places where it is sold. Naima Said Salah is a reporter for Bilan, the first media outlet from Somalia devoted entirely to women; the project is supported by the UNDP and attached to the Dalsan Media Group in Mogadishu. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Nine d'Urso poses with Bina Daigeler, the costume designer for the 'Balenciaga' series. The actress wears a reproduction of a ruffled evening dress that Balenciaga showed in 1952. Daigeler wears a Balenciaga x Adidas T-shirt and tracksuit pants, created by Demna Gvasalia, the current creative director of the House of Balenciaga. If Cristobal Balenciaga (Getaria, Spain, 1895-Xabia, Spain, 1972) were alive today, he would probably refuse to collaborate in the making of a television series about his life. Whats more, he would probably request that the production be kidnapped until he could watch it. The most celebrated Spanish designer of all time jealously guarded his privacy, obsessively controlled his creations and his image, and was so discreet that in his own day that it was rumored that he did not actually exist. He never went out to say hello after exhibiting his collections, rarely met with his clients and only gave two interviews in the 50+ years of his career. He detested advertising and being photographed (he made one exception to promote his perfume Le Dix, in 1947) and abhorred public scrutiny of his work and private life. Despite his legendary reclusiveness, or perhaps because of it, he was a celebrity. In 1962, at the height of his career, the newspaper France-Soir published a photograph of the couturier in his white work coat and the caption, This is Balenciaga, the man of mystery. A few years later, with the rise of ready-to-wear fashion driven by Yves Saint Laurent and the French Mays wave of youth protests, he announced his retirement from fashion and ordered the closure of his stores and workshops. Half a century after Balenciagas death, little is still known about the man behind the legend, and his figure continues to raise all sorts of questions. The Balenciaga series, which premieres on the Disney+ streaming platform on January 19, begins with a scene that illustrates the couturiers aversion to answering journalists questions. An older Cristobal Balenciaga, played by Alberto San Juan, attends Coco Chanels funeral at the Parisian church of La Madeleine and is intercepted by Prudence Glynn, the fashion columnist for the British newspaper The Times; she asks him for an interview. At first, Balenciaga refuses to talk, but eventually she unravels the secrets of his novel rise to fame from the son of a fisherman and seamstress to the father of haute couture with a Spanish accent. The series which will be available on Disney+ and Hulu reflects the couturiers brilliant legacy, revered by such sacred giants as Christian Dior, Chanel and Hubert de Givenchy. But it also hints at the shadows of his life: his despotic character; his constrained homosexuality and his complex romantic relationship with the Franco-Polish milliner Wladzio Jaworowski dAttainville; his complicit silence during the occupation of France by Axis forces (many ateliers closed, while his remained open); the betrayal of his partners, Nicolas Bizcarrondo and Virgilia Mendizabal, whom he split from abruptly after achieving success; and his close ties to the elites of dictator Francisco Francos regime Carmen Polo, Carmen Franco and the Marquise of Llanzol, Ramon Serrano Suners lover were regular clients of his, and in 1972, four years after retiring, he accepted the commission to design the wedding dress of Carmen Martinez-Bordiu, the dictators granddaughter. D'Urso wears a coat created by Balenciaga in the early 1950s. "Women felt beautiful and powerful in [Balenciagas] clothes. And that's what fashion is all about, empowerment," says German costume designer Bina Daigeler, who the show's costume designer. Pablo Zamora We know so little about Balenciaga. He was a closed-off person, and his figure remains so. After retiring, he wanted his fashion to close, and I think he would have kept it that way today, explains Bina Daigeler, 58, Balenciagas German costume designer, in conversation with El Pais Semanal. I guess he would hate a series about his life, or maybe he would be flattered. I dont know, she continues. Daigeler is one of the industrys most sought-after costume designers. She has worked with Pedro Almodovar and Jim Jarmusch; the Munich native is a favorite of Cate Blanchett, whom she dressed for the series Mrs. America and the film Tar and was nominated for an Oscar for the film Mulan. However, she admits that she was intimidated by the Balenciaga commission. When they offered it to me, I had a nervous moment where I said to myself, Oh my God, how am I going to replicate a Balenciaga? How am I going to dare to do this? Were talking about old-fashioned haute couture, the good kind, where everything is handmade, she confesses. It was a gigantic challenge, but an appealing one because I started my career as a couturier. Bina Daigeler and her co-designer, Pepo Ruiz Dorado, worked against the clock. Disney commissioned the project in January 2022 and shooting began in May of that same year. They had less than six months to document and start producing the costumes in the German costume designers workshop in Madrid. The result: about 18 haute couture designs per episode, over 80 pieces that encapsulate the couturiers milestones: the 1947 tonneau line, the 1951 semi-fitted look and barrel line, the 1953 balloon skirt, the 1955 tunic, the 1957 sack dress, the 1958 baby-doll, the 1960 semi-fitted style, the 1967 envelope dress, Balenciagas constant inspiration in the great masters of Spanish painting like Velazquez and Goya and in traditional Spanish garb like the cobijada, the mermaid silhouette and ruffles of folklore and the typical Segovian costume. That was the key to this project, replicating Balenciagas work in a very short time under the orders of three different directors, each with their own tastes, Daigeler says, referring to the trio of filmmakers formed by Aitor Arregi, Jon Garano and Jose Mari Goenaga. The Balenciaga house opened its doors at number 10 Avenue George V in Paris to them, as well as its archives, the exact location of which is a secret. Miren Arzalluz, the director of the Fashion Museum of the City of Paris, gave them access to Galliera Palace funds, and the Balenciaga Museum in Getaria, Spain, also collaborated with them. They were able to see and photograph Balenciagas key dresses, study their details and sculptural forms and examine the ingenious cut of sleeves and collars that turned the wrist and nape of his clients wrists and necks into erogenous zones. During this re-creation process, they discovered that it was impossible to make an original Balenciaga dress without using the fabrics of the time. Cristobal used fabrics in an architectural way to stylize the female figure. His work was not that of a designer but rather that of an architect. With every outfit, I would ask myself: but how did he do that? recalls Daigeler. The answer was in the fabrics. The couturier created his own fabric, gazar, produced exclusively for him by the Abraham factory in Zurich. Daigeler and Ruiz Dorado scoured legendary Madrid stores like Jose Maria Ruiz and Julian Lopez to rescue original silks, and they also placed orders with Abraham. And then we made each suit to measure, as he did. He never did pret-a-porter, everything was haute couture, says Pepo Ruiz Dorado. Each dress is for an actress or model in the series, made as he did, with the toile fitting, a second fitting... Balenciaga considered himself to be a plastic surgeon who operated through his creations, favoring and enhancing the image of his clients. Give me an imperfect body and I will make it perfect, he used to say. Men often hated his dresses because they were not overtly sexy. But women revered his work. Barbara Hutton, the Duchess of Windsor, Bunny Mellon and Mona von Bismarck were among his most faithful customers. The series shows how a self-conscious Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, played by Belen Cuesta, turns to him for the bridal dress she wore at her wedding to Baldwin of Belgium in 1960. Women felt gorgeous and powerful in [Balenciagas] clothes. And thats what fashion is all about, empowerment, Daigeler points out. Nine dUrso in a re-creation of a Balenciaga evening gown from 1938. The two-piece gown has a historicist cut and is made of hand-embroidered openwork silk velvet. The dress is superimposed on a black silk bodice, which allows a partial view of the body. Pablo Zamora DUrso wears a reproduction of the Infanta dress, created by Balenciaga in 1939. For this evening gown made of ecru duchess silk satin and black silk velvet trimmings, the designer was inspired by Velazquezs painting Las Meninas. Pablo Zamora French actress Nine dUrso plays Colette, one of the designers pet models, in the Balenciaga series. In the photo, the actress wears a re-creation of the iconic Madonna dress presented by Cristobal Balenciaga in 1949, a design inspired by the cobijada, the typical garb of Vejer de la Frontera, Spain. Pablo Zamora DUrso wears a coat created by Balenciaga in the early 1950s. Pablo Zamora The couturier also revolutionized fashion with a new type of model who embodied his collections. Colette, his first muse in Paris, had a different sort of beauty, and chroniclers described her way of walking down the catwalk as that of a grenadier who wanted to kill everyone. French actress Nine dUrso, 29, brings Colette to life on the screen. We dont know much about her. She was with him from 1937 until she died in the 1950s, explains the actress, who received help from her mother, model Ines de la Fressange, in preparing for her role. Colette was a bit masculine; she had sharp bones and broad shoulders. She had a slight hump and bony hips, so she moved and posed in a very particular way, like a contortionist. Cristobal was obsessed with her figure and created many silhouettes to flatter her, the actress notes. At a time when models were tiny, Balenciaga changed things. He was a visionary and even created a new model of woman. In 1973, a year after the designers death, the Metropolitan Museum in New York paid tribute to him with an exhibition. The New York Times headlined its review of the exhibit The Age of Balenciaga: It Seems So Long Ago. Calvin Klein said that most of his work seems outdated. They were wrong. Balenciagas name was revived and is now part of the Kering luxury group. His radical ideas about form and structure and his technical innovations in fabric and cut still live on. Demna Gvasalia, Balenciagas current creative director, often nods to the fashion houses archives in his own creations. Balenciaga wanted his brand to die with him, but that hasnt happened. He didnt like being in the spotlight, but now he has his own TV series. Maybe he would be in shock, Nine dUrso admits. But everyone has worked hard on this project: the directors, Bina, the actors... Balenciaga was obsessive about work and knew how to value effort. I dont want to speak for him, but maybe he would see all the work behind the series. He might be proud. PRODUCTION CREDITS Makeup and hair styling Miguel Tragacete (One-off Artists) for Chanel and Goldwell Production Cristina Serrano Photography assistant Edu Orozco Styling Assistant Julia Pacheco Grau and Ruben Rodriguez Cisneros Makeup assistant Alba Medina Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Hudson, NY (12534) Today Cloudy. High near 45F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Considerable clouds this evening. Some decrease in clouds late. A few flurries are possible. Low 31F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. State Announce Consensus Revenue Forecast for Fiscal Year 2025 BOSTON Secretary of Administration and Finance Matthew J. Gorzkowicz, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz agreed on a consensus revenue forecast for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) of $40.202 billion. Secretary Gorzkowicz also announced a decrease of $1 billion to the FY24 state tax revenue estimate to $39.410 billion, based on current year-to-date revenues and economic data. The new FY25 consensus revenue estimate of $40.202 billion represents $208 million less in available revenue than what was used to build the FY24 budget, and a 2 percent increase above revised FY24 estimates, excluding surtax. The agreement also estimates that sufficient revenue will be available in FY25 from the voter-approved 4 percent surtax to support $1.3 billion in additional spending on education and transportation initiatives, an increase of $300 million in available funds over the FY24 budget. "This Fiscal Year 2025 consensus revenue forecast responsibly considers the many external pressures that have led to a slowdown in revenue growth over past months and put significant pressure on state spending. While acknowledging the challenges ahead, we are confident this agreement will allow us to construct a budget for FY25 that continues to invest in key priorities and supports our residents and communities. The increase in available resources from the surtax will also enable us to build on the blueprint for surtax spending we established last year with our partners in the Legislature to make meaningful progress in education and transportation to keep Massachusetts competitive, affordable, and equitable," said Administration and Finance Secretary Matthew J. Gorzkowicz. "I want to thank Chair Rodrigues, Chair Michlewitz, and the Ways and Means teams for their collaboration as we developed this revenue forecast and look forward to continued partnership through the FY25 budgeting process." The consensus revenue forecast is the basis on which the Healey-Driscoll Administration, the House, and the Senate will build their respective FY25 budget recommendations. Pursuant to Section 5B of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, the Executive and Legislative branches convene every year to establish a joint revenue forecast. This process was informed by testimony given by the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer's Office, and independent, local economists from area foundations and universities during a public hearing held by the Secretary and Chairs on December 4, 2023. Of the forecasted $40.202 billion in FY25 state tax revenues, an estimated $2.077 billion is projected to be capital gains tax revenue, of which, per statute, $528 million will be transferred to the Stabilization Fund and other long term liability funds for pension and retiree health insurance costs. The agreement also includes several off-budget transfers that are mandated by current law, including: $4.5 billion to be transferred to the pension fund, a $395 million increase over the FY24 contribution that keeps the Commonwealth on schedule to fully fund its pension liability by 2036 $1.465 billion to support the operations of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), an increase of $2 million over the FY24 budgeted contribution $1.305 billion for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), an increase of $2 million over the FY24 budgeted contribution, which will support school construction projects across the Commonwealth $27 million for the Workforce Training Fund to support the Commonwealth's workforce and business productivity and competitiveness The Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means also determined the potential gross state product (PGSP) growth benchmark for calendar year 2024, as required by M.G.L. Chapter 29 Section 7H . The PGSP growth benchmark informs the Commonwealth's health care cost growth benchmark, established by the Health Policy Commission each year. The three bodies have reached agreement that the PGSP figure for calendar year 2024 will remain 3.6 percent. PGSP is a measure of the "full employment" output of the Commonwealth's economy and reflects long-term trends in the economy rather than fluctuations due to the business cycle and, as a result, is meant to be fairly stable from year to year. The cemetery trustees say there is room at Ashuelot Cemetery for a section to be designated for natural burials. Dalton Considers Allowing 'Green' Burials DALTON, Mass. Residents may have the option of so-called "green" burials in the future. Also referred to as "natural burials," green burials are a way of returning bodies to the earth after death without a metal casket, burial liner or vault, or embalming, according to the nonprofit Green Burial Massachusetts. The cemetery trustees are still very early on in the process of establishing green burials. There are a lot of unknowns surrounding the service they need to explore first, the trustees said. This excludes someone who wants to be buried in their yard, which would be a separate process. "It's gonna be a long process, though. It's gonna be a lot because the thing is, there's many things that we have to know before we actually do something like this," Chair Judith Douville said at the trustees' meeting last week. Dalton has received some comments from residents expressing their interest in having this option available to them. "And we just decided that it's something that a number of people want, but before we allow it, we just want to make sure we touch all bases," trustee Treasurer John W. Bartels Jr. said They hope to be able to offer green burials for residents at the Ashuelot Cemetery but need to do so safely and prevent liability. There also is perpetual care that needs to be considered because of the biodegradable materials; as the material and body eventually decays, there will be a depression in the ground that is a potential fall risk. Guidelines need to be put in place to cut down on liability. Ashuelot Cemetery has a lot of open space that would allow a portion to be sectioned off and designated for green burials but this is dependent on various tests that need to be done on the solid and grounds. One of the things that complicates green burials is diseases. The trustees are working with the Board of Health to clarify measures to prevent the spread of diseases. The Board of Health last month reached out to the rare and infectious disease unit at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield for guidance. At its meeting on Wednesday, board members said they need clarification on what a green burial is so that they can have a better idea of how to word the guidelines. In addition, the members want to find out what their protocols are at funeral homes when someone presents with a communicable disease and what bodies are prohibited from being embalmed. As long as the burial is happening within a cemetery, there isn't a problem because cemeteries have to go through certain designations to prevent groundwater from running off into waterways, board member Amanda Staples-Opperman said. Despite this, the board agreed there needs to be a streamline guideline that determines which bodies are eligible for green burials. "What's interesting is that the burial part isn't necessarily the most dangerous part. With a lot of these highly communicable diseases, they actually want the body in the ground as soon as possible," Staples-Opperman said With some communicable diseases, such as ebola, the body "needs to be in two layers of leak-proof plastic and then in a hermetically sealed casket," she said. Although these diseases are rare, the funeral homes should still have procedures in place in the case one presents itself. Town counsel informed the trustees during a previous meeting that establishing green burials will be a dual effort between the two boards to come up with guidelines. The Board of Health will be responsible for the "water table, settling water, decaying bodies, depth of graves, proximity to abutting properties," the meeting minutes said. The trustees will be responsible for administrative matters such has the plot and lot size, monuments, planting, perpetual care, and interment allowed. At this time it is unclear if green burials will need to be approved by town meeting but if they do, the trustees want to ensure they can answer any question that is presented to them by residents. This would not be ready by the annual town meeting in May. Bartels also spoke to Ed Abrahams, a member of the Great Barrington Cemetery Commission when green burials were approved, to see what problems that board may have encountered during or following approval. Cemetery Superintendent Edward "Bud" Hall will also attend a conference in March that has green burials as one of the topics, Bartels said. The town will also need to communicate with cemetery staff to gauge if they are comfortable with doing this and accommodate their concerns. The trustees started exploring this initiative in April when they were thinking about updating fees. Bartels brought the option before the board after noticing that Great Barrington approved green burials in August 2020. Great Barrington is one of several dozen communities in the state that offers green burials, though it took three years to accomplish. Stockbridge, Mount Washington and the private Pine Grove Cemetery in Sheffield also allow natural burials. It seems that each town approached establishing green burials in a different way, Bartels said, and there are not a lot of laws that specifically target green burials. Kindergarten teacher Sarah Leidhold, standing at center, has been teaching at Hoosac Valley Elementary School for four years. Leidhold wasn't sure she wanted to be a teacher but fell in love with the profession. Making a connection with the children is her favorite part of teaching and is something she has mastered in her career. PreviousNext Teacher of the Month: Sarah Leidhold Teacher Sarah Leidhold says its important create connections with the children to support their learning. ADAMS, Mass. Hoosac Valley Elementary School kindergarten teacher Sarah Leidhold has been selected as the January Teacher of the Month. The Teacher of the Month series runs for the next four months in partnership with Berkshire Community College. Leidhold has been teaching for nine years, but it wasn't the path she originally saw herself on. She had been told while growing up that she should pursue a career in teaching but did not feel confident to do so because of the disciplinary aspect. "I originally wanted to do writing, but I wasn't sure what I was going do with that. I tried occupational therapy but I was sitting in like anatomy classes, and it just wasn't my thing. So, I tried a teaching class, and I absolutely loved it," she said. Although she still wasn't sure if she wanted to teach, she soon fell in love with it while at Head Start, which unbeknownst to her was the start of a career filled with learning and evolving. "I just love the science of [teaching] and the way that I can make an impact on other people and luckily, I learned that relationships are actually the heart of the discipline part," Leidhold said. "It's not necessarily being super strict, which is important to set boundaries, but creating connections and relationships with kids is what gives them the buy-in to come here every day and connect and be involved." It is that connection with the children that is her favorite part of teaching and is something she has mastered in her career. "Sarah's connection to students is one of her strengths. She is someone who gets to know every single one of her students, so that she can use the information she learns about them in her instructional practices," Hoosac Valley Elementary School Principal Erin Beaulac said. She is able to take those relationships and applies it directly to the curriculum "to help them really understand the knowledge and skills that she's trying to teach them," Beaulac said. Leidhold earned her bachelor's degree in early childhood from Worcester State University and her master's from the University at Albany in New York. She worked at Head Start for five years during which she learned the importance of connecting with students and their families. Her first time at the early childhood program was nerve wracking, feeling almost like she had impostor syndrome, Leidhold said. She was unsure what she was doing but soon learned from her experiences there which she still brings into the classroom today. Head Start did home visits that allowed her to see where her students were coming from, gave her insight into the children's experience, and allowed her to connect with her students and families, Leidhold said. In 2020, Leidhold went to work at Hoosac Valley Elementary, where she has been for the last four years. "Sarah is one of those teachers who is willing to try a new strategy or a new idea, anytime of the day, if it's for the betterment of the students. So, she has become a natural leader in our building," Beaulac said. "She's on our instructional leadership team. She opens her classroom to anyone who wants to come in and observe her teaching, and she is always willing to listen to ideas, and to help her colleagues as well." Her time at Hoosac Valley forced her evolve to the pandemic lifestyle from online learning to social distancing. She had to find creative ways to connect with her students through a screen. "That was really hard. I'm not going to sugarcoat that. That was challenging but I feel like it made me realize teaching can look different ways," Leidhold said. Although it was not what it was supposed to be, she still found ways to support meaningful connections. "I had kids in here in rows of desks, and they couldn't touch each other. It felt impossible but we found ways, again, to connect to be meaningful," she said. Being able to help kids learn and connect in an environment like that helped her gain confidence and know that she can find ways to solve whatever problems are thrown in her direction, Leidhold said. "I love teaching kindergarten, because it's a really special opportunity that teachers have to be the bridge for kids. Some of my students have never been to school before. Some have been to preschool. So, we get a really unique opportunity to introduce school to them to make it fun and safe and special and like loving, so that when they continue school, they know that it's a place they can come and feel safe and loved," she said. "So I think that's one of the most unique and meaningful parts of kindergarten, you get to be that first, really school experience. And we do really hard work to make it special." It is clear based on the number of nominations she received and the comments from her peers that during her tenure she has made a profound impact on her students and coworkers. She was nominated for our Teacher of the Month series by two parents who commented on her compassionate, "bubbly" and caring personality. "Ms. Sarah Leidhold is student centered, understanding, nurturing, and compassionate. She gets to know the individual strengths of each one of her students and capitalizes on them to build a learning community based on respect and honoring diversity," nominator Casandra Rochelo said. "She challenges them to do and be their best and allows them to make mistakes and provides lessons, so they are no longer mistakes but learning opportunities, honoring how hard it is to be 5." Rochelo goes on to say that she " brings honesty and authenticity to a world that is full of filters and masks." She is hardworking, leads by example, and makes an impact on the families, students, and the administration. These remarks were echoed by the second nominator Kari Richardson who said that she goes far and beyond for her students. "She is always very communicative with how her students are doing. She has a bubbly personality and always makes sure her students are succeeding," "We have been so blessed to have her as our son's teacher this year. Our community is so blessed to have such a loving and caring teacher who truly cares for each of her students." This was further demonstrated in the classroom, with many of Leidhold's co workers and students expressing how her personality is reflected in the comfortable environment she creates in the classroom. Hoosac Valley Elementary School has a lot of social emotional curriculum, such as a responsive classroom, so they focus on their pupils individually by checking in on them and connecting with them while also referencing the rules, Leidhold said. "I'm also very attuned with the feelings in the room. We do a lot of pausing and breathing and so I think I'm very connections based and I do a lot of social-emotional pieces within teaching," she said. These moments of taking a breather not only helps the students learn how to understand and manage their emotions but it also helps remind her coworkers to take a breather during the school day, one-on-one paraprofessional Charli Neep said. "Sarah is kind and she likes to incorporate that into her lessons. She teaches the kids how to control their emotions and kind of feel their feelings," paraprofessional Gina Gigliotti said. "So I think that that is really good for the community, because then the kids can go out into the world with what she's taught them." When it comes to peoples well-being, sexual health is not exactly the first thing that comes to mind. This is due in part to a lack of specific education. Many taboos persist regarding intimate relationships, even in the most open and sex-positive societies and environments. Sexuality is a very important part of health, but it is completely surrounded by false beliefs that make it difficult to have a healthy sexual life, states clinical psychologist and sexologist Miren Larrazabal. The problem, she continues, is that much of the information that is taken for granted has no scientific basis, and is passed from generation to generation in the form of myths that end up harming the intimate relationships. The feeling that we are not keeping up with everyone else. Thinking that pleasure and desire must come at the same time, or that sex has to be spontaneous and cannot be programmed. Those are some of the beliefs that the experts consulted think that must be debunked in order to improve the sexual health of their patients. Other people are not having more sex than you One of the most common myths is to think that everyone else especially when we are in a long-lasting relationship is having more sex than us. Larrazabal explains that this is an issue that she addresses with many of her patients, despite the fact that there is no normative sexual frequency with which to compare oneself. Looking at others is a big mistake. First, because the most important thing is to find the rhythm that is right for us, which can vary depending on many factors. And second, because it is impossible to know with certainty what is going on in peoples private lives nor should we care. Several studies suggest that the average number of sexual relations has decreased in recent years, particularly among people aged 18 to 24. Unfortunately, we live in a context that prioritizes quantity over quality. We feel the need to enjoy our possibilities to the limit, and if this does not happen we get frustrated, says Estela Buendia, founder of the Borobil Sexological Center in Bilbao, Spain. The sexologist uses younger couples as an example, as they frequently suspect that they are not having enough sex for their age. This is not something that can, or should, be quantified. What is appropriate is whatever makes each individual feel good, she concludes. Sex must be spontaneous Although the exact reasons that have led to a decrease in the frequency of sexual encounters are unknown, sex therapists agree that hectic lifestyles could be one of the causes. For this reason, they reject the myth according to which sex must always be spontaneous and cannot be programmed. Sex is never spontaneous. Not even when we think it is, says Buendia. It doesnt arise if theres not at least one person who incites the other and makes things happen. Once the myth of spontaneity has been debunked, therapists encourage people who have trouble finding the time to schedule sexual encounters. We plan all the important things in our lives. We set schedules to go to the gym; we plan a trip or going out with our friends, and we end up enjoying it. So why should sex be any different? reflects Silberio Saez, teacher of the masters degree in sexology at the Camilo Jose Cela University in Madrid. Making space for sex in our schedule is also useful to improve the quality of the encounters; instead of doing it when one is very tired or in a hurry, having set a specific time for it lets us enjoy the experience to the fullest. What is anti-erotic is having a negative attitude towards scheduling or making a space for our eroticism, insists Larrazabal. Still, the fact that it is scheduled does not make it mandatory. When the time comes, we have to feel free to say that we no longer feel like doing it, he adds. Sex is penetration Sex therapists often find that the patients that complain about a lack or infrequency of sexual relations have the wrong idea of what sex actually is. Sexual encounters go far beyond coitus, insist sexologist Sonia Garcia. It would be much healthier to think of sexual activity as a menu where there are many dishes and penetration is just one more. Coitocentrism, explains the expert, is the reason why there is a gap between men and women when it comes to talking about orgasms in heterosexual encounters. That is why the experts reject the definition of foreplay to refer to all the practices that are historically related to the phase prior to the penetration. When we refer to the erotic game, which is the sum of caresses, touching and stimulation of the genitals, as a previous phase, we are downplaying its importance. It is as if all that contact was the prelude to something, when in reality erotic play is pure and simple sexuality, just like penetration, says Larrazabal. Men want it more It is probably the oldest myth of all, and the one that is most difficult to eradicate. But no, men dont want it more than women. What they have had is more permission to express their sexuality, while women have usually had a more repressed sexuality, explains Garcia. In fact, even though there is data that shows that men masturbate more than women, the variation in desire is very similar between the two groups. It is curious how there are women who have bought into this story, which clearly draws on the historical sexism that allowed men to express their sexuality, while women had to appear submissive, explains Saez, who acknowledges that this dynamic also affects men negatively: They feel the pressure of having to initiate sexual encounters, and shame when they experience a lack of desire. Lubrication equals excitement A common mistake during sexual encounters, and one that makes women feel uncomfortable, is thinking that not being sufficiently lubricated means that they are not enjoying themselves. Arousal is just one of many influencing factors. Whether the vagina is lubricated or not also depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle, or on age. It is normal, for example, that postmenopausal women experience greater vaginal dryness, explains Larrazabal. Emily Nagoski, Ph.D., explains in the book Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life that the notion that physiology can prove whether someone likes something sexual is an ancient fallacy that has its roots in the myth that conception was the pleasurable part of sex for a woman. However, the most likely explanation for the inconsistency between lubrication and arousal is the so-called preparation hypothesis, theorized more than a decade ago by the University of Lethbridge, Canada, and later confirmed with a study published in 2020 by the same researchers. This hypothesis suggests that the female genitals respond more or less to any sex-related stimulus in order to prepare for sexual activity, and that lubrication serves to prevent injury, without necessarily indicating or promoting sexual interest and motivation. A woman can have a lot of lubrication at any given time, but no sexual arousal. And on the contrary, she can be very aroused and not be lubricated, concludes Larrazabal. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 This picture taken around 5 kilometres west from the Turkish Syrian border city of Karkamis in the southern region of Gaziantep, on August 25, 2016 shows Turkish Army tanks driving to the Syrian Turkish border town of Jarabulus. Turkey carried out airstrikes targeting Kurdish militants in neighboring Iraq and Syria on Saturday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said, coming a day after an attack on a Turkish military base in Iraq killed nine Turkish soldiers. Turkey often launches strikes against targets in Syria and Iraq it believes to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, a banned Kurdish separatist group that has waged an insurgency against Turkey since the 1980s. The defense ministry said that aircraft struck targets in Metina, Hakurk, Gara and Qandil in northern Iraq, but didnt specify areas in Syria. It said fighter jets destroyed caves, bunkers, shelters and oil facilities to eliminate terrorist attacks against our people and security forces ... and to ensure our border security. The statement added many militants were neutralized in the strikes. On Friday night, attackers attempted to infiltrate a military base in northern Iraqs semi-autonomous Kurdish region, killing five soldiers. Four others died later of critical injuries. The Turkish government said that 36 militants were killed in Iraq, and nine others in Syria, in the 24 hours following the attack. There was no immediate comment from the PKK, the government in Baghdad or the Kurdish regions administration. Turkey launched Operation Claw-Lock in northern Iraq in April 2022, during which it established several bases in Duhok Governorate. Baghdad has repeatedly protested the presence of Turkish troops and called for their withdrawal. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed his condolences for the deaths of the Turkish soldiers. We will fight to the end against the PKK terrorist organization within and outside our borders, he tweeted. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later chaired a security meeting in Istanbul at which Turkeys counterterrorism strategy was evaluated, the government said in statement. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced police had detained 113 people suspected of ties to the PKK following raids across 32 Turkish provinces. He added that six people were arrested after police identified 110 social media accounts that praised the separatist terrorist organization for provocative purposes or had spread misleading information. Three weeks ago, PKK-affiliated militants tried to break into a Turkish base in northern Iraq, according to Turkish officials, leaving six soldiers dead. The following day, six more Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes. Turkey retaliated by launching strikes against sites that officials said were associated with the PKK in Iraq and Syria. Defense Minister Yasar Guler said at the time that dozens of Kurdish militants were killed in airstrikes and land assaults. It wasnt immediately clear if Friday nights attack and the one three weeks earlier targeted the same base. The Rudaw news website, based in Erbil in northern Iraq, reported that the base attacked on Friday was located on Mount Zap in Amedi district, which lies 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) from the Turkish border. Meanwhile, Turkeys state-run news agency Anadolu said that a senior PKK militant was neutralized in Iraq. Faik Aydin was targeted in an operation run by Turkish intelligence agency MIT, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) inside the Turkey-Iraq frontier, Anadolu reported. The PKK, which maintains bases in northern Iraq, is considered a terror organization by Turkeys Western allies, including the United States. Tens of thousands of people have died since the start of the conflict in 1984. Turkey and the U.S., however, disagree on the status of the Syrian Kurdish groups, which have been allied with Washington in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition On hot May days in the Sixties, when Jennifer Clement was a little girl, she used to bathe in Frida Kahlos tub. Together with Ruth Maria, Diego Riveras granddaughter, she would fill it with water and treat it as a swimming pool, a place in which to cool off. Back then in Mexico bubble bath didnt exist, so they would tip in half a bottle of old shampoo and kick and stir and churn. They didnt know that the bathtub had once contained the great Surrealists body, too, and was preserved in a special and wild self-portrait. It was just normal life, Clement tells me from her second home in San Miguel de Allende, a small storied city in the Mexican highlands. Were talking via our screens ahead of the release of her new memoir, The Promised Party: Kahlo, Basquiat & Me. Comprising brief and rhythmic chapters of anecdotes and recollections, its a tale of two cities, as well as a tale of the writer as a young woman, from her bohemian childhood in 1960s and 1970s Mexico City to her early adult years in 1980s New York City. Its also a tale of the artists and writers she met along the way, and those whose legacies lingered both physically and in her imagination. Clement, eloquent and assured in conversation, is the former president of the worldwide writers association PEN International, as well as the author of multiple books, from novels to poetry collections. The Promised Party sees her return to some of the territory of perhaps her most popular publication: her first, Widow Basquiat, a memoir about Jean-Michel Basquiats relationship with muse and mutual friend Suzanne Mallouk Dua Lipa has cited it as one of her favourites. In person, Clement is the same as she is on the page curious and candid and eager to talk: this is her first interview about the memoir. Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fear Street fans rejoice: another film adaptation of RL Steins horror book series is in the works. Stein himself shared the happy news on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday (13 January). The author, best known for his much-loved Goosebumps book series, wrote: Movie news: I can finally announce that a new Fear Street movie is about to go into production for Netflix. Stein, 80, revealed that the film will be an adaptation of his 1992 Fear Street novel The Prom Queen. A spring nightsoft moonlightfive beautiful Prom Queen candidatesdancing couples at the Shadyside High prom these should be the ingredients for romance. But stir in one brutal murder then another, and another and the recipe quickly turns to horror, reads the book description, as per Stines official website. Lizzie McVay realises that someone is murdering the five Prom Queen candidates one by one and that she may be next on the list! Can she stop the murderer before the dance is over for good? This will be the fourth Fear Street film adapted by Netflix, following on from the huge success of Fear Street Part One: 1994, Fear Street Part Two: 1978, and Fear Street Part Three: 1666. The 2021 trilogy, led by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink and Kiana Madeira, followed a group of teenagers living in Shadyside, Ohio, whose lives are turned upside down by the ghostly hauntings that plague their town. Directed by Leigh Janiak, the films were released within one week of one another in July 2021. They were received positively by fans, who applauded the shows LGBTQ+ representation. The Prom Queen will feature a new cast of characters, but no actors have yet been announced. The first three Fear Street films received 84 per cent, 87 per cent, and 88 per cent critics scores on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, for Parts One, Two, and Three, respectively. (Netflix) The first two instalments received four stars from The Independents film critic Clarisse Loughrey, with the third entry receiving a middling three-star review. The film is laced with giddy memories of childhood sleepovers, trembling hands holding flashlights up to faces, and creaky, old urban legends so familiar that they gain a life of their own, wrote Loughrey in her review of Part One. A release date for Fear Street 4 is yet to be announced. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) pulled off a historic win with voters shrugging off Chinas concern about presidential candidate Lai Chinge-te, Beijing attempted to downplay his influence. Taiwans current vice president, Mr Lai, issued a defiant message to China as he declared victory on Saturday evening. This is a night that belongs to Taiwan. We managed to keep Taiwan on the map of the world, he said at a rally after the declaration of results. The election has shown the world the commitment of the Taiwanese people to democracy, which I hope China can understand, he added. Mr Lais DPP has consistently rejected Chinas territorial claims over Taiwan, while he has been denounced by Beijing. The Chinese government responded to his win by calling Taiwan Chinas Taiwan and adding that their commitment to reunification remained as firm as rock. Following his win, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office issued a statement saying Mr Lais win would not change the basic landscape of cross-strait relations. In a statement carried on Chinas state Xinhua news agency, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the office, said the results showed the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent mainstream public opinion on the island. Confetti flies over the stage and crowd as Taiwans Vice President and presidential-elect from the Democratic Progressive Party Lai Ching-te (Getty Images) The electorates were mainly choosing between the governing DPP, which champions Taiwans separate identity and rejects Chinas territorial claims, and the opposition Nationalist Party, Kuomintang, which wants to expand trade ties with China. The result showed that Mr Lai won more than 40 per cent of the vote, while the KMT candidate, Hou Yu-ih garnered 33.49 per cent, indicating support for DPPs view on Taiwans claim for sovereignty, leaving Beijing visibility uncomfortable. The Chinese embassy in Japan also reacted strongly after the countrys foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa issued a statement congratulating Taiwans new president-elect. In a statement published on the Japanese foreign ministrys website on Saturday, after the results of the Taiwan presidential election were announced, Ms Kamikawa wished Mr Lai on his win, calling it "an extremely crucial partner and an important friend." In response, the Chinese embassy in Japan, without mentioning Mr Lai or acknowledging his victory, described Ms Kamikawas comments as "a serious interference in Chinas internal affairs", according to a statement published on Sunday on the embassys official WeChat account. "We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side," the embassy said. Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China. But Japans alliance with the United States, Taiwans most important backer, and its proximity to the island, along with recent tensions in its ties with China, have prompted Tokyo to pursue closer ties with Taipei. Taiwans President-elect Lai Ching-te (L) and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim attend a rally outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Taipei on 13 January 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) "The government of Japan will work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan," Ms Kamikawa said in her statement. The Chinese embassy said Japan should refrain from sending any "wrong signals" to "Taiwan independence" forces, a label Beijing uses to describe Mr Lai and his political party. Mr Lai said he would maintain the status quo in relations across the Taiwan Strait, but that he was "determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China". South Korea hoped for peace and stability to be maintained across the Taiwan Strait, Yonhap news agency said on Sunday, citing a South Korean foreign ministry official in response to Mr Lais election. "We hope to continue to enhance practical cooperation with Taiwan in various areas," the unidentified official was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, several western nations, including Britain and Canada also congratulated Mr Lai on his win. Issuing a statement, Ottawa said it looked forward to advancing people-to-people, science, trade & investment ties, while UK foreign secretary David Cameron expressed hope that Mr Lai will renew efforts to resolve differences with China peacefully. "The elections today are testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy," he said. "I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion." The US walked a diplomatic tight-rope with president Joe Biden saying we do not support independence, ahead of the polls opening. Washington had warned "it would be unacceptable" for "any" country to interfere in the election. Russia maintained its stance saying it continues to view Taiwan as an integral part of China. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Taiwanese voters swept the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te to power, rebuffing China which labelled him a troublemaker and a dangerous separatist. However, despite sweeping over 40 per cent of the total votes and winning a historic third term for his party, Mr Lai is expected to face a tough four years in office as DPP lost majority in the legislature. DPP finished one seat fewer than the Kuomintang or Nationalist Party, neither holding a majority, giving the Taiwan Peoples Party a relatively new force that won eight of the 113 seats a possible swing vote on legislation. Both the opposition parties want to re-start a vexed service trade deal with China, while the DPP rejects Chinas territorial claims. This is complicated further as Beijing sees the DPP as its nemesis and a major obstacle to its goal of bringing the island of 23 million people under its control. The hiccups expected down the road were evident at the outset, as the verbal sparring between Beijing and Taipei began soon after the election results. China wasted little time in pointing out that most electors, almost 60 per cent, voted against Mr Lai, with its Taiwan Affairs Office saying that the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion" on Taiwan. Taiwan was quick to condemn the "fallacious comments" by China. Taiwans President-elect Lai Ching-te and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim (AFP via Getty Images) A statement from Taiwans foreign ministry accused its Chinese counterpart and Taiwan Affairs Office of falsehoods in the respective statements they issued on Saturday night. It took issue specifically with Chinas often-repeated line that Taiwan is a domestic Chinese issue. China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and says it should not even have a foreign ministry or any official relations with foreign governments. The Chinese foreign ministry said in its statement: "The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change." Taiwan said that statement "is completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values". It added: "Such cliches are not worth refuting." Lin Fei-fan, a former DPP deputy secretary general who is now a senior member of a party think tank, says hes "fairly worried" that the new government will have a "very tough" four years, especially on China-related issues. He said opposition lawmakers, who together form a legislative majority, could step up exchanges with China and ask to re-start a controversial service trade pact which Taiwan shelved a decade ago in the face of mass protests. "Thats what concerns us," he said. "Local governments and parliament could form a line to pressure the central government." Supporters of Taiwans vice president and president-elect from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Lai Ching-te (C) wait for him to speak at the partys headquarters on 13 January 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan (Getty Images) Both Taiwans largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) and small Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP) campaigned to re-start the trade services pact. Neither have confirmed if they will work together in parliament, though the TPPs chairman Ko Wen-je said on Saturday they will play the role of a "critical minority". The defeated KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih did not directly answer a question on the two parties teaming up on Sunday, saying only that "opposition parties have the responsibility of being opposition parties". Lai I-chung, president of the Taipei-based think-tank the Prospect Foundation, said China was seeking to justify its approach to Taiwan by claiming they were able to end the DPPs parliament majority. "In my view this means they will continue its hard line towards Taiwan. Theres no relenting on the pressure in my view, by China, and so the situation will be tense. But I dont think that will lead to conflict but of course China will make everything difficult for William Lai," he said, using Mr Lais English name. Over the past year-and-a-half, China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan and its forces regularly operate in the Taiwan Strait. China has also restricted or made more expensive some trade with Taiwan. The DPP had called all that election interference. China says election interference allegations were DPP "dirty tricks" to win votes. Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwans top military think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said that he does not expect any military action from Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming months. "He will observe what Lai Ching-te says leading up to his inauguration in May," Mr Su said. "The Chinese Communist Party is a super realist. What it cannot bear is political risk." China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which it calls "sacred" Chinese territory, under its control. Victor Gao, a professor at Soochow University in China noted that 60 per cent of voters did not support Mr Lai and the KMT had won more seats in parliament, meaning the elections "have not created a storm". "It is very clear that China has unlimited patience in promoting peaceful reunification and zero-tolerance for any push for Taiwan independence," he said. "In the end, the party that pulls the trigger will not be China, but people who push for Taiwan independence." Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea fired a ballistic missile off its east coast, South Koreas military said on Sunday. While the countrys Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the launch, he gave no details on where the weapon landed or related damage. A projectile, believed to be the missile, has already fallen, according to the Japanese coast guard, which also said it could be a ballistic missile, reported Reuters. North Korea military offensive comes days after it fired a barrage of artillery shells near the tense sea border with South Korea, prompting Seoul to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. It is the Norths first missile launch since it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon, in December last year. The Hwasong-18 is designed to strike the mainland US. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are running high after Pyongyang launched its first military spy satellite in November. In a key ruling party meeting in late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un vowed to expand his nuclear arsenal and launch additional spy satellites to cope with what he called US-led confrontational moves. Experts say Mr Kim will likely further raise animosities by test-firing more missiles to try to raise the stakes in the standoff with his rivals and influence the results of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November. Additional reporting by agencies For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A domestic flight of Japans All Nippon Airways returned to its departure airport on Saturday after a crack was found on the cockpit window of the Boeing 737-800 aircraft midair. Flight 1182 was en route to Toyama airport but headed back to the Sapporo-New Chitose airport after the crack was found on the outermost of four layers of windows surrounding the cockpit, a spokesperson said, adding there were no injuries reported among the 59 passengers and six crew. The aircraft was not one of Boeings 737 MAX 9 airplanes. These have been in the spotlight after a cabin panel broke off a new Alaska Airlines jet in mid-air last week. The crack was not something that affected the flights control or pressurisation, the ANA spokesperson said. Last week, a panel of the plane called a door plug flew off in the middle of an Alaska Airlines flight forcing the passenger jet to make an emergency landing. Both United Airlines and Alaska Airlines later said they found multiple loose parts on Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft. The US aviation regulator on Friday extended the grounding of Boeing 737 MAX 9 airplanes indefinitely for new safety checks and announced it will tighten oversight of Boeing itself. Amid chaos over a panel flying off a Boeing 737 Max 9 airplane mid-flight, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also said it planned to increase oversight of the production and manufacturing of the aircraft. Following the incident, the FAA immediately launched an investigation into Boeing and grounded all 171 Boeing 737-9 Max planes. Additional reporting by agencies Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} On Sunday 14 January, there will be a new king and queen of Denmark after the current ruler, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, steps down. On New Years Eve, Queen Margrethe II announced she was abdicating the throne and her son Crown Prince Frederik would become King Frederik X, while his wife Crown Princess Mary, his queen consort, will be known as Queen Mary. Unlike King Charles IIIs coronation, the Danish royal household will be opting for a simple ceremony. Instead of having a formal coronation, there will be a proclamation ceremony at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen on 14 January, exactly 52 years after Margrethes coronation. Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will announce the royal couple at the palace, and the pair will appear on the balcony in front of the public. A special cannon salute will celebrate the occasion, and the national flag is lowered and raised again at the royal palaces. Prior to the unveiling of the new monarchy on the balcony, the new king and queen, in addition to Queen Margrethe, will join the Danish Government, Council of State Secretary in the Council of State for the formal transfer of power and the queen will sign an official declaration of her abdication. The royal family will also participate in a special session of parliament on 15 January, as well as a celebratory church service at Aarhus Cathedral on Sunday 21 January. Royal festivities will kick off midday in Denmark on 14 January, around 7.30am ET. There will be no television broadcast of the events, but many news outlets will be reporting live throughout the day. The newly appointed King Frederik is also expected to make a speech to the public, after which the king and queen will hold an event with a small number of guests. Another person in attendance will be Frederiks brother Prince Joachim of Denmark, who is set to attend his mothers abdication without his wife and children, nearly two years after his wife and children were stripped of their royal titles. Prince Joachim will be there, but the children go to school, there is no special reason, a palace spokesperson told Hello Magazine. Last year, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie relocated to the United States, just nine months after the monarch stripped the princes four children, Nikolai, Felix, Henrik and Athena, of their His/Her Highness royal titles. Queen Margrethes second son shares Count Henrik and Countess Athena with Marie, and his older sons Count Felix and Count Nikolai with his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Frederiksborg. At the time, Queen Margrethe apologised to the members of her family who were left saddened by her decision. In recent days, there have been strong reactions to my decision about the future use of titles for Prince Joachims four children. That affects me, of course, she wrote. My decision has been a long time coming. With my 50 years on the throne, it is natural both to look back and to look ahead. It is my duty and my desire as Queen to ensure that the monarchy always shapes itself in keeping with the times. She continued: Sometimes, this means that difficult decisions must be made, and it will always be difficult to find the right moment. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Following the abdication of Queen Margrethe II, her son - Crown Prince Frederik - has ascended the throne as Denmarks new monarch. His wife Crown Princess Mary has officially become Denmarks newest queen - making her the first Australian-born queen of a European monarchy. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark shockingly announced her abdication in her traditional New Years Eve speech earlier this month. In the televised speech, she explained that her decision came after back surgery she underwent in February 2023. Her eldest son succeeded the throne on 14 January - 52 years to the day she became queen following the death of her father, King Frederik IX, in 1972. The King of Denmark, whose full name is Frederik Andre Henrik Christian, has been married to his wife since 2004. They share four children together: Crown Prince Christian, 18, Princess Isabella, 16, and 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine. Prior to their relationship, Queen Mary led a successful career outside of the monarchy. Ever since her chance encounter with King Frederik at a pub, she has become a vocal advocate for several social issues - including taking part in anti-bullying campaigns, advocating for immigrants, and voicing her support for LGBTQ+ rights. Not only has the new queen worked with many charities and organisations, but shes also been recognised numerous times as one of the worlds most fashionable people. Heres everything to know about Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark Mary, Queen of Denmark was born Mary Elizabeth Donaldson on 5 February 1972 at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Battery Point, Hobart - the capital city of Tasmania. She is the youngest of four children to Scottish parents, Henrietta (nee Horne) and John Dalgleish Donaldson. Her mother served as an executive assistant to the vice-chancellor of the University of Tasmania, while her father was a mathematics professor. Henrietta died in November 1997 following complications from heart surgery. In 2001, her father married British author and novelist Susan Elizabeth Donaldson (nee Horwood). At two years old, Marys family moved from Australia to Texas when her father began working as a professor of applied mathematics at NASAs Lyndon B Johnson Space Centre in Houston. She then moved back to Tasmania where she continued her primary education and secondary schooling. From 1990 to 1994, Mary was a student at the University of Tasmania, where she graduated with a combined Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degree. She then enrolled in a graduate programme and completed her certificates in advertising from the Advertising Federation of Australia and direct marketing from the Australian Direct Marketing Association. King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark visit Seoul, South Korea, on 10 May 2012 (Getty Images) Following her education, Mary embarked on a career in advertising and worked for several Australian and global advertising agencies. In Melbourne, she was promoted from trainee to account executive at DDB Needham - a worldwide marketing communications network. After her mothers death, she relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland, and began working as an account manager with Rapp Collins Worldwide. However, soon after she moved back to Australia and worked multiple jobs as an account director. The King and Queen of Denmark first met in 2000. They came across each other at the Slip Inn in Sydney, where Frederik was visiting with his brother - Prince Joachim - and other members of European nobility during the 2000 Summer Olympics. At the time, Mary was working at real estate firm Belle Property as a sales director. The pair were reportedly introduced through a mutual friend; Prince Felipe of Spain, who was travelling with then-Crown Prince Frederik, and who knew the sister of Marys flatmate. Frederik and Mary felt an instant connection and began a long distance relationship shortly after first meeting, with Frederik making discreet visits to Australia. The couple were able to keep their relationship out of the spotlight, until Danish weekly magazine Billed Bladet named Mary as Frederiks girlfriend. By 2002, Mary was teaching English at a business school in Paris. When it came time to make her permanent move to Denmark, she began working for Microsoft Business Solutions as a project consultant for business development, marketing, and communications. On 24 September 2003, the Danish court announced that Queen Margrethe II intended to give her consent to their marriage at a State Council meeting the following month. In October that year, Frederik and Mary became officially engaged. He reportedly proposed with an engagement ring that featured a 1.5 carat emerald-cut diamond and two emerald-cut rubies, invoking the colour of Denmarks flag. Their wedding took place on 14 May 2004 at the Church of Our Lady in Copenhagen, the citys cathedral. Prior to their nuptials, Mary was granted Danish citizenship and had converted from Presbyterianism to the Lutheran Church of Denmark. Marys two sisters, Jane and Patricia, served as bridesmaids, while Fredericks younger brother, Prince Joachim, was his best man. Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark wave from the balcony of Christian VIIs Palace after their wedding on 14 May 2004 in Copenhagen, Denmark (Getty Images) The future crown princess wore a wedding dress crafted by Danish fashion designer Uffe Frank, while her veil was previously worn by Crown Princess Margareta of Sweden in 1905 and her daughter Ingrid in 1935. The veil, made from Irish lace, was even worn by her mother-in-law during her wedding to French diplomat, Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, in 1967. Mary was the first and only person not born into the royal family to wear the veil, while her tiara was a gift from Queen Margrethe II. Upon their wedding day, Mary was given the title of Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark. The event was celebrated by the public as a fairy tale union between a member of the royal family and a commoner. Their first child, Crown Prince Christian Valdemar Henri John, was born on 15 October 2005 in Copenhagen, followed by Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe on 21 April 2007. Mary then gave birth to twins Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander and Princess Josephine Sophia Ivalo Mathilda on 8 January 2011. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark with Queen Margrethe II and their children in April 2022 (Getty Images) In September 2007, she established her own charitable organisation, The Mary Foundation, which focuses on initiatives such as anti-bullying, advocating for domestic violence survivors, and combating loneliness. To mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in 2016, Mary delivered a speech on LGBTQ+ rights in Copenhagen. During her speech, she called for an end to discrimination, oppression, and violence against people based on their sexual orientation and gender identity. Two years later, she delivered another address about LGBTQ+ rights at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. That same year, she became the first member of the royal family to attend the Danish Rainbow awards - an annual award ceremony organised by Rainbow Business Denmark, to pay tribute to individuals and organisations that are creating better living conditions for the LGBTQ+ community. She attended subsequent awards ceremonies in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, she served as patron of WorldPride Copenhagen - carrying out numerous engagements in connection with the event and even giving the closing speech for the week-long celebrations that August. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark delivers speech during WorldPride parade in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 21 August 2021 (Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Ima) Marys sense of fashion and style was acknowledged by Vanity Fair in 2010, when she was named on its International Best-Dressed List. Shes been featured in several fashion magazines, including Vogue Australia and German Vogue. During a Council of State in October 2019, her mother-in-law requested to appoint Mary a rigsforstander - a person who functions as regent when the monarch is unable to perform royal duties. After having sworn to respect the Danish constitution, Mary became the first person not born into the royal family to assume the position of rigsforstander since Queen Ingrid of Sweden in 1972. Following Frederiks ascension to the throne on 14 January, her husband has assumed the new title of King of Denmark while Mary will be henceforth known as the Queen of Denmark. The Danish Royal House has confirmed that their eldest child, Prince Christian, will also be given the title change of Crown Prince Christian. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Prince William insisted on a royal walkabout with Prince Harry and Meghan after Queen Elizabeths death despite it being awkward, a new book has claimed. The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by the Sussexes as they greeted members of the public outside Windsor Castle days after the queen died on 8 September 2022. The appearance surprised fans amid reports of a growing rift between the Fab Four as the royals were jointly known before Harry and Meghan resigned as senior members and relocated to the US in 2020. Royal biographer Robert Hardmans new book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story described the remarkable scene at Cambridge Gate on the castles Long Walk on 10 September 2022, including details about what went on behind the scenes that day. Citing conversations with the princes closest advisors, Mr Hardman claims the walkabout was very much Williams idea because he felt it was the right thing to do for his grandmother despite the awkwardness of the engagement. It was very much Williams idea, Mr Hardman writes. He had organised it in about two hours flat. He had been giving it a lot of thought and he said: I know its awkward but isnt it right in the context of my grandmothers death? The Waleses and Sussexes on the long Walk at Windsor Castle (POOL/AFP via Getty) I know he asked a couple of other people, too. The walkabout lasted 40 minutes, as the couples greeted well-wishers and mourners who had gathered outside Windsor to pay tribute to the queen. About their joint appearance, a member of the Waleses team reportedly told Mr Hardman: I dont think either couple found it easy. The Windsor walkabout preceded the release of Harry and Meghans bombshell Netflix docuseries and the dukes tell-all memoir, further straining their relationship with the royal family. Elsewhere in Mr Hardmans book, which has been serialised by Mail Online, the author reveals the moment Charles learnt about his mothers death. Then the Prince of Wales, Charles had been returning to Balmoral castle after picking mushrooms when he was informed that Queen Elizabeth had died. Charles, who had gone out to gather mushrooms and clear his head after seeing his mother, received the news as he was driving back to their Scottish holiday home, when his most senior aide received a phone call. Charles pulled over and was addressed for the first time as Your Majesty, according to Mr Hardmans biography. Queen Elizabeth IIs final moments were described as very peaceful in a memo written by her private secretary, which also revealed she wouldnt have been aware of anything. According to the document, which is a part of Mr Hardmans book, Sir Edward Young wrote: Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldnt have been aware of anything. No pain. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu wants the Indian military personnel stationed in his archipelago nation withdrawn by March 15, an official with his office said Sunday. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, a presidential aide, told reporters that Muizzu proposed the removal at a meeting with officials of the Indian Embassy in the Maldives and other visiting Indian officials. The move comes a day after Muizzu returned from China, India's regional rival, and made comments critical of India. Muizzu said his county's small size is not a license for anyone to bully the Maldives. His comments were an apparent response to social media calls in India to boycott Maldives tourism after three Maldives deputy ministers made derogatory posts on social media against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The dispute began last week when Modi posted pictures on X, formerly known as Twitter, of himself strolling on the beach and snorkeling in Lakshadweep, an Indian archipelago that his government believes has untapped potential for tourism. Some in the Maldives saw it as an attempt to lure tourists away from its sandy white beaches and luxury island resorts. Muizzu suspended the deputy ministers, saying their comments did not reflect government policy. However, Muizzu on his return from China announced plans to free Maldives of its dependence on India and find alternate places for Maldivians to obtain education and health services and import staples and medicines. Currently, Maldivians go to hospitals in India and Sri Lanka under the government- sponsored free health program and many of the country's staple foods are imported from India. Muizzu said Maldivians will now be able to also go to hospitals in Thailand and the United Arab Emirates and staples will be imported from Turkey. He also said medicines will be imported directly from manufacturers in Europe and the United States. India sent the highest number of tourists to the Maldives last year with a share of 11%. But Muizzu said China used to send the most before teh pandemic and steps will be taken to double that number. India and China are competing for influence in the Maldives, which is located strategically along a key shipping route between the east and the west. At least 75 Indian military personnel are stationed in the Maldives and Muizzu, who is considered pro-China, campaigned on a promise of removing them in the run-up to the presidential election last November. His party had waged an India Out campaign for months. Muizzu had accused his election rival and predecessor of compromising national sovereignty by allowing India to have its military personnel in the Maldivian islands. Known activities of the Indian military include operating two aircraft donated by India and assisting in the rescue of people stranded or faced with calamities at sea. Regarding the donated aircraft, Ibrahim said: If military personnel are here, military people will have to leave this country and its okay if civilians ... are here to operate them, thats whats being discussed in these meetings. On Sunday, progressive sociologist Bernardo Arevalo, 65, is set to be sworn in as president of Guatemala in a ceremony at the Miguel Angel Asturias Cultural Center in Guatemala City, the capital. If there are no last-minute surprises something that few dare to rule out, after a long transitional period loaded with judicial obstacles, which the president-elect himself denounced as an attempted coup detat the leader of the Seed Movement will be given the presidential sash in an event attended by a dozen Latin American leaders and the King of Spain. Arevalo a diplomat with expertise in conflict resolution, who has also been a legislator will assume the presidency with the main promise of fighting corruption. He aims to do this to subsequently tackle the problems of the most populous country in Central America. Guatemala has more than 17 million inhabitants, high rates of poverty and inequality, as well as great development needs in the fields of education, healthcare and infrastructure. The new presidents campaign brought him face-to-face with what in Guatemala they call the corrupt pact an informal alliance of politicians, bureaucrats and business elites who protect each other in order to maintain power. The most recent signs of this confrontation came after Arevalos unexpected victory in the first round of the presidential elections in June 2023. When he triumphed in the runoff in August, the Public Ministry headed by Attorney General Consuelo Porra began a series of attempts to derail the transition of power through judicial means. View of Guatemala's Congress on Friday, guarded by the police before Arevalo's inauguration. Monica Gonzalez Islas These attempts failed, mainly thanks to the citizenrys firm defense of democracy and the electoral will of Guatemalans. Indigenous movements mobilized throughout the country to protect democracy. For more than 100 days, these organizations held different actions, including a sit-in in front of the Public Ministry in Guatemala City. The international community also condemned the attempts by the attorney general to prevent the inauguration of the president-elect and disqualify his party. While a ruling issued by the Constitutional Court in mid-December offered guarantees for Arevalo to be sworn in on Sunday, Guatemalans still face uncertainty about whether the inauguration will be respected, or whether powerful groups will attempt to stop it with some last-ditch judicial attack. Among the unknowns is also whether the outgoing president Alejandro Giammattei, under whose government there has been an increase in authoritarianism will attend the inauguration. There are also questions about whether the Seed Movement will be able to operate in a Congress in which it only has 23 seats out of 160. A government with high expectations and no honeymoon period In any case, the team assembled by Arevalo recognizes that, even if one obstacle course is ending, another is beginning. We understand that whats coming is much heavier. Its not going to be easy being opposed by several state institutions that declared themselves to be coup plotters from day one, laments Andrea Reyes, an elected representative for the Seed Movement. The 33-year-old lawyer who emerged from the student movements has spent the last six months defending her party from attacks levied by the Public Ministry. Andrea Reyes, elected representative of the Seed Movement, during the interview in Guatemala City on Friday. Monica Gonzalez Islas Arevalo has assured the public that, after taking office, he will demand the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who back in 2022 was sanctioned by the United States for participating in significant acts of corruption. One of my first acts if not the first will be to demand the resignation of the attorney general, the president-elect said a few weeks ago. That will, in all likelihood, be his first response to the resistance put up by the corrupt pact. Reyes affirms that the arrival of the Seed Movement to the executive branch represents a new way of doing politics. She says that governance will now be based on the dialogue of ideas. According to her, the past 40 years have been based on negotiations and money. Politics has been a business and a happy confluence of interests of the people who have an interest in controlling some type of state institution. Thats what has driven politics in Guatemala since 1985 until now. Its somewhat complicated for ideologically-motivated people to come to power and begin to establish a legislative framework so that Guatemala can move forward in accordance with our principles. Its unprecedented, she says. Reyes vows that the new way of doing politics will involve speaking with different actors and reaching consensus. In addition to achieving governability with part of the judiciary against it and with a minority in Congress political analyst Raquel Zelaya believes that the Arevalo administration will have to learn to manage the overexpectations of the sector of the population that supported the Seed Movement. Arevalo will also need to remember to give back to the Indigenous movements. The Indigenous population played their part. Theyve shown impressive civic capacity and they were fundamental for some of the triumphs [that were achieved] and the obstacles that were overcome, says Zelaya, the chair of the Association for Research and Social Studies (ASIES) at the Rafael Landivar University. The first decision of the Arevalo government in this regard disappointed a sector of the population. It was the announcement of his cabinet, a parity team of seven men and seven women, among which there is only one Indigenous person, the Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, Miriam Roque. The president-elect himself acknowledged that he was indebted to the pluriculturality of the country, and said that he plans to incorporate these community members at other levels of government. Meanwhile, the Board of Directors of Communal Mayors of the 48 Cantons of Totonicapan, the Indigenous organization that has led the resistance in defense of the democracy promoted by his presidency, has regretted that the Cabinet does not reflect the peoples that make up the country, the Maya, the Garifuna and the Xinka. For Zelaya beyond the appointment of ministers the administration must implement policies that help to achieve a pluralistic Guatemala, as was done during the time of the peace agreements. In that sense, she advocates for the pro-dialogue nature that Arevalo has demonstrated in his career. Arevalo as a conciliatory character has always brought different positions together. Thats been the strength of his international career. But I believe that he has a party base that on the contrary, due to its youth, without much experience is quite adverse to these positions. So, hell also have to manage those currents of thought that are quite strong within his party, Zelaya opines, in reference to the different sectors of the Seed Movement. In addition, Zelaya says government transparency is key. Thats how he will earn respect, she argues. The most realistic thing is for him to promise and deliver on a transparent executive, which, in the long run, is the same as fighting corruption. The issue is its deeply rooted and thats why there are overexpectations. View of the historic center of Guatemala City on Friday. Monica Gonzalez Islas Guatemala needs this administration to be successful. These are the last chances we have for a minimum democratic balance, adds Zelaya. If this administration does not succeed, our situation could be very precarious because organized crime has become very empowered. Many of the incoming district deputies are linked to them, and we have to pay much more attention to them than any other issue. Above all, the new president will have to deal with high expectations, which even legislators from his party such as Andrea Reyes recognize. I feel like were pulling the country out of the mud. Its very complicated. The fear we have is that, by the end of the [governing] period, well have spent all our time defending the government, without having been allowed to work. Thats a reality that well have to deal with in the next four years to guarantee sufficient results to get Guatemala out of underdevelopment. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Nicaraguan government said Sunday it released Bishop Rolando Alvarez and 18 clergy members from jail and handed them over to Vatican authorities. The government said in a press statement the release was part of negotiations with the Vatican. In the past, imprisoned priests have been quickly flown to Rome. The government of President Daniel Ortega said those released Sunday also included Bishop Isidoro Mora. Ortegas government sent 222 prisoners to the United States in February in a deal brokered by the U.S. government and later stripped those prisoners of their citizenship. Bishop Alvarez has remained in prison for more than a year after being convicted of conspiracy and receiving a 26-year prison sentence. He refused to get on the February flight to the United States. Alvarez, one of the country's most outspoken clergy members, had refused to get on the flight without being able to consult with other bishops. Since repressing popular protests in 2018 that called for his resignation, President Daniel Ortegas government has systematically silenced opposing voices and zeroed in on the church. In October, Nicaragua released a dozen Catholic priests jailed on a variety of charges and sent them to Rome following an agreement with the Vatican. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fast and slow, Milan designers experimented with pacing for next fall and winter, many falling on deliberate and somber collections with a focus on a tailored silhouette. Some scenes from Saturday's shows on the second day of Milan Fashion Week of mostly menswear previews for Fall-Winter 2024-25: DOLCE&GABBANA SETS A ROMANTIC PACE Dolce&Gabbana slowed to a romantic pace in a new collection featuring richly elegant looks fit for a period drama. Designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana revamped the showroom since last season, opening up a double stairway in the middle of the runway allowing models a dramatic entrance from below. The predominant deep night black color palette for the next fall and winter heightened the textures and emphasized the silhouettes: soft furry coats, silken shirts with high necks or deep plunging V's, poet blousons tied with a bow, shimmering sequin covered suits. Trousers tucked into leather boots projected the air of a country manor surveyor. Suits coats were double-breasted, with a silken underlayer providing contrast. Formal trousers were set off by cummerbunds. With the focus on tailoring, accents were few: tassels on a scarf, gleaming floral broaches, spare use of lace and sequins. Trailing bows added flourish. The mostly black collection was broken up by gray, interludes of white and more casual moments of denim and camel. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sanchez, were among the front-row guests. Sanchezs son, Nikko Gonzalez, walked in the show. MSGM CELEBRATES SPEED The Milan fashion morning commute started in a metro station where MSGM creative director Massimo Giorgetti considered how the world has speeded up in a collection that celebrates Milans oldest subway line but also the passage into adulthood. It is an ironic reflection on the importance of finding some time, because we are asked to go so fast, Giorgetti said before the show. The collections key motif was a curved red handrail designed for Milan's 60-year-old red line by the late architect Franco Albini. Symbolizing how the subway speeded life in the city, it traces a graceful track down the front of coats and was worn as a broach, carried as a bag. Silken shirts and shorts featured digital prints made from Google AI technology, which is speeding creative impulses. The collection also marked the sometimes impatient passage to adulthood, from streetwear to formal wear via knitwear briefs and matching hoodies woven with silver tinsel, striped tops gleaming with clear sequins under suits and a casual suit jacket over a graphic shirt and jeans. To close the show, models mimicked video game characters, striding bunched together through the underground tunnel to the Super Mario Bros. soundtrack. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Danish Queen Margrethe II will officially step down today (14 January) after 52 years on the throne. The monarch made the announcement on New Years Eve that she would become the first in almost 900 years of Danish history to give up the title, citing her recent back surgery as one of the decision-making factors. Today she will sign an abdication at a state council, making Crown Prince Frederik the new kng. The Danish prime minister will mark Frederiks new reign from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace and the King will be part of a carriage ride, however, there will be no major ceremony, unlike in the UK. Local news sources reported that Frederik only learned of Queen Margrethes decision three days before it became public. Frederik has trained in all three branches of the Danish Armed Forces, and has been a big advocate for sustainability issues and womens rights. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britain has welcomed the presidential election in Taiwan which saw the pro-sovereignty candidate triumph in a result bound to anger China. Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron gave his warm congratulations to victor Lai Ching-te, who vowed to safeguard the islands de-facto independence from Beijing. Lord Cameron said he hoped that China and Taiwan would double down on efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue. Mr Lai, the current vice-president, has been described as a troublemaker by Beijing because of his support for independence. China, which claims Taiwan as its own, had portrayed the election as the choice between war and peace. His victory secures an unprecedented third successive term for the Democratic Progressive Party. Lord Cameron said the elections were testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy. I offer warm congratulations to the people of Taiwan on the smooth conduct of those elections and to Dr Lai Ching-te and his party on his election, he said. I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. Conservative former prime minister Liz Truss also congratulated Mr Lai, adding: We must do all we can to ensure Taiwan is able to defend itself. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Thousands of people took to central London on Sunday afternoon for a stand with Israeli rally to mark 100 days since Hamas launched its attack. Demonstrators demanded the release of hostages kidnapped by Hamas and held posters with pictures of some of those being held by the group, which has been designated a terrorist organsation in the UK. Others held signs reading: 100 days in hell. Crowds chanted bring them home now and cheered as an organiser declared on stage that he has never been prouder to be Jewish. Some people brandished Iranian flags, depicting a sun and lion in the centre, which one man said represented opposition to the Iranian government. The crowd during a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square, London. Picture date: Sunday January 14, 2024. (Jeff Moore/PA Wire) People waited in line to get their bags searched before entering the rally, at Trafalgar Square, and barricades were set up around the perimeter, lined by police officers and security guards. Events were also held across Israel on Sunday to mark the grim milestone, with the war showing no signs of abating. Gazas Hamas-run health ministry says over 23,000 people have been killed in the territory since Hamass terrorist attack on 7 October which killed some 1,200 people. Crowds chanted bring them home now (Jeff Moore/PA Wire) Some 60,000 more Gazans have been injured amid Israeli repeated and heavy bombing of the area. Lord Eric Pickles, the UK special envoy for post-holocaust issues, was among those who attended the protest in London. He described himself as an unapologetic Zionist who was proud to stand with Israel. The former Conservative cabinet minister accused those who took part in a pro-Palestine march on Saturday of being happy to walk with people who are antisemitic. Protesters in Trafalgar Square, London (Jeff Moore/PA Wire) However he added that he believed the overwhelming majority of those who went on the march were not antisemitic. Suella Braverman, the former UK home secretary, also attended. Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely thanked the crowd for 100 days of consistent support and demanded the release of all hostages. As Israels relentless bombing of Gaza continues, around half of the territorys buildings have been damaged or destroyed. A quarter of its population faces catastrophic hunger and starvation. A man draped in the Israel flag flies the Union Jack (Jeff Moore/PA Wire) Less than half of its hospitals remain even partially functioning and over two-thirds of school buildings have been damaged. Israel faces an ongoing case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) put forward by South Africa accusing the country of genocide over the handling of its war in Gaza. In an ICJ hearing on Thursday, officials representing South Africa said that Israels genocidal intent was evident from the way in which [its] military attack is being conducted. Israel rejected the argument, stating South Africa presented a sweeping counter-factual description of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Lord David Cameron, the UK foreign secretary and Wes Streeting, Labours shadow health minister, both dismissed the genocide claim while conducting interviews on Sunday morning. Lord Cameron has said it is nonsense to suggest Israel has the intent to commit genocide. Asked by Sky News Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips if Israel has a case to answer in the International Court of Justice, Lord Cameron said: No, I absolutely dont. I think the South African Action is wrong, I think it is unhelpful, I think it shouldnt be happening. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a building after it was struck by an Israeli airstrike (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Now of course I am not a lawyer, but they are talking here about genocide, they are taking this case on the basis on genocide and to prove that you have got to prove that there was intent. I take the view that Israel is acting in self defence after the appalling attack on October 7. Mr Streeting said described South Africas claim as a distraction in an interview also with Mr Phillips. He said: I think its a distraction from what needs to happen, which is the diplomatic heavy lifting to bring about an end to this conflict. However, he said that the South African government is perfectly entitled to bring the case to the ICJ, and the court can weigh up the evidence. This article was amended on the day of publication. An early version inaccurately reported that the Hamas attack on 7 October killed some 12,000 people, when it should have said some 1,200. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has been accused of being petty for refusing to allow MPs time to pay their respects to the former House of Commons speaker Betty Boothroyd. The prime minister has ignored calls from MPs to delay the start of parliamentary proceedings by one hour on Tuesday for members to attend the memorial service for the late speaker, who served from 1992 to 2000. Baroness Boothroyd, who died in February last year at the age of 93, commanded respect across the House, and politicians from all parties wanted to attend the service of thanksgiving for the Labour stalwart, which will be held in Westminster Abbey on Tuesday morning. Betty Boothroyd was a widely respected speaker of the House (PA) But the government has refused multiple requests to delay the start of business so that MPs can attend the service without a clash. Tuesday is an important day in the Westminster calendar, as MPs are set to vote on a series of amendments to the Rwanda bill. Labour MP Charlotte Nichols, who has previously described the profound impact Baroness Boothroyd had on her life, said the governments decision was disrespectful to parliament as an institution. Parliamentary proceedings get moved around all the time for all sorts of different reasons; this is certainly something that could be accommodated ... it is totally within the governments gift, she told The Independent. Ms Nichols added: She was not just hugely significant for Labour members, she was the first and only female speaker, and it is disrespectful to parliament as an institution, given the importance of the role she held, to not allow everyone to pay tribute in the way they would wish to without potentially missing parliamentary business. Rishi Sunaks government has refused requests to start parliamentary business an hour later (AP) The decision leaves scores of MPs from across the House having to choose between attending the first hour of parliamentary business and paying their respects to one of their former colleagues. A senior parliamentary source accused the PM of political point-scoring and called the decision petty, while Dame Diana Johnson told The Independent that she thought it was a mistake. She said: That is really very disappointing, and I would urge them just to reconsider. If its just delaying proceedings by an hour, Im sure most MPs would welcome that, and welcome the opportunity not to miss parliamentary business. I know Betty would be very keen that were all able to attend parliament. The Independent understands that the government had been asked to delay the start of the parliamentary day by one hour, which would mean that all outstanding business, including the Rwanda debate and vote, would still receive its full allotted time. However, the leader of the House Penny Mordaunt and the chief whip Simon Hart are understood to have declined. Penny Mordaunt previously said Baroness Boothroyd had given her confidence and pride in parliament (Getty) In December, Ms Mordaunt gave an emotional tribute to the late baroness, saying: She gave us confidence and pride in this place, and that was no accident. She wanted to give all a chance, because she had cherished every chance that she had been given. For me, that care was evident in a particular letter she wrote to me after I had proposed the loyal address in 2014, and I was so grateful for it. She concluded that she wanted me to flourish not just to be successful or to do well or to get on, but to flourish, to excel, to be all I could be, to have a ruddy good time doing it and to understand what my purpose was. She knew her purpose: I speak to serve, she said, and she served us well. May she rest in peace, and may these tributes to her remind us all of the responsibility and the opportunity it is our privilege to have. Thank you, Betty. Mr Sunak also gave a tribute at the time, calling Boothroyd a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to politics. Baroness Boothroyd was a Labour MP from 1973 until 1992, when she was elected speaker of the House of Commons. She served until 2000 before being elevated to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer. Betty Boothroyd passed away last year, aged 93 (PA Archive) The Yorkshire-born baroness was the first female speaker of the House and was a champion of democracy during her time in parliament. She became known before her more divisive successor John Bercow for the way she barked out Order, Order! and she was much loved in her local village of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. The current speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, told The Independent: I have the highest respect for a great friend like Betty Boothroyd, one of the greatest speakers in history. I am very disappointed that not everyone will be able to attend her memorial service. Chief whip Mr Hart has declined to comment, but allies rejected suggestions that he had refused to meet the speaker. A government source said: The PM paid tribute to Betty Boothroyd at her funeral last year as one of our greatest speakers and the House was able to pay their respects to her at the time. The Independent has reached out to Ms Mordaunts office for comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} David Cameron has denied he was paid 10m by the collapsed financial firm Greensill Capital, but has refused to say how much he was paid by the scandal-hit company. In a painstaking exchange, the foreign secretary declined to answer a barrage of interview questions on how much he had earned lobbying for the company. The Greensill scandal saw the exposure of Lord Camerons aggressive lobbying efforts on behalf of Greensill Capital during the pandemic. Lord Cameron dodged a series of questions over how much he earned lobbying for Greensill Capital (PA) He has previously faced questions about his relationship with financier Lex Greensill, who set up the now-defunct firm, and his extraordinary access to ministers and officials after leaving No 10. Asked about the alleged 10m payment, he told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: No, that isnt true. Lord Cameron tried to deflect the question by talking about his work on behalf of Alzheimers Research UK, and declined to set the record straight by revealing how much he had been paid for his lobbying for Greensill. He said: Because I was a private citizen, I had a number of different interests the things I did, including important charitable work and I think, as a private citizen, youre entitled to do that. After persistent questioning by Laura Kuenssberg, he repeated that he was a private citizen and insisted he had declared his interests since returning to government. Lex Greensills financial firm Greensill Capital collapsed in 2021 (PA) The lobbying scandal that surrounded Lord Camerons work for Greensill sparked a series of inquiries at Westminster. And Greensills failure was estimated by a parliamentary inquiry in 2021 to have cost taxpayers up to 5bn though the final burden borne by the taxpayer is not yet known. The former prime minister insisted he had broken no rules on behalf of the company, but admitted he should have communicated with the government through formal channels rather than via text and WhatsApp. Lord Cameron repeatedly attempted to secure access to a government-backed Covid loan scheme for Greensill. He and his staff sent ministers and officials around 73 increasingly desperate emails, texts and WhatsApp messages relating to the collapsed firm in under four months. He claimed it was nuts and bonkers for the firm to be denied the loans. A parliamentary investigation found that Lord Cameron had shown a significant lack of judgement over the lobbying saga. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Theresa Mays government reportedly pushed through a CBE for disgraced former Post Office boss Paula Vennells despite concerns over her role in the Horizon IT scandal. Ms Vennells, who gave up the honour this week following public outcry over the scandal, was nominated by the Department for Business. She was then discussed by the main honours committee in October 2018, as a joint action by 555 wrongly prosecuted subpostmasters was about to be tried in the High Court. At least one member of the committee questioned plans to award Ms Vennells a CBE amid growing outrage over the scandal, sources told The Sunday Times. The Post Office Horizon IT scandal has come under the spotlight following the release of ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office. More than 700 Post Office branch managers were given criminal convictions after faulty Fujitsu accounting software made it appear as though money was missing from their shops. Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells gave up her honour this week (Teri Pengilley for The Independent) Despite concerns being raised about Ms Vennells nomination for the honour, Sir Ian Cheshire, who chaired the committee recommending her for a CBE, brushed them aside, sources told the paper. One said Ms Vennells was being rewarded for taking a tough approach to the scandal in an effort to keep costs down for the Post Office, including refusing to acknowledge wrongdoing towards postmasters. This was her reward for bending her conscience and holding the line, the source told the newspaper. Another said ministers saw Ms Vennells as clearing up rather than being the cause of the scandal she had inherited. The former chief executive, who ran the Post Office while it routinely denied there was a problem with its Horizon IT system, was appointed a CBE in December 2018. But in a statement on Tuesday, she said she was truly sorry for the devastation caused to the subpostmasters and their families and gave up the honour. Theresa Mays government is said to have pushed ahead with the honour despite concerns (PA Wire) More than a million people had signed a petition calling for her to lose her CBE in the wake of the ITV drama. Questions have also been raised about why she was able to keep a job as a director in the Cabinet Office after her involvement in the scandal was exposed. A spokesperson for Ms May said: The honours system is an independent process which awards honours to more than 2,000 people each year. Recipients are announced biannually and each recommendation is considered by one of 10 honours committees with the final list being agreed by the main honours committee. As prime minister, the Rt Hon Theresa May MP always respected the independence of this system but thinks it is right that Paula Vennells has handed back her CBE. The Sunday Times also revealed that two Tory ministers refused to meet postmaster Alan Bates, the subject of the ITV drama and a key campaigner in the struggle for justice. Letters seen by the paper show he was refused meetings by former minister Anna Soubry and the departments minister in the Lords, Lucy Neville-Rolfe. It comes after top Tories urged the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who did eventually meet Mr Bates, to quit over his handling of the scandal. The Lib Dems seized on the report as evidence of breathtaking hypocrisy by the Tories. Ed Davey met with Alan Bates and was in fact the first minister to do so, a source said. Tory ministers then refused to meet Mr Bates even as the scale of the scandal became clear ... there are serious questions for the government over why they handed a CBE and Cabinet Office job to Paula Vennells while refusing to meet Mr Bates, the source added. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer has warned of a rise in anti-Jewish racism as he vowed never to let antisemitism take hold in the Labour Party again. The Labour leader said antisemitism had taken a new shape in the wake of Hamass October 7 terror attacks on Israel, with those who hate Jews hiding behind pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Addressing the Jewish Labour Movements (JLM) conference on Sunday, Sir Keir said: Let me assure you, we will never let antisemitism sneak back into the Labour Party under cover. Keir Starmer has vowed never to let antisemitism take hold in the Labour Party again (PA) I see no greater cause in my leadership than this. This is my role. It came as Sir Keir announced that ex-MP Luciana Berger would lead a review of the partys mental health strategy, four years after she quit Labour blaming a sea of cases of antisemitism. She rejoined Labour as a member last year, and her appointment to the key role was announced on Sunday. Ms Berger claimed that Labour had turned a significant corner under Sir Keirs leadership. The former MP, who served as a shadow health minister between 2013 and 2016, will present recommendations ahead of the next election on how Labour should fulfil its plan to tackle mental illness. Luciana Berger praised the Labour leaders efforts to remove antisemitism from the party (PA) It is another sign of progress in Sir Keirs drive to tear out antisemitism from the roots of the Labour Party. Addressing JLM members, Sir Keir said he had dragged [the] party away from that abyss, adding that he would never let Britain go anywhere near it either. This country will be safe for you and your children, he promised. Addressing Israels war in Gaza, sparked by Hamass 7 October attacks, Sir Keir said British antisemitism was not born the day after the killing spree. But nonetheless, after October the 7th we can all see that its taking a new shape, he added. And after a series of high-profile marches across the country in protest at Israels bombardment of Gaza, he addressed Jews who can see hate marching side by side with calls for peace. We understand that to be targeted for who you are, and attacked for things beyond your control, for your children to be afraid to walk the street or go to school, is the greatest anxiety that a parent or a community can face, Sir Keir said. In a warning about the future of the Conservative Party after the next election, he said he was worried about where it might go. Right-wing Tories have used increasingly divisive language in recent months, and with a leadership contest expected if the Conservatives lose power, Sir Keir suggested there could be a further lurch to the right. I worry about where it might go, because the politics of division dont help the Jewish community, and theyve never helped the Jewish community, he said. Taking aim at Rishi Sunak and other senior Tories for engaging in culture wars, he warned that divisive politics can easily boil over. Im not sure the Tories can be trusted on that any more... I dont know if they see the consequences, he added. Accepting her new role, Ms Berger said she was delighted to be back working with my party. Ms Berger, who stood as a Liberal Democrat in the 2019 election and lost her seat, said: Millions of people are experiencing poor mental health without the necessary support to recover. The absence of a proper plan to address the causes of poor mental health requires urgent attention. Labours commitment to deliver a cross-government long-term strategy to tackle mental ill-health is an important step towards gripping this issue, and I am really excited to be leading this work. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} David Cameron has raised the prospect of further UK airstrikes against rebel Houthis in Yemen, warning that it is important they understand that Britain will follow words with action. The foreign secretary opened the door to further strikes as Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on his backing for the governments action in response to the Red Sea crisis. Ahead of a debate in parliament over the decision to launch airstrikes, the Labour leader said doing nothing while Houthi rebels attack cargo ships in the Red Sea was not an option. Sir Keir and Lord Cameron put on a united front on Sunday, insisting that Britains strikes on Yemen were necessary after weeks of escalating attacks on commercial vessels. And Sir Keir said he would listen carefully to ministers about the need for any further targeted action. Sir Keir Starmer and Lord Cameron on the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg (PA) The interventions came after days of strikes against rebel-controlled sites in Yemen, with the US launching follow-on action against a Houthi radar site. In the early hours of Friday morning, in response to weeks of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the strategically crucial Red Sea, US and UK warplanes, ships and submarines hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets. The Houthis, who back Hamas, claim they are only targeting vessels linked to Israel in one of the worlds busiest shipping routes, in response to the war in Gaza. A spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces in the Houthi-controlled north of the country said the bombardment will not go unanswered and unpunished. He added that the airstrikes will not deter the rebels support for the Palestinians. But Lord Cameron denied any link between the war in Gaza and the Red Sea attacks, telling Sky News that the action was completely separate. And he went further, saying that Britain is prepared to take further action in Yemen if attacks continue. He said: We have sent the clearest possible message to the Houthis that their behaviour is unacceptable, and weve demonstrated that were prepared to follow words and warnings with action. And that is incredibly important that they understand that. An RAF Voyager aircraft taking off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus to conduct airstrikes on military targets in Yemen (Ministry of Defence/PA) The foreign secretary also denied that the UK had escalated the situation. The escalation has been caused by the Houthis. I mean the point is, since November 19, you have had these 26 attacks, Lord Cameron told the BBCs Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. Writing in The Independent, Sir Keir backed the governments action in Yemen and denounced Iran for sponsoring terrorism. He also wrote of his support for Rishi Sunak in his decision to send British forces into action against Houthi militants, and for acting in the national interest. And on Sunday morning, the Labour leader promised to look at the case the government puts forward for any further strikes. He told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that there needs to be a debate in parliament on Monday about the military operation that has taken place. I will have to listen carefully to whatever the government says about any further action that may be needed, he said. Sir Keir agreed with Lord Cameron, saying: I think it is important to look at what Houthis are doing in the Red Sea, because those attacks were taking place, they were ramping up and escalating. And sitting back and simply doing nothing in that situation is not an appropriate way to respond. That comes despite criticism of the strikes from left-wingers close to Sir Keirs predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott, who now sits as an independent MP, accused Sir Keir of going back on a pledge in his leadership campaign against Mr Corbyn. But Sir Keir has used the crisis as a way to distance himself from the leadership of Mr Corbyn, who has been a staunch critic of Nato. Sir Keir appeared to row back on yet another pledge made in the last Labour leadership contest, in which he was attempting to win over left-wing Labour members, to ensure that parliament would be required to consent to any UK military action. Sir Keir said he had only meant that a parliamentary vote would be needed if the UK was putting boots on the ground. Left-wing pressure group Momentum accused him of serial duplicity, calling instead for a policy of peace and human rights. Sir Keir also appeared to row back on a commitment to ban arms sales to Saudi Arabia, saying only that Labour in government would review the situation. The war in Gaza entered its 100th day on Sunday. The Israeli offensive has displaced most of the population of the Palestinian enclave and pushed hundreds of thousands of Gazans to the brink of starvation. But as it hits the 100-day mark, the worlds attention will be on a spot thats more than 250 miles away: Yemen. Thats where British and U.S. forces killed at least five people on Friday after launching 73 airstrikes on positions linked to Yemens Houthi rebel militia. The strike was in response to the most intense attack of the 27 the Houthis have carried out since November, when they began targeting ships crossing the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, in the Red Sea, in retaliation for the Israeli invasion of Gaza. A day later, in the early hours of Saturday, the U.S. army carried out another, smaller strike near the Sanaa airport, which is used by the rebels to launch projectiles against merchant ships. No injuries were reported. The two attacks have widened the geographic scope of the conflict and increased the number of actors involved, making the situation even more explosive. The dynamic suits the Houthis, as it supports their message that they are the ones challenging the West and are the true advocates of the Palestinian cause in the Arab world thanks to their strategic ability to disrupt a key global maritime trade route, which has forced ships to circumnavigate the whole of Africa. The situation is also of benefit to Israel: Israels main ally, the United States, is directly involved in the attacks against the Houthis, a group supported with money and weapons by Iran their common enemy. The escalation in the Red Sea has also shifted focus away from Gaza, where Israels bombings have decreased in intensity, but still kill at least a hundred people a day (135, on Saturday). Houthi spokesperson Nasruldeen Amer told Al Jazeera television that the latest attack will have a firm, strong and effective response. Hans Grundberg, U.N. special envoy for Yemen where 80% of the population needs humanitarian aid has expressed his serious concern about the increasingly precarious regional context and asked for all involved to avoid those actions that would worsen the situation in Yemen, escalate the threat to maritime trade routes or further fuel regional tensions at this critical time. Washington did not take the decision to attack Houthi targets in Yemen lightly. If there is something that the Joe Biden administration wants to avoid, it is being dragged into a conflict in the Middle East with unpredictable consequences months before an election where his reelection is at stake. The decision to strike was preceded by weeks of deliberations by Biden and his team, with the issue even discussed during the presidents family vacation. On Saturday, Biden said that the United States sent a message to Iran about the actions of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen: We delivered it privately, and were confident were well prepared. Washington insists that it does not want an open confrontation with the Houthis, much less with Iran. Neither does Tehran, explains Kirsten Fontenrose, from the Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative think tank. It has no reason to accentuate its ties to this conflict or to the Houthis at this time, the expert believes. It is already achieving, moreover, its strategic goals without the need for direct intervention: the popularity of the United States in the world is in decline and the momentum for normalizing relations between Israel and new Arab countries has slowed, she argues. The president of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee of Yemen, Mohammad Ali Al Huthi, attends a protest against the airstrikes launched by the U.S. and the United Kingdom this Friday in Sana'a, the capital. Mohammed Hamoud (Getty Images) According to Ignacio Alvarez-Ossorio, a specialist in the Middle East and professor of Arab and Islamic Studies at the Complutense University of Madrid, it is Israel that has dragged the U.S. into the conflict. He believes it has achieved this by attacking the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Syria, and Hamas and Hezbollah in Lebanon, in a bid to open a new front. The expert argues that the expansion of the conflict benefits Israel because it puts Washington in the fray with one of Irans satellites and shifts the international communitys attention away from Gaza. This, in turn, gives it breathing space to continue its plans in Gaza, he says. In some way, many countries are entering a trap, because this does not benefit Western interests, but Israeli interests, he explains by videoconference. The escalation of the conflict also reinforces Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus account of the conflict in Gaza as a broader struggle between the forces of light and forces of darkness, in which Israel leads the former and Iran leads the latter. More and more Israeli commentators fear that Netanyahu plummeting in the polls and facing questions about his policy on Gaza in the years before the Hamas attack will seek to prolong the conflict for personal rather than national interests. According to a survey published on Friday by the newspaper Maariv, 63% of Israelis want early elections. These elections would like be won by Benny Gantz, who was in the opposition until he entered the emergency government formed for the war in October. The Houthi attacks began in November. In theory, the rebel group only targets Israeli-owned or Israeli-flagged merchant ships or vessels destined for or leaving Israel. But, in addition to mistakenly attacking ships that do not fall into these categories, they have also clashed with other vessels, and major shipping companies now avoid the passage. In the last two months of 2023, the number of containers crossing the Red Sea each day fell by 66%, from 500,000 to 200,000. This route accounts for 30% of the worlds container traffic. Ships now circumnavigate Africa via the Cape of New Hope, which has increased shipping costs by 170%. After weeks of rising tension, Tuesday marked a turning point. The Yemeni movement launched its biggest attack yet. The U.N. Security Council passed a resolution condemning the Houthi attack. The White House had been demanding the rebel group to stop its hostile actions, but its pleas fell on deaf ears. Washington feared that if it did not take strong action, it risked losing credibility and deterrent power in the area. In the early hours of Friday morning, U.S. and British forces attacked anti-aircraft surveillance systems, radar and arsenals of drones, cruise and ballistic missiles at various points in Yemen under the control of the Houthi rebels. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil climbed more than $2, although it later dropped by half as fears of a supply cut were allayed. According to Ibrahim Jalal, an expert on the Gulf, that is exactly what the Houthis were hoping for: To gain even more popular support, to exploit the undeniable pro-Palestinian and anti-foreign intervention sentiments for their political ends. Gerald M. Feierstein, former U.S. diplomat and Middle East expert at the Middle East Institute think tank, agrees. He argues that the Houthis effort to insert themselves into the Gaza conflict is aimed at strengthening their support base in the country and cementing their movement more firmly in the so-called axis of resistance, to which Hezbollah and Hamas also belong. The Houthis have scored points even among their detractors. Particularly as the rebel groups enemy the internationally recognized government of Yemen talks more about the attacks on shipping in the Red Sea than about the civilian death toll in Gaza. On Friday, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa to protest the U.S. and U.K. airstrikes. Last Wednesday, the Qatar-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies published an analysis of Arab public opinion on the Israeli war in Gaza. The results of the survey carried out in 16 Arab countries show 69% in solidarity with the Palestinians and support for Hamas. Another 23% only support Gazans, but reject the Islamist movement that launched the October attack on Israel, which left some 1,200 dead. In contrast, 94% criticize the position of the United States (which has vetoed a ceasefire and finances and arms Israel) in the crisis. In fact, 82% define it as very bad. Iran, despite regional rivalries and differences between the Sunni and Shiite axes, does not fare badly, with 37% in favor of the countrys position, and 48% against. The U.S. military intervention has raised alarm in other Middle Eastern countries that harbor pro-Iranian militias hostile to Israel, as they fear the conflict could spread to their borders. We strongly condemn any attempts to expand the scope of this conflict, as it will burn everyone, said Iraqi President Abdellatif Rashid. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon where Hezbollah militia clash daily with the Israeli army in the south released a statement, in which it expressed grave concern about the escalation and military actions in the Red Sea, as well as airstrikes on Yemeni territory. In the United States, there is also growing concern that the conflict will escalate. We should be worried about regional escalation, Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Michigan Democrat, wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Iran uses groups like the Houthis to fight their battles, maintain plausible deniability and prevent a direct conflict with the U.S. or others. It needs to stop, and my hope is theyve gotten the message. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Pennsylvania woman accused of poisoning her boyfriends toddler to death made suspicious online searches in the months before the tragedy, according to the states top prosecutor. Aleisia Owens, 20, faces charges of criminal homicide, attempted homicide and aggravated assault of a child in connection with the death of one-year-old Iris Alfera in New Castle. Iris died in June after ingesting fatal levels of acetone. Law enforcement learned that in the months preceding her death, Iris had also ingested numerous water beads, along with button-shaped batteries, and a metal screw. An investigation later discovered that Ms Owens, the girlfriend of the little girls father, had made online searches for beauty products that are poisonous to kids and medications leading to cause accidental poisoning deaths in children. The searches spanned from March 2022 until shortly before Iris death. On Thursday, Attorney General Michelle Henry announced Ms Owens arrest. The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, then mislead investigators about what happened, Ms Henry said in a statement. My office will never stop working to hold individuals accountable who knowingly put the lives of others, especially vulnerable children, at risk. Iris was found unresponsive in the home that her father and Ms Owens shared on 25 June. She was treated at the hospital but succumbed to organ failure on 29 June. Ms Owens is being held without bail at Lawrence County Jail. Were happy that theyve finally arrested her. Thats the first step. It will be a long process in the court system, Iris grandfather Frank Alfera told New Castle News. Close Which big names are on Epsteins list? The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Over the past week thousands of pages of court documents relating to late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, have been made public after US judge Loretta Preska ordered the release of filings in a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell. The documents named scores of prominent figures including, Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Victorias Secret boss Les Wexner. Being identified through the court documents does not mean that the individual was involved in or aware of any wrongdoing by Epstein. The final batch of documents, released on Tuesday, included depositions from Ms Giuffre, Maxwell and Epstein. In Epsteins deposition, he was questioned about his campaign of abuse of young and underage girls. He pleaded the Fifth over 1,000 times. In Maxwells deposition, she was confronted with disturbing messages left for Epstein one of which referenced what appeared to be code for procuring an underage Russian girl for Epstein. She is two times eight years old. Not blond. Lessons are free and you can have your first today if you call, it read. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Pennsylvania police officer allegedly told his sexual assault victim that he hadnt intentionally raped her. Justin Hain, a 38-year-old officer who has been with the Steelton Borough Police for less than two months, faces several charges of rape in connection with the incident on 10 January. Pennsylvania State Troopers wrote in an affidavit obtained by WHTM that they responded to a home on Lykens Borough after a woman called authorities. She said that she had just stepped out of the shower and was carrying her small child when Hain, whom she knew beforehand, approached her with a weird grin. The victim told troopers that she asked Mr Hain not to touch her, but he forcibly removed her towel and pinned her down to a couch that was in the room. The woman recounted the moments of horror she lived as she tried to hit the suspect while he allegedly raped her and pushed her head into a corner of the couch. Following the assault, Mr Hain reportedly left for work and the victim went to a friends house before calling law enforcement. She also confronted Mr Hain during a phone call recorded by investigators and asked him why he had raped her despite her pleas for him to stop. Mr Hain allegedly answered: I knew you were not into it. Its probably one of my deplorables, one of my things, Mr Hain said, according to the affidavit for his arrest. Im deeply sorry ... I didnt intentionally rape you. Justin Hain, an officer with the Steelton Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania, has been charged with rape (WTHM/Steelton Borough Police Department) He is being held at Dauphin County Prison and his bail has been set at $50,000 ahead of a court appearance on Wednesday. Mr Hain was sworn in as a patrol officer in late November, according to a press release on the Steelton Borough Police Departments website. He has been suspended from his duties and was ordered to not contact the victim, Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said. In any field, there are going to be people who commit grievous offences, Mr Chardo told WTHM. When that occurs, we need to take action very, very quickly to ensure that theyre not continuing to carry a gun and carry a badge and potentially abuse their power. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two civilians were killed in northern Israel on Sunday after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border, raising new concerns of a second conflict erupting against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The deadly strike came on the 100th day of a conflict between Israel and Hamas that has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swaths of Gaza, driven around 85% of its 2.3 million residents from their homes and pushed a quarter of the population into starvation. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 surprise attack into southern Israel in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages, around half of whom are still in captivity. Tensions have soared across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, Iran-backed militias attacking U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq, and Yemens Houthi rebels targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of U.S. airstrikes last week. Sunday's missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, was delivering a speech on Sunday. The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge allegations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel adamantly denies the accusations and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else," Netanyahu said Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza as its leaders have faced mounting protests from their families, including a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv that began Saturday evening and drew tens of thousands of supporters. Israeli forces have only managed to rescue one hostage, while more than 100 were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas says no more hostages will be released until Israel ends its offensive. FEARS OF A SECOND FRONT Israel and Hezbollah have been careful not to allow their back-and-forth fighting to erupt into full-blown war on a second front. But they have come close on several occasions most recently in the aftermath of an airstrike that killed a top Hamas official in Beirut on Jan. 2. Hamas and Hezbollah have both blamed Israel for the strike. The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians on Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. The missile hit a home in the town of Yuval in northern Israel, killing a man in his 40s and his mother, who was in her 70s, Israeli rescuers said. Although Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along the northern border evacuated by the government in October, Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture. More than 115,000 Israelis have evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire. The deadly strike came hours after the army said it killed three militants who entered a disputed Israeli-controlled enclave in the Golan Heights. A group called Islamic Glory Brigades claimed responsibility for the infiltration. The Associated Press could not independently verify the statement, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese branches of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad all said the group was not affiliated with them. Since October, over 2,000 rockets and 350 drones have been launched from Lebanon, according to Israel. US SHIELDS ISRAEL FROM CALLS FOR TRUCE Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but has so far been shielded by U.S. diplomatic and military support. Israel argues that any cease-fire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel's destruction. Thousands took to the streets of Washington, London, Paris, Rome, Milan and Dublin on Saturday to demand an end to the war. Protesters converging on the White House held aloft signs criticizing President Joe Bidens unwavering support for Israel. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back operations in northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, where weeks of airstrikes and ground operations left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Netanyahu said there are no immediate plans to allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes there, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue during a visit to the region last week. Israel has meanwhile launched major operations against the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza. These camps date back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven out and never allowed to return. No one is able to move, said Rami Abu Matouq, who lives in the Maghzai camp. Warplanes, snipers and gunfire are everywhere. He said several buildings have been hit by airstrikes and shelling over the past two days but that no one can reach them to try to rescue any survivors. ISRAEL EYES EXPANDING OFFENSIVE Netanyahu said Israel would eventually need to push further south and take control of Gaza's border with Egypt, which Israeli officials say is still used by Hamas to smuggle in arms. Egypt, which in recent years has fortified the border, demolished tunnels and established a buffer zone, insists it has full control of the border and says any such operation would have to be considered in light of agreements reached with Israel and the United States. The area in and around the border town of Rafah is also packed with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled from other parts of Gaza and are crowded into overflowing U.N.-run shelters and tent camps. The Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says over 60,000 people have been wounded. Fewer than half of the territorys 36 hospitals are still partially functional, according to the U.N. humanitarian office. It says the widespread fighting and Israeli restrictions which have increased since the start of the year have made it increasingly difficult to deliver food, water and other desperately needed aid. U.S. pressure on Israel to facilitate deliveries has met with little success. Israel says Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The military says 188 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo, Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two US Navy SEALs vanished off the coast of Somalia while conducting a nighttime boarding mission on 11 January. A search and rescue mission is currently underway in the Gulf of Aden, where the missing SEALs were operating. (AP) Two US who spoke on the condition of anonymity officials told the Associated Press that the SEALs were on an interdiction mission, climbing up a vessel when one got knocked off by high waves. Under protocol, the second SEAL jumped in after the first. The US Navy has conducted regular interdiction missions, where they have intercepted weapons on ships that were bound for Houthi-controlled Yemen. The sailors, whose identities have not been released, were forward-deployed to the US 5th Fleet area of operations supporting a wide variety of missions. The mission was not related to Operation Prosperity Guardian, the ongoing US and international mission to provide protection to commercial vessels in the Red Sea, or the retaliatory strikes that the US and the UK have conducted in Yemen. It was also not related to the seizure of the oil tanker St Nikolas by Iran, a third US official said. Search and rescue operations are currently ongoing to locate the two sailors, the US Central Command said in a statement. For operational security purposes, we will not release additional information until the personnel recovery operation is complete. Besides the defence of ships from launched drones and missiles shot from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, the US military has also come to the aid of commercial ships that have been the targets of piracy. In a statement Saturday, US Central Command said it would not release additional information on the Thursday night incident until the personnel recovery mission is complete. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Not since the victory of then-Texas Governor George W Bush in the 2000 Republican primary has the Iowa caucuses picked the eventual GOP nominee. Ironically, as the first-in-the-nation contest looks set to do so again nearly a quarter-century later, former President Donald Trumps expected overwhelming victory on Monday 15 January may reveal the diminished influence of the caucuses, which the Democrats have now dropped altogether in favour of mail-in ballots for the 2024 contest. Since the 1970s, the entire point of the caucuses has been that in a small state such as Iowa, an unknown presidential candidate can work hard and shake as many hands as humanly possible, perform well above expectations, and subsequently ride the wave of attention and momentum all the way to the nomination. The example most cited is the 1976 win for Jimmy Carter, the former governor of Georgia who would go on to beat incumbent President Gerald Ford. Mr Carter did the grunt work, starting to spend time in the state before anyone else, and building his support by doing person-to-person politicking. Mr Trump has hosted massive rallies, speaking to hundreds and sometimes thousands of people at once. If fewer than 400 attended, it was considered a small event. The ex-president looks likely to win Mondays contest handily having done very little, if any, of the small-scale campaigning that used to be required to win. Iowa is no longer universally seen as the stepping stone it once was. The former president faces 91 criminal counts after he was indicted four times last year. His attempts to overturn the 2020 election prompted legal action in Georgia, and Washington, DC, while his handling of classified documents led to an indictment in Florida. Mr Trump was also indicted in New York in relation to the hush money payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. The January 6 insurrection is part of an election interference case in Washington, DC. Mr Trump is also mired in civil cases in New York where the state Attorney General Letitia James is attempting to remove his ability to do business in the state and to impose a hefty fine on the Trump Organization after he and his children were found to have inflated the worth of their assets to attain favourable loans and insurance agreements. The ex-president is also part of an ongoing second defamation trial from writer E Jean Carroll, who claimed Mr Trump raped her in a department store changing room in the mid-1990s. Ms Carroll argues Mr Trump repeatedly defamed her when accusing her of lying about the incident. Betting it all on the Hawkeye State Security guard tackles protester at DeSantis event in Iowa Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has bet almost his entire campaign on doing well in Iowa, a gamble that appears unlikely to pay off. By comparison, Mr Trump trashed Iowas Governor Kim Reynolds who assumed the executive office because Mr Trump made the states long-serving governor Terry Branstad his ambassador to China for her eventual support for Mr DeSantis. He avoided the normal politicking, only briefly breezing through the state fair one day without the normal type of glad-handing or munching on a deep-fried delicacy on a stick that many presidential candidates do. As of Friday, Mr DeSantis is behind both Mr Trump and Ms Haley in FiveThirtyEights polling average. The former president remains far ahead at 52.3 per cent, while his former UN ambassador stands at 17.1 per cent and the Florida governor comes in at 15.7 per cent. The obvious retort to the idea that Iowas time has come and gone is that 2024 is anything but a typical election year, with essentially two incumbents running against each other, and that we could be back to Iowa being at the epicentre of American politics as soon as 2028, when, regardless of if Mr Trump or President Joe Biden wins in November, there will be primaries on both sides of the aisle. Unless of course, as some of Mr Trumps former staffers have warned, US democracy is a thing of the past at that point. Iowa GOP State Senator Jeffrey Reichman, whos backing Mr DeSantis, tells The Independent that its a different situation for Mr Trump in terms of campaigning. The former president has some security concerns, that dont allow him to do regular Iowa-style events. I dont think any other candidate besides the former president ... could do that thats not a formula that has ever made a candidate successful and wouldnt ever make a candidate successful in Iowa, Mr Reichman said regarding Mr Trumps preference for large rallies. Demographics sidelines Iowa How does the Iowa Caucus pick the next US president? | Decomplicated The Democrats, led by Mr Biden, have instigated a push to end Iowas and New Hampshires dominance over the primary process, planning for South Carolina to be first. As the Democratic Party grows more and more diverse, many party leaders feel that the overwhelmingly white states currently first in line skew the primary process in a way that isnt fair to the partys base. The thinking is that South Carolina, which has a large group of African American voters, better represents the party. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley tells The Independent that the states caucuses could be in danger. You just saw it with the Democrats. Republican Senator from Iowa Chuck Grassley at the US Capitol, Washington, DC, USA, 10 January 2024 (EPA) For 41 years, the Democrats and Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire worked in a bipartisan ... way to be first in the nation each primary and each Caucus and the Democrats blew it all up. We hope in 2028, the Democrats will come back making Iowa first, Mr Grassley says. In 2021, Mr Trump campaigned for Mr Grassley and endorsed him, which he later held over Mr Grassleys head. I got a lot of guys elected here, including Grassley, who was having a problem, he said, noting how he also helped Sen Joni Ernst, the states junior Republican senator. Including Joni Ernst, who had a big problem. The 90-year-old notes that Mr Trump doesnt have to do the regular retail politicking other candidates have to do to do well in Iowa. Every time he meets he has thousands of people come to these meetings and so hes campaigning the way he wants to Hes campaigning really hard and harder than I thought he would, he adds. Caucuses in good hands on GOP side Bob Vander Plaats, the head of the Iowa Family Leader and a kingmaker in the state whose support of Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Ted Cruz all played a role in their victories, tells The Independent that hes not that concerned about the future of the caucuses. Ive got a lot of faith and the party apparatus to do a great job on Monday night, he says. I think President Trump has talked about how important Iowa is to the process. Governor DeSantis has talked about how important Iowa is to the process, about having to work for it this hard and do it this way. Thats important. People really get to find out who a person is. Republican political activist Bob Vander Plaats looks on following the conclusion of the Republican candidates' presidential debate hosted by CNN at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 10, 2024 (REUTERS) Mr Trumps stewardship also coincided with Iowa moving from becoming the proverbial swing state it had voted for Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama in the general election to a solidly Republican state. Mr Trump won Iowa by nine points in 2016 and Mr Biden barely made a dent in his 2020 margin. I think the caucuses are in good hands on the GOP side. I think the Democrats are making a mistake by taking it out of here, he adds. The caucus has been an unusual way of electing a candidate from the beginning and its facing renewed criticisms regarding it being a plain bad way of selecting a candidate. As is the custom, there will be no polling places on Monday. Party activists will instead host meetings in whatever building is available in their precinct churches, gyms, and peoples living rooms will be used. A representative from each campaign will get a moment to make their case and voters then write down their preferred candidate on a blank piece of paper. Volunteers then count the votes and send them along to a central party structure. While Republicans have secret ballots, Democrats physically moved around the space to stand with those supporting their preferred candidates. The logistics The problem with having a caucus becomes clear if you consider the logistics. Theyre held at 7pm on a weeknight this year they happen to fall on Martin Luther King Day in the middle of winter, which in Iowa often means freezing temperatures and snow, with forecasts for Monday showing temperatures as low as -8F (-22C). Unlike with a primary, where you can leave after casting your ballot, the process often lasts for hours, making it difficult to attend for parents with young children, pet owners, or those who work at night. For Democrats in 2020, the process failed so miserably that it took days to produce a result going against the idea that the caucus is supposed to provide onward momentum for those that do well. Although, the eventual winner, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana Pete Buttigieg, managed to parlay his primary success into a cabinet post leading the Department of Transportation. Supporters of democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) wait for results to come in at his caucus night watch party on February 03, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa (Getty Images) Iowa Democrats have now left the caucus behind, and they will this year mail in their ballots and the result will be announced, presumably to little fanfare, in March. Technically, there will be Democratic caucuses on Monday, but they will be purely administrative. The Trump factor Many Iowans argue that the state should still be the first in the nation and that the caucus should remain, that moving it to a bigger state will prevent one-on-one candidate-to-voter interactions. The remains of a tree painted with an image of former President Donald Trump in Des Moines, Iowa, USA, 11 January 2024 (EPA) But as Thad Nearmyer, the chairman of the Republican Party in Jasper County, Iowa an area of fewer than 40,000 people, tells The Independent, one of Mr Trumps smaller events in the state was still attended by hundreds of people. He says its possible the state could lose its first-in-the-nation status. Asked if Mr Trump has changed the Iowa game with his focus on rallies, Mr Nearmyer says Thats hard to say. I mean, hes in a different position, being a former president. And if you dont know who Donald Trump is by now, youre never going to. He was just here in Newton it was a rally, but the room held around 325 people. So it wasnt a huge rally, like youve seen them do the outdoor ones, he notes. It was nothing like that. It was fairly intimate as far as a rally would go, he adds. I hope that we can keep it because its just such a uniquely Iowa thing, he says about the caucuses. And we get these opportunities to meet these presidential candidates one on one we had our first one come to Jasper County last April. So for the better part of the last year, weve been having candidates come through our county and make stops. A good deal for the state Its gotten to the point where every single Republican who was running for president has made it to Jasper County. Some of them are no longer in the campaign, but they all have been here at least once. Its a good deal for the state, he notes. A tractor decorated to show support for Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump is displayed outside the the Machine Shed after Donald Trump, Jr. speaks in Urbandale, Iowa, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024 (AP) As Republican senators come under increasing pressure to endorse Mr Trump, Ms Ernst told The Independent she wants to remain silent on her preferences. We always remain neutral. We always want to make sure were welcoming every candidate and so Chuck [Grassley] and I will stay out of it, she says. I feel like Governor DeSantis has done a lot. You know, he did go to every county, I think hes, as far as I know, hes the only candidate to do that this cycle, Mr Nearmyer says. Visiting all 99 counties is known as the full Grassley, named after the states long-serving senator. Hes really getting out there and doing a lot of events and meeting people. Ive only been to the one that was in Newton. And it was a great event and he did a great job that day, Mr Nearmyer says of the Sunshine State governor. I have no doubt in my mind that he could do the job of president because hes done such a great job with a major state like Florida. What does Mr DeSantis need to do to do well on Monday? I dont really know, because hes doing it, Mr Nearmyer says. If a governor from a major state whos doing everything right is more than 35 points behind a former president mired in deepening legal woes, could it be worth asking the question if the Iowa Caucuses has lost the qualities that gave the state its outsized role in American presidential politics in the first place? Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump urged voters to get out to the Iowa caucuses even if they are sick as a dog in a defiant rally on the eve of his first major election test. The former president said that even if people passed away shortly after voting it would be worth it, and once again launched attacks on the New York judge who had denied him a delay in his civil trial so that he could attend his mother-in-laws funeral. His remarks came during an in-person rally in Indianola on Sunday afternoon. Mr Trump was previously forced to swap out other planned events in Iowa with tele-rallies due to severe bad weather conditions in the state. You cant stay at home, he told those gathered. [Even} if youre sick as a dog and you say darling I cant make it Even if you vote and then pass away its worth it. Elsewhere Mr Trump appeared to get his words muddled as he told people to pray for God and later described judge Kaplan as the worst judge in the country. The former president said that even if people passed away shortly after voting it would be worth it (AP) Echoing his previous remarks and posts on his social media platform Truth Social, he said: My wifes mother, who was an incredible woman of great beauty inside and out she just died. And my wife is very devastated by that. And I have a trial going on a fake trial, a totally fake trial. And we asked the judge if I could take a day off for the funeral of my mother in law, who is very close to me also. And he said, No. He continued: These are animals. Can you imagine that?... He said no, we cant have a day off. These are bad people. These are radical left lunatics and when I hurt me, because they think its gonna hurt me at the poll so that by me can win an election. I dont think that people are going to fall for it. But think of that my wife was going to be standing at the funeral of her mother who is a very special woman Shes supposed to stand there alone. Mr Trump vowed to be at the funeral one way or another. A final poll by NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom on Saturday showed Mr Trump commanding 48 per cent of the vote in Iowa, with Ms Haley taking 20 per cent and Mr DeSantis on 16 per cent. The numbers from the poll tally with those of national poll site FiveThirtyEight, which had Mr Trump at 51.3 per cent as of Saturday. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump still leads the GOP 2024 field by a considerable margin, according to a final poll ahead of the Iowa caucuses. The survey, conducted by NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom, puts the former president at a near 30-point lead over his Republican rivals. The Iowa Caucus, the first major political event of the year, will go ahead on Monday, as parts of the state continue to grapple with blizzard conditions and sub-zero temperatures, The poll shows former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley narrowly edging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for second place, although the gap is within the polls margin of error, according to NBC. The poll shows Mr Trump commanding 48 per cent of the vote, with Ms Haley taking 20 per cent and Mr DeSantis on 16 per cent. The survey puts the former president at a near 30-point lead over his Republican rivals (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Businessman-turned-presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy earned just 8 per cent of the vote in the poll, just higher than those who said they were not sure at 5 per cent. The numbers from the poll tally with those of national poll site FiveThirtyEight, which had Mr Trump at 51.3 per cent as of Saturday. Ms Haley sits at 17.3 per cent and Mr DeSantis has 16.1 per cent of the vote, according to the site. Mr Trumps 28-point lead over his nearest competitor in the NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll is slightly down from the 32-point advantage he enjoyed in a similar poll conducted in December. According to NBC, if his current lead holds on Caucus night, it will be the largest margin of victory for a nonincumbent competing in Iowas Republican presidential caucuses. The current record margin, 13 points, was set by Bob Dole in 1988. Some 68 per cent of those in the NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll said their mind was already made up with regard to their vote, though 25 per cent said they could still be persuaded. For former president Trump, 49 per cent of backers said they were extremely enthusiastic about him as a first-choice candidate. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley continue to battle it out for second position behind Mr Trump in the polls (Getty Images) Though she continues to gain support notably from former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Sunday support for Ms Haley in the poll is up four per cent compared with in December. NBC notes that half of Ms Haleys supporters identify as either independents or Democrats. In contrast to Mr Trump, only nine per cent of supporters said they were extremely enthusiastic about having her as a first choice candidate. Mr DeSantis 16 per cent first-choice support is down three points from December, when he was in a distant second place to former president Trump. But 23 per cent said they were extremely enthusiastic about the Florida Governor as their first choice. On average, 60 per cent of those polled said they were excited for their chosen candidate ahead of the Caucus on Monday. The final Iowa Poll, conducted 7-12 January 2024, for The Des Moines Register, NBC News, and Mediacom by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, was based on telephone interviews with 705 registered voters in Iowa who say they will definitely or probably attend the 2024 Republican caucuses. Interviewers contacted 4,170 randomly selected voters from the Iowa Secretary of States voter registration list by telephone. The sample was supplemented with additional phone number lookups. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has warned voters not to be duped by Vivek Ramaswamy, accusing his Republican rival of deceitful campaign tricks. The former president said that while Mr Ramaswamy had previously been a great supporter of his, he was not MAGA. Mr Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social with a scathing post on Saturday, ahead of the Iowa caucuses on 15 January. He currently leads both the national and state polls by a considerable margin, followed in the latter by Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. In his post, he warned against voting for Mr Ramaswamy, and once again took aim at President Joe Biden, blaming him for the multiple indictments he faces. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc, he wrote. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this. Donald Trump attacks GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy online (@realDonaldTrump/ Truth Social) Vote for TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!! Much of Iowa remained below zero on the thermometer Sunday, but that didnt seem to phase the GOP hopefuls, with campaigns continuing on at full steam. A final poll by NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom shows Mr Trump commanding 48 per cent of the vote, with Ms Haley taking 20 per cent and Mr DeSantis on 16 per cent. Mr Ramaswamy earned just 8 per cent of the vote in the poll, just higher than those surveyed who said they were not sure at 5 per cent. Mr Trumps remarks come despite Mr Ramaswamys previous public support for him. After Colorados Supreme Court barred Mr Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment, Mr Ramaswamy pledged to remove himself from the ballot and asked his fellow Republican presidential hopefuls to do the same. He has also said he would pardon the former president if he wins the general election. On Saturday, he told The Hill: I respect the hell out of Trump. Hes the best President of the 21st century. Ive defended him at every step against the unjust persecutions. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Republican presidential hopefuls have pleaded with voters to brave icy conditions in Iowa, as temperatures plunge to a record-breaking low. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), wind chill is set to push temperatures as low as -45 Fahrenheit described as life-threatening. Northwest winds have ushered in Arctic cold air with current temperatures well below zero and wind chills in the 30s and 40s below zero, the forecaster said. This extreme Arctic air combined with breezy to strong winds will continue to create dangerous temperatures and wind chills through early next week, with wind chill values as low as 45 below zero possible at times. Though blizzard warnings and winter weather advisories have ended, the NWS urged the public to continue checking road conditions prior to any travel in and around Iowa. At such temperatures, officials warn that frostbite can occur within 10 minutes of outdoor exposure, bad news for Iowans waiting in line to caucus. Wind chill is set to push temperatures as low as -45 Fahrenheit in Iowa described as life-threatening by the National Weather Service (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Despite the extreme conditions, GOP candidates urged potential supporters to remain vigilant. In a short video posted online, a windswept Nikki Haley told voters: Its Caucus time, I know its cold but we need you out there. Wear some layers, bring your ID and bring your friends, we can do this. The extreme cold began Friday afternoon as heavy snow blanketed Iowa, bringing low temperatures and conditions that caused most campaigns to cancel events across the state. Frontrunner Donald Trump had to cancel two commit to caucus events on Saturday because of the low temperatures opting to host tele-rallies instead. The former president reportedly said the poor conditions could play in his favour, by stifling support for his rivals. A final poll, conducted by NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom shows the former president commanding 48 per cent of the vote, with Ms Haley taking 20 per cent and Ron DeSantis on 16 per cent. "We wont lose one vote, because our people, they use the term, walk on glass. Theyre not going to stay away. Theyre going to, walk on glass, Mr Trump reportedly told his campaign, per CBS. Mr DeSantis told reporters on Friday: "Theres a machinery that goes with a caucus, no matter what, but especially now with what the weather is going to be like, we have that infrastructure there. 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 Since the unexpected success of the Semilla Movement in the first round in June, and with the increase in its persecution following the resounding victory of that party in the second round in August, Guatemalas Public Prosecutors office had attempted to undermine the incoming government of President-elect Bernardo Arevalo de Leon and Vice President Karin Herrera up to four times before he took office this Sunday, January 14. Similarly, the new presidents father, the former revolutionary president Juan Jose Arevalo Bermejo, who was in power for 72 months (six years between 1945 and 1951), sustained 29 coup attempts. Although the times are different, the anachronisms remain: Arevalo de Leon will continue to be staunchly confronted with anti-democratic forces, whose vestiges are linked to the counterrevolution that dates back to the Cold War. President Arevalo de Leon has already said he will meet with the attorney general and head of the Public Ministry (MP), Maria Consuelo Porras Argueta, to ask for her resignation from office. Since last September 1, Arevalo de Leon publicly accused her of orchestrating an attempted coup detat to prevent him from assuming the Presidency. The attorney generals second term ends in 2026, so the MPs chronology of hostilities is expected to be extended. Even so, the opportunities that emerge today to reverse autocratization in Guatemala are unprecedented. Placing that measuring bar on the incoming Government so that it assimilates its role as a brake against democratic regression will be vital to demand accountability from civil society. The window of opportunity to promote reforms is well seen by the international community, whose role in the supporting cast in the defense of democracy in 2023 was crucial. This is materialized in the broad representation of heads of state, covering the entirety of the Ibero-American ideological spectrum, who will attend the inauguration. The clash between the executive and judicial bodies was the precursor to the debut of the Government of the Semilla Movement, a minority with 23 deputies in the 160-seat chamber. It is surpassed by the National Unity of Hope (UNE) with 28 and that of the Vamos party with 39. In the last four years, it has been evident that the official alliance was mostly made up of both benches. Ninety-six deputies from the 10th Legislature will arrive at the Congress of the Republic for the first time this January 14. Furthermore, since the political ecosystem in Congress represents 17 parties, the fundamental question is: will the ruling party, in only its second Legislature, be able to build a governing coalition from its minority position? Arevalo will not have a honeymoon. It will be difficult to please an electorate exhausted by decades of clientelistic partisan offers, now demanding a transparent programmatic agenda. Proof of this is that, even before assuming power, Arevalo and Herreras cabinet had already been the object of criticism and praise. A former representative of the Association of Renewable Energy Generators, who questioned the legitimacy of the fight in defense of rivers and assured that communities resisting hydroelectric plants in Guatemala were financed by international organizations, declined the nomination to the Ministry of Energy and Mines after being subjected to social media opprobrium. It is also the first time the cabinet demonstrates a selection based on gender parity. But more than being a convenient arithmetic metric, the cabinet reflects a certain inclusive meritocracy that underlines quality in comparison to previous experiences, mainly during the administrations of unpopular former presidents Jimmy Morales (2016-2020) and Alejandro Giammattei (2020-2024). Morales Cabinet fractured when it began the frontal fight against the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG). At the same time, with Giammattei, 13 of the 14 ministers still needed to complete the four years. Before reflecting a moderate progressivism in the first round, the appointments point to the reforming centrism that marked the second round of the Semilla Movement. Mainly, the criticism from the most progressive sectors is based on the fact that there continues to be a marginalized sector that demands greater representation: indigenous peoples. This situation allowed them to gain a voice and reaffirm themselves as political actors, historical subjects in Guatemala, and protagonists of transformational social change. The peoples decision to call for mobilization to prevent a criminal group from deepening a coup detat was not to defend Arevalo or Semilla but to reestablish the incipient post-conflict democracy and recover its institutions. That will be up to the new administration, which begins indebted to the courage and determination of the people in a situation of great volatility and conflict between State bodies. Its success would not only greatly benefit the rule of law in Guatemala. Still, it would also send a powerful message: liberal democracy remains a viable option in the countries of northern Central Americademonstrating to Latin Americans that it is possible to challenge the status quo while maintaining the at the same time democratic values. Vaclav Masek Sanchez is a Guatemalan sociologist and columnist. Twitter / X at _vaclavmasek Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ron DeSantis was trolled in Iowa after being presented with a participation trophy ahead of the state caucuses on Monday. The incident occurred on Saturday after the Florida governor staged a town hall in Atlantic, Iowa. An unidentified man approached Mr DeSantis, holding a small award. Governor DeSantis I want to present to you this participation trophy, he said, prompting laughter from those gathered. Youre probably not going to win the election but were proud of you for trying, the man added, before declaring: Hes special, hes unique, and hes our little snowflake. Mr DeSantis did not take the gift and tried to laugh off the prank, telling the man: I dont do participation trophies, sorry buddy. The man was swiftly removed by Mr DeSantis security team. Ron DeSantis in Iowa (AP) While Donald Trump holds a substantial polling lead, Mr DeSantis and former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley are fighting hard for second place in the national polls. According to polling site FiveThirtyEight, Mr Trump still leads the field strongly in Iowa too, with 51.3 per cent of the vote as of Saturday. Ms Haley edges Mr DeSantis, sitting at 17.3 per cent, in contrast to Mr Desantis 16.1 per cent. This is despite huge efforts made by the Florida governors campaign team in Iowa. Ahead of the caucus Mr DeSantis completed the Full Grassley, named for Iowas long-serving Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, where he visited all 99 counties. He also received the endorsement of Kim Reynolds, the states governor, and Bob Vander Plaats, the head of the Iowa Family Leader and a kingmaker in the state. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Some voters in Iowa are still hesitant to throw their support behind Vivek Ramaswamy because they think he is Muslim, according to supporters of the presidential hopeful. Mr Ramaswamys religion and skin colour are still factors that prospective voters are considering, locals told his wife Apoorva Ramaswamy at a recent campaign event. According to polling by FiveThirtyEight, Mr Ramaswamy lags far behind his three Republican rivals on both a national and state level commanding just 6.6 per cent of the vote in the latter survey ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Monday. Voter tells Vivek Ramaswamys wife that Iowans dont support him because they think hes Muslim (AFP via Getty Images) At a campaign meet-and-greet on Thursday, Ms Ramaswamy asked supporter Theresa Fowler what do people say about why they were not supporting her husband. Well, the only one I have and I couldnt even remember who said it to me, but they mentioned his dark skin and they think hes Muslim, Ms Fowler said. I kind of set them straight on that. I dont know if they believe me or think I was covering for him, I dont know. Ms Ramaswamy replied: Not much we can do about that one. Vivek and Apoorva Ramaswamy (Getty) In an interview with NBC News after the event, Ms Fowler expanded on the concerns she hears from members of her own family regarding Mr Ramaswamy. They think hes Muslim, so its his nationality more than anything, she said. Its just that they cant get beyond when you look at someone and, you know Im working on them. At a later event in Jefferson County, Iowa, Ms Ramaswamy was grilled further by attendees about her own upbringing and the family religion the Ramaswamys are Hindu. She told voters: we do not come from the traditional background for most presidential candidates. We care a lot about God and our relationship with God so I understand that when people hear that were Hindu, you want to know like, what does that mean? Who are you and what do you stand for? Our religion teaches us that all of us have been put here by God for a purpose and everyone has been given some gifts by God and its our job to use those gifts to the best of our ability while we are here on this Earth. In the early days of his campaign, Mr Ramaswamy reportedly faced so many questions about his Hindu faith that he eventually incorporated an explainer of Hinduism into his campaign stump speech, according to NBC. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} One of Russias most popular novelists has been designated a foreign agent over his objections to the countrys invasion of Ukraine. Boris Akunin, who was once a best-selling author in Russia, has been added to a register of terrorists and extremists by the justice ministry. Books by Mr Akunin, whose real name is Grigori Chkhartishvili, had already been removed from book shelves after voicing his opposition to president Vladimir Putin. In a statement, the justice ministry said that Mr Akunin had opposed the special military operation in Ukraine and accused him of helping to raise funds to support the Ukrainian military. He has been a vocal opponent of the war in Ukraine (REUTERS) The ministry added that Mr Akunin had disseminated false information aimed at creating a negative image of Russia and its army. Making light of the announcement, he said on social media: They are writing that I have been declared a foreign agent today. Me, a terrorist and extremist?! I feel like Bin Laden who has been given a ticket for parking illegally. Mr Akunin, who lives in London, added: Terrorists declared me a terrorist. On the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Mr Akunin wrote: Russia is ruled by a psychologically deranged dictator and worst of all, it obediently follows his paranoia. The foreign agent label, which is reminiscent of the term enemies of the people of the Soviet era, and requires those who are branded foreign agents to identify themselves as such on social media and other publications. It also puts burdensome financial reporting requirements on them. Many Russian cultural figures have fled the country since Moscow began its military campaign against Ukraine while those who stayed face strict censorship laws. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Denmarks prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as King on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication. The countrys longest-reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe stunned the nation on New Years Eve when she announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years on the throne, becoming the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily stand down. Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that has been the seat of Danish power for centuries. It now houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish parliament, the prime ministers office and the Supreme Court. After the abdication was signed, prime minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowd of thousands. Denmark's newly proclaimed King Frederik and Queen Mary wave on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Reuters) Unlike King Charles IIIs coronation, the Danish royal household opted for a simple ceremony at Christiansborg Palace. King Frederik, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, left the royal palace at 1235 GMT in a 1958 Rolls-Royce. Margrethe followed by horse carriage a few minutes later to take her final ride as monarch through the streets of the capital. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark leaves for the proclamation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace Square (Getty Images) Huge crowds gathered before parliament to witness the momentous occasion (Reuters) Ms Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals. He was then joined on the balcony by the new Queen Mary and the couples four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem. My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow, Frederik said. It is a task I have approached all my life. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen proclaims King Frederik X as the new king from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen (AP) After signing the declaration of abdication Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, second right, leaves the seat at the head of the table to her son King Frederik X of Denmark (Getty) It is the custom for each new sovereign to adopt a royal motto as a guiding principle for their reign, and Frederiks is: United, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark. I want to return the trust I meet, the new king said. I need trust from my beloved wife, you and that which is greater than us. Frederik then kissed Mary, who wore a white dress, and another great cheer rose from the crowd. Denmark's newly proclaimed King Frederik and Queen Mary kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Reuters) Queen Margrethe II of Denmark signs a declaration of abdication on Sunday (Getty) The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens: Margrethe will keep her title while Frederiks wife will become Queen Mary. Their eldest son Christian, 18, will become crown prince and heir to the throne. Karen Holk Jeppesen, 31, a communications consultant, who arrived in Copenhagen with her sister on Saturday, said she booked a hotel in the capital the day after the queens announcement. I was in shock and started crying when the queen said on New Years Eve she would abdicate, said Jeppesen, standing in front of parliament. Its very rare to witness a real historical moment that you know will be written about in the history books, she said. Soren Kristian Bisgaard, 30, a pilot, said: We have come here today because this is history being made in front of our eyes. We just had to be here. He was drinking champagne with three friends, sitting in camping chairs in front of parliament. Im very fond of the royal family. I have been in the Royal Life Guards myself, standing guard at the royal palace. Im very proud to have done that and also to be here today, he said. People gather in the early morning at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of the proclamation of the abdication (AFP via Getty Images) Several shops hung photos of the queen and king, while city buses were adorned with smaller Danish flags as is customary during royal events. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live TV broadcast of the historic event. The royal guards music band made their daily parade through Copenhagen but wore red jackets, instead of their usual black, to mark major events. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now, said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. Hes 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles. Charles was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The former queen, affectionately known as Daisy after the marguerite flower, was congratulated by her cousin Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf, who himself celebrated 50 years on the throne in September. Your Majesty, dear Cousin Daisy! When you step down today from your high office as Queen of Denmark, I want to say a warm thank you for the good cooperation over the years, the Swedish king said on Instagram. The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Five people have died after a boat carrying migrants got into trouble attempting to launch from a beach south of Calais, according to reports in France. The incident happened near Wimereux in the early hours of Sunday morning. The French newspaper La Voix du Nord said that 72 people, including 10 children, had been rescued and taken to Calais, while one person was taken to hospital in Boulogne. The newspaper said that the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. It was initially reported that four people had died, before this afternoon a fifth was confirmed. A Navy helicopter, police and 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. The Home Office has yet to comment, but speaking on the BBC on Sunday morning, foreign secretary David Cameron said the deaths were a tragedy, adding that the incident highlights the need to stop the boats. The UK Coast Guard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters. The UK saw its first small boat crossing of the year this weekend (Getty) The latest tragedy came the day after former home secretary Suella Braverman took another shot at Rishi Sunak, accusing the prime minister of relying on bad weather to stop small boat crossings. Ms Braverman lashed out at the PM after Britain saw its first arrivals of the new year cross the English Channel on Saturday. The country had seen zero arrivals in 26 days, which was the longest period without small boat crossings since 2020. But, as the poor weather eased, around 50 people were reportedly brought ashore from the Channel by UK Border Force. The first crossings of 2024 have come as the row over the governments troubled Rwanda plan continues to cause schisms in the Conservative Party. Rishi Sunak is facing a showdown over the Rwanda plan he claims will tackle the small boats crisis (AFP via Getty) Lord Cameron said the deaths of four people crossing the Channel from France were heartbreaking. The foreign secretary said the thought of the appalling deaths in the bitterly cold waters in the middle of the night breaks my heart. And he said that the tragedy shows why we have got to stop the boats from attempting to cross in the first place. He said that in an ideal world, migrants would be immediately returned to France, which would collapse the whole trade. That is not available, and that is why we are pursuing the [deportation] policy with Rwanda, Lord Cameron said. Sir Keir Starmer said the deaths were a tragic loss of life and that his thoughts were with family members and friends grieving the awful way these four individuals lost their lives. In a sense, we dont need to know the details; to lose your life in a small dinghy or boat in the winter in the Channel is just awful, the Labour leader said. But he disagreed with Lord Camerons suggestion that the deaths show the need to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The starting place for that is to go after the criminal gangs that are running this vile trade, Sir Keir said. Thats where I put my political muscle, if you like, rather than a gimmick, which is the Rwanda scheme, he added. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: Awful that more lives have been lost in cold waters of the Channel. More families grieving while dangerous criminal smuggler gangs are making huge profits from these perilous boat crossings whenever the weather calms they need to be stopped before more lives are lost. Charity the Refugee Council said it was deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life in the Channel and that the tragedy should be a wake-up call. Its chief executive, Enver Solomon, said: The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the government to expand safe routes for refugees, its only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the government must put in place safe routes, and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our countrys values. Mr Sunak is braced for a Commons showdown over the plan after being warned by Tory MPs that the proposal will not work unless it is significantly beefed up. As the right wing of the party geared up for a parliamentary battle, the prime minister was warned by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick that the plan simply doesnt work in its current form. Dozens of right-wing Conservatives are backing amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that are aimed at effectively ignoring international law and severely limiting the capacity of individual migrants to resist being put on a flight to Kigali. Mr Jenrick refused to say whether he would vote for the legislation if it is not rewritten. This is the third piece of legislation in three years. Its three strikes or youre out, weve got to get this right, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme earlier this week. A spokesperson for the British government said: We can confirm there has been an incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters. Our thoughts are with all those involved. French authorities are leading the response and investigation. We will not be commenting further at this stage. Close Moment Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war appears to crash For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least seven people, including three children, have been killed overnight after a Russian drone hit a petrol station in the north-eastern city of Kharkiv. The strike caused a massive fire that burned down 15 private houses, while 50 people were evacuated as emergency workers tackled the blaze. It comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked army chief Valeriy Zaluzhny and replaced him with Oleksandr Syrsky. It follows days of speculation that Zelensky was considering dismissing Zaluzhny, who is seen by many Ukrainians as a national hero for overseeing the war effort since February 2022. We discussed what renewal the Armed Forces of Ukraine need. We also discussed who could be in the renewed leadership of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The time for this renewal is now, Zelenskys statement said on Telegram. In other developments, Ukrainian troops have shot down a Russian attack helicopter in eastern Ukraine near the city of Avdiivka as soldiers step up street fighting, Kyiv claimed. Meanwhile, Russian forces launched the second largest combined drone and missile strike on Ukraine this year with around 64 munitions hitting the country, according to a US think tank. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Wearing their press jackets, a group of journalists sit together as they sing a haunting melody: We will remain here in our homes, until the pain goes away. Sitting among the circle of Palestinians is Wael al-Dahdouh, an Al Jazeera correspondent all too familiar with pain and loss. The world watched as he learnt that his wife, son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike on 25 October. Just two months later, al-Dahdouh was hit by shrapnel while he was reporting from the scene of a bombarded school in Khan Younis. Weeks later, his other son, Hamza also a journalist was killed in an airstrike by Israeli forces. Wael al-Dahdouh buries his son, who was killed in an Israeli strike (Getty) The same group that have been singing together gather around al-Dahdouh as he buries his son with one hand gripping a press helmet. Despite his unimaginable losses, he has continued reporting, saying: All the world needs to see what is happening here. As Sunday marks the 100th day of the war, data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) shows that more journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Hamas war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year. The CPJ places the death toll at at least 82 75 of them Palestinian, four Israeli, and three Lebanese. The four Israeli journalists were killed in the 7 October Hamas attacks that left more than 1,200 people dead. Among them was Yaniv Zohar, a former Associated Press videojournalist, who was killed along with his wife and two daughters. The International Criminal Court has announced it is investigating alleged offences against Palestinian journalists since the Hamas attacks, after Paris-based NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed a second complaint in December. RSF described the targeting of journalists as intentional homicides of civilians. The United Nations said Gaza has seemingly become the deadliest place in the world for journalists and their families, as it raised concerns once again following the killings of Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, a freelance videographer working for Agence France-Presse. Very concerned by high death toll of media workers in Gaza, the UN rights office wrote on X, adding: Killings of all journalists, including Hamza Wael Dahdouh and Mustafa Abu Thuria in reported IDF strike on car must be thoroughly, independently investigated to ensure strict compliance with international law, and violations prosecuted. Motee Masbhah says he feels obliged to continue reporting despite the danger posed (Supplied) Efforts to document the war are already being hindered by frequent communication blackouts and the refusal to allow journalists to rotate in and out of the Gaza Strip. Only a handful of international journalists have been permitted to enter Gaza with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops. Speaking from al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, reporter Motee Masbhah tells The Independent: No journalist here knows if they will live until the evening. We are under deliberate and intentional targeting by the occupation, he claims. Israel wants to stop the Palestinian people from learning what is happening on the ground. It is blatant. Israel has denied targeting journalists, and said it does everything it can to avoid harming civilians in its war on Hamas. Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed while stationed 1km from the northern Israeli border with Lebanon (Reuters) Following the strike on Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuria, Israel initially claimed that its forces had identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft that posed a threat to IDF troops. We are aware of the reports that, during the strike, two other suspects who were in the same vehicle as the terrorist were also hit, it added. However, the Israeli militarys chief spokesperson appeared to contradict this statement when he was asked by NBC to provide evidence to support the claims, as he responded: We understand they were putting a drone, using a drone. And using a drone in a war zone, its a problem. It looks like the terrorists. He added that the incident would be investigated. The families of the journalists strongly rejected the claims. Al-Dahdouhs family told the BBC they were fabrications made to justify the targeting of journalists. Abeer (centre), the sister of Abdallah, weeps at his funeral (AP) Ramy Abdu, the founder of non-profit organisation Euromed Monitor, paid tribute to Bilal Jadallah, the director of Press House-Palestine, who was killed when an airstrike hit his car on 19 November. His most recent work, for the CPJ, documented a deadly pattern of journalist killings by the IDF. No foreign press got into Gaza without Bilals help, Abdu says. But he was killed without any word of condemnation from Europe. They forgot about him. Journalists documenting developments in the West Bank say they have also found themselves under threat while doing their job. Asif Nawfal, 28, describes dodging bullets as he and other journalists tried to cover settler attacks on the village of Deir Sharaf, west of Nablus, on 2 November. Abd Elkader Abd Elhalim, a Palestinian journalist based in Nazareth, calls the press climate militant as he describes a marked shift in his reporting. Asif Nawfal describes dodging bullets while reporting in the West Bank (Supplied) The news I write is not at the same level that it used to be before, because we are afraid, he says. We are not as courageous as the people of Gaza. We are afraid of being detained or arrested, while others are facing death to tell their stories. No one should have to show this level of bravery. No one should have to go through this. They are doing what has never been done before. The world chooses to see what they want, and chooses to ignore what they want. If these stats were coming out of any other country outside of the Middle East, you would find condemnations and unbelievable efforts to stop this. The Israeli military has been contacted for comment. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} After two months of continual Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, the US and the UK have launched more than 100 strikes against the militant groups positions across western Yemen. Huge explosions were seen in Yemeni cities including Sanaa and Hodeidah in the early hours of 12 January, with the US military saying 60 strikes were launched against 16 sites linked to the Houthis military operations. Below, The Independent looks at how the attacks unfolded and what weapons were used in the strikes. An overview Lt General Alex Grynkewich, a senior Air Force commander overseeing forces in the Middle East, said in a statement that more than 100 precision-guided munitions were used to hit 60 targets at 16 Houthi locations in Yemen overnight. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) revealed this morning that the Royal Air Force were responsible for hitting two of those sites. One was a site at Bani in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones, the statement read. A number of buildings involved in drone operations were targeted by our aircraft. The other location struck by our aircraft was the airfield at Abbs. Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and prosecuted by our aircraft. What weapons were used? James Heappey, the UK armed forces minister, revealed this morning that four Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters were used in the attack, supported by two Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker aircraft. The single pilot, twin-engine Typhoon jets are a mainstay of the RAF fleet. They fly at speeds of roughly 1,380 miles per hour (Mach 1.8) and as high as 55,000 feet, according to an RAF fact sheet The Ministry of Defence (M0D) later confirmed that Paveway IV guided bombs had been used in the strikes. A source at RAF Northolt suggested to The Independent that 18 missiles had been used in the attacks. An RAF fact sheet describes the 227kg warheads, which cost roughly 30,000 each, as having the ability to engage targets in all types of weather with laser guidance for high terminal accuracy. Gen Alex Grynkewich said the US fired roughly 100 precision-guided missiles, inlcuding Tomahwaks, from warships and submarines in the region. The US Navys Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAM), worth up to 1.5 million each, are low-flying cruise missiles capable of delivering a 450 kg conventional warhead hundreds of miles inland. The bulk of the firepower will have come from US jets. The US has an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea, as well as several air bases in the region. (The Independent/Datawrapper) How did the attacks happen? James Heappey, the UK Armed Forces minister, said the four Typhoons took off at 7.30pm on Thursday evening from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The base is located on the southernmost tip of the island, about 150 miles from the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Our source said that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak phoned Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday evening to request clearance for the Typhoons to fly over the eastern Mediterranean. The crew then flew west of Israel before descending the Red Sea and carrying out strikes on the Houthi positions in western Yemen. Mr Heappey said this morning that both targets were successfully prosecuted. The four Typhoons and two Voyagers safely returned to RAF Akrotiri at 3am. Footage released by US and UK showed fighter jets and aircraft taking off from various locations on Thursday evening. What targets were hit? Footage released by the UK MoD shows strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen (Ministry of Defence) Gen Alex Grynkewich said the strikes hit command and control nodes, munitions depots, launching systems, production facilities, and air defence radar systems. Our map above shows the exact locations of the strikes. The MoD claimed the strikes had been a success and that particular care had been taken to minimise risk to civilians in the area. The detailed results of the strikes are being assessed, but early indications are that the Houthis ability to threaten merchant shipping has taken a blow, a statement read. How have the Houthis reacted? Houthi leader warns Sunak and Biden: Your involvement will never go unanswered A Houthi military spokesperson said 73 strikes had killed five of the groups fighters and wounded six others. These reports have not been confirmed. Experts have warned that the Houthis are likely to claim the strikes killed civilians as part of its informational war against the US and the UK. Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vowed to confront American aggression after the attacks. Their Iranian backers have also called out the strikes. Foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: These attacks are a clear violation of Yemens sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a breach of international laws. Russia, meanwhile, condmended the strikes and called for an urgent meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Friday to discuss the issue. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} As the Israel-Hamas war reached its 100th day, Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed: No one will stop us not the Hague, not the axis of evil, and no one else. Across Israel on Sunday, events were held to mark the grim milestone and the three months that the remaining Israeli hostages (thought to be over 100) have spent in Hamas captivity. After 100 days, how can one still find hope? said former Hamas hostage Moran Stela Yanai in a speech to a large crowd in Tel Avivs Hostage Square, where many had gathered to campaign for the release of those still held in Gaza. Speaking from the event, former Israeli hostage negotiator Gershon Baskin told The Independent: The mood amongst the Israeli public is one of frustration. We have not left 7 October yet. Were still stuck in a traumatised society. Were still stuck in that position. And I dont know anyone whos optimistic about the fate of the hostages. In Gaza, the death toll has continued to rise with 125 Palestinians killed and 265 injured in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The same authority claims that more than 23,000 people have been killed and more than 60,000 injured in Gaza since the war started. A vigil takes place for those who died in the Hamas attacks in October, and for the hostages who are yet to be released (PA) Around half of Gazas buildings have been damaged or destroyed. A quarter of its population faces catastrophic hunger and starvation. Less than half of its hospitals remain even partially functioning. And over two-thirds of school buildings have been damaged. In the words of the UNs humanitarian chief, Martin Griffiths, Gaza has simply become uninhabitable. One hundred days in, the question of who will pay for the rebuilding of Gaza when the war finally comes to an end is one that continues to be asked in capitals across the Middle East. Israel faces an ongoing case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), put forward by South Africa, which accuses the Israeli government of genocide in the handling of its war in Gaza. In an ICJ hearing on Thursday, officials representing South Africa said that Israels genocidal intent was evident from the way in which [its] military attack is being conducted. They said Israel had a plan to destroy Gaza that has been nurtured at the highest level of state. Around half of Gazas buildings have been damaged or destroyed (AP) Israel rejected the argument, claiming that South Africa had presented a sweeping counterfactual description of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Israel declared war on Hamas in response to the militant groups unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October in which around 1,200 people were killed, mostly civilians, and 250 others were taken hostage. It was the deadliest attack in Israels history, and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust. Now in its fourth month, the war is already Israels longest since the countrys establishment in 1948. Tensions continued to simmer on the countrys northern border with Lebanon, as Israeli forces killed four gunmen who entered near the disputed Shebaa Farms area from Lebanon. The Israeli military said that troops patrolling the area had identified a terrorist cell who crossed from Lebanon into Israeli territory and fired at the forces ... The soldiers engaged and responded with live fire, four terrorists were killed. It is unclear which faction the gunmen belonged to. Tensions with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah have been heightened since the killing on 2 January of senior Hamas commander Saleh al-Arouri in a Beirut suburb by an airstrike that has been widely attributed to Israel. Hezbollah responded to the strike with a series of missile attacks on Israeli military bases. Fears continue to grow over the wars potential to spread further across the Middle East, as the Houthis vowed that they would not be deterred by joint US-UK airstrikes on their infrastructure. The US-UK strikes were conducted in response to the Houthis continued targeting of ships in the Red Sea. Prior to November, around 12 per cent of global trade passed through the Red Sea, but since the attacks began, many ships have taken longer routes around Africa, which has put upward pressure on inflation. Weve demonstrated that were prepared to follow words and warnings with action, and that is incredibly important, said foreign secretary Lord Cameron. It is hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity and instability in the world, he added. The lights are absolutely flashing red, as it were, on the global dashboard. In a statement marking the 100th day of the conflict, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesperson for the Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, said: The painful developments of the last 100 days have proven beyond doubt that the Palestinian issue and the Palestinian people cannot be ignored. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The US and the UK have carried out military strikes with aircraft, ships and missiles against targets linked to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The attacks came after the Houthis launched their largest attack yet on Red Sea shipping, one of 27 such assaults since 19 November. Officials said that 21 missiles and drones were fired at warships and commercial vessels near the Bab al-Mandab Strait early last week, the southern bottleneck of the Red Sea, with US and UK warships blowing them out of the sky. Since the US-UK strikes, the Iranian-backed Houthis have vowed to expand their Red Sea raids to include US ships, and successfully struck an American-owned cargo vessel off Yemen on Monday night. The ship doesnt necessarily have to be heading to Israel for us to target it; it is enough for it to be American, Nasruldeen Amer, a spokesperson for the Houthis, told Al Jazeera. The United States is on the verge of losing its maritime security. Here is what we know so far: What targets were hit in the strikes? The US said that it carried out strikes at more than 60 targets at 28 Houthi locations, with the Pentagon saying that radar systems, drone and missile storage and launch sites, plus Houthi command centres were all hit. Strikes were reported in the Yemen capital Sanaa - which is controlled by the rebels - as well as the Houthi Red Sea port of Hodeidah, Dhamar and the group's north-western stronghold of Saada. Britains Ministry of Defence (MoD) said that it had identified key facilities involved in Houthi targeting of HMS Diamond and US Navy vessels earlier this week "and agreed to conduct a carefully coordinated strike to reduce the Houthis' capability to violate international law in this manner". It said fighter jets conducted precision strikes on two of these Houthi facilities. "One was a site at Bani in north-western Yemen used to launch reconnaissance and attack drones. A number of buildings involved in drone operations were targeted by our aircraft. The other location struck by our aircraft was the airfield at Abbs. Intelligence has shown that it has been used to launch both cruise missiles and drones over the Red Sea. Several key targets at the airfield were identified and prosecuted by our aircraft. The Houthis said there were more than 70 strikes in total. How have the Houthis responded? The Houthis have continued to target ships since the US-UK strikes, saying that as well as Israel-linked vessels they now see British and American ships as legitimate targets. The US military said it repelled a missile attack on one of its warships over the weekend, an anti-ship cruise missile that was fired by the rebels towards the USS Laboon in the Red Sea. It was drowned by a US fighter jet off the coast of Hodeidah. And the Houthis also claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a US-owned cargo ship off the south coast of Yemen on Monday 15 January. The attack involved three missiles, one of which struck the Gibraltar Eagle and caused a fire. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which oversees Middle East waters, issued an advisory to all vessels in the region and urged caution during transit through Red Sea. The assaults have prompted prominent shipping firms to reroute ships from the Red Sea, opting for a more extended journey around southern Africa instead. On Monday, QatarEnergy, the second-largest oil company globally, declared a temporary halt to shipping through the route as it sought security guidance. What weapons did the US and UK use? US Navy warships fired Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles, which are GPS-guided and can be programmed to fly evasively, the US military says. While no specific figures have been given for how many missiles were fired, the US says more than 100 precision-guided munitions "of various types" were used. The UK said it sent four RAF Typhoons from Cyprus, carrying Paveway IV guided bombs. It has not said how many were released. The two UK Navy warships in the Red Sea cannot fire land attack missiles, hence the need for aircraft. The UK and US had non-operational support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands. Who are the Houthis and why are they attacking in the Red Sea? The Iran-backed Houthis armed group from a sub-sect of Yemen's Shia Muslim minority, the Zaidis. They take their name from the movement's founder, Hussein al-Houthi. They have been fighting a civil war since 2014 against Yemen's government. The government has been backed against the Houthis by a coalition of Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Houthis are part of what Tehran labels an axis of resistance against Israel, the US and the wider West which includes Hamas and Hezbollah from Lebanon. A Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October that killed 1,200 people and saw 240 taken hostage triggered Israel to bombard Gaza aiming to eradicate the group. Health officials in the Hamas-run territory say the Israeli military operation has killed more than 23,000 people. The Houthis claim they are targeting all ships bound for Israel through the Bab al-Mandab Strait in support of the Palestinian people. The Houthis subsequently began targeting commercial vessels indiscriminately, triggering the mobilisation of a US-led naval coalition at the end of last year to counter this threat. The Houthis have launched a number of attacks since November, carrying out at least 27 attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea. Why is the Red Sea important? It is one of the major waterways for global trade; roughly 12 to 15 per cent of shipping traffic passes through the Red Sea. Many shipping companies have been forced to reroute their vessels, taking the longer journey around Africa, although several oil majors, refiners and trading houses have continued to use it. Alternative routes cause delays in supply chains, while increased insurance costs for sailing through the Red Sea threaten to have a knock-on effect to end costs. Insurance premiums roughly doubled in the wake of the Houthi attacks. German shipping group Hapag Lloyd said on Tuesday it would continue to avoid the Suez Canal and go around the Cape of Good Hope for security reasons, while its Danish rival Maersk has said it would avoid the route for the foreseeable future. Thus far, spikes in energy prices as a result of the attacks have been short-lived and increased insurance costs have remained manageable, but experts have warned that if a few ships were sunk by a future assault, the situation could worsen. What have Joe Biden and Rishi Sunak said about the strikes? President Biden said the strikes were in "direct response" to the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea. "These attacks have endangered US personnel, civilian mariners, and our partners, jeopardised trade, and threatened freedom of navigation," he said. Mr Sunak said that the action was "necessary and proportionate" to protect global shipping. "Despite the repeated warnings from the international community, the Houthis have continued to carry out attacks in the Red Sea, including against UK and US warships just this week," he said. "This cannot stand." Could the attack escalate regional tensions? A spokesperson for the German foreign ministry said the latest Houthi attacks showed the militant group were clearly focusing on escalation against international merchant shipping. Before the US and UK airstrikes, British defence secretary Grant Shapps described the situation in the Red Sea as unsustainable and said that the HMS Diamond, the British warship stationed in the area, had been specifically targeted in the latest attack. The Houthis have vowed to continue their assaults until Israel halts the conflict in Gaza, and warned they would attack US warships if the militia group itself was targeted. Mohammed al Bukhaiti, a senior Houthi official, wrote on X in December: Even if America succeeds in mobilising the entire world, our military operations will not stop... no matter the sacrifices it costs us. But the Houthis have no formal naval warships with which to impose a serious blockade of the waterway, while the defence capabilities of the coalition forces are more than able to cope with the threat of drones and missiles. However the UK and the US have had to weigh their determination to keep the shipping lane open against the risk of spreading war in the region. The strikes were the first by the United States on Yemeni territory since 2016, and the first time it has attacked the Iran-backed Houthis at any such scale. Saudi Arabia called for restraint and "avoiding escalation" as it looks to withdraw from the civil war in Yemen. The conflict has lately been in a delicate state of UN-backed peace negotiations. Saudi Arabia have been anxious about any response from the US and others that could complicate those efforts. North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Koreas military said, two months after the North claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant U.S. targets in the region. The launch was the Norths first this year. Experts say North Korea could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from the Norths capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Koreas military will maintain its readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea. The South Korean assessment suggests North Korea could have launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose solid-fuel engine it said it had tested in mid-November. The missile is mainly designed to hit U.S. military bases in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which is about 3,400 kilometers (2,110 miles) from Pyongyang, the Norths capital. With a range adjustment, the missile can also be used to attack closer targets the U.S. military installations in Japans Okinawa island, according to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile is powered by liquid-fuel engines. Japans Defense Ministry said its analysis showed the missile traveled at least 500 kilometers (300 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles), data that suggest North Korea may have fired a short-range and not an intermediate-range missile. Japan and South Korea said they closely exchanged information about the launch with the United States, but they didnt immediately explain the discrepancy in data. The last time North Korea performed a missile launch that was publicly announced was Dec. 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the countrys only known solid-fuel ICBM and its designed to strike the mainland U.S. On Jan. 5, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. South Korea accused North Korea of continuing similar artillery barrage in the area for the next two days. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999, and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes ahead of an election year in South Korea and the U.S. Leader Kim Jong Un, during visits last week to munitions factories, called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win the election and pursue rapprochement with North Korea, and for former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again. They say Kim may believe he could win U.S. concessions like sanctions relief if Trump returns to the White House. Negotiations over North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal have been dormant since the Kim-Trump diplomacy broke down in 2019. Kim has since focused on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals in what foreign analysts is an effort to boost his leverage. In recent months, North Korea has also been expanding its military and other cooperation with Russia. The U.S. government said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russias war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. North Korea and Russia announced Sunday that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the U.S. and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Close Biden and Sunak spoke about Red Sea attacks, Gaza on phone call, according to White House For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Houthi rebels have vowed that the latest round of US and UK strikes against them in Yemen will no go unanswered - as their allies Hamas killed nearly two dozen Israeli soldiers in Gaza. The US launched their eighth attack on Houthi positions in western Yemen overnight, firing up to 30 munitions. UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said four Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoons were involved in the strikes. Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthis supreme revolutionary committee wrote on X, after the joint strikes by the US and the UK: Trust well that every operation and every aggression against our country will not be without a response. It comes as 21 soldiers have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the deadliest attack on Israels forces since the 7 October Hamas raid that triggered the war, the military has said. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu mourned the soldiers but vowed to press ahead with the offensive until "absolute victory" over Hamas was achieved. The soldiers were killed after a militant fired a rocket-propelled grenade at a tank stationed next to two buildings being prepared for demolition. The area was packed with explosives. Denmark's now-King Frederik X appeared emotional as he waved to crowds from the balcony shortly after being sworn in as the new monarch. Crowds poured onto the streets to watch his procession, which was far more understated than a UK coronation. The 55-year-old is replacing his mother, Queen Margrethe II, after a back operation forced her to reconsider her position, and she announced on New Year's Eve that she would be stepping down. King Frederik has served in the Danish military, and is known for his work in sustainability and women's rights. David Cameron hit out at South Africa's "unhelpful" genocide claims about Israel during a new appearance on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips today (14 January). The foreign secretary was quizzed on whether he agrees that Israel had committed war crimes in its war with Hamas, when he noted the severity of the claims being made. "I take the view that Israel is acting in self-defence after the appalling attack on 7 October", he said. "Even if you take a different view... to say that they have the intent to commit genocide, I think that is nonsense." The Independents editor-in-chief Geordie Greig described David Cameron as a Rolls-Royce returning to politics during a new interview on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg this morning (14 January). Hes smooth, hes persuasive, he powers along, Mr Greig noted, adding that there were definitely bumps in the road - referring to the foreign secretarys refusal to say how much he was paid by Greensill Capital. Such a flatterer!, Isabel Oakeshott responded to the analogy, however, Mr Greig insisted wed seen it all before. David Cameron also appeared on the show, as well as Labour leader, Keir Starmer. Editor-in-chief of The Independent, Geordie Greig, appeared on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg this morning (14 January), to discuss David Camerons return to politics, as well as the ongoing situation in Yemen. Mr Greig described the now-foreign secretary as a Rolls-Royce for his smooth and persuasive energy in government, but acknowledged that there would be bumps in the road. When it came to Keir Starmer, Mr Greig analysed his Blair-lite strategy for Labour ahead of the general election. He doesnt have to do very much, he doesnt have to over-inspire, he said of the Labour leader. Over 100 residents have been evacuated from the surrounding areas of Indonesias Mount Marapi, after the volcano suddenly erupted yesterday (13 January). As seen in video footage, the volcano spewed ash 4,200-feet into the sky, causing ash to blanket roads, vehicles, and homes. Its only been one month since its last eruption which took place in early December, and claimed the lives of 24 climbers. However, when tremors began on Wednesday (10 January), authorities werent taking any chances and moved people away. I dont contain myself to the Irish space. I am looking worldwide social media and makeup entrepreneur Keilidh Cashell With her Kash Beauty brand now on the expansion trail, Monaghan-born social media star Keilidh Cashell is well on her way to her goal of world domination 'Everything needs to be perfect and exactly how I see it, or there is no point in doing it, says Cashell Sean Pollock Sun 14 Jan 2024 at 03:30 Keilidh Cashell has a spring in her step. Exports Designers and craftspeople at the announcement of the shortlisted businesses in the Business of Craft Awards as part of this years Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2024, January 21-23, where the winners will be announced. Photo: Andres Poveda Irelands craft and design sector is booming. Not only did Enterprise Ireland (EI) client companies in the consumer product sector see double-digit export growth in 2022, (1.2bn) with overall revenues of 1.9bn, but the number directly working in craft and design has risen almost 10pc since 2021, with over 75pc of these businesses operating outside Dublin. Showcase 2024 (Sunday, 21 Tuesday, 23 January) is organised by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI), in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices, and offers International and Irish buyers the chance to connect with many Irish designers, makers and craftspeople in person in the RDS. Ireland is internationally renowned for its craft and design sector, and indeed it is intrinsic to Brand Ireland. Showcase encapsulates this, offering an incredible breadth of unique, creative and highly crafted products to trade buyers. Close to 400 exhibitors will take part in the show, with more than 100 of those being first-time exhibitors and more than 130 being direct clients of either Enterprise Ireland or the Local Enterprise Offices. Over 150 of the exhibitors are also members of Design & Crafts Council Ireland, and with many being smaller companies, buyers get to meet the makers and hear their stories. This is often a core part of the product attraction. While many emerging brands will exhibit at the show, its a mark of the lively innovative spirit of the sector that many of the new exhibitors are, like McWilliams Bags, established businesses that continue to innovate and bring new products to market. In fact, its the abundance of exciting new products on show that is the key draw, bringing thousands of visitors to Showcase each year, including a significant number of overseas buyers. These represent global retail chains, department stores, online shopping channels and marketplaces. EI will play host to over 80 international buyers this year, representing 10 key markets in Europe, North America, the UK and the Asia-Pacific region. Enterprise Irelands network of 39 overseas offices reports strong interest in craft and design products designed and made here with craftsmanship and sustainability the key selling points. The Enterprise Ireland team will be available at the International Buyers Hub to facilitate network-building with overseas buyers and to discuss the international strategic growth plans of exhibiting companies. Products awaiting discovery by buyers at Showcase run across four categories, including Home and Gift, where companies like Tipperary Crystal and Jerpoint Glass will exhibit, and Wellbeing, where top Irish brands include Brooke & Shoals and Oxmantown Skincare can be experienced. Fashion exhibitors include Aran Woollen Mills, Lee Valley and many more, and Jewellery will feature rising Irish stars including Shock of Grey and Sandia Dublin. Last years Showcase event reported a total of 25.6m in orders placed. With more visitors and exhibitors this year, Showcase is set to exceed expectations once again in its 49th year of operation. See www.showcaseireland.com. Teri Smith, Manager, Retail Consumer & Online, EI and Suzy OKeefe, Head of Digital & Communications, DCCI. If only for a brief moment, it could be Copper Face Jacks What its really like to go to a sober rave It could be solution to going out during Dry January Club Loosen run sober raves Saoirse Hanley Sun 14 Jan 2024 at 03:30 There are dancers, sweaty and fast, old friends reuniting and new friends meeting. Here, youll find almost every usual hallmark of a night out well spent. But notably absent from the hand of every outstretched arm is a drink. And thats kind of the point. Its a sober rave, and nobody here is under the influence. The Farmers Alliance will become the 29th political party after a 21-day appeal period (PA) The Farmers Alliance is to have its application to become a political party in Ireland approved. It means the party will be able to stand candidates in Ireland's Dail, local and European Parliament elections. The group will only become Ireland's 29th political party after a 21-day appeal period lapses or after the outcome of any appeals. The Electoral Commission's chief executive Art O'Leary is to approve the new party's application, as Ireland's Registrar of Political Parties. The formal notification published on Friday in the official Irish State gazette, Iris Oifigiuil, lists the party's address in Redcastle, Co Donegal. British journalist Daniel Howden, an expert on corruption and migration, has been a correspondent for the most important English media outlets for much of his career. Three years ago he founded Lighthouse Reports, a platform dedicated to investigate how central and local governments around the world use algorithms to make decisions, and hold them accountable. The platform, which partners with newspapers, podcasts and television networks, has worked with more than 120 media outlets to publish its reports, co-created with journalists from the respective alliances. Howdens strategy is to work with specialists, without the rush of a newsroom, and to take advantage of the showcase and the relationship that is already established between the media and the audience. In this way, they have done about 20 annual investigations in different corners of the planet. He talks about his discoveries in this interview conducted in Santiago, Chile, where he participated in the Ethical Algorithms Project of the Adolfo Ibanez University, with support from the innovation laboratory of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB Lab). Question. Why did you want to focus on accountability for the use of algorithms? Answer. Automated decision-making systems are being implemented around the world in areas like criminal justice, healthcare or welfare services without much or no public consultation. We are being watched, classified and scored by systems that most of us dont understand. For the average person, that means that decisions are being made about their lives that they have no control over, whether its applying for a mortgage, a job, or a government benefit. If the affected person cannot understand how their request was accepted or rejected, it means that it didnt go through due process and that they cannot challenge the decision or know the data that they probably did not even know had been collected. Most of these AI systems are being implemented by governments, cities and public agencies without supervision. That is why journalists have to enter that uncomfortable space to report and defend the need for regulation. Q. What did you find when you started Lighthouse? A. What frustrated me was that tech journalism always talked about artificial intelligence as something dark that would take place in the near future: This is going to happen. But they ignored the fact that there are already things to report on present in our lives. If you are in the poorest part of the world, it is quite possible that international support for aid programs is based on an algorithm developed by the World Bank that calculates poverty using a rather controversial methodology. Q. In what cases is this automated decision-making system being used? A. In criminal justice sentences in the United States and some places in Europe to a greater and lesser extent, for example. These systems provide risk scores, which judges then use to pass sentences and determine how much jail time a person should serve. Prison authorities use them to decide who should be sent to a maximum security prison or who should be released on parole. Q. What information do they use to pass a sentence? A. It is an interaction of variables. Some are simple, such as age, gender, classification of the crime, but also ethnicity, family size, last known address, financial records... There are factors that cannot be taken into account. We also thoroughly analyze systems that detect citizen fraud in welfare states. One question is how the decision is made about whom to investigate for possible fraud. In the Netherlands there was a system that had 315 variables, where more than 20 were related to language. Now what were they trying to control for in language? Theyre trying to work out who was a native citizen and who wasnt. But you cant say that a person is more likely to be committing fraud because theyre an immigrant. Q. Are the biases in AI systems a reflection of societys biases? A. When a technology company comes to sell a system like this, what theyre claiming is that its going to make objective decisions, so its removing the human bias factor. But it depends on how you train it. If the training data set that you have is basically a reflection of years worth of biased actions, then that bias is going to come through in the training data. A lot of AI accountability reporting has focused on predictive policing. These systems tell the police: you need to concentrate your policing resources in these areas and at these times, because looking at historical records of criminal offences committed, these are the hotspots where these things happen. So in theory, that sounds okay. But the risk is that, for many years, police are allocated to look for certain kinds of crimes and they are concentrated in some particular neighborhoods. Most of the drug dealing in Sao Paulo, for example, is concentrated in the poor neighborhoods, areas for people who work in the rich neighborhoods. Statistically, the person whos living in the wealthy area is more likely to be purchasing illegal drugs and possessing illegal drugs; its just that theyre going to do the purchase transaction in this neighborhood, so this system will never tell you to look in the wealthy area. This is how bias gets built into this. Q. What can be done about it? A. in the simplest terms, one side of that argument would say that we can do a better job with the construction and the training of these systems. These are the ethical AI exponents. Another group of people would say that these tools are inappropriate for some of these tasks. But were still at the stage of catching the really bad systems that have been very badly trained and creating incentives for public authorities to work on better systems and to better understand the technology that theyre buying. But were skipping the part where we make it work in an ethical way, where there is accountability for mistakes that get made and where you can challenge the outcomes from these systems. Q. Is artificial intelligence affecting human rights? A. The way in which AI is being used by public authorities in governments and cities and national systems is affecting human rights. The system that determines possible fraud in welfare programs or if a person has to stay in jail for longer are some examples, but AI systems are increasingly being used to decide who gets interviewed for jobs or if youre asking for a loan. Thats why its not good enough to say that we cant move fast enough to regulate AI. We cant throw up our hands and say that its cleverer than we are and that were not going to try to assess bias in systems which are going to make very basic decisions which impact our civil rights. Q. How do we avoid falling into that attitude? A. What we need to do is just step back a bit from the hype, which is very exciting and very frightening and tells us that this is something inevitable that is going to remove our capacity to make decisions about how our societies will be and place all of that authority in the hands of a few technology companies. This is great for them, but its not so great for anyone who expects to be a citizen of a country and not just a consumer of a product. We think of it like we would the medicines market: the average politician who decides on regulation is not in a position to pass tests on the latest miracle drugs. They rely on public institutions that inspect and regulate how drugs get released to the market. Why are we able to do that? Because weve decided that its in the public interest to have these safeguards in place. Q. Is what is happening similar to what occurred with social media? A. Right now theres a massive amount of hype around AI. Were being told that AI is going to fix everything, or its going to kill us all. These are two incredibly intoxicating ideas, but theyre all somehow in the future. Whats much less discussed is what we can do right now in order to treat AI systems that are already in our lives. There are rules about everything else that impacts our lives, and theres the idea that AI should be an exception to this. We heard them from big tech platforms like Amazon and Airbnb, which told us: you cant regulate us just like any other retailer. You cant regulate us like anyone else in the hospitality industry. And Airbnb has had a profound impact on the cost of rents right across the world. They shouldnt be the dominant voices in this conversation. And its okay to expect our governments to think about how to create flexible future-proof legislation to build in the same civil and human rights that we already have. We shouldnt be sacrificing civil and human rights in pursuit of an amazing AI future. Q. What is the position of the AI industry? A. What it wants is light touch regulation that it has a huge say over. Now, governments can play a role in this in two different ways: they can set down a regulatory playing field, which makes sense for the industry because it means that all of the players have to develop technology and deploy it in the same way, and the other thing that they can do is set the bar on the systems that they will deploy on the public and be transparent about those systems and require that technology providers give access to third parties, like the media and inspectors and auditors. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Satirist can earn more from his corporate work than from radio work Oliver Callan is hot favourite to take over the slot formerly occupied by Ryan Tubridy. Photo: David Conachy RTE has denied reports it is struggling to find a new presenter for the Nine OClock Show on RTE Radio 1. A spokesperson for the broadcaster told the Sunday Independent that it had already settled on its choice of presenter, as confirmed by RTE director general Kevin Bakhurst in this newspaper in December. However, a well-placed source in RTE said an announcement, which had been widely expected this weekend, has been paused, due to ongoing contract negotiations. The problem is with the contract. Thats the sticking point, said the source. Why would he give all that up to present the radio show, unless its really worth his while? A second source said this is the downward pressure on salaries coming home to roost. RTE is keeping its choice of presenter on a need-to-know basis within the broadcaster but Oliver Callan is widely believed to be in negotiations about becoming the new face of the show, according to the first source. This is despite a report last week claiming the comic had turned down the gig. Shortly before Christmas, the comedian raised eyebrows when he refused all media interviews to promote his biggest TV gig of the year, a New Years Special of Callans Kicks except for a quote he gave to an in-house RTE reporter. Asked if he will be staying on in the role, the presenter replied: I cant say. I dont know, so I wont say anything. He added: Im reluctant to say anything because I looked at the experience of The Late Late Show where people were ruling themselves in or out and I dont want to get involved in any of that I dont have any answers, no. Mr Callan was contacted for comment. Meanwhile, when asked if the new presenter of the 9am slot will also be free to enjoy lucrative outside gigs, a spokesperson for RTE said, all employees and contractors are required to seek approval for external services. The first source, an RTE insider, said that this is the main issue for Callan. RTE has quietly asked other presenters if they are interested in the gig, in case Callan refuses They said the satirists corporate work is the bread and butter of his business. He can earn more money from his corporate work stand-up at awards and lunches than he can from even touring. Why would he give all that up to present the radio show, unless its really worth his while? No matter how much he wants to do it? It seems RTE bosses are keeping their options open, in the event that negotiations fall through at the final hour. The Sunday Independent understands they have quietly asked other presenters if they are interested in the gig and these presenters have not been formally told that they have not been chosen. Meanwhile, it has emerged that some high-profile personalities at the broadcaster are dismayed at the way the process has been carried out. Another RTE insider said there are well-known names who believe the broadcaster could have handled the situation better. This has dragged on for weeks. Presenters were effectively asked to do a public audition, where they rotated with others. Since then, they have had reporters and family and friends constantly asking if the job is theirs. This was never going to be easy, there was always going to be drama when so many people wanted such a high-profile slot but its still a form of rejection and it has all been so public as time has rolled on. How would you feel? Brendan Courtney, Ray DArcy and Kathryn Thomas are among the presenters who have expressed interest in the job. Shay Byrne will present the show tomorrow, and an announcement is now expected later this week. Ground-breaking research reveals three-quarters of female sex predators target own gender The victims of female-perpetrated sexual assault in Ireland are mainly women, a new study has shown. The research, which is the first of its kind, found 95 cases reported to Irelands six sexual assault treatment units from 2017 to 2022 where the attacker or one of the attackers was female. Fishermen accused the minister of trying to protect the Donegal fleet. Stock image Minister for Marine Charlie McConalogue failed to take up an offer by Denmark to resolve a long-running row with Ireland over mackerel, which could have been worth almost 10m to the Irish fleet over two years. The offer, in a letter from Danish Minister for Fisheries Jacob Jensen, amounted to a transfer of 3,000 tonnes of mackerel to Ireland for two years, without prejudice to a long-term solution to the dispute. Instead, at Decembers meeting of the Fisheries Council, Ireland appears to have been outmanoeuvred into accepting a permanent deal in Denmarks favour, with a fraction of the share going to Ireland. He failed to win back something that would have compensated us all for Brexit losses McConalogue hailed the December outcome as a win-back of quota worth 3m, but Irish industry leaders say this is misleading and that they were instead hoodwinked. The row dates back to Brexit, when Ireland lost substantial access to British waters, bearing the brunt among EU member states of transfer of prawn and mackerel quotas back to Britain. This had a knock-on negative impact on annual EU-Norway deals on migratory stocks, principally mackerel. In 2021, Denmark applied to the EU to transfer an historical mackerel quota formerly caught by its vessels in Norwegian waters into western EU waters. This transfer would be at the expense of Ireland and other EU member states fishing from this pot. Charlie McConalogue Irish officials spotted the Danish move, amounting to 12,000 tonnes of mackerel valued then at around 17m, and Denmark reacted angrily, with former Danish fisheries minister Rasmus Prehn accusing McConalogue of an attempted coup. As attempts continued to resolve the row, the new Danish fisheries minister approached Ireland directly 10 weeks before last Decembers fisheries council. It is understood the offer of 3,000 tonnes of fish for 2022 and 2023 would have been separate to Irelands annual mackerel allocation in Brussels. In the letter to McConalogue dated September 25, 2023, obtained by The Skipper magazine and seen by the Sunday Independent, Jensen says the European Commission favoured Ireland and Denmark resolving their differences together. He said the commission had indicated it would assist in implementing a solution identified by Denmark and Ireland in unison. It appears the minister just sought to ensure that the Donegal mackerel fleet had a sufficient share The Danish fisheries minister notes that as Britain develops its fisheries policy, the EU is continuously suffering from Brexit, with both Ireland and Denmark suffering in different ways. Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association CEO Brendan Byrne said he was shocked, as he had no knowledge of the Danish ministers letter. The industry has regular meetings with McConalogues officials and the letter was never mentioned, he said. A transfer of 3,000 tonnes of mackerel from Denmark to us over two years would be worth over 9.7m, based on the current price for mackerel of 1,620 euro a tonne, Byrne calculated. Mackerel. Photo: Tony Gavin Irish South & West Fish Producers Organisation CEO Patrick Murphy said Mr McConalogue should reflect on his position for misleading the Irish industry by failing to tell us about this offer. There are small inshore boats seeking to fish for mackerel by rod and line who are restricted to 400 tonnes a year they could have done with some of this extra fish, as could larger boats down the coastline, Murphy said. It appears the minister just sought to ensure that the Donegal mackerel fleet had a sufficient share, preserving the status quota and failing to win back something that would have compensated us all for the Brexit losses, Murphy said. Asked to comment on the Danish offer, a Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine spokesman said: This issue centred on the allocation and distribution of an EU mackerel quota historically linked to an agreement with Norway, which had been unallocated since 2022. Ireland did not accept Denmarks proposal of a once-off transfer of mackerel quota in September 2023, as the solution proposed did not reflect the European Commissions legal analysis which confirmed that this quota originated in the western waters mackerel quota area. The solution adopted by member states at Decembers council, which involves a transfer of part of this quota to the western waters area, reflects the original source of this quota. The solution negotiated by Minister McConalogue therefore results in a permanent allocation of additional mackerel quota for the Irish fleet, rather than a once-off transfer of quota. A Fianna Fail local election candidate in Clare has said the community is concerned about plans by Waterford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald to transform a vacant rural pub he owns into a residential centre. The Sunday Independent revealed last week that Fitzgerald had paid off long-standing rates bills of around 50,000 on the Bellsfort Inn, which has been closed since 2020. Disadvantaged students will have to be offered housing for below market rents in return for the State funding the delivery of new college accommodation halls, the Sunday Independent can reveal. The Government is to commit taxpayers money towards the construction of new student accommodation buildings under a new policy being brought to the Cabinet this week by Higher Education Minister Simon Harris. It is thought to be the first time the Government has committed exchequer funds towards student accommodation with previous strategies relying solely on the construction of private-owned accommodation. The policy aims to cut the estimated 30pc of students living in private rental accommodation. The policy commits the Government to investing in the construction of on-campus housing for students, the repurposing of vacant and derelict properties into housing, and the continuation of support for homeowners renting a room to students. Ministers will be told this week of the need to utilise existing buildings owned by universities for conversion to student accommodation with a specific grant scheme that could be up to 40m being designed to assist higher level institutions with the costs of doing this. In return for state investment, the same percentage of beds that are funded from the Exchequer must be offered to disadvantaged students at a below market rate. For example, if the State funds 30pc of the beds in an accommodation facility, those 30pc of beds must be offered at a reduced rate to students whose household income is less than 100,000. If the State funds 100pc of the beds then all of the beds in an accommodation building must be offered to students at a reduced rate. The first phase of Mr Harriss plan has been to activate planning permissions already secured by third level institutions with 61m in exchequer funds committed towards the development of up to 1,000 student beds across DCU, Maynooth University, University of Limerick and the University of Galway. Mr Harriss department is also currently engaging with UCD, which has planning permission for 1,254 student beds; Trinity College Dublin, which has permission for 358 beds and the second phase of DCU, which has permission for 830 beds. The next phase is to activate accommodation projects in the regions, particularly in the new technological universities, to reduce the number of students competing with families for private rental accommodation. State funding will also be provided to support developments owned by higher education institutions or private development where an allocation is ring-fenced for a targeted cohort of students at below market rates. It would also involve the repurposing of vacant buildings. An annual grant of between 20m and 40m could be made available to help universities repurpose buildings which are currently unoccupied. The overall size of the grant scheme is to be decided in talks with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As well as boosting the supply of student accommodation and relieving pressure on the private rental sector, Mr Harriss policy aims to support balanced regional development, create a supply of new below market rate accommodation for targeted cohorts, and reduce the cost of delivery of new purpose-built accommodation through standardised designs. Minister Eamon Ryan has denied that the Government made a U-turn in its plans to accommodate male asylum seekers in Carlow and Mayo followings protests in recent weeks. It follows further protests at a building earmarked to house 160 international protection applicants in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, this weekend. Protests outside the Racket Hall hotel began on Thursday night. Speaking to This Week on RTE Radio One, the Green Party leader said finding accommodation for families seeking international protection is an ongoing challenge but the country cannot close our doors. "We cannot say to the rest of the world Ireland is full, we cant do anything to help either the people coming from Ukraine or people looking for international protection so yes, we have to continue to provide emergency accommodation, he said, adding that the Government plans to move away from a reliance on the private sector. Mr Ryan said this will be a better outcome as decisions will not be made on a needs must basis at the last minute. He said a number of state-owned reception centres like those operating in Citywest will instead be used. "We also need to work on the communication of this, Mr Ryan said, adding that while canvassing this weekend he noticed a misunderstanding of what the reality is on the ground. Mr Ryan said the current situation has been unprecedented but there will be changes in the system towards a long-term solution that does not involve the private sector. "In a challenge which we have which is largely arising from a shortage in accommodation, firstly we dont blockade and we dont burn. Burning down our accommodation is doing nothing. "Its illegal, its criminal but also, we have to a fundamental understanding that in managing this we cant completely shut the doors and say Ireland is full, we do recognise that we have to help communities where people are coming in and we have to create a system which is not based on emergency response. "We have had to do that in the last two years because it has been unprecedented having to find 100,000 accommodation units at no notice in very challenging circumstances. We have done that but we will change towards a more long-term, sustainable solution. He said he does not believe the change in plans in Ballinrobe, Co Mayo or in Co Carlow were U-turns. Buildings in both towns had been earmarked to house male asylum seekers and were the sites of protests. The Department of Integration later said that it would be accommodating families seeking international protection in both Ballinrobe, Co Mayo and in Carlow. "I dont believe it was a U-turn. Im certain it wasnt. It was the reality that we have significant difficulties at the moment in housing families who are looking for accommodation, said Mr Ryan. When it was put to the Green Party leader that it could appear as if the Government bowed to pressure from communities that protested, Mr Ryan said: It may look like that but that is not the case. He said the need changes each week and that the decision was made based on the need of families seeking international protection. Mr Ryan denied that the Government had changed its approach to decision-making around accommodating asylum seekers. The chief executive of the States human rights watchdog held talks with a number of Social Democrats TDs before announcing last Friday she would resign and seek a nomination to run for the party in Junes European elections. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) will hold an emergency board meeting this week after chief commissioner Sinead Gibney said she was quitting. Ms Gibney said in a statement on Friday that she will leave her post on March 15 to seek a nomination to run as a candidate for election on June 7. Although the statement did not mention which party or in which particular election she would run, Ms Gibney will seek the Social Democrats nomination to run in the Dublin European Parliament constituency. Her decision to step down from the state body to run for political office but also continue in her post for the next two months has been criticised in some quarters as the IHREC is considered apolitical. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Equality Minister Roderic OGorman all declined to comment yesterday. Last month, Ms Gibney led the IHRECs decision to launch a High Court case against the Government over its failure to provide accommodation for asylum seekers the first time the body has invoked powers to sue the State over alleged human rights breaches. Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher said it was completely incompatible for Ms Gibney to continue in her role for the next two months, given she intended to stand for election. It is a core principle of our public service that senior personnel engage in no political work, he said. A Social Democrats spokesperson confirmed Ms Gibney had a pre-existing relationship with the party and spoke with a number of TDs while she considered contesting the nomination. She previously ran for the Social Democrats in the 2019 local elections in Dun Laoghaire and was the partys 2020 general election candidate in the Dun Laoghaire Dail constituency. However, she had to quit the race after she was appointed IHRECs chief commissioner. Her term was due to expire in February next year. Sinead Gibney The spokesperson added: The notion there is anything inappropriate in relation to Sinead having held informal discussions is preposterous. The party has yet to open its selection convention, but Sinead would undoubtedly make a very strong candidate. IHREC has declined to comment beyond a statement it issued last Friday, in which it thanked Ms Gibney for her work and wished her well. However, the Sunday Independent understands she told her IHREC colleagues during a meeting last Friday that she intended to resign in order to seek political office. A number of IHREC board members declined to comment yesterday. Palestines Irish ambassador has now lost 12 of her family in war Dana Erlich, Israels ambassador to Ireland, said she categorically rejects an application made by Irish lawyer Blinne Ni Ghralaigh and a South African legal team in the genocide case being brought against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague. Speaking to the Sunday Independent this weekend, Ms Erlich said the application made by Ms Ni Ghralaigh and the South African delegation at the ICJ is inherently false and biased and completely ignores the role and responsibilities of Hamas for the war. The diplomat also claimed South Africa has publicly and shamelessly aligned itself with Hamas and says it is embracing a proscribed terror organisation which is calling for the destruction of Israel and the Jewish people across the globe. Last week, Ms Ni Ghralaighs work as a top human rights barrister brought her to the ICJ, the UNs highest court. The fact that Ms Ni Ghralaigh is from Ireland means a lot to me In a powerful address on Thursday, Ms Ni Ghralaigh said the conflict in Gaza was the first genocide in history being broadcast in real-time. Addressing the court in both English and French, which she studied at Cambridge University, she said her task was to convince the court of the urgent need for provisional measures to be imposed to protect the rights of Palestinians in Gaza. In response to the application, Ms Erlich has described South Africa as Hamass representatives in the court. She told the Sunday Independent that the South African team is ignoring the fact that Hamas uses the civilian population in Gaza as human shields and operates from within hospitals, schools, UN shelters, mosques and churches, with the intention of endangering the lives of the residents of Gaza. She also welcomed statements from the Irish Government emphasising the role of Hamas in this war. As Taoiseach Varadkar stated, it is important to remember and understand the origin of the term genocide, and acknowledge the agenda of Hamas which openly declares its genocidal intents as weve witnessed since October 7. Meanwhile, Palestines ambassador to Ireland, Dr Jilan Wahba Abdalmajid, described the opening statement by Ms Ni Ghralaigh as a landmark speech. She also said the fact that Ms Ni Ghralaigh is from Ireland means a lot to me. She is Irish. She knows the meaning of colonisation, starvation, occupation and oppression. Reacting to the ICJ case, Dr Abdalmajid said: The whole world has witnessed this genocide online live. You cannot say it isnt happening. We see it. You cannot hide it or lie about it. We need to be strong to stand up for our cause, but we have no time to grieve The diplomat also revealed her family suffered further losses in Gaza as recently as 10 days ago, and added that she has not been able to process their deaths. We have had more tragedies. We have now lost 12 family members. For a period of time it was very, very difficult. Maybe when this war is over and I hope it will be soon we will have time to deal with our grief. But now we are trying to freeze our feelings. To be able to stand up for our cause we need to be strong but it is not easy. We dont have time to grieve. Ms Ni Ghralaigh was brought up by her Dublin-born mother and Mayo-born father in London but has often travelled back to Ireland. She only began training as a lawyer after completing an undergraduate degree in languages, working in the interim for a think-tank to save for the cost of a conversion course. She took up a position at a human rights firm in London but turned down the offer of a solicitors training contract to work as a legal observer on the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in Northern Ireland. She then spent a further year in Derry working for a solicitors firm representing many of the Bloody Sunday families. The ICJ hearing is the latest in a long line of high-profile cases for Ms Ni Ghralaigh. She has presented to the ICJ before, on behalf of Croatia in a 2015 case against Serbia alleging genocide in the early 1990s. She has also worked for the Hooded Men, a group of men interned in Northern Ireland in 1971 who last year received an apology from the PSNI for their treatment. A 23-year-old man has been remanded in custody in Cork after he was charged with being in possession of rifle and 81 rounds of ammunition. Zac OLeary of Palmbury Orchard in Togher, Cork appeared before Cork District Court on Sunday morning, where he was charged with being in possession of the .22 calibre rifle and ammunition. The alleged offences fall under Section 27(A) of the Firearms Act 1964 as amended. Det Garda Mike Abernethy of Gurranabraher Garda Station on the northside of Cork city gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He said that Mr OLeary made no reply when the two charges were put to him under caution on Saturday. Det Garda Abernethy said that he was on patrol on Friday evening when he observed an Audi car being driven erratically on the Lower Glanmire Road in Cork city. He stopped the car at 10.30pm and noted that there was a female driver and a male front seat passenger. A search was carried out of the vehicle and a .22 calibre rifle and 81 rounds of ammunition was recovered. The occupants of the car were arrested. The woman, who was in her 30s, was released without charge. A file will be sent to the DPP. Det Garda Abernethy said that the Mr OLeary made full admissions as to the ownership of the rifle and ammunition when he was in garda custody. He stated that gardai were objecting to bail arising out of the seriousness of the offence and the possibility of a maximum sentence of 14 years on conviction. Det Garda Abernethy stressed that the nature of the evidence against the accused was strong. He [OLeary] was caught red handed. There is strong evidence to support a very serious offence, the garda said. Full admissions were made in interview. He also expressed concern that Mr OLeary would commit further serious offences if granted bail in the case. Meanwhile, defence solicitor Joe Cuddigan said that the father of his client had travelled from Pakistan amid concerns for his son. He said that the man was willing to reside in a property in Tralee, Co Kerry, with his son. Mr Cuddigan said that making full admissions wasnt the behaviour of a hardened criminal, with Dt Garda Abernethy agreeing with the proposition that the accused hadnt caused gardai any trouble in custody. Mr OLeary gave evidence in the witness box to the effect that he was prepared to follow stringent bail conditions and to live outside of Cork in order to obtain bail in the case. Det Garda Abernethy said that such undertakings failed to ease the fears of gardai in relation to the granting of bail to Mr OLeary. Judge Philip OLeary declined to grant bail in the case arising out of the gravity of the alleged offences and the nature of the evidence in the case. Mr OLeary, who is a plumber and lives with his mother, was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Cork District Court on Tuesday. First selfie of freedom! The message written by Gypsy Rose Blanchard on December 28 on her Instagram account has already garnered more than 6.5 million likes. And when she says freedom, she means it literally: that was her first selfie after leaving a womens prison in Missouri where she was held for eight years for the murder of her mother, Dee Dee Blanchard. If she was already famous, after her release she became a full-fledged celebrity. Her face is all over the tabloids, many television channels want to hear her story and everything she posts on Instagram (where she has more than 6.5 million followers) and TikTok (the same number) gets millions of interactions, mostly related to her image, her accessories, her hairstyle or her manicure; everything is scrutinized as if she were a pop star. There are some who do not join in the enthusiasm: It makes me very uncomfortable that she is so famous right now for doing something so horrible, says one of the comments. A few days before leaving prison, she gave a long interview to People magazine, expressing remorse for a crime that she regrets every single day. She didnt deserve that. She deserved to be where I am, sitting in prison doing time for criminal behavior. Her release has caused such a stir that, according to TMZ, the Missouri police was forced to prevent her from attending a Kansas City Chiefs game where she hoped to meet her idol, Taylor Swift, a regular since the start of her relationship with player Travis Kelce. To satisfy the hunger for information, Lifetime premiered The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a six-part documentary with new revelations about the case, which acquired worldwide notoriety thanks to a previous documentary, Mommy Dead and Dearest. A selfie posted on Instagram, where Gypsy Rose Blanchard has 6.5 million followers. Who is the monster? After a lifetime of silence, I finally get to use my voice to share my story and speak my truth. As a survivor of relentless child abuse, this docuseries chronicles my quest for liberation and journey through self-discovery, Gypsy says in the trailer. I am unapologetically myself and unafraid to expose the hidden parts of my life that have never been revealed until now. On June 14, 2015, police officers from Greene County, Missouri, went to Dee Dee Blanchards house after being alerted by neighbors, who were worried after seeing a strange Facebook post. That Bitch is dead! could be read in an account usually filled with positivity and focused on her daughter Gypsy, a sick girl who was the center of her life. Not being able to contact her, they feared that something could have happened to them. When the police entered the house they found the body of Dee Dee, who had been stabbed repeatedly, but no sign of her daughter, only her wheelchair. All the alarms went off. They feared a kidnapping. The girl was well-known in the area; she was a regular at charity events. She suffered from leukemia, heart problems and muscular dystrophy. The kidnapping theory was ruled out when the police traced the IP of Dee Dees Facebook posts to a house in Wisconsin. There they found Gypsy and Nicholas Godejohn, with whom it was discovered that she had a secret romantic relationship. They arrested them both. The most surprising part of the whole chain of atrocities was that Gypsy was actually able to walk by herself; she no longer seemed like the fragile girl who used to be seen on social media surrounded by Disney princesses. According to the initial investigation, the crime had been planned by Gypsy and executed by Godejohn, whom she had met through a Christian dating network. Gypsy was not the little girl her neighbors thought she was. She was a 25-year-old woman whose mother had falsified her birth certificate. She was not sick, either: it was Dee Dee who made her sick. She never had leukemia, but Dee Dee shaved her head to make it look like she did. She also subjected her to a series of complex, unnecessary surgeries, in her efforts to make her completely dependent. How could something like this have happened? The question still resonates. Dee Dee had kept her daughter away from society, and also from her father, who contributed to her support but who was rarely allowed near her. What could drive a mother to subject her own daughter to continued suffering? Dee Dee suffered from a factitious disorder, which the Mayo Clinic defines as a serious mental disorder in which someone deceives others by appearing sick, by purposely getting sick or by self-injury, a condition commonly known as Munchausen Syndrome. When, as in Dee Dees case, the patients make other people sick instead of themselves, it is called Munchausen by proxy, and the victims are usually children, vulnerable adults or even domestic animals. Every time some piece of information came to light during the investigation, the question was the same: who is the monster here? Gypsy was an accessory to murder, that much was clear. She left the door open so that her boyfriend could enter the house on the night of the crime and she wrote the words on her mothers Facebook account. For months, both had exchanged messages that came to light during the trial; they went from highly sexual conversations to questions about duct tape and knives. The law was going to be merciless, but society had doubts regarding her guilt. Gypsy Rose with her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, in images from the family album provided to the Lifetime documentary. A perfect mother Nick Godejohn was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder. Gypsy was sentenced to 10 years, the minimum possible. Thanks to a plea deal that acknowledged her abusive relationship with her mother, she served eight. The case had all the ingredients to arouse the publics fascination, and the media capitalized on it. Two documentaries were released: the aforementioned Mommy Dead and Dearest and Gypsys Revenge. In 2019, Hulu produced The Act with Joey King and Patricia Arquette, who received an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress. It was also one of the heinous crimes featured in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and it appears, thinly disguised, in Ryan Murphys The Politician, where Jessica Lange acts as a southern version of Dee Dee. Munchausen syndrome has always captivated fiction. With each answer came another question. How had Dee Dee been able to deceive doctors and nurses for years? Although fiction shows them as deranged monsters, those affected by factitious disorder tend to be articulate, stable people who spend years learning to avoid the control of the system, and when they feel threatened they change healthcare providers. The reward for so much effort is recognition, feeling indispensable, making something as normal as taking care of children appear heroic. That is one of the reasons why these patients, generally white middle-class women, are so attractive for fiction. What could be more terrifying than a perfectly normal mother who continually harms her daughter? There is another protagonist in this mother-daughter story: Godejohn. He and Gypsy talked for two years before meeting in person. For their first date they went to see a movie; for their second, he traveled from Wisconsin to Missouri to kill Dee Dee. In Mommy Dead and Dearest Gypsy stated that on the night of the murder she and her mother had gotten a manicure; then, when Dee Dee fell asleep, Godejohn entered the house and stabbed her while Gypsy remained hidden in the bathroom. During the trial Gypsy confessed to convincing him, but despite his lawyers alleging manipulation, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Gypsy Rose with her mother Dee Dee Blanchard, in images from the family album provided to the Lifetime documentary. The end of the romance I was blindly in love, he declared during the trial. In a later interview he said that the time he spent with Gypsy had been the best of his life. From the very beginning, I just knew we were soulmates, he confessed. Those five days when I was actually with her, physically with her, those five days were the most intense, and magical, and awe-inspiring days Ive ever had. He also declared that he had murdered Dee Dee because they could never be together as long as she was alive. It emerged that Gypsy and Nicholas broke up after she announced her engagement to another man. In 2020, Ryan Scott Anderson, a high school teacher from Louisiana, one of the men with whom she exchanged letters while she served her sentence, came into her life. They got married in prison in July 2022, in a small ceremony with no guests, and now they are planning a big party with all their friends. We deserve it, she told People exclusively. She also revealed that she felt some concern because she had never lived with a man: only her mother and her fellow prisoners have been in her life. Their relationship seems to be going well, judging by a controversial comment she wrote in response to an Instagram post by her husband, in which she boasted about the intensity of their sex life. Ryan, dont listen to the haters. I love you, and you love me. We do not owe anyone anything. Our family is who matters. If you get likes and good comments great, if you get hate then whatever because THEY DONT MATTER. I love you. Besides they [are] jealous because you are rocking my world every night yeah I said it, the D is fire. Happy wife happy life, she wrote. To that, her husband replied: Who said I gave a damn about what these jealous people say anyway, haha... now come get it Baby Gypsys life after her release is hectic, and at the same time unusually conventional. The holidays were not too different from anyone elses, except for the fact that her face is everywhere when she turns on the television. She is a 32-year-old woman who makes TikTok videos and shares photos on Instagram with family and friends celebrating her return home, as if instead of a state prison she had been touring the Greek islands on a cruise ship. Other criminals seek anonymity after serving their sentence, but this is not her case. There are those who warn of the danger this can pose for a person who has spent her entire life captive and guarded, first by her mother and then by the state. The stories of the celebrities she seems to be trying to emulate are filled with tragic lives and broken toys. Lets not turn Gypsy Rose Blanchard into a meme, wrote Lois Shearing in Cosmopolitan. Judging by the speed with which each anecdote of her new life is going viral, perhaps the warning has come too late. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Lobbyists pressed minister on taxation changes they feared would hit the nations lucrative aeroplane leasing industry Aircraft leasing firms last year complained to Finance Minister Michael McGrath about corporate tax changes and their impact on their competitiveness. About 60pc of the worlds leased aircraft are managed in Ireland but companies operating here told the Minister they were worried about the impact new tax rates would have on their businesses. They claimed that increasing their tax rate from 12.5pc to 15pc this year would weaken Irelands position as a hub for the industry. Many international airlines use leased aircraft, as it gives them increased flexibility to manage their fleets. Irelands historically low corporate tax rate was seen as a significant driver in attracting aircraft leasing firms here. However, a new global tax agreement to apply a minimum rate of 15pc put Irelands position as a leader in the sector under threat. Last September, before Budget 2024, the Irish-founded leasing firm Avolon wrote to Mr McGrath, asking to meet him to discuss concerns about the tax changes. Avolon CEO Andy Cronin said he was aware other companies in the sector had similar concerns. He pointed to PwC research published last year which showed the industry here was growing and was worth about 900m to the economy. This was an increase of 26pc compared to 2018. The report said the industry employed more than 8,500 people here. Based on recent feedback, we have significant concerns regarding the impact that the changes would have on aircraft leasing which, as you know, is one of the most successful industries in Ireland, Mr Cronin wrote. The Sunday Independent understands Avolon did not meet with the minister but did express its concerns at a meeting with Department of Finance officials last October. An Avolon spokesman said the company looked forward to maintaining an open dialogue with Government and other stakeholders to foster an environment that supports the continued success of aircraft leasing in Ireland. Macquarie Air Finance also raised concerns with the minister before last years budget. Its chief executive Eamonn Bane said the business believes the tax changes will weaken Irelands competitive position as a global leasing hub. Along with much valued government support, the long-term certainty and stability of the Irish tax regime has been critical to the success of the Irish aviation leasing industry, he said. Consistent with Irelands tax regime generally, this is grounded in the application of the 12.5pc tax rate (moving to 15pc from 2024) to the active businesses of leasing companies and their various profit streams. A spokeswoman for Macquarie said it occasionally engages with stakeholders to share perspectives on conditions to ensure their industry remains competitive. The letters, which were released under the Freedom of Information Act, also point to lobbying by Aircraft Leasing Ireland (ALI), the Ibec lobby group representing the sector. This weekend ALI director Elizabeth Bowen said the group continued to engage with the Department of Finance and Revenue about tax policy changes for leasing companies. The Department of Finance said a review of taxation of leasing led to engagements with industry figures before the changes came in on January 1. Discovery of 14 people in a shipping container and the disappearance of eight of them tells a disturbing tale Minutes after being freed from a refrigerated container in Rosslare Europort in the early hours of last Monday, the 12 adults among the 14 migrants began arguing loudly among themselves. They were unhappy to find they had landed in Ireland, rather than the UK. A source said one of the men, who spoke in pidgin English, was clearly getting the blame from the others because they had mistakenly ended up in Co Wexford. A couple of hours earlier, a Kurdish woman in the container made an emergency call. This was picked up by the UK Coast Guard and transferred to the Irish emergency services, triggering a multi-agency response. The distressed woman said she was afraid the migrant group were running out of air and would die in the cold, pitch-black container. In their desperation as they struggled to breathe, they managed to pierce a hole in the side. After receiving the panicked call, the UK authorities also alerted the ships captain, who ordered a search of his vessel. Gardai and paramedics were also contacted, and were awaiting the boats arrival at Rosslare. Emergency personnel at Rosslare Europort in 2019 after 16 people were discovered in a container on the ship. Photo: PA At 3am on Monday, gardai opened the container hitched to a lorry and released the 14 migrants two girls aged four and six, nine men and three women. Ten of the group, including the children, were Kurds from Iran and Iraq. Another was from Turkey and three more were from Vietnam. The vessel they were on had sailed from Zeebrugge in Belgium. It was quickly established that none of them were in any medical danger, though they were cold and shaken. The emergency services looked on as the migrants relief at being rescued quickly turned to anger once they realised they were in Ireland, not the UK. This clearly wasnt where they were supposed to end up, a source said. They were angry that they were in Ireland. One of the group, a man, was getting the blame for it. He spoke only pidgin English. They werent happy. It was a very heated argument. The group were given blankets, food and water. The priority was to ensure they were all well, particularly the two children. After some time, gardai at Wexford, assisted by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), passed the 14 into the care of the International Protection Accommodation Service (Ipas), as protocol dictates. Tusla, the child and family agency, was also notified. Once they were deemed fit to travel, the migrants were transferred by Ipas from Wexford to an asylum processing centre close to Dublin Airport. The plan was for gardai from Wexford to travel to Dublin to interview the group within a couple of days, with the help of interpreters and specialist child interviewers. The priority for gardai and the GNIB was to establish if the migrants were the victims of human trafficking. Gardai wanted to find out which gang suspected at this early stage to be of foreign origin with no Irish criminal involvement arranged the groups dangerous passage. Rosslare Europort, Co Wexford. Photo: Collins However, before Wexford gardai could travel to Dublin to interview the group, they were told eight of them, all men, had left the asylum processing centre and their whereabouts were unknown. A source said the men are believed to have left Dublin and travelled to Northern Ireland, with the aim of taking a ferry to Scotland or England. The likelihood is they are already gone. There wasnt an opportunity to interview them, as they chose to leave, the source said. Why would the migrants have sought to end up in the UK rather than Ireland? We dont know for sure. But its much bigger geographically, meaning its easier to get work in the black market. And its possible they already have a network of family or friends in the UK who could help set them up. We also cant discount they were fleeing human traffickers who were going to exploit them. After the Irish Independent broke the story on Thursday that eight of the migrants had left state services, the Department of Justice moved quickly to point out they were entirely within their rights to do so. The department does not comment on individual cases. Where state accommodation is provided in such circumstances, no person is required to remain in that accommodation, it said in a statement. Still, questions remain about why the men would choose to leave a warm, secure accommodation centre, where hot meals and showers were available, to fend for themselves. Gardai said they are still trying to establish if the 14 migrants were victims of human trafficking or people smuggling. A spokesperson said: People smuggling involves immigrants making an illegal entry into Ireland. Illegal immigrants want to enter a destination country and often pay someone to facilitate their illegal entry. Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transporting and ultimately the exploitation of a victim, which can be for a number of reasons, including labour exploitation, sexual exploitation, forced criminality or the removal of one or more of the organs of a person. A source with a background in people smuggling and human trafficking investigations said the migrants who disappeared clearly had access to money and probably a network of family and friends, most likely in Britain. The reality is they didnt want to be put into the system. They didnt intend to seek asylum, like many others who arrive in Ireland, mostly by air. This group intended to get off that container and enter Ireland secretly. Either they were being exploited, which would make it human trafficking, or they paid a passage and were free to go as soon as they arrived here. One way or the other, they are victims. They willingly got into a container, with two young children, and they could have lost their lives. Thats how desperate they were to start a new life. Gardai in Wexford are relieved Mondays discovery did not mirror a tragedy at the same port two decades ago. In 2001, a group of 13 people were found in a container on the back of a truck that had arrived into Ireland via Rosslare Europort. Eight of them, including four children, had suffocated. Last year, gardai recorded 53 cases involving victims of human trafficking, but there are hundreds more who are smuggled into the country and never detected. This group of 14 people were only discovered because they alerted the authorities themselves over fears they were dying in that container, a source said. Thank God they didnt die. But gardai are not naive. Had that distress call not been made, that group of people would have been driven from that ship and released, completely unbeknown to gardai and the State. They were willing to risk their lives to get into England but ended up in Ireland. We need to start asking why. Gardai in Wexford continue to investigate how the migrants ended up in Rosslare Europort and are liaising with Europol. Some of the ships crew have been interviewed, and there are plans to speak with the remaining migrants in Dublin. Identifying the criminal gang who arranged this dangerous journey is the priority, the source said. We got away without a tragedy this time, but we might not be so lucky the next time we open a container. Begin to reform If your new year fitness kick needs some help, Dublin 6 yoga and pilates studio Reformation is starting two beginners courses this week in pilates and yoga, both commencing on January 16. LH Six week yoga course, 100; reformer pilates course, 120, see reformation.ie The Dublin Lunar New Year festival will run from February 3-11, see dublinlunaryear.ie. Photo: Julien Behal Year of the dragon The Dublin Lunar New Year festival will run from February 3-11, with a programme, to be announced tomorrow, that includes workshops, tours, talks, and music and culinary events, and which will culminate in an event in Meeting House Square, 12-6pm, on February 11. LH For more, see dublinlunarnewyear.ie Carton House wellness retreats with Sinead Mooney, see cartonhouse.com Time for a retreat Carton House Fairmont hotel are running several wellness retreats this year, hosted by meditation and yoga teacher Sinead Mooney, aka Moons Yoga, with the first taking place on January 20 and 21. LH For details, see cartonhouse.com Nivea Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator, 7.99, available nationwide Clear as day Skin can be a little sluggish this time of year, thanks to the cloudy weather and the party season past. Nivea Derma Skin Clear Chemical Exfoliator features salicylic and glycolic acids to clear pores, while niacinamide has an anti-inflammatory effect. The exfoliator goes on at bedtime after cleansing and promises a clearer complexion in seven days. SC 7.99, available nationwide Diffuser, 48, see jobrowne.com Diffuser delight Ones surroundings can feel a little sterile right about now, stripped as they are of all the lights and razzmatazz. Freshen things up and feed the senses with this trio of aromas for diffusers from Irish brand Jo Browne. The Calm, Fresh or Signature blend, which features bergamot, neroli, palmarosa and rosemary, promise to uplift and destress you. SC Aroma bamboo diffuser 75, blends trio 48, see jobrowne.com No and low alcohol drinks menu at No.27 bar, see theshelbourne.com Free spirits For those continuing dry or dry-ish January, The Shelbourne have launched a new no and low alcohol drinks menu in their No.27 bar, with a selection of no and low cocktails, spirits and alcohol-free beer from Lucky Saint. LH See theshelbourne.com Novomins Kids Calcium, Vitamin D & K2 Gummies, 5.99, Chemist Warehouse Gummy bear goodness If the kids seem to need a mid-winter boost, these B Corp-certified gummies are an easy way to top up any vitamins or minerals they might be lacking. The fact that they are sweet-tasting gummies also helps. The cute bears, with added calcium and vitamin D, taste decidedly like a strawberry milkshake. The range also includes omegas, probiotics and magnesium gummies. SC Novomins Kids Calcium, Vitamin D & K2 Gummies, 5.99, Chemist Warehouse. Always consult your GP before beginning supplements. From 899, see tdactiveholidays.com Destination yoga Travel Department Active just might meet your new year zen and Vitamin D needs. In particular, they have three, four and five-night yoga retreats from April in Portugal, Croatia (above) and Madeira. Suitable for all abilities, with flights, accommodation and B&B or half-board. SC From 899, see tdactiveholidays.com Ciara Kelly: Women being held back by women, and the rules around what a girl can or should do. We could call it toxic femininity One hundred days since the brutal October 7 attacks on civilians inside Israel by Hamas, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is still fighting inside Gaza. With the continued bombing there, and the Israeli governments targeted assassinations in Lebanon, we are incrementally moving towards what seems like an endless war. People in the Middle East are asking two fundamental questions questions that are nagging at the back of my own mind. History was made last Thursday. For the first time since its founding in 1948, Israels impunity was questioned in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, in the Peace Palace, where South Africa brought its charge of genocide, the denial of right to existence, against the Israeli government. Ireland was there. Although the housing sector needs investors, the market is rigged against young people We need to build about 50,000 homes a year to meet housing demands of the population As yet another new year unfolds, Generation Rent continues to face exclusion from the housing market. A recent revelation exposes the continuation of a disheartening trend in a Dublin housing estate, where homes initially designated for individual buyers are now slated for rental purposes after being acquired in bulk by an investment fund. This 54-unit housing estate in Belcamp Manor, Dublin 17, intended for 46 buyers, will now contribute to rental yields, with prospective tenants facing monthly payments of 3,175, The Sunday Business Post reported. AN RAF aircraft is pictured at RAF Akrotiri following its return after striking military targets in Yemen during the US-led coalition operation, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, in Cyprus. Photo: Sgt Lee Goddard/UK MOD via Reuters Iranian demonstrators in Tehran burn British and US flags during a protest against military strikes against Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. Photo: AP As the terrible war unleashed by Russia on Ukraine enters its 690th day and Israel-Gaza conflict reaches its 100th-day milestone, increasing reference is being made to the spectre of World War III. Such statements may be overblown, but there is undoubtedly growing concern over the spread of conflict in the Middle East, which has now drawn in Iran-backed Yemen (and the Red Sea commercial route), as well as Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. On a visit to Ukraine last week, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak also advised that people should prepare for a long war on the continent of Eur-ope, with Russia showing no sign of relenting in its illegal invasion. Further to that, Chinas framing of elections in Taiwan as a choice between peace and war adds to the lethal international mix, making it possible to understand why some people would refer to a third global conflict. There is disagreement about what constitutes a world war, but it generally involves two major power blocs of countries fighting for dominance, with numerous nations on each side taking up arms against each other in more than a single theatre. It is possible to frame many of the conflicts in the world today as a clash between autocratic regimes and liberal democracy, with no certainty that democracy will emerge victorious. The outcome of that battle greatly depends on the US presidential election this year, on the campaign trail of which former president Donald Trump is touting himself as the only one that will prevent World War III. In fact, Trump is one of several politicians employing dark language soon after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Joe Biden was reported to have told aides: Were trying to avoid World War III. AN RAF aircraft is pictured at RAF Akrotiri following its return after striking military targets in Yemen during the US-led coalition operation, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea, in Cyprus. Photo: Sgt Lee Goddard/UK MOD via Reuters In the Sunday Independent today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar writes on the migration crisis in Ireland (see below), which is largely caused by conflicts such as those in Syria and Ukraine, stating that so long as there are millions of people willing to risk their lives to get into Europe to escape war, there will be flows of migration. In a timely intervention on growing social opposition to the accommodation of refugees here, Varadkar stresses that Ireland does not have open borders, but admits the countrys deportation system can be made to work better. In the round, though, he makes a heartfelt plea for people to try to understand the extraordinary circumstances Ireland and Europe face, and this countrys moral and legal responsibilities towards the protection of refugees fleeing war. It should also be noted that references to the potential for World War III play into the Kremlins strategy of emphasising that risk and use it to try to reduce support for Ukraine. Nonetheless, the ratcheting up of Chinas war rhetoric following elections on the self-ruled island of Taiwan last week, and particularly the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Red Sea one of the main trade routes between Asia, the Middle East and Europe is a cause for real concern. In this year of elections worldwide, it is hoped that western liberal democracies return politicians capable of standing firm against autocratic over-reach while also using language that tones down, rather than up, talk of World War III. Based on recent discourse, the war in Ukraine is still bearing on peoples minds, although not mentioned often in conversation. A narrative has arisen about the lack of success of the 2023 Ukrainian summer offensive and the potential for Ukraine being defeated. Russia is making a strong effort to promote these ideas on social media and influencing international commentators. Some suggest this may be the most important strategy for the Russian military at this point, aiming to reduce arms supports from the West. For over a century, official Russia has employed propaganda more than any state in history its self-promotion previously in its guise of the Soviet Union as a communist state is a leading example. Part of the push for a peace deal suggests that Russia has the upper hand in the conflict. However, this ignores the fact that it had to source armaments from North Korea and Iran last year. Also, military experts have outlined that the professional core of the Russian army has been put out of action. Ukraine has had severe challenges and was supported too late, with limited access to a drip-feed of 20-30-year-old Western equipment. This allowed the Russian army time to build complex defence structures deep to the front lines. This conflict is at a stalemate, but peace at this point would greatly reward the regime in Moscow, with what remains a very large land grab. Calls for peace are a natural humanitarian response; however, the Russia/Ukraine conflict has had two prior ineffective deals in 1994 and 2014. Few who have studied this conflict feel a peace deal at this point will stop Russia for anything longer than a few months of rearmament. Referencing a quote often attributed to Albert Einstein, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result, a new approach is needed. It is difficult to see an endpoint. Outside of the obvious moral obligations to the people and soldiers of Ukraine, every defence budget in Europe will have to significantly increase in the coming years, with funds diverted from other spending. Pressure on the cost of fuel and housing will continue. On Russias side, its invasion goal to militarily securing Crimea has been rendered obsolete by the provision of long-range missiles to Ukraine, which make the peninsula unsafe. Paradoxically, the only way to bring a meaningful peace at this point is to comprehensively support Ukraine with military aid so called peace through superior fire power. Martin OConnell, Castleknock, Dublin 15 Bleak future for postmen as letter-writing and bike delivery fall by the wayside Leo Gormleys letter (An Post is stamping out the art of writing letters with its latest price hike, Irish Independent, Letters, January 12) and reference to the postman on his bicycle, reminded me of my late brother, who for many years worked as a postman in Bray, Co Wicklow. When I once asked him if he enjoyed his job, he replied that it was much better than just walking the streets. Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9 Ireland should not stand on sidelines when it comes to Israel genocide case By Ireland adopting the role of observer rather than participant in the case brought by South Africa for alleged genocide against Israel in Gaza, we have lost the view of our moral compass. Foreign journalists are not permitted into Gaza by Israel. Many of the journalists within have paid with their lives for their commitment to report the happenings there. Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africas president, played a vital role during the decommissioning phase of the Irish peace process. He did not choose to be a mere observer. Surely the Irish Government should have supported him and his country in this step in securing peace in Gaza? Is it a case of eaten bread soon forgotten? The justice required to be administered to the Hamas attackers of October 7 cannot be justified by the obliteration of the Palestinian people of Gaza. Paddy Murray, Castlepollard, Co Westmeath RTE must do better when referencing the Israeli onslaught on Gaza Having viewed the opening hearing of the widely reported International Court of Justice case on Thursday, I was astounded to hear RTE Radio 1s news bulletin describe it as relating to Israels war on Hamas in Gaza. RTEs blithe inference that this is merely a war, and furthermore, that its focus is ultimately on Hamas, assumes the Israeli states military onslaught is not committed with genocidal intent on the population of Gaza; in other words, it presupposes the very outcome of the case. By way of analogy, it would hardly be appropriate for a media outlet to report upon the opening hearings of a murder case in terms that rationalised the motivation, or excused the actions, of the defendant, leaving listeners wondering whether manslaughter might have been a more appropriate charge. RTEs analysis or its uncritical reiteration of Israeli military narratives flies in the face of countless widely reported exhortations by Israeli politicians. These utterances include member of the Knesset Nissim Vaturis declaration that the Israeli military must wipe Gaza off the face of the earth, They also include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus characterisation of the Gaza Strip as Amalek (a Biblical reference of a neighbouring nation, slated by Jehovah for annihilation), and President Isaac Herzogs immediate implication of an entire nation in the October 7 attack. Whatever the conclusions of the International Court of Justice in due course of time, we must demand better from our national broadcaster. Brian O Eigeartaigh, Donnybrook, Dublin An urgent atrocity in the making but its in your remit to act, Minister Ryan Eamon Ryan warns of an immediate urgent atrocity in the making and that the judgment of the International Court of Justice against Israel will be severe unless it immediately stops its onslaught of Gaza. Perhaps he has not got the memo? His cabinet colleague Leo Varadkar has already been careful in finding Israel not guilty. International law compels all countries to act when they see a genocide occurring. Eamon Ryan is arguing that action be taken but yet this Government has done nothing. Mr Ryan and the members of this Government have known since November 16 of the UN Commission on Human Rights statement that the international community has an obligation to prevent atrocity crimes, including genocide. Thats not something that you can put off something you can be diplomatic and polite about, it said. Fine Gael blocked the Occupied Territories Bill and the Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023 has shamefully been stalled. The actions of this Government are certainly not reflective of the Irish who have been standing for the rights of the Palestinian people going back decades as Mr Ryan stated. Alan Munnelly, Lucan, Dublin Hamas has not learned in four previous wars penny needs to drop for Arab warmongers With respect to Brendan Butler (US has diplomatic muscle to end the bombardment inflicted on Gaza by Israel, Irish Independent, Letters, January 11), the US leaning on Britain, France and Israel did not end the Arab war of objecting to Israels existence any more than turfing Israel out of Sinai did in January 1949. On a wider level, it did not stop Egypts Gamal Nasser taking over Syria and wasting 50,000 troops in Yemen, nor the Cold War. Beyond the Palestine blinkers, in 1956 Dwight D Eisenhowers US was convincing the Soviets it could manage its own Nato bloc allies Britain and France to prevent a third World War. Its time to recognise the real villain now is Iran. The persistence of the Arab war on Israel stems from nobody being able to persuade the Palestine Arabs to cut their losses by making peace with Israel. US pressuring Israel out of Sinai in 1949 and 1957 did not create peace. The penny dropped in 1967 to leave Israel until the Egyptians offered peace to retrieve Sinai. In the four Hamas Gaza wars before this one, persuading Israel to cease fire has not stopped the conflict. It encouraged Hamas to continue skirmishing and rockets because no serious consequences fell and Hamas is still fed and watered by soft Western taxpayers to UNWRA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees). Let us hope the current war is Hamas 1967 or 1973 the-penny-drops moment that Israel has to be lived with. For the current Gaza campaign, please note that Israel has not used cluster bombs. Israel has not used napalm, liberally splashed by the US and Allies since1943. Israel has not even used tear gas, as did the US in Vietnam. Finally, Israel warned off the civil population which no other bomber force has done. That in itself prevented a lot of death, but then hypocritical Hamas claims to love death more than Israel loves life. Frank Adam, Prestwich, England Proposed change to wording in Constitution on relationships is not on very durable footing Surely, we should be able to produce a more inclusive definition beyond what is outlined in the Constitution as the marital family other than to encompass a catch-all phrase other durable, committed relationships. The proposed amendment is not on a very durable footing on which to ask the people to vote yes. For that reason, I am out. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 Todays episode of The Indo Daily comes courtesy of our sister podcast the BelTel. This was originally published on January 10, 2024. Being convicted of a crime despite being innocent is most peoples worst nightmare. But this happened to hundreds of people in the UK during the Post Office Scandal. Described as one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK history, between 1999 and 2015 over 700 postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly convicted of stealing money from their branches. Some were bankrupted, losing their houses, livelihoods and life savings, and others served prison sentences. It was later revealed the missing money was due to a fault when a computer program Horizon was introduced in 1999. Kurtis Reid spoke to Alan Mclaughlin, an ex-Northern Irish postmaster who took legal action following his conviction of false accounting offences. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Belfast Telegraph Reporter Kurtis Reid to tell this tragic story. Florida Governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis (C) is guided to his vehicle by staff as he departs a campaign stop in Ankeny, Iowa, on January 12, 2024. Most Iowans wont be out Monday night. Never mind that its forecast to be well below zero, with wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees, and the roads may still be icy from a set of snowstorms that hammered the state this past week. Its because theyre not registered with the Republican Party, which is kicking off the presidential nominating season with its famous caucuses. Or because they dont want to make the commitment to attend, which involves getting to the nearest of 1,500 caucus sites and sitting in a room potentially for hours for the chance to vote on the partys presidential nominee. But the winter weather, intimidating even for Iowa, will make an already unrepresentative process even less representative. Elderly Iowans, the backbone of the caucus, are wondering how they will make it to their sites Monday. Political types are mentally downgrading their expected turnout and wondering who a smaller, harder-core electorate will favor. All this gives longtime critics of the caucus even more reason to be critical. This is no way to begin the election of a president, said Julian Castro, a former San Antonio mayor and federal housing secretary who was a Democratic presidential candidate in 2020, when he called for Iowa to have a less prominent role. You have to be a die-hard whos willing to trudge through snow and be there for several hours. And if you miss it, your opportunity to vote is gone. Democrats already have downgraded Iowa after the state party bungled the vote-counting in the 2020 caucuses. Democrats have relegated the state to later in their nominating process after President Joe Biden declared that he wanted more diverse states that better represent his party and the country to cast the first votes. That partys process starts in South Carolina on Feb. 3, then moves to Nevada and then New Hampshire. But Republicans have stuck with Iowa, which once was competitive but has swung firmly to the right in the age of Donald Trump, who carried the state in the general election in 2016 and 2020. Its population is whiter, more rural and evangelical than the nation, but that matches the GOPs voters better than the Democratic Partys. Some Republicans expect a still-robust turnout, but most acknowledge the weather will scare at least some voters away. Thisll be worse than weve ever had, said Doug Gross, once a top aide to former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who said his own 90-year-old mother had decided she couldnt caucus in these conditions. Its going to dampen turnout. Brad Anderson, state director of AARP Iowa, said older voters historically decide who wins and loses the contest because the caucuses do tend to trend older in terms of turnout. This caucus might be somewhat of an outlier, he said. The cold and potential snow drifts, especially in rural parts of the state, make conditions treacherous for people of all ages, Anderson said. He advised extreme caution, especially for those with mobility issues, and hopes Iowans will take safety into account. One older woman who lives in a retirement home in Newton telephoned Thad Nearmyer, chair of the Jasper County Republicans, saying she still drives but would be a bit more comfortable going if somebody else was driving, he said. She will be asking friends, family and neighbors for a ride to Mondays caucuses. It would be a huge undertaking for the county party to organize rides widely, but Nearmyer recommended that those who want to attend a caucus reach out to friends, family and neighbors. You know, if it was right now with this wind whipping and snow, nobody would be able to make it, Nearmyer said Friday. But I think weve got time for the roads to clear, the wind to die down. I think itll be pretty well-attended. Even under better conditions, only a tiny fraction of Iowans even participate in the caucuses. In 2016, 186,000 votes were cast in the Republican caucus in a state population of more than 3.1 million. And thats what provides the most important kickoff to the contest to lead a nation of 330 million people. The caucuses are a relic of the push to reform party nominating processes in the 1970s, freeing them from the influence of party bosses. They helped vault underdogs such as Democrats Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama into the White House. Caucuses tend to favor movement candidates liberal Democrats and conservative, increasingly evangelical Republicans whose supporters are more willing to carve out time on their calendar and dominate the caucus room. The small size of the event, and of Iowa overall, is part of the pitch, said Rabia Belt, a Stanford law professor who has been critical of the caucuses There are conflicting desires in crafting the nominating process, Belt said. If you start with large states, or states in expensive media markets, that creates barriers to potential candidates who may not have a lot of money or organizational power at the outset. Also, a small state can allow candidates to tailor their messaging and work on their retail political game during intimate conversations with committed and interested people. Seth Masket, a political scientist at Denver University, was preparing on Friday to take 13 of his students to watch the caucuses. He was bracing for the weather, but also for the randomness of the American nominating process. No one would ever design this intentionally, Masket said. No one would ever design something where the most important contests are in Iowa and New Hampshire in January! Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition There was excitement in the air as thirty-one learners from Enniscorthy Community College of Further Education and Gorey Institute of Further Education departed from Dublin Airport on January 7 for a three week erasmus. Sixteen learners travelled to Malaga in Spain and another fifteen travelled to Vasteras in Sweden. The trip was fully funded by Leargas as part of the Erasmus Mobility Project. The lucky participants were all selected following interviews and are representing a wide variety of courses. These courses include Childcare, Nursing, Business/Accounting, Engineering, Beauty Therapy, Hairdressing, Youthwork and Fitness, Health and Exercise. The learners will spend three weeks in a work placement relevant to their course of study. This will provide them with an excellent opportunity to experience a different culture, language and work practices which will further enhance their skillset and CV. At the weekends they will have the opportunity for some sightseeing and to immerse themselves further in Spanish and Swedish culture. School Principal Dr. Iain Wickham thanked PLC Coordinators Anita Cullen and Conor Dempsey for looking after all aspects of the trip and the teachers that will act as accompanying personnel for the learners. The school is extremely grateful for the EU funding which reduces any barriers learners might have from travelling to other EU countries. Feedback from learners has always been positive as for some it may be their first time away from home and they are outside their comfort zone. The knock on impact of this usually is increased confidence and self-esteem along with getting a greater understanding of their area of study. Both travelling parties will return on January 28 no doubt having enjoyed their experience along with some wonderful memories. Philip Cullen from Gorey, director of Southeast Mortgages and Financial Services has been named all-star business visionary for 2024. Philip Cullen from Gorey, director of Southeast Mortgages and Financial Services has been named all-star business visionary for 2024 and is being featured on the All-Ireland Business Foundation (AIBF) 2024 New Year's Honours List. Philip's inclusion on AIBFs 2024 New Year's Honours List is a testament to his unwavering commitment to innovation, quality, and industry leadership. It also highlights Philip's exceptional dedication and talent within the financial services industry. "I am incredibly grateful to be recognized as an All-Star Business Visionary for 2024. This acknowledgment is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Southeast Mortgages & Financial Services. We are truly committed to providing exceptional services and pushing the boundaries of the financial services industry, said Philip Cullen, in response to this honour. This recognition further reinforces Philip's position as a visionary leader in the financial services landscape. His ability to spearhead the success of Southeast Mortgages & Financial Services has undoubtedly contributed to the company's remarkable growth and prominence within the industry. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details The AIBF's 2024 New Year's Honours List serves as a platform to celebrate outstanding businesses and individuals who have demonstrated excellence in their respective sectors. "Philips selection recognises his exceptional contributions, dedication, and talent, further solidifying his position as a true industry leader in the Financial Services sector. The announcement not only celebrates his accomplishments but also highlights the relentless efforts he has put into propelling Southeast Mortgages and Financial Services to the forefront of the financial services industry," said the Deputy Chair of the AIBF's adjudication board, Kieran Ring. The AIBF is an autonomous national accreditation body tasked with enterprise development and the promotion of Best-in-Class in Irish business. The Foundation actively engages and supports its network through peer dialogue, collaboration, mentoring and enterprise development activities. Companies are qualified for accreditation by completing an enterprise audit and are identified by their use of the AIBFs Business All-Star Marque. Each and every one of the 17 brilliant business leaders on the AIBF New Years Honours List represents whats great about Irish business. Their drive, positivity and high performance have propelled the Irish economy to new heights. Were privileged to be working alongside them as members of The AIBF Register of Irish Business Excellence, said Managing Director of the AIBF, Kapil Khanna. . Tony White, Edward Murphy, Larry Doyle, Peter Murphy and Tom O'Leary were at the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Bobby Kenny, Thompson Byrne and Gavin O'Donovan enjoyed the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Paraic Lawford, Willie and Liam Walsh attended the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell John White, Niall Corrigan and Jack Hearne attended the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell Pictured at the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening were Stephen Kirwan, Thomas French, Patrick Behan, Matty Foley, James Breslin and Joe Scully. Pic: Jim Campbell At the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening were Richard Johnston, Bobby Breen, Tess Enright and Pat Donnellan. Pic: Jim Campbell Cllr Pip Breen, Mick Butler and Barry Kenny enjoyed the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell John Furlong, Rosaleen Furlong, Michael Geraghty, Anthony Murphy and Chris O'Keane were at the Buffers Alley Poker Classic in the clubhouse in Monamolin on Saturday evening. Pic: Jim Campbell After a tense final table, the final standings of the Buffers Alley Poker Classic recently were Paul Nangle, Joe Tully, Tom Walsh, Packie Behan, Tom OLeary and Jack Hearne. In all, over 1,400 was given out in prizes on the night and all finalists will have free entry to Buffers Alleys next poker classic. 60 players sat down for this years competition which was the first poker classic the club has hosted in over four years. It was great to see so many familiar faces back in our clubhouse eager to get back into the action, said Buffers Alley GAA Club PRO, Mary Foley. Jimmy Kennedy Jnr. was the first poker winner on the night and received a hamper from AirconMech. The competition was expertly refereed by Ben Martin. There were no straight flushes or royal flushes again this year. The door prize was sponsored by Hammels Centra and was won by Damien Gleeson. Tommy Farrell won a bottle of champagne donated by Pat Kenny. The final table was a tense affair with the final placing up for grabs. Places at the final table were a premium and regular player, Nellie Farrell just missed out on making the final table on the last hand. Seamus Kavanagh and the committee thanked all the club members who provided refreshments and prizes on the night. They also thanked Ben Martin who ensured the smooth running of the event. Finally thanks were extended to all who continue to support the event in such numbers every year. Member of Buffers Alley are now looking forward to their next poker classic next December. Onwards and upwards to December 2024, said Mary. Building from mid-1800s getting modernised to make a homely base for busy scout groups New Ross Scout Hall is getting a major makeover at present, having received over 175,000 in government funding. The building, which dates to the mid-1800s, has been in a state of disrepair for many years, and will finally have facilities befitting a town like New Ross which has a strong tradition of scouting. The project was fully approved in January of last year and the funding came in in April, said New Ross Sea Scouts leader, Alex Kelly. The group got 178,000 in match funding, with the group having to come up with around 18,000. The prices have increased since, she said. The Community Centres Investment Fund managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development is supporting our complete refurbishment of the Scout Hall on Marsh Lane. For years, group members and friends have been fundraising to upgrade the scout hall but the extent of the required works made the project unfeasible. This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details In 2022, the ceiling of the toilets collapsed and it didnt seem likely the group could do anything to prevent the degradation of the building. Later that year, the group submitted an application to the Community Centres Investment Fund under the Department of Rural and Community Development and were successful in securing substantial funding. The funding couldnt have arrived at a more crucial time in the existence of the old building, said Alex. The project works included replacing the single storey flat-roofed toilets with a two storey extension with toilets, disabled toilet, a wet room, a store room and new kitchen. More essentially, the funding allowed the group to dry line and insulate the inside of the building with new plumbing, rewiring, more efficient lighting/heating, and better access. The building is well placed in a great location for a meeting space downtown and the group look forward to welcoming back community groups and sea scout members to a more comfortable and modern facility with a hint of nautical. The group would like to thank past and present volunteers and the local community for supporting the group in their fund raising efforts over the years. The group have a little way to go still to match fund the project so it can be completed. Opened in 1842, the hall on Marsh Lane is used by numerous groups. Running since 1965 the New Ross scouts have been actively fundraising for the hall down through the decades, including for a new roof in the 70s. The cash flow weve had has been built up over the years. We have about 12,000 but we have to raise another 8,000 now because weve had to rewire the whole building and costs have gone up, including insulation, plumbing. When you start working in a building like this you find a lot of things that need to be done, said Alex. A new kitchen and chill out room is being worked on upstairs, with port holes holes in the wall. The first stage is to get the shell secure and warm and dry and to get the heating and wiring done and the toilets and showers. The secondary stuff is the wi-fi and screens so people can have proper meetings here again. There will be newly acquired furniture and scope for community meetings. Irish Wood Producers used to have meetings here and even the farmers were complaining about how cold it was. Latterly, we have a prayer group in here twice a day. A wet room downstairs with wheelchair access is being built and there will be storage room for New Ross Sea Scouts equipment. Alex, who has been involved with the scouts since 1985, said the kitchen will have a large sofa, table and range for cooking. The works will open the building up for future community use and for scout training. We currently have no meeting room so now well be able to meet here. Itll be great. The inside and outside will be painted, with all construction works to be completed by January 31. One of the scout leaders from Ballykelly has a company and theyre doing that for us. One of the scout leaders from Ballykelly is also doing block laying for us, which is lovely and a cub leader is doing the carpentry work. Its lovely its all local people. Alex said protecting the heritage of the building while making the facility look modern is the balance they hope to strike. We want the building in 100 years time to still look classic and yet fresh. It will be a really good facility for the town. There is nothing else down town. A fundraiser takes place this Friday, at Mannions in Mountelliott, at 9 p.m. to raise money for the eight scout members who are doing a sky dive to help raise money towards the costs of the project. Alex said the scouts have received great support from individuals within the community. One of our members has already raise over 1,100. Taiwan has voted for Lai Ching-te to become president, securing a historic third consecutive term for the pro-sovereignty ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in a result that has angered China. During his victory speech, Lai also known as William Lai said the election result showed Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies around the world, and emphasised that the election highlighted Taiwans desire to safeguard a democratic way of life. Israeli hostage families have recreated a Hamas tunnel to mark 100 days since their relatives were kidnapped by the terror group. Families built the mock tunnel in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv, to raise awareness for their loved ones who are still being held captive more than three months after the October 7 attacks. An RAF aircraft is pictured at RAF Akrotiri following its return after striking military targets in Yemen during the US-led coalition operation, aimed at the Iran-backed Houthi militia that has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea. Photo: Sgt Lee Goddard/UK MOD/Reuters Photo Courtesy: UNI New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested five persons in connection with an alleged Rs 56,000 crore bank loan fraud against Bhushan Steel Limited. The arrested individuals are the former vice-president of banking of the company, former VP accounts Pankaj Kumar Agarwal, ex-chief financial officer Nitin Johri, Ajay Mittal, the brother-in-law of former promoter Neeraj Singal, and Ajay Mittal's wife and sister of Neeraj Singal, Archana Mittal, ED said. They were arrested on Thursday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA, 2002). ED said the arrested persons were produced before the Special Court, PMLA, and the court had granted ED custody for three days. The ED said Bhushan Steel Limited's former Managing Director Neeraj Singal and his associates formed several shell companies, and the promoters and entities linked to BSL "rotated funds from one company to another through a chain of multiple entities" as part of an alleged bank loan fraud. The agency also seized Rs 72 lakh in cash, foreign currency, and three luxury cars with an acquisition value of Rs 4 crore during the raids. Singal was arrested by the ED in June last year, and he is currently in judicial custody. The agency had also attached assets worth Rs 61.38 crore in this case. (With UNI inputs) Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley as they participate in the Republican candidates' presidential in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. January 10, 2024. As Republicans make their case for the future, they keep getting stuck on the past. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spent much of the summer mired in controversy over new educational standards that call for teaching that slaves developed skills that could be applied for their personal benefit. Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley failed last month to mention slavery as the root cause of the Civil War. And former President Donald Trump last weekend called the Civil War so fascinating and said it could have been negotiated, sidestepping the fundamental dilemma of slavery. Such moments reflect tension inside the GOP the Party of Lincoln that abolished slavery, won the Civil War and embarked on Reconstruction with the first primaries of the 2024 election just around the corner. Some in the partys conservative base, which is deeply rooted in the Deep South, are more willing to overlook unpleasant historical facts about the Civil War at a time when they feel under siege from the left during the movement to remove Confederate monuments and names from institutions. Others fear the controversy will hurt the partys ambitions to make inroads with nonwhite voters who may be repelled by minimizing the historical atrocity of slavery. On the eve of Mondays Iowa caucuses, Republicans are increasingly frustrated by the dynamic and have sought to turn the issue back on Democrats. Quite frankly, Im getting damn tired of the re-interpretation of history that I hear from Democrats, Iowa Republican Party chair Jeff Kaufmann said at the state partys annual legislative breakfast Tuesday. The Republican Party emerged because Democrats would not give on slavery. The prominent role slavery and the Civil War have played in the GOP primary is notable at a time when the next president faces immediate challenges, including two major wars and a domestic economic recovery many voters say theyre not feeling. Some fear the party risks losing the chance to make inroads into President Joe Bidens support, especially as Arab American, Black and Latino leaders are increasingly vocal that the president is vulnerable among voters of color. Biden and his fellow Democrats are eager to highlight the GOP missteps. Speaking Monday at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, where nine Black parishioners were killed by a white supremacist in 2015, Biden said it was a lie that the Civil War was about states rights. Let me be clear, for those who dont seem to know: Slavery was the cause of the Civil War, he said. Theres no negotiation about that. Vice President Kamala Harris traveled to Florida shortly after DeSantis enacted the new history standards to criticize the policies and accused Florida Republicans of being extremists who want to replace history with lies. Republican leaders are conscious of the critiques and eager to push back on any characterization that the party has shifted from its abolitionist roots. Republicans were founded because somebody needed to take a bold, uncompromising stand on human rights and civil liberties. That is not woke. That is a fact, said Kaufmann, the Iowa GOP chair. We are the party of Abraham Lincoln. We have always been the party of Abraham Lincoln. While the controversies focus on the past, conservative opposition to broader accounts of American history are rooted in concerns over the social implications they open up, experts say. The Republican Party is very much in favor of an understanding of American history that we are a country that is exceptional, that we have brought freedom to the world, that we have overcome the challenges of the past and that we need to be proud of our past, said Paul Peterson, director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard University. Democrats, Peterson said, are more likely to say theres a lot in our past that we need to reflect upon and, and maybe apologize for. Republican candidates have traded barbs among themselves over historical issues for months. DeSantis and Trump have both criticized Haley for her Civil War comments. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the Senate, criticized DeSantis over Floridas history standards, saying slavery was devastating and that he would hope that every person in our country and certainly running for president would appreciate that. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who suspended his campaign on Wednesday, referenced the Civil War with a word of caution to Republican voters. Benjamin Franklin, Christie recalled, said Americans had been given, a republic, if you can keep it. Benjamin Franklins words were never more relevant in America than they are right now. The last time they were that relevant was the Civil War which we know was caused by slavery, Christie said. The intra-party jabs echo a broader debate over the legacy of the Civil War for policymaking today. The Civil War was more than 150 years ago and we still havent fully come to terms with the consequences for this society, said Eric Foner, Columbia University professor emeritus and author of histories of the Republican Party and the Civil War. I think theres generally a feeling on the part of Republicans and conservatives across the board that the people who are trying to take down statues and trying to rename the streets are against American history and that everything about America that we used to believe was good in the past is now being cast as evil, said Geoff Kabaservice, vice president of political studies at the Niskanen Center, a center-right think tank. Such sentiments are widely shared among Republican voters, who may react with polarization and partisanship on these historical issues in response to broader cultural shifts in the understanding of Americas central story, Kabaservice said. The Civil War debate also highlights other realities about the GOPs coalition, which is now based in the American South and not in the North where the party was founded. Democrats and Republicans have essentially stolen the garb of the other party from the 19th century, Foner said. I think, in fact, its very possible to acknowledge the sins of the country, even the atrocities committed in this country, and also its noble ideals and promises, Kabaservice said. But this is not really a time that is generous toward complexity and nuance so that kind of thing gets lost in the politics that we have nowadays. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Photo Courtesy: UNI Srinagar: As a major step to counter Pakistan's efforts to escalate terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army is launching Operation Sarvashakti, media reported. Under this operation, security forces will focus on combating terrorists operating on both sides of the Pir Panjal Mountain ranges within the Union Territory, reported news agency ANI. Recently, there has been an upsurge in attempts by Pakistani proxy terrorist groups to rekindle terrorism in the southern areas of the Pir Panjal ranges, particularly in the Rajouri Poonch sector. In these incidents, approximately 20 soldiers have lost their lives in terrorist attacks, with the most recent occurrence on December 21, where four soldiers were killed in action in the Dera ki Gali area. The operations are expected to follow a similar strategy as Operation Sarpvinash, initiated in 2003 to eradicate terrorists from the Southern Pir Panjal range. Army Chief General Manoj Pande recently noted a decline in terrorist activities in the region since 2003. He, however, acknowledged attempts by the western adversary to revive them. In collaboration with the Northern Command, detailed discussions were conducted with Corps Commanders to devise strategies against this threat. The operations are under scrutiny by the Army Headquarters and the Northern Army Command in Udhampur. Planning followed shortly after Home Minister Amit Shah's security meeting with stakeholders, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, the Army, intelligence agencies (both internal and external), and police officials from state and central agencies. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi has conducted coordination meetings with top security forces in both Jammu and Kashmir for synchronized action against terrorists. The Indian Army has initiated troop induction and intelligence reinforcement in the Rajouri-Poonch sector. Despite terrorist provocations in the Krisna Ghati area, troops refrained from firing back due to the presence of civilians. The Indian Army's swift action against its officers and personnel following the civilian deaths post the December 21 encounter has contributed positively, the report said. Photo Courtesy: Image instagrammed by radhikaofficial Actor Radhika Apte Saturday recounted her ordeal at an airport where she and fellow passengers were locked in the aerobridge after a flight delay. The actor did not mention the name of the city or the airline involved. Through photos and videos shared on Instagram, the 'Sacred Games' star highlighted the situation where passengers were placed in the aerobridge and subsequently locked in by airline staff due to the delay. "Today morning I had a flight at 8:30. It's 10:50 now and the flight has still not boarded. BUT the flight said we were boarding and put all the passengers in the aerobridge and LOCKED IT," she said. "The passengers with small babies, elderly people have been locked in for over an hour. The security won't open the doors. The staff has ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE," she added. Radhika Apte posted a video showing a group of people behind a locked glass door. The footage captured passengers speaking with security staff in the aerobridge. The 38-year-old Bollywood actress recounted her experience, stating that the airline informed passengers that they would be confined for at least another hour. "Now I'm locked inside. AND they just told us that we will be here till minimum 12 pm. All locked in. No water, no loo. Thanks for the fun ride," she expressed. Apte mentioned that the airline staff said that the delay was caused due to a crew change, and the new staff had yet to arrive. "Apparently, their crew hasn't boarded. The crew had to change, and they are still waiting for the new crew, but they have no idea when they will arrive, so no one knows how long they'll be locked inside. I managed to escape briefly to speak to the very stupid staff woman outside who kept saying there is no issue and no delay," she added. In her recent project, Radhika Apte was seen in a cameo appearance in the movie 'Merry Christmas,' with Katrina Kaif and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles. She is well-known for her roles in productions such as Sacred Games, Shor In the City, Badlapur, Andhadhun, PadMan, and Manjhi - The Mountain Man. File image of INDIA meet/ courtesy: INC X Page New Delhi/IBNS: In a virtual meeting of the INDIA alliance on Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi as the chairperson of the bloc but the Congress MP declined it, media reports said. Meanwhile, when Nitish Kumar's name was proposed for the post of convenor, the Bihar CM said his colleague from Bihar, Lalu Yadav, would be a better choice as he is more senior. The convenor is a separate post in the alliance, just below that of the chairperson. According to an NDTV report, when the discussion on the chairperson for the 28-party alliance began, the Janata Dal (United) chief proposed the name of Rahul Gandhi, who declined, saying he was working at the grassroots level and that his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra would begin on Sunday. The Congress leader proposed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's name for the alliance's top job, which was endorsed by Sonia Gandhi. CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury then proposed Nitish Kumar's name for the post of convenor, which the Bihar chief minister was reportedly upset about not getting. However, when Kumar said RJD chief Lalu Yadav would be a better pick, the RJD leader said no. At this juncture, Rahul Gandhi brought up Kumar's name again and - on finding support from some other parties - pointed out that Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had some objections and that discussions would be needed. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and some Congress leaders have been deputed to speak to Banerjee, who skipped the meeting, to resolve the issue. Apart from the Trinamool Congress chief, other key allies like Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and Uddhav Thackeray of the Shiv Sena (UBT) also gave the virtual gathering a miss. In image Rahul Gandhi's first Bharat Jodi Yatra/ INC Facebook Imphal/IBNS: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi 's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, slated to cover about 6,200 Kms in 66 days, is all set to start from Manipur's Khongjom on Sunday. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge will flag off the rally from Khongjom War Memorial in Thoubal district. The Thoubal district administration has ordered that the number of participants in the yatra be limited to 3000. Kharge, Gandhi, and other leaders will arrive at the Imphal airport during the day and proceed directly to the venue. The Manipur government had earlier denied permission to the request to start the Yatra from Hapta Kangjeibung, prompting the Congress to change the venue of the launch. Before the start of the Yatra, the participants will pay tributes to the War Memorial at Khongjom. The war memorial is in memory of 1891 Anglo-Manipur War heroes. The rally will conclude at Imphal and proceed towards Kangpokpi and Senapati districts on Monday before moving to Nagaland. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who arrived on Saturday, said Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra (BJNY) is an ideological rally and not an electoral one. Ramesh said the Yatra will cover about 6,200 Kms in 66 days with the aim of safeguarding democracy, the Constitution, and its Preamble and delivering social justice. He said Manipur continues to be in complete chaos and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not yet visited the state. The Yatra will be taken out for 11 days in five North Eastern States. MPCC president K Meghachandra said that the Yatra will be supported by the bloc of 10 political parties . Security has been tightened in the route and all preparations completed to make the rally successful. Ayodhya night on the eve of Ram Temple groundbreaking ceremony/ Image Credit: UNI Amid the growing public interest in India around the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the Mauritian government by Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth announced the grant of two hours of special break for practicing Hindu public officers on Jan 22 to enable them to participate in local events marking the 'Pran Pratishtha' of Shri Ram Lalla in the Indian temple town. In an official statement, the Mauritian government notification read, "(The) Cabinet has agreed to the grant of a one-off special leave of two hours on Monday 22 January 2024 as from 1400 hours to public officers of Hindu faith, subject to exigencies of service, in the context of the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir in India, which is a landmark event as it symbolises the return of Lord Ram in Ayodhya." The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust will install the Ram Lalla idol at the sanctum-sanctorum of the temple at noon on Jan 22, with Prime Minister Modi, and in the presence of hundreds of Hindu seers. Vedic rituals for the 'Pran Pratistha' will begin a week earlier, and Lakshmi Kant Dixit - a priest from Varanasi in UP, which is the Prime Minister's Lok Sabha constituency - will perform the main ritual. While invitations were sent out to opposition leaders, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury "respectfully declined" the same. The Congress has accused the BJP of making the consecration a "political project" for electoral gains ahead of the general election less than three months away. Photo Courtesy: Maldives President website Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has set a March 15 deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from the country, an episode that may further escalate tension between the two nations. In recent days, the relationship between India and Maldives has heated up over remarks made by ministers of the Island Nation against Narendra Modi over his visit to Lakshadeep to promote tourism in the Union Territory. This directive was communicated by Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the Public Policy Secretary at the Presidential Office, during a news conference where he announced the decisions made during the Cabinet meeting, reported The Edition. "The ongoing discussions are centred around this motion," stated Ibrahim. Maldives and India formed a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. Ibrahim was quoted as saying by Sun news portal of Maldives: "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration." The fresh development also occurred just days after Mohamed Muizzu visited China and met President Xi Jinping. Mohamed Muizzu is considered close to Beijing. He came to power banking on his "India Out" campaign. According to media reports, 88 Indian military personnel are currently present in Maldives. India-Maldives diplomatic row A diplomatic row erupted between India and Maldives after certain Maldivian politicians, including ministers, made disparaging remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ministers opened a verbal attack, saying that it was an attempt to divert tourists from the island country. After India raised the issue with the Maldives, three ministers were removed from their positions on January 7. On the following day, the Maldivian representative to India was summoned to the External Affairs Ministry, where strong reservations were conveyed over derogatory social media posts targeting PM Modi. The comments made by Maldives' ministers have stirred discontent among Indians, leading to the cancellation of their scheduled vacations to the island nation. Amid the escalating tensions, EaseMyTrip, an online travel company, opted to suspend flight bookings to the Maldives. Air connectivity increased to Lakshadeep Alliance Air recently announced two more flights to the Island Nation which is also seen as a possible competitor to Maldives. It is the only Indian airline which operates from Kochi (Kerala) to Agatti. Muizzu tries to promote Maldives tourism during China visit Notably, President Muizzu of the Maldives, who was on a state visit to China, has urged the nation to "intensify" efforts in attracting more tourists to the island. "China was our (Maldives') number one market pre-Covid, and it is my request that we intensify efforts for China to regain this position," according to a readout posted on his official website. In October of the previous year, the Maldivian President won the elections riding on his "India Out" campaign, during which he promised the withdrawal of Indian troops from the archipelago. Photo Courtesy: UNI Taipei: Taiwan's newly elected head of state, Lai Ching-te, said on Saturday he was committed to protecting the island from alleged threats and intimidation from mainland China. "We are determined to protect Taiwan from China's continued threats and intimidation," Lai said during a press conference. He also announced his intention to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and use dialogue instead of confrontation "to confidently continue exchanges and cooperation with China." "If there is parity and dignity, Taiwan is keen to engage in dialogue and cooperation with China for the benefit of the peoples on both sides of the strait to create a peaceful and prosperous environment," the politician added. Lai Ching-te, candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP), won the Taiwan election held on Saturday, January 13. China's reaction Maintaining its longstanding stance, China said on Saturday "reunification" with Taiwan was still "inevitable" after president-elect Lai Ching-te won the critical election on the self-ruled island, AFP reported. The election "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification", Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement published by state news agency Xinhua. The spokesperson was quoted as saying that the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations". He said Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference". Chen Binhua asserted that the results did not represent mainstream public opinion on the island" of 23 million people. US reaction The US, which is Taiwan's strongest military partner, said it does "not support independence' of Taiwan. "We do not support independence..." US President Joe Biden was quoted by Reuters as saying when asked for reaction to Saturday's elections. In the past, the United States had committed to supporting whichever government comes into power. Demonstrating solidarity with the government, President Biden intends to send an informal delegation to the self-governed island, according to a senior official from the Biden administration. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te on his victory and said the US "is committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure." He said the US looks forward to working with Lai and leaders of all parties in Taiwan to advance their "longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the US one China policy." (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Photo Courtesy: The White House Washington: US President Joe Biden said on Saturday that his administration had privately sent a message to Iran regarding attacks by Yemen's rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, in the Red Sea. "Ive delivered... we've delivered it privately, and were confident were well prepared," Biden told reporters when asked whether he had a message for the Iranian government amid Houthi activity in the region. In November 2023, the Houthis announced their intention to attack any ships associated with Israel, urging other countries to recall their crews from the vessels. The Houthis vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ended its military actions in the Gaza Strip. On December 19, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a multinational operation to secure the Red Sea, saying that the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Seychelles, and Spain would take part in the mission. The Houthis vowed to attack any ships that join the US-led maritime coalition.In the early hours of Friday, the US and UK military carried out 23 airstrikes on targets in four provinces in different parts of Yemen, including the capital of Sanaa and the cities of Al Hudaydah, Taizz and Sadah, local government sources told Sputnik. Later in the day, US Air Force Central said that US strikes against the Houthis in Yemen had hit more than 60 targets in 16 different locations. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saria later said that the US and the UK had carried out 73 strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, killing five fighters and injuring six others. A member of Houthis' high political council, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, described the Western attacks as "barbaric terrorism" and "deliberate and unjustified aggression." (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) Photo courtesy: YouTube Video grab Tel Aviv: Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a bold statement on Saturday that the country will continue its campaign against Hamas until it achieves victory on the Palestinian militant group, underscoring that no external entities, including the World Court, can stop its counter-offensive, media reports said. Netanyahu's statement comes as the conflict in Gaza is about to reach 100 days. Following two days of hearings at The Hague's International Court of Justice, Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the allegations made by South Africa. The country has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, a claim that Israel has dismissed as both libelous and hypocritical, the Associated Press reported. South Africa has urged the court to intervene and instruct Israel to cease its intense air and ground offensive as an interim measure. Netanyahu addressed the public following a two-day session at The Hague's International Court of Justice, where South Africa had made allegations accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else, Netanyahu said in televised remarks on Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. The case before the World Court is expected to linger over several years, yet a decision on interim measures might be reached within weeks. While court rulings are binding, enforcing them proves challenging. Prime Minister Netanyahu made it clear that Israel would disregard any orders to halt the conflict, possibly exacerbating its international isolation. Despite mounting global pressure for Israel to conclude the war, in which over 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and destruction and suffering in the besieged enclave, the country has been shielded by diplomatic and military support from the United States. Photo courtesy: Joe Biden Instagram page Washington: President Joe Biden has said that the United States does not support the declaration of independence by Taiwan after the country's voters snubbed China and gave the ruling party a third presidential term, media reports said. Lai Ching-te, candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won the Taiwan election held on Saturday, January 13. Despite pressure from China to reject the leader of the ruling party, who vowed to protect the island from threats and intimidation from mainland China, the voters decided to elect him. "We are determined to protect Taiwan from China's continued threats and intimidation," Lai said during a press conference. He also announced his intention to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and use dialogue instead of confrontation "to confidently continue exchanges and cooperation with China." The US, which is Taiwan's strongest military partner, said it does "not support independence' of Taiwan. "We do not support independence..." US President Joe Biden was quoted by Reuters as saying when asked for a reaction to Saturday's elections. In the past, the United States had committed to supporting whichever government comes into power. Demonstrating solidarity with the government, President Biden intends to send an informal delegation to the self-governed island, according to a senior official from the Biden administration. A US delegation comprising former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, will travel to Taiwan on Sunday, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) said. The AIT serves as the United States' de facto representation in Taiwan. In 1979, the United States shifted its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing and has consistently stated its opposition to a formal declaration of independence by Taiwan. Nonetheless, the U.S. maintains informal relations with the self-governed island and serves as its primary supporter and arms provider. Beijing, not having ruled out the use of force to reunify Taiwan under its authority, is concerned that Lai might announce the formation of a Republic of Taiwan, a step that Lai has asserted he will not take. Biden has previously upset the Chinese government with statements that seemed to imply the United States would come to the defence of Taiwan in case of an attack, departing from the traditional U.S. stance of "strategic ambiguity." His remarks on Saturday seem to be an attempt to reassure Beijing. Despite this, Washington issued a warning shortly before the polls opened, stating that it would be deemed "unacceptable" for "any" country to interfere in the election. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Sunday that the U.S. State Department's statement on the election in China's Taiwan region seriously violates the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. It goes against the U.S.' own political commitment of maintaining only cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the Taiwan region, and sends a gravely wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, the spokesperson said. "We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the U.S. side," the spokesperson said. The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations. The one-China principle is a basic norm in international relations, a prevailing consensus among the international community, and the political foundation of China-U.S. relations, according to the spokesperson. (With UNI/Sputnik inputs) The courts are already part of Donald Trumps campaign strategy. The former president of the United States voluntarily attended two hearings this past week in Washington and New York, in order to present himself as a martyr to the most loyal Republican voters those participating in the primaries. In Washington, his lawyer argued that the former president should enjoy immunity even if he ordered a special forces commando to assassinate a political rival. Trump charged with 91 crimes in four different cases hasnt been accused of killing anyone. However, he does have a killer instinct when it comes to politics. The race for the Republican Partys nomination for the 2024 presidential election officially begins on Monday in a frigid Iowa. Trumps goal is to knock out his rivals before any viable alternative is perceived. And hes a formidable rival. Like a schoolyard bully, he enjoys insulting and ridiculing his opponents. When he saw Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a threat several months ago, he attacked him mercilessly. Now, his darts are directed at his former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, in light of her upward trajectory. One of his favorite hobbies is giving his rivals nicknames (a Wikipedia page compiles them). For Trump, the Florida governor is Ron DeSanctus or Ron DeSanctimonious. Meanwhile, the former South Carolina governor is Birdbrain. The candidate tweeted that some of his supporters had left a cage and birdseed at her hotel. He also aired the latest birther hoax which he previously used against Barack Obama which falsely states that, as Haleys parents werent born in the United States, she should be prevented from becoming president. After the withdrawal of Chris Christie who claimed to not want to divide the anti-Trump vote the filed in the Iowa caucuses (a somewhat assembly-based primary, although votes are still secret) are less crowded than anticipated. Others who dropped out along the way were Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, former vice president Mike Pence, Senator Tim Scott and Governor Doug Burgum. Aside from DeSantis and Haley, the other candidate who is barely polling in single digits is the millennial Trumpist Vivek Ramaswamy. In any case, Trumps lead in the polls is enormous. Among Republican voters throughout the United States, 60.4% intend to vote for Trump, compared to 12.1% for DeSantis, 11.7% for Haley and 4.3% for Ramaswamy. This is according to the FiveThirtyEight polling average. In Iowa, his advantage is smaller, but still vast: he stands at 51.3% in the latest tracking, compared to Haleys 17.3%. 16.1% intend to support DeSantis, while 6.6% say theyre for Ramaswamy. In the rural and conservative state of 3.2 million inhabitants, the most active Republican voters will meet on Monday from 7:00 p.m. CST onwards to elect the 40 delegates that Iowa contributes to the convention that will designate the Republican Partys presidential candidate in July. The 40 delegates are distributed proportionally to the vote total of each candidate. Their weight in the total of almost 2,500 delegates in the convention is minimal (1.6%), but Iowas influence is much greater, as its the first state to vote. It offers momentum to a winning campaign, along with additional funding and media coverage. For this reason, the candidates have been travelling to Iowa for months and mingling with the inhabitants of this enormous corn producer, stopping by state fairs and all kinds of political events. Without the Iowa caucuses, its possible that neither Jimmy Carter nor Barack Obama would have become president. Iowa votes first, and nomination campaigns develop sequentially, moving from one state to another. This sequential election process has important implications for who wins and who loses in the end, argue political science professors David Redlawsk, Caroline Tolbert and Todd Donovan in their book Why Iowa? (2010). At the same time, caucuses arent infallible. Since George W. Bush won Iowa in 2000, no winner in a competitive Republican field has reached the nomination. Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum and Ted Cruz won Iowa in 2008, 2012 and 2016 respectively, but the nominees ended up being John McCain, Mitt Romney and Donald Trump. Trump came second in the 2016 caucuses, with 24% of the vote, compared to 28% for Ted Cruz. The Democrats will also hold caucuses and assemblies this Monday, but their voting process allows votes by mail and is open until March. Hence, all the attention is on the Republican side. About 750,000 registered Republican voters are eligible to vote. In 2016, when the record was broken, there were only 187,000 votes cast. A 20% turnout is usually the norm, but with snow-covered Iowa, expected temperatures of 28 degrees below zero and a predictable outcome, theres the possibility that more people will stay home. Trump and other candidates have made their latest campaign events virtual due to the difficulty of traveling in the icy weather. Since the beginning, the former president has spent far fewer days campaigning in the state than his main rivals. DeSantis has visited all 99 counties in the state, while Ramaswamy has visited them all twice. According to the Des Moines Registers candidate tracker, Trump has held 25 public events in the state since March, while DeSantis has held more than 125, Haley 79 and Ramaswamy more than 300. Iowa is a state that has a large white majority and a relatively conservative population. Evangelical Christians have decisive weight. Despite Trumps amorality, the Evangelical vote was key to bringing him to the White House eight years ago. Kristin Kobes du Mez author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation (2020) explains that Evangelicalism embraces a militant masculinity, an ideology that enshrines patriarchal authority and condones the callous display of power. She drew a parallel between Trump and actor John Wayne, an icon of rugged American manhood for generations of conservatives, who gained a following as a figure of Christian masculinity with his toughness and swagger. This time, Trump is doubling down. Hes released a video called God Made Trump, in which the voice of a famous deceased announcer recreated with artificial intelligence presents Trump as a true messiah sent directly by God to save the United States. The video with biblical-sounding language has offended several Evangelical pastors in Iowa. Trump is campaigning as if he were a sitting president. He hasnt participated in the candidate debates. Last week, while Haley and DeSantis were at each others throats on CNN, he appeared in a gentle interview on Fox News, in which he tried to soften his message by disavowing his own words. If he returns to the White House, he said, he wont be a dictator, nor will he dedicate his presidency to revenge although not for lack of desire, but for lack of time, as he explained. About 4.6 million viewers watched the softball interview, compared to 2.6 million who tuned in to the debate. The former president is seeking a clear victory among his own, before any doubts arise about whether hell ultimately be able to win the presidential elections, where moderates and independents tip the balance. The calendar of the primaries, however, will prevent him from closing the debate soon. After Iowa comes the New Hampshire primary, on January 23, where Haley has substantial support. Still, this state only elects 22 delegates. In February, a trickle of caucuses (Nevada) and primaries (the Virgin Islands, South Carolina and Michigan) will precede the huge number of states that will vote on Super Tuesday in March. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Image credit: UNI Islamabad/IBNS/UNI: Five soldiers and three terrorists were killed in a clash in Pakistan 's southwestern Balochistan province, an army statement said. The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said late Saturday night that an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the Buleda area of Kech district of the province. The IED explosion was followed by an intense exchange of fire between security personnel and the terrorists, the ISPR said in a statement, adding that five soldiers and three terrorists were killed during the clash. A clearance operation has been carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, the statement said. The military said that the security forces of Pakistan remain determined to thwart the attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress in Balochistan, and such sacrifices of soldiers have further strengthened the nation's resolve. President Mohamed Muizzu receives blow as Maldives Democratic Party candidate Adam Azim wins Male mayoral elections. Photo Courtesy: Maldives President website The key development in the political paradigm of the country occurred amid an ongoing diplomatic row between India and Maldives over remarks made by certain ministers against Narendra Modi over his recent visit to Lakshadweep, a Union Territory that is perceived as a potential tourism rival to Maldives. According to reports, Adam Azim emerged victorious by securing 44 percent of the votes. Maldivian Democratic Party welcomes victory MDP Chairperson Fayyaz Ismail posted on X: "A success. An important message. congratulation." Former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid reflected on the emotion of the moment and said people of Male showed to the President that his policy was unaccepted. "Kudos @adamazim and to @MDPSecretariat on winning the Male Mayoral by-election!" he posted on X. "The capital city has said a categorical NO to President Muizzu and his policies - within just 58 days in office!" he said. Mohamed Muizzu wishes The President assured the Mayor-elect that the Mayor and the City Council would have the Governments full support. "He implored the Mayor-elect to work alongside the Governments decentralised governance policy on issues concerning citizens," read a statement issued by the Maldives President's website. The President further expressed his hope that the City Council would continue to work with the Government. The Application Trends Survey from the Graduate Management Admission Council showed a 5% drop in interest for MBAs and all business school degrees globally in 2023. However, while demand in the US and Europe has stagnated, there's increased interest from students in emerging economies like India and China. But some reports do point to specialised skills being more in demand by employers than a conventional MBA. Lay-offs, delayed start dates & reduced hiring the trend Job placements for graduates from Harvard Business School have hit their lowest levels in over five years, indicating a slowdown in demand for highly qualified candidates, according to a report by ET. Unsplash In fact, recent data from Harvard Business School states that only 86% of the 73% of its most recent MBA class seeking employment received offers. In comparison, 95% received job offers in 2022 and 96% in 2021. Harvard Business School is one of the world's premier business schools. Sectors traditionally recruiting large numbers of MBAs, including consulting, audit firms, and tech companies are all showing a trend of reduced hiring, which is in line with the reduced campus placement offers. Consulting companies are even laying off employees and delaying start dates. Outdated curriculum major issue in MBA programmes Outdated curriculum is a major issue plaguing MBA programmes. Unsplash A Financial Times report had focused on how MBA programmes are failing to update business education in ways that account for a changing world and business landscape. For instance, business schools need to teach how to evaluate systemic risk, such as climate change, which is not covered by conventional studies. Specialised skills more in demand "Companies are looking at newer cohorts of skill sets. Most of the new hiring is happening in skills such as legal, cybersecurity, data analytics, and engineers," said Rajkamal Vempati, head HR at Axis Bank, as quoted by ET. Unsplash So, a host of specialised skills are being demanded by employers, such as specialisation in economics, commerce, statistics; CAs; those trained in data science, digital marketing etc. For more information on exams, results and careers, please visit Indiatimes Education. India is all prepared for the big day - January 22 - when the Ram temple at Ayodhya will be consecrated, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other eminent personalities. With just over a week left for the 'Pran Pratishtha' event, the city of Ayodhya is being given a transformative makeover - from Dharma Path, Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path and Ram Path, to Surya Stambhs. ANI Relentless dedication made Ayodhya city makeover possible Ayodhya Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal shared details of Ayodhya's ongoing makeover, enunciating the huge challenge that it is. "The overall beautification and development of Ayodhya was a big challenge for us and a lot of planning and hard toil went into all the work that could be accomplished in such a short time. It is majorly down to relentless and dedicated work that brought about this transformation of Ayodhya into a pristine and beautiful city in just a year and a half," he said, speaking to ANI. The new-age makeover of the city is focused on civic and public infrastructure, which includes the newly laid Dharma Path, Bhakti Path, Janmabhoomi Path and the longest of the lot - the 13-km-long Ram Path. BCCL Apart from roads, the city makeover also focused on facade control guidelines for the people, making them responsible stakeholders in the redevelopment of the city. Further, the country's best and finest engineering minds were roped in for the town planning work and sought suggestions were sought from prominent artists. "It was by involving a cross-section of stakeholders that we managed to accomplish this challenging task," Dayal added. A major attraction - Surya Stambh A prominent landmark in the redeveloped Ayodhya that has been grabbing eyeballs is the 'Surya Stambh'. Since Lord Ram was a 'Suryavanshi' according to popular belief, several 'Surya Stambh' or solar pillars have been installed on the Dharma Path in Ayodhya. Sun-themed columns 'Surya Stambh' Surya Stambh at Ayodhya/ PTI Dayal said, "If you walk on the Dharma Path, you will come across the Surya Stambh, which is the heritage of Lord Ram. The people seem to have taken to this landmark in a big way, as they are often seen standing alongside the Surya Stambh and clicking pictures. We installed these landmarks across the city after consulting leading experts and artists across the country." These 'Surya Stambh' pillars are 30-foot-high and have an ornamental orb which when lit at night resembles the Sun. Each pillar, made of reinforced cement concrete, has a decorative cladding made of a special fibre. It carries the chant 'Jai Shri Ram', a mace of Lord Hanuman and other ornamental motifs, PWD Assistant Engineer A P Singh told PTI. Challenges faced in the Ayodhya makeover for Ram temple inauguration "The redevelopment of Ayodhya from scratch presented us with challenges on multiple fronts. The city used to be very quiet. There was barely any buzz or frenetic activities here as one would associate with bustling cities or townships. When I came here, I had doubts if a transformation of the city was at all possible," Dayal said. "With everyone pitching in with support and suggestions, the task that seemed challenging at the start was eventually made easy. We accomplished a humongous task in a very short space of time," he added. Wikipedia Ayodhya is thus fully prepared to welcome Ram Lalla on January 22. "The hard work and effort put in by the officials behind the scenes to give Ayodhya a majestic and marvellous makeover is commendable. What we did to the city wasn't merely for money, as the work was linked intrinsically with our faith and sentiments. We are toiling day and night to ensure that all pending work is completed before January 22," Dayal told ANI. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. As Ayodhya gears up for the Pran Pratishtha of the Ram Lalla idol set on January 22, all eyes are on the guest list. People are looking to know Who are the high-profile personalities that have been invited for the event. However, the authorities fear that hundreds of monkeys may play spoilsport by reaching uninvited at the ceremony. Monkeys are usually found in the city of Ayodhya and are known to throng temples. ANI The trouble-makers: Beware of monkey attacks Monkeys are a trouble-maker in Ayodhya; they hover around temples and trouble devotees by snatching away mobile phones, spectacles and 'prasad'. Representative image/ BCCL However, despite being a nuisance, devotees resist any action against them, since monkeys are considered followers of Lord Hanuman. The Ayodhya administration has thus come up with a unique way to deal with the monkeys ahead of the Ram Mandir consecration in Ayodhya. Spillage-proof dustbin The Ayodhya administration has installed specially designed trash bins, with a retractable flap on the top, within the temple complex. Trash can be thrown inside the bin through the flap, but a locking system on the rear side of the bin would ensure that only sanitation workers can empty it, thus preventing a dustbin-spillage by monkeys, while searching for food from the bin. Representative image/ Unsplash "A lot of monkeys roam around on the Ram temple complex; hence, a locking system was necessary. The trash bin would be designed in the matchbox shape to make them easy to use as well as to clean," said an official in the district administration. A Rs 60,000 stone-studded pink sandstone dustbin from Rajasthan The trash bin has been designed by senior executives of Tata Consulting Engineers, deputed by the trust. The temple trust has outsourced the making of these special dustbins to a Mandawa-based agency, in Rajasthan, which makes the product out of pink sandstone. The outer layer of the bin would be covered with stones matching the overall facade of the temple. The trust has asked the vendor to prepare 35 bins with a minimum capacity of at least 200 litre each, within a fortnight. Each bin would cost about Rs 60,000. Monkey menace a common occurrence Representative image Interestingly, even during the G20 event held in New Delhi on September 9 last year, the authorities had to come up with interesting ways to keep monkeys at bay. This included installation of life-sized cutouts of langurs at various G20 venues and deploying personnel trained to mimic sounds made by langurs, which can scare off the monkeys. For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. A man shared his frustrating experience on social media, describing it as the "worst flight experience" with IndiGo, as his Kolkata to Bengaluru flight faced six delays totaling seven hours. The X user, known as Deedy, expressed his dissatisfaction in a lengthy thread, mentioning that he would "avoid flying them again" after missing an international flight due to the delays. "Worst flight experience" "I had the worst flight experience of my life last night, with Indigo. My 10PM Calcutta-Bangalore flight left at 4:41AM, after 6 delays totaling 7hrs. I missed an international flight. 'Always on-time' is false advertising from @IndiGo6E. I'd avoid flying them again," he wrote in the post. He said that the airlines "would've by law had to offer an alternate flight and refund for 6+hr delays, but didn't." I had the worst flight experience of my life last night, with Indigo. My 10PM CalcuttaBangalore flight left at 4:41AM, after 6 delays totaling 7hrs. I missed an international flight. "Always on-time" is false advertising from @IndiGo6E. Id avoid flying them again. 1/6 pic.twitter.com/PTljwo4sxx Deedy (@debarghya_das) January 13, 2024 In response to his complaint, IndiGo acknowledged the issue and provided a refund for his journey. Deedy narrated that around midnight, he opted to book a direct flight to San Francisco, but it took the airline two hours to cancel his original flight and retrieve his baggage. "Regular procedure" He highlighted the delay and mentioned that IndiGo employees cited it as a "regulation procedure." What's worse? Indigo employees told us "Sir, this delay is just regulation procedure." And no, these werent fog delays. A young man lectures me "First time flying intl? You should keep at least TWELVE hours between flights" Lousy and disrepectful from some bad apples. 4/6 Deedy (@debarghya_das) January 13, 2024 "Separately, many flights in India from Dec-Feb undergo fog delays. There are certain autonomous landing systems called CAT. Indigo has CAT III-B pilots to land in pretty low visibility, and these delays are -1hr. But, this delay was not fog related," he added. He commented that the airline has "zero respect for other people's time and money." "If they had told me when I reached the airport, I could've just taken the Akasa Air plane departing 9:50pm and made my BLR-SFO at 3:30am. I get that delays happen, but the way the team dealt with it is inexcusable. Absolutely zero respect for other people's time and money," he concluded the thread. IndiGo's statement Taking note of the same, the airline said that they have refunded the complete amount. "Sir, we sincerely regret the inconvenience. This is not the experience we aim to provide. We are aware of how important your travel arrangements. We've also repaid you in full, which you'll receive between 5-7 business days." Sir, we sincerely regret the inconvenience. This is not the experience we aim to provide. We are aware of how important your travel arrangements. We've also repaid you in full, which you'll receive between 5-7 business days. 1/2 IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) January 13, 2024 Despite the challenges faced, Deedy appreciated the swift response from IndiGo in addressing his concerns and issuing a refund for the inconvenience caused. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, adding a 21.8-km feather to the country's infrastructure cap, connecting Sewri in Mumbai to Nhava Sheva in Raigad district. However, just hours after its opening, people were observed flouting rules and regulations. Photos and videos circulating on social media depicted individuals stopping vehicles, taking pictures, and selfies on a stretch with a speed limit of 100 kmph. Despite the speed limit, the newly inaugurated bridge transformed into a picnic spot, attracting droves of commuters eager to experience driving on it. Videos now viral on the internet A Twitter page called Mumbai Matters shared a picture and wrote, ''When it's Said No Stopping On #MTHL, This has to Happen.Then Zoom and See the circled area..'' When it's Said No Stopping On #MTHL This has to Happen.. Then Zoom and See the circled area.. Pic by @sunilcredible pic.twitter.com/ZtvsF13ALQ Matters (@mumbaimatterz) January 13, 2024 Another tweet read, ''More visuals of Idiocracy & Madness at #MTHL... Seems like the latest Picnic Spot.... Have a looked at the parked car & also the @MTPHereToHelp @Navimumpolice Police Van watching the Selfie takers & doing nothing.'' More visuals of Idiocracy & Madness at #MTHL... Seems like the latest Picnic Spot.... Have a looked at the parked car & also the @MTPHereToHelp @Navimumpolice Police Van watching the Selfie takers & doing nothing. Thanks @GadgetFreak4U for the video.. https://t.co/vvwMFo0u1Y pic.twitter.com/O4VlZ2xqRH Matters (@mumbaimatterz) January 13, 2024 A third picture showed dirty spots caused by spitting by commuters. Unfortunately, this surge in visitors led to littering, with photos showing garbage strewn along the bridge. Viral posts also displayed multiple parked vehicles as commuters snapped photographs. On the first day, approximately 9,000 vehicles traversed the sea link in 12 hours, according to data from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority. Netizens are furious The irresponsible behavior and lack of cleanliness have appalled internet users, urging authorities to take strict action and impose hefty fines for rule violations. One user said, ''Sad. Need to respect all our public infrastructure. Considering the whole stretch is covered by CCTV, the culprits need to be exposed.'' Another commented, ''The government can only build new infrastructure Maintenance is the duty of the citizens Which unfortunately is not in the genes of Indians.'' A third said, ''Should penalise all these people who are stopping halting cars on MTHL.'' A fourth added, ''I think we as a society don't deserve these amenities. Everyone shows how good the infrastructure is overseas but when we try to build one we just don't respect it. Shame on us as a society.'' India's longest sea bridge Notably, the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) is India's longest sea bridge, significantly reducing travel time between the two points from an hour and a half to around 20 minutes. Built at a cost of 17,840 crore, the MTHL features six lanes, with 16.5 km of its length spanning over the sea. However, two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, tractors, animal-drawn vehicles, and slow-moving vehicles are prohibited on the bridge. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. A recently surfaced video, purportedly showing two massive, 'humanoid creatures' strolling through the foothills of a small Brazilian island, has sent the internet into a frenzy with most calling this "proof" that aliens are visiting Earth. Where were the tall entities spotted? Screengrab of the video that purportedly shows 10-foot-tall aliens on a Brazilian island | Image: Instagram The video shows one of the 10-foot-tall entities taking in the views of Ilha do Mel, an island two miles off the coast of Southeast Brazil, while another stands close behind. They stood firmly on the top of the hill, which residents claim is tough to get to, with the bushes just reaching their knees. What did the entities do in the video? The two could be seen swinging their arms in an "unnatural" humanlike manner, but not enough to convince observers that they were not aliens. Are aliens real and is this video proof of their existence? | Representational image/Canva How did people on the internet react? "It's too big to be a person," one individual says in the video, according to a translation. "Look at how he moves; it's extremely strange! Look at the size of those pasts; it's very fast," says another. The video gained traction once it was shared on social media, which had previously gone viral after Floridians claimed to have seen 10-foot-tall aliens walking through a Miami mall. "Just seeing how quickly this beast descends the hill is enough for me. Anyone who has done trails on hills like this knows that you do not go down a hill like this in 1-2 minutes," one Instagram user said. Even the Brazilian government joined in the fun, but they did not clarify whether the giants were visitors from another country or another planet. "Surprised by what transpired on Ilha do Mel!!! The Great Summer in Parana is another narrative, and even "weird beings" came to see it," the state administration of Parana said on X. Watch the video here. Was it all an elaborate hoax to make a video go viral or do aliens really exist? Let us know what you think about this in the comments section. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. "US Values Trade Routes More than Human Life" Cry Demonstrators in San Jose by Stop Bombing Yemen! U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes across Yemen against Houthi forces in the overnight hours of January 11 to 12. In San Jose, CA, demonstrators took immediate action to protest civilian deaths. The United States is responding militarily to save global commerce in the straits near Yemen instead of employing a diplomatic approach. Following January 11 and 12 strikes by the US and the UK in the Red Sea, protesters in the San Francisco Bay Area responded immediately. On January 13 in San Jose, a demonstrator's sign read "The USA values trade routes more than human life." About 80 people gathered on short notice in the city hall plaza where they heard speeches, shouted chants, and interviewed with television news. "Until two days ago, many Americans had never even heard of Yemen, despite the fact that it has been facing one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world for the last nine years," one speaker said. A war began in early 2014 after rebel group the Houtis took over the Yemen capital of Sanna. Since then hundreds of thousands of Yemenis have been killed as a Saudi-led coalition became engaged in the attempt to overcome them. In the days leading up to the national holiday to honor the great champion of nonviolence, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., peace was disrupted by phony bomb threats. State business came to a halt in Springfield on Jan. 3 as the hazardous device unit of the Illinois secretary of state police conducted sweeps of the Capitol and adjacent public areas. Other state capitols in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Connecticut and Michigan also were evacuated or locked down that morning. Elsewhere, bomb threats against government workers and officials rose in what Attorney General Merrick Garland described as a deeply disturbing spike. For example, police and emergency personnel were sent the night of Jan. 7 to the Washington home of Judge Tanya Chutkan, the judge presiding over former President Donald Trumps federal election case. She received a voicemail message with a racial slur and death threat. Although the FBI said it had no evidence or information that the threats were credible, the cowardly and potentially dangerous pranks cast a shadow over the 2024 campaign as Americans prepare to vote in a primary season that kicks off this month. Whos behind the harassment? Considering the possibilities, which probably range from the Proud Boys to Antifa, it is noteworthy that the harassment tended to be targeted at people Trump has vilified. Violent threats and acts of intimidation have shaken the lives of various government officials since the 2020 election. On Jan. 6, 2021, the same day a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, another group gathered at the home of former Georgia election worker Ruby Freeman, as she testified later. They were searching for Freeman after Trump allies falsely accused her of helping to steal the 2020 election and slandered her by name as a professional vote scammer. It seems more than coincidental that prominent targets such as Freeman and Chutkan happened to be Black. But, as if to dispel the notion that the phony emergency calls were coming solely from the far right, a swatting attempt was made against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a famously outspoken Trump-allied Republican from Georgia, on Christmas Day. Also targeted was Rep. Brandon Williams, a Republican from New York, according to news reports. Federal authorities also arrested a Florida man on Jan. 3 and charged him with threatening to kill Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and his children. To pose a question that King often raised in his speeches, where do we go from here? A central theme for those on the right who espouse violence is that white Christian men are somehow culturally and demographically surrounded. Think of the far right extremists who chanted, Jews will not replace us, at the Charlottesville, Virginia, riot. In other words, these guys may be driven to bitter desperation by the sense that their prominence and power is waning. King understood that. His movement challenged customs, traditions and political power deeply entrenched since well before the Civil War. One of the most powerful messages he left for us pertained directly to these racial anxieties. Let us be dissatisfied, he said in August 1967, less than eight months before his assassination, until that day when nobody will shout, White Power!, when nobody will shout, Black Power! but everybody will talk about Gods power and human power. Thats still true. The future is up to us. All of us. cpage@chicagotribune.com Twitter @cptime Candidate Ron DeSantis campaign bus was scheduled to travel about 500 kilometers on Saturday through inhospitable Iowa in mid-January. The Florida governors agenda included four events with the voters of the Republican primaries, which begin on Monday in Iowa ahead of the presidential elections in November. These are the famous Iowa caucuses, and, while there is little doubt who will win former president Donald Trump is leading in the polls by more than 30 points it is less certain who will come in second place: De Santis or former U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley. And there has been another last-minute surprise. The state has been hit by icy snowstorms, with wind chills as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Mondays caucuses are set to be the coldest in the states history. Whats more, its not clear how the adverse weather may affect the primary vote, in which some 120,000 citizens participated in 2020. DeSantis efforts to travel the state in the midst of the ice snowstorm which on Friday led to the cancellation of hundreds of flights in the U.S. and left journalists trapped in hotels in the capital, Des Moines may set another record: its unlikely a candidate has ever worked so hard to win second place. For his campaign in Iowa a sparsely populated (3.2 million inhabitants) and overwhelmingly white (87%) state DeSantis has visited every single of its 99 counties. Hes spoken about his goals in pizza restaurants, high schools and even the living rooms of private homes. Despite this work, at this stage, the governor only has one goal in mind: beating Haley, his most direct rival. Nikki Haley, on Thursday at an event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. SERGIO FLORES (REUTERS) The former governor of South Carolina, who was Trumps ambassador to the U.N., has been gaining on DeSantis in the polls for months. The Florida governor who, back in late 2022, mistook his road to the White House for a sunny highway cleared of obstacles has been steadily falling in voter intention surveys. His campaign has been floundering, with voters turned off by his lack of charisma in face-to-face events, and while he still has donors, they are getting increasingly impatient. DeSantis needs a good result in Iowa more than any of the other candidates: in addition to Trump and Haley, he is up against the antiwoke magnate Vivek Ramaswamy; former Arkansas Governor Asha Hutchinson and an unknown church pastor called Ryan Binkley. If DeSantis ultra-conservative message and image as an heir to Trump, but without the former presidents legal troubles, cannot convince voters even in Iowa a state that has voted Republican since 2016 his presidential ambitions could be dashed. The next election date in the primary race is in New Hampshire, a state with more moderate or, directly, undecided voters, where DeSantis prospects are even worse. Campaign rallies suspended Both candidates suspended their campaign events on Friday in light of the snowstorm, although Haley who opted to hold the rallies on Zoom has led a less frantic campaign than DeSantis: she only scheduled two events on Saturday. As for the Trump, the former president, true to form, has avoided the difficulties of campaigning in the snow and spent nearly all of last week in court. Trump who is facing 91 criminal charges in four criminal cases, including his efforts to subvert the 2020 election has used these court hearings to present himself as a martyr. Ill get to see you on Sunday and Monday and maybe Saturday night late. Its going to be a little bit of a trek, nobody knows how exactly were going to get there, but were going to figure it out. And we wouldnt miss it for anything, the former president said in a video posted on X. In the recording, Trump says he believes the adverse weather conditions could be a good thing because people are more committed than anybody else. Meanwhile, after months campaigning in Iowa, Haley and DeSantis are clinging on to the states record of throwing up surprises (beyond extreme weather). Iowa was the springboard for Barack Obamas successful presidential race in 2008. In 2012, it caused a stir when it voted for Rick Santorum, with the outsider winning over Mitt Romney and Ted Cruz. And in 2016, the state voted for Cruz over Trump. But in both the case of Cruz and Santorum, Iowas pick did not end up winning the Republican nomination. If DeSantis were to come in third after having invested so much energy on the ground, it would not be unreasonable to expect him to make a timely withdrawal. If Haley came in third place, however, she could still hold on to New Hampshire where polls indicate the recent withdrawal of candidate Chris Christie will boost her chances and to South Carolina, her home state that will vote at the end of February. Thats also what the Iowa caucuses are about: ruling out candidates so that the anti-Trump vote is not divided. Thats the only possible way an alternative candidate be it DeSantis or Haley will be able to defeat Trump, who is hoping to score a landslide win in the Iowa caucuses, and cement his path to winning the Republican Partys presidential nomination. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition "Today's anniversary reminds us of the glorious struggle of the Greeks and the origins of our coexistence...the Constitution of Epidaurus is the founding act of Greek constitutionalism. It reflects the will of the Greeks not only for independence but also for political sovereignty and freedom ." Bala Mohammed, on Saturday, disclosed that he could not sleep prior to the Supreme Court ruling that affirmed his election as Bauchi State Governor. The Peoples Democratic Party Governor also declared that the judiciary is thriving independently under President Bola Ahmed Tinubus administration. Recall that in a judgment delivered on Friday, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressive Congress against Mohammed for lacking in merit. Addressing a mammoth crowd which trooped to the Government House in Bauchi to celebrate his victory, Mohammed said, Im grateful to the Nigerian judiciary. Im grateful to President Tinubu for allowing the rule of law to persist, irrespective of the lies. Im grateful to the Vice President and all our colleagues at the federal level. President Tinubu is a beacon of the rule of law worthy of emulation by all. READ ALSO: SCourt Reverses Yusuf, Lawal, Mutfwangs Sack; Upholds Nwifuru, Otu, Bala Mohammeds Election Mohammed, however said his victory was not without obstacles , alleging that some political heavyweights from Bauchi State attempted to create a rift between him and the President. You (People of Bauchi) have shown me love, you gave me trust and I will not sleep because I did not sleep for seven days and I made sure that we have this mandate back. Some people connived former leaders of Bauchi to go and perpetuate lies against me to make sure that the leadership of the nation see me as a problem but you can see the leaders have their ways of handling issues. You know we have so many detractors, but Im a warrior by birth. No amount of mischief will bring us down, he said. Dedicating his victory at the Supreme Court to the people of the State, he vowed that he would not allow anybody with ulterior motives from nowhere to lead the State. Here we have enough human capital and we are praying to God to allow us to have our successor that will continue the good governance that we have started, he added. Adeetoun, an actress and prophetess, recently revealed a surprising truth during an intimate chat with host Chude Jideonwo. She discussed the late Mohbad and a revelation she had received from him while talking at length about her life and her principles. The prophetess conveyed that shortly after Mohbads passing, she had experienced a spiritual moment in which he revealed to her something very important: he was calling out for peace to himself. She further stated that Mohbad had disclosed to her that he was unable of both entering paradise and resting, she said that she was finally able to give him some rest. In response to Chudes questioning during the interview, she disclosed that she had previously received harsh criticism from Nigerians for being a clout chaser when she had gone out with her revelations regarding Mohbad. She added that she had to back off because of the commotion she caused on social media. READ MORE: Cute Abiola Celebrates Wife As She Marks Birthday However, she revealed that she was aware of certain personal information regarding Mohbads cause of death and that there would be significant upheaval if she chose to make them public. The only thing that weakened me about Mohbad was when he said you know youre two creature and you can help me, I was weak, he specifically told me what he wanted, he said I lost track in life, I was chasing what I never needed because I thought I need to get to where Im not supposed to get to, this is my path, this is where I went to but the problem is now I cant go to heaven and I cant rest I am just like a whirlwind everywhere she said in part. Watch interview below The National Assembly has disclosed it will resume plenary on January 30th as against the initial resumption date. Yahaya Danzaria, the House of Representatives Clerk, made this known in a terse message in Abuja on Saturday, January 13. Both the Senate and House of Representatives had earlier fixed their resumption for Tuesday, January 23. READ ALSO: Why National Assembly Roof Still Leaks After N30 Billion Renovation Fund Contractor I am directed inform Hon Members that the resumption date for both Senate and House of Representatives has been shifted upwards from Tuesday, 23rd January, 2024 (earlier announced) to Tuesday, 30th January, 2024 at 11:00am prompt. All inconveniences are regretted, the announcement read. Recall that the Senate and House of Representatives had delayed their Yuletide recess to enable them consider and pass the 2024 budget. The Rivers state police command has confirmed the death of a cult leader, identified as Silas, and his accomplice, during a shootout at the Oderereke community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state. A spokesperson for the Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, led this out in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday. Grace said that the notorious cult leader and his gang were involved in a series of crimes including land grabbing, unauthorized sales of buildings, among other crimes. She said: Responding swiftly, the police chased the criminals out of town. However, the defiant General rallied his gang and launched an attack on a community-owned tank farm in Oderereke, intending to loot its contents. It was during this sabotage attempt that the police managed to apprehend the gang. Silas Oderereke and one other member of his gang opened fire on the police team, leading to an exchange of gunfire. In the shootout, Oderereke and his accomplice were neutralised while others sustained injuries. READ MORE: Over 20 Passengers Feared Dead In Rivers Boat Mishap Two other clan leaders, Danger-boy and 2-Man, who frequently collaborated with Oderereke, managed to escape and are currently at large. Upon searching the gangs hideout, the police discovered a G3 Rifle and nineteen 7.62x51mm ammunition. Further investigations uncovered a camp Oderereke had established between Oderereke and Olokuma communities. This camp served as a base for the cult leader and his numerous followers, from where they launched robbery attacks on innocent members of neighbouring communities. The affected communities expressed their relief and shared accounts of residents who had relocated to Port Harcourt due to the mayhem caused by the cult group. A Professor of Religious Studies, identified as Kehinde Obasola, has expressed his displeasure over prosperity gospel coming from many Pentecostal churches in Nigeria, warning that it is counterproductive. He described the message as a prominent idea churches in the country, teach and preach to their members, telling them that Redemption through Jesus Christ releases one not just from death and damnation but also from poverty, lack, sickness and other evils. Obasola made this known while delivering the 115th Inaugural lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, with the theme, titled, Delivering God From Evil: An Afro-Philosophical Perspective, on Sunday. He said: The prosperity gospel has pushed pastors and leaders to embrace corrupt patterns of leadership, which is depriving people of their hard-earned money, plunging them into poverty. As a result of the high contributions and levies imposed on them, congregants have been financially exploited. READ MORE: Why I Hate White Garment Churches Pastor Ibiyeomie Churches are rapidly expanding in many parts of Africa today, yet Sub-Saharan Africa is the only place in the world where poverty is increasing. The prosperity gospel is not working. It impoverishes the followers. Prior to the arrival of Christianity in Africa, particularly Nigeria, people went to witch doctors and sacrificed goats or cows to get prosperity. They pour libations over the ground for the gods to hear their petitions. Similar acts persist now because prosperity preachers have become Ifa priests. There are stories of church preachers burying live animals beneath the floor of their churches to gain peoples favour. People who follow these prosperity preachers are reminded that their promised fortune will not materialise until they make big cash or property gifts. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, says the Supreme Court did not hesitate to quash some of the rulings of the Appeal Court on governorship election disputes. According to him, the apex court used judicial koboko to flog the appellate court while giving verdicts on the matters on Friday. While speaking on Arise Television on Saturday, Ozekhome said although he believes that many cases should not get to the Supreme Court, the Appeal Courts sack of Plateau lawmakers could be examined by the apex court. Recall that in November 2023, a Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja sacked elected members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Plateau assembly. It ruled that the PDP structure in Plateau collapsed since 2020, and as such, the Party cannot sponsor any candidate to contest an election. Reacting, Ozekhome said the verdict was a miscarriage of justice. I was one of those who felt like the supreme court should not be bothered with too many of these; the house of assembly, house of representative, and senate (cases) could end at the appeal level, but from what we have seen particularly in the Plateau scenario, there was a great miscarriage of justice, he said. READ ALSO: Kano Guber: No Agreement With APC But Time Will Tell Kwankwaso Speaks On Joining Tinubus Govt The supreme court spared no words, they used legal and judicial koboko (cane) to flog the court of appeal for what they termed miscarriage of justice, perverse judgments. In many of the cases, particularly the Plateau state, two senators positions were reversed, three house of representative were reversed, and 11 house of assembly were reversed. If all these cases had gone to the supreme court, all of them would have their seats retained. On what grounds were they reversed? The court of appeal surprisingly was saying the PDP had no structure in Plateau state. When did PDP structure, membership of a political party, nomination, congresses, and primaries become part and parcel of matters that the court can have jurisdiction? Today, the supreme court said not even the election tribunal has jurisdiction, let alone the court of appeal. And they voided the decision of the governorship. They would also have voided the decision on the two senatorial candidates, three house of representatives, and the 11 house of assembly. Injustice has been done to them. What is the remedy now? That is why I am going to review my stance with all respect, humility as a constitutional lawyer, to say that, yes, these cases should go to the supreme court as a final court of the land, Ozekhome added. Chalk marks on the road at the scene where two people were killed and four others were injured early Sunday in a shooting on the 2400 block of Myrtlewood Street in the Strawberry Mansion section of Philadelphia. Read more Two people were killed and four others wounded in a shooting at a suspected speakeasy in Philadelphias Strawberry Mansion neighborhood early Sunday morning, police said. The gunfire erupted just before 1 a.m. on the 2400 block of North Myrtlewood Street, where officers found three men who had been shot inside a residence. A 53-year-old man was shot in the face and pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Another man, 41, was shot multiple times in his chest, and died shortly after being taken to Temple University Hospital, police said. A 42-year-old man was shot in the hand and hospitalized at Temple in stable condition, police said. Advertisement Police said three other people were wounded in the shooting: a 23-year-old woman shot in her arm; a 28-year-old man shot three times in his leg and hip; and a 33-year-old woman shot twice in her arm. All three arrived at area hospitals in private vehicles and were reported in stable condition, police said. The shooting appeared to have occurred at a speakeasy in a home on the residential block in North Philadelphia, police said, when one or more shooters opened fire from the street into the buildings front door and window. Multiple 9mm shell casings were found in the street outside the residence, police said. No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing, police said. By late Sunday morning, the block was mostly quiet, save for a small group of people huddled near the door of the residence. Around 10 pink chalk circles dotted the street in front of the home where shell casings had fallen hours earlier. Yellow police markers circled a spray of bullet holes in the residences front window, air-conditioning unit, mailbox, and door. One woman, who said she had lived on the block for 15 years, said the shooting was out of place on her usually low-profile street. For this to happen here? No, this is a quiet neighborhood, she said. I dont know why people kill each other, but good people live here, said another resident on her way home from the nearby Save A Lot. Events like the mornings violence, she said, made her worried for her childrens safety. I wish it will be better. Another neighbor walking her dog nearby said she heard multiple shots fired early Sunday morning, followed by a scream. Its devastating who wants to live in a war zone? she said. It was way better when I was a kid. All three declined to be named, citing privacy concerns. In 2023, the city saw a decline in gun violence from the year prior, yet homicides and shootings in Philadelphia remain near the highest levels in decades. Earlier this month, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker declared a public safety emergency in the city, directing the police department and other city agencies to develop plans to address crime in the city, including gun violence. Minister Wasim Muhammad, minister with Muhammads Temple of Islam Temple of Islam No. 20 speaks to young male students in 2022 after morning prayer at University of Islam #20, a private school in Camden. Read more A former Camden School District student has accused Wasim Muhammad, Camden Advisory School Board president, of sexually abusing her for years starting in 1994 when he was her middle school teacher and continuing even after she moved out of state. A civil lawsuit scheduled for trial next month before a Superior Court judge in Camden County accuses Muhammad, now a minister and prominent community activist, of grooming her for the abuse by singling her out for special attention. The lawsuit alleges that district employees who knew about the abuse failed to stop it. Her story is extremely tragic, said her lawyer Jeffrey P. Fritz. His client, now 44, married, and the mother of two teenage sons, lives in the South, where she is a kindergarten teacher. She is named Jane Doe in the lawsuit to keep her identity confidential. Muhammad has denied the allegations in court filings. In a statement, his lawyer, Troy Archie, said the allegations were frivolous and meritless and based on circumstantial evidence lacking legitimate facts. Advertisement My client has been a dedicated public servant to the city of Camden and the school district for decades, Archie said. Muhammad did not respond to messages. READ MORE: The 16 students at this tiny Muslim school in Camden learn everything from literature and religion to music and chess The 18-page lawsuit, filed in September 2021, names Muhammad and the South Jersey school system. It alleges that at least one sexual encounter occurred on school property. The school district declined comment. The employees the lawsuit alleges knew about the abuse are not identified. Lawyers for the district and Muhammad have asked Superior Court Judge John S. Kennedy to dismiss the case, and arguments are scheduled for Jan. 19. An arbitrator who reviewed the files and depositions recommended a $1 million settlement that would have made Muhammad liable for 60% of that amount, but that was rejected. Incessant compliments The alleged acts began when the woman was 14 and an eighth grader at Cooper B. Hatch Middle School, according to the lawsuit. Muhammad, who was known then as Donald Walker, told her that he liked her and that she was beautiful. He would give her incessant compliments and find excuses for her to stay after class, the lawsuit said. One day, Muhammad asked her to stay behind after class and fondled her breasts and vagina, which occurred on several occasions, the lawsuit said. He relied upon her young age in assuming control over her, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleges that Muhammad took the girl to the Feather Nest Inn in Cherry Hill and other motels for sexual activity. He allegedly told her that he loved her and that she was his girlfriend, the lawsuit said. When the girl enrolled in nearby Camden High School as a freshman, the sexual activity continued, the lawsuit said, and she was instructed to go to his house before and after school where they had sexual intercourse. Read the lawsuit: According to court documents, the victim said another Hatch teacher saw her and Muhammad leaving his home on Baird Boulevard during the school day and questioned her about it. The victim said she denied it was her. The teacher told the girls mother about it and she again denied it. The teacher testified that she was concerned that the girl was not where she should have been, and I didnt feel comfortable with her coming out of a house, and a teacher coming out of the house... She did not report what she saw to the states child protective agency, the documents said. In a motion seeking to dismiss the case, Archie said the teacher had a prior romantic relationship with Muhammad. Archie also contended there is no physical, forensic, or credible live witness testimony regarding the allegations. After the girl moved out of the area with her family after her freshman year, according to the lawsuit, Muhammad traveled there on two occasions to have sex with her. He eventually convinced her to return to New Jersey in 1997 to be with him. According to the lawsuit, Muhammad coerced her to engage in sexual activity with him and his wife and took her to a pornography theater where he forced her to have sex with a stranger while Muhammad watched and masturbated. After that, she left New Jersey and returned to live with her family. According to Fritz, his client first attempted to file criminal charges against Muhammad with Cherry Hill police, a town where some of the alleged assaults occurred, but the statute of limitations had expired. She decided to pursue a civil action, he said. I admire the courage and strength of anyone who comes forward, said Fritz. From substitute teacher to minister and school board leader Muhammad was reelected in November to a three-year term on the Camden Advisory School Board. Because the school system has been under a state takeover since 2013, board members serve in an advisory capacity. Muhammad was just reelected president at the boards reorganization. For the last 15 years, Muhammad has been a minister of the Nation of Islam Temple No. 20, in the citys Parkside section. He also heads the adjoining Muhammad University of Islam School. But starting in 1992, Muhammad was employed by the district until 1998, when he was given a non-renewal letter, according to court filings. He was initially hired as a long-term substitute through a law that allows schools to hire non-certified teachers. He began as a social studies teacher at Hatch and later taught special education. Muhammad testified during proceedings that he is married to several wives and was married to the victim for about a year when she turned 18 in 1997, according to the documents. The victim, who previously was Muslim, has denied that she was married to Muhammad, according to Fritz. Muhammad referred to her as his spiritual wife in legal proceedings, the lawyer said. When people imagine the Poconos today, they think of mountains and natural beauty, of course, but also increased development and traffic. Lake Wallenpaupack is a veritable highway of boats on summer weekends and ski slopes are usually jammed through March. There are crowds in the bars and restaurants in scenic Milford and on the trails that wind through the Delaware Water Gap. Crowds and tourism, according to a recent study by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania, mask whats really going on: a massive population drop. The center, a nonpartisan research arm of the General Assembly, predicts large population losses for rural areas over the next 30 years, with Poconos counties such as Pike and Wayne expected to have some of the biggest potential declines. Officials with the Center for Rural Pennsylvania said the vast majority of homeowners in rural counties are baby boomers and that deaths are outpacing births in those areas. Kyle Kopko, the centers executive director, acknowledged that the 2050 prediction is different than what folks are seeing on the ground. Advertisement Were getting a lot of calls about it, Kopko said. Pennsylvania is wrapped up in a larger phenomenon affecting the Northeast, as its increasingly made up of older residents. Officials in Pike and Wayne Counties have balked at the report, however, claiming its based on pre-pandemic numbers. Yes, it surprised us, said Matt Osterberg, a Pike County commissioner. We are the fastest-growing county in the state of Pennsylvania right now, and they say were going to be the slowest? People are moving here from New York and New Jersey for lower taxes. The Center for Rural Pennsylvania predicted that 21 of Pennsylvanias 67 counties will see population growth through 2050, most of it in the southeastern part of the state, Philadelphia included. Overall, Pennsylvanias population is expected to rise 1.6%. The concern, however, is the 46 counties that could see a population decrease. Pike County was predicted to see the most drastic loss 24.3% far outpacing other rural counties. Statewide, were expected to have 600,000 more seniors, Kopko said. An aging population in rural Pennsylvania presents unique problems because there is already limited health care in those areas and there are waiting lists for senior housing. Declining birthrates affect school district budgets. Our enrollment has been down over the last decade, said Jay Starnes, assistant superintendent of the Wallenpaupack Area School District. In the high schools, we had 1,500 students in 2010 and now were at 1,000. We anticipate were going to be up in the 800s to 1,000 student range for as far out as we can see. Officials in rural counties have long said that the COVID-19 pandemic changed the populace, that real estate sales spiked, and urban residents poured into Pennsylvania, where they could still work from home but avoid crowds. It was so busy, I couldnt handle it. I sold three homes, sight unseen, one agent told The Inquirer in May 2020. Starnes, however, said real estate sales have not equated to higher enrollment in schools. State Rep. Joe Adams (R., Wayne/Pike) believed that the Center for Rural Pennsylvanias data, which included birth and death rates from 2015 to 2019, and the 2020 U.S. Census, wasnt able to take the pandemic fully into account. Those numbers, he said, are still in flux. The population has grown dramatically, Adams said. All you have to do now [to see it] is go to a grocery store. Rural officials also disagreed with population loss findings when the 2020 U.S. Census was released, citing the pandemic. Some municipalities requested recounts from the Census Bureau. READ MORE: From 2022: After a massive summer surge, Pocono beaches consider crowd control We dont feel like it was an accurate count, Donna Iannone, a Sullivan County commissioner, told The Inquirer in 2021. We were really disgruntled. We complained, but it didnt do any good. Adams said the recent population loss prediction isnt merely about public relations. In Pike, a county without a hospital or urgent care, drastic population losses could sway potential health care providers from opening there, he said. Its damaging for the future of businesses and for grant opportunities, he said. Kopko said those rural losses are happening all over the country. To the west, Ohio is expected to lose 5.7% of its population, and many rural counties there are expected to see losses of more than 20%. While the pandemic may have sparked home sales, the centers study still found that the death rate outpaced births in 2020 and 2021. Pennsylvania ranks 39th out of 50 for total fertility rate, Kopko said. Its births and deaths that are driving these patterns. KYODO NEWS - Jan 14, 2024 - 22:48 | All, World, Japan SEOUL/TOKYO - North Korea fired what is believed to have been an intermediate-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Sunday, marking its first such activity of the year and coming less than a month after it launched a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, the South Korean military said. The military said one missile was fired at around 2:55 p.m. from near Pyongyang and, after flying about a thousand kilometers, fell into the sea. The Japanese government confirmed that the projectile fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone. The launch came as tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula, with the North recently firing a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western maritime boundary with South Korea and Seoul conducting a military exercise in retaliation. No damage to aircraft or vessels has been reported, Japan said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week called South Korea his nation's "principal enemy" and the state that is "most hostile" toward Pyongyang, according to the country's official media. Japan's Defense Ministry only confirmed that Sunday's ballistic missile flew a distance of at least 500 km at a maximum altitude of over 50 km. An intermediate-range class ballistic missile can reach the U.S. territory of Guam, where key military bases are located. Japan lodged a stern protest with North Korea over the latest missile launch, calling it a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions against it and condemning the action as threatening the safety of Japan, according to the ministry. North Korea last launched a ballistic missile on Dec. 18 toward the Sea of Japan, with the missile fired at a lofted angle. Related coverage: North Korea leader's message to Japan on quake sparks hope for dialogue North Korean leader calls South Korea "principal enemy," state media says Ukraine identifies missiles used by Russia as North Korean-made Protesters fill the streets along 16th Street to show support for Palestine as they march in Philadelphia on Dec. 16. Read more The nations largest Jewish civil rights advocacy group last week reported a more than 820% uptick in antisemitic incidents in Philadelphia between October and December, reflective of a nationwide increase since the Israel-Hamas war began. But a report published Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League that collated attacks against Jewish people and institutions is facing criticism over a new metric the organization included in its definition of antisemitism: protests critical of Israel. The organization was most alarmed at the increase in vandalism and harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli people, as well as businesses and cultural centers, said Abbey Krain, senior associate regional director at ADL Philadelphia. ADL documented 84 cases of antisemitism in Philadelphia last year including 43 cases of alleged harassment and 17 cases of vandalism. Three-quarters of those provisional reports occurred between Oct. 7 and Dec. 20, a ten-week period starting with the onset of war that saw just seven total incidents the year prior. Advertisement The ADLs tally included 22 anti-Israel rallies in Philadelphia that the organization said included antisemitism, anti-Zionism or support for terrorism. (Such rallies were also included in the ADLs nationwide survey of antisemitic incidents, which reported a 361% increase for the Oct. 7-to-Dec. 20 period.) Emotions are running really deep and very raw, Krain said. But theres simply no excuse for hate, for antisemitism, none of this is normal the stories are terrifying. The New York-based ADL has tracked hate incidents against Jewish people since the 1970s, including assaults, intimidation, harassment, threats, and acts of vandalism, and Krain said the recent surge in reported antisemitism is the most significant in over a decade. While the organization has expanded its criteria in the past, the inclusion of protest speech marks a significant broadening, and comes at a time of heated debate about slogans that have been used within the pro-Palestinian movement for decades. The Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israels ongoing siege in Gaza has brought a rise in both antisemitic and Islamaphobic attacks across the nation, ranging from the defacing of mosques and synagogues to the shooting of a Haverford College student and his two Palestinian-American friends in Vermont. A case list provided by the local ADL chapter offers new details about the incidents targeting Jewish people in the region. At an unidentified school in Ambler, a student allegedly ripped off a Jewish students Star of David necklace, said I hate Jews, and called the student an antisemitic slur. In another case, a Jewish family in Philadelphia reported receiving a personally addressed letter in the mail that included threats and antisemitic language. A Jewish day school in Center City was graffitied with pro-Palestinian messaging in December. Over a dozen Jewish institutions were targeted with a bomb threat hoax around the same time. Images of swastikas have appeared at schools, on businesses, and in public spaces more often. In an interview, Krain singled out the Philly Palestine Coalitions boycott of Jewish and Israeli-owned businesses that led to a viral demonstration outside a Center City falafel shop last month one of the 22 local protests that the ADL included in its data. Asked about its methodology for labelling a protest antisemitic, Krain said the ADL counted any demonstration featuring pro-Palestinian chants such as globalize the intifada, by all means necessary, Zionism is terrorism, and from the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free. Krain said the organization tried to be selective about the rhetoric it deemed hostile or prejudicial toward Jews. Those messages, she said, were essentially a call for violence against the Jewish people, though many Palestinian activists refute that assessment and characterize the messages as a rallying call for permanent statehood and an end to Israels occupation. Moreover, activists argue that criticisms of the Israeli government and Zionism, or the belief the Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, should not be conflated with prejudice toward Jewish people. Israels ongoing military campaign in Gaza has given rise to hundreds of protests across the United States. The Philly Palestine Coalition an activist network that includes pro-Palestinian Jewish groups like the Jewish Voice for Peace has staged or promoted over 70 demonstrations since the war began. Noor Qutyan, an organizer with the coalition, said the ADLs definition sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to harmful repercussions for Palestinians as well as for others who are critical of Israeli policy. Qutyan contended that the ADLs changes would result in a rise of Islamophobia as well as Palestinians and their supporters getting doxxed, fired, and punished for speaking up for human rights. Marwan Kreidie, founder of the Arab American Development Corp., said there have been internal deliberations among local leaders in the Arab community about public messaging at demonstrations. But he said blacklisting slogans was a slippery slope that would lead to further censorship of pro-Palestinian language in the public sphere. Im someone whos been involved in human rights and anti-discrimination my whole life and I take antisemitism very seriously, he said. But to conflate antisemitism with anti-Zionism and criticism of Israel cheapens antisemitism. Kreidie noted that the debate around controversial expressions is heated now, but hopes the debate can continue at a calmer time. At the moment, he said, hes steering clear of phrases like from the River to the Sea at his organizations events, but would not censor another speaker. We have to focus on Palestine and work together as a community, he said. A former Recovery Unit 1 LLC customer said she was billed $2,800 for a tow and two nights of storage after she was in an accident. Read more Mar Alegre got into a car crash at the worst time possible. It was late July and the 28-year-old was about to go on a long trip. While Alegre was waiting for police to arrive, assessing the damage, and wondering what the crash would cost, a tow truck that had police rotation emblazoned on its side arrived at the scene in West Philadelphia. The operator said hed been sent by law enforcement. When I asked him how much it would cost, they said the insurance will pay for it, said Alegre. Still in shock, Alegre signed a towing agreement slip that left the cost blank. It wasnt until a few days passed and the insurance company said that the tow wouldnt be covered, that Alegre and partner Mar Sherman, 27, learned that the towing company, Recovery Unit 1 LLC, was charging them more than $900 for the tow, storage, and unexplained fees hundreds of dollars more than maximum fees that companies in the citys rotational towing system are permitted to charge. Complaints to 311 and police were unsuccessful, and they were told that their best bet would be to pay the bill and take the business to small-claims court. Advertisement Yuliia, who didnt want her last name published because of safety concerns, said she had a similar experience with Recovery Unit 1 LLC in December. She was told that insurance would foot the bill, and then was charged $2,800 for a tow and two-night storage. Councilmember Kendra Brooks office tried to help with limited success, but Yuliia still had to pay $2,000 to get her car back. In both instances, the drivers say they were deceived by the West Philadelphia towing company, falsely told by workers from Recovery Unit 1 LLC that insurance would cover the tows, and led to believe that the business was affiliated with the city. A Recovery Unit 1 representative who declined to give his name said that both cases sounded like misunderstandings, and that the business negotiates with people who dont have car insurance or whose insurance doesnt cover the tow. Im not overcharging anyone for towing and storage, said the representative. The towed drivers say they dont expect to get their money back, but hope others can learn from their mistakes. Who can tow your car at the scene of a crash? One of the reasons Alegre and Sherman let their car be towed in the first place was that they believed the truck was part of the citys rotational tow system, a preapproved list of tow companies dispatched to crash scenes. The system aims to prevent wreck-chasing and protect drivers from predatory behavior with caps on how much they can be charged for tows and storage. Companies pay $150 a year plus fees to participate, and agree to caps on what they can charge. For example, a car under 11,000 pounds can generate a charge of up to $215 for a tow, and the company cant tack on other towing-related charges, according to a city rotational towing web page. Storage for such cars is capped at $25 a day and prorated. In an itemized receipt of Alegres final bill, the tow is $300, plus $45 a day for five days of storage, a $160 admin fee, a $200 lot fee, and $20 for extra maint. In all, their bill came out to $905, which their insurance wouldnt cover. It felt like they were making up the fees, said Sherman, adding that figuring out just who had taken their car was a puzzle in itself. The truck that took their car read ABT Response, which had 6109 Hazel Ave. and 5258 Whitby Ave. listed as addresses on a business card. The other side of the card listed 6350 Baltimore Pike in Lansdowne as an address for Recovery Unit 1, the business billing them. Feeling as though they had no recourse, the couple opted to pay the required cash as soon as possible to avoid accruing additional penalties. Recovery Unit does not take credit cards. A police spokesperson said neither ABT Response nor Recovery Unit LLC is part of the citys rotational towing program and that no towing company, even if it is in the program, is allowed to display a police rotation decal. According to a city FAQ regarding the program, towers sent by police dispatch to the scene of a crash have a confirmation on their phone that drivers can ask to see. The city warns that the first tow truck to show up is not necessarily the one sent by police. The officer on site can also help drivers confirm which truck is working with the city. And once the towing agreement is signed, drivers can be charged high fees, which an insurer may refuse to pay. Even with advocates, navigating the towing system can be confusing Yuliia was driving from Center City to West Philly on a rainy Sunday night in December when a driver pulled out of his parking spot without signaling, clipping her SUV and bashing her passenger door. Yuliia and her two children were uninjured and the driver admitted fault. Shaken, Yuliia called her insurance company, which was closed for the night, and exchanged information with the driver. Because no injuries occurred, no police officer would be coming to the scene, the drivers were told over the phone. A tow truck showed up, she said, claiming to have been sent by her insurer and telling her she would pay nothing in the end. Yuliia, who was new to owning a car, signed a towing agreement that didnt say how much shed owe. It was only when Yuliia started to file an insurance claim that night that discrepancies began piling up. The tow company was not on an approved list provided by her insurer. Her cars GPS said it was in West Philadelphia, but the business card she was given had a Lansdowne address. She said when she tried to pick up her car, she was told the lot was closed for the day. When she returned the next day, she was told shed have to pay $2,800. I was thinking Im losing this car forever because theyre going to increase charges or they can steal it and I wont know, she said. Yuliia sought advice from a neighbor, who connected her with Charlene Samuels, a constituent services representative at Brooks office. Samuels said that even she found the process onerous. The City Council staffer said a Recovery Unit employee told her that everything was above board, and that Yuliia was mistaken about the $2,800 bill. Yuliia said her insurer talked Recovery Unit 1 down to $2,000, but she still had to pay that amount up front and in cash, borrowing money from a neighbor. She did not get an itemized receipt. I work with everybody In a brief conversation with The Inquirer, a representative of Recovery Unit 1 insisted that his prices were on par with those of other towing companies. I work with everybody. I wouldve worked something out with her, he said of Yuliias bill, adding that he was under the impression shed be getting reimbursed by her insurance, though shes unsure whether that will happen. He apologized for confusion that his business cards may have caused. The business used to be based in Lansdowne, but moved to Philly in December. He said that the address on Whitby Avenue was used for spare storage, and that ABT is a business his company partners with. The representative also said he charges what is required to pay his staff. Before the call was disconnected, he offered to work with the disgruntled customers in exchange for keeping the story out of the media. But the drivers said they would rather warn others. Im not interested in negotiating, said Alegre. A woman and a 3-year-old child were killed early Saturday when the car in which they were riding crashed into a tree at Valley Forge National Historical Park, police said. The man who was driving sustained minor injuries, and was taken to Paoli Hospital by emergency responders, Upper Merion Township police said. None of the victims was identified. Police said that officers, fire, and EMS crews were sent to the area of Valley Forge Park Road and County Line Road at 1:14 a.m. An eastbound Toyota sedan had left the roadway and hit a tree. The front-seat passenger, the woman, was dead. The child suffered severe trauma and was quickly taken to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia in King of Prussia, where the child died, police said. The accident, which occurred on a rainy night, is under investigation by the police Traffic Safety Unit and the Montgomery County Detective Bureau Forensic Services Unit. A former Recovery Unit 1 LLC customer said she was billed $2,800 for a tow and two nights of storage after she was in an accident. She was told fees included cleanup of her car, which she said was returned the exact way it had been during the accident and the company let water get through the window. Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Welcome to Sunday. Its breezy, and theres a chance of rain and snow. Temps will reach near 41. Two drivers say they faced exorbitantly high bills after a West Philly towing company showed up at the scene of their car crashes. Our main story highlights their experiences and how the city hopes to protect drivers from similar predatory behavior. Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. As Mar Alegre, 28, waited for police to arrive at the scene of her car crash in July, a tow truck showed up. It had the words police rotation emblazoned on its side. She asked how much it would cost to tow her vehicle, and was told insurance will pay for it. Still in shock, Alegre signed a towing agreement slip that left the cost blank. Advertisement It turns out the insurance company wouldnt cover the costs, and Alegre learned that the towing company, Recovery Unit 1 LLC, was charging them more than $900 for the tow, storage, and unexplained fees. This was hundreds of dollars more than maximum fees companies in Philadelphias rotational towing system are permitted to charge. Important context: The citys rotational tow system consists of a preapproved list of tow companies dispatched to accident scenes. Companies pay to participate, and agree to caps on what they can charge. The goal is to protect drivers from predatory behavior at the hands of towing companies. Alegre thought the truck that showed up to her accident was a part of this system. A police spokesperson said it wasnt. Keep reading for more on Alegre and another drivers experience and what the city suggests to protect yourself from deceptive towing practices. It depends on where you live. National apartment search website RentCafe looked at apartment sizes in zip codes in the 50 biggest cities to find out how much space $1,700 in rent can get you. Why $1,700? Its a rough estimate of the national average cost of rent this past fall. Some key takeaways: A $1,700 monthly budget can pay for 944 square feet on average. Of 1,665 zip codes that RentCafe analyzed, the 30 where renters get the least space for that price are in New York. In these places, the largest apartment is 290 square feet and the smallest is 211. Southern and Midwestern states offer some of the biggest apartments for $1,700. In Philadelphia, $1,700 can get you a spacious, roughly 1,500-square-foot apartment in the Northeast, or less than 500 square feet in West Philly. Use our map to go zip code by zip code and see what this budget can get you across Philly, and in other cities in the Northeast. What you should know today Pop quiz Snow shoveling is necessary, but can be dangerous. Which of the following is NOT recommended by experts when shoveling snow? A) Warm up, pace yourself and drink plenty of water B) Dress in warm layers, a hat and gloves, and cover your nose and mouth C) Lift and throw the snow rather than push it D) Use your legs to keep blood from pooling in your lower extremities Think you know? Check your answer. Unscramble the anagram Hint: Beloved Philadelphia rock jock PROBE TERRIER Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Judy Pidgeon who correctly guessed Fridays answer: Marcus Morris. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if youd like. Photo of the day Todays Sunday track goes like this: And if you find yourself in a dark situation / Just turn on your light and be like / Yes, and? Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. This newsletter will take a break for a few days, so expect us back in your inbox on Wednesday. Until then, you can keep up with the latest news on inquirer.com. Take care. A judge has rejected several claims lodged by Delawares attorney general in a lawsuit alleging that the fossil fuel industry has downplayed the risks of climate change. Tuesdays ruling significantly narrows the scope of the suit seeking to hold the industry liable for the effects of air pollution in the state. Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Jennings filed the lawsuit in 2020, joining forces with a California law firm that has sued the oil industry on behalf of other state and local governments. While refusing to dismiss come claims, Superior Court Judge Mary Johnston ruled, for example, that the federal Clean Air Act preempts the states claims seeking damages for injuries resulting from out-of-state or global greenhouse emissions and interstate pollution. However, Johnston noted that the Clean Air Act doesnt preempt alleged claims and damages resulting from air pollution originating from sources within Delaware. Air pollution prevention and control at the source is the primary responsibility of state and local governments, she wrote. Theodore Boutrous Jr., an attorney representing Chevron Corp., said he was pleased that Johnston recognized that claims regarding out-of-state or global greenhouse emissions and interstate pollution are preempted by the Clean Air Act. The global challenge of climate change requires a coordinated international policy response, not a series of baseless state and local lawsuits, Boutros said in a prepared statement. Public Nuisance The judge also said the state could pursue a general claim for environmental-based public nuisance and trespass for land that the state owns directly, but not for land the state holds in public trust. That ruling cited a Delaware Supreme Court ruling last year in a lawsuit filed by Jennings against agricultural giant Monsanto over environmental damage from now-banned toxic chemicals known as PCBs. Unlike contamination of land and water in Monsanto, damages caused by air pollution limited to state-owned property may be difficult to isolate and measure, the judge wrote. Nevertheless, that is an issue to be addressed at a later stage of the case. Johnston also ruled that claims of greenwashing and misrepresentations by the defendants about fossil fuels effects on the climate must be dismissed, because the state failed to specifically identify alleged misrepresentations for each individual defendant. In dismissing the claims, the judge said she would give attorneys for the state a chance to amend the complaint to include particular allegations. Johnston also ruled that claims made by Jennings office under the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act are barred by the passage of time because the five-year statute of limitations has expired. Defendants have provided evidence showing that the general public had knowledge of or had access to information about the disputes, regarding the existence of climate change and effects, decades prior to the expiration of the five-year limitations period, Johnston wrote. This information and evidence is unrefuted by the state. First Amendment Johnston deferred a ruling regarding the American Petroleum Institutes argument that statements it has made relating to fossil fuels are protected by the First Amendment. The state argues that API used deceptive campaigns to mislead the general public about hazards of fossil fuel consumption, and that the trade groups statements constitute commercial speech that is not protected by the First Amendment. API contends that because it does not produce or sell any fossil fuel, its purpose was to comment on matters of public significance. The issue of commercial speech, as opposed to misleading statements, involves a fact-intensive analysis, Johnston wrote. It is inappropriate for resolution on this motion to dismiss. Ryan Meyers, API senior vice president and general counsel, said the organization was encouraged that the judge identified significant deficiencies in the states stale and baseless allegations. This ongoing, coordinated campaign to wage politicized lawsuits against a foundational American industry and its workers is nothing more than a distraction from important national conversations and an enormous waste of taxpayer resources, Meyers said in a prepared statement. Climate policy is for Congress to debate and decide, not a patchwork of courts. Mat Marshall, a spokesperson for Jennings, said her office was reviewing the ruling and analyzing next steps. Were grateful that the court denied several Big Oil defendants efforts to evade accountability, he said. Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Legislation Energy Oil Gas Climate Change Delaware It's week two of Dancing with the Stars Ireland's latest season, and illness has swept the set. With two professional dancers out due to illness, celebrity dancers Davy Russell and Jason Smyth had an even bigger challenge this week, as last-minute swaps meant they had to dance with new partners. Former Miss World Rosanna Davison was first out the gap on Sunday with a sexy salsa that had her channelling her 21-year-old inner party girl. Judge Brian Redmond said she came out a different woman, this week, which was reflected in the scores. She kicked off the leaderboard with a 23 a great improvement on last weeks score of 17. Former Miss World Rosanna Davidson impressed with partner Stephen Vincent. Picture: Kyran OBrien /kobpix TikToker Miriam Mullin was up next with a fierce samba. While head judge Loraine Barry said she needed to see some improvement in the Garryvoe stars upper body, the judges were generally complimentary and she scored 21. Fair Citys Shane Quigley Murphy delivered a beautiful waltz with partner Laura Nolan. Brian Redmond said there was work to do but he had the best ballroom frame he had seen in a while. Loraine meanwhile said the storytelling was gorgeous. He added 20 to the leaderboard. An all-smiles Rory Cowan made a great improvement this week according to all three judges, with his Viennese waltz. However, Loraine said "a bit more discipline" was needed. He scored 14. 2FM's Laura Fox took on Contemporary Ballroom to Taylor Swift's Cruel Summer. Judge Brian said he "loved it," but he "didn't quite believe" the characterization, with Loraine agreeing she needed to "sell it a bit more". Constructive criticism for next week, and 22 for the scoreboard. Six OClock Show host Katja Mia brought a sexy edge to the foxtrot with partner Ervins Merfeldas. Picture: Kyran OBrien/kobpix Six O'Clock show host Katja Mia delivered a unique, "fun, sexy Foxtrot," which Loraine admitted she enjoyed despite it not being the traditional ballroom performance she'd expected. It was a score of 22 for the leaderboard. Six-time Paralympic gold medal-winning sprinter Jason Smyth was the first to take to the floor without his usual partner, Karen Byrne, dancing a Paso Doble with new partner Juliia Vasylenko. It wasn't "the best Paso Doble" Arthur noted, "but it's week two, it doesn't have to be the best". Jason said the week had been "disruptive" but the show was all about "adapting". He scored 17. Ru-Paul's Drag Race champion and last week's top scorer Blu Hydrangea delivered an American Smooth to Madonna's 'True Blue'. "This is how it's done," judge Arthur said, but the drag queen failed to top the leaderboard once more, scoring just 20. Jockey Davy Russell and temporary dance partner Laura Nolan. Picture: Kyran OBrien /kobpix Davy Russell was next up, performing a quick step with Laura Nolan after his partner Kylee Vincent became ill and had to pull out of Sunday's show just that morning. "I was very concerned that this could have turned into a catastrophe," judge Brian said, given the circumstances, "but it didn't, you did a really, really good job." Despite the kind words, the judges gave him a measly 15 points. Speaking to Doireann Garrihy after, Davy said he felt he hadn't given the performance he was hoping for, but was full of praise for Laura's "professionalism" stepping up at the final hour. Meanwhile, Eileen Dunne started her cha-cha-cha with an ode to her newsreading beginnings, throwing her papers in the air as she swung her legs over the desk. "Your spirit and your determination was 100% there," Loraine said, though she said, unfortunately, what wasn't there was the cha-cha-cha moves... The studio audience and her fellow celebrity dancers went wild for it, but she scored just 13, leaving her bottom of the leaderboard. Wild Youth Frontman David Whelan topped the scoreboard with partner Salome Chachua. Picture: Kyran OBrien /kobpix Finishing the night on a high was Wild Youth's David Whelan who "absolutely smashed" his Charlestown despite disappointing judge Brian by its lack of lifts due to Whelan's ongoing shoulder injury. Despite it being a "challenge," Loraine said he undoubtedly passed it. With flying colours, it seemed, as he topped the leaderboard with 24. When Kieran Coppinger and Charlene Kelly took their first drama classes, it opened up a world of creative expression that was to transform their lives. Having dreamed of being actors since they were small, both of them embraced the possibility of taking to the stage through a theatre company that aims to radically transform storytelling. A hit movie and many plays and projects later, theyre excited at the prospect of welcoming the next generation of actors with intellectual disabilities to the place where they both found their tribe. Galway-based outfit Blue Teapot Theatre Company is currently auditioning actors as it expands in an industry where the importance of diversity and inclusiveness are taking centre stage. Now the company has launched a search for actors aged 18 and over to join its full-time theatre ensemble. All I know is I want to see a lot more people like ourselves. I want people to have the right to be what they want, because thats just what they need, says Coppinger. They need to be accepted, to stand up and get out there. We need them to believe in themselves. And it would be great for us to have more people involved in the company. We love what we do. Were actors. We love acting. Kieran Coppinger Picture: Andrew Downes Kelly, an actor who also wrote her own play Into the Dark Woods in a production with Blue Teapot and The Abbey Theatre, agrees. She too would like to see more representation of people with intellectual disability on stage and screen. Newer members are already supported by Blue Teapots experienced actors when they come through the companys performing arts school. Weve been talking about friending some new members for the company and giving them a chance to do what we do, get the experience, says Kelly. The award-winning group is currently expanding its talent pool by inviting aspiring actors who have an intellectual disability to apply for a permanent place within its current company. The initiative is as part of an overall expansion, in keeping with Blue Teapots Strategic Arts Plan from now to 2027. A recent nationwide search has been completed with auditions currently taking place. Blue Teapot has long been a trailblazer on the Irish theatre scene. For almost thirty years, the Galway-based outfit has supported people with intellectual disabilities nationwide in their aim to radically transform theatre practices. By telling stories through the lens of disability, they hope to pave the way for inclusive practices to become the norm. Into the Dark Woods Kieran Coppinger and Jenny Cox. Picture: Andrew Downes Projects have included Sanctuary, the award-winning play that went on to become a movie that reached audiences worldwide, Dancing at Lughnasa and Kellys Into the Dark Woods, in a co-production with The Abbey last year. The latter was nominated for two Irish Times Theatre Awards. Blue Teapot began in 96, and it commenced as a small community project to give adults with intellectual disabilities a creative outlet and a way to explore their own lives and issues and hopes and dreams, explains the companys Artistic Director, Petal Pilley. From that beginning, its now grown into a professional theatre ensemble of actors working. The unifying element in Blue Teapot is the absolute passion to perform. The company has a number of programmes as it aims to support creativity for people with intellectual disabilities across all walks of life. As well as the theatre company of which Kelly and Coppinger are members, there is a three-year performing arts programme. There is also a community theatre programme with two strands: Bright Soul (18 years plus) and Sparkle, for 13-17 year olds who are interested in learning more about performance. Paul Connolly, Midie Corcoran and Kieran Coppinger starring in Into the Dark Woods. Picture: Anita Murphy It was through projects such as this that actors including Kelly and Coppinger were first able to hone their skills, and after taking on her acting goals, Kelly recently has turned to writing. Being creative and telling stories is central to who she is, she says. It was my dream to be an actor since I was a child. It was an inspiration to do the writing and the acting and Ive been very busy in my life with it. Id like to keep it up and make other productions down the line. Watch out Hollywood! she laughs. Her stage and screen co-star has also found the passion of performance as a means to being creative and expressing himself. Since 2004 Ive been acting and enjoying it, says Coppinger, adding that taking part is his first play was a revelation. I felt great after it and Ive been doing more plays, I even worked with Macnas at one time. We come in here three days a week and we do so much here. Were always working together as a team, its what we do people see what people with disabilities can do. After starring in an award-winning stage production of Sanctuary, Kelly, Coppinger and their co-stars brought the story to the big screen, to the delight of moviegoers at home and abroad. The 2017 comedy-drama became one of the first feature films in the world to feature a cast almost entirely made up of people with intellectual disabilities. Charlene Kelly, playwright and actor. Picture: Hillary Kavanagh Sanctuary tells the story of Larry, who has Down Syndrome, and Sophie who has epilepsy and an intellectual disability, and their attempts to be together. Theyre mad about each other but face resistance from well-meaning loved ones who try to keep them from becoming romantically involved as they fear there will be consequences the couple will struggle to manage. The ground-breaking film was directed by Len Collin and written by Christian OReilly, who already looked at the rights of physically disabled people in Inside Im Dancing, Damien ODonnells hit Irish movie starring James McEvoy. Prior to the film being made, the play had already won numerous awards and had a strong run at theatres across Ireland. It built an audience and went worldwide, says Coppinger. Myself and Len went to Manhattan in New York, and we went to Boston. We got a great welcome from everyone. We were interviewed by many different types of people people would recognise you from it. We loved it. Sanctuary was released in Irish cinemas and secured an Irish and international festival run, signalling a public appetite for more diversity in storytelling. Representation has become even more a part of the creative consersation since then. Its a welcome development, but there is room for more change, according to Pilley. We have made some change. I think that with arts and disability, intellectual disability is probably the least represented on stage and screen. What I would say particularly about Ireland is that there is a genuine ethos and ethic to support that diversity. Were always met very well. I think theres always a lot more to be done in terms of our actors, as artists, having their own agency and being able to progress their own careers. Something that would make my heart sing at this stage would be to see a lot more direct connect between mainstream companies or entities and our actors. Something that we really look to do is to get the visibility beyond Galway, beyond some of the platforms that know us and to get the message further out there. Chinese artists perform during the launching ceremony of the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Jan. 13, 2024. The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched here on Saturday, aiming at further deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries' peoples. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua) SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched here on Saturday, aiming at further deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries' peoples. Held at the Terrace of the Elephants in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park and live broadcast on the state-run TVK, the two-and-a-half hour launching ceremony started with speeches, a video clip featuring Cambodia-China relations, and a glittering arts performance. In a congratulatory message to the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the relationship between the two countries and peoples had begun and is deeply rooted in a long history of no less than two millennia. He said the two countries forged diplomatic ties on July 19, 1958 under the then-leaders, Cambodian King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chinese older generation leaders, and the ties were elevated to the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation in 2010 and now evolved into the "diamond hexagon cooperation." "I'm optimistic that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will provide a new great opportunity to attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia, and the bonds of solidarity, friendship and diamond cooperation between our two countries and peoples will be even stronger," Hun Manet said. "It will also help boost tourism and exchanges among youths and next-generation leaders of the two countries towards building a Cambodia-China community with a shared future," he added. Meanwhile, Hun Manet said that as the current leader of Cambodia, he would continue to provide staunch support to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for the benefit of the countries and peoples. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Tea Banh, a member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, said the event was designed to further enhance diamond cooperation between the two countries and to signal the kingdom's readiness to welcome more Chinese tourists. "I believe that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will inject fresh momentum into building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era," he said. "It will become a key catalyst for boosting Cambodia-China relations in tourism, culture and people-to-people exchange," he added. Cambodian Tourism Minister Sok Soken said the Southeast Asian country recorded 5.4 million international tourists, including some 540,000 Chinese tourists, in 2023. "I'm strongly confident that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will become a new driving force to attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia, contributing further to deepening the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries," he said. Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association Cambodia chapter, said the event would play a vital role in promoting and attracting more Chinese tourists to the kingdom. "It marks a significant opportunity to strengthen cultural and educational ties between the two nations," he told Xinhua. He added that effective promotion and genuine cross-cultural understanding from the event could potentially increase Chinese arrivals. He added that Cambodia offers a wealth of history, breathtaking landscapes, and unique cultural experiences. Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia's economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate. Cambodian artists perform during the launching ceremony of the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Jan. 13, 2024. The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched here on Saturday, aiming at further deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries' peoples. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua) Chinese artists perform during the launching ceremony of the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, Jan. 13, 2024. The 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year was officially launched here on Saturday, aiming at further deepening the bonds of friendship between the two countries' peoples. (Photo by Sovannara/Xinhua) Nestled in the heart of the Northside, with a commanding view over the city, most Corkonians know Farranferris College as a landmark, a link with the citys history as a city of spires and with the religious orders among whom young acolytes trained. Since 2022, however, the college has been home to a new school, one with an ultra-Catholic ethos most people in Ireland, including students at our Catholic state schools, wouldnt recognise. Citing traditional Catholic values and funded by local donations, parent fees, and money from a staunchly conservative foundation in America, Mater Dei Academy is private and independent, with close to 50 students currently enrolled. Founded in 2020, the school was located on Popes Quay before moving to its current premises at Farranferris which is leased by Northside Community Enterprises (NCE), a registered charity part-funded by Tusla, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. On its website, the school is described as a new paradigm for independent, Catholic second-level education in Ireland which is under the patronage of Our Lady of Knock, Queen of Ireland. The schools programme in the classical tradition, is built on the pillars of grammar, logic and rhetoric. Subjects include Irish, English, and Latin, along with mathematics, philosophy, theology, art, music, science, history and physical education. Students pray throughout the day and attend weekly Mass. Students currently enrolled in the academy plan to sit the Leaving Certificate. No junior cycle exams are taken; in their place, pupils study for international qualifications. As well as in-person secondary education, Mater Dei Academy also provides a homeschooling programme to primary-aged children. More than 20 staff are employed at the school, including six full-time and seven part-time paid positions. As an independent school, the school is outside the remit of the Department of Education and does not have to follow the State curriculum. On its website, the Mater Dei Academy is described as 'a new paradigm for independent, Catholic second-level education in Ireland'. Picture: Pexels Personnel at the school declined to be interviewed for this article, but in its quarterly school magazine, St Josephs Cloak, an interview with principal Geraldine Heffernan sheds some light on the ethos of Irelands first Catholic classical school. Ms Heffernan comments that working in the state system left her feeling frustrated by the disconnect between her Catholic faith and the way in which children were being put through the state system. In a written statement to the Irish Examiner, the school identified its mission as being dedicated to students formation in the faith, academic excellence, and the evangelisation of society, rooted in the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. The private academy added that it sees all children as formed in the image and likeness of God the Creator. As such, every child has an infinite and immeasurable value that transcends the child's particular characteristics, gender, family status, age, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion, or membership of the Traveller community. Independent schools Independent schools are not very common in Ireland just under 60 are registered with Tusla. The majority of these are private primary schools which adhere to the state curriculum, alongside schools with a more child-centred philosophy like the Steiner and Sudbury models. Although there are a handful of other religious, independent, privately run schools of different denominations, Mater Dei has very specific roots in America and very specific evangelical aims in Cork. The inspiration for the school came from a network of classical Catholic schools in the US. Americas state school system is 90% secular, so these denominational schools are rare. According to USCatholic.org, these schools receive support from conservative and Republican politicians and donorsThe movement falls in line with a general movement in Catholicism toward traditionalism in worship styles and cultural identification, which aligns many Catholics with the Republican Party on social issues such as abortion or gay rights despite an American history of Catholics tending to register as Democrats. Catholicism is in a state of fracture in America, with right-leaning hardliners splitting from a Vatican slowly modernising and inching towards tolerance, if not acceptance, of other viewpoints and identities. The 2023 Eucharistic Procession, the largest in Cork for 20 years, attracted over 4,500 people. Students from Mater Dei were invited to lead the procession. Picture: Larry Cummins A similar divide, and one small groups motivation to find something not being offered by mainstream Catholicism or mainstream Catholic schools in Ireland, is also at play in Corks Mater Dei Academy. Its founder Padraig Cantillon-Murphy said he was inspired by schools like the Chesterton Academies and St Jerome Academy in Hyattsville, Maryland, and aimed to develop an Irish version that would educate children for life in Christ. The Chesterton schools network is named after writer GK Chesterton who was eulogised by Pope Pius XI as a gifted defender of the faith. In The Everlasting Man, Chesterton writes it is "the illusion of familiarity," when "a perversion become[s] a convention. The writer famously referred to Oscar Wilde as The Chief of The Decadents. Saints and Scholars Mater Dei has more than ideological roots in America, however. It is supported by a combination of donations, parent contributions and philanthropy. This philanthropy includes funding from the Saints and Scholars Foundation, based in Virginia in the US. The president of the Saints and Scholars Foundation, Connie Marshner, has been central in protests against sex education in America. The foundations website states that the need for classical Catholic education is evidenced in the last two referenda here. Recent changes in the Irish constitution on fundamental moral questions such as abortion and the nature of marriage pose real challenges for Catholic education. Following government directives and initiatives, the reality is that many aspects of state-sponsored education in Ireland are now diametrically opposed to Catholic teaching. Speaking with the National Catholic Register, Marshner said Mater Dei Academy is the best news that Ive heard out of Ireland in my life It is positive, it is hopeful, and its revolutionary in the best sense of the term: Its starting something new. Mater Dei exists on the sidelines of an already tense relationship between church and state in education. Padraig Cantillon-Murphy co-founded the Mater Dei Academy in Cork with his wife, Grace Cantillon-Murphy. Despite conversations about divestment, almost 90% of primary and close to half of secondary schools are still under Catholic patronage in Irelands state school system. This positions the Department of Educations policy of inclusion, when it comes to issues of gender and sexuality, on shaky ground. The churchs official position is still against same-sex relationships. David Graham of Education Equality says this is a worrying tension as ultimately a public body (Department of Education) cant dictate what is taught on private (church) property. He mentions the controversy of 2022 when parents at Lacken National School in Wicklow received a letter saying it would not discuss same-sex friendships with students. This was even after parents representing a majority of children at the school had specifically written to the school the previous year to insist that they wanted the schools approach to RSE to be fully inclusive of LGBTQ relationships. At the same time, some Catholic schools fly rainbow flags each year and participate in the INTOs Different Families, Same Love competition. So, the approach taken by Catholic schools to RSE is highly inconsistent and often varies from one school to the next, says Graham. So although the inclusion of LGBTQ+ students is championed by Irelands state school system on paper, it is a mixed bag among schools. Stand Up Awareness Week, which took place in post-primary schools and Youthreach centres in early November, is named as an action in the Department of Educations Cinealtas: Action Plan on Bullying 2023-2027. It calls for students to stand up and be aware of discrimination endured by LGBTQ+ people in their community and many Catholic schools take part. Predictably, Mater Dei Academy offers nothing comparable to the States prescribed Relationship and Sex Education curriculum. Its science curriculum is vastly different to what is taught in mainstream school, moving from what the school describes as the logical progression from earth and planetary science, on to Gods creation in biology, chemistry and finally to the nature and properties of Gods matter in physics. Students from Mater Dei were invited to lead last year's Eucharistic Procession in Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins School staff and parents Father Brian McKevitt OP, a teacher at the school, has spoken publicly about the cowardice in the Catholic church when it comes to speaking out about how the gospel is being twisted, and the destruction of Christian civilisation. He announces in one of his sermons online that if our civilisation was even half rational, many of our politicians and our journalists would be locked up either in prisons or lunatic asylums . He refers to the result of the abortion referendum as an evil. Joking about a bishops description of the gay marriage referendum as a wake-up call, he complains the whole country went back to sleep. Mary Fitzgibbon, who has run for election twice with Aontu in Tralee, is the chairperson of the Mater Dei Academy Parents Council. She has been highly vocal in her position against gay marriage. During the marriage referendum campaign, she tweeted an image of two male parents meeting their child born through surrogacy with the caption: A motherless child is the prize the buying of children and another saying, We must reaffirm the right of a child to grow up and be loved where possible by their own mother and father". The Bishop of Cork and Ross Bishop Fintan Gavin, an official patron in the state system, visited the school in person in January of this year to celebrate the schools third year. This year's Eucharistic Procession to honour the Feast of Corpus Christi attracted over 4,500 people and was the largest in Cork for 20 years. Students from Mater Dei were invited to lead the procession and to serve Bishop Gavin for Holy Mass and Benediction. When contacted, a spokesperson from the diocese said: Mater Dei Academy is an independent school ie independent of the state and independent of any church. It is not in receipt of funding from either and is not regulated by either. The spokesperson added, The Bishop of Cork and Ross has no formal relationship with the school. Nevertheless, as in the case of the many schools across the diocese, the Bishop may visit schools from time to time following an invitation or to make a pastoral visit. Associated Bodies and Funding Mater Dei is one of only two schools in Ireland accredited by Cambridge International for junior cycle assessment in the IGCSE programme. Cambridge International is a Global Diversity Champion for Stonewall, Europes largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation. A Cork-based activist, Fiona Pettit OLeary, has contacted Cambridge International expressing concerns in relation to the schools policy on LGBTQ+ issues. I received a response from them to say they are taking my concerns regarding the schools attitude to LGBTQI+ students seriously, she said, adding that they have outlined that they have the power to withdraw their accreditation if they have concerns around safeguarding. The organisation also informed Ms Pettit OLeary that they hold their centres responsible for providing a safe environment for candidates, and they will contact and investigate any school where they are concerned that this responsibility is not being met. Mater Dei is also the only European member of the Institute of Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE), an international accreditation body for independent Catholic schools, a body which promotes books on its website that reference culture wars brought about by gender ideology. Mick Barry, TD for the Cork North-Central constituency, has concerns about the funding and ethos behind Mater Dei. "I would be concerned about any school in Ireland which is being funded from outside the State by an organisation so closely associated with the Christian right. The US-based Saints and Scholars website includes several alarming statements such as On the issue of gender theory or transgenderism, Pope Francis has been unequivocal comparing it to nuclear weapons. Is this what gay children are taught in the Mater Dei school in Cork? Does the school think that this kind of stuff is helpful for trans students and their mental health? The description of Mater Dei as something hopeful, returning people to the one truth of Christ, is patterned throughout the schools materials online. The co-founder of the school Grace Cantillon-Murphy says in a YouTube recording on the schools website that there are so many conflicting messages in schools and society of, you know, you have your truth, I have my truth; I have to respect you and respect your truth but that is not the truth. The truth is the way that is Jesus Christ. He is the only truth. Her husband Padraig Cantillon-Murphy, in an article with The National Catholic Register makes similar comments outlining how Irish society voted overwhelmingly in two referenda, in 2015 and 2018, to legalize same-sex marriage and abortion respectively in the Irish Constitution. But observers within the Church pointed out the role of the Churchs educational system in the catastrophe: Nearly everyone who voted came out of Irelands Catholic schools. In an interview with The Pilot, Americas oldest Catholic newspaper, the founder is even more explicit. Referring to the incitement to violence or hatred and hate offences bill, 2022, he says: It poses all sorts of problems particularly for us in the church, where people are now scratching their heads and asking, 'Are large tracts of the Bible now considered hate speech?' Because obviously there are very clear references to the way some people live. It seems to be trying to muzzle people." Mr Cantillon-Murphy notes, "It's the latest in a long catalogue of legislative and constitutional changes which are essentially deconstructing a Christian vision and anthropology of society. And that is seen quite clearly in the schools, even though nominally, many of them retain their historically Catholic ethos. The reality, of course, is very different." For Mr Cantillon-Murphy, that reality has awakened something positive. Speaking with the National Catholic Register he said Weve gone through a heck of a time as a Church, and as a society, in this country over the last 25 years For the first time, I see people have dusted themselves off, theyre ready to get up again, and start to fight. And this is part of that fight. While its unclear exactly what fight Mr Cantillon-Murphy is referring to, its clear he sees the school as being in the vanguard of it. Harrowing tales of lives lost, homes and livelihoods ruined, and years of ordinary people fighting great financial institutions of power - it was a scandal too far for the public to bear. Those reading may be familiar with the British post office scandal that has electrified the UK in recent weeks, but closer to home, it has eerie reminders of the nearly 1.5bn tracker mortgage debacle that cost lives and livelihoods across Ireland in the past decade. On New Year's Day, ITV and Virgin TV in Ireland began broadcasting a four-part series called Mr Bates vs The Post Office about the injustice suffered by hundreds of sub-postmasters across the UK who were convicted of fraud and false accounting following accusations that they used their village and community outlets to steal thousands of pounds. With British national treasure Toby Jones in the title role as Alan Bates, who insisted from day one that the Post Office was wrong to accuse innocent postmasters in the face of evidence that its accounting software was faulty, the producers of the television series hoped it would resonate with viewers. Even the writers have been pleasantly shocked by the ferocity of the outcry from the public to scenes showing innocent postmasters being wrongly jailed, going bankrupt trying to defend their reputations in the community, and even dying by suicide. The outrage at a 20-year period where the Post Office not only refused to countenance that its systems were faulty, but covered up the shortcomings of its Fujitsu-designed Horizon software in order to avoid paying compensation, doubling down on prosecuting hundreds of innocent people, has become the domestic political issue of 2024 so far in Britain. UK prime minister Rishi Sunak told the House of Commons last week that legislation is afoot to exonerate hundreds of postmasters en masse, and that compensation will be sped up. The beginning of the end may finally be in sight for those maligned and shunned in their communities through no fault of their own. It has taken 20 years of fighting for Alan Bates and the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance for the issue to become front and centre of the political cycle, with fewer than 100 of their postmaster colleagues so far having their wrongful convictions overturned out of more than 900 prosecutions. The parallels around Ireland's tracker mortgage scandal are glaring. The Irish Examiner front page report on October 13, 2017. The 1bn-plus tracker mortgage scandal happened when around 40,000 customers were wrongly put on more expensive loans by a number of pillar banks in Ireland. Like Alan Bates of the British postmasters, Kerry native and Dublin-based financial adviser Padraic Kissane was dismissed as a kook, a loudmouth, and needless rabble-rouser, as one of the whistleblowers of the tracker mortgage scandal. He was excoriated in off-record briefings by those close to banking institutions when he began to insist publicly that they were wrongly charging customers, back in 2009. Like Alan Bates, Padraic Kissane would not only be vindicated after years of dogged pursuit of the truth, but invited to be a member of the Irish Banking Culture Board formed in the wake of tracker scandal. Like Alan Bates, Padraic Kissane spent thousands of euro of his own money to pursue the truth, losing out on tens of thousands of euro of potentially lucrative clients for his financial services firm, such was his preoccupation with the unveiling the tracker mortgage scandal and getting justice for the victims of financial wrongdoing by respected banks. Despite Mr Kissane and others repeatedly sounding the alarm that many customers were being charged thousands of euro more than what they owed, some losing homes and dying by suicide in the ensuing debacle, it was only in 2015 when the Central Bank announced it would carry out an industry-wide review of tracker mortgage accounts. Watching the ITV and Virgin TV series on the UK Post Office was like watching the tracker scandal unfold at times, Mr Kissane told the Irish Examiner, with familiar delaying tactics, obfuscation, barriers, and painfully slow progress by powerful financial institutions to take stock of their own faults. Toby Jones, centre, stars as Alan Bates in ITV's series dramatising the Horizon IT scandal Mr Bates Vs the Post Office. Picture: ITV In the drama, Alan Bates organises a small community meeting in middle England, hoping the odd postmaster affected might show up, to gauge how many were affected by the scandal. The community hall car park is soon full and Mr Bates realises these are not isolated cases. For Mr Kissane, it was hearing tracker cases from a few clients in 2006 that led him to put out a small ad in the paper asking if others might be affected. More than 350 contacted his office in the immediate aftermath and Mr Kissane realised they were not isolated cases, but rather the victims of systemic failure by the banks. "It was shocking stuff. Up until then they thought they were alone and that they must be crazy. I remember being in my office at 4am some mornings surrounded by stacks of paper, it was like a small Amazon forest, poring over documents, going over 200-page data access requests, to try and find even one line within to help our case. I remember walking over the tops of the desks here in the office, hovering as reams of documents of paper were laid out on the ground, hoping to find pieces of the jigsaw. "There was so much that you even begin to question yourself if you are right. It was a dark place at times, you felt you were all on your own taking on the might of the banks. "The reluctance of the banks to help my investigation was striking, I had to do it all from the outside looking in. My own business took a severe hit because it became an obsession to get to the bottom of it. But I was like a dog with a bone because I knew it wasn't right and people's lives were ruined. "Some of the harrowing stories of people losing their homes and contemplating ending their lives will stay with me forever, and it was these people that motivated me to keep going until we got justice. This wasn't a financial scandal as much as it was a scandal about ruining people's lives." A tide was turned in October 2017 when four borrowers told their story to politicians in the Oireachtas Finance Committee, including Thomas Ryan, who along with his wife Claire, finally and successfully faced down their bank in the courts. Mr Ryan, aged in his late 40s and from Wexford, was a Permanent TSB customer who challenged its refusal to give him the tracker rate. He said the banks should be forced into making amends. Thomas Ryan was a Permanent TSB customer who challenged its refusal to give him the tracker rate. File Picture: Collins He suffered a stroke in 2013 and his wife Claire had a nervous breakdown in 2015 and lost the power of speech under the pressure of their fight to be restored to a tracker mortgage rate. "They have destroyed lives all over this country. There are people no longer with us over this...it is appalling and an absolute disgrace. There's no other words for it," Mr Ryan said. At the end of May 2019, more than 40,000 customers had been identified as caught up in the tracker scandal, forcing banks to cough up close to 1.5bn in redress and compensation to those affected. AIB, Bank of Ireland, Permanent TSB, Ulster Bank, KBC, and others were excoriated in the press, social media, and the houses of the Oireachtas, much like the UK Post Office. The wheels of justice had finally turned, years too late for many, but it left an indelible mark on the nation's psyche in the aftermath, much like the British post office scandal. A volcano in southwest Iceland erupted on Sunday (14 January), the country's meteorological office said, making it the fifth eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula since 2021. A coast guard helicopter has been sent to assess the situation and the exact location, the Civil Protection agency said. A Cork man aged 42 who was arrested in Cork city centre on Christmas week verbally abused the officer, saying: Fuck you. I will get you in court, you fucking mog. At Cork District Court on Friday, Ian OSullivan of Cork Simon Community was sentenced to four months in jail by Judge Mary Dorgan after pleading guilty to various counts. The judge said the threatening comments were unedifying to say the least very inappropriate. Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said: He has an alcohol problem. He is making efforts to deal with it. But he is put out the door of Cork Prison; [on his release he has] no fixed abode; the inevitable occurs and he takes a drink for comfort and we are back at square one. There is no halfway house for when a person gets out of custody. Once again he tries to remain sober but the odds are stacked against the poor man. If he got the proper support structure he would try to remain sober. OSullivan pleaded guilty to several public order and related charges arising out of a number of incidents in Cork city last month. At 9.20pm on December 20, 2023, the defendant was observed at the soup kitchen on St Patricks Street. He started throwing food items in the direction of staff members, causing annoyance and interfering with them. He was drunk and a danger to himself or others at the time. Garda Vincent McCarthy observed the accused with five Lynx gift sets the following day in Cork city centre, entering a restaurant and asking staff if they wanted to buy them. When he left this premises he was approached by Garda McCarthy and could not account for the purchase of the items. This was also the occasion where the accused was threatening and abusive. He was arrested and charged with being threatening and abusive and being drunk and a source of danger to himself or others, and with handling stolen property. As well as the total jail term of four months, the defendant was given a concurrent five-month term with the last month suspended. Judge Dorgan said: I will suspend the last month of that five months on condition that he enters a probation bond to abide by all their requirements and to attend for alcohol rehabilitation. People having a spliff or a line of cocaine at the weekend cannot wring their hands at the Christmas Eve gun attack on a restaurant in Blanchardstown and think it has nothing to do with them. Such is the view of a Philip Jennings, a long-time community activist in the west Dublin suburb. The coordinator of Safer Blanchardstown, the name of the local policing forum, sees a logical and clear connection between all parts of the drugs issue. When I refer to the drugs issue, I am referring to all of it whether its addiction, intimidation, recreational drug use, importation, gun crime, all the criminality that goes with drugs, Philip said. Its all part and parcel of the package. Philip said that he does not know the exact reason for the shooting, which saw the gunman, Tristan Sherry, die during the attack, after being overpowered and fatally injured by customers, and, 11 days later, his victim, Jason Hennessy, died from his injuries. Mr Hennessy, a 48-year-old father, had become involved in recent years with a notorious drug gang based in Blanchardstown, led by two people widely seen as volatile and violent. We have to be sensitive to the fact that two people lost their lives, Philip said. We dont know the exact reason for the shooting, but these shootings all stem from drugs and drug gangs. It all comes back to down to money. And what money are they fighting for? Its the recreational drug market. Thats my opinion. Think before you buy Thats why, many years ago, Philip set up the 'Think Before You Buy' campaign in Blanchardstown to inform people, both users and potential users, about purchasing drugs. The aim behind the campaign is to try and convince people about the harms of what they might perceive to be a passive behaviour or harmless behaviour the attitude if Im doing a line of cocaine or smoking a bag of weed, Im affecting nobody but myself. But, he said, its all connected: We cant vilify the farmer thats producing [the drugs], the person that is processing and packaging, the person who is smuggling it the country, the person distributing it and the person who sells it, but the end user is completely, what would you say, innocent? The whole production line all comes back to the fella who is buying it, the purchaser. And why should he get a free ride? He said society has to be 100% sympathetic and support people who have a drug dependence. A forensic investigator at the scene in Blanchardstown, Dublin, where a man was pronounced dead after being injured during a shooting incident at Browne's Steakhouse restaurant. Picture: Niall Carson/PA In talks he does in secondary schools, he gets pupils to help out with the maths in calculating how much gangs earn when individual drug purchases are all added up. Their jaws always drop when they work it out for themselves, because they never make the connection, he said. Philip's group are conducting research on their campaign as part of a relaunch, come March or April. Part of that is estimating the number of recreational users and how much they might spend. He cites previously published research which estimated there were roughly 20,000 problem drug users in the country, with about half of them in treatment. The Health Research Board National Drug and Alcohol Survey 2019-2020 said that 7% of people aged 15-64 were recent users of illegal drugs (use in the last year), equating to 289,000 people. Some 4% were classified as current users (use in the last month), equating to 161,000 people. The amount of money the gangs get from these recreational users is phenomenal, Philip said. In his talks, he said he might also mention the innocent young people murdered in gangland shootings. The names include Anthony Campbell, a 20-year-old plumber who happened to be working in the home of a gang boss, Marlo Hyland, in Finglas in 2006, when a gunman decided to kill him along with Hyland so as not to leave a witness. Another is Melanie McCarthy, a 16-year-old girl who was sitting in a car with two others in Brookfield, Tallaght, in 2012 when gunman Daniel McDonnell, aged just 17, opened fire, fatally injuring her. Now, you could say about what happened in the restaurant in Blanchardstown, Philip added. And that could have been a hell of a lot worse. I was in the Army myself and I know a little bit about guns. I do know that this machine gun, machine pistol, this guy was supposed to have, they have a kick. How many people could have died? He said people who use drugs recreationally cant just blame drug gangs for the violence: You cant say its nothing to do with me. You cant complain about the gun violence if youre using for recreational purposes - because youre the powerhouse, the driving force. And its not just people in Blanchardstown, its people down in Cork, everywhere. Who knows where the trail starts or ends. All communities are vulnerable to this kind of thing. The Think Before You Buy campaign has previously gained the interest of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and, during a meeting before covid, Philip met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. To be fair, he [Harris] saw the benefits of it, because the discourse has not been had. When launching Operation Tara, a national operation targeting drug trafficking at all levels, in July 2021, Commissioner Harris said: Every person who continues to buy and consume illegal drugs inflicts untold damage to individuals under coercive control from organised drug gangs in Ireland, is putting money directly in the pockets of drug cartels, and is responsible for the damage done to communities here and abroad from drugs. Turkey teeth Philip said some youths see the local dealers in their expensive clothes and runners and 'Turkey teeth' the bright white teeth implants purchased in Turkey and want to have that. They all want to be the big gangster, Philip said, but what is the point of all that money? Why be a Daniel Kinahan, who can flaunt his money in Dubai, but cant go anywhere else. Look at the homes these boys have, the bulletproof windows. They cant go anywhere, they cant do anything. Philip has recently been appointed the local coordinator for the national Drive Project, a multi-agency initiative, led by the Department of Health, to try and respond to drug debt intimidation. Drug debts is an area where people who dont use drugs becomes victims, because its generally the parents or their siblings or their grandparents who find themselves confronted with the debt [of the user], Philip said. The first thing they do is panic. They dont know what to do, where to go and they try and keep it quiet because theres stigma around your children and drugs. So they might want to pay it off and, in a lot of cases, they do. He said the Drive Project will try and document the services in an area and coordinate them so that parents have one person to go to, who in turn can direct them. He said another key aim of the project is to try and estimate the scale of the problem, which, remains, to, a large extent, unreported. People are absolutely terrified, Philip said. Quite often it will be some young person, about 12 years of age, knocking on your door and say I was told to tell you So the threat comes from a child. How frightening is that? A major issue for Philip is what he describes as the snake oil salesman narrative in relation to cannabis and the perception among young people that it is a natural and safe drug. The only conversation you hear now, or the predominant narrative, is that it is a natural product, everyone is doing it, its non-addictive and hurting no one, he said. He said there had been a discussion of sorts about cannabis at the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use, at which he spoke. He said the cannabis being smoked now is in a different league to the cannabis many people know from the 1970s and 1980s. The THC [active chemical] content then was about 4% or 5%, now you can have up to 20%. He added: Lets have a proper conversation about cannabis before we go for legalisation or decriminalisation, because whats going to happen is that it becomes normalised and trivialised and the medical costs will be thrown back on the State. Philip Jennings: 'Lets have a proper conversation about cannabis before we go for legalisation or decriminalisation, because whats going to happen is that it becomes normalised and trivialised and the medical costs will be thrown back on the State'. Picture: Moya Nolan Philip has many hats in the local area: his sits on the board of a secondary school, the Corduff task group and the Blakestown/Mountview task group as well as a suicide awareness body and a domestic violence group. Hell also be involved with the new Community Safety Partnership, which are being set up nationwide and expanding the role and membership of the existing Joint Policing Committees. I think we need to go back to the very basics supporting schools and families," he said, "and what is called the hidden harm of addiction, whether alcohol or drugs or whatever, on children. Children in homes where there is addiction or domestic violence are harmed. Theyre vulnerable kids that might grow up and find some kind of solace in gang membership. And, if thats not redirected, we are on a hiding to nothing. A 23-year-old man has been remanded in custody in Cork after he was charged with being in possession of a .22 Long Rifle calibre bolt and 81 rounds of ammunition. Zac OLeary, of Palmbury Orchard in Togher, Cork, appeared before Cork District Court on Sunday where he was charged with being in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The alleged offences fall under Section 27(A) of the Firearms Act 1964 as amended. Det Garda Mike Abernethy, of Gurranabraher Garda Station on the northside of the city, gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution. He said that Mr OLeary made no reply when the two charges were put to him under caution on Saturday. Det Garda Abernethy said that he was on patrol on Friday evening when he observed an Audi car being driven erratically on the Lower Glanmire Road. He stopped the car at 10.30pm and noted that there was a female driver and a male front seat passenger. A search was carried out of the vehicle and a .22 Long Rifle calibre bolt and 81 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The occupants of the car were arrested. The woman, who was in her 30s, was released without charge. A file will be sent to the DPP. 'Full admissions' Det Garda Abernethy said that Mr OLeary made full admissions as to the ownership of the rifle and ammunition when he was in Garda custody. He stated that gardai were objecting to bail arising out of the seriousness of the offence and the possibility of a maximum sentence of 14 years on conviction. Det Garda Abernethy stressed that the nature of the evidence against the accused was "strong". He (OLeary) was caught red-handed. There is strong evidence to support a very serious offence. "Full admissions were made in interview. He also expressed concern that Mr OLeary would commit further serious offences if granted bail. Meanwhile, defence solicitor Joe Cuddigan said that the father of his client had travelled from Pakistan amid concerns for his son. He said that the man was willing to reside in a property in Tralee, Co Kerry, with his son. Mr Cuddigan said that making full admissions wasnt the behaviour of a hardened criminal with Dt Garda Abernethy agreeing with the proposition that the accused hadnt caused gardai any trouble in custody. Mr OLeary gave evidence in the witness box to the effect that he was prepared to follow stringent bail conditions and to live outside of Cork to obtain bail in the case. Det Garda Abernethy said that such undertakings failed to ease the fears of gardai about the granting of bail. Judge Philip OLeary declined to grant bail in the case arising out of the gravity of the alleged offences and the nature of the evidence in the case. Mr OLeary, who is a plumber and lives with his mother, was remanded in custody to appear by video link at Cork District Court on Tuesday. Deano the labrador has improved school attendance, literacy and behaviour in a Cork primary school as part of an innovative programme which brings highly trained dogs to assist in schools. Children nervous to come to school are greeted at the door in the morning by Deano, significantly lessening school refusal at St Columbas boys national school in Douglas. The dog provides a non-judgmental ear to children reticent to read aloud, improving literacy, confidence and motivation. He is also helping children who have autism or are suffering trauma to decompress and de-stress throughout the school day. Principal Daniel O'Connor said that Deano has been a hugely beneficial addition to the school. He's become an integral, valued member of the school community, Mr OConnor said. There are moments throughout every day that some children will get very stressed or anxious. And the dog has really helped them with that and gets them through their day. Deano has been particularly useful for the ASD [autism spectrum disorder] classes, but children struggle for all different reasons and he is helpful for all of them. Deanos placement is part of a Community Dog programme run by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind through which a highly-trained dog and their trained handler becomes part of the essential learning process within the school. The dog and handler work alongside educational staff in the school to help reduce stress and increase the learning potential of the students by goal directed interventions. Eddie, a senior infants class pupil, reading a book with Deano, the community dog from the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, in St Columba's BNS, Douglas, Cork. Picture: Denis Minihane Deano was specially trained as a Community Dog by the Irish Guidedogs for the Blind. Specialist training was provided to the dogs handlers and the school was vetted in advance. Bringing Deano to the school was the brainchild of teacher Tom Flynn, who suggested the idea to the school and is now Deanos main handler. Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind found that they had these excellent dogs that were not quite making the intense assessment to become a guide dog, Mr OConnor said. So they created a new category of Community Dogs, where brilliant, highly trained dogs can help in communities like schools. We saw that another school in Meath was doing it and we thought wed apply too." We have five special classes for children with a diagnosis of ASD, and we're finding children are coming to school with a lot of needs these days. So we thought it'd be an extra string to our bow and would help out some of the children in our school get through a school day." There are 30 students with an ASD diagnosis in the school. One child takes a five minute break with Deano to regulate and reset in the afternoon which helps him return calm and ready to learn for the afternoon. Deano visits every class in the school periodically so everyone gets a chance to enjoy him. But hes particularly busy working with more vulnerable students. He's good for all the children," Mr O'Connor said. Pupils are also taught rules around interacting with Deano, who is a working dog at their school. They can't just run up to him and pet him, they have to ask permission. And when he's working, he's working, they have to just pretend he's another member of staff and walk past him. We have to make sure Deano keeps up certain standards. He is an animal after all, in a school full of children. Children are impulsive and children are exciting. So it's Deano who needs to concentrate there and make sure he stays focused. He's got to keep his standards up all the time. But Tom, the handler, is fantastic at that. Deano has a bed in the principals office where he has a rest every afternoon. "He rests in my office once every day because he does need that break-in because it's really intensive work for him." Youre asking an animal to stick to a very strict set of rules. Deano arrives at school at 8am and has some downtime before the students arrive. He is then placed at one of the school entrances to greet pupils arriving for the day. Deano is moved between the different entrances so all the students get to see him at some stage, but his placement is also strategic, Mr OConnor said. There might be children with a little bit of school refusal or children who are not really doing great. And just to transition them into school, we'd often post him at that door where that child will be and make sure that that child gets a bit of an uplift in the morning. And we might even bring Deano out to see that child and have that child come in with him. We had a lot of school refusal since the pandemic. "He has been very good for that." Social and emotional needs Deano has also helped with childrens educational, social, and emotional needs. A dog is great to build empathy. Children have almost automatic empathy for a dog or an animal. So you can teach a lesson about social skills, turn taking. You can teach a lesson about caring for your classmates through the dog." You can ask questions like, how would Deano feel now if you did that to him? Deano has also helped children improve their literacy. Some people might be embarrassed to read aloud but when you're reading with Deano, it's much less stressful for the child. "Dogs won't judge. They can't see your mistakes. It's like unconditional acceptance. "It's a powerful thing when it comes to literacy," Mr O'Connor said. "You're reading the story to Deano and you feel good about that. It's bringing up your motivation, bringing up your self-confidence." Britain could strike Houthi targets in Yemen again if the rebel group continues to attack ships in the Red Sea, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron has suggested. Mr Cameron warned that the Iran-linked militants could force up prices in Britain if they are allowed to block the passage of container ships in the busy trade route. The US struck another site in Yemen early on Saturday after the Houthis vowed revenge for the bombing raid carried out by the Americans and the RAF a day earlier. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, Mr Cameron said the joint action will have gone some way to degrade Houthi capabilities built up with Iranian backing. He argued that not acting would be accepting that Houthi attacks could virtually shut a vital sea lane with relative impunity. If the Houthis deny this passage to ships, vital supply chains are threatened and prices will go up in Britain and across the globe. Mr Cameron said that the air strikes sent an unambiguous message to the Houthis that we are determined to put a stop to their Red Sea attacks. And he hinted that Britain could join the US in striking the Houthis again if they continue. We will work with allies. We will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions, he said. The British Foreign Secretary argued that the Houthi assertion that their attacks are linked to Israels war in Gaza is nonsense. Theyve attacked ships from countries all over the world, heading to destinations right across the globe, he wrote. After the first strikes, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations received a report of a missile attack on a vessel off the coast of Aden, Yemen, on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer defended his support for the strikes, which Rishi Sunak ordered without first consulting Parliament, as prime ministers sometimes do before military interventions. RAF Typhoon FGR4 taking off to launch air strikes against military targets in Yemen (Ministry of Defence/PA) Writing for the Independent, the UK Labour leader argued that protecting trade, security and lives are paramount to our national interest. He said Mr Sunak must make a full statement to the Commons when it returns on Monday, but stressed the need for swift military action. That is why we must retain the flexibility to react with the necessary speed to threats, while also submitting to scrutiny, he wrote. Mr Starmer was facing some criticism from the left over his support for the air strikes. While running for the Labour leadership, he promised no more illegal wars and proposed a law that would require a Commons vote before military action. But his new comments and support for the raids contradict this. Diane Abbott, who was Jeremy Corbyns shadow home secretary but now sits as an independent, said: In 2020 Keir Starmer said no more illegal wars. He said that he would only back war if it was legal, had a viable objective and Parliament gave consent. The current military action on Yemen has none of these yet he supports it. The sister of a British national who remains hostage amid the conflict in the Middle East has warned there is no more time for those captured, and called for their release ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. Ayelet Svatitzky told the PA news agency she is hopeful for the release of her brother, Nadav Popplewell, but is fearful of how long he can hold on. Mr Popplewell, 51, is one of two UK nationals who remain hostage a figure announced by the UK's foreign secretary David Cameron on Tuesday. Nadav Popplewell is one of two remaining British hostages (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, 46, will be speaking at a rally on Sunday afternoon in central London calling for the release of all hostages, as Monday marks 100 days since Hamas attack on October 7 the day her life froze. The demonstration comes after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to London, Dublin and Edinburgh streets on Saturday, calling for a permanent ceasefire in the conflict in which more than 23,800 Palestinians have been killed over the course of the Israeli response, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The protests, part of a global day of action involving 30 countries, came after the UK and US carried out airstrikes against Houthi bases in Yemen. Mr Popplewell was captured alongside his 79-year-old mother, Channah Peri, both of whom are among an estimated 240 people originally taken prisoner. Mrs Peri, released during the November ceasefire, was able to inform her family that her son had lost weight and had not been receiving medication for his diabetes, but the family have not heard anything about him since. Mrs Svatitzkys elder brother, Roi Popplewell, was found dead near his home just after the attacks. He was 53 when he died, and the family marked what would have been his 54th birthday on Christmas Eve. Mrs Svatitzky told PA how her mother has not been able to mourn his death because the family are consumed by their worry for her other brother. Thats all thats on our minds all the time is Nadavs wellbeing and his condition, and hes in danger every second of every day, she said. Ayelet Svatitzky said she still has hope for her brothers release (Family Handout/PA) Mrs Svatitzky, who lives in Kibbutz Yagur, said she still has hope. Hope is what gets us up in the morning, she said. My biggest fear is, I dont know how long its going to last, I dont know how long he can hold on and I dont know what his condition is. Im hoping he is going to be released soon but like I said, I saw how my mum came back after 49 days, Im very scared for how hes going to come back. She will be calling for the release of all hostages at a rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday afternoon. My main message is that the hostages are running out of time and that we should all do everything in our power to demand their release, she told PA. I think this is the prime message: There is no more time. Mrs Svatitzky called it a crime that people remained hostages almost 100 days since October 7. Theres so little that me as a family member can do, she told PA. We can only be a voice to our family members and our loved ones who are being held against their will for almost 100 days and demand their release, but there really is (only) so much we can do. Channah Peri was taken hostage but released during the November ceasefire (Family Handout/PA) Reflecting on the time that has passed, she said: Our life froze October 7. This is all I do in my life I help my mum in her rehabilitation process, and I fight for Nadavs release. I dont work. Ive got three children. I call myself a present-absent parent, because Im here in body but Im not really here because my main focus and concern is saving my brothers life. My life froze October 7, and I dont know when Im going to get it back. And I know that when we get Nadav back its going to be a really long road for recovery. When I look ahead into the future I dont know what its going to look like. I cant predict it. Mrs Svatitzky was alerted to attacks in Kibbutz Nirim where her two brothers and mother lived on October 7 by messages from a WhatsApp group she shares with childhood friends. She told of how she phoned her mother and had a brief conversation with her before hearing mens voices in the room. I realised that the Hamas terrorists got to her house, she told PA. They were speaking in English with an Arabic accent and I could hear that over the phone. So I hung up immediately because I was convinced that the next thing Im going to hear is my mum being murdered. Roi Popplewell was found dead near his home in Kibbutz Nirim (Family Handout/PA) She next phoned Mr Popplewell before hearing the same voices seconds later. She said she then received two pictures on WhatsApp from her mothers phone showing the elderly woman sitting in her living room in her nightwear beside her barefooted son, with a follow up message: Hamas. Mrs Svatitzky said a third picture, one featuring armed terrorists in the corner, was uploaded to her mothers Facebook story. Mrs Svatitzky and Mr Popplewell are both UK nationals, and so was their third sibling, Roi. Both brothers were single and had no children before the events of October 7. Two civilians were killed in northern Israel on Sunday after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border, raising new concerns of a second conflict erupting against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The deadly strike came on the 100th day of a conflict between Israel and Hamas that has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swathes of Gaza, driven about 85% of its 2.3 million residents from their homes and pushed a quarter of the population into starvation. The war was triggered by Hamas October 7 surprise attack into southern Israel in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostages, about half of whom are still in captivity. Tensions have soared across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, Iran-backed militias attacking US targets in Syria and Iraq, and Yemens Houthi rebels targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of US airstrikes last week. A Palestinian woman with her baby in a tent near Kerem Shalom crossing in Rafah (Hatem Ali/AP) Sundays missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said that his group will not stop until a ceasefire is in place for Gaza. We are continuing and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people, he said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas. The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge allegations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel adamantly denies the accusations and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop. No-one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else, Mr Netanyahu said on Saturday, referring to Iran and its allied militias. A destriyed residential building in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip (Adel Hana/AP) Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza as its leaders have faced mounting protests from their families, including a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv that began on Saturday and drew tens of thousands of supporters. Israeli forces have only managed to rescue one hostage, while more than 100 were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas says no more hostages will be released until Israel ends its offensive. Israel and Hezbollah have been careful not to allow their back-and-forth fighting to erupt into full-blown war on a second front. But they have come close on several occasions, most recently in the aftermath of an airstrike that killed a top Hamas official in Beirut on January 2. Hamas and Hezbollah have both blamed Israel for the strike. A man holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas during a demonstration in Tel Aviv, Israel (Leo Correa/AP) The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians on Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. The missile hit a home in the town of Yuval in northern Israel, killing a man in his 40s and his mother, who was in her 70s, Israeli rescuers said. Although Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along the northern border evacuated by the government in October, Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture. More than 115,000 Israelis have been evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire. The deadly strike came hours after the army said it killed three militants who entered a disputed Israeli-controlled enclave in the Golan Heights. A group called Islamic Glory Brigades claimed responsibility for the infiltration. The Associated Press could not independently verify the statement, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese branches of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad all said the group was not affiliated with them. Since October, over 2,000 rockets and 350 drones have been launched from Lebanon, according to Israel. Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but has so far been shielded by US diplomatic and military support. Israel says any ceasefire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israels destruction. The Gaza Health Ministry said on Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says about two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says more than 60,000 people have been wounded. Israel says 188 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive. QUITO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- All hostages held by inmates in Ecuador's prisons have been freed, local media reported citing the country's prison agency SNAI on Saturday. Some 150 prison guards and administrative officials were held hostage by prisoners since Monday amid a surge in violence in the South American country. Former British home secretary Suella Braverman joined thousands in central London in solidarity with Israel ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack. She chanted bring them home with the crowd referencing the remaining hostages took pictures with members of the public and was thanked by others for going to the rally in Trafalgar Square on Sunday. Gratitude was also expressed to Britain's King Charles at the demonstration, as President of Israel Isaac Herzog thanked Charles in a video message, mentioning British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and UK Labour leader Keir Starmer as well. Former home secretary Suella Braverman said she was there to stand in solidarity with Israel (Jeff Moore/PA) Ms Braverman told the PA news agency: Im here to stand in solidarity with Israel. It has been 100 days since innocent people have been taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists and we need to bring them home now. Bring them home now. A small group of counter-protesters from the Neturei Karta group gathered on a traffic island at the south of Trafalgar Square, according to the Metropolitan Police. The force originally said a man was arrested after forcefully taking a sign from the group and tearing it up, but in an updated statement the Met Police said the man was detained but not ultimately arrested after a review of CCTV confirmed he was not the person responsible. Another man who shouted antisemitic abuse from a passing car was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence. People attending the rally, who filed into the square past bag searches, barricades and police and security officers, held posters that bore the faces of those who were taken hostage, and others that read 100 days in hell. Some brandished Iranian flags, depicting a sun and lion in the centre, which one man said represented opposition to the Iranian government. In his video message, Mr Herzog said: In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, youve stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride and passion but it isnt only within the Jewish community, across every branch of British leadership, the truth reigns clear. People in the crowd held posters that bore the faces of hostages (Jeff Moore/PA) In the name of the state and people of Israel, I thank you all. I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III. I want to thank Prime Minister Sunak. I want to thank the UK government and I want to thank Opposition leader Starmer and his colleagues. The rally heard from a number of other speakers including Israeli ambassador to the UK Tzipi Hotovely, the UK special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, Eric Pickles, and Labour MP Christian Wakeford. Relatives of those who remain hostage also spoke at the demonstration. Eylon Keshet said the time his cousins baby has spent as a hostage might be a death sentence (Ellie Ng/PA) Yarden Bibas, 34, was captured on October 7 alongside his wife Shiri, 32, and two children Ariel, four, and baby Kfir, who was 10 months old when he was taken. Mr Bibass cousin, Eylon Keshet, told PA that the time Kfir has spent as a hostage might be a death sentence. The 30-year-old, who lives in Israel but came to the UK to make his message known at the rally, said: We never thought it would be this long and its heartbreaking because 100 days is not just a number, 100 days are actually this long that they need to suffer in captivity each day and for a baby like Kfir this might be a death sentence. So this is 100 days of real human suffering and pain and we must bring them home. This number must not get any bigger. Ms Hotovely thanked London for 100 days of consistent support. Lord Pickles called himself a committed and unapologetic Zionist (Jeff Moore/PA) She said the estimated 130 remaining hostages continue to live a nightmare with every passing second and issued a fresh demand for their immediate release. Mr Pickles called himself a committed and unapologetic Zionist and, referring to a pro-Palestinian march on Saturday, said: The people who were marching yesterday, the overwhelming majority of them are not antisemitic but they are happy to walk with people who are antisemitic. Mr Wakeford spoke of his recent trip to Israel during which he met survivors and families of hostages. The experiences theyve had on day one was too much, he told the crowd. Well, now 100 days in, and all we can say is this is far too many and bring them home. KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- A suicide bomber detonated an explosive device in the office of provincial governor of the west Afghanistan's Nimroz province on Sunday, the local television channel Tolonews reported. Quoting provincial police spokesman Gul Mohammad Qudrat, the private media outlet reported that the suicide attacker detonated the explosive device after he was identified by security forces in the governor office premises Sunday afternoon. There was no report on possible casualties so far. This is the fourth blast in the war-torn Afghanistan over the past nine days, three of them in the national capital Kabul city. Earlier three blasts have shocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul on different days, claiming at least 10 lives. The Islamic State outfit claimed responsibility for a blast in a mini-bus that left five dead and 15 others injured. An old legal adage states: Men are presumed to intend the natural consequences of their acts. The natural, indeed inescapable, consequence of Israels cutting off life-sustaining supplies of food and water to over 2 million people in Gaza is famine and mass death by starvation and dehydration. As 90 percent of the people of Gaza have become refugees, 93 percent of the population is facing crisis levels of hunger. Epidemics of cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are also the natural consequence as sanitation systems collapse and theres only contaminated water to drink. Deaths from disease and hunger are predicted to be several times that from fighting and bombing. Who are most likely to die first? Children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Who are least likely to be affected? Hamass soldiers, who stockpiled food and water before the war. Israels indiscriminate bombing has killed over 23,000 Palestinians, 40 percent of them children. The pace of killing has been exceptionally high, reports the New York Times. Its beyond anything that Ive seen in my career, says a former Pentagon senior intelligence analyst. Israelis assert casualties are high because Hamas uses civilians as human shields. But Hamas fighters are intermixed with civilians because they live crammed together in densely populated Gaza. Even on its own terms, the excuse fails. If a killer tries to escape capture by forcing an innocent family to stand between himself and the police, the cops cant mow them all down to get the killer. If Hamas terrorists are surrounded by the people of Gaza, that doesnt justify eliminating the entire population. Israels liberal use of very large weapons in dense urban areas, including U.S.-made 2,000-pound bombs that can flatten an apartment tower, is surprising, the Times report continued. Israel Tells U.S. They ARE Ethnically Cleansing Gaza The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder But its not a surprise if Israel in fact intends the mass deaths it has inflicted. Calls for erasing the people of Gaza and claims that there are no innocents in Gaza have become widespread among Israeli officials. Prime Minister Netanyahu has likened the war in Gaza to a biblical call to totally destroy the Amalekites, a rival nation to the ancient Israelites. Do not spare them, the prophet Samuel tells King Saul: God commands you to put to death men and women, children and infants. The idea of treating Palestinians this way is now widespread among Israeli leaders. Why deliberately target civilians? Many Israelis consider all the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean to be the God-given Land of Israel. Butchering and starving Palestinian noncombatants forces the survivors to flee this land. There will be no electricity and no water, decreed Israeli Major General Ghassan Alain at the outset of the war. There will only be destruction. General Giora Eiland added: Gaza will become a place where no human being can exist. Eiland said Palestinians should be told, They have two choices: to stay and to starve, or to leave. Last September at the United Nations, Netanyahu himself displayed a map showing The New Middle East. The map had no West Bank and no Gaza only Israel incorporating both. Members of Israels cabinet openly call for removing 90 percent of Palestinians from Gaza and resettling the land with Israelis. And Netanyahu recently told a meeting of his party that he is looking for countries that are willing to absorb Gazans we are working on it. Israels campaign in Gaza fits the legal definition of genocide: Israel is killing or inflicting conditions intended to bring about the destruction of Gazans as a group. But whatever you call it, genocide or ethnic cleansing, deliberate mass murder is part of the project. The Biden administration should reconsider its support for Israel. By Victor Peskin, Arizona State University | South Africa says that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and has asked the International Court of Justice to intervene and stop Israeli military action in Gaza. Israel issued its initial defense to South Africas charges on Jan. 12, 2024, at the International Court of Justice the United Nations highest human rights court based in The Hague, Netherlands. Israel argues that its military is trying to minimize civilian harm and that South Africa is trying to both weaponize the term genocide and interfere with Israels right of self-defense against Hamas. But can the International Court of Justice enforce any decision it makes in the case? The question of the International Court of Justices actual powers of enforcement is a key issue on many peoples minds, said Victor Peskin, a scholar of international relations and human rights. We spoke with Peskin to better understand the potential impacts of South Africas genocide complaint against Israel and the scope of the courts power. What is the significance of South Africa bringing these charges? South Africa is a former apartheid state that underwent a largely peaceful transition to democracy in the mid-1990s. Symbolically, the fact that South Africa is bringing the case may have particular resonance. However, South Africa has itself been accused of thwarting the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention. This happened after it hosted and failed to arrest Sudans then-President Omar al-Bashir in 2015. Al-Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court with committing war crimes and genocide in the Darfur region of western Sudan in the 2000s. South Africas case against Israel is the fourth genocide-related case at the International Court of Justice. The others pertained to the conflicts in Bosnia, Myanmar and Ukraine. Israel Genocide Case: What Will The ICJ Likely Rule? w/ Dr. Alonso Gurmendi What precedent did the Gambia-Myanmar case set for the court? There is some precedence for countries to bring a case regarding a conflict it is not directly involved in to the International Court of Justice. In 2019, Gambia filed a complaint at the court against Myanmar, regarding its alleged genocide of the Rohingya people, an ethnic minority living in Myanmar. The Genocide Convention obligates all ratifying states to comply with the treaty. So, countries without a direct connection to an alleged case of genocide can legally bring a genocide complaint forward. What are provisional measures and why are they important? The International Court of Justice judges are still reviewing and adjudicating the merits of Gambias genocide complaint. There isnt a final decision on that yet. The court did, within a relatively short period of time after it held a hearing in the case, issue written orders called provisional measures, directing Myanmar to prevent genocide and to preserve evidence related to the case. If the judges were convinced that the Israeli militarys attacks on Gaza were excessive, they could quickly call for a halt in Israels attacks and a cessation of hostilities. In theory, this could put public pressure on Israel to curtail or halt its military campaign. But even if the International Court of Justice calls for this, it would not necessarily indicate that the court will eventually rule that genocide has occurred. The International Court of Justice lacks enforcement power. So, is this case more than political theater? The International Court of Justice does not prosecute individuals, but rather focuses on resolving legal disputes between countries. The Hague-based International Criminal Court, which has the legal authority to investigate and prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, has opened up a separate investigation into Israeli forces and Hamas militants alleged violations of international humanitarian law. Its always an open question will an International Court of Justice ruling even be enforced and have any tangible effect? While the International Court of Justice moved at a glacial pace in reaching a final decision in the Bosnia-Serbia case, it has shown that it can move more quickly when addressing mass violence. The judges did issue provisional measures calling for the prevention of violence in the Myanmar and Russia cases. However, there is little indication that the International Court of Justices provisional measures eased Myanmars crackdown on the Rohingya. Similarly, the ICJs provisional measures calling on Russia to halt its invasion of Ukraine has had no apparent effect. This International Court of Justice could call for the Israeli military to end or curtail its conduct in Gaza, or to ease the flow of much-needed humanitarian aid for Palestinians, for example. This could put considerable international pressure on Israel. It could also push Israels strongest allies, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, to put more pressure on Israel. What does the ICJs track record on genocide tell us about this current case? In the first case of this kind, in 1993, Bosnia instituted proceedings against Serbia, which was then part of the former republic of Yugoslavia, for alleged genocide. The International Court of Justices eventual ruling in 2007 in the Serbia case was controversial. The court ruled that genocide was committed in the Bosnian war but that the government of Serbia was not directly responsible for it. Instead, the court ruled that the Serbian government failed to prevent genocide in Srebrenica. Srebenica was the eastern, Muslim enclave in Bosnia that Bosnian-Serb military forces overran in 1995, murdering around 8,000 Muslim boys and men. The court also found the Serbian government violated the Genocide Convention by failing to arrest former Bosnian Serb Gen. Ratko Mladic, then wanted for genocide by the U.N. International Criminal Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia. That judgment by the International Court of Justice was a big blow and disappointment to many Bosnian Muslims and global human rights activists. How long could it take the ICJ to determine whether Israel committed genocide? It could take a number of years. The Bosnia-Serbia case took 14 years. It is unclear if the South Africa-Israel case would have to wait for a final judgment to first be rendered in the Gambia-Myanmar and Ukraine-Russia cases, which have not concluded. Victor Peskin, Associate professor of politics and global studies, Arizona State University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) Millions of protesters came out around the world on Saturday, answering the call of Palestinian activists to rally against the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza on a Global Day of Action for Palestine. Close to home, an estimated 400,000 demonstrated in Washington, D.C., and scattered what looked like bloodied dolls of children before the White House gate as people chanted Genocide Joe and Bloody Blinken. The rally in the capital was called for by the American Muslim Task Force for Palestine. There are roughly 4 million Muslims in the United States, about 1.2 percent of the population, though the demonstration comprised many Christians and Jews, as well. Biden is hiding inside the White House protected by a fence, military police, and snipers on the roof while the children in besieged Gaza are left unprotected from Israels genocidal bombing that kills five children every hour. Thats around 117 children murdered daily. pic.twitter.com/YLf5T4bQGD Melissa Garriga (@MelissaAGarriga) January 13, 2024 The crowds demanded a ceasefire and insisted that Mr. Biden force Israel into one. They also called for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Middle East Eye: Thousands rally in Washington DC demanding Gaza ceasefire and end to US aid to Israel American Near East Refugee Aid said Saturday, The death toll in Gaza is immense and difficult to estimate due to telecommunications cuts. UNOCHA reports that, as of January 11, at least 23,469 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza and 59,604 injured. And some 1.9 million people, nearly 85% of Gazas population, are internally displaced. Among the organizers, the Council on American Islamic Relation (CAIR), said We thank every person who attended this historic event to call for an end to the Israeli governments genocide in Gaza and an end to our governments support for their atrocities. The Biden administration can no longer ignore the millions of Americans who are saying enough is enough. It is time for the administration to listen to the people and demand an immediate ceasefire, end its support for the Israeli apartheid government, and hold Israeli officials to account for their crimes against humanity. Before the event began, six Palestinian-Americans from Gaza shared the catastrophes that have befallen their families. CAIR writes that, e.g., Dr. Alaa Hussein Ali (MI) shares the story of the more than 100 members of his family who were killed in November in Israeli attacks, including the murder of his brother by sniper as he attempted to fetch water, and all of his in-laws after fleeing for safety to the south of Gaza. Also speaking were presidential candidates Cornel West and Jill Stein, Rep. Andre Carson, Code Pink Director Medea Benjamin, and prominent Muslim-American leaders, including Ilyasa Shabazz, the daughter of Malcolm X. Gaza-based Aljazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh, many of whose close family members have been killed by Israel, spoke by video. President Biden had left the White House for Camp David. One of the more poignant world-wide rallies was staged at the US Consulate in Johannesburg, South Africa, as the International Court of Justice at the Hague deliberates on the charge of genocide brought against Israel by Pretoria. There was also a big protest in Capetown. The organizers had a statement read out at the latter, according to Matthew Hirsch at Ground Up: We are here today to be part of the global day of action that will see demonstrations planned in more than 66 cities and at least 36 countries. Todays rally will be part of a united front of global voices, calling unconditionally for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Imtiaz Sooliman of the aid group Gift of the Givers, which has had teams in Gaza and the West Bank, said according to Hirsch, People like us and people all over the world will make sure that the ceasefire comes. The power of the people is more powerful than any government and any weapon in the world. Of the case brought by South Africa at the Hague, he said, I feel great to be South African. When we sent our people to the ICJ we brought back the Mandela magic. South African attorneys are saying that if the ICJ issues a ruling in South Africas favor they will bring civil suits in the U.S. and U.K. on that basis, because of the collaboration of those two governments in the massacre of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. SABC News: Activists gather outside US Consulate Hundreds of thousands also demonstrated in London, and similarly large crowds came out in numerous other cities around the world. Middle East Eye: Hundreds of thousands gather in London for Palestinian solidarity and Gaza ceasefire Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Jan. 13, 2024. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) GAZA/JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of families in both Israel and Palestine are still grieving the loss of their loved ones on Sunday, 100 days after Hamas's unexpected attack on southern Israel triggered a massive Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Despite the repeated calls from the international community for an end to the ongoing violence and a return to peace, the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has shaken the Middle East's geopolitical landscape, shows no signs of abating anytime soon. Israeli troops conduct military operations in Gaza Strip, on Jan. 11, 2024. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) ISRAELI ARMY'S NEW PHASE More than three months into the conflict, Israel withdrew some of its troops from the Gaza Strip in response to U.S. demands to scale back large-scale ground and aerial operations and protect civilians in the Palestinian enclave. On Jan. 7, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the Wall Street Journal that the Israeli army will soon switch from the "intense maneuvering phase of the war" to "different types of special operations" in northern Gaza. Israel's ground operations and bombardment, while less intense than before, are still going on, with a focus on the southern region of the Gaza Strip, where a large part of the population is stranded after being displaced from the north and elsewhere. The number of injured Palestinians has so far surpassed 60,000 and the Palestinian death toll in the enclave, already over 23,700, is on the rise, according to figures released by the Gaza-based Health Ministry. Under U.S. pressure, the Israeli army is seeking to gradually reduce the intensity of military operations in the Gaza Strip in 2024, but the duration of the conflict may be lengthened, said Jerusalem-based Palestinian political analyst Firas Yaghi. During a visit to the West Bank on Jan. 7, Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said the conflict in Gaza would likely last throughout 2024. He also warned of a possible flare-up in violence "on other fronts, especially the West Bank," and said the IDF would increase "the pressure it exerts" on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where it has traded fire with Hezbollah, a Shiite military group, in recent months. Children are seen in front of a damaged building in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, on Jan. 9, 2024. (Photo by Mohammed Ali/Xinhua) MOUNTING PRESSURE ON ISRAEL As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens, Israel is coming under increasing pressure both internationally and domestically. As entire neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip have been leveled by the Israeli bombardments, about 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.3 million people are displaced, according to statistics released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On Dec. 22, the UN Security Council passed a key resolution aimed at boosting the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza after a week of negotiations and substantial amendments. It followed a resolution adopted on Dec. 12 by the UN General Assembly demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza. As for the United States, with the 2024 presidential election expected to be a tight race, the administration under President Joe Biden is expected to put more pressure on Israel to win voters who are unhappy about the U.S. stance on the Gaza conflict, said Yaghi. In Israel, many people believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to push for judicial reform have caused chaos in the country and given Hamas an opportunity to attack and that the way the government and military handled issues such as rescuing hostages is not satisfactory. Despite prolonged Israeli air strikes and ground operations, 132 of the 253 hostages that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups kidnapped on Oct. 7 are still being held in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants are still capable of firing rockets into Israel. In the face of the international community's pressure and criticism, Israel is looking for alternative plans to achieve its goals by fighting in specific areas of the Gaza Strip, said Yaghi. Yemenis participate in a rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on Jan. 12, 2024. Thousands of supporters of the Yemeni Houthi rebel group held a rally in Sanaa on Friday to protest the U.S.-Britain joint retaliatory airstrikes on the group's camps. (Photo by Mohammed Mohammed/Xinhua) EXPANSION OF CONFLICT Since the beginning of this year, tensions in the Middle East have escalated as a result of the spillover of the Israel-Hamas conflict. On Jan. 2, an Israeli drone strike on Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, killed Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau, alongside six other members of the Palestinian militant group. After the strike, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned the next day that the Iran-backed group "cannot be silent." He denounced the attack as "a dangerous crime," vowing revenge and threatening to meet any wider Israeli operation with unrestrained warfare. Eyal Pinko, an intelligence and national security expert at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Israel, said Israel's strikes on senior Hamas leader inside Lebanon cannot pass in silence. "Hezbollah will revenge one way or another, they must, they have to, and it won't be another way," he said. Meanwhile, local militia in Iraq escalated attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, triggering a retaliatory U.S. strike in Baghdad on Jan. 4 that killed a leader of the Harakat al-Nujaba group operating in both Iraq and Syria. Another worrying development happens in the Red Sea. The Houthi military group, which has been fighting a civil war with Yemen's government forces, launched drone and rocket attacks in the Red Sea on cargo ships that have links to Israel to retaliate Israeli attacks on Gaza. The Houthi attacks prompted the United States and Britain to stage air strikes on the targets of the military group on Thursday and Saturday. The Houthi leadership vowed to launch retaliatory attacks soon. "We are witnessing a cycle of violence that risks grave political, security, economic, and humanitarian repercussions in Yemen and the region," Khaled Khiari, UN assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, told the Security Council on Friday. ANKARA, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces "neutralized" seven members of the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) in northern Syria, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday. The YPG members were targeted while plotting an attack on Turkish soldiers in northern Syria, the ministry said in a statement. Turkish authorities often use the term "neutralize" in their statements to imply the alleged "terrorists" have either surrendered, been killed, or been captured. Nine Turkish soldiers were killed after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militants tried to infiltrate a Turkish base in the "Operation Claw-Lock" zone in northern Iraq on Friday. Since Friday, Turkiye has launched operations against the Kurdish militants both in northern Iraq and Syria. The Turkish army launched Operation Euphrates Shield in 2016, Operation Olive Branch in 2018, Operation Peace Spring in 2019, and Operation Spring Shield in 2020 in northern Syria to create a YPG-free zone along the border with the neighboring country. The Turkish intelligence has also intensified cross-border operations targeting PKK and YPG hideouts in Iraq and Syria. Turkiye sees the YPG as the Syrian branch of the PKK group. The PKK, listed as a terrorist organization by Turkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has rebelled against the Turkish government for more than three decades. Saturday, January 13, 2024 Spiderman star, Tom Holland has debunked claims of a breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Zendaya. Holland was walking through an alley in Los Angeles with a friend on Friday, January 12, when a photographer asked him about the speculated breakup. He responded by saying "No, absolutely not." He doesn't elaborate further, but that's about as clear as he can be on this issue. This is coming after Zendaya unfollowed everyone (Tom as well). Tom Holland and Zendaya have also not been photographed together in public in months. Saturday, January 13, 2024 Israeli-American actress, Natalie Portman is reportedly set to end her 11-year marriage with Benjamin Millepied after he was accused of cheating with a climate activist 21 years his junior. This comes after the Black Swan actress, 42, seemingly confirmed the end of her 11-year marriage to the choreographer, 46, this week during an interview with WSJ Magazine in which she failed to mention him while disclosing that she lives in Paris with their two children. She disclosed this after she flew solo at the Golden Globes, and just weeks after she was pictured once again without her wedding ring. The actress has reportedly taken time to 'process and heal' and is trying to work out the best way to navigate a divorce for their children Aleph, 12, and daughter Amalia, six, before officially filing. 'Natalie and Benjamin tried to make it work but she simply could not get past his cheating on her,' an insider told DailyMail exclusively. 'Divorce is in the works, but nothing has been filed as of yet. They are split, however, and she is living in Paris while Benjamin continues to work in the US. 'They are figuring out what is best for their children, as they both have so much love for them and are great parents.' The insider added: 'Natalie needed time to process and heal and those around her know how strong of a woman she is and how dedicated to her causes she is, including women's empowerment. 'No woman should have to put up with a cheating spouse. She has been private about it because that is who she is.' Natalie and Benjamin's marriage was rocked by cheating allegations last year, when French outlet Voici released an explosive report, claiming he had an affair with 25-year-old climate activist Camille Etienne. People magazine reported at the time that the romance with Camille was 'short-lived' and that Benjamin was 'doing all he could' to get 'Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together.' 'He knows he made an enormous mistake and he is doing all he can to get Natalie to forgive him and keep their family together,' a source told the publication. 'Natalie is incredibly private and has no intention of playing this out in the media. Her biggest priority is protecting her children and their privacy.' In early August, however, an insider told Us Weekly that the pair were separating after failing to repair their relationship amid the bombshell cheating allegations. 'After news of his affair came out, they've been trying to work on their marriage but are currently on the outs,' the source said at the time. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Azimio One Kenya Alliance Party leader, Raila Odinga, has attacked President William Ruto, accusing him of hijacking Parliament. Speaking at the burial of Phillip Odero Makabong'o in Rongo, Migori County, on Friday, Raila claimed that the Kenya Kwanza Government had shackled parliament. Expressing his frustration, Raila criticised President William Ruto's administration for actively amending various constitutional acts, despite not backing the national document during its inception. "There is a team that is busy drafting amendments to various acts of parliament whose aim is to get back the powers given to county governments constitutionally and because they have taken parliament captive, they are being passed without any amendments," claimed Raila. The Azimio politician highlighted the hurdles faced during the creation of the 2010 constitution, emphasising the sacrifices made by Kenyans, some of whom perished in the process, in the fight for democracy. "We are dealing with a regime that has gone rogue. "You see, it took us a long time to come up with this constitution. "The struggle to come up with a new constitution was not an easy one. "For instance, some people did not want to hear the word constitution. "We even lost Odhiambo Mbai, who was the chairman of the devolution committee at the Bomas of Kenya," he stated. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, January 13, 2024 Supa Emcee, the Detroit rapper whose biggest claim to fame is being cut out of Eminem's 8 Mile, has been charged with the murder of his girlfriend. Supa Emcee has been accused by security operatives of stabbing and slashing his partner of 13 years, Kelly Mays, around 17 times in the neck and chest during an alleged altercation in their Detroit apartment on January 7. He fled the scene before turning himself in later in the day, when he was ultimately charged with murder. Mays' daughter later denounced all association with the rapper, telling local Fox 2 Detroit, I hate him now and he is no father of mine. I touched her foot, and it was cold. I have nightmares about it so every time I fall asleep, I see it. Supa Emcee is a seasoned veteran on the Detroit rap scene. He got the chance to battle rap against Em in the iconic hip-hop film but the scene got downgraded to the DVD, destined to become a relic soon. Sunday, January 14, 2023 - Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, was filmed threatening a motorist as he cruised around with his luxurious vehicle. The vocal MP was being driven from a police station to record a statement after assaulting an MCA at a funeral when the threatened to beat up a motorist for an unknown reason. Hiyo kiburi yako. Nitakufinya, he was heard warning the motorist as his posh vehicle sped off. The video comes at a time when Salaysa is facing public scrutiny over his violent behaviours. He was filmed slapping Malaha MCA, Peter Walunya, during a burial ceremony. The first time MP was addressing mourners when the incident happened. He was released on Ksh 50,000 cash bail pending his arraignment on Tuesday, January 16. Watch a video of him threatening a motorist, moments after recording a statement for assaulting an MCA. MP Salasya after recording a statement with police over assault of MCA and released on a Sh 50,000 bond. Theyre ready to profile young Kenyans over the errant behavior of one lunatic as if theyre angels because of electing ICC indictees. Mtuachishe usenge nyinyi wazee. pic.twitter.com/hQVFZLTL0I Francis Gaitho (@FGaitho237) January 13, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP) party leader, Eugene Wamalwa, has declared his 2027 presidential bid. Speaking on NTV on Saturday, Wamalwa said he has the necessary experience to lead the country. Wamalwa pointed out that he has held several leadership positions in the country apart from the deputy president and the president. According to Wamalwa, he has an advantage over others because of his youthful age "I am experienced and ready to lead Kenya. At my age, I still think time is on my side. We were given three spears when we were in Bungoma. "Uhuru Kenyattas spear went to the State House, and William Rutos was there. I believe a day is coming when my spear will also get there," Wamalwa said. Wamalwa disclosed that DAP-K has already endorsed his bid to contest in the 2027 polls, where he will face President William Ruto. "I am prepared, and as we speak, I have taken over the leadership of DAP-K, and I already have the endorsement from the party to be their presidential candidate in the 2027 polls. "We are in the process now of carrying out membership recruitment to strengthen our party at the grassroots," he added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, January 14, 2024 - A young Kenyan lady has left netizens talking after she was pictured at the Yatch Lounge in Mtwapa having fun with her elderly mzungu boyfriend. The man is old enough to be her grandfather. See the trending photo. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Kenyans have attacked Mumias East Member of Parliament, Peter Salasya, after he assaulted a local MCA at a funeral in his constituency. In the video, Salasya, elected to the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) ticket, was addressing mourners when Malaha/Isongo/Makunga MCA Peter Walunya Indimuli appeared to disrupt the lawmaker's speech. Salasya, donning a white suit, repeatedly pleaded with Indimuli to go and sit, but in vain. "Enda kaa chini sasa. (Go sit down)," the MP told Indimuli before descending on him with a slap. Salasya's security detail and members of the public were forced to intervene and bring the situation back to normal. Salaysa was later arrested and is out on a police bond of Sh 50,000. The outspoken MP will be charged on Tuesday with assault, causing physical harm and creating a disturbance in a way that could lead to a breach of peace. Most Kenyans who witnessed the incident accused the opposition MP of being drunk with power. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, January 13, 2024 CNN host Kate Bolduan became visibly annoyed on live TV and called out US Lawmaker, Rep. Thomas Massie, (R-Ky.) on Friday for suggesting that she had not thoroughly prepared for their interview. During an appearance on "CNN News Central," Massie was asked about his past criticism of Nikki Haley after the presidential candidate on Wednesday claimed Massie was "the most anti-Israel Republican" in Congress. Kate Bolduan then referenced a pro-Israel resolution that Massie voted against. The "Reaffirming the State of Israel's right to exist" resolution, in part, "rejects calls" for the destruction of Israel and condemns attacks by Hamas against the Jewish state. "Recognizing that denying Israel's right to exist is a form of antisemitism. You do not support ," Bolduan said before Massie cut her off. Massie interjected; "That's the name of the resolution; congratulations, you're able to read the name of the resolution. I don't vote on the names," "Oh, congressman, I don't think you're trying to question my intelligence now, are you?" Bolduan replied. Massie in response, denied Bolduan's assertion and said was merely saying she did not have time to prepare for the interview like he did. "Do you mean the two pages that I read in two minutes this morning and highlighted? The 'Resolved that the House of Representatives?" Bolduan said. "Yeah, it took two minutes," Massie said before chuckling. Massie's comments appeared to surprise Bolduan, who replied with a short "Oh." He then continued to criticize Bolduan's interview preparation. "Good for you, you took minutes. There have been 19 resolutions. I know what's in all of them. I studied them," Massie continued. "I say right on social media, if you've done a little more research, you wouldn't have to ask me if I acknowledge Israel's right to exist. It's right there on my social media." She then said that given his comments on social media and the resolution's content, the question was worth re-asking. Bolduan added that the network would continue to do more research but did not appreciate "when someone even suggests or insinuates that I'm not prepared." Getting in one last dig, Massie said, "You did some research." Co-anchor Sara Sidner smirked as Bolduan tossed to her after the interview, saying, "That was enlightening.".. Watch the video below BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese courts resolved 12.04 million cases through pre-litigation mediation in 2023, which accounted for 40.3 percent of all cases filed in the year, according to a national conference attended by presidents of higher courts across the country on Sunday. Courts across China have enhanced coordination with "people's mediators," who are members of people's mediation committees and qualified individuals appointed by people's mediation committees as full or part-time mediators. In the first three quarters of 2023, people's mediators invited by courts nationwide each successfully mediated an average of 75 cases prior to litigation procedures, according to the conference held by the Supreme People's Court. From January to November 2023, Chinese courts entrusted nearly 1.64 million cases to organizations and individuals for pre-litigation mediation, according to data released at the conference. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Police are probing the brutal murder of a 24-year-old lady who was found murdered at an Airbnb along TRM Drive, Nairobi. The slain lady had booked the Airbnb with a Nigerian man. He reportedly left early Sunday morning after killing her. The suspect is said to have returned the keys to the guards before escaping. The victims body was discovered chopped up and wrapped in a polythene bag. Her head was missing, fueling speculation of a possible ritual killing. The suspect is on the run as police launch a manhunt for him. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Police have launched investigations into the mysterious death of a middle-aged lady in Langata. The 28-year-old lady reportedly jumped to her death from the third floor of her rented apartment in Langata. The apartments caretaker told police that the deceased lived alone. It is believed that she jumped from the balcony early Sunday morning. The body was taken to the city mortuary as more investigations continue. See photos of the deceased lady and OB report on the tragic incident. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, January 13, 2024 Peter Crombie, the actor best known for playing Crazy Joe Davola in season four of Seinfeld has passed on at the age of 71. The actor's ex-wife, Nadine Kijner revealed that he died after a brief illness. She wrote; It is with shock and extreme sadness that I share my Ex-husband died this morning. Thank you for so many wonderful memories and being such a good man. Fly free into the Un-boundless source of light, Peter. May you be greeted with love by your parents, and Oliver . So so many people loved you because you were a kind, giving, caring and creative Soul. In 1992, Crombie took on the recurring role of Crazy Joe Davola pn Seinfeld, where his character terrorizes and threatens Jerry during the plot line that spanned five episodes. Years later, he played Frankensteins Creature in the 1997 miniseries House of Frankenstein. As for TV, he appeared in a handful of other shows, such as Perfect Strangers, American Playhouse, As the World Turns, H.E.L.P., Law & Order, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, L.A. Law, L.A. Firefighters, Picket Fences, NYPD Blue and Walker, Texas Ranger. He also had roles in several movies throughout the late 80s and 90s, including Broken Vows, Born on the Fourth of July, Smoothtalker, The Doors, Rising Sun, Natural Born Killers, Safe, Seven and A Walton Easter. Sunday, January 14, 2024 Homa Bay town Member of Parliament, Peter Kaluma, has been accused of receiving hefty bribes to have the suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Meru blogger Daniel Muthiani alias Sniper released. According to vocal Meru activist, Mike Makarina, Snipers murder case is being handled by Kalumas wife, who is a magistrate at Kiambu Law Courts. Kaluma has already received the money to hand over to his wife and the suspects might be released on bond on Monday. Makarina alleges that the money was given to Kaluma by Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza. We have all the evidence and a CCTV footage of Kaluma receiving the money, Makarina said. Reacting to the video, city lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi said, Kenyans are fed-up with corrupt and unaccountable judiciary. "And no one listens/address their grievances! SAD! The average Kenyan has totally lost confidence in our courts.They believe justice is for sale and brokers and judges/magistrates are having a feel day at their expense! @ahmednasirlaw was after all truthfully. As we speak mp @gpdkaluma is in meru receiving brown envelopes to have the suspects arrested in connection with the sniper's death released. The wife is the kiambu magistrate . @Kenyajudiciary @CJMarthaKoome pic.twitter.com/Cwl0RD0Sxg Sir Raibuta (@RaibutaLaw) January 13, 2024 The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Police from Kasarani are questioning the manager of the Airbnb along TRM Drive where a 24-year-old lady was found brutally murdered. Risper Muthoni told police that the suspect booked the room on Saturday around 3 PM. He returned the key early Sunday morning before disappearing. She has provided police with crucial evidence, including CCTV footage of the suspect picking up the key from a nearby store that serves as the key collection point. She is cooperating fully with the police as investigations continue. The slain lady was found murdered and her body chopped up. Her head was reportedly missing, fueling speculation of a possible ritual killing. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, January 13, 2024 A toddler has died after her father accidently reversed over her in his SUV as he was leaving for the supermarket to buy groceries. 1-year-old Rishwika Salibindla died after her father Joseph Reddy Salibindla unknowingly backed into her out the front of his property in Edna Avenue, Toongabbie, in Sydney's northwest, just before 5.30pm on Friday, Jan. 12. Mr Salibindla had entered his Audi SUV to get groceries at his local supermarket, unaware that his daughter had followed him out the door. He then reversed over the girl unaware she was behind the vehicle, before exiting the vehicle to find her covered in blood. Mr Salibindla's wife Sravanthi Thirumalareddy and the couple's two sons who were inside the family home at the time of the incident rushed outside following the horrific incident. Mr Salibindla attempted to keep Rishwika alive until six ambulance crews from the NSW Ambulance Service arrived at the scene. The girl later died from her injuries. The distraught father of three was later taken to Parramatta police station for questioning and spent Friday night assisting officers with their enquiries. The 41-year-old was seen sobbing in the arms of one of his relatives before he was taken away by officers. No charges have been laid. Mrs Thirumalareddy spent hours looking at the crime scene as family members and locals comforted the devastated mum. Rishwika's uncle Joseph Salibindla said and he and his family would be by Mrs Thirumalareddy's side as she came to terms with the loss of her daughter. "We will stay here with her, me and my wife," he told The Daily Telegraph. "Whatever we can do." A crime scene was set up at the property as officers continue to investigate the incident. A report will be prepared for the coroner. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Nakuru Governor, Susan Kihika, was left with an egg on her face after she was heckled by the area residents while in the company of President William Ruto. Kihika and a host of other UDA leaders from Nakuru accompanied Ruto to a roadside rally after he visited the county to launch development projects. When Kihika was given a chance to address the crowd, he was booed, forcing her to cut short her speech. President Ruto was seen in the video trying to calm down the residents. Majority of UDA leaders are losing popularity on the ground due to unfilled campaign promises. Watch the video of Kihika being humiliated as Ruto watched. Sunday, January 14, 2024 - Githunguri Member of Parliament, Gathoni Wamuchomba, has attacked President William Rutos government after it increased the prices of electricity tokens. In the recent past, Kenyans have come out to share screenshots of the charges imposed on them by the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC). Commenting on social media on Friday, Wamuchomba, who is a fierce critic of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration, cautioned that the high charges were likely to cause some businesses to grind to a halt. "Uuuh, Kenya Power! Kenya Powerrrrrrrr we cant breathe! KSh 500 gives me 14 units down from 21 units last year surely! "Tutafunga hizi biashara jameni. (We shall close down these businesses)," Wamuchomba posted. Kenya Power in a statement attributed the increase in electricity prices to the declining shilling against the US dollar, which is currently exchanging at an average rate of KSh 158.3 per dollar. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, January 13, 2024 A prankster was arrested in Europe earlier this month for dumping buckets of dog poop onto unsuspecting metro passengers in Belgium. Authorities in Belgium arrested and charged the individual they named as Y.D. with assault and battery, damage to property using violence and property damage on January 3, a day after he reportedly confessed to police about this prank in Brussels. Cops say he hurled a mixture of diverse substances such as excrement, oil, beer, water, fallen leaves and paint at innocent bystanders. Since his arrest, the man has been identified as YaNike on YouTube, with only 480 subscribers. The prosecutor's office says the poop incidents can be traced in 7 of his 16 videos. In his most offending video from November 28, titled "Suprise du chef (6)", translated to "Chef's Surprise", he dumps a bucket full of the watery poop onto a horrified train passenger before fleeing. The victim filed a complaint, according to local outlet Sudinfo and a complaint was also filed by the local transportation operator there, STIB, according to Politico. Watch the video below. 2 Shares Share The authors of the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst article urge countries to allocate 1 percent of their health care budgets toward establishing standards and processes for assessing the value of health outcomes. What matters most to patients is the fundamental principle of value-based health care. The cost of unnecessary care amounts to billions every year, not only in the United States but worldwide. This article presents the context for an international moonshot aimed at enhancing health care. Some aspects of this paper address incentives for physicians. For instance, in France, ophthalmologists receive bonuses for reporting outcome measures (such as post-op visual acuity and improved daily living activities) after cataract surgery. By sharing data on cataract surgery outcomes, eye surgeons can set standards or benchmarks for their procedures. By promoting transparency through incentives, the French establish a platform for pay for participation rather than pay for performance. However, as more data accumulates, the performance of individual surgeons will be compared to that of their peers. The underlying theme of this paper is that a significant amount of care is funded but is either unnecessary or inefficient in its delivery, or both. Improved health care models depend on shared clinical information, with the potential to structure clinical trials across diverse populations to enhance medical practice. Encouraging best practices for clinicians to evolve ensures that they remain current by the time professional organizations publish them. The moonshot analogy proposed by the authors holds true only if there is consensus and cooperation among governments. The inadequacy of U.S. federal programs in covering episodes of care led many accountable care organizations to reject risk-contracting with the federal government. The authors highlight a new federal division dedicated to providing financial support for infrastructure improvements, spanning from the molecular to societal levels, with the goal of delivering transformative solutions for all individuals. In the United States, a potentially significant step in the right direction is the recent creation of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), proposed by the Biden administration and authorized by the U.S. Congress in March 2022. ARPA-H aims to transform critical areas of medicine and health for the benefit of all patients in ways that cannot be readily achieved through traditional research or commercial activity. However, introducing a new federal agency that picks economic winners and losers disregards the private sectors contribution to developing superior care models, particularly within self-insured employer groups. In summary, the drive to assess the value of health outcomes will persist as both the public and private sectors collaborate on improving delivery models. The clinical trials for enhanced health care delivery models are already underway, whether at the local, national, or international level. The results will narrate the story of how health care expenditures can be best utilized. Paul Pender is an ophthalmologist and author of Standing Up & Speaking Out for Patients & Doctors and Rebuilding Trust in Healthcare: A Doctors Prescription for a Post-Pandemic America. GAZA/JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of families in both Israel and Palestine are still grieving the loss of their loved ones on Sunday, 100 days after Hamas's unexpected attack on southern Israel triggered a massive Israeli military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Despite the repeated calls from the international community for an end to the ongoing violence and a return to peace, the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has shaken the Middle East's geopolitical landscape, shows no signs of abating anytime soon. ISRAELI ARMY'S NEW PHASE More than three months into the conflict, Israel withdrew some of its troops from the Gaza Strip in response to U.S. demands to scale back large-scale ground and aerial operations and protect civilians in the Palestinian enclave. On Jan. 7, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told the Wall Street Journal that the Israeli army will soon switch from the "intense maneuvering phase of the war" to "different types of special operations" in northern Gaza. Israel's ground operations and bombardment, while less intense than before, are still going on, with a focus on the southern region of the Gaza Strip, where a large part of the population is stranded after being displaced from the north and elsewhere. The number of injured Palestinians has so far surpassed 60,000 and the Palestinian death toll in the enclave, already over 23,700, is on the rise, according to figures released by the Gaza-based Health Ministry. Under U.S. pressure, the Israeli army is seeking to gradually reduce the intensity of military operations in the Gaza Strip in 2024, but the duration of the conflict may be lengthened, said Jerusalem-based Palestinian political analyst Firas Yaghi. During a visit to the West Bank on Jan. 7, Herzi Halevi, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), said the conflict in Gaza would likely last throughout 2024. He also warned of a possible flare-up in violence "on other fronts, especially the West Bank," and said the IDF would increase "the pressure it exerts" on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where it has traded fire with Hezbollah, a Shiite military group, in recent months. MOUNTING PRESSURE ON ISRAEL As the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip worsens, Israel is coming under increasing pressure both internationally and domestically. As entire neighborhoods in the Gaza Strip have been leveled by the Israeli bombardments, about 1.9 million of Gaza's 2.3 million people are displaced, according to statistics released by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. On Dec. 22, the UN Security Council passed a key resolution aimed at boosting the flow of humanitarian supplies into Gaza after a week of negotiations and substantial amendments. It followed a resolution adopted on Dec. 12 by the UN General Assembly demanding an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza. As for the United States, with the 2024 presidential election expected to be a tight race, the administration under President Joe Biden is expected to put more pressure on Israel to win voters who are unhappy about the U.S. stance on the Gaza conflict, said Yaghi. In Israel, many people believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to push for judicial reform have caused chaos in the country and given Hamas an opportunity to attack and that the way the government and military handled issues such as rescuing hostages is not satisfactory. Despite prolonged Israeli air strikes and ground operations, 132 of the 253 hostages that Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups kidnapped on Oct. 7 are still being held in the Gaza Strip. Meanwhile, Palestinian militants are still capable of firing rockets into Israel. In the face of the international community's pressure and criticism, Israel is looking for alternative plans to achieve its goals by fighting in specific areas of the Gaza Strip, said Yaghi. EXPANSION OF CONFLICT Since the beginning of this year, tensions in the Middle East have escalated as a result of the spillover of the Israel-Hamas conflict. On Jan. 2, an Israeli drone strike on Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold, killed Saleh al-Arouri, deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau, alongside six other members of the Palestinian militant group. After the strike, Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah warned the next day that the Iran-backed group "cannot be silent." He denounced the attack as "a dangerous crime," vowing revenge and threatening to meet any wider Israeli operation with unrestrained warfare. Eyal Pinko, an intelligence and national security expert at the Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Israel, said Israel's strikes on senior Hamas leader inside Lebanon cannot pass in silence. "Hezbollah will revenge one way or another, they must, they have to, and it won't be another way," he said. Meanwhile, local militia in Iraq escalated attacks on U.S. military bases in Iraq and Syria, triggering a retaliatory U.S. strike in Baghdad on Jan. 4 that killed a leader of the Harakat al-Nujaba group operating in both Iraq and Syria. Another worrying development happens in the Red Sea. The Houthi military group, which has been fighting a civil war with Yemen's government forces, launched drone and rocket attacks in the Red Sea on cargo ships that have links to Israel to retaliate Israeli attacks on Gaza. The Houthi attacks prompted the United States and Britain to stage air strikes on the targets of the military group on Thursday and Saturday. The Houthi leadership vowed to launch retaliatory attacks soon. "We are witnessing a cycle of violence that risks grave political, security, economic, and humanitarian repercussions in Yemen and the region," Khaled Khiari, UN assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, told the Security Council on Friday. 14 Shares Share Closing a residency program can significantly disrupt a physicians training. In 2019, the closure of Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia forced 570 residents to find new placements. First-year residents discovered a week before they started that the hospital was closing after its owner filed for bankruptcy. Fast forward to January 2024. Within days, two additional residency training programs in the Philadelphia area announced closures. Albert Einstein Medical Center said it was ending its pediatric residency program. Current residents will be able to complete their three-year training, but the hospital wont matriculate a new class in July. A spokesperson for Jefferson Health, which owns Einstein, attributed the closure to the communitys changing medical needs, but did not elaborate. Einstein had an operating loss of $17 million on revenue of $1.6 billion in the year ended June 30, 2023. Jefferson, the parent organization, finished its 2023 fiscal year with a $231 million operating loss, excluding gains from the sales of businesses. A surgical residency program at Crozer-Chester Medical Center lost its accreditation and is slated for closure pending an appeal.. The program, which has 15 training slots, was being withdrawn under special circumstances. This type of closure occurs due to one of two conditions: 1) catastrophic loss of resources, including faculty members, facilities, or funding, or 2) egregious non-compliance with accreditation requirements. Crozer is owned by Prospect Medical Holdings Inc., a Los Angeles for-profit company. Current residents will need to complete their training elsewhere unless the hospitals appeal is successful. Although training programs shut down for various reasons, it is clear that medical residents are not immune to the whims of big business. What was once unthinkable and held sacred to the profession the uninterrupted training of future physicians has become acceptable collateral damage to the churn of the medical-industrial complex. Bit by bit, the medical profession is being blown apart, flapping in a breeze created by the winds of change. Just consider the five critical issues the American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted as its recovery plan so physicians can stay focused on patient care: fixing prior authorization, reforming Medicare payment, fighting scope creep, supporting telehealth, and reducing physician burnout. The first four initiatives are all business-related; burnout is the result of overzealous or failed business tactics. It is an utter disaster when the business aspect of medicine impacts residency training programs. At the very least, it lowers residents morale. At worst, scenarios play out like the ones in Philadelphia, uprooting and displacing residents, forcing them to scramble and even beg other institutions to allow them to continue their training. In addition, the closure of programs puts a strain on personal finances. It may result in an immediate need to sell a home or break an apartment lease, and closure impacts the overall length of training and possibly future job prospects. Any resident with a claims-made malpractice policy must independently purchase a policy for tail coverage. (Hahnemanns owners were forced to pay for the professional liability tail insurance for its displaced residents and fellows.) The sudden closure of residency programs disrupts families and creates chaos. During 2021-2022, 42 residency programs closed or voluntarily withdrew their accreditation. The closing of residency programs is becoming more and more common due in large part to changing fiscal dynamics in health care. In 2022 alone there were 46 health care bankruptcies with liabilities of $10 million or more. It is essential for residency programs to strike a balance between business and clinical considerations, ensuring that residents receive comprehensive training that prepares them for the realities of modern health care while maintaining their morale and job satisfaction. Here are the main business factors Ive identified that affect residents morale and their attitude toward learning and practice in general. 1. Funding and budgetary constraints. Residency programs are largely funded by government sources like Medicare. Hospitals pay for their own residents only about 20 percent of the time. Budgetary constraints can affect the quality and quantity of training programs available, the number of residency positions, and the resources available to residents. 2. Workload and hours. The business side of health care often focuses on efficiency and productivity, which can translate to long hours and high workloads for residents. This may lead to burnout, decreased morale, and potentially lower quality of patient care. 3. Emphasis on profitability. The pressure to increase revenue may shift the focus from education and patient care to more profitable procedures and services. This can limit the breadth of training and experience residents receive and negatively affect their experience. 4. Administrative burden. Increased focus on business operations can lead to additional administrative tasks for residents such as documentation, billing, and compliance, taking away from their direct patient care and educational time. 5. Health system consolidation. The trend of hospital mergers and acquisitions can lead to changes in residency programs, potentially causing instability and uncertainty for residents. Jefferson Health has grown by leaps and bounds over the past decade, in part through acquisitions. However, bigger is not necessarily better. 6. Market competition. Competition among health care providers may impact residency programs as hospitals strive to attract top talent. This could either improve training quality and morale (if resources are invested in education) or harm them (if resources are diverted elsewhere). 7. Influence on specialty choice. The business of medicine can influence residents choice of specialty, with many opting for high-revenue specialties over primary care, which can lead to a shortage in certain essential health care services. 8. Expectation vs. reality. Often, the business aspects of medicine are not fully or even partially covered in medical school, leading to a gap in knowledge and skills for residents, which may affect their ability to negotiate an employment contract and find a job after residency. The bottom line is that residency training programs are no longer shielded from the business concerns that plague the medical profession. Residents have been swept into the financial struggles of institutions and subsequently swept out to sea along with the owners of those institutions. Officers of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education wrote: Residents and fellows, who are navigating their professional journey through this rapidly changing landscape, should have a proper voice in the development of regulations and policies that speak to these new challenges. But the reality is they dont have a say in the matter. (First-hand accounts of impacted residents can be found here and here.) One of my favorite cartoons shows cows grazing in a pasture. All of them are deemed to be sacred. One cow, however, sits atop a hill next to an elephant wearing a chefs hat and apron labeled GOP. The elephant is holding a can of gasoline used to ignite and kindle the fire shooting out of a barbeque kettle with the words budget cuts inscribed on the front. The caption comes from the cows in the pasture, and it reads: I Smell BBQ. The fact is, what used to be considered as precious as a sacred cow, i.e., the education of future doctors, has been sacrificed in the name of corporate business. Residents need to be attuned to a grilling before it actually occurs lest they become steak dinners for wealthy health care executives who stand to profit from the market. Arthur Lazarus is a former Doximity Fellow, a member of the editorial board of the American Association for Physician Leadership, and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He is the author of Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine and Medicine on Fire: A Narrative Travelogue. By Abubaker Kirunda and Tausi Nakato The government through the Ministry of Education has commissioned 140 students from Makerere University to help fight against HIV/Aids, especially among the youth. This is after statistics from the Uganda Aids Commission (UAC) revealed that more than 50,000 new HIV infections in the last two years were among young people aged 15 and 24 years. The statistics further indicate that young people contributed three-quarters of new infections (39,000 out of 50,900) in 2021 and 2022 and that 1,000 new infections are being registered every week, infecting predominately the young population between the age of 15 and 24. The graduates have been commissioned by the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Ms Janet Museveni, under the Emerging Leaders Programme (ELP), which, among others, is intended to impact on the quality of leaders produced in the country. Ms Museveni, who was represented by the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Frank Tumwebaze, revealed at the weekend that the graduates underwent a week-long training. You are aware of the burdens I have had for a long time for high skills training, especially amongst young people, in order to promote them to change and get culture of based value leadership in the country especially when we are being confronted with high HIV/Aids prevalence, Ms Musevenis speech read in part. According to Ms Museveni, such training will be extended to other Universities and higher institutions of learning and challenged the beneficiaries to pass on the knowledge they have acquired to other people in order to reduce the risks of acquiring HIV/Aids. The Makerere University Dean of Students, Mr Peter Muhereza, said: We are proud that Makerere University was chosen as a pioneer for this programme. Ms Mariat Namyalo, who is part of 140 students who were passed out, said the training was timely given the sexually active nature of students, adding that they have been trained on how to control HIV/Aids, how it is transmitted and how to eradicate it. An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows the morning view of Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows the morning view of Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Purbu Tsering/Xinhua) A man hangs prayer flags in Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2024. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) A man prays after hanging prayer flags in Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2024. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) A man hangs prayer flags in Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2024. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows the morning view of Sangzhuzi District in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) Bar-headed geese fly over prayer flags in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 14, 2024. Following the tradition, people here went early in the morning to hang new prayer flags on top of mountains and their house roofs to celebrate New Year under the Tibetan calendar and pray for a good year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Teagasc are hosting two National Sheep Conferences, taking place at 7pm on Tuesday, 23 January in the Athlone Springs Hotel, County Roscommon, and Thursday, 25 January in the Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, County Donegal. The sheep conference will focus on nutrition management in the run up to lambing, the process of transferring the family farm, and diagnosing and managing flock health issues. Dr Tim Keady, Teagasc Researcher, will discuss the importance of properly managing ewe nutrition during pregnancy including the consequences on subsequent flock performance. Martin Clarke from IFAC will discuss the succession challenges facing Irish farm families covering a range of issues that will include tax, structures, income security and opportunities for planning. He will outline the key considerations and strategies to simplify the process of farm transfers. Flock health status is key to achieving high animal welfare, performance and high levels of profitability in Irish lamb production systems. Occasionally flocks will face various flock health challenges and how the owners deal with these challenges in terms of diagnosis and management differs widely. In this session, chaired by Darren Carty of the Irish Farmers Journal, we will hear first-hand from both farmers and from Seamus Fagan from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Regional Vet Lab Athlone about the steps involved in diagnosing and managing these issues on farm. Three sheep farmers, John O Connell, Leitrim; Patrick Dunne, Wicklow; and Brian Keane, Wexford will share their on-farm experiences of three different flock health issues they encountered on their farms. The opening address at the sheep conference in Letterkenny will be delivered by Charlie McConalogue TD, Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine, while the conference in Athlone will be opened by Professor Frank O'Mara, Teagasc Director. Speaking in advance of the events, Michael Gottstein, Head of Sheep Knowledge Transfer in Teagasc said; we have put together an exciting programme for these conferences, which promises to be very informative and interesting for sheep farmers and all are welcome to attend. For more details on the sheep conferences visit the Teagasc website at www.teagasc.ie/sheepcon24 The Kilquan Players return to stage this February 2, 3, 4, 10 and 11 with their production of the Separate Beds by Sam Cree. The play is set in rural Ireland as the Marshall family prepare for the marriage of their only daughter Judy (Eimear Donohue) to Alan Rea (Brian Fitzpatrick). As they plan excitedly, Judys father Arthur Marshall (Martin Murphy) is shocked to hear that his wife Clare Marshall (Vivienne Law) will be attending. While Arthurs business is successful, his love life is less straightforward and leads him into some difficult situations and chaotic days ahead of the wedding. Arthur and Clare have been separated for three years, and there is sure to be fireworks upon her return. Clare isnt the only lady with her eyes set on Arthur Marshall as neighbour and good friend Madge Wirsall (Maria Purcell) is very keen for Arthurs divorce to be finalised so she can begin planning a wedding of her own. A busy woman running a farm, nonetheless she finds time to assist Arthur and is looking forward to the wedding. Judy is delighted that her mother is attending her wedding. However, the news that his future wifes mother is separated from her husband is unsettling for Judys fiancee Alan. Like all fathers before a wedding, Arthur is having some interior decorating done and has hired the expertise of local painter Andy Crawford (Tom Murphy). Mr Crawford is not the fastest and has other things on his mind. It could be said that he spends more time chatting and sitting by Marshalls drinks trolley than upstairs with a paint brush in his hand. However, as Mr Crawford says himself, something just cannot be rushed and nobody asked Michelangelo how long it would take him to paint a ceiling. Arthur and the Marshall family are well looked after by Ivy (Anne Tunstead) who is always doing busy cooking dinner, and may even be known to have the odd drink. Ivy misses her son Wesley who is away but hasnt written in two years. She is kept busy by her grandson little Wesley (John Ryan) who keeps Ivy on her toes with his snap-chatting and back-chatting. However, Ivy is longing to see her son Wesley and it remains to be seen if she will receive any contact. The Reverend Gribble (Martin Curran) is known for his witty jokes and, as he says himself, he is a divil for the wee jokes. He is not known for his attention to detail or great memory, often confusing christenings and marriages. However he becomes a key part to the play. As with all weddings, Judys mother-in-law, Mrs Sarah Rea (Teresa Haughney) meets her sons-in-law. She is a very conservative lady who would be less than impressed to find out her son is marrying into a family, who are separated. With that, the Mr and Mrs Marshall display a homely and ever loving marriage in order to diffuse any possible conflict. How will Mrs Rea feel when she meets the Marshalls and the rest of the family. The three-act comedy which takes place in Coon hall is sure to be sell out. As the play is non ticketed, patrons are advised to arrive early to ensure entry. Entry is 10 on the door. In June 1905, the Tribune recalled that some 70 years earlier, diplomacy had been a thriving industry on Lake Michigans shore, far removed from its accustomed focal point in the nations capital. In the days of Chicagos youth, treaties were negotiated here. Representatives of the United States and of the Potawatomi and other tribes held solemn councils here and entered into agreements by which the Indians gave up much and got little. Collectively, those treaties stripped the Indians of their tribal lands. They proceeded apace with the westward movement of European farmers and ranchers. Indians not only lost their hunting grounds, they became foreigners in someone elses country. Until 1924, Indians werent American citizens. But in 1914, one group fought back. Weaponizing the white mans legal chicanery, the Pokagon Indians sued the city of Chicago, claiming a valuable piece of the metropolis was rightfully theirs. They wanted land that is now home to parts of the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park and Lake Shore Drive returned to them. The Pokagon Band was a subdivision of the Potawatomi tribe that historically inhabited villages in stretches of land that became Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. But in 1833, progress, as Europeans defined it, caught up with the Potawatomi. On March 5, 1833, Thomas Jefferson Vance Owen, the governments Indian agent in Chicago, sent a letter to Elbert Herring, commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington. Having consulted with the most intelligent and influential Indian chiefs, Owen said he didnt think they would surrender their tribal lands and move West of the Mississippi River, as Congress had ordered three years earlier in the Indian Removal Act. The act envisioned a division of the United States into separate territories for Native Americans and whites. But the Indians were suspicious of exchanging familiar hunting grounds for unseen frontier land. The feds felt pressured to get a deal done. The opening of the Erie Canal made it easier to get to Chicago from the East Coast. The number of would-be farmers arriving here was increasing. Should they bump heads with Indians, bloodshed seemed certain. The two ways of life were incompatible. Agriculturalists need defined plots to seed. Nomads need wide-open land to hunt. The Last Council of the Pottawatomies, 1833, was painted by Lawrence C. Earle in 1900. The painting shows the Potawatomi Indians with commissioners of the United States government as they signed the Treaty of Chicago on Sept. 26, 1833, in Chicago. That scary scenario was reinforced when Owen was instructed to convene a meeting of whites and Native Americans to hammer out an agreement. Negotiations ran through late September. Tribal members and other sorts descended on Chicago. According to a Tribune remembrance of the event from 1942, a large open arbor was put together north of the Chicago River and east of State Street for a council house By September about 6,000 Indians had come in for the doings, as well as claimants, tourists, travelers, horse dealers and stealers, and rascals and rogues of all kinds, the Tribune wrote. Under terms of the treaty, land along Lake Michigan were ceded to the United States, and federal appropriations of more than $1 million in grants for the Native Americans displaced by the treaty were approved two years later. In August 1910, the Tribune recognized the anniversary of a war dance performed as a final act of defiance by the Potawatomi, who were forced off the land that became the city of Chicago. On Aug. 18, 1835, in a final act of defiance before the deadline for them to be gone, hundreds of Indians wielded tomahawks and held a War Dance in Chicago. The Indians realized that this was their last parade on their native soil, so the performance was a sort of funeral ceremony for old associations and memories for them, the Tribune wrote in 1910, just ahead of the dances 75th anniversary. White settlers saw it as the template for a massacre. John D. Caton, an eyewitness, left a bloodcurdling account: Their tomahawks and clubs were thrown and brandished about in every direction with most terrible ferocity and with a force and energy which could only result from the highest excitement, and at every step and every gesture, they uttered frightful calls in every imaginable key and note generally in the highest and shrillest possible. Legend and lore has it that the Pokagon sat at a distance from other Potawatomi. They didnt want to be called upon to sign the Treaty of Chicago. They could scarcely realize it at the time, but a provision of the treaty became the fulcrum by which they hoped to pry Chicago neighborhoods out of the white mans hands. The Pokagon took their name from an early Wkema, or leader, Leopold Pokagon. He negotiated an exception to the Treaty of Chicago that allowed his band to remain on land in Michigan when the other Potawatomi were exiled. Reportedly he had the advantage of being a teetotaler during the negotiation over the treaty even as booze flowed freely, thanks to speculators determined to pocket the cash the government was offering the Indians. The Chicago Tribune wrote about Simon Pokegan, chief of the Potawatomi, on Oct. 4, 1893, when he came to Chicago for the Worlds Fair. Leopold was succeeded by his son, Simon Pokagon. A charmer, he was admired in high-society salons while campaigning to get the land under Chicagos mansions returned to the Pokagon. He turned the trick with literary accomplishments. He was known as the Red Mans Longfellow. He wrote poetic laments for the passing of traditional Indian culture. One was an ode to the birch tree for donating its bark for his people to build canoes and tipis. His Red Mans Rebuke was a sharp-tongued put-down of the Worlds Fair belatedly marking the 500th anniversary of Columbus voyage. In behalf of my people, the American Indians, I hereby declare to you, the pale-faced race that has usurped our lands and homes, that we have no spirit to celebrate with you the great Columbian Fair now being held in this Chicago city, the wonder of the world. Nonetheless, he spoke to an enormous audience at the 1893 Fair. Until his death in 1899, he insisted that Indians were due the return of their lands. The next activist generation took the war of words to the courts, and the Indians struggle became national news. If the Chicago claim is established, they will squat on all the lake front from the Indiana line to Grand Haven, Michigan, the Los Angeles Times reported in 1901. An illustration accompanying an advertisement for the Chicago Varnish company shows Chicago in 1833. At the time of the Chicago Treaty, the shoreline was just east of Michigan Avenue. Subsequently it moved further east, beginning with the dumping of remains of buildings destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Whole new neighborhoods emerged. So how could their forefathers have conceded land that didnt exist in 1833, as the government contended? The Pokagon put the issue to the U.S. Court of Claims and asked it of a congressional Committee. Both dodged it. In 1901, there was a rumor of an invasion of Chicago, possibly floated by the Indians as a bargaining chip. The superintendent of police dismissed it as overindulgence in fire water by the chiefs of the tribe, the Tribune reported. The tribe tried selling their claim, an investor said he had bought it, and threatened invasions continued until a prominent Chicago attorney took the Indians case. One day in the year 1913 seven American Indians were ushered into J.G.s office, wrote the grandson of Jacob Grossberg, in his biography of the prominent Chicago attorney. In essence, the Indians claimed that land along the shore of Lake Michigan upon which built expensive residences, a steel mill, parks and tracks and terminals of the Illinois Central Railroad belonged to them. The Chicago Tribune reported on April 28, 1901, that Pottawatomi Indians were going to storm the lakefront of Chicago to regain their land. The following year Grossberg filed a lawsuit that would end in strikingly similar fashion to Simon Pokagons forecast in his book, Queen of the Woods. The protagonist prays that his late wife will save him from an impending death, when her spirit appears. The maiden passed her hand above his head; he began to grow small, streams of water began to run out of his mouth, and soon he was a small mass upon the ground, his clothing turned to withered leaves. In courtrooms, the Indians dream became a nightmare. The city of Chicago argued that the Indians had abandoned their claim, forfeited it by not asserting it earlier. In 1917, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the trial courts decision, saying: The claim set up in this cause is without merit. Subsequently, the court cited the Chicago case as precedent when turning down other tribes requests for compensation for land they lost. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. HARBIN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Though the temperature had dropped below minus 20 degrees Celsius, thousands of tourists were still lingering outdoors in the winter wonderland of Harbin Ice-Snow World located in the city of Harbin in China's northernmost Heilongjiang Province. "We came here as soon as we arrived in Harbin. This venue is going viral on social media this winter!" said Sun Xiaozheng, a tourist from Beijing visiting the "ice city" with her friend. Even though their hands were already numb due to the freezing cold, Sun said the splendid ice sculptures and illuminations fascinated her and her friend to such an extent that they decided to keep wandering around in the park in search of more surprises, despite the very low temperature. Built on the bank of the frozen Songhua River, Harbin Ice-Snow World is a landmark ice-and-snow theme park carved out of 250,000 cubic meters of ice and snow. The park, alongside other winter attractions in northeast China, has recently proved a smash hit on Chinese social media. This has especially been the case since the International Ice and Snow Festival kicked off on Jan. 5 in Harbin, with the park seeing a huge and steady influx of people over the past week. Luo Xin, vice president of Harbin Ice and Snow World Park Co., Ltd., the theme park's operator, said the park has seen a significant increase in visitors compared with past years, receiving an average of more than 30,000 visitors daily this winter. As tourism continues to heat up in Harbin, the park is drawing an increasing number of tourists by offering various winter activities and experiences, along with heart-warming service, thereby providing people with memorable welcomes. According to Sun Zemin, marketing director of the park, this year's scale of ice-and-snow sculptures in the park is the largest since it first opened in 1999. This winter the park features a series of giant ice sculptures and more than 20 amusement activities, ranging from ice kart racing to snow drifting. To cope with the growing demands of tourists, the number of ice slides in the park has been expanded from eight last winter to 14 this winter, with operating time also extended, said Sun. "Our staff at the ice slides often work until 1 or even 2 a.m. to make sure that every tourist queuing in line gets a chance to experience it," Sun added. "People start waiting in front of the park gate at 8 a.m. daily, and they come from various regions including the likes of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. During the upcoming Spring Festival, we will experience the peak tourist flow," said Zhang Meiling, a tour guide at the park. In the park, many volunteers dressed in light-colored down coats and red vests serve as the jacks-of-all-trades for tourists in need, offering route guidance, lost and found services, and even a cup of hot ginger tea. An undergraduate at Harbin University of Science and Technology surnamed Yu is among the volunteers providing hot tea for tourists in queues. "Although I have to stay outdoors, the enthusiasm of tourists brings warmth to my heart, making my experience unforgettable," he said. Such hospitality has helped both the park and the city of Harbin gain the goodwill of tourists from all over the country, and on Chinese social media many people have shared their impressive experiences in the city, such as finding free smartphone charging areas in subway stations, or receiving free rides from local drivers. These tourists voluntarily became spokespersons for Harbin's travel industry, drawing even more nationwide attention to the city. "Followers of my social media accounts soared from 600,000 to more than 2 million recently, with an online audience of over 100,000 watching my live broadcasts. It's such an extraordinary experience in my career," said Teng Yue, a host working at the park, while also expressing his wishes to deliver joy to tourists. Given the variety of activities and cordial services on offer in Heilongjiang, it is easy to understand why the passion of tourists is extending beyond the walls of Harbin Ice-Snow World. Many other winter attractions in this province have also seen a surge in visitors this winter. As of Thursday, Yabuli, a renowned ski resort in Harbin, had received a total of 410,000 tourists this season, with the highest single-day tourist number topping 14,000. The "Snow Town" in the city of Mudanjiang, with its stunning snow views, has entertained more than 720,000 guests since opening in early November 2023, and tourist numbers there also expected to break records this winter. "This year the number of tourists has increased significantly. Currently, even rooms for the upcoming Spring Festival have nearly all been booked out," said Fan Zhaoyi, a homestay manager in Mudanjiang. "For individual travelers, a city's infrastructure and public services form the backbone of tourism competitiveness. It is only when tourists feel the warmth of the city and the goodwill of its citizens that they blend into the lives of a travel destination," said Dai Bin, president of China Tourism Academy. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Netanyahu says Israel will cut Gaza off from Egypt, taking control of Palestinian enclaves remaining border A man votes at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) MORONI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), 338,940 registered voters among the roughly 900,000 total population are expected to cast their ballots at 868 polling stations across the country from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Traffic in the country is strictly regulated on Sunday, allowing only vehicles with a pass to circulate. Provisional results may be announced Monday by the country's electoral commission. If no candidate wins more than 50 percent of the votes, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will proceed to a runoff round on Feb. 25. People check the information of candidates at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) People check the information of candidates at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) A man checks the information of candidates at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) A man votes at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) A man votes at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) An election observer (L) takes notes of voting at a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros, Jan. 14, 2024. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows a polling station in Mitsudje, Comoros. Comoros kicked off its first round of the presidential election on Sunday to select the national leader from among six candidates, including incumbent President Azali Assoumani, for the next five years. (Xinhua/Wang Guansen) A brutal blast of Arctic air is spreading south and east through the central US and will bring snow and ice to the South. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows an interior view of Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows an interior view of Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Citizens read at Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 14, 2024. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Citizens read at Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 14, 2024. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) Citizens read at Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 14, 2024. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows an interior view of Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) This photo taken on Jan. 14, 2024 shows an interior view of Beijing Library in Beijing, capital of China. Many citizens visited the recently opened library to spend their leisure time this weekend. (Xinhua/Peng Ziyang) New Delhi [India], January 14 (ANI): A 19-year-old boy was stabbed to death allegedly by three boys in Delhi's Jama Masjid area, police said on Sunday. The stabbing incident was reported at Jama Masjid Police Station on Sunday morning, police said. Also Read | Hyderabad: Two Children Killed in Separate Incidents While Flying Kites in Attapur and Nagole Area. The police reached Meena Bazar in Jama Masjid area and on inquiry, the deceased was identified as Armaan (19) alias Kasim, a resident of Ghaziabad. He died of a stab injury in the upper part of his body, police said. The deceased and his father used to work as street vendors in the Meena Bazar, police said. Also Read | Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony: BJP Launches Swachchata Abhiyan at Religious Places Ahead of Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony in Ayodhya. Based on initial inquiry, the police said that the death was the result of a heated argument between the deceased and the three other boys, which turned violent. A case has been registered under section 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and an investigation is in progress, police said. Earlier in September, a 20-year-old man was stabbed to death at Sangam Vihar in Delhi. The police apprehended eight minors in connection with the incident. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kottayam (Kerala), Jan 14 (PTI) A 44-year-old man was arrested here for sexually harassing a young woman onboard the Amritha Express in the wee hours of Sunday, Railway police said. An officer of Kottayam Railway Police, within whose jurisdiction the incident occurred, said that the man was booked for the offence under section 354A (sexual harassment) of the IPC and then released on station bail later in the day. Also Read | Delhi Airport Congestion: Around 150 Flight Delayed by Hours, 11 Diverted, Some Cancelled Due to Low Visibility. The incident occurred after the train left Kottayam station and based on the 26-year-old woman's complaint, the man was deboarded at Kayamkulam by police around 7 am and taken to Kottayam where his arrest was recorded, the officer said. The woman was travelling from Aluva to Varkala and the man, a native of Kozhikode, was going from Ernakulam to Thiruvalla, the officer said. Also Read | Hyderabad: Soldier Killed As Chinese Manja Slits His Throat on Indira Reddy Flyover in Langer House; Case Registered. According to the woman's complaint, the man touched her and misbehaved with her. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ayodhya (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 14 (ANI): Under the guidance of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, different cultures from across the country will meet in Ayodhya, the Chief Minister's office said on Sunday. In this sequence, several new events will take place, starting with Makar Sankranti (January 15). On various locations, including Ram Ki Paidi, Dharam Path, Tulsi Udyan, Circuit House, Saket College, etc., visitors will be acquainted with the cultural activities of different states. The event will introduce the cultural theme of the new Ayodhya. Also Read | Gujarat: Truck Driver Arrested for Offering 'Namaz' on Roadside Without Permission in Banaskantha District. From January 15, the renowned spiritual speaker Devkinandan Thakur will narrate the Ram Katha at Ram Katha Park. The Katha, which will run until January 23, will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. "Under the directive of CM Yogi, continuous Ram Katha has been organised since January 8. The Ram Katha, spanning 70 days, will feature different narrators each week, allowing devotees to listen to various versions of the epic. From January 8 to 14, Shri Chinmayanand Bapu narrated the Ram Katha to devotees," the Chief Minister's office said in a press release. Also Read | India-Maldives Row: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu Asks India To Withdraw Its Military Personnel by March 15. People from several states of the country will present their offerings on the Ram Ki Paidi. On the Ram Ki Paidi, Shailesh Bhagwat from Maharashtra will play the 'Shehnai'. Harsh Vardhan from Maharashtra will express his devotion to Lord Rama through the 'Sarangi', and Shashwat Mandal from Delhi will present devotional songs. In addition, Anuj Mishra will perform 'Kathak' dance, Jyoti Srivastava will perform 'Odissi dance', and Anjana Jha and Surbhi Shukla will present 'Kathak'. Meenu Thakur will mesmerize the audience on the Ram Ki Paidi with the 'Kuchipudi dance'. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the organization of cultural programmes at public places. As part of this, on Makar Sankranti, near Saket Petrol Pump, a bhajan programme by Shashikant Dubey will be held, while Ayodhya's Shitala Prasad Verma will present the Faruwahi folk dance. On the Dharam Path, Rajesh Gaud from Ayodhya will perform a Kaharwa dance. Sweta Singh from Gonda will present bhajans and folk songs. Furthermore, at Ramghat Halt, Rama Prajapati will showcase the 'Badhawa' dance, and Manavendra Das and Manas Das will present devotional songs. Near Saket College, Sultanpur's Dayashankar Pandey will present an Avadhi folk song, and Prakriti Yadav will perform a folk dance. In addition, at Parag Dairy, Mukesh Kumar will present the 'Faruwahi' folk dance. On the Tulsi Udyan stage, Jhansi's Seetaram Kushwaha will sing bhajans, and Ashok Kumar from Jaunpur will present folk songs. Omprakash Sharma from Prayagraj will play the 'shehnai'. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Tarn Taran (Punjab) [India], January 14 (ANI): In a collaborative effort, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Punjab Police successfully thwarted a narcotics smuggling attempt on the outskirts of Dall village in Tarn Taran and seized 672 grams of suspected heroin. According to an official statement, acting on specific information from BSF, a joint search operation was launched on Saturday. Also Read | Armed Forces Veteran Day 2024: Could Have Treated 90,000 Pakistan Army in Any Way, but We Gave Respect, Says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (Watch Video). Around 03:55 pm, the search party uncovered a packet suspected to contain heroin, weighing approximately 672 grams. "The illicit substance was carefully concealed with yellow adhesive tape and discovered in a farming field adjacent to Dal village," BSF said in a release. Also Read | Supreme Court Asks Centre To Consider Enhancing Compensation in Hit-and-Run Accidents. This joint operation marks another significant success in the ongoing battle against narcotics smuggling, showcasing the effective coordination between BSF and Punjab Police in ensuring the safety and security of the region. Furthermore, in a coordinated effort on Saturday evening, based on specific intelligence provided by BSF Punjab, regarding the presence of a drone, a joint search operation was launched by BSF Punjab and Punjab Police on the outskirts of the Village Rajoke & Lakhna in Tarn Taran District. During the search operation, at approximately 04:25 pm, the joint team made a significant breakthrough by recovering a small Quadcopter drone. The retrieval occurred in a farming field adjacent to Rajoke village in Tarn Taran District. The retrieved drone has been identified as a DJI Mavic 3 Classic, a Quadcopter model manufactured in China. This marks yet another instance of a Pakistani drone being successfully intercepted and recovered through the collaborative efforts of BSF and Punjab Police, it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], January 14 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Manoj Tiwari participated in a cleanliness drive at Valmiki Temple in Delhi's Wazirabad on Sunday. On the occasion, the Lok Sabha Parliamentarian from the North East Delhi constituency said that temples are being cleaned as per the instructions given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Ram Temple inauguration on January 22. Also Read | PM Narendra Modi To Visit Andhra Pradesh, Kerala on January 16 and 17 To Launch Development Projects. "Prime Minister Modi has instructed all our party leaders, MPs and MLAs to participate in the cleanliness drive to make temples clean ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. Every temple is connected to this event. January 22 is an auspicious day for everyone," the BJP MP said. On Congress not attending the Ram Mandir event on January 22, Manoj Tiwari said that he was not shocked by their decision. Also Read | Rajasthan Road Accident: Six Killed, Five Injured As Car Collides With Another Vehicle in Sikar (Watch Video). "It is normal that Congress has not accepted the invitation. It would have been surprising if they had come for the event but they are not coming so it is normal," Manoj Tiwari said. The 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony of the Ram Temple will be held on January 22. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform rituals to mark the Pran Prathishta of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. Renowned sand artist and Padma Shri awardee Sudarshan Pattnaik has received an invitation from the Culture Department of Uttar Pradesh to participate in the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Expressing his appreciation for the invitation, Sudarshan mentioned that it is a blessing for him to be part of this auspicious occasion. He plans to collaborate with eight of his students for the sand art creation during the event, the renowned sand artist said in a statement. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday instructed the district collectors to undertake a cleanliness drive at all temples in the state and ensure the change is "visible" within a week, ahead of the consecration of Lord Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Shinde gave these instructions at a review meeting chaired by him at his official residence here. Also Read | Gurugram Hotel Murder Case: Divya Pahuja's Body Cremated; Accused Balraj Gill Sent to Four-Day Police Custody. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call to keep temples clean. The district collectors in Maharashtra should undertake a cleanliness drive across all the temples and decorate them with electric lights. The change should be visible within a week," Shinde said. He said the District Planning and Development Council of every district should allocate some funds for undertaking the cleaning of temples and surroundings at regular intervals. Also Read | Maharashtra: Sand Mafia Tries To Run Over Woman Official in Nagpur; Eight Loaded Trucks Seized. A special scheme should be formed for the same and DPDCs can allocate funds for the same, Shinde told the collectors, as per a release. The chief minister also asked the state revenue department to appoint a nodal officer to monitor this work. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun, Jan 14 (PTI) A 12-year-old boy was injured in a leopard attack in the Rajpur area here Sunday evening, according to police. They said the incident took place in a forest near the Rispana river in Chirdon Wali Khala, where Nikhil and some other children were collecting wood. Also Read | Bihar Shocker: Man Kills Friend Over Rs 500 in Bhojpur; Arrested. Police said Nikhil suffered head injuries in the attack and is undergoing treatment. After the incident came to light, Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh gave instructions to increase patrolling in the area and police are cautioning people living nearby using loudspeakers, they said. Also Read | Gurugram Hotel Murder Case: Divya Pahuja's Body Cremated; Accused Balraj Gill Sent to Four-Day Police Custody. Efforts are underway to catch the leopard in coordination with a forest department team, police added. This is the second such incident in Rajpur in the last fortnight. On December 27 last year, a leopard snatched a three-year-old child from Singli village and the body was found the next day. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Agartala, January 14: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has expressed confidence in his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in securing victory in over 450 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. "Our goal is to present two lotuses from our state to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the upcoming Lok Sabha election by winning in both the seats. There are speculations that the BJP may win 404 seats this time but my reading is different... Our seat tally may get close to the 450-mark," Shah said. CM Saha said this during his participation in a wall-writing program alongside corporators in the 8-Town Bardowali Assembly Constituency. During the event, he painted the lotus symbol- the logo of the BJP on the wall. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Tripura CM Manik Saha Vows To Gift Two Seats to PM Narendra Modi in General Polls. Citing widespread appreciation for the initiatives of the BJP government and emphasizing the prevailing sentiment across the country, "Modi Hai Toh Mumkin Hai, Saha said the BJP's organisational groundwork has already begun with an aim to win both parliamentary seats in the state by massive margins. In the 2019 elections, the BJP won 303 seats, while the Congress bagged 52. "Everywhere the initiatives of BJP government is appreciated & there is only one echo in the country #ModiHaiTohMumkinHai! I felt same echo along with the Karyakartas, while participating in the wall painting programmes at Bordowali AC," he later posted on X. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 'BJP Will Win More Than 35 Seats in West Bengal, Modi Ji Will Become PM Again With More Than 300 Seats', Says Amit Shah (Watch Video). Saha also offered prayers at the Jagannath temple here and joined a cleanliness drive on the premises. "Today, I joined the cleanliness drive at Jagannath temple here along with party karyakartas following the prime minister's appeal... I appeal to the people of the state to join cleanliness drives in all the temples that will continue till January 22," he wrote. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) LA PAZ, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- A head-on collision on Saturday left seven dead and three injured in western Bolivia, according to local media. The collision, involving two public transit vehicles -- a van and a bus, occurred near the town of Challapata in the western department of Oruro. Six of the fatalities were in the van, which veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with the bus heading from Tarija to La Paz. The seventh was a passenger on the bus. Images shared on social media and local television show the van was completely destroyed by the impact while the front of the bus was seriously damaged. An investigation is underway to determine the causes of the accident. New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) The CEO of a private company has been booked for allegedly raping an NRI woman who worked at his office here, police said on Sunday. According to the police, the incident took place on September 14, 2023 at a five-star hotel in the Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi district. Also Read | Delhi Airport Congestion: Around 150 Flight Delayed by Hours, 11 Diverted, Some Cancelled Due to Low Visibility. Based on a complaint from the Indian-origin US citizen on Saturday night, an FIR has been registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code at the Chanakyapuri police station, they added. The complainant alleged that she was working as an assistant general manager at the company where the accused was the CEO, the police said. Also Read | Hyderabad: Soldier Killed As Chinese Manja Slits His Throat on Indira Reddy Flyover in Langer House; Case Registered. She said the man was known to her uncle and had helped her in getting a job, the complaint added. A senior police officer said further probe is underway in the matter. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Imphal (Manipur) [India], January 14 (ANI): After Milind Deora resigned from Congress' primary membership on Sunday, opposition leaders launched an attack against the BJP and accused it of hatching a 'conspiracy' ahead of the launch of 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra'. Speaking on Deora's resignation, Chairman of Congress' Media and Publicity Department, Pawan Khera, said, "Ask them (BJP). They get so nervous whenever we kickstart a Yatra; they hatch some conspiracy." Also Read | Hyderabad: Two Children Killed in Separate Incidents While Flying Kites in Attapur and Nagole Area. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule pitied the BJP and said, "It's unfortunate that BJP has to constantly import people from a completely different ideology to strengthen their party." When asked about Deora quitting Congress, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari rubbished the matter, calling it "petty things". Also Read | Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony: BJP Launches Swachchata Abhiyan at Religious Places Ahead of Ram Mandir 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony in Ayodhya. "Forget these petty things. Unless all Indians get justice, our struggle will continue. We will get justice for everyone," MP Tiwari said. NCP leader Clyde Crasto remembered Deora's father and veteran Congress leader Murli Deora emphasising the latter's no-compromise ideology. "The news of Milind Deora leaving Congress reminds me of only one person today, his late father Murli Deora. I have known Murli Deora since I was a child and I have learnt a lot of things from him. One of the things that I have learnt from him was never to compromise with your ideology," he said. "Today, Milind has chosen a different path and has left the party that his father wholeheartedly and lovingly served for so many years," he added. Earlier, speaking on Deora's resignation, Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said, "Prime Minister has decided this, there is no doubt about it." Meanwhile, Milind Deora justified his move, by saying that he has chosen a "path to development." "I am walking on the path of development," Deora said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai. The former Congress leader is all set to join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Deora announced his exit from the grand old party following differences in seat-sharing. He tendered his resignation from the party's primary membership earlier in the day. Deora confirmed his resignation in a post on X, and stated, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party." "I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added. Earlier this month, he expressed displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT), an INDI alliance partner of Congress, claiming the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, which he had represented earlier. Several party members are also likely to join Shiv Sena today in support of Deora, the sources said. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 14 (PTI) Two weeks after his visit to Lakshadweep and Kerala, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be returning to the southern state for two days on January 16. Modi is scheduled to arrive at Kochi on January 16 and will hold a roadshow in the port city on that day, according to the BJP's state unit. Also Read | JSSC Recruitment 2024: Application for 4919 Constable Posts to Begin from January 15 at jssc.nic.in, Know How to Apply. On the next day, January 17, he will travel to Guruvayur in Thrissur district to attend the wedding of actor-cum-politician Suresh Gopi's daughter, it said. The PM would then return to Kochi where he will attend a party meeting of around 6,000 in-charges of 'shakti kendras', which comprise two-three booth-level areas. Also Read | Milind Deora Quits Congress; Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Welcomes Him to Shiv Sena (Watch Video). Modi would also be taking part in programmes related to Central government projects and then would return to Delhi by evening, the BJP's state unit said. Earlier this month, the PM inaugurated and laid the foundation for various projects worth Rs 1,150 crore in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Thereafter, he had attended a women's convention organised by the BJP in Thrissur. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ayodhya, January 14: Saffron volunteers, who lost their lives doing 'Kar Seva' during the Ram Mandir movement in the early 90s are being brought alive on canvas in Karsevakpuram, Ayodhya. Artists from Lucknow are involved in the work and are using oil paint for making paintings. The work is in its final stages. Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Sharad Sharma said that the Ram Temple Trust is considering installing these paintings in the courtyard of Ram Lalla. However, a final decision on this is yet to be taken. Apart from the men, who died waging the fight for the Ram Temple since 1949, the paintings will also feature slain Kar Sevaks from 1990 and thereafter. Ram Temple Consecration Ceremony: Ram Ki Paidi Provided Grand Look Ahead of Ram Mandir Pran Pratishta Ceremony in Ayodhya Karsevakpuram is an area in Ayodhya roughly two kilometres from the Ram Janmabhoomi site where the volunteers had taken refuge during the Ram Mandir movement, in a bid to escape arrest and police firing. At that time, it was a desolate area surrounded by guava trees. The place was also infested with simians back in the day and wasn't patrolled regularly by the police. Today, the securely gated Karsevakpuram serves as VHP's headquarters in Ayodhya. The complex houses the VHP office, alongside a guest house, a school, a gaushala (cow shelter), and a dining hall named Sita Rasoi. Ahead of the Pran Pratishta ceremony, Karsevakpuram has been bedecked with decorative items themed on the epic 'Ramayana'. New Jersey Ready for 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony of Ram Temple: Indians in the US Organise 350-Car Rally Ahead of Ram Mandir Inauguration in Ayodhya (Watch Video) The temple Trust has made elaborate arrangements to welcome and honour all the attendees, and will present them with gifts that include 'Ram Raj.' As part of the celebration, Teerth Kshetra Trust will also distribute special 'Motichoor laddus' made from desi ghee as 'Prasad' to the guests. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], January 14 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday paid tribute to ex-servicemen of the country and acknowledged the nation's affection towards soldiers during Armed Forces Veterans' Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur. "Today is Veteran's Day. Even today when I am present among you all, I feel the gratitude that the citizens of this country have towards their soldiers," Singh said in his address. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: PM Narendra Modi To Flag Off BJP's Mega Push To Reach Out to First-Time Voters on January 25. "Every citizen of this country, no matter which region he/she belongs to has a special affection towards our soldiers. Therefore, today on the occasion of Veteran's Day, on behalf of a grateful nation, I salute all our ex-servicemen for their service to the country," he added. Singh participated in the eight Armed Forces Veterans' Day celebrations at Air Force Station in Kanpur on Sunday. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Seven Booked for Marrying Off 15-Year-Old Girl in Indore District. Addressing the event, Singh highlighted the historical significance of Kanpur in the category of military. "It is no less than a coincidence that we have gathered at a place like Kanpur to honour our veterans. Kanpur has its importance in the category of military history of this country," the Defence Minister outlined. "When India's freedom struggle began in 1857, Peshwa Nanasaheb led the rebellion from Bithoor in Kanpur," he said. "Lakshmi Sehgal ji was the first woman captain of the Indian National Army formed by Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose during the freedom struggle. She also had a close relationship with Kanpur. She even spent the last moments of her life in Kanpur," he added. As a part of scaling up Veterans' Day, the Chief Ministers/Lieutenant Governors have been urged to celebrate the day in their respective States/Union Territories. The Armed Forces Veterans' Day is celebrated on 14th January every year as it was on this day in 1953 that the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army Field Marshal KM Cariappa, who led the forces to victory in the 1947 war, formally retired from the Service. The day was first celebrated in 2016 and it is commemorated every year since by hosting such interactive events in honour of the Ex-Servicemen. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Surat (Gujarat) [India], January 14 (ANI): Amid surge of enthusiasm among the public for the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, the Surat textile industry has initiated the production of distinctive caps adorned with the name of Ram. Preparations are in full swing across the country, for the grand inauguration of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. Notably, in the Surat textile market, amidst numerous arrangements, special attention is being given to organizing programs. Also Read | Delhi: Six People Die of Suffocation Due to Burning Fireplace in Two Separate Incidents. The Surat textile industry, Laxmipati group is creating a total of two lakh caps and two lakh flags featuring the image of Lord Ram, intended to be distributed nationwide. The textile entrepreneur told that Shri Ram's saffron cap is being made from corn yarn prepared by a mixture of corn fiber and polyester yarn. The 11.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide cap bears the image of Lord Ram, Lord Shri Ram's temple and 'Jai Shri Ram'. Also Read | Punjab School Winter Holiday: All Schools up to Class 5 To Be Shut Till January 20. Imam, an industrial worker, expressed joy about receiving the order to produce caps featuring Lord Ram's name. He stated, "We are thrilled to have received this order to craft these caps. Normally, we wear slippers during work, but while working on these caps and flags, we have set aside our slippers as a mark of respect for Lord Shri Ram. We are delighted to contribute to this initiative for the temple's inauguration."People nationwide are contributing items in anticipation of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple inauguration. In a touching gesture, a talented weaver from Dharmavaram, Andhra Pradesh, has crafted an extraordinary masterpiece--a silk saree valued at a remarkable one lakh fifty thousand rupees. This saree is intended to be presented to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir, featuring an intricate depiction of the Ramayana on both borders, adding to its uniqueness. The momentous inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya is just days away, scheduled for January 22. On this significant day, Ram Lalla will be installed in the temple. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, January 14: Former Belgium prime minister Yveus Leterme has strongly advocated for the permanent inclusion of India in the UNSC, asserting that such a move will enhance the council's legitimacy and representation. Leterme contended that there is a need for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to adapt to the realities of the 21st century as it requires representation that goes beyond the structures established in the 20th century. Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating India's geopolitical stature, Leterme said the country has earned the right to a more robust position in the multilateral arena. In an interview with PTI, Leterme applauded the new connectivity initiative, the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), emphasising its complementary nature to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). World Does Not Give Things Easily, You Have To Take Them, Says EAM S Jaishankar on Indias Permanent UNSC Membership (Watch Video) He said, "It complements and completes the one that is designed by the Chinese." Reflecting on the geopolitical aftermath of the Ukraine-Russian conflict, Leterme advocated for a more equitable distribution of roles in multilateral institutions, particularly urging greater participation from countries such as India, Brazil, and African nations. Leterme emphasised the need for a reset in multilateral institutions, suggesting a rebalancing to address the evolving global power dynamics. He said, "We are all preaching for a better distribution of roles. I think that our multilateral institutions have served us very well after the Second World War. But there is a need to reset and, by reset, I mean we need to rebalance, to make changes in the balance of power." Regarding rising nations like India, some African countries, and Brazil, Leterme insisted they are entitled to significant roles in the multilateral framework. Highlighting the imperative for India to have a more prominent role in multilateralism, Leterme argued, "The legitimacy of the work done by the (UN) Security Council would be enhanced if the P5 is enhanced with India and Brazil, making it more representative. You cannot tackle 21st-century problems with 20th-century setups and solutions." Expressing his support for India's bid for permanent UNSC membership, Leterme said, "The UN Security Council needs to be restructured so that India, Brazil, and some other rising nations have a say and have the right to influence decision-making." India Should Become Permanent Member of UN Security Council Along With Brazil, Germany and Japan: UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly India, a strong contender for permanent UNSC membership, has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in Security Council reform discussions. Currently, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and ten non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. Discussing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) Project, Leterme dispelled the notion of competition with China's Belt and Road Initiative, stating, "I don't see it from a competing point of view. The new initiative is very much welcome, because it complements and completes the offer that is existing and the one that is designed by the Chinese." Leterme emphasized the need for improved European Union (EU) connectivity with Asia, especially focusing on the existing disconnect between European economies and Asia. He called for a better transport infrastructure to enhance connectivity. The former prime minister underscored the importance of the connectivity partnership between the EU and India, proposing additional investment in infrastructure links for transporting energy goods and water to strengthen ties between the two regions. Commenting on Modi's leadership, Leterme praised India's progress in becoming a trustworthy partner in geopolitics. "I think the performance is there. This is a nation that makes progress, and India is growing in its role of being a trustworthy partner in geopolitics. And I think that's a very important dividend of the policy-making of the last years," he said. Regarding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the EU, Leterme emphasized the EU's interest in concluding the FTA with India, which he considers a powerhouse of the future. "European Union has not been successful recently in striking trade deals. It is in interest of the EU to conclude the FTA with India. It should be a priority to work towards drafting a good balanced FTA with India," he said. Leterme said there's a need for the European Union to invest more in the partnership with India. "I think that we have to work with India to better coordinate our position in the G20 System in the multilateral framework. So the European Union should invest more in its privileged relation with India to be allies in geopolitical processes," he said. He emphasized that it is in EU's interest that India play a non-aligned role, cooperating with all states rather than aligning exclusively with the United States or China. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida, Jan 14 (PTI) One person died and four were hospitalised with injuries after a multi-truck pile-up due to fog on the Eastern Peripheral Expressway in Greater Noida, police said on Sunday. The accident took place on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday when the vehicles were on the EPE in the Dankaur police station area, they said. Also Read | JEE Mains Exam 2024: Exam City Slip for Session 1 of Joint Entrance Examination for One Paper Released at jeemain.nta.ac.in, Know How To Download. "Due to excessive fog in the night, a truck rammed into the divider of the expressway while moving on the carriageway from Palwal to Noida. Subsequently, five more trucks coming from behind it piled up," a police spokesperson said. A truck driver died in the episode. His identity could not be ascertained, the police spokesperson said. Also Read | Who Are Houthis? Everything About Rebel Group That Sparked US and UK Strikes Amid Red Sea Crisis. Four people identified as Ramlawat (60), Praveen (25), Ashok (40) and Bhupendra (30) were left severely injured in the crash, the police said. The body has been sent for legal proceedings while the injured have been admitted to the Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) for treatment, the police added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chandigarh, Jan 14 (PTI) The Punjab government on Sunday extended the winter holidays for students up to Class 5 at all schools till January 21 in the wake of severe cold conditions prevailing across the state. Making the announcement on X, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said regular classes would be conducted for students of grades 6 to 12 from 10 am to 3 pm. Also Read | JEE Mains Exam 2024: Exam City Slip for Session 1 of Joint Entrance Examination for One Paper Released at jeemain.nta.ac.in, Know How To Download. On January 7, the state government had ordered the closure of all the government, government-aided and private schools up to Class 10 till January 14. However, the schools were open for Classes 11 and 12. Also Read | Who Are Houthis? Everything About Rebel Group That Sparked US and UK Strikes Amid Red Sea Crisis. Cold wave has been sweeping many parts of Punjab and Haryana. On Sunday, minimum temperatures at many places in both states hovered 2-4 degrees Celsius below normal, the meteorological department said . (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, Jan 14 (PTI)India and Nepal have concluded a crucial joint meeting on combating unauthorised trade, and highlighted the need to review the strategies for enhancing investments and development of commercial infrastructure between the two nations, the Indian Embassy here said in a statement. The India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Sub-committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation on Combating Unauthorised Trade also called for strengthening the seamless cross-border connectivity between India and Nepal, including through construction of new integrated check post and railway links. Also Read | North Korea Fires Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles Into East Sea. The agenda of the meeting of the IGSC also covered discussions on review of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, strategies for enhancing investment, the harmonisation of standards and synchronised development of trade infrastructure," said the statement. During the meeting Indian side highlighted the need for an Intellectual Property Rights regime in accordance with the provisions of the Paris Convention for encouraging Foreign Direct Investment. Also Read | US: eBay to Pay USD 3 Million in Compensation Following Harassment, Stalking Campaign, Sending Bizarre Deliveries Including Live Insects to Couple in Massachusetts. "Both the sides discussed mutual market access for pharmaceuticals and Ayurvedic products," said the statement. Shiv Vipul Bansal, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, led the Indian delegation while the Nepalese side was led by Ramchandra Tiwari, Joint Secretary at Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. "One of the highlights of the meeting was the focus on bilateral initiatives aimed at further strengthening the seamless cross border connectivity between India and Nepal including through construction of new integrated check post and railway links, said the statement. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) PHNOM PENH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Li Shulei, head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation to Cambodia from Saturday to Sunday, saying China is ready to work with Cambodia to strengthen communication and cultural cooperation to build an exemplary model for constructing a community with a shared future for mankind. Li, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the friendship between China and Cambodia has a long and enduring history, which remains rock-solid and resilient throughout the ages. Under the strategic guidance and strong promotion of the leaders of the two countries, a new era has been ushered in for building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard China-Cambodia community with a shared future, Li said. During his visit to Cambodia, the Chinese senior official met with Tea Banh, vice president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and a member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, and Hun Many, a member of the CPP Standing Committee and minister of civil service. Li noted that China is willing to work with Cambodia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, strengthen inter-party exchanges, share experience in state governance, deepen cultural exchanges and cooperation, and consolidate the public support for the friendship between China and Cambodia. The Cambodian side said that Cambodia and China are iron-clad friends and a community with a shared future. Expressing thanks to China for its long-standing selfless assistance to Cambodia's economic and social development, the Cambodian side said the CPP and the new government will firmly uphold a policy of friendship toward China and the one-China principle, and support the concept of building a community with a shared future for mankind and various major initiatives proposed by China. It added that the CPP stands ready to increase cooperation with the CPC in sharing experience of party and state governance, and further promote the Cambodia-China friendship with an aim to have it passed on from generation to generation. Li and Cambodian senior officials also attended the launching ceremony of the 2024 China-Cambodia People-to-People Exchange Year and the second China-Cambodia seminar on party theories, as well as witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the translation and publication of Chinese and Cambodian classics. Karachi, Jan 14 (AP) From Berlin to London and Limassol to Karachi, thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday to mark the 100th day of Israel's war with Hamas. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza. In the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, tens of thousands waved Palestinian flags or wore the keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, to express their solidarity with Palestinians in a rally organised by the country's largest religious political party, Jamaat-e-Islami. Also Read | Denmark's King Frederik X Takes Throne After Queen Margrethe II's Abdication (Watch Video). The party's Karachi chief, Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman, called on the US to stop backing Israel and compensate Palestinians for their losses. He also criticised Muslim leaders and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation for not doing enough to help stop the war. Resolutions will not solve this problem, Rehman said, adding that all conscientious people should support South Africa's action to launch legal action against Israel for allegedly committing genocide in Gaza. Also Read | North Korea Fires Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles Into East Sea. Karachi resident Ishrat Zahid took Muslim leaders to task for peacefully sleeping in their homes (but) not even thinking about protesting. This is why we have gathered here, to tell our Palestinian brothers and sisters that we are with them, he said. In the heart of the British capital, thousands of people chanted Bring them home now! in a demonstration to demand the freedom of 132 remaining hostages taken by Hamas militants in the October 7 attacks that also killed some 1,200 Israelis and touched off the war. Gaza health authorities say the death toll in the enclave has already eclipsed 23,000 people, roughly 1 per cent of the Palestinian territory's population. Thousands more remain missing or badly wounded, while 80 per cent of the population has been displaced. Protesters in London held posters with photos and the words 100 days in hell to express their solidarity with Israel. Ayelet Svatitzky, the sister of a hostage who remains in captivity, warned there is no more time for those captured, and called for their release ahead of the 100th day since Hamas launched its attack on Israel. My biggest fear is, I don't know how long it's going to last, I don't know how long he can hold on and I don't know what his condition is,' she said of her brother Nadav Popplewell, 51, one of two UK nationals who remain hostage. My main message is that the hostages are running out of time and that we should all do everything in our power to demand their release, she said. Nadav Popplewell was captured alongside his 79-year-old mother, Channah Peri. Though Peri was released during a November cease-fire, Svatitzky's elder brother, Roi Popplewell, was found dead near his home just after the attacks. The demonstration comes just a day after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrated in London, Dublin and Edinburgh streets, calling for a permanent cease-fire in the conflict part of a global day of action involving 30 countries. In a reflection of ongoing tensions, members of the crowd on Sunday had to wait in line to get their bags searched before entering the square. Barricades were erected on the square's perimeter, lined by police officers and security guards. In the French capital, several hundred protesters converged in the city centre holding placards with the faces of Israeli hostages, singing for their release around a large banner strewn on the ground reading, Bring them home now! About 100 motorcyclists waved Israeli flags and sported stickers of Israeli hostages on their bikes as they cruised around Paris in a ride to express support for Israel. The motorcycle ride followed an earlier, pro-Israeli bicycle procession around the city with cyclists waving Israeli flags and chanting Free the hostages. On Cyprus' southern coastline outside the town of Limassol, several hundred protesters waved Palestinian flags and held placards outside the entrance of a British air force base calling for a Free Palestine and an end to the siege of Gaza. Protesters handed authorities at RAF Akrotiri a petition demanding an end to the use of the air base as a launchpad for air strikes in Gaza and Yemen and the alleged transfer of arms to Israel from there. British aircraft had taken off from RAF Akrotiri one of two military bases that Britain maintains in Cyprus to strike Houthi targets in Yemen in recent days. A British Ministry of Defense spokesperson said that no UK aircraft have delivered any lethal cargo to Israel and that the UK government is focused on getting significantly more aid to Gaza after delivering about 96 tons of British and Cypriot aid from Cyprus to Egypt for the people in the Palestinian enclave. In neighbouring Turkiye, about 2,000 marchers waved Palestinian and Turkish flags in Istanbul while paying homage to nine Turkish soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq last week. Similar demonstrations organised by Turkiye's Humanitarian Relief Foundation were also held in other Turkish cities. Foundation representative Osman Delibas linked the war in Gaza and hostilities in Iraq. Turkey holds Kurdish militants in Iraq responsible for the death of its soldiers. Those who supported terrorist organisations and unleashed them on us are the same ones who committed genocide in Gaza, state-run Anadolu news agency quoted Delibas as saying. At the Vatican, Pope Francis told the faithful in St. Peter's Square that modern warfare is a crime against humanity because it sows death among civilians and destroys cities and infrastructure. In his weekly appearance at the Vatican window overlooking the Square, the pope lamented that arms continue to kill and destroy when at the start of the year we exchanged wishes for peace, urging people not to forget those who suffer the cruelty of war around the world especially in Ukraine, Palestine and Israel. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) A week ahead of the grand consecration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Ram Bhaktas held car rallies in 21 cities across the US with the enthusiastic participants in the national capital organising an innovative Tesla Car musical show dedicated to Lord Ram. Over 100 Ram Bhakts, each owning a Tesla Car, gathered at Shri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple in Frederick City -- a Maryland suburb of Washington DC -- on Saturday night. Also Read | US: eBay to Pay USD 3 Million in Compensation Following Harassment, Stalking Campaign, Sending Bizarre Deliveries Including Live Insects to Couple in Massachusetts. They used one of the key features of Tesla cars wherein the headlights and speakers of these Tesla cars synced with a popular number dedicated to Lord Ram. Introduced in 2022, the light-flashing-set-to-music feature is available in certain categories of its models with the particular software update. Also Read | Denmark's Queen Margrethe II Signs Historic Abdication, Her Son Frederik X To Become King (Watch Video). According to the organisers of the Tesla Music Show, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America, more than 200 Tesla Car owners had registered for the event and they had to turn on a significantly large number of them. Drone pictures taken by the event organisers showed that these Tesla Cars created a RAM by placing these cars in such a way. Today we had the Tesla Ram Bhagwan musical event on the occasion of the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. We are grateful to the generation of Hindus over the last 500 years to have struggled for the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, said Mahendra Sapa, president of the DC chapter of VHP America, organisers of the Tesla musical event here. The Tesla light show is just the beginning of the celebration of the Ram Temple inauguration, said Animesh Shukla, one of the volunteer organisers. VHPA plans to organise similar light shows on January 20, he said. VHP America, which is leading the Ram temple celebrations in the US, on Saturday held car rallies in as many as 21 cities: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Carmel (Indiana), Cary and Charlotte in North Carolina, Chicago, Denver in Colorado, Edison in New Jersey; Houston, Austin and San Antonio in Texas' New York, Phoenix, Portland; Sacramento, San Francisco and Simi Valley in California; Seattle and St Louis. More such rallies are scheduled on Sunday as well. Meanwhile, Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America announced the placement of large billboards in over 10 states. More than 40 billboards will prominently display the message of the Shri Ram Janam Bhumi Mandir (Temple) Consecration Ceremony scheduled for January 22, 2024. This momentous event, awaited by the Hindu community for over 25 generations (495 years), will be celebrated with unprecedented enthusiasm, a media release said. The billboards have already been unveiled in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia. Additionally, Arizona and the State of Missouri are set to join this visual celebration starting on Monday, January 15. The resounding message conveyed by these billboards is that Hindu Americans are elated and joyously participating in this once-in-a-lifetime event. Their emotions overflow as they eagerly await the auspicious day of the consecration ceremony, the statement said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Singapore, Jan 14 (PTI) Singapore did not take part in military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen but is involved in a multinational task force aimed at keeping ships safe in the Red Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Singapore troops are taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian -- an international maritime security force formed to respond to attacks on shipping vessels by the Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) said. Also Read | Jacinda Ardern Marries Clarke Gayford: New Zealand's Former Prime Minister Ties Knot With Long-Time Partner in Private Ceremony After Years of Delay. "Operation Prosperity Guardian is unrelated to the military strikes against the Houthis," the ministry said in the statement, quoted by The Straits Times. Tension is growing globally over the Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Iran-backed rebels have said the attacks are meant to show support for Hamas -- a Palestinian armed group -- in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. Also Read | Japan: Crack Found on Cockpit Window of ANA Boeing 737-800 Aircraft Mid-Air, Plane Safely Lands at Sapporo-New Chitose Airport. The US and the UK have already launched air strikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. In December, the Singapore-flagged Danish container ship Maersk Hangzhou was hit by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea. Two US destroyers responded to its call for help and one of the warships shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being fired towards the vessel. That same month, the rebel group said it would target all vessels, regardless of nationality, heading to Israel and warned international shipping companies against docking at Israeli ports. US helicopters directly struck Houthi forces for the first time on December 31, sinking three boats and killing fighters attempting to board a ship. On Tuesday, the US and the UK shot down 21 missiles and drones in what the two countries described as the biggest Houthi attack so far that directly targeted their warships in the region. On Friday, the two countries launched air and sea strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. The Houthis -- an armed rebel movement -- have come to control large parts of Yemen over the past decade. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the attacks by the Houthi rebels resulted in all five of the world's largest shipping companies suspending transit through the Red Sea -- the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. He added that the Singapore Armed Forces will send a team from the Republic of Singapore Navy's Information Fusion Centre to support information sharing, and a team of planners to work with international partners on operational plans. The Mindef statement said Operation Prosperity Guardian is an effort that comes under the ambit of the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain. One of the missions is the Combined Task Force 153: Red Sea Maritime Security -- involving more than 20 countries and focusing on efforts to protect shipping vessels against security threats such as through information sharing and maritime patrols. About 12 per cent of the world's seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Abu Dhabi [UAE], January 14 (ANI/WAM): Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and Member of the Dubai Council, visited the third edition of the 'Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert' festival, organised by Dubai Culture at Al Marmoom Desert Conservation Reserve. The festival, a key highlight of the Dubai Destinations winter campaign, seeks to empower the local cinema industry and encourage creative talents by supporting filmmakers, enabling them to showcase their works and share their visions, experiences, and knowledge with audiences. Also Read | North Korea Fires Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missiles Into East Sea. With events and activities held as part of the festival continuing until 21 January, over 70 films will be showcased, while over 30 workshops and more than ten diverse panel discussions and talks will be organised by Dubai Culture, witnessing the participation of distinguished speakers, directors, and specialists from the film industry. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed affirmed the importance of Al Marmoom: Film in the Desert festival in enriching Dubai's cultural and artistic movement. Also Read | US: eBay to Pay USD 3 Million in Compensation Following Harassment, Stalking Campaign, Sending Bizarre Deliveries Including Live Insects to Couple in Massachusetts. She also underscored its positive impact on the film sector, noting its valuable addition to the local film scene and its role in stimulating creatives and enhancing the sustainability of the film industry. "The festival reflects Dubai's modern identity and cultural and creative richness, representing an innovative platform for creative individuals that contributes to developing their skills and developing their creative tools. It provides seasoned and emerging creatives with opportunities to exchange artistic experiences and benefit from the latest methods and creative trends in this field, allowing for intellectual dialogue among different cultures to take place, highlighting our identity, traditions and local culture," she said. The festival, by means of its array of activities, supports the cultural and creative industries and enhances cultural tourism, enabling creatives to explore the distinctive opportunities that Dubai provides them in its mission to be a global centre for the film industry, Her Highness added. During her visit, she was briefed on the art exhibitions held alongside the festival and inspired by the history of cinema, including the 'Cinematic Masterpieces' exhibition showcasing a unique collection from His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, and the 'Stories at One with Nature' exhibition that includes artworks and photographs by a group of talented young creatives from Akaas Visual Arts besides artworks by People of Determination from the Rashid Center for People of Determination. The festival is being held under the theme 'Stories at One with Nature' and features a diverse programme aimed at providing Emirati citizens and residents with an exceptional cultural experience. Attendees will gain access to more than 70 films from Emirati, GCC, Arab, and international filmmakers, of which 56 are part of the Al Marmoom Short-Film Competition, which will see a distinguished panel of experts from the UAE and regional film sector evaluate the entries. In addition, several international and Arab films nominated for Academy Awards are being screened for the first time in the region, including the documentary film (Wild Dubai) produced by The Government of Dubai Media Office, and a collection of documentaries produced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, among others. The festival also features over 30 workshops addressing everything from the basics and techniques of preparing actors, methods for calculating film budgets, the difference between theatrical and cinematic scripts, photography, lighting, montage and colouring, documentary making, the elements of short and children's films, to the importance of Arabic dubbing in international cinematic works, among other subjects. Over 10 diverse talks and panel discussions will also be organised, witnessing the participation of speakers, directors, and specialists from across the film industry who will address the challenges facing creatives in the 'the seventh art' field as well as many other industry-related topics. The festival will also feature musical and heritage performances highlighting the beauty of the Emirati culture and traditional crafts such as Al Talli and Al Khoos, reflecting the Authority's commitment to showcasing Emirati traditions and enhancing their profile in artistic and creative activities throughout the emirate. (ANI/WAM) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, DC [US], January 14 (ANI): US climate envoy John Kerry is planning to step down from his post by this spring after serving in the position for three years at the helm of US climate diplomacy under the Biden administration, CNN reported citing a source close to Kerry on Saturday. The 80-year-old former secretary of state and Democratic nominee for president led US negotiations at three international climate summits, the most recent of which was held in Dubai. Also Read | Jacinda Ardern Marries Clarke Gayford: New Zealand's Former Prime Minister Ties Knot With Long-Time Partner in Private Ceremony After Years of Delay. CNN reported the source close to Kerry said he will still attend the World Economic Forum in January and is expected to attend the Munich Security Conference in February. Kerry specifically prioritised restarting international climate talks between the US and China, and was key in negotiating the November Sunnylands agreement, a wide-ranging climate agreement between the two countries before COP28. Also Read | Japan: Crack Found on Cockpit Window of ANA Boeing 737-800 Aircraft Mid-Air, Plane Safely Lands at Sapporo-New Chitose Airport. Axios first reported Kerry was stepping down and intending to join the Biden campaign. CNN has reached out to the Biden campaign and the White House for comment. Before joining the Biden administration, Kerry had long worked on climate issues. As secretary of state, he played a key role in negotiating the Paris agreement, which was adopted by nearly 200 nations in 2015 and was aimed at addressing the negative impacts of climate change. And in 2019, Kerry co-founded a bipartisan initiative of world leaders and celebrities to combat the climate crisis called World War Zero. Kerry also served alongside Joe Biden in the Senate for decades. He was first elected to the Senate to represent Massachusetts in 1984 after serving as lieutenant governor of the state under Gov. Michael Dukakis. In 2004, Kerry won the Democratic nomination for president before losing the general election to incumbent President George W. Bush. In 2009, when Biden became vice president, Kerry took over his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was nominated to serve as secretary of state by Barack Obama in 2012. Kerry also served in the Navy in Vietnam as a gunboat officer on the Mekong Delta and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, January 14: Six people, including four members of a family, died allegedly after inhaling toxic fumes from coal braziers in two separate incidents in the national capital, officials said on Sunday. Delhi is reeling under severe cold conditions as the minimum temperature dropped to 3.5 degrees Celsius -- this winter's lowest -- on Sunday morning. Two children were among the four killed in the incident in Alipur area in outer north Delhi, police said. The deceased have been identified as Rakesh (40), who was a driver of a water tanker, his wife Lalita (38), their two sons Piyush (8), and Sunny (7), they said. "On Sunday morning around 7 am, a PCR call was received at Alipur police station, saying one person was found lying unconscious at Khera Kalan village in Delhi. Immediately staff was rushed to the spot," a senior police officer said. Delhi: Four Family Members Die of Suspected Asphyxiation After Smoke From Angeethi Filled Their Room in Alipur (Watch Video) Police found that the door of the room was locked from inside. "Our teams first broke the glass window and managed to open the door. Later, the team found four people inside of the room in an unconscious state. They were rushed to the hospital, where doctors declared them dead," the officer said. Police said that the forensic team and the crime team found a coal brazier (angithi) inside the room. Prima facie, it seems that all four died due to suffocation, police said. Further investigation and proceedings into the matter has been started under section 174 of the CrPC, they said. In a similar incident, two Nepal-native men were found dead in their room after they allegedly inhaled toxic fumes from a coal brazier in Inderpuri area of west Delhi, police said. According to the police, the deceased have been identified as Ram Bahadur (57) and Abhishek (22). Police said Bahadur was a driver by profession and Abhishek was working as a domestic help. "A call was received at 8.30 am that two persons residing in a room are not opening their rented house door," a police officer said. Police said that it was found that the two men were locked in their third-floor room from the inside. Delhi Fire: Massive Blaze Erupts at Factory in Bawana, No Casualties or Injuries Reported (Watch Video) "The door was forced open and two people were found unconscious. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared them dead, the officer said. One angithi' with burnt residue was found in the room. There was one window that was found to be closed. No injuries were found on the bodies," said the officer. Police have started further investigation and proceedings into the matter under section 174 CrPC. Gurugram, January 14: The body of Divya Pahuja, a former Gurugram-based model and girlfriend of slain gangster Sandeep Gadoli that was recovered on January 13 -- eleven days after she was shot dead at a hotel here, was cremated on Sunday by her family members. Divya, 27, was allegedly killed by Abhijeet Singh, the owner of Hotel City Point where she was staying. Her family members performed the last rites here on late Sunday evening. Her body was brought to Gurugram after a medical board conducted an autopsy in Hisar on Sunday afternoon. Divya's body was recovered from a canal in Tohana in Haryana's Fatehabad district on Saturday. Divya Pahuja Murder Case: Body of Ex-Model, Who Was Shot Dead at Hotel in Gurugram, Recovered From Haryana Canal (Watch Video). "After the postmortem of the body, it was handed over to the family members of Divya. They performed the last rites here in Gurugram," spokesperson of Gurugram Police, Subhash Boken, said. Meanwhile, an accused in the case Balraj Gill, who was arrested on January 11 in Kolkata, has been sent to four-day police custody. Gill had allegedly disposed of Divya's body after she was killed on January 2. Following his arrest in Kolkata, he was brought to Gurugram, and presented on Sunday at a court that sent him to police custody. According to the police, Divya and Abhijeet were in a relationship. Abhijeet told the police that he killed her in a fit of rage after she refused to delete some of his objectionable photos from her mobile phone. Divya Pahuja Murder Case: Gurugram Police Recover Former Model's Body From Canal in Haryana. The police are, however, yet to recover the 'murder weapon' which was reportedly thrown away by Abhijeet after killing Divya. Balraj Gill had revealed during the transit remand that he and Ravi Banga had thrown Divya's body in Bakhra Canal in Patiala. Five teams of Gurugram Police were involved in tracking Balraj and Amit who had absconded along with Divya's body since January 2. Divya's body was identified by a tattoo on her back. Also, a clue regarding the whereabouts of the body was received after the arrest of Balraj Gill. In connection with Divya's murder, the police have so far arrested six persons including the prime accused, Abhijeet Singh, his aides Om Prakash, Hemraj, Balraj Gill, Parvesh, and a woman, Megha. The woman had helped Abhijeet in hiding documents and personal belongings of Divya. Om Prakash and Hemraj had helped Abhijeet to drag Divya's body into the boot of a BMW car. Parvesh had supplied the murder weapon to Abhijeet. Divya came in contact with Abhijeet through a jailed gangster, Binder Gujjar. Binder Gujjar is said to be the prime conspirator in the alleged "fake encounter" of gangster Sandeep Gadoli, along with the Gurugram Police, which took place in Mumbai in 2016. Divya was the prime accused in the case. Later, she was arrested in connection with the gangster's murder, and she spent seven years in jail. She was granted bail last year in June by the Bombay High Court. Divya's family has alleged that her murder was conspired by Sandeep Gadoli's family members, along with Abhijeet. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2024 11:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Hyderabad, January 14: Two children lost their lives during kite-flying in two separate incidents in Hyderabad. While a 11-year-old boy was electrocuted in the Attapur area, a 13-year-old died after she fell from a four-storey building in Nagole. In the first incident that occurred in Attapur, Tanishq (11) died due to electrocution while flying kite on Saturday. The boy was flying kites on the rooftop of an apartment building along with his friends. According to police, he came in contact with the high-tension electric wires and died on the spot. Telangana Shocker: Man Brutally Stabbed to Death by Miscreants in Hyderabad, Disturbing Video Surfaces. The police booked a case of negligence against the owners of the apartment. In the second incident, a boy lost his life while flying a kite on a rooftop with friends at Nagole. Shiva Kumar (13), an eighth-class student at a government school in Nagole, fell off the terrace of a four-storey building while flying a kite. He fell on the asbestos roof of an adjoining house and suffered grievous injuries. He was taken to a private hospital, where he succumbed on Saturday night. Meanwhile, Musharraf Ali Faruqui, Chairman and Managing Director of Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) has advised people not to fly kites near electricity installations, saying metal-coated manja thread may cause electrocution and tripping of the supply network. Hyderabad Shocker: Couple Hangs 4-Year-Old Daughter to Death Before Committing Suicide. He urged people to desist from using metal-coated threads as they could cause electrocution. Only use cotton, linen or nylon string. Never use metallic thread or metal-reinforced string, metal coated thread (Manja) is a good conductor of electricity and may cause electric shock when it touches/comes close to an electric line, he said. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2024 03:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, January 14: Television actor Surbhi Chandna, famous for her roles in popular shows such as Naagin 5, Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, and Qubool Hai, has accused budget airline Vistara of subjecting her to "mental harassment" during a recent incident at Mumbai airport. Chandna took to her social media handles on Saturday to express her frustration and disappointment with Vistara, alleging that her priority luggage was misplaced, and she faced misbehaviour from a ground staff member. In a post, the actor narrated her ordeal, highlighting the distress caused by the airline's alleged negligence. The WORST AIRLINE award goes to @airvistara. A priority bag was offloaded for reasons best known to them. They have wasted the entire day and i still have not been assured if the bag has reached the mum apt or no.. false promises by the incompetent staff horrible delays by airline, she wrote on X. Vistara Bengaluru to Hyderabad Flight Returns Back Due to Bad Weather Vistara responded to Chandna's claims promptly on the post, assuring the actor that her complaint would be addressed with the utmost priority. Hi Ms. Chandna, we are concerned to learn of your dissatisfaction. Please assist us with your booking details and a convenient time to connect via DM and we will have this addressed at the earliest. Thanks, Vistara replied in a tweet. Delhi-Bound Vistara Flight Diverted to Indore Due to Bad Weather At Delhi Airport "Deepika Pawar - @Vistara Mumbai airport ground staff is extremely unprofessional & undertrained and was unapologetic of the situation. Extremely rude in her approach straight up said 'we do not know when your bag will come and we cannot commit anything'. Also when asked about delivery, she said 'my vendors are occupied and I will not be able to deliver the bag to you. It will be better if you come to pick it up. This is the pathetic staff and service of the airline when they are at fault," Chandna posted on her Instagram story. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 14, 2024 12:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, January 14: Ride-hailing platform Uber on Sunday flagged off its EV auto rickshaw service in Ayodhya, under its category Uber Auto, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The company said it will also start operations of UberGo - its affordable car service along with Uber Intercity in Ayodhya that will support all inter-city travel needs to the holy city from popular destinations within Uttar Pradesh to connect the temple city with various destinations. With this expansion, we are not only providing enhanced mobility options for tourists and pilgrims but also unlocking earning opportunities for many more in the region, said Prabhjeet Singh, President Uber India and South Asia. The expansion into Ayodhya aligns with Uber's growth plans in India, said the company. Today, Uber is available across 125 cities. New Jersey Ready for 'Pran Pratishtha' Ceremony of Ram Temple: Indians in the US Organise 350-Car Rally Ahead of Ram Mandir Inauguration in Ayodhya (Watch Video) We are committed to contributing to Ayodhyas tourism, promoting a seamless travel experience and fostering sustainable economic growth, said Singh. Earlier this month, Uber started testing its flexible pricing service in several tier 2 and 3 cities in India to expand its user base, allowing commuters to bid a particular fare for their ride. Pran Pratishtha Ceremony: No Travel to Ayodhya From Adjoining Districts for Three Days Ahead of Ram Temple Inauguration on January 22 Caller Uber Flex, the flexible pricing service was tested for the first time in India in October last year. The service has now been expanded to cities like Aurangabad, Ajmer, Bareilly, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Gwalior, Indore, Jodhpur and Surat, among other cities. SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Saturday met with San Francisco Mayor London Breed on implementing the outcomes of the San Francisco summit between the two heads of state. Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden held a successful meeting in San Francisco in November last year, said Liu, adding that San Francisco contributed to the success of the summit. Xi pointed out that the hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the two societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels, Liu said. When delivering a speech at a welcome dinner by friendly organizations in the United States, Xi further expressed the hope for enhancing friendship and cooperation between the two peoples, Liu added. In particular, Liu mentioned, Xi announced that 50,000 young Americans would be invited to visit China in the next five years, which received great attention and a big welcome. It is hoped that the city of San Francisco and other cities in the United States will actively engage in subnational and non-governmental exchanges, strengthen cooperation in various fields, promote the implementation of the San Francisco vision fostered by the two heads of state, and make new contributions to the stable and healthy development of China-U.S. relations, Liu noted. For her part, Breed said that the city of San Francisco is very honored to host the U.S.-China summit and is still excited about the success of the meeting. The mayor said she attended the welcome dinner held by friendly U.S. organizations for Xi, listened to the president's speech, and totally agreed with every initiative put forward by the president in his speech. San Francisco has a deep historical bond with China, and China has been an important factor in the development of San Francisco, Breed said. The city is willing to give full play to its special advantages in U.S.-China relations, promote cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, investment, innovation, tourism and culture through subnational cooperation channels, and take the lead in promoting the implementation of the outcomes of the San Francisco summit between the two heads of state, the mayor said. A wedding guest who threw a glass that hit his sister over the eye appeared before Portlaoise District Court. Kevin Heffernan, 48, of 77 Magenta Hall, Santry, Dublin 9 was accused of assault causing harm at the Abbeyleix Manor Hotel on June 25, 2022. Suzanne Dooner BL said her client was entering a guilty plea on the basis of recklessness. Garda Darren Digan told the court he responded to a call from the hotel at 5am. He said a wedding was taking place and Martina Byrne was being treated in an ambulance for a cut over her eye. She told Garda Digan that she had an argument with her brother and he threw a glass that hit her over her left eye. He said both parties were intoxicated. Ms Dooner explained that a verbal disagreement had taken place and a glass was thrown that hit a table and ultimately hit the injured party. She said her client had been offered an adult caution by Gardai at the time but had declined as he didnt have legal advice and he believed provocation was a defence. Had he the benefit of legal advice he might have taken that caution, she said. She said the argument arose when the defendant complained about people drug dealing outside his house. The injured party had warned him he would get a bullet in the back of the head or have his house burned down if he told gardai about the activity. The injured party said she was taken to hospital as a result of the incident. She had to get paper stitches over her eye and was told not to wash the wound for five days. The scar is still there. It is after lightening up but it is a different tone, she said. Ms Dooner said her client worked in construction and had brought 300 to court. This seems to be very much out of character for this gentleman, she told Judge Nicola Andrews. Judge Andrews agreed and ordered that the 300 be donated to the court poor box. It would seem to me it was an incident that was out of character, she said as she struck the case out. The person appeal for 73-year-old John McSweeney has been stood down following the discovery of a body of man this Sunday afternoon. Mr McSweeney, from Athea in County Limerick was reported missing on Saturday January 6 - leading to gardai issuing an appeal for help from members of the public. Hundreds of people took part in searches of the countryside, led by gardai, in bitterly cold temperatures over the last week. In an update, this Sunday evening, a garda spokesperson thanked members of the public for their assistance. "Following the discovery of a body of man in Athea, Co. Limerick, the missing person appeal in respect of 73-year-old John McSweeney has been stood down," they confirmed. Minister of State Niall Collins - a TD for County Limerick - expressed his condolences to the family, friends and neighbours of Mr McSweeney. He thanked everyone who has participated in the searches over the past week - An Garda Siocahana, the Coastguard, Abbeyfeale District Search and Rescue, Civil Defence, Search and Rescue Dog Association, the many volunteers and those who provided teas, coffees and sandwiches during the cold weather. No funeral arrangements have been announced. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan has said he wants to tackle city-centre congestion through reforms which would see free parking spaces being taken away from some public servants this year. Under an objective to create more sustainable travel policies, the Department for the Environments Public Sector Climate Action Strategy includes an ambition to phase out parking in public sector buildings which are otherwise served by adequate levels of public transport. Mr Ryan, who holds the Environment and Transport portfolios, said a demand-management strategy on a range of measures for the transport sector will come to Government within the coming weeks. He said removal of free parking for public servants will be part of a radical shift to reduce gridlock and emissions as well as improving quality of life for inhabitants of cities. Speaking to RTEs This Week radio programme, Mr Ryan said: The other part will be a change in the city centre traffic management system this summer to try to take out through traffic. A lot of traffic going through the centre of Dublin is not actually going to (workplaces) or going to the shops or accessing deliveries, its actually just through traffic. We will see a radical in my expectation delivery of a change to the Traffic Management System which in my mind is vital not just for managing traffic but also reviving life in our city centre. Asked if he envisaged the changes, including the removal of parking spaces, to happen this year, Mr Ryan said: Yes, we need to start. Mr Ryan said work also needs to start on building BusConnects projects as they are approved by the planning system. He said TDs should lead by example through the removal of car parking at Leinster House but said it would be a matter for the Oireachtas Commission. In addition, he said the Dart system needs to be tripled and the Dublin Metro line needs to be built. The same applies for Cork, Galway, Waterford, Limerick, and every county around the country. We need a dramatic change in our transport system for the better, involving a major improvement of public transport and making it safe for people to walk and cycle in our towns and cities and counties. During the week, mapping and technology firm TomTom published a report which found that Dublin was the second-worst city in its annual traffic index. Pictured at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2024 at the RDS Dublin is Joanna Lipska, Newbridge College Kildare with her project 'Sound of Tensegrity'. Photo: Fennell Photo The winner of the 60th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) has been announced. Sean OSullivan, aged 17, a 5th year student from Colaiste Chiarain in Limerick, has won the top prize with his project, VerifyMe: A new approach to authorship attribution in the post-ChatGPT era. The BTYSTE perpetual trophy was presented to the winner this evening at the RDS by Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD and Managing Director of BT Ireland, Shay Walsh. Since OpenAI released ChatGPT in November of 2022, the line between human-written and AI-generated text has blurred, leaving academia and industry searching for a reliable method to discern true human authorship. In his project, Sean considered the challenges of author verification in the context of the significant improvements in Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT. He developed a novel approach to author authentication that identifies stylistic differences to verify authorship. Chair of the Technology Group Judging Panel, Leonard Hobbs said, The judges were hugely impressed by Seans innovative approach to addressing a problem that has only recently emerged and his programming skills in architecting a complex software solution. Sean is the 60th recipient to win the highly coveted trophy, and the top prize of 7,500. Sean will now also represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) taking place later this year in the European City for Science 2024 - Katowice, Poland. Speaking at the awards ceremony this evening, Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said, Id like to sincerely congratulate Sean OSullivan from Colaiste Chiarain in Limerick on his tremendous achievement of winning top prize in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2024. His win is testament to his hard work and dedication and the unwavering support of his family, teachers and school. It comes in the 60th year of the exhibition, when we must give significant credit to founders Dr Tony Scott and Fr Tom Burke who had the vision and determination to first establish this event in Ireland back in 1963 and to all of those who have nurtured and celebrated scientific research in our school communities in the years since. Our thanks also to BT for their dedication to supporting and empowering students along the way to the momentous occasion of showcasing their own scientific research at the exhibition. Meeting students exhibiting projects this week and witnessing the innovation, creativity and attention to detail which they have applied to their research has been a great honour. As the 2022 results of the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show, 15-year-olds in Ireland significantly outperform many of their counterparts across the OECD in science. The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition continues to demonstrate the breadth of whats possible in our world when open and inquiring minds ask questions and explore new opportunities and solutions. Along with the Government, I am committed to continuing to promote uptake in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in our schools for the benefit of all learners. Abigail OBrien Murray, Erica OBrien Murray and Olivia OShea, all aged 18, and in 6th year in Loreto Secondary School Balbriggan in Dublin, won the prize for Best Group, with their project, Lets Save the Common Ash!: A Continued Story. This is the second year this project has been recognised at the exhibition having previously been awarded Runner-up Group in 2023. Dr. Richard OHanlon, Group Biological & Ecological Category Judge, said, These young scientists carried out several large and robust experiments, involving both lab and field testing. Building on work they presented in the 2023 BTYSTE, they found that their treatments had the ability to reduce disease by more than 80%. This work is an important step towards developing a pathway to save our trees. Philippa McIntosh aged 16, and in 4th year in Bandon Grammar School in Cork, won the prize for Individual Runner-Up, with her project, Beyond Numbers: The textual challenge of Junior Cycle maths for Dyslexic Students. Dr. Sinead Smyth, Head of the Social and Behavioural Individual Category Judging Panel said, Philippa has conducted a very rigorous research project and has clearly shown that the phrasing of questions on the Junior Certificate higher level maths exams means that students who are actually good at maths but experience reading challenges, may be disadvantaged by over-complex wording. This important finding should be taken on board in curriculum design and assessment. Sisters Ciara Murphy and Saoirse Murphy aged 16 and 14 respectively, from Presentation Secondary School Tralee in Kerry won the prize for Runner-Up Group, with their project, AID-CARE-TREAT (ACT), an immediate, accessible, technological aid to assist in medical emergencies, supported by a comprehensive repository of medical information. Professor Joe Barry, Chair of the Health & Wellbeing Group Judges, said, I would like to congratulate Ciara and Saoirse and look forward to the further development and implementation of this exciting and impactful project, which has the real potential to save lives and lead to earlier treatments. Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland, which organises the exhibition, concluded by saying: I have been lucky enough to be involved in the exhibition for almost a quarter of a century, since BT first became custodians. Being able to see first-hand the creativity and innovation of Irelands future leaders has been a real privilege. This years competition has been no exception with projects seeking to address real-world issues involving AI, health, and sustainability to name but a few. While the calibre of entries across the board has been outstanding, on behalf of all the team at BT Ireland, I would like to congratulate all the finalists of the 2024 exhibition and thank them for sharing their remarkable ideas and innovations with us. And to all this years winners, we look forward to seeing the future impact you will all undoubtedly make. Lastly, a special word of thanks to the teachers, parents, and guardians for their ongoing support, as well as our panel of expert judges, partners, volunteers and the BT team more broadly. This is a collective effort and one we are incredibly proud to be part of. The Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) are teaming up with RTEs Operation Transformation to support National Blood Pressure Day 2024. The partnership will see Fosters Pharmacy in Carrigallen, Cara Pharmacy in Drumshanbo and Cara Pharmacy in Ballinamore participating, offering once-off free blood pressure checks this Thursday, January 18. High blood pressure affects two out of three people over 50, but it is symptomless. Once detected, high blood pressure is one of the few conditions that can be successfully managed, but only if you know you have it. Following a quick, easy, and non-invasive blood pressure check, your community pharmacist can provide a detailed results card and any necessary health advice or referral. Encouraging people to avail of the service, Clare Fitzell, Head of Strategic Policy at the IPU, said: Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious health problem in Ireland, and many people are unaware that they suffer from it. Adults should take steps to inform themselves of their blood pressure levels. Those aged over 40 should have an annual check and under 40s should have a check at least every five years. Risks of allowing high blood pressure to go untreated include a higher likelihood of developing a number of conditions, including heart disease, stroke, dementia and problems with eyesight or kidneys. This year, Irish pharmacies are delighted to partner with Operation Transformation to raise awareness of the risks of high blood pressure, and to encourage people to take a few minutes to get checked. Thankfully, many people who have slightly raised blood pressure can successfully manage this through straightforward lifestyle changes. The key is knowing what your level is and taking appropriate action. However, experience tells us that some people who undergo this weeks tests will be advised to seek further medical attention. This is not something to be feared, as its far better to treat high blood pressure before complications arise than after, she added. Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman has said protests outside two centres earmarked for use by exclusively male asylum seekers had no influence on his department instead deciding to house families in the buildings. The Government has faced criticism for alleged u-turns after the Department of Integration scrapped plans to house 50 male asylum seekers at a former hotel in Co Mayo and the Capuchin Friary in Carlow Town, following protests at both buildings. The department said it now intends to accommodate families including children at the sites instead. Mr OGorman rejected assertions that the Government had bowed to pressure from local protests. Asked if the changes for the centres was a message that the department would change policy again in the face of protests, he said: Its not because in both of those locations, the change in policy was soley to do with our need to accommodate families. Mr OGorman has said his department is under very significant pressure to provide accommodation for families and for female applicants. He also said it is not in a position to provide accommodation for all male applicants, adding: Thats not a situation that I want. Asked if the protests had any impact on his departments decisions, Mr OGorman said: No. The minister added: If we have hadnt made those changes in Carlow and Ballinrobe, we would have seen families left unaccommodated. It was an operational decision and the officials in my department have to have that flexibility to deal with the needs of the people who are before us on that particular day. A protest has also been under way in Roscrea, Co Tipperary over plans to house family applicants in a hotel in the town. Defending the plan, Mr OGorman said: I absolutely understand that where a hotel in a towns use changes, I understand that has an impact, thats why its important that we better plan where we provide accommodation. He added: We are responding to a humanitarian crisis and in the situation in Rosscrea, we are responding to the needs of families to ensure that they will be accommodated. As long as people continue to seek international accommodation, we will have to do that. He said the approach his department needs to move to a national, longer-term planned approach nationally rather than the reactive method currently being employed. Speaking on Newstalk, he said: Weve had to take accommodation where we can find it because of the significant need and the significant increase in demand both in terms of Ukrainian and international-protection applicants. We need to move to a more planned approach where we identify across the country a number of locations for accommodation centres where the State is in control of those. The department expects that Ireland will see approximately 15,000 international protection applicants every year. Mr OGorman said: It is a still a small number compared to the amounts that many other European countries provide asylum to and its also a small number in terms of a country of a population of five million people. The minister also dismissed suggestions there was discussion about having a harder policy on migration, which he characterised as currently being a rules-based system. NRF 2024: Scenera and Wachter Announce Strategic Collaboration for Hybrid Cloud Solutions to Transform the Future of Retail Scenera's MAIstro revolutionizes facility management and AI-driven data to enhance efficiency and intelligence of retail and commercial spaces PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a strategic alliance, Scenera, and Wachter are driving data-driven business transformation through edge-to-cloud AI topology management and will showcase Scenera's MAIstro solutions during NRF 2024, the National Retail Federation's flagship industry event, taking place January 14-16, 2024 in New York City. Wachter, an essential collaboration and integrator partner, will highlight Scenera's MAIstro platform and how they together focus on evolving retail facility management and AI-driven data analytics. The partnership reflects the two companies' joint commitment to delivering cutting-edge, customer-centric solutions to enhance the efficiency and intelligence of retail and commercial facilities management. Scenera's MAIstro is stacked to address the unique challenges retail businesses face. Key business benefits of its solutions include real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of store appliances, comprehensive energy management for store equipment and streamlined maintenance processes. The platform also offers AI-driven data that empowers retailers to make insightful decisions that enhance overall business performance and operational efficiencies. The collaboration aims to provide a more efficient solution for U.S. retailers by implementing a seamless service that can transform retail operations and generate data-rich insights. Both companies are excited to revolutionize the industry by overcoming the challenges of gathering accurate and relevant data from diverse APIs, protocols, and formats. Ultimately, the collaboration provides a streamlined solution for retailers to access valuable insights that can improve their operations., offering personalized and cost-effective data-driven energy-saving and efficient retail store operation. Addressing unique challenges faced by retail businesses, MAIstro's platform and Wachter aim to provide always-on real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance of store appliances with the integration of event-driven data through EnergyScene, MaintenanceScene and event SceneMarks. EnergyScene records appliances' temperatures, power usage, lighting and signage usages for comprehensive energy management utilizing advanced machine learning capabilities for individual stores, while MaintenanceScene captures appliance statuses and conditions to store in the cloud data lake where advanced AI analytics can be applied to current and historical data, streamlining maintenance processes. Additionally, SceneMarks aids in operations by detecting any unusual video images occurring in facilities, including refrigerator doors left open, customer slips and falls and even count of people waiting at cashiers. These types of AI-driven data empower retailers to make insightful decisions, elevating overall business performance and customer satisfaction. This collaboration, backed by Microsoft and S&I Corp., has been successfully implemented in commercial SaaS products at major retail businesses, including over 15,000 GS25 retail convenience stores in South Korea. They saw a transformative shift in energy cost saving and streamlined maintenance operations by 10% savings in energy cost and 17% reduction in AS calls. As the system integrators, S&I Corporation?a total building solution provider and space management expert with unrivaled level of technology?plays an integral role in remote management of these retail stores. Check out the informative video at Wachter's booth #4875 to show how Scenera's MAIstro AIoT is transforming retail operations by revolutionizing facility management through AI-driven data and enhancing the efficiency of retail and commercial spaces. ABOUT WACHTER Wachter, Inc. for decades has been at the forefront of providing top-notch IT solutions across the nation. As a leading IT solutions integrator, Wachter has garnered unparalleled expertise in the field of technology. Wachter's engineers and project managers leverage our nationwide W-2 workforce of technicians to converge electrical, data, security, and automation into intelligent building systems. With our proven track record of excellence, we are committed to providing our clients with the best-in-class IT solutions. https://www.wachter.com/ ABOUT S&I CORP. As a No.1 total building solution provider in Korea, S&I Corp. promptly detects and responds to facility management issues such as power outage, leakage, fires, and equipment abnormality through its Integrated Operational Center (IOC). Also, the company has established remote control services enabling optimal building management based on real-time monitoring data of buildings and its sites across the country. It is expected that S&I Corp.'s remote control service will be further developed with the company's new AI-based building management system. http://www.sni.co.kr ABOUT SCENERA Scenera is forging a new standard data platform for the AIoT industry, by combining an open and flexible architecture with an intelligent scene-based data pipeline. The result is a paradigm shift from simple streaming data to rich scene data information that enables new and powerful analytical capabilities. For more information, please visit www.scenera.net . MEDIA CONTACTS For Wachter: Shannan Bieler Marketing Director 215-470-7518 [email protected] For Scenera: Lydia You 650-269-2467 [email protected] SOURCE Scenera 14 january 2024 at 08:00 News published onand distributed by: by Xinhua writers Zheng Kaijun, Ma Zheng, You Zhixin SHANGHAI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Youth exchanges play "a big part" in moving the U.S.-China relationship forward, said visiting delegates from the U.S. state of Utah. "Having people who have shared interests, shared desires and shared needs to equally interact and get to know each other is a sure way to improve our relationship," said Michael Leavitt, who led a Utah delegation in a culture exchange-themed visit in Beijing and Shanghai from Jan. 7 to 13. The 13-member team included officials, scholars, language program specialists and school children from the state. "The recent meeting of our presidents was a great step forward ... and the time is right for our countries to once again come together and to be able to set a good example," said Leavitt, who served as Utah governor from 1993 to 2003 and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2005 to 2009. Despite difficulties in bilateral relations, "the people feel with one heart ... and there's no question that the pathway to nation's resuming positive relationships is through people-to-people interaction," he told Xinhua. In November 2023, Chinese President Xi Jinping said in a speech in the United States that China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. Leavitt said the plan's value is that these students "ultimately will have firsthand experiences with Chinese families, with Chinese children, with Chinese people, and experiences that become meaningful to them as people." Utah Senate President J. Stuart Adams is also a fan of that plan. Young people should not be "just looking within the boundaries," he said. "So much communication right now is through the Internet and through social media. But we all know it's hard to communicate if you can't do it face to face." Adams said the visit allowed him to meet old friends in China and build new friendships and trust via language programs. Utah now has the most extensive Chinese language immersion program in the United States, with 35 schools of 300 to 400 students studying Chinese. The program has been in place since 2009, with almost 20,000 students having participated. The students receive math, science and social studies content in Chinese in the early grades. They are also encouraged to build penpals with Chinese friends. In 2020, students at Utah's Cascade Elementary School wrote New Year cards to President Xi in Chinese and received a reply. "The immersion teachers in Utah are very good at engaging with our students to reach out to friends in China," said Jeffrey Ringer, associate international vice president of Brigham Young University. He said interest in learning the Chinese language "has not declined at our university at all" in the past years. "We want our people to be linguistically fluent and culturally fluent. Cultural fluency only happens when you can be on the ground with people," Ringer said. "There are many different depictions of China that Americans may see on the media. I just hope that more people are able to experience China firsthand for themselves so they can form their own views," said Ringer, who travels to China very often, including to Shanghai. "Every time I come here, there's more to Shanghai. It's like peeling layers on an onion. There's always more to discover and more to understand about it." It is now "a period when we're focused on youth and on the sub-national ... So that's just what our society's needed for those of all ages and all backgrounds," said Gerrit W. Gong. The former Asia director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies was excited to share some group photos of the Utah delegation. Ping-pong diplomacy was once a great symbol of China-U.S. ties. Today, "the new symbol is people doing things together; is mutually beneficial learning; is the appreciation for who we each are," said Gong, who also worked as a special assistant in the U.S. State Department and a special assistant to two ambassadors at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. "I think of youth traveling to the Great Wall and coming to the Forbidden City ... and the rising generations in universities and in laboratories and doing many things together," said Gong. "I just had my seventieth birthday, and I'm very young at heart. Whatever our chronological ages, we all need to see the world with new eyes and new hopes and new expectations," he added. Peyton Shields, 18, traveled to China for the first time with the delegation. He has been learning Chinese for 11 years. This direct experience is a chance to "talk to each other and see what each other's culture is," said the high-school student after a joint musical performance with Chinese kids at Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School. "It helps us to see how similar we can be, so that in the future, when we have differences, we will be able to understand each other better," said Shields. "When people interact at a personal level, the fear goes away, and the ability to think poorly of the other goes away. That will be critical for our countries going forward," said Brent James, a member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. "In some sense, we define what the world is going to look like," said James. "We can create a world of prosperity and peace. We can build that kind of a future as opposed to some other people building a different future." Feature'Africa: The new oil producers' (1/4). Kampala is undertaking a highly controversial oil project that involves the construction of the world's longest heated pipeline. But this poor, landlocked country with low emissions sees this as a turning point in its destiny. Is it possible to become an oil-producing country in 2024? Worse, in five or ten years? In December 2023, the hottest year in history ended with a consensus among the world's governments to "phase out fossil fuels" at COP28 in Dubai. And yet, a dozen African countries are preparing to join the club of oil and gas exporters, including Uganda, Senegal and Niger. In Uganda, comparisons with Norway, that distant European country, are on every decision-maker's lips. Not because of its polar cold or the majestic beauty of its fjords, but for its management of the godsend of its oil: Oslo is often held up as a model for having devoted its oil revenues to diversifying its economy, thus guaranteeing its wealth far beyond the black gold. Today, the Nordic state boasts the third-highest GDP per capita in the world ($101,000, or 91,500). Read more Subscribers only Norway boosts its oil and gas production This is a daydream for Uganda, one of the poorest countries on the planet ($1,163 GDP per capita), landlocked in the chaotic African Great Lakes region. Ruled with an iron fist since 1986 by Yoweri Museveni, this rural country with an extremely young population (75% under 30) suffers from an appalling lack of access to education, health care and even electricity, particularly in the countryside (less than 36%). Kampala may be a dynamic hub, with its party culture, legendary traffic jams and noisy swarms of motorcycle taxis, but the economy remains highly informal and violently unequal. The discovery of oil deposits around Lake Albert in the west of the country in 2006 raised high hopes. After several delays, the country is now aiming to produce, by 2025, around 1.4 billion barrels from two oil fields: Tilenga, the larger one, operated by France's TotalEnergies, and Kingfisher, entrusted to China's Cnooc. The Directorate of Petroleum offices at the Ministry of Energy in Entebbe, Uganda, on October 25, 2023. BADRU KATUMBA FOR LE MONDE A 'climate bomb' The project is also attracting immense criticism from far beyond its borders. Around a third of Tilenga's wells are being sunk in Murchison Falls National Park, which is home to lions, elephants, leopards and numerous bird species. Kingfisher will extract oil from the waters of Lake Albert, home to fishing communities. Not to mention the fact that almost all of these barrels will be exported via a giant pipeline crossing Uganda and then Tanzania, over almost 1,500 kilometers, to the Port of Tanga. Not only will the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) have to be heated to liquefy the viscous crude oil, but also its construction will require the displacement of over 100,000 people amid pressures denounced by Human Rights Watch and others. In Paris and London, demonstrations have been organized against this "climate bomb" and legal proceedings have been launched. And in Strasbourg, the European Parliament has called for its abandonment. You have 72.93% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Members of the Army stands guard in a street at the Ciudadela del Ejercito zone in southern Quito, on January 13, 2024, as Ecuador is in a "state of emergency" since the prison escape of one of the country's most powerful narco bosses. STRINGER / AFP More than 40 Ecuador prison officials taken hostage by inmates have been freed, the prisons authority said Saturday, January 13, as the country grapples with a brutal campaign of gang terror. The 24 guards and 17 administrative employees "were released," the SNAI prisons authority said without providing details, while 133 guards and three employees continue to be held hostage. Read more Subscribers only Ecuador President Daniel Noboa declares war on gangs The workers were taken captive after President Daniel Noboa this week launched a military takedown of criminal groups, sparking a deadly confrontation with narco gangs in the South American nation. The crisis was triggered by the escape from Guayaquil prison of one of the country's most powerful narco bosses, Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias "Fito." His escape was followed by prison riots, hostage-taking and attacks on the police. At least 19 dead in the violence More than 22,000 troops have been deployed to carry out land, air and sea patrols. Authorities were raiding prisons, and a curfew was in place. At least 19 people have died in the violence, SNAI said, including a guard killed Saturday in clashes with inmates in El Oro near the border with Peru. There were "armed clashes" at the southwestern Machala prison, while the army and the police raided detention centers in six cities to "restore order and normality." Read Le Monde's editorial Ecuador: Strictly national responses would be pointless At least five inmates escaped Friday evening from the vast Guayaquil prison complex, with two of them caught shortly afterward during a search operation, police sources said. Soon after their escape, two helicopters and drones were seen flying over the surroundings of the huge prison, on the northern outskirts of the city. Dozens of police officers supported by soldiers patrolled around the prison, where Ecuador's most dangerous criminals are held. Once a bastion of peace situated between major cocaine producers, Ecuador has been plunged into crisis after years of growing control by transnational cartels that use its ports to ship the drug to the United States and Europe. Criminal gangs in the country of about 17 million people are thought to have more than 20,000 members. According to the latest official report, 859 suspects have been arrested, 25 escaped detainees have been recaptured, five "terrorists" shot dead and 57 kidnapped people have been released. A chilling video filmed in Machala prison and confirmed by police shows the corpse of a prisoner wrapped in plastic thrown into the street from inside the jail, which is under the control of inmates. Other images have emerged over the past few days showing arrested suspected gang members being ridiculed, forced to sing, hitting each other or being mistreated by soldiers. Read more Why Ecuador is facing a deadly security crisis Four migrants died overnight and a fifth was in critical condition on Sunday, January 14, after trying to reach Britain from northern France despite freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said. The group was attempting to reach a vessel off Wimereux when their small boat got into difficulty around two am (0100 GMT), the maritime prefecture told Agence France-Presse (AFP). "We have four dead migrants and one migrant in critical condition at the hospital in Boulogne-sur-mer," said one official. A tugboat patrolling the coast went to the rescue and found the bodies, the first reported migrant deaths on the Channel in 2024. Read more Subscribers only French interior minister defends his immigration bill in Calais The region around Calais, the jumping-off point for the shortest crossing to England, has long been a magnet for migrants. More than two decades after the closure of a Red Cross centre in Sangatte, hundreds of people still live in tents and makeshift shelters near Calais and Dunkirk, hoping for a chance to make the crossing hidden in a truck or aboard a small boat. The boats are a political priority for the British government and a bone of contention with France, as tens of thousands of people a year have been making the dangerous crossing. According to the British government nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel from mainland Europe to Britain in small boats in 2023, an annual drop of more than a third. In November 2021, at least 27 people drowned when their dinghy capsized. Read more Subscribers only In Calais, the blind spots of the French government's immigration bill are laid bare Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's new president, during an election campaign visit to Kaohsiung (southern Taiwan) on January 8, 2024. YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP Some comments stick with their speaker forever. For Lai Ching-te, it's the statement he made before the Taiwanese parliament as prime minister, in 2017: "I am a pragmatic worker for Taiwanese independence." Far from being a slip of the tongue, they reflect his thoughts, and he has always stood by them: "I will never change this stance, no matter what office I hold." Lai Ching-te was elected president of Taiwan on Saturday, January 13, with 40.1% of the votes in a single-round ballot. His party, however, lost the majority in the parliament, with only 51 seats, against 52 for the Kuomintang, favorable to closer ties with China, and 8 seats for the People First Party. "We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy," he said as his opponents rapidly conceded. Lai Ching-te got a lower result than his predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, who gathered 57% of the votes, four years ago. Lai will lead the country for the next four years, as China President Xi Jinping aims to reunify the island with mainland China, a "historic mission" that should cease to be passed down "from generation to generation," through peaceful means if possible, and through military force if necessary. On Friday, on the eve of the vote, the People's Liberation Army warned that it would crush "any form of attempted secession of Taiwan whatsoever." In his victory speech, on Saturday, Lai said he would maintain peace and stability, but pledged to defend the island from Chinese belligerence: "We are determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China." Following one of the most sensitive elections of 2024, this seasoned politician's assumption of power, who throughout his career has consistently advocated for a stronger assertion of Taiwanese identity, is certain to provoke a strong reaction from Beijing. According to Ivy Kwek, a researcher in Taiwan for the International Crisis Group, "we can expect that Beijing will continue to put pressure on Taiwan after the election, especially if a DPP parliament is voted into power." Read more Subscribers only Taiwan's presidential election plays out in China's shadow In an undisguised threat, in December, China revoked preferential customs duties on petrochemical products granted to Taiwan under a 2010 cross-strait agreement. It could hit Taiwanese exports much harder, 35% of which are absorbed by the mainland. Incursions by Chinese fighters beyond the median line dividing the strait are already on the rise each month. Spinal cord injury specialist You have 76.22% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. DESSERT is a weakness of Crooms Sister Helen Culhane, and while out to dinner with friends at a hotel one evening, had she never ordered a sweet treat, she wouldn't have received an important reminder of the impact of her work. As the dessert made its way through from the kitchen, veering around tables, chairs and patrons, the young man holding the enticing treat caught her attention. Wearing a wide smile, the young man, with a hint of recognition in his eyes, uttered a name that resonated with his past Helen. Momentarily perplexed, it then dawned on the sister who he was. From her memory bank, she recalled a young boy of eight who came to the Childrens Grief Centre in Limerick city after his parents split up. The once devastated boy had become a confident young man of 17. And he never forgot the solace he had felt in Helen's presence. This precious moment, along with a number of others, have solidified Helens faith in young people, and in the power of the grief centre. Sharing the story of her journey into sisterhood with the Leader over the new year, Sr Helen brings us back to the 1970s, and her schooldays. As she meanders through the corridors of her education, from the non-religious primary school in Croom, to the fee-free days of secondary schooling at Scoil Carmel in the city, she speaks of a well-rounded education that included elocution classes, music, and even ballet. Fondly recalling Sister Josepha, the principal who presided over the secondary school for an impressive 40 years, Helen reflects on the discipline and care that shaped her formative years. Other influential figures from her time at school, like Sister Gregory, the matron, inspired Helen, as she worked alongside her as a care assistant during the summer of her fifth-year. At school, her religion teacher played a big part in her life. Sister Eva was admired by each child. "She had a guitar and we thought she was very cool," laughs Helen. "I can always remember her giving us a little copy of the New Testament, and she would have us singing nice hymns." Not "overly holy Mary" in her practice, the Croom native recalls how Sister Eva, and the others impacted her life, ultimately guiding her to join the Sisters of Mercy at the age of 24. A proud member of a big family, Helen grew up with three brothers and three sisters. Unfortunately, at the age of five, one of her beloved brothers, Martin Culhane, passed away at just three months-old. "He was a thalidomide child," she reveals. Thalidomide was a widely-used drug in the late 1950s and early 1960s for the treatment of nausea during pregnancy. In the 1960s, it came to light that thalidomide treatment resulted in severe birth defects in thousands of children. Two years later, Helens mother would give birth to twins, John and James, who would die at birth. Even though she dealt with grief as a girl, Helen explains that the deaths wouldnt have, consciously, had a "huge impact" on her foundation of the Childrens Grief Centre on September 14, 2009. Going through the trauma of losing loved ones herself, Helen recalls her mothers ability to keep Martin and the twins a part of their lives, through prayer and chat. Recounting a tale which she dubs "unbelievable" in its own right, Helen describes the unconscious influence her siblings had in the centres foundation. With the centre now running for some time, Helens curiosity about her late brothers grew, prompting her to research their stories. One morning, while sitting in a pew at 8:30am Mass in St Augustines Church, a voice spoke to the devout woman urging her to go to St Camillus Hospital in search of information about the boys, to deepen her understanding of their lives. With no records to be found of the twins, Martins birth certificate revealed something unexplainable he was born on September 14, 1952, the same date the grief centre was founded, 57 years later. Amazed at the link between the birth of Martin and the birth of the centre, she remarked: "The centre was born on the anniversary of my brother and totally unconscious." During almost 15 years of service, the grief centre has won awards, received funding, grown into a place far beyond the Croom womans dreams, and, above all, continues to bring peace to young people across the country who experience loss, just as she did. Recently retired from the centre (she stood down before Christmas) Helen has passed the torch to a new CEO, Mairead OKeeffe. The upcoming year promises to be a whirlwind for Helen from a pilgrimage to Rome, to volunteering in Santiago de Compostela, offering support to those on the Camino trail. Then she sets her sights on joining a transformative 10-week religious programme in Arizona, before returning in 2025 to work twice a week at the grief centre, a place which will continue to serve and shape the youth of Ireland. Ireland will move towards providing large-scale reception centres for international protection applicants, a Government minister has confirmed. There has been unrest over a number of former hotels being used centres to house asylum seekers, with a several protests outside these buildings. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan told RTE on Sunday that there will be a shift to more medium or longer-term planning to house people arriving into the country. He confirmed that Minister for Integration Roderic O'Gorman will bring proposals to the Cabinet in the coming weeks for the purchase of large-scale reception centres, similar to the one already in place in Dublins City West. While he confirmed that some locations have already been selected, he added that the process "will take time". Speaking to RTEs This Week, Minister Ryan said the number of international protection applicants entering the country in the past two years has been "unprecedented". However, he said that Ireland will continue to provide accommodation. "We cannot close our doors, we cannot say to the rest of the world: Ireland is full," he said. "We do need to switch away from relying on this large number of small and emergency facilities from the private sector towards using certain number of centres that will be better for everyone because they wont be on such a needs-must basis at the last minute," he said. There have been a number of protests in recent weeks at proposed locations of such centres. The most recent of these is at Racket Hall in Roscrea, where a protest has been staged for the past three nights. Protestors say they will attempt to block any vehicles carrying asylum seekers from entering the car park of the Racket Hall Hotel and have arranged shifts to ensure the barricade is manned at all times. The Racket Hall Hotel was the only hotel operating in Roscrea until it closed the doors to the public on Thursday night following the announcement the owners of the facility have signed a 12-month contract to use its 40 rooms to accommodate 160 "families of international protection applicants". Weddings and family events, as well as several concerts and comedy shows, were abruptly cancelled and staff met management during the week and were offered the option of retaining their jobs with additional training provided as necessary. DUP deputy leader Gavin Robinson has told members it would be an outrageously cruel act of political blackmail for the UK Government to leverage funding for Northern Ireland against the demands of the party on post-Brexit trading arrangements. It comes amid a Sinn Fein bid to recall Stormont on Wednesday the day before trade unions are planning one of the largest public sector strikes Northern Ireland has seen in recent history. Thursday is also the deadline for Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris to call fresh Assembly elections if devolved government in Northern Ireland has not been restored. The Assembly has been effectively collapsed for almost two years. The DUP is refusing to participate until unionist concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements are addressed. The party has insisted it will not end its blockade until it secures legislative assurances from the Government on Northern Irelands trading position within the UK. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said his talks with the party over the Windsor Framework have concluded, although the DUP has insisted engagement is continuing. Mr Robinson said the party wants devolution re-established but said the rights of Unionists must be respected for powersharing to work. He said: Our objective from day one has not been to get rid of devolution but rather to get a fair deal which unionists as well as nationalists can support. A deal that underpins the foundations of our devolved government rather than undermining them. Previous talks between Mr Heaton-Harris and the main Stormont parties over a 3.3 billion financial package to accompany the return of devolution broke up at Hillsborough Castle in December without any agreement to restore the Assembly and Executive. The package would include money to make an outstanding pay award to public sector workers. In a letter to members also published in the News Letter, Mr Robinson said public sector workers deserve immediate fair pay. He accused the Government of attempting to use a pay offer as leverage, further claiming this had backfired. Mr Robinson said: It would be an outrageously cruel act of political blackmail for the Government to accept they have underfunded Northern Ireland yet not release that money because they want to leverage it against the DUP. Such an approach, will not work. Representatives from the party are due to meet Mr Heaton-Harris on Monday. Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy shared a significant moment in Infosys' history, shedding light on a hiring misstep by Wipro 's founder, Azim Premji. Narayana Murthy disclosed that Wipro had turned down his job application, setting the stage for the creation of Infosys, a formidable rival in the IT industry. Azim Premji later admitted to Murthy that neglecting to hire him was a major mistake, the Infosys founder revealed during a recent interview with CNBC-TV18. "Azim once told me that one of the biggest mistakes he committed was not to hire me," Murthy told CNBC-TV18. Also Read | Narayana Murthy now says he worked 85-90 hours: But is it really productive? As of January 12, Infosys boasts a valuation of 6.65 lakh crore, while Wipro stands at 2.43 lakh crore. Before launching Infosys, Murthy's career included a stint as a research associate at IIM Ahmedabad, where he played a pivotal role in developing the BASIC interpreter for Electronics Corporation of India. Prior to Infosys, his attempt at founding Softronics ended in failure, leading him to join Patni Computer Systems in Pune. Also Read | Narayana Murthy was Bonus Dad to daughter Akshata Murthy, reveals book. Here's why LiveMint earlier reported that Narayana Murthy and wife Sudha Murty's published biography 'An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy' has been the source of many anecdotes about the billionaire businessman. From being made to sleep on a box in a storeroom, to the big regret", the book has offered a plethora of narratives of Narayana Murthy. Also Read | What is Narayana Murthy's 'big regret?' about wife Sudha Murty, having family in business, son Rohan and more Recently, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy hit the headlines when he said that he worked 70 hours a week when setting up the company, and suggested young Indians to work at least 70 hours per week. Murthy told The Economic Times that he worked more than 85 to 90 hours a week until 1994. Meanwhile, Narayana Murthy expressed regret about excluding his wife, Sudha Murty, from the company despite her being "more qualified" than the first seven employees of what is now one of India's largest IT companies. Calling it in retrospect the "wrongly idealistic" choice, Murthy told CNBC-TV18 he then thought it best to keep all family out of business. Leaders who made it big post-rejection Before co-founding Apple and revolutionizing the tech world, Steve Jobs was denied a job at Atari for lacking "basic manners." Similarly, Walt Disney, a man who brought Mickey Mouse to life, was once fired from a newspaper for lacking imagination and having no good ideas". Meanwhile, Arianna Huffington was rejected by 36 publishers before finding success with her book "The Huffington Post," Arianna went on to build a digital media empire known for its innovative approach to news and content creation. WIPRO More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Bengaluru: Yulu is in talks to raise a large debt capital, as the electric bike rental startup aims to bolster its presence in its existing markets, its chief executive officer Amit Gupta said, adding that the company will expand to another 10-12 cities this year. Yulu will use the fresh funds to grow its fleet size. In places such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, we have the ability to grow 7-8x, so we have a lot of opportunity and supply and demand in our core markets," Gupta told Mint in an interview. The company also has plans to launch two models in collaboration with Bajaj Auto, its largest shareholder. Gupta did not specify the amount of debt that the company is raising. Last week, news website Entrackr reported that Yulu had raised 25 crore debt from Northern Arc Capital. Launched in 2017, Amit Gupta along with R. K. Misra and Naveen Dachuri founded Yulu in an attempt to help escape traffic congestion and overcome last-mile mobility challenges in Indian cities. Yulu operates in key markets such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram, and aims to expand to other cities such as Hyderabad and Pune that have a population of at least 10 million. I think India, for the first time, has a domestic market advantage...maybe Yulu is not into manufacturing, but I see a huge market in the country and with the push from the government and the policy side, I think I feel pretty excited about that opportunity," Gupta said. The Bengaluru-based Yulu gained prominence through its partnerships with players in the delivery and e-commerce landscape. It has partnered with firms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Zepto. Food-delivery platforms and e-commerce firms are notorious for high cash-burn, and vehicle operators such as Yulu help them cut costs to some extent. Yulu estimates that gig workers employed by these platforms can save up to 30% of the cost compared with a fuel-based vehicle. These bikes can cover 80-90 kilometres a day, Gupta said. Several experts in the e-commerce market have also alluded to the sentiment that EVs would be the way ahead for the gig economy to flourish, as this can greatly benefit workers by increasing their take-home wages by cutting down on fuel costs. Growing demand for EVs has attracted investor attention and encouraged them to bet on the sector proactively. The optimism also comes from government-driven schemes that push for local manufacturing and provide subsidies for electric vehicles. I think the outlook has changed dramatically," Gupta said. He added that initially it was not a very lucrative space as people were not aware about the future of electric mobility and investors were sceptical, as this is also a very asset-heavy sector. However, people are more confident about this segment now, as there has been a lot of conversation around sustainability and transitioning to EVs. Now, there are dedicated funds, which are basically ready to deploy billions of dollars around the sustainability part. So climate change, or energy transition, you just name, we cut across all of those themes and we sit at the intersection of these three or four large themes," Gupta said, adding that these factors are huge tailwinds for the company. In the last two years, Indian EV companies received a total funding of $3.2 billion, against $863.7 million in the two years before that, according to data collected by Tracxn. Yulu aims to go public in 2026. The company is currently working towards improving its revenue, and is confident about reaching its profitability targets by the first half of this year. As of September 2022, Yulu was valued at $180.8 million, as per Tracxn. This year, we are going to hit these important milestones. Well also have a reasonable amount of revenue scale for us to be setting the foundation for an IPO. In our own internal milestone perspective, we will behave like a publicly-listed company in 2025, and at the right time, we will enter the market," Gupta said. Last year, Yulu reported a revenue of $5.8 million, compared to $4.1 million a year earlier. Its losses widened to $12.1 million versus $7.5 million a year earlier, according to Tracxn data. ZOMATO More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Souvenir vendor Sok Sanita was glad to see the launch of the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year on Saturday, expressing her hope that this initiative would help attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia. The 28-year-old vendor in Siem Reap City said this significant event is essential because it will enable Chinese people to better understand Cambodia's history, culture and civilization. The Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange will encourage more Chinese people to come and visit Cambodia," she told Xinhua while attending the launching ceremony held at the Terrace of the Elephants in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park. Sanita said Cambodia is eager to see more Chinese arrivals, saying that their presence is vital to help reinvigorate Cambodia's tourism industry in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. "Cambodia is safe for all tourists and has a good record of security," she said. "I would like to call on all international tourists, especially the Chinese ones, to come and visit Cambodia, a country that is rich in civilization, culture and history." Seang Samrith, a 23-year-old university student, who also attended the launching event, said the initiative is crucial because it will help both peoples to gain insights into each other's traditions, customs, and daily lives. "I think the people-to-people exchange year will provide a lot of benefits to both countries, further deepening their bonds of friendship. As a result, bilateral cooperation in other areas will be better expanded," he told Xinhua. Samrith recommends that Chinese tourists spend their holidays in Siem Reap province to sightsee the Angkor Archaeological Park, which is a treasure trove of history, culture, and marvelous temples. Cheng Juanjuan, a 22-year-old Chinese sophomore in the major of Khmer language at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the event provided an opportunity for the peoples of China and Cambodia to increase their communication. "Cambodia is a country with a long history and I like to study at the university in this country," she told Xinhua. "When free from school, I have visited the Royal Palace, the historical site of Wat Phnom, and the Siem Reap-Angkor, among others." Cheng said Cambodian people are kind and always help others. "I hope to achieve a good result in my Khmer study, so I will be able to help promote China-Cambodia friendship," she said. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Tea Banh, a member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, said the event was designed to further enhance diamond cooperation between the two countries and to signal the kingdom's readiness to welcome more Chinese tourists. "I believe that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will inject fresh momentum into building a high-quality, high-level and high-standard Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era," he said. Cambodian Tourism Minister Sok Soken said the Southeast Asian country recorded 5.4 million international tourists, including some 540,000 Chinese tourists, in 2023. "I'm strongly confident that the 2024 Cambodia-China People-to-People Exchange Year will become a new driving force to attract more Chinese tourists and investors to Cambodia, contributing further to deepening the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries," he said. China was the biggest source of international tourist arrivals to Cambodia in the pre-pandemic era. The kingdom received 2.36 million Chinese tourists in 2019, accounting for 35.7 percent of the total international tourist arrivals and generating about 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in revenue, according to Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism. Mumbai: India has historically traded at a premium compared to the rest of the emerging markets (EMs), and Prashant Khemka, founder, WhiteOak Capital Management, as he breaks the myth on why India might be in a sweet spot going ahead, too. The market veteran believes the months that follow could see a massive influx of foreign money in India dedicated funds, and if simultaneously the broader EM basket were to see a positive turn, India could attract unprecedented foreign investment". Although Khemka claims to be sector agnostic, structurally he tends to find more attractive investment opportunities in certain sectors like private sector financials, consumptionstaples as well as discretionary, IT, and healthcare. Amid worries over a severe global recession, the market maven expects demand in the IT sector to stabilize and pick up next year. Edited excerpts: To begin with, after strong buying by foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and domestic institutional investors (DIIs) in 2023, how do you see inflows from them in 2024? India is experiencing a positive trend, this is despite the fact that overall emerging markets as an asset class have seen choppy flows. FII interest in India has been rising recently, and going by the number of enquiries coming in, ensuing months could see a massive influx of foreign money in India dedicated funds. If simultaneously the broader EM basket were to see a positive turn, India could attract unprecedented foreign investment. DIIs have been investing at a very robust pace in the last several years. And this is expected to continue if the market remains stable to upwards or there is no massive correction or pullbacks. Could the election be a bump in the road for inflows? Strong performance of Indian markets lately has made global investors optimistic. Even when some prefer to wait until after the elections to invest, there are many that have expedited their decision-making as they now believe the outcome is less likely to disrupt the market. Some are entering partially now and plan to wait a bit before fully committing until May. So, what gave them that kind of confidence to enter the market now, even if Indian equities are hovering around record highs? All-time highs do not really bother investors even though some of them may say that it concerns them; historically, usually you see significantly more investment at market highs than at all-time lows. The reason being, investors are more comfortable taking action when the macro-economic narrative is positive. That, in a way, also helps justify valuations. Therefore, record high market is not a negative for flows. How is India placed within the EM basket, considering there has been some kind of euphoria in the broader market? There are some concerns about Indias valuation in comparison to other emerging markets based solely on relative PE multiples, which we believe are naive. This viewpoint overlooks crucial differences. India has consistently traded at a premium due to its unique combination of being a well-functioning democracy, boasting a superior growth rate, and having a profitable corporate sector. Historical data shows that democracies, on average, command a significant premium over authoritarian regimes, and India stands out as one of the best-functioning democracies among EMs. So, if one wanted to invest in the EM basket, would you suggest India as the right option at present or are there other bets? Despite having significantly different PE multiples, it does not imply that the higher multiple is overvalued compared to the lower one, or that it would yield lower returns. Nor for the matter vice versa. For instance, China at 8 times PE and India at 20 times might both be fairly-valued. That said, many foreign clients are increasingly inclined to invest in India. Over the last three years, numerous investors have reduced or completely exited China, redirecting funds to India, and that is mainly because of Chinas shift towards authoritarianism. This shift in demand is evident in demand for EM ex-China funds. Our client base shows a noticeable trend of withdrawing or reducing exposure to China and allocating a significant portion of those funds to India. How do you evaluate sectoral valuations across large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap stocks? Do you foresee additional re-rating and valuation adjustments in the market? Valuations of certain segments in the mid and small cap space, particularly those with lower liquidity, could be elevated due to impact of money flow rather than fundamentals in the very short term. But, overall, the market seems to be reasonably valued. At one point, there was significant optimism surrounding export-facing companies. However, in the current geopolitical landscape, has the enthusiasm for these companies diminished? For a considerable period now, sentiment in domestic cyclical sectors has been overwhelmingly positive, bordering on euphoria in certain segments. The more cyclical and domestic a segment is, the greater the excitement about growth prospects. The prevailing assumption is that India is uniquely poised for robust economic growth, especially in sectors like manufacturing, power, real estate, and industrials. Fuelling these expectations is the fact that corporate earnings in these segments have also grown the fastest in recent years. Do you see any dark horses in terms of industries/sectors or any that could be a potential re-rating candidate? We are sector agnostic, though we do structurally tend to find more attractive investment opportunities in certain sectors. Like we have always found a lot more attractive opportunities in private sector financials, consumption-staples as well as discretionary, IT, and healthcare. In the financial sector, given its size and scale, its not uncommon for 25 to 35% of the portfolio to be allocated here. However, for segments like defense, power, and manufacturing, where opportunities are limited, its not our approach to have a substantial 25 to 30% portfolio exposure. In these deep cyclicals, our individual exposure typically ranges from low to mid-single digits, with a combined total of around 10 to 15% in the portfolio. Has the worst period passed for IT companies? With the Federal Reserve suggesting multiple rate cuts in 2024, has this altered the narrative for these firms, even if only slightly, considering the potential end of the slowdown? I believe that IT services demand environment might bottom out over the next 6-12 months. Currently, the chances of a severe global recession are far lower than feared earlier. If the economy does not enter a prolonged recession, IT demand should stabilize and pick up next year. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) will continue to look for opportunities to expand its business in the Indian market, even as it rushes to integrate the recently announced Organic India and Capital Foods acquisitions into the business, said a top executive at the salt and tea maker. On Friday, TCPL signed definitive agreements to acquire 100% equity shares of Capital Foods, owner of the Chings Secret and Smith & Jones brands, and Organic India, a company that sells organic teas and health foods. TCPL will pay an enterprise value on a no cash-no debt basis of 5,100 crore for 100% stake in Capital Foods, and for a 100% stake in Organic India, TCPL will pay 1,900 crore, along with an additional earn-out for the shareholders linked to FY26 audited financials of the company, the company said while announcing the acquisitions Friday. The company will complete the integration of the two businesses over the next three-to-four months, with plans to leverage TCPL's existing distribution muscle to further the reach of the recently acquired brandsboth in India and overseas. Meanwhile, the company will continue to scout for opportunities as it builds a large" fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) business in India and overseas. In the immediate-to-short term, the board has reposed enormous confidence in the management team per se by allowing us to do this. I think the first task is to deliver against what we've said we can do with these brands. You can never time inorganic opportunities. If and when something comes up, we will evaluate it on its merits. Our big focus is India; the growth is in India, we aim to be a large player here, but the icing on the cake is if we acquire something in India and it has international legs, that would be a fantastic opportunity," Sunil DSouza, MD and CEO, TCPL, said in an interview with Mint on Sunday. The work to integrate the newly acquired businesses with TCPL will start with immediate effect. So, distribution has significant gaps and given our footprint is far bigger, we should be able to pull this off quickly. There's not too much work to be done on the portfolio because almost everything is complementary. We will be very, very quick about it, three-to-four months is the target that we have set for ourselves," he added. In FY23, the maker of Tata Tea and Tata Salt, posted a 11% jump in consolidated revenue to 13,783 crore. TCPLs products are distributed in over 4 million outlets. Meanwhile, Organic India sells in 24,000 outlets while Capital Foods' brands currently reaches 3.4 to 3.5 lakh outlets. This presents a huge runway" to expand distribution of the newly acquired brands, he said. The move comes as more food companies are stepping up investments in new food plants, research centers, as well as buying regional and national food players, anticipating greater demand for packaged foods in India. In the past, TCPL has publicly stated its intent to expand to new categories while actively scouting for acquisition opportunities as it transforms itself to become a large FMCG player. In 2021, TCPL, acquired Kottaram Agro Foods, the owner of Soulfull that sells millet-based cereals. That (new acquisitions) move us into adjacencies which are high growth," he said. TCPL unites the food and beverage interests of the Tata Group under one umbrella. The companys portfolio of products includes tea, coffee, water, beverages, salt, pulses, spices, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat offerings, breakfast cereals, snacks and mini meals. DSouza said the companys portfolio now covers breakfast, mini meals, snacking, ready to drinkcategories it has identified as key pillars" of growth. Within those brands we will now look at category expansion, but that's not to say that we will not keep a lookout for opportunities as and when they come," he added. DSouza said the two acquisitions will be top line accretive and margin accretive. In terms of growth rates of the businesses, of the categories, they are significantly above where TCPL is trending. In terms of gross margins (including all variables, freight, etc), these are significantly accretive to TCPL. From a top-line perspective, it is right up our alley, gets us into categories which we don't play in, and gets us into high growth, high margin categories," he said. Capital Foods operates in a category with 50% gross margins, while Organic India operates in categories with gross margins of over 55%, according to a company presentation. The acquisitions will give TCPL room to drive double-digit growth over the medium-to-long run. Capital Foods is expected to close FY24 with net revenues of 750 crore. We have always guided for double-digit top line growth, and EBITDA growth ahead of the top line; I would say this would only accelerate it by a decent amount of basis points," he added. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! NEW DELHI : Leaders from across the world will congregate in the picturesque Swiss town for the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) against a backdrop of rising geopolitical tensions, high inflation and tepid global growth. Mint explains the agenda this year: Is there a theme this year? Rebuilding Trust" is the theme, to resurrect globalization after global supply chains were disrupted due to the pandemic and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. With other problems such as climate change, business leaders are expected to brainstorm on long-term solutions and the role of cutting edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). Sub-themes this year include achieving security and cooperation, creating jobs and growth, and a long-term strategy for climate, nature and energy. What are the likely outcomes? The summit allows leaders to sit and discuss divisive issues. Besides the usual flashpoints (the presence of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is one) it will try to restore transparency in world affairs. One impact could be from the AI Governance Alliance, which WEF launched. It brings together tech players, governments and the civil society to find a way to govern AI. The First Movers Coalition, which aims to decarbonize heavy-emitting sectors, is likely to gather further momentum. Who are attending the forum? Over 2,800 leaders across geographies and industries will attend this year. Political leaders include Chinese premier Li Qiang, French president Emmanuel Macron, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, president of Argentina Javier Milei, and the Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo. There will be an estimated 1,600 business leaders. What will be Indias role this year? Indias delegation will be led by Smriti Irani, minister for women and child development. She will lead a 100-member business delegation. As the fastest growing economy in the world, India will seek to woo global investors and highlight its ambition to become a $5 trillion economy in the next few years as it chases a developed nation status by 2047. India is likely to use the forum to make a pitch as the most attractive market for companies looking beyond China. India will also showcase its success in renewable energy. Is Davos still a big deal? Davos has drawn criticism from activists as a cabal of the rich who only seek to further corporate interests. Activists say business leaders strut about in their carbon-emitting private jets and then talk about climate change. The more fundamental shift is in how the world is moving away from globalization. Countries are aligning themselves with like minded partnersforums like the Quad, for instance. These forums might make Davos less important in the future. In a big push for India's energy security, the state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has discovered two significant natural gas reserves in the Mahanadi basin block in the Bay of Bengal. With this, the company's efforts to venture into high-risk deep-water exploration have started yielding results. The Maharatna company made the discoveries in the block MN-DWHP-2018/1, which it had won in 2019 in the third round of auction under the open acreage licensing policy, two sources with direct knowledge of the development told news agency PTI. The development has been made in an area that was earlier classified as a no-go area because of national security interests. The first discovery, named Utkal, is in 714 metres of water depth and flowed more than 3 lakh cubic metres per day of gas during initial testing, they said, adding the other find is at a water depth of 1,110 metres. The company has notified the discoveries upstream regulator Directorate General of Hydrocarbons (DGH) and is now doing pool size and commercial viability assessments, they said. The recent discovery is likely to give an impetus to India's energy security as the country imports nearly half of its gas needs. India is aiming to raise the share of natural gas in its energy basket to 15 percent by 2030 from the current 6.3 percent and more domestic production will aid that. Natural gas, a major contributor to India's net zero emission target For a long, natural gas has been seen as a major tool for India to transition from carbon dioxide-emitting fuels to achieve a net zero carbon emission by 2070. Natural gas has a lower carbon footprint compared to polluting fossil fuels. Natural gas is extracted from below ground or sea surface. It is mainly used to generate electricity, make fertilisers, or turn into CNG to use as fuel in automobiles and piped to household kitchens for cooking purposes. Greater use of natural gas will replace coal in power generation and liquid fuels in industries. The recent development was possible only after the government freed almost one lakh square kilometres of the area from restrictions for exploring and producing oil and gas. Earlier, the area was classified as a no-gas area because it came in the path of missile testing or on a satellite launch route. However, in 2022 the restrictions on more than 98 percent of the no-go areas were removed 2022, allowing for energy companies to send vessels and drillships to find oil and gas. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Specialty coffee chains are attracting greater interest from venture capital funds than direct-to-consumer (D2C) players without any retail presence, driven by better unit economics, investors and founders said. For coffee chains, 2023 was a landmark year, with at least two specialty coffee retail ventures securing significant fund infusions in the specialty coffee startup ecosystem. This is reflected in dataIndian specialty coffee cafe chains have raised close to $100 million venture capital in the last two years, compared with a cumulative $22 million in the fours years before that, according to Tracxn. This is because of the growing coffee consumption in India and falling cost of capital expenditure, investors said. Over the years, the real bane of the business has been high retail cost, said V. T. Bhardwaj, partner, A91 Partners, an investor in specialty coffee retail chain Blue Tokai. The capex you invested in a cafe was never great, it was acceptable but not good. For every one rupee you put, you maybe will get a 2x return in three years. The cost of capex has come down because there are more people interested," Bharadwaj said. Specialty coffee as a product was also unknown previously, Shivam Shahi, co-founder and chief operating officer, Blue Tokai, said. In the last two years, the perception started shifting, and investors have started giving importance to retail, he said. The perceived value of the category has gone very high because of the growth coffee is seeing as a category," Shahi said. Blue Tokai has about 90 cafes across India, according to its website. Its physical cafes account for 6570% of the overall revenue, while the rest comes from the online segment, according to Shahi. Last year, it raised $30 million in a round led by A91 partners, in addition to an undisclosed round from film actor Deepika Padukone. Another specialty coffee chain, Third Wave Coffee, secured $35 million in a Series C funding round, led by investment firm Creaegis. During the same period, coffee chain AB Coffee raised a seed round and Hatti Kaapi scooped up an undisclosed round last year, according to data from Tracxn. Data platform Statista estimates the Indian coffee market to be worth $0.5 billion in 2023, which is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 9.04% till 2028. The specialty market represents about 5% of the formal coffee market, according to the 202122 annual report of Tata Consumer Products. Investor interest in coffee is not new. Several coffee chains, including Starbucks, Barista, and Cafe Coffee Day have been trying to succeed in India over the last decade. Starbucks entered India in 2012 and operates about 390 stores, or cafes, in the country through a joint venture with the Tata Group. A Reuters report says the coffee retail giant plans to operate 1,000 stores in India in the next four years. Starbucks reported a loss of 25 crore and revenue of a little over 1,000 crore in FY23. In 2014, Italian group Lavazza Spa sold Barista to New Delhi-based Carnation Hospitality for 100 crore after failing to turn the group around. Coffee Day slid into bankruptcy in 2023. The recent breakthrough has been the entry of delivery, Bharadwaj said. Almost 2030% of business for these startups is coming from delivery. Economics of the business have improved because of that. Earlier, if you had invested 10 lakh in a cafe, you would get 20 lakh, contribution margin was 60%. Now you would get 30 lakh with the same setup because of delivery," he added. Blue Tokais revenue surged 80% on year to 74 crore in FY22, while its loss widened to 12 crore from 7 crore. At the same time, Third Wave Coffee revenue saw a near threefold jump from FY21 to 32.5 crore in FY22. Its loss stood at 14.5 crore during the same period. Investors are pouring money into speciality coffee cafe startups, while the investor sentiment isnt particularly bullish on D2C coffee brands without any retail presence. Many companies cropped up in the D2C coffee brands space in the past, as the thesis was that getting rid of retail costs would help the sustainability of the business. But things havent panned out as was imagined because of high customer-acquisition costs and stiff competition. We have seen that people are looking for brands that have a holistic presence with multiple channels and not just D2C. Physical presence helps with brand recall, more people recognising you and trying your product, and building retention," Rahul Jain cofounder of D2C coffee brand Beanly said. Jain said that investor sentiment for any consumer product brand, which is purely D2C, is slightly negative. Premium coffee is expensive in India, says Bhardwaj of A91 Partners. Customers are not willing to pay for sitting at home. When many cafes will open, people will get used to it and then they may become willing to spend on good coffee at home, then the D2C premium coffee market will gain traction," he said. It is also not just about coffee. Theres also food that these cafes serve with coffee. Its essentially a food business," he added. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Did you know that a whopping total of 42,272 crore are sitting with banks as unclaimed deposits as of the end of March 2023, and around 2,637.94 crore of unclaimed dividends and units are lying with mutual fund (MF) houses? The shares, dividends, and debentures that have remained unclaimed for seven years or more get transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund (IEPF), a repository set up under the Companies Act of 1956. Deposits and interest left unclaimed for over 10 years in inactive bank accounts are transferred to the RBI Depositor Education Awareness Fund (DEA Fund). Also Read: RBI issues guidelines on bank classification of unclaimed deposits In this article, we will see the main causes behind this staggering number and how individuals like you and me can navigate this maze and claim our unclaimed deposits and investments. Reasons behind this mammoth figure There are various reasons behind this huge number of unclaimed deposits/investments. In the case of bank deposits, it is mainly because depositors don't close the savings/current accounts that they don't operate anymore or don't make redemption claims for matured fixed deposits. In addition, nominees/ legal heirs do not come forward to make a claim. Vikash Jain, Co-Founder at Share Samadhan, believes that Indian families' not sharing their financial details with family members is one of the main reasons. The first reason is investors often hesitate to share complete investment details with their families and in the case of emergencies, family members struggle to identify and retrieve investments. The second reason is people change their addresses without informing the relevant investment companies which leads to difficulties in communication and access to investments. The third reason is an alteration of maiden name after marriage, and the fourth reason is the loss of investment papers during natural disasters like floods or fires," said Vikash. Also Read: How SBI customers can claim unclaimed money in fixed deposit (FD), recurring deposit, or savings account Explained Checking unclaimed deposits, investments, or insurance Depending on the type of investment, there are different ways to check unclaimed deposits and investments. Unclaimed deposits with banks can be identified by going to the UDGAM portal launched by the RBI and filling necessary details of the accountholder. Similarly unclaimed shares and dividends can be searched for by going to the Investor Education and Protection Fund Authoritys (IEPF) website and putting in relevant details of the shareholder. However, there is no centralised portal or database whereby unclaimed insurance policy proceeds can be accessed. One has to go through individual websites of the insurance companies and check for unclaimed maturity proceeds," said Ankit Garg, Advocate and Founder of Garg Law Chambers (GLC). Required documents to make claims Investors or their legal heirs must have the respective folio number, policy number, name and address of the investor/deceased to try looking for details of unclaimed deposits/investments. In most cases, the name, PAN Card and respective document of the unclaimed asset are needed to claim unclaimed assets," said Vijai Mantri, Co-founder of Jeevantika Consultancy Services. Also Read: RBIs Udgam portal: How to check details of unclaimed deposits? A step-by-step guide Steps that need to be taken Vijai said that the process of claiming might differ across assets, but the core idea is to establish the authenticity of the claimant by furnishing KYC. It is also seen that children of deceased individuals have a hard time figuring out their parents investment details. The first thing that a person should do is to check the files and records at home. As Indians, we have the tendency to store important documents at home. And even if you think that a particular piece of paper is useless, you will be surprised to know that even an insignificant document can turn out to be very beneficial," said Vikash. He also mentions that financial advisors and chartered accountants might have information about investments while assisting them/parents with tax filings. The third step is examining bank statements for clues, such as premium payments or online transactions related to investments. If nothing is available, then the last approach that people might take is to visit the bank branch where they believe that their parents had bank accounts. There might be a scenario where you believe that your parents had bank accounts among these four-five banks. You can walk up to them and say that you are a legal claimant and ask for any existing accounts of your parents with them," said Vikash. After you have a fair idea about your parents' investment details, you must write to the companies seeking detailed procedures. The legal heirs have to submit their KYC documents, death certificate of the deceased investor, and relationship proofs with the deceased such as Legal Heir Certificate, Family Tree, and Surviving Member Certificate. In case of high value shares or deposits, the concerned body may also ask the legal heirs to approach the court to obtain Succession Certificate or Probate in case the deceased left a Will. The process is simple in case there is a Nominee in the assets. In such a case, the nominee can get the investments faster by providing basic documents. However, it is important to note that the nominee is only a custodian of the investments. Legal heirs can stake claim on the said investments at any time, and their rights are protected under the law," said Ankit. On top of that, the requirement for different legal documents will depend on the amount that you are seeking to claim. You have to provide the succession certificate beyond a certain claim amount. In case of physical shares, the limit was initially 2,00,000, but SEBI increased it to 5,00,000. However, if we're dealing with shares in demat form, that limit is 15 lakhs. Now, when it comes to banks, mutual funds and insurance policies, the threshold remains at 2 lakhs," said Vikash. In the final part, we will look into the use of technology, fees and the role of retrieval advisory platforms. Padmaja Choudhury is a freelance financial content writer. With around six years of total experience, mutual funds and personal finance are her focus areas. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! National security advisors of several countries met on Sunday to discuss a peace formula for Ukraine and pushed for early restoration of peace in the war-hit country, with the host Switzerland asserting that India can play a key role with its influence and relations with Russia. The meeting also saw many participants echoing India's position that war can never be a solution and that dialogue was a must to resolve the situation. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said Russia would be asked to join the peace plan discussions at some point in time but to bring Russia on the table would require mediation by some countries. He said restoring peace is the ultimate objective. The Swiss Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs said currently, Russia is not willing to make any concessions, but there is no alternative to bringing both countries to the table for which a collective momentum would be required from more than 100 countries, including those from outside Europe. "Stakes are very high, and we need to go ahead. Without a dialogue, we cannot reach a satisfactory objective. History shows that war is not a solution," Cassis said. Replying to questions, he said participation from BRICS countries, including India, is very important, as these are the countries, which have got some relations continuing with Russia. He also lauded the position taken by countries like India, saying their actions are facilitating this collective movement. "They may be far away (physically from the conflict zone), but they can play an important role as they have influence. China can also play a key role, and we will have to work to involve China in these meetings," he said. Asked whether Switzerland can help bring China and Russia on the table, Cassis replied in the affirmative, saying, "Yes, I do see our role to do this". "Participation of countries from BRICS alliance is of utmost importance because these are the countries, which have relations and a degree of trust with Russia. Russia, of course, is part of that group. Therefore, the presence of these countries is important. We have Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, South America. We also saw Ukraine President going to Argentina." All these actions are facilitating this collective action. "China can play a crucial role in all of this, and we should find a better way to cooperate and engage with China to make progress. It's not easy and it will be a long process, but there is no other option than dialogue," he said. While China was not present at the meeting, India was represented by Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) Vikram Misri. The Swiss Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said, "By organising the meeting, Switzerland continues to support Ukraine in achieving this goal". This was the fourth NSA meeting on the peace formula proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2022, which follows ten principles aimed at ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Earlier meetings have been held in Copenhagen, Jeddah and Malta. India has always pitched for restoration of peace in Ukraine, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his discussions with Zelenskyy, has said that India was ready to help in all possible manner to help restore peace. During his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin also, Modi said it is not a time of war. Sources said that the Indian representative at the Davos meeting again called for early restoration of peace, though there was no official word on this. Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who co-chaired the meeting along with Cassis, said it was attended by representatives of 81 countries and international organisations. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the aim of the conference is to finalise the talks at the level of national security advisers on principles for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. "These principles should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. Switzerland is making an important contribution to this through the conference in Davos," it said. The fourth NSA meeting also included panel discussions on food security and humanitarian aspects. The meeting was held a day before the start of the five-day World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here, to be attended by over 2,800 global leaders, including nearly 60 heads of state and government. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As the icy grip of winter tightened and reached its peak, trains arriving in Delhi faced a frustrating delay on January 14, with 22 trains arriving late due to dense fog blanketing the region. Travellers hoping for a smooth ride into the capital found their plans disrupted by delays ranging from a minor 30 minutes to a whopping 6 hours, throwing schedules into disarray and testing the patience of weary passengers. The list of affected trains The Azamgarh-Delhi-bound Train no. 12225 Kaifiyat Express, was delayed by 3 hours. Meanwhile, Train no. 12716 Amritsar-Nanded Express experienced a significant delay of 6 hours, causing distress for passengers on that route. The Puri-New Delhi-bound Train no. 12801 Purushottam Express was also facing delay, with a lag of 3 hours and 30 minutes. Similarly, the Train no. 12451 Shramshakti Express (Kanpur-New Delhi) and the Train no. 12553 Vaishali Express (Saharsa-New Delhi) were both delayed by 1 hour and 30 minutes. The disruptions continued with the Train no. 12427 Rewa-Anand Vihar Express, which was delayed by 3 hours, and the Train no. 12417 Prayagraj-New Delhi Express, which was running 2 hours and 15 minutes behind schedule. Additionally, the Train no. 12393 Rajendranagar-New Delhi Express was experiencing a delay of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Katra-bound Train no. 12919 Ambedkarnagar-Katra was facing a delay of 2 hours, while the Train no. 14207 Pratapgarh-Delhi Junction was delayed by 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Train no. 12415 Indore-New Delhi was also affected, running an hour late. The delays extended to the South with the Train no. 12779 Vasco-Nizamuddin delayed by 1 hour and 15 minutes, and the Train no. 12615 Chennai-New Delhi and Train no. 12621 Chennai-New Delhi both experiencing delays of 1 hour and 30 minutes and 1 hour and 15 minutes, respectively. Further disruptions included the Train no. 12723 Hyderabad-New Delhi Express, delayed by 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the Train no. 12138 Ferozpur-Mumbai Express delayed by 1 hour. The Train no. 12904 Amritsar-Mumbai Mail was also facing a delay of 1 hour and 30 minutes. The Train no. 12458 Bikaner-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express was running an hour late, while the Train no. 15707 Katihar-Amritsar Express and Train no. 12414 Jammu Tawi-Ajmer Pooja Express were experiencing substantial delays of 6 hours each. The Train no. 15658 Kamakhya-Delhi Junction Brahmaputra Express was delayed by 3 hours, and the Train no. 12447 Manikpur-Nizamuddin Express was delayed by 2 hours. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Lets take a look at 10 updates on celebrations, controversies and other developments related to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha ceremony, to be held on January 22. Akhilesh Yadav gets invite Akhilesh Yadav has thanked the Ram Mandir trust for inviting him to the ceremony. However, the Samajwadi Party leader will visit the temple with his family only after the event. Yadav received the invitation on January 13. Politicised ceremony Swami Nishchalanand Saraswati believes the ceremony has become "politicised". He believes so largely because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's involvement. As a result, the Shankaracharya of Puri Govardhan Peeth has chosen not to attend the ceremony. Congress leaders decline invites Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo has expressed scepticism about the timing of the 'Pran Patishtha' ceremony. He has questioned political motives as the Lok Sabha elections is happening in a few months. Earlier, top Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined invitations while calling it a BJP-RSS event. Amish Tripathi counters Congress Amish Tripathi has countered Congress' criticism of BJP's event at the unfinished Ram Temple. He has noted that, historically, temple construction may take centuries. He has highlighted that, once the Garbhagriha is complete and the idol installed, the 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony is permissible. Congress to conduct event The Congress leadership has decided not to attend the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya on January 22. However, the Uttar Pradesh Congress unit will still conduct its own event in Ayodhya on January 15. Ajay Rai, the state president, along with other senior leaders and about 100 Congress members, will participate in this event. Floating screen Uttar Pradesh's government, led by Yogi Adityanath, is preparing to transform Ayodhya. A large floating screen will be installed at Chaudhary Charan Singh Ghat. It will be India's largest floating screen. Painting of Karsevaks Lucknow artists are creating oil paintings of volunteers who sacrificed their lives during the Ram Mandir movement in the early 1990s. These paintings, which will also include those who fought for the Ram Temple since 1949, could be displayed in the Ram Lalla courtyard. The Ram Temple Trust has yet to make a final decision on this. 'Jai Shri Ram' in US The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of America held a Tesla musical light show in Maryland to celebrate the upcoming opening. People from the Hindu community participated, displaying flags with Lord Ram's images and chanting slogans like 'Jai Shree Ram'. The Tesla car light show was synchronised to the tune of 'Jai Shri Ram'. Celebrations in Mauritius To celebrate the grand opening, temples across Mauritius will conduct chantings from the 'Ramayana'. This initiative is part of the 'Pran Pratishtha' celebrations scheduled for January 22. The Mauritian government recently declared a two-hour break for Hindu public office workers to participate in events related to the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb Iqbal Ansari has bought a miniature Ram Temple model as a gift for his aide. He was previously involved in the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case. Ansari showcased the Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, a term symbolising Hindu-Muslim unity, in Ayodhya. Ansari has been invited to the Ram Temple inauguration. (With agency inputs) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Ahead of the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohanlal Yadav on Sunday declared January 22 a dry day. MP has become the sixth state to ban liquor sales on the day of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ram Temple in Ayodhya. "We have decided that January 22 will be a dry day in the entire state. Shops selling any kind of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance would remain closed on that day," MP CM told ANI on Sunday. After the announcement, a total of six states have declared dry day on the occassion of Ram Mandir inauguration. Earlier in the day, Bhajan Lal Sharma-led Rajasthan government had declared dry day on January 22. Previously, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh have also announced ban on liquor sale on the day. Announcing ban on liquor sale in the state, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, ""Today, a meeting of state BJP was held where the MPs, MLAs, district presidents, in-charges, co-incharges, office bearers, BJP Yuva Morcha's district presidents and state BJP president Bhabesh Kalita were present. From January 18 to January 21, we will observe Swachh Tirtha Utsav in various religious sites across the state. On January 22, we all will see the historic moment of the Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha', we will go to different religious sites across the state for this." More states are likely to announce dry day on January 22. On Friday, the BJP urged the Jharkhand government to declare a dry day" on January 22 for the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Deepak Prakash wrote a letter to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren requesting him to put a ban on the sale of liquor and meat on that day in view of Pran Pratishtha at the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! HARARE, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Amid forecasts of an El Nino-induced drought, the Zimbabwean government has advised farmers to stop planting crops for the summer rainfall season, warning that the country is likely to experience a short and sharp farming season. According to the country's Meteorological Services Department, Zimbabwe is likely to experience normal to below-normal rainfall in the 2023-24 agricultural season due to the El-Nino phenomenon that may also affect southern Africa. Zimbabwe's main rainfall season normally runs from October to March, but due to the El Nino phenomenon, rains delayed by about five weeks and were erratic during November, leading early planted crops to suffer from severe moisture stress. Meaningful rains only started in late December as the El Nino phenomenon appeared to be weakening, and the government advised farmers to continue planting until early January. However, Obert Jiri, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development, said on Sunday that there were indications that this year's season was likely to be "short and sharp" hence the need for farmers to stop further planting. "We expect that we are going to continue receiving rains, but that they might end abruptly at the end of February into early March. We will have a short, sharp season," Jiri was quoted as saying by the state-controlled Sunday Mail newspaper on Sunday. He advised farmers to stop planting despite the rains being received in the country. "Those who had prepared should also consider short-season varieties since we have a short season," he said. El Nino can disrupt the usual regional weather patterns, leading to more unpredictable and extreme weather events. Floods can follow droughts and intense cyclones become more likely. Climate expert Walter Svinurai told the weekly paper that farmers need to climate-proof their production, adding that Zimbabwe may experience a moderate drought and not a full-blown drought this year. Agriculture is the nerve center of Zimbabwe's economy, contributing between 15 to 18 percent to the country's gross domestic product, according to the government statistics. Finance and Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube has projected that Zimbabwe's 2024 economic growth rate will slow to 3.5 percent from 5.3 percent in 2023 due to the expected impact of the El Nino phenomenon. As the national capital experiencing severe cold, reaching the lowest minimum temperature of the winter season on Sunday, and low visibility due to dense fog conditions, authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) diverted 10 flights and delayed nearly 100, besides cancelling several. Delhi airport officials, as reported by news agency PTI, indicated that a total of 10 flights, including 2 international flights, were diverted to Jaipur between 4.30 am and 12 noon. Nearly 100 flights, including overseas services, were delayed, and some of the flights were cancelled due to the bad weather, the officials added. Also Read | Maldives asks India to withdraw troops by March 15 Visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport was nearly zero between 4 am and 10 am, resulting in no flight departures and only 15 arrivals during that period, PTI report further said citing sources. Under normal weather conditions, the airport manages around 60 departures and arrivals per hour. Fog to prevail for next three to four days As bone-chilling temperatures persist, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert predicting that a dense fog is likely to endure in isolated pockets of northwest India for the next three to four days Very dense fog layer extends over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, North Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Passengers on highways need to drive extremely carefully and only with fog lights," the IMD posted from its X handle. Also Read | Ayodhya Ram temple: Madhya Pradesh declares January 22 a dry day The weather department said that this season's dense fog was the longest duration experienced so far. IndiGo Airlines released an official statement acknowledging the impact of low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India on their flight operations on Sunday. Due to the low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India, IndiGo flight operations were impacted on January 14, 2024. This had a cascading effect on our operations throughout the day. Our staff kept passengers apprised of all delays and cancellations across airports and made every possible effort to facilitate the passengers. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers," the airline said. Passengers experienced prolonged waiting times on the aircraft before deboarding. A passenger told Republic TV that her IndiGo Airlines flight to Dublin was scheduled to take off at 6 am, but later it got cancelled and passengers were made to board and sit inside the aircraft for over five hours. Chaos at T3 Airport in New Delhi as many flights cancelled due to fog. Especially very bad management by Air India staff. Strange to notice Vistara handling passengers much better than Air India and Indigo," posted an X user. New Delhi: A thick blanket of fog in Delhi since the early hours of Sunday led to the diversion of about 10 flights to Jaipur; also, more than 300 flights were delayed at the Delhi airport, the busiest and largest airport in India. Around 10 flights, which were expected to land at Delhi airport, have been diverted to Jaipur so far as the captains of those flights were not CAT-III compliant. Over 300 flights have been delayed and the impact will only recede gradually," an official told Mint. Officials aware of the development said that there was no visibility between 4 am and 10 am, as a result of which flights were unable to depart at all during this period and only 15 flight arrivals were recorded. Under normal circumstances, the airport records around 60 flights, including arrivals and departures per hour. The airport currently handles 1,400-1,500 daily flights on average. The difficult weather conditions early morning with visibility of around 80 metres delayed departures of flights. Further, this led to long waiting period for parking for the CAT-III compliant flights which landed at the Delhi airport and some arriving flights had to wait about two-three hours to reach the parking bay. Thousands of passengers took to social media to complain about the chaotic scenes at the check-in counters, security lanes, and lack of refreshments for passengers whose flights were delayed. Flight departures continued to be delayed by an average of 2.5 hours at Delhi airport with some flights delayed by over eight-nine hours. ...5 hours delays and still counting! Refreshment to only who ask for it!! No one to manage the chaos!!," a user on social media platform X wrote. Another user Priyash Bhargava complained that Air India Express IX775 Guwahati to Delhi flight took off from Guwahati around 1:30 am on Sunday for Delhi but got diverted to Jaipur due to bad weather. The user further complained about the passengers stuck in the aircraft which was parked idle at the Jaipur airport for over 12 hours. Dense fog also affected other cities such as Varanasi and Chennai. Akasa Air had to cancel four flights from the city QP 1698 Bengaluru-Varanasi, QP 1497 Varanasi-Mumbai, QP 1491 Mumbai-Varanasi, and QP 1424 Varanasi-Bengaluru. Similarly, IndiGo diverted its Singapore-Chennai flight to Hyderabad due to the adverse weather conditions. SpiceJet also cautioned about impact on flights at Delhi, Amritsar, Darbhanga, Guwahati, Bagdogra, Varanasi, Jammu, Patna, Tezpur and Gorakhpur. As an aircraft is expected to complete four flights a day, a delay at any point of departure causes a domino effect for the rest of the flight schedule and crew availability over the following day as well even if the weather conditions improve. Plane is standing on the tarmac, passengers are waiting AI 394 for Singapore scheduled to take off at 1:25 pm is delayed by five hours. Reason: Pilot has not yet arrived!!," another user wrote on X. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! A high-level core group of officials from India and Maldives Sunday initiated official talks on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Island nation, amid Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu asking India to withdraw its troops from the archipelago by March 15. Earlier on Sunday morning the two countries had held a high-level core group meeting to negotiate the withdrawal. Recent government figures indicate that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. The news agency reported that the talks began at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male citing a report in SunOnline newspaper. Ibrahim Khaleel, the Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications, told SunOnline newspaper that both the countries had agreed to set up a high-level core group during the meeting between President Muizzu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai in December. Khaleel said besides the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, the group also discussed expediting India-backed development projects in the island nation. Earlier, the new Maldivian administration had established that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering. The withdrawal of Indian troops had been a major poll plank for the 'pro-China' leader. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, President Muizzu formally requested New Delhi to withdraw its military personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation, saying that the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to India. The discussions on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel come amid a row between the two nations in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Modi. President Muizzu suspended all three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia and China. Earlier on Saturday Maldives President Muizzu, after returning from China, said his country may be small but will not be bullied. During his just-concluded state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. "We are not a country that is in the backyard of another country. We are an independent nation," Muizzu told reporters on his arrival home in Male on Saturday. "This territorial integrity policy is one that China respects", he added. (With inputs from agencies) BLUE STAR More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on a two-day visit to Andhra Pradesh and Kerala from Tuesday to launch several development projects worth more than 4,000 crore in Kochi, including the New Dry Dock and the International Ship Repair Facility at the Cochin Shipyard Limited. PM Modi will visit Sri Sathya Sai District in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and inaugurate the new campus of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics (NACIN), the PMO said in a release. Also Read | Maldives asks India to withdraw troops by March 15 On January 17, the prime minister will inaugurate important infrastructure projects related to the ports, shipping, and waterways sector in Kerala after visiting Guruvayur Temple and Thriprayar Shree Ramaswami Temple in the state. The prime minister will inaugurate three major infrastructure projects worth more than 4,000 crore in Kochi. These major infrastructure projects are in line with PM Modis vision to transform the ports, shipping, and waterways sector, and build capacity and self-sufficiency in it. The New Dry Dock is built at a cost of about 1,800 crore at the existing premises of CSL, Kochi. The 310-meter-long dry dock, with a width of 75/60 meters, a depth of 13 meters and a draught of up to 9.5 metres, is one of the largest marine infrastructures in the region. The International Ship Repair Facility (ISRF) project is built at a cost of about 970 crore. It has a ship lift system with a capacity of 6000T, a transfer system, six workstations and a berth of approximately 1,400 metres which can accommodate seven vessels of 130 metres in length simultaneously. The ISRF will modernise and expand the existing ship repair capabilities of CSL and will be a step towards transforming Kochi into a global ship repair hub. The Indian Oils LPG Import Terminal at Puthuvypeen, Kochi, is built at a cost of about 1,236 crores. With a 15400 MT storage capacity, the terminal will ensure a steady supply of LPG for millions of households and businesses in the region. This project will further strengthen India's efforts towards ensuring accessible and affordable energy for all. With the commissioning of these three projects, the nations shipbuilding and repair capacities as well as the growth of energy infrastructure including ancillary industries will get a boost. The projects will also boost EXIM Trade, reduce logistics costs, drive economic growth, build self-reliance and create numerous domestic and international business opportunities. COCHIN SHIPYARD More Information Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! North Korea launched its first ballistic missile, in about a month, off the North's east coast on Sunday, reported AP . North Korea's neighbouring countries including Japan and South Korea informed that they detected a possible ballistic missile launch by North Korea. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff and Japans Defense Ministry informed that the country ruled by Kim Jong Un fired missile on Sunday. The last time North Korea fired a missile was on December 18 when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fuelled intercontinental ballistic missile. The latest launch came days after North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the tense sea border with South Korea. In retaliation, South Korea conducted similar exchange of firing in the same area. Kim Jong Un said, "The historic time has come at last when we should define as a state most hostile toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea the entity called the Republic of Korea (South Korea)," reported official Korean Central News Agency. Earlier, Kim Jong Un called South Korea our principal enemy" and warned to annihilate it if provoked. South Koreas parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in April while the US will go to polls in November this year. Kim Jong Un pledged to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal and launch additional spy satellites last month. He said that these moves were in response to US led confrontations. South Korea claimed that North Korea successfully manoeuvred a reconnaissance satellite into orbit last year with the help of Russia. This assistance was alleged to be received in exchange for arms shipments for Russia's war in Ukraine, reported AFP. North Korea declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power in 2022. Kim Jong Un ruled country said that it will never give up its nuclear weapons programme, which the regime views as essential for its survival. North Korea conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. Since then, United Nations Security Council adopted many resolutions attempting to halt North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. (With agency inputs) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Copenhagen : Denmark's King Frederik X ascended the throne on Sunday, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, with big crowds gathered in the capital to witness history. Margrethe, 83, stunned the nation on New Year's Eve when she announced she planned to become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. The succession was formalized the moment Margrethe signed the declaration of her abdication during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament, the royal palace said. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation. The meeting was attended by government representatives, Margrethe, Frederik, 55, his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who is now queen, and their oldest son Christian, 18, who is the new heir to the throne. About an hour after the signing, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was due to proclaim the new king on the balcony of the parliament and Frederik will give a short speech. In close to freezing temperatures, tens of thousands of people from all over Denmark converged on the capital to witness events, in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying in the nation of nearly six million. "We have come here today because this is history being made in front of our eyes. We just had to be here," said Soren Kristian Bisgaard, 30, a pilot. He was drinking champagne with three friends, sitting in camping chairs in front of parliament. "I'm very fond of the royal family. I have been in the Royal Life Guards myself, standing guard at the royal palace. I'm very proud to have done that and also to be here today," he said, Later in the afternoon, the new king and queen were due to ride by horse carriage back to their residence, Amalienborg, a royal complex built in the 1750s and located in central Copenhagen. The couple will continue to reside with Margrethe, who will retain her title as queen, in Amalienborg albeit in their respective palaces in the octagonal complex. Royal Power Couple Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. "It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now," said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. "He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles." The British king was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86% said the same about Mary. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! The victory of former Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te has given a clear signal of the public's mood and its stance on reunification with China. However, the victory of the pro-democracy candidate in Taiwan didn't sink well with China which has warned the island nation of facing severe consequences for attempting to split apart China's territory. Soon after the announcement of the election results, a war of words erupted between China and Taiwan officials. On one hand, Beijing warned the US for congratulating the winner Lai Ching-te, on the other hand, Taipei accused the dragon of making fallacious comments". "If anyone on the island of Taiwan thinks of going for independence, they will be trying to split apart China's territory, and will certainly be harshly punished by both history and the law," said Chinese diplomat Wang Yi said in a joint press conference with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Cairo. "This is a dead end," he added. "No matter what the results of the election are, they cannot change the basic fact that there is only one China and Taiwan is a part of it," Wang said Sunday. He also made it clear that Taiwan has never been a country. It wasn't in the past, and it certainly won't be in the future." China's strong message to the US on Taiwan After the victory of Lai Ching-Te, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated him and said that Washington looks forward to working with all of Taiwan's leaders. However, America's message to Taiwan didn't please China which called the US statement a "gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces" and said that it goes against a U.S. commitment to maintaining only unofficial ties with Taiwan. Despite the victory of the Democratic Progressive Party's Lai Ching Te, it doesn't reflect the mainstream public opinion, read a statement from the Taiwan Affairs Office in China. In response to China's comments, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry, called on China to respect the election results, face reality and give up its oppression against Taiwan." The recent elections signal the worsening of relations between Taiwan and China. The Chinese military regularly sends fighter jets and warships into the skies and waters near Taiwan. There are high chance that any conflict between the two could draw in the United States. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! When the European Union implemented its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018, organisations were forced to revisit the way they tracked, stored, managed, and processed data. Data was segmented into various classesprimarily public data, personal data, and sensitive personal data. And this meant a major rethink for the marketing, communications and business development functions of organisations, given the extra-territorial applicability of GDPR and its focus on user privacy. To enable a smooth transition, the European Union adopted a systematic approach to the implementation of GDPR. It was preceded by years of work involving extensive documentation and training sessions, which provided clarity on the scope and application of the legislation. However, things may not be as smooth in Indias data privacy transition given that theres not much visibility on the rules that will define the pathway or the technology-readiness and preparedness at marketing and communications departments. No longer a matter of business choice As India readies for the implementation of its Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), theres much discussion on aligning core business functions and sales-focused processes with the provisions of the law. For digital functions focused on the end-consumer, there may be a need to revisit the business models, particularly where the sale, transfer and exchange of data are a core part of revenue-generation, customer targeting or profiling, or sales funnel management. A related scenario from a privacy perspective is the restrictions on cookies usage, but Google and Apple have implemented this voluntarily. With the DPDP Act, which would involve potentially significant penalties, data practices and standards are no longer a matter of business choice. In addition, the continuous evolution and tightening of GDPR, the benchmark for data privacy regulation, points to standards and compliances becoming more stringent over time. Take, for instance, stakeholder data governance. Data governance is an extension of data privacy or data protection (as is referred to in Indias much more liberal scheme of things when compared to GDPR standards). With environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards becoming top priority for businesses, stakeholder data governance is also expected to be a significant requirement. In the digital age, with digitalisation of businesses, the universe of such stakeholders expands beyond investors and customers to include financers, media and even academia. Data protection and marketing So far, outside of customer relationship management (CRM) and the sales funnel, marketing and communications functions have been far removed from the challenges of data audits and legal compliances. Even for CRM-type data, the focus is on quality and accuracy of data rather than on sources, legitimacy and legality in the hands of an organisation. In India, most marketing and communications data, specifically stakeholder-related data, has been primarily sourced and stored manually, with the additional baggage of historical data and archives. This may include personal data such as influencer records, media lists, beneficiary records (participants in initiatives, contests, etc.), people associated with corporate social responsibility initiatives (including health and family records), and details from programmes and past partners. Impact of DPDP on marketing The law applies to all forms of data, whether collected online or gathered offline and later digitised, and even when data processing is done outside for offering goods and services in India. Also, the law rests on the pillars of consent, and data can be processed only on the basis of the consent of an individual and for allowed or legal purposes. While there is a breather where voluntarily provided data is concerned, arguably there may be records to prove the same if a situation arises. Also, as Data Fiduciaries, organisations bear the responsibility of ensuring the safety of personal data. The laws provisions require specific compliances related to marketing and especially data of minors. Marketing and communications teams would have to go through the arduous task of cleaning and streamlining their data, which is bound to be both time- and resource-consuming. While in the EU, considerable support and training was extended, Indian companies may not have that luxury. Whereas multinational companies may benefit from the experience of their peers in Europe, particularly through adoptions of IT tools that may have been implemented in the EU. Things become slightly more complicated for service aggregators such as public relations agencies and direct marketing agencies. The Indian law specifies restrictions on how long data can be stored, and that data can be used only for purposes for which consent is obtained. This implies that a PR agency that uses the same data for multiple clients may need to adopt a subscription-based approach for distributing press releases or follow the Chinese wall model for each client, which may pose a significant challenge and entail huge costs. Compliance and allied benefits A CRM-type approach to stakeholder data management appears inevitable, and will require companies, especially those with large historical datasets and manual records, to undertake a massive cleanup. While it may be painful, in the long-term, digitisation of this domain is likely to benefit organisations by helping reduce business and compliance risks, enhance data governance, and adopt process efficiencies through automation. However, given the complexity, the earlier companies start working in this direction the more time they will have to transform, rather than rush into painful last-minute transitions. Rahul Gossain is head of marketing communications at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Like you, I have been trained to believe that adaptation to environment is life. Something about the word adaptation gives us the sense that it is the smart thing for an organism to do. And who can have a quarrel with the environment, the lovely blue and green brine in which we pickle, which leaks into us now and then and alters us to be better? So, when I read a paragraph that rubbished this view in an off-hand way, I was startled in the way other peoples insight could affect me in my teens. The paragraph is in A Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit, who uses it to explain why Israel resisted its Arab brine. He writes: The mid-nineteenth-century French physiologist Claude Bernard was the first to overturn the conventional understanding that life is an adjustment to the environment. Adjustment to the surrounding environment is death, argued Bernard; the phenomenon of life is that of preserving an internal environment contrary to an outside environment." This is a persuasive interpretation of Bernards observation: The constancy of the interior environment is the condition of free and independent life." This phenomenon later came to be called homeostasis. His insight was that life is resistance to the external environment. A minutely perfected internal clockwork protects the body from the environment, which is actually very harsh. If air on Earth, which is mostly nitrogen, breaks through the bodys protections, it will kill us. Pure oxygen, too, can kill us. An ambient temperature of 22 Celsius is pleasant, but the same thing inside our body will be the end of us. Life emerged on Earth, or perhaps it was seeded from another world but it bloomed here. Nevertheless, Earth is a lethal planet for all life, only somewhat more benign than other planets. Life survives in a vessel that does not adjust to the environment, but defies it. This portents our colonization of other worlds. We have always lived on a toxic planet inside a self-regulatory suit. You know that I am saying all this to drive home something else, but let me dwell on the analogy a bit longer. The writer and physician Siddhartha Mukherjee, in an article in the New Yorker, explained how precarious the internal settings of the human body are. Consider temperature: the normal human body maintains an extraordinarily narrow rangesomewhere between ninety-seven and ninety-nine degrees (Fahrenheit)despite enormous, often unpredictable variations in the environment. The level of sodium in your blood is tightly regulated between 135 and 145 milliequivalents per litera number controlled by exquisite sensors in the brain coupled with an equally accurate mechanism that retains or dispenses salt and water in the kidneys." This view of the human body reminds me of the definition of art by E.M. Forster that I have heard my mother chant all through my childhoodthat art is something that possesses internal harmony in the bosom of this disordered planet." (I realize now that she always omitted bosom, probably because the word was X-rated at home.) Art as resistance to its external environment is an explanation of pure art without sanctimony. Finally, a definition of art makes sense to me. And I can see why pure art is fated to be niche. Art that adjusts to its circumstances is a kind of death. It transforms into something elsestill enjoyable perhaps, but not art. I am fascinated not by the internal harmony partof art, or the human body, or everything that homeostasis now reminds me of. That beautiful systems have internal harmony was never a surprise. I am fascinated by the disordered brine. And that a system is a system because it is not an extension of the universe, rather it has been designed in resistance to it. The survival of Israel, too, was cultural homeostasis. Shavit writes that in the 1930s and 40s, Zionism came to the conclusion that its surrounding environment is extremely cruel Under these conditions, adjustment is death. The only way to maintain life is resistance." And Israel came to be the lonely desert fortress casting the shadow of awe on an arid land." Homeostasis also explains the meaning of an institution in a true democracy, why something is an institution only if it is independent. And why the US has institutions and India lacks them. American institutions have survived politics and a president who did not believe in them. They were built in resistance to their political environment. Indian institutions are too new to be sophisticated enough to maintain their own internal harmony. They have adjusted to their environment, to a new India. The same phenomenon also explains why movements that become too practical are doomed. Practicality is adjustment to the environment. For instance, agreeable feminists, who do not make men uncomfortable, are never as effective as those who have an ascetic focus on their agenda to resist a world created for men. It may appear that adjustment to circumstances can prolong a movement or a human entity. But that is a misunderstanding of evolution. We have two fallacies about evolution. One is that it is a progression. But in reality, evolution is merely change. The second fallacy is that evolution is an opportunistic transformation of life. What homeostasis tells us is that evolution is the death of a species. Something ends for something else to begin. You may say that is life; but it is actually the definition of death. Shaktikanta Das, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor, deviated from his prepared speech while delivering the keynote address at Mints recent BFSI Summit and provided a couple of interesting asides. The governors office, he said, had been encouraging one-on-one discussions with bank chief executives and a spirit of free exchange had allowed RBI to pick up industry trends that would have otherwise reached the central bank much later. Consequently, the central banks regulatory actions were occasionally based on such inputs. Das also mentioned in passing that many bankers had been complaining to him about the ever-increasing RBI-imposed regulatory and compliance burden. These two digressions, taken in conjunction with his speech, provide pointers to the central banks evolving regulatory architecture. Specifically, Governor Dass stewardship is attempting to make regulation functional at two elementary levels: encourage self-regulation at both the entity level and industry level. The understanding is that since both the entity and industry collective have more knowledge and information than the regulator, pre-emptive actions at these stages will be more timely and effective. Both, though, might need some rethinking and reformatting. RBIs focused attention on action at the first level is evident from Dass past refrains about the corporate governance gap in banks and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs). This theme was evident even at the BFSI Summit. If, by and large, banks are able to tighten their governance hatches and keep the information pipeline between senior management and board members open, there is a possibility that the board-level committees will be able to stave off emergent risks and crises. However, the prospects get a bit skewed in public sector banks where loyalty is divided because the government hand-picks both senior management and board members and RBI is left wielding residual moral authority. There is, therefore, little incentive in state-owned banks to improve governance structures and processes on issues relating to regulation. Financial institutions also have to contend with problems that afflict board-level committeessuch as risk management or internal audit, responsible for safeguarding shareholder interestsin non-financial companies. For one, in many private banks, the chairman and chief executive decide appointments to these committees, creating an inherent conflict of interest and sowing seeds of possible prejudicial outcomes. Another organizational problem is a topsy-turvy incentive structure, with the marketing and business origination teams accorded priority over the teams in assurance functions, such as risk management. The second level of regulation finds expression in RBIs attempts to promote self-regulatory organizations (SROs) for each industry verticalone each for banks, NBFCs, fintech firms, among others. The central bank has also published a draft omnibus framework for recognizing SROs across all regulated verticals and invited stakeholder inputs before finalizing an operational version. But the draft framework has some gapsspecifically with relation to an existing SRO, as well as emerging SROswhich may need closure before norms are finalized. The draft framework may have to close the organizational gaps in the financial services industrys only functioning SRO: the Indian Banks Association (IBA). Even though it lacks the teeth to be an effective SRO, the IBA is considered an SRO only by default because it has been around for over 75 years. The IBA is seen more as a representative of public sector banks, with only a passing nod reserved for private and foreign banks. In fact, some foreign banks even constituted a parallel body during the early 1990s (which was wound up soon thereafter) because they felt that the IBA did not adequately represent their interests. Over the years, the IBAs primary function has been reduced to conducting wage negotiations with public sector bank employees (State Bank of India, however, conducts its own wage talks). The IBA is also responsible for implementing some RBI regulations by drafting rules and agreements. The central bank may have to revisit its framework to make IBA fit for purpose. The second problem lies in the emerging fintech lending industry. The 2021 report of a working group on digital lending had recommended the setting up of an SRO for this industry. The working group had also recommended that the government take similar action for digital lending business carried out by entities which are not regulated by RBI. But the fintech lending industry is split down the middle with effectively two SROsthe Digital Lending Association of India and the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment calling the shots and essentially competing with each other. The presence of multiple SROs presents an opportunity for regulatory arbitrage and compliance shopping. The RBI framework on SROs is silent on this aspect, but will have to eventually evolve some norms for selecting a single industry-wide SRO. RBIs new regulatory architecture is a work-in-progress. It is focused on making regulation a community effort which aims to not only enable early risk recognition and mitigation, but also reduce the regulatory burden for both RBI and regulated entities. It will be interesting to see what other columns, arches or balustrades RBI adds to its existing super-structure. BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China has provided over 235,000 home-based care beds for senior citizens nationwide and aims to supply more with standardized service quality, authorities said on Sunday. Statistics released on the sidelines of the national civil affairs work conference held on Sunday showed that a total of 418,000 senior people had been provided with home-based care services. Provided by workers with professional capabilities, home-based care services can better meet the demands of disabled senior people. The living places of these senior citizens are appropriately modified, including the provision of smart appliances and handrails in bathrooms. Home-based care services for senior people featured as an innovative reform pilot project during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). During the current 14th Five-Year Plan, the Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance are jointly working on a program to improve China's home- and community-based basic care services for senior citizens, pouring considerable assets into providing more care service beds for disabled senior citizens with economic disadvantages. Different from some other countries, over 90 percent of senior people in China prefer to stay at home instead of living in nursing homes. However, this tradition has caused difficulties for the families of disabled senior people. According to official statistics, China has about 40 million senior citizens with either a disability or a half-disability. As of the third quarter of 2023, the country had only 8.2 million beds in all kinds of elderly care facilities. Home-based care services allow senior citizens to enjoy the services of professional institutions without leaving home, reducing the burden on their families and alleviating the scenario of "one person is disabled and the whole family is imbalanced." An unnamed official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs said that in the next phase, the functional positioning, service content, and service quality of home-based care will be further clarified by improving standards and specifications, risk prevention and control will be carried out to effectively solve the professional care needs of disabled elderly at home, while the formation of a sustainable development model will also be promoted. Martin Luther King, Jr.s birthday is celebrated on 15 January every year to honour the life and legacy of the civil rights leader who was assassinated in 1968 at the age of 39 in Memphis, Tennessee. Kings dream of freedom and rights for African-Americans was closely linked with the Swaraj dream of Gandhi for Indians. King often referred to Gandhi as one of the half-dozen greatest men in world history." He read Gandhi in the mirror of Sermon on the Mount and other teachings of Jesus, and approached non-violence through the doctrine of love, while Mahatma Gandhi found his path to the philosophy of non-violence through the idea of Truth. King affirmed: Non-violent resistance does call for love, but it is not sentimental love. It is a very stern love that would organize itself into collective action to right a wrong by taking on itself suffering." As such, King remained first and last a Christian thinker and his view of suffering was inspired by the Gospels. He argued: Like the Apostle Paul, I can now humbly yet proudly say, I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." King was aware of the fact that violent struggle, even if briefly victorious, can never permanently be successful. Thinking of the future of American society and the world, he observed: The aftermath of non-violence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness." In Kings eyes, the faith that kept the non-violent resister going through all the humiliation and suffering was fuelled by the conviction that the universe is on the side of justice. For King, justice meant an improvement of the social order by the enforcement of goodness and love among humankind. So, though King often referred to non-violence as a pragmatic tactic, he realized that it cannot last long without love and justice. King went to great lengths to make it clear that the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice. It was Kings great hope that African-Americans would transform their condition of powerlessness into creative power. As he underlined in his book, Where Do We Go From Here?: Power at its best is love implementing the demands of justice. Justice at its best is love correcting everything that stands against love." In his struggle for non-violence, King was radically engaged with the process of self-examination and self-realization of African-Americans. He combined ideas: love, justice, beloved community, a worldwide fellowship and revolution of values. But the central idea behind all was the concept of interconnectedness. He wrote: All men are interdependent. Every nation is an heir of a vast treasury of ideas and labor to which both the living and the dead of all nations have contributed We are everlasting debtors to known and unknown men and women. When we arise in the morning, we go into the bathroom where we reach for a sponge which is provided for us by a Pacific Islander. We reach for soap that is created for us by a European. Then at the table we drink coffee which is provided for us by a South American, or tea by a Chinese or cocoa by a West African. Before we leave for our jobs we are already beholden to more than half of the world. In a real sense, all life is interrelated." King showed America the moral force of a non-violent struggle. He saw non-violence as a community creating force which shaped the balance between means and ends. Hence, Kings idea of democracy included all races, classes and religions. He knew well that the American dream was central to US democracy. So, unlike Malcolm X and radicals of the Black Panthers, he insisted on inalienable rights" in the 1776 Declaration of Independence as the point of distinction between American democracy and totalitarian regimes. In an interview, King affirmed: People cannot devote themselves to a great cause without finding someone who becomes the personification of the cause. People cannot become devoted to Christianity until they find Christ, to democracy until they find Lincoln and Jefferson and Roosevelt, to Communism until they find Marx and Lenin" King never lost faith in democracy, even though he and his companions had to endure deep injustices. Democracy could be democratized, he held: History has thrust upon our generation an indescribably important destinyto complete a process of democratization which our nation has too long developed too slowly, but which is our most powerful weapon for world respect and emulation. How we deal with this crucial situation will determine our moral health as individuals, our cultural health as a region, our political health as a nation, and our prestige as a leader of the free world. The future of America is bound up with the solution of the present crisis. The shape of the world today does not permit us the luxury of a faltering democracy." For King, a moral leader was one who knew how to love others and listen to and learn from them. It was his way of stating that a beloved community was a real Christian brotherhood in action, where a spirit of interconnected and solidarity replaced exclusion, segregation and enmity. Kings vocation as a drum major not only helped him take many risks in his struggle for civil rights, but also examine in a Socratic way his role as the leader of a mass movement. King is the only leader of non-violence in the 20th century who strengthened Black Consciousness" by turning it into a massive Gandhian dissent movement in the US. After 100 days, Israels war with Hamas is turning into a protracted conflict with no clear end, threatening to spread across the Middle East, disrupt global trade and bog down the U.S. One of the biggest geopolitical events this century, the war has swung from a Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that Israel says killed 1,200 people to the Israeli militarys ferocious retaliation against the militant group in Gaza. More than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, Palestinian authorities say, a number that doesnt distinguish combatants from civilians, and nearly 70% of Gazas 439,000 homes and about half of its buildings have been damaged or destroyed. The U.S. has come to Israels aid in a war that poses one of the defining foreign-policy tests for President Biden. The conflict and the administrations staunch support for Israel have reverberated in U.S. domestic politics, sparking a wave of protests at college campuses and adding fuel to the culture wars just as the president heads into a contentious election. The Gaza conflict has forced the U.S. to refocus on the Middle East after years of redirecting diplomatic and military resources to counter a rising China. It has distracted from U.S. efforts to help Ukraine beat back Russias invasion. The conflict has scrambled one of Bidens top foreign-policy priorities: U.S.-backed normalization talks between Israel and Saudi Arabia that were meant to reshape diplomatic and security alliances in the region and help contain Iran. With tensions high between the U.S. and Arab countries, it is unclear how and when the U.S. will be able to resume those talks, which have been suspended. Now, the question of how to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, for years largely ignored by the international community and Israel, is again central to global diplomacythough the pathway to a two-state solution appears rockier than ever. Everyone thought the region was humming along," said Sanam Vakil, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House, a London think tank. There was this mirage that the Palestinian issue could be sidestepped," she said. When and how Israel decides to end the war is likely to have a bearing on multiple frontsincluding its own long-term security. Beyond the Gaza battlefield, the U.S. is working on containing Hamass backer Iran and its allies, including Lebanese Hezbollah and Yemens Houthis. A fragile peace process in Yemen, which the U.S. helped broker and is a centerpiece of a recent rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, is now at risk. The U.S. and its allies conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen this weekend in response to attacks in the Red Sea that have caused ships to make costlier journeys and rattled commodities prices tied to those flows. When a war in Gaza spills beyond Gaza, beyond Israel, into the region, which is now happening," said Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, thats when you have global repercussions." The strikes elevated U.S. military involvement after it positioned warships in the region in early days of the Israel-Hamas conflict to deter Hezbollah from attacking Israel. The U.S. has provided Israel with large bunker-buster bombs, along with tens of thousands of other weapons and artillery shells, to help dislodge Hamas from Gaza. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has made four visits to the region since Oct. 7 in an effort to prevent the war from widening into a regional conflict. Across the Western world, protesters have come down on both sides, rallying against antisemitism and organizing marches to condemn Israel and support the Palestinians. The tensions helped cause resignations of presidents at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. South Africa on Thursday accused Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice, arguing Israels military response to Hamas attacks violates the international treaty drafted in the aftermath of Nazi Germanys systematic extermination of six million Jews. Israel rejects the claims and said South Africa itself violates the Genocide Convention by supporting Hamas, which calls for the elimination of Israel. Israel is building its own legal case that would meet international standards alleging crimes committed by Hamas, including acts of mutilation, murder and sexual violence. Israel is planning to try Hamas militants captured after the Oct. 7 attack in Israeli courts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set out goals of destroying Hamas as a fighting force, ending its control of Gaza and freeing the hostages it abducted from Israel. Still, the war is turning out to be a bloody slog that is demonstrating the limits of Israeli military capabilitiesand the sophistication of Hamass underground defense network. Israel has killed thousands of Hamas fighters and disrupted the groups ability to launch attacks against Israel. But Israel hasnt achieved the aims it stated at the start. The Israeli military is still seeking to find and destroy tunnels where Hamass leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, and others are believed to be hiding. Tens of thousands of Israelis remain displaced from their homes in the north of Israel amid skirmishes with Hezbollah. In the fourth month of its operation in Gaza, Israel has signaled it is shifting to a lower-intensity stage of conflict, under pressure from the U.S. to limit Palestinian casualties and amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. In reality, the crisis is still in flux," said Uzi Arad, Israels national security adviser under Netanyahu from 2009 to 2011. There are still the risks of further escalation." The conflict has shown how difficult it will be to confront the threat from Iran, which funded Hamas and provided training to its fighters ahead of Oct. 7 as part of an effort to create what Tehran calls an Axis of Resistance" of militias against Israel and the West. Israel has deployed thousands of soldiers north in response to attacks from Lebanons Hezbollah, a more sophisticated militia that is also supported by Iran. It is clear that whats happened so far has shaken the regional balance of power against Israel and the United States," said Ghassan Khatib, a lecturer at Birzeit University in the West Bank and a Palestinian pollster. Israel, so far after three months, is not able to defeat one of the many proxies of Iran." Israel could still find and kill Hamass leadership in Gaza and its remaining fightersestimated by the Israeli military to be in the thousands. But military analysts believe that achieving that goal while also saving the remaining hostages will be difficult. Israel faces the additional challenge of taking the fight to Hamas in the southern part of Gaza, where most of the strips 2.2 million people have since relocated, raising the risk of more civilian deaths that strain Israels relationship with the U.S. For now, Hamass leaders also appear divided over what the group wants to achieve from the war. They believe Hamas scored a big victory with the Oct. 7 attacks just by inflicting an intelligence and military blow on Israel and by keeping its senior leaders safe after the Israeli invasion. The key questions are whether Hamas can use the remaining hostages it holds to free Palestinians imprisoned in Israeli jailsan aim of Sinwarsand whether it can remain either in power in Gaza or as an influential force in Palestinian politics. Even if Israel routs Hamas in Gaza, it isnt clear who would govern the strip, fund its rebuild and provide security. Influential Arab countries, including Egypt, believe Hamas should play a role. The groups political standing has improved versus the Palestinian Authority that rules in the West Bank, according to Khatib, the pollster. Any of these options could prove difficult as war in Gaza has again exposed strains between the U.S. and Arab nations frustrated with White House backing for Israels military campaign. U.S. support for Israel has undermined the U.S. in the Global South, where countries are questioning why the U.S. is asking for support in Ukraine against Russias territorial expansion when Washington is backing Israels continued occupation of Palestinian territories. From the vantage point of Beijing and Moscow, seeing the U.S. squander its political and military resources in support of Israel is not a bad thing," said Lovatt from the European Council on Foreign Relations. Ultimately, China and Russia actually come out with an edge." Write to Rory Jones at Rory.Jones@wsj.com "These are rumours", he said while responding to a query on reports in some sections of the media that he was quitting the Congress to join the Shinde faction. The speculations came after Deora recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public, however, told reporters that he is holding discussions with his supporters. "I am listening to my supporters...Haven't taken a decision yet," the former Mumbai South MP said when asked if he was chalking out a plan with his supporters. The Uddhav Thackeray-led group had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which has not gone down well with the Congress leader. Last Sunday, in a video statement, Deora said that if such statements by an alliance partner" dont stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. The Shiv Sena (UBT) is an alliance partner of the Congress and the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. Deora had said since the formal talks on sharing of seats are yet to be concluded, nobody should make claims and counter-claims. Amid rumours of him leaving the Congress, the party's supporter and political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla in a tweet on X wrote, Totally heartbroken but I knew thisI tried and spoke to everyone that mattered . I still hope against hope ... Such a tragedy to let go of such nice people . Once again the motor mouth and his terrible statements.. Yet I hope , it changes... Imagine our people are leaving, the final nail being the clown and his statements that instead of building bridges is destroying your own organizationWhat a nice human being and resourceful guy who is at tbe very end... imagine the tragedy..." Though Poonawalla did not mention the name of the person leaving the party, users speculated it to be Milind Deora. Senior Congress leader Milind Deora ended his family's 55 year relationship with the party" on Sunday before joining the Shiv Sena. Reports quoting sources indicate that several supporters within the party are also likely to follow Deora to the ruling Shiv Sena. The former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP joined the ruling party during a function in Varsha, the official residence of the chief minister, in the afternoon. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," the politician had tweeted on Sunday morning. Congress leaders however attributed the sequence of events to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led ruling faction. Visuals shared online showed Deora arriving at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's official residence on Sunday afternoon. He joined the ruling party in the CM's presence in Mumbai. I have heard about his move. If he is joining the party, I will welcome him," the Maharashtra Chief Minister said earlier on Sunday. Deora was upset over the past few days after Shiv Sena (UBT) laid claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, which he had represented earlier. According to sources close to the politician, he had resigned after "a very long and futile wait". The former Lok Sabha MP reportedly failed to get an assurance from his own (former) party about contesting from Mumbai South in the upcoming general election a seat represented by his family for decades. It is pertinent to note that Deora had been defeated from the seat by undivided Shiv Sena candidate Arvind Sawant. The latter is now a member of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) which is allied with the Congress and NCP as part of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. "The Shiv Sena UBT has been openly laying claim to Mumbai South and the Congress was unable to give an assurance of safety for Milind Deora's seat. A young leader's political future was thrown into uncertainty and there was no redressal," Deora's aides told PTI. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! As Milind Deora submitted his resignation from the Congress, we take a look at what was once Rahul Gandhi's close circle of young leaders" expected to shake up the party and lead it with renewed energy. This circle consisted of now estranged to the party Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada and Deora, besides those still going strong such as Gaurav Gogoi, Deepender S Hooda, and Sachin Pilot. The group of seven, including Gandhi, all have long-time generational ties to the Indian National Congress. Also Read | Congress' Milind Deora to join Eknath Shinde-led Sena faction over seat sharing issue? Here's what he said Jyotiraditya Scindia Jyotiraditya Scindia, a former union minister and once one of the most prominent young faces of the Congress party, tendered his resignation from the party's primary membership amidst high political drama in his home state of Madhya Pradesh in March 2020. He was the first of Gandhi's "young brigade" to cut ties with the party. Scindia's resignation came as a jolt to the Congress party whose family's association with it dates back decades as his father Madhav Rao Scindia too served as a union minister under the party's regime. A three-time Lok Sabha MP, he had also played a key role in the Madhya Pradesh elections in 2018 which the party won. "Having been a primary member of the Congress party for the past 18 years, it is now time for me to move on. I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress and as you well know, this path has been drawing out over the last year. To reflect and realise the aspirations of my people and my workers I believe that it is best that I now look forward to a fresh start," Scindia said on March 9, 2020. Scindia joined the BJP. Also Read | Milind Deora, 400 Congress workers to join Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction today Jitin Prasada Jitin Prasada, also a former Union minister, comes from a well-known Brahmin family in Uttar Pradesh and served as the Congress leader in charge of West Bengal before joining the BJP. His father Jitendra Prasada was a noted Congress leader. But with the Congress in dire straits in Uttar Pradesh and him losing the Lok Sabha polls twice in a row, Prasada's decision to join the BJP was viewed as a political life-saving move. Speculation was rife even during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections of Prasada joining the BJP, but it is believed that the Congress leadership had then managed to persuade him against quitting the party. Prasada joined the BJP in June 2021. He was the second aide of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to join the BJP since Jyotiraditya Scindia's defection. "I have a three-generation connection with Congress, so I took this important decision after a lot of deliberation. In the last 8-10 years, I have felt that if there is one truly national party, it is BJP. Other parties are regional but this is a national party. If any political party or a leader is standing for the interests of the nation today, given the situation that our country is going through, it is BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi," said Prasada. Also Read | Greed, fear: Congress reacts as Milind Deora set to join BJP ally in Maharashtra Milind Deora Congress leader Milind Deora is the latest on January 14 to announce his resignation from the primary membership of Congress, bringing an end to his family's 55-year association with the party. He posted on X, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party." Deora had recently expressed his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public. Irked by UBT's staking claim to Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, Deora last Sunday said that if such statements by an "alliance partner" don't stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. Milind is son of Congress veteran Murli Deora. Speaking of his political career in the party, Deora had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. He will join the Shiv Sena (Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde faction) on January 14, as per an ANI report. Track LIVE | Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Updates here Sachin Pilot As of date, Sachin Pilot's association with the grand old party seems to be going strong. He told reporters in December he is hopeful that the INDIA bloc alliance of 28 Opposition parties will defeat PM Modi-led BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. But there are hints of tension. In November Pilot said that the Congress needs to introspect why it hasn't "won consecutive elections in Rajasthan for 30 years". Pilot had also said in an interview with PTI that he is following the mantra of "forgive, forget and move on" as advised by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former AICC president Rahul Gandhi. Earlier in June there were speculations that Pilot was weighing his options, which included setting up his political outfit. Gaurav Gogoi The Congress leader from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, seems to be going strong within the party. As the Deputy Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha and the representative for the Kaliabor constituency, he has been actively addressing the Manipur issue in Parliament. Gogoi, son of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, highlighted that the INDIA alliance brought a no-trust motion for Manipur, emphasizing the state's quest for justice. Notably, he took the place of Rahul Gandhi, who was initially scheduled to lead the discussion on the motion. The party is preparing for the 'Bharat Nyay Yatra,' commencing on January 14 in Imphal, Manipur, and concluding on March 20 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Covering 14 States and 85 districts, the Yatra aims to engage citizens across the nation. Gogoi expressed the enthusiasm of the people in the North East for the upcoming Bharat Nyay Yatra. Gogoi remarked, "People are excited because, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, when Rahul Gandhi couldn't come to Uttar Purvanchal, we assured them not to be disheartened. Rahul Gandhi will visit Uttar Purvanchal due to his deep affection for the people of the region." Deepender S Hooda Haryana politician Deepender S Hooda maintains a robust association with Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party. Recently, he joined other Congress leaders in Telangana to commemorate the party's triumph in the state assembly elections and the appointment of A Revant Reddy as CM. As a four-term MP from the Indian National Congress, Hooda currently serves as a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, representing Haryana. Additionally, he holds the position of a special invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the Indian National Congress. Belonging to the fourth generation of his family in public service, Hooda's father, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, served two terms as the Chief Minister of Haryana. His grandfather, Ranbir Singh Hooda, was a freedom fighter and a member of the Constituent Assembly, representing Rohtak in the 1st and 2nd Lok Sabha. Ranbir Singh Hooda also served as a Minister in Punjab when Haryana was part of Punjab and was a member of the Rajya Sabha. Furthermore, his great-grandfather, Choudhary Matu Ram, was a social reformer and a freedom fighter who collaborated closely with Mahatma Gandhi. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! Suspended BSP MLA Danish Ali has joined the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The lawmaker dubbed it the biggest drive for unity and justice" as he joined Congress leaders on stage to flag off the event from Thoubal. He later joined Gandhi on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra bus. Today, by joining Rahul Gandhi ji's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we sounded the trumpet of the struggle for justice and unity. This journey is a struggle to give the poor, deprived and exploited class their rights and improve their lives," he tweeted. Visuals shared online by the Amroha MP also showed the two leaders shaking hands and interacting with children before they posed for photos inside the bus. The 6,713 km yatra will move across 12 states and 110 districts over the next 67 days extending from Manipur to Mumbai in Maharashtra. Earlier in the day Ali had arrived in Manipur after much soul-searching" to join the Yatra. In a lengthy Twitter thread the BSP leader also recalled being at the receiving end of objectionable remarks from BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri. My call for justice and action against the guilty member of Parliament fell on deaf ears. Instead of punishing my attacker, the ruling establishment rewarded him In that hour of distress, Rahul Gandhi ji was the first leader to express solidarity with me and stand by me and my family. The express purpose of Rahul Gandhi Jis yatra is to get justice for the marginalised and exploited section," he said. The Mayawati-led BSP has maintained a distance from the ruling alliance as well as the opposition bloc INDIA as the Lok Sabha battle heats up. Ali however remains a vocal critic of the ruling coalition, actively joining opposition ranks in attacking the BJP and its policies. (With inputs from agencies) Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! We dont want to tell you about our mann ki baat but to hear about your mann ki baat . We want to know about your pain. We want to share a vision of brotherhood and harmony," former Congress president Rahul Gandhi Sunday said while addressing a large gathering at Khongjom (Manipur) for the second leg of the Congresss nationwide campaign, the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra , in the city which was has been roiled by ethnic clashes since May last year. Attacking Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the senior Congress leader said, Lakhs were affected, and people got killed in front of family members. But the Prime Minister hasnt visited Manipur to erase your tears, to embrace you. Maybe for him, Manipur is not a part of India, and your pain is not his pain." Gandhi said that Manipur is an example of the politics of hatred and ideology spread by BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He assured that Congress will strive to bring back harmony and peace to Manipur. Elaborating on the decision to name the second leg of his nationwide campaign Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said the nyay (justice), is to highlight the social, economic and political injustices happening in the country at present. He said that the purpose of the visit was to listen to the problems faced by people from all sections. We dont want to tell you about our mann ki baat but to hear about your mann ki baat. We want to know about your pain. We want to share a vision of brotherhood and harmony," he said. It was the second visit by the Congress leader as he had visited the state in June last year during the ethnic clashes. I had come to Manipur on June 29 last year and what I saw and heard then, I had never heard or seen. I have been in politics since 2004. But it was the first time I saw a collapse of governance in a state. Manipur is now divided with hatred spread in every corner," Gandhi said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who also attended the party campaign for the coming Lok Sabha elections besides chief ministers of several Congress-ruled states and former Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh, said, Ours is a long journey. I think such a yatra never took place in the past and will not take place in future. Modi comes to Manipur to seek votes, but when people of the state are in trouble, he is vacationing on the beaches and doing religious tasks in the name of Ram." The Congress president, during his address, also reminded how Rahul Gandhi visited the state in June last year. Earlier today Gandhi, who arrived in Imphal on a chartered flight from Delhi with many senior Congress leaders, started his yatra with floral tributes paid at the Khongjom War Memorial for the slain heroes of the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891. This was followed by a big rally at a private ground in Khongjom where Gandhi addressed a large gathering. The second phase of last years South to North Bharat Jodo Yatra will traverse around 6,700 km and move through 15 states from East to West India and culminate in Mumbai on March 20. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! WEST DES MOINES, IowaFor those who speculate about what Vivek Ramaswamy really wants out of his long-shot Republican presidential bidperhaps a podcast or a television contractthe wealthy biotech entrepreneur has one answer. I expect to be the president," he said in an interview as he crisscrossed this state ahead of the presidential caucuses Monday that will start the 2024 nomination balloting. But that expectation rests on hopes for a dramatic change in the race: Donald Trumps departure. Ramaswamys plan is essentially to wait it out to take over the former presidents voter base, should the former president become ineligible to run due to his many legal challenges. The political elite want to eliminate Trump from contention and trot in their puppet to the White House," he said. I think that our base should not fall for that trap," Ramaswamy said. Im here to make sure they dont, that we dont. The America First agenda cannot end with Donald Trump." The former president faces 91 criminal charges related in large part to his handling of classified documents and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Ramaswamy, a brash 38-year-old, said he would consider 10% support in Iowas caucus results to be a victorythough he thinks hell do betterand plans to continue to use his nearly $1 billion fortune to continue campaigning into the later-voting states. Asked whether the campaign might give him a platform beyond the GOP race, he said: I already have a podcast. Its not that hard to start one. Its called opening a social-media account." Trump leads all early state and national polls by wide margins, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are in a bitter fight for second place. Ramaswamy, meanwhile, polls in fourth place. He is usually in the single-digits, including in Iowa, where he has focused his efforts. Ramaswamy has called Trump the best president of the 21st century" and has been one of his most vocal defenders against criminal charges and criticisms. The political novice first dismissed a question about whether hed consider being Trumps running mate and said hed offer the former president a job in his own administration. Pressed again on the running-mate question, Ramaswamy said he would think about it and that anybody who says they wouldnt consider the job is being dishonest." On Friday and into Saturday, a blizzard scrambled plans for the major presidential candidates just days before the caucuses. But Ramaswamy pushed on with a busy schedule. He said he would have held nearly 400 events by the caucuses and has visited all 99 Iowa countiestwice. Despite record cold weather predicted for the caucuses, Ramaswamy said his supporters would show up. They are going to be as deterred by the weather on Monday as George Washington was when he crossed the Delaware, which is to say not at all," he said. More than 100 showed for a Friday event here amid blizzard conditions. Securities and Exchange Commission filings show that Ramaswamy recently sold more than $33 million worth of stock in the biotech company he founded. He said he would be in the presidential race until the very end," when asked if he intended to use that money to finance his campaign. At a recent stop in north-central Iowa, Ramaswamy bragged that traveling on Air Force One wouldnt be that special for him, compared with the private jets hes accustomed to. Its not that much of an upgrade from what I have been doing the last several years," he said of the presidential aircraft. Im not doing this for the trappings of being U.S. president." Robert Cloutier, a 34-year-old disabled veteran who lives in Garner, Iowa, said he planned to caucus for Ramaswamy, because he likes his moral compass" and wants the party to find a younger leader. Trump is too much of a wild card," he said. Ramaswamy has opposed the use of eminent domain for proposed pipelines that would cross parts of Iowa to transport carbon-dioxide emissions from ethanol and other plants, liquefied under pressure, to sites where the greenhouse gas would be sequestered underground. That has given him some support among farmers and landowners opposed to the pipelines. For some Trump supporters, Ramaswamy isnt on their radar as a second choice. Roxan Main, 67, a retiree from Ames who attended a recent event for DeSantis, said shes in search of an alternative to Trump. She would like to support Trump but worries about all that legal stuff" and left the event leaning toward DeSantis. Write to Eliza Collins at eliza.collins@wsj.com and John McCormick at mccormick.john@wsj.com Samsung has already confirmed that its S24 series will be launched in India and global markets at the Galaxy Unpacked event scheduled for January 17. However, the rumour mill has been buzzing ahead of the much-anticipated event, with the latest reports suggesting that the Samsung S24 series could get support for up to 7 years of software updates. Also Read | Samsung Galaxy S24 Series leak: New COOL feature for gaming enthusiasts tipped; details According to a report by Android Headlines, the Galaxy S24 series may receive support for 7 years of software and OS upgrades, meaning that the flagship smartphones will be eligible for updates up to Android version 21. Samsung has been promising four years of major OS upgrades and five years of security updates for its flagship and some mid-range smartphones since 2020. Notably, Android maker Google had confirmed at a launch event in October last year that it would support its latest Pixel 8 series with OS and security updates for the next seven years, spicing up the competition with its main Android rival - Samsung. Samsung Galaxy S24 series specifications: A recent report by German website WinFuture.de had revealed the specifications of the upcoming Galaxy S24 series. The report noted that Samsung Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24 Plus will feature the Samsung Exynos 2400 chipset in Germany and Europe and Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC in the global market. Meanwhile, Galaxy 24 Ultra will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset in all markets. Galaxy S24 specs: The vanilla Galaxy S24 is expected to feature a 6.2-inch Full HD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,080x2,340 pixels. In terms of optics, the Galaxy S24 may come with a triple camera setup to the back with a 50MP primary sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide angle lens and a 10MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. The phone is expected to house a 4,000 mAh battery which could be charged with a 25W wired charger and 15W wireless charger. Samsung Galaxy S24+ specs: The Galaxy S24+ may sport a 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,440x3,120 pixels and a refresh rate ranging between 1Hz to 120Hz. The smartphone is also expected to come with a triple camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, a 10MP telephoto sensor and a 12MP ultra wide-angle camera. The S24+ could house a 4,900 mAh battery with support for 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs: The Galaxy S24 Ultra could sport a 6.8-inch QHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with a resolution of 3120 x 1440 pixels and a refresh rate of 120Hz. The higher-end Galaxy device will feature a quad camera setup with a 200MP primary sensor with a Super Quad Pixel autofocus, OIS and Super Clear lens, two telephoto lenses with a 50 MP sensor with support for 5x optical and a 10MP sensor with support for 3x optical zoom. Moreover, there is expected to be a 12MP ultra wide-angle sensor with a 120 field of view. Milestone Alert! Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world Click here to know more. Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed it's all here, just a click away! Login Now! After a month of standing in Home Depot parking lots in Chicago hoping to find work, Rayni Cuadrado had finally found a day job. The 29-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela, moved metal scrap and took measurements Thursday inside a decimated church in North Lawndale. He had once dreamed of studying art in his home country, he said, but due to the political and social unrest there, he instead walked to the United States with his daughter to find work. Like countless other groups of migrants and undocumented workers across the city, Cuadrado has been getting up at 5 a.m. every day for the past month to stand in parking lots and wait to be picked for day labor jobs. When a vehicle drives by, he said there is a rush. People want to find work so badly they will push each other. This is my first job in America. The majority of people dont want to hire us, he said. While hes living in a city shelter now, he hopes to make enough money to find an apartment for himself and his 4-year-old daughter. But he isnt part of the group of migrants who qualify for a work permit authorization. Thousands of people who have arrived in the city since August 2022 when Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending asylum-seekers to sanctuary cities like Chicago have been shut out of an initiative to help migrants get work permits. The program, launched in November by a coalition of federal, state and local governments and advocacy groups, has only made a small dent in the number of people even applying for work permits, much less getting them. Organizers call the program a one-stop-shop work authorization clinic, assisting migrants with the daunting application process for a permit and waiving the nearly $500 fee. But it is only available to migrants who entered the country legally with humanitarian parole or were granted the opportunity to apply for temporary legal status by President Joe Biden, and who are staying in one of the citys 28 shelters. The state had the goal of submitting roughly 11,000 applications for eligible asylum-seekers residing in Chicago shelters by February, according to a Nov. 16 news release from the governors office. But Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at Resurrection Project which spearheaded the program said only 1,655 people have registered for the program and a few hundred have been approved. Of more than 34,500 migrants who have arrived in Chicago, thousands like Cuadrado are left out of the legal pathway for employment, forced to find alternative options they say are unreliable and often risky and less lucrative. While only a fraction of the people in shelters qualify for work permits, most people outside shelters dont qualify either or cant afford to apply. Migrants who cant make enough in their home countries to live have decided to walk thousands of miles for economic opportunity, only to face a bureaucracy in the United States that prevents the vast majority of them from being legally hired. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward Cuadrado took almost four months to make it to the border between the United States and Mexico. He said he and his daughter witnessed crime and violence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that was almost worse than in his home country of Venezuela: kidnappings, shootings and threats. He said he couldnt stay in Juarez waiting for his online immigration appointment because it felt unsafe. The day before they left Mexico, he said, 16 people were taken from the house where they were staying. Nine disappeared. Rayni Cuadrado, left, of Venezuela, and pastor Markel Anderson remove broken light panels on Jan. 11, 2024, from a room at New Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church in the North Lawndale neighborhood after it was broken into. Fleeing for their lives, they crossed illegally, bypassing the Customs and Border Protections CBP One app an official mobile application the agency uses to inspect and document arrivals and departures in the United States. As a result, Cuadrado doesnt qualify for the program established by the city. Many migrants like Cuadrado and his daughter cross illegally without using the app, which they say is cumbersome and can take weeks or months. There were thousands of illegal crossings along the southern border in December alone, according to Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas. Migrants who enter illegally can technically file for asylum and apply for a work permit 150 days later, but migrants and their advocates say the process is long, confusing and expensive. Many know there is a chance they wont be granted asylum, so they may prefer to stay under the radar. Experts speculate that without more federal action, the migrants recently arriving in Chicago without the app will likely fold into existing undocumented communities who have worked under the table for decades. Its so hard, Ive even thought about going home to Venezuela, Cuadrado said on Thursday. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward. Program requirements Rendon said only 30% of migrants who live in shelters qualify for the new program. After digging more into it, actually the population (that qualifies for work permits) looks to be closer to about 4,600 people, she said. Venezuelans who entered before July 31 and apply for temporary protected status may be eligible for work permits. Migrants who have been paroled which is a separate program may also be eligible. Humanitarian parole is a measure expanded by the Biden administration in October 2022 that allows more migrants from countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua to temporarily enter the United States and apply for relief. This group must have entered with the CBP One app, unlike Cuadrado. He said he watches others at the shelter where hes staying receive help from the program. Im so worried because we were told we need to leave the shelter on March 4 and I dont have work, Cuadrado said. I spend all day outside, and my fingers freeze. A record number of migrants have crossed the southern border this year seeking employment and opportunities in the United States, pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another in national congressional debates about how to best respond to thousands of people who are in desperate need of shelter, food and health care. Most are from Venezuela, a country with a buckling economy under a far-left leader, made worse by over a decade of sanctions imposed by the United States on crude oil and gas exports. Migrants fill Home Depot parking lots waiting for day labor jobs. They stand on street corners with cardboard signs. They sell candy outside businesses to make small amounts of money. For months, migrant advocates and mayors of cities like Chicago have asked President Joe Biden to give migrants the chance to contribute to the economy legally. In September, facing mounting pressure, Biden gave some migrants, whose home countries are considered unsafe, the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary period of time. That protection, called temporary protected status, applies to an estimated 11,000 Venezuelans in Chicago who arrived in the country before July 31 and it fast-tracks their approval to work legally. At the time, migrant advocates celebrated, but warned that it would take a long time to make its way into city-run shelters. Work authorization applications are long and extensive. Just one application asks for pages of documentation in English, and costs close to $500, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. We can barely afford to buy anything Cuadrado said he had found his job Thursday with the help of God. Denzel Johnson, 29, owner of the construction company Need a Hand LLC drove by a Home Depot in the West Loop in a white car. A group of migrants came over to him, and he explained using Google Translate that he needed help cleaning up a church in North Lawndale that had been destroyed. Cuadrado and David Avendano, 25, were offered the work. They rode in the back of Johnsons Audi to the site. Johnson said the church had been broken into and wrecked. The perpetrator had pulled ceiling panels down and taken metal from the frames, exposing decades-old ornate floral tiling. Whoever had broken in had stolen everything of value, including the broom. They had cut the cord on the vacuum and the wires on the organ. Dust and debris covered the velvet red carpet. Metal hung from the ceiling. Rayni Cuadrado, 29 and from Venezuela, measures a broken door behind the New Promise Land Missionary Baptist Church, Jan. 11, 2024. Thats what happens to churches on the West Side, said the owner, pastor Markel Anderson, 25, who grew up sitting in the pews of the church. The building had been in his family for 35 years, and he inherited it from his grandfather. It was under renovation when it was broken into. The damage would take at least a year to fix, he said. When asked about why he gave the migrants the opportunity to work, Anderson said he wanted to help. Jesus was a migrant, he said. Cuadrado said other employers werent always friendly. People he knew at the shelter where hes staying had worked for weeks at a different church and werent ever paid. He hoped Anderson would give him a fair amount for the days work, but they hadnt discussed wages yet. With the language barrier, the men communicated using hand gestures. The migrants spent the afternoon clipping metal trappings that hung from the ceiling, drilling holes in doors and picking up scraps in the cold church and the yard outside. They said they want us to come back (Friday), too, said Cuadrado, and his face lit up. Avendano said he had been in Chicago about a week, and also didnt qualify for a work permit. He has three children under the age of 8 staying in the city-run shelter with him. Yesterday, he spent an hour moving beds at a different church and was paid $25. How am I going to feed my family? he asked, worried. Food is so expensive. We can barely afford to buy anything. Everyone in the same room David Fish, an employment lawyer and partner at Fish Potter Bolanos PC, said migrants without work permits face more exploitation or abuse in the workplace, and likely make around 30% less than those who can work legally. He said businesses and restaurants need workers right now. Think of all the businesses and restaurants that have shut down, and all these people desperate for work sitting around, having trouble finding jobs, he said. Somebody needs to get these two sides together. It could really be great for Chicago. In an effort to do so, state, city and local officials launched their pilot program in early November to help abate the costs and ease the bureaucratic hoops of the work permit approval process, which normally takes two to four months or longer, experts say. Lawyers from the nonprofit Resurrection Project said it has both sped up the process and made it more affordable. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting local jurisdictions hosting recently arrived migrants, that is why President Biden submitted supplemental funding requests to Congress which address a series of national priorities, including funding for accelerating the processing of work permits for eligible migrants, a White House spokesperson said in a statement to the Tribune. The pilot program is unique in design, said Elizabeth Rompf Bruen, an immigration attorney with Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC and the immediate past chair of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who has worked in the clinics since they began in November. These parties often work together, but to have everyone in the same room is something Ive never seen before, she said. This workshop has been a perfect example of the progress that can be made when legal advocates, community members and the government city, state and federal coordinate with each other. Normally, submitting applications to USCIS is a multiple-step process. In this case, legal screening, translations, application preparation, submission, initial review by the government, receipt issuance and photos and fingerprints for biometrics processing all take place on the same day in the same location. Having all parties in the same room creates efficiencies that will save applicants and the government months of waiting time. Rompf Bruen said they typically see 100 to 150 people a day, four days a week. Case managers at city shelters conduct intake screenings and then schedule legal review and application preparation appointments. Migrants are picked up and brought to the clinic in a building downtown, where they fill out paperwork and are connected to potential employers. The Illinois Department of Human Services provides $8 million in funding to support nonprofits and pro bono attorneys who run the legal clinics, according to Rachel Otwell, a spokesperson for IDHS. The federal government has also waived all $500 fees for work permit applications in shelter. Work permits allow asylum-seekers to gain employment and achieve self-sufficiency, thereby alleviating the strain on state resources, said Otwell in a statement. Employment is a crucial first step to living independently, and our new arrivals are eager to get to work and build better lives for themselves and their families. A lifesaving document Undocumented immigrants for years have struggled to find avenues to work legally. They also gather in parking lots waiting for jobs, and are now competing for day labor with migrants. The government has created options for and has been able expedite work permits for recently arrived. But you have a lot of longtime undocumented in Illinois in Chicago for whom these arent viable options, said Katherine Greenslade, an attorney and the director of the Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic at the Resurrection Project. Rendon called a work permit a lifesaving document. She said she hopes Biden can use his parole authority to grant work authorization eligibility to undocumented communities who have been in Chicago for decades. Ultimately, she wonders if the pilot program can serve as a blueprint to reach all immigrant communities in Chicago who want to work but cant. In mid-February, the city hopes to expand the program to migrants who have moved out of the citys shelter system and dont currently qualify. For now, those outside the shelter system have been relying on smaller community-based organizations for assistance. Centro Romero in Edgewater has provided legal services and resources to more than 4,000 migrants since August 2022, according to Diego F. Samayoa, associate director. Samayoa said there is a high need to expand the criteria for fee waivers for programs like his, that dont look like the citys one-stop-shop. We are doing it, but its not like we have all the resources, he said. People always ask me if I have my work permit Every day, migrants across the city spend hours looking for work, often with no luck. A father from Venezuela stood outside a Home Depot in freezing rain Tuesday afternoon holding his thumb out. He said had been looking for work for more than six hours. Nelson Orellana, 30, shook a hand warmer for heat and watched a shiny Range Rover drive by. His daughter had turned eight years old the day before and he said he missed it. As he stood on a curb in Chicago, she was seven countries away. My little Sofia, he said, tearing up. Nelson Orellana, 30, of Venezuela, stands in the rain Jan. 9, 2024, while waiting for work in a Home Depot parking lot in Chicago. Orellana said he came to Chicago for the future of his 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, and 6-year-old daughter, Victoria. He got to the city with the help of a free ticket bought by state officials in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is staying at a shelter in West Town. There was no future for my family in Venezuela. I struggled to pay for food. My daughters werent receiving an education, said Orellana, who said he worked in construction in his subtropical home city of Valencia. Wind and ice whipped his face. Hello, help me with something, to eat or work. Job please job, read a cardboard sign that lay discarded in the bushes nearby. At one point in the rainy cold afternoon, a car pulled over to talk to Orellana. The man driving rolled the window down. What kind of work are you looking for? the man asked in Spanish. Orellana walked over and leaned in to talk to him. Orellana showed the man videos of himself painting and doing little jobs which he called trabajitos. The man told him he would give him a call in three hours, and drove away. People always ask me if I have my work permit. And when I tell them I dont, they say they cant hire me. They cant help me, he said. He stood on the side of the road, shivering. He wore thin pants and white sneakers. I will bring them here, he said about his two daughters. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Chinese Premier Li Qiang is greeted by Viola Amherd, president of the Swiss Confederation, upon his arrival at Zurich international airport in Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2024. Li arrived here for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and an official visit to the European country. After his stay in Switzerland, Li will also pay an official visit to Ireland. Li's tour is at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, President of the Swiss Confederation Amherd, and Leo Varadkar, Irish prime minister. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China has always attached great importance to Switzerland's unique role in Europe and on the international stage, standing ready to maintain close communication and coordination with Switzerland in jointly addressing global challenges, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said here on Sunday. Li made the remarks upon his arrival for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and an official visit to the European country. He was received by President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd at Zurich international airport. Noting that Switzerland is one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic relations with China, Li said China-Switzerland relations have maintained sound development since the establishment of diplomatic ties 74 years ago. Especially since the announcement of the establishment of the China-Switzerland innovative strategic partnership by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Swiss leader in 2016, exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in various fields have been brought to new levels and yielded new results, Li said. Li said China is ready to work with Switzerland to follow the important strategic guidance reached by the two countries' heads of state, further deepen political mutual trust, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and cultivate friendship among the two peoples. Chinese Ambassador to Switzerland Wang Shiting and Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland Chen Xu also greeted Li at the airport. After his stay in Switzerland, Li will also pay an official visit to Ireland. Li's tour is at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, President of the Swiss Confederation Amherd, and Leo Varadkar, Irish prime minister. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is greeted by Viola Amherd, president of the Swiss Confederation, upon his arrival at Zurich international airport in Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2024. Li arrived here for the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and an official visit to the European country. After his stay in Switzerland, Li will also pay an official visit to Ireland. Li's tour is at the invitation of Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, President of the Swiss Confederation Amherd, and Leo Varadkar, Irish prime minister. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the judicial, procuratorial and public security organs to uphold the absolute leadership of the Party and provide the national rejuvenation with a strong security guarantee. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the important instruction on judicial, procuratorial and public security work, calling on people in the sector to perform their duties with loyalty and demonstrate good initiative. Xi urged efforts to resolutely safeguard national security, improve political acumen and political discernment, prevent and resolve major security risks. He also called for resolutely maintaining social stability and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the people. Social fairness and justice should be protected and promoted, and the unity of the country's rule of law should be safeguarded, said Xi, who added that the socialist market economic order should be maintained per the law, and construction of the law-based business environment should be improved. Xi also called for strengthening the political construction of the Party in judicial, procuratorial and public security organs. Xi's important instruction came as the central conference on judicial, procuratorial and public security work was convened on Saturday and Sunday in Beijing. Chen Wenqing, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, conveyed Xi's instruction and delivered a speech. Wang Xiaohong, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and minister of public security, presided over the conference and made a concluding speech. Zhang Jun, president of the Supreme People's Court, and Ying Yong, procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, attended the conference. There was an outpouring of sadness at the passing of a woman of great strength, courage and determination Mary Lyons. Mary was renowned as the popular proprietor of Lyons's Public House on Main Street, Longford and formerly on Bridge Street, Longford. She passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, peacefully at her home surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her parents Pat and Christina and by her husband John. Addressing the congregation Fr James McKiernan said: Mary was a gift from God. Fr McKeiernan added: Mary was many things: a loyal daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend. He described a good listener and a faithful friend adding that she was loving, kind and generous. Fr McKiernan spoke of the challenges she faced from emigration, to her return to the West of Ireland having lived in America. She set up home with John in Longford and had to cope with the sudden death of her husband 45 years ago as a woman of great strength, courage and determination. She could have wilted under the cross she carries as she was left to run a pub while raising four children, but she was a strong woman, he said. She was described in the prayers of the faithful as a humble person who prayed no attention to possessions or wealth, while her sister spoke of Mary's importance in the family. Mary service contained many beautiful pieces of music, particularly a moving rendition of Pia Jesu on harmonica. In an address to the gathered mourners, Mary's daughter Anne-Marie described her mother as having a special way with people. She spoke of the tribulation her mother faced: She had great resilience. There was no option but to continue to work while raising her four children. These were difficult years to navigate, but she did it well. She had great support from so many people, and found great comfort in her community at that time. Anne-Marie added: She was the most mentally and emotionally strong person I have ever met, and concluded by saying, she believed that life is not about being rich, popular or perfect, it is about being real humble and kind. Mary will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, daughter Anne-Marie, sons Joe, Brian and John, daughters-in-law Maria and Andrea, and son-in-law Raymond. Mary's sisters Deirdre (Tazmania), Jean (UK) and Yvonne (Sligo), brothers Micheal (Florida) and John (Mayo), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends will also mourn the loss of the popular woman. Mass of The Resurrection was celebrated last Monday (January 8) at 11.00am in St. Mels Cathedral, with her interment afterwards in Ballymacormack Cemetery. May she rest in peace. A man has been seriously injured following a shooting in Limerick City. Gardai are investigating the incident in the Ballincurra Weston area of Limerick City on Saturday. A man, aged in his 30s, was seriously injured and taken to University Hospital Limerick. A man, aged in his 40s, has been arrested and detained under Section 30 Offences Against the State Act, 1939 at a garda station in Limerick City. The scene was held for technical examination on Saturday evening. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this incident to come forward. Anyone who was in the Hyde Avenue, Crecora Avenue and Ballinacurra Weston areas of Limerick City between the hours of 4:00pm. and 4:45pm this afternoon and who may have camera footage is asked to make this available to gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Roxboro Road Garda Station on 061 21 4340, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing. Weather warnings are likely for snow/ice as we go into Sunday night and Monday as Ireland braces for a fresh Arctic weather blast, according to one forecaster. Met Eireann has already issued warnings via the UK Met Office for counties in Northern Ireland but further warnings now look likely across Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Cavan and Monaghan, perhaps into North Roscommon also. That's according to weatherman Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel who has been monitoring the impending cold system for the last week. He said Monday will be very cold with a risk of wintey showers in the above counties. He added: "On Tuesday, theres a risk of more widespread wintry precipitation, though snow looks reserved for Ulster and across higher ground elsewhere. Further warnings are likely for ice on Tuesday night. "Wednesday and Thursday are bitterly cold days with sunshine and scattered snow showers in the north and northwest chiefly. Elsewhere theres plenty of dry, crisp winter sunshine to enjoy. Cathal also pointed to a twist on the horizon: "On Friday we see a major change in our weather as the Atlantic takes over, and indeed theres a risk of some wet and windy weather next weekend, with stormy conditions possible into the following week," he said. Arts & Culture By Lon Cohen Published: January 14 2024 We dug into the archives for this historical photo. Originally acquired in the late 19th century by the American artist Theophilus Anthony Brouwer, Jr., this property underwent a transformation inspired by Brouwer's travels and artistic influences in Spain and Italy. Upon returning to Long Island, Brouwer constructed a castle reminiscent of one he admired near Seville. The castle, located on what would later be known as Pinewold Park, was embellished with romantic sculptures, including two twelve-foot swordsmen, a Roman lion, and a Psyche, creating an enticing visual spectacle for public enjoyment. In 1928, the property took on a new role as Casa Basso, a restaurant opened by New York restaurateur M.L. Basso and his family. They successfully managed the establishment until 1958 when Valerio "Rene" Mondini acquired it. Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 12, 2024. Liu Jianchao led a CPC delegation on a visit to the United States from Jan. 8 to 13. During the visit, Liu met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, federal senators and representatives from both Democratic and Republican parties, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and professionals from such U.S. sectors including finance, industry and commerce, think tank, and media. Liu attended a symposium under the China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue, and delivered a speech at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations. Liu also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The delegation had an in-depth exchange of views with various parties on China's development prospects, China-U.S. relations, and global governance. Both the Chinese and the U.S. sides said that they will continue to implement the important consensuses reached by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden and take concrete actions to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation on a visit to the United States from Jan. 8 to 13. During the visit, Liu met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, federal senators and representatives from both Democratic and Republican parties, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and professionals from such U.S. sectors including finance, industry and commerce, think tank, and media. Liu attended a symposium under the China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue, and delivered a speech at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations. Liu also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The delegation had an in-depth exchange of views with various parties on China's development prospects, China-U.S. relations, and global governance. Both the Chinese and the U.S. sides said that they will continue to implement the important consensuses reached by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden and take concrete actions to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Boston experienced far fewer shootings in 2023 than in 2022, according to Boston police data. In total, there were 110 shootings in the city last year, compared to 145 in 2022 a drop of about 24%. The data indicates that the number of shooting victims in Boston decreased by almost as much, from 180 in 2022 to 144 in 2023 a drop of about 20%. That drop was consistent across fatal and non-fatal injuries, meaning that the city also experienced fewer gun deaths. The number of shooting victims in Boston last year was even more substantial when compared to the citys five-year average of 197 victims per year. Even so, the data indicates that the drop primarily occurred with single-victim shootings, which experienced a 25% drop in 2023 from the prior year. There were almost as many double shootings in 2023 as there were in 2022. Additionally, while the number of triple shootings dropped to zero in 2023 from six in 2022, the city experienced two quintuple shootings last year. The data also included the octuple shooting at the Boston Caribbean Festival in August an incident which had no parallel in 2022. Read more: Boston man arrested in connection with Worcester Caribbean Festival shooting In an interview with the Boston Herald about the statistics, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said his department is taking a holistic view to countering crime and violence in the city. He also attributed much of the success to a partnership with Boston residents, which he hopes continues. On Sunday, Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden touted Bostons record-low homicide and high homicide arrest rate in 2023. According to data from Haydens office, the citys homicide rate was six to seven times lower than that of many cities of comparable size. Read more: Police accuse Dorchester teen of trying to shoot and kill underage girl Still, overall crime in Boston increased by 2% last year, the Herald reported. Additionally, in just the last week of 2023, at least four shootings occurred in Bostons Dorchester neighborhood. No one is taking any victory laps here, especially when serious crime still disproportionately affects our communities of color, but its important to point out promising trends, Hayden said in a press release Sunday. A Byfield man who drowned in a river in Newbury Thursday had fled from police a little more than a week earlier and had an active arrest warrant out against him, according to police. David Harwood drowned in the Parker River on the evening of Jan. 11 after becoming entangled in some brush, police said previously. A bystander tried to save him, but they were unable to do so due to a rapid-moving current. On Jan. 3, police attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Harwood at his home on Forest Street, but were unable to because he fled, Newbury police said in a press release. At the time of his drowning, authorities believed he was in another community and had notified police there. Police and firefighters responded to the drowning near Forest Street Thursday, but were only able to recover Harwoods body. Officers had no contact with Harwood and were not actively pursuing him, nor were police aware of his presence in town at the time of his untimely death, Newbury police said. The criminal investigation into Harwood is now closed, and the Newbury Police Department offers its condolences to his family, it said in the release. Police did not specify what crime they were attempted to arrest Harwood for. The drowning came a day after snowmelt from a weekend storm and a several inches of rain from a Tuesday night storm caused widespread flooding of river across Massachusetts. Four individuals were sent to the hospital with serious injuries following a car crash in Brockton, a spokesperson for the Brockton Police said. Authorities responded to the area of 260 Belair Street at around 2 p.m. after reports of a car crash on Saturday, police said. A Mercedes Sedan was traveling northbound on Belair when the driver lost control and crashed into a fire hydrant and hit two trees before rolling over and catching on fire, police said. The victims were out of the car before the vehicle caught on fire, authorities said. Two individuals were sent to Good Samaritan Medical Center, two were sent to South Shore Hospital. One individual was transferred to a Boston hospital by helicopter, according to police. CHICOPEE Students with the Conway School of Landscape Design will help Chicopee make existing public trails more useful. Graduate students Amy Furman, Austin Hammer and Meera Connors will work with the citys Planning Department and recommend projects that improve connectivity along the trails which include the Connecticut Riverwalk and Bikeway, Fuller Road Trail, Chicopee Riverwalk, Memorial Drive, and Chicopee Memorial State Park. I think there are a lot of good resources and places for jobs in the city that cant be accessed right now, said CJ Lammers, projects manager for the Conway School. Theres a recreational component, but the vision is to convert the city into being less car-dependent. The project will run into March. Students will be present their findings at the end of February. City residents will be able to monitor the project by visiting the citys website, which will display postings of opportunities to engage with students. A representative of the citys Planning Department could not be reached for comment. Along with Chicopee, graduate students from the Conway School are working this year with the communities of Springfield, Greenfield, Petersham, Holbrook, and Weymouth. The community projects are part of the schools winter term. The annual program allows graduate students to work with nonprofits and municipalities on large-scale community planning projects, intending to produce ecological and social sustainability. If you plan on traveling in Massachusetts Sunday afternoon or evening, youll want to be on the lookout for snow squalls. According to National Weather Service forecaster Kevin Kadima, snow squalls are similar to the fast-moving, intense scattered thunderstorms we sometimes experience in the summer. Theyre typically snow showers that just cover a small area, but within the area, it can be snowing pretty hard, he said. Throughout the afternoon and evening, Bay Staters may see light to moderate snow showers with intermittent squalls of heavy snow, Kadima said. They move through pretty quickly, so any given location probably wont see it last for more than 15, 20 minutes, he said. The snow is expected to hit Western Massachusetts between noon and 1 p.m., before moving on to Central Massachusetts around 3 p.m., Kadima said. Eastern Massachusetts residents should look out for the squalls between 4 and 6 p.m. [1/2] A cold front is on the horizon, bringing scattered rain/snow showers. Be alert to the potential for heavier snow squalls this afternoon. These swift-moving squalls last less than an hour, creating sudden white-out conditions & icy roads within minutes #MAwx #RIwx #CTwx pic.twitter.com/Wboodcgj30 NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 14, 2024 Areas near the coast where the high today is expected to reach 40 degrees may see the precipitation start out as rain before turning to snow, Kadima said. This is most likely to happen in southeastern Massachusetts south of I-95. If any areas in southeast Massachusetts do get those squalls, they might start out as rain, but they would likely change to snow as the intensity ramped up, he said. Read more: New England ski areas prepare for holiday weekend despite weather setbacks According to the National Weather Service, you may get a snow squall alert on your phone as it passes through your area. If you are driving when this happens, the weather services advises that you slow down, turn on your lights and pull over. Despite minor snow accumulations, snow squalls can lead to brief yet severe disruptions in travel, historically associated with deadly traffic accidents, the weather service wrote on social media. The combination of gusty winds, falling temperatures, and reduced visibility creates dangerous conditions for motorists. The National Weather Service advises that drivers pull over during snow squalls.NOAA As for snow accumulation, Kadima said, some areas of the state wont get any, while others may get 1 to 2 inches. The higher elevations in the Berkshires and the Worcester Hills have the greatest chance of receiving significant snowfall. Highs across the state Sunday are expected to reach the mid to upper 30s, but the cold front bringing in the squalls will leave temperatures significantly lower, according to the weather service. It could also cause strong westerly winds with gusts up to 45 mph. The skies should clear across the state by the late evening, and lows overnight are expected to be in the mid teens to low 20s, according to the weather service. Highs on Martin Luther King Jr. Day are predicted to be in the upper 20s and low 30s amid sunny skies. Lows overnight Monday are expected to dip into the low 20s and upper teens, according to the weather service. Then, on Tuesday, upper edge of a storm is predicted to touch Massachusetts, bringing a few inches of snow. Boston experienced a record-low number of homicides and a high arrest and prosecution rate in 2023, according to Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden. There were 37 recorded homicides in the city in 2023, and two of the killings happened in 2022 but were not ruled homicides by the Chief Medical Examiners Office until 2023, Haydens office said in a press release Sunday. Though, according to FBI crime data, thats one more recorded homicide than in 2022, Bostons 2023 homicide rate is far lower than that of other comparable cities. According to data provided by the district attorneys office, cities of a comparable size, such as Washington D.C., Baltimore and Detroit, had a homicide rate of around 40 to 50 homicides per 100,000 people, which is about six to seven times greater than Bostons. Bostons homicide rate in 2023 was comparable to cities of a similar size such as San Francisco, which had a homicide rate of around six homicide per 100,000 people, according to data from Haydens office. Additionally, according to the Boston police data, shootings hit a record low in Boston in 2023 as well, and saw a 24% reduction from 2022. Haydens office also highlighted that arrests were made in 24 of the 37 homicide cases last year an arrest rate of about 67.5%. Additionally, district attorneys office achieved guilty verdicts in 12 of 13 homicide cases that went to trial last year. This is a heartening story of increased cooperation and participation by members of our community and top-notch work by Boston police officers and homicide detectives, all combining to provide a slice of positive news in relation to this most terrible of crimes, Hayden said. No one is taking any victory laps here, especially when serious crime still disproportionately affects our communities of color, but its important to point out promising trends. The district attorney said in the release that he felt communities in Boston reached an enough is enough consensus around killings in their neighborhoods, which led to positive change. Hayden also credited Mayor Michelle Wus Office of Neighborhood Services for increasing communication and cooperation with members of the public. Pasang Butri's daughter Tsering Butri (1st L) prepares chema box for her family members at home in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 12, 2024. Locals in Xigaze celebrate the farmers' New Year on the first day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, which fell on Jan. 12 this year. On Friday, the Pasang Butri family, who live in Sangzhuzi District of Xigaze City, got up early and dressed up in new clothes, welcoming the arrival of the farmers' New Year. This is the first time for the four-generation family to spend the farmers' New Year in their new home, a newly renovated three-story house. Sitting beside an exquisite chema box (a rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain that symbolizes good luck), families and relatives enjoyed their feast and expressed their good wishes for the New Year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) The 42nd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarship Breakfast, hosted by the Wesley United Memorial Church, drew more than 250 people to the Springfield Marriott Downtown Saturday morning to laud four high school students for their academic excellence. Jorden Borders, Jackson Counsel-Watkins, Gabrielle Murrell and Olivia Bradley each were presented with scholarships they will take with them as they plan futures beyond high school and, at the same time, they were asked to consider what guest speaker U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Boston, said was Kings definition of quality education. After Massachusetts was hit with intense rainfall on Saturday, snow is expected on Sunday, which may reduce visibility and be dangerous to drive in, according to the National Weather Service. Snow squalls the combinations of heavy snowfall and strong winds are possible throughout parts of Massachusetts from Sunday afternoon to evening, the weather service said. The weather service said the potential for snow squalls will bring the risk for brief hazardous travel with the potential for roads quickly becoming snow covered and with briefly near zero visibility and hazardous travel. The forecast noted that temperatures may start out above freezing Sunday morning but could fall below during any squalls leading to increase chance of road icing, particularly in parts of the state away from the coast. Coastal areas may just get wet roads with rain, the weather service said. Near term, the weather service issued a wind advisory for Block Island, Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket Saturday night until 6 a.m. Sunday, with the potential for wind gusts as fast as 45-50 mph. Anyone who was walking around with just a sweater on Saturday when temperatures soared into the 50s may want to get their jacket back out, as temperatures are expected to dip into the 20s and 30s overnight into Sunday. Mondays holiday will be quiet and quite a bit cooler, the National Weather Service said, with highs topping out in the upper 20s to low 30s. It will be mostly sunny during the day and mostly cloudy at night Monday. The cold weather on Sunday will go into the week with more snow predicted on Tuesday into early Wednesday and potentially impactful weather Friday into Saturday. Though its much too soon to focus on any details or timing, the National Weather Service said, (two forecast systems) are already indicating 30-70% chance of (at or above) 1 inch of snow, so theres certainly a signal there. Stay tuned. Weather problems throughout the U.S. A wave of Arctic storms has wrecked havoc throughout the country as the three-day Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend began, the Associated Press reported. Record high tides hit the Northeast Saturday afternoon, flooding some homes in Maine and New Hampshire. The coastal Northeast was pounded by 1 to 2 inches of rain Saturday morning, and a storm surge amplified what was already the months highest tide, National Weather Service meteorologist Michael Cempa told the Associated Press. In Portland, Maine, a gauge recorded a 14.57-foot difference between high and average low tide, topping a prior record of 14.17 feet set in 1978. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced a state of emergency Saturday, citing very dangerous conditions in his state. Up to 2 feet of snow has fallen in some areas over the past week, and wind chills were well below zero. About 1,700 miles of Nebraska highways were closed due to heavy snow. State police assisted more than 400 stranded motorists, said Col. John A. Bolduc, head of the Nebraska State Patrol. In Iowa, some cars were stuck for five hours in blowing snow on Interstate 80 after semitrailers jackknifed in slippery conditions, blocking traffic and leaving 100 vehicles trapped. Altogether, state troopers had handled 86 crashes and 535 motorist-assist calls since Friday, State Patrol Sgt. Alex Dinkla said Saturday. Parts of Montana fell below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit Saturday morning, and the National Weather Service said similar temperatures were expected as far as northern Kansas, with minus 50 F possible in the Dakotas. The temperature in parts of Iowa could dip as low as minus 14 F on Monday, when the states caucuses kick off the U.S. presidential primary season. Associated Press material reported by Jim Salter and Jennifer Peltz was used in this article. FEMICIDE: the hate crime of systematically killing women, girls, or females in general because of their gender. Because of their gender- let that sink in. Why are we just hearing about it? Despite what some may think, femicide has been a huge issue in Ireland for a very long time. 583 women have been violently murdered in this country in the past century, and concerningly, the numbers are only growing each year. A recent research project by X user @ care2much18 mapped out where each one of these killings took place across our nation. The map pinpoints the date, location, criminal proceedings, and facts about each of these murders. Mayo made up 2.5 percent of the overall murders, with 15 women being killed across the county since 1922. Its not unfair to say that a map of this country should not be flooded with so many pins, representing so many tragedies, and so many innocent women who had their lives cut short. Among the 500 plus cases with a known killer, there was a very well-defined pattern of perpetrator - 98.3 percent of them were murdered by men. The 20s and 30s saw the least killings with 25 each, while in the 2000s 107 women had their lives taken. Womens Aid statistics reveal that 63 percent of victims were killed inside their own homes. 55 percent were killed by a partner or ex (of the resolved cases), and almost 90 percent of women knew their killer. In her programme, Dr Cassidys Casebook The Femicide Cases former State Pathologist, Dr Marie Cassidy revealed that while the murder of defenceless women in their homes wasn't unique to Ireland, she was struck by the numbers here. Previous to working here, she worked in Glasgow where she said cases were mainly male-on-male violence. The current highest number of killings came in 1996, when 19 women were murdered here. In the course of her Irish career, Dr Cassidy has investigated the deaths of 200 women, most of them murdered by someone known to them (husband, boyfriend or relative). Cassidy chillingly explained the situation in this famous quote: Were all worried about the bogeyman but its someone in the bed, not someone under the bed. Motive - why are women being targeted? Researcher @ care2much18 found in his studies that violent killings of women and girls progressively worsened as the 20th century progressed: It seemed to me that as women's rights gained traction and women became more independent, domestic violence against them worsened. The 2022 report Domestic, Sexual and Gender based violence - A Report on Crime Levels and Garda Operational Responses carried out by An Garda Siochana showed that a domestic abuse motive was recorded for 90 percent of all females who were victims of Murder/Manslaughter/Infanticide and 43 percent of all females who were victims of Attempts/Threats to Murder, Assaults, Harassments and Related Offences between 2019 and 2021. Male victims, whilst also experiencing domestic abuse, are more likely to be subject to violence by offenders unknown to them and/or in incidents not relating to domestic abuse. These harrowing numbers undoubtedly have an effect on women, and how safe (or unsafe) they feel in their everyday lives. A 2018 report by childrens rights charity, Plan International Ireland, examined how women perceive the world around them and how a fear of harassment prevents them from going about their daily lives. Nine in ten women feel unsafe in Ireland just because of their gender; More than one-third have experienced physical harassment in public; with 93 percent of survey takers saying they feel more at risk to violence simply because of their gender. In a more recent (2022) survey by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), more than twice as many women cited safety concerns as a reason for not walking more frequently, compared to men. Where do we go from here? On the day this article was written, it was the two year anniversary of Ashling Murphys unprovoked, random murder in the town she grew up in. The posts and discussions in her honour are touching and present a community like feeling. However, it should not take an attack as vicious as Ashling Murphys, and the 582 other women on this map, to start a discussion around this topic. We are barely four years into the 2020s and there have already been 25 murders. If the numbers continue to grow at this rate for the rest of the decade, we could expect this number to reach up to 83 by 2030. In a time where women have so many rights and independence compared to the 1920s, women still do not have freedom, and it is starting to feel like they never will. Education is so accessible, living conditions in this country are mostly of a good quality, everyone has phones to help keep them safe (in regards to sharing their whereabouts, being able to contact others instantly, etc), and there is still such a high rate of these brutal crimes against women, for just being women? We remember all of the women and girls violently killed. Mayo women murdered since 1922 Honora Kelly (47) - 1922, Lisloughna. Mary Mulkeen (68) - 1932, Cullintra. Annie Benson (54) - 1957, Kiltimagh. Mary Josephine Rogers (21) - 1967, Kilmaine. Annie Deane (63) - 1969, Srahnaplaia. Mary Duffy (23) - 1976, Castlebar. Mary Ann Moran (72) - 1982, Ballintober. Lily Ormsby (55) - 1985, Ballina. Lisa Marie Sweeney (17 months old) - 1995, Faranoo North. Gillian Thornton (20) - 1997, Ballina. Carmel Marrinan (61) - 2009, Derrymore. Noreen Kelly Eadon (46) - 2011, Derrycreeve. Sara Staunton (28) - 2013, Cnoc na Niur. Kitty Fitzgerald (72) - 2016, Ballinrobe. Valerie French Kilroy (41) - 2019, Kilbree Lower. MORE See the full report at https://femicideireland.blogspot.com/2024/01/100-years-of-femicide-in-ireland-women.html Mass spectrometry-detected MGUS is associated with obesity and other novel modifiable risk factors in a high-risk population Trusted Source Trusted Source A pontomesencephalic PACAPergic pathway underlying panic-like behavioral and somatic symptoms in mice Go to source Trusted Source Study investigates PACAP-expressing neurons and PACAP neuropeptides as promising and innovative targets for panic disorder treatment. #anxiety #panicdisorder #mentalhealth Advertisement Advertisement A pontomesencephalic PACAPergic pathway underlying panic-like behavioral and somatic symptoms in mice - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01504-3) The symptoms of panic attacks , such as overwhelming fear, sweaty palms, and rapid heart rate, are experienced frequently and unexpectedly by individuals with panic disorder. Creating a comprehensive map of the brain regions, neurons, and connections involved in these attacks can offer valuable insights for developing more effective therapeutics. () Salk researchers have initiated this mapping process by identifying a brain circuit responsible for mediating panic disorder. This circuit comprises specialized neurons utilizing a neuropeptide called PACAP. Importantly, they have identified PACAP and its receptor-producing neurons as potential druggable targets for innovative panic disorder treatments. The findings were published in Nature Neuroscience.We've been exploring different areas of the brain to understand where panic attacks start, says senior author Sung Han, associate professor at Salk. Previously, we thought the amygdala, known as the brains fear center, was mainly responsiblebut even people who have damage to their amygdala can still experience panic attacks, so we knew we needed to look elsewhere. Now, weve found a specific brain circuit outside of the amygdala that is linked to panic attacks and could inspire new panic disorder treatments that differ from current available panic disorder medications that typically target the brain's serotonin system.To begin sketching out a panic disorder brain map, the researchers looked at a part of the brain called the lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBL) in the pons (part of the brain stem), which is known as the brains alarm center. Interestingly, this small brainstem area also controls breathing, heart rate, and body temperature.It became evident that the PBL was likely implicated in generating panic and bringing about emotional and physical changes. Furthermore, they found that this brain area produces a neuropeptide, PACAP (pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide), known as the master regulator of stress responses. But the link between these elements was still unclear, so the team turned to a mouse model of panic attacks to confirm and expand their proposed map."Emotional and stress-related behaviors have been associated with PACAP-expressing neurons in the past, says co-first author Sukjae Kang, senior research associate in Hans lab. By mimicking panic attacks in the mice, we were able to watch those neurons activity and discover a unique connection between the PACAP brain circuit and panic disorder.They found that during a panic attack, PACAP-expressing neurons became activated. Once activated, they release PACAP neuropeptide messenger to another part of the brain called the dorsal raphe, where neurons expressing PACAP receptors reside. The released PACAP messengers activate those receptor neurons, thereby producing panic-associated behavioral and physical symptoms in the mice.This connection between panic disorder and the PACAP brain circuit was an important step forward for mapping panic disorder in the brain, Han says. The team also found that by inhibiting PACAP signaling, they could disrupt the flow of PACAP neuropeptides and reduce panic symptomsa promising finding for the future development of panic disorder-specific therapeutics.According to Han, despite panic disorders categorization as an anxiety disorder , there are many ways that anxiety and panic are differentlike how panic induces many physical symptoms, like shortness of breath , pounding heartrate, sweating, and nausea, but anxiety does not induce those symptoms. Or how panic attacks are uncontrollable and often spontaneous, while other anxiety disorders, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) , are more memory-based and have predictable triggers. These differences, says Han, are why it is critical to construct this panic disorder brain map, so that researchers can create therapeutics specially tailored to panic disorder.We found that the activity of PACAP-producing neurons in the brains parabrachial nucleus is inhibited during anxiety conditions and traumatic memory eventsthe mouses amygdala actually directly inhibits those neurons, says Han, who is also the Pioneer Fund Developmental Chair at Salk. Because anxiety seems to be operating conversely to the panic brain circuit, it would be interesting to look at the interaction between anxiety and panic, since we need to explain now how people with anxiety disorder have a higher tendency to experience panic attack.Additionally, they are hoping to further build out their map of panic disorder in the brain to see where the PACAP receptor-producing neurons in the dorsal raphe send their signals, and how other anxiety-related brain areas interact with the PACAP panic system.Source-Eurekalert TEHRAN, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Iran's police forces have arrested four "main individuals" involved in a deadly "terrorist" attack on police headquarters in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan Province, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Sunday. The "terrorists" were arrested in a surprise operation, which shocked the "hostile" Jaish al-Zulm group, a separatist cell with ties to al-Qaeda that claimed responsibility for the "terrorist" attack in December last year, Mehr quoted Iran's Police Chief Ahmad Reza Radan as saying. Eleven policemen were killed and seven others injured in the attack on the police headquarters in Rask County on Dec. 15, 2023. Radan noted that a number of weapons and gears, as well as foreign banknotes, had been seized from the "criminals," adding information had been obtained about the other individuals involved in the "terrorist" attack. Bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province has witnessed several terrorist attacks on both civilians and security forces over the past years. On Wednesday, a policeman was killed in a "terrorist" attack by "gunmen" on a police station in Rask County, the official news agency IRNA quoted County Governor Salim Kadkhoda as saying. He added the gunmen sought to force their way into the police station but failed to do so thanks to the police forces' resistance. According to IRNA, the Jaish al-Zulm group claimed responsibility for the attack. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said, two months after the North claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant U.S. targets in the region. The launch was the North's first this year. Experts say North Korea could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Korea's parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from the North's capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Korea's military will maintain its readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea. The South Korean assessment suggests North Korea could have launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose solid-fuel engine it said it had tested in mid-November. The missile is mainly designed to hit U.S. military bases in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which is about 3,400 kilometers (2,110 miles) from Pyongyang, the North's capital. With a range adjustment, the missile can also be used to attack closer targets the U.S. military installations in Japan's Okinawa island, according to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile is powered by liquid-fuel engines. Japan's Defense Ministry said its analysis showed the missile traveled at least 500 kilometers (300 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles), data that suggest North Korea may have fired a short-range and not an intermediate-range missile. Japan and South Korea said they closely exchanged information about the launch with the United States, but they didn't immediately explain the discrepancy in data. The last time North Korea performed a missile launch that was publicly announced was Dec. 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the country's only known solid-fuel ICBM and it's designed to strike the mainland U.S. On Jan. 5, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. South Korea accused North Korea of continuing similar artillery barrage in the area for the next two days. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999, and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes ahead of an election year in South Korea and the U.S. Leader Kim Jong Un, during visits last week to munitions factories, called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win the election and pursue rapprochement with North Korea, and for former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again. They say Kim may believe he could win U.S. concessions like sanctions relief if Trump returns to the White House. Negotiations over North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal have been dormant since the Kim-Trump diplomacy broke down in 2019. Kim has since focused on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals in what foreign analysts is an effort to boost his leverage. In recent months, North Korea has also been expanding its military and other cooperation with Russia. The U.S. government said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russia's war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. North Korea and Russia announced Sunday that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the U.S. and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. 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 ISLAMABAD, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Five soldiers and three terrorists were killed in a clash in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan province, an army statement said. The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said late Saturday night that an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded in the Buleda area of Kech district of the province. The IED explosion was followed by an intense exchange of fire between security personnel and the terrorists, the ISPR said in a statement, adding that five soldiers and three terrorists were killed during the clash. A clearance operation has been carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, the statement said. The military said that the security forces of Pakistan remain determined to thwart the attempts to sabotage peace, stability and progress in Balochistan, and such sacrifices of soldiers have further strengthened the nation's resolve. Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes for Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 Todays Birthday (01/14/24). Revel in love, creativity and romance this year. Prioritize clear and consistent communication. Finding opportunities in springtime professional changes inspires blossoming domestic joys this summer. Autumn news requires communication and adaptation, before your work earns professional rewards next winter. Have fun with people you adore. To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is a 7 Review plans to accomplish your vision. Communications and actions can get farther today. Set things into motion. Organize and coordinate behind the scenes. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 9 Build and strengthen practical alliances. Network and connect. Coordinate and collaborate with friends. Together, youre a powerful force. Align efforts for a good cause. Gemini (May 21-June 20) Today is an 8 Get down to the practical work. Long-term professional dreams and ambitions get realized with both communication and action. Take advantage of an intriguing opportunity. Cancer (June 21-July 22) Today is a 9 Enjoy an adventure with your partner. Dreamy situations arise in conversation. Invent a delicious possibility. Accept an intriguing invitation. Explore and investigate together. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 9 Collaboration can get especially lucrative. Work together for common gain. Coordinate actions and responsibilities for maximum ease and efficiency. Grow your shared venture. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 9 Discuss what you love. Shared passions deepen your connection. Support each other to express your feelings. Listen and bear witness. Encourage each other. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 9 Prioritize health and fitness despite a busy schedule. Discover simple efficiencies. Postpone stuff that can wait. Nature and physical activity energize for higher performance. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is an 8 Have fun with someone special. Communication flows. Creative ideas abound. Get playful and inventive. Collaborate on arts, passions and interests. Romance sparks in conversation. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is an 8 Focus on home and family. Discuss domestic dreams and desires. Plot options and steps. Budget and save. Profit through networking, connection and communication. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 9 You can advance creative dreams with disciplined efforts today. Polish presentations before sharing. Edit and prepare carefully. Focus messaging. Discuss possibilities and invite participation. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 9 Get into a productive groove behind closed doors. Your work is gaining appreciation. Deliver great products and services. Lucrative opportunities arise naturally. Follow a hunch. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 9 Youre gaining a distinct advantage. Advance a personal dream. Talk about what you love and want. Use charm and charisma to motivate and inspire others. Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com. 2023 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. There are about 50,000 people throughout Michigan still without electricity as blizzard-like conditions and high winds swept across the state during a multi-day snowstorm. Roughly 30,000 Consumers Energy customers remained without power as of 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 14. The company had about 463 crews working in the field Saturday night, Jan. 13, officials said in a news release. Most of Consumers outages are expected to be restored at some point on Sunday, according to the companys outage map. RELATED: Dangerously cold wind chills plunge Michigan into bitter week ahead As power outages persist, Consumers Energy officials are also reminding people to use generators safely. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas, the utility said in a statement. DTE Energy had about 26,000 customers without power as of Sunday morning. Thousands of DTE employees and more than 900 contract linemen from across the country continue to work to restore power to customers affected by this weekends extreme weather. RELATED: Warming centers open across Michigan as state records most power outages in the U.S. Nearly 85% of customers who were without power now have their service restored, and DTE estimates 95% of customers will be restored by the end of the day on Sunday. See outage maps from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy for additional information about restoration times. Keep up with all our forecasts, weather advisories and snow outlooks on our MLive Weather page. ANN ARBOR, MI Its been just over two years since Ann Arbor implemented a first-of-its-kind law on Jan. 1, 2022. The ordinance approved by City Council requires bars, restaurants, stores and other establishments to provide free menstrual products such as tampons in their public restrooms. How is it working out? So far, so good, according to city officials. Enforcement is complaint-driven, meaning citizens who notice a restroom with a lack of supplies can report a violation via the citys A2 Fix It app and the city will respond. In 2022, the city received 23 such complaints, said Assistant City Attorney John Reiser, who has helped implement the law. The first complaint targeted an unusual suspect: the Washtenaw County Courthouse, which agreed to correct the mistake. In 2023, there were only six complaints the most recent one being in September, Reiser said. How to report a violation of Ann Arbors new tampon law The procedure for enforcement begins with sending a community standards officer into a restroom to check for compliance, Reiser said. The officer then speaks with the manager of the facility and provides a copy of the citys rules. To date, no civil infraction tickets, which come with a $100 penalty fine, have been issued because enforcement through education has been successful, Reiser said, noting he also has had conversations with facility managers about the law. One of the ordinance sponsors, Council Member Jen Eyer, D-4th Ward, said shes really happy with how its going. Ive heard many positive comments from residents, and every time Ive thought to check while out and about, the products have been there, she said. How a high school student inspired Ann Arbors groundbreaking tampon law There are some locations from which supplies are taken at rates that likely exceed the need for them for example, at large retail operations that also sell the products, Reiser said. In response, some businesses have put out fewer products at a time, use wall-mounted dispensers or have resorted to less-expensive products that are not as likely to be hoarded, he said. While the city is not legally empowered to enforce the ordinance with entities such as the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Public Schools or the county, they have been increasingly supplying menstrual products in their restrooms, Reiser said. Over the last two years, City Council members and staff have received positive comments regarding the availability of tampons and menstrual pads in restrooms and the public has come to expect seeing them available in restrooms, whether privately owned or managed by the city, county, school district or the university, Reiser said. City officials declared when they approved the law just over two years ago that Ann Arbor had become the first city in the U.S. to require menstrual products in all public restrooms. They expressed hopes other cities would follow suit, creating a new societal expectation of period products being available in public restrooms and ending period poverty. Reiser said hes not aware of any other communities that have followed Ann Arbors lead yet, but the city has gotten inquiries about the law from another municipality out east and some state lawmakers curious about how its working out. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Theres legal trouble in paradise. A private island with a custom-built lakeside cottage some 30 miles from Ann Arbor made headlines thanks to a zoning dispute in 2017 that threatened its status as a vacation rental. More than six years later and AshKay Island, on Iron Mill Pond near Manchester, is still embroiled in a legal conflict between neighbors. If I could go back, I wouldnt have done this project, said Andy Bobo, who owns the eight-acre island through AshKay Island, LLC. But once we were in it, Im pretty set in my ways that were going to get through this, and its going to be OK. Bobo no longer offers rentals of the island, its solar-powered cabin and elaborate treehouse. He says he has no intention to in the future. Legally, he cant, after a group of neighbors took AshKay Island to court claiming the property was a nuisance, and short-term rentals werent permitted under Manchester Township rules. After an initial victory for AshKay in 2019, the Michigan Court of Appeals ultimately sided with the neighbors in 2021, putting an end to paying guests on the island. Andy Bobo uses a pontoon boat to access his cabin located on an 8-acre private island on Iron Mill Pond near Manchester in this file photo taken in July 2016. The vacation getaway on AshKay Island has been subject to two separate lawsuits from neighbors spanning nearly six years. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor NewsMelanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News But as that legal fight was wrapping up, another was brewing. In August 2022, Jeffrey Pigeon, owner of about a dozen Iron Mill Pond properties and a plaintiff in the first lawsuit, sued AshKay Island again. Pigeon, whose attorney declined to comment, asked the court to go further this time. His lawsuit requested a judge order a complete teardown of Bobos cabin and other island structures, as well as a prohibition on future habitation, labeling them dangerous buildings as defined by township rules. The vacation getaway isnt served by a driveway providing access for fire vehicles, in violation of the township zoning ordinance, and the treehouse wasnt built with necessary permits, the lawsuit alleged. The lack of fire protection could cause a problem if a blaze affected propane tanks or batteries on the island, it argued. The island is only (approximately) 200 feet from shore and in a pristine, natural area prized by its other landowners, reads the lawsuit. A fire on the island, or a toxic spill of defendants materials in to the waterways or the soil, would dramatically and detrimentally affect the plaintiffs other landowners property values and rights to quiet enjoyment of their property, and any such event on the island, given the proximity to the shore, could easily spread to other parcels directly, it argues. Bobo and his attorney pushed back, claiming Pigeons lawsuit was frivolous and amounted to an attempt to harass AshKay Island. Manchester Township permitted the construction of the cottage on the island beginning in 2014 and later granted a certificate of occupancy, according to Bobo and his legal filings. Upset by this decision by Manchester Township, the plaintiff has concocted this lawsuit as a proxy for his anger against the township. He seeks nothing less than the destruction/teardown of the structures on AshKay Island, and the pretext for this is a thread-bare complaint whose claims are entirely based on a (irrational and unsubstantiated) hypothetical fear of a fire on the island or some sort of toxic spill, reads a brief AshKay filed in the case. Its unlikely for a fire to spread to Pigeons property across more than 500 feet of water, and theres no evidence AshKay Island houses toxic materials any more dangerous than those in homes on the mainland near the plaintiffs property, the brief argued. In an interview, Bobo acknowledged the issue of the permits for the treehouse isnt completely resolved. The township is seeking proper permits for the deck on the structure, and he is working to resolve the violation, he said. Manchester Township Supervisor Ronald Milkey didnt respond to an email and call from MLive/The Ann Arbor News with questions about AshKay. Still, the only one thats telling me I need to tear structures down is Jeff Pigeon, Bobo said. Lounge chairs outside of the cabin located on an 8-acre private island named AshKay near Manchester are shown in this file photo taken in July 2016. The island and its 1,700-square-foot cottage, built by Andy Bobo and his family, have been subject to two lawsuits and nearly six years of litigation from neighbors. Melanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor NewsMelanie Maxwell | The Ann Arbor News So far, that outcome seems unlikely. In May 2023, Washtenaw County Judge Carol Kuhnke dismissed Pigeons claims. He failed to prove he faced a specific harm from AshKay Island thats different from the risk facing the general public, the judge said. The harms that hes articulated are fears, concerns, worries, they are not actual harms. And everything that concerns him is over something that might happen and that hasnt happened, she added, while delivering her ruling, according to a court transcript. The ruling didnt end the case, however, as Bobo and his attorney requested Kuhnke award them attorney fees and costs, claiming the lawsuit was a frivolous attempt to harass the island owners. At a September hearing, Kuhnke agreed, subsequently ordering the payment of some $18,500 in fees in November. Kuhnke cited comments Pigeon made during a deposition in the case where he responded, I want him gone, when asked about his goal in filing the lawsuit, referring to Bobo, according to the court transcript. Pigeon has appealed both Kuhnkes ruling dismissing the case and the fee award to the Michigan Court of Appeals, which has consolidated the appeals but has yet to rule on them. The years of legal back-and-forth have weighed on Bobo, but he is adamant hell continue to defend his property. Tearing somebodys house down is terrible thing. I dont ever want to go through this again, and I cant imagine putting anybody through that, Bobo said. Were not in any predicament where I would think about giving up. If it goes to a million dollars in legal fees, it goes to a million dollars in legal fees. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page, the Ypsilanti-area news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter. HOLLAND, MI A kitchen fire inside an assisted living facility temporarily displaced some of its residents and staff members, Holland fire officials reported. There were no injuries reported to residents, staff or responding firefighters. Firefighters initially responded to a 12:58 p.m. report of a structure fire on Sunday, Jan. 14, at Addington Place of Lakeside Vista, at 340 W. 40th St. A fire was reported in the kitchen and involved cooking equipment, officials said. When fire crews arrived, they encountered smoke in the living areas and a contained fire in the kitchen of a building. Firefighters extinguished the fire and started ventilating smoke from the building. As a result of the fire and subsequent smoke, 30 residents and nine staff members were temporarily displaced from the building while the fire was extinguished, confirmed out and smoke was evacuated, officials said. Firefighters received assistance from American Medical Response in relocating residents to an unaffected part of the building. Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Downtown Grand Rapids will see major traffic interruptions throughout the 2024 construction season. The first of two major roadway and utility projects planned for this year will see the complete closure of the Fulton Street and Division Avenue intersection for an estimated four months starting in July. The second project will see closures of Division Avenue between Fulton and Michigan streets throughout the construction season, with interruptions starting as early as February and full roadway closures beginning later in the spring and potentially lasting through November. The locations of those full closures on Division will change depending on the utility work, said City Engineer Tim Burkman. If youre seeking to travel through the area, the detour routes will focus on Monroe and Ionia for north-south movements, Burkman said. Well make way for local access and maintain access to businesses, but youll have to follow detour routes to get in and around that area. Burkman said the city will keep open two of the three east-west crossings of Division Avenue between Fulton and Michigan at all times to better facilitate detouring traffic. During the closures, pedestrian access and access to businesses along Division will be maintained. The work this year comes ahead of another major project in 2025 on Division Avenue that will see the road completely reconstructed between Fulton and Michigan but again impede traffic on the stretch. In addition to new street pavement, the reconstruction project will also see updated water and storm sewer lines and new sidewalks, driveway approaches, traffic signals and ornamental lighting. And while drivers might have hoped the utility project this year on Division and the full reconstruction next year wouldve been combined into one construction season to reduce the length of disruptions, Burkman said that just wasnt possible with the scope of work. Were seeking to consolidate and compress the timelines as much as we can, but theres just too much work to be done in one construction season, so its going to have to overlap two years, he said. But the result will be a much improved street corridor and increased reliability of utility infrastructure as well. Burkman said the city is still working out how extensive the closures on Division will be next year and whether one lane of travel down the full length can be maintained at times. That project is expected to last the full 2025 construction season. The good news, however, is that next year the intersection of Fulton and Division will remain open in 2025 thanks to this years work, which will see the intersection reconstructed. Weve known for some time that the pavement is in poor condition and that that road needed to be reconstructed Burkman said of the Division Avenue corridor. We delayed the road project in order to coordinate with some significant utility replacement and relocation work that needs to happen first. Theres some infrastructure out there thats around 100 years old. For instance, we have water main that was installed in 1889. We have the citys communications and primary power duct banks, street lighting duct bank that was built in 1940. The work along Division this year entails the replacement and relocation of utilities by not just the city but also Consumers Energy, AT&T and Vicinity Energy, all of which plan to upgrade their utility infrastructure in the corridor. Burkman said the work will improve the reliability of the utility infrastructure. The utility work and reconstruction of the intersection of Division and Fulton will cost the city $4.6 million. That does not include the costs borne by utility companies also replacing infrastructure in the area. The 2025 reconstruction of Division will cost the city about $10 million. Burkman said some federal dollars through the state are also anticipated, and the Grand Rapids Downtown Development Authority is paying for new ornamental lighting along the stretch. The city held a public meeting Jan. 11 to let residents and business owners learn more about the projects. A copy of that presentation, which includes information about the Division detours, and more information can be found at this link. Happy Sunday, folks. Lawmakers returned to the Capitol for the first time since November, drama continues to follow the Michigan Republican Party in its attempt to figure out who its real leader is, and hey, how bout those Lions, huh? The Detroit Lions will host the returning Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams in the wild-card round this Sunday night from Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. Watch the Detroit Lions on FuboTV (free trial -- Sign up now until the end of the year and get a seven-day free trial plus $20 off your first two months) Watch the Detroit Lions on Sling (half off the first month) Watch the Detroit Lions on DirecTV Stream (free trial) Visit MLives Betting Home for latest odds & sportsbook promos What to know Its finally here. The Detroit Lions are back in the postseason for the first time in seven years, hosting their first playoff game in 30 years this weekend. And if that werent enough, its Matthew Staffords first return to play at Ford Field since he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in early 2021 in the NFCs wild-card round. Matchup to watch: Lions interior OL vs. Rams DL Aaron Donald Aaron Donald still has an elite game-wrecking ability, against the run or in the pass rush. And hes got some serious help this year in the form of breakout rookie nose tackle Kobie Turner, making it a risk to double Donald and ignore the reigning NFC defensive rookie of the month. Donald is ranked at or near the top in just about every metric at his position. He leads all interior defenders with 84 pressures, and is also tops with a 20% pass-rush win rate despite facing a double-teams rate of 63%. Its no different than what we talk about defense, if you have to put a number of resources on (Justin Jefferson) 18, well when you do that, somebody else is getting singled up, Campbell said. And its no different than him. If youre going to put your attention on (Donald) 99, then weve got to win our one-on-ones versus 91 (Turner). So, he is, its challenging. Hes playing at a high level, hes really coming on and he is, hes helping them because of that. And the minute you try to take care of him, then Aaron is by himself, and we know what he can do. Game information Who: Detroit Lions vs. Los Angeles Rams When: 8 p.m. Sunday, January 14 Where: Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan Twitter: Follow Kyle Meinke Ben Raven and Kory Woods Live updates: Join the MLive conversation at 6:00 p.m. Latest line: Lions -3.5 How to watch TV Network: NBC/Peacock Streaming options: -- FuboTV (free trial -- Sign up now until the end of the year and get a seven-day free trial plus $20 off your first two months) -- Sling (half off the first month) -- DirecTV Stream (free trial) In case you missed it Tens of thousands of people across Michigan are still in the dark as lineworkers brave high winds and rough road conditions to restore power to those affected by a fierce winter storm, officials said. About 40,400 Consumers Energy customers remain without power as of 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13. The company had roughly 463 crews working in the field Saturday night, officials said in a news release. Were making steady progress as we work safely to bring power back to the homes and businesses we serve as quickly as possible, Melissa Gleespen, one of Consumers Energys Officers in Charge of restoration, said in the release. Mother Nature continues to create a demanding work environment, but our crews are up to the challenge and committed to helping and protecting our customers. We thank our customers and communities for their continued patience. Related: Wind ramps up, gusts up to 55 mph will create dangerous blizzard-like conditions DTE Energy reported about 51,714 customers still without power across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw County and Wayne counties Saturday night. See outage maps from Consumers Energy and DTE Energy for additional information about restoration times. The hardest hit part of Consumers Energys service territory was the northeast Lower Peninsula, including the Midland, Bay, Iosco, Ogemaw and Alcona county areas, officials said. Consumers Energy crews are being supported by contractors from Michigan and nine other states, including crews from as far away as Colorado, Oklahoma, Alabama and New York, officials said. Related: Warming centers open across Michigan as state records most power outages in the U.S. As power outages persist, Consumers Energy also reminds people to use generators safely. Never use a generator in an attached garage, basement, enclosed patio or near any air intakes. Doing so could cause a generator to produce hazardous levels of carbon monoxide, an odorless, colorless and deadly gas, the utility said in a statement. People should also stay at least 25 feet away from electrical wires and should report any downed power lines to 911. Related: Now comes the Deep Freeze, heres how long it lasts The bomb cyclone winter storm that hit the state Friday brought between 8 to 12 inches of snow to Northern Michigan, 6 to 8 inches to Southwest Michigan and 4 to 6 inches in Southeast Michigan and the Saginaw/Bay City areas. Lake effect snow is expected to bring 3 to 6 inches Saturday while steady winds blow across the state. Temperatures will also drop throughout the day with subzero wind chills expected overnight into Sunday and remaining below zero through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. BEIRUT, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Four militants were killed in armed clashes with an Israeli force after the armed group managed on Sunday dawn to infiltrate the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms, Lebanese military sources told Xinhua. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua the unidentified armed group was able to break through the barbed wire fence placed by the Israeli army in the Baathail Lake and enter within an unspecified distance into an occupied area of the Shebaa Farms located between the Israeli sites of Ruwaisat al-Alam and al-Samaqa. The sources added that the gunmen, without identifying their affiliation, clashed with an Israeli army force for more than two hours with machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades, which led to the deaths. The sources said that a batch of 20 missiles were fired from Lebanon towards four Israeli sites in the Shebaa Farms about an hour before the infiltration of the unidentified armed group. The sources added that Israeli heavy artillery fired more than 100 shells targeting the southern villages. The Lebanon-Israel border witnessed increased tension since Oct. 8, 2023, after Hezbollah fired dozens of rockets toward Israel in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel the previous day, prompting Israel to respond by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived here on Sunday to attend the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting and pay an official visit to Switzerland, his first overseas voyage in 2024. In 2023, Li also made Europe his first destination for overseas visits after taking office as Chinese premier. People attend a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S.-Britain strikes against some Houthi military sites in Yemen. The protest was held in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, where demonstrators chanted anti-U.S. slogans and raised banners denouncing Israel and the United States. Many demonstrators said the air strikes represent American arrogance that does not respect international laws and norms. Ali al-Lami, one of the protest organizers, told Xinhua while waving a Yemeni flag: "We condemn and denounce the U.S.-British aggression against Yemen, which represents a form of terrorism practiced by the United States." Kadhim Hassouni, another protester, told Xinhua, "America brags about human rights and democracy, but in fact, it is the one that violates human rights and the principles of democracy through its interference in the internal affairs of other countries and committing crimes against their people." On Friday, the United States and Britain launched a series of strikes on Houthi targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other provinces under the group's control. The strikes came in response to the Houthis' recent attacks in the Red Sea on what they called "Israeli-linked ships" in a bid to pressure Israel to end its ongoing assaults in the Gaza Strip. The Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping, causing many companies to divert ships far to the south around the Cape of Good Hope, driving up costs and threatening to disrupt the entire global supply chain. People holding banners and flags attend a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) People holding banners and flags attend a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) A boy raises a banner during a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) A protester holds a banner during a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) People holding banners and flags attend a demonstration held in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on Jan. 13, 2024. Hundreds of Iraqis held a rally on Saturday in Iraq's capital Baghdad in protest against the U.S. and Britain strikes targeting some Houthi military sites in Yemen. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China Development Bank said it had issued 191.3 billion yuan (about 26.92 billion U.S. dollars) in loans in 2023 to provide more medium- and long-term financial support for the construction of water conservancy projects. These funds have backed major water conservancy initiatives nationwide, such as the project that channels water from the Yangtze River to the Han River and the Guangdong water resources allocation project in the Beibu Gulf region, the bank said. The loans have also supported a series of other efforts, including integrated water supply for urban and rural areas in Jiangxi and Fujian, and rural water supply initiatives in Yunnan and Hebei. The bank said its next steps will be to prioritize the construction of key projects in the national water network, while providing targeted financial support to water conservancy construction efforts. Aruna Chandaraju is a freelance journalist, photographer and translator, and the author of Forgotten Composers. January 14, 2024 / 08:03 PM IST -The winter vacation for courses up to the eighth grade has been extended by the Director of School Education at UT Chandigarh till January 20, 2024. -Punjab government decided to extend the winter break for students up to Class 5 at all schools till January 21 on Sunday. -Schools in Delhi are adjusting their timetables due to the current chilly weather. According to a circular released by the Directorate of Education of the Delhi government, classeswould start at 9 am and end at 5 pm. -Classes till std 8 in all schools in UP's Gautam Buddha Nagar to remain closed till 16th January due to cold wave conditions. Letter from a Birmingham Jail was not the first time the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. put pen to paper while imprisoned. A year earlier, behind bars in Albany, Georgia, King redrafted sermons for his book Strength to Love. In that books third sermon, On Being a Good Neighbor, King describes humanity as tied into a single garment of destiny. Nowhere did King see that single garment of destiny more united than at the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. When the Selma to Montgomery March crossed the Alabama River, its front line featured King and several religious and secular leaders, including Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel. A Hawaiian minister, to show Southern Pacific support, sent white lei wreaths. This array of humanity, draped in garlands of flowers, was captured in a historic photo. The unifying model of Kings leadership and the power of the picture capturing it inspired generations of faith leaders. It certainly inspired me. I am not the only rabbi who became one because of the civil rights movement. A colleague once looked glumly at a caricature of a bearded sage and reflected, This is how my congregation sees me. Turning to the photo of the Selma to Montgomery March, she changed her tone: This is how I want to see myself. History tells that King and Heschel first met in Chicago at a historic conference on race and religion jointly organized by Black and Jewish communities. The reverend and the rabbi then built their relationship through sustained dialogue and learning. Drawing from the wells of their individual traditions, the two men collaborated on painting a picture of a better America. King and Heschel represented a natural alliance between Jewish and Black people, although these two communities are not mutually exclusive. This partnership has a history in Chicago, where the earliest meetings of the NAACP were hosted at synagogues. It grew out of shared struggle: Racist and antisemitic signs scattered across the South often read, No Jews, No Dogs, No Ns. America has a sordid history of people in power trying to pick apart natural allies, turn them on each other and entice them to pursue their own self-interests in place of the common good. After King and President John F. Kennedy were assassinated in the 1960s and following redlining and blockbusting, a rift between Black people and Jews started to show. With the me decade of the 1970s, focus on individual identity took center stage. That historic photo looked like a historical relic. History changes. In 2015, when I helped lead Reform Judaisms partnership with the NAACP on the march Americas Journey for Justice, more than 200 rabbis enrolled to join the 50-day trek, carrying a Torah scroll the entire way from Selma to Washington. The following High Holy Day season, all 200 rabbis preached about racial justice. All these rabbis then committed to creating or strengthening Black and Jewish partnerships in their communities. When the 2020 summer protests arrived following the murder of George Floyd, it was no accident that Jews were in solidarity on the front lines: A lot of people spent a lot of time rebuilding a partnership that had too long sat idle. Today, these historic alliances, important to both communities, that we worked hard to build are in peril. I fear this is another 1970s. Even before the horrific Oct. 7 terror attacks in Israel, powers were at play to isolate Jews from the work of racial justice. Old bugaboos regarding Jews and dual loyalty have resurfaced: No Jew, the twisted thinking goes, and is unabashedly expressed, can support the existence of the state of Israel and also be accepted in the work of racial justice. It is no surprise, since Hamas taking of hostages and the subsequent relentless military campaign in Gaza with staggering and horrific civilian consequences the voices working to expel Jews from racial justice circles have only amplified. At the same time, some in the Jewish community claim anyone calling for a cease-fire should be persona non grata. In place of looking for common ground and shared paths to a better future, people are being asked to take sides. This is its own kind of tragedy, albeit not on the scale of terror, rape, murder, death and destruction. Nevertheless, people retreating into their own corners of isolated identity is the worst manifestation of good fences make good neighbors. King had a different vision of what good neighbors should be. In the third sermon from Strength to Love, King taught: 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. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige and even his life for the welfare of others. This is the kind of neighbor Americans are called to be today. We are in a historic moment of controversy and challenge. Today, so many are so frightened for their own existence; there seems to be little willingness to take on risk for the welfare of others. Regardless, today is the day when we are called to love our neighbor. To love our neighbor as we love ourselves. We can either look back in 40 years, lamenting the exact moment the Jewish and Black communities were sundered by difference, or we can reflect on the time when together with our Muslim partners we recommitted ourselves to remaining together in beloved community. Love is hard when we are threatened; love is hard when we wonder what might be in the heart of our beloved. But this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves as individuals and as communities and work together, tied in a single garment of destiny, to continue to perfect our broken world. Rabbi Seth M. Limmer is the founder of Open Judaism. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. A fisherman shows a big fish just caught in Yanhedi Village, Nanxian County, central China's Hunan Province, Jan. 13, 2024. Nanxian County saw busy winter fish catching by local fishermen at present to meet the demand of the market. The annual output of aquatic products in the county reached 162,000 tonnes in 2023. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A customer selects decorations for Spring Festival at a market in Yutian County, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 13, 2024. China's 2024 Spring Festival holiday will run from Feb. 10 to 17. (Photo by Liu Mancang/Xinhua) A worker welds at the construction site of a natural gas processing terminal project in Binzhou City, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 12, 2024. At present, there are nearly 1,300 workers working day and night at the construction site of the natural gas processing terminal project in Binzhou City, the largest of its kind being constructed by Bohai Oilfield, China's largest offshore crude oil producer. It will provide reliable green and clean energy for north China after completion. (Photo by Du Penghui/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on Jan. 13, 2024 shows people attending a rally to support people in Palestine in Jakarta, Indonesia. (Photo by Dwi Aqilasyah/Xinhua) This photo taken on Jan. 12, 2024 shows monarch butterflies in a monarch butterfly sanctuary in Temascaltepec, Mexico. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin) This photo taken on Jan. 8, 2024 shows a seal in the Amundsen Sea. China's research icebreaker Xuelong 2 is conducting an Antarctic expedition in the Amundsen Sea, where various animals can be spotted. (Xinhua/Zhou Yuan) People compete during an ice dragon boat contest at a park in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua) Rescuers are seen at the site of an accident in a coal mine of the Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co., Ltd. in Pingdingshan City, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 13, 2024. Ten people have been confirmed dead and six others remain missing after an accident occurred Friday afternoon in a coal mine in the city of Pingdingshan, central China's Henan Province, local authorities said Saturday. The accident happened at 2:55 p.m. Friday in a coal mine of the Pingdingshan Tianan Coal Mining Co., Ltd. Preliminary investigation showed that it was caused by a coal and gas outburst. (Xinhua/Hao Yuan) Actors perform at the opening ceremony of a promotion event for tourism and winter fishing on the Dalinor Lake in Chifeng City, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Jan. 13, 2024. A promotion event for tourism and winter fishing kicked off at the Dalinor Lake of Hexigten Banner in Chifeng. Featuring fishing, performance and other activities, this event attracted many tourists. (Xinhua/Peng Yuan) Tourists dressed up in costumes pose for photos at a square in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 12, 2024. The square, where the landmark St. Sophia Cathedral, a former Russian Orthodox church and a perfect example of Neo-Byzantine architectures, is located, has become a hot spot for tourists during the city's tourism boom this winter. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) People visit the exhibition area of Samsung during the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the United States, Jan. 10, 2024. The 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world's premier tech show, concluded in the U.S. city of Las Vegas on Friday, featuring latest innovations in consumer electronics industries. The four-day show drew more than 130,000 attendees and over 4,000 exhibitors from more than 150 countries and regions, including over 1,200 startups. (Photo by Zeng Hui/Xinhua) Pasang Butri's daughter Tsering Butri (1st L) prepares chema box for her family members at home in Xigaze, southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, Jan. 12, 2024. Locals in Xigaze celebrate the farmers' New Year on the first day of the twelfth month of the Tibetan calendar, which fell on Jan. 12 this year. On Friday, the Pasang Butri family, who live in Sangzhuzi District of Xigaze City, got up early and dressed up in new clothes, welcoming the arrival of the farmers' New Year. This is the first time for the four-generation family to spend the farmers' New Year in their new home, a newly renovated three-story house. Sitting beside an exquisite chema box (a rectangular wooden box containing roasted barley and fried wheat grain that symbolizes good luck), families and relatives enjoyed their feast and expressed their good wishes for the New Year. (Photo by Tenzin Nyida/Xinhua) Zhu Chenjie (2nd R) of China reacts after knowing that his goal was disallowed by VAR due to offside after the Group A match between China and Tajikistan at AFC Asian Cup in Doha, Qatar, on Jan. 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Cao Can) Asim Ali is a political researcher. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Danish Khan is a London-based independent journalist and author of 'Escaped: True Stories of Indian fugitives in London'. He is researching Indian capitalism at University of Oxford. Residents in Xigaze in China's Xizang celebrates the new year one month ahead of the Tibetan New Year. Find out how locals embrace their most ceremonious festival of the year. Produced by Xinhua Global Service BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Ming, secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), on Sunday made remarks on the result of Taiwan leadership election. The SCO abides by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the SCO Charter, respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of its member states, and effectively safeguards their security and development interests, Zhang said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency. Zhang said the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question falls within China's internal affairs, Zhang said. The SCO will continue to firmly support Chinese government's stance on the Taiwan question, adhere to the one-China principle and oppose "Taiwan independence" secession in any form, Zhang said. John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate, delivers a speech during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 17, 2023. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III participates in the Virtual Red Sea Security Summit at NAVCENT headquarters in Manama, Bahrain December 19, 2023. SHANGHAI, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China's export container shipping index rose in the week ending Jan. 12, according to the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE). The SSE added that the average China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) recorded an increase of 21.7 percent from the previous week to reach 1,140.31. The sub-indices for all 12 shipping routes registered week-on-week rises, with that for the Europe service achieving the biggest increase of 40.1 percent. The CCFI tracks spot and contractual freight rates at Chinese container ports for 12 shipping routes globally, based on data from 22 international carriers. The index was set at 1,000 on Jan. 1, 1998. JERUSALEM, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The bloody Israel-Hamas conflict entered its 100th day on Sunday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledging to continue the military campaign in the Gaza Strip until "total victory" is achieved. "We must conduct this war, and it will yet take many months," said Netanyahu despite growing international calls to halt the war due to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. During his weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu presented a 2024 budget proposal to his government, seeking approval for a plan that involves tax hikes and the implementation of a uniform 3 percent reduction in the budgets of all government ministries to secure funding for the ongoing war against Hamas. "At this moment, what is required is, first of all, to cover the expenses of the war and to allow us to continue the war and complete it," Netanyahu told ministers. His remarks came as Israel awaited a ruling by the International Court of Justice in The Hague, with a possible decision against its massive and crippling offensive in Gaza. Launched following the Hamas assault on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel's relentless strikes in the densely-populated Palestinian enclave have killed at least 23,843 people, with approximately 75 percent of them being women, children, and the elderly, according to the Hamas-run government media office. The strikes have displaced most of Gaza's about 2.3 million population and leveled many parts of the territory. Since Saturday, thousands of Israelis have rallied in Tel Aviv and other major cities, calling for the return of the hostages and the replacement of the government. During the Oct. 7 rampage, Hamas militants killed about 1,200 people, including 790 civilians, and kidnapped over 200 people, 132 of whom are still being held in Gaza. According to figures released by the Israeli military on Sunday, since the commencement of the war, its troops have killed approximately 9,000 militants in Gaza. Additionally, 170 militants from the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah and Palestinian factions were killed in clashes with Israeli forces on the Lebanon front. The Israeli army, mobilizing about 295,000 reservists, has launched attacks on around 30,000 locations in the 365 square km Palestinian enclave and 750 locations in Lebanon. Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday in a speech that his group "doesn't fear war, and there are no talks before the war on Gaza ends." According to Nasrallah, "Israel is mired in failure and is in a deep hole ... It has not reached any of its declared and undeclared goals as unanimously stated by the Israelis themselves." By Lambert Strether of Corrente. The collapse of the public health establishment or rather, its transformation into an instrument of stochastic eugenics[1] with business-friendly Let er rip policies is indicative of a collapse in the moral (and technical) authority of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC), whose hegemonic fractions implemented, facilitated, and propagandized the urgency of normal, whose effects (or, if you prefer, success) can be seen in the chart below: (See NC here for a discussion of using wastewater as a proxy for case counts.) We are now in the midst of the second biggest Covid surge. Thats a lot of infection. Being infected with Covid is bad. Being reinfected is worse. Not that Covid is even visible as a public health problem, or any kind of a problem. Move along, people, move along! Theres no story here (except on the blogs, of course): We are in possibly the second-biggest surge of the pandemic if you look at wastewater levels, said Dr. Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, who runs a long-Covid clinic at the University of Texas, San Antonio, and has had ongoing Covid symptoms since August 2022. There is no urgency to this. No news. No discussion in Congress. There is no education. In meditating this post, I recalled Dark Age Ahead (PDF), by Jane Jabobs (2004). From a recent review (2023): What exactly is a dark age? This is the topic of her first chapter, which introduces the most interesting idea of the book: that dark ages are essentially episodes of large-scale amnesia. Regardless of the quality of life of early medieval European people, its clear that they had forgotten many of the technologies, ideas, and institutions that made up life during classical antiquity. Worse in many cases, they suffered from what I might call double amnesia: they had forgotten what they had forgotten. A dark age, according to Jacobs, is that: a breakdown of culture to such an extent that people forget what life used to be like, and even forget that life used to be different at all. Though the post-Roman Dark Age is the most readily available example in the West, dark ages have happened many times across the world, for reasons spanning from economic collapse to genocide. Double amnesia seems familiar. We in the United States, for example, seem to have forgotten how to build aircraft; in a century, will we have forgotten that we ever knew? More to the point, the same goes for measles; when measles returns, how long will it take us to forget that we once conquered it? I recalled Dark Ages because it treated the collapse of self-regulation and self-policing in the professional classes as a sign of societal collapse. Ian Welsh writes (2016): Jacobs final example is about professional self-policing. She uses the decline of the accounting profession (right after their failure to notice Enrons problems before it collapsed) as her case example, but arguments could be made for many professions, certainly including the clergy, medicine, and American psychologists. Its very hard for government to regulate professionals properly, because they dont understand the profession, so it is ideal for professionals to do it themselves. If they cant, then the government must, and something important is lost. Jacobs herself points to the management of professional identity through public relations as the central problem: And it is true that the three characters I am about to look at are very much the glitter is the gold types. (I dont view Dark Age Ahead as Jacobs finest hour I would prefer a fully worked sociological case study, not rumination but what is clear is that she was, in 2004, directionally correct, as her many critics were not.) Anyhow, a general theory of how and why the PMC collapsed in the face of the Covid pandemic must wait for another day (although this diatribe from 2016 is very suggestive). These three ideal types are all PMCers at the pinnacles of their professions: A White House Press Secretary, the Director of a national public health agency, and the Chair of the Department of Medicine at a major public university. All have failed, morally and technically, as professionals, in dealing with the pandemic. In what follows, I will refer to them, for maximally insulting familiarity, as Karine (Karine Jean-Pierre), Mandy (Mandy Cohen), and Bob (Robert M. Bob Wachter). Some may say that Im guilty of the adhominem fallacy, but Im with Taleb: People don't know what ad hominem means. It is rarely a fallacy. pic.twitter.com/4KTiCFtEdo Nassim Nicholas Taleb (@nntaleb) August 9, 2021 In matters of expertise, you look at the credibility. Karine, Mandy, and Bob should have no credibility. None. Karine From Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby, January 4, 2024, at the White House: Q Thanks. Some hospitals in at least eight states have brought back some form of masking now due to rising cases of respiratory viruses, including the flu and COVID. Does the White House think more hospitals across the country should be considering that right now? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: The masking piece? Q Mm-hmm. MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That is and weve been always been very consistent on this. That is something that is localized or that or hospitals, communities, cities, states, they have to make their own decisions . Thats not something that we get involved in. Q And what about Americans broadly now? Theres 31 states in the latest data that have high or very high levels of respiratory illness: RSV, flu, and COVID. What should Americans be doing? Whats the recommendation? MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, it is up to each and each and every American to make their decision on what they want to do . We have a range of tools. Right? That is something that weve been able to do these last three years for people to feel to protect themselves from the impact of COVID whether its a vaccine, whether its at-home testing, whether its treat- and treatments. Right? All of these things are incredibly important. So, there are tools available for folks. And were going to certainly certainly encourage Americans to to take those steps. Were not going to it is up to them. It is up to them, as it relates to masking, what individual Americans want to do. That is not something that were going to regulate . No mention of ventilation, of course; the implications of #CovidIsAirborne are entirely erased. Thats one dereliction; and a greater dereliction is the utter failure of the Biden Administration to lead by example (or rather, they are leading by example; right over the cliff). But to see Karines real professional collapse, youve got to watch the video: Holy crapMake your own decisions (on COVID), thats not something we get involved incant believe WH Press Secretary said this! I think Biden needs a new spokesperson after this. I cannot fathom that is official policy amid 2nd largest #COVID wave. pic.twitter.com/JiAmAgoDfO Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) January 7, 2024 The eye-rolling, the headshaking, the warding gestures, above all flipping through the briefing book while the reporter asks the questions; one might almost suspect Karine of having a guilty conscience. And for a White House Press Secretary, surely thats the ultimate professional failure. Anyhow, why not just toss the ball to the CDC? And speaking of the CDC Mandy A collection of memes on a single theme: #WheresMandy: Everybody wants to know: A month ago, @CDCDirector wanted to rebuild trust in public health. Then, she fell off radar during another huge Covid surge. This isnt how you regain trust.#WheresMandy https://t.co/kgqaJGFNUC Dr. Melissa Zegar, D.O. (@melissa_zegar) January 13, 2024 Mandys last appearance. Maskless, of course: These last few months Ive been traveling the country to meet with communities and partners about the importance of flu, Covid, and RSV vaccines. To everyone working to keep your communities safe thank you! Heres to a happy and healthy new year! pic.twitter.com/oAULo34Rda Mandy K. Cohen, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) December 29, 2023 Now is not a good time: I graphed Mandy Cohen tweets vs Biobot COVID wastewater. #WhereIsMandy? pic.twitter.com/XdChiOSY0E Antiviral Marketing (@antiviral_mktng) January 12, 2024 Mandy, were worried! We need your leadership! The CDC Director vanishing during the second largest Covid surge in the current pandemic is surely an example of professional collapse. Bob Finally, Bob Wachter. We awarded Bob our coveted Sociopath of the Day Award on May 12, 2022, and you can check that post out for how he chivvied his wife to a writers conference that turned out to be a superspreader event (she got Long Covid). Im pressed temporally, so I will merely present Tin Can Bob[2]s latest iteration of his personal risk calculator, which is the most outlandish example of the PMC fetish for homework that I have seen in a long time. I have helpfully added some notes: [1] See the note at **. All Bobs indicators are lagged, wastewater by days, and hospitalization by weeks (Bob doesnt say if hes using CDCs infamous Green Map, but he would, wouldnt he?) If a variant is really taking off, a two week lag could mean the difference between not to worry and extremely dangerous. So right off the bat never mind Bobs own health, or his poor wifes hes built in the possibility of infecting many others if he has a case of asymptomatic transmission. [2] Its not clear whether Bob uses a respirator or a Baggy Blue (Id guess the latter). Also, Bob doesnt seem to understand aerosol transmission; Covid spreads like smoke through the entire institution, so only wearing a mask while treating a patient doesnt prevent transmission or infection. [3] Bob has an amazing fetish for indoor dining. Brunch, I guess? [4] Bob, again, seems not to understand either asymptomatic transmission (no cough needed) or aerosol tranmission (if he did, he would include talking and breathing, as well as coughing and runny nose). [5] Carry it? Why constantly doff and undoff? Why not just wear it? [6] When no need to talk? Absurd. I can talk in a mask just fine. [7] Bob always has these enormous loopholes in his masking policy: When no need to talk, when no need to eat or drink. [8] Bob doesnt seem to understand that reinfection (hence transmission) can happen in less than ten weeks. [9] What the heck do lean a bit to the right and not a full column-worth even mean? Why not Keep It Simple, Stupid? Forget all the homework, which is useless to begin with because of lag times. Just settle on a simple protocol and stick to it ffs. Oh, and Bob is the dude who called our current Covid surge second highest in history an uptick: Bob is also the dude who emitted this absurdity in Time: Weve got to somehow reprogram our minds to think about this as a threat that is just not as profound as it was for a couple years, Wachter says. When your minds have been pickled in terror for a couple of years, its very hard to do. Given that Bob after he knew that both he and his poor wife had Covid actually considered staying overnight at her parents and then flying home can hardly have been pickled in terror at any point, its hard for me to understand who is referring to. Perhaps people with a rational apprehension of inhaling an airborne Level Three biohazard? Anyhow, Im not an idealist like Bob; Im a materialist. If we are to reprogram our minds, we should do so not to further promote infection, but to demand clean air, free from pathogens, for ourselves and our children. Conclusion All I can say is dont listen to these three people about Covid, ever, professionals though they be. They have and should have no credibility at all! NOTES [1] See, e.g., Record of the Proceedings, August 22, 2023, HICPAC, p. 72. [2] One would wish to sympathize: By Emily Sanders, who covers climate disinformation accountability at ExxonKnews. Originally published at DeSmogBlog. For years, the fossil fuel industry has maintained that the First Amendment protects its right to mislead the public about the climate crisis, but that criticism and protest of its operations violates the law. Now, one of the industrys preferred law firms which has long been recognized for its defense of the First Amendment is arguing both sides of this issue in court. Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher represents oil giant Chevron in lawsuits brought by dozens of state and local governments to hold the company accountable for deceiving consumers and the public about its products central role in climate change. (You may also recognize Gibson Dunn as the firm that accused U.S. attorney Steven Donziger and his Ecuadorian plaintiffs of racketeering after they defeated Chevron in Ecuadors courts.) As the evidence of Big Oils long-standing campaigns of climate denial piles up, and the cases inch closer to trial, the firm is deploying a defense that seeks to protect its clients ability to mislead the public. Chevron and other oil companies statements about climate change, Gibson Dunn has argued, constitute First Amendment protected political speech or speech concerning public opinion and policy. The First Amendment bars tort liability based on speech attempting to influence public support for climate policies, reads one motion, authored by Gibson Dunn and local counsel in October 2023, to dismiss a case that the state of New Jersey brought against Chevron and other oil majors. Under that logic, companies could lie to us about anything, and just say because we think its political, because we think its important to policy, then we get to lie about it, said Amanda Shanor, an assistant professor and First Amendment scholar at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. We would live in a very different and far more dangerous and less prosperous society [if that were the case], which is why in general the courts have been underwhelmed by these types of arguments. Gibson Dunn is a favorite firm of fossil fuel companies aside from Chevron, it has represented a veritable whos who of the industry, including the American Petroleum Institute, Energy Transfer, Enbridge, ConocoPhillips, Occidental, and many more. But the firm is perhaps even better known for its First Amendment record. Ted Boutrous, the lead lawyer representing Chevron in its defense against climate liability cases, famously represented CNN reporter Jim Acosta when he was thrown out of the White House press room by former President Donald Trump. And his colleague Ted Olson argued and won the most seminal corporate free speech case of the last 20 years, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which opened the floodgates to dark money in U.S. politics. The firm is not historically known for arguing against free speech rights. But thats exactly what its now doing on behalf of pipeline company Energy Transfer, in a landmark lawsuit intended to silence the fossil fuel industrys critics. In July 2023, Gibson Dunn began representing Energy Transfer in a case filed in North Dakota against Greenpeace US and individuals who protested against the Dakota Access Pipeline on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The firm had already helped Energy Transfers subsidiary, Dakota Access LLC, defend the pipelines continued construction against separate legal challenges brought by local tribal leadership in 2016. But Energy Transfers suit, initially filed by law firm Kasowitz, Benson & Torres in 2017, took its defense of the pipeline much further, charging pipeline resistors with violating state and federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) laws that could have made them liable for nearly $1 billion in damages. By the time Gibson Dunn took it over in July 2023, Energy Transfers case had already faced major setbacks. In February 2019, a federal judge threw out the companys original lawsuit. A week later, Energy Transfers lawyers from Kasowitz, Benson & Torres filed a new case under state defamation law in North Dakota, which has no anti-SLAPP legislation that defendants can invoke to get suits like these dismissed. Defendants protests and statements against the pipeline, the new complaint argued, amounted to an unlawful, malicious, and coordinated attack that was designed to inflict damage, cause delay, defame Energy Transfer and Dakota Access, and disrupt Energy Transfer as much as possible. Advocates and experts say the case, which campaigners have been fighting for seven long years, is a strategic lawsuit against public participation, or SLAPP a tactic oil and gas companies are increasingly using to suppress dissent through lengthy legal processes intended to intimidate critics and diminish their resources. This isnt just Greenpeace on trial its the movement on trial, Deepa Padmanabha, legal counsel for Greenpeace US, said. The thought is that if they can successfully silence an organization like Greenpeace US, that will have a ripple effect and smaller groups and individuals wont dare speak out. The precedent that the fossil fuel industry is trying to set around protest and protest liability is so dangerous that, if successful, it is difficult to envision how this wont have a chilling effect, she said. Gibson Dunn did not respond to requests for comment. The Movement on Trial In November 2023, Energy Transfer targeted Indigenous and environmental justice activists with third-party subpoenas, requesting documents and appearances at depositions, Padmanabha said. Those subpoenas havent yet been made public. Greenpeace has become a favorite target of the fossil fuel industry as it fights back against increasing climate protests all over the world; the group has been specifically cited in industry-backed efforts to criminalize protest in Australia, Canada, and the United States. And Gibson Dunn increasingly seems to be the law firm the industry is looking to for help in these efforts. As Gibson Dunn partner Randy Mastro told the American Lawyer more than a decade ago, [w]e are the firm that clients in distress have turned to when they are facing their worst problems, or when they have in fact faced defeat. Gibson Dunn has long honed the skill of muzzling its opponents. In the early 2000s, the firm defended Dole in a lawsuit brought by Nicaraguan banana workers whod been exposed to a toxic pesticide, DBCP, that rendered them sterile. Gibson Dunn lawyers including Boutrous, who now represents Chevron worked with Dole to develop a strategy Doles general counsel called the kill step: reportedly enticing witnesses to accuse their legal opponents of fraud. Gibson Dunn revived that strategy for Chevron in 2011, filing a civil RICO lawsuit targeting human rights attorney Steven Donziger and his Ecuadorian plaintiffs after they won a major judgment against the company for its toxic pollution in the Amazon. Relying heavily on the testimony of a witness whom Chevron paid an annual salary, Gibson Dunn argued that Donziger had won his case by committing fraud. While that witness later recanted much of his testimony, Donziger lost the RICO case, was ordered to pay Chevron hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fees, had a lien put on his house to cover those fees, and was ultimately disbarred and spent more than two years on house arrest and 45 days in prison. Gibson Dunn also helped Chevron file an investor-state dispute against the government of Ecuador, arguing that Ecuador engaged in a pattern of improper and fundamentally unfair conduct by providing support for the Ecuadorian plaintiffs. As a result, the government of Ecuador currently owes Chevron $2 billion. The Ecuadorian plaintiffs a group of Indigenous people and small farmers from the affected area still dont have clean drinking water, have not been compensated, and are barred from collecting the settlement owed to them in the United States, where Chevron is headquartered and where the bulk of its assets are located. I think that while everybody deserves a lawyer, Gibson Dunn has a reputation of using strategies that many perceive as abusing the legal system to defend the wealthy at the expense of disempowered people and communities, said attorney Lauren Regan, who has defended her clients against a number of lawsuits by the fossil fuel industry including terrorism charges that Energy Transfer filed against two women for damaging pipeline equipment along the Dakota Access Pipeline in Iowa. The Fight for Corporate Free Speech Today, Gibson Dunn is using anti-SLAPP statutes intended to protect advocates and whistleblowers from cases like Energy Transfers to try to get climate cases filed against fossil fuel clients dismissed. The firm has filed anti-SLAPP motions to dismiss lawsuits brought by the states of New Jersey and Delaware, and municipalities including Annapolis, Maryland; Hoboken, New Jersey; and Honolulu, Hawaii. A state court in Hawaii rejected the anti-SLAPP motion in the Honolulu suit, and it is now pending before the Hawaii Intermediate Court of Appeals. Its now the last motion to dismiss arguments that the city and county must contend with before the case can move toward trial. In most of these motions, Gibson Dunn lawyers invoke an anti-SLAPP law in California, where Chevron is headquartered. Californias anti-SLAPP immunity protects Chevron from suits like Plaintiffs that are based on speech on issues of public concern, Gibson Dunn argues in a motion to dismiss Delawares case. Its the latest chapter in a decades-long effort to expand free speech rights for corporations while restricting them for people a project of which Gibson Dunn is a key architect. While the idea to create corporate personas that could contribute to public debate and to advocate for free speech protections for them was first sketched out by Mobil Oil executives in the early 1970s, Gibson Dunn has played a major role in solidifying it, particularly with the pivotal and notorious 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United. The Citizens United ruling asserted a First Amendment right for corporations to express their political speech through unlimited spending on communications about elections or political candidates. The ruling laid the groundwork for corporations to be on at least equal footing with citizens when it came to First Amendment rights in what Gibson Dunn lawyer Ted Olsen called a victory for the First Amendment and the right of all Americans to participate in the political process. Shanor, the First Amendment scholar, said that Gibson Dunn has been at the vanguard of developing aggressive First Amendment arguments to protect companies, trying to turn the First Amendment, constitutional law, and free speech principles including things like anti-SLAPP into corporate protective principles. So in many ways, its not surprising that theyre playing both sides of the coin to shield the fossil fuel companies from liability. Theyre Playing Both Sides Even Boutrous, the lead lawyer representing Chevron in its First Amendment defense, seems to innately understand the fallacy of his own arguments. Freedom of speech does not mean making knowingly obviously dangerously false statements of fact, the attorney posted to X last year. Boutrous gained a reputation among some as a fierce advocate for press freedom after litigating against and publicly criticizing former President Trump for his efforts to silence public debate. In 2016, Boutrous promised to represent pro bono anyone Trump sues for exercising their free speech rights. Aside from representing Acosta, he also successfully represented Trumps niece Mary against her uncles efforts to block her memoir. Today, Boutrous sits on the advisory boards of the International Womens Media Foundation and investigative reporting outlets like Reveal, and he has consulted on First Amendment disputes for both CNN and the New York Times. Haley Czarnek, national director of programs and operations at Law Students for Climate Accountability (LSCA), said Boutrouss status and pro bono work has helped Gibson Dunn develop a sheen of progressiveness that doesnt exist with their work in practice. Several years ago, LSCA urged law school graduates to boycott the firm, citing its defense of fossil fuel companies and its role in the case against Steven Donziger, whose imprisonment, the group said, is a direct result of Gibson Dunns unethical and bullying litigation strategies. In 2020, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) elected Boutrous to its steering committee. Soon after, at a star-studded virtual ceremony also honoring Dark Money author Jane Mayer, the organization handed Boutrous a Freedom of the Press Award, declaring that the lawyer understands the importance of the First Amendment every bit as much as a journalist does. Chevron was a Legacy Champion sponsor of that awards ceremony, meaning it donated at least $50,000 to the RCFP. When asked about Boutrouss position at RCFP, Donziger replied that members of its steering committee basically are in bed with a man who makes his living violating the core tenants of the organization. The same year that RCFP handed out those awards, the group also condemned Energy Transfers effort to subpoena the work of journalists covering protests against its operations at Standing Rock. It described the subpoenas, which could provide evidence for the case helmed by Gibson Dunn, as an attempt to intimidate journalists and silence their sources. In November 2023, RCFP and local news outlets filed an amicus brief asking the Minnesota Supreme Court to deny Energy Transfers attempts to subpoena those journalists and to reverse a lower courts order forcing them to produce a privilege log listing unpublished newsgathering materials. Boutrous and RCFP did not respond to separate requests for comment. A five-week trial in Energy Transfers case against the Standing Rock protestors and Greenpeace is scheduled for July 2024. Aerosol, also called atmospheric aerosol particles, pertains to solid or liquid droplets that are suspended in the air. These particles can either be produced by natural or anthropogenic causes. In the past, these atmospheric droplets have often been compared with greenhouse gases since they can also alter Earth's climate and damage the environment. One might think that the term "aerosol" only refers to the commercial spray that we use. However, they are far more than that. In recent years, health authorities warned that inhalation of fine particulate matter such as aerosols from fossil fuel burning can lead to health problems, particularly in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Aerosol particles are common in urban areas but they can also be found in every ecosystem of the world, ranging from oceans to deserts, mountains, and forests. Although there are some places where this fine particulate matter is rare, anthropogenic emissions prove otherwise. One such case is Siberia, where previous studies have suggested that particle formation is not common. However, a new study published this year found that aerosol formation over Siberia has been detected and its particles are great in quantity, which is larger than previously thought. Researchers arrived at their findings with the help of Siberia heat wave data, revealing that the Siberian boreal forest has the potential for enhanced particle formation. What are the Sources of Aerosols? Aerosols, as mentioned earlier, can be generated by natural or anthropogenic means. This entails that geochemical, weather, and other phenomena of nature can produce the fine particulate matter or PM2.5, which scientists describe as particles with the size of 2.5 microns or less in diameter. Meanwhile, industrial-level human activities can be sources of the hazardous particles as well. In a 2013 research article published in Nature Education, scientists acknowledge that the uncertainties in our understanding of the effects of aerosols limit our knowledge of climate change. However, they assert that atmospheric aerosols coming from human activity influence Earth's climate. The combination of human-induced atmospheric aerosols and similar particles from natural phenomena as mentioned below serve as the main sources of this type of PM2.5: Volcanic eruptions Sea spray Desert storms Savannah biomass burning Coal power plants Ships Cooking Road transport Also Read: Solid Aerosols Found in the Arctic Can Affect the Cloud and Climate Formation: New Study Siberia Aerosol Formation In the study published in the journal Environmental Research Letters on January 9, a team of researchers explored an unprecedented rate of aerosol formation discovered in the Siberian boreal forest, covering a land area of 6 million km2. Particle formation in boreal forests has been reported to form through a "gas-to-particle conversion" known as new particle formation. Previously, scientists thought that aerosol formation in this type of ecosystem is relatively low. However, the January 2024 study concludes that the combination of biogenic and anthropogenic factors caused unexpectedly high monthly new particle formation frequency by 50%. This process is increased or intensified under heat wave conditions or under a warming climate. Related Article: Climate Feedback Loop: Aerosol Particles from African Wildfires Increase Fire Intensity and Spread Sorry, something doesn't look right. Something seems unusual about your device or browser. Please contact support. The demand for travel to East Asian and Oceanic countries, including the Philippines, Thailand, Australia, and New Zealand, has seen a steady increase. There has been a 30% year-on-year increase in post-pandemic passenger movement to these countries from India, according to a travel and tourism industry expert. CIAL has been trying to convince airlines of the opportunities Kerala offers. Efforts are on to get more carriers to operate direct services from Kochi, the official said. Some of the companies that are being lured include Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines, Qantas, and Air New Zealand. "Why is it a shame? How is filming of a drama demeaning democracy or the "mother of democracy'? Every body on a film set including actors, background actors(called 'extras' by you) are all citizens of this country and have every right to work with dignity and deserve respect and understanding- at least from somebody as educated as yourself," the filmmaker said. Nevertheless, the abrupt withdrawal of the Opposition from the electoral process would suggest that it was not quite so confident of victory as it publicly made out. The Opposition boycott was based, inter alia, on the argument that, absent an election under a neutral caretaker government, there would be massive rigging. But allegations of rigging have dominated every election in Bangladesh, and have had little impact on the legitimacy or otherwise of elected governments. Moreover, participation with demonstrable evidence of massive riggingif this was indeed inevitable, as the Opposition insistedwould have served infinitely better to delegitimise the Hasina regime than an election that she has now swept, and to which there can be no legal objections. Senior leader Dr. RP Raturi, who resigned from AAP, shared with TNIE, "The objectives for which we went to the Aam Aadmi Party, that if we come to power in Uttarakhand too, our goal will be to provide good education system and health facilities in remote areas of the state on the lines of Delhi. But seeing the apathy of the top leadership of the Aam Aadmi Party, we do not think that this dream will ever be fulfilled. That's why we left the party today". Washington: A woman in the US state of Pennsylvania, Aleisia Owens, has been accused of fatally poisoning her boyfriend's toddler, Iris Rita Alfera, last year in June. Owens was arrested on Thursday following an announcement by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry, stating that an autopsy revealed the child's death resulted from fatal levels of acetone in her blood. The 20-year-old woman reportedly researched the harmful effects of feeding the toddler batteries, screws, and nail polish remover before the alleged killing. Attorney General Henry commented on the case, stating, "The details of this case are heartbreaking. It is hard to fathom someone taking deliberate steps to harm a completely helpless child, and then mislead investigators about what happened. The investigation shows that, for months, the defendant conducted meticulous research on how certain substances harm children. She then allegedly acted on her findings." On June 25, 2023, Aleisia Owens was with Iris' father, Bailey Jacoby, who left the house to go to the store. Upon receiving a call from Owens about something being wrong with his daughter, Jacoby rushed back to the New Castle home, only to find the baby unresponsive. He immediately called 911. The 18-month-old toddler was taken to UPMC Jameson Hospital in New Castle and later airlifted to UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, approximately one hour away. Unfortunately, four days later, Iris died due to organ failure. Iris resided with her mother, Emily Alfera, and her grandparents, while her father, Bailey Jacoby, had visitation rights. Aleisia Owens initially claimed that the girl hit her head after she "cramped up" and fell off her bed, according to a criminal complaint. However, the autopsy report revealed that the baby had ingested numerous "water beads," along with button-shaped batteries and a metal screw, months before her death. Upon searching Owens's phone, officials found that between February and June 2023, she had been researching "information on household products that could cause a child serious harm or death, including water beads, batteries, and nail polish." Additionally, she had searched for "beauty products that are poisonous to kids" and "medications leading to cause accidental poisoning deaths in children." Israel Defends Against Genocide Accusations: U.N. Court Showdown Main Accused in Kerala Professor's Hand-Chopping Case Apprehended After 13 Years Woman murdered in broad daylight in Telangana, culprits still out of reach of police Yadav on Friday had claimed that he had not received any invitation to the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya either in person or by courier, and had also demanded proof in case it was sent by post. Ibrahim Khaleel, the Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications, told the newspaper that the meeting was that of the high-level core group which Maldives and India agreed to set up during the meeting between Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai in December. Milind, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, confirmed his resignation in a post on X, and stated, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party." "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he said. "He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, 'Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48 he sent a message, 'Is speaking to you not possible?' I said I would call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him," Ramesh said. Tamil Nadu Air quality deteriorates as Chennai wakes up to 'Bhogi' smoke, dense fog; flights diverted Both arrivals and departure of flights were disrupted for about two hours in the morning. Based on the success of GIM 2024, global CEOs across the world have sought to meet the high-level delegation of the Government of Tamil Nadu and have fixed 25+ meetings spread over 3 days. These CXOs come from various sectors such as IT, Automobile, Renewables, Electronics, GCC, Investment Funds, Healthcare, etc. Get involved in politics, Nadda tells youth BJP chief JP Nadda on Saturday launched Namo Navmatdata campaign from the party headquarters, calling upon the new voters to get involved in politics for the countrys development. He said PM Modi has heralded an era of developmental politics and the youth, especially first-time voters, must associate themselves as ambassadors of this development. As part of this drive, Modi will also virtually interact with 50 lakh new voters from 5,000 locations on January 24. The Sunday Standard Congress says Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has nothing to do with politics Our purpose is to protect the Constitution, the preamble of the Constitution, the principles justice, liberty equality and fraternity, Jairam Ramesh said. Description "Andrew Laszlo was born in 1926 in Papa, Hungary. Growing up in a middle-class family in a small town close to Budapest, life was happy for Andrew and his family. As the Nazis grew in power, Andrew and his family faced growing discrimination and exclusion from society. When the Nazis invaded, his family was relocated to a ghetto. Eventually, Andrew's entire family was taken away as he was transported to Bergen-Belsen, where Anne Frank was imprisoned at the same time. He was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust. After the war, Andrew came to America penniless and made a life for himself as a successful cinematographer, with works such as Shogun, Rambo, First Blood and The Warriors. He was honored at the U.S. Capitol for the 2004 Days of Remembrance Memorial alongside Elie Wiesel. His life was a triumph of strong will over evil and inspired his son, Andrew Laszlo Jr. to continue telling his father's story. Growing up in Roslyn, New York, Andrew Laszlo Jr. attended public school in Roslyn, Buckley and Greenvale, played hockey at Beaver Dam and Little League baseball in Glen Head. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy and Dartmouth College, going on to work 42 years for Morgan Stanley in Billings, Montana and retiring as an Executive Director in the Wealth Management Division. In retirement, Laszlo is honored to be able to share his father's story through in-person and virtual events." Details of these 156 passengers have been obtained through FRRO. On analysis it has been found that these are spread over 22 police districts of Punjab. The data has been sent to respective districts to verify the victims and role of travel agents, said Randhir Kumar, SP (Investigations), Ferozepur who heads the SIT team. As now one person seems to be interested in registration of FIR against the travel agents and has shared the details with the SIT. Soon a case would be registered against the accused, said a senior cop. They said that the youth in the age group of 25-40 years are advised to go on foreign trips to offbeat, visa-free European countries before embarking on a donkey route. This helps them enter transit countries posing as tourists before undertaking the perilous last stretch on donkey route. Although HPV vaccination has been licensed for use in India since 2008, it is yet to be included in the national immunisation programme. The primary reason for this was a controversy ignited after the death of seven girls who were allegedly administered HPV vaccination by an international non-profit organisation, PATH. Though subsequent investigations concluded that the deaths were not linked to the vaccination, the debate led to the development of more stringent standards for clinical trials in India. The US Navy has been the first force which got its ships undergo repairs in India with the US Navy Ship (USNS) Charles Drew undergoing repair and allied services in Chennai in August 2022. USNS Matthew Perry was the second ship of the US Navy to complete maintenance works in India in March 2023. On Wednesday, the British High Commission (BHC) had confirmed the plans to send the UKs high-readiness Littoral Response Group to Indian Ocean Region in 2024, and the Carrier Strike Group in 2025 for a joint training. He said it was a matter of pride for the people of Champaran region that the PM will be campaigning in the state for the 2024 polls. Senior officials of the district administration along with the MP inspected the site of the proposed rally on Saturday. Preparations have started for the rally, Jaiswal claimed. Champaran region has three Lok Sabha seats. While Paschimi Champaran (Bettiah) and Purvi Champaran (Motihari) seats are currently held by BJP, Valmikinagar is held by JD(U), which is now a part of grand-alliance government led by Nitish Kumar. KOLKATA: A video of monks being attacked by a mob in West Bengals Purulia over suspicion that they were kidnappers in disguise has triggered a political row. BJP has alleged collapse of law and order in the state. Meanwhile, the TMC accused the BJP of trying to give a communal twist to the incident. The couple stood in the back of an open-top Rolls-Royce waving to onlookers as they weaved through the capital, where their images have been displayed on street arches and building facades for days. Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock.com Millennials are known for being more tech-savvy and entrepreneurial than previous generations. A recent study from Bentley University supports this, revealing that 66% of millennials want to start their own business rather than climb the corporate ladder. Learn: 6 Ways To Build Wealth in Less Than Five Years More: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 If youre a millennial considering jumping into business ownership, here are five steps you should take to be successful. Sponsored: Owe the IRS $10K or more? Schedule a FREE consultation to see if you qualify for tax relief. Find your ikigai Your ikigai is a Japanese word meaning sense of purpose. Youre much more likely to invest your time and energy into a business that is perfectly suited to your skills and interests. To find your ikigai, write down what you love, what youre good at, what the world needs and what you can earn money from. If you find a business that checks all four of those boxes, its likely a worthy business idea to pursue. Create a plan to build your brand Once you have an idea for the type of business you want to start, its important to create a memorable brand. Your brand is the story of your business. Think about what you want to tell, whether its your origin story, the inspiration for the business or the problem you want to solve. Your story should connect with your potential customers and help them get to know the business youre creating. The more customers can connect with your brand, the more impact you can make. When creating a plan for your business, think about your ideal customer. Do market research to find out whether or not people are interested in your product or services. See if there is a gap in the marketplace or competitors. You can also use your competitor research to set your pricing and how you plan to market your services. Make sure you write this all down, either in a fluid document or a formal business plan so you have something to reference. Story continues Secure funding Some entrepreneurs bootstrap their start-ups using their own money. Others try to secure funding from angel investors or venture capital firms. How much funding you need depends on the type of business you start. For example, businesses that require funding might need specialty equipment, large warehouses, or a significant number of start-up employees right away. Others might only need a website and one employee to begin. Its up to you to decide what type of business you want to start and how much funding youll need. Embrace digital marketing Having a successful business is often reliant on a solid understanding of digital marketing. While word-of-mouth marketing has been, and continues to be effective, having an online presence including a website and email list is equally effective. Some might argue that its even more important. Customers need to be able to interact with your brand online, and learning how to create digital ad campaigns on websites like Facebook and Amazon can help you reach customers far and wide. Be open to feedback Finally, establish a network of other like-minded entrepreneurs and be open to feedback. Ask for advice if you have an issue or a new idea for an additional stream of income. Most entrepreneurs are happy to collaborate and help others. Its challenging to build a business alone, so dont be afraid to reach out and establish new connections. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 66% of Older Millennials Want To Start a Business 5 Steps To Do It Successfully Loneliness makes a writer: Perumal Murugan New Delhi, Jan 13 It is an unusual interaction. You ask the questions, and two kind people, who know Tamil, translate them for him. He answers in his native tongue, and his replies come back in English. While this delicate ballet takes place, Perumal Murugan never takes his eyes off you. Is he even blinking? It is unnerving. He is perhaps looking inside you. Murugan, who has to his credit twelve novels, six collections of short stories, six anthologies of poetry, and several non-fiction books, with ten of his novels translated into English and is a recipient of the JCB Prize for Literature among several others, starts the conversation with loneliness. He says it is not a bad thing. For him, it has always been extremely important. How will writing happen if there are too many sounds? Internal isolation magnetises words. They start coming easy. The mind willingly travels lands far and wide and looks for stories. Melancholy has a strange charm. It is only when alone that you are truly yourself, he tells IANS on the sidelines of the ongoing Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Asias largest literature festival being held at Kozhikode Beach. Currently working on a new set of short stories to be published soon, the author is working on the theme of how pets affect human lives and their affairs. Exploring their connection with men, he adds, I come from an agricultural family which had lots of goats, cows, and bullocks. In those times, they helped us in their work. Now, with youngsters going abroad for work, pets serve a different purpose for their parents. They depend on them for company now... a one-way dialogue. It is tragic but see, they (animals) are in so many ways more relevant to our lives in present times A staunch Marxist, Murugan, despite all the failings of Indian communists politically, continues to stay true to the essence of communism. Politics is only one aspect of Marxism. It does not matter how relevant they are in terms of vote share. Look at the contribution of the ideology to literature and the arts, how it has been instrumental in making so many of us sensitive towards everything around us. The author who hit international headlines post the book One Part Woman', published in 2010 and translated into English in 2013 faced a lawsuit filed against him by caste-based groups accusing him of hurting their religious sentiments, and he declared on his Facebook page: "Perumal Murugan the writer is dead. As he is no God, he is not going to resurrect himself. He also has no faith in rebirth. An ordinary teacher, he will live as P. Murugan. Leave him alone." However, in 2015, the Madras High Court dismissed the case against him. In an epilogue, the bench called on the author to start writing again: "Let the author be resurrected to what he is best at. Write." Remembering that time, Murugan says that the judge was not just supporting him but also freedom of expression. But there is still an invisible fear... of books being banned, of freedom of expression curtailed. Democracy must prevail, under all circumstances. For someone who has been translated widely, and published in English by Penguin and HarperCollins India, it is not just about the fact that the translator is proficient in both languages. He/she needs to understand the intricacies of the village dialects too. The metaphors of the country life can be tough to put in words in another language, he concludes. --IANS/ (IANS - Posted on 13 January 2024) Loneliness makes a writer: Perumal Murugan Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! INDIA bloc approves Kharge as chairperson New Delhi, Jan 13 INDIA bloc has approved Mallikarjun Kharge as the chairperson of opposition parties during a virtual meeting on Saturday. Sources said that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the contender for the post of convener of INDIA bloc. However, during the meeting, he said that someone from Congress should assume the charge. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, former president Rahul Gandhi, senior leader K.C. Venugopal; Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar along with Lalan Singh and Sanjay Jha; former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah; RJD President and Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav; NCP Chief Sharad Pawar; Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal; Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin besides other leaders participated in the virtual meeting. Appointing a chairperson is just a first step only. There are many challenges ahead for the INDIA bloc. Even several parties of India bloc itself believe that one of the major challenges is the sheet sharing, political experts said. They said that it might be tough for the alliance partners to negotiate the sheet sharing formula in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar. There have also been two meetings of the INDIA bloc to discuss the Delhi and Punjab seat sharing arrangement with both parties saying that the talks are going in the right direction. However, sources said that there are some contentious issues between the two political parties. Congress wants four seats in Delhi and seven seats in Punjab, but AAP is not ready to comply. In both Delhi and Punjab, the ruling party wants the bigger share of seats. Besides, AAP also wants to contest in Goa, Haryana and Gujarat under the sheet sharing formula. INDIA bloc is a group of opposition parties, including the Congress. The parties have come together to take on the NDA, which is led by the BJP, and to prevent it from winning a third straight term at the Centre in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. (IANS - Posted on 13 January 2024) INDIA bloc approves Kharge as chairperson Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Raveena Tandon lauds Anjali Anand's dance, share heartfelt memories of her father Dinesh Anand Mumbai, Jan 13 Actress Raveena Tandon, who appeared on the celebrity dance reality show Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 11, heaped praises on Anjali Anand, recalling fond memories of working with her late father Dinesh Anand, and called her a daddys girl. Anjali added a touch of elegance and grace to the dance floor with her classical dance skills to the song Nain Se Naino Ko Mila, alongside choreographer Tarun Raj Nihalani. With her impeccable footwork and emotive expressions, Anjali transported everyone into the world of classical dance, captivating them with her artistry. The song is from the music album Tera Chehra by Adnan Sami. Raveena was mesmerised by this version of the song, and said: When you actually see the original song, it's quite a science-fiction-themed video with the choreography in a space-like setting. But the way both of you have approached it, it's so unique; the magic you've created on this stage was remarkable. Talking about working with Anjalis father Dinesh, the actress said: I have worked so much with her (Anjalis) daddy; we have done about five-six films together, and she must have been very young then, but I think he would be so proud right now. Raveena has shared the screen with Dinesh in the movie Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi. I can see you are a daddy's girl, just like me, so I can understand the feeling. And, I assure you, he is watching you and encouraging you every step of the way. And whatever success there is today, believe me, they are our guardian angels, guiding us in every step. Keep working hard like this. We are all proud of you, added the Mohra actress. Furthermore, Raveena also talked about experimenting with her look in the song, and said: I really liked experimenting with looks. At that time, mostly in places where songs were there, it was either chiffon sarees or salwar kameez; that was the trend. But I actually wore clothes that I would wear to college most of the time, whatever I would pick from my wardrobe, I would go and shoot in those. People were scared to experiment too much and no one had short hair, always long with curls. So when this song came, I said, 'I have to do something different.' In every song, I tried to do something different, and everyone was like, 'How will you do spiky hair?' So I did front spiky hair, and there was a completely braided look, so it was a mix of open hair. I was wearing blue-green lenses, so the look was very, very futuristic. At that time, such radical looks were not very common, but the song became a big hit, and we were all happy, added Raveena. Impressed by the act, Judge Farah Khan said, Beautifully choreographed, Tarun. Indian classical dance is my weakness whenever it's performed well because I can't do it, I haven't learned it, but I love to watch it. There is nothing more beautiful than Indian classical dance. Today, you both performed exceptionally well. Its good that you wore Ghunghrus, which greatly influenced your performance today. The costumes, presentation, and mirror section you both did was outstanding. Anjali, your solo was beautiful. I cannot find any faults, added Farah. Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa airs on Sony. (IANS - Posted on 13 January 2024) Raveena Tandon lauds Anjali Anand's dance, share heartfelt memories of her father Dinesh Anand Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Lord Ram chose his devotee PM Modi to build temple in Ayodhya: BJP veteran LK Advani New Delhi, January 12 Ahead of the grand Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Temple in Uttar Pradesh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani said on Friday that destiny had decided that a grand temple of Lord Ram would be built in Ayodhya and Lord Ram chose his devotee Prime Minister Narendra Modi to do this. Recalling the moments of his historic Rath Yatra, initiated 33 years ago on September 25, 1990, the BJP veteran said, "At the time when we started the yatra, we were not aware that this would turn into a nationwide movement. During the yatra, PM Modi was my companion. Although he was not very famous then, but at that time itself, Lord Ram had chosen his devotee (Modi) to construct the temple." Advani called the Ayodhya movement a pivotal point in his political career. It was a journey that led him to "re-discover India and, in the process, re-understand himself." "At the time of the Rath Yatra, there were many experiences that influenced my life. From a remote village, unknown villagers overwhelmed with emotion would come to me after seeing the chariot. They would praise Lord Ram. After witnessing these moments, I realised that many people in this country dream of the Ram temple. On January 22, not only the prestige of the Ram Temple but also the faith of these villagers will be restored," he said. "At that time, I felt that destiny had decided that one day a grand temple of Lord Ram would be built in Ayodhya; now it's only a matter of time," he added. The BJP veteran, who was at the forefront of the Yatra, also remembered the late former prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. "During the Yatra, I realised that I was just a charioteer. The main messenger of the Rath Yatra was the chariot itself because it carried the message of restoring the Ram Temple in Ayodhya," he added. Advani further prayed that the Ram Temple may help the people inculcate the teachings of Lord Ram in their lives. Advani will attend the Ram Temple Pran Pratistha ceremony on January 22 in Ayodhya. Prime Minister Modi is set to attend the installation of the idol of Ram Lalla at the grand temple on January 22. Invitations have also been extended to saints from all traditions for the Pran Pratistha ceremony on January 22. As per temple officials, the ceremony will be held for seven days starting from January 16. Preparations are underway in full swing for the Ram Temple 'Pran Pratishtha' on January 22, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Rama, holds great spiritual, historical, and cultural significance for the people of India. (ANI - Posted on 14 January 2024) Lord Ram chose his devotee PM Modi to build temple in Ayodhya: BJP veteran LK Advani Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! 'Ramayan' actor Arun Govil expresses happiness on receiving invitation to 'Pran Pratishta' ceremony in Ayodhya New Delhi, January 12 Veteran actor Arun Govil, who played the character of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan', expressed his happiness on receiving the invitation to the 'Pran Pratishta' ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22. Govil told ANI, "I am happy that I received an invitation for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, and I am looking forward to going there (Ayodhya) to witness it and for the Ram Lalla darshan. It is a very big opportunity. I consider myself lucky that this has happened in my lifetime; everything is going very well, the atmosphere is positive, the energy is there, and we are all very happy." Giving credit to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this lifetime event. He said, "I believe that if we have to give credit to one person, then we will give it to Modi ji because of the way he has worked and spread the energy throughout, although I have accepted that whenever such work is done, it is not done by one person. The one who has spread all the positive energy is Modi ji. And the rest is collective work; everyone has worked a lot for many years, and many people have made sacrifices and are still working. So, whatever is happening, it's a lifetime event." The ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 22, 2024. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22. The event has garnered significant attention, with several VVIP guests from India and abroad receiving invitations to participate in the auspicious occasion in Ayodhya. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. A priest from Varanasi, Lakshmi Kant Dixit, will perform the main rituals of the consecration ceremony of Ram Lalla on January 22. From January 14 to January 22, Ayodhya will mark the Amrit Mahotsav. A 1008 Hundi Mahayagya will also be organised, in which thousands of devotees will be fed. Several tent cities are being erected in Ayodhya to accommodate thousands of devotees, who are expected to arrive in the temple town of Uttar Pradesh for the grand consecration. According to the Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust, arrangements will be made for 10,000-15,000 people. Local authorities are gearing up for the anticipated surge in visitors around the grand ceremony and are in the process of implementing enhanced security measures and making logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees. (ANI - Posted on 14 January 2024) 'Ramayan' actor Arun Govil expresses happiness on receiving invitation to 'Pran Pratishta' ceremony in Ayodhya Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Israel's war against Hamas will not end until complete victory: Netanyahu Tel Aviv, Jan 14 Israel Prime Minister Benjamtin Netanyahu said that his country will continue its war against Hamas to the end - until complete victory" He also denounced the charges by South Africa in the International Court of Justice( ICJ) that his country was carrying out genocide in Gaza strip. Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "no force will stop Israel, not The Hague (in reference to ICJ) and not the axis of evil led by Iran and not anyone else". He said, We are on the path to victory and we will not stop until we achieve victory, and added that he had told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that this was not only the war of Israel but also the war of the US against the evil axis led by Iran. The Israel Prime Minister also lashed out at the ICJ complaint by South Africa and asked, Whom do they support? Murderers, rapists, baby-burners? What an embarrassment, what an embarrassment. Netanyahu also said that the State of Israel, the IDF and the security forces were fighting a moral and just war and reiterated that international vilification campaigns by countries like South Africa will not have any impact. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) Israel's war against Hamas will not end until complete victory: Netanyahu Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) stock has rallied hard over the past year, vaulting 127% even though the chipmaker's revenue and earnings shrank in recent quarters due to weakness in the personal computer market. This may lead one to wonder if buying AMD is a good idea at this point considering its expensive valuation. After all, AMD's price-to-sales multiple has increased over the past year while its top line has headed south. Meanwhile, the consensus of Wall Street analysts estimates that AMD's earnings will drop 31% for 2023 to $2.40 per share. Savvy investors, however, should consider looking past these recent results as there are two big catalysts that could supercharge AMD in 2024 and beyond. AMD Revenue (TTM) Chart Primed for a solid turnaround this year The decline in PC sales weighed heavily on AMD's performance in 2023, but that problem looks set to disappear in the new year. Researchers at Canalys are forecasting an 8% jump in PC sales in 2024 following 2023's 12.4% decline. This will be a big tailwind for AMD's client CPU (central processing unit) business, which relies on sales of PCs, and which took a big hit in 2023. AMD's client revenue fell by 40% year over year in the first nine months of 2023. That segment produced 19% of the company's top line, which explains why AMD's total revenue in the first three quarters of 2023 fell 8% year over year to $16.5 billion. Weak demand for PCs led to an oversupply of the types of computer processors that AMD sells, which is why the company resorted to offering discounts in a bid to move more units. This weighed on the margins and shrunk AMD's earnings. Specifically, AMD generated an operating loss of $101 million from the client business in the first nine months of 2023 as compared to an operating profit of $1.34 billion in the same period in 2022. The good news is that AMD's client segment revenue has started growing once again as the oversupply is over, and PC manufacturers are buying CPUs to prepare for the anticipated jump in demand next year. Story continues In Q3, AMD's client revenue rose 42% year over year to $1.45 billion. The segment also posted an operating profit of $140 million as compared to an operating loss of $26 million in the year-ago period. So the expected sharp turnaround in the PC market this year should help lift AMD out of its rut. The growing pipeline of customers for its artificial intelligence (AI) chips will be another key growth driver. Big players including Meta Platforms, OpenAI, Oracle, and Microsoft recently said that they will be deploying AMD's flagship MI300X AI accelerators. The chipmaker expects its AI chips to generate at least $2 billion in revenue in 2024. While that may not seem like much considering the massive amount of revenue that rival Nvidia is generating from AI chips, investors should note that AMD's sales into this market could be greater than what the company is forecasting right now. For instance, AMD has forecast that it will report $400 million in Q4 revenue from its data center GPU (graphics processing unit) business. So the $2 billion annual revenue forecast for the data center GPU business for 2024 would mean that AMD's quarterly revenue run rate from that segment is set to pick up to $500 million. But at the same time, one shouldn't forget that AMD is likely to get its hands on a big chunk of AI chip supply from its foundry partner, which may lead to even stronger growth in the data center GPU business. Citing industry sources, the Taiwan-based daily newspaper DigiTimes points out that AMD could ship 400,000 AI GPUs in 2024. AMD hasn't revealed the pricing of its AI processors yet, but it could price it aggressively to win market share from Nvidia, which sells its flagship H100 processors for $40,000 on average. Assuming AMD decides to undercut Nvidia and offers its AI GPU at $30,000, it could generate $12 billion in revenue from the data center GPU segment. So it won't be surprising to see AMD growing at a much faster pace than analysts are expecting in 2024 and beyond. From a forward viewpoint, the stock is a buy As the following table suggests, AMD's top and bottom lines are set to return to solid growth in 2024 followed by another robust year in 2025. Year Revenue estimate (in $billion) Year-over-year change (%) Earnings per share estimate Year-over-year change (%) 2023 $22.7 -4% $2.65 -24% 2024 $26.5 17% $3.83 45% 2025 $31 17% $5.16 35% Source: YCharts and Yahoo! Finance This explains why the company's forward earnings and sales multiples are at comparatively attractive levels when compared to the trailing multiples mentioned earlier in the article. AMD PS Ratio (Forward 1y) Chart The market could further reward the acceleration in AMD's growth, especially considering its big addressable opportunity in the AI chip market. As such, savvy investors looking to buy growth stocks to capitalize on the accelerating adoption of AI and the resurgence of the PC market should consider adding AMD to their portfolios before it soars further. Should you invest $1,000 in Advanced Micro Devices right now? Before you buy stock in Advanced Micro Devices, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Advanced Micro Devices wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of December 18, 2023 Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Harsh Chauhan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Advanced Micro Devices, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Oracle. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is AMD Stock a Buy Now? was originally published by The Motley Fool TV actor Surbhi Chandna accuses Vistara airline of 'mental harassment' at Mumbai airport New Delhi, Jan 14 Television actor Surbhi Chandna, famous for her roles in popular shows such as Naagin 5, Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, and Qubool Hai, has accused budget airline Vistara of subjecting her to "mental harassment" during a recent incident at Mumbai airport. In a post, the actor narrated her ordeal, highlighting the distress caused by the airline's alleged negligence. The WORST AIRLINE award goes to @airvistara. A priority bag was offloaded for reasons best known to them. They have wasted the entire day and i still have not been assured if the bag has reached the mum apt or no.. false promises by the incompetent staff horrible delays by airline, she wrote on X. Vistara responded to Chandna's claims promptly on the post, assuring the actor that her complaint would be addressed with the utmost priority. Hi Ms. Chandna, we are concerned to learn of your dissatisfaction. Please assist us with your booking details and a convenient time to connect via DM and we will have this addressed at the earliest. Thanks, Vistara replied in a tweet. "Deepika Pawar - @Vistara Mumbai airport ground staff is extremely unprofessional & undertrained and was unapologetic of the situation. Extremely rude in her approach straight up said 'we do not know when your bag will come and we cannot commit anything'. Also when asked about delivery, she said 'my vendors are occupied and I will not be able to deliver the bag to you. It will be better if you come to pick it up. This is the pathetic staff and service of the airline when they are at fault," Chandna posted on her Instagram story. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) TV actor Surbhi Chandna accuses Vistara airline of 'mental harassment' at Mumbai airport Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Indian-American voters in Iowa 'feel abandoned' by Haley: Report New York, Jan 14 With just a day to go for the Iowa caucuses, Indian-American voters in the state have said that they "feel abandoned" by 2024 Republican presidential aspirant and "proud daughter of Indian immigrants", Nikki Haley. The two-time South Carolina Governor and former UN ambassador officially launched her presidential bid on February 15, calling herself a "proud daughter of Indian immigrants" who left Punjab in search of a better life. Being among a handful of Indian-American candidates to ever run for president and second woman of colour to ever seek the GOP's nomination for the White House, has inherently generated interest in the Indian and South Asian-American communities Speaking to the NYT, leaders of prominent Indian-American groups said they started reaching out to the Haley campaign at a time when she was still polling in the single digits, with hopes of hosting her at their temples, town hall-style events or house parties. But so far nothing has worked, the leaders said, calling the lack of outreach as frustrating and alienating for some their membership. "It really raises the question: Who are you willing to engage in the dialogue? Do you want the support and do you support the engagement of Indian Americans across the board?" asked Prakash Kopparapu, chairman of the Indo American PAC-IA. Himanshu Pathak, who has served as president of the Indo American Association of Iowa, surmised that Haley perhaps saw the electorate as too small to make a difference. That would be a mistake, he said, adding: "We are low in numbers -- but not that low. And we are increasing day by day". On the contrary, Haley's fellow Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has made several appearances at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa. In addition, he is set to participate in an Indo American PAC-IA event this week. The 51-year-old has taken the lead over other GOP rivals but still trails behind former president Donald Trump in Iowa, according to a recent poll of 500 likely Republican caucus goers. The Indian-Americans form nearly 1 per cent of all registered voters in the US, and are considered to be key players in the battleground states. The community has historically been Democrat-leaning -- 72 per cent of registered Indian-American voters backed President Joe Biden in 2020, 77 per cent voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 84 per cent for Barack Obama in 2012. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) Indian-American voters in Iowa 'feel abandoned' by Haley: Report Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Foot injury forces Berrettini to withdraw from Australian Open Melbourne, Jan 14 Matteo Berrettini withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday with a right foot injury, the tournament announced on Sunday. Belgian Zizou Bergs will step in as a lucky loser to face the Greek. "Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the #AusOpen with a right foot injury. He will be replaced in the draw by Zizou Bergs," Australia Open statement read. Berrettini has not competed since last year's US Open, where he retired from his second-round match due to an ankle injury. He went 12-11 in the 2023 season. Having faced a setback with a tear in an oblique muscle that kept him out of action for a few weeks in 2023, the 27-year-old has slipped to the 125th position in the men's rankings. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) Foot injury forces Berrettini to withdraw from Australian Open Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Amit Shah celebrates Uttarayan with temple visit, kite flying in Ahmedabad Ahmedabad, Jan 14 Home Minister Amit Shah took part in the Uttarayan celebrations on Sunday by offering prayers at the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He also extended his heartfelt wishes for Uttarayan, expressing hope for joy, prosperity, and health for everyone. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marked the occasion of Makar Sankranti by initiating a week-long campaign to clean religious sites across the state. The Chief Minister took part in cleaning activities at a temple close to Gandhinagar. The Chief Minister -- in his message -- highlighted the Pran Pratishta of Lord Ram at Ayodhya scheduled for January 22 and urged the public to engage in a nationwide cleanliness drive for places of worship. The campaign, he said, is aligned with the PM Modi's vision which is set to run from January 14 to January 22. janvi/dan (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) Amit Shah celebrates Uttarayan with temple visit, kite flying in Ahmedabad Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Ram Charan flips dosas during Makar Sankranti celebrations Mumbai, Jan 14 Telugu superstar Ram Charan, who is known for RRR, celebrated the Makar Sankranti with his family. The actors wife Upasana Konidela took to her social media on Sunday and shared heartfelt moments from the mega family's Sankranti celebration. The festivities, held in Bangalore, witnessed the couple, along with little mega princess Klin Kaara and their furry companion Rhyme. Upasana's Instagram story offers an intimate look into the Konidela family's Sankranti gathering, as they flew to Bangalore to celebrate with the entire family. The newlyweds Varun Tej and Lavanya were also spotted in Upasanas stories making the memories even more special. The Konidela family's Sankranti celebration, marked by simplicity and togetherness, left fans eager for more glimpses of the iconic family's cherished moments. Recently, Ram Charan welcomed the legendary composer A. R. Rahman onboard his upcoming film tentatively titled RC 16. The Rangasthalam star took to his X, erstwhile Twitter and shared the update with his fans as he wished the composer on his birthday. He shared a poster of the film as he wrote, Happy Birthday @arrahman sir, wish you health and happiness always. Rc 16 is helmed by director Buchi Babu Sana, who is known for the National Award-winning film Uppena. Buchi Babu Sana has crafted a compelling script with a universal appeal, and the makers plan to unveil details about the remaining cast and crew soon. The film is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru, presented by Mythri Movie Makers, under the banners of Vriddhi Cinemas and Sukumar Writings. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) Ram Charan flips dosas during Makar Sankranti celebrations Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! 66-day long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra begins from Manipur Imphal, Jan 14 Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi led 10-years governance as anyay kaal (period of injustice), the Congress on Sunday launched the 66-day long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipurs Thoubal district. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the Yatra after paying tributes in the Thoubal districts Khongjom War Memorial, which was built in memory of those killed in the last Anglo-Manipur War in 1891. Besides Manipur (107 km in one day), the yatra, which is a hybrid Yatra -- including bus and padyatra -- will cover four other northeastern states -- Nagaland (257 km in two days), Arunachal Pradesh (55 km in one day), Meghalaya (five km in one day) and Assam (833 km in eight days). Before starting the Yatra, addressing a huge gathering, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that a large number of people including women and children, died during over eight month long ethnic riot but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no time for Manipur. We understand the pain, sadness and loss of huge lives and we promise you to bring back the harmony, peace and affection in Manipur, Rahul Gandhi said. He said that during his earlier visit to Manipur in June last year, he has never witnessed such a horrifying situation in the state since he joined politics in 2004. We got huge response in our earlier Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra (September 2022 to 30 January 2023) and interacted with lakhs of people, Rahul Gandhi said. He said that during the last Yatra, Congress listened to people from all walks of life and is again keen to listen to peoples Man-Ki-Baat. He said that the BJP-RSS have been spreading their hatred through their political campaign. Rahul said that the country has been passing through a great political injustice, monopolisation in the economy destroying the small and medium industries. Backward people, dalits and tribals have no role in the governance, he said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in his speech criticising Prime Minister Modi, said that in the name of vote bank politics he is now chanting ram nam and visiting everywhere but staying away from violence ravaged Manipur. The BJP before the 2019 election promised to give two crore jobs every year... where are the jobs... injustice has been done with all sections of people. Through Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we promised to return justice to every one -- dalit, tribals, women, youths, Kharge said. He said that during the regime of former Congress Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi six northeastern states -- Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh -- got their statehood and all kinds of development were undertaken. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; former Rajasthan Chief Minister and former deputy chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot; Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Pramod Tiwari, Gaurav Gogoi, Salman Khurshid, Digvijaya Singh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Karti Chidambaram among other leaders participated in the Yatra. Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who was suspended by Mayawati-led The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), announced that he would join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not join biggest drive for unity and justice. The 66-day long yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 100 parliamentary constituencies in 15 states, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. Rahul Gandhi during the yatra will address small public gatherings and interact with people, civil society members and various organisations. Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and a host of other party leaders earlier on Sunday reached Imphal from New Delhi by a chartered flight and went straight to Thoubal district and paid homage at the Khongjom War Memorial. The Manipur Congress leaders accorded a rousing reception to the Congress leaders at the Imphal airport. The Congress leaders then went to a nearby private ground, named 'Nyay Maidan' from where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was flagged off. The Yatra will go to Nagaland on Monday and cover 257 km in five districts in two days. (IANS - Posted on 14 January 2024) 66-day long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra begins from Manipur Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, along with major contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Hub Burnetts latest outreach program Hood II Hood is set to open in February. Fittingly, its headquartered next door to his Suits by Souljah business on Bradley Avenue in Champaign, where his door swings open for much more than shopping. Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute, working with the University of Oxford, University of York, and Oxford Archaeology, have developed a new technique to measure the number of chromosomes in ancient genomes more precisely, using it to identify the first prehistoric person with mosaic Turner syndrome (characterized by one X chromosome instead of two [XX]), who lived about 2500 years ago. As part of their research published today in the journal Communications Biology, they also identified the earliest known person with Jacob's syndrome (characterized by an extra Y chromosome - XYY) in the Early Medieval Period, three people with Klinefelter syndrome (characterized by an extra X chromosome - XXY) across a range of time periods and an infant with Down Syndrome from the Iron Age. a The cranium of the identified individual C10090 (CH163) from Charterhouse Warren (45,X0/46,XX) with mosaic Turner syndrome exhibits features consistent with a female morphological characterization (full description in Supplementary Note 1). Scale bar indicates 5 cm. Image credits: Rick Schulting, Ian Cartwright. b R x values for C10090 (45,X0/46,XX) across six different coverage levels (n = 507), dashed lines representing R x boundaries for one copy of chromosome X. Mean is plotted as a circle, median as a horizontal line, lower and upper hinges correspond to the first and third quartiles, error bars represent 1 SD (Supplementary Data 4). c R y values for C10090 (45,X0/46,XX) across six different coverage levels (n = 507), dashed lines representing R y boundaries for no copies of chromosome Y. Mean is plotted as a circle, median as a horizontal line, lower and upper hinges correspond to the first and third quartiles, error bars represent 1 SD Most cells in the human body have 23 pairs of DNA molecules called chromosomes, and the sex chromosomes are typically XX (female) or XY (male), although there are differences in sexual development. 'Aneuploidy' occurs when a person's cells have an extra or missing chromosome. If this occurs in the sex chromosomes, a few differences, like delayed development or changes in height, can be seen around puberty. Ancient DNA samples can erode over time and can be contaminated by DNA from other ancient samples or from people handling them. This makes it difficult to accurately capture differences in the number of sex chromosomes. The team at the Crick developed a computational method that aims to pick up more variation in sex chromosomes. For the sex chromosomes, it involves counting the number of copies of X and Y chromosomes and comparing the outcome to a predicted baseline (what you would expect to see). The team used the new method to analyze ancient DNA from a large dataset of individuals collected as part of their Thousand Ancient British Genomes project across British history, identifying six individuals with aneuploidies across five sites in Somerset, Yorkshire, Oxford, and Lincoln2. The individuals lived across a range of time periods, from the Iron Age (2500 years ago) up to the Post-Medieval Period (about 250 years ago). They identified five people who had sex chromosomes that fell outside of the XX or XY categories. All were buried according to their society's customs, although no possessions were found with them to shed more light on their lives. The three individuals with Klinefelter syndrome lived across very different time periods, but they shared some similarities - all were slightly taller than average and showed signs of delayed development in puberty. By investigating details on the bones, the research team could see that it was unlikely that the individual with Turner syndrome had gone through puberty and started menstruation despite their estimated age of 18-22. Their syndrome was shown to be mosaic -some cells had one copy of chromosome X, and some had two. Kakia Anastasiadou, PhD student in the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at the Crick and first author of the study, said: "Through precisely measuring sex chromosomes, we were able to show the first prehistoric evidence of Turner syndrome 2500 years ago, and the earliest known incidence of Jacob's syndrome around 1200 years ago. It's hard to see a full picture of how these individuals lived and interacted with their society, as they weren't found with possessions or in unusual graves, but it can allow some insight into how perceptions of gender identity have evolved over time." Pontus Skoglund, Group Leader of the Ancient Genomics Laboratory at the Crick, said: "Our method is also able to classify DNA contamination in many cases and can help to analyze incomplete ancient DNA, so it could be applied to archaeological remains which have been difficult to analyze. "Combining this data with burial context and possessions can allow for a historical perspective of how sex, gender and diversity were perceived in past societies. I hope this type of approach will be applied as the common resource of ancient DNA data continues to grow." The team worked with archaeologists from the University of Oxford, the Wells and Mendip Museum, the University of York, the University of Bradford, Oxford Archaeology, York Osteoarchaeology, and Network Archaeology, acknowledging support from Lincolnshire County Council, Magdalen College, and Balfour Beatty for National Highways. Rick Schulting, Professor of Scientific and Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Oxford, said: "The results of this study open up exciting new possibilities for the study of sex in the past, moving beyond binary categories in a way that would be impossible without the advances being made in ancient DNA analysis." By one estimate, as many as 30% of people in the U.S. are in romantic relationships with partners who do not share their political views. In today's hyperpartisan climate, where Democrats and Republicans have difficulty talking to each other, and their opinions are polarized about media outlets' credibility, how do couples with differing political perspectives decide which media to follow? And how do these decisions affect their discussions on political issues and their relationship in general? Study: Negotiating News: How Cross-Cutting Romantic Partners Select, Consume, and Discuss News Together To explore these questions, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign communication professor Emily Van Duyn conducted in-depth interviews with 67 people whose partners' political views differed from their own. For these couples, seemingly mundane decisions about media consumption became "especially difficult," Van Duyn said. "Their cross-cutting political views presented many challenges for these couples," Van Duyn said. "Deciding which media to consume and whether to do so together or separately was difficult because it presented them with a choice about recognizing their political differences and finding a way to navigate them. "They saw the news as inherently political, and their selection of a news outlet or the act of sharing an article or video meant they were intentionally pulling their partner into a recognition of their political differences." News coverage activated differences between the partners that otherwise would not have emerged, sparking conflict as well as discussion. Conflict emerged in various ways, including disagreement over news sources and content, but also when one person failed to respond as intensely as their partner when the latter shared news that they found disturbing or alarming, Van Duyn said. Partners' differing political beliefs and/or identities created a need to influence or negotiate their news consumption, a process Van Duyn calls "negotiated exposure" and played out across public-facing media such as television and those more private in nature, like social media. This process and the interpersonal conflict that resulted from it "often worked in tandem to reinforce one another and impact the relationship," Van Duyn said. "Conflict resulting from news consumption often caused individuals to seek greater control of their news exposure, a reinforcing process that highlights the muddled order in how individuals simultaneously navigate news and relationships in contemporary democracy." Van Duyn chose to interview only one partner from each couple so that participants would feel comfortable speaking freely without the concern of impacting their relationship or feeling constrained by their partners' views. To protect the privacy of those interviewed, who were recruited through social media advertisements, pseudonyms were used in the study. Of the participants, 39 were female, 27 were male, and one identified as non-binary. Most were in opposite-sex relationships and had been in their current relationship for more than two years. The majority (42) of the study participants were white, 11 were Black, three were Hispanic, and 11 were Asian. A 46-year-old Virginia woman identified as "Wendy" in the study was a Donald Trump-supporting Republican whose boyfriend of two years was a Democrat who voted for Hillary Clinton. Wendy said that she and her partner compromised on which news programs they viewed on television and when with Wendy having control over programming during the morning hours and her boyfriend's preferences taking precedence during the afternoon. Since the couple fervently disagreed about then-President Trump, co-viewing TV news together created friction, especially when Wendy felt there was too much negative coverage of Trump and wanted to avoid it. Moreover, negative news stories about Trump made Wendy susceptible to her boyfriend's criticism of her favored candidate and herself, personally. Some couples sought a common media outlet they could agree on to co-view together, while others intentionally chose to consume news independently, whether in separate rooms or by scrolling their social media feeds on separate devices while in each other's company. According to the study, other individuals sought ways of consuming news with their partner that superseded their differences and utilized other news media privately. Nancy, a 49-year-old Michigan woman who had switched from voting Republican to voting Democratic in 2016 and 2020, said her husband was a Trump supporter who held political beliefs she described as "diametrically opposed" to her own. The news was a significant source of conflict between them, as was Nancy's ideological shift, which her husband attributed to her viewing CNN. Nancy, who worked from home, responded by watching CNN secretly during the day when her spouse was away and kept her political activity working as a text banker for the Democratic party during the 2020 election secret as well. "The point in their relationship when couples' political differences emerged affected how partners negotiated news with one another," Van Duyn said. "While some were aware of their ideological differences at the outset of the relationship, other individuals found their shared tradition of amicably co-viewing the news together disrupted when their partners' views or party affiliation changed. Negotiations around news selection in cross-cutting relationships involved a negotiation of political identity as much as of news exposure." When the news began to take a negative toll on some participants and their relationships, these couples decided to avoid the news altogether and quit sharing articles or videos with each other because doing so triggered tensions that affected their emotional intimacy. Van Duyn said that some of those who chose news avoidance cited heightened conflict within their relationship or mental health concerns such as anxiety. The study, published in the journal Political Communication, was funded by the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University. The NHS must treat at least 10 percent more non-emergency hospital cases a month if it is to successfully start reducing the hefty backlog caused by the pandemic, according to a new analysis in The Lancet. Correspondance: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on NHS England waiting times for elective hospital care: a modelling study. Image Credit: toodtuphoto / Shutterstock From February 2020 to October 2022, the waiting list for non-urgent care grew by 2.6 million cases a projected 1.8 million more than if the pandemic had not hit. Experts say the build-up of cases will not be cleared before the end of 2025 even if capacity is increased by 30 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels outlined in NHS England's recovery plan. In the early stages of the pandemic, the NHS was forced to postpone elective or non-urgent treatments to focus resources on patients seriously unwell with Covid-19. This has led to a backlog of people waiting to receive care, with many requiring several referrals for multiple conditions. To estimate the extent of disruption, researchers from the Universities of Edinburgh and Strathclyde looked at the number of referrals waiting to be treated each month in England from January 2012 to October 2022. The waiting list rose from 2.4 million in January 2012 to 4.6 million at the start of the pandemic in February 2020, increasing by about 275,000 referrals per year. This steady rise suggests the service was already gradually declining before the pandemic. COVID-19 then intensified the decline, researchers say. By October 2022, there were more than 7.2 million referrals waiting to receive non-urgent treatment. Experts warn this is likely to be a substantial under-estimate of the backlog because of the anticipated large numbers of people yet to come forward for care following the pandemic. An estimated 10.2 million fewer referrals were made to elective care from the beginning of the pandemic to 31 October 2022, according to the study. How many of these missing patients return for care is one of the biggest unknowns when predicting future waiting list numbers. The research team simulated a range of scenarios based on between 25 percent and 75 percent of missing patients seeking health care. This allowed scientists to model the outcome of several increases in capacity on waiting list numbers. The findings illustrate the importance of resilience within the healthcare system to minimize the impact of any future emergencies on the provision of routine care, researchers say. Dr Syed Ahmar Shah from the University of Edinburgh's Usher Institute, who led the study, said: "The healthcare system was struggling to keep up with the demand many years before the pandemic, and the COVID-19 pandemic only aggravated the problem. Moving ahead, it is evident that we cannot afford to leave our healthcare systems strained; instead, we must enhance their resilience to ensure better preparedness for any future emergencies." NOTE: Research letters published in the Correspondence section include research findings and are externally peer-reviewed. Letters published in the Correspondence section represent the views of the authors and not necessarily the views of The Lancet journals. Lifestyle and genetics, and a range of other factors within and outside our control, are known to contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that add up to increased risk for serious health problems. A new study has found that stress, through its propensity to drive up inflammation in the body, is also linked to metabolic syndrome leading researchers to suggest that cheap and relatively easy stress-management techniques may be one way to help improve biological health outcomes. Study: Inflammatory biomarkers link perceived stress with metabolic dysregulation. Image Credit: masamasa3 / Shutterstock "We were specifically examining people in midlife a time that is critical to determine those who will experience accelerated aging. Stress is an important contributor to several negative health outcomes as we age," said senior author Jasmeet Hayes, associate professor of psychology at The Ohio State University. "There are many variables that influence metabolic syndrome, some we can't modify, but others that we can. Everybody experiences stress," Hayes said. "And stress management is one modifiable factor that's cost-effective as well as something people can do in their daily lives without having to get medical professionals involved." The research was published recently in Brain, Behavior, & Immunity Health. Links between stress and biological health are established, but few previous studies have examined the involvement of inflammation in stress's connection to metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome are diagnosed with at least three of five factors that increase the risk for heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues excess belly fat, high blood pressure, low HDL (good) cholesterol, and high levels of fasting blood glucose and triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood. The condition is also referred to as insulin resistance syndrome. Using data from a sample of 648 participants (average age 52) in a national survey titled Midlife in the United States, first author Savana Jurgens built a statistical model to gauge how inflammation may fit into the relationship between stress and metabolic syndrome. Information from respondents' reported perceived stress, blood biomarkers for inflammation, and physical exam results indicating risk factors for metabolic syndrome were used for the analysis. "There's not much research that has looked at all three variables at one time," said Jurgens, a psychology graduate student in Hayes' lab. "There's a lot of work that suggests stress is associated with inflammation, inflammation is associated with metabolic syndrome, and stress is associated with metabolic syndrome. But putting all those pieces together is rare." Inflammation composite scores were calculated using biomarkers that included the better-known IL-6 and C-reactive protein as well as E-selectin and ICAM-1, which help recruit white blood cells during inflammation, and fibrinogen, a protein essential to blood clot formation. The statistical modeling showed that stress does indeed have a relationship with metabolic syndrome, and inflammation explained over half of that connection 61.5%, to be exact. "There is a small effect of perceived stress on metabolic syndrome, but inflammation explained a large proportion of that," Jurgens said. The results made sense stress is just one of many factors that can launch health markers into a state of disarray. Other factors include a range of behaviors, including inactivity, unhealthy eating habits, smoking, and poor sleep, as well as low socioeconomic status, advanced age, and being female. But considering that an estimated 1 in 3 American adults has metabolic syndrome, knowing how to lower risk or prevent it altogether is important, Hayes said. The findings also add to evidence that stress and its connection to inflammation can significantly impact biological health in general. "People think of stress as mental health, that it's all psychological. It is not. There are real physical effects to having chronic stress," Hayes said. "It could be inflammation, it could be metabolic syndrome, or a number of things. This is another reminder of that." Future work will include a closer look at whether stress has a causal effect on metabolic syndrome and assessing stress management techniques that may be best for helping reduce inflammation. This research was supported by the National Institute on Aging and Ohio State's Discovery Themes Chronic Brain Injury Program, where Hayes is an investigator. Co-author Sarah Prieto of Ohio State also contributed to the study. The 22km Atal Setu inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to save time and fuel for motorists as well as reduce congestion and pollution, cutting the distance between Mumbai and the satellite city of Navi Mumbai from some hours to 25-30 minutes. The sea bridge was thrown open for motorists from Saturday morning. The PM had inaugurated the Rs 17,840 crore Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sewri-Nhava Sheva Atal Setu, also called the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, on Friday. The Atal Setu, which is the longest bridge and sea bridge in the country, is 21.8km long, including a 16.5 portion over sea, and will reduce the distance from the metropolis to the Navi Mumbai International Airport and also cut travel time to major areas like Pune, the states second largest city, and further to Goa and the rest of south India. As per some motorists, the Atal Setu will also reduce the distance between Palasphe Phata in Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district and Mantralaya, the state secretariat in south Mumbai, by at least 5-6km as compared to the current route via Vashi Creek Bridge, which is around 53km. The Mumbai traffic police has laid down a maximum speed of 100 kilometre per hour on the bridge, and have barred access to two-wheelers and tractors. The state government is planning to connect the sea bridge with the Mumbai Pune Expressway through the construction of new roads and flyovers in Navi Mumbai. A number of other projects are lined-up to improve mobility in Indias financial capital. Eastern Freeway and Marine Drive Tunnel After inaugurating the Atal Setu, PM Modi had also laid the foundation stone of the underground tunnel project between Orange Gate and Marine Drive. This will be a 9.2km-long tunnel connecting the Eastern Freeway and Marine Drive. The cost of the project is estimated to be around Rs 8,700 crore. This will also help decongest traffic near the Eastern Freeway, helping motorists reach Marine Drive from Orange Gate (near Eastern Freeway) faster. In peak hours, it currently takes 30-35 minutes for the same journey. Twin Tunnel Roads Connecting Thane and Borivali Civic authorities are also planning another tunnel road project to ease connectivity towards adjacent Thane City from the western suburbs of Mumbai. It will be a twin tunnel road project connecting Thane and Borivali. According to sources, the government is planning to launch this project before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mumbai Coastal Road Another key project that will likely be a game-changer for the maximum city is the Mumbai Coastal Road. Last week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had announced that the first phase of the costal road between Nariman Point and Worli will be thrown open for the public from January 31. The first phase will be 11km-long and will help traffic conditions in South Mumbai. The tunnel road will further connect to the Bandra-Worli sea link. The work on the second phase, which will connect the western suburbs with Mumbai City, is underway. Metro Lines Planned The Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) is also laying Metro rails throughout Mumbai City. Along with the Versova-Ghatkopar Metro line two years ago, the Dahisar (E) to DN Nagar and Dahisar (E) to Andheri (E) lines were made operational, helping reduce the number of vehicles on the Western Express Highway. Works on Mumbai Metro Line 3, which will connect South Mumbais Cuffe Parade to Aaray Colony in western suburbs, is also underway. From South Mumbais Cuffe Parde to Bandra, this line will run underground. Line 4, which will connect Wadala in South Mumbai to Thanes Kasarwadvali and further to Gaimukh, is under construction. Metro Line 2A will connect Dahisar (E) to DN Nagar and Line 2B, which is an extension of Line 2A will connect DN Nagar in the western suburbs to Mandale in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai. After the Navi Mumbai International Airport is fully operational, the state government will connect the airport with the Mumbai International Airport via Metro Line 8. This shall be known as the Airport Connector. Claudine Gays resignation as president of Harvard University has shed a spotlight on the peculiarly academic obsession with plagiarism using someone elses ideas and passing them off as your own. To those outside the academy, this transgression may seem relatively inconsequential, but for those who have been victimized by plagiarists, its not a negligible offense. The academic community regards stealing someones ideas without attribution as a serious matter as it should. Thats why the writing we produce contains copious footnotes, the essential infrastructure of scholarship. Footnotes provide attribution for ideas, but they also function as a trail of breadcrumbs so that the author herself, as well as other scholars, can trace the genealogy of those ideas. Gay, who became president of Harvard in July, was first investigated in October after the New York Post asked for comment on allegations of improper citations. Harvard promised to investigate the matter. After the university found duplicative language without appropriate attribution, Gay reportedly made corrections to her dissertation. It seems that Gay even plagiarized portions of the acknowledgments in her dissertation. The Harvard Corp., however, initially insisted that the new presidents actions did not rise to the level of research misconduct. Lost amid this flurry of euphemisms research misconduct or duplicative language without proper attribution rather than plagiarism is the damage done to those whose work has been plagiarized. Since the Gay resignation, Ive heard from several friends and colleagues whose work was pirated by others. One told of his findings being twisted so that it appeared he was supporting apartheid in South Africa. Nothing, he insisted, could be further from the truth. A friend of mine, a newly appointed assistant professor at a prestigious university, met over lunch with a senior colleague, a professor from an affiliated institution. The colleague expressed interest in my friends dissertation and asked for a copy so she could provide feedback. No feedback ever arrived, but soon thereafter, my friend began hearing from other colleagues that the senior professor had presented a chapter from the dissertation as her own work. When she did so a second time at an academic conference, having plagiarized another chapter, my friend confronted the senior professor but received no satisfaction. She did, however, hear from other younger scholars that this respected senior professor, now deceased but celebrated as a pathbreaking feminist, had plagiarized their work as well. My first book was plundered without attribution in a book that became a bestseller. The sense of violation and helplessness is palpable, especially when the plagiarist is a well-known author and the publisher a titan in the industry. In the case of Gay, published reports claim that she plagiarized the work of more than two dozen scholars, including colleagues at Harvard. One alleged victim, Carol M. Swain, was among the first to call for Gays resignation. Ms. Gay had no problem riding on the coattails of people whose work she used without proper attribution, Swain wrote in The Wall Street Journal. Many of those whose work she pilfered arent as incensed as I am. Regrettably, Gays letter of resignation did not include any apology for plagiarism. Instead, it was defiant, lamenting that her critics had questioned her commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor. Gay, Harvards first Black president, did, however, play the race card. She claimed that she had been subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus. That may or may not be true and the fact that far-right ideologues led the charge against her is troubling ? but if Gay wants to invoke the specter of race, the argument cuts both ways. Lets be clear. Nothing compares with the ravages, the violence and the injustice of slavery. Ironically, however, appropriating someone elses labors and claiming them as your own bear at least a passing resemblance to involuntary servitude. Aside from conservative trolls, there are few winners in the Gay debacle. At the very least, however, weve been reminded of the importance of scholarly integrity and that plagiarism is not a victimless crime. Randall Balmer is the John Phillips professor in religion at Dartmouth College. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. is shutting a 121-person team related to artificial intelligence operations in San Diego, leaving many employees at risk of termination, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg The group, known as Data Operations Annotations, was told Wednesday that they would be relocating to Austin to merge with the Texas portion of the same team, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans havent been announced. Apple told employees that they have until the end of February to decide if they will relocate, according to the people. If they dont, the workers will be terminated on April 26. The group, which also has offices in China, India, Ireland and Spain, is responsible for improving Siri by listening to queries to the voice service and determining if it heard and handled questions accurately. The announcement to close the San Diego group was made by Christine DeFilippo, a top deputy to Apple AI chief John Giannandrea, the people said. An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the relocation decision, saying the company is bringing its Data Operations Annotations teams in the US together at our campus in Austin, where a majority of the team is already based. She added that everyone currently employed will have the opportunity to continue their role with Apple in Austin. The company also said its deeply committed to San Diego, where it has grown significantly, and that it is continuing to hire as Apple expands its engineering teams. In other countries where the affected team operates, Apple keeps all the employees in one office. For the San Diego staff, the move came as a surprise. The AI team had been working from an office that Apple is renting, according to the people. But the company had told staff recently that they would be relocated to a new Apple campus in the area at the end of January. Earlier this month, Apple distributed packing boxes to employees to prepare for a relocation within the city. Story continues Instead, theyll now have to move to Texas. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that the majority of affected workers have indicated that theyre unwilling to relocate to Austin. Apple told employees that they could apply for other jobs, but some dont think theyll be eligible for many roles because they dont have engineering backgrounds, the people said. The San Diego employees focused on Siri use in Hebrew, English, multiple dialects of Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic and French. The move has the potential to result in several dozen workers leaving the company. Apple, which had 161,000 employees as of September, has mostly managed to avoid layoffs since the pandemic in contrast with most of its tech peers. It did, however, cut some corporate retail jobs last April, as well as recruiters. Employees who are willing to relocate to Austin by the end of June will be able keep their roles, Apple said. The company is offering $7,000 relocation stipends. Those who choose to leave Apple will see their roles eliminated and get four weeks of severance plus an additional week for every year worked. Theyll also get six months of health insurance. The team has a notable history within Apple. Years ago, the group was mostly made up of contractors who listened to Siri queries to ensure their accuracy. That practice raised privacy concerns and was made optional for customers in 2019. The contractors ended up being fired and replaced with full-time employees. A small number of employees in the group have begun assisting Apple with a move to AI products based on large language models, or LLMs. These employees are now reviewing potential queries to Siri and choosing among a handful of answers. They then have to explain their decision. Apple is planning to announce its LLM plans in June, Bloomberg News has reported. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. The government has no proposal as of now to lift export curbs on wheat, rice and sugar, said Union Minister Piyush Goyal. He also said there is no plan and no need to import wheat and sugar. There is no proposal as of now to remove export restrictions on wheat, rice and sugar. And India will not import wheat and sugar, Goyal told reporters. India had banned wheat exports in May 2022, non-basmati rice exports from July 2023 and extended curbs on sugar exports beyond October 2023, as part of measures to control rising domestic prices. He added that India is providing rice to friendly countries for their food security needs. The minister informed that India has provided rice to countries like Indonesia, Senegal, and Gambia. After nine long years, once again Assam and the rest of the states will witness the famous Bulbul fight. In 2014, the Supreme Court banned Tamil Nadus Jallikattu, and on a similar track, in 2015 Bulbuls fight in Assams Hajo was also banned. About 35 Km away from Guwahati, a ritual, the Bulbul fight is believed to have started in the 17th Century in the Hayagriv Madhav Temple in Hajo. Ahom King Pramatta Singha is credited with starting the ritual in the state. On the first day of Magh (Makar Sankranti) a Maghi Mela is organized in the temple campus where its main attraction is the Bulbul fight. On 11 December, the Assam government decided to allow the Hayagriv Madhav Temple authority to hold a Bulbul fight with some standard operating procedure. As the day nears, the arrangers of the fight have started catching and taming the birds. In Hajo, families like Bharali Tola and Sonari Tola traditionally engage themselves in the activity. They catch Bulbul from the wild, feed them and regularly. Within a short period, these birds become friendly with their owners. Most of the time people hold them and these birds also fearlessly play with them. These birds are trained to win the fight. One of the trainers, Charan Kalita said This time I have caught eight birds. I am taking care of them and regularly giving training. We offer them bananas, milk, sweets, water etc. Another trainer from Sonari Tola said Initially we caught 16 birds, but after observing their growth and physical condition we let 9 birds go away. Usually within four to five days, these birds are trained. Finally, after nine years Bulbul fight will be seen in Hajo Hayagrib Madhab temple on the Magh Bihu which falls on January 15. After the Assam cabinets decision, people in Hajo expressed their satisfaction and were joyous about celebrating the fight. Happy with the decision of the Assam Cabinet, The Doloi (Head Priest) of the temple, Shivaprasad Sarma thanked the government for their initiative. We observe this tradition in a very religious manner. We take care of the Bulbuls nicely. Some families are traditionally involved in these rituals, catching the birds, feeding them, and keeping them at their houses. There is no cruelty done to the birds in any way. USE OF INTOXICATED ELEMENTS There is a saying that on the previous evening of the Bulbul fight owners of the birds are intoxicated. At this, the Doloi said, In the previous night of the fight, the birds are fed with some intoxicating elements, that too under strict observation of experts. Moreover, the items which intoxicate them are completely safe. So there will be no harm to the birds. Apart from that, these birds are offered fruits to eat regularly. So, in no way does it come under cruelty act. Finally, after the fight, the owners of the birds take them home, and after offering food, these birds are freed again. Another member of the temple committee said that not a single bird dies during or after the fight. THE FIGHT On the fight day, two groups from different villages reach Hayagrib Madhab temple early in the morning and after puja, they come to the fight venue arranged for the Bulbul fight. Owners of the birds sit at both sides of a table and the moderator starts the fight. Before the day of the fight, no food is offered to the birds. At the time of fighting a banana will be kept by the side of the table. Both the fighting birds will try to eat the banana and in this process, they will start fighting. This year organizers have announced some prizes for the winners, and the first and second runners-up. Assams senior minister Jayanta Malla Barua has also patronised the event. Ayodhya, which suffered from poor connectivity and lack of development for decades, has in the last few years, particularly the last six months, seen rapid makeovers and facelifts with a functional airport, two semi-high speed trains and multi-lane roads. It was in November 2019 that the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Ram Temple at the dispute site in Ayodhya, ending decades of deadlock. Since then, there has been no looking back for this temple town. Last month, the city got its first airport, built in a record time of 20 months. So far, the airport in Lucknow, more than 150km away, was the nearest one to Ayodhya. The Gorakhpur airport, inaugurated in 2018, is also at an equal distance. Inaugurated on December 30, the Ayodhya airport is international. However, it is yet to start flight operations in full swing. While the airport will ease the journey for devotees and tourists opting to fly in from other states, the government has also connected the railway station in Ayodhya with two Vande Bharat trains in the last six years. Lacking decent railway connectivity until last year, the town now has direct, fast and dedicated trains from Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow and Gorakhpur. In July 2023, the first big train for Ayodhya was inaugurated, connecting Lucknow on one side and Gorakhpur on the other. On December 30, a dedicated Vande Bharat train connecting Ayodhya to Anand Vihar in Delhi was also flagged off. Now, Ayodhya is just a two-hour train journey away from Lucknow and Gorakhpur, three-and-a-half hours away from Kanpur and eight hours from Delhi. So far, Ayodhya had a single-lane road that used to make the town look small and congested. However, in the last few months, new roads have been proposed for multi-lane connectivity. In November, the state government announced a four-lane Lakshman Path for the town. Four to six lane bypasses around the town are also planned along with a four-lane road from Prayagraj. The inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya will be held on January 22 when the installation of the Ram Lalla idol in the Ram Temples sanctum-sanctorum, known as Pran Pratishtha, will be done. Celebrations in the town will, however, from January 16. With just over a week left for the grand pran pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhyas Ram temple, the city transformation and other preparations are taking place in full swing. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is undertaking a 11-day anushthan, which will conclude on January 22 the consecration ceremony. Tripura CM Urges People to Join Cleanliness Drives in Temples Tripura chief minister Manik Saha urged people od his state to join PM Modis call to take part in cleanliness drives in temples to mark the Ayodhya Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. Offering prayers at the Jagannath temple, Saha also joined a cleanliness drive on the premises. Taking to X, the Tripura CM wrote, Today, I joined the cleanliness drive at Jagannath temple here along with party karyakartas following the prime ministers appeal I appeal to the people of the state to join cleanliness drives in all temples that will continue till January 22. Congress Leader, Former LS Speaker Meira Kumar Invited to Consecration Ceremony Senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Sunday was formally invited to the attend the consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, the Vishva Hindu Parishad said. An invitation to the former deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, Kariya Munda, has been also extended. VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal posted on X and said, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Sampark Pramukh Ramlal has given an invitation to Smt. Meira Kumar, former Speaker of the Lok Sabha and daughter of Babu Jagjivan Ram ji. Kumar and Munda were given invitation by a delegation representing the Ram Temple Trust, he added. Shankaracharyas Must Bless Ram Temple, Not Criticise: Union Minister Union Miister Narayan Rane on Sunday said that the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ayodhya Ram temple instead of criticising some of the aspects. Rane accused them of viewing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a political prism. No one could do it until now. Modi, BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Ram is our God, Rane told reporters. He said that the Shankaracharyas should list what is their contribution to the Hindu religion. 14 Lakh Diyas Used to Make Image of Lord Ram, Ayodhya Temple Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey said that an image of Lord Ram in his parakrami roop and the temple being built in Ayodhya have been created using 14 lakh colourful diyas. Choubey told reporters that the artwork was made a bunch of artists from Bihar in the last five to seven days. The artwork has been displayed at Ayodhyas Saket College ground. The creators of the art are working under the aegis of Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas. The artwork also has portraits also made with diyas of PM Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, flanking the words Jai Shri Ram. Nepals Janakpur Gearing Up For Celebrations Ahead of the pran pratishtha ceremony on January 22, Nepals Janakpur believed to the birthplace of Lord Rams wife, Sita is prepping to join in on the celebrations with cultural and religious events. Nepals former deputy prime minister Bimalendra Nidhi on Saturday while noting that their daughter, Sita was married to Lord Ram, said We are very elated and proud that the consecration of Ramlala will take place at Ayodhya. People of Janakpur were very happy when the Supreme Court of India had declared its final verdict (in the Ayodhya matter). Hindus Organise Car Rally in US New Jersey The pre-celebrations in the United States for the consecration ceremony are also taking place in full swing. Indians from the Hindu community organised a car rally in New Jerseys Edison, with the participation of more than 350 cars. Just a day before, the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), American chapter, put up more than 40 giant billboards across ten US states with the message of the pran pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya. The VHP, American chapter, also organised an Epic Tesla Musical Light Show in Maryland to celebrate the Ram Mandir consecration ceremony. WATCH: #WATCH | Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) of America organised an Epic Tesla Musical Light show in Maryland ahead of the Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya on January 22. pic.twitter.com/F5Sk5y51LG ANI (@ANI) January 13, 2024 Celebrating Two Diwalis, Says Prez of Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation The president of the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temples Federation, Bhojraj Ghoorbin, expressed that their community was extremely elated by the governments decision to grant 2-hour leave for all the Hindu government officials. He said that Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth made them the first country to grant such a leave, adding that he hopes other countries would also do the same for the Indians living there. In the run-up to the January 22 ceremony, Ghoorbin said, We have already started the preparation We are celebrating two-Diwali first on January 22, and the second Diwali on October 31. He said that their federation even had a word with PM Jugnauth over starting direct flights from Mauritius to Ayodhya. Ghoorbin noted that they are also organising a cultural program on January 21, for which PM Jugnauth will be the chief guest. A live telecast of the pran pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya will be arranged for everyone in Mauritius. Ayodhyas Transformative Makeover Underway Ayodhya is getting a transformative maker with just over a week left for the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple. City Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal, while speaking to news agency ANI, said that overall beautification and development of Ayodhya was a big challenge for us and a lot if planning and hard toil went into all the work that could be accomplished in such a short time. It is majorly down to relentless and dedicated work that brought about this transformation of Ayodhya into a pristine and beautiful city in just a year and a half. Dayal said that all of the corridors have been completed, leaving the city to look mesmerising. Ayodhya is all set to receive Lord Ram Lalla, he said. Dayal told ANI that countrys best and finest engineers were brought in for the town planning work, adding that, suggestions from renowned artists were also sought. The Surya Stambh installed in the redeveloped Ayodhya has also been an eye-catching element. Popular belief terms Lord Ram to be a Suryavanshi and so several Surya Stambh or solar pillars have been installed on the Dharma Path in Ayodhya. Consecration Ceremony Be Performed by Prez Murmu, Demands Uddhav Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded that the consecration ceremony of the Ayodhya Ram temple should be performed by President Droupadi Murmu as it is a matter of national pride and countrys self-respect. Thackeray said that he will also invite the President to the Kalaram temple in Nashik, where he will visit on January 22. Thackeray, along with his party workers, will perform maha aarti on the banks of the Godavari river on the day of the consecration ceremony. Ayodhya Finally Received Honours That It Deserves, Says Rajnath Singh Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Ayodhya has finally received the honour it deserved and should have been given immediately after independence. Speaking at the release of BJP leader Balbir Punjs book Tryst with Ayodhya, Singh said that Ayodhya is for Hindus what Mecca is for Muslims and Jerusalem for Christians. He said that because of PM Modi, even those who used to question Lord Ram are now singing Ramdhun (paeans to Lord Ram). One cannot imagine India without Ram, Singh said. Surge in Demand For Lord Ram Flags, Posters in Delhi Traders in Delhi are working round the clock to meet the surge in the demand for saffron flags and posters bearing images of Lord Ram and the Ayodhya temple. Rakesh Kumar Yadav, president of the Federation of Sadar Bazar Traders Association, told PTI that 40,000 workers and printing presses are working overtime to meet the demands of devotees in the national capital. He noted that the markets will be decorated from January 15 evening, and a procession will also be taken out with the likely participation of around 700 businessmen. A shopkeeper in Malviya Nagar, Ajay, also noted that people are not just looking flags or posters, they are also looking for items to decorate their vehicles, such as bikes, cars, and autos. Previously, I used to make flags for political parties and the Tricolour. However, we started printing saffron flags due to the high demand, and now have two to three lakh orders, Ajay said. (With PTI, ANI inputs) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of three persons, including two sadhus, lynched by a mob in Palghar district in 2020. He handed over the cheques while attending a function in Virar here on Saturday. Sadhus Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were killed by a mob while their vehicle was passing through Gadchinchale village late night on April 16 that year in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. The case had made national headlines at the time and several persons who were allegedly part of the 500-strong mob were arrested and are facing trial. Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has never bothered to meet the kin of these three persons. Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds. The CEO of a private company has been booked for allegedly raping an NRI woman who worked at his office here, police said on Sunday. According to the police, the incident took place on September 14, 2023 at a five-star hotel in the Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi district. Based on a complaint from the Indian-origin US citizen on Saturday night, an FIR has been registered against the accused under Section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code at the Chanakyapuri police station, they added. The complainant alleged that she was working as an assistant general manager at the company where the accused was the CEO, the police said. She said the man was known to her uncle and had helped her in getting a job, the complaint added. A senior police officer said further probe is underway in the matter. If you would like to breed Punganur cows at home, just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi does, its no longer a tough task. On the auspicious festival of Makara Sankranthi, PM Modi was seen feeding several Punganur cows at his residence in New Delhi. This rare breed, native to a village by the same name in Andhra Pradesh, is diminutive it can even be bred in an apartment. It is among the worlds most dwarf cattle breeds but yields highly nutritional milk, as explained by experts. Dr BL Chidananda, a retired professor of Animal Sciences from the University of Agricultural Sciences, GKVK, calls the Punganur breed a gold mine. The milk of this cow also has the element Au, the chemical name for gold. Even today, many temples of Andhra Pradesh, including the famous Tirupati Thirumala Temple, use the milk of a Punganur cow for Ksheeraabhishekam (milk offering to the deity), the expert told News18, adding that people use silver utensils and sometimes consume wafer-thin sheets of gold and silver to add nutritional value to their health. The milk a Punganur cow provides has high nutritional value. Known for its high-fat content A2 milk, rich in nutrients such as Omega fatty acids, calcium, potassium, and magnesium, which are essential for maintaining good health, the animal sciences expert said. A Punganur cow can give around 1 to 3 litres a day, and the milk fat content is 8 per cent as compared to 3 to 4 per cent in other native breeds. The higher the value of the feed, good genetics, and maintenance, the better the quality of milk produced. The Punganur cow breed looks beautiful and is considered divine, with a special glow in its eyes and stride, say rearers of this rare breed. Docile in temperament and extremely friendly, it is a beautiful animal to have around children as pets, say experts, encouraging families to adopt Punganur cows in their homes. To own a Punganur cow is a matter of prestige. The bovines are largely maintained in the farms of temples, goshalas, and homes of rich landowners. They can cost anywhere between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 10 lakh, say farmers, depending on the purity of the breed and the health of the cow. Amongst Hindus, it is believed to be sacred to keep cows as they symbolise prosperity and compassion, and bring good fortune to homes. Punganur cows, once facing extinction, have seen an increase in numbers due to the project Mission Punganur. According to a veterinarian, most of the cows at the prime ministers residence belong to this variety. In our culture, cows are revered as our holy mother. She is a provider, one who feeds a home. She is treated with utmost respect and is a symbol of purity, love, and warmth. Punganur cows, though small, are a powerhouse of these qualities, making them extra special, said Ramesh Krishna, a farmer from Chittoor who has a dairy farm with this breed. This breed faced the threat of extinction at one point when farmers began to push the cattle for more milk, one it could not provide compared to the amount that hybrid cows did. Suddenly, Punganur cattle were seen as a liability, and farmers began to sell them off or abandon them. Massive efforts were made to revive the breed whose numbers had dropped to a dismal 100 in the country. The Andhra government also embarked on a mission to revive their population and in 2020 launched Mission Punganur to popularise it and conservation. The postal department also released a special cover on Punganur cow as part of the conservation drive. The PMO, in an effort to be a part of this conservation drive, has been rearing a group of them, said a veterinarian expert from AP. Efforts are also being made by agri-scientists to promote embryo transfer to help in conserving and safeguarding the breed. President Droupadi Murmu will visit Meghalaya and Assam from January 15 to 17, an official statement issued on Sunday by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. The president will inaugurate the Meghalaya Games at the P A Sangma Stadium in Tura on Monday, it said. This is her first visit to Meghalaya after assuming the office of the president. On January 16, she will address the members of self-help groups at the Baljek Airport, Tura, and virtually lay the foundation stone for the new Integrated Administration Complex, the statement said. On the same day, President Murmu will address a gathering at Mawphlang and virtually inaugurate upgraded Rongjeng Mangsang Adokgre Road and Mairang Ranigodown Azra Road as well as lay the foundation stones for Shillong Peak Ropeway and tourist accommodations in the villages of Kongthong, Mawlyngot and Kudengrim. In the evening, the president will attend a civic reception to be hosted in her honour by the government of Meghalaya at the Raj Bhavan, Shillong, it added. On January 17, Murmu will attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karbi Youth Festival at Taralangso, Diphu, Assam. Three sadhus (saints) were allegedly thrashed by an irate mob in a far-flung village in West Bengals Purulia district. Video clips of the incident that went viral on social media showed the sadhus being stripped and assaulted by a strong mob. Following a political slugfest, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) issued a statement, as did the West Bengal Police, stating that they were mistaken as kidnappers" by locals, however, police reached the spot, rescued them and arrested 12 persons. ALSO READ | Cautious After Sandeshkhali Attack, ED Raids 3 TMC Leaders With More CRPF Men & Protection A week ago, two senior officers of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including an officer of assistant director rank, in Bengals North 24 Parganas district were critically injured while they were on their way to raid a local TMC leaders house. They were attacked by a mob of thousands, armed with stones and sticks. The vehicle was ransacked, and the officers and accompanying security personnel were assaulted. The causes of the incidents, which happened in a span of seven days, were different, but the nature was the same. Both were incidents of mob violence. Political parties, be it the ruling or the Opposition in West Bengal, a state that has a history of mob violence, seem to have normalised such incidents, calling them public outrage" or spontaneous public resistance". Such action by political parties leads to impunity," said a senior IPS officer who served as a DG in the state and saw such incidents happening across the Left Front and Trinamool Congress rule. Last week, minutes after the officers of the ED and central forces were attacked, senior politicians, including cabinet ministers, came up with statements saying that the incident was a consequence of provocation" and it was nothing, but public outrage". First Information Reports (FIR) were filed against the officers, while another FIR was filed against unknown persons" reportedly under bailable sections for violence. This has been a trend. There are dozens of video clips of senior politicians, including the chief minister of the state, her cabinet colleagues, senior MPs instigating" the public by directing them to build resistance if police come". There are public statements of senior leaders saying that the public should attack police state or central if there is an administrative excess. And it is not only for the central forces or agencies, the state police, its officers and personnel, were assaulted, thrashed, killed by the members of ruling and Opposition parties several times. However, the politicians never change their style of speaking. MOB VIOLENCE, LYNCHING, RIOTING: PERPETRATORS ARE ALWAYS UNKNOWN Is mob violence always a result of public outrage" or a reflection of frustration"? The records with the governments and the politics of the state will speak otherwise. Under the Congress, Left and TMC rule, West Bengal has witnessed brutal instances of mob violence. However, people hardly remember any remedial action or perpetrators being penalised for their crime. In March 1970, a family of Congress supporters in Burdwan was hacked and chopped to death allegedly by a mob led by senior members of rival political party CPM. The perpetrators, at least the ones named by several witnesses, were never brought to justice. Instead, they rose up the ranks to become ministers in the state cabinets, MPs and MLAs. The incident is known as Saibari Killings. In April 1982, a group of 17 sadhus belonging to a Hindu cult group Ananda Marga was assaulted by mob in south Kolkata and burnt to death inside a van carrying them. A leading daily of Kolkata reported the incident as Seventeen Ananda Margis, two of them women, were killed on April 30 morning by frenzied mobs on the suspicion that they were child-lifters". The government termed it a public outrage" orchestrated to embarrass the ruling party before the elections". This incident is called the Anandamargi Massacre. In the recent past, post the 2021 election results, around 40 members of the ruling TMC and the Opposition BJP, Congress and CPM were lynched. The violence and lynching happened over a span of four to five days in the state just after the results were out. The violence was the result of political rivalry and retaliation. In almost every case, the victim was dragged out of their house and lynched by hundreds. The administration almost disappeared as the violence continued unabated until there was an outrage. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the 52 cases of violence. The investigation is still pending. States such as Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, too, have witnessed such incidents over allegations of carrying beef, smuggling cattle or practising witch craft. MANAGING MOB, CONTROLLING VIOLENCE The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which was passed in Parliament to replace the Indian Penal Code (IPC), addresses cases when a mob of five or more individuals commits murder based on factors such as race, caste, community or personal belief. According to section 101 of the BNS, When a group of five or more persons acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other ground each member of such group shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, and shall also be liable to fine." Even though the state governments or the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) do not record such cases of mob violence or lynching as a category, senior IPS officers serving in the NCRB or in the government say the category of rioting or offences against public tranquility include incidents of mob violence. According to the data published in 2022-2023, a total of 57,082 cases of offences against public tranquility were registered under various sections of IPC during 2022, of which rioting (37,816 cases) accounted for 66.2%. ALSO READ | Calcutta HC Grants Protection to ED Officials in Sandeshkhali Incident | All You Need to Know A senior IPS officer serving in the MHA said the issue of mob violence was discussed in several crime conferences, including the DGP conference with the Prime Minister. Police forces have been asked to carry out awareness campaigns, start patrolling in localities far away from the police stations, and set an example by penalising the perpetrators. However, in most cases, the trails go cold due to political patronage," said the senior officer. Another senior police officer said that senior politicians have a crucial role in minimising the scope of such instances. Their speeches matter to the general public. The political parties that have presence at the ground level may intervene when these kinds of incidents are noticed, as police stations have their own limitations. The force also needs time to reach a certain location. But political parties, their Panchayat and block level offices are everywhere. They can be the first respondents, which hardly happens," he added. Tara Sutarias outfit selection this wedding season is largely ethnic or Indo-western fusion. Whether shes dressed in beautiful pastels or glittering gold, the actresss fashion selections are always on point. Taras style never fails to surprise us, and she recently shared a photo from her trip to Jaipur that re-emphasises her position as a Bollywood diva. Furthermore, her immaculate, dewy glam options drew attention. For the event, Tara was dressed in a red salwar suit. It featured a deep V-neckline embroidered with red stones and a floral pattern with golden sequin work. She accessorised it with a pair of dangling stone earrings and a bindi. For her glam picks, she went with flushed cheeks and accentuated temples. Taras preference for sheer lips, particularly rose pink lip gloss, gave her a sharp look. She switched from neutral-hued, smoky eyes to kohl-rimmed eyes. Her feathery lashes overshadowed the softly toned eyeshadow. The actress completed her look with a middle-parted low hairdo and statement danglers. Recently, Tara Sutaria opted for a pink organza-sequin work saree. Taras exquisite look was created by celebrity stylist Meagan Concessio. The outfit was from Rhea Kapoors apparel label, A&B. Taras saree was set in a mauve-pink colour and embellished with sequins, gold taar stitching in a floral motif, a scalloped hem, and a thick gold border with elaborate designs. She gracefully draped the six yards, allowing the richly adorned pallu to fall from her shoulder in a floor-sweeping length. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TARA (@tarasutaria) Tara wore a matching mauve-coloured blouse with a boat-plunging neckline, mirror embellishments, floral embroidery, gota patti work, quarter-length sleeves, and a cropped hem to complement the saree. She also matched her jewellery to her attire. She completed her appearance with a gold choker necklace, matching jhumkas, and a statement ring. For her makeup, Tara opted for shimmering pink eye shadow, smudged eyeliner, kohl-lined eyes, mascara-adorned lashes, feathered brows, rouge on the cheeks, beaming highlighter, and mauve lip shade. Lastly, she styled her hair with a center-parted, open-wavy look. She also stunned her admirers when she wore a golden and rusty orange lehenga with floral designs and gold threadwork. The outfit was embellished with gold dori, sitara, stones and other embellishments. The lehenga was paired with a blouse with a plunging neckline and tassel embellishment at the back. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Meagan Concessio (@spacemuffin27) Tara accessorised her ensemble with similar gold and kundan jewellery. She was decked up in a hefty choker necklace with bangles, a maang tikka, and heavy earrings. Indias biggest aerial action drama Fighter directed by Siddharth Anand is nearing its release and the makers are leaving no stone unturned to drench the audience into the spirit of Fighter. While the teaser and the songs have kept the fervor of the film among the masses moving at a fast pace, the trailer is gearing up for its release tomorrow. To keep the excitement soaring, the makers have released an absolutely intriguing poster. The much-awaited trailer of Hrithik Roshan, Deepika Padukone, and Anil Kapoor starrer Fighter is scheduled for its arrival tomorrow 15th January, at 12 Noon. The excitement among the masses is already at its peak however to boost it a notch higher, the makers dropped an intriguing poster. Saluting the spirit of our brave and super courageous Air Worriers, the trailer is surely going to be a treat to relish giving us a further look into its action-packed world. Looking at the poster, the excitement is at an all-time high to watch the trailer coming out tomorrow at 12 Noon. Taking to his social media, Hrithik Roshan shared the poster and jotted down the caption, #FighterTrailer TOMORROW at 12:00 PM IST. #Fighter Forever #FighterOn25thJan releasing worldwide. Experience on the big screen in IMAX 3D. Directed by Siddharth Anand and presented by Viacom18 Studios in association with Marflix Pictures, Fighter epitomizes cinematic brilliance. This film seamlessly intertwines heart-thumping action and patriotic fervor, promising an unparalleled cinematic experience. Brace yourself for an epic journey as Fighter takes flight in theaters on January 25th, 2024, offering a spectacle that redefines cinematic excellence. 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. Bollywood actress Rhea Chakraborty, who was embroiled in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, recently opened up about her experience surviving jail time. The actress was arrested in connection to his death and had to spend almost a month behind bars. From managing food to navigating life with a limited allowance, Rhea candidly shared the struggles she faced. She also expressed gratitude for the challenging experience. In a candid conversation with Chetan Bhagat on his chat show, Deeptalk With Chetan Bhagat, Rhea said, Due to COVID rules, I had to be in solitary confinement for 14 days. I was the only one in the room. I was asked if Id like to have lunch. I was so hungry and tired that I ate whatever was given to me. She revealed the menu was roti and capsicum, which was just capsicum in water. The actress said she found her source of being positive in her fellow inmates. I started feeling grateful when I saw that many prisoners dont have family support. Or they dont have Rs. 5,000 or Rs. 10,000 for their bail. At least, I have my family and friends. I told myself, You will get justice. You will get bail. You have not done anything wrong. I have so much to learn from these women while I am here. Why am I wasting my time sulking about what is not in my control? she said. When asked about the toilet facilities in the jails, the Chehre actress shared that its one of the hardest parts about being in jail. She recalled that it was not the best in jail but added, Mental trauma is so much harder that the physical trauma starts paling in front of it. You think Ganda bathroom toh manage kar lungi. She revealed that the jail had a canteen and inmates had permission to get a money order from their homes. She was given a money order of Rs. 5,000 a month. She added that the jail continued to follow the system left behind by the Britishers in terms of food and bedtime. You get breakfast at 6 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m., and dinner at 2 p.m. because it goes with the British way of things. They open the gates at 6 a.m. and lock you in at 5 p.m. Until then, you can take a shower, go to the library, etc. Most people save their dinner and have it at 7-8 p.m. However, I changed my whole cycle. Yeh khana toh waise bhi khaya nahin jaayega. Garam hoga toh fir bhi khaya jaayega. Thanda toh bilkul nahin khaya jaayega. Hence, I started waking up at 4 a.m. and finishing my dinner at 2 p.m., she shared. In September 2020, Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death. The actor was found dead in his Mumbai apartment in June 2020. The two were dating at the time of the latters death, leading to Rheas 28-day imprisonment before being granted bail. Rhea Chakraborty recently opened up about her days in jail when she was arrested in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. After almost a month, the actress was granted bail, and the first thing she did for her fellow inmates was a happy dance, fulfilling a promise she had made to them. The Jalebi actress opened up about doing a Naagin dance for them after receiving bail. In conversation with Chetan Bhagat on his talk show Deep Talk With Chetan, Rhea shared, I had promised all the girls in the jail that Id dance for them the day I got bail. They were like, Aap heroine ho. Aap dance kar ke batao. However, I was heartbroken as my brother didnt get bail. The jailer came up to me and said, I have told them that you wont dance. But I told the jailer, I want to [dance] for them because when am I going to see these women again? She further continued, If I can give them a little bit of happiness in their otherwise hopeless lives, I want to give them. Hence, I danced for them. I did a full-on Naagin dance, that too on the floor, on the song Naagin Gin Gin. Everyone did a dance performance with me. They were so happy that I was going home. They told me, Just be happy. Have a good life. In the same interview, the actress also shared that she found her source of positivity in her fellow inmates. I started feeling grateful when I saw that many prisoners dont have family support. Or they dont have Rs. 5,000 or Rs. 10,000 for their bail. At least, I have my family and friends. I told myself, You will get justice. You will get bail. You have not done anything wrong. I have so much to learn from these women while I am here. Why am I wasting my time sulking about what is not in my control? she said. In September 2020, Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau in connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death. The actor was found dead in his Mumbai apartment in June 2020. The two were dating at the time of the latters death, leading to Rheas 28-day imprisonment before being granted bail. Shehnaaz Gill raised the temperatures at Ira Khans wedding reception with her sexy look. Aamir Khan hosted a star-studded party to celebrate her daughter Ira Khans marriage to Nupur Shikhare, her longtime boyfriend. Some of the biggest stars were invited to the bash, including Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan. Shehnaaz was also a part of the party and she ensured she had all eyes on her. The actress decked up in sensual black saree, adding a hint of sexiness to the bash. The Thank You For Coming star was seen wearing a black saree with golden work done on the pallu. She styled the saree with a tight golden blouse, flaunting her ample curves. Shehnaaz styled the saree with a chic handbag and completed her look by leaving her tresses loose. A video of her look was shared by a paparazzo on Instagram. Watch it below: The look was approved by fans. My heart start beating more to see her hottest look #shehnaazgill you gave us a shock, a fan said. Ive only one heart how many times will you steal it hottest #shehnaazgill , added another. Breathtaking hot , a third added. Shehnaaz Gill impressed her fans with a brief yet impactful performance in the 2023 film Thank You for Coming, sharing the screen with Bhumi Pednekar, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila and Shibani Bedi. The movie premiered at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2023. The actress is set to appear in the upcoming Punjabi film Ranna Ch Dhanna, alongside Diljit Dosanjh and Sonam Bajwa, scheduled for release on October 2. Additionally, she will be part of the movie 100 percent alongside Nora Fatehi, Riteish Deshmukh and John Abraham, while Sajid Khan will be making his comeback as the director. In December 2023, the office of the CEA (Chief Economic Advisor) brought out a collection of essays titled Re-Examining Narratives. This has five heads or chapters credit ratings, the inequality debate, Indias export basket, financing climate action and Indias G20 presidency. Narratives about India are often negative, unnecessarily so, and not based on facts. An instance is disbelief, among some vocal critics, that India can break out of a 5-5.5 per cent real growth trajectory. The point about biased narratives has often been made, typically in piece-meal and ad hoc fashion. This is the first time anyone within the government has articulated it systematically. The essays have been reported in the media. I find it surprising that beyond the mechanical reportage, no one has commented on the issues. Take the case of credit rating agencies (CRAs) and their sovereign ratings. The market is dominated and controlled by the big three Fitch, Moodys and Standard and Poors (S&P). Its not that CRAs only do sovereign ratings. For the others (corporate ratings), they havent always covered themselves with glory (Enron, sub-prime mortgage crisis). There have been allegations of deliberate malfeasance and non-transparency (Greece, Portugal, Ireland), not to speak of biases against developing economies. Sovereign ratings matter, though access to funds is determined by other factors too. For a developing economy, an unnecessarily unfavourable sovereign credit rating makes access to long-term finance and also increases the costs of such finance. Given the importance of CRAs and the big three, the methodology should be transparent and not arbitrary and subjective. Thats the objective hallmark of any rating. But this is not what happens. While I could have rephrased and stated it in my own words, it is best to quote from the CEA paper. Our review of the credit rating methodologies reveals that there is considerable reliance on qualitative variables to capture willingness to pay. The enormous degree of opaqueness in the methodology makes it challenging to quantify the impact of qualitative factors on credit ratings. The significant presence of qualitative factors in credit rating methodologies also gives rise to bandwagon effects and cognitive biases amply reflected in various studies, generating concerns about the credibility of credit ratings, it said. From our quantitative analysis, we find that over half the credit rating is determined by the qualitative component. Institutional Quality, proxied mostly by the World Banks Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs), emerges as the foremost determinant of a developing economys credit rating, which presents a problem since these metrics tend to be non-transparent, perception-based, and derived from a small group of experts, and cannot represent the willingness to pay of the sovereign. Their effect on the ratings is non-trivial since it implies that to earn a credit rating upgrade, developing economies must demonstrate progress along arbitrary indicators while simultaneously contending with the discriminations the ratings tend to carry, it stated. These are strong words, but they are not without justification. Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGIs) have often been bandied around as the last word on measuring governance, an expression that is, at best, difficult to pin down. WGI is based on six aggregate governance indicators: (1) voice and accountability; (2) political stability and absence of violence/terrorism; (3) government effectiveness; (4) regulatory quality; (5) rule of law; and (6) control of corruption. Take, for example, voice and accountability. To quote the World Bank, Voice and accountability captures perceptions of the extent to which a countrys citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media. Assuming voice and accountability can be measured, and is being measured, what does it have to do with a sovereign credit rating? Ditto for something like control of corruption. To quote the World Bank again, Control of corruption captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests. If one is gauging sovereign credit ratings, there must be a clear train of thought about how such indicators are linked to what is being measured. It cannot be the case that one uses it simply because WGI is floating around. This is a serious critique of CRAs, one that requires a response. There is a different critique and that is of WGI itself. Rankings, especially if they are cross-country, need to be done carefully. There is a difference between something that can be objectively measured, through hard data, and subjective responses. Subjective responses are functions of the question being asked, the size of the sample and the person/institution the question is addressed to. WGI doesnt of course collect information itself, it relies on others. To take one example, under voice and accountability, we have EIUs democracy index. India is now classified as a flawed democracy. How do we know that? For all countries, EIU asks experts 60 questions, which are scored and aggregated. Who are the experts? How many are there? Which country are they from? Are they EIU employees? Since we arent given answers to these reasonable questions, the exercise itself is flawed. Yet, this feeds into WGI and WGI feeds into CRAs. The author is the chairman of the Prime Ministers Economic Council and a well-known Sanskrit scholar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra the Congresss second large-scale outreach programme led by party leader Rahul Gandhi, began from the Thoubal district of Manipur on Sunday. Leading the marchers, Gandhi is set to travel through 15 states and cover over 6,700 kilometres in around 67 days. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the Yatra. After its commencement in the northeastern state, the foot march will travel through 15 states and cover at least 100 Lok Sabha seats. The Yatra, which comes months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, is seen as the grand old partys bid to set the narrative in the run-up to Parliamentary polls. Congress President Shri @kharge unveils the #BharatJodoNyayYatra bus.The yatra will cover a distance of more than 6700 km across 15 states from Manipur to Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/LsznARVSOq Congress (@INCIndia) January 14, 2024 Kharge said PM Modi comes to Manipur to ask for votes but when the people of Manipur are in trouble he doesnt show his face. Wo samandar ke upar sair karta firta hai aur baithe jagah jap karte rehte hein Ram Ram. Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein choori, dont do this with the peopleeverybody has faith in God but dont do this for votesthese people (BJP) mix religion to provoke people, the Congress chief said. However, the Congress has asserted that the Yatra is ideological and not an electoral one and said it was being taken out against the Anyay Kaal of 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Narendra Modi-led government. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the biggest challenge before the country is that it is facing an ideology which believes in polarisation, economic inequalities and political authoritarianism. The prime minister shows golden dreams of amrit kaal but what is the reality of the last 10 years anyay kaal. No mention of anyay kaal is made while big boasts of amrit kaal are projected, Ramesh said. The party also said that Yatra would demand justice for the women, youth, farmers and poor and it would be historic as well. Flagging-off Ceremony Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will be flagged off from a private ground in Manipurs Thoubal district amid a few restrictions. The commencement of the foot march from Manipur holds significance against the backdrop of ongoing ethnic violence in the state, which has claimed over 180 lives since May. Congresss Manipur president Keisham Meghachandra said that permission was sought to begin the Yatra from the Hapta Kangjeibung ground in Imphal but the state government gave the go-ahead with certain conditions, forcing to move the venue around 34 km at the last moment. We were told that not more than 1,000 people will be allowed at the venue. As the permission was not given, we were in an alarming situation. Late on Thursday night, Thoubal DC permitted flagging off the Yatra from a private land in Khongjom area of the district, he said. The flagging-off ceremony should be completed within an hour and the number of participants should not exceed over 3000, according to the order issued by the Thoubal administration. As per the order, the time limit has been imposed on the event because the venue is just beside and along the national highway and the traffic has to be diverted to alternate routes for that period. The administration also asserted that There shall be no anti-national or communal or any adverse slogan during the rally and the Yatra and if any law and order situation arose the gathering to be disassembled in order to maintain peace, public order and tranquillity in the area. Before the commencement of the Yatra, Rahul Gandhi is set to reach Thoubal at 11 am and visit the Khongjom War Memorial. 100 Lok Sabha Seats, 15 States in 67 Days Apart from Gandhi and party chief Kharge, other top Congress leaders are expected to participate in the outreach programme aiming to revive its electoral prospects following a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections. The Yatra will culminate in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. Besides Manipur, the yatra will cover four other northeastern states Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Assam. The marchers will then move on to West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra. The Yatra is set to spend the most amount of time in Uttar Pradesh, covering 1,074 km across 20 districts in 11 days, followed by eight days in Jharkhand, and seven days each in Assam, and Madhya Pradesh. The ambitious yatra of the Congress party will traverse 6,713 km, mostly on buses and also on foot, covering about 100 Lok Sabha seats and 337 assembly segments. Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad on Sunday said it was unfortunate colleague and former Union minister Milind Deora had quit the party on the day when the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra commences from strife-torn Manipur. Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole called it a ploy by the Bharatiya Janata Party to divert attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and mocked Deora as a twice defeated candidate. Former chief minister Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. In a video statement, Gaikwad urged the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP to reconsider his decision saying his family and the Congress family were one. It is unfortunate Deora chose to quit on a day when the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra starts from Manipur. I urge him to reconsider his decision. The Congress has always stood by him, she said. The Congress party and I are extremely sad at the development. The AICC in charge and I tried to hold a dialogue with Milind Deora (to impress upon him) that we are family and have to be together, said Gaikwad, an MLA from Mumbais Dharavi area. Former chief minister and Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat but the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) alliances understanding what that the sitting MP must not be disturbed. He could have got some other opportunity. But to quit is his call, Chavan told PTI. Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. The undivided Shiv Senas Arvind Sawant, now with the Thackeray faction, had defeated Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Speaking on the issue, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said the Bharatiya Janata Party is frightened with the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that is set to begin during the day. The BJP was spreading rumours that the Congress will split. Now the BJP and its allies are taking along with them a twice defeated candidate to divert attention from the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. This attempt will not be successful, he said. The yatra will conclude in Mumbai and will bring with it the end of the ruling alliance comprising the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the BJP and the Ajit Pawar faction of the Nationalist Congress Party, Patole asserted. In a post on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, earlier in the day Deora said, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my familys 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Speculation is rife in political circles over the past few days that he is likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday hit back at Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray over the latters statements on dynastic politics. Thackeray had asked people to end dynastic politics while addressing gatherings on his tour of Kalyan Lok Sabha seat, which is represented by Shindes son Shrikant Shinde, on Saturday. Thackeray had also said giving Shindes son a ticket was a mistake. Justifying his sons candidature, Shinde said, It was the requirement of the party in that period. The party was seeking a well-educated and young face to be fielded in the Lok Sabha election. It gave ticket to Shrikant and we won. Our partys tally increased. Shinde said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi was taking the country ahead rapidly, Thackerays chief ministership, between late 2019 and June 2022, had taken Maharashtra back by more than 10 years. Thats why we toppled his government. It is unfortunate several infrastructure projects were stopped only to satisfy ones ego, he claimed. Shinde said Thackerays allegations dont carry any value as the latter gets critical of institutions when a decision goes against him. Notably, Thackeray himself belongs to a political family, as his father Bal Thackeray was the founder of the Shiv Sena. Uddhav Thackerays son Aaditya was a minister in the previous state government. From seat-sharing to chai-biscuit, and now the famed muffler a lot seems to be happening in the Congress-AAP sync as part of the INDIA bloc. Or so it appears, if one goes by how their leaders have been dressing lately. One meeting in particular has sparked some serious sartorial/political humour. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge appeared with a muffler protecting his ears from the cold as he shook hands with the original Muffler Man, AAP boss Arvind Kejriwal. Even though the muffler seemed to have shifted from one leader to the other, the poor thing could not escape some biting jokes. Note, however, that when we call the muffler a poor thing here, it is not supposed to be literal. After all, it carried the Louis Vuitton logo all over though it was not clarified by either party, nor by the mirth makers, if it was an original or a knockoff. Aaj se tera muffler mera ho gaya pic.twitter.com/fAiNDiesGp Arun Arora (@Arun2981) January 13, 2024 In the past, however, Kejriwal has insisted that he ditched the muffler a long time ago. He used to have a chronic cough during Delhis biting cold for years, and would consistently protect his ears and head with a thick muffler, much like the working-class does every day. In fact, in 2019, he replied to a social media post saying: I had taken the muffler off a long time back. You didnt notice. It is very cold. You all take care. Iska muffler uske sar pic.twitter.com/Vc94igbPjF Aarohi Tripathy (@aarohi_vns) January 13, 2024 The AAP even turned it into political capital in the Delhi elections, highlighting how their leader is just another aam aadmi complete with baggy pants, maroon and blue sweaters with a hole here and there and, of course, the muffler. The slogan Muffler Man Returns was quite a thing after Kejriwal became CM a second time, having resigned after a 49-day debut stint. That stint was in partnership with the Congress, which ended in a huff as, lacking full majority, the AAP could not push its marquee anti-corruption legislation. Not to forget though that the meeting was not just about that one piece of clothing that caught many peoples attention. It carried significant political weight as the Congress and AAP are moving quickly now on deciding the contours of their partnership for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as part of the larger INDIA bloc. Delhi and Punjab, both states where the AAP is in power, remain key points of interest; particularly Punjab, where the Congress is the main opposition party locked in a constant grappling with the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government. In Delhi, too, where the Congress may not have much political capital in terms of seats as of now, it continues to have an anti-AAP stance at the local level. Reviving its presence at the grassroot level to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party is preparing cadre comprising people from the backward, Dalit and minorities at the booth level in Uttar Pradesh. The PDA cadre will include 10 people from the backward castes. The PDA acronym given by party president Akhilesh Yadav means Picchde (backwards), Dalits and Alpsankhyak (minorities) and the party feels that following the PDA agenda will help it in countering the BJP. We are preparing a PDA cadre at all the booths in the state. The process for the same has started and frontal organisations of the party are working on it. The plan is to including ten influential people of PDA on each booths in the state, a senior party leader told PTI. Once the cadre is ready, the party headquarters here will have all the details of the people in it and the can be utilised to spread the message of the party and also counter any propaganda against it, he said. This PDA cadre will be working along with the existing party structure in the district and is aimed at reaching backwards, Dalits and minorities and influence them to support the party. Dalits, backwards and minorities constitute around two-third of the Uttar Pradesh population. State president of the SP backward cell, Rajpal Kashyap told PTI, As state head of backward cell of the party I am organising training camps and holding meetings in different districts to strengthen the party reach among backwards till booth level. Names of the people (from backward community) are sought and we will strengthen organisation up to booth level, he said, adding the PDA strategy giving by the party president will be able to counter the BJP this year. Yadav, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, has been repeatedly saying in his public speeches that the PDA will beat NDA in 2024. Though Yadav has said that PDA also includes Agde (upper caste), Adhi Abadi (women) and Advasi (tribals), the partys main focus is on backwards, Dalits and minorities. Among backwards Yadav and Muslims are considered as the core vote bank of the party. For the PDA cadre, the party has also prepared a software in which details of booth level workers will be fed. This, the party feels will also help in gauging mood of the people at booth level by taking feedback from them at the grass root level and also about the winning prospects of prospective candidates. To strengthen the party organisation, the party has also made zone in-charges above booth, block and sector heads to monitor and carry on the party activities. In districts, the party has made a sector comprising 9-12 booths and a zone having seven-eight sectors. Uttar Pradesh has 80 Lok Sabha seats.In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party contested in alliance with the BSP and could get only five seats while the later got 10 Lok Sabha seats. The SP is part of opposition INDIA alliance that has been formed for the Lok Sabha polls. BT bosses are keen to harness satellite technology to improve mobile signals across the country - John Baker/Cover Images BT is in talks with Elon Musks Starlink over a satellite phone and broadband service that could help tackle the plague of so-called rural not spots. The telecoms giant is testing Starlink equipment at its Adastral Park research centre near Ipswich as it explores ways to deliver connections to hard-to-reach areas. Mr Musks company operates a network of roughly 5,000 satellites, which orbit 350 miles above the earth and beam down signals. BT has been mulling using the network for broadband services, but bosses are also keen to harness the technology to improve mobile signals. The former telecoms monopoly has previously signed adhoc deals with Mr Musks company outside the UK. However, no formal agreement has yet been reached in Britain. Should BT sign a direct to mobile deal with Starlink, it may need to secure a special licence from regulator Ofcom. Starlink operates a network of roughly 5,000 satellites, which orbit 350 miles above the earth and beam down signals - SpaceX/Rex The talks come amid doubts over the prospects for London-based satellite firm OneWeb, with which BT inked a partnership in 2021. OneWeb was handed a 400m bailout by the Government during the pandemic amid concerns China could seek to take control of the struggling business. It has since merged with French space company Eutelsat, but the value of the taxpayers stake has more than halved because of a slump in its share price. Starlink this week conducted its first successful test of the satellites to send and receive text messages with unmodified smartphones. Talks are currently focused on BTs business offering, allowing the company to deliver mobile and broadband services to remote sites such as oil rigs and mines. But the technology is also expected to be rolled out to consumers in an effort to plug gaps that traditional cables and masts cannot reach. The Government has teamed up with mobile operators on a 1bn plan to tackle rural not spots. However, the venture has suffered a major setback after The Telegraph last year revealed that Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2 have warned the first stage of the plan will be delayed by up to two years. Story continues The Government has teamed up with mobile operators on a 1bn plan to tackle rural not spots - Iain MacDonald/PA BT, which has more mobile masts than its rivals and is contributing to phase one separately, is understood to have hit the initial target of covering 88pc of the UKs landmass six months ahead of schedule. Satellite technology is growing in popularity as businesses and consumers look for solutions to connectivity issues. Starlink has been used widely by Ukrainian forces to provide battlefield communications in the war against Russia. Meanwhile, around 42,000 UK customers had connected to Starlinks network at the end of last year, a sharp increase from 13,000 in 2022, according to figures from Ofcom. Starlinks hardware, dubbed a terminal, can be purchased from around 450, while users pay a monthly charge of 75. Sources said Mr Musks company had been pushing for BT to sell terminals to its customers. However, it is understood the mobile network operator does not want to become a reseller and would rather use satellite technology to improve its own services. BT rival Virgin Media O2 has carried out Starlink trials at a remote rural location in Wales, but does not have an ongoing relationship with the company. Vodafone is trialling satellite services with Texas-based AST Space Mobile and Amazon. 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. Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said Manipur is not part of India for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP and RSS. During his opening remarks for the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, which began from Thoubal in the violence-hit state, he said he had never before witnessed such collapse of governance since he joined politics in 2004. #WATCH | Thoubal, Manipur: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, " I'm in politics since 2004 and for the first time I visited a place in India where the entire infrastructure of governance has collapsed. After 29th June, Manipur wasn't Manipur anymore, it got divided and hatred was pic.twitter.com/mp2aJg43DE ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2024 Attacking the prime minister for not visiting Manipur, Gandhi said Modi had not yet come here to wipe your tears and hold your hand. He added that Manipur has lost what it holds precious due to the BJPs politics. Im in politics since 2004 and for the first time I visited a place in India where the entire infrastructure of governance has collapsed. After June 29, Manipur wasnt Manipur anymore, it got divided and hatred was spread everywhere, lakhs of people suffered loss. People lost their loved ones in front of their eyes. And till now, the Indian PM has not come here to wipe your tears and hold your hand. It is a shameful thing. Maybe for PM Modi, BJP and RSS, Manipur is not a part of India he said while launching the yatra, which will cover more than 6,700 km in over 67 days, going through 110 districts and culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. The Congress has said the yatra is an ideological yatra and not an electoral one, and it was being taken out against the anyay kaal (period of injustice) of 10 years of the Narendra Modi-led central government. Gandhi further said the Congress understands the pain of the people of Manipur and will bring back harmony, peace and affection that the state has always been known for. You (people) have lost what you have valued but we will find what you have valued once again and bring it back to you. We understand the pain the people of Manipur have been through. We understand the hurt, the loss and the sadness you have been through. We promise you that we will bring back what you have valued, we will bring back the harmony, the peace, the affection that this state has always been known for, he said. He added: Manipur is a symbol of the BJPs politics, Manipur is a symbol of the hatred of BJP and RSS. Manipur is a symbol of the BJPs viewpoint and ideology Before he flagged it off, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the yatra was being taken out to save the Constitution, democracy and stop fascist forces. It is also to ensure employment, for farmers rights and against price rise. Rahul Gandhi has come to Manipur to share your pain, to talk about your problems, he said during the launch. He added: PM Modi comes to Manipur to ask for votes but when the people of Manipur are in trouble he doesnt show his face. Woh samandar ke upar sair karta phirta hai, aur baithe jagah jaap karte rehte hain Ram Ram. Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein chori, dont do this with the people everybody has faith in God but dont do this for votes these people (BJP) mix religion to provoke people. The Congress decided to opt for another venue in Thoubal after the state government had given the party conditional approval to flag off the yatra from the Palace Grounds in Imphal, restricting the number of participants. Though the grand old party has repeatedly stressed that this is not an electoral yatra, it comes at a crucial juncture as it seeks to revive its fortunes after a poor showing in the last round of assembly elections. With the BJP focusing on the January 22 Ram temple pran pratishtha, the Congress wants to put the spotlight on bread-and-butter issues through this yatra. (With PTI inputs) Milind Deora formally joined the Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Sunday, hours after he quit the Congress. His Paksh Pravesh took place at the Chief Ministers official residence Versha in the presence of Shinde and other senior party leaders. After resigning from Congresss primary membership, Deora said he was going on the path of development. I am going walking on the path of development, Deora said as he stepped out of his Ramalayam residence on Peddar Road with his wife Pooja to visit Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi to offer prayers. Believe in GAIN, Not PAIN Politics: Deora After joining Shindes Shiv Sena, Deora said he was loyal to the Congress during its most challenging decade but now it is different. I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since morning that why did I sever 55-year-old ties of my family with Congress partyI was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, todays Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and UBT given importance to constructive & positive suggestions and merit and capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldnt have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision, he added. I am really emotional today, ending association with CongressCong of 1960 & 2004 are very different, says Milind Deora after officially joining the Shinde Sena@kotakyesha with details | @Arunima24#ShivSena #Congress pic.twitter.com/udqGbQUQU1 News18 (@CNNnews18) January 14, 2024 The former minister went on to say that he believes in the politics of GAIN Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I dont believe in the politics of PAIN Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity, he said. No Terror Attack in Last 10 Yrs: Deora Deora further said a strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger todayI would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars, he added. Once among Rahul Gandhis closest aides, Deora ended his familys 55-year-old association with the Congress due to displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim over Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency, a seat he once represented. The move did not sit well with Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee. In a video statement last Sunday, he said that if such statements by an alliance partner dont stop, his party too can announce candidates for seats. Son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, Milind Deora had won Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He, however, faced defeat in the subsequent elections of 2014 and 2019 against the then Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawantwho is now one of the few Uddhav Thackeray loyalists. The seat was also held by the late Union Minister Murli Deora at least four times in the past, and was seen as a Congress stronghold in Mumbai for several years. Amid speculations over switching sides to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Milind Deora on Sunday said he is resigning from Congress, ending his familys 55-year-old relationship with the grand old party. Taking to X, Deora wrote, Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Indian National Congress, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party.I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their Milind Deora | (@milinddeora) January 14, 2024 Talking to the media over his resignation from Congress, Deora said, I am walking on the path of vikas (development). The resignation came a day after Deora, the ex-MP of Mumbai South, had dismissed rumours of his quitting the grand old party. He is likely to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena today. At least 10 former municipal corporators, 25 senior Congress functionaries, 20 top trader and merchant unions, and 400 party workers will also join Shiv Sena under Deoras leadership at Varsha today, sources said. Deora will formally join Shiv Sena at 2 pm, in the presence of Shinde and other senior party leaders, they added. However, Shinde has denied having any knowledge of Deora joining the party, and said, I am not aware that Milind Deora is joining, if he is, we welcome him. Why did Milind Deora Quit Congress? The reports of Deoras defection surfaced amid the rift between the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and their ally, the Congress, over the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has recently laid claim over the seat which Deora had previously represented. The move did not sit well with Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee. He expressed his displeasure in a video statement last Sunday and asserted that his familys representation of the seat spans 50 years and is not solely based on any particular wave of support. Son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, Milind Deora had won Lok Sabha elections from the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He, however, faced defeat in the subsequent elections of 2014 and 2019 against the then Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawantwho is now one of the few Uddhav Thackeray loyalists. The seat was also held by the late Union Minister Murli Deora at least four times in the past, and was seen as a Congress stronghold in Mumbai for several years. Amid the public rift over the seat sharing between Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, Eknath Shinde-led Sena faction Minister Uday Samant jumped into the fray, claiming that his party would welcome a leader of Milind Deoras capabilities if he wished to enter the ruling party. CM Eknath Shinde is working day and night for public weal. And if he gets the support of a leader like Milind Deora support, then the Shiv Sena can expand in Mumbai in a big way. He is welcome to join us by keeping Bal Thackerays ideals in front of him, Samant said. Deoras resignation came on the day when Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra the Congresss second large-scale outreach programme led by party leader Rahul Gandhi, is set to begin. Taking a jibe over timing, the BJP said Gandhi should start the Congress Jodo Yatra before Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra Rahul ji forget Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra and start Congress jodo yatra From Rajasthan to Himachal, from Karnataka to MP, etc Congress has become a merit-free zone. If you are a first family sychophant there is space for you or else you have to leave I left years ago because I could not be a naukar of the parivar and Darbaar too, said Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shehzad Poonawalla in a post on X. Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee took a dig over seat-sharing at its INDIA bloc ally Congress, after the results of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council elections in Assam were declared. Both parties contested the election for the first time, and the TMC got 12.40 percent of the votes whereas the Congress got 8.80 percent of the vote. Despite contesting NCHAC elections for the first time @AITC4Assam managed a higher vote share than INC the primary opposition. One might say their seat share aspirations in Bengal are akin to aiming for the stars when they couldnt quite grasp the ground in their own backyard! Abhishek tweeted late on Saturday (January 13). Party insiders said the TMC MP, through this tweet, made it clear that the Congress demanding more than five seats in West Bengal is not going to be entertained by the TMC. Not only that, the party has clearly showed that the Congress is weak in Assam and behind the TMC. The TMC was absent from the virtual meeting of the INDIA bloc held on Saturday. On the same day, state Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhury also hit the streets protesting against the Mamata Banerjee-led government. In such a situation, how long the TMC and Congress will go together in West Bengal is a big question. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has always said whoever is a strong force in the INDIA bloc should directly fight the BJP and, in Bengal, TMC insiders said they were capable of putting up that fight on their own terms. The West Bengal Congress also held an internal meeting on Saturday, and sources said the leaders once again stressed on how going with the TMC will be committing a political blunder. Sources, moreover, said Choudhury wants senior leader Rahul Gandhi to speak against the TMC when his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra stops over in Bengal. Mamata had given a deadline of December 31 for taking a final call on seat distribution, but the vital matter has slipped well into January with no decision in place. The alliance in West Bengal, however, was always to be questioned as historically, too, there is no love lost between the TMC and Congress. With Milind Deora announcing his exit from the Congress, only Sachin Pilot is left with Rahul Gandhi now. When Rahul Gandhi began his electoral politics in 2004, he was surrounded by what was called the Baba Brigade, who usually occupied the back benches and consisted of Sachin Pilot, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasad and Milind Deora. It seems the timing of Deoras exit couldnt have been worse. At a recent organisation reshuffle of the Congress, Deora was made joint treasurer. He has been closely involved with overseas programmes of Rahul Gandhi. On a day when Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra has begun in Manipur, this has given BJP ammo to attack Rahul Gandhi, where Amit Malviya has said first Rahul Gandhi needs to do Nyay to his party before going on the yatra. The Congress response has so far been restrained given the fact that Deoras father Murli had been close to Gandhis. The task of the two-time MP from South Mumbai was to ensure Congress holds on to urban areas where BJP made inroads. Will Deoras exit cast a shadow over Rahul Gandhis ability to keep the young talent together? Many like Scindia, Jitin Prasad and RPN Singh have criticised the Congress leadership for not giving space to them, with Rahul Gandhi being surrounded by a coterie, which had made him live in an ivory tower completely detached from what is going wrong in the party. While Sachin Pilot has so far hung on but the Congress dithering over the Rajasthan Chief Ministership may not bode well on his future as well. But for now, Deoras exit has made the party, which wants to go in for yet another makeover for Rahul Gandhi, looks bad. When Gandhi took charge of the Youth Congress, he pushed for a generational shift which never happened. Many disillusioned young leaders kept complaining that the seniors would not give them a chance or cede space. Deora after repeated defeats had made this point too. He had given up his charge as Mumbai Congress chief to make space for Sanjay Nirupam then. Recently, Deora was upset with the seat-sharing talks of INDIA bloc when Sanjay Raut had trashed the Congress. With his father having good equations with the Gandhis and across the party, Milind Deora has ensured this legacy continues. This is when he had come in handy for the Congress. The two-time MP from Mumbai South may now enter the Lok Sabha again if he wins on the Shiv Sena ticket. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is seen as showcasing the new Rahul Gandhi after the exit of one of his closest aides Milind Deora. The opposition in Maharashtra on Sunday attacked Union Minister Narayan Rane for his comments on the Shankaracharyas and sought his dismissal from the Narendra Modi government and an apology from the BJP. Speaking to reporters on Saturday in Palghar, Rane had said the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ram Temple instead of criticising some aspects and accused them of looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a political prism. No one could do it until now. Modi, BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Ram is our God, Rane said. Shankaracharyas should tell what is their contribution to the Hindu religion, he had said. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Rane had insulted Hinduism by questioning the contribution of the Shankaracharyas. The BJP must apologise before January 22 (when the idol consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple will take place in Ayodhya). The BJP must apologise to the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must sack Rane from the Union cabinet, Raut said. Supriya Sule, working president of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party said it was for the BJP to respond on Ranes comments. Meanwhile, Congress workers held protests at the party office in Mumbai against Rane. On Friday, VHP working president Alok Kumar said two of the four Shankaracharyas have openly welcomed the upcoming consecration ceremony, but none of them would attend the grand event to be held in Ayodhya on January 22. They will visit the Ram temple later as per their convenience, he told PTI. The opposition parties have been targeting the BJP over reports of respective Shankaracharyas of Shri Shringeri Sharda Peeth Karnataka, Dwarka Sharda Peeth in Gujarat, Jyotir Peeth in Uttarakhand and Govardhan Peeth in Odisha deciding not to attend the consecration ceremony. Jyotirpeeth Sankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had reportedly said it would not be right to perform a consecration ceremony at this stage as the construction is yet to be completed. The Government of India will soon introduce amendments to the Information Technology (IT) Rules to address the issue of deepfakes, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar told representatives of social media companies in a recent meeting. The move will have significant political impact ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Deepfakes can be used to create intimate or embarrassing content depicting individuals, leading to emotional distress and social harm. Regulations will help curb the spread of such harmful content and protect individuals from being manipulated or targeted. Using artificial intelligence tools, deepfakes can also be abused to create misleading political content, such as fabricating speeches or manipulating videos of candidates to influence voters and undermine trust in the electoral process. Recognizing the implications of these challenges, the implementation of such regulations could provide assurance to voters, ensuring fair and transparent elections by mitigating the risk of such content surfacing online prior to and during electoral processes. On Thursday, Rajeev Chandrasekhar met representatives from Meta, Google/YouTube, ShareChat, Snapchat and Jio, as well as, various ministries and the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Chandrasekhar reportedly highlighted the governments proactive approach in dealing with deepfakes, citing previous meetings held between the ministry and industry representatives in November and December. He mentioned two advisories and two letters sent by the government to urge social media companies to take more robust measures against deepfake content. The minister also assured them that the government would follow due process and notify the changes to the IT Rules within the next seven to 10 days. In November, Union Minister for Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw engaged with industry stakeholders to deliberate on the formulation of regulations specifically addressing such online content. Among the measures considered during the discussion was incorporating watermarking on AI-generated content or implementing a labelling system. He then specified that there will be four pillars based on which the regulations will be established. These are the detection of deepfakes, how to prevent them (before posting, before going viral), strengthening the reporting mechanism and how to increase awareness among people. Sipping on a drink with refreshing ice cubes is a universal pleasure that invigorates the soul. However, in Dubai, you can anticipate an extra touch of indulgence. In a one-of-a-kind venture that brings a touch of the Arctic to the desert city, people can enjoy their drinks with a special twist ice that has been around for 100,000 years. This extraordinary offering is made possible by Arctic Ice, a Greenland-based company that harvests glacial ice that has broken away from ancient glaciers and transports it to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Launched in 2022, Arctic Ice recently dispatched its first shipment of 20 metric tonnes of this millennia-old ice to exclusive bars in Dubai. A video posted on the companys Instagram account sheds light on the entire process, stating that the ice, originally destined to melt into the ocean, is now transported to Dubai while still in its frozen state. Take a look at the video here: Malik V Rasmussen, co-founder of Arctic Ice, shares in the video that this ice is the purest you will ever taste. As per the companys official website, Arctic Ice is sourced directly from the untouched glaciers of the Arctic, where it has remained in a frozen state for a period exceeding 100,000 years. These specific portions of the ice sheets have maintained their purity, untouched by contact with soils or contamination from pollutants generated by human activities. This makes Arctic Ice the cleanest H2O on Earth, it added. What sets this ancient ice apart is its unique characteristics. In Greenland, the use of glacial ice in beverages is commonplace, but attempts to export it have been unsuccessful until now, according to the report by the Guardian. Rasmussen explained to the news outlet that the ice, compressed over millennia, is devoid of bubbles and melts more slowly than regular ice. Additionally, it is purer than the frozen mineral water typically used in Dubais ice cubes. However, the venture has not been without controversy. Social media users argue that harvesting ancient glacier ice for consumption raises environmental concerns. Furthermore, questions have been raised about whether the company should be more focused on addressing the impacts of global warming rather than commercialising glacier water. Some have even labelled the venture as a glimpse into a dystopian future. In response to the criticism, Arctic Ice asserts that its practices are environmentally friendly. They specifically seek ice that has broken off glaciers and has not come into contact with the bottom or top of the glacier. Rasmussen sees this idea as not only offering a unique product but also as a potential economic boon for Greenland. Acknowledging that the region traditionally relies on income from fishing and tourism, he expressed a desire to diversify revenue streams, stating, For a long time, I have wanted to find something else that we can profit from, the Guardian report suggests. Faced with a disconcerting housing crisis, the Canadian government is mulling a cap on the number of international students. In an interview with CTV News, Minister for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Marc Miller expressed concern about the current volume of around 900,000 international students. Miller argued that this is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial wings to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis. That volume is disconcerting, Miller said about the number of international students in Canada. Its really a system that has gotten out of control. A system that has gotten out of control: Immigration minister to consider cap on international students in Canada https://t.co/KZYOWetJhe CTV News (@CTVNews) January 13, 2024 Popular study destination Canada is a popular destination for students since it is relatively easy to obtain a work permit. It relies on immigration to fuel its economy and assist an aging population. However, the surge in migrants and international students is held responsible for the housing crisis, intensifying the growing demand for homes. The government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants while the country faces an acute housing shortage. The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026, according to CTV News. Temporary residents, mainly consisting of international students and migrant workers, make up another aspect of the scenario. According to The Globe and Mail, official data show there were more than 800,000 foreign students with active visas in 2022, up from 275,000 in 2012. Last August, the Liberal government for the first time floated the idea of capping the number of foreign student visas. A few months later in December, Canada introduced significant reforms to its study permit requirements. The changes include a sizable increase in the cost-of-living financial requirement for study permit applicants. Indian Students A significant number of international students in Canada hail from India, as per data from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). By the end of November last year, they constituted 215,910 out of the total 579,075, making up over 37%. Nearly half of the 32,000 tech workers who moved to Canada between April of 2022 and March of 2023 originated from India, according to a recent report by the Technology Councils of North America. India reportedly has been the largest source country for international students since 2018. Notably, the share of the Sikh population has more than doubled in the country in the past two decades as a large number of people have migrated from India in search of higher education and jobs. But increasing financial requirements and a cap on international students may result in a shift in this trend. Reverse Immigration? In the first half of 2023, 42,000 people left Canada, adding to the 93,818 departures in 2022 and the 85,927 exits in 2021, according to official data. The rate of immigrants leaving Canada hit a two-decade high in 2019, according to a recent report titled The Leaky Bucket from the Institute for Canadian Citizenship (ICC). Immigrants blame the skyrocketing housing costs as the biggest reason for their decision to consider a new country. While the fairy tale of Canada as a land of opportunity still holds for many newcomers, this study points to burgeoning disillusionment. After giving Canada a try, growing numbers of immigrants are saying no thanks, and moving on. In that sense, these findings are about so much more than immigration. They offer a reflection on the state of our entire society, affecting all of us, said Daniel Bernhard, CEO of ICC in a report released on Oct 31. For Canada to prosper, we must make our society as attractive as possible to people from around the world whose skills, perspectives, and contributions make all the difference to our future. This is a matter of vital national interest. Because when newcomers succeed, Canada succeeds, he added. Five personnel were killed during an exchange of fire with terrorists in Balochistan province of southwestern Pakistan, the countrys military media wing said. The security forces conducted an operation in the Buleda area of Kech District when terrorists exploded an Improvised Explosive Device on a security forces vehicle, triggering an intense fire exchange, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The security personnel immediately responded to the fire and effectively engaged the terrorists, killing three of them. However, five soldiers were left dead during the operation. Sanitization operations are being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. Earlier this week, a dozen armed militants attacked a police checkpoint on a northwestern highway, killing three police officers and a civilian before fleeing the scene. The attack took place in Kohat, a district in the restive Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. In another incident, two soldiers and two militants were killed in an exchange of fire in Khybers Lakki Marwat this week. The slain militants were from the Pakistani Taliban who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP. They are a separate group but allied with the Afghan Taliban, who took over Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO forces from the country. The takeover emboldened the TTP, who often carry out attacks near the Afghan border and elsewhere in the country. These frequent clashes come as the TTP has extended its influence southward into Balochistan in the past two years. This expansion, coupled with persistent assaults on Pakistani security forces, led to Pakistan declaring a comprehensive nationwide offensive in April last year aimed at eliminating the militants. (With agency inputs) Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Capitol Health implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price The top 8 shareholders own 52% of the company Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock If you want to know who really controls Capitol Health Limited (ASX:CAJ), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 56% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Capitol Health. View our latest analysis for Capitol Health ASX:CAJ Ownership Breakdown January 14th 2024 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Capitol Health? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. We can see that Capitol Health does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. It is not uncommon to see a big share price drop if two large institutional investors try to sell out of a stock at the same time. So it is worth checking the past earnings trajectory of Capitol Health, (below). Of course, keep in mind that there are other factors to consider, too. ASX:CAJ Earnings and Revenue Growth January 14th 2024 Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in Capitol Health. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is Australian Ethical Investment Limited with 10% of shares outstanding. Wilson Asset Management (International) Pty Ltd. is the second largest shareholder owning 9.8% of common stock, and 1851 Capital Pty Ltd holds about 7.0% of the company stock. Story continues On further inspection, we found that more than half the company's shares are owned by the top 8 shareholders, suggesting that the interests of the larger shareholders are balanced out to an extent by the smaller ones. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future. Insider Ownership Of Capitol Health While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. We can report that insiders do own shares in Capitol Health Limited. It has a market capitalization of just AU$255m, and insiders have AU$15m worth of shares, in their own names. This shows at least some alignment, but we usually like to see larger insider holdings. You can click here to see if those insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 30% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Public Company Ownership Public companies currently own 5.7% of Capitol Health stock. It's hard to say for sure but this suggests they have entwined business interests. This might be a strategic stake, so it's worth watching this space for changes in ownership. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Capitol Health better, we need to consider many other factors. For example, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Capitol Health that you should be aware of before investing here. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The United Nations on Saturday said that the Israel-Hamas war was staining humanity on the eve of its 100th day as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu doubled down on the countrys pledge to defeat Hamas. The Middle East conflict has unleashed a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and fears of a regional escalation intensified after US and allied forces struck Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday following attacks on Red Sea shipping. Meanwhile, the families of hostages held in Gaza kicked off a rally in Tel Aviv Saturday night, calling on the Israeli government to bring their loved ones home after 100 days spent in captivity. Hamas and other Gaza militants captured some 250 people during its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, while killing some 1,200 other people. More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 remain held in Gaza including the remains of about two dozen who died or were killed. Following is a timeline of the war in the Middle East that prompted a fierce Israeli military campaign in which almost 24,000 Palestinians have been killed. Oct. 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen storm into southern Israel from Gaza and rampage through communities, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and retaliatory airstrikes on densely populated Gaza begin, along with a total siege of the coastal enclave, which is squeezed between Israel and Egypt. Oct. 8: Lebanons Hezbollah, like Hamas an Iranian ally, begins cross-border shelling attacks against Israel that will continue throughout the war, drawing Israeli counter-strikes. Oct. 13: Israel tells residents of Gaza City, where more than 1 million of the enclaves 2.3 million people live, to evacuate and move south. Over the course of the next weeks, Israel will push for the evacuation of the entire north. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans will flee their homes, beginning a process that will soon uproot nearly the entire population of the Gaza Strip, with families often forced to flee several times as Israeli forces advance. Oct. 17: An explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza City triggers outrage in the Arab world. Palestinians say hundreds died and blame the blast on an Israeli airstrike; Israel says it was caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, an assertion later backed by Washington. The blast overshadows a visit the following day to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden, whose planned summit with Arab leaders is called off. In Israel, Biden gives full support to its right to defend itself but also tells Israelis not to be blinded by their anger. Oct. 19: A U.S. navy warship intercepts missiles and drones launched from Yemen over the Red Sea in the direction of Israel. Yemens Houthi group, like Hamas an Iranian ally, will continue sporadic long-range attacks on Israel and against Red Sea shipping in what is describes as solidarity with Gaza. Oct. 21: Aid trucks are allowed through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza after days of diplomatic wrangling. It is only a small fraction of what is required in Gaza, where food, water, medicines and fuel are running out. The issue of securing adequate supplies through Israels blockade persists through coming months as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Oct. 27: A week after mounting limited incursions, Israel launches a broad ground offensive in Gaza, beginning with an assault on the north, vowing to free all its hostages and eradicate Hamas. Oct. 31: Fifteen Israeli soldiers are killed in Gaza fighting the militarys biggest single-day losses of the war. Nov. 1: Evacuations begin from Gaza through the Rafah crossing for an estimated 7,000 foreign passport-holders, dual nationals and their dependents, and people needing urgent medical treatment. The overwhelming majority of Gaza residents still have no way out of the enclave. Nov. 9: Israel says a drone launched from Syrian territory hit its southern city of Eilat. The next day, the Israeli military said it attacked the militia responsible. Israel will later say Syria is among new fronts in the expanding Gaza war. Nov. 15: Israeli troops enter Gazas biggest hospital, Al Shifa in Gaza City, after a siege of several days during which medical staff say patients including newborn babies died from a lack of power and supplies. The Israelis say the hospital had been used to conceal an underground headquarters for Hamas fighters, which staff deny. The military later takes media on a tour of a tunnel there. Within a few more weeks, all hospitals serving the northern half of Gaza will have ceased functioning. Nov. 21: Israel and Hamas announce the first truce of the war: an agreement to pause fighting for four days to exchange women and children hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian women and teenagers detained or jailed by Israel on security grounds, and allow in more aid. The ceasefire would eventually be extended for a week in total, freeing 105 hostages and about 240 Palestinian detainees, before it collapses and war resumes on Dec. 1. Around Dec. 4: Days after the truce expires, Israeli forces launch their first big ground assault in southern Gaza, on the outskirts of the main southern city, Khan Younis. International organisations say the next phase of the war, which extends the military campaign from the north to the entire length of the enclave including areas already sheltering hundreds of thousands of displaced people, will drastically worsen the humanitarian situation. Dec. 12: Biden says Israels indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is costing it international support, a clear shift in rhetoric from Israels closest ally, the United States. Over the coming weeks, several senior U.S. officials visit Israel, urging it to do more to protect civilians, scale down the war, and shift to a more targeted campaign against Hamas leaders. Dec. 15: Israeli forces mistakenly kill three hostages in Gaza. The incident leads to some of the most pronounced criticism of the conduct of the war within Israel, although the campaign still has widespread domestic support. Dec. 22: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed militia, says it launched a long-range attack on Israel. Israel reports no impact. Israels defence minister later says Iraq is among regional fronts to which the Gaza war has expanded. Around Dec. 26: Israeli forces launch a major ground assault on areas in the central Gaza Strip, preceded by a campaign of airstrikes that again sends hundreds of thousands of people to flight, most of them already displaced. From Jan. 1, 2024: Israel signals it will start withdrawing some troops from Gaza in a more targeted new phase of its campaign that it says will last for many months. Officials say this transition in tactics will begin in the north of Gaza, while intense fighting continues in southern areas. Jan. 11: U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch dozens of airstrikes across Yemen in retaliation against Houthi forces for their attacks on Red Sea shipping. The United States carries out another strike in Yemen the following day. The Houthis say five of their fighters were killed in the initial strikes, and that they will retaliate and continue their attacks on shipping. Jan. 12, the International Court of Justice hears opening statements in a case in which South Africa accuses Israel of committing a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population. Israel denies the accusation. (With inputs from Reuters) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankars two-day visit to Iran begins on Sunday as part of the ongoing high-level exchanges between the two strategic partners. Indias relations with Iran are historical and New Delhi considers the West Asian country an important partner and a close neighbour. In a statement released on Saturday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar will meet Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and hold discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues. The MEA said political cooperation, connectivity initiatives and strong people-to-people ties will constitute important aspects of the agenda of the talks between Jaishankar and Amir-Abdollahian. Red Sea Attacks Jaishankars planned visit to Tehran comes in the wake of increasing concerns over Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The US and the UK have already launched air strikes targeting the Houthi positions in Yemen. India has been closely monitoring the unfolding situation in the Red Sea. The issue figured in a phone conversation between Jaishankar and US State Secretary Antony Blinken on Thursday. Read More: US, Allies Conduct Airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen; Biden Says Will Not Hesitate to Order Further Action During Thursdays conversation, Blinken voiced concerns shared by India over reckless Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Secretary emphasised the Red Sea is a major commercial corridor that facilitates international trade and welcomed increased cooperation with India in defending freedom of navigation in the region, the State Department said in a statement that stressed that the attacks threaten the free flow of commerce, endanger innocent mariners, and violate international law. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has already enhanced the deployment of its frontline ships and surveillance aircraft for maritime security operations given the maritime environment in the critical sea lanes including the North and Central Arabian Sea. Following the airstrikes targeting the Houthi positions, US President Joe Biden said he will not hesitate to direct further measures. Read More: Who Are the Houthis and Why Are They Targeting Ships Transiting Red Sea? Chabahar port Jaishankar and Amir-Abdollahian are also likely to deliberate on boosting regional connectivity through the Chabahar port. Located in Sistan-Balochistan province on the energy-rich Irans southern coast, the Chabahar port is being developed by India and Iran to boost connectivity and trade ties. India has been pushing for the Chabahar port project to boost regional trade, especially for its connectivity to Afghanistan. At a connectivity conference in Tashkent in 2021, Jaishankar projected the Chabahar port as a key regional transit hub, including to Afghanistan. The Chabahar port is also seen as a key hub for the INSTC project. The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a 7,200-km-long multi-mode transport project for moving freight among India, Iran, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Central Asia and Europe. Foreign Office Consultations The last high-level meeting between the two sides took place when Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra visited Tehran in November to co-chair a meeting of India-Iran Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) along with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Ali Bagheri Kani. During that visit, the two sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relationship, including connectivity projects such as Chabahar port, political engagements, economic matters, people-to-people ties, and capacity-building initiatives. They also exchanged views on current regional and global issues, including developments in Afghanistan and Gaza. The Indian side appreciated Irans participation in the Voice of Global South Summits held last year. (With agency inputs) Amid a low-key diplomatic row, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15. This comes days after Muizzus high-profile state visit to China. According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. In a press briefing, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the Presidents Office, said that President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15, the SunOnline newspaper reported. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration," he added. A high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male on Sunday morning. The meeting was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said. Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15. Finding Mutually Workable Solution to Enable Continued Op of Indian Aviation Platforms: MEA Indias External Affairs Ministry said both sides held discussions on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects. Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives. It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the High Level Core Group in India on a mutually convenient date," it added. Operation Cactus: What Was the Military Intervention by All 3 Indian Forces to Protect Maldives in 1988? Muizzus Pro-China Approach Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. The request for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel comes amid a row between the two nations in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third. During his just-concluded state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Speaking to the press on Saturday after returning from China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India. Without naming any country, he said, We may be small, but that doesnt give you the license to bully us. He also announced plans to reduce the countrys dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries. We arent in anyones backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state," he said, addressing the reporters gathered at the Velana International Airport. He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size. He vowed that he would not allow any external influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives. Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government here. (With PTI inputs) Pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has secured a landslide victory in the capital Males Mayoral election. On Saturday, the MDP candidate, Adam Azim, was elected as the new mayor of Male. Local media reported Azims win as a landslide and victory by a large margin, in what is being seen as a setback to President Mohamed Muizzu, who resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. With 41 boxes counted, Azim has taken a huge lead with 5,303 votes. His rival Aishath Azima Shakoor of Muizzus Peoples National Congress (PNC) got 3,301 votes, Maldives Sun Online news portal reported. The poll was marked by a low turnout, according to reports. The Mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority in the Parliament. Muizzu returned to Male on Saturday after a five-day state visit to China. During the visit, Beijing promised to support Males efforts to maintain national sovereignty and opposed external interference in the Indian Ocean archipelagos internal affairs. Read More: Maldives Upgrades Relations with China as India Ties Take a Hit Over Lakshadweep Row The Mayoral polls were held in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading to a diplomatic row with India. During his high-profile visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third in the list. Read More: No One Has License to: Maldives Prez Muizzus First Reaction Amid Row with India Maldives President on Saturday said that his countrys small size doesnt give anyone the license to bully it, in a sign of defiance toward India, the archipelago states giant neighbour. Muizzu, speaking to the media on his return from Indias regional rival China, said the Maldives is not in any countrys backyard and that the Indian Ocean does not belong to a single country a reference to a recent tiff between India and Maldives. We may be small but that doesnt give you the license to bully us, Muizzu concluded in English, having made his statement in the native Dhivehi language. He was elected president last November on an India Out platform promising to remove some Indian military personnel stationed in the island nation. (With agency inputs) Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu may have asked India to withdraw its military troops from his country, but Indias intervention in the 1988 coup attempt in Male has not been forgotten. Albeit in the middle of a diplomatic row that was triggered by social media, people fondly remember Operation Cactus even 35 years down the line. Across party lines in the Maldives, they dont criticise this operation. They will mention other issues that they have with India, but not this, Dr Gulbin Sultana, a Maldives expert, told The Indian Express in 2021. The India Out campaign in the Maldives gained momentum only in the last decade. However, Muizzus closeness to China and his latest move to remove Indias military will only add to the growing list of peoples grievances against the country. What was the 1988 Maldives coup detat attempt? In November 1988, a group of Maldivians led by businessman Abdullah Luthufi attempted a coup to overthrow the Maumoon Abdul Gayoom-led government. They were aided by Sri Lankas Peoples Libertation of Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), a Tamil secessionist group. It was, however, thwarted with Indias assistance codenamed Operation Cactus. At least 80 PLOTE mercenaries came to Male early on November 3, 1988 aboard a hijacked Sri Lankan freighter. They captured key infrastructure such as airports, ports, television and radio stations. And then made their way towards the Presidential Palace. Amid all of this, however, Gayoom was escorted to a safe house. While this resulted in a failure to capture the president, the mercenaries started taking hostages, among them government ministers. What was Operation Cactus? It was not the first time there were such attempts against Gayooms presidency. In fact, there were two before this in 1980 and 1983 due to political instability and economic crisis. But, they were not considered serious enough. But, the third one managed to raise an alarm following which the island nation requested India to intervene. According to a report published by India Today, on November 3, 1988, then chief of army staff General VN Sharma got a phone call from the foreign service officer at the prime ministers office. There is an emergency at the Maldives Islands, Sir. The capital, Male Island, has been taken over last night by some 100-200 terrorists apparently from Sri Lanka; President Gayoom is in hiding in a civil home, his headquarters palace and the security services headquarters have been captured and a number of his ministers taken hostage. We have an SOS for immediate help, on a tenuous satellite phone from their tourism ministers house. We are trying to hustle the NSG (National Security Guard) for this task, but can the army help? Ronen Sen told General Sharma over the call, as quoted in the report. Of course we can help, Ronen. We will start working on it right away. You better hold onto that communication channel all day. When can we brief the PM at the Operations Room? General Sharma replied. Operation Cactus was one of the few missions by India that had the elaborate involvement of all the three armed forces army, navy and air force. Two hostages were among 19 people killed during the operation, which began on November 3, 1988. The rest of the casualties were mercenaries. The operation was considered to be successful in averting a major political crisis in the Indian Ocean Region. An Ilyushin-76 transport aircraft airlifted a detachment of the 50th Independent Parachute Brigade, 6th Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and the 17th Parachute Field Regiment under the command of Brigadier Farooq Balsara. Detachments flew in from Agra and landed at the Male international airport on Hulhule Island. Indian paratroopers secured the airfield and crossed over to Male in boats, following which ensued a lengthy firefight with PLOTE mercenaries. Indian troops were able to secure the capital while the Indian Navys INS Godavari and INS Betwa intercepted the hijacked freighter that brought the mercenaries to the Sri Lankan coast. But, as the warships closed in, the mercenaries dragged two hostages to the bridge and blew their heads away. Their bodies were strapped with lifebuoys and thrown into the sea to deter the navy, as per a 2012 India Today article. Why did Gayoom take Indias assistance? It was New Delhi that came to the aid of Gayoom, who was refused by nearby countries such as Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Singapore. They all cited lack of military capabilities while the US offered its help but said it would take two to three days to reach the island. Soon after that, Gayoom spoke to then British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and, on her advice, asked India for help. She told him that the her countrys navy was too far away to provide meaningful assistance. His request to India was accepted following an emergency meeting in the national capital. Led by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, all the three forces came together to set into motion Indias coordinated military operation. President Joe Biden on Saturday said that the United States does not support the independence of Taiwan after Taiwanese voters gave the ant-China ruling party a third presidential term. This remark came less than a day after the Taiwanese ruling Democratic Progressive Partys (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te came to power. We do not support independence Biden said when asked about Saturdays elections. Hours ahead of the polls opening, Washington had warned it would be unacceptable for any country to interfere in the election. Taiwan, a neighbouring island China claims as its own, has been a democratic success story since holding its first direct presidential election in 1996, the culmination of decades of struggle against authoritarian rule and martial law. Washington is Taipeis s most important backer and arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties with the island. One China policy State Secretary Antony Blinken congratulated Lai Ching-te on his victory and said the United States is committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure. In a statement released by the State Department, he said the US looks forward to working with Lai and leaders of all parties in Taiwan to advance their longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the US one-China policy. The Biden administration has feared that the election, transition and new administration would escalate conflict with Beijing. Biden has worked to smooth relations with China, including agreeing to talk through differences on security matters at a California summit with President Xi Jinping in November. Taiwans government expects China to attempt to put pressure on its incoming president after the vote, including staging military maneuvers near the island this spring, two senior government officials said. China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. Meanwhile, Biden plans to dispatch an unofficial delegation to the self-governed island, according to a senior Biden administration official. The delegation is likely to include some former high-ranking American officials, according to the official, who said the names have not been finalised. Similar delegations have been sent to Taiwan in the past. China was angered in 2016 when then-President-elect Donald Trump spoke by phone with President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, the first such conversation between US and Taiwan leaders since President Jimmy Carter switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. (With agency inputs) China might have problems with its economy, but as an exporter of affordable electric vehicles, its on a tear. Now, investigators from the European Commission will visit Chinese EV makers as part of a probe into whether they have an unfair advantage thanks to government subsidies. In the coming weeks, the EU investigators will visit BYD, Geely, and SAIC, according to Reuters. Their visits will help determine whether the EU imposes higher tariffs to protect European carmakers. BYD recently overtook Elon Musks Tesla as the global leader in sales of electric vehicles. Backed by Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, the carmaker keeps its costs low partly by owning the entire supply chain of its EV batteries, significant since a battery accounts for roughly 40% of an electric vehicles price. But as the existence of the EUs anti-subsidy investigation suggests, many worry theres more than supply-chain efficiencies behind the low prices of Chinese EVs. The visits promise to be central to the EU probe, announced in September and set to run for 13 months. Chinese EVs 'distorting our market' Their price is kept artificially low by huge state subsidies. This is distorting our market, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in September of Chinese EVs. And as we do not accept this distortion from the inside in our market, we do not accept this from the outside. Earlier this month, Beijing, in what appeared to be a tit-for-tat move, launched an anti-dumping probe into brandy imported from the EU, sending shares of Frances Remy Cointreau and Pernod Ricard tumbling. The move, which might be the first of many, appeared to be aimed at France, which has pushed for the EV investigation. An Allianz Trade report last year said that Chinas EV makers pose a significant threat to Europes carmakers, particularly the "automotive-dependent economies of Germany, Slovakia and Czech Republic. The report called for higher tariffs on Chinese EVs, estimating they could cost Europes carmakers 7 billion euros a year in lost profits by 2030. Story continues In the EU, Chinese-made EVs typically sell for 20% less than those made in the bloc, and their share of the EV market, which has grown to 8%, could reach 15% by 2025, according to Reuters. No one can match BYD on price. Period, Michael Dunne, CEO of Asia-focused car consultancy Dunne Insights, told the Financial Times earlier this month. Boardrooms in America, Europe, Korea, and Japan are in a state of shock. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has gone from laughing about the quality of BYD cars in 2011 to suggesting recently that Chinese companies will emerge as dominant players in the global automotive industry. In the EU, Chinese EV makers face 10% tariffs, versus 27.5% in the U.S. Thats encouraged them to target Europe as their home market gets increasingly crowded, although theyre also growing in Southeast Asia, Mexico, Australia, and elsewhere. Indeed, China has recently overtaken Japan as the worlds largest car exporter. This month, BYDs first chartered cargo shipdubbed the BYD Explorer No. 1embarked on its maiden voyage. Capable of carrying 7,000 cars, its destination is, predictably, Europe. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com battling cholera inChiredzi Motley scenes have characterised the story of villagers in the communal lands of Chiweshe, from the smell of death, panic to mixed episodes of hope, strength and ultimate victory over the life-threatening water-borne disease, cholera. Located some 100km away, north of Harare in the province of Mashonaland Central is Dambo village which headlined news last week after it became an epicentre of the infectious bacteria following the outbreak of cholera after villagers attended a confirmed cholera death that occurred in the area. Chiweshe which is famed for its farming prowess, rich soils and favourable agriculture climatic conditions became the victim of the cholera epidemic which has so far spread in many parts of the province with Tsungubvi in Glendale town having been designated the hotspot. Socialised by cultural codes and traditional values of Ubuntuism, it is the norm for villagers that each time one of theirs dies, they all gather to mourn with the bereaved friends and family of the deceased, for them it is unheard of that people cannot be allowed to gather for a funeral. This was the case in Dambo village where mourners who attended the funeral of village head Sabhuku Kodzwa, born Gift Nyariri, could not believe that he had succumbed to cholera and continued the funeral without heeding guideline protocols invoked by health workers for cholera related deaths. Narrating the ordeal on how the outbreak begun, ward 13 councillor Cde Edward Mutyavaviri who escaped death by a whisker following a two-day fight with cholera confirmed the shocking attack that left the people of Dambo and Kanyemba hospitalised and one dead. When the now late Sabhuku Kodzwa fell ill, he was brought here at Dambo clinic where he only revealed that he had fallen while at home, he was then treated and sent back home. By then, no one had suspected that it could be cholera until he succumbed few days later after complaining of diarrhea and headaches. Tests conducted later revealed that he had succumbed to cholera, making it the first communal confirmed cholera death. Whilst at the funeral, local health workers made efforts to alert mourners that the deceased had succumbed to cholera and there was a real risk of contracting the bacteria, however many people could not believe that such a bacteria associated with urban set-ups could visit our remote areas, hence the warnings fell on deaf ears until a few days later when villagers started complaining of headaches, running stomach. Thereafter tests were conducted and confirmed that cholera had struck us. I was also among the confirmed cases as I fought to recovery for days, explained Clr Mutyavaviri. Following the funeral many cases were recorded within 48 hours making Dambo clinic the second critical epicentre in the province after Tsungubvi in Glendale town. Amidst panic, horror and death, the local leadership in unity with the health workers displayed a great commitment by answering the call of duty through swift interventions that set the stage for a fight against the epidemic, stopping it from spreading to many parts of the communal areas. The state of preparedness by the Ministry of Health and Child Care in Mazowe District was a masterstroke in mitigating the threat posed by this disaster to about 26 villages in the ward area. Following positive results of cholera on tested patients, we had 19 people admitted on the first day and that is when we established that more cases from the funeral were coming, so we quickly declared Damba a cholera camp and called in assistance to support the human resources capacity at this place, said district medical officer Dr Kudzai Chisenwa. At the peak we recorded 20 cases overnight, the situation was bad as we lost another admitted patient, however our health personnel have been on the ground disinfecting homes and vehicles as well as conducting awareness campaigns and since Friday we are witnessing a commendable recovery as well as a decrease in the number of patients being admitted. Dr Chisenwa further revealed that as of Sunday, Dambo had 77 cumulative cases with 66 having been treated and discharged, adding that despite being out of the woods, the community must remain alert. A stakeholder meeting that was held last week Thursday revealed that interventions by various departments had contributed to the stabilising of the cases at Dambo as more pillars were put in places by the Ministry of Health and Child Care to contain the spread of diseases. Among major contributing factors was the capacitation of the camp by critical requisites that were provided among them, including food, blankets, buckets, medicines and a range of paraphernalia that saw health workers on the line of duty efficiently dealing with confirmed cases. From day one we have been running around to provide all the needed items for both the health staffers and the admitted patients, at the same time conscientising the community, it was imperative for us as local leaders to intervene timeously, guided by our medical personnel, weighed in Mazowe Central member of Parliament Cde Maxmore Njanji. Working hand in hand with the traditional leader of this area, Chief Negomo, we managed to secure all the items that were needed for this camp to run efficiently and we are now witnessing a drop in the number of cases, we also visited Rosa Clinic where the situation is stable with a few walk in cases and about three patients recovering there, Among highlighted pending concerns for the community include the issue of water sanitation and ablution facilities for the schools. we established that several boreholes in the area need to be repaired and more should be drilled in line with the health protocols of WASH, so all mechanisms are in place to further tie these loose ends as soon as possible, added Cde Njanji. Further interventions have been realised after a Taiwan organisation Tzu Chi Zimbabwe donated 50 blankets and 500kgs of rice at the cholera camp, including facilitating the repairing of boreholes that are not working in the area. Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution retired Captain Christopher Magomo said Tzu Chi has been contributing towards the fight against cholera in the province. we had the organisation intervening at Tsungubvi cholera camp when we had an outbreak, we got tonnes of rice from these Taiwan friends of us. Therefore, all those hands coming in are contributing towards our success in the fight against this infectious bacterium which is threatening our communities, so far Tsungubvi and Dambo have been the most critical with the rest of the province stable, said Minister Magomo.Herald After months of firefighting following a daring move by a previously little known activist to rock the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the partys leader Nelson Chamisa is now fending off spirited attempts by some opposition stalwarts to challenge his leadership. The year-old CCC, which morphed from the MDC Alliance after a Douglas Mwonzoraled revolt, was thrown into turmoil soon after the August 23 and 24 elections after Sengenzo Tshabangu claimed he was the partys interim secretary general and started recalling newly elected legislators and councillors. Tshabangus rampage was temporarily halted by the courts, but he has vowed to continue with his demolition mission. Only a few CCC members have publicly associated with his campaign. The Standard has it on good authority that the fight for the control of the party is about to take a new dimension with some senior CCC officials plotting to go to court to force Chamisa to revert to MDC Alliance structures. The senior party members feel that they are being side-lined by the CCC presidential candidate in the August elections. One of their major arguments is that CCC was not a new party as it rebranded from the MDC Alliance and it must run using structures that emerged at its fifth congress held at Gwerus Ascot Stadium in May 2019. Some of the plotters are said to have attempted to influence former CCC legislator Job Sikhala to sign an affidavit stating that he chaired the MDC Alliances committee meeting that resolved to rebrand into CCC, which they will use to launch their court action. A senior CCC member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, claimed the likes of Charlton Hwende, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube, Lynette Kore and Maureen Kademaunga supported the idea of reverting to the 2019 structures. The officials said part of the plot included negotiating with Tshabangu to drop his claim to be the CCC interim secretary general to pave the way for the return of the old structures. He has been promised a fortune, hence we are unlikely to see more recalls of the CCC legislators or councillors, the official said. This was agreed during a meeting that was held at (name of hotel supplied) by the aggrieved members. They sent Tshabangus lawyer (Lewis) Uriri who went late into the night to Chikurubi to have Sikhala sign an affidavit in support of Tshabangus claims that CCC is a rebrand of MDC Alliance. Uriri dismissed the claims and said he only met Sikhala on a friendly basis during one of his court appearances. The firebrand politician has been in detention since 2022 facing a litany of charges. I met Sikhala at the Harare magistrates courts and I spoke to him in the presence of his lawyer and the court was fully packed,Uriri told The Standard. We did not discuss anything of that sort. I have also not been instructed by Tshabangu because I am an advocate. I get instructions from his lawyers. So I havent received any instruction to the effect that we need to have an affidavit signed. When contacted for comment, Tshabangu boasted that he was now in charge of CCC. We are in charge now. The people who are the owners of the party are now in charge of the movement now, he said. So now (Chamisa) can sleep soundly because the criminals are no longer with the institution. This is what is important. Whether there are recalls or not I cant tell. But people may cross floors, so if people decide to disassociate we will take the appropriate actions. Tshabangu said work was in progress to bring back Biti and Ncube as active members of the party. For his part Hwende said he was never involved in meetings to plot against Chamisa. Why would we hold a meeting at that hotel? It is a cheap hotel, he said. On issues of dialogue between president Chamisa, Welshman Ncube and Biti the partys spokespersons are better placed to respond to that. But what I know is that the two are still members of the party although they have no positions, just like everyone else except the president. Hwende also dismissed assertions that his relationship with Chamisa had become frosty. Those are utter lies. My relationship with president Chamisa dates back to ages. "We have a personal relationship other than a political one, he said. Kore said she was on holiday focusing on my family affairs. Kademaunga said: In short, I can say I have no comment on all those allegations. I am too junior for that. Promise Mkwananzi, the CCC spokesperson, said their party was different from MDC Alliance. CCC is a new party not a rebrand of the MDC, Mkawananzi said. Champions who have issues with the party are free to present them at the appropriate party platforms such as the citizens national assembly and many others including directly with the president. Taking the party to court is not the DNA of leaders in the democratic movement. Chamisa has previously accused Zanu PF of engineering chaos in his party in order to create a one-party state in Zimbabwe. Zanu PF party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa on Friday said the ruling party had nothing to do with the recalls of CCCs elected representatives. To the CCC I say stop expelling each other, Mutsvangwa said. Try to find each other such that even if you say it's Zanu PF fuelling your divisions, the strength of your capacity as a party is to be able to withstand any pressures from anywhere because its a game of contestation of power. I do not know why Zanu Pf is expected to be gratuitous to the CCC when we are contesting. Have you ever seen Welshman together with Mwonzora, Hwende or Chamisa trying to come together and try to close their ranks? No they don't. Standard A painstaking, seven-year census of California's mountain lions has yielded some pretty surprising results. As the Los Angeles Times reports, previous estimates of their populations assessed that up to 6,000 were living in the state, but that number turns out to be fairly exaggeratedwith the actual number between 3,200 and 4,500. "That old figure was just a back-of-the-envelope calculation without much data to support it," says Justin Dellinger, a biologist and leader of the California Mountain Lion Project. "The new, more accurate information we collected will be used to conserve and manage mountain lions more appropriately." The new count comes from a coalition of state entities, universities, and nonprofit groups that produced three population estimates over seven years, funded by $2.45 million from the state. To conduct the census, they had to overcome a few challenges. Mountain lions are stealthy and travel great distances, so they're not the easiest to keep tabs on. "For some of us it might be our 10 to 20 square block area that involves our house, the gas station, the grocery store, and friends. And that's a small area," Dellinger tells Cap Radio. "But mountain lions, it's just orders of magnitude bigger than what the scale at which people live their life." The researchers modeled population densities by tracking the animals in various ways, including GPS collars, DNA from scat samples, and trail cameras. Mountain lionsalso knowns as cougars, pumas, and panthersare not considered endangered, but the state's Fish and Game Commission has granted them protections in six regions from Santa Cruz down to the Mexican border. Dangers to the large cats are largely human-caused. Wildfires, vehicle collisions, poaching, and shrinking habitats put them at risk, with a 25% chance of extinction in the Santa Monica and Santa Ana Mountains within the next 50 years. "We look forward to getting mountain lions the protection that is clearly warranted and desperately needed," says Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity. (A man enjoying a soak got nasty surprise from a cougar). Investigators in Italy initially ruled the death of teenager Federica Mangiapelo to be from natural causes. Her body was found near an Italian lake, though it wasn't clear whether she had actually been in the water. The case seemed closed until a police officer who had recently attended a presentation by bug expert Paola Magni suggested she take a look. As Smithsonian Magazine explains in a profile, Magni found telltale traces of microscopic phytoplankton (called diatoms) on the clothes of Federica's boyfriend, destroying his claim he had not been to the lake that night. "Goosebump moment," recalls Magni. A new autopsy found the same diatoms in Federica's tissue. The boyfriend is now a convicted murderer, and that 2012 case launched Magni into a pioneering role in her somewhat obscure field of forensics entomology. (The story notes that the US has fewer than 20 people accredited by the American Board of Forensic Entomology.) Magni has a formidable knowledge about bugs of all kinds, and what their presence can tell us about decaying bodies, and she has a particular expertise in uncovering secrets from bodies found in waterthe story digs into the sometimes grisly scientific principles at play. Magni, in her early 40s, is a native of Italy who obtained her master's at Michigan State and now teaches forensic science at Australia's Murdoch University, and she has in the last decade become an "international figure" in her field and even an "academic celebrity" in Italy, writes Jordan Michael Smith. A character in a CSI-like show in Italy is modeled after her, the story notes. While she finds the science fascinating, Magni says the cases involving female victims around her age haunt her. She is Australia's ambassador to the Red Shoes Project, an art initiative that raises awareness of gender-based violence. Read the full story. (Or check out other longforms.) As a TV news crew recorded the moment in March 1989, a South Carolina man who had joined the police search for his missing 5-year-old son stepped inside a small camping trailer on his property. A few seconds later, he backed out of it, saying: "My son's in there. Somebody's hurt him." The archived WCBD footage later shows the father sitting on a porch, his face in his hands, appearing to be in anguish at the death of Justin Lee Turner. In 2021, suspicious investigators reopened the case, CBS News reports. On Wednesday, Victor Lee Turner and Megan R. Turner, Justin's stepmother, were arrested in Cross Hill and charged with murder. Justin's parents had called the Berkeley County Sheriff's Department on March 3, saying he hadn't come home from school that day. The reopened investigation found otherwise. Witnesses said the boy didn't take the school bus that morning; he was marked absent from his classes. "He never got on the bus, he never arrived at school," Sheriff S. Duane Lewis told reporters last week, per the New York Times. "That's because he had been murdered. And he'd been murdered by his stepmother and his father, and left in a camper behind their house." Justin appears to have been choked, the sheriff said. "I can't think of a more tragic, horrendous murder," he added. Technology not available in 1989 tied microscopic fibers on Justin's shirt to a ligature that investigators found at the Turners' home, officials said. Among the red flags sheriff's officials pointed out was that Victor Turner didn't check to see if the boy was alive after entering the camper. "He looked dead," Justin's father later told investigators. "I could feel something was wrong with him. I did not touch him." The boy's father and stepmother eventually moved out of the area, and the sheriff said they never once called to check on the investigation progress. "What does that tell you?" Lewis said. (More cold cases stories.) John Kerry has told President Biden he plans to resign as special envoy for climatea job created for him by spring. The former secretary of state and US senator told the president on Wednesday and his staff on Saturday, the New York Times reports. Kerry will instead work on Biden's campaign, per Axios , considering the president's reelection vital to protecting the environment. The 80-year-old plans to put climate change issues to voters in the context of Biden's campaign. Since early 2021, Kerry has traveled the world to persuade nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions that are heating up the planet, with mixed success. He received considerable credit when more than 30 nations strengthened their climate targets before the 2021 summit in Glasgow but had trouble moving China. After he lobbied Biden to establish tougher greenhouse gas emission goals, the president agreed to set a target of a roughly 50% reduction by 2030. Kerry is still scheduled to attend the World Economic Forum in January and the Munich Security Conference in February, per CNN. On a trip to China last summer, Kerry said, "The climate crisis is a universal threat to humankind and we all have a responsibility to deal with it as rapidly as we can." The White House did not immediately comment on Kerry's pending departure. Former Vice President Al Gore, who has worked mostly on climate issues since leaving office, praised Kerry in a statement Saturday, per the AP. "John Kerry's tireless work to deliver global progress on the climate crisis has been heroic," Gore said. "He has approached this challenge with bold vision, resolute determination, and the urgency that this crisis demands." (More John Kerry stories.) Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa on Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. Trump canceled his two in-person rallies Saturday due to a blizzard blanketing much of the state, scheduling two virtual rallies instead. That left DeSantis and Haley, the two strongest candidates of the other Republicans competing in Iowa, with the chance to meet voters in person at several sites. Both were planning to finish the day with events in the Mississippi River town of Davenport, the AP reports. At his first stop in Council Bluffs, DeSantis stressed the importance of their upcoming decisions. "You're going to pack so much more punch on Monday night than in any other election you'll ever be able to participate in," the Florida governor told about 60 people. Michael Durham, a former Trump supporter, said he plans to caucus for the Florida governor. "He's just kind of no nonsense," said Durham, a 47-year-old from Council Bluffs who praised DeSantis for opening Florida schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Other Iowans showed why DeSantis and Haley, the former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, still have work to do in their respective final pushes. Courtney Raines, a special education teacher, went to hear Haley on Saturday morning in Cedar Rapids and said she would try to see DeSantis later in the day. "I'd like to know how she's going to handle the border crisis and mitigate the racial divide," said Raines, who said she was adopted from South Korea at age 2 and is concerned about the divisiveness she perceives among Americans today. Haley told Raines and other potential caucus attendees in Cedar Falls that they have a chance to "make history" and "right the ship in America," per the AP. After days of storm conditions, Monday's weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history, with temperatures falling below zero. (More Iowa caucuses stories.) Denmark's Queen Margrethe II signed her historic abdication on Sunday, paving the way for her son Frederik X to immediately become king, Danish broadcaster DR reported. Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years since King Erik III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery in 1146. She signed her abdication during a meeting with the Danish Cabinet at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime minister's office, and the Supreme Court. The document was presented to her as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated. Frederik, 55, was in the room, reports the AP . After signing the document, Margrethe rose and gestured to her son to take her place, and said "God save the king" as she left the room. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will next proclaim Frederik king on the balcony of the palace before thousands of people. Frederik's 18-year-old son, Christian, who becomes Denmark's crown prince and heir to the throne, was also in attendance. Later the royal standard will be lowered on Margrethe's home and raised on the building where Frederik and Crown Princess Mary live. The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens: Margrethe will keep her title while Frederik's Australian-born wife will become Queen Mary. Unlike in the UK, there is no coronation ceremony in Denmark. People across Denmark gathered outside parliament, with many swarming streets decorated with red and white Danish flags. Several shops hung photos of the queen and king-to-be. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live TV broadcast of the historic event. Copenhagen resident Rene Jensen, wearing a replica of a royal robe and a bejeweled purple crown on his head, said he expects Frederik to be "a king for the nation, representing us everywhere." Margrethe will be abdicating on the same day she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX. (More Denmark stories.) Thousands of people gathered in Germany on Sunday for demonstrations against the far right, among them Chancellor Olaf Scholz, following a report that extremists recently met to discuss deporting millions of immigrants, including German citizens, if they took power. There were protests in Potsdam, just outside Berlin, and at the Brandenburg Gate in the German capital, the AP reports. They followed a demonstration on Saturday in the western city of Duisburg. Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock represent the Potsdam area in parliament, and Baerbock told German news agency dpa that she attended the demonstration there as one of thousands of locals "who stand for democracy and against old and new fascism." Last week, the investigative media outlet Correctiv reported that a far-right meeting in November was attended by figures from the extremist Identitarian Movement and the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD. A member of the Identitarian Movement, Austrian citizen Martin Sellner, presented his "remigration" vision for deportations. Potsdam Mayor Mike Schubert said that "these plans are reminiscent of the darkest chapter of German history." AfD has sought to distance itself from the meeting, saying that it had no organizational or financial links to the event and that members who apparently attended did so in a purely personal capacity. The proposals discussed would violate the German constitution's Basic Law prohibiting discrimination because of a person's race, language, or country of origin, per Deutsche Welle. The furor has prompted calls for Germany to consider seeking to ban AfD, which has moved steadily to the right since its founding in 2013, per the AP. Many of its opponents have spoken out against the idea, arguing that even if it's successful, the process would be lengthy and could benefit the party by allowing it to portray itself as a victim. AfD is currently second in national polls, behind the mainstream center-right opposition and ahead of the parties in the center-left Scholz's unpopular coalition. Germany faces the European Parliament election in June and then state elections in September in three eastern regions where AfD is strong. Those include Brandenburg, where Potsdam is located. (More Germany stories.) China is unlikely to take sides in the diplomatic storm that is brewing between Ethiopia and Somalia over a controversial Red Sea port deal, according to analysts. Landlocked Ethiopia made the deal at the start of the year with the self-declared state of Somaliland, giving the East African nation access to its ports in return for officially recognising it as an independent country. Somaliland proclaimed its independence in 1991, but since then it has not been recognised by any other country. Somali capital Mogadishu continues to consider the region part of northern Somalia. 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. This deal would make Ethiopia the first nation to recognise the breakaway state. China views Somaliland as part of Somalia's territory and an internal matter. However, Beijing has been apprehensive of growing ties between Somaliland and Taiwan since 2020, when they set up representative offices. "China supports the federal government of Somalia in safeguarding national unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday. "Meanwhile, we hope that regional countries will handle regional affairs well through dialogue and achieve common development by having friendly cooperation." But China also has close ties with Ethiopia - and analysts have said Beijing is unlikely to criticise it over the controversy. The row began on January 1, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi announced in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) granting naval and commercial access to ports along Somaliland's coast, on lease to Ethiopia for 50 years. In return, the deal "includes provisions which state that the Ethiopian government will recognise Somaliland". Story continues Mogadishu called the deal an "illegal infringement of Ethiopia into our national sovereignty and territorial integrity". Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has since signed a law repealing the MOU. Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on January 1, which has caused the controversy. Photo: Reuters alt=Somaliland President Muse Bihi Abdi and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on January 1, which has caused the controversy. Photo: Reuters> Ethiopia is one of Beijing's major allies in the Horn of Africa region - an area where China has vast economic interests. China funded and built the US$4.5 billion Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway, which is part of the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as the Addis Ababa light rail. In neighbouring Djibouti, China opened its first overseas military base in 2017, and has invested heavily in the country's maritime industry. Chinese companies have fishing interests in Somalia and Beijing has also been at the forefront of fighting piracy, with two frigates and a supply ship permanently stationed there on duty in Somali waters. Guled Ahmed, a non-resident scholar at the Middle East Institute (MEI) who is from Mogadishu, said China was being cautious about the deal between Ethiopia and Somaliland and it was possible it would not respond to the matter at all. "It has huge investments and stronger ties with Ethiopia than Somalia," Ahmed said. He noted that nobody knows if the Somaliland government will continue its diplomatic relationship with Taiwan or not, "while the Biden administration has given a cold shoulder to a Somaliland and Taiwan alliance". "The future of the Somaliland and Taiwan relationship is uncertain," Ahmed said. David Shinn, a professor at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington and former US ambassador to Addis Ababa, agreed Beijing was unlikely to censure its African ally. "China has close ties with Ethiopia and will be reluctant to criticise Addis Ababa over this deal with Somaliland," he said. China had minimal economic and political interests in Somalia, Shinn said, though it did have an embassy in Mogadishu, supported Somalia unity and wanted to prevent the resurgence of Somali piracy. He also said it was important to watch what happened with the relationship between Taiwan and Somaliland. "China opposed the exchange of offices between Taiwan and Somaliland and will become more critical if these ties take on greater political significance," Shinn said. In 2020, when Taiwan opened a representative office in Somaliland capital Hargeisa while Somaliland opened a similar office in Taipei, Beijing "condemned Taiwan for undermining Somalia's sovereignty and territorial integrity". Beijing views Taiwan as part of China which must be reunited, by force if necessary. Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any attempt to take the self-governed island by force and is committed to arm Taiwan. In Africa, only eSwatini - previously Swaziland - recognises Taipei. Somaliland's ports are very attractive for landlocked countries such as Ethiopia, and they are now in the middle of the diplomatic controversy. Photo: AFP alt=Somaliland's ports are very attractive for landlocked countries such as Ethiopia, and they are now in the middle of the diplomatic controversy. Photo: AFP> According to Seifudein Adem, an Ethiopian global affairs professor at Doshisha University in Japan, China will seek to avoid overtly backing either side. However, he said China would prefer it if Somaliland joined the community of nations, it was finally recognised as a legitimate state by the international community, and it cut off its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in due course. "Otherwise, for the time being, China will seek to avoid the matter altogether," Adem said. This is largely because China would not want to jeopardise its interests by taking sides. Beijing's stakes in the Indian Ocean run deep. According to Joshua Meservey, a senior fellow at Washington's Hudson Institute who focuses on great power competition in Africa, Beijing is keen to project power there in keeping with its image as a major global power, to pressure its perennial adversary India, and to protect the sea lines of communication which are vital maritime trading routes. "China has strengthened ties with Somalia recently, but the latter is so dysfunctional that it limits what Beijing can accomplish there," Meservey said. He added that China had already tried to induce Somaliland away from its ties with Taiwan, "though I think the Somalilanders understand that China will never recognise its independence because of the Taiwan issue". He said he believed that China would strongly support Mogadishu diplomatically in the current row. "It's not implausible that Beijing might also surreptitiously lend what support it can to any mischief that Mogadishu may try to stir in Somaliland in retaliation," he said. While there is little likelihood of Beijing recognising Somaliland, in the US there has been a growing push by some in Congress and the Senate to do so in return for access to the port at Berbera as an alternative to America's military base in Djibouti. The US military has a naval base in Djibouti called Camp Lemonnier, but is eyeing more port facilities to counter China's influence in the region as well as to protect trade routes. Shinn from George Washington University said there were several members of the US Congress, a few American think tanks and probably some officials in the Pentagon who supported the recognition of Somaliland. "But the position of the Biden administration remains in support of the territorial integrity of Somalia," Shinn said. "There is no indication that the Biden administration plans to change its policy." According to Ahmed from MEI, based on the US State Department's daily briefings, it raised concerns about the Ethiopia-Somaliland deal and still recognised the sovereignty of Somalia and the territorial integrity based on the 1960 borders. Ahmed explained the wording was confusing as to whether the US was referring to borders post-merger or pre-merger because both happened in 1960. But, he said, the US was not against the deal and urged all stakeholders to engage in diplomatic dialogue to resolve the issue. The deal with Somaliland comes shortly after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy said in October that the landlocked country would assert its rights, a declaration that raised concern among its neighbours. According to Abiy, the country's lack of access to the sea had "prevented Ethiopia from holding the place it ought to have" by affecting its ability to trade. Until 1993, Ethiopia had access to the Red Sea when it was one country with Eritrea. But since Eritrea became an independent nation, Addis Ababa now must rely heavily on Djibouti ports for its maritime trade. 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 2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. From Berlin to London and Limassol to Karachi, thousands of people took to the streets Sunday to mark the 100th day of the Israel-Hamas war. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza. In the southern Pakistani city of Karachi, tens of thousands waved Palestinian flags or wore the keffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, to express solidarity with Palestinians in a rally organized by the country's largest religious political party, Jamaat-e-Islami. The party's Karachi chief called on the US to stop backing Israel and compensate Palestinians for their losses, the AP reports. Hafiz Naeem Ur Rehman criticized Muslim leaders and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for not doing enough to help stop the war. "Resolutions will not solve this problem," Rehman said. In the British capital, thousands of people chanted "Bring them home now!" in a demonstration to demand the freedom of 132 remaining hostages taken by Hamas militants in the Oct. 7 attacks that killed some 1,200 Israelis and touched off the war. Protesters in London held posters with photos and the words "100 days in hell" to express solidarity with Israel. Ayelet Svatitzky, the sister of a hostage who remains in captivity, warned that "there is no more time" for those captured and called for their release. "I don't know how long he can hold on, and I don't know what his condition is,'" she said. Nadav Popplewell, 51, is one of two UK nationals who remain hostages. On Cyprus' southern coastline outside the town of Limassol, several hundred protesters waved Palestinian flags and held placards outside the entrance of a British air force base calling for a "Free Palestine" and an end to the "siege of Gaza." Protesters handed authorities at RAF Akrotiri a petition demanding an end to the use of the base as a launchpad for airstrikes in Gaza and Yemen, per the AP. In neighboring Turkey, about 2,000 marchers waved Palestinian and Turkish flags in Istanbul while paying homage to nine Turkish soldiers who were killed in northern Iraq last week. (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. I requested a copy of the court papers to learn more about my distant relatives. Thats when I got an unexpected surprise: The court papers included a document labeled last will and testament.' - Getty Images Dear Quentin, Most Read from MarketWatch I appreciate and learn from your column, and read it religiously. Several of your recent readers have asked you questions about wills or what happens when someone dies without a will . I would like to add my experience to the scenarios you have already addressed in recent months, as it adds to your discussion of the consequences of avoiding proper estate planning. A court appointed attorney once called to inform me that my mothers cousin died without a will. The deceased had no children, spouse or siblings. The estate was being divided on the basis of closest kin, which, in this case it was the deceased persons six cousins. An attorney contacted me. He was tracking down distant relatives of the deceased, because most of the six cousins were no longer living. In fact, only one cousin outlived the deceased person. The offspring of each deceased cousin were collectively awarded a share equal to 1/6 of the deceaseds estate minus court and attorney fees. Therefore, after about a year from the onset of this persons death, my siblings and I each received an inheritance of about $9,000. The one cousin who was still alive at the time was legally entitled to 1/6 of the estate, close to $60,000. The law does not take into account whether a potential heir deserves, or needs the inheritance, but rather uses subjective formulas, as anyone would expect. Court documents This makes sense, but I cant help but feel that the deceased cousin would not have wanted the bulk of their estate to be awarded to this extremely wealthy cousin who was advanced in age and had a personal estate worth over $30 million. This person received the largest share of the deceaseds estate. Story continues After the probate process ended, I requested a copy of the court papers to learn more about my distant relatives. Thats when I got an unexpected surprise: The court papers included a document labeled last will and testament signed by an attorney and by the deceased person, leaving their entire estate to my siblings and I, as our mother was the cousin with whom the deceased had been closest to. When I asked the attorneys why they told me there had been no will, they pointed out that the will lacked a witness signature. My mothers cousin had wishes, expressed those wishes in writing, signed the written will in front of an attorney, but did not have the signature witnessed. As I learned through this experience a signed will is not legally a will even if it is prepared by an attorney, and labeled last will and testament, unless it is also witnessed. Perhaps this is true only in our state but it was a shocking lesson. I hope that individuals who think their handwritten signed notes will be sufficient think again, as you have so often cautioned. The cost of an attorneys fee to prepare an official will is well worth the peace of mind it provides. Yes Id rather my hard earned savings go to people and causes that matter to me, and not to distant relatives who are so financially secure that they would not benefit from inheriting a portion of my estate. Preparing a will or trust allows us one final chance to make a difference for others. Personally, Id like to get that right as my final act. What is your take? Glad to Have A Legal Will If a person with millions of dollars can make such a mistake, whos to say others forget the importance of their John Hancock? - MarketWatch illustration Dear Glad, Your story is both alarming and, I suspect, not that uncommon. A trust and estate attorney once told me that she prepared the will of an extremely wealthy man, and when she visited his office, he showed it to her and where he kept it. He was happy with all of the time they had spent putting it together, and was glad he had finally divided his estate in a manner that he believed was fair and equitable, and reflected his wishes, charitable interests, and his relationship with his closest friends and relatives. There was just one problem: It was still in a sealed envelope where, he believed, it was safe. She pointed out the obvious and easy mistake, You havent signed it. If a person with millions of dollars can make such a mistake, whos to say others forget the importance of their John Hancock? Youre correct that the legal framework that determines whether a will is valid varies by state. In New Jersey, for instance, A will must be signed by the deceased or by someone who had the authority to sign for the maker of the will, according to Bratton Estate & Elder Care Attorneys . The will must also be signed by at least two other witnesses. In order for the signature of these witnesses to be valid, the signees should add their signatures to the document as soon as possible. New Jersey will accept handwritten wills whether or not they are witnessed, provided that it can be clearly shown that the document was intended to be the deceaseds will. The document should also be clearly identifiable as written in the deceaseds own handwriting. Believe it or not, some people still wish to write their wills by hand, but holographic or handwritten wills are only legal in about half of the states in the U.S., including California. Whether its written or typed, always write your will under the guidance of a trust and estate attorney. Word of warning: Its not worth writing a will on the cheap or downloading one from the Internet. Too many things can go wrong. Sometimes, people leave possessions that no longer exist. (That Rolls Royce? He sold it to pay the taxes on his home.) Or they leave their entire fortune to one lucky cousin and five more show up to claim their share of the estate. (I leave my entire estate to my cousin, John Murphy. Is there more than one cousin named John Murphy or, worse, some people have neglected to name the person entirely.) Online wills are often free or low-cost, but may have inadequate language. Words matter. If a will states that property should pass to a mans surviving wife and children, what happens if the man had two ex-wives and several children from other marriages? asks the law firm Landskin and Ricaforte . On the other hand, suppose the same man had three daughters and left equal shares of the estate to my descendants. The will was made when his children were teenagers, but two of them had a child of their own at his death. The term descendants includes children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, making it possible for his children and grandchildren to receive a fifth of the estate even though he intended to give a third to each daughter. It also may be that the terms of a will deserve to be overturned. You can, for instance, typically contest a will or trust on the following grounds: lack of testamentary capacity, undue influence from a family member, and improper execution, which is exactly what happened to your distant cousins will. If he had signed his own will, his estate would have been distributed according to his wishes, and you would likely be in a more comfortable financial situation. I have received too many letters about relatives or new friends or even caregivers who isolate elderly people, put themselves on their bank accounts as co-signers or co-owners, and coerce the person to write a new will. The biggest mistake many people make is that they dont write a will, and leave no estate plan at all. Less than half of Americans have made a will, although three quarters of people 65 and over have made one, according to a 2021 survey by Gallup . Just 20% of adults under age 30 have a will. Upper-income Americans are much more likely than lower-income Americans to report having a will, Gallup said. College graduates and white Americans are also more likely to have a will. After building a lifetime of wealth, regardless of whether its $500,000 or $5 million, it is a shame to leave it up to state laws to decide how its distributed. You can email The Moneyist with any financial and ethical questions at qfottrell@marketwatch.com, and follow Quentin Fottrell on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Check out the Moneyist private Facebook group, where we look for answers to lifes thorniest money issues. Post your questions, tell me what you want to know more about, or weigh in on the latest Moneyist columns. The Moneyist regrets he cannot reply to questions individually. Previous columns by Quentin Fottrell: My wife received a $1 million payout from her employer when she retired. Am I entitled to 50% of that if we divorce? Im a 61-year-old single librarian and proud Democrat from Maine. Should I move to Florida like Jeff Bezos? I cosigned my boyfriends mortgage, but Im not on the deed. I didnt want to marry again after a costly divorce. How do I protect myself? Most Read from MarketWatch I can't remember, says Bahrain charity treasurer accused of embezzling BD47,000 I can't remember, says Bahrain charity treasurer accused of embezzling BD47,000 TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com In a surprising twist, the treasurer of a local charity, accused of embezzling BD47,000, argued in a Bahrain court that he could not recall the incidents due to memory issues. However, a psychiatric evaluation dismissed his claims, affirming his responsibility for the embezzlement. The High Criminal Court is set to deliver its verdict on this case on January 29. The individual stands accused of embezzling tens of thousands of dinars over several years. The charity said it first detected irregularities in its books in 2017, leading to an audit that uncovered unusually high expenses and unaccounted cash withdrawals exceeding BD1,000. When confronted by the board of directors, the treasurer admitted to taking funds but attributed it to indebtedness. Later, an accounting experts report revealed a total embezzlement of BD47,000. The charity said the accused failed to provide full bank statements, budgets, or financial reports. Authorities were alerted, prompting an investigation. Documents presented during the inquiry indicate that the treasurer manipulated checks after signing them, keeping the extra funds for himself. Serving as treasurer since 2006, he confessed to this method of embezzlement from 2017 to 2023. While unable to specify exact amounts, he acknowledged wrongfully acquiring BD47,000 for personal use through forgery. Although claiming to have returned BD22,000, he now confronts additional charges, including document tampering and misappropriation of public funds, spanning six years in his entrusted position. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Labour Minister HE Jameel bin Mohammed Ali Humaidan highlighted the crucial role of various sectors, particularly the industrial sector, in boosting Bahrain's economic standing and creating promising opportunities for citizens. During his visit to the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company, he emphasised the significance of relying on national cadres to enhance the competitiveness of Bahrain in attracting industrial investments. The Minister acknowledged the ongoing efforts to motivate companies and industrial institutions to offer training opportunities for graduates of technical and vocational education. He underlined the importance of integrating these trained individuals into the growing industrial sector, attributing its expansion to the development policies pursued by the Kingdom of Bahrain. The minister was received by Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Chairman of the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Companys Board of Directors, and other officials. During the visit, the Minister learned about the company's achievements in employing national workers, noting with praise that the Bahrainisation rate stands at an impressive 93%. Moreover, the company proudly maintains a 100% Bahrainisation rate for the first grade of managers and the second grade of department heads. Minister Humaidan expressed his gratitude to companies and institutions supporting the Ministry's initiatives and programs in employing national cadres. He specifically commended the Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company for its efforts in relying on Bahraini workers, considering it a model for investing in the national workforce and opening new horizons. Highlighting the success stories of national workers in production and development, the Minister emphasised that industrial companies embracing Bahraini human resources play a crucial role in the growth of companies and elevate the Kingdom's competitiveness regionally in attracting industrial investments. He also emphasised the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Labour and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) to support the industrial sector with qualified and trained citizens. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed affirmed the company's commitment to relying on national cadres in various positions. He shared insights into the company's future plans to employ more citizens, praising the loyalty, dedication, and contributions of Bahraini workers to the development of the company's facilities. The Chairman also lauded the Ministry of Labour and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen) for their efforts in qualifying job seekers to facilitate their integration into the industrial sector. He expressed gratitude for the visit, noting its significance in supporting the endeavours of companies and institutions to employ national workers and contribute to Bahrain's economic growth. The Team Project Solutions for Construction of a Lunar Base was the product of 9 intense weeks of collaboration during the Space Studies Program 2021 Strasbourg, at the International Space University. I had written about their concept to lay a SpaceX Starship flat on the moon to start a moonbase. I did not know the source of the graphic until now. There is a well-established and researched idea of utilizing the large volume and properties of empty fuel tanks to create robust space habitats. This was applied on Skylab, and has been proposed for various rocket stages such as the external tanks on the Space Shuttle. While this is applicable to any sufficiently large rocket body, after surveying the current state-of-the-art launchers and what bodies can be delivered to the lunar surface, the most mature concept was using the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) as a structural basis for the lunar settlement, (see above). The reported capabilities, low cost, massive volume, and high mass capacity means that a larger and more capable habitat can be delivered and constructed on the lunar surface, more so than any other concept achievable within the next decade. The concept is to decommission a Starship HLS and transform it into a permanent base while using its entire internal volume, including the fuel tanks, as a habitat. The additional volume provided by the conversion of the fuel tanks means there is great potential for renting out this space to other entities to generate revenue and promote sustainability and growth. This plan relies mostly on existing technologies and limited modifications to the vehicle, including using a series of rovers, MOdular RObotic Construction Autonomous System (MOROCAS), for the purpose of setting up equipment to horizontalize the lander on its side. Additionally, they will aid in setting up surface infrastructure and stacking regolith on top of the base for crew protection. This makes the Rosas Base solutions incredibly viable for the construction of a lunar base in the near future. The plan to transform an active vehicle to a large, habitable volume requires a series of technical steps. To assist in this operation, the MOROCAS fleet will be developed and utilized in the transportation sequence Starship (SS) Rosas is the first lander to launch and arrive prior to the crewed lander. It is uncrewed and stocked with equipment and supplies to support humans at the base site of the south pole of the Moon. This will later become the permanent base for the incoming crew. The crewed SS 501 will follow and land at a safe distance away from SS Rosas. The crew will remotely operate the MOROCAS rover fleet from SS 501 for the purpose of deploying power reactors, solar panels, and radiators, as well as drain remaining fuel into their respective tanks. The MOROCAS will install a system that will assist crew to horizontalize the SS Rosas on the ground. Some crew members will conduct their first LEVA to initiate the horizontal maneuver of the SS Rosas, thus becoming Rosas Base. This is referred to as Groundbreaking Day. The crew will install floors, walls, lights, bathrooms, life support systems, ventilation, water tanks, beds, and any other equipment that the habitat requires. The volumes will be occupied with their intended equipment, whether this is laboratory equipment, agriculture area, gym, lounge, or infirmary. After completion of the horizontal procedures, the remaining crew members will depart SS 501 and arrive at Rosas Base where they will spend the remainder of the mission. Rosas Base will be continuously inhabited by crews arriving on visiting landers. Provisions for expansion of the base will also be made so that future modules can be attached to the nose interface of Rosas Base. SpaceXs Starship is reported that it can carry up to 200-300 metric tons of mass to the lunar surface (expendable mode) inside an 1100 cubic meters payload fairing. The assumption of the team is that there is a limitation of 100 tons of useful payload. The Starship uses methane and oxygen stored in two large tanks which are estimated at 600 cubic meters and 800 cubic metersrespectively. These volumes will be transformed into habitable volumes. The bay will need to be modified on Earth prior to the launch with the mounting of rigid supports that will be used as a skeleton for additional interior structures and fittings. This is done to minimize the workload of crew on the Moon. The interior of the Starship will be divided into three equal-height floors connected by stairs. The original Space X Starship concept design proposes two airlocks, both provided with cable-suspended elevators used for payload deployment. One of the Starship airlocks will be modified to include a retractable corridor that can be extended up to 5 m away from the main body of the base. This corridor can then be covered by regolith to protect the crew against radiation and micro-meteorites impacts. The second airlock will be re-purposed into an extended observation deck which allows the crew to see their surroundings as well as the Earth. A collection of tools, designed to interface with the MOROCAS, will be developed to perform various tasks, such as: De-tanker and external bladders (A). The MOROCAS will use the de-tanker to connect to the refuelling ports of the fuel tanks and transfer all the excess oxygen and methane to the external bladders. This contraption will also be used to fill the fuel tanks in the payload volume with air at a later stage. The de-tanker will also drain the water tanks in the payload volume to lighten the load on the vehicle while it is being tipped. This water will be restored in the tanks following the horizontal operations. Regolith moving system (B). This module will be used to pile regolith into berms as part of the Dep-Ops and to cover the whole station with regolith at the final stage in the construction. Drill and anchors (C). This module will be used to fix several anchors in the ground as part of Dep-Ops. Hinge (D). This large contraption is part of the equipment that is used for tipping the Starship and will be deployed during Dep-Ops. This will be connected firmly to the bottom of the SS Rosas and to the anchors installed underneath. Scissor lift (E). This device will support the body of the Starship from underneath while this is being lowered into its final horizontal configuration.This device will be required to carry a substantial load during the horizontal operations. Crewed rover (F). This rover will be used by the crew to travel from SS 501 to SS Rosas during the construction activities. The rover will be pressurized and able to act as a temporary habitat for all future LEVAss. It will need to fit as a whole system through the airlock of the base and have an interface with the LEVAs suits in order to make these accessible to the crew while inside the rover. Vietnamese electric vehicle maker VinFast (VFS) made a big splash with its public debut in the US last year. Its stock soared 255% on its initial day on the Nasdaq, after completing a SPAC merger with Black Space Acquisition, surpassing the market cap for Ford (F) and General Motors (GM). But it's been a steep decline since. The stock is down roughly 90%, and the VF8, its first global vehicle, has been riddled with abysmal reviews. VinFast is hoping for a reset with a $20,000 vehicle, unveiled at CES in Las Vegas. With an estimated driving range of 125 miles on a full charge and measuring just 125 inches long, the VF3 would be one of the smallest vehicles in the US market. Its one that Le Thi Thu Thuy, chairwoman of VinFasts Board of Directors, said the company never intended to bring to North America. Its an interesting twist, Thuy said, explaining why VinFast chose its larger VF8 as the entry vehicle in 2023. All the market research said US consumers like really big cars. But when Thuy visited the US to meet with dealers in September and showed off the smaller VF3, she said they urged her to compete on the lower end of the market. Everybody said, 'definitely, its going to be the biggest volume for us,' Thuy said. So we went back and we decided to just develop the VF3 for the US market as well. The VinFast VF3 eSUV is displayed at CES 2024, an annual consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 9, 2024. (REUTERS/Steve Marcus) (Reuters / Reuters) The shift in strategy highlights the challenges the Southeast Asian upstart faces in penetrating an increasingly crowded EV market. The company began delivering cars in California last March and sold roughly 21,200 units as of the third quarter of 2023. Tesla (TSLA), by comparison, delivered more than 435,000 vehicles in the third quarter alone. VinFasts price tag, ranging from $47,000 to $53,000, has also proven to be a tough sell at a time when American consumers are turning more cautious on the electric transition. Read more: Are electric cars more expensive to insure? EV sales topped a record 1.2 million vehicles in 2023, according to Kelley Blue Book, but the rate of sales growth slowed compared to the same period the previous year. In a Yahoo Finance-Ipsos poll last fall, drivers listed range, cost, and infrastructure as primary reasons to delay their EV purchases. Story continues Now you really have to sell to the mass market, Thuy said. You just have to make sure that the vehicles are affordable and can also meet the daily needs of the consumer. To meet that demand, VinFast is building a $4 billion EV factory in Chatham County, North Carolina, where the company is aiming to produce as many as 150,000 vehicles annually once its completed next year. Its also turned to dealerships to accelerate the rollout of its cars, abandoning a previous plan to rely solely on a direct-to-consumer model. The firm also underwent its fourth executive shakeup this week. Pham Nhat Vuong, the founder of parent company Vingroup, stepped in to replace Thuy as CEO while she was named chairwoman of the board of directors. Thuy called the move a reinforcement that would position the company for global expansion. In addition to the US facility, VinFast is building a $2 billion factory in India, with an aim to deliver 750,000 vehicles per year globally by 2026. Thuy said the VF3, which is already sold in Vietnam, is scheduled to launch in the US "early next year." But the company isnt giving up on its larger car ambitions for the market. In addition to the VF3, VinFast unveiled an all-electric pickup truck in Las Vegas. While the vehicle remains concept only, Thuy said the company hoped to get feedback from the public for a potential release in 2026. We want to have a little bit for everybody, she said. Read more coverage from CES 2024: Akiko Fujita is an anchor and reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @AkikoFujita. Click here for the latest technology news that will impact the stock market. Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed has declared that the judiciary is thriving independently under President Bola Tinubus administration. This is coming in the wake of the Supreme Court judgment which upheld his election as the governor of Bauchi state. Recall that in a judgment delivered on Friday, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by Sadique Abubakar of the All Progressive Congress, APC, against Mohammeds election, for lacking in merit. Addressing a mammoth crowd which trooped to the Government House in Bauchi on Saturday to celebrate his victory at the Supreme Court, Mohammed said, Im grateful to the Nigerian judiciary. Im going to President Tinubu for allowing the rule of law to persist, irrespective of the lies. No amount of mischief will bring us down. President Tinubu is a beacon of the rule of law worthy of emulation by all. Mohammed, however said his victory was not without obstacles , alleging that some political heavyweights from Bauchi State attempted to create a rift between him and the President. Some people connived with former leaders of the state to say all sorts of lies against me, and to make the leadership of the nation see me as a problem. You know we have so many detractors, but Im a warrior by birth. No amount of mischief will bring us down. Speaking earlier, the state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman, Hamza Koshe Akuyam, advised the governor to exercise power with restraint and accord human dignity to accommodate all categories of people. The 2023 New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, has appreciated God for the judgment by the Supreme Court regarding the Kano State governorship election. Kwankwaso said the judgment of the Supreme Court was a lesson to all political actors in the state He noted that the verdict has restored hope to the people of the state. Recall that the Supreme Court had declared Abba Yusuf as the duly elected Governor of Kano State. The apex court had upturned the Appeal Courts sack of Yusuf while dismissing the appeal by the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate Nasiru Gawuna against the governors victory in the last election. However, speaking with BBC Hausa, Kwankwaso said: We thank God that the Supreme Court has restored the hope of the people. The 2023 Kano State gubernatorial election saga is a lesson to all. Former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, has revealed that one of his friends has offered to pay a N50 million ransom being demanded by bandits who abducted Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyars six children. The kidnappers have threatened to kill the remaining five sisters after murdering Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar on Friday. She was killed on Friday by her abductors and was laid to rest according to Islamic rites on Saturday. Nabeeha was a 400-level student of Biological Science at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Others abducted include Najeebah (500 level, Quantity Surveying) and Nadheerah (300 level, Zoology). Posting on X, the former minister wrote: Alhamdu lil Laah! I am personally not in support of paying ransom to criminals. However, since it became clear that we lost our daughter Nabeeha yesterday and the five remaining daughters have been threatened, I spoke with the father on the matter yesterday and today, I spoke with a friend and a brother who offered to pay the remaining 50 million Naira of the 60 million immediately. I conveyed the account number of the father of our daughters, Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, to the friend and brother to send the money directly. Any additional amount generated yesterday, the father can use to treat the daughters and other family members, in sha Allah. May the Almighty Allah reward the brother and friend with Jannatul Firdaus for the donation. One of the six sisters abducted in the Bwari area council of the federal capital territory (FCT) has reportedly died in captivity. On January 5, gunmen invaded the residence of the family in the Zuma 1 area of Abuja, abducting six girls and shooting two police officers. Adamu Asiya, who claimed to be a family member, announced on X that one of the girls was dead. We unfortunately lost Nabeeha to the battle, Asiya said on Saturday, adding that the kidnappers had earlier increased the ransom from N60 million to N65 million. Day 12: #Najeebahandhersisters havent been released. We unfortunately lost Nabeeha to the battle and the kidnappers have increased the money to 65m and have given a deadline of Wednesday, she posted. Lets not get tired and keep pushing. Thank you and God bless you all for your efforts so far. The development has elicited outrage as Nigerians have taken to social media platforms to lament the incident. El Rufai was right when he said theres nothing like Northern Elders, cause we dont in any way feel their presence, relevance or importance, for how long have we been suffering? They dont speak, they dont do nothing, an X user with the handle @MFaarees posted. Isa Pantami, former minister of communications and digital economy, also commented on the development, saying he has spoken with the father of the girls. I just read about the killing of our daughter Najeeba (400 level, ABU). I also spoke with her father on the remaining 5 of our kidnapped daughters. May Allah forgive her, rescue others & bring absolute peace in Nigeria, he tweeted. Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, told TheCable that she is yet to confirm the development. We dont know yet whether the girl was killed What we know is that we are on top of the situation, Adeh said. WERE WORKING TO RESCUE THE GIRLS Reacting to the incident on X, Muyiwa Adejobi, spokesperson of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), asked the family members of the girls to reach out to him. Please, let the family members or you relate with us codedly. Let them reach out to me on my personal line, and drop a msg there, Adejobi said on Saturday. We have been working on it, but we need some info. We will try our best possible to emplace all necessary measures to rescue them unhurt. But we need to get some info please. Thanks. In a statement issued on Sunday to further address the matter, the NPF spokesperson assured that the police are engaging and reaching out to all persons crucial to rescuing the girls. In the wake of the abduction of six young girls in the Bwari area council of the federal capital territory, it is vital to state that the police force has already initiated a comprehensive plan of action, the statement reads. The force headquarters is diligently coordinating efforts to address this and prevent any further occurence, as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims. However, the sensitivity of the situation necessitates discretion, and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations. The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity. Adejobi also called for open communication with the police on the abduction. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said he and members of his camp have fulfilled their part of the peace deal initiated by President Bola Tinubu on the political crisis in Rivers State. This is as he stated that all parties involved in the political crisis had endorsed the presidential proclamation. Wike stated this on Saturday when he visited the Oba of Ogbaland in the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers, Eze Nnam Obi III. Addressing the monarch, the immediate past Rivers State Governor said he is interested in the peace and unity of the state and promised not to let him down. We accepted whatever decision Mr. President has taken and we have on our own part fulfilled every condition given by Mr President because I told you I will not let you down. It is just to let you know that your request of making sure there is peace in the state of which you asked Mr President to intervene, we have accepted. And I want you to use this opportunity to continue to pray for Mr President for God to continue to give him wisdom to pilot the affairs of this nation, Wike stated. He praised Tinubu for wading into the crisis in the state saying it shows his interest in the peace of the state, even as he promised never to disobey him. Wike added, He is not from this state. So many people have piloted the affairs of this country, crisis has engulfed other states and you hardly would see somebody to come out and say irrespective of the political party, I need peace in the state. If there is peace in the states, it will help peace in Nigeria. So, I will urge you and your council to continue to pray for Mr President for God to continue to give him wisdom to pilot the affairs of the country. The former Rivers State Governor was accompanied by the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri; and a former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva. Others are Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Barinada Mpigi and National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, South-South, Chief Victor Giadom; and a former Rivers State Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Felix Obuah. Following the affirmation of his election as Governor of Plateau State on Friday, Caleb Mutfwang has commended President Bola Tinubus neutrality and the courage of the Justices of the Supreme Court. He also said their actions have left an indelible mark on the hearts of the people of Plateau State who are rolling out drums to celebrate his victory at the Supreme Court. He acknowledged that power comes from God and called on the people to unite and give him the maximum support to deliver good governance. The governor was received on his return from Abuba by a large crowd at the Yakubu Gowon Airport before making his way through the line-up of citizens along the highways to a grand reception at the Langfield Resort in Jos. Addressing the mammoth crowd, Mutfwang said, God is the giver of power, we know no one but we know God, and he looked at us with mercy and gave us victory. Thank you, God, thank you Plateau people, thank you, Mr President, thank you Supreme Court for doing the right thing. This is the gathering of Plateau people, it is beyond PDP. We have always believed in the judiciary as an institution, our respect and belief in justice was restored. According to him, What the people of Plateau, Nigerians have done has spurred me and I will continue to live for the interest of Plateau and bring good governance to the people. Also speaking, former Governor of the State, Jonah Jang, called for unity among citizens. Jang said, I only give glory to God for this victory. If there is any party without structure in Plateau State, it is the APC people who walked out during their congress and the former governor announced the APC flag bearers. Their state chairman didnt buy form but that was not our business. Governor Mutfwang is a man with a lions heart, he is a God-given governor. Plateau people prayed, Nigerians prayed, people around the world prayed and God answered the peoples prayers and touched the heart of the Justices of Supreme Court of Nigeria and they brought the truth out. Mutfwang should forgive, but when you see any wrong done to Plateau people, look into it according to the law. Now is the time for governance, I challenge you to work and surpass my record. Also, the Speaker of the State Assembly, Gabriel Dewan assured the governor of the support of the legislature and called for unity among the people. In his remarks, Chairman of PDP in the state, Chris Hassan, said, The journey had been tortuous but the Lord saw us through. Plateau people didnt make a mistake in voting Governor Mutfwang of the PDP. I assure you that the PDP is well structured and we will support the governor to deliver good governance to the people. Former Nigerian military President, Ibrahim Babangida, IBB, has explained why the military will not interfere in the Nigerian politics again. The former military leader stated that military interference robbed Nigeria off true federalism. IBB added that the era of military dabbling into politics has come to an end because Nigerians have become more interested in becoming a truly democratic nation. Babangida spoke in an interview with Channels Television on Friday. IBB said: I think that is (failure to achieve true federalism) is one of the effects of the aberration of the military regimes. It countered the democratic process. Such things happen. But I believe it will not happen again. This is because Nigerians are more interested in becoming a truly democratic nation in Africa and, such thing, I dont think it will happen, Babangida added. I grew Nigerias economy He, however, said that as a military leader, he freed the economy. He said he did it by allowing the private sector to be the hub of economy of the country. Also, Babangida said the time had come to give more powers to the states. He said, I believe in restructuring, devolution of powers to the states to give them more powers. And that means you are going to give them more resources to run their own affairs so that we run a federal government the way federation is run all over the world. Furthermore, IBB suggested how the government can end the trend of mass emmigration of Nigerians to other countries. He said creating an enabling environment that can motivate the citizens to enjoy working for their country the way they enjoy working for other countries would work. He noted that this will see Nigerians choose to remain in their country rather than going to look for greener pastures elsewhere. I think the environment should be created in such a way that people will be motivated to work for the country. So, I share the view very much that we made names in a lot countries, US, UK. Nigerians are doing very well in all professions. Why not do the same here in our own country? So we have to create an environment that is suitable for this sort of service that Nigerians have to give to their own country. I think it is possible, Babangida noted. Independent candidacy Babangida also dismissed fears that Nigeria may be heading to a one party state. He said Nigerians will not allow that to happen. I have been in a military regime. And the Nigerians I know wont allow a one-party state. I have been a military man and I know dictatorship cant survive in a civil society. The Nigerians I know will not allow it. They will talk you out of it. You can say okay, I dont want and forget about it, the ex-military leader said. He advocated a two-party state to save Nigeria a lot of funds and problems associated with a multi-party state. Babangida equally suggested that independent candidates could also be allowed to contest for political offices. One can contest as an independent candidate if the person is strong enough to get supporters, he said. Recall that Nigeria witnessed a lot of military incursions in its politics after independence, with men in uniform ruling the country more years than civilians until 1999. Babangida was one of the military men that led the country during that period. He ruled for eight years 1985 to 1993. A year ago, Port Authority officials opened Newark Airports new $2.7 billion Terminal A to travelers, which had been pushed back from a planned December opening. Now, the 1 million-square-foot terminal marked its first anniversary with some smashed records. If I may borrow a line from that great Republican Richard Nixon, it looks like we wont have Chris Christie to kick around anymore. Nixon said that to the press in 1962 after losing an election for the California governorship. That followed a loss in the presidential election of 1960. Never mind the stash of gold bars, the envelopes full of cash, or the prosecutors who say Bob Menendez accepted bribes to help Egypts brutal dictatorship evade restrictions on torture. According to the senior New Jersey senator, hes the real victim here. This time, he isnt playing his phony race card by claiming hes been targeted by haters of Hispanics. This time, he says the charges against him are politically motivated, a form of persecution by the Justice Department. The former diplomat and lawmaker who was elected vice president of Taiwan in a closely watched race this weekend spent a key portion of her life in New Jersey. Bi-khim Hsiao was the running mate of Lai Ching-te, the current VP who won Taiwans presidency on Saturday. UPDATED FORECAST: Up to 4 inches of snow in forecast. Updates on snowfall amounts, timing. Most of New Jersey can expect 1 to 3 inches of snow starting late Monday into Tuesday from a winter storm after colder air sweeps into the state today with gusty winds and the threat of dangerous snow squalls with near whiteout conditions as temperatures plummet. Widespread snowfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches are expected for the northern half of the state, while most of southern New Jersey should get 1 to 2 inches, according to the National Weather Services initial forecast map for the storm issued early Sunday. The Jersey Shore should escape with less than an inch of snow and Cape May County could see a mix of rain and snow. Some uncertainty remains in the forecast with the track and timing of the storm, but the weather service said earlier concerns about significant snowfall from the system have eased. A widespread significant 6+ inch snowfall event is not anticipated based on latest guidance, the weather service said. AccuWeather's snowfall forecast map calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow across New Jersey from a winter storm Monday night into Tuesday.National Weather Service and AccuWeather AccuWeathers forecast for the storm also calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow statewide for New Jersey. The storm system is expected to arrive in southern New Jersey late Monday and push north through the region in the overnight hours. The forecast calls for snow showers throughout the day on Tuesday. AccuWeather's snowfall forecast map calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow across New Jersey from a winter storm Monday night into Tuesday.National Weather Service and AccuWeather Snow squalls, 50 mph winds on Sunday The snow squall threat led the National Weather Service to issue a special weather statement for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. Near whiteout conditions and a quick one half inch of snow in just 10 to 15 minutes will lead to dangerous travel conditions as a result of the very poor visibility and snow or ice covered roads. Winds will gust up to 50 mph in the squalls. A fast-moving cold front could bring snow showers and the threat of snow squalls with up to 50 mph gusts on Sunday.National Weather Service The weather service has also issued a wind advisory from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. The weather services New York office also issued a wind advisory for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties until 6 p.m. The Wind Advisory has been expanded to include the Philly metro area and points east to the northern NJ coast. Wind... Posted by US National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly on Sunday, January 14, 2024 A strong Arctic cold front will cross the region today, the weather service said in a social media update. Along and behind this front, strong winds will occur. Areas northwest of the I-95 corridor could see wind gusts up to 50 mph! Snow squalls could quickly reduce visibility with near whiteout conditions, and dangerous flash freeze set up resulting in slippery conditions on area road ways, the weather service said, noting that the high winds are expected to continue for six hours through sunset. Low temperatures on Sunday night will plunge into the teens and lower 20s with wind chills in northwest New Jersey below zero. AccuWeather's snowfall forecast map calls for 1 to 3 inches of snow across New Jersey from a winter storm Monday night into Tuesday.National Weather Service and AccuWeather Another storm threat Friday The stormy weather pattern appears likely to continue for New Jersey, with another potential winter storm later this week, though details remain murky several days out. We could see the next precipitation impact starting Thursday night and lasting into Friday night, the weather service said, noting the uncertainty in the forecast. The early indications suggest another snow situation for much of the region is probable this time around, the weather service said. Ongoing flooding Multiple flood warnings and a coastal flood advisory remain in effect early Sunday for communities still dealing with high rivers and tidal flooding from the series of storms last week. A Comfort Inn hotel in Edgewater had to be closed on Saturday due to flooding and 11 guests were rescued from the building by the fire department using high-water trucks. A total of 25 people were evacuated from the hotel. More than 1,000 homes and businesses remain without power on Sunday morning, according to NJ Advance Medias power outage tracker. New Jersey radar Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. UPDATED FORECAST: Up to 4 inches of snow in forecast. Updates on snowfall amounts, timing. Snow squall warnings have been issued for parts of New Jersey on Sunday indicating the imminent threat of severe weather as a fast-moving band of heavy snow and high wind rips across the state creating dangerous driving conditions on roads and highways. Near whiteout conditions and a quick one half inch of snow in just 10 to 15 minutes will lead to dangerous travel conditions as a result of the very poor visibility and snow or ice covered roads, the National Weather Service said. Winds will gust up to 50 mph in the squalls. Earlier snow squall warnings (now expired): Parts of Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties until 2 p.m. - Expect intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts could get up to 35 mph. This warning covers southeastern sections of Middlesex County, northeastern sections of Ocean County and all of Monmouth County. Sussex and Warren counties until 1:30 p.m. - Expect intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts greater than 35 mph. Highways included: Interstate 80 between mile markers 0 and 1. A earlier snow squall warning that included parts of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris and Somerset counties expired at 12:45 p.m. UPDATE: The snow squall warning in Sussex and Warren counties was canceled at about 12:55 p.m. because the squall that prompted the warning weakened and moved away from those areas, the weather service said. But the agency noted additional snow showers Sunday afternoon may still restrict visibilities down to 1 mile at times. Heed any additional snow squall warnings if they are issued. The snow squall threat led the National Weather Service to issue a special weather statement through 2 p.m. for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties earlier Sunday. The weather services New York office also issued a special weather statement in advance of expect snow squalls in Essex, Hudson, Union and eastern Bergen counties through 1:15 p.m. A wind advisory remains in effect through 5 p.m. Sunday for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Ocean, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex and Warren counties. The weather services New York office also issued a wind advisory for Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic and Union counties until 6 p.m. A fast-moving cold front could bring snow showers and the threat of snow squalls with up to 50 mph gusts on Sunday.National Weather Service A strong Arctic cold front will cross the region today, the weather service said in a social media update. Along and behind this front, strong winds will occur. Areas northwest of the I-95 corridor could see wind gusts up to 50 mph! The weather service advised drivers to stay off the roads until the squalls pass. If possible, delay any travel until the mid to late afternoon hours, the weather service said. If you are traveling, your recognition of these squalls and the actions you take to get off the road or help to gradually slow traffic could prevent a high speed, multi-vehicle accident and save your life and the lives of others. Latest radar Thank you for relying on us to provide the local weather news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad (KLSE:HLFG), since the last five years saw the share price fall 15%. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. Check out our latest analysis for Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not always rationally reflect the value of a business. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. While the share price declined over five years, Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 8.1% per year. So it doesn't seem like EPS is a great guide to understanding how the market is valuing the stock. Or possibly, the market was previously very optimistic, so the stock has disappointed, despite improving EPS. Generally speaking we'd expect to see stronger share price increases on the back of sustained EPS growth, but other metrics may hold a clue to why the share price performance is relatively modest. Revenue is actually up 4.8% over the time period. So it seems one might have to take closer look at the fundamentals to understand why the share price languishes. After all, there may be an opportunity. You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). KLSE:HLFG Earnings and Revenue Growth January 14th 2024 We know that Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad has improved its bottom line lately, but what does the future have in store? You can see what analysts are predicting for Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad in this interactive graph of future profit estimates. Story continues What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR incorporates the value of any spin-offs or discounted capital raisings, along with any dividends, based on the assumption that the dividends are reinvested. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad the TSR over the last 5 years was -4.7%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 7.8% in the last year, Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad shareholders lost 11% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 0.9% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. Is Hong Leong Financial Group Berhad cheap compared to other companies? These 3 valuation measures might help you decide. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. 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. The Yankees who signed right-handed starter Marcus Stroman on Thursday night arent finished collecting arms yet, but many believed the last consequential move would be re-signing rubber-armed lefty Wandy Peralta. BUY YANKEES TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETSMARTER But maybe theres something else afoot: MLB.coms Mark Feinsand reports that the Yankees and World Series champion Texas Rangers have emerged as potential frontrunners for the veteran right-handed reliever Hector Neris. The Yankees interest in Neris might indicate that they are lukewarm on bringing back Peralta or that hes lukewarm on returning. With a bullpen that boasts Clay Holmes, Jonathan Loasigia, and Tommy Kahnle as the late-game arms, with Ian Hamilton, Scott Effross and Victor Gonzalez among those expected to handle the middle innings, the Yankees seem set. Along with Stroman, the Yankees last week signed veteran Luke Weaver, an inexpensive, 30-year-old arm able to eat innings as a starter or long reliever. Every bullpen could use another left-handed reliever thats where Peralta comes in but there are bigger needs than another right-handed arm in an already effective bullpen, especially with the reviews being mixed on Neris. His velocity and ground-ball rate dropped in 2023, but Neris, 34, had a 1.71 ERA in 68 1/3 innings and 71 appearances. Yankees fans might recall that he pitched a shaky eighth inning in the first no-hitter at new Yankee Stadium in 2022. MLB Trade Rumors ranked him the seventh-best reliever on the market while predicting hed get a two-year deal worth $15 million after walking away from the second year of a $17 million deal with the Astros. The Yankees were bidders for Jordan Hicks before he signed with the San Francisco Giants, who offered him a chance to start. With Marcus Stroman joining the Yankees, its unlikely the Yankees will bid on Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery, the best starters still on the market, or trading for White Sox starter Dylan Cease. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. 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. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Only days after being convicted in a sweeping federal corruption case, former Ald. Ed Burke began the new year by collecting a bigger pension check courtesy of an automatic hike that former House Speaker Michael Madigan is also all but guaranteed to get now that his own corruption trial was recently postponed until fall. Burke, Chicagos longest-serving alderman, stands to collect nearly $50,000 this year half of his new $99,200 annual pension rate because pensions arent cut off for City Hall officials convicted of corruption until they are sentenced, which for Burke isnt scheduled until mid-June. As a result, Burke received his annual 3% bump right on schedule when the calendar turned to 2024. Madigan, the longest-serving speaker in American history, meanwhile, will continue to safely collect his roughly $153,400 annual pension thanks to this months court win that secured him a six-month delay in his trial. The postponement means Madigan stays on track to get his own automatic 3% pension increase in July, taking his retirement income to $158,000 a year. Had Madigans original April 1 trial moved forward as scheduled, a conviction could have prompted his pension payments to be suspended before the increase kicked in. The cases of Burke and Madigan spotlight how the public pension spigot can take a while to shut off when public officials face legal troubles. And the two Southwest Siders from neighboring wards stand to benefit from the variety of lucrative laws that favor longtime politicians in Chicago and Springfield. Still, the city and state pension rules for elected officials could play out differently in two major ways for the 80-year-old Burke and Madigan, who turns 82 in April. Along with the state immediately suspending pension payments once an elected official is convicted or enters a guilty plea rather than when they are sentenced, the state also has a stricter policy than the city pension system for longtime officials like Burke and Madigan when it comes to refunds of personal contributions they paid into the retirement systems. Despite his conviction, Burke is able to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from his pension account as a refund for all of the personal contributions he made toward his aldermanic pension. But if Madigans convicted, hes likely to receive no refund for his contributions to the state system. Thats largely because hes on pace to receive more in pension payments by his October trial date than hes contributed to the system. The differences in state pension policies follow Tribune stories that highlighted how some elected officials, including former Republican Gov. George Ryan, had collected hefty pension payments when immersed in long criminal cases and then became eligible for refunds for their own personal contributions once sentenced. The boards moves sought to restrict the flow of taxpayer-supported pension money when retired politicians cases move slowly through the courts. While more should be done, the board overseeing state elected officials pensions has made progress in recent years reforming the system, said former Democratic state Sen. Susan Garrett, now the chair of the Center for Illinois Politics. The states changes represent at least a good sign and should be followed more widely, said Garrett, whose group is a nonpartisan, nonprofit. Even so, court cases favorable to retirees dating back decades, including the federal Operation Gambat investigation that uncovered corruption in the old 1st Ward, are viewed as impediments to making taxpayer-friendly changes. A conviction and a not guilty plea Burke was convicted Dec. 21 of racketeering and bribery for using his elected office to pressure developers doing business with City Hall to hire his private law firm for property tax appeals. Only 12 days later, the longtime 14th Ward alderman, who chose not to run for reelection in 2023, automatically started collecting a slightly bigger city pension. At the beginning of the new year, Burke became eligible for the annual 3% bump, raising his monthly checks to $8,268 from $8,027. And on Jan. 2, the newly adjusted pension payment was deposited directly into his bank account, records show. Madigan has pleaded not guilty in his racketeering case in which federal prosecutors charge he squeezed jobs and benefits for his political allies from Commonwealth Edison and AT&T as the two major state-regulated utilities sought the powerful speakers support for their legislative agendas. A federal judge set Madigans new trial date to Oct. 8 while the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a case from Indiana that challenges the validity of charges that are similar to some of those facing Madigan. He and co-defendant Michael McClain, a former lobbyist already convicted in last years high-profile ComEd Four case, have pleaded not guilty in their case. In supporting Madigans defense he played by the rules, his lawyers recently sent a subpoena to his former House speakers office for records from 2000 through 2020 of communications discussing potential conflicts of interests, actual votes and times Madigan recused himself on House votes. These documents may have been referred to as the MJM Vote List,' the subpoena said, referring to the ex-speakers initials. The subpoena requests communications with Madigans longtime law partner, Vincent Bud Getzendanner, and several top legislative aides, including the ex-speakers legal counsel David Ellis, now an Illinois Appellate Court justice, and former chief of staff Tim Mapes, who was convicted last year of perjury. Mapes has kept collecting his monthly pension checks since his conviction in August. He also received an automatic increase this month that lifted his annual pension rate to more than $154,000, but officials will review the benefit once he is sentenced, which is now scheduled for next month. Another politician involved in both the Burke and Madigan cases former 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis is also collecting his pension. Solis used to be an ally to both Burke and Madigan but became a government mole who secretly recorded both men in the course of the federal governments investigations. Solis phone and video recordings were instrumental in Burkes conviction, and other recordings Solis made are expected to play a major role in Madigans criminal case. Solis cooperated with federal authorities to try to avoid a conviction for his own misdeeds. Solis has been charged, but his case is expected to be dropped once his cooperation is complete. As a result, Solis has kept his pension intact, and, like Burke, received an increase in January. Solis is now getting an annual pension worth nearly $110,000. Political funds paid $11 million in legal costs While Burke and Madigan are, of course, allowed to defend themselves, their legal fights in federal court showcase how favorable laws give these two formerly prominent politicians a flexibility in their finances that an ordinary citizen could likely not afford. Burke and Madigan both tapped their political war chests to pay their legal fees totaling more than $11 million between them and saved the pair from having to dip into their own pockets to pay defense lawyers. Many lower-profile defendants often decide to plead guilty and cut deals rather than spend their life savings or go in debt to fight federal charges against them. Burke has spent more than $3 million out of his campaign funds on legal fees since 2018, state campaign records show. But Burke not only used those campaign resources for his own legal costs. The Tribune reported Burke also paid hundreds of thousands of dollars from his political funds to cover the costs of co-defendant Peter Andrews Jr., a longtime aide who was acquitted. State campaign reports showed $220,000 of those payments were labeled as consulting fees paid to Andrews, but his lawyers said that money was passed along to them. Madigan has spent more than $8 million in legal fees from his campaign kitty. Campaign cash for personal use While the practice of paying legal fees from a campaign fund is common for politicians, an attempt to curb the spending of campaign money on personal matters has led to two systems one for old-timers and the other for everyone else. Burke and Madigan benefit from being among a dwindling number of politicians still eligible to convert campaign funds into cash for themselves. The benefit arose from a compromise reached in Springfield in the late 1990s as lawmakers and then-Gov. Jim Edgar pushed for reforming the states campaign finance laws. As a way to coax votes from sitting lawmakers who didnt want to give up their ability to use campaign cash for personal use, the law bifurcated the new restrictions. It grandfathered an exemption for those in office at the time and allowed the incumbents to tap their own campaign funds for personal use up to the amount of money in their political war chests when Edgar signed the legislation into law in 1998. That option is now outlawed for less senior public officials. For Burke, the exemption means there are fewer restrictions on how he can spend the $2.45 million he had in his campaign fund on June 30, 1998. At that same time, Madigan held nearly $1.5 million in his campaign funds that he could convert. Back then, several other politicians actually took out loans to boost the amount of money in their campaign funds that theyd eventually be able to tap for personal matters. Pension refunds While both men are allowed to access their old campaign cash, only Burke is eligible for a refund of the money he personally paid into his pension over his 54 years on the City Council. Burke stands to be refunded about $540,000 even if city pension officials rule him ineligible to receive more monthly pension payments following his June 19 sentencing. Due to his longevity in city office, Burke is grandfathered out of another law, passed in 2017, that allows the city pension system to deduct how much money a convicted City Hall criminal has collected from how much they put in. For Madigan, though, the equation is far different. He made $352,345 in personal contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System while serving in the House for just over 50 years. He has already received $339,157 in total benefits since retiring almost three years ago. By the time his trial occurs, Madigan will have received more in benefits than he put into the system, meaning the state pension boards policy would not allow him to collect a refund if the former speaker is found guilty, said Tim Blair, the systems executive secretary. Legal precedents have been viewed as a roadblock to making similar policy changes in many pension systems. In various public pension funds, refund policies have long been based on a 2003 Illinois Supreme Court ruling that sided with David Shields, a former Cook County judge convicted of pocketing a $6,000 bribe to fix a case in the Operation Gambat sting. When the judicial pension system deducted from his refund the amount of money he had received in pension checks, he sued and won a full refund. Unlike with Burke, whose pension benefits are still flowing, the state legislative pension board will suspend pension payments once any retired lawmakers are convicted of a felony. The board takes final action on forfeiture following an attorney general review. Legislative pension payments to longtime lobbyist McClain, who previously served in the House with Madigan, were suspended when he was convicted last year. State Sen. Robert Martwick, the Chicago Democrat who chairs the board of the General Assembly Retirement System, said the policy changes arose in response to state elected officials charged with corruption stretching out the time between a guilty plea or guilty verdict and a sentencing, allowing them to collect many extra pension payments. Martwick said the boards policies prevent elected state officials who are expected to lose their pensions from gaming the system. The board overseeing pensions for retired lawmakers and statewide officers established the more restrictive policies in 2015 following a series of Tribune stories highlighting perks and quirks for state elected officials. In a 6-1 opinion, for example, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that Ryan, the former governor, should forfeit his pension following his 2006 corruption conviction that grew out of a licenses-for-bribes scandal rooted in his two terms as secretary of state and that spilled over with more corruption during his single term as governor. Still, Ryan was able to collect $635,000 in pension payments during the three years between leaving office and his conviction. He also was able to get back a $235,000 refund for the contributions hed made to the system over the years. The lone justice to oppose the ruling to take away Ryans entire pension was Anne Burke, who is married to Ed Burke. Justice Burke, once the chief justice of the states high court, maintained that Ryans corruption could be connected only to his terms as governor and secretary of state. In her dissent, she contended there was no such nexus to corruption during his time as lieutenant governor or House lawmaker and that his pension benefits for those years should not be disqualified. Justice Burke, who watched her husbands trial from a front-row seat in a federal courtroom, is retired and receives an annual state pension of $226,278. Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed to this report. rlong@chicagotribune.com Key Insights Significant control over boohoo group by retail investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions 52% of the business is held by the top 5 shareholders Insiders own 22% of boohoo group Every investor in boohoo group plc (LON:BOO) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. The group holding the most number of shares in the company, around 30% to be precise, is retail investors. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company. Individual insiders, on the other hand, account for 22% of the company's stockholders. Generally speaking, as a company grows, institutions will increase their ownership. Conversely, insiders often decrease their ownership over time. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of boohoo group, beginning with the chart below. View our latest analysis for boohoo group AIM:BOO Ownership Breakdown January 14th 2024 What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About boohoo group? Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing. boohoo group already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see boohoo group's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. AIM:BOO Earnings and Revenue Growth January 14th 2024 Our data indicates that hedge funds own 5.3% of boohoo group. That's interesting, because hedge funds can be quite active and activist. Many look for medium term catalysts that will drive the share price higher. MASH Holdings Limited is currently the largest shareholder, with 18% of shares outstanding. In comparison, the second and third largest shareholders hold about 16% and 7.0% of the stock. Mahmud Kamani, who is the second-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Top Key Executive. Story continues Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 52% of the company is controlled by the top 5 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business. While it makes sense to study institutional ownership data for a company, it also makes sense to study analyst sentiments to know which way the wind is blowing. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of boohoo group The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. It seems insiders own a significant proportion of boohoo group plc. Insiders own UK96m worth of shares in the UK434m company. It is great to see insiders so invested in the business. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 30% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies. Private Company Ownership It seems that Private Companies own 18%, of the boohoo group stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Many find it useful to take an in depth look at how a company has performed in the past. You can access this detailed graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. But ultimately it is the future, not the past, that will determine how well the owners of this business will do. Therefore we think it advisable to take a look at this free report showing whether analysts are predicting a brighter future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, Berjaya Food Berhad fair value estimate is RM0.94 Berjaya Food Berhad's RM0.61 share price signals that it might be 35% undervalued Our fair value estimate is 44% higher than Berjaya Food Berhad's analyst price target of RM0.66 Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of Berjaya Food Berhad (KLSE:BJFOOD) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. Our analysis will employ the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. Believe it or not, it's not too difficult to follow, as you'll see from our example! Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for Berjaya Food Berhad 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 need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM143.7m RM158.9m RM172.6m RM183.7m RM193.9m RM203.5m RM212.7m RM221.7m RM230.6m RM239.6m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ 6.41% Est @ 5.55% Est @ 4.95% Est @ 4.53% Est @ 4.24% Est @ 4.03% Est @ 3.89% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 14% RM126 RM123 RM118 RM110 RM103 RM94.7 RM87.2 RM80.0 RM73.3 RM67.0 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM982m Story continues We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (3.6%) 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 14%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = RM240m (1 + 3.6%) (14% 3.6%) = RM2.5b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM2.5b ( 1 + 14%)10= RM691m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM1.7b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM0.6, the company appears quite good value at a 35% 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. KLSE:BJFOOD Discounted Cash Flow January 14th 2024 The Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Berjaya Food Berhad 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 14%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.472. 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 Berjaya Food Berhad Strength Debt is not viewed as a risk. Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows. Dividend is in the top 25% of dividend payers in the market. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the Malaysian market. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Malaysian market. Next Steps: Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. Can we work out why the company is trading at a discount to intrinsic value? For Berjaya Food Berhad, there are three important elements you should assess: Risks: For example, we've discovered 2 warning signs for Berjaya Food Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does BJFOOD's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock 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. A transgender male has organised a 10-mile fundraising walk at Baggy Point in Croyde next week to raise funds for his crucial top surgery. Charlie Turner, aged 19, is looking to undergo surgery in 2025, having saved 1,000 personally and raised approximately 200 through fundraisings. Despite facing challenges in his gender journey, Charlies positive approach has garnered a supportive response from the community. The London Transgender Clinic has explained that top surgery, also known as Subcutaneous Mastectomy, refers to a procedure to remove the female breasts in a female to male transgender individual. This procedure help better align the body with a person's gender identity. The 10 mile walk, which will commence on Saturday, January 20, has seen Charlie prepare through various fitness regimes in order to be in the best possible shape for the walk. This included signing up to a local gym, walking to the gym instead of driving and going on dog walks with his grandfather which are roughly four to five miles a time. To cover the surgery costs, Charlie set up a GoFundMe campaign with a target of 6,000. Remarkably, his story reached Anthony Lexa, a transgender woman and actor from Netflixs Sex Education, recognised for her support of the transgender community. After seeing Charlies posts about the fundraising walk, Anthony reached out and the two collaborated on a Zoom call. Anthony subsequently shared Charlies journey on Instagram, bringing wider attention and support to the cause. Charlies innovative approach extended to a triumphant cake stall at Green Lanes Shopping Centre in Barnstaple, where he not only sold delicious treats, earning 95 but also provided information about the surgery. The stall generated positive comments and sparked interest in his upcoming walk. Charlies decision to share his story with the North Devon Gazette aims to inspire others facing gender identity struggles. Recognising the sensitivity of the topic, his goal is to provide comfort and guidance to those navigating gender identity exploration. He encourages openness, exploration and emphasises the importance of seeking professional support including counselling for a smoother journey. Despite facing some negativity, he has remained resilient, focusing on the positive aspects of his journey. Beyond immediate fundraising goals, he hopes sharing his story will have a wider impact on the conversation surrounding gender identity and acceptance within the community. Towards his goal of surgery in 2025, he has stressed the significance of getting to know the surgeon and encourages others to explore their options for a personalised and informed choice. He was also lucky to see the work of a surgeon he likes on his friends as they have undergone the same operation. In offering valuable advice, Charlie said the importance of self-discovery, exploring options, seeking support, and taking the time to make informed decisions. To donate and support Charlie, you can follow the link here. The 2020 election involved a criminal voter fraud scheme with mass absentee ballots and phony voter registrations, according to the Justice Department and the New Jersey attorney general. This verdict and indictment happened in 2023. Prosecutors in Massachusetts and New York brought election fraud charges in the closing weeks of December. The Justice Department secured a guilty verdict against a congressional candidates spouse Kim Phuong Taylor from a federal jury in November in Sioux City, Iowa, on 52 counts regarding causing absentee ballots to be fraudulently requested and cast that occurred in two elections. Her husband, Jeremy Taylor, ran unsuccessfully in the 2020 Republican primary for the U.S. House in Iowas 4th Congressional District, then successfully in the general election to be reelected as a Woodbury County supervisor. In late October, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez is facing more charges in his election fraud case stemming from his 2020 race. He was previously indicted in 2021 regarding actions in the election. The attorney generals office alleges Mendez personally collected ballots and oversaw the fraudulent mailing of ballots while members of his campaign stole ballots from residential mailboxes and discarded several that did not cast a vote for their candidate. He had three alleged co-conspirators in the case. As explained in my book The Myth of Voter Suppression, election fraud cases are more easily detectable in some states than others. And far too often, remedies to curb absentee ballot fraud are unfairly smeared. Some high-profile stories have prompted Democratic politicians and much of the media to trot out their talking point that voter fraud is a farce. Another talking point is that those rascally red states are prosecuting election fraud cases as a means to infringe on voting rights. But in the last quarter of 2023, indictments or adjudicated court cases occurred in various states. On Dec. 21 in Lawrence, Massachusetts, City Councilor-elect Fidelina Santiago and an ally were indicted on charges including illegal voting, conspiracy to vote illegally, and obstruction of voting, WBZ CBS News Boston reported. The charges, brought by Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, stem from the November 2023 election after first being reported by Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvins office. Also, just days before Christmas in Queens, New York, a 32-year-old man was indicted on charges of casting 20 falsified absentee ballots in the Democratic primary in 2022, Fox News reported. Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz emphasized: Every vote has to count. Election integrity is the foundation of a viable, working democracy. The Queens man faces 140 charges. Beyond casting fake ballots, prosecutors say the man obtained approval for 32 out of 118 ballot applications. Among the most high-profile cases is one in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where some of the alleged fraud from the September Democratic mayoral primary seemed to have been caught on camera. This led Mayor Joe Ganim who served time on a previous public corruption conviction when he was mayor of the city about two decades earlier to accept full responsibility, WSHU reported. Ganim, however, said he wasnt aware that a Democratic operative was allegedly stuffing ballots into a drop box outside Bridgeport City Hall and caught on camera in the act. A state judge tossed Ganims primary victory a week before the November general election, calling the evidence of fraud shocking. A Texas state appeals court overturned the result of a Laredo City Council race, ruling that Ricardo Rangel Jr. was the rightful winner of a 2022 election. This came after the alleged involvement of city police officers in casting illegal votes, the Laredo Morning Times reported. These legal cases highlight how voter fraud can be committed, emphasizing the critical need for robust election integrity laws. The prosecutions and convictions brought within the last three months ranging from illegal voting and ballot tampering to fraudulent registration underscore the vulnerabilities in the electoral system. As these cases unfold, they underscore the importance of continuous efforts to strengthen election laws and protect the vote as we move into 2024 enabling us to safeguard the democratic foundations of the United States. Americans may have missed the news in Panama. The events there in the last part of 2023 may have long-lasting implications for renewable energy. Those events are a microcosm of a much bigger test. The global community must limit temperature increases, which requires many more raw materials to build such things as windmills, solar panels and electric car batteries. A battle between a Canadian copper mining company and environmentalists and indigenous natives has been brewing in Panama the quintessential jobs-versus-climate-change clash. Panamanians said that expanding the mine would disrupt its rainforests and the livelihoods of those who survive there. In contrast, the mining company said it would cost Panama 40,000 jobs and reserves the right to appeal to an international arbitration court. The bottom line is that the countrys supreme court ruled in favor of the environmentalists and indigenous communities, forcing First Quantum Minerals to cease operations. Panamas president, Laurentino Cortizo, said he would respect the courts decision and close the mine. Between the human right to a healthy environment and the right to protection of economic investment, the balance of the Supreme Court will naturally tilt toward safeguarding the continuity of human beings, the ruling said. The question is how to reconcile the desire for more renewables with the need for rare earths. However, the Panamanian dispute entails much more its coveted rainforests, biodiversity and the nations sovereign rights. But does it conflict with the conclusions of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) to phase down fossil-energy usage by tripling renewables, doubling energy efficiency measures, and stopping deforestation by 2030? That includes reaching 33,000 gigawatts of renewable energy and electrifying 90% of the transportation industry by 2050. The bad news is that the rare minerals are concentrated in a few countries, putting the rest of the world at risk from political unrest to export restrictions to market manipulation. Moreover, the United States and the European Union defer mining and labor to developing countries while they create the products. The International Renewable Energy Agency released the Geopolitics of the Energy Transition, which concludes that the supply of rare earths does not impede net zero goals. However, it said mining techniques must be environmentally benign while the host countries must realize greater economic benefits. Its premise is that a well-planned energy transition can rehabilitate the extractive industry. If corporations respect local communities, it gives them a broader social license. A critical step is to provide the host country with a more significant stake in the end value, allowing them to create more jobs. Currently, richer countries are benefiting from lithium batteries in phones and electric cars, while poorer countries bear the brunt of the damage caused by mining, said Tahmid Chowdhury with the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. Circling back to Panama, First Quantum already paid $567 million the first installment of what would have been $375 million annually. At the same time, the mining company said it has established a goal of 30% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2025 and 50% by 2030 at the project while it continues to reforest. Juan Monterrey, executive director of Geoversity, said the proceeds pale compared to what the mining company would reap. Moreover, he said the contract was negotiated in secrecy and violated the countrys rainforests and sovereignty. The contract cannot be renegotiated, and international bidding cannot happen because the mining moratorium and social unrest prohibit the approval of any new concession application, Monterrey said. Therefore, closure and restoration of the site is the only legal path forward. The global implications? Developing countries must leverage their negotiating strength and extract no pun intended critical concessions from foreign investors. Among other things, it includes sharing more of the wealth while repairing the footprints they leave behind. HAMMOND It was a major attendance award. Ralphie and the Gang Come Home, a reunion of the cast of the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," broke the attendance record for the Indiana Welcome Center in Hammond and drew visitors from 28 states. More than 7,000 people signed up for the "once-in-a-lifetime chance" just before Christmas to meet "A Christmas Story" actors Peter Billingsley, Scott Schwartz, Ian Petrella, Yano Anaya, R.D. Robb, Drew Hocevar, Patty Johnson and Dwayne McLean, but the long lines and rain deterred many. About 2,800 ended up attending the cast reunion, breaking the previous attendance record of 2,500 at the Indiana Welcome Center. "It could have been a lot more than that but we didn't have to manage the crowds," SSCVA Chief Marketing Officer Heather Becerra said. "Unlike in Cleveland and Pittsburgh, we had lines. They did not have lines. The cast members told us we had the event with the most turnout." People came from Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Colorado, Iowa, Missouri, Florida and Washington to attend. "We have a great relationship with the 'A Christmas Story' family. There's some talk of them doing something in Hammond, I think we're going to be the first people they call," she said. "That weekend was the reason why we do this, just seeing all the happy people." Cast members took the time to talk with visitors and share stories. "I think it was the best event we've ever had here," interim CEO Nikki Lopez said. "People traveled from 28 different states to attend. That's what the whole goal is, to bring in people from the outside. We hope to do more large-scale events like that and do more with the 'A Christmas Story' family in the future." The SSCVA spent about $125,000 with the help of private donations form sponsors to bring back the cast to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the classic film, which was penned by Hammond native Jean Shepherd and is set in Hohman, a lightly fictionalized version of his hometown Hammond. Every year, the SSCVA hosts the "A Christmas Story Comes Home" exhibit with New York City department store window displays to commemorate the classic film, which airs around the clock on cable television on Christmas and features many Northwest Indiana references like "clodhopper from Griffith," a "tapestry of curse words hanging over Lake Michigan" and the erstwhile Goldblatt's department store in Hammond. More than 13,000 visitors turned out to see "A Christmas Story Comes Home" during the holiday season. More than 500 students have come on field trips to see it. "It's probably one of the bigger things we've ever done," SSCVA Board Vice President Brent Brashier said. "I've been watching 'A Christmas Story' my whole life but I'm relatively new to the Region. I've only lived here 10 years and never put two and two together that our place in history is home to Jean Shepherd and the setting for the book. It's an amazing thing for the history and culture of the Region." It was a celebration of Region history, he said. "Having all the cast members here is something that's never happened before," he said. "It's a really, really cool thing. People from here got to get out and learn about the culture of the Region. The movie's on 24 hours a day for about a week and it's about the Region. There's not that many places that have that connection to a movie and one that's part of the American culture like that. For the cast to be here was amazing. When I came to the board meeting, Flick was sitting by the statue of Flick outside the building. It was a surreal situation." Board Chairman Andy Qunell said the event generated a lot of excitement. "We became some of the most popular guys in Lake County. Everybody wanted to get in here to see Ralphie. I had 65-year-old men calling me to ask what they have to do to see Ralphie," he said. "We bring people to the Region. They stay in our hotels, spend money in our restaurants, and hopefully buy things in our stores and gamble in our casinos." The USDA's January WASDE and Quarterly Stocks Report was released Friday, and it put what may be the final nail in the coffin for 2023-24 grain bulls. Production estimates of both corn and soybeans for the 2023 crop year were raised between 0.5% and 1% in total, which doesnt sound like much, but it allows for the projected 2023/24 ending stocks of corn to remain comfortably above 2 billion bushels at 2.162 billion. That's a plentiful supply that will take time for demand to chew through. Demand has been goodish, with better export sales to Mexico then last year and consumption from an ethanol market that has been running at top end for both total production and positive profit margins when taking the previous year into account. However, ethanol margins and demand have taken a hit in the last month, partially due to seasonal tendencies and the first bout of cold weather, but its not a given or even an expectation that returns will be the same as last year. March corn futures are down $0.24 since the start of the year, settling at $4.47/bu today. Projected 2023/24 soybean ending stocks were raised from 245 million bushels to 280 million bushels. Still a tight enough number that could be swallowed by an increase in demand from surprise Chinese purchases, but with the weather straightening out in South America recently and offers for soybeans originating south of the equator crumbling in price the last two weeks, if there is a surprise from China it would be more likely cancelations of previous purchases from the U.S. March Soybean futures are down $0.73 since the start of the year settling at $12.25/bu Friday. The only comfort for grain bulls is that prices are technically very oversold in both the corn and soybean markets and due for a bounce. That and the markets are closed for an extra day this weekend due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Have a comment or question? Please reach out to derrick.hermesch@pinionglobal.com or call at 785-338-9605 INDIANAPOLIS Northwest Indiana veterans will have the opportunity to attend the 10th annual Indiana Military Veterans Legislative Day on Tuesday in Indianapolis at no cost. This annual event gives veterans the opportunity to meet with elected members of the Indiana General Assembly and discuss legislation that impacts their lives, a news release stated. The program, which begins at 9 a.m. at the Statehouse, will recognize honored guests, discuss legislative success for veterans and have a presentation for this year's Chair of Honor. A NWI shuttle will depart from Wicker Park in Highland at 6 a.m. on Tuesday for veterans interested in attending. The bus fare is free, but a seat must be reserved at Lakevetsbus@yahoo.com. The bus will return to the Region around 4 p.m. Attendants will also listen to keynote speaker Keith Williams. "Williams is a Hoosier veteran currently continuing his service to the nation at the Federal Emergency Management Agency," a news release said. Donuts and coffee will be served beginning at 9 a.m. Lunch will be provided at no cost following the program at 10:30 a.m. During this time, veterans can meet with legislators and access resources from around the state, officials said. Beginning at 11:30 a.m., NWI veterans in particular, can meet with state senators and representatives on the 3rd floor outside of the Indiana Supreme Court. There will be 50 exhibitor booths and 30 young men and women from the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps to assist veterans. Fifteen Hoosiers from across the state will be recognized for their 2023 induction into the Indiana Military Veterans Hall of Fame. Anyone with questions can call 317-232-9987 or email h95@iga.in.gov. Feeling caucus confusion? Your guide to how Iowa works What is a caucus? How are caucuses different from primaries? Are both the Republicans and Democrats holding caucuses in Iowa this year? Whats at stake? How will the Republican caucuses work in 2024? How will the Democratic caucuses work in 2024? The Indiana Court of Appeals has unanimously affirmed the murder conviction of an East Chicago man who shot and killed a resident of a nearby street at the end of the city's 2022 Calumet Day celebration. Glenn Keller Jr., 35, was sentenced to 63 years in prison for the July 23, 2022, slaying of Shaquille Russell, 27, as Russell was entering a car in the 4800 block of Alexander Street in East Chicago, according to court records. Records show the shooting was motivated in part by tension between residents of McCook Avenue, where Keller usually resided, and Melville Avenue, also known as the "Ville Block," where Russell lived two streets over. Following minor altercations between the two men leading up to Calumet Day, Keller waited until night and ambushed Russell by shooting him eight times with a .40 caliber handgun. Russell died almost instantly, according to court records. In his appeal, Keller argued at least four items of evidence presented at his trial, including witness statements, telephone recordings, surveillance video and Facebook posts related to the shooting, should not have been presented to the jury. The appeals court, however, rejected each claim and found no reversible error warranting a new trial. "We affirm the trial court's judgment," wrote Judge Leanna Weissmann on behalf of the appeals court. Russell still can ask the Indiana Supreme Court to review his case. Otherwise, his earliest possible release date from prison, assuming good behavior, is Nov. 16, 2069, according to the Indiana Department of Correction. 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 Its not hard to sense that something extraordinary is happening in the United States. A belief that digital technology is nonessential may be making way for a new measure of its worth the idea that it is playing a significant role in bolstering the nations economy. The evidence can be found in the vast computer-server farms that move and store data and activate everything from smartphones to laptops and digital TVs and make up the backbone of whats called in the cloud, providing digital services such as streaming, artificial intelligence and virtual reality. It can be found in smart manufacturing, in which advances in computerized technology have revolutionized the fabrication of products, ranging from implants for hip joints and teeth to lighter and stronger aircraft parts. Some products are made from computer-engineered materials that did not exist 10 years ago. However, there needs to be a discussion about the fast-growing electricity demand in particular, for the more than 2,500 warehouse-size data centers nationwide, the biggest infrastructures ever built, each requiring as much as 500 megawatts of electricity, the amount of power used by a large steel mill. Meanwhile, the erosion of grid reliability has fueled debate about whether the United States can produce enough electricity to run the data centers and keep pace with the fast-growing energy needs of the digital economy. The more pressing question is whether the United States can afford to shut down coal plants since many utilities have encountered electricity demand levels they did not project for a decade. The situation was brought home forcefully in October when the organization responsible for overseeing the nations electricity reliability warned there might not be enough electricity supply to meet rising demand. The North American Electric Reliability Corp. said in its long-term reliability assessment that large parts of the country are vulnerable to power shortages this winter. Should that happen, blackouts could incapacitate data centers that are the foundation of the digital economy. Paradoxically, the Environmental Protection Agency is forcing the shutdown of coal plants that provide much base load power. Never mind that the need for energy is projected to rise sharply in the years ahead not only to meet growing demand from data centers but also from the shift to electric vehicles, increased residential and commercial use, and growing electrification in industry. The Wall Street Journal says electricity demand from data centers could double by 2030, with widespread effects on jobs, economic development and energy production. The impact has become evident in Virginia, where 75 data centers have been built since 2019, with electricity demand jumping 7%. Home to Amazon, Google and dozens of other technological giants, Virginia has more than 275 data centers, more than any other place globally. Dominion Power expects electricity demand in Virginia to increase by 85% over the next 15 years, with the explosion in information communications technologies, otherwise known as the digital economy. Virginia is not alone. In California, home of Silicon Valley, Pacific Gas and Electric expects electricity demand to rise 70% in the next 20 years. Arizona Public Service has told regulators it will need 19,000 megawatts of new resources to meet the electricity needs over the next 15 years. Echoing the power problems other states are experiencing, Colorado has said new electricity supplies are needed to power additional data centers, two new semiconductor plants, and a growing population supplies equal to the power production of the entire fleet of Xcel Energy. New Yorks grid operator expects electricity demand will more than triple installed generating capacity by 2040. And in Texas, the nations largest electricity producer, power sales grew five times the national rate for the past decade and are rising. According to the International Energy Agency, the worlds digital system uses as much as 340 terawatt-hours of electricity annually. Thats about 10% of the worlds electricity equal to the combined power production of Germany and Japan. In fact, more money is being spent to increase the systems capacity than all the worlds utilities spend annually to produce and distribute electricity. President Biden aims to power the country with emission-free renewable energy. Still, the cost of power shortages that might result from a shift to intermittent wind and solar is much too high. Even with generous government subsidies, wind and solar combined supply less than 15% of the nations electricity. Moreover, no new U.S. nuclear plants are being built, and many existing nuclear plants are nearing retirement. Some regions of the country that rely heavily on natural gas for electricity generation are at risk of plant shutdowns due to a shortage of pipeline capacity. Contrast that with reliable power from coal, which is available around the clock. In fact, coal power is so reliable and readily available that renewal energy proponents advocate keeping coal power plants as backups for solar and wind power. For many states, coal is a commodity too precious to lose. Although dozens of coal plants have been closed in recent years because of environmental dictates, there still are 225 plants operating, producing nearly 20% of the nations power. If ever there was a time for an honest assessment of policy on coal, it is now. What that reassessment would conclude is that the public interest requires an honest recognition that coal will be needed to help power our digital economy well into the future. Peter Crombie, an actor who was probably best known for his memorable portrayal of Crazy Joe Davola on five episodes of the hit sitcom Seinfeld, died on Wednesday in a health care facility in Palm Springs, Calif. He was 71. His ex-wife, Nadine Kijner, confirmed the death. She said he had been recovering from surgery, but did not specify its nature. Mr. Crombies Joe Davola is a temperamental character who develops a deep hatred of Jerry a semi-fictionalized version of the shows star and co-creator, the comedian Jerry Seinfeld and ends up stalking him. His first appearance was in The Pitch, an episode in the shows fourth season, in which they encounter each other at the NBC offices and Joe, a writer, ends up blaming Jerry when the network rejects a script he has written. His final appearance was in the season finale, when he tries to disrupt the taping of the show-within-a-show that the fictional Jerry has created for himself. Tall and lanky, Mr. Crombies character had a flat, borderline menacing affect and an unblinking 1,000-yard stare. He also briefly dated and then stalked the tough New Yorker Elaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), at one point plastering a wall of his apartment with black-and-white surveillance photos of her. In the episode The Opera, bitter over being jilted by her, he disguises himself as a clown to pursue her at a performance of Pagliacci. Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together. This years list of 52 Places to Go from The New York Times Travel desk features destinations for every kind of globe-trotter. Some places that made the list will usher in extraordinary events in 2024. Paris, for one, is hosting the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games; Mexico, Canada and 13 U.S. states will offer paramount views of the total solar eclipse crossing North America this spring. Other destinations, like Morocco and Maui, Hawaii, are hoping to welcome back visitors after devastating natural disasters last year. Some places were chosen with personal experience in mind. Below, four contributors to this years list shared the stories behind their selections. One revisited a favorite destination from her childhood; another found a haven on a rural road trip. One traveled to a mountainous region in India to witness a spiritual festival; and one simply took a closer at the scenery around her. All found wonder. And they wanted to share that with Times readers. The Republican nominee in a special House election to replace George Santos in New York provided a hazy glimpse into her personal finances this week, submitting a sworn financial statement to Congress that prompted questions and led her to amend the filing. The little-known candidate, Mazi Pilip, reported between $1 million and $5.2 million in assets, largely comprising her husbands medical practice and Bitcoin investments. In an unusual disclosure, she said the couple owed and later repaid as much as $250,000 to the I.R.S. last year. But the initial financial report Ms. Pilip filed with the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday appeared to be missing other important required information, including whether the assets were owned solely by herself or her husband, Dr. Adalbert Pilip, or whether they were owned jointly. And despite making past statements that she stopped working there in 2021 when she ran for the Nassau County Legislature, Ms. Pilip reported receiving a $50,000 salary from the family medical practice in 2022 and 2023. Donald J. Trump has the backing of 48 percent of likely caucusgoers ahead of Mondays election, a commanding lead for the former president, according to the Iowa Poll by The Des Moines Register, NBC News and Mediacom. Nikki Haley is narrowly leading the battle for second place over Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, 20 percent to 16 percent, according to the survey, which was released on Saturday evening. The poll shows Ms. Haley, the former United Nations ambassador, improving compared with December and Mr. Trump slipping but only marginally. He enjoys a 28-point lead, compared with a 32-point advantage last month. The survey has almost nothing but good news for the former president. He leads with every demographic group tested, performing most strongly among those without a college degree, those earning less than $50,000 and men who did not graduate from college. He pulled in the support of roughly three in five voters in those three categories. Theres a stickiness to Mean Girls quotes. For a certain generation, long passages can be plucked from the mind and performed, cadence-perfect, on demand. As a child, I watched the movie over and over on DVD, and the words wormed their way into my impressionable mind. My experience is by no means unique. It became part of my vernacular, Samantha Jayne told The Times of her teenage reaction to the film, which was released in 2004. Every single sound bite. Jayne is a co-director of a new version of Mean Girls, which came out on Friday. Its an adaptation of an adaptation, refashioning songs from the 2018 Broadway musical based on the movie. (It should also be mentioned that the original film was inspired by a nonfiction book.) Like its predecessor, the new Mean Girls follows Cady Heron (Angourie Rice), a teenager who has arrived at an American high school after being home-schooled by her zoologist parents in Kenya. She is introduced to the terrors of a teenage social hierarchy and drawn into the orbit of a group of popular girls, led by Regina George (Renee Rapp). Investigators with the New York State Department of Health have concluded that a troubling lapse by a surgical team at a hospital in Brooklyn resulted in the recent death of a 30-year-old mother who gave birth by cesarean section, according to a document obtained by The New York Times. It is the second known instance in recent years in which state health authorities have blamed doctors for a maternal death at Woodhull Medical Center, long regarded as one of the weaker hospitals in the citys large public hospital system. The death of the woman, Christine Fields, in November, brought renewed attention to the racial disparities around childbirth in New York City. Ms. Fields was Black. In New York City, Black women are nine times more likely to die during childbirth than white women. That disparity is far sharper than the national one, and a range of public officials, from Mayor Eric Adams to Gov. Kathy Hochul, have cast about for ways to reduce it. Few details about what caused Ms. Fieldss death have emerged. She had been in labor at Woodhull when a change in the fetal heart rate prompted alarm. Doctors decided that an emergency C-section was necessary. Its a scene as old as celluloid: a shadowy figure named Luca Brasi or John Wick or Barry Berkman lurking in the darkness, outfitted with sinister intent and nifty weapons, effortlessly committing a murder for cash, animus or cold political calculations. Whether theyre called hit men, contract killers or assassins, figures who kill for a living are a staple of Hollywood thrillers and, by extension, the public imagination. But experts in law enforcement and international espionage say that murders-for-hire are notoriously difficult to successfully arrange, let alone get away with. Take, for example, what prosecutors say was a recent foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist in New York City, which American intelligence officials believe was ordered by the Indian government. Once the plot reached the point where the alleged conspirators needed to employ a killer, things got complicated: The would-be hit man turned out to be an undercover agent working for the U.S. government. The College Democrats of New Jersey were preparing to make an endorsement in one of the countrys most closely watched U.S. Senate primaries when calls began to come in from someone in touch with the campaign of Tammy Murphy, the presumptive front-runner and the wife of the states governor. The caller, a female college student who works as a youth coordinator for the Democratic State Committee, wanted to know what Ms. Murphys campaign could do to block the group from endorsing Ms. Murphys main rival, Representative Andy Kim. Would a call from Tammy help? the woman said she asked, while indicating she was relaying a message from the Murphy campaign. Then, in a series of calls over the next two hours, the pressure from the caller, Keely Magee, escalated to warnings about funding and future job prospects for leaders of the College Democrats, according to several people involved in the discussions and a recording of one call. After her failure to identify slavery as the cause of the Civil War generated a wave of criticism last month, Nikki Haley assured her potential constituents that she had Black friends and that she understood the wars origins. She said that in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery. Conveniently producing Black friends is, alas, not surprising, but claiming she learned that the Civil War was a battle over slavery in second and third grade is. Ms. Haley attended a segregation academy, a type of private school established in the years after the Supreme Courts 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education by white parents who did not want their children attending school with Black children. By 1975, the number of private schools in South Carolina grew more than tenfold, enrolling as many as 90 percent of the white children in some majority Black counties. The Supreme Court eventually ruled that discrimination on the basis of race wasnt legal at private schools, either, but even today, many segregation academies remain overwhelmingly white. Ms. Haley graduated in 1989 from Orangeburg Preparatory School. Orangeburg was the product of a merger between Wade Hampton and Willington Academy, also segregation academies; Hampton was named after one of the largest slaveholding families in South Carolina. At one point, graduates of Hampton received Confederate flag lapel pins, which were meant to symbolize resistance to integration. The year Ms. Haley graduated, her high school yearbook featured, at most, a handful of Black students. Geek Note: Well, once again its Mac Week here at Its Geek to Me, as I address some problems that readers are having with their Mac devices. Since I am by no means a Mac guy, I turned to my friend and fellow Geek, Brian Walton, who provided me with most of the information in this columns answers. Brian also is the owner of Birddawg Computers, through which he sells and services a full line of both PC and Mac hardware. Youll find him online at TinyURL.com/IGTM-0711. Brian also is my No. 1 assistant at my annual light show build. Q: Your consummate competence in this space leads to the question: My Macbook Pro now only types in Uzbek, without any conscious prodding of my own. My attempts to sidestep this in settings has been fruitless. Can you help? Steven B., Niceville A: Well, Steven, although I appreciate your grandiloquent display of ostentatious verbiage, please allow me to elucidate that I would have answered your question even without such florid and bombastic expressions. Ow. I think I hurt myself. Whew Ill be OK; just give me a moment. So, Steven, the simple answer is that major operating systems such as Windows, MacOS, etc., are designed to be operated by people worldwide, regardless of language or location. To accomplish that, the vendor either must release dozens, or even hundreds, of language-specific versions, or they must include an ability for their product to interact in different languages. If its not already obvious, the latter choice, being the most cost-effective, is the method of choice. In your case, something happened on your computer to switch it out of English mode. This is a simple setting in the keyboard, which you can correct by performing a few simple steps. These steps apply to the latest version of MacOS, Sonoma, so the location of specific items may vary slightly if youre still on an older version. Choose the Apple menu > System Settings, then scroll down to find and click Keyboard in the sidebar. Under Text Input, click Edit. Click the Add (plus) button, search for the language you want and select it. Select one or more input sources to associate with the language and click Add. That should set things right for you. Story continues Q: Im trying to correct email processing on my iMac. Cox's email messed up when Cox changed the security system several months ago. Email still works OK on my iPhone. Cox webmail chats were unable to fix the problem, and said the problem was my iMac OS being out of date/unsupported. I've upgraded the OS to High Sierra (still supported), but Im still unable to get emails in or out on iMac. I tried the Cox webmail chats again, but they were still unable to fix it. They suggested that the problem may be the Apple Mail App still Mail version 11.5 3445.9.7. Incoming server imap.cox.net:993 port 143. Outgoing server smtp.cox.net:465 port 143 or 587. Do you think I should try to download the new macOSMail App? Jerry J., Mary Esther A: If theres a newer version available, I almost always recommend downloading and installing it. That includes not just software, but drivers and system files as well. In your case, Jerry, I think your problems have more to do with the age of your machine, your installed operating system version and your server settings rather than the actual version of the macOSMail application. If you accurately described your computer in your submission, its more than 10 years old. Apple generally backs off support for hardware older than eight years. That could be why youre running a version of MacOS that seems to be at least six versions behind what is current. If Apple wont let you upgrade, youre probably stuck where you are. However, what concerns me most are errors in your server settings. When you insert a colon after an IP address, as you have done with both of your server IPs, this designates a port number to be used. Entries for mail server settings generally have a separate place to enter the port number. It looks like you also are showing that, but the information you are using appears to be invalid. Try removing the :993 and :465 from your server IPs, and provide those values in the Port field for each of the servers. Dont use 143 or 587 at all. To view additional content, comment on articles or submit a question of your own, visit ItsGeekToMe.co (not .com!) This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Its Mac Week | Its Geek to Me Cheryl Sharp, a 47-year-old sales associate who was among the many Iowans turned away from a filled-to-capacity Trump rally last month, sounded pretty confident she knew why Donald Trump was so appealing to many voters. For her and many others, she said, his most important quality was strength: He had the fortitude to keep the country safe, avoid new wars and ensure the economy hummed along. You want someone strong, globally, so that it creates mutual respect with other countries, and maybe a little bit of fear, she told me. Yes, its true, not everyone likes him. Its good not to be liked. Being strong is better. Sharp readily conceded that not everything Trump said was great, but she saw that as part of the right personality to be president. You gotta be a little crazy, maybe, to make sure other countries respect and fear us, she said. And he can run the country like a business, and they will leave him alone. Three days later, inside a Trump rally in New Hampshire, Scott Bobbitt and his wife, Heather, also brought up Trumps strength. He commands respect and fear around the world, Scott Bobbitt told me. Many people may be driven by fear of him because hell do what he says hes going to do, and hes not afraid to talk about it. And I think that thats very powerful. That does protect our country, and hell stand up instead of rolling over. All humans have oddities in the ways they speak. But those of presidential candidates are exposed more than most. All day, the candidates talk. And talk. And talk. Sometimes in scripted stump speeches, sometimes in off-the-cuff remarks to voters and the news media. And few talk more than Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who, in trying to make up his deficit in the polls, will on a typical day host five events for voters, sit for three interviews on television and hold a gaggle with reporters. Over the weeks and months on the campaign trail, one of Mr. DeSantiss most curious verbal quirks has become clear: the way he sometimes uses the word do. During a CNN debate last week, Mr. DeSantis pledged to help seniors afford prescription drugs. I want seniors to be able to do, he said. With a mass of frigid Arctic air descending on much of the United States this upcoming week, meteorologists and public health officials are well aware that a North Dakotan and a South Texan are unlikely to agree on what amounts to extreme cold. As such, the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stress that there is no set definition for extreme cold, and the point at which forecasters will warn residents that the plunging temperatures are a danger to them is calibrated to the regions prevailing climate. Everyones extreme is a different level, said Ketzel Levens, a meteorologist in the Weather Services office in Duluth, Minn., where the average daily temperature in January is a crisp 9.4 degrees. Folks up north might have better protection. They might have a lot more clothes and layers. Our houses, our water infrastructure, theyre built to a different standard. And so if you warned Minnesotans every time it is merely freezing cold, you would struggle to get their attention when it was dangerously cold. Ms. Levenss office issues a wind chill advisory only when the temperature reaches minus 25, and a wind chill warning when it reaches 40 below. Four people were killed and one person was critically injured after a hot-air balloon crashed in a desert area about 50 miles northwest of Tucson, Ariz., on Sunday morning, the police said. The crash happened at about 7:50 a.m. in Eloy, Ariz., the Eloy Police Department said on Facebook. The balloon was carrying 13 adults, including its operator, the citys mayor, Micah Powell, said in an interview on Sunday night. Eight of those aboard were sky divers. It was not immediately clear what went wrong but it appears that after the sky divers left the gondola, there was some kind of catastrophic failure, said the citys police chief, Byron Gwaltney. A witness who saw the last 10 seconds of the balloons descent before it crashed described it as deflated, shapeless and coming straight down, the mayor said. Last month, on the first night of Hanukkah, more than 200 people packed an old ballroom on the third floor of a restored synagogue in Brooklyn. A few came fresh off the subway from a protest in Manhattan that was organized by left-wing Jewish groups calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. They were there to hear from Shaul Magid, 65, whose long, thin white beard and shaved head made him look more like a roadie than a rabbi. A professor of Jewish Studies at Dartmouth as well as (yes) a rabbi, Mr. Magid was there to spread the message elucidated in a new book, The Necessity of Exile, that Jews today outside Israel 75 percent of whom live in the United States should embrace diaspora, the state of living outside a homeland, as a permanent and valuable condition. If theres a diasporic reality where Jews have been able to live as Jews, flourish as Jews, not to be oppressed and persecuted whether they choose to be a Satmar Hasid or Larry David, it doesnt matter if theyre allowed to live the Judaism they want, why would that be a tragedy? he said. Lt. Ridge Alkonis, a Navy officer, was released from prison on Friday, about a month after he was transferred to the United States following his conviction in Japan for causing a deadly traffic accident, a case that had strained relations between the two countries. He had served half of his three-year sentence in Japan and was expected to serve the rest of it in the United States, with an American agency deciding the length of his incarceration. That agency, the U.S. Parole Commission, ruled on Friday that he had already served a long-enough sentence. He was released the same day, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. A spokesman for the lieutenants family declined to comment. In May 2021, Lieutenant Alkonis, who was stationed at the Yokosuka naval base south of Tokyo, was driving a Toyota vehicle after visiting Mount Fuji with his wife and three children. Lieutenant Alkonis fell asleep at the wheel, according to an accident report obtained by The New York Times. His silver Toyota veered off the road and collided with five cars outside a restaurant, fatally crushing two people. Lieutenant Alkonis pleaded guilty to negligent driving in an effort to receive a suspended sentence. He also paid the victims families $1.6 million and wrote apology letters. At trial he said he had been suffering from acute mountain sickness just before the accident, but a judge disagreed. The victims families asked the judge to render a severe penalty. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, president of Stanford, resigned in August after an investigation found serious flaws in studies he had supervised going back decades. Claudine Gay, president of Harvard, resigned as the new year dawned, under mounting accusations of plagiarism going back to her graduate student days. Then Neri Oxman, a former star professor at M.I.T., was accused of plagiarizing from Wikipedia, among other sources, in her dissertation. Her husband, the hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman, was one of Dr. Gays most dogged critics. And he has vowed to scour the records of M.I.T.s faculty, and its president, Sally Kornbluth, for plagiarism. The attacks on the integrity of higher education have come fast and furious over the last few years. The federal Varsity Blues investigation, in which wealthy parents were accused of using bribery and fraud to secure spots for their children in resume-building colleges, launched a debate over merit and the admissions game. The affirmative action lawsuit against Harvard exposed how Asian American students must perform at a higher standard to win entry. And the protests over the Israel-Hamas war opened administrators to charges that they tolerated antisemitism on their campuses. The last time Donald J. Trump participated in competitive Iowa caucuses, he lost narrowly, accused Senator Ted Cruz of Texas of stealing the contest, claimed fraud, demanded that Iowa Republicans nullify the results, and called for a rerun. While Iowa has a history of troubles with its caucus results, theres been no evidence of fraud. The 2016 Republican contest was, in fact, the only one since 2008 that had gone off without a hitch. And yet if Monday night ends with Mr. Trump failing to meet expectations, both his history and his rhetoric during this years campaign suggest he wont hesitate to cry foul and refuse to accept the result. Mr. Trump has already accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida of trying to rig the caucuses. Laura Loomer, a far-right and anti-Muslim activist whom Mr. Trump last year considered hiring for a campaign post, suggested on social media that the deep state was engaging in weather manipulation to instigate Iowas Friday snowstorm and subzero temperatures to depress Trump turnout on Monday. And Donald Trump Jr. suggested in a Telegram video that we cant take anything for granted, or assume that everything is going to be on the up and up. Weve seen this rodeo before. Despite staunch resistance from his opponents in the government, the anticorruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo was inaugurated early Monday morning as Guatemalas president, a turning point in a country where tensions have been simmering over widespread graft and impunity. His inauguration had been scheduled for Sunday, but members of Congress delayed it, and concerns persisted about whether it would happen at all. But after an international outcry and pressure from protesters, Mr. Arevalo was sworn in shortly after midnight, becoming Guatemalas most progressive head of state since democracy was re-established in the 1980s. His rise to power six months after his victory at the polls delivered a stunning rebuke to Guatemalas conservative political establishment amounts to a sea change in Central Americas most populous country. His landslide election reflected broad support for his proposals to curb graft and revive a teetering democracy. But as Mr. Arevalo prepares to govern, he must assert control while facing off against an alliance of conservative prosecutors, members of Congress and other political figures who have gutted Guatemalas governing institutions in recent years. Houthis hold firm after U.S. strikes After U.S.-led strikes against Houthi-controlled sites in Yemen on Thursday and Friday, U.S. officials said that the militia had retained about three-quarters of its ability to target ships transiting the Red Sea. The airstrikes damaged or destroyed about 90 percent of their targets. But much of the Houthis offensive capability is mounted on mobile platforms and can be readily moved or hidden. And finding targets is more challenging than anticipated. Western intelligence agencies have not spent significant time or resources in recent years collecting data on the location of Houthi air defenses, command hubs, munitions depots and facilities for drones and missiles, the officials said. The shortcomings reveal the challenges that the U.S. and its allies face as they seek to deter the Iran-backed Houthis from retaliating, to secure critical shipping routes between Europe and Asia and to contain the spread of regional conflict. The Houthis have said they will continue to attack ships in solidarity with the Palestinians until Israel withdraws from Gaza. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) allow investors to gain exposure to real estate assets without having to own them directly. Traditionally, investing in real estate has been seen as a path to wealth, but it comes with a fair share of expenses and responsibilities, including maintenance and property management. Real estate investment trusts (REITs), however, allow individuals to participate in the real estate market without having to buy physical properties. While REITs cater to investors with varying budgets, how much money you'll need to invest in one will primarily depend on whether the REIT is traded publicly on a stock exchange or is a private investment opportunity. A financial advisor can help you evaluate REITs and other real estate for your portfolio. What Is a Real Estate Investment Trust? Fundamentally, a REIT is a company that owns, operates or finances income-churning real estate. First introduced in the United States in 1960, REITs were designed to afford everyday investors access to large-scale, diversified portfolios of income-producing real estate. The introduction of REITs allowed average investors the chance to reap benefits from real estate without the enormous amounts of capital and resources it takes to purchase and manage a property. REITs operate by collecting money from investors to buy, lease and sell income-generating real estate. They are organized as corporations and are legally obliged to distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to shareholders annually in the form of dividends. According to the SEC, REITs also must: Be structured as a corporation Have a board of directors or board of trustees Have shares that are fully transferable Have at least 100 shareholders after its first year Have at least 50% of shares held by more than five individuals during the second half of the tax year Invest at least 75% of its total assets in real estate and cash Generate at least 75% of its gross income from rents, mortgage interest or other real estate-rated sources How Much Money You Need to Invest in a REIT REITs may own and operate a variety of properties, including apartment complexes like this one. Determining the financial threshold for investing in a REIT may depend on the type of REIT you are looking to invest in. There are three primary variations: public, private and non-traded. Story continues Public REITs Publicly traded REITs are the most accessible option for investors. They are listed on stock exchanges, making them highly liquid. Because they're listed on U.S. stock exchanges, public REITs are subject to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversight. You can start investing in public REITs with as little as the price of a single share, plus any associated brokerage fees. However, some public REITs may require a minimum investment in certain circumstances. Realty Income, which specializes in commercial leasing, requires a $1,500 minimum investment when purchasing shares through the company's direct stock purchase program. Private REITs Private REITs, on the other hand, often require a more substantial initial investment. These are not traded on public exchanges and are typically offered through private placements. Unlike public REITs, these private investments are typically only made available to accredited investors and institutional investors. For individuals to be considered accredited investors, they must have a minimum net worth of $1 million (excluding their primary residence) or an income of $200,000 per year ($300,00 if married). According to the SEC, investment professionals can also qualify as accredited investors if they are in good standing and hold the Series 7, Series 65 or Series 82 licenses. Since they aren't publicly available and don't register with the SEC, it's difficult to pinpoint specific investment minimums. However, investment firm Edward Jones says minimum investments for private REITs can range from $1,000 to $50,000. Non-Traded REITs Non-traded REITs are a lesser-known category. While they aren't listed on stock exchanges, non-traded REITs are required to register with the SEC and are subject to more oversight than private REITs. According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit), non-traded REITs typically require a minimum investment of $1,000 to $2,500. Expected Return When Investing in a REIT Investing in a REIT can offer several potential benefits to investors seeking a diversified portfolio. One of the key attractions is the potential for a stable and predictable income stream. Moreover, the potential for capital appreciation in REIT investments is another notable advantage. As properties owned by the REITs appreciate in value, the share prices of the REIT can also increase, potentially providing investors with capital gains over time. The FTSE Nareit All REITs index, which tracks the performance of all publicly traded REITs in the U.S., had an average annual total return (dividends included) of 3.58% during the five-year period that ended in August 2023. For the 10-year period between 2013 and 2022, the index averaged 7.48% per year. As of August 2023, the index's dividend yield was 4.47% three times the dividend yield of the S&P 500, according to Nareit. Yet, like any investment avenue, the return on REITs could be influenced by several specifics such as market conditions, the efficiency of the REITs management and the location and condition of properties in the REITs portfolio. As a case in point, the S&P 500 Indexs average annual total return between 2013 and 2022 was about 12.4%. This implies that while REITs might deliver steady returns, its not a given that they will consistently eclipse the broader market. Benefits of Investing in a REIT Some REITs may specialize in commercial real estate and office space. REIT investments carry several potential benefits, like the prospects of diversification, passive income and liquidity. Owing to their investment in an array of properties across different sectors, REITs can grant exposure to the real estate market without the obligation for direct property possession. This could markedly diversify an investors portfolio and dilute risk while generating a regular income stream through their dividend distributions. Unlike owning physical real estate, buying and selling public REIT shares is easy and can be done quickly on stock exchanges, providing investors with liquidity and flexibility. Public REITs are also required to provide regular financial reports and disclosures, offering investors transparency and visibility into their investments. Drawbacks of Investing in a REIT Over Other Real Estate While REITs do confer specific benefits, they also come coupled with potential downsides. For instance, REITs do not grant you control over the properties managed by the trust. Unlike direct property ownership, investors in REITs cannot chime in on decisions about the properties, such as when to purchase or sell, or how to manage them. This leaves investors dependent on the administration of the REIT for these decisions. Another potential downside is the risk of market volatility, characteristic of all publicly traded securities. The share price of public REITs can fluctuate, influenced by market sentiment, economic data and other factors. This can result in periods of price turbulence, which could impact the value of your investment in a REIT. Compared with direct real estate ownership, investing in REITs provides less control and potential for personal usage of the properties but offers enhanced liquidity and simplicity of diversification. Both options carry their unique set of pros and cons, and the selection between them will hinge on an investors individual circumstances, financial objectives and risk inclination. Bottom Line How much you'll need to invest in a REIT will depend on whether the trust is public, private or non-traded. While public REITs are traded on stock exchanges and can be purchased with relative ease through a broker or direct purchase program, individual investors can invest in private REITs only if they are considered accredited investors or work in the financial sector. Minimum investments for non-traded REITs, meanwhile, may be more than public REITs but less than their private counterparts. Portfolio Management Tips A financial advisor can help you select investments and manage your portfolio. Finding a financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you're ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Tax efficiency can be an important component of portfolio management. SmartAsset's capital gains calculator can help you estimate how much you may owe on taxes when selling an asset. And remember, offsetting gains with tax loss harvesting can help you lower your tax liability. Photo credit: iStock.com/designer491, iStock.com/CHUNYIP WONG, iStock.com/mf-guddyx The post How Much Money You Need to Invest in REITs appeared first on SmartReads by SmartAsset. North Korea launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Sunday, an indication, analysts said, that it has started testing a new and harder-to-intercept weapon capable of reaching American military bases in the Western Pacific, including those on Guam. The missile was launched from near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, on Sunday afternoon, but it did not fly over Japan, as some of the IRBMs North Korea has launched in the past have. Instead, it fell in waters between North Korea and Japan, covering a distance of 621 miles, South Korean military officials said. The launch was the Norths first missile test since it fired a Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile on Dec. 18. North Korea tested the Hwasong-18, its first solid-fuel ICBM, for the first time in April 2023 and launched the same kind of missile two more times last year, a sign that the country was increasingly shifting to solid-fuel ballistic missiles. Because missiles that use solid fuel are easier to transport and faster to launch than liquid-fuel missiles, they are more dangerous. Taiwans election on Saturday has big implications not only for the 23 million people who live on the island, but also for Chinas superpower rivalry with the United States. Voters chose as their next president Lai Ching-te, the current vice president, who has vowed to continue his partys policy of protecting the islands sovereignty. The vote is a rebuke to Beijings claim over Taiwan and the growing pressure it has been exerting on the island democracy. As in all major Taiwanese elections, how to deal with China was a central focus of campaigning. The question has become only more urgent as Beijing has stepped up its military activity near Taiwan, raising the specter of a future conflict that could have implications for the United States. What is the controversy over Taiwans status? Since 1949, when the Nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek fled the Chinese mainland for Taiwan after losing a civil war to Mao Zedongs Communist forces, the islands status and future have been disputed. A volcano in Iceland erupted on Sunday, after hundreds of earthquakes shook the Reykjanes Peninsula, cracking open a fissure that sent lava spewing into a residential neighborhood for the first time in more than four decades. The eruption happened around 8 a.m. local time near Hagafell, a mountain peak north of the town of Grindavik, according to local news media and the nations civil defense agency. It created a fissure in the earth more than 3,200 feet long, with glowing lava bubbling through, the authorities said. That crack has continued to lengthen in the hours since, the authorities said. Last month a larger eruption threatened the town and a nearby power plant. While the eruption on Sunday was smaller, it caused greater havoc when lava began to flow into Grindavik, about 30 miles southwest of the capital, Reykjavik. Around 3 a.m. Sunday, at least 200 earthquakes began striking the area near Grindavik, a fishing town of about 3,500 people, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Hours later, a second smaller fissure, measuring about 492 feet, opened up on the towns edge. A live broadcast on Icelandic television showed fountains of lava spurting near homes. Tens of thousands of people gathered on the streets of Copenhagen to celebrate the accession of Denmarks new king, Frederik X, on Sunday, just two weeks after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, made the dramatic announcement that she would abdicate. The countrys prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, presented the new king, bareheaded and wearing a dark Navy uniform adorned with medals and golden epaulets, to the Danish people from a balcony of Copenhagens Christiansborg Palace, which houses the Parliament, in a move seen as underlining Denmarks democratic character. Raising a white-gloved hand to acknowledge the acclamations from the cheering crowds who had gathered in front of the palace, he appeared to wipe away a tear as Ms. Fredriksen proclaimed him as king. Then in a speech, King Frederik, 55, paid tribute to his mother, saying she would always be remembered as an extraordinary ruler. For himself, he said, My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow. It is a task I have been approaching all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy. At least five people died in icy waters off a beach in northern France early Sunday as they tried to traverse the English Channel to Britain, the latest in a string of tragedies in recent years that have underlined the inability of governments on both sides of the waterway to deter attempts of the perilous crossing. The people were found dead near a beach in the town of Wimereux after their boat was reported in difficulty nearby around 1:45 a.m. and several passengers tried to reach the shore, French maritime authorities said in a statement. More than 30 people were rescued, two of them in serious condition, the statement said. One person was found unconscious and was hospitalized, and another had severe hypothermia, the statement said. It added that the French coast guard had deployed several ships in the area to continue investigations at sea and search for any people who are still adrift. French authorities did not identify the people who died or say where they were from, and they did not specify the causes of death. It was not immediately clear what kind of difficulty the boat was facing. Local prosecutors have opened an investigation. They sit in ones and twos in half-destroyed homes. They shelter in musty basements marked in chalk with people underground a message to whichever troops happen to be fighting that day. They venture out to visit cemeteries and reminisce about any time other than now. Ukraines elderly are often the only people who remain along the countrys hundreds of miles of front line. Some waited their entire lives to enjoy their twilight years, only to have been left in a purgatory of loneliness. Homes built with their own hands are now crumbling walls and blown-out windows, with framed photographs of loved ones living far away. Some people have already buried their children, and their only wish is to stay close so they can be buried next to them. But it does not always work out that way. Ive lived through two wars, said Iraida Kurylo, 83, whose hands shook as she recalled her mother screaming when her father was killed in World War II. It is famed for a love of singing and a passion for rugby. It has a distinctive Celtic language and is the birthplace of the poet Dylan Thomas. But few would claim that Wales, a nation of three million people outnumbered by sheep, is well known for whiskey, or whisky, as it is known in Wales. Yet the country has played its part in distilling history a Welshman is considered one of the founding fathers of bourbon and a recent revival of whisky production has prompted new rules governing which liquor can call itself Welsh. That was how the problems began in Abergwyngregyn (pronounced ABER-gwin-gregin), in the shadow of the ice-capped Snowdonia mountain range, where Aber Falls single-malt whisky is produced in a distillery filled with the strong malty aroma of barley. Made with exclusively Welsh grain and water from a picturesque nearby waterfall, the light, slightly fruity, single-malt whisky distilled by Aber Falls was the first in more than a century to be produced in North Wales. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel struck a defiant tone in marking 100 days of war against Hamas in Gaza, vowing to keep fighting despite growing uncertainty over the outcome, international alarm over the mounting loss of life in the enclave and fears of a broader regional conflagration. His pledge to continue until total victory came even as Israel awaited a decision from the worlds top court on a possible injunction against its militarys devastating offensive in Gaza. Launched in retaliation for the deadly Hamas-led Oct. 7 assault, the Israeli militarys war against Hamas has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, a majority of them women and children, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced most of the enclaves population. Warning of a long conflict, the remarks from Mr. Netanyahu and comments from the Israeli military over the weekend exposed a growing dissonance between the domestic perception of the timing and goals of the war and increasing international impatience in the face of a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The United States, Israels most important ally, has urged Israel to scale down its campaign, while many other countries have called for an immediate cease-fire. For all the fears of an outbreak of fighting in the Middle East that could draw the United States, Israel and Iran into direct combat, a curious feature of the conflict so far is the care taken in both Tehran and Washington to avoid putting their forces into direct contact. No one knows how long that will last, American and European diplomats and other officials say. But 100 days into the conflict, the assessment of most of the key players is that Iran has pushed its proxies to make trouble for the American military and to pressure Israel and the West in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and the shipping lanes of the Red Sea while going to some lengths to avoid provoking a larger eruption. It is the most delicate of dances, rife with subtle signals, attacks and feints, and deniable action. The evidence of caution is piecemeal, but everywhere. While Tehran has ramped up its production of uranium drastically in recent weeks, renewing fears that it may be speeding again toward the capability of fabricating several nuclear weapons, it has carefully kept just below the threshold for bomb-grade fuel. That is considered the red line that could trigger military action against its underground nuclear complexes. Photo illustration by Braulio Amado Talk How This Climate Activist Justifies Political Violence With the 2021 publication of his unsettling book, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, Andreas Malm established himself as a leading thinker of climate radicalism. The provocatively titled manifesto, which, to be clear, does not actually provide instructions for destroying anything, functioned both as a question why has climate activism remained so steadfastly peaceful in the face of minimal results? and as a call for the escalation of protest tactics like sabotage. The book found an audience far beyond that of texts typically published by relatively obscure Marxist-influenced Swedish academics, earning thoughtful coverage in The New Yorker, The Economist, The Nation, The New Republic and a host of other decidedly nonradical publications, including this one. (In another sign of the books presumed popular appeal, it was even adapted into a well-reviewed movie thriller.) Malms follow-up, Overshoot: How the World Surrendered to Climate Breakdown, written with Wim Carton and scheduled to be published this year, examines the all-consuming pursuit of fossil-fuel profits and what the authors identify as the highly dubious and hugely dangerous new justifications for that pursuit. But, says Malm, who is 46, the hope is that humanity is not going to let everything go down the drain without putting up a fight. I know youre saying historically this is not the case, but its hard to think that deaths dont become inevitable if there is more sabotage. Sure, if you have a thousand pipeline explosions per year, if it takes on that extreme scale. But we are some distance from that, unfortunately. Dont say unfortunately. Well, I want sabotage to happen on a much larger scale than it does now. I cant guarantee that it wont come with accidents. But what do I know? I havent personally blown up a pipeline, and I cant foretell the future. Your 4-year-old? Yes. There were a couple of scenes that stayed with them, particularly when people were wounded. They found this fascinating. They know that their father is a little politically crazy, if I can put it that way. A scene from the film How to Blow Up a Pipeline, adapted from Andreas Malms book. Neon Dont you think, with companies as wealthy as the oil giants, if activists smash their stuff, theyll just fix it and get back to business? Heres a big problem that we deal with quite extensively in the Overshoot book: stranded assets. ExxonMobil and Aramco and these giants exude this worry that a transition would destroy their capital and that this shift could happen quickly. So in this context, the rationale of sabotage is to bring home the message to these companies: Yes, your assets are at risk of destruction. When something happens that makes the threat of stranded assets credible, investors will suddenly realize, theres a real risk that if I invest a lot of money, I might lose everything. Explain the term overshoot. The simplest definition of overshoot is that you shoot past the limits that you have set for global warming. So you go over 1.5 or 2 degrees. But the term has come to mean something more in climate science and policy discourse, which is that you can go over and then go back down. So you shoot past 1.5 or 2, but then you return to 1.5 or 2, primarily by means of carbon-dioxide removal. I think this is extremely implausible. But the idea is that you can exceed a temperature limit but respect it at a later point by rolling out technologies for taking it down. A few minutes ago, you said youve never blown up a pipeline. If thats what you think is necessary, why havent you? I have engaged in as much militant climate activism as I have had access to in my activist communities and contexts. Ive done things that I cant tell you or that I wouldnt tell others publicly. I live my life in Malmo, pretty isolated from activist communities. Lets put it this way: If I were part of a group where something like blowing up a pipeline was perceived as a tactic that could be useful for our struggle, then I would gladly participate. But this is not where I am in my life. I dont want to encourage you, but if people did only the activism that was congruent with where they were at in their life, hardly anybody who lives a comfortable life would do anything. Like I said, Ive participated in things that I cant tell you about because theyve been illegal and theyve been militant. Ive done it recently. But I can do that only as part of a collective of people who do something that they have decided on together. We shouldnt think of activism as something that is invented out of thin air, deduced from abstract principles, and then you just shoot off and do something crazy. I cant tell you what things I have done, but the things that I do and that any other climate activist should be doing cannot be an individual project. In Overshoot, you write this about the very wealthy: There is no escaping the conclusion that the worst mass killers in this rapidly warming world are the billionaires, merely by dint of their lifestyles. That doesnt feel like a bathetic overstatement when we live in a world of terrorist violence and Putin turning Ukraine into a charnel house? Why is that a useful way of framing the problem? Precisely for the reason I tried to outline previously, which is that spewing CO2 into the atmosphere at an excessive scale and when it comes to luxury emissions, it is completely excessive is an act that leads to the death of people. A protester at the megabasin reservoir project in western France last March. Ugo Amez/Sipa, via Associated Press We live in representative democracies where certain liberties are respected. We vote for the policies and the people we want to represent us. And if we dont get the things we want, it doesnt give us license to then say, Were now engaging in destructive behavior. Right? Either were against political violence or not. We cant say were for it when its something we care about and against it when its something we think is wrong. Of course we can. Why not? That is moral hypocrisy. I disagree. Why? The idea that if you object to your enemys use of a method, you therefore also have to reject your own use of this method would lead to absurd conclusions. The far right is very good at running electoral campaigns. Should we thereby conclude that we shouldnt run electoral campaigns? This goes for political violence too, unless youre a pacifist and you reject every form of political violence thats a reasonably coherent philosophical position. Slavery was a system of violence. The Haitian revolution was the violent overthrow of that system. It is never the case that you defeat an enemy by renouncing every kind of method that enemy is using. But Im specifically thinking about our liberal democracy, however debased it may be. How do you rationalize advocacy for violence within what are supposed to be the ideals of our system? Imagine you have a Trump victory in the next election doesnt seem unimaginable and you get a climate denialist back in charge of the White House and he rolls back whatever good things President Biden has done. What should the climate movement do then? Should it accept this as the outcome of a democratic election and protest in the mildest of forms? Or should it radicalize and consider something like property destruction? I admit that this is a difficult question, but I imagine that a measured response to it would need to take into account how democracy works in a country like the United States and whether allowing fossil-fuel companies to wreck the planet because they profit from it can count as a form of democracy and should therefore be respected. Your work is crushing. But I have optimism about the human project. Im not an optimist about the human project. So give me a reason to live. Well, heres where we enter the virgin territories of metaphysics. Those are my favorite territories. Wonderful. Im not joking. Yeah, Im not sure that I have the qualifications to give people advice about reasons to live. My daily affective state is one of great despair about the incredible destructive forces at work in this world not only at the level of climate. What has been going on in the Middle East just adds to this feeling of destructive forces completely out of control. The situation in the world, as far as I can tell, is incredibly bleak. So how do we live with what we know about the climate crisis? Sometimes I think that the meaning of life is to not give up, to keep the resistance going even though the forces stacked against you are overwhelmingly strong. This often requires some kind of religious conviction, because sometimes it seems irrational. I think all you need to do is look at your children. Yes, but I have to admit to some kind of cognitive dissonance, because, rationally, when you think about children and their future, you have to be dismal. Children are fundamentally a source of joy, and psychologically you want to keep them that way. I try to keep my children in the category of the nonapocalyptic. Im quite happy to go and swim with my son and be in that moment and not think, Ah, 30 years from now hes going to lie dead on some inundated beach. You know what I mean? Which of your arguments are you most unsure of? I cannot claim to have a good explanation for what is essentially a mystery, namely that humanity is allowing the climate catastrophe to spiral on. One of my personal intellectual journeys in recent years has been psychoanalysis. Once you start looking into the psychic dimensions of a problem like the climate crisis, you have to open yourself to the fundamental difficulty in understanding whats happening. What about you, psychoanalytically speaking? I have my weekly therapy on Thursday. But whats your deal? You mean in my private life? Yeah. On a deeper level, the point for the psychoanalysis is that you go back to your childhood and try to process your relation to your parents and how they have constituted you. Do you really want me to go there? I asked why you arent blowing up pipelines, and you gave this answer about how action has to happen in the context of a community and Oh, but I have done very serious stuff theres something fishy. You have actually engaged in property destruction? Or are you just scared of somebody calling you a hypocrite? There are things that I have done when it comes to militant activism recently that I, as a matter of principle and political expediency, do not reveal. Part of the whole point of it is to not reveal it. Sure, someone could accuse me of being a hypocrite because I dont offer evidence that I have done anything militant. But those close to me know. Thats good enough for me. I also said, Give me a reason to live. I will always remember this. No one ever asked me this before. Opening illustration: Source photograph by Jeremy Chan/Getty Images This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity from two conversations. If there's a commonly munched-on food that deserves its own special day, the bagel certainly qualifies. And that day of celebration, National Bagel Day, arrives Monday, Jan. 15. Let's give the doughy circular delicacy its due. Admittedly, we have made-up holidays devoted to other favorite foods such as National Taco Day, National Hamburger Day, and National Mac and Cheese Day But none of those foods has the legacy that bagels do. One food that might be able to challenge the bagel is pizza, which became popular in the 19th century, according to History.com, but the word "pizza" likely arose centuries earlier. Perhaps that's why there's a National Pizza Week, which runs Sunday, Jan. 14, to Saturday, Jan. 20, and a National Pizza Day on Feb. 9. More food news: Double Big Mac comes to McDonald's this month: Here's what's on the limited-time menu item National Bagel Day 2024: A brief look at the history of the bagel Fresh bagels at Bagel Masters in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, on April 19, 2023. The bagel originated in 13th century in what is now Poland, according to National Geographic, which credits the history to Maria Balinska, author of "The Bagel: The Surprising History of a Modest Bread." Jewish bakers made larger ring-shaped boiled breads, then transitioned to a smaller single serving bread known as the "bajgiel" in Polish and "beygal" in Yiddish. Bagels came to the U.S. as a food with European Jews who began immigrating in the 19th century. By the mid-60s, bagels were the "fastest-drawing bun in the yeast," the New York Daily News reported in 1965, National Geographic says. Enough about the background of the bagel. Here's where to get some deals on one to munch yourself. Make sure to check your local bagel spots' social media accounts for promotions, too. National Bagel Day 2024: Einstein Bros. is offering deal on free bagel and cream cheese To celebrate National Bagel Day, Einstein Bros. Bagels is giving all those who join the chain's Shmear Society Rewards loyalty program in January a free bagel and cream cheese with any purchase. Einstein Bros. Bagels has a National Bagel Day deal that lasts all month long. Those who join the chain's Shmear Society Rewards loyalty program in January will get a free bagel and cream cheese with any purchase. To sign up, go to the Einstein Bros. Bagels website. Members also accrue points towards free food, Unlimited Free Coffee whenever ordering in the app or online and a Free Egg Sandwich birthday reward. Story continues "As far as were concerned, fresh-baked bagels are always worthy of a celebration," said Chef Chad Thompson, head of culinary innovation at Einstein Bros. Bagels, in a press release. "Theres no better excuse than National Bagel Day to brighten everyones day with a fresh-baked bagel and cream cheese. Einstein Bros. Bagels part of Panera Brands, which also includes Panera Bread, Manhattan Bagel and Caribou Coffee has nearly 700 locations in the U.S. National Bagel Day 2024: Manhattan Bagel is offering a freebie Speaking of Manhattan Bagel, the restaurant chain with about 70 locations in Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia has deal similar to Einstein's. If you sign up for Manhattan Bagel's eClub loyalty program by Monday you can get a special offer: a free bagel and cream cheese. The National Bagel Day countdown starts now! Just 3 days to go until our favorite day of the year... Be sure to sign up for our Fresh Bites eClub for an exclusive offer: https://t.co/AC4Zz8bkUs#nationalbagelday #bagelday #bagellovers pic.twitter.com/YenIwhzo8C Manhattan Bagel (@ManhattanBagel) January 12, 2024 National Bagel Day 2024: Biggby Coffee has 50% off bagel and cream cheese On National Bagel Day, Monday, Jan. 15, Biggby Coffee is offering customers 50% off any bagel and cream cheese with a purchase of a 24-ounce specialty beverage purchase. The company, based in East Lansing, Michigan, has more than 360 locations in states including Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Idaho, Georgia and Florida. Biggby Coffee is offering customers 50% off any bagel and cream cheese with a purchase of a 24-oz. specialty beverage purchase on National Bagel Day on Jan. 15. Caribou Coffee Perks plan leads to bagel bargains in January It's not specifically a National Bagel Day deal, but Caribou Coffee has some deals in January for members of its Caribou Perks loyalty program that can get you a bargain on a bagel, bagel sandwich or other bakery and egg breakfast item. The Minneapolis-based chain with nearly 400 U.S. locations, has three Caribou Combos, starting at $5, available in stores, online and in the Caribou Coffee app: $5 small Coffee of the Day (typically priced at $2.69), plus any bakery item. $7 small Hot or Iced Latte (typically $4.69), plus any bakery item. $9 small Hot or Iced Latte plus any egg breakfast item. Friendly reminder! Caribou Combos are here to elevate your morning routine. Your go-to duos are bundled up and ready to add some delight to your day. Don't miss out on this Caribou Perks Member exclusive deal! pic.twitter.com/kGwKibr83N Caribou Coffee (@cariboucoffee) January 2, 2024 Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider. What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: National Bagel Day 2024: Einstein Bros. freebie and other deals Weather warnings are likely for snow/ice as we go into Sunday night and Monday as Ireland braces for a fresh Arctic weather blast, according to one forecaster. Met Eireann has already issued warnings via the UK Met Office for counties in Northern Ireland but further warnings now look likely across Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Cavan and Monaghan, perhaps into North Roscommon also. That's according to Offaly weatherman Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel who has been monitoring the impending cold system for the last week. He said Monday will be very cold with a risk of wintey showers in the above counties. He added: "On Tuesday, theres a risk of more widespread wintry precipitation, though snow looks reserved for Ulster and across higher ground elsewhere. Further warnings are likely for ice on Tuesday night. "Wednesday and Thursday are bitterly cold days with sunshine and scattered snow showers in the north and northwest chiefly. Elsewhere theres plenty of dry, crisp winter sunshine to enjoy. Cathal also pointed to a twist on the horizon: "On Friday we see a major change in our weather as the Atlantic takes over, and indeed theres a risk of some wet and windy weather next weekend, with stormy conditions possible into the following week," he said. Newell Brands plans to shut down its Licking County distribution center in March, eliminating the jobs of 190 workers. The Atlanta-based company uses the warehouse, at 175 Heritage Dr. in Etna Township, for its Yankee Candle division. In a Jan. 10 letter to the state, Newell said it will start laying off workers March 8. The company expects the layoffs to be permanent. The announcement came days after Newell announced a broad company reorganization designed to save between $65 million and $90 million. Among the changes announced were closing some distribution centers and optimizing the company's "real estate footprint." Newell's sales declined more than 15% in the first nine months of 2023 compared with the same period a year earlier, while the company lost $302 million over the span. In addition to Yankee Candle, Newell Brands include Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Coleman, Paper Mate and Elmers. Newell's announcement is the latest of several distribution center layoffs in the Columbus area. In October, DHL Supply Chain said it would lay off 264 workers at a Groveport warehouse. In December, Zulily announced that it is shutting down and closing a distribution center in Obetz that employed 274. And last week, GDI Services of Greenville, South Carolina, told the state that 284 workers would lose their jobs at three Amazon warehouses in Ohio after Amazon ended its contract with GDI to provide janitorial services. jweiker@dispatch.com @JimWeiker This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Nearly 200 workers to lose jobs when Etna Township center closes Key Insights Institutions' substantial holdings in Raymond James Financial implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price A total of 9 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership Recent sales by insiders If you want to know who really controls Raymond James Financial, Inc. (NYSE:RJF), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. With 75% stake, institutions possess the maximum shares in the company. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). Given the vast amount of money and research capacities at their disposal, institutional ownership tends to carry a lot of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Raymond James Financial, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for Raymond James Financial What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Raymond James Financial? Institutional investors commonly compare their own returns to the returns of a commonly followed index. So they generally do consider buying larger companies that are included in the relevant benchmark index. Raymond James Financial already has institutions on the share registry. Indeed, they own a respectable stake in the company. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. When multiple institutions own a stock, there's always a risk that they are in a 'crowded trade'. When such a trade goes wrong, multiple parties may compete to sell stock fast. This risk is higher in a company without a history of growth. You can see Raymond James Financial's historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Story continues Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. We note that hedge funds don't have a meaningful investment in Raymond James Financial. The Vanguard Group, Inc. is currently the company's largest shareholder with 11% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 9.2% and 7.9%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. We also observed that the top 9 shareholders account for more than half of the share register, with a few smaller shareholders to balance the interests of the larger ones to a certain extent. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Raymond James Financial The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. We can report that insiders do own shares in Raymond James Financial, Inc.. It is a very large company, and board members collectively own US$2.2b worth of shares (at current prices). It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been buying recently. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 15% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. This size of ownership, while considerable, may not be enough to change company policy if the decision is not in sync with other large shareholders. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Raymond James Financial , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. What are we to say about a U.S. culture in which people can openly admire Germany for backing yet another genocide, and condemn warning of World War III as reckless endangerment? Germany has formally endorsed Israel's defense of its genocide in Gaza, while Namibia has publicly denounced Germany's longstanding policy of committing or supporting genocides, including the one everyone is supposed to know about in Europe and the one nobody is supposed to know about that preceded that one in Africa. To not be revolted by this, one must either actively avoid knowing what is happening in Gaza, in gross violation of the Western self-image of insisting on knowing, of following the facts, and of making sure genocide is allowed "never again," or embrace the bizarre notion that at least one genocide, the one committed by the Nazis, permanently renders anyone associating themselves with its victims (or one major category thereof) blameless for any crimes. This basic reality cannot be altered by mountains of words about redemption and poetic justice, or divine sanction and existential mandate, or the sanctity of every act taken by a president who is not Trump. The fact that one should despise both Nazism and Trumpism is not in conflict with knowing the basic facts of what is happening in the world. The risk is growing rapidly of new wars and of nuclear war. It is growing predictably and familiarly, as a result of actions by the U.S. and other governments advertised as protection of public safety. Those who have been right in warning of wars in the past are warning of worse wars than ever. The action taken by South Africa to uphold the rule of law at the International Court of Justice has done more for the safety of South Africa than any military ever could. The world is in love with the South African government. And the U.S. military is not going to retaliate against South Africa because it is too busy responding to vicious cycles of violence it is participating in around the globe. One could deny the basic facts of South Africa's case against Israel's genocide in Gaza, imagine falsely that South Africa has acted out of fear and for its own protection, and then accuse South Africa of endangering itself and the world by giving in to pressure from the wrong side of violence a.k.a. "the terrorists." But there was no pressure. There was no threat of violence against South Africa, and had there been, responding to such a threat wisely rather than through infantile or visceral reflex can sometimes be understood as something other than cowardice. On March 11, 2004, Al Qaeda bombs killed 191 people in Madrid, Spain, just before an election in which one party was campaigning against Spain's participation in the U.S.-led war on Iraq. The people of Spain voted the Socialists into power, and they removed all Spanish troops from Iraq by May. There were no more bombs in Spain. This history stands in strong contrast to that of Britain, the United States, and other nations that have responded to blowback with more war, generally producing more blowback. Violent and nonviolent opposition to U.S. actions is rising around Western Asia, driven universally by the demand to end the war on Gaza. When there was a brief ceasefire in Gaza, hostages were freed. And yet Genocide Joe insists on more and expanded war supposedly in order to free more hostages. There is a logic to the notion that one must never give into the other side. But it is a genocidal logic. If the other side's violence is driven by the same vicious cycle of revenge and ignorance as yours is, and if the other side is going to continue to exist, then the idea of never giving into the other side is a recipe for disaster. The alternative need not be giving in, however. The alternative can instead come out of a mentality that has advanced beyond a preschool level. Of course, that remark is unfair to preschoolers who are not sufficiently organized to develop the level of collective madness adults can. Instead of thinking in terms of giving into enemies, we can begin by prioritizing avoiding nuclear apocalypse, and continue by prioritizing avoiding the mass murder of families, and arrive at the need to use nonviolent means to address conflicts and the need to prosecute crimes as crimes rather than treat them as excuses for reenactments of Nazism. We can arrive at the need to address grievances through negotiated compromise rather than denial. The war in Ukraine was a long time coming, predicted -- and even desired and strategized for -- by many in the U.S. government. The actions taken to provoke the evil, inexcusable, illegal, and horrific invasion by Russia have parallels in the actions now being taken to provoke evil, inexcusable, illegal, and horrific attacks by Iran, China, and North Korea, as in the decades of oppression by Israel that led so predictably to the evil, inexcusable, illegal, and horrific attacks by Hamas, not to mention the evil, inexcusable, illegal, and horrific attacks of 9-11 that figure so largely in the ongoing vicious cycles -- and the U.S. response to which is claimed by Israel as a model justifying everything it does. If you stay in the frame of mind of preparing yourself for indignation and rage against Iran and China and North Korea when they are finally provoked into violence, if you're now gearing up for self-righteous indignation at the inscrutable and subhuman threats to the Rules Based Order that will be the violent responses to U.S. militarism from Iran or China or North Korea, there is one thing we can be sure of about the outcome of keeping this frame of mind. The predictable downsides mass death and suffering and a serious risk of an end to life on Earth outweigh the predictable upsides qualification for a nice but short career for you at a major U.S. media outlet. If someone points out that other nations are drawing red lines and issuing warnings, as Russia did prior to invading Ukraine, they may not be urging you to cave into random criminal threats and welcome an age of violent anarchy. They may be asking you to become aware of what the U.S. military is doing around the world, and how much safer the world could be if it were not doing it. The U.S. props up and arms and trains and funds the militaries of almost all of the most oppressive governments on Earth. Israel is no outlier. The few governments designated as enemies of the U.S. government are not pleasant humanitarian institutions, but they are no worse than many others whom the U.S. talks with constantly and never threatens. Negotiating compromises with these governments is not a one-way affair. That's not what compromise means. But it's a nonviolent affair, and that's what human survival requires. We have to get to a place where supporting genocide is not imagined as good and warning of World War III is understood as protection rather than endangerment -- even if getting there requires a radical new understanding of war as a barbaric practice in which both sides are always entirely (if differently and disproportionately) wrong. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Author, Bruce Lerro, Socialist Planning Beyond Capitalism Summary of Part I In Part I of my article, I described how initially the field of social psychology had deep roots in the socio-cultural traditions of Wundt, Royce, Baldwin, Cooley, Thomas and Mead. But by the beginning of World War I a shift towards individualism can be seen in the work first of the behaviorist Watson, and most powerfully in the work of Floyd Allport, Herbert Blumer and symbolic interactionists. When it came to understanding group life these social atomists only tolerated three kinds of groups: Fleeting face-to-face groups (interactional groups) Groups that were in laboratory situations (interactional groups) Derived groups which were mass aggregates based on polling Missing were reference groups. To keep all of this straight, please see the table below. In Part II of my article, I present the reference group theory's criticisms of two more sociological social psychologists - the dialogical psychology of Ivana Markova and the social construction theory of Kenneth Gergen. Please see table on our site. War Research in World War II and Migration of European Social Psychologists Just as in World War I, World War II catalyzed applied social psychology. They studied attitudes, troop morale and adjustments to combat conditions. Kurt Lewin developed a program to persuade housewives to change their food habits to promote the sale of U.S. savings bonds. Social psychologists were also involved in the study of psychological warfare. Bruno Bettelheim studied the effect of concentration camps on prisoners of war and The Tavistock in Institute in England studied the dynamics of small groups. Thanks to the barbarity of Hitler, there was a migration of academic refugees from Western Europe including Kohler, Lazerfeld, Lewin, Asch and Leon Festinger. France and Germany lost many psychologists to the war. The result is that after the war Yankee social psychology became the center around which social psychological research was funded for decades. There was considerable funding in Yankeedom for research in small group dynamics by the Office of Naval Research. The behavior of Europeans during World War II became the focus of Hannah Arendt's study on Eichmann on the trial in Jerusalem. In the 1950s, Asch probed the question of why people conformed. In the 1960s Stanley Milgram set up experiments as to the conditions under which people obey. Solomon Asch and Reference Groups The most articulate theoretical descriptions of social dimensions of cognition were offered by Solomon Asch in his text Social Psychology. According to John Greenwood, Asch understood attitudes as being constitutionally social. They arise from mutual dependence on reference groups. For example, the racial antagonism of southerners towards blacks is not just directed at blacks. These attitudes also function as a cementing tie to their families, neighborhoods, race, jobs, their religion and political party loyalties. For Asch there is no such thing as attitudes taken separately. Asch denies that attitudes can be equated with what people have in common as Allport claimed. In the original Asch experiment, conformity of individuals was not in response to interpersonal pressure from strangers nor were the indiviuals randomly selected. The extent to which people conform is connected to whether or not they know each other and have a history together. Interestingly, for members of individualist cultures, the difference between strangers and organic groups is not a great as between collectivists in-group and out-group. This results in different cross-cultural outcomes to conformity. The Japanese are more likely to conform if they are in the presence of other Japanese than Americans will in the presence of other Americans. However, the Japanese will be less conforming than Americans in the presence of strangers. Cold War Impact on Social Psychology According to Valsiner, the social sciences in Yankeedom throughout the 20th century have been inseparably connected with war preparation, the waging of war as well as trying to overcome the experience of war. After World War II, the US captured control over social science institutions by its power to give grants and publishing rights. This was inseparable from the crusade against communism. Social psychology in this century has never been free of the distorting effects of wars, both hot and cold. On the whole, Greenwood writes: the approach was ahistorical, acultural and decontextualized. (211) Socially engaged attitudes were held to represent the psychology of psychopathology of other-directed people or "groupthink" or nesting grounds for prejudice. (217) In terms of research, the emphasis was on studying very small chunks of social life that could be quantitatively measured. In addition, research continued to imagine itself to be atheoretical as in the social learning theory of Bandura. In the study of a group's conformity and or a group's susceptibility to persuasion, aggregates were used rather than reference groups. For example: Lewin inspired his colleagues and students to artfully reproduce theoretical variables abstracted from the dynamics of real-life social processes in artfully managed and controlled experiments. The members of his groups were strangers.(205) In the '60s "Bystander effect", discovered by Latane' and Darley, of strangers' response to cries of help were interpersonal, not social. Neither the victims or the helpers were presumed to be members of distinctive social groups. The explanations offered were diffused responsibility and failure to represent the situation as an emergency. (210) In terms of the population chosen, there was an increasing use of college students - aggregates - as opposed to ongoing reference groups. Lastly, social psychology from the '50s forward has continued to be driven by individualism. When individualism becomes an ideology raised against collectivism as the counter-ideology, it becomes a form of political propaganda that distorts the development of social psychology. Students such as Aronson and Zimbardo continued the individualist tradition. Even in Europe, Tajfel's theory of social identity has its roots in Festinger's theory of social comparison. Tajfel's theory is an individualization of the social. It proposed a cognitive theory of prejudice as opposed to Sherif's field studies based on reference groups. Reference groups in the '60s Social representation works of the '60s and '70s were Secord, Backman and Slavitt's book, Understanding Social Life as well as the work of Ralph Turner. Newcome and Turner's Social Psychology: the Study of Human Interaction was a continuation of groups as reference groups. Michael Billig's rhetorical approach to groups has done much to restore the cultural and temporal dimensions of social phenomenon. Moscovici chose Durkheim as an appropriate ancestor for his theory of representations and would be classified as sociological. Revolt Against Individualism Dialogical Psychology Mead's contention for the social nature of the mind returned in the 1970s along with the influence of European social psychology with its emphasis and the language, interpersonal dialogue and internalization of group process. Concepts such as intersubjectivity, interactional synchrony and empathy replaced Allport's individuals who had hard boundaries around them. Dialogical theorists insisted that we have to start with the interpersonal relationships or the dyad in order to come to understand the mind of the individual. In her book Paradigms, Thought and Language Ivana Markova argues that most of Western psychology is riddled with dualisms that are the product of Descartes. These include mind-body; mind-emotions; thought-behavior; self and other and rationalism-empiricism. In order to break away from these dualisms, we must renounce Descartes and embrace Hegel. Hegel was the first thinker to break with the dualism theory of minds and bodies of the Cartesian paradigm. For Markova, the mutual relationship between consciousness and its world evolves from abstract to concrete, from less discriminating to more discriminating structures. Hegel's Phenomenology of Mind is the story of a social psychology of the cognizing mind's development. They are arguments about the social rather than the individualistic nature of the mind and about the social nature of the acquisition of knowledge. Hegel wants to demonstrate the fundamental misconceptions of the traditional epistemology as well as its contradictory nature. Markova takes Hegel's five stages in the development of consciousness in the Phenomenology of Mind: sense data perception understanding self-consciousness reason - recognition and creates a loose connection between these stages and the development of awareness in ontogenetic development. Secondly, in her book Human Awareness, she thickens Mead's understanding of the development of the self by adding the emotional development of empathy. She uses the work of Selman to develop a five-phase theory of perspective taken from birth to the teenage years. She fleshes out the dialectic between Mead's I-Me dialogues by providing specific strategies that the I and the Me use. Criticisms of Dialogical Psychology There is the lack of connection between dialogical self-research and mainstream psychology. In part this is because in the notion of dialogue has been largely neglected in psychology and other social sciences. Another disadvantage of the theory is that it lacks a research procedure that is sufficiently common to allow for the exchange of research data among investigators. Although different research tools have been developed by dialogical psychologists, none of them are used by a majority of researchers in the field. This creates stumbling blocks for comparing research data. In addition, other researchers find the scientific work done thus far too heavily weighted on language and verbal exchange. While the theory explicitly acknowledges the importance of pre-linguistic gestures and other non-linguistic forms of dialogue, the actual research is typically taking place on the verbal level. Some researchers would like to see more emphasis on the bodily aspects of dialogue. Social constructionists challenged Yankee individualism of Allport In the last two decades of the 20th century in psychology, controversies in social psychology have arisen between left-wing "social constructionists" and most traditional social psychologists whom social constructionists have labeled empiricists. These mainstream social psychologists use interpersonal or derived groups. Kenneth Gergen challenged social psychology in at least five areas: Empiricist social psychology lacks a sense of historicity. Social psychology subjects such as socialization, the self, and persuasion techniques are presented in a universal manner as if these processes have not changed over the course of history. Gergen begins by suggesting that the major topics social psychology studies either change over the course of history or perish for lack of interest. So for example, let's take Goffman's topic of behavior in public. Historically people behave differently in public depending on how the streets are constructed (if there are streets!); what transportation is available and whether the social class composition is rigid or fluid. Social realists or social reference group theory agrees with this. Empiricists picture the social-individual relationship in a mechanical way. Social existence is understood as a secondary, instrumental interaction, or social life is seen a simple aggregate of individual wills. These social atomists reduce the group to a fleeting, ephemeral aggregate which evaporates when individuals decide to dissolve their social contract. Gergen suggests that the relationship between the social and individual is co-creative and already always the case. Social reference groups theory agrees with socially constructionists on this. Empiricists ignore the political power dynamics that go on between stratified groups--class, race and gender--in everyday life. For example, in social psychology textbooks, intergroup relationships are treated at the end of the textbook. This implies that there are no race or class relationships in the topics of the earlier chapters such as socialization, emotions or the construction of the self. Empiricists treat language in a descriptive way and fail to consider the manipulative nature of language. Allport and other individualist social psychologists treat language as a simple exchange of information between equals. This ignores that people coerce, use force and mass persuasion techniques to get their way. Besides description, there are other functions of language or micro-manipulation techniques (Cialdini, Influence) that Austin points out such as commands, questions, promises, requests and expressives that go unaddressed by empiricists. Empiricists fail to consider that social life cannot be captured in laboratories. Lab experiments are contrived and don't test complex social processes. According to social constructionists, social psychology does not lend itself to experimentation because of the difficulty in reproducing the meaning of everyday situations in social psychology experiments. Because social studies are more of an in-vivo construction, it cannot be objectively recorded. In order to capture it in a lab the process it is slowed down and simplified. When people know they are in a contrived situation, they do not react the same way they might in a natural setting. Yet if you try to do experiments in natural settings, it is more difficult to control for all the variables that might affect the outcome. Social Reference Criticisms of Social Constructivism According to Greenwood, up to a point social constructionism is a justifiable reaction to the individualism and social reductionism of Allport. However: Social constructionists overstate the subjective agency of individuals and understate the importance of group loyalties that constrain individuals--family, religion, occupational roles and club memberships. Greenwood criticizes social constructionists such as Graumann, Danziger and Farr because they lose the concreteness of group loyalties of reference groups by dissolving social life into language and cognition. As we saw earlier, social life is much more specific and tangible than the ethereal linguistic of social relations generally presented by social-constructionists. Social constructionists overemphasize the importance of language What is the relationship between language, society and the individual? Because language is a necessary condition for sociality in humans, social constructionists jump to the conclusion that it is language that creates social structures. Normally we think of our language as a description of the world and a map for getting around in it. Social constructionists understand language exchange not as a collaborative effort to understand the world but an artifact through which we decide what counts as an object. An extreme version of constructionism argues that language is not about the world but a living record of the power struggles between derived social groups--class, race and gender struggles. Social identity is inseparable from the social processes of language to negotiate and manipulate, using rhetoric or propaganda. For Gergen, social dimensions of phenomena such as political stratification and economic exchange are not intrinsic properties and real in themselves independent of language, but functions of our linguistic or cognitive constructs of them. Social Constructionists fail to understand the power of intrinsic groups to stabilize social identity For social constructionists social identities are constructed out of socially negotiated forms of discourse. There is nothing more to identity than social discourse. They deny the intrinsically social nature of identity or that social emotions form out of loyalty to socially intrinsic groups. As most feminists recognize, changes in vocabulary, by itself, will not ensure the creation of alternative occupations, membership in clubs or higher status positions in religious groups. Greenwood points out that the Hungarian language is entirely non-sexist. One can only refer to a third party by their non-gender. Despite this, Hungary is not known for having a large number of women in the paid work-force. The social identity of a scientist doesn't come into being and pass away depending on how people talk to him and how he talks to them in the course of a single day. The social identity of a scientist involves actions such as publication in internationally refereed journals, by peer replication of significant results and the attainment of prestigious positions. Social constructionists fail to understand the power of intrinsic groups (reference group) to understand the social nature of emotions Constructionists say theoretical discourse "about" emotions does not describe independent psychological states but is rather employed to serve social performing functions such as warning, excusing or endorsing. For example, claiming to be depressed is employed to excuse one's behavior or elicit sympathy rather than to describe one's psychological state. Talk about mental talk is largely performative. Language does not map an independent reality. Social constructions argue that emotions come from the labeling process involved in language use. Social constructionists assume nothing more than that reified social labels exist that are socially constructed. This ignores the fact that emotions are socially constituted for purposes of connected to the conventions of long-standing social groups. For example, for a man to be able to admit they are hurt or sad rather than angry in an Anger Management class may be transformative for the man as an individual in opening up a greater range of emotions. The same is true of women who can learn to say they are angry instead of being "upset". However, both men and women have to face their reference groups who may not like men who express hurt or humiliation or women who express anger. Those reference group loyalties and expectations are not going to dissolve just because these individual men and women have gone to therapy. The social constitution of emotions from reference groups Beneath the froth: unconscious grounding of socially constituted emotions The socially constituted nature of emotions does not include all emotions. Emotions such as physiological pain or sensations like itching or hunger are not discussed. The non-social emotions are also excluded like rage or fear that we share with non-social, non-linguistic animals. Socially constituted emotions are grounded by three deeper levels. First, different cultures take pride in different things such as home-building, virginity, academic achievements or birds they have bred. Second are the social conventions and agreements about how to behave in these settings. What is expected and how to play one's role in a reference group within a culture. Thirdly, within this reference group we are motivated to be included, hold prestige, be honored and respected, have a good reputation, achieve power or have responsibilities. These commitments have been identified in all ages and cultures. On the other hand, we would prefer not to be excluded, degraded, nor appear offensive to others. To summarize, social emotions are grounded in what an entire culture finds a worthy activity; the commitments in our reference group shares within the culture and the social motivations that follow from them. None of this necessarily involves social labeling of emotions that social constructions make so much of. Long-standing human emotions like shame, remorse, pride, envy, jealously, anger, guilt and disappointment are socially constituted. Shame does not occur in us spontaneously and independently of imagined evaluation by our reference groups. Shame has to be taught. Parents would wait a lifetime for purely spontaneous expressions of shame in their children. We have to learn to represent and come to treat certain classes of actions or failure to act as degrading and humiliating and reflecting negatively on our identity. Initially epileptic seizures are reacted to by the epileptic with distress and fear. Only later is the epileptic taught to label their arousal as shame, pride or disappointment. The depth of our social identities - what events trigger in us such as pride, shame or indifference - are connected to the presence of our loyalties to constituted groups and the social virtues we aspire to within them. Cheating on an exam will inspire more disgust in a teacher than would theft upset a cashier at a market. Failure to support a comrade in the military means more to a soldier than to a lawyer who fails to support another lawyer. Such characteristically human emotions and motives do not simply occur in atomistic isolation. Social constructivists enmesh the relationship between individualism and empirical research methods Social constructionists dismiss all experimental methods as inherently individualist. Constructionists and phenomenologists argue that the experimental approach is narrowly restricted because cognitive structures used to develop the research design are already products of society and a specific historical trajectory-- individualistic. For example: Samuelson explains why social psychologists settled on experimental method because of pressure to publish or perish which encouraged swift, piecemeal unread and unreadable publications loaded on method but with little meaning. (227) Actual social groups were gradually replaced by hypothetical groups that had a purely statistical reality. (224) Greenwood is skeptical that by itself, commitment to more sophisticated statistical techniques was responsible for the abandonment of a more sociological social psychology. The reason was because its neglect is at least as old as the interwar years. It is true that the development of American social psychology was affected by grant funding agencies such as Carnegie, Rockefeller, Ford, Sage and the Office of Naval Research. The Ford and Sage foundations were unlikely to fund research that would undermine psychological foundations of autonomy and political liberal individualism. It is also true that social psychologists were steered by these agencies in a direction of small groups rather than large groups and their power dynamics. However, Greenwood says, these factors seem insufficient to explain the specific neglect of the reference group. Social and political factors may explain why American social psychology focused on certain topics at the expense of others (why aggression became a topic) but not at the neglect of the social dimensions of the topics studied. (Why some classes, religions, region of the United States are more aggressive than others). As Greenwood argues: the problem was not that experimental method precluded studying the social dimensions of human psychology, but because of the impoverished conception of social groups that came to inform experimental programs of American social psychology. (160) All experiments of science are not, in their nature, individualist. As mentioned earlier, the experimental methods of social psychologists such as Sherif, Asch and Milgram all captured some very deep truths about our sociality using experimental methods that were far from contrived. Asch traced social group orientation to the role they played by reference groups. Secondly, it is important to understand why there aren't more studies using reference groups as a base for experiments, not dispensing with experiments per se. Greenwood insists that the possibility of experimental social psychology should be directed at the exploration of socially engaged psychological states based on reference groups. It is legitimate and achievable. Individuals do not have to be reduced to individual psychological states in order to be analyzed using research methods. One of the virtues of experimental role-playing is its potential ability to reproduce the social demands of everyday life rather than the peculiar demands of ambiguous laboratory experiments employing deception. The social dimensions of human psychology could be studied experimentally as long as the subjects in experimental groups were pre-selected members of reference social groups. Social constructionists have misunderstood the place of pragmatism in American social psychology The original pragmatists Peirce, James, Dewey and Mead were all pro-science and used the experimental method. With the possible exception of William James, all would have criticized Allport and the empiricists as being individualistic (Mead, Dewey) and nominalist (Peirce). Yet none of them would have criticized the very idea of conducting experiments. In social psychology both Sherif and William Thomas were committed pragmatists and Sherif work on intergroup relationship was experimental. When social constructivists and phenomenologists claim the mantle of pragmaticism as their own, they are taking into the bargain a more idealist version of pragmaticism of Richard Rorty. Social Constructionists overly politicize the field of social psychology in order to understand the predominance of individualist social psychology Lastly, there is no necessary relationship between the socio-political orientation of the scientists and whether or not they are for or against the experimental method. For example, Sherif and Asch were both socialists yet both were committed to the scientific method. The idea of linking science to capitalism and proposing that only liberals portray science in a favorable light as a problem is a product of the New Left in the '60s, the Frankfurt School and the legacy of Western Marxism which had severed its hopes for a place of science in its vision of the future. Overview of the History of Yankee Social Psychology Starting with continental Europe in the middle of the 19th century, social psychology was concerned with how society was imported into the mind of the individual to create an internalized social life. These were the concerns of Adam Smith and David Hume. In Germany Herder (with language) and Herbert (with Folk psychology) continued the emphasis in cross-cultural comparisons of social life. Espinas and Darwin drew references between humans and other animals. Darwin compared the gestures and emotional life of humans and chimps. Espinas compared the social life of humans to the social life of insects. What is provocative is that for the first 60 years of psychology (1850-1900) social psychology was comparative psychology (with other animals), cultural and dominated by Europe. There was no individualism in social psychology nor was it prevalent in the United States. A transition figure beginning in the 1880s was Wilhelm Wundt who wanted to study the psychology of individuals in laboratories while at the same time developing his own version of cross-cultural psychology. Individualism came out in its brashest form in the social Darwinism of Spencer in England and Sumner in the United States. The avalanche towards individualist social psychology began the pragmatist work of William James and erupted into full-scale ideologies in the form of Watson's behaviorism. Two different forms of individualist psychology began to develop on separate sides of the Atlantic just before the outbreak of war: Behaviorism in the US (perspective of the observer) Gestalt perception theory in Germany (perspective of the actor) Both forms of psychology agreed that the starting point of social psychology ought to be within the individual. The differences were that behaviorism examined conduct and gestalt probed human perception. Between the wars Floyd Alport's behaviorism insisted that there was nothing in social life that could not be explained by individual psychology. This included public opinion and rumors. It is tempting to imagine that this individualist version of social psychology went unopposed in this time period, but that is not the case. Alongside the behaviorism and social atomism of Floyd Allport and the individualist symbolic interaction of Blumer, there was a tendency toward a continuation of a sociological social psychology that inherited and developed the ideas of Adam Smith and David Hume. The work of Baldwin, Cooley, Thomas and Mead kept the sociological social psychology alive in the United States. At the same time, in Russia the work of Vygotsky built upon and expanded the work of Mead. Vygotsky and his comrades Luria and Leontiev developed the first explicitly socialist psychology, which included a continuation of comparative psychology, added a historical dimension to social psychology, explained the social origin of higher mental functions and developed a cooperative theory of learning (through the zone of proximal development). During the 1920s and 1930s individualist social psychology continued in the field of mass behavior in the form of Walter Lippman's pessimistic book, Public Opinion. Sociological social psychology responded with Reich's Mass Psychology of Fascism, and Bettelheim's writings on the psychology of concentration camp victims. Undeterred by the horrors of war in Europe, behaviorist social psychology continued blithely along churning out public opinion polls, including attitudes about everything but power politics and political economy. During World War II many European social psychologists fled Europe and contributed some of the best research on group dynamics. This included Asch's experiment on conformity, and Sherif's experiments on intergroup conflict. This was followed in the '60s by Moscovici's study on the power of minorities to influence majorities and Milgram's great experiment on obedience. By the 1960s radical behaviorism went into decline. Goffman's work on stigma, life in mental institutions, focused groups and behavior in public added a Durkheimian slant to a wide variety of social life. Up until the 1960s the field of crowd psychology was dominated by the legacy of the right wing ideas of Le Bon and called by later theorists "mass hysteria theory". New crowd theorists developed two more moderate competing theories - "emergent norm theory" and "structural functionalist theory". By the early 1970s more radical left-wing theories of crowds developed largely from the experience of crowds during the social movement of the '60s. My discussion of crowd psychology can be found in my article Crowds, Masses and Movements: Right-Wing and Left-Wing Macro Social Psychology. In the '80s and '90s behaviorist individualist empiricism was attacked in its description of how people were socialized by two new forms. One that emerged out of Europe was the dialogical self of Hermans and Markova. The second one from the US is in Kenneth Gergen's social constructionism. Meanwhile in the late 1990s John Greenwood sought to revive the reference group theory of Asch and Sherif. From this position he criticized both dialogical psychology and social constructionism. Lastly, individualist social psychology has become more cognitive rather than behavioral. The work of Festinger on cognitive dissonance theory was carried on by Aronson and Zimbardo. The FBI has arrested a 56-year-old Cottage Grove woman accused of making threats online to harm Jews and Black people in posts displaying a Nazi flag and multiple guns. Elizabeth Ballesteros West, who was found with a cache of guns and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, was arrested Friday and is being held in the Lane County Jail, according to federal agents and court records. She has not yet made her first appearance in federal court in Eugene. Kimberely Dixon sees no reason to celebrate. After back-to-back years of record-breaking violence in Portland with 92 homicides in 2021 and 101 in 2022 the number fell in 2023 by almost a quarter, with 77 homicides in the city by the end of last year, including two fatal shootings by police. The downward trend reflects a nationwide drop in killings. In 1990, the Oregon Historical Society approached the prominent Portland attorney, Bernard Jolles, for an interview. The organization wanted to record, for posterity, the story of his long law career, which had a rocky start, due to Jolles connection to the Communist Party at a time in American history when such an affiliation could ruin ones life. Jolles passed away on Dec. 17, at age 95, after suffering a stroke. He was born on Oct. 5, 1928, in Brooklyn. His parents had emigrated from Poland several years earlier. They struggled through the Depression; his father sold ice cream on the street and worked at a lunch counter making sandwiches, until he made enough money to open his own lunch stand. At home, Jolles parents spoke Yiddish. The family lived in the Jewish neighborhood of Borough Park, but unlike any of their neighbors, they were not religious. His parents were members of the International Workers Order. My father was never a member of the Community Party but he was pretty much a Marxist and had sympathy with the Soviets policy, Jolles said. He just felt that the Communists during his lifetime were always fighting oppression. His fathers views had an impact on Jolles early on. I remember being political as a kid because my father was always interested in current events and always looked at them through the left-wing perspective. Jolles excelled academically but was prone to making trouble. I was a wild kid; my mother was constantly being called up to school to do something about me fighting in the schoolyard, harassing the teachers, Jolles said. In high school, Jolles commuted to Manhattan to attend a vocational school. He dreamed of becoming an aircraft mechanic. For Jolles, who was stocky and stood 5 foot, 3 inches tall, working on airplanes held a certain kind of glamour. I remember in some perverse sense hoping the war would last long enough that I would be old enough to go in, Jolles said. Even though he missed the war, he eventually joined the Navy, serving for 22 months, in Guam. When Jolles returned home, he enrolled at New York University on the GI Bill. In 1949, he joined the Communist Party. That changed my entire outlook on what I was going to do in college, what I planned to do when I got out of college. He graduated, and after a couple of years working in the garment industry, Jolles became a longshoreman, loading and unloading ships on New York Citys waterfront. He was motivated by his communist principles. I felt it was important to join the labor movement, to become a worker rather than a doctor or lawyer, Jolles said. He married his first wife, Lenore Madison, in 1953. She wanted me to be a lawyer. She had middle class ambitions, he recalled. But Jolles was committed to Communism, despite the complications it created in his social life. I had two lives. I had the friends I grew up with and I had my political friends in the Party. Being a member of the party, in the era of McCarthyism, required covert meetings in peoples apartments and using fake names on the phone. It was an incredible time to be radical. There were a number of people I knew who turned out to be informants, Jolles said. Everything changed for Jolles in 1956, when Khrushchev denounced Stalin and revealed his atrocities. It was crushing, Jolles recalled. The whole underpinnings of my life were destroyed. We were all sort of in shock. After the Soviet invasion of Hungary, later that year, Jolles left the Communist Party for good. In search of a fresh start, Jolles moved to Portland in 1957, with his wife and two young children. He took night classes at the Northwestern College of Law (now Lewis & Clark Law School). During the day, he worked at a law firm as an investigator on personal injury cases. He was devoted to his studies. But he lived in fear that his past political affiliation would come back to haunt him. He decided that to be honest from the beginning would be safer than lying about it and getting caught out later, so in his application to the bar he came clean about having belonged to the Communist Party. As a result, before he took the bar exam, there was a hearing Jolles sat before nine members of the Board of Bar Examiners. They were asking me questions about the Berlin blockade and Korea. They were trying to find evidence that Id thrown bombs or done something to undermine the war effort, Jolles recalled. The board members found no such evidence, but they made an adverse recommendation anyway. Jolles did not give up. He hired a lawyer and, in 1963, made a case before the Oregon Supreme Court that he was morally fit to be admitted to the bar. This time, he was successful. Bernard JollesFamily archive For the next 46 years, Jolles worked as an attorney in Portland, eventually starting his own firm in 1979. His practice focused on trial work and personal injury cases fender benders, slip and falls. He took on maritime cases, for which he had a soft spot after his years as a longshoreman. He handled malpractice suits and the occasional will and divorce settlement. Throughout his career, he remained passionate about labor unions. For decades, he represented the Western Council of Industrial Workers. I always liked working people; Ive always identified and got along with them, Jolles said. He was also devoted to the protection of civil liberties, traveling to Mississippi in 1969 to defend the rights of Black voters, and eventually serving on the ACLUs executive board. For two decades, Jolles taught law classes at Lewis & Clark Law School. In 1986, he became president of the Oregon State Bar, the very same association that had rejected him early in his career. Jolles married his second wife, Susan Walker, in 1985. At home, he was a loving father to his four children. He raised them to defend the plight of the working man; if the grape pickers in California were on strike, he made sure no one in the family bought grapes at the supermarket. Jolles is survived by his wife, Susan Walker, and his daughters, Jacqueline and Abbe Jolles. He is predeceased by his son, Howard, and daughter, Carolyn. As lawsuits over real estate commissions mount, many homebuyers and sellers are trying to figure out how much they need to pay their real estate agents. The National Association of Realtors lost a Missouri lawsuit in November that argued its practices led to inflating real estate commissions. A jury awarded homebuyers covered by the suit $1.8 billion in compensation. The behemoth trade group is now facing a growing number of other antitrust lawsuits about the practice requiring listing agents to pay buyers agents in the home sales process. As a result, the National Association of Realtors could see huge losses and some Realtor support. Earlier this month, an Arizona home seller from 2021 filed a similar complaint against the states biggest Realtor associations and more than a dozen of its biggest residential brokerages. Many real estate agents are getting more questions and pushback on commissions. But some think it could shake out inexperienced agents who arent helping buyers and sellers enough to call for 3% to 6% commissions. Price fixing is not happening, but now more agents dont want to represent buyers and that will hurt first-time buyers, said Christa Lawcock of Realty Executives. Its the lawyers who are going to make the money off the suits, not the people selling homes. Arizona commission lawsuit Joseph Masiello filed an Arizona class-action complaint against the state's big Realtor groups and brokerages, alleging antitrust violations because they compel home sellers to pay inflated commissions to the home buyers broker, even though the buyers broker does not represent the seller. The suit also accuses agents, who arent getting a commission on a house, to steer buyers to homes with sellers who will pay a commission. He sold an Arizona home in October 2021 through HomeSmart, which is a defendant in the case. Masiello was required to pay a 2% commission of $8,200 to his broker and a 2.5% commission of $10,250 to the buyers agent, according to the lawsuit filed on Jan. 5. Story continues Real estate: A vacant 27-acre parcel in heart of Paradise Valley for sale. Asking price: $55M HomeSmart declined to comment. The Phoenix and Scottsdale Realtors groups are defendants in the Arizona lawsuit, too. The Phoenix Association of Realtors said it would "respond to the matter through due legal process." The Scottsdale Area Association of Realtors didnt respond to requests for comment. "The National Association of REALTORS maintains, and we agree, that the practice of cooperative compensation makes efficient, transparent, and accessible marketplaces possible, the Arizona Association of Realtors, also a defendant, said in a statement. Sellers can sell their home for more and have their home seen by a larger pool of potential buyers, while buyers have more choices of homes and can afford representation." Masiello is asking for a jury trial, like the case in Missouri. Also, the complaint is asking for class-action status to include homeowners who worked with a brokerage that used an Arizona multiple listing service to sell a home starting in January 2020. His attorneys didn't respond to questions or requests for comment. The case is similar to the National Association of Realtors case in Missouri, which the real estate industry group just asked for a retrial on. Who will pay commissions? The real estate industry groups legal challenges could change the home buying and selling process. Greg Hague, CEO of real estate firm 72SOLD, said the judge in the Missouri case that led to a national lawsuit will likely craft rules that mandate significant change in the U.S. commission structure, essentially resulting in sellers paying only their listing agent. And he said buyers will pay their agent if they want one. John Wake, a real estate agent with HomeSmart, didnt comment on the Arizona lawsuit but said the Missouri lawsuit could lead to sellers offering the multiple listing service to directly pay buyers' agents without going through the sellers agent. It will be pretty much status quo without the agent liability, he said. Lawcock said experienced agents charge commissions based on what they can do for buyers and sellers, including spending money on marketing, negotiating better prices, helping find the best financing, and inspectors and appraisers. You get what you pay for, she said. Bobby Lieb, associate broker with Launch Powered By Compass, said the current commission issues are driving inexperienced real estate agents, who got into the business during the pandemic housing boom, out. I am loving it because people will pay to work with experienced agents because we can sell homes faster and for more than newbies who dont know an area or understand the market, he said. Reach the reporter at catherine.reagor@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8040. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CatherineReagor. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Realtor lawsuits over home sale commissions spreads to Arizona From his seat aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, 33-year-old Portland architect Nicholas Hoch texted his girlfriend the spine-chilling news as it unfolded: a white vapor had rushed into the cabin, the oxygen masks had deployed, the plane was swaying side to side and a hole had been torn into the side of the fuselage. My plane is having problems, read the first of his dozens of dispatches. Omg, his girlfriend texted back. Thats terrifying. Are you okay? I dunno, Hoch responded. Then later, People are freaking out, Please tell my mom and dad I love them if something happens and, simply, I love you. Meanwhile, a mixture of petrified silence and panic pervaded the cabin, with each of the 171 passengers dealing with the confounding circumstances in their own way. While some silently prayed, grasped the people next to them or texted their loved ones what they thought might be their final goodbyes, at least two passengers stood up and exclaimed there was a hole in the side of the plane. The public would soon learn the details: A door plug in the 26th row flew off six minutes into the flight at 16,000 feet on the evening of Jan. 5. The missing plug a 2-by-4-foot panel that fills the space that might otherwise be occupied by an emergency exit rapidly depressurized the cabin, filling it with frigid air and the overwhelming roar of the unmuffled engines. It also forced an emergency landing back at Portland International Airport, just 20 minutes after the Boeing 737 Max 9 had taken off. No one was seriously injured physically, according to the airline. Now more than a week out, the incident and the planes manufacturer, Boeing, are continuing to draw intense scrutiny after evidence emerged that the near-calamity might indicate a systemic problem with construction of this model of jet, which already had a troubled history. U.S. regulators as well as the two U.S. carriers that fly the 737 Max 9 aircraft Alaska and United have grounded all 144 of their planes for inspections. While commercial airline travel is by far safer than getting places by car, the incident has stoked significant unease in the flying public more than 2.5 million people fly each day in the U.S., often with blind trust in the American aviation safety net. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration said theyre looking into the actions of Alaska Airlines, Boeing and Boeings subcontractor, Spirit Aerosystems. Though federal investigators said theres no indication its linked to the errant door plug, a pressurization warning light had gone off three times in recent weeks on this particular plane, prompting Alaska Airlines to restrict it to flying only over land and not to Hawaii, so pilots could make a quick emergency landing if necessary. The plane had been in service only for a little over two months, meaning it was unlikely Alaska Airlines had had a chance to perform any extensive maintenance on the door plug. On Thursday, a Seattle law firm filed a class-action lawsuit against Boeing, alleging that the episode caused physical injuries in some passengers and psychological trauma in many of them. Passengers were shocked, terrorized and confused, thrust into a waking nightmare, hoping they would live long enough to walk the earth again, states the suit. 20-MINUTE FLIGHT OF TERROR Departing at 5:06 p.m., Flight 1282 to Ontario, California, was supposed to have been a 2-hour and 15-minute hop south. That changed six minutes in as the plane reached about 15,000 feet or close to three miles above the Cedar Mill area, west of Portland. Passengers described hearing a deafening boom or explosion, and those in seats in front of the missing section of fuselage reported feeling a powerful blast of air shoving them forward, then pushing them back into their seats. The roar of the engines made it difficult to hear. The door plug immediately adjacent to seat 26A had violently dislodged from the plane at more than 300 mph. No one was sitting in that seat or the one next to it. The outside of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, pictured here on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Courtesy of NTSB)National Transportation Safety Board Directly in front of the hole, the Oregon mother of a 15-year-old boy, seated in 25A and 25B, told The Seattle Times that the force of the air gushing out of the hole twisted the teens seat backward, forced both of his arms over his head, whipped off his v-neck pullover and T-shirt and left him bare-chested. She desperately pulled his upper half away from the hole, and in turn, the stranger next to her pulled the two of them toward the center aisle. I was probably as filled with adrenaline as Ive ever been in my life, she told the Times. When the air pressure equalized, the mother, son and stranger bolted out of their seats and moved to different rows farther away from the gash the boy in one empty seat, the mother and stranger in a pair farther away. When the plug blew out, I was in go mode. Of course I was terrified. But Im a mother. And that terror doesnt occur to you when youre looking at your child next to a hole in a plane, the unnamed mother told the Times. Its about I gotta get my kid out of here immediately. Wilsonville resident Kelly Bartlett said she was shocked to see the shirtless teen suddenly plop into an empty seat next to her. In a Facebook post, the 46-year-old woman, who recently appeared as a contestant on the Lego Masters FOX reality TV competition, wrote that it was too loud to hear anything so she communicated with hand gestures and by typing into her cellphone. Noticing the redness on his skin, she asked Did you get hurt? Arm is abit (sic) scratched that was unbelievable my name is Jack thanks for your kindness, he wrote back. Bartlett later told The Associated Press: I just couldnt believe he was sitting there and what he must have gone through, what he must have been feeling at the time. Oxygen masks deployed on Flight 1282 on Jan. 5, 2024. (Courtesy of Nicholas Hoch)Courtesy of Nicholas Hoch Directly behind the hole, Cuong Tran, who was seated in 27A, told The Los Angeles Times that his iPhone 14, one of his Nike shoes and a sock were sucked out of the yawning gap, leaving him with bruises and an ankle sprain. Tran said his main worry was for the person he thought was sitting directly in front of him and adjacent to the opening. He was relieved to hear from another passenger that the seat had been unoccupied. He also said he saw the teenagers shirt fly out the hole and at first thought it was a human body. I saw half his body was out of the plane, then I saw his shirt get sucked out, he told The Los Angeles Times. Four rows ahead of the hole, an oxygen mask dropped in front of Stan Sigstad, a retired truck driver from Mill City, but he said it didnt seem to work. So he grabbed a second mask, which he also thought was malfunctioning. He said he has asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which made the situation more dire. I was thinking, Man, were going to crash, Sigstad, 64, told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Then, after the door popped off and all the wind was rushing around me, I said to God, I trust you. He commended the crew for providing comfort. Fortunately, the pilot used their calm voice to speak to us, and the flight attendants were running back and forth trying to calm everyone down, he said. In row 27, directly behind the row with the missing door plug, Sieysoar Un and her 12-year-old son told Good Morning America that the boys cellphone and stuffed animal were sucked out of the hole. Un said I reached over and held his hand. We literally thought that we were going to die. Hoch, the 33-year-old Portland architect who texted his girlfriend, told The Oregonian/Oregonlive that he initially thought a door had been opened. He couldnt see much from his seat 14 rows in front of the missing chunk of aircraft. But that confusion began to clear up when a woman and then a man stood up and announced what had happened. Theres a (expletive) hole in the plane. Oh my god, theres a hole! That shouldnt be there! Hoch recalls the man shouting. Brush Prairie resident Vicki Kreps, who was traveling with her 5- and 7-year-old grandchildren, told The Oregonian/OregonLive she could see the gouge in the side of the plane when she glanced over her shoulder from her 19th row seat. The 56-year-old said they all put on their oxygen masks, then she stretched an arm across her grandchildrens laps and prayed. Portland architect Nicholas Hoch, 33, and Washington resident Vicki Kreps and her two grandchildren, ages 5 and 7, shared accounts of their frightening flight Fri. night, Jan 5, 2023.Courtesy of Vicki Kreps Passenger Courtney Ringenback posted on TikTok that shed just experienced the scariest moment of her life. I thought we were going to nose-dive at any second, she said. ...I just kept thinking what is this going to do to my family, my mom and my sister? Will they ever get over this if this is how I go? WED LIKE TO GO DOWN Throughout the cabin, passengers felt pain in their ears from the air in their sinuses expanding. Some said they bled. At 5:14 p.m., as the plane cruised above the West Linn area, one of the pilots told air traffic control of the crisis unfolding. Her voice was tense but clear: Uh, Seattle, wed like to go down. Then: 1282 Alaska, were declaring an emergency. Were descending down to 10,000. Were depressurized. (As of Friday, a week later, Alaska Airlines had not named the pilots.) At 5:16 p.m., the plane, which had been heading southwest, made a sharp turn north over the Estacada area. Then another sharp turn northwest over Sandy, toward Portland International Airport. It was dark outside, and video taken by a passenger shows the lights of the city thousands of feet below. Video recorded by another passenger shows a flight attendant with a large and long metal oxygen tank slung over her shoulder and connected to her oxygen mask, as she leans over to attend to a visibly distressed passenger. At 5:26 p.m., The plane landed safely. Some passengers applauded. Firefighters entered and escorted off those who needed medical attention first. At the gate: Passengers said Alaska Airlines offered a refund on their tickets, $1,500 in compensation and an apology. The airline also said it had made arrangements with a mental health provider to offer round-the-clock counseling to those who need it. After waiting as long as two hours in line, some passengers went home or stayed with friends and family, deciding to travel a different day or not at all. Others decided to catch a second flight to Southern California that evening on what, according to the lawsuit, turned out to be another 737 Max 9 jetliner. They were unaware that Alaska was about to ground its entire Max 9 fleet for inspection. Food and drinks were free, and that second plane arrived at its destination without incident. SEEKING ANSWERS The next day, at a press conference at the Embassy Suites near Portland International Airport, National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy put out a public plea for residents of the Cedar Mill area west of Portland to scour their yards, parking lots, sidewalks and streets for the missing door plug and other items thrust from the plane. The following day, Vancouver resident Sean Bates said he was killing time before meeting a friend for lunch last Sunday when he found the cellphone belonging to Tran, the California resident, in a bush along Southwest Barnes Road. Bates was astonished to find that it still worked, and he was able to pull up a boarding pass for Flight 1282 on its screen. Bates reported the phone to federal investigators, and an equally astonished Tran was reunited with his phone Wednesday. Sean Bates, the man who found a phone that fell from Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, on Sunday with NTSB officials.Sean Bates That evening, as another press conference was winding down, Homendy had just finished telling reporters that the door plug hadnt been found when she backtracked learning from staff that just an hour earlier a man she identified only as Bob and a schoolteacher in Portland had found the plug resting in a bank of cedar trees in his yard. That news led to Catlin Gabel physics teacher Bob Sauer, who recounted to local and national media on Monday how he shined a flashlight into his yard to discover the find of a lifetime. Sauer was relieved the 65-pound aircraft part hadnt fallen on his house, where it probably would have punched a hole in his roof. Because its a pretty heavy object coming down at a pretty high velocity, the science teacher said. National Transportation Safety Board inspectors with the plug door, after teacher Bob Sauer found it in his Cedar Mill area yard on Jan. 7.Photo courtesy of National Transportation Safety Board Federal officials have since said theyve been able to determine that the door plug slid off its hinges, disconnected from the fuselage and blew off the plane. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating whether the four bolts that are supposed to keep the door plug in place were installed properly or installed at all. Alaska and United also announced startling results from their initial inspections of their 737 Max 9 fleets that theyd found loose hardware or loose bolts indicating a much deeper problem. Alaska grounded all 65 of its 737 Max 9 jetliners. The Federal Aviation Administration followed by grounding all those with door plugs. United Airlines is the only other U.S. carrier to use Max 9s and has 79. As of Thursday, Alaska Airlines, alone, had canceled close to 900 flights, impacting about 125,000 customers. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun also has acknowledged our mistake leading up to Flight 1282 and declared it can never happen again. Our job is to understand literally everything that has happened, he said. Everything that surrounds that particular fuselage plug and fix it. Aviation experts say what happened on Flight 1282 could have been far, far worse. Though the plane was nearly full, it appears to be sheer luck that no one was sitting in the two seats closest to where the door plug blew out. But the explosive decompression did tear the cushioned seat backing off of the nearest seat and the headrest off of the seat in front of it. Anyone sitting in them would have been in tremendous peril. And aviation experts say if the door plug had blown off minutes later, when the plane had been at cruising altitude of 30,000 to 40,000 feet and the seatbelt sign had been off, the depressurization force would have been of much greater magnitude. Some passengers and crew likely would have been walking about the cabin, and possibly sucked out of the plane. Babies who were unsecured could have been blown into the void, as well. Alaska Airlines said there were three lap infants on board. At that elevation, some seven miles up, the air also would have been dangerously low in oxygen. Passengers without oxygen masks might have passed out in about a minute and soon been at risk for death. Ed Pierson, a former senior Boeing manager who left the company after repeatedly expressing concerns about overworked employees and quality issues with 737 production, told The Oregonian/OregonLive he hopes the near-catastrophe on Flight 1282 serves as a wake-up call that sticks. He now works as executive director for the Foundation for Aviation Safety, which continues to focus on the safety of 737s after the 2018 and 2019 crashes of 737 Max 8 planes in Ethiopia and Indonesia, killing 346 onboard. The FAA is really failing not only the American public, but the world because they should be much more engaged in the oversight many more inspections, many more people in the factory, Pierson said. The National Transportation Safety Board investigates the Boeing 737 Max 9 that made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport on Jan. 5, 2024. (Courtesy of NTSB)National Transportation Safety Board Going forward, passengers from Flight 1282 are trying to work through any psychological trauma. Some have been far more affected than others, according to interviews with passengers. Hoch, the Portland architect who texted his girlfriend that he wasnt sure if he was going to be OK after the oxygen masks were deployed, said he ordered a gin and tonic on the make-up flight down to Southern California later that night. After a few days spending time with his girlfriend there, he boarded a flight to Tokyo on Wednesday. It doesnt make me feel reluctant to fly, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. We really just dodged a bullet. Sigstad, the retired Mill City truck driver, said he faults the planes manufacturer for the traumatic incident. But given the information about previous pressurization warnings on the plane, he also wonders why it was cleared to fly. If they knew ahead of time, why didnt they just ground that plane? he said. Sigstad said hes taken other flights since. But as he reflected on the event days later, reality started to sink in. I guess I was in denial, or in shock, he said, holding back tears. Ive talked about this before and it didnt affect me, or stump me like this. It was just very frightening. Aimee Green; agreen@oregonian.com; @o_aimee; 503-913-4197 Reporters Maxine Bernstein, Austin De Dios, Fedor Zarkhin and Lizzy Acker contributed to this story. Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Jeff Merkley Merkley, a Democrat, has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate since 2009. He serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza is nearly unimaginable. Innocent people are on the brink of starvation. Injured children are having limbs amputated without anesthesia. Health officials are warning of an imminent cholera outbreak. An estimated 85% of Palestinians in Gaza have been driven from their homes, and more than 1 million people have fled south and overwhelmed the city of Rafah. Some are paying bribes up to $10,000 to escape the territory. No one in Gaza is safe from the falling bombs. Longtime humanitarian workers, who have served in conflict zones from Ukraine to Syria to Sudan, told me they have never witnessed a disaster of this scale or severity. I was one of the first U.S. senators to call for an immediate ceasefire and massive humanitarian aid to Gaza. Earlier this month, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Maryland, and I went to the Rafah crossing on the border between Egypt and Gaza to witness the humanitarian response for ourselves. What we saw was frustrating and unacceptable. Trucks filled with food, water and medical supplies are lined up for miles in the desert waiting their turn to be granted entry into Gaza. It can often take more than a week from the time drivers load their trucks until they get final permission from Israel to deliver their loads into Gaza. Even if all the items on a truck have been pre-approved by Israel to ensure they are not dual use items that have a potential military purpose, Israeli authorities can and do still reject some items at an inspection site. And if a single item is rejected, the entire truckload is rejected. During our trip, we examined a warehouse full of rejected items, including water filters and solar-powered refrigerators. An item approved for entry one day could be rejected the next. At Rafah, we spoke with two medical professionals. One described bones shattered by bomb blasts and untreatable trauma to internal organs. The other presented pictures of his patients with burns deep into the flesh. He observed that these burns are incredibly hard to treat. They wanted us to know the 250-bed hospital where they worked had over 750 patients, not counting those who had been turned away, some because they were too seriously injured to treat. They also pointed out that these patients need food in addition to drugs and treatments, and they are getting very little. Only 15 of Gazas 36 hospitals remain partially functional. After making it through Israels inspection and getting final approval to go into Gaza, the aid trucks face additional hurdles: damaged roads, falling bombs and artillery shells. There is no reliable deconfliction system to ensure that humanitarian organizations including their operating sites and their workers movements are safe as they conduct their lifesaving work. Truck drivers, ambulance drivers, and health care and aid workers are risking their lives. Hundreds have been killed. The broken pre-clearance and deconfliction systems are making it impossible to get anywhere near the needed level of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Before the war, an average of 500 trucks entered Gaza daily. But according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, an average of fewer than 150 trucks were allowed through each day this week, when much more aid is needed. This is unconscionable. As Sen. Van Hollen and I said upon our return, Israel has every right to eliminate the military threat of Hamas after the horrific attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. But how they do it matters. At least 23,000 people have been killed in Gaza, two-thirds of them women and children, and many more have been hurt by the bombing. This suffering must stop. There is no justifiable reason a truck cannot be loaded, inspected and cleared to deliver its aid the same day rather than waiting a week or more. As we mark the hundredth day of war, I am calling on Israel and the United States in partnership with Egypt, Jordan and non-governmental organizations to fix these issues immediately so that the flow of humanitarian aid and commercial goods, like food and medicine, can be vastly increased to meet these urgent and enormous needs. I reiterate my call for a ceasefire to provide a better opportunity to secure the release of all the hostages, to end the carnage from bombs and artillery shells and to facilitate humanitarian aid. A massive increase in humanitarian aid must happen immediately or both Israel and the United States will be complicit in the unacceptable and massive continued suffering of Palestinians in Gaza. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: The Democratic Party should take its own advice. Democrats asked Justice Stephen Breyer to resign from the U.S. Supreme Court because of his age. They asked former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to step down from leadership because of her age. Why are Democrats not asking President Joe Biden to step aside from the 2024 presidential run because of his age? Polled voters are overwhelmingly against another Trump-Biden ballot because of their ages. President Biden needs to take his age off the ballot and let it return to the issues of democracy and womens health rights. Biden should announce on his own that he is not running. If he doesnt, then Democrats should ask. Walter Ludtke, Salem To read more letters to the editor, go to oregonlive.com/opinion. At 11:28 a.m. Saturday, strong winter winds caused a momentary lapse in power at the National Weather Service building in Northeast Portland, raising alarms for meteorologists. If the weather office loses power, it would cut off crucial information to mariners, transportation departments and airline pilots. Tyler Kranz quickly called the weather services sister location in Seattle, which can take over operations in an emergency. If the power goes out and the generator fails, the weather information hub has 15 minutes before the forecasts go dark. Weve had a power outage, and were waiting for the generator to turn on, Kranz told a Seattle meteorologist. As the office of seven workers fell silent, they were relieved to find out it was just a power flicker. Its one of the many scenarios the team has to prepare for during events like Saturdays winter storm. Shift workers brought extra bags and clothes, and managers provided air mattresses in case the weather proved too dicey for driving home. Meteorologists arrived at the office early and will likely stay late to help bring crucial weather information to the Portland area and beyond, as they do 24 hours a day. With the winter storm impacting the area, its go, go, go, Kranz said. I find it rewarding that people get valuable information they need to make important decisions, and its coming from us. Kranz was charged with briefing Oregons transportation departments, county and city governments and emergency management offices about Saturdays weather. With this information, these agencies make decisions on how to keep people safe, Kranz said. Other staffers watched over marine and aviation conditions, and worked to feed information to news broadcasters and the broader public. The weather service office also monitors river and flooding conditions across the Columbia River Basin. Meteorologist Briana Muhlestein, who has worked at Portland's National Weather Service office for roughly seven years, monitors weather conditions.Austin De Dios/The Oregonian/OregonLive The National Weather Service provides all radar information to weather apps and websites, and issues all watches, warnings and advisories, according to Tanja Fransen, meteorologist in charge at Portlands weather service. Workstations at the weather service office are equipped with several monitors showing complex weather models, live radar information, satellite imagery and outside observations. The weather service can also remotely launch a weather balloon to collect real-time data. The Weather Service costs the average taxpayer $4 a year, Fransen said. Thats the radar data on your phone. That is all the observations at every airport that allows airplanes to land and take off. Thats a pretty good bargain, I think. Fransen came into the office at 5 a.m. Saturday, prepared with winter boots, extra shoes, clothes, blankets and other essentials. She said shed likely stay overnight to support the staff as the storm continues. Despite the chaos and heavy workload Saturday, spirits in the office were high. Staffers exchanged jokes and casual conversation in between forecast insights. It sucks sometimes, but the people here make the job easier, said Meteorologist David Bishop. We all help each other out, and we lift each other up. Its challenging, but thats why we like doing it. Briana Muhlestein, whos worked with Portlands National Weather Service for seven years as a marine and coastal program coordinator, echoed the sentiments of her colleagues. She said the job can be frustrating, but that its been a worthwhile career. Being able to help protect lives and property is just an incredibly rewarding job, Muhlestein said. As the storm rages on, Portlands National Weather Service will be available to keep various agencies and the public informed. They can be reached at (503) 261-9246. Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744 Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe Wind chills in the Portland Metro area are in the single digits above to single digits below zero. Frost bite can occur within 30 minutes if you are not properly dressed. https://t.co/iQFu4SVJ3o#ORwx #WAwx pic.twitter.com/ULHOVOt0UP NWS Portland (@NWSPortland) January 13, 2024 Saturdays cold temperatures felt even colder because of the strong and blustery winds that raked the Portland metro area off and on all day. Wind chills in the Portland Metro area are in the single digits above to single digits below zero, the National Weather Service said Saturday. Winds were easing Sunday but still coming from the east. The strong winds Saturday led to falling trees around the metro area, with roads blocked and homes severely damaged. Two deaths on Saturday were attributed to falling trees. In addition, wind chill endangers anyone without shelter. One person in Multnomah County was found dead of suspected hypothermia Saturday. Warming shelters opened throughout the area to provide refuge from the winter storm. The impressive wind gusts Saturday included 83 mph at Crown Point, in the Columbia River Gorge. The dangers of not seeking warm shelter during extreme weather conditions could be deadly, Multnomah Countys health officer warned Saturday, urging anyone in need of a warm place to seek shelter. Since the winter storm hit the Portland metro area Saturday morning, a suspected hypothermia death has been reported, and more than a dozen calls to the Bureau of Emergency Communications have been coded as cold exposures since Friday evening, officials said. Dr. Richard Bruno, health officer for Multnomah County, said the person suspected of having died of hypothermia was found Saturday morning. But he wasnt able to provide more details about the individual at this time. People in the area without access to a warm environment are at risk of hypothermia and frostbite, which can be very dangerous, and even deadly, Bruno told reporters. We have one suspected case of hypothermia. Early this morning someone passed away. We want to try to prevent all future mortality thats from this cold. Bruno made his remarks during a late-morning press conference Saturday at the Friendly House, a shelter operated by Do Good Multnomah that has been made available as a warming center. Do Good Multnomah is a shelter and housing nonprofit organization that prioritizes veterans, but its Friendly House shelter is open to anyone, said Alex England, a spokesperson with the organization. Multnomah County issued a state of emergency on Friday, which went into effect at 5p.m. due to extreme weather conditions. The high temperature in the Portland aera for Saturday was expected to reach 18 degrees during the day. In some of the metro area, it began to snow before 9 a.m. Snow is expected to continue into the evening hours or possibly until Sunday morning. The National Weather Service said the area could see anywhere between 6 and 8 inches of snow accumulation, depending on the elevation. The county and its partners, such as the Friendly House, hosted more than 350 people across five warming shelters on Friday night, Bruno said. The number of warming centers, he said, will double to 10 on Saturday night to accommodate up to 740 individuals. Bruno said outreach teams also distributed several supplies on Saturday morning, including more than 2,000 handwarmers, 400 sweatpants, 500 tents and 500 sleeping bags. Since Friday, county officials urged people to seek shelter and said no one will be turned away. While the state of emergency is in place, TriMet said it will not turn anyone away who is seeking a warm place but is unable to pay. Bruno said the county is also working on efforts to utilize providers, such as Uber and Lyft, for those who need to get to a warm place. People in need of services can call 211 or visit www.multco.us/cold. With any sort of morbidity or mortality, we want to make sure that we are doing the best we can to prevent people from getting cold and succumbing to cold, Bruno said. These warming shelters are the best opportunity, I think, to make sure that were getting people housed, warm and safe. Hypothermia is when the body temperature drops below 95 degrees, Bruno said. At that temperature, people can get confused, shiver and pass out that can sometimes lead to unsafe, low body temperatures that can cause death. Frostbite is another danger of extreme weather and that is when a persons fingers, toes and ears become very cold and pale. Warmth must be introduced to those body parts slowly. Sarah Dean, public information officer for Multnomah County Health Department, said county officials were informed by the Bureau of Emergency Communications that from 6p.m. Friday to late morning Saturday, the bureau had received 14 calls coded as cold exposures. That can give you an idea of sort of calls were getting for transport to emergency departments, she told reporters. Bruno said he was also aware of emergency departments receiving people with cold-related illnesses, but he wasnt able to immediately provide the figures for those visits. Bruno asked members of the community to call 911 if they see someone who is not responding or needs emergency help. For welfare checks to check on someone, people can call 311, and those seeking services can dial 211. For the most part, people seeking shelter at the Friendly House on Saturday appeared to be enjoying a meal or sleeping under warm blankets. One woman started screaming and police had to be called. Two patrol cars quickly arrived. A man who asked to only be identified by his first name, Christopher, ate a hamburger standing right outside the warm shelter with two other people. Its cold weather, he said. I came to utilize the services theyre offering because its cold out. However, he said he only intended to stay there for a while. Another man identified as Rocky, 60, said he had gone to the Friendly House Saturday morning to take a shower, he saw the warm shelter and decided to stay. He said that was after a tree nearly fell on top of him at his campsite. Its cold enough you could freeze. County shelters, resources and where to call: These sites are open right now and will remain open at least through 8 p.m Sunday, Jan. 14: Ascension Catholic Church: 743 S.E. 76th Ave., Portland operated by Multnomah County Salvation Army: 5325 N. Williams Ave., Portland, operated by Multnomah County Market Street Shelter, 120 S.E. Market St., Portland, operated by All Good Northwest Cook Plaza: 19421 S.E. Stark St., Gresham, operated by Cultivate Initiatives Friendly House: 1737 N.W. 26th Ave., Portland, operated by Do Good Multnomah Powell Shelter, 7332 S.E. Powell Blvd., Portland, operated by Transition Projects These sites will open 8 p.m. tonight, Saturday, and will remain open through at least 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14: First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave., Portland, operated by Multnomah County Freedom Foursquare Church: 660 S.E. 160th Ave., Portland, operated by Multnomah County Multnomah County East Building, 600 N.E. 8th St., Gresham, operated by Multnomah County State of Oregon Building, 800 N.E. Oregon St., Portland operated by State employees This interactive map shows places to get warm during the day. Anyone who has concerns about someone who appears to be unprepared for the cold weather and does not seem to be capable of caring for themselves should call Police Non-Emergency, 503-823-3333, and request a welfare check. If it appears that the persons situation is mental health-related, the Mental Health Crisis Line can be reached 24/7 at 503-988-4888. If the situation appears to present an imminent risk to the persons health or safety, dial 911. (Credit Multnomah County) Yesenia Amaro | yamaro@oregonian.com | 503-221-4395 | @YeseniaAmaro In response to increased demand for natural gas due to extreme cold weather across Oregon and southwest Washington, NW Natural is asking customers to temporarily lower their thermostat settings and limit hot water usage. The Portland-based utility said Saturday that it was experiencing complications from a regional storage facility in Washington that was creating significant pressure problems on one of their pipelines serving the region. We are seeing increased usage by utility customers across our region due to frigid temperatures, which are expected to continue into next week, the utility said. Increased use can strain utility systems, which could potentially affect service. Kim Rush, chief operations officer at NW Natural, said that the utility companys gas system was operating at full capacity. Fierce winds, snow, freezing rain and extreme cold swept across much of Oregon Saturday. State agencies urged Oregonians to stay home and use extreme caution if they must head out. The Oregon Health Authority issued a warning Saturday about the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frost bite amid extreme temperatures. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, the agency said to never use a gas stove or oven to heat homes, keep generators at least 25 feet away from the home, and to use outdoor heaters, grills and camp stoves only outside. Anything flammable should also be kept three feet away from fireplaces, wood stoves, radiators, candles and portable heaters. --Kristine de Leon; kdeleon@oregonian.com If you're not sure where to start when looking for the next multi-bagger, there are a few key trends you should keep an eye out for. Typically, we'll want to notice a trend of growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and alongside that, an expanding base of capital employed. Put simply, these types of businesses are compounding machines, meaning they are continually reinvesting their earnings at ever-higher rates of return. In light of that, when we looked at Ameresco (NYSE:AMRC) and its ROCE trend, we weren't exactly thrilled. Understanding Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) Just to clarify if you're unsure, ROCE is a metric for evaluating how much pre-tax income (in percentage terms) a company earns on the capital invested in its business. Analysts use this formula to calculate it for Ameresco: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.028 = US$73m (US$3.5b - US$882m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023). Thus, Ameresco has an ROCE of 2.8%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Construction industry average of 9.8%. See our latest analysis for Ameresco roce In the above chart we have measured Ameresco's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you're interested, you can view the analysts predictions in our free report on analyst forecasts for the company. How Are Returns Trending? On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Ameresco doesn't inspire confidence. To be more specific, ROCE has fallen from 5.9% over the last five years. And considering revenue has dropped while employing more capital, we'd be cautious. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se. Our Take On Ameresco's ROCE We're a bit apprehensive about Ameresco because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. However the stock has delivered a 71% return to shareholders over the last five years, so investors might be expecting the trends to turn around. In any case, the current underlying trends don't bode well for long term performance so unless they reverse, we'd start looking elsewhere. Story continues Ameresco does have some risks, we noticed 4 warning signs (and 2 which are concerning) we think you should know about. While Ameresco may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has strongly condemns the attack on Mogadishus Aden Adde International Airport area on Thursday, which resulted in the death of a member of the Ugandan United Nations Guard Unit at the United Nations Compound Photo: (Photo : ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS / Getty Images) South Carolina's 34-year cold case is now closed as the parents of the 5-year-old boy, Justin Turner, are now charged with child murder. South Carolina law enforcement officials have announced the arrest of the father and stepmother of the child in connection to the child murder in 1989. This significant breakthrough in the 34-year cold case has brought a new focus on a tragic story that has lingered in the memories of the local community. South Carolina Arrest that Shook a Community Victor Lee Turner, 69, and Megan R. Turner, 63, were apprehended at their Cross Hill residence, more than three decades after the mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder of their young son. Their arrest marks a pivotal turn in a 34-year cold case that has haunted South Carolina, bringing a ray of hope for justice in a case that seemed destined to remain unsolved. The couple is detained at Hill-Finklea Detention Center in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, and is currently facing charges and awaiting legal proceedings. The 5-year-old boy, Justin Turner, was found near his parent's home in a camper and the investigations and court documents back then revealed that the boy had been asphyxiated. Sheriff Duane Lewis stated that he recently suspected the couple since they only portrayed very little interest in the investigation into the death of their own son even before up until the review started in 2021. Lewis added that throughout the investigation, he never got one phone call from the father and stepmother about their 5-year-old son's death. According to the documents, Megan Turner said to the witness that she had an argument with the victim before he was last seen. Turner was also noted to have provided inconsistent details and misinformation about her whereabouts during the authorities' time frame for the murder. The progress in this long-standing case can be attributed to advancements in forensic technology. Investigators, citing a forensic examination of evidence, believe Justin was fatally strangled with a ligature "a short time after consuming his last meal" on March 2, 1989. Investigators were able to match a ligature to the shirt collar of the 5-year-old victim, Justin Turner, a critical piece of evidence that pointed directly to the boy's parents. Despite the initial charge against Megan Turner, then known as Pamela K. Turner, the case had previously been withdrawn, leaving it unsolved for years. However, the persistence of law enforcement and the evolution of forensic science have finally shed light on the circumstances surrounding the child murder, leading to the recent arrests. Read Also: $70 Billion Bipartisan Tax Break Nears Completion: Child Tax Credit, Business Incentives in Focus A Community's Journey from Grief to Closure Amy Parsons, Justin's cousin who was just eight years old at the time of his tragic death, has been a persistent voice in keeping the memory of the case alive within their family, Sheriff Lewis noted. Speaking at the recent news conference, Parsons shared her relief at the long-awaited closure of the case. However, she also expressed that the couple did not deserve the 34 years of freedom, as investigation have proven that they killed him, candidly stating that they do not deserve another day. The arrest of Justin Turner's parents not only serves as a testament to the relentless pursuit of justice but also brings a sense of closure to a community that has been gripped by this tragedy for over three decades. The impact of this child murder resonated deeply within the small community, marking a loss of innocence and a lingering sense of injustice. The case's closure, while bringing relief to many, also underscores the profound loss and the unfulfilled potential of a young life that was brutally cut short. As the legal process unfolds for the arrested parents, this case serves as a stark reminder of the enduring impact of unresolved crimes and the importance of perseverance in seeking the truth. Related Article: Empowering Black Education: UNCF Receives Historic $100M from Lilly Endowment Recently there have been a couple of notable cases of people who, after making a name for themselves as witches or other Pagan-adjacent people, suddenly reverted to Christianity. New Age teacher Doreen Virtue was probably the most prominent to do so, in 2017. More recently, tattoo artist Kat Von D shared a video of her baptism and talked about returning to Christianity. There have been other, lesser known people who have done the same thing. Any time a celebrity (to the extent any of these people can be considered celebrities) makes a public religious change, someone always screams its all about the money! Maybe it is, in some cases. I dont think it is in either of these two, and I dont think it is in most. People who insist politics is all about the money ignore something important: politicians often do terrible things because they believe terrible things. Likewise, people often change religions because their beliefs change. What follows is not a scientific study. Rather, it comes from a lifetime of observations: in the Pagan community, but before that, in the Christian communities where I grew up and observed people converting and then later going back to whatever they were before. Ive identified six kinds of people who revert out of Paganism and witchcraft. If youve spotted others, feel free to list them in the comments. Those who were just visiting Lets face it being a witch is a trendy thing. It sounds cool, it looks cool, and its easy to do. No, seriously its easy to do. Just start practicing witchcraft. It takes a lifetime to master, but its easy enough to start. Paganism isnt as popular as it once was, but there were a couple years in the 20-teens where being a polytheist was the trendy thing to do. Seems impossible now, but it was true. Whether people are chasing a trend or if theyre just curious, a lot of people stick their proverbial toes in the water, not knowing exactly what theyre getting into. Some decide its not for them and move on, and some just move on without giving it a serious thought. They were never a real Pagan to begin with is another common charge thrown at those who revert. In many case thats a No True Scotsman fallacy. But in some cases its true. They never became a Pagan or a witch or a Heathen or whatever. They were just visiting, and it should come as no surprise when they decide to go home. Those who were looking for something we cant provide Paganism provides a connection to Nature, to our ancestors, and to the many Goddesses and Gods. It teaches values and virtues and then challenges us to live up to them. Magic and witchcraft provide tools for obtaining what we need and for learning and growth. There is much this path can provide. But we cant provide certainty. Now, I dont think religious certainty is possible. But some religions and some non-religions (i.e. atheistic materialism) claim they can. People who grew up in a high stakes religion (turn or burn) sometimes prefer false certainty to honest uncertainty. Others were looking for something less metaphysical and more tangible. Few Pagan groups have their own buildings, much less the infrastructure of the Catholic church. If youre looking for dozens of programs all planned and facilitated by someone else, youre probably not going to find it in Paganism. No single religion or tradition can be everything to everybody, and trying to do that is a recipe for failure. Some people come into Paganism or witchcraft and like parts of it, but cant live without things we cant provide. And so they go back where they came from. Those who never dealt with their religious baggage This is the big one. When I read what Doreen Virtue and Kat Von D said (and when I read between the lines) this is what I think happened to them. They never examined their past religion or mindfully decided what to keep and what to banish. And then at some point, they got scared. I sometimes come across people who left Christianity who say I never believed any of that. Good for them. If theyre not lying to themselves. For most of us, going to Sunday School as a child and living in a Christian environment had a real impact. We believed what we were taught, because thats what you do when youre a small child. Particularly in the conservative denominations, the doctrines and creeds and hymns and sermons sink into our subconscious at an early age they dont go away just because we stop going to church. And then they rear their ugly heads at the worst possible time. In times of stress, people go running back to what they were taught as children. Sometimes they do that because of nostalgia, but more often they do it out of fear. What if I really am going to hell? I weep for these people. They had something good and positive and helpful, but they left it because of fear. I know that fear. It took me years to work through it. But I did, and you can too. Those who never went past Witchcraft 101 To be fair, I know some happy and committed witches who never went past Witchcraft 101. I suspect most of them didnt have a lot of religious baggage to work through, and they dont need a lot of deep metaphysical theory to be happy. Good for them. But when Christian broadcasters roll out the ex-witches every October and I listen to their stories, its clear they never learned much about witchcraft, Wicca, occultism, or any of the magical and Pagan traditions. They may have been the high priestess of a coven (of five or six equally uneducated people), but they never read more than one book and that book may have been fiction. Maybe they tried to be a witch. Or maybe they just wanted the title and the notoriety that goes with it. But for whatever reason, they never really learned their craft, and then when they faced some significant difficulty tangible or spiritual or both they went running back to their previous religion. Those who couldnt overcome family pressure Maybe if I say it often enough people will finally accept it: religion is more than what you believe. Religion is what you do, who you are, and whose you are. Whose are you? Where do you belong? My family are mostly Mainline Protestants. They may not agree with my religious choices, but they dont let that get in the way of our relationships. But if youre part of one of the more conservative and especially the more insular religions, its not so simple. To change religions is to reject part of what makes the family a cohesive unit. To me, if your family wont support you being who and what you are whether in terms of religion, gender and sexuality, or anything else you need to walk away and build a new family. But some people cant do that. The bonds are too strong. These people dont want to leave Paganism and witchcraft, but they feel like they have no choice. Some of these situations are manipulative and abusive and people really should get away. Others are choices that are made freely, if reluctantly. Either way, some people revert because they cant overcome the pressure of their families. Those whose true calling lies elsewhere Paganism is not a proselytizing religion. Witchcraft is not for everyone. While I dont think anyone should be a fundamentalist of any flavor, Christianity can be a good and helpful religion. So can Buddhism. So can atheism. Some people come into Paganism, make an honest and sincere effort to learn and grow, do the right things in the right way, deal with their religious baggage, and still come to the conclusion that they belong somewhere else. This is a good thing. They leave having learned something and made some friends, still sharing our values, and they become our supporters and defenders in conversations with the less-enlightened members of their religions. Losing these people isnt a loss, even though it often feels like it. Its good for them and its good for the wider world. Reversion-proofing yourself Were disappointed when we see people who once shared our beliefs and practices reverting to a religion we left on purpose. We may be angry, particularly if theyre mischaracterizing witchcraft and Paganism, or outright lying about it. What if that was you? Dont dismiss the possibility, at least not without thinking it through. Deal with your religious baggage, particularly if you grew up in a were the One True Way environment. Build a strong intellectual foundation for your path, whether you consider it religion, spirituality, or just what I do. Study and practice diligently. You cant simply dismiss bad religious experiences you have to crowd them out with good experiences. Pay attention to your dreams. I visited the Otherworld in a dream in 2018 that was the first time I was sure I will never revert. Though given the lack of troublesome dreams, I think I crossed that line many years earlier. Perhaps this isnt a concern for you. Perhaps you grew up in a Pagan environment, or in an environment where all positive religions and religious approaches were respected. If so Im happy for you nobody should have to deal with the fears that fundamentalist Christianity inflicted on me as a small child. In any case, I hope youll view those who revert out of Paganism and witchcraft with an eye toward discernment and understanding. On the eve of Iowas Republican caucuses, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday dismissed new national polling show low job approval for President Joe Biden, saying the battle hasnt been joined until GOP voters pick their nominee. Pritzker, who is scheduled to be in Des Moines on Monday for the caucuses as a surrogate for Bidens reelection, acknowledged on ABCs This Week program that former President Donald Trump is the likely GOP nominee based on polling. But he criticized the entire Republican field including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as MAGA Republicans, espousing things that are not good for the American public,, using the shorthand for Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. Its the Republicans that are trying to take your freedoms away. Its the Republicans that are trying to take away your Social Security and your Medicare. Its the Republicans that are basically fighting against the working families of America. And its Joe Biden, who has been lifting up the economy, Pritzker said. Things are getting better in this country and over the course of an election year, as the economy continues to improve, youre going to see (Bidens) poll numbers improve too. Not until (Republicans) choose a nominee will we truly be in this battle. And then its a choice, Pritzker said. A new ABC-Ipsos poll released Sunday found Biden with an approval rating of 33%, worse than Trumps 36% low during his presidency. Asking poll respondents to look back at Trumps presidency, 41% approved of how he handled the job. One-third of poll respondents held a favorable opinion of Biden while 35% had a favorable view of Trump. The survey of 2,228 adults, conducted Jan. 4-8, had an error margin of 2.5%. Pritzker, a member of Bidens national advisory board, is scheduled to join the boards co-chair, movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, in representing the Biden campaign at a news conference in Iowas capital city on Monday. With concerns about Bidens age of 81 persisting, even among Democrats, Pritzker sought to rephrase questions about the president to instead tout the concept that as Biden has gotten older hes attained more wisdom, experience and empathy. The poll showed only 28% said Biden has the mental sharpness required of the presidency compared to 47% for Trump, who is 77 years old. Maybe we ought to start by just acknowledging that Joe Biden has years of experience, that when you talk about someones age, youre also talking about the wisdom that they gained over many years and how theyve demonstrated their empathy that theyve learned from so many experiences, Pritzker said. Joe Biden and Donald Trump are roughly the same age, Pritzker said. Do you think Donald Trump has learned empathy in his life? He has not. Joe Biden has demonstrated it at every turn. With Chicago receiving more than 38,000 migrants from the border, according to city figures reported Friday, Pritzker blamed Republican intransigence in Congress for not working toward comprehensive immigration reform as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for engaging in a political game of sending migrants to Democratic cities undergoing severe winter weather conditions. He doesnt care about the migrants. He doesnt care about the fact that theyre going to suffer if theyre sent to certainly the Upper Midwest, as he is doing now, Pritzker said. But Pritzker also acknowledged that while Congress needs to act, I think that the president needs to do more. Of the Republican contenders for president, Pritzker noted that it doesnt look good for the people who are running against Donald Trump but said he thinks the GOP race will continue for perhaps another month or two before there is really a clear front-runner. The respected Iowa Poll, published last week by the Des Moines Register, showed Trump leading among likely caucusgoers with 48%, trailed by Haley with 20% and DeSantis with 16%. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria became the last of Illinois three Republican House members to endorse Trump for president. U.S. Reps. Mary Miller of Hindsboro and Mike Bost of Murphysboro previously backed the former president. Bost is facing a March primary contest against unsuccessful 2022 GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey of Xenia. Both Bost and Bailey also are running as Trumpnominating delegates and each has sought the former presidents endorsement for Congress. rap30@aol.com Lord Mandelson, former business secretary under Gordon Brown and architect of New Labour, is deputy chairman of the bank - Jamie Lorriman The Bank of London, a new clearing bank which boasts Lord Mandelson on the board, has raised 25m from investors after falling to a second annual loss. The company, launched in 2021, raised fresh equity in November to meet regulatory capital requirements after winning a banking licence, filings show. It won approval from the Prudential Regulatory Authority and Financial Conduct Authority last February. Losses at the bank widened to 41.8m for the year ending December 2022 from 15.7 million, new accounts show. A hiring spree and spending on technology helped push the bank into the red. Bank of London made no revenues during the period as the company was yet to officially start trading. It recruited its first client last April and is likely to show turnover when 2023 accounts are filed. The clearing bank was founded by so-called Insta-banker Anthony Watson, a high-profile LGBT campaigner who has previously donated to the Labour Party. Mr Watson, 47, has handed thousands of pounds to Labour MPs and also advised the party on LGBT issues. He was awarded a CBE in the Kings Birthday Honours list last year for services to the LGBT community. He previously worked at Barclays, Nike and founded a cryptocurrency startup Uphold. Bank of London is aiming to challenge Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest by offering clearing services to business customers. It boasts of being only the second clearing bank to launch in the UK in 250 years. Challenger banks such as Monzo and Starling, who currently use the services of the Big Four, are also a possible hunting ground for the companys tech platforms. Attempts to disrupt the financial plumbing which underpins business banking have seen growing interest from fintech companies, including rival startup ClearBank. Lord Mandelson, former business secretary under Gordon Brown and architect of New Labour, is deputy chairman of the bank. He sits alongside a roster of banking veterans, including former Goldman Sachs and Citi executive Harvey Schwartz, and venture capitalists. Story continues The bank is backed by Mangrove Capital Partners and 14W, which both have representatives on the board. Employee numbers jumped by 100 during 2022, leading to a doubling of staff costs from just over 7m to 20.4m. Last year, the company said it closed a Series C fundraising which valued the bank at $1.1bn (860m). 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. On the evening of Friday, December 29, 2023, burglars forcibly entered the residence of Dr John Ampontuah Kumah, the Deputy Minister for Finance and Member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency, situated in Chantan, Greater Accra. According to the report filed at the Mile 7 Police Station, the thieves made off with an amount of GH50,000. Additionally, they stole household appliances and important documents, including passports and birth certificates belonging to the Deputy Minister's wife. The burglary occurred at 6:44 pm while the family was away attending a church event in town. On 29th Friday, 29th December 2023 thieves broke into the house of the Deputy Minister for Finance and member of Parliament for the Ejisu Constituency, Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah located at Chantan in the Greater Accra region. "The thieves made away with GHC 50,000, home appliances, and documents such as passports, and birth certificates belonging to the wife of the deputy Minister, Apostle Lilian Kumah." "The incident is alleged to have happened at around 6:44 pm when the family was out in town attending a church event." Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The number of subjects to be written at this year's Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will remain the same as last years, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has confirmed. He has consequently urged parents to ignore contrary information attributed to a senior official of the Ghana Education Service (GES), being circulated on social media platforms to the effect that the number of subjects for the examination would be reduced to five. The Director for Schools and Instruction at the GES, Prince Charles Agyemang-Duah, is heard in the viral interview granted to local news channel, Max24 News, saying learning shouldnt appear to be a punishment for the children; it has to be more meaningful, it has to be productive, and so what has been done is that for the 2024 BECE, five subjects are going to be written by the candidates. He then listed English Language, Mathematics, Science and then a Ghanaian Language in addition to a fifth subject that would constitute a general knowledge where they are going to exhibit mastery of ideas across the other subject areas: ICT, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education. Shock Some stakeholders had subsequently raised concern over the fact that the examination was just about six months away July 2024 and there were no details about the arrangements. But addressing the press in Accra yesterday to give an update on education in the country, the minister said the number of BECE subjects would be the same as last years. We are not changing the number of subjects under the BECE; it is going to be the same, and that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) is going to send out sample questions of the new examination because it is a new curriculum, he said. In a PowerPoint presentation on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, Dr Adutwum indicated that the WASSCE test scores for students had improved since 2017, stressing that a year ago, two of the top three students in West Africa came from St James Seminary in Ghana. Dr Adutwum explained that in 2015, 45.2 per cent of students had A1-C6 in English Language, but in 2023, it was 73.11 per cent. For Integrated Science, during the same period (2015), 28.7 per cent of the students had A1-C6, while in 2023, 66.82 per cent secured A1-C6. For Mathematics, 32.4 per cent in 2015 had C1-C6 and then 62.23 per cent in 2023, while in Social Studies, 57.4 per cent in 2015 had A1-C6 while 76.76 per cent obtained the same mark in 2023. All across the board, the records show that Ghanaian students have done very well. On this score, I want to congratulate all headmasters on the great job that they do for the country every single day, he said. Dr Adutwum said the Ministry of Education was doing something about examination malpractice, and that over the last three years, for instance, there had been no leaks of BECE questions. He said the ministry worked with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to introduce serialisation of questions, which meant different regions had different sets of questions. Dr Adutwum said the government had delivered under the free senior high school programme. On the transformation of public basic schools, the minister said the government had started a huge investment with the support of the Arab Development Bank in putting up new facilities which would help reorganise the public education system. The infrastructure of the schools, he said, came with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) laboratories and libraries. Dr Adutwum cited the first of community basic schools being built at East Legon in Accra and said the facility would be completed by April for fresh admissions in September for the 2024-2025 academic year. There is a new dawn in the Ghanaian education space, and that is what we are going to build upon to make sure that you have a choice between public and private schools, he said. TVET Dr Adutwum said the technical section of secondary technical schools across the country was being reinforced, and that students were doing both hands-on and minds-on learning. Moreover, he said, new technical, vocational education and training (TVET) schools had been built, while existing schools as the National Vocational Training Institutes (NVTIs) were being retooled with new equipment. He said schools were being built from scratch and cited the Centre of Excellence in TVET Education at Anyinam in the Eastern Region as an example. We just opened this academic year and look at the equipment that is there. Every equipment that is needed by the school is already there before the children walk in. So the era where the school starts and there is no equipment is a thing of the past, he said. He said the Presidents TVET transformation agenda was real and evidence-based, citing the Accra TVET school at East Legon. He said new STEM courses were being offered in high schools, and that existing schools such as Accra High School, were offering Engineering Science. He said there were other pathways that included Aviation and Aerospace, and that this year, 12 schools had begun offering Aviation and Aerospace in high schools. So Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos education transformation is about transforming existing schools and building new schools, he emphasised, and appealed to all politicians to stop this slash and burn politics that sought to make their opponent look bad. Under Akufo-Addo, Dr Adutwum said, the government had done the impossible in education, and that no amount of propaganda would ever diminish the work that had been done by the people through the learners and teachers. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Burundi has closed its borders with Rwanda after accusing its neighbour of funding rebel attacks. Last December Red Tabara, a Burundian rebel group, killed 20 people near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwandan President Paul Kagame denies the charge, but Burundi's government has branded him a "bad neighbour". "We have stopped ties with him until he changes," said Burundi's Interior Minister Martin Niteretse. Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye made the accusation in December following the attack. The Rwandan government responded that it "regrets the unilateral closure of the border by Burundi", according to AFP. It said the border closure was an "unfortunate decision" which violated the principles of regional cooperation and the integration of the East Africa Community. Red Tabara admitted to carrying out the December attack, but said they had only killed nine soldiers and one police officer. The group operates from DR Congo's South Kivu province bordering Burundi. It was not immediately clear whether the border closure included both land and air. In 2015 Burundi closed its border to Rwanda due to political tensions and then because of Covid-19. Seven years later the borders reopened. During that time land crossings were not permitted. But the airline carrier RwandAir never stopped its commercial flights to Burundi. Relations between Rwanda and Burundi have been tenuous despite their having a similar language, ethnic composition and colonial history. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Communication Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), George Ayisi, has ruled out the leader of the New Force, Nana Kwame Bediako, popularly known as Cheddar, as being a threat to the New Patriotic Partys (NPP) bid to win the 2024 election. Speaking on TV3s morning show yesterday, George Ayisi emphatically stated that Cheddar, who is cherished as one of the countrys leading entrepreneurs and real estate developers, has no political experience and, therefore, does not pose a threat to the NPP. His submission was in reaction to the allegation that the Akufo-Addo government and the NPP are scared by Cheddars political ambition, hence the cancellation of the New Africa Foundation Convention at the Independence Square recently. Nana Kwame Bediako is not a threat. He is now coming to the political arena, which is a different ball game altogether, he said. George Ayisi further indicated that the organisers were not forthright with the details of the New Africa Foundation Convention and other security reasons, and these, he said, contributed to the cancellation of the programme. I think the organisers were not forthright with what they were doing. If you tell me you are organising a music concert and you are bringing Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, Professor P. L. O. Lumumba, Julius Malema, Peter Obi, it doesnt send the right signal because as a state we need to have security protocols in place for such African citizens, he stressed. It would be recalled that Cheddar, who is also founder and CEO of the Kwarleyz Group, made the declaration at a news conference to formally communicate the cancellation of the New Africa Foundation Convention at Independence Square in Accra on Sunday. He explained that the New Africa Foundation Convention was supposed to be a platform to discuss and find solutions to the challenges facing Africa. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the event was cancelled. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Multiple award-winning actress, Funke Akindele, recently expressed her heartfelt wish that her late mother, R.B Adebanjo-Akindele, could have witnessed the immense success of her latest movie, A Tribe Called Judah. Akindele stated this in a three-minute video posted on her Instagram page on January 6, 2024. She said, The success of my film, A Tribe Called Judah has been surreal. Firstly, I want to say a big thank you to God almighty for giving me the grace to achieve this success. I dedicate the success of this film to my late mum, Dr R.B. Adebanjo-Akindele. She raised a queen. I wish she was here today to see all these but I thank God for everything and I am sure she is smiling wherever she is. Recall that at the movie premiere on December 10, 2023 which was held at the Filmhouse Cinema IMAX, Lekki, Lagos, Akindele noted that the movie was so dear to her heart because it has a part of her late mum in it. (Read also Funke Akindeles A Tribe Called Judah becomes highest-earning Nigerian film) She said, The story is so dear to my heart. It has a part of my late mum in it, and it represents the struggles faced by many single parents and mothers in society. The film also sheds some focus on rebellious children. Notwithstanding, Akindele expressed her gratitude to the actors and crew of the movie, her siblings, and fans who have been supporting her over the years. There would be no one billion naira without you my incredible fans. Thank you very much. You all have been supporting me over the years and you still push me to be better, God bless you all. I appreciate your comments and reposts. This is for you. The movie success has now placed in the top three positions of the highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time, with her other movies Battle on Buka Street (N668.4m) and Omo Ghetto: The Saga (N636.1m), in the second and third place respectively. Directed by Adeoluwa Owu, aka Captain Degzy, the film tells the story of a family of boys, who decide to rob a mall to raise money for their mothers hospital bill. However, on getting there, they are faced with armed robbers. Some of the lead actors in the movie include Timini Egbuson, Jideofor Achufusi, Olumide Oworu, Genoveva Umeh, and Nse Ikpe-Etim. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanaian gospel musician Chris Paakow Nelson has released his latest single, "Ese," on January 10th, 2024. In the Yoruba dialect, "Ese" translates to "thank you," encapsulating the essence of gratitude and appreciation. The inspiration for the song arose during a challenging period at the end of 2022 when Chris Nelson found solace in the melody and woke up with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness. Produced by New Gen Music, the song is evidence of God's faithfulness and a reminder that every new day brings the promise of positive change. Chris Paakow Nelson, a Bible-believing Christian, has been actively involved in worship since the age of 9. His journey includes leading worship at a Christian youth camp in Accra, ministering at various events, and serving with renowned figures in the gospel music scene. His previous singles, including "Grateful," "Never Let Me Go," "As the Deer," and "I Will Wait," have received acclaim for their powerful messages and soul-stirring melodies. "Ese" is Chris Nelson's latest offering and he expresses his hope that the song becomes a medium for believers to express gratitude for past blessings and, in faith, anticipate the fulfillment of their future expectations. Watch the Lyrics Video on Youtube:https://youtu.be/ao6GNgDq5zE?si=q5sdl3fbykfOG6Of Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This story has been updated. By Kim Tong-Hyung, The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Monday claimed it flight-tested a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile tipped with a hypersonic warhead as it pursues more powerful, harder-to-detect weapons designed to strike remote U.S. targets in the region. The report by North Koreas state media came a day after the South Korean and Japanese militaries detected the launch from a site near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, in what was the Norths first ballistic test of 2024. The launch came two months after North Korea said it successfully tested engines for a new solid-fuel intermediate-range missile, which reflected a push to advance its lineup of weapons targeting U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan. The Norths official Korean Central News Agency said Sundays launch was aimed at verifying the reliability of the missiles solid-fuel engines and the maneuverable flight capabilities of the hypersonic warhead. It described the test as a success. KCNA did not mention whether North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was present at the test, which it said was part of the countrys regular weapons development activities. The test-fire never affected the security of any neighboring country and had nothing to do with the regional situation, KCNA said. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Norths existing intermediate-range missiles, including the Hwasong-12 that may be able to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, are powered by liquid-fuel engines, which need to be fueled before launch and cannot stay fueled for long periods of time. Missiles with built-in solid propellants can be made ready to launch faster and are easier to move and conceal, which theoretically makes it harder for adversaries to detect and preempt the launch in advance. The North since 2021 has also been testing hypersonic weapons, which are designed to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 5, or five times the speed of sound. If perfected, such systems could potentially pose a challenge to regional missile defense systems because of their speed and maneuverability. Hypersonic weapons were part of a wish-list of sophisticated military assets Kim unveiled in 2021, along with multi-warhead missiles, spy satellites, solid-fuel long-range missiles and submarine-launched nuclear missiles. The North last year tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, which added to its arsenal of weapons targeting the U.S. mainland, and also launched its first military reconnaissance satellite in November. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years after Kim in recent months ramped up his weapons demonstrations. The United States and its allies Seoul and Tokyo responded by strengthening their combined military exercises and sharpening their nuclear deterrence strategies. There are also concerns about an alleged arms cooperation between North Korea and Russia as they align in the face of separate, intensifying confrontations with Washington. In their latest sign of diplomacy, a North Korean delegation led by Kims foreign minister, Choe Sun Hui, left Pyongyang on Sunday for a visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, KCNA said. The report did not specify what would be discussed. The U.S. and South Korean governments have claimed that North Korea has been providing Russia with arms supplies, including artillery and missiles, to help prolong its invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russias war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. Some experts say that the North could try to further dial up pressure in an election year in South Korea and the United States. A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, in its first missile launch this year, as the North is expected to further raise regional animosities in an election year for its rivals South Korea and the United States. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)AP North Korea earlier this month fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting the South to conduct similar firing exercises in the area. Kim has also released verbal threats, using a political conference last week to define South Korea as the Norths principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win a crucial parliamentary election in April to deal a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a hard line on the North. They say Kim may also want former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again, possibly thinking that would give him an easier shot at winning U.S. concessions over the nuclear standoff. Trump met Kim three times during his term, but their diplomacy never recovered from the collapse of their second meeting in 2019, when the Americans rejected North Koreas demand for major sanctions relief in exchange for a partial surrender of its nuclear capabilities. By Gary Fields, The Associated Press WEST POINT, N.Y. For 75 minutes, Maj. Joe Amoroso quizzed his students in SS202, American Politics, about civilian leadership of the military, the trust between the armed forces and the public, and how the military must not become a partisan tool. There was one answer, he said, that would always be acceptable in his class filled with second-year students at the U.S. Military Academy. Hesitantly, one cadet offered a response: The Constitution. Yes, Amoroso said emphatically. His message to the students, known as yearlings, was simple: Their loyalty is not about particular candidates. Its not a particular person or personality that occupies these positions. Its about the Constitution. The emphasis for the next generation of military officers that their loyalty must be focused on the nations democratic underpinnings rather than on any individual is a reflection of how the armed forces are being forced to deal with Americas deep political polarization at a time when trust in traditional institutions is eroding. The role of the military in particular has come under scrutiny as former President Donald Trump runs to reclaim the White House and has laid out an aggressive agenda should he win. It includes potentially using the military in ways other presidents have not. That could mean invoking the Insurrection Act to send units to the border or patrol the streets of predominantly Democratic cities. Trumps rhetoric about top commanders also has raised concerns. While in office, Trump once referred to the military leaders in his administration as my generals. Earlier this year, he suggested that a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Army Gen. Mark Milley, be put to death for treason. President Joe Biden, in his first campaign address of the year, warned about Trumps rhetoric on the military and its leadership. With cadets and midshipmen drawn from across the United States, students at West Point and other service academies are aware of the national mood and the potential for political divisions to seep into the military. They encounter an array of classes on the Constitution and, in some cases, the history of the civilian-military relationship. Each graduate who is commissioned takes multiple oaths at school and during their service. Milley emphasized the significance of the oaths in his retirement address last fall, appearing to take aim at Trump. We dont take an oath to a king or a queen or to a tyrant or a dictator. And we dont take an oath to a wannabe dictator, he said. Cadets participate in a class on American politics at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)AP At the Air Force Academy, the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was a top subject of discussion in the Civil-Military Relations class when junior and senior-year cadets began the spring semester the next day. The coincidental timing brought introspection about their oath as future officers, said the instructor, Marybeth Ulrich. One result was a cadet-driven initiative, the Oath Project. Instigation of potential uprising or any issues on Capitol Hill creates immediate concern for the military and for the larger public as a whole. So we were very aware of the events as they were unfolding, said 1st Lt. Darrell Miller, now stationed with the Space Force at Buckley Space Force Base near Denver, and one of the 13 students in the class who started the project. Dozens of former and active duty military members have been charged in the Jan. 6 assault, an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election that Democrat Biden won over Republican Trump. A recent Defense Department inspector general report showed that dozens of military members were suspected of extremist activities that included conspiring to overthrow the government, though the number represents a tiny fraction of the more than 2 million U.S. service members. When the students examined the three oaths they had sworn to, Miller said they realized there had not been much education about them -- a line by line breakdown. What does it mean? What are you really swearing your allegiance to essentially. The group suggested more emphasis on the history and purpose of their oaths and also what you are actually swearing your allegiance to, he said. One point was showing the distinction between countries where the military professed allegiance to sovereigns or individuals as opposed to the U.S. militarys oath to the Constitution. We knew what it was and the dos and donts, but we didnt really go into the why, said 1st Lt. Bryan Agustin, another of the students behind the Oath Project who is stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas. Although the seniors had a short time before graduation, they were able to change some of the language in their commissioning ceremony, adding more history about the oath before it was administered. The incoming basic class that fall also had the history added to their ceremony. According to copies provided by the academy, the phrasing in both cases noted that the oath had its roots in the Revolutionary War and was given to support the democratic processes and civil liberties that our Founders enumerated in the Constitution. Since then, the Oath Project has been instrumental in further changes, including to basic training for new students and to their handbooks. The groups work also is integrated throughout cadets academic and military training. Future plans include symposiums for other service academies and ROTC units. At West Point, the Constitution and the oaths are not only embedded throughout the curriculum, they also permeate the campus. Constitution Corner Monument is near student housing and a place cadets pass daily. Dedicated by members of the class of 1943 to their fallen classmates, it contains several markers that include inscriptions of their oaths and parts of the Constitution. Inside Grant Hall, two of the alumni portraits that look down on diners and visitors loom large in the history of the oath and the civilian-military relationship. Ulysses S. Grant, who later became president, led the Union Army through the Civil War after an estimated 300 of his fellow graduates had rejected their oaths and fought for the Confederacy. Dwight D. Eisenhower was the Supreme Allied Commander in World War II who later became president and used the Insurrection Act to call on the 101st Airborne to help integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. *Cadets walk through campus at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie)AP The Constitution remains absolutely central to all the things that we teach, whether its expressly or its tangentially connected in the courses, said Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves, dean of the academic board and a 1996 graduate. The goal is training officers to win wars, but current events are intertwined, including Jan. 6, which routinely comes up in class discussions. Avoiding it would not be an option, said Reeves, whose family ties to West Point date to the 19th century. His son is due to graduate in May. He said if newly minted officers cannot answer questions from their units about current events, we would have failed. We want the cadets to be thoughtful and to think through and to understand what their obligations are, he said. They have some really important obligations trust of the American people, trying to stay nonpartisan. In Amorosos American Politics class, the only mention of Biden and Trump, who so far has dominated the 2024 GOP primary campaign, came up in scenarios he presented about service members - even retired ones - speaking out in support of candidates and how that can be interpreted as the position of the military as a whole. While individuals retain the right to express themselves, its important that the military not be seen as partisan, he said. Whether you like it or not, youre going to be thrust into these political conflicts, he told the cadets. No matter the circumstance, he added, their foundation should never change loyalty to the Constitution. The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. By Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News (TNS) The FBI is investigating a Spirit Airlines passenger who allegedly asked flight attendants to join the mile high club, the Department of Justice announced Friday. James Warren Finnister, 47, is facing criminal charges. Hes accused of interfering with flight crew members, sexually harassing and assaulting flight attendants and engaging in other disruptive behavior while onboard Flight 693 from Louisville, Kentucky, to Orlando International Airport. Court records state the Detroit native first asked the lead flight attendant if she wanted to join the mile-high club, before pulling a second crew member into his seat and asking her the same question. The passenger is also accused of lying on the floor of the plane after being moved to a new seat, and requesting entry into the airplane cockpit. Finnister later told FBI officials he had consumed multiple alcoholic shots to calm his nerves prior to the flight, which he stated was his first, according to the criminal complaint. If convicted on the charges, which violate federal criminal law, Finnister will face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. Along with the FBI, the case is also being looked into by Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Marshals Service. By Valerie Gonzalez, The Associated Press BROWNSVILLE, Texas The U.S. Homeland Security Department said Saturday that Texas denied federal agents access to a stretch of border when they were trying to rescue three migrants who drowned. The federal governments account came hours after U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar said the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants Friday night. Mexican authorities recovered the bodies of a woman and two children Saturday across the border from Eagle Pass, Texas. This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility, said Cuellar, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committees subcommittee for homeland security, in a statement. The drownings come amid escalating tensions between Texas and the U.S. government over immigration enforcement. On Friday, the Justice Department told the U.S. Supreme Court that Texas had taken control of an area in Eagle Pass known as Shelby Park and were not letting Border Patrol agents enter. The Texas Military Department said in a statement Saturday night that one of its units had searched the river after Border Patrol alerted them of the situation but did not find any migrants. The statement did not address the U.S. governments claims that Texas authorities had physically barred Border Patrol agents from entering the park at the time. Homeland Security echoed Cuellars account of the distress call. In a filing to the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, Texas acknowledged seizing the city park on the border but said the federal government had mischaracterized its actions and it was trying to resolve any disputes over access. In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the park, Homeland Security said in a statement. The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The park lies in a major corridor for migrants entering illegally from Mexico and is the center of Abbotts aggressive attempts to stop them, known as Operation Lone Star. Migrants are periodically swept away to their deaths by the current of the Rio Grande. Abbotts office referred questions about the drownings to the Texas Military Department, which said its security personnel saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident across the river about 45 minutes after Border Patrol made the state aware of the situation. The department said it maintains water rescue equipment and works with local paramedics to assist migrants needing medical care. At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period, the department said in the statement. Cuellar, who represents a Texas border district, said Mexican authorities alerted the Border Patrol to the distressed migrants struggling in the river late Friday. He said federal agents attempted to call and relay the information to Texas National Guard members at Shelby Park, without success. Agents then visited the entrance to the park but were turned away, according to the congressman, who said they were told a Guard member would be sent to investigate the situation. The 50-acre park is owned by the city, but it is used by the state Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings. Although daily crossings diminished from the thousands to about 500, state authorities put up fences and stationed military vehicles by the entry to deny access to the public and Border Patrol agents this week, according to a court filing. Texas Department of Public Safety officers work inside a fenced off Shelby Park, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. The Justice Department on Friday, Jan. 12, asked the Supreme Court to order Texas to stop blocking Border Patrol agents from a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border where large numbers of migrants have crossed in recent months, setting up another showdown between Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and the Biden administration over immigration enforcement. (Sam Owens /The San Antonio Express-News via AP)AP In its Supreme Court filing, Texas challenged claims that Border Patrol agents were denied access. They said the Border Patrol has scaled down its presence since summer, when the state moved its resources and manpower to the park. Federal agents were also granted access to the area to secure supplies, the state said. Cuellar said there was no immediate information available about the victims nationalities, relationship and ages. The Mexican government made no public statements. On Saturday members of the public held a ceremony at the park to mark the deaths of migrants in their region. Julio Vasquez, a pastor, said access was granted after making requests with the city and sharing pictures showing the entry still fenced up and guarded by members of the National Guard and military vehicles. A screen shows a news update on the polling in the presidential and parliamentary elections in Taipei By Tom Westbrook and Ankur Banerjee SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Taiwan's election could allay global concerns about the island's relations with China, while prompting a light selloff domestically on Monday as investors worry the result could hinder economic policy. Vice President Lai Ching-te won the presidency on Saturday, the third consecutive term for his ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), but the party lost its parliamentary majority, complicating Lai's spending plans and any intent to take an aggressive stance on China. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, had called Lai a separatist and "troublemaker through and through", but took a gentler tone after the election, not mentioning him by name and saying the results revealed the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion" on Taiwan. Analysts expect Taiwan's stock market to take a hit this week as the spectre of policy paralysis fuels selling in a market that is up 25% in little more than a year. Yet the outcome is also a relief for investors who had feared the hawkish Lai would push for Taiwan's formal independence, something he has denied. Investors have worried about a hostile reaction from China and a chain reaction of sanctions that could cripple the global semiconductor industry. I would imagine the reaction is negative. The market could read weak government in Taiwan, lots of external risks from the mainland and lots of internal risks, because there is no control of the legislature," said Alicia Garcia Herrero, chief economist Asia-Pacific at French investment bank Natixis in Hong Kong. But Herrero's says Lai's "balanced" victory speech and the stalemate in parliament are reasons China may not react. "If China does nothing, maybe the market will read it is not a big deal and might remain positive," she said. While investors expect some knee-jerk selling of Taiwan stocks and even the currency this week, it is likely market participants will sit tight until the new government takes office. Story continues Parliament will open on Feb. 1 and Lai's Cabinet will take office on May 20. Aninda Mitra, head of Asia macro and investment strategy at BNY Mellon Investment Management, expects heated political rhetoric and other short-term ructions as Taiwan politicians and their Chinese and U.S. counterparts trade jabs in the coming days. "On the macro, geopolitical side I dont think there will be huge ripples from a global perspective," said Vishnu Varathan, chief economist, Asia ex-Japan at Mizuho Bank in Singapore. But the DPP's loss of a parliamentary majority was a bigger issue, he said. "The Taiwan dollar might take a little bit of a knock on the greater potential for stalemate." In the weeks ahead, investors will get a better sense of how much support Lai will get from parliament, where his DPP won 51 seats to the opposition Kuomintang's 52 and the Taiwan People's Party's eight. WHAT CHINA DOES China's reaction remains the wild card for global markets. Beijing on Saturday pointed out most electors voted against Lai. Lai, meanwhile, kept it vague, saying there was need for cooperation but that he was "determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China". The stakes are high for global markets, given expectations the United States would support Taiwan if Chinese were to invade. Taiwan produces 60% of the world's semiconductors, used in everything from smartphones and fighter jets, and 90% of the most advanced chips. Economic sanctions on Taiwan could cripple the global technology and artificial intelligence sectors. Its biggest company, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, has often found itself in the cross-hairs of geopolitical tensions and trade sanctions. Shares of TSMC, Asia's most valuable listed company, surged 32% in 2023. "From here on what will need a lot more assessment are the strategic policies of the incoming Taiwanese government and their internal cohesion," said Mitra. "Will they try to balance their relationship with China and the U.S. or pull away from one or the other? It remains too soon to definitively answer these questions right now." (Reporting by Tom Westbrook and Ankur Banerjee; Additional reporting by Roger Tung in Taipei; Writing by Vidya Ranganathan; Editing by William Mallard) Police in Carlisle shot and killed a person on Saturday afternoon, prompting road closures in the area for several hours and a heavy response from Pennsylvania State Police. Officers with the Carlisle Borough Police Department responded to the 300 block of C Street in the borough just before 2 p.m. for a reported disturbance, according to Pennsylvania State Police. During the investigation, an altercation took place that led the officers to shoot and kill the person, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Police closed off a section of G Street and H Street in Carlisle, between North Pitt Street and North West Street from around 3 p.m. into the evening hours. Pennsylvania State Police PIO Megan Frazer confirmed to PennLive the closures were related to the shooting on C Street. It is not clear at this time where or when the person was shot, or if there were any road closures near C Street. Police did not provide any details of the events leading up to the death. Frazer said the incident does not pose a threat to the public and more information would be made available at a later time. The persons name, age, and address have not been released at this time. Pennsylvania State Police Troop Hs Major Case Team is investigating this incident. The Democratic Partys race to unseat U.S. Rep. Scott Perry opened in earnest Saturday with a lively getting-to-know-you forum at Widener University School Law featuring all eight announced candidates for the April primary. As it happens, getting to know you happens to be one of the early differentiators in the field, as several candidates touted their ties to the 10th Congressional District, by implicitly - or sometimes explicitly - attacking the three hopefuls seen with vulnerabilities in that area. Perrys dream Democrat is... someone who doesnt live in our district, someone who has never voted in a Democratic primary and has no established Democratic base, said Rick Coplen, a Dickinson Township, Cumberland County resident who sought the nomination unsuccessfully in 2022. That was a jab directed at several of his rivals, including: Former WGAL 8 News anchorwoman Janelle Stelson, who is running in the 10th despite residing in Lancaster County, and only registered as a member of the Democratic Party in 2022; Recently retired Marine Corps officer Mike OBrien, who only moved into the district upon his service retirement late last year, and; John Broadhurst, a Philadelphia-area native who said Saturday he recently moved into the New Cumberland area to launch his political career. A question of roots Candidate Bob Forbes, making his first run for office but a long-time Camp Hill resident, was more blunt about the new residents in the field: My constituents have asked me to deliver this group a message: Move here. Live here. Be our neighbor. But dont ask to be our representative until you really are our neighbor. He also repeatedly stressed his everyman roots as a retired Army sergeant as the type of background that will play best in the coming race against Perry, warning at one point: PA 10, youre doing it again. The shiny object, doesnt even live in PA 10. Oh boy, this is the one... Stop looking at the same people. Send a sergeant to D.C. to get work done. Others, like former WITF executive Blake Lynch, were more subtle in their approach. Lynch repeatedly emphasized his in-district ties throughout the forum, including a childhood split between several communities in Dauphin County; enrollment at Messiah College; work for the City of Harrisburg and WITF, and now raising his family in Lower Paxton Township. As he went over the litany Lynch frequently sprinkled in former addresses, school names, and businesses that his family liked to frequent at each stop. Thats who youre getting with me, Lynch said, adding the depth of his connections make him well-suited to make this race. Never left the district. Always for the district. My familys here in the district. Its the first big divide in a field that shares the goal of ending Republican incumbent Perrys Congressional career. The newcomers did what they could to counter-attack. Stelson, who spent the majority of her broadcast news career in the Harrisburg / Lancaster / York television market, which does include the entirety of the 10th District, argued that though she is a Lancaster County resident now, her job has left her intimately familiar with south central Pennsylvania, and south central Pennsylvania with her. Lancaster County is in the 11th Congressional District, which is generally considered a much safer political turf for Republicans. I currently live a few miles over the district line, Stelson conceded Saturday, but I would match my knowledge of this district (against anyone) after having done stories in every far-flung corner... Not only do I know this area and do not need navigation to get around Carlisle or Boiling Springs or (the village of Deodate near Hershey but, you know, you all know me, too, she added. And thats going to make a big difference in this election when were trying to beat Scott Perry. Stelsons point was that she brings a name-ID edge by virtue of her on-camera position that her rivals cannot match. She did not commit, however, to moving into the district in the future, saying only: I look forward to what the future will hold. OBrien, a Montgomery County native, noted hes spent his career living where the Defense Department sent him. He said he and his wife, a New Oxford, Adams County native, are really choosing their own home for the first time now, and theyve chosen Hampden Township, Cumberland County, where they are in the process of building a home. This is first time in our life where we have a chance to choose where to live, and this is where we choose to raise our kids, OBrien said. OBrien, who has taken up residence in Dauphin County in the interim until his wife leaves the military this June, also noted he has not wasted any time getting involved in grassroots Democratic politicking, including knocking doors for new Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas last fall in his upset bid that delivered a majority in the Dauphin County commission to the Democratic Party for the first time since at least the Civil War. Broadhurst, a Delaware County native, took a different approach by noting that there have been some significant U.S. House members who were not even natives of the state they represented. So I would not criticize someone for not being from here, Broadhurst said. In fact I would congratulate them... I would have gone to Oklahoma. I would have gone to Wyoming. I would even have gone to Florida if I had an opportunity. Instead I decided to come here, and I live in New Cumberland. The other candidates present, including 2022 Democratic nominee Shamaine Daniels of Harrisburg and William Lillich of Camp Hill, also noted their longstanding ties in the 10th. Stelson, in response to another question, explained her party registration switch Saturday by noting she had initially registered Republican because her parents were Republicans and never really gave it much thought during a news career in which she worked hard at being professionally objective. She said her personal voting record has trended for Democratic candidates for a long time, now. Still, Daniels, a member of the Harrisburg City Council, at one point appeared to jab at Stelsons switch by appealing to voters to stick with her as the Democrat who you know shares your values instead of the one you hope does. Israel-Hamas conflict brings out contrast Another significant point of contrast in Saturdays forum emerged during the fields responses to the current Israel-Hamas war, and whether they would support an immediate ceasefire. Broadhurst and Lynch were the only candidates who called outright for a ceasefire. Thats something President Joe Biden has refused to do to date despite a heavy toll of civilian casualties in Hamas-controlled Gaza, owing to the administrations declared position that the Israelis have the right to achieve their military objectives in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas-led incursion into southern Israel. In the last three months, the Israeli invasion has led to heavy civilian casualties that some nations have gone so far as to label war crimes. Broadhurst said Saturday that a ceasefire is overdue, and predicted that if Biden doesnt get on board with that it may end up costing him critical support from the Democratic base in this years election. I think theres a massive gap between what people actually feel and what the press is telling us, and what the leaders are doing, Broadhurst said. Everyone in the Gaza Strip is a political refugee, and now theyre being killed indiscriminately. Everyone around the world know this. (But) The United State government is going very slowly on this. Lynch agreed, arguing that he is convinced the strikes against Hamas should and can be much more surgical. Ceasefire now, Absolutely, he said. Because weve seen the devastation every single day... and that cannot stand. Those are not the principles that we stand for. Stelson offered an important qualifier to her support for a ceasefire. A ceasefire cannot be unilateral, she said. If you want a ceasefire, Hamas, give the hostages back, including American hostages, and then we can talk. At present, more than 120 hostages seized in the initial incursion by Hamas are still believed to be in Gaza. Like the others, she also said she stands with Israels right to decimate Hamas, which has never officially recognized Israels right to exist. OBrien noted one potential downside of an immediate ceasefire: Israel cant let a tactical victory turn into a strategic defeat. OBrien, who is Jewish, added that he respected everyones opinion on the issue, but argued the issues are too nuanced to give an easy yes-or-no response to the ceasefire question. He invited audience members to discuss the issue with him further after the debate, and as the campaign moves forward. Most of the others did not answer the ceasefire question directly, but said they supported Israels right to take out Hamas while continuing to impress on Prime Minister Netanyahu, as they believe the Biden Administration has been doing, that Israel cannot violate the rules of international war. Forbes, however, took a decidedly different approach, proposing more direct American involvement in the war as a potential solution. Forbes said he would support sending in U.S. troops to work directly with Israelis on targeted raids to root out Hamas, and at the same time put a hospital ship off that coast and start to help these folks... You put American heads there, they (Israel) stop putting bombs in there, and we bring order back. All the candidates shared a deep sense of common cause on defeating Perry, who seeks a seventh term in office despite growing notoriety over the last three years for support for former President Donald Trumps efforts to cling to power despite his 2020 electoral defeat. Interested readers can see the full forum, expected to be the first of several in the primary campaign, on the Dauphin County Democratic Committees Facebook page. The 10th Congressional District is comprised of all of Dauphin, most of Cumberland and about half of York County. Pennsylvanias primary election day is April 23. A man has been charged in a home invasion slaying and sexual assault in suburban Philadelphia a decade ago, authorities said. Thomas Delgado, 50, of Philadelphia was arraigned last week in Bucks County on charges of criminal homicide, rape, robbery, burglary, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy as well as other counts. He was ordered held in the county prison without bail; court documents dont list a defense attorney and numbers listed for that name were not in service. A family member told The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursday that he and the family would have no comment. Authorities alleged that Delgado was one of two men who broke into the home of 48-year-old Joseph Canazaro in January 2013 and tied him up along with a woman and his 12-year-old son. They then ransacked the home, taking guns, money, jewelry and other items. The woman was also assaulted. After the two surviving victims were able to escape and call 911, police found Canazaro dead in the garage of the home in Hilltown Township, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) north of Philadelphia. An autopsy concluded that he died of multiple stab wounds. Bucks County prosecutors said last week that the victims truck was later recovered at Quakertown Plaza Shopping Center, and a forensic examination of evidence recovered from the crime scene and Canazaros stolen truck revealed a match for Delgado. It would be wrong to call this a cold case, District Attorney Jen Schorn said in a statement. These detectives have spent more than a decade seeking justice for these victims. Police have not identified a second suspect and prosecutors said the investigation continues. Investigators said at the time of the crime that Canazaro owed millions to creditors, including several casinos, and detectives said last week that cellphone records indicate that he had been in touch with Delgado several times in 2011, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Authorities said in an arrest affidavit that the female victim reported that the larger of the two men, who they identified as Delgado, told the couple he had been staking out the house for weeks from the nearby woods. We know you have the money, just give us the money, he said, authorities alleged in the affidavit. Lou Busico, who represents the female victim, told the Inquirer that news of the arrest has left her with mixed emotions. The individual that I represent has been praying for over a decade that justice be done in this case, Busico said Thursday. Shes done her best to move on in life, but the events of that day will forever haunt her. By William Lambers President Harry Truman was right when he said, No nation is any healthier than its children. Congress needs to live up to this standard by fully funding the WIC program that feeds low income mothers and infants throughout America. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) supports the most vulnerable of our society. According to the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA), WIC saves lives and improves the health of nutritionally at-risk women, infants and children. Around 6.7 million benefit from the program. But right now there is not enough funding being provided by Congress for the WIC program. Congress needs to act to fully fund WIC by the January 19 deadline for passing a spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown. The USDA warns, It is critical that Congress provide additional funding for WIC in the January appropriation. The longer Congress puts off fully funding WIC, the greater the risk to mothers, babies, and children seeking nutrition and health support from the program. Demand for WIC has increased and Congress needs to increase the funding as well. WIC needs about a billion dollars more from Congress this fiscal year, which is a relatively small amount when compared to the annual spending on nuclear weapons. If Congress fails to fund WIC it will mean that mothers and infants living in poverty will lose access to the help they desperately need. According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), This would result in an unfortunate disruption of services and long waiting lists, leaving more women, infants, and young children hungry and unable to access other critical WIC services. We need to make sure that all mothers, infants and children are cared for. WIC ensures this by helping those in need with nutrition and health care support. The Biden administration is encouraging Congress to fully fund WIC. President Bidens domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden cited the example of a WIC recipient in Brooklyn named Sarah who received life-saving help after giving birth to her daughter in 2018. Thanks to WIC, she could afford fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other staples explained Tanden. Nutrition for infants for the first 1000 days are absolutely critical because without it they could suffer many ill health consequences. Impoverished families need help to provide nutrition for infants and children and that is why WIC is so vital. WIC has been around since the 1970s. One of the senators who got WIC started, George McGovern, wrote, The program has been a dramatic success in the United States, significantly improving the health and well - being of millions of young mothers and their children. McGovern, along with U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, were among the leaders in getting WIC started showing how it had bipartisan support in Congress. WIC is an investment in Americas children and families that brings positive health results. Congress should make child nutrition a priority and fully fund WIC. Through WIC we can ensure that all our infants, children and mothers have the food and help they need to live. William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book Ending World Hunger. In his commentary on educational choice (Patriot-News, Jan. 2), Rep. Joe DOrsie misses important points. How is taking money away from public schools and sending it to private schools responsible or even logical? He writes that it doesnt take money from public schools. That is untrue by definition. There is a finite amount of money in the state treasury. Every dollar directed to private schools is unavailable for public schools. What is needed is more money for poor school districts those without an adequate tax base. Commonwealth Court has determined that the legislature and executive branch have an obligation to provide more equitable funding for the public school system. Legislators are evading this responsibility if they direct public funds to any private purpose, including private schools, in lieu of adequately funding the public school system. Rep. DOrsie laments kids trapped in bottom-performing schools, yet he and other Republicans, including my representative, Barb Gleim, refuse to provide the court-ordered funding, required by the constitution, for those very schools. Local school districts have a very hard time trying to make ends meet, especially in communities without a wealthy tax base. If public funds are diverted from public schools, it makes that job even harder. Partially for this reason, every year they have to assess higher property taxes. It is time for the legislature to finally meet its responsibility to fully fund our public schools statewide and stop diverting money to private schools. Tom DeWall, Carlisle, Pa. The Basic Education Funding Commission (BEFC) has approved its final report on distributing basic education funding for Pennsylvanias 500 school districts. Im concerned about whats in the report. The report alarmingly recommends an additional $5.4 billion in basic education funding. To foot that bill, the average family of four in Pennsylvania can expect to pay an extra $2,000 per year in taxes. But whats even more troubling is whats not in the report. No Bipartisanship The BEFC is an intentionally diverse group, with equal representation of Republicans and Democrats from both legislative chambers and three members from the governors administration. However, their final report lacks bipartisan support. The report narrowly passed 87. All Republican members voted against it. One Democrat, Sen. Lindsay Williams, also voted no, but only because she views the proposal as not going far enough. A unanimous Democratic-only report risks setting the ceiling for negotiationsand this report is closer to my floor, said Williams before the final vote. I saw little reason to compromise now. If $5.4 billion is Williamss floor, Im afraid to hear what her ceiling is. Lawmakers Must Step Up The BEFC report doesnt acknowledge the commissions defined, limited role: review the distribution of Pennsylvanias basic education funding. The statutory authority is clear: Only the General Assembly, through the annual appropriations process, can determine the level of state funding for basic education. The BEFC has no power to impose educational funding levels. Instead, any new funding recommendations can only go into effect via legislation approved by the General Assembly and signed by the governor. Thus, lawmakers must work together to negotiate timely, good-faith solutions that put all policy options on the table. The flawed BEFC report, narrowly adopted along partisan lines, is just the beginning of this important discussion. More Money isnt a Quick Fix Following the Commonwealth Courts February 2023 ruling that Pennsylvanias educational funding system is unconstitutional, some observers have misplaced expectations, assuming this BEFC report will usher in drastic increases in basic education funding. Yet, more funding isnt the panacea proponents claim. Since 2013, state support for public education is up 55 percent in Pennsylvania, reaching an all-time high of $15.5 billion in fiscal year 202324. Spending more than $21,000 per pupil, Pennsylvania is one of the nations biggest spenders on public education. However, increased funding doesnt correlate with increased student achievement. If anything, the opposite is true: Pennsylvania student performance has lagged despite record spending. Test scores have yet to recover since the pandemic. More than half of Pennsylvanias fourth graders and nearly 75 percent of eighth graders cannot perform grade-level math. Before special interests demand the spending of even more tax dollars, Pennsylvania taxpayers deserve to see a return on their already sizable investment. Accountability and Choice The BEFC report doesnt address accountability. What happens when a school district receives more funding, but its students continue to struggle academically? Are the schools held responsible for failing their students? If so, how? Furthermore, what are parents and students to do if their school continues to fail them? Students need better schools now, not later. They dont have time to wait for these low-performing schools to get their acts together. Fortunately, better schools already exist. Students and families need the freedom to choose the right school, making school choice programs vital to this conversation. Yet, the BEFC report fails to address the need for school choice. To acknowledge the vital role school choice programs play in Pennsylvanias education system, lawmakers and the governor should expand existing programs, such as the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit (OSTC) programs, or legislate new ones, such as Lifeline Scholarships, also known as the Pennsylvania Award for Student Success (PASS). EITC, OSTC, and Lifeline Scholarships/PASS address the systemic inequities identified by the court. These programs provide immediate solutions to students and families trapped in Pennsylvanias lowest-performing schools and empower them to choose their academic destiny. Lets always remember our ultimate priority: students. Regardless of what the commission recommends, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and the governor are the ones who must step up and find common ground to ensure that Pennsylvania funds students, not broken systems. Stephen Bloom, a former state representative, is the Vice President of the Commonwealth Foundation, Pennsylvanias free-market think tank. X: @StephenLBloom; @Liberty4pa. The National Weather Service is warning of dangerous snow squalls that are expected to move across central Pennsylvania, with the potential of causing near whiteout conditions and dropping a half inch of snow in just 10 to 15 minutes. One or more bands of squalls will be moving east at 50 to 55 miles this morning into early afternoon, bringing winds gusting up to 50 mph, according to forecasters. The National Weather Service posted this warning on X (formerly Twitter) Sunday morning: These two images were taken 4 minutes apart on I-80 near the Clearfield exit. This is what we mean by rapid onset whiteout conditions and roads becoming slippery. Please avoid travel in snow squalls! #PAwx pic.twitter.com/nm1ngHl9yg NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) January 14, 2024 . Forecasters are urging that motorists delay, if possible, any travel until mid- to late afternoon. If you are traveling, your recognition of these squalls and the actions you take to get off the road or help to gradually slow traffic could prevent a high speed, multi-vehicle accident and save your life and the lives of others, the NWS said in a statement. If you see terrain features and objects off in the distance being obscured by heavy snow within the dangerous snow squalls, take quick action to pull off the road to a safe location, such as a parking lot or driveway to wait out the squall. People who are on an interstate are urged to safely exit as soon as you notice a squall. If they cant, motorists are urged to slow gradually before entering the squall and turn on their hazard lights. The National Weather Service is warning of snow squalls moving across central Pennsylvanis this morning and early afternoon that could create white-out conditions.) 2010 file photoTHE PATRIOT-NEWS Expect high temperature today of 32 degrees. The morning will see potentially heavy snow, changing to mostly sunny and windy, according to the National Weather Service. Expect a high of 33 Monday, and an inch or two of snow accumulating during the day. Fulton County DA Fani Willis called out Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene during a Sunday speech at Big Bethel AME Church. Video: Willis called out congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who earlier this week asked Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr to investigate Williss hiring of Wade. To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. I never want to be a Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has never met me but has allowed her spirit to be filled with hate. pic.twitter.com/bSFYJbGpwP Anna Bower (@AnnaBower) January 14, 2024 Willis said, Dear God, I do not want to be like those that attacked me. I never want to be a Marjorie Taylor Greene who has never met me but has allowed her spirit to be filled with hate. How does this woman who has the honor of being a leader in my state, how is it that she has not reached out to me? She can tell me I dont agree with anything youre doing, but I do not agree with people threatening your life or the life of your family. That is conduct that is wrong and intolerable, and as a leader, I shall not stand for it. How did such a woman come to think that it was normal and normalized that another woman was worthy of such cruelty? I would never wish for her to have the experiences of the threats that I received. The derogatory name calling, the being doxed multiple times. What was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) doing on Sunday? Greene went on Fox News to claim that Democrats are going to replace white people with illegal alien voters. Video of Rep. Greene: Marjorie Taylor Greene goes full racist white replacement theory, Democrats are going to bring in millions and millions of illegals and turn them into Democrat voters; thats their plan to replace Americans with millions and millions of illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/Sv7bnkkhpN Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) January 14, 2024 Marjorie Taylor is a practitioner of the hate-filled politics of Donald Trump. Greene and the rest of the MAGAs are trying to smear DA Willis with personal attacks because they are worried that Donald Trump is going to get convicted in Georgia. For the MAGAs like Greene, everything is about delegitimizing the cases against Trump by attacking judges and prosecutors. DA Willis is fighting back and using her faith to shine a light on the hypocrisy of supposed Christians like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stand by Trump. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. The stress of facing 91 felony counts while trying to campaign for president at nearly 80 years old had Donald Trump looking rough as he arrived in Iowa. Video and picture from the X (Twitter) account of The Washington Posts Tyler Pager: Former President Donald Trump arrives in Des Moines ahead of Mondays caucuses pic.twitter.com/50zxftbEOB To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily. Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) January 14, 2024 Its nasty out there, Trump said as he arrived in Iowa. Its -10 degrees here pic.twitter.com/FvhwEB8mzf Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) January 14, 2024 According to a new ABC News poll released on Sunday, 68% of Republicans believe that this guy who looks like he needs someone to help him find his way back to his room, is the Republican who has the best chance of defeating President Biden. Trump does not look good. The former president is barely campaigning, and spending as much or more time in court than he is on the campaign trail. Trump can get away with this schedule during the Republican presidential primary because of the size of his lead, but his court schedule is only going to get more intense as the year goes on. Donald Trump is looking low energy and like he needs to be retired. 2016 was a long time ago, as Trump appears to be running on fumes. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. The SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare will hold a workshop titled Furry Friends, Fun and Foster: How You Can Help Local Animals in Need at 1 p.m. today at Aiken Senior Life Services, 1310 E. Pine Log Road. The program will be a field trip to the Albrecht Center. For more information or to register, call 803-648-5447 ext. 0 or visit aikensenior.org/programming. Read moreToday's events for March 19 One of the S.C. State Ports Authority's biggest customers has started using alternative transportation to move cargo boxes that normally would transit the Panama Canal because of drought-related restrictions on the waterway. Maersk Line said it will use trains to haul containers on the 47-mile journey across the Isthmus of Panama, a narrow strip that links the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Panama Canal Railway runs adjacent to the canal, which is a key trade passage for vessels bound for the U.S. East Coast. The move will impact the weekly OC1 service that moves cargo from Australia and New Zealand to the Port of Charleston and the Port of Philadelphia. "The vessels that utilized the Panama Canal before will now omit the Panama Canal and use a 'land bridge' that utilizes rail to transport cargo across," the container line said in an advisory to its customers. The service will now use two loops to transport goods to the U.S. East Coast one that transits the Pacific and another that picks up cargo on the other side of Panama for its voyage in the Atlantic. Maersk said it doesn't expect any delays to cargo bound for Charleston or Philadelphia, but other stops along the route could see longer shipping times. Other container services linking Asia to Charleston and other East Coast ports will continue to use the canal, Maersk said. Historic drought conditions in Panama have forced officials to limit the number of vessels transiting the waterway each day to 24, down from pre-drought transits of between 35 and 40 a day. Ships are also lightening the load to meet the canal's requirement of a maximum 44-foot depth, a 6-foot reduction from the normal level. The drought is among the disruptions affecting global shipping, namely the maritime troubles in the Mideast, where Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are attacking cargo vessels. The drone strikes are concentrated in the Red Sea, a passage to the Suez Canal, which is a key trade route and shortcut to the U.S. Some shipping lines have rerouted cargo around Africa's Cape of Good Hope to stay out of danger. A large industrial park proposed for a tiny community in upper Berkeley County promises to bring high-tech businesses and hundreds of jobs, but it's also highlighting an ongoing conflict some residents feel between maintaining their rural way of life and benefiting from the advantages of growth. It's a discord that sparked a heated exchange this week when Cameron Ag Products of St. Matthews brought a proposal to rezone land along S.C. Highway 35 for its 500-acre Berkeley Rail Park to County Council's land use committee. Russellville resident Bridgett Simon Williams applauded the potential jobs the park will bring and said others she's talked with in the community support the concept but "want to make sure the quality of life out there remains quaint, to some degree." She also chided officials for what she thinks is their neglect of the county's rural residents at the north end of Lake Moultrie and their need for adequate housing and other amenities. "Why is the north end lacking?" Williams asked during the Jan. 8 land use meeting. "You all wouldn't dare bring your families out there," she said. "All of you have your nice, quaint houses wherever you want them. We don't want the congestion, but we do want the fine quality of life that everyone in this room deserves. ... It's like County Council doesn't want to make the investment." That brought a sharp response from Councilman Josh Whitley, who said it's not the job of elected officials to favor one area over another but to create zoning that can help spur private investment county-wide. "I'm not aware of any ordinance that we do as county council that differentiates between what kind of house you can build in one part of the county versus the other, and class warfare doesn't sit well with me," Whitley told Williams, adding that some rural residents "don't like the congestion, but want a Starbucks like Cane Bay," referring to a high-density neighborhood along Highway 17-A near Summerville. What I thought was the rising tide my physical vigor that kept rhythm with the rising energy of spring is more like the ebb at my more advanced age. And, the side of life I thought was like the ebb tide, like Lent, is in truth more like the flow. Read moreAging for Amateurs: The two narratives of life When I was in third grade, my teacher had a vegetable tasting day for us. We each brought in a vegetable from home and shared it with our classmates. I remember coming home, excited, and announcing to my mother that I had fallen in love with rutabaga. After a startled moment or two, she sm Read moreStevens: For the love of rutabaga and our children Capita More than 5,000 pension holders are suing Capita after retirement savings data managed by the outsourcer was stolen in a hack by suspected Russia-linked cyber criminals. Lawyers representing the group said they had filed a claim under UK data law at the High Court against Capita on Friday. It is the first such litigation following last years cyber attack. The law firm acting for the claimants estimated the case could be worth up to 5m. Capita has said it does not believe there is any valid basis for bringing a claim against it. Hundreds of thousands of people were told their data may have been exposed by the hack on Capita, which came to light in March last year and hit its pensions business. Funds impacted included the Universities Superannuation Scheme, the biggest private pension pot in Britain with almost half a million members. Other major schemes affected include Marks & Spencer, which has more than 100,000 members, and drinks maker Diageo. Some pensioners were told that their information including national insurance details and addresses may have been stolen as part of the cyber attack. The Manchester-based law firm Barings, which is representing the claimants, said it had been receiving up to 50 enquiries per day about the cyber attack. Adnan Malik, the firms head of data breach, said: Our High Court action speaks volumes, echoing the concerns of thousands of distressed individuals. Other law firms have said they are planning further group actions against Capita over the cyber attack. On March 31 last year, Capita suffered a cyber incident that disrupted its operations. It later warned many of its pension scheme customers, which used Capitas administration services, they may have been impacted by the attack. Last summer, Capita said the fallout of the cyber attack could cost it up to 25m. Capitas shares have fallen almost 50pc since it first disclosed the attack in April last year, giving the group a value of around 340m. Story continues Cyber security experts blamed the breach on Black Basta, a Russian ransomware hacking group that has unleashed a wave of attacks against Western companies. The gang has successfully extorted $100m (78m) from victims since it emerged in 2022, according to cryptocurrency analytics company Elliptic. Black Basta has attacked more than 329 organisations, the researchers said, typically using computer malware that infects victims computers through emails. In a report in November, Elliptic said: The group employs double-extortion tactics whereby they extort the victim by threatening to publish stolen data unless the victim pays a ransom. Capita has not commented on whether or not it paid a ransom to the attackers. While the hack impacted its pensions arm, IT outsourcer Capita also holds billions of pounds in public sector contracts, including deals to collect licence fee payments for the BBC and providing training to the Royal Navy. At the time of the attack, Capita said around 0.1pc of its server estate had been impacted by the breach and it had blocked access to its Office 365 applications. The company said the attack had been significantly restricted after it was discovered and that there was only evidence of limited data exfiltration. Capita said in August the exposed data was later recovered and made secure. A Capita spokesman said: There is no evidence of any information in circulation, on the dark web or otherwise, resulting from the cyber incident, and no evidence linking Capita data to fraudulent activity. Whilst we dont comment on specific ongoing legal matters, we strongly reject any suggestion that there is any valid basis for bringing a claim against Capita. We hold and process data in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Capita previously said it had invested in a multi-million pound programme to upgrade its cyber security systems, which it had accelerated in the wake of the hack last March. 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. The American Red Cross of the Lowcountry is often the unsung hero in any disaster. Its bright red cross is unmistakable, but the agency that relies on volunteers is usually forgotten until they are needed. Read moreCity honors Red Cross of the Lowcountry FLORENCE Henry Brunson, 85, has often been led by love. Love led him to propose to his wife, Dottie Brunson, 63 years ago when he was serving in the Air Force and about to head to a base in Alaska. It led Brunson to mail her an engagement ring and write her letters every day. Years later, love led him to volunteer time and chicken bog to those in need. He founded Cooks for Christ, an organization that sponsors chicken bog benefits for Pee Dee residents with serious injuries or illnesses. The organization, now much bigger and well-known, is just one way Brunson has set out to serve. What he does, he does out of love, said Beverly McKee, Brunsons friend and a Cooks for Christ volunteer of 25 years. Brunson started volunteering at the Latta Fire Department his first real volunteer effort when the couple moved to his hometown from Arkansas. He was committed to the Fire Department, he said. No matter how hard his workday was, no matter how late the night had gotten, he was running to his truck when the fire whistle blew. Hes been involved with the department ever since. He served a stint as fire chief. He was honored by the department in 2014 with a golden ax emblazoned with the departments insignia. Now, in his 60th year of service at the department, he still helps where hes needed. I think it's in my blood that I really enjoy, really love it, Brunson said. There again, Im helping someone. Helping someone anyone didnt stop with the Fire Department. In the mid-1980s at his paper mill job, Brunson and three other workers started holding a monthly chicken bog event to help employees who became sick that month. Three giant washpots of chicken bog helped cover hospital bills, grocery bills or utilities for affected workers. As time went on, people heard about Brunsons work and requested help for family, friends or themselves. It snowballed from there. Brunson was doing chicken bog benefits for just about anyone who asked. He became the Chicken Bog Man. PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-14 19:33:05 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 542 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 14, 2024 / 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: 2024-01-14 00:35:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 497 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Listen Notes has now ranked Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey' in the top 1% of most listen-to podcasts globally.ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / January 13, 2024 / The Emmy-nominated television political analyst, award-winning talk radio personality, and daily anchor on the TYT Network's Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey', rated fastest growing TV news show in America' by Hicks Evaluation Group, has achieved yet another rare media accomplishment. A noted scholar and broadcaster, Dr. Rashad Richey's podcast, Indisputable', which is an adaptation of his live television show tackling social, policy, and political issues, is now ranked in the top 1% of most listened-to podcasts globally by Listen Notes, which provides a Listen Score (LS) metric, showing the popularity of a podcast compared to all other RSS-based public podcasts platforms in the world, which is roughly 3.8 million podcasts compared. According to Listen Notes, it operates similarly to Nielsen ratings, but for podcasts. The company only provides scores for the top 10% of podcasts ranked.Indisputable' the podcast can be found on virtually all podcast platforms, including Spotify, iHeart, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and others. Dr. Richey is also the weekday host of The Rashad Richey Morning Show' on News & Talk 1380-WAOK and V-103 FM (HD3) in Atlanta, GA, where he was voted Best Talk Radio Personality' by readers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Atlanta Magazine, making him the first Black broadcaster to receive the distinctions. Weekends, Dr. Richey provides his intellectual and fiery show commentary on SiriusXM Urban View Channel 126 on the Dr. Rashad Richey Review'.This new podcast ranking comes after Dr. Richey's television show on the TYT Network, Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey' became the fastest growing TV news in the country, in comparison to shows on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, CNBC, and Fox Business, based on traditional and new media methods of content distribution and consumption. On YouTube, Indisputable' averaged 18 million views per month, over a billion impressions, and 7 million watch hours within the 6-month survey timeframe. On Facebook Watch, the show had an average of 25.3 million viewers a month, 263 million minutes of watch time, and 8.1 million audience engagement total within the survey timeframe. Overall, combining linear cable (which includes Comcast Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex, Samsung TV Plus, Xumo TV, Roku, Pluto TV, Local NOW, and YouTube TV), streaming, and podcast platforms Indisputable with Dr. Rashad Richey' averaged 43.6 million viewers a month.Dr. Richey is President of Rolling Out, the largest free-print urban publication in America, and founder of The Rashad Richey Foundation, mentoring gang-affected and gang-affiliated youth. A recent law school graduate who holds multiple advanced-level doctoral degrees in varying subjects, Dr. Richey has provided lecture series for some of America's most recognized universities, including the University of Michigan, Reinhart University, and Kennesaw State University, serves as the Professor of Physics at Paris Graduate School, Visiting Professor at Clark Atlanta University, and Professor of Business at Morris Brown College, making him a rare multidisciplinary scholar.For a quote or interview, contact Chris Smith at Chris.Smith@Audacy.com SOURCE: Richey Media Group PR-Inside.com: 2024-01-14 22:06:53 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 704 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 14, 2024 / Hagens Berman urges Fisker Inc. (NYSE:FSR) investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now.Class Period: Aug. 4, 2023 - Nov. 20, 2023Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Jan. 26, 2024Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/FSR Contact An Attorney Now: FSR@ hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895Fisker Inc. (NYSE: FSR) Securities Fraud Class Action:Fisker's recent decision to dial back its full-year production target has caused news outlets to question whether the company will survive the next year.On Dec. 7, 2023, MotleyFool observed, in response to the production cut, that the company "prioritized liquidity[,]" "[p]ut another way, Fisker requires cash for working capital needs and is therefore scaling back production[,]" and "[t]hat's a pretty dire situation to be in for any company." Then, on Dec. 19, The Wall Street Journal noted the "cash crunch" several EV makers are facing, including Fisker. According to WSJ, Fisker recently reported as having only 187 days of cash on hand, meaning it could run out of cash before the middle of next year.The recent reports questioning Fisker's solvency come in the wake of the filing of a securities class action suit, alleging that earlier this year Fisker tried to obscure its costs to make it appear more viable."The litigation challenges Fisker's cost accounting and internal controls over financial reporting," said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Defendants misrepresented and concealed: (1) that Fisker had a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting; (2) that Fisker had incorrectly accounted for certain costs; (3) that as a result the Company was likely to delay filing its quarterly report; and (4) that Fisker's infrastructure was limiting its ability to deliver its production.Investors began to learn the truth on Nov. 8, 2023, when Fisker announced that it was delaying its Q3 2023 earnings release until after markets close on Nov. 13, 2023. Fisker blamed the delay on the unexplained departure of its, now former, Chief Accounting Officer John Finnucan on Oct. 27, 2023 and the appointment of a replacement effective Nov. 6, 2023.Then, on Nov. 13, 2023, Fisker released dismal Q3 2023 results. It further revealed that material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting prevented it from timely filing its quarterly report with the SEC.On Nov. 20, 2023, WSJ reported that Fisker has lost another Chief Accounting Officer. According to the WSJ, Florus Belting, who was named to the post in early Nov., resigned from the company the day after Fisker reported Q3 results.Finally, on Nov. 22, 2023, the Company filed its Q3 2023 quarterly report on Form 10-Q, which disclosed that the Company had "identified approximately $20 million of expenses" which were "incorrectly recorded primarily as selling, general and administrative expenses in our preliminary earnings results, but were later determined to be associated with production set-up activities" and that "other inventory adjustments were recorded resulting in a $4.0 million increase in net loss subsequent to the preliminary earnings results." If you invested in Fisker 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 Fisker case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Fisker 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 FSR@ hbsslaw.com # # #About Hagens Berman Hagens 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 Sobol Shapiro LLP On Friday, famous producers Osabuohein Osaretin, popularly known as Sarz on the Beat, Puffy Tee, Andre Vibez and P. Priime were unveiled as the judges of a new musical reality show which is set to begin in January. The Next Afrobeats Star music show is an initiative of Ultima Studios, producers of the famous Project Fame, which lasted for over a decade. The organisers say they selected the judges due to their astuteness in identifying budding talents they will mentor during the show and beyond. They revealed this at an event at Ultima Studios, Lekki, attended by music enthusiasts in the state and beyond. While welcoming guests for the unveiling, the Chief Operating Officer of Ultima Studios, Tunji Adebakin, applauded the years of greatness the company has recorded. He recalled Project Fame and other successful reality shows handled by his company, noting that they transformed young talents into exceptional stars. While discussing the new project, Mr Adebakin said he foresaw a musical program that would sail worldwide. Next Afrobeats Star Femi Ayeni, the CEO of Ultima Studios, said the reality show isnt just to produce a star but thousands of them. In his address, he said the main reason for the new musical project is to crave originality and export the Nigerian genre of music beyond the countrys shores. Mr Ayeni, who has been in the music industry for over three decades, of which one of his successes, Project Fame, said each talent could download about ten beats from the selected Judges to record within the entry level. Meanwhile, the six-month program will see the second stage streamlined to 48 youngsters, and only 12 persons will make it to the final round, which is fixed for June. Judges While addressing the public, the four judges said the musical show had been long overdue, and they couldnt wait to let it get into action. P. Priime said Project Fame is one of the factors that got him interested in music even though he couldnt sing. While speaking about the selected judges, Mr Ayeni added that the combination and collaboration of the four producers will bring a significant shift to the countrys economy in terms of the exportation of talent. He said, We are not just going to create just one star; the experience, with the skills, the knowledge of Sarz, Puffy Tee, Andre Vibes, and P. Prime, and we will make many stars who will be exporting something out of Africa. You know, when you export, you are earning dollars. When you export, you are making Naira better. So, one of the primary motives is to help our economy. To ensure that our naira does not continue to depreciate. That is one thing that Afrobeats has been doing for our economy that we do not appreciate enough. So, we need to diversify our economy from just oil. When you diversify and sell things to the outside world, you earn foreign exchange and strengthen your economy. That is one thing this show is doing. So that the whole world will see what we are starting in Nigeria. Viewers will determine winners While speaking about the modalities of the musical show, Mr Ayeni said that viewers will be given the privilege to vote for their preferred candidate. He said, The viewers will decide the winners. He also added that the winner would receive a recording contract, a brand-new car, and a prize from the organisers. However, the first and second runner-up will also get a car and cash prize, respectively. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Category: Nollywood Movie Title: Agu Release Date: 14 December, 2023 Directors: Anis Halloway Runtime: 40 minutes per episode Cast: Kanayo o Kanayo, Nonso Odogwu, Ruby Okezie, Mofe Duncan, Tina Mba, Linda Ejiofor, Ireti Doyle, Ego Nwosu, and Vine Olugu. There is a reason international television series like Suits, The Good Fight, and How to Get Away with Murder have a cult-like following. They are all legal dramas that have informed viewers of specific legal jargon and principles, intensified the theatrics surrounding court cases, and indirectly exposed the loopholes in constitutions. Nigerias first major legal drama, Castle and Castle, was well received. Despite several flaws, the producers effort at immersing viewers in the legal world is commendable. Since Castle and Castle have, in their way, set a blueprint for future producers on how to execute legal dramas, it only seemed fitting that high hopes were placed on Showmaxs latest legal drama series, Agu. Agu focuses on three characters, Etim, Pius, and Victoria, who find themselves in a web of legal battles after Pius allegedly kills a man. The six-part legal drama series fails to translate well on television. This is in the sense that a lot and nothing was happening simultaneously. It felt as if the writers had different ideas and decided to merge them, thus hindering a compelling flow of events. The influx of ideas is not the only flaw of this series, as the legal aspect of the series is almost nonexistent. However, despite being void of the legal elements that are the core of every legal drama, Agu manages to keep viewers on their toes with several twists and turns. The Plot The first episode opens with Felix, Pius, and two other men driving to the outskirts of town. As they arrive at a forest, Felix asks that Pius follow him to check out a land he intends to gift him. Hours pass, and Felix and Pius are yet to return. The two men decide to check up on them. On arriving at the place, they find Pius kneeling next to Felixs dead body, covered in blood. We are introduced to Etim, a once-renowned lawyer whose career plummeted. Piuss wife approaches Etim to defend her husband, an offer he refuses. Meanwhile, a lawyer, Victoria, is tired of being underestimated at work, so she demands to be made principal on a case. Her request is granted. She is tasked with prosecuting Pius. After a confrontation in court, it is revealed that Etim is Victorias father. Victoria, who has known about this since, requests that he not share it with anyone. Unfortunately, she tells her mentor, Shola, who informs a journalist. The revelation puts the father and daughter in the limelight. Victoria tries to develop ways to get her father to back down from the case, but he refuses. The judge rules that they should both be on the case. During an interaction with Etim, Pius confesses to killing Felix, but only in self-defence. He claims that Felix used juju on him. Now, Etim is forced to investigate the circumstances surrounding Piuss death while dealing with a daughter who hates him and spiritual and mental attacks from unseen forces. The Good Agu gets one thing right: casting. Ruby Okezie, who plays Victoria, conveyed the essence of her character, making us sceptical root for her. It was fun and refreshing to see Kanyo O Kanyo in a different role, especially one that isnt ritualism but the practice of the law. Ireti Doyle shines brightest despite limited screen time, as she adequately reflects the charisma possessed by every partner at a big law firm. The cinematography was quite okay. Locations were spot on, from the law firm to the courthouse. The camera direction and lighting were also good. The sound was great initially but fell victim to noise around episode four. Whoever styled the characters of Aguthe ladies, to be specificbrought their A-game. Viewers would be recreating all of Victorias outfits after watching the show. The Bad A legal drama contains the concept of legal for a reason. Viewers watch them to see the workings of the law and how characters often manipulate them to win their cases. Agu was 95 per cent devoid of legal elements. It felt as if the creators failed to adequately research how the legal system works, especially court arguments. There are scenes where Etim and Victoria argue in court. During the arguments, they would not scratch beyond the surface when making their case. Either a character makes statements like the evidence shows that my character is not guilty or objection, my lord before returning to repeat that their client is innocent. It felt very bland and not a good representation of what a court session looks like. A great option would have been to include constitutional section citations there. Let viewers believe that the people on screen are actual lawyers, not actors who have zero understanding of the legal profession. The twists and turns in Agu are another red flag for the series. To clarify, the twists and turns are not entirely the problem, but how they were executed. Many of the surprising elements felt like last-minute thoughts. For example, we learn that Shola is having an affair with Victoria, and Piuss wife sleeps with Felix. While these are shocking, the way they were revealed is underwhelming and lacks proper build-up. Lastly, the introduction of Juju. Nollywood writers need to be told that they cannot excuse a series of events by introducing Juju to the mix. Agus premise did not require the introduction of supernatural forces. Again, it did not. It would have been great if the element of juju was discarded and the reasons behind actions were attributed to logical factors. Final Verdict 4/10. Agu might be more of a drama than a legal one, but you should watch it for its shocking revelations. Agu is streaming on Showmax. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Instead of paying cash directly to shareholders in the form of dividends, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A)(NYSE: BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett has preferred to buy back his company's stock and invest in other businesses. But there can be no doubt that the Oracle of Omaha loves dividends. Each of the 10 largest holdings in the Berkshire Hathaway stock portfolio pays a dividend, and the company's largest stock positions generate an impressive amount of passive income each year. Over the next year, Buffett's company is expected to receive more than $6 billion in dividend payments just for sitting on its current stock holdings. Let's take a closer look at two of Berkshire's largest stock investments -- dividend-paying, blue-chip companies that account for roughly 56.6% of the holding company's portfolio. Based on current investments these two stocks will likely serve up approximately $1.9 billion in payments to Berkshire over the next year. 1. Apple As of its last filing, Berkshire owned roughly 915.6 million shares of Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) stock. Valued at roughly $168.8 billion, the stock holdings account for roughly 47% of Berkshire's total public stock portfolio. Apple has boosted its payout by roughly 120% over the last decade, but its stock gains of more than 907% across the stretch have far outstripped its dividend hikes. As a result, the company's dividend yield has been pushed down despite the solid payout growth and shares currently sport a yield of roughly 0.5%. Despite the stock offering a relatively small yield for today's prices, Berkshire's massive investment stake means that its holdings in Apple are one of its biggest passive income generators. With Apple's stock currently paying an annual forward distribution of $0.96 per share, Berkshire is on track to generate roughly $879 million in dividend income from its position over the next year. Given that the tech giant will most likely deliver another payout increase this year, there's a good chance that Buffett's company will see dividend payments at least slightly above that level. Story continues 2. Bank of America Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) stands as Berkshire's second-largest stock position, trailing behind only Apple in terms of overall portfolio weight. As of its most recent filing, Buffett's company owned more than 1.03 billion shares of the bank's stock -- a position valued at roughly $34.5 billion. Berkshire's BofA holdings account for roughly 9.6% of its total stock portfolio. Today, Bank of America's stock boasts a solid yield of 2.9% -- but Buffett's company is getting a much better yield on its position. After initially closing out its position in BofA at the end of 2010, Berkshire made a deal to invest in the company again. The move wound up being one of the Oracle of Omaha's best-ever plays. When Bank of America was facing macroeconomic pressures and potential liquidity issues in 2011, Buffett approached the company's CEO with a financial lifeline. Berkshire wound up buying $5 billion worth of the company's preferred shares. Berkshire also secured stock warrants that would give it the right to purchase 700 million shares of the bank's common stock at a price of $7.14 per share. In June 2017, Buffett's company cashed in those warrants. At the time, Bank of America stock was trading at $24.32 per share. Berkshire scored paper gains of roughly 240% with the move. But the long-term impact of this incredible investment has been even more significant. BAC Chart Not only has Bank of America stock continued to climb since Buffett moved to exercise the stock warrants, but the financial giant has also delivered big hikes for its dividend. With its current annual dividend of $0.96 per share, Berkshire is enjoying an annual yield of 13.4% on the 700 million shares it bought at $7.14 per share in the stock warrant deal. That's an astounding yield to be banking on an investment in a company as solid as present-day BofA. Buffett's company is on track to receive roughly $990 million in dividend income from its Bank of America holdings over the next year. Given the likelihood that the bank will once again raise its payout this year, Berkshire's haul should be even higher. Should you invest $1,000 in Apple right now? Before you buy stock in Apple, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Apple wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of January 8, 2024 Bank of America is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Apple, Bank of America, and Berkshire Hathaway. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Warren Buffett's Biggest Bets: 56.6% of Berkshire Hathaway's $359 Billion Portfolio Is Invested in These 2 Passive-Income-Generating Blue Chip Dividend Stocks was originally published by The Motley Fool Islamic clerics in Nigeria played a pivotal role in preventing a war between African countries following the coup that ousted Mohamed Bazoum as president of Niger Republic in July last year. As soon as the soldiers, led by Abdourahmane Tchiani, took over affairs of the country, Nigeria announced the shutting down of borders with its neighbour. It also cut down electricity supply to the country. Then, on 30 July 2023, the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), led by Nigerias President Bola Tinubu, announced a possible military intervention to force the reinstatement of Mr Bazoum as Nigers president. ECOWAS told the Nigerien soldiers to ensure President Bazoum was released or reinstated on or before 6 August 2023 or risk military action. Mr Tinubu, himself a staunch democrat who had fought against military rule in Nigeria for several years, had vowed, when he was appointed ECOWAS chair, to be firm against any military takeover in the region. A few days after he spoke, the soldiers in Niger took over, thus giving the Nigerian leader his first major test as an international leader Two days to the 6 August 2023 deadline set by ECOWAS, defence chiefs of the member countries met, thus further raising suspicions that war was imminent. Before then, two other West African countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, which were being governed by putschists, had vowed to support Niger if war broke out. This further raised concerns that the war could engulf the entire sub-continent. A few days before the deadline, Nigerian Imams, mainly in the northern part of the country, used their pulpits in mosques and other religious gatherings to state their opposition to war against Niger, which many of them described as a brother country. Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno states in northern Nigeria share a 1,608 kilometres border with Dosso, Tahou, Maradi, Zinder and Diffa regions of Niger. In all of these states and regions, there have been intermarriages and business relationships that have existed for decades. Apart from the Islamic clerics, many other Nigerians including politicians, particularly from Northern Nigeria, were also opposed to war and the Nigerian senate later declared its opposition to military action. Sensing the mood of the country, President Tinubus aides started spreading the message that war was not imminent but was only a last option if diplomatic efforts failed. But the Islamic clerics were not satisfied. They wanted the war option put off the table and wanted a categorical statement from President Tinubu that there would be no military action. They were also not satisfied with the raft of sanctions imposed on Niger by Nigeria and ECOWAS. On 9 August 2023, three days after the ECOWAS deadline, a group of Nigerian Islamic clerics led by Bala Lau, the National Chairman of the Jamaatul Izalatil Bidiaa Waiqamatis Sunnah, met President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa Abuja. They asked him to allow them to intervene and serve as mediators between ECOWAS and the Niger junta. We want to find a lasting solution. We want peace and harmony to reign not only in Nigeria but in the sub-Saharan region and globally. So, the whole Ulama advised Mr President, that we want peace and reconciliation, Mr Lau told reporters after the meeting with Mr Tinubu. Three days after the clerics met with Mr Tinubu, they met the coup leaders in Niger. Their efforts, however, yielded no fruits as the coup leaders remained adamant. The negotiations continued. On 29 August 2023, the clerics again met with Mr Tinubu during which they asked for more time to continue the mediation. At the meeting, Mr Tinubu told his hosts that he was under pressure to authorise war against Niger but was holding others back. He told them to convince the Nigerien putschists to yield on some ECOWAS demands such as the release of Mr Bazoum and his family members. I am managing a very serious situation. Even as of this (yesterday) morning, I have been inundated with phone calls on the readiness of countries with their military force and contributions. However, I told them to wait. I am meeting with the Ulama and I will get back to you. If you take ECOWAS aside, other people will react, those who are outside of our control. I am the one holding those sides back. I am the one holding back ECOWAS, he said. The Nigerian leader later categorically said that war was not the best option to resolve the Niger crisis and he would only allow it if all mediation efforts including that by the Islamic clerics failed. Were playing our roles A popular Islamic cleric in northern Nigeria who was among those who met with the Niger putschists, Mansur Ibrahim (known as Mansur Sokoto), told PREMIUM TIMES that the Islamic clerics are still playing their roles as religious leaders. We were disturbed by the development for many reasons. Aside from announcing our stand during Jumuat sermons, we felt we should meet the president over the situation to forestall violence. It was a day before the deadline and we knew that the Western countries were in support of the military intervention. We discussed extensively with the president and we tried to make him see reasons and to understand that attacking the Niger Republic would not be the best decision. We asked him to let us see the soldiers in the Niger Republic, he said. Mr Ibrahim, who has written several religious books, said the Islamic clerics reached out to their colleagues in Niger who facilitated the visit. He said their intervention calmed frayed nerves as Mr Tinubu asked other ECOWAS leaders to allow other options to be explored. The military junta respects us. We were welcomed by the prime minister and other top officials at the airport. We met and discussed with (coup leader) Tchiani for two hours. We quoted Quranic verses, words of the Prophet reminded him of happenings and issues that happened. We tried to make them understand that fighting ECOWAS would be fatal for them.., he said. The religious leader said they would continue to discuss with leaders of both countries to see that the situation is resolved amicably. An averted war While ECOWAS insisted that the military junta in Niger should reinstate Mr Bazoum or face its wrath, Nigers neighbours in the Sahel, Mali and Burkina Faso, who are also being governed by the military, promised to help Mr Tchiani and his lieutenants to fight ECOWAS. The three countries, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, signed an agreement for mutual assistance in matters of defence and security in the event of aggression or terrorist attack. The agreement authorises the defence and security forces to intervene in Nigerien territory in the event of aggression. Mr Tchiani himself sought the support of the controversial Russian private military contractor, Wagner. There is also a risk that an intervention would have the opposite effect. If the junta were to dig in its heels and rally the populace around the flag possibly even arming civilian militias the intervention could morph into a multifaceted counterinsurgency that ECOWAS would not be prepared to handle. At the moment, the junta appears to be threatening this approach, gambling that its best hope for legitimacy lies in channelling the populations frustrations toward an external enemy, James Barnett, a specialist in conflict, terrorism, and geopolitics in Africa, wrote in a 2023 analysis of the situation. More mediatory efforts Before Mr Tinubu permitted the clerics to serve as mediators, a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, met with the military junta on 9 August 2023. Mr Sanusi was the first Nigerian to meet Mr Tchiani since the coup. An earlier visit by the former military head of state in Nigeria, Abdulsalam Abubakar, and the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar, was unsuccessful as Mr Tchiani refused to meet them. Mr Sanusi, whose royal family has close traditional ties with Niger, is also the spiritual leader of the Tijjaniya Islamic movement. The movement has millions of followers in both Niger and Nigeria. No, I was not sent by the government. The government officials were aware but it was my personal initiative, using my personal contact to get there and Ill continue to do my best. Its my duty as a leader to do that, Mr Sanusi told journalists after the visit. Clerics visit Niger Republic In August, after meeting with the Nigerian president, Islamic clerics led by Mr Lau met with the military junta led by Mr Tchiani. For the first time since the coup and the back and forth began, Mr Tchiani said the military was open to dialogue with ECOWAS. Weve agreed (to dialogue) and the leader of our country has given the green light for dialogue. They (Islamic clerics) will now go back and inform the Nigerian President what they have heard from uswe hope in the coming days, they (ECOWAS) will come here to meet us to discuss how the sanctions imposed against us will be lifted, Niger Republic prime minister, Ali Mahamane-Lamine told reporters. Mr Lau said the reconciliation effort was successful as dialogue had begun. After the first meeting with the military junta, the clerics went back to Nigeria to inform Mr Tinubu of the development including the decision by the soldiers to listen to both Abdulsalam Abubakar and Saad Abubakar. Speaking to reporters after meeting the 24 August 2023 meeting with the president in Abuja, Mr Lau said Mr Tinubu was also not inclined towards using force to resolve the crisis. The president was receptive to our suggestions about avoiding the use of force by all means. Just as we have spoken to the leaders in Niger and they accepted to avoid violence, the president also accepted it. Thats why he is sending us back to Niger to continue with the dialogue about restoring constitutional order to the country. He also directed us to remind the military that there are pending ECOWAS decisions about the takeover, Mr Lau said. While the Islamic clerics continue to mediate in the crisis, Mr Bazoum remains in detention although his son and his wife were recently released by the putschists who remain in power. ECOWAS has also all but ruled out the military option. France, one of the foreign powers believed to be backing a military invasion, has also withdrawn its troops from Niger. Many Nigerians and observers of the situation believe the Islamic clerics arguably played the most important role in preventing another war in Africa. Mr Tinubus spokesperson, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, described the involvement of the Islamic clerics as a way forward. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has appealed for the release of the caretaker chairperson of Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Gideon Haanongon, and three other persons kidnapped with him on Saturday. Mr Alia made the appeal on Saturday at the funeral ceremony of the paramount ruler of Katsina-Ala, Fezanga Wombo, held at the Akume Atongo Stadium in Katsina-Ala LGA of the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Haanongon was kidnapped with his orderly, driver and personal assistant on Saturday morning while travelling to attend the same funeral ceremony for the traditional ruler. Speaking hours after the incident, the governor called for the immediate release of the council chief and his aides, while decrying the killings and kidnappings rampant in the area. Mr Alia called on serving and former lawmakers, as well as other prominent persons of the area known as Sankara to proffer lasting solutions to insecurity in their area. promising to implement their recommendations immediately. The governor also urged traditional leaders in the area to join in seeking solutions to the challenges, saying his administration was determined to return peace, not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire Benue State. Mr Alia commiserated with the family of Mr Wombo over his death and urged them to be consoled that their father lived a fulfilled life. Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, called for collective responsibility to move the state forward. Represented by a senator, Jack Gyado, Mr Akume called on the Sankara people to ensure that peace returned to their area. Mr Akume said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring peace in Benue State. A former governor of the state, Gabriel Suswam, also tasked the people of Sankara with peace and unity in the area. Mr Suswam said the area, known as the food hub of the state, needed peace to return to agricultural activities. Delivering the sermon at the event, the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese of the Anglican Church, Isaac Dugu, called for prayers for the state, the governor and Sankara. In his remarks, a son of the deceased monarch, Solomon Wombo, who is representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, appealed for peace in the area. NAN reports that the late kidnapping kingpin, Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, is from Sankara, an area that comprises Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs. The area has not known peace even after the death of the dreaded outlaw. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print South Africas decision to sue Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has raised a lot of dust, dividing world leaders amongst different lines of argument. In one of the latest reactions, Namibia, a southern African country, criticised Germany for declaring support for Israel, reminding the European country of its colonial past including the murder of indigenous Namibians. When South Africa filed the case at the ICJ, Israels most visible ally, the US, dismissed it as meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis. Israel itself accused South Africa of collaborating with terrorists who wanted nothing but peril for Israelis. Reactions Germany in a statement on Friday drummed support for Israel saying Israel has been defending itself against Hamas following the event of 7 October. Germany said it is opposed to political instrumentalisation and firmly and explicitly rejects the accusation of genocide that has now been brought against Israel before the International Court of Justice. This accusation is completely unfounded. The German government also noted that it would join the case at the World Court as a third party. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, The US believes South Africas genocide submission against Israel distracts the world from important efforts for peace and security. The Namibian Presidency in a post on X attacked Germany for its stance. Namibia rejects Germanys support of the genocidal intent of the racist Israeli State against innocent civilians in Gaza. Namibia said Germany cannot morally express commitment to the United Nations Convention against genocide, including atonement for the genocide in Namibia, whilst supporting the equivalent of a holocaust and genocide in Gaza. It recalled that the first genocide was committed on Namibian soil by Germany in the 20th century (1904-1908) killing tens of thousands of innocent Namibians in the most inhumane and brutal conditions which, it said, the German Government is yet to fully atone for. Namibias President Hage Geingob appealed to the German Government to reconsider its untimely decision to intervene as a third party in defence and support of the genocidal acts of Israel before the International Court of Justice. One of Hamas political officials, Basem Naim, quoted by Reuters said, We welcome the convening of the (case)on the accusation of ethnic cleansing and genocide. We are looking forward to seeing a decision by the court that would achieve justice for the (Palestinian) victims, end the aggression on Gaza, and hold the war criminals accountable. The European Union has yet to make any comment on the ICJ case while the UK refused to support the case. South Africa is supported by the Organisation of Islamic Countries, a 57-member bloc, Bolivia, Malaysia, Namibia, Turkey, Jordan, Maldives, and Pakistan. The ICJ Arguments in Summary The hearing at the ICJ commenced on Thursday and continued on Friday. On Tuesday, South Africa reeled out arguments from the 80-page document, saying Israel was intentional about wiping out entire families in Gaza. South Africas lawyers argued that Israel is committing actions that fall within the definition of genocide and must be stopped by the court. It argued that there is never a justification for genocide and the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 cannot be used as a justification. On Friday, Israel denied South Africas arguments from the previous day saying that it was acting in self-defense. It accused South Africa of overlooking the events of 7 October and fraternising with Hamas. Its lawyers said Hamas was to blame for the mayhem happening in the Gaza Strip. Israel also denied any intention to wipe out Palestinians, saying South Africa was distorting the facts of the ongoing war. International lawyers and analysts have described South Africas arguments as historic. South Africa wants the ICJ to, in the first instance, order a halt in Israeli attacks on Gaza, which have killed over 23,000 people, most of them civilians. The court is expected to rule on that in about a month. South Africa also wants the court to rule that Israeli actions in Gaza amount to genocide against the Palestinians. The court will not rule on that until about a year or two, experts have said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations Council (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, has said the institute would play a decisive role in rebuilding Nigerias economy for the benefit of the citizenry. Mr Neliaku stated this at a dinner held in his honour in Abuja on Saturday night. He underscored the pivotal role of PR in shaping the destiny of the nation. He said, One of the things that we said when my administration was elected, we said we are going to build public relations for development because PR has an essential role to play in the development of a nation. The issue of Nigeria, apart from corruption, is how do we rebuild our economy? Thats very important. And you cannot take economy outside of a relationship, thats what we have missed. The relationship in the economy, the relationship in politics and the relationship in sociocultural affairs. The relationship is everything. So how do we drive Public Relations into the heart of economic growth and development in the nation? Mr Neliaku, who was elected in August 2023, reiterated the institutes plans to establish a dedicated school of public relations. He said the NIPR Vice President, Emmanuel Dandaura, is heading the Education Advisory Board (EAB) overseeing the initiative to create the Public Relations University of Nigeria. As may have heard, we are establishing a Public Relations University of Nigeria, the first of its kind in the world, not in Nigeria, not in Africa, no school like that. A team is already on it. He said the institutions faculty would not only consist of traditional educators but also feature experienced practitioners sharing practical insights to empower students in the real-world application of PR. The president revealed plans for the development of a Nigeria Reputation House, an innovative concept by the Education Advisory Board. He said the institute would inaugurate a committee in the first quarter of 2024 to develop the concept of the House where all information redefining the reputation of Nigeria would be accessed. According to him, land has already been acquired for the house in Abuja. Within this quarter, we are inaugurating a committee that is going to develop the concept of Nigeria Reputation House, where you can have all the information you need on redefining the reputation of Nigeria. We have got the land. We thank the immediate past minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who gave us the land. Now is the time to conceive it and develop it, he said. Mr Neliaku also said the institute would soon launch a Public Relations Forum for young Nigerians while a National Spokespersons Summit scheduled for March is aimed at enhancing communication skills for a prosperous Nigeria. He stated that an Annual Conference during Public Relations Week in April will explore the theme The Importance of Public Relations in the Economy of Nationhood. Mr Neliaku voiced concerns about the dearth of quality leadership in Nigeria due to deep-seated corruption. He lamented the resultant challenges faced by the country and called for a transformative approach. He, however, expressed optimism about Nigerias recovery, citing its abundant resources and diverse strengths. Among those at the dinner were the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Jibrin Ndace, the Acting Vice Chancellor of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Kate Omenugha, and a former spokesperson of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu has pledged the administrations commitment to the sustainable development of the Niger Delta. Mr Tinubu said this when he met with Abubakar Momoh, the minister of Niger Delta Development. A statement by Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, special assistant to the minister, in Abuja on Sunday, said the meeting centred on providing a comprehensive update on the ongoing activities and initiatives within the Niger Delta Development Ministry. He said the meeting was aimed at seeking the Presidents support and commitment toward sustainable development of the Niger Delta. During the meeting, Momoh highlighted the vital projects and initiatives undertaken by the Ministry to uplift the socio-economic landscape of the region, he said. Mr Omo-Ikirodah said the minister presented a detailed overview of ongoing infrastructure projects, community development programmes and efforts to address environmental concerns in the Niger Delta. He added that Mr Tinubu expressed keen interest and appreciation for the Ministrys endeavours, acknowledging the critical role the Niger Delta plays in the nations economic and social fabric. READ ALSO: Tinubu sets up panel to reposition Nigerias social investment programmes The President commended Mr Momoh for the progress made and the dedication exhibited in addressing the unique challenges faced by the region. In a significant commitment to the development of the region, Mr Tinubu pledged unwavering support and assistance to ensure the successful execution of projects and programmes that would bring about sustainable growth and improvement in the region. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday failed in its efforts to convince an Abuja court to put the Malabu case trial on hold to buy time to scout for fresh evidence against key defendants in the almost four years long proceedings. The commission, through one of its lawyers, Sylvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), urged the court to adjourn the trial to a later date, stressing that the President Bola Tinubu administration was highly interested in the case. He said the newly appointed EFCC chair, Olanipekun Olukoyede, asked him to request the adjournment of the case to facilitate further investigations to shore up the case. But the judge, Idris Kutigi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, rejected the request for an adjournment, upholding defence lawyers objection to it. It is going to be a bad legal basis to grant an adjournment, Mr Kutigi said of the reason cited by the commission for requesting an adjournment. The court is guided by extant laws and the constitution, so it cannot be under the whims of any institution or person. EFCCs move to reopen investigations came less than a month after it conceded in a filing that it lacked sufficient evidence to successfully secure the conviction of most of the defendants in the trial that started in January 2020. The commission had called 10 prosecution witnesses during the almost four years span of the trial, before admitting in the filing it submitted to the court on 23 December 2023 that it lacked evidence to secure the conviction of six out of the seven defendants. Charges and defendants Key among the 40 counts alleged in the case centre around a 2011 agreement brokered by the federal government regarding the disputes over the lucrative OPL 245 oil block which had been controversially awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas Limited in 1998. In a chain of convoluted back-and-forth events, the assets were transferred to oil giants, Shell and Eni, following the 2011 agreement backed with payments of $1.1 billion, a chunk of which prosecutors alleged was passed to some Nigerian officials as bribes. The EFCC had alleged that Nigeria was shortchanged in the agreement leading to the transfer of the asset to Shell and Eni despite the huge revenue potentials of the block. The then administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which came on board in 2015, touted the case as one of the worst instances of corruption under previous governments, and vowed to bring perpetrators to justice. Mr Jonathan and his former aides denied wrongdoing, saying the agreement was packaged in the countrys best interest. Among the principal defendants charged with various offences regarding the OPL 245 deal are Nigerias former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, and Enis Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited, as well as two Shell subsidiaries Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep Limited and Shell Nigeria Exploration Production Company Nigeria Limited. Also charged in the case was Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, which was in 1998 allocated the OPL 245 oil block, by the Sani Abacha regimes Minister of Petroleum, Dauzia Etete, better known as Dan Etete. The defendants also include Aliyu Abubakar, a businessman accused of serving as a middleman for the distribution of bribes concerning the transaction. Another of the defendants is Rasky Gbinigie, accused of committing sundry offences, including document falsification aimed at fraudulent alteration of ownership and structures of the shares of Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, and fraudulent conversion of funds in the companys account, offences which he allegedly committed in conspiracy with others. Mr Gbinigie was charged alone in 35 out of the 40 counts. The EFCC reluctantly closed its case in the trial that started in January 2020 with the testimony of its 10th prosecution witness on 19 October 2023. In response, the defence lawyers said they would file a no-case submission for their clients, a filing that calls for the termination of trial midway without proceeding to defence on the grounds of alleged failure of the prosecution to provide cogent evidence linking them to the alleged offences while presenting its case. No case The defendants filed their no-case submissions in November 2023, calling on the court to discharge and acquit them because, according to them, it is pointless for the trial to continue to defence stage, as no cogent evidence was led to prove the case against them. On 20 December last year, EFCCs prosecuting counsel, Offem Uket, in his filing responding to Mr Adokes no-case submission, surprisingly agreed that the commission had all along lacked sufficient evidence to successfully prosecute six of the seven defendants. Mr Uket wrote that the only defendant it had presented sufficient evidence against is the third defendant, Mr Gbinigie, who is charged with sundry offences, including document falsification, abetting and other sharp practices that helped to manipulate Malabus shares to give Mr Etete, the former petroleum minister, the control over the companys bank accounts. Call for adjournment and stiff objection But appearing for the prosecution on Friday, EFCCs top prosecutor, Mr Tahir, acknowledged the lack of evidence on the part of the prosecution, but appealed that the matter be further adjourned for further investigations. Opposing the application, defence lawyers said it was too late in the day to ask for such an adjournment at the stage of arguments over the no-case submissions filed by defendants. They opposed the application the same way they rejected the commissions previous request for an adjournment to call an additional witness in October last year. The judge ruled in their favour, forcing the commission to reluctantly close its case after its 10 prosecution witnesses testified on 19 October 2023. Mr Adokes lawyer, Kanu Agabi, a SAN and former attorney general, rejected EFCCs adjournment plea, which he described as frivolous. Mr Agabi said his client has been unjustly prosecuted, describing the plea for adjournment as both immoral and unjustifiable. Mr Adoke is facing a trial that cannot be justified and he has not been able to practice law for the past four years. I am asking the court to reject the plea, he said. Also opposing the request for adjournment, Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing the second defendant, Mr Abubakar, said it was baseless to adjourn the case just because the EFCC chair asked for it. Except Malabus lawyer, other defence lawyers aligned themselves with the submissions of Messrs Agabi and Olanipekun. Ruling, the court agreed with the defence lawyers. I have carefully considered the submission, the ground for adjournment is at my discretion, but the prosecution counsel did not provide a substance upon which an adjournment should be granted. It is obvious here that the prosecution had five months since the adjourned date to have looked into the case, and know what to do. The direction is very clear and all have filed their no-case submissions and the prosecution counsel has also joined in the filing, Mr Kutigi ruled. After dismissing EFCCs call for an adjournment, the court asked the parties to address him on the no-case submissions filed by the defendants. After the arguments, the court adjourned until 29 February for ruling. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The police have promised to rescue six members of a family who were kidnapped in their house located in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja on 2 January. Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, made the promise in a statement on its X handle on Saturday. The assurance comes as it emerged that one of the victims, identified as Najeeba, had been executed by the kidnappers. An X user, Adamu Asiya, who identified himself as a cousin to the victims, announced the abduction of the family members on 3 January, adding that her uncle was killed in the process. Please pray for my sisters and uncle when you see this. Najeeba, her sisters, and her dad were kidnapped in their house last night. We lost an uncle in the process. Your duas are needed, Ms Asiya had said. Two days later, she tweeted that the father of the girls was released by the kidnappers while a ransom of N60 million was placed on the lives of the six sisters. However, after a hashtag, #Najeebaandhersisters, was created to raise the N60 million, Ms Asiya announced on X on Saturday that Najeeba had been killed because her father could not meet the 12 January deadline for the payment of the N60 million. She added that the kidnappers had raised the ransom to N100 million. Mr Adejobi, in the statement titled, We are committed to tackling kidnapping, rescuing, victims unhurt, said the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, had ordered for Upscale tactical intelligence team, currently handling the investigation clandestinely. In the wake of the abduction of six young girls in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, it is vital to state that the Police Force has already initiated a comprehensive plan of action. The Force Headquarters is diligently coordinating efforts to address this and prevent any further occurrence, as all hands are on deck to rescue the victims, the statement said. Mr Adejobi explained that due to the sensitivity of the matter, the operation would be carried out secretly to avoid compromising it. However, the sensitivity of the situation necessitates discretion, and as a result, specific details are being kept confidential to avoid compromising ongoing operations. The NPF is actively engaging and contacting individuals crucial to the rescue operations and investigation. The objective is not only to bring perpetrators to justice but also to intensify efforts in rescue operations for victims still in captivity. Furthermore, recognising the psychological impact on affected families, the Police are encouraging open communication with their operatives to provide support, information, and assistance to mitigate the psychological warfare imposed by kidnappers on the relatives and loved ones of their victims, he said. Concerned Nigerians speak A former Minister for Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, later confirmed the killing of Najeeba on Saturday night. He said he spoke with the father of the deceased concerning the release of the remaining kidnapped girls. Inna lil Laahi wa inna ilaiHi Raajiun! I just read about the killing of our daughter Najeeba (400 level, ABU). I also spoke with her father about the remaining 5 of our kidnapped daughters. May Allah forgive her, rescue others & bring absolute peace to Nigeria, Mr Pantami said in a post on his X handle. Also, Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to former President Muhammadu Buhari, through his X account, also called on the police to take necessary actions as swiftly as possible. READ ALSO: 15 persons kidnapped in 2024 as Abuja grapples with rising crime rate I join fellow concerned Nigerians in urgently calling on the @PoliceNG through its PPRO @PrinceMoye1 to acknowledge and respond to the unfortunate incident involving the kidnapping of Najeebah and five of her sisters #NajeebahAndHerSisters more than a week ago. The information shared by a family member @Adamu_Asiya_ this morning indicated that the kidnappers have tragically killed Najeebah as a warning and demanded a N100 million ransom for the release of the remaining victims. We implore the Nigeria Police to prioritise this case and deploy all necessary resources to safely rescue the remaining victims. Thank you! Mr Ahmad, he said on his X handle. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has restated 31 January as the deadline for all employers of labour to submit their annual tax returns. A statement by the head of Corporate Communications, LIRS, Monsurat Amasa-Oyelude, quoted its executive chairman Ayodele Subair to have said that employers of labour with businesses within the state must adhere to the deadline, or risk paying penalties and other statutory sanctions outlined in section 81(3) of the Personal Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2011. Mr Subair said the exclusive platform for filing annual income tax returns in Lagos State remained the LIRS e-Tax portal: https://etax.lirs.net. While maintaining that manual filing was no longer permissible, he urged businesses and employers to leverage the e-Tax portal for filing, citing its user-friendly, convenient, and secure nature. The e-Tax portal is designed for the convenience of taxpayers, making tax transactions easily accessible from the comfort of homes and offices, Mr Subair noted. He emphasised that the Taxpayer ID was a mandatory requirement for all employers to file their annual income tax returns on the e-tax portal. He urged them to generate a taxpayer ID (where applicable) for their employees and to file their P.A.Y.E returns through the portal. Mr Subair disclosed that to facilitate compliance and address any filing-related concerns, the agency had deployed its staff at various offices to assist taxpayers in utilising the portal. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Once Jesus laid down his life, the devils stranglehold on the lives of men was broken. Jesus came into the world as a heavenly commando sent by God to destroy the works of Satan single-handedly. The devil holds men in bondage through the singular sin of the love of life; the foundation of all sin. We steal, cheat, fight, kill and commit adultery to save our lives. God required Jesus to call us to repentance and tell us about His glorious kingdom. He then demonstrated that our fear of death is baseless by laying down His life and then rising from the dead. Hebrews says of Jesus: Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15). Exposed Secret Agent But how can Jesus survive in Satans kingdom on earth when His arrival as a baby was broadcast by angels? How can He survive when wise men from the East were foolish enough to make enquiries about Him in the kings palace? Herods response on hearing of the birth of a rival king of the Jews was to kill all the infants in Bethlehem. However, God was always one step ahead of Jesus adversaries. An angel forewarned Joseph to flee with Mary and Jesus to Egypt for refuge. Thereafter, the devil is bound and rendered powerless for the duration of Jesus ministry. (Matthew 12:29). Jesus was not secretive about His mission on earth. He preached about the establishment of His alternative kingdom everywhere He went. He also validated His message with supernatural signs. He cast out demons, demonstrating the overthrow of the kingdom of Satan. He raised the dead, signaling the triumph of life over death. He healed the sick, announcing the end of human suffering. He multiplied loaves of bread, pointing to the satisfaction of all physical need. He stilled the storm, heralding the emergence of peace on earth. And He forgave sins, proclaiming the dawning of righteousness. Recognising Jesus superior authority and powers, the devil quickly sought an unholy alliance with Him. He appealed to the pride of life in Jesus by offering Him all the kingdoms of the world, if He would join His rebellion against God. He said to him: All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours. (Luke 4:6-7). But when Jesus refused the offer, he resorted to his time-honoured strategy of employing the fear of death against men. He threatened Jesus life; knowing Jesus could easily save it. But if Jesus saved His life, He would be entrapped by the word of God which says: Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it. (Luke 17:33). The devil even attempted to use one of Jesus disciples against Him. When Jesus revealed that Gods plan was for Him to be killed and then rise from the dead, Peter objected, saying this should not happen to Jesus. But Jesus rebuked him sharply. He said to him: Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men. (Matthew 16:23). A house divided In Satans camp were the Jewish pastors who were incensed that the more Jesus preached, the more He exposed their ungodliness. If He were to continue unabated, they feared they would soon lose their meal ticket the goodwill of the people. They were also concerned that Jesus popularity would grow into a revolutionary fervour against Roman occupation, prompting Caesar to crush it with characteristic ruthlessness. Since this would jeopardise their privileged position under Roman rule, they decided to save their lives by accusing Jesus to the Roman authorities of plotting to overthrow Caesar, which was a crime punishable by death. However, Jesus knew Satan had no interest in killing Him; he only wanted Him to save His life. Satan knew he could not kill Jesus. Any attempt to kill Him would prompt the rescue of angels. Satan said to Jesus: It is written: He shall give His angels charge over you, and, In their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash your foot against a stone. (Matthew 4:6). But Jesus was determined to allow Himself to be killed so that Satans captivity of men through the love of life and the fear of death would finally be broken. When Satan realised this was Jesus resolve, he decided to call the whole thing off at the last minute. Pilate, another one of his agents, looked desperately for a way to free Jesus, declaring Him innocent. He said to Jesus accusers: Look, I am bringing Him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against Him. (John 19:4). He then sought to release Him through a clemency order in honour of the Passover. However, the pastors, Satans other agents, would not consent to Jesus release, insisting He must be crucified. In effect, Jesus non-resistance divided Satan against himself. Jesus says: Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:25). To save his life as Governor by avoiding a riot, Pilate had to succumb to the demands of the pastors. Provoking righteousness But Satan had one last gambit. He engineered the rulers of the Jews, as well as passers-by, to mock Jesus, hoping to provoke Him to jump down from the cross and save His life. They taunted Him, saying: If you are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. (Luke 23:37). He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ of God, the Chosen One. (Luke 23:35). Even God had to restrain Himself from saving Jesus when Jesus cried out: My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me? (Matthew 27:46). However, the love of God for man ensured Jesus was forsaken on the cross. Jesus paid the full Satanic ransom of laying down His life as a man. Thereby, He pioneered the fulfilment of the word of God that says: He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:25). This ushered in a new era of the resurrection of the dead unto eternal life with God. (John 6:38-40). Thus, Jesus defeat was paradoxically His greatest triumph. Once He willingly laid down His life for God, the devils stranglehold on the lives of men was broken for the very first time. With Jesus resurrection, all the righteous dead began to rise from the dead: And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:52-53). By overcoming the love of life and the fear of death, Jesus opened the gates of righteousness, so that men may thereafter follow His shining example. Thanks to Jesus, we are no longer held captive by sin and Satan: Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:7-8). Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print In Nigeria, corruption and religious trickery are like the edan, conjoined by an iron chain of culture, history and a sustained system of elite greed. Today in Nigeria, this Ogboni emblem is signposted by suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu and late Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua. If Nigerians didnt know anything else about their country, they know that these two evils corruption and religion are twin viruses that have eaten deep into the marrows and red cell corpuscles of Nigeria. The Edan is a Yoruba Ogboni cult insignia, an emblem of membership in the secret society. It is a cylindrical duality of male and female brass figures with iron stems attached to it. Mostly joined at the top by an iron chain, the edan is said to signify old age, experience, knowledge, and wisdom. The female edan also has a beard motif. It recreates the image of the goddess, Edan, a man-like woman, an Obinrin bi okunrin who possesses the wisdom of a Babalawo diviner and is the epicentre of human morality. This image is intermixed with the supernatural powers of a witch, an aje, reputed to have powers for the defence and protection of Ogboni cult initiates. Ulli Beier, the German-Jew catalyst for modern African culture, stood in awe of the edan when he saw it. In his In a Colonial University (Iwalewa-Haus, University of Bayreuth, 1993) Beier narrated his first encounter with the edan in 1950 and his overview of the Nigerian ritual art at the University of Ibadan, thus: After dinner, liqueurs were served in the sitting room and Professor Christopherson passed round his latest acquisition a magnificent Ogboni (a secret association of Yoruba priests and chiefs invested with major judicial and political functions and devoted to the worship of the Earth) brass figure some 30cm long. I had never seen anything like it, had no idea what it meant or where it came from but was overwhelmed by a feeling of awe as I held in my hand the heavy object, emanating so much power and ancient wisdom. In Nigeria, corruption and religious trickery are like the edan, conjoined by an iron chain of culture, history and a sustained system of elite greed. Today in Nigeria, this Ogboni emblem is signposted by suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Beta Edu and late Temitope Balogun Joshua, popularly known as TB Joshua. If Nigerians didnt know anything else about their country, they know that these two evils corruption and religion are twin viruses that have eaten deep into the marrows and red cell corpuscles of Nigeria. They are also aware that the two evils have centuries-old existence. So when the BBC, last week, assumed it had hit an exclusive story in airing a documentary on the sordid life of charismatic pastor, unorthodox televangelist and founder of Synagogue of All Nations (SCOAN), TB Joshua, the British broadcasting outfit, it will seem, was merely playing to the gallery, no pun intended. BBC had alleged in the documentary, through interviews with alleged eyewitnesses, that Joshuas pastoral life had been a potpourri of rape, shambolic miracles, torture and forced abortions. Whether in pre-, colonial or post-colonial Nigeria, Nigerians are/were genetically wired to believe in the supreme potency of achieving material success and healing by harnessing mystical powers. As at 1922, the British colonial office was already worried by the traffic of patent medicine ordered by Nigerians from India, a country renowned to be a centre for mystical powers. By that time, literate Nigerians were already ordering, by postal service, literature on mysticism and homeopathic medicine from India. J. K. Magregor, a British resident in Nigeria and headmaster of Hope Waddell Institute in Calabar, was so disturbed by this trend among his pupils that he documented what he saw to the colonial office in England. He caught the pupils in possession of letters they sent abroad demanding from quack doctors methods of treating diseases and attaining success through spiritual powers. The pupils also received catalogues of magical works and letters from various societies that professed to give esoteric teaching that was sure to bring success and happiness. In one mail delivery, Magregor found hundreds of such requests. One example the Briton found, which he documented to the colonial office, was a 12-year old boy who had ordered by post a Mystic Charm from India, a piece of valueless metal containing some wax, enclosed in the heart of a newspaper. Included with the metal was a message to the boy from India to send money back so that he could receive blessings from the Hindu deity Siddheswari and he would find the blessings by watching the flow of his nasal mucus. The spate of charlatans promising to provide magical powers for a fee later transmuted into the fraud ring called 419, for which Nigeria has harvested unflattering renown throughout the world. This combines to form the benumbing orgy of corruption in high and low places, for which Betta Edu, the minister of Humanitarian Affairs, was suspended from office last week. None of the two evils began today. On 18 December, 1920, Nigerias first 419 kingpin was arrested. He was Mr Crentil, a self-styled professor, an ex-employee of the Marine Department of the colonial office in Lagos. He had written to a victim in Gold Coast, now Ghana, describing the magical powers he possessed and could offer for a fee. He was charged in 1921 by the police on three counts under Section 419. He was however lucky as the charges were struck off, prompting Prof Crentil boasting that he got off through same magical powers. The BBC documentary of last week merely fitted into what Nigerians already knew about themselves. As it has been notoriously recalled, TB Joshuas tendency for sorcery, rather than Christianity, was first busted by Ibadan-based famous eerie-world-revealer and broadcaster, Kola Olawuyi. His Saturday morning programme on Radio Nigeria and OGBC was a crowd puller. At this period in the life of Nigeria, there were itinerant native doctors who professed to connect people to their shrines that produced wealth. This, they claimed would be provided by the gods of wealth through spiritual forces. Virtually everywhere in Nigeria then, there were itinerant medicine sellers and magical spellers called Ajasco Boys, Money Doublers and the like, who offered a repertoire of techniques. With this, they claimed they could connect unsuspecting victims with the invisible world and engender fortunes for their victims. Over a century after, this spiritual vermin hasnt died but its proboscis has gotten more lethal. It has changed, no doubt. Now clothed in modernity, it has gone visceral, sucking the blood of innocent Nigerians who seek remedies to existential crises. The BBC documentary of last week merely fitted into what Nigerians already knew about themselves. As it has been notoriously recalled, TB Joshuas tendency for sorcery, rather than Christianity, was first busted by Ibadan-based famous eerie-world-revealer and broadcaster, Kola Olawuyi. His Saturday morning programme on Radio Nigeria and OGBC was a crowd puller. On one of such, Olawuyi showed, with empirical evidence and through interview sessions, that Joshua had a spiritual liaison with an albino from his Arigidi Akoko, Ondo State native home. A few weeks after, another man appeared on Olawuyis programme claiming spiritual powers, while flaunting a black egg as his talisman. He claimed to be Jemijaiye Okuku. As I listened to the programme, something told me the Jemijaiye voice was familiar. As Olawuyi was lifting the veil off the face of this so-called powerful spiritualist, the police, who had been invited, emerged to arrest the charlatan. Immediately, I connected the dots. The fellow, a man with dreadlocks, was my close friend a decade earlier. I knew his mother and siblings. We both lived in the same Ayeso area of Ilesa, Osun State. A coterie of mystical scammers, many wearing the garb of pastors and Imams, has succeeded in fleecing Nigerians based on the peoples longstanding abiding romance with fatalism and mysticism. Scholars have attributed this to the sustained link between the people and their traditional African heritage. Africans, and Nigerians particularly, grew up knowing that there is a causal link between the physical and the spiritual realms, and that nothing is or can be if it does not emanate from the spiritual realm. This has necessitated the rat race to penetrate the veneers of the spiritual. In the process, the people have been susceptible to the charlatanism of fakists and sorcerers who, wearing the visor of pastors/Imams, sweep them off their feet with fabulous claims. They also claim to be able to make penetrative gazes into the unseen world and are able to manipulate the corridors of the spirits to help their victims achieve unheard-of successes in the material world. Why it becomes hard to distinguish sorcerers from miracle hawkers is that even the two prophets of Christianity and Islam Jesus and Mohammed equally got accused of sorcery while they were on earth. The truth is that the divide between sorcery and miracles is very thin. Both are united by their provinces as strange and uncanny. This is what Guru Maharaj Ji in Ibadan and Jesus of Oyingbo use/used as their fortes. At one time, a lively debate erupted as magicians and sorcerers too contended that the marvellous miracles wrought by of the prophets Moses and Jesus were themselves magical. In Christian teachings, we are told that Jesus was accused of performing miracles through Baal Zebub or Beelzebub. This god, in Joseph Conrads Lord of the Flies, was the devil. It was derived from a Philistine god that was hitherto worshipped in Ekron, and which was thereafter adopted by some Abrahamic religions. Beelzebub was a major demon linked to the Canaanite god, Baal, and which, in theological sources and predominantly Christian literature, is another name for Satan. As a reporter who frequented his Lagos-Ibadan expressway shrine and who had, by so doing, gathered first-hand insights into his operations, I once compared Maharaj Ji with Russian mystic, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin, who hypnotised his devotees. The Ibadan bearded spiritualist also claimed to be the worlds own version of Jesus Christ. In late 1906, Rasputin put himself forward as a faith healer, healing Nicholas II and his empress consort, Alexandra Feodorovnas son, Alexei Nikolaevich who had been suffering from haemophilia. Rasputin was known to be a charlatan and was eventually assassinated in 1916. Having been friends with Maharaj Ji for years and observed the vacuous faces and absent faces of the men and women in trance-like looks in his shrine, it was easy to place the Ibadan self-styled god. That piece evoked attacks from his devotees spread across his ashrams, who pummelled me on all fronts. By the way, let us give kudos to President Bola Tinubu for suspending Edu and his decision to cut the long numbers in his and the entourage of other government officials. I am sure what did the magic of the reduction was the persistent and unrelenting criticism of the president over the disgusting optics of his recent visit to Lagos Island. Muhammadu Buhari ran a government that was dead to such nudges for eight years People have asked what the motive of the BBC documentary is. To tell Nigerians what many already knew about TB Joshua? Why didnt it come at a time when Joshua himself was alive and could rebut some of the claims? Lies were put to many strands of the BBC interviewees accounts of what went on in the Synagogue. Same goes for claims against Joshua by persons purporting to be what they were not. In totality, these cast a pall of doubt on the documentary. While alive, presidents of some African countries trooped to Joshuas SCOAN for healing. One of such was then Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Richard Tsvangirai. In 2008, Ghanaian president, John Atta Mills was also at the Synagogue, to seek the face of God during the election in his country. So also was former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba, as well as the late leader of Gabon, Omar Bongo. Could Joshua have been attracting all these personalities through sorceries? When it is realised that many of the white devotees of Joshuas church, who allegedly wanted to take over the church at the pastors death were rebuffed, the BBC documentary may thus be viewed from the usual racial lens. Having said this, many of the pastors/Imams who claimed to live lives of piety have been revealed to be opposites of what they claimed at their deaths. An example was Frederick Antony Ravi Kumar Zacharias, an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian evangelical minister. He was the founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), who for forty years was involved in Christian apologetics. At his death, however, some women came forward to claim that he sexually abused them. This prompted the hiring of the Miller & Martin law firm by the RZIM to investigate these allegations. At the end of the day, their veracity got confirmed. RZIM eventually underwent a name change and offered a public apology, subsequently excising every material pertaining to Zacharias from its books. In Nigeria, there are famous pastors who are known to be sexual predators, occultists and greedy elements thirsty for material acquisitions. So what did Joshua do differently? While religious mesmerism results in the inability of a people to think straight, corruption stagnates a nation. In their amity like the cylindrical edan, they have wrecked incalculable havoc on Nigeria since its founding. Part of this havoc can be attributed to our history and culture, which make us easy prey to spiritual enchantment and corruptibility. Smart political charlatans invoke religion to sustain their hold on the political. A whiff of it got manifest last Thursday at the meeting of the Forum of Governors on the platform of APC. Asked what the fate of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs was, Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, urged Nigerians not to pass a verdict of guilt on her yet as the only perfect being we have observed and noticed is the Almighty God. Anyone who knows the dalliance between corruption and theology and how politicians often invoke God to entrap the people will understand what effect Uzodinma was struggling to achieve. By the way, let us give kudos to President Bola Tinubu for suspending Edu and his decision to cut the long numbers in his and the entourage of other government officials. I am sure what did the magic of the reduction was the persistent and unrelenting criticism of the president over the disgusting optics of his recent visit to Lagos Island. Muhammadu Buhari ran a government that was dead to such nudges for eight years, retaining such governmental recidivists, in spite of their visibly known crimes. Tinubu should go a step further by throwing every corrupt government official under the bus. The next person to sack is Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo because what is sauce for the goose is also sauce for the gander. Edu, many government officials before her and several in this government have luxuriated for too long inside the sewers of over a century-old system of distribution of patrimonial wealth among selves and cronies. The time to break that chain is now. Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Raise your hand if you remember the Stinger missile. Keep your hands raised if the reason you remember the Stinger is from reading newspapers during the Reagan Administration and think of them as the missiles the mujahideen used to shoot down Soviet helicopters in Afghanistan. Yep. That's what I thought. But here's something that may surprise you: 35 years after the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan, the Stinger is making a comeback. And Raytheon is about to start making money selling Stinger missiles again. From Afghanistan to Ukraine This isn't exactly a new story. Ever since the renamed USSR -- Vladimir Putin's Russian Federation -- invaded Ukraine in 2022, NATO militaries have been hauling Stingers out of storage, dusting them off, and sending them to Ukraine. To date, some 2,000 Stingers have been donated to help with Ukraine's defense. But as the war drags on and stockpiles run low, the U.S. Pentagon is thinking the time is right to revive Stinger production -- not just for Ukraine, but for itself and its allies. In December, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency -- DSCA, the Pentagon arm that coordinates foreign military sales -- advised Congress that the U.S. State Department has approved a request by Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands to buy 940 new Stinger missiles. Assuming Congress approves the sale, RTX Corporation (NYSE: RTX) -- as Raytheon was recently renamed -- stands to reap hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from this sale. Restarting the Stinger RTX hasn't built new Stingers for 20 years. But as Defense One reported in June, after the Ukraine war started, the Pentagon asked it to restart production, ordering 1,700 modernized missiles to be produced by 2026. The new missiles will be upgraded FIM-92 "K" variant Stingers -- nine generations removed from the missiles used in the Soviet-Afghan war. Equipped with new proximity fuzes, the new Stingers will be able to engage 21st Century threats that didn't exist 40 years ago -- specifically, small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that are too small to "hit." Story continues They'll also be configured for firing from military vehicles, such as Humvees, and receive targeting data from their launchers en route. This is a crucial upgrade when tracking UAVs that put out little or no heat signature and might not be discoverable by "original recipe" Stingers, which were heat seekers. Who will build the Stingers? Here's where things get interesting (for investors). RTX has historically been the authorized manufacturer of the Stinger missile. But late last year, the U.S. Army awarded contracts to both RTX and its archrival in missile systems, defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), to develop an improved Stinger missile. In September last year, both RTX and Lockheed were awarded contracts for "upgrades and replacement" of the Stinger -- $418.3 million for Raytheon and $312 million for Lockheed Martin ($730.3 million in total). These contracts do not, however, appear to be related (at least not directly) to the sale that DSCA notified Congress about in December, which is worth $780 million in total. What's more, Aviation Week confirms that the total number of upgraded Stingers the Pentagon wants to buy could rise to 8,000 -- 8 1/2 times as many as described in the NATO sale. On the one hand, this probably comes as something of a disappointment for investors in RTX. The company isn't winning the Stinger contract all for itself but must split the sale with Lockheed. On the other hand, when viewed in light of the September 2023 contract, it turns out that eventual Stinger revenue could be bigger for both RTX and Lockheed -- as much as 8.5x bigger. How profitable is this for Raytheon? Let's not count all 8,000 of these "chickens" before the eggs have hatched. But even the $1.51 billion in contracts that have already been awarded are pretty significant. Assuming the same rough 57-43 split in contract value seen in the September contracts, $1.51 billion in total contracts should mean at least $865 million in incremental revenue for RTX. Will that be enough to move the needle for this defense stock? Raytheon Missiles & Defense, the RTX unit through which Stinger sales will run, is the company's second smallest business unit, with $14.9 billion in annual sales. However, it's also RTX's second biggest profits contributor, generating $1.5 billion in operating profits, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. So $865 million in sales at Raytheon Missiles & Defense averaging a 10.2% profit margin should mean about $88 million in incremental profits for RTX, or about $0.06 extra per share -- roughly 3% of an average year's profits for the company. Spread that out over three years from now to 2026, and that could be enough to grow Raytheon's annual earnings growth rate from the 11% it's currently expected to grow to, perhaps, 12%. It's not a huge amount, granted. But I believe it's big enough to move the needle on RTX stock. And if RTX gets an order for 8,000 more missiles, you can expect that needle to move even higher. Should you invest $1,000 in RTX right now? Before you buy stock in RTX, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and RTX wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than tripled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of January 8, 2024 Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Lockheed Martin and RTX. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Why Is Europe Buying 940 New Stinger Missiles From Raytheon? was originally published by The Motley Fool Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal in Plateau was rogue, procured and perverse. It set aside the reasoning of the Court, which denied the people their chosen representatives. But because the Court of Appeal is the final court in these matters, the decision of the Supreme Court is no remedy for the political ruin procured under the baleful influence of Monica Dongban-Mensem. Nearly one year after the country began voting in February last year, Nigerias Supreme Court is still casting the final votes in the 2023 elections. It has been a long, tortured and traumatic election season. First the people voted. Then the Independent National Election (INEC) decided what it announced as the results. By March last year, those two phases were done. Since then, judges have been casting their own votes and the courts have been busy announcing their own results. Last Friday, the Supreme Court affirmed seven governors as duly elected. In the cases concerning Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara states, the court overturned the Court of Appeal, which had sacked the governors. These governors ultimately survived because there was another instance after the Court of Appeal to which they could take their grievance. Many legislators, whose own cases must end at the Court of Appeal, were not so lucky. Kano, Plateau, and Zamfara are three highly flammable theatres. The final verdicts in these cases saved the country a lot of needless bloodletting. Plateau State has been the site of resilient atrocities for over three decades, since 1994. A vast number of inquiry reports into various massacres and atrocities in the state over this period attest to this. For the past decade, Zamfara has competed with Borno State for the prize of the most prolific killing field in Nigeria. Kano, the site of many eruptions since 1953, is the most densely populated state in Northern Nigeria and arguably also the countrys most politically volatile state. It was not in dispute who got the highest votes in these states in the 2023 elections. But, following the vote by the people in March last year, the Court of Appeal under the direction of Judge President, Monica Dongban-Mensem, decided to alter the outcomes in these cauldrons with casual malevolence. In Zamfara State, it purported to unseat the governor but did him the favour of ordering a rerun in three local government areas, which it voided. The courts perverse reason for this was that it was wrong for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to adopt results from the IReV, because IReV is not part of the collation system, but for viewing purposes. In Kano, the Court of Appeal issued a judgment in favour of both parties in the contest for the governorship of the state, claiming in one length to uphold the decision of the election petition tribunal invalidating the election of the incumbent on the slate of an opposition party, while in another breadth nullifying the same decision. In a reasoning that had the effect of overruling the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal implausibly held that the governor was not a member of the party that sponsored him in the Kano governorship election. The following year, Mr Lalong appointed Monicas daughter, Buetnaan Mandy Dongban Bassi, a judge of the High Court of Plateau State. Her mother sat on the National Judicial Council (NJC) which approved her appointment. Two years later, in September 2023, the same NJC sent Buetnaans husband and Monicas son-in-law, Paul, to the Court of Appeal. Plateau was the state where the Court of Appeal was most willful. It is also the state of origin of Judge President Monica Dongban-Mensem. Two days before her 63rd birthday, on 11 June 2020, Mrs Dongbam-Mensem became the seventh President of the Court of Appeal. At the time, the governor of the state was Simon Bako Lalong, a lawyer who, like Mrs Dongbam-Mensem, hails from Shendam in the Central Senatorial Zone of the Plateau State. The following year, Mr Lalong appointed Monicas daughter, Buetnaan Mandy Dongban Bassi, a judge of the High Court of Plateau State. Her mother sat on the National Judicial Council (NJC) which approved her appointment. Two years later, in September 2023, the same NJC sent Buetnaans husband and Monicas son-in-law, Paul, to the Court of Appeal. In his previous life as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Mr Lalong used to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when belonging to that party was fashionable. With impressive timing, however, he flipped to the All Progressives Congress (APC), becoming state governor on its platform in 2015. In the 2023 election, he was the Director-General of the presidential campaign of the ruling APC. In that election also, Mr Lalong, who was born nearly six years after Mrs Dongbam-Mensem in May 1963, ran on the platform of the APC to represent the people of Plateau Central in the Senate. If he had won, Mrs Dongban-Mensem would have been his constituent and confidant. They come from the same neighbourhood. In the event, he lost to Napoleon Bali of the PDP. Mr Lalong thereafter challenged his loss before the election petition tribunal. For parliamentary elections, all disputes end at the Court of Appeal. The Court sits in panels of three Justices designated by the President of the Court. In Plateau State, all appeals went to a panel presided over by Justice Oluwayemisi Williams-Dawodu, who has been a Justice of Appeal since March 2014. She was joined by Justice Abdulaziz Waziri, who was appointed to the court in 2021, and Okon Abang whose term on the court began only in October 2023. On 7 November, this Court of Appeal panel nullified the election of Senator Bali, claiming that the PDP and its Senatorial candidate have no legal ground to participate in the election having failed to obey the judgment of a Plateau High Court that the party should conduct lawful elections for the purpose of having officers for Wards, Local Governments and State Council. In his place, the court returned Simon Lalong as the winner of the election in which he had been roundly defeated. Lalong was one beneficiary among many from a judicial hit-list methodically compiled by the Court of Appeal in Monica Dongban-Mensems home state. By the time its demolition job was over, the Court had sacked two PDP Senators from the state and five members of the House of Representatives elected on the PDP ticket. In the 25-member state House of Assembly, the Court of Appeal removed 16 members elected on the platform of the PDP, handing their seats and control of the state parliament with malice aforethought to the APC. Such is the state of the judiciary in Nigeria at this time that the three-person panel whom Monica Dongban-Mensem sent to Plateau State could not have wrought that amount of destruction without her active consent, if not instruction. Their victims included: Timothy Datong (Riyom); Rimyat Nanbol (Langtang); Moses Sule (Mikang); Salome Waklek (Pankshin); Bala Fwangje (Mangu South); Maren Ishaku (Bokkos); Dagogot (Quaanpan North); Nannim Langyi (Langtang North); Nimchak Rims (Langtang South); Danjuma Azi (Jos North-West); Gwottson Fom (Jos South); Abubakar Sani Idris (Mangu North); Happiness Akawu (Pengana); Ibrahim Abalak (Rukuba/Irigwe); Philip Jwe (Barkin Ladi); and Cornelius Deyok (Quaapan South). In all these cases, the Court claimed that the PDP should not have fielded candidates. Their reasoning overruled a long line of Supreme Court decisions. This was not a mistake; it was judicial malpractice on a very corrupt scale. At the minimum, the panel should have been called to order when they issued the first decision. But the Judge President who sent them there was getting what she wanted. Instead, inebriated with hubris from the corrupt demolition job they accomplished in Jos, one of the members of the panel, Justice Abdulaziz Waziri, traveled to Yola in Adamawa State last December to celebrate the mandates they had laid to waste, claiming that the PDP had no structures on the ground at the point they were presenting their candidates. He alone could explain what he meant. This was a judicial hatchet job. Any claim that the President of the Court of Appeal was not herself a member of the Panel is laughable. Such is the state of the judiciary in Nigeria at this time that the three-person panel whom Monica Dongban-Mensem sent to Plateau State could not have wrought that amount of destruction without her active consent, if not instruction. It is simply inconceivable that a Justice of Appeal, like Okon Abang sworn in only in October 2023 could have gone to the home state of the President of the Court to confidently wreak so much political damage without her explicit instruction. Last Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the Court of Appeal in Plateau was rogue, procured and perverse. It set aside the reasoning of the Court, which denied the people their chosen representatives. But because the Court of Appeal is the final court in these matters, the decision of the Supreme Court is no remedy for the political ruin procured under the baleful influence of Monica Dongban-Mensem. The ruin caused and supervised by this President of the Court of Appeal is incalculable. The legislators whose mandates she has stolen are entitled to feel done over. The people of the Plateau whose will she has ruined are entitled to feel cheated. She and her cohort of carefully selected judicial mobsters have brought the judiciary into irreparable disrepute. Even now, those three Justices on the Plateau Court of Appeal panel should still be brought to account. While we await that, the only thing left to say to Mrs. Dongbam-Mensem is: in Gods name, please go! Chidi Anselm Odinkalu, a lawyer, teaches at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and can be reached through chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Nigeria is too weak to break. Who will break it? The ordinary person in Jigawa or the ordinary person in Sokoto or the ordinary person in Bayelsa? Is it the Igbo vulcaniser or the Yoruba woman selling kerosene by the roadside or the okada man in Delta? They dont have the capacity to unite because they are burdened by poverty. We have taken away from them their dignity, their self-esteem, their pride and self-worth so that they cannot even organise. Veteran politician Sule Lamido may not parade a chain of degrees, but he does appear to exercise his cerebral faculties admirably when trying to explain away the cul-de-sac to which he and his colleagues have transported Nigerians. This country, famed for having the happiest people on the planet, has always managed to step back each time it reaches the precipice. Optimists describe the phenomenon as resilience, while people like Lamido propound their own theory: that the weaponisation of poverty by the ruling class is a sure deterrent to revolts of any kind. Before you dismiss the theory offhand, consider his argument: Nigeria is too weak to break. Who will break it? The ordinary person in Jigawa or the ordinary person in Sokoto or the ordinary person in Bayelsa? Is it the Igbo vulcaniser or the Yoruba woman selling kerosene by the roadside or the okada man in Delta? They dont have the capacity to unite because they are burdened by poverty. We have taken away from them their dignity, their self-esteem, their pride and self-worth so that they cannot even organise. Elite Conspiracy He went further: Up there, we (the elite) unite We will never allow Nigeria to break because once it breaks, we will lose. But the common man loses nothing. What is he losing? He is already in hell; he cannot lose anything more than this hell. The former governor of Jigawa State admits that the political elite, of which he is a prominent member, has reduced the common man to a squalid state of wretchedness and mendicancy. We only need to recall the photographs of thousands of people queuing in front of the mansions of politicians for handouts during the end-of-year festivities to admit that Lamidos assertion is spot-on. People in search of stomach infrastructure cant muster enough energy to fight for their rights. Theyd rather go on their knees to pick the crumbs that fall from the tables of their political masters. When we see the ruling elite quarrelling among themselves and calling each other bad names, its all part of a game intended to fool the public. In reality, they are united in quietly sharing the loot and delivering little or no dividends to their various constituencies. They have a stake in keeping the country exactly as it is weak and confused and easy to exploit. Socrates considered democracy as a government by the mob that could be easily misled, by demagogues, leaders/representatives that manipulate the common people. In his view, selecting a government or running the affairs of state should be the work of specialists in that field who have the right knowledge and skill of interpreting who is the right leader/representative. Researchers will have to dig deeper to establish the nexus between the candid observations of a twenty-first century Sule Lamido and the worldview of the famed Greek philosopher, Socrates (c. 470399 BC). It was as if Socrates foresaw how democracy would be abused by our ruling elite. That must account for why he didnt think highly of a government of the people, for the people and by the people. Socratic Logic Socrates reasoning was simple: If you need any recommendation regarding your health, then you go and see a specialist, i.e., a doctor. If you need to get your shoe stitch, even then you need a shoe specialist. Similarly you need specialists for every work, whether it is big or as small as a shoe stitching. Then how can you say that choosing a government or regulating a state could be done by common people and not specialists? Giving a right to vote to every other citizen whether he/she is uneducated, uninformed, or could be manipulated easily by leaders, is thus not appropriate. Socrates considered democracy as a government by the mob that could be easily misled, by demagogues, leaders/representatives that manipulate the common people. In his view, selecting a government or running the affairs of state should be the work of specialists in that field who have the right knowledge and skill of interpreting who is the right leader/representative. He said common people dont have the intellectual tools to understand the indirect effects of complex processes of government and how the representatives manipulate them. So, they could support any person simply on the basis of emotions or their intuition. More often than not, theyll make the wrong choices. The ghost of Socrates haunted the public arena last week as mind-bending disclosures were made about how Ministers were playing Monopoly with billions of naira from the public till. At first, netizens said the figures were too elephantine to be true and that some mischievous people had added salt and pepper in their bid to demonise the public officers involved. Alas, everyones jaws fell to the floor when the dramatis personae, in their attempt to exculpate themselves, actually confirmed the horrendous details of their indiscretion. Corruption is a coup detat against public morality. It was not surprising therefore that the prompt manner in which the government isolated two of the principal actors attracted commendation from political leaders across the political divide. Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) supported the clampdown on those responsible for the scandal and urged the government to rein in all those involved. Perhaps, if we are still searching for an issue that could bind political leaders together across the aisle, the fight against corruption is a sure magnet. As a self confessed democrat, you wont hear me saying anything against democracy, except to plead that we continue to fine tune it to plug all the loopholes that democRATS, autocRATS and other RATS exploit to dig their incisors into the national pie. This is not the forum to debate why evil seems to always give good a black eye. But dont ever forget that the Arab Spring was ignited by the revolt of an unlikely Mohamed Bouazizi, a poor vendor! Rented Protesters As one revelation rolled over the other, the usual spectacle of supporters for hire hugged the public space. She is our highly respected daughter; she is being framed by those who are jealous of her achievements!, some whined. This is a plot against women. Why is the man involved not on suspension too?, others asked. Yet some others spun a tribal yarn: This is a calculated attempt to marginalise our geo-political zone! When the masses whose commonwealth is being frittered away by the privileged elite take to the streets in defence of the political leeches, then you know that the fire in Babylon was started by Babylonians themselves. It was Godwin Daboh who famously said that the reason for his anti-corruption stance, even though he was no saint himself, was that if we all continued to steal at the rate at which politicians of the Second Republic were alleged to be stealing, someday there would be nothing to steal again. In my cynical moments, I wonder if the statement ultimately means that we should not steal everything today so that those coming tomorrow will have something left to steal. And that reminds me of the childhood rhyme It rains on the just and the unjust fella But more on the just cause unjust stole his umbrella But I digress! Rats As a self confessed democrat, you wont hear me saying anything against democracy, except to plead that we continue to fine tune it to plug all the loopholes that democRATS, autocRATS and other RATS exploit to dig their incisors into the national pie. This is not the forum to debate why evil seems to always give good a black eye. But dont ever forget that the Arab Spring was ignited by the revolt of an unlikely Mohamed Bouazizi, a poor vendor! As for Socrates, his prediction is pretty grim: Democracy must fall because it will try to tailor to everyone: The poor will want the wealth of the rich, and democracy will give it to them. Young people will want to be respected as elderly, and democracy will give it to them. Women will want to be like men, and democracy will give it to them. Foreigners will want the rights of the natives and democracy will give it to them. Thieves and fraudsters will want important government functions, and democracy will give it to them. And at that time, when thieves and fraudsters finally, and democratically take authority; because criminals and evil doers want power, there will be worse dictatorship than in the time of any monarchy or oligarchy. Me? I say, God forbid! Wole Olaoye is a public relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print You betrayed Him when you found it easier to trample on His word, rather than trembling for His word. You betrayed Him when you held the words of man with so much respect, but treated His words with so much disdain. You betrayed Him when you became so much in love with the things of God, than the God of the things. You betrayed Him when you were willing and ready to trade your loyalty for truth for the defence of men, positions, and financial benefits. In the days leading up to the Battle of Britain, days of national trepidation for the people of Great Britain, when the Nazis were finalising the flagging off of their bombing campaign against the city of London, Winston Churchill summoned his generals to his office to test their loyalty. He asked them a rhetorical question, Can you betray your country for one pound? One of them responded, Who do you think I am? Then Winston Churchill raised the stake, Can you betray your country for one million pounds? There was a silence. Winston Churchill sighed and said, I already know who you are. Its all about the price. Betrayers trade in the marketplace of compromise. Its all about the stake the what is in it for me? generation. The higher the stakes, the easier the fall. No one has been betrayed by the church like the Lord Jesus. He has been betrayed by the young. He has been betrayed by the old. Pastors have betrayed Him. Apostles have betrayed Him. Bishops have betrayed Him. Evangelists have betrayed Him. Teachers have betrayed Him. He is the worlds all-time victim of needless betrayals by the same people He suffered so much to save from the death trap of sin and eternal judgement. You betrayed Him when you found it easier to trample on His word, rather than trembling for His word. You betrayed Him when you held the words of man with so much respect, but treated His words with so much disdain. You betrayed Him when you became so much in love with the things of God, than the God of the things. You betrayed Him when you were willing and ready to trade your loyalty for truth for the defence of men, positions, and financial benefits. You betrayed Him when rather than waiting for Him to grow your church to His desired capacity and will for your life, you patronised secret societies for church growth rituals. You betrayed Him when rather than standing behind Him to defend His words and His values, you stood behind men who downgraded His words. You betrayed Him when rather than holding on to His finished works on the cross, you cheaply fell for the patronage of the devil and his agents for additional support. You betrayed Him when rather than working hard and waiting on Him for your desired blessings, you compromised your values to loot, steal, and manipulate others to enrich yourself. You betrayed Him when rather than waiting for Him to grow your church to His desired capacity and will for your life, you patronised secret societies for church growth rituals. You betrayed Him when rather than standing behind Him to defend His words and His values, you stood behind men who downgraded His words. You betrayed Him when rather than standing for the scripture, you stood for culture. You betrayed Him when rather than standing for the sanctity and sanity of His marriage principles, you pitched your tent with those who join men with men and women with women. You betrayed Him when rather than working for the good of the entire body of Christ, your primary pre-occupation was to build your personal empire. You betrayed Him when rather than living a life that builds bridges in the body of Christ, you have lived to build walls of division as long as those walls advanced your personal agendas. You betrayed Him when you made idols out of the blessings He gave you. You betrayed Him when money became your pursuit and Christ became your spare tire. I am calling on you to collapse all the walls of the flesh and start building spiritual bridges. How could you start in the spirit and end up in the flesh? I will not enlist betrayers in my end time army. Rise up. Wake up. Come back. You are my bride and I love you so dearly. My arms are still wide opened. Betrayals! Betrayals! Betrayals! Everywhere, there are betrayals. My beautiful bride, why will you continue to betray my love and sacrifice for you? Upon all I did for you, is this how you wish to pay me back?, says the Lord. I am a lamb. But I am also a lion. I am full of mercy. But I am also full of judgement. With my loving arms I am waiting to have you back. I am calling on you to turn your backs at the mundane things that stole your hearts away from me. I am calling on you to embrace my love. I am calling on you to collapse all the walls you have built and to start building the bridges of truth and love for this generation and the coming ones. I am calling on you to collapse all the walls of the flesh and start building spiritual bridges. How could you start in the spirit and end up in the flesh? I will not enlist betrayers in my end time army. Rise up. Wake up. Come back. You are my bride and I love you so dearly. My arms are still wide opened. But it wont remain like this for ever; and when I close up my arms, it will be too late for mercy. Ayo Akerele, a leadership and system development strategist, and minister of the word, writes from Canada and can be reached through ayoakerele2012@gmail.com. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print This week we woke up to a massive scandal instigated by the BBC documentary released in three parts. The accusations are so weighty that they could have consequences on the Nigerian nation. There are dead people involved and from other nations too. This is the reason Im writing this appeal to the Nigerian government. If the government doesnt investigate the allegations the victims or the foreign governments could raise a court case against the Federal Government Of Nigeria. That is not my focus in this article Apart from the foreign concern something must be done about this situation also for the case of those Nigerians who have suffered and died through the activities of such religious organizations like that of T.B Joshua. The truth is that similar crimes are going on daily in Nigeria, when our citizens are losing their lives on daily basis. There are court cases in court and in police stations all across Nigeria that had been instigated against T.B Joshua and his synagogue church, most especially in Lagos state. Those cases are still hanging without a solution or justice to the victims. I dont believe there remains anyone in Nigeria who has not yet witnessed the excess of religious organisations exploiting and abusing parishioners under their care. Mr Jim Osayande Obazee, the Executive Secretary of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC) in December 2012 announced that the FRC had designed an accounting system for churches, mosques and other not-for-profit organisations that would compel them to report their financial transactions periodically from January 2013. To achieve this objective, he unveiled the Statement of Accounting Standards (SAS) 32 which stipulates that the financial statements of such organisations shall include Statement of Accounting Policies, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Activities (income and expenditure), Statement of Changes in Net Assets, Statement of Cash flows, Notes on Accounts and Five-year Financial Summary. He also tried to introduce accountability to religious organisations by proposing for founders of churches to have a time limit to their leadership, similar to what was successfully executed with other professional and charitable organizations that have to do with public trust and money. According to Jim Obazee in his own words Mosques and orthodox churches freely complied, but those Pentecostal churches called me to ask questions. They said this church is church of God and we are accountable to God. And I told them: Very good, so you must take this church to heaven, you cant operate it here. When public funds are involved, government needs to ensure proper accountability These churches didnt stop until they got Obazee sacked. This is how the recklessness of these one man show churches continued unabated until the building collapsed in the synagogue and in another church in the south/ south of the nation leading to a huge loss of innocent lives. Religious organisations in Nigeria can no more continue to operate without a supervision and government oversight like in all advanced countries. Right now its impossible to ensure accountability through CAN or PFN because every church claims to be independent so they are gods to themselves. I am therefore using this avenue to appeal to the Federal Government Of Nigeria and especially to President Tinubu to reconvene the committee to regulate religious activities and put it under Jim Obazee because he knows what to do. Obazee needs to finish the work he started. Below Im offering my suggestions on how to clean up the religious mess in Nigeria. This is coming from my nearly 40 years of experience living in Europe. Im using the one man churches as my basis for judgement especially since Obazee confessed that the mosques and orthodox churches are ready to cooperate with the government in this regard. So how do we clean up the religious mess in Nigeria? We need a government intervention and regulations in religious affairs in Nigeria asap especially thanks to the corrupt practices of Pentecostal and prosperity gospel merchants Here is a rather comprehensive guide: Pastors and imams must have minimum qualifications and experience set by law before they are allowed to practice. Religious leaders must be checked that they dont have any past criminal records, its not enough to simply say they are born again or changed. Too many predators are entering into the pulpits with bad intentions on gullible people. Religious leaders from other countries must be checked by submitting their papers and biometrics to Interpol. Too many criminals are trying to escape justice by disguising as missionaries same is true of boco haram terrorists. No pastor, imam or church officials shall provide counseling services unless they have a degree in guidance and counseling or psychology or psychiatry from an accredited university and duly certified by the appropriate agency of government. This would reduce the number of women men and children raped trafficked and pimped by Pastors. Churches and mosques should be classified as charities and nonprofit organizations with regular reports to the government of their charity and finances. Churches and other religious organizations should not be used as cover for tax evasion or avoidance. They shouldnt be owning fuel stations, banks, shopping malls, hotels, printing press, fee paying universities, schools, etc. only their subsidiaries and affiliates can and they must not be tax exempt. All money transactions of churches and mosques should be under surveillance and investigations when necessary to ensure they are not being used as cover for money launder wire fraud lottery scam mail fraud drug trafficking codeine trafficking and other illegal activities. To sell food and drinks in the church the people involved must be certified to do so. Including the bread and wine for communion must meet the health standards of the land. This will help avoid food poisoning in the places of worship and even death. Some so called churches are actually placing codeine, drugs and narcotics in members drinks, food and even communion to create a mass feeling of being in the spirit, deliverance and healing. Churches and religious leaders should be prohibited from promising multiplication and increase of money just by giving money to the church or pastors. They should also be banned from issuing threats, curses to members who dont give. All sorts of scams in the name of religion and God should be stopped. Like prophecy scam, miracle scam, wealth covenant scam, tithe for wealth scam should all be seen as offense. Private jets and other ostentatious lifestyle commodities should be probed if they are coming from the offerings or legitimate businesses. If from offerings that should be viewed as punishable offense, with taxes paid. Medical certification and proofs should be provided before miracles could be advertised on media by medical authorities of the land. Churches and religious leaders should not be allowed to prescribe medicines or medical solutions like asking people to drink anointing oil, holy water, mantle or other witchcraft paraphernalia for healing and medical solutions. Children should be prohibited from going through deliverance services and procedures or prosecution should follow. Board of trustees must not consist of relatives and family members. Assets cannot be acquired using tithes, offerings and donations in the name of pastors and relatives. Pastors and head of religious organizations should retire as regular civil servants at the age of 60-65 years. Churches and other registered religious entities should not be handed over to family members let them go start their own churches. Annual reports and audited financial statements must be filed with the relevant government agencies, and posted on the churches notice board and website. Salaries of religious leaders and staff members should be made available and verifiable by auditors, accountants and church members. If a church doesnt spend fifty percent of its income on charity they should be taxed and made accountable. Churches must comply with the laws of the land. Especially in regulations relating to building, fire, water, zoning, sewage, bathroom facilities, parking, noise pollution, garbage disposal, etc. Churches should be warned against abusive practices against citizens. Especially in deliverance services, or practices that could hurt people physically, emotionally, and psychologically. These should be punishable offenses by law. May Nigeria succeed and may all her enemies live long to witness it. Sunday Adelaja is a Nigeria born leader, transformation strategist, pastor and innovator. He was based in Kiev Ukraine. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Governor Hyacinth Alia has appealed to the kidnappers of the Caretaker Chairman, Ukum Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, Gideon Haanongon, and three others, to release them unconditionally. Mr Alia made the appeal on Saturday, during a funeral oration for Ter (paramount ruler) Katsina-Ala, Fezanga Wombo, at the Akume Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala LGA of the State. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Haanongon, his orderly, driver and personal assistant were kidnapped in the early hours of Saturday, while on their way to attend the funeral ceremony of the late traditional ruler. The governor called for the immediate release of the kidnapped chairman and those with him. He said that his administration was ready to engage the youths to be useful in society if they refrained from criminal activities. He decried the spate of killings and kidnappings in the area by bandits and warned that his administration would not condone such nefarious acts. Mr Alia called on both serving and former lawmakers, as well as other prominent sons of Sankara, to convene an emergency meeting to proffer lasting solutions to the insecurity in the area. He assured that their recommendations would be implemented immediately when forwarded to him. The governor also urged traditional leaders in the area to put heads together to proffer lasting solutions to the challenges bedevilling the area, saying that his administration was determined to ensure that peace returned not only to Logo, Ukum and Katsina-Ala LGAs but to the entire state. Mr Alia commiserated with the family of the late Mr Wombo over the demise of their father and urged them to be consoled by the fact that he lived a fulfilled life. Earlier, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, called for collective responsibility to move the state forward. Represented by Jack Gyado, Mr Akume called on all Sankara sons to ensure peace returned to the area. The SGF pledged the federal governments commitment to ensuring that there was peace in Benue for efficient development. A former governor of Benue, Gabriel Suswam, also tasked the people of Sankara with peace and unity. Mr Suswam said it was time for the Sankara community to be sanitised from all forms of criminality for people to exercise their fundamental human rights of free movement from one place to another. The senator also said the area, known as the food hub of the state, needed peace to ensure its return to agricultural activities, grow the states economy and enhance Nigerias GDP. Also, the Bishop of Katsina-Ala Diocese, Most Rev. Isaac Dugu, in his sermon, called on the Benue people to intensify prayers for the state, the governor and Mr Sankara. In his remarks, a son of the deceased, Solomon Wombo, a lawmaker representing Katsina-Ala, Ukum and Logo Federal Constituency, appealed for peace in the constituency. NAN reports that Sankara, which comprises Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala LGAs, is the constituency of the late Terwase Akwaza, aka Gana, the kidnapping kingpin. The area is yet to have peace even after his death. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute on the release of Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi earlier today from prison in Tehran. Both women were the 2023 John Aubuchon Press Freedom Honorees (International). "We are overjoyed to hear the news that Niloofar and Elaheh have been released on bail and have walked out of Evin prison. Neither should have been charged, convicted, or imprisoned for doing their jobs as journalists. Their coverage of the death of Masha Amini showed the world the brutality of Iran's morality police. While this made them heroes to Iranian people, they were unjustly convicted on false charges and sentenced to at least 12 years. They were released on bail and we are awaiting details on the conditions of their release. In November, 2023, the Club honored these two journalists at the annual Fourth Estate Gala. Club member Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post accepted the award on their behalf and gave a moving tribute as a central part of the program. The Washington Post ran a full-page ad to highlight the Aubuchon honorees (also including Evan Gershkovich of the Wall Street Journal.) We are so pleased that 50 days later they walked out of prison. Rezaian himself was an Aubuchon honoree back in 2015 and was held 544 days in Evin prison prior to his release in 2016. We look forward to welcoming Nilfoor and Elaheh to the Press Club in the future. Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every major journalism organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged, global citizenry through a free and independent press and programs and trainings. NPCJI is the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534 for the National Press Club SOURCE National Press Club WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the marking of 100 days of the Israel-Hamas war and the urgent need to protect the journalists trying to cover it. "We mourn the loss of at least 82 journalists killed since the Israel-Hamas war began Oct. 7. The overall death toll in this conflict is devastating, and includes 75 Palestinian, 4 Israeli, and 3 Lebanese journalists and media workers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The working press in Gaza face great risks every day as they bravely cover the conflict and inform the world about the deadly fighting and its aftermath, including disrupted communications, supply shortages, and extensive power outages. "The National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute call on the Israel Defense Forces to do everything in its power to avoid further journalist casualties. Journalists are not combatants and must be protected." Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. With 3,000 members representing nearly every leading news organization, the Club is a leading voice for press freedom worldwide. The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through a free and independent press and through programs and trainings. NPCJI is the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club. Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-662-7534, for the National Press Club SOURCE National Press Club NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT) between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important January 29, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased ChargePoint 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 ChargePoint class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20727 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 January 29, 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. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ChargePoint was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation direct current ("DC") charging products; (2) as a result, ChargePoint was likely to incur impairment charges; (3) as a result of the foregoing, ChargePoint's profitability would be adversely impacted; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about ChargePoint's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the ChargePoint class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=20727 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. L-R: Emmanuel Macron, Gabriel Attal, Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen Leaders who have left their mark on France mostly did so while young. From Joan of Arc to Napoleon Bonaparte, the common factor has always been youth. The key players in the French Revolution Danton, Robespierre, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette were all guillotined in their thirties. So in one sense it should not have been a surprise that Emmanuel Macron, himself the youngest French head of state since Napoleon, should now have appointed Gabriel Attal as the youngest Prime Minister in French history. With this bold gesture, it is no exaggeration to say that Macron has anointed his heir apparent. Attal is now, to all intents and purposes, the dauphin of France. His main task will be to stave off the rise of the nationalist Right, now on the march across a European continent gripped by border anxiety. But the world will also be watching to see whether the new government in Paris will bring France back into alignment with Washington, London and the Anglophone powers, or continue to pursue Macrons course of Gaullist isolationism, dressed up in European rhetoric. At just 34, with less than a years experience in a high-level cabinet job as education minister, Attal is an audacious choice to run the government. So is the appointment of Stephane Sejourne as foreign minister. At 38 he too is unusually young for such a senior post. Sejourne was the general secretary of Macrons party, now known as Renaissance, but he has no track record in foreign affairs. What is more, until two years ago Sejourne and Attal were in a civil union. France has never had an openly gay Prime Minister or Foreign Minister before. Now it has both and the former couple will have to work together as colleagues. Macron loves to be audacious. In a tweet, he reminded Attal that audacity was the spirit of 2017, when he swept to power. Cher @GabrielAttal, je sais pouvoir compter sur votre energie et votre engagement pour mettre en uvre le projet de rearmement et de regeneration que jai annonce. Dans la fidelite a lesprit de 2017 : depassement et audace. Au service de la Nation et des Francais. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 9, 2024 Now the President has rejuvenated his flagging administration with a younger generation, a new band of brothers. He wants his new Prime Minister to help him return to the motto of Danton the revolutionary: De laudace, encore de laudace, et toujours de laudace! (Audacity, more audacity, and ever more audacity!). Like so many political careers in Western democracys very recent past, Attals took off during the pandemic. As the Presidents spokesman at a time when an anxious nation was glued to its screens, Attal came across as articulate, robust and good-looking an instant hit with the French public. Attal has said many times that he owes everything to Emmanuel Macron, but it would be more accurate to say that he owes at least as much to Macrons wife Brigitte. The French do not officially recognise the office of First Lady, but nobody doubts that Mme Macron wields huge influence, especially in her own field of education. Story continues Brigitte Macron has worked closely with her husband's protege Gabriel Attal - JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images She worked closely with Attal during her husbands first term when the young protege was made a junior schools minister and then, last year, put in charge of education, the largest department in the government. Inevitably, Brigitte Macrons enemies have become his enemies, too but so have her admirers and allies. Indeed, Attal is the political son that the Macrons never had together. As a President who will already have served two terms by the time the 2027 election arrives, Macron cannot stand again; hence he has been searching for a successor who will safeguard his legacy. In Gabriel Attal, Emmanuel and Brigitte have found their angel. Attal wasted no time in making an impact at education, notably by tackling bullying (from which he had suffered as a boy) and by banning the abaya from schools. This long, loose-fitting Islamic garment is popular among Muslim girls, but it flies in the face of the doctrine of laicite or secularism that requires schools to prohibit religious symbols and dress. On multiculturalism, immigration and terrorism, Attal will take no prisoners. For a man who originally hails from the Left he began life as an activist in the now moribund Socialist Party he has remarkably few inhibitions about cracking down on Islamists. He is adept at wooing the bourgeoisie and the working-class conservatives who worry that France is losing its identity. Yet this son of a Tunisian Jewish father and a Greco-Russian Orthodox mother is no stranger to the cosmopolitan yet culturally contested capital that Paris has become. Attals meteoric rise through the French meritocracy matches that of Macron, but he seems less conventional. Among the intellectual and social snobs of the Parisian elite, the new Prime Minister is something of an outsider. His Judaeo-Christian background is more reminiscent of Nicolas Sarkozy, but with one crucial difference: unlike the former President, with his celebrity spouse Carla Bruni, Gabriel Attal is openly gay. In France, this is still much more of a problem for a politician than it would be in the UK. A decade ago, the legalisation of same-sex marriage was fiercely resisted there, and only forced through by the Socialists in the teeth of huge protests led by the Catholic Church. It has never been accepted by the socially conservative hinterland of la France profonde. Stephane Sejourne will work alongside his former civil partner Attal as Frances foreign minister - Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP Attal knows that he will have to rewrite the rules or face humiliation. With Attal installed at the venerable Matignon, Sejourne takes over at the equally hallowed Foreign Ministry, the Quai dOrsay. The two political high-flyers lived in a civil partnership for about seven years. They impressed many by insisting on being treated exactly like any other couple at official events and in the media. Not everyone likes the self-assured style of Attal and Sejourne, but the formers dizzy ascent seems to prove the adage that what does not kill you makes you stronger. Bullied at school, mocked by rivals, he now has the last laugh. On his appointment to the Matignon (the PMs official residence), Attal tweeted that his mission was to keep control of our destiny, liberate French potential and rearm our country. To British ears, this language reminds us of the Brexiteer slogan Take back control, but the invocation of destiny is very French. Napoleon was fond of such talk for example, when warning against too much caution: The torment of precautions often exceeds the dangers to be avoided. It is sometimes better to abandon oneself to destiny. 34-year-old Attal replaced Elisabeth Borne as prime minister last week - Antoine Gyori - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images Attals focus on defence is significant, because it is here that Macron has failed to offer strong leadership not only to France but to Europe. His dismissal of Nato as brain dead damaged the alliance in the eyes of its adversary, Vladimir Putin. And since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Macron has sent conflicting signals to Moscow and Kyiv. Though he has offered fine words of encouragement to Volodymyr Zelensky, French military support for the Ukrainian war effort has fallen far short of that of Germany and the UK. Macron has evidently ordered Attal to embark on an ambitious programme of French rearmament. But on Ukraine? Silence. There is potential for tension here. Attal may share Macrons desire to emulate the great wartime and postwar leader General de Gaulle by seeking to restore French military gloire. Yet the leader of the supposedly strongest military power in the EU still nurses a grudge over his exclusion from the AUKUS submarine deal and Five Eyes intelligence sharing between the Anglophone nations. With Putin imperilling not only Ukraine but Europe from the Black Sea to the Baltic, this is no time for Macrons posturing and resentment. Attal and Sejourne are quite intelligent enough to see that, far from restoring respect for France, their patron has sown distrust, undermining the Atlantic alliance in favour of the chimera of a European army. Macron has squandered a unique opportunity, after the retirement of Angela Merkel, to show Europe and America what true leadership looks like. Instead, it was Boris Johnson, in the early days after the Russian invasion, who rallied support for Ukraine and was the first to visit Kyiv. Putins propaganda machine now falsely claims that the British PM stopped Zelensky from accepting a Russian peace offer in April 2022. At the time, Macron was still talking to Putin. Last month he again left his door open: if Putin were to ring with a peace offer, Ill take the call. Like his role model De Gaulle, Macron deludes himself that he can stand apart from Nato and play the honest broker with the Kremlin. There is a risk, though, that he is seen as what Lenin used to call a useful idiot. Macron met Putin in person shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine - KREMLIN POOL/SPUTNIK/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Whatever Attal may think privately, foreign affairs and war are unlikely to come between him and Macron, for the simple reason that French prime ministers have very little control over them. Under the constitution introduced by De Gaulle in 1958, national security and foreign policy are the prerogative of the executive presidency. In practice, the French president not only appoints the Prime Minister, but uses him or her as a shield. After PMs have taken the flak for unpopular presidential policies, they are ruthlessly dumped just as Macron has discarded Elisabeth Borne, whose prestige never recovered from mass protests against his pension reform. Surviving at the Matignon while obeying the Elysee is such a thankless task that hitherto only two prime ministers of the Fifth Republic have ever gone on to become President: Georges Pompidou and Jacques Chirac. If Attal is to join this select group, he will need to convince Macron of his tireless devotion. The hyperactive president has always enjoyed watching his courtiers competing for his favour. Like Louis XIV, he expects to dominate culture and society no less than politics and diplomacy. The Sun King was only 16 when he told the Parliament in Paris: LEtat cest moi a sentiment certainly shared by Jupiter Macron. In a scene from his novel Serotonin set in 2017, Frances leading writer, Michel Houellebecq, was struck by the almost unbearable energy emanating from La Republique En Marche the new centrist party that was propelling Macron into the presidency. Exhilarated by all this energy, Attal made his name as a spokesman for En Marche and in office he has kept up his frenetic workrate. But there may come a point when the master begins to see the apprentice as a threat. A striking recent example of this phenomenon was the relationship between Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak. They got on famously at first, with dishy Rishi as the munificent Covid chancellor playing second fiddle to Boris. Once Sunaks popularity overtook that of the PM, by now mired in Partygate, relations quickly soured. The brew of ambition, envy and testosterone is a combustible one. The age gap between Attal and Macron (12 years) is not dissimilar to that between Sunak and Johnson (16 years). If the polarity between Elysee and Matignon follows the same pattern as that between Numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street, we can expect to see signs of rivalry within two years or even sooner, given that Attal is already much more popular than Macron. But the case of Rishi Sunak is also a reminder that, having ousted the person to whom one owes everything, it becomes much harder to remain popular. Sunak is now almost as disliked by voters as Boris Johnson was at his nadir. How long will the mini-Macron be content to languish in the shade? Far from his stardust rubbing off on the president, the new darling of the chic set may eclipse the ageing matinee idol. What then? A much more immediate threat to both men, however, comes from the nationalist Right, in the shape of Marine Le Pen and her right-hand man, Jordan Bardella. Attal is Macrons answer to the emergence of Bardella as President of the National Rally. At 28, this scion of poor Italian immigrants is even younger than Attal; he certainly had a much less privileged start in life. Bardella started a degree at the Sorbonne, but dropped out to campaign for the party he had joined aged 16 and was then still called the National Front. Jordan Bardella has proven an adept right-hand man for Marine Le Pen - Chesnot/Getty Images Not for him the ivory tower of Sciences Po, the grande ecole for future mandarins and politicians, including Attal. Having grown up in one of the banlieues, Bardella proved himself adept at weaponising issues arising from these grim council housing estates that surround Paris and other cities. After the city of Trappes elected a Muslim mayor, Bardella called it an Islamic republic and shrugged off a subsequent prosecution. After a rapid rise through the European Parliament he became Marine Le Pens deputy. While she stood for the presidency in 2022, he took over the party. Having lost twice to Macron, Le Pen might be forgiven for harbouring mixed feelings towards the National Rallys young pretender, but so far he has shown no sign of wanting to challenge her supremacy. Le Pens loathing of her family particularly her father Jean-Marie and her niece Marion Marechal, who leads Reconquest, her own even more extreme party far outweighs any jealousy she might feel toward her young protege. As for Attal and Bardella: their rivalry is about to become much more intense. This coming June they will face each other in the European elections, which will decide whether the balance of power in the EU is tilting decisively towards the nationalist Right. In the contest between the grandes ecoles and the university of life, Attal now has his hands on the levers of power, but Bardella can claim to be winning the battle of ideas. Slowly but surely, Macron is gravitating towards the nationalist ideology a Gallic version of Make America Great Again. Last month, with Macrons blessing, the National Assembly passed an immigration bill which for the first time enshrined in French law the principle of national preference in housing and welfare, privileging French citizens over foreigners, while also cracking down on illegal migrants. Bardella has taken credit for this law, claiming with some justice that it would never have passed without the National Rallys relentless championing of national preference against the Lefts accusations of racism and xenophobia. Unless Attal can reverse present trends, the National Rally is on course to win the largest vote in the European election, eclipsing Macrons Renaissance. That would boost Marine Le Pens chances at the next presidential election in 2027. Even sooner than that, Bardella could replace Attal in the Matignon. With Renaissance lacking a majority in the National Assembly, there is speculation that Macron could call an early parliamentary election in the hope of breaking the deadlock. But if the National Rally were to win such an election, Bardella could find himself as Prime Minister in a cohabitation arrangement with Macron as happened in 1986-88, when the Gaullist Jacques Chirac was PM under the Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. The resurgence of the French nationalists would be less alarming if they had made a more convincing attempt to detoxify their brand as, for example, Giorgia Meloni has done with her Brothers of Italy. The National Front may now call itself the National Rally, but it cannot escape from its long history of nostalgia for Vichy France, of implacable hostility to the Muslim minority and of deep-seated anti-Semitism. The wave of attacks on French Jews during the present Israel-Gaza war prompted Bardella in a TV interview to defend his partys founder. Jean-Marie Le Pen, he said, was no anti-Semite, despite having been convicted and fined for such comments as dismissing the gas chambers as a detail of history or the Nazi occupation as not particularly inhumane. Parisians with a banner reading We march against anti-Semitism after a surge in attacks across France - THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images Bardella himself is no anti-Semite; indeed, he made it clear that for me, the Shoah [Holocaust] is not a detail of history. But it wont have been lost on the half-Jewish Attal that his chief adversary in the European election has made a point of defending a veteran apologist for Vichy, which collaborated with Nazis and deported French Jews to death camps. Most worryingly, Le Pen and the National Rally are firmly in the European nationalist Rights pro-Putin camp. In the 2022 presidential TV debate, Macron alluded to the Rallys Russian loan when he told Le Pen that you are talking to your banker when she spoke to the Kremlin. Although that loan has now been paid off, there is growing evidence that the National Rally has acted as what a parliamentary inquiry called a drivebelt for Moscow. Bardella has tried to limit the damage by conceding that his party had shown a collective naivete about Vladimir Putins intentions. But there is no evidence that the party has changed. When the Washington Post ran an investigation into Russian political interference in France, a National Rally spokesman took refuge in a conspiracy theory, dismissing its damning conclusions as the work of a cabal. In the past week, Anglo-American forces launched coordinated attacks on the Yemen-based Houthi pirates who have been preying on shipping in the Red Sea. But French warships and aircraft were nowhere to be seen in this operation, despite the fact that they maintain a presence in the region. The French absence speaks volumes about the Macron administrations dereliction of its duty to defend Western values and interests notably the rule of law, not only on the high seas, but also in Ukraine and Israel. Macron has made little effort to persuade his EU partners to hand over a package of 50bn (43bn) to Kyiv. Without US and EU aid, Zelensky warned this week, Ukraine cannot win. Will the dynamic duo of Attal and Sejourne persuade Macron that the West cannot afford France to be its weakest link? It seems unlikely. But if these three musketeers of the liberal elite are running scared, not only will history judge them harshly: French voters may do so too. 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. Aden, Jan 14 : A Houthi official has said that the US and UK forces flew spy drones "for hours" over the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, where conflicting reports of a new airstrike emerged. Ali Ahmed Kashar, the Houthi Deputy Governor of Hodeidah, told Xinhua news agency by phone that his group saw more spy drones over the city from early Saturday morning to evening. He also denied reports from local and international media over new airstrikes on Houthi sites in Hodeidah. Earlier, local media said that a navy base near the port was hit by US-led coalition planes. Residents told the news agency they heard loud explosions and ambulance sirens. They also said the Houthis deployed heavily in Hodeidah neighbourhoods after the blast. The Houthi official made no comments on the explosions. The Houthis have reportedly used the Ras Kutheb base to attack commercial and military ships in the vital maritime region. Hodeidah, on the Red Sea coast, is a strategic city with one of Yemen's largest ports. The Houthis have controlled Hodeidah since 2014, and the port is a lifeline for humanitarian aid and commercial supplies entering Yemen. Earlier Saturday, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg urged all parties to show restraint amid a dangerous escalation in regional tensions. On Friday, the US and UK launched strikes on Houthi targets in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa and other areas. The strikes were in response to the Houthis' attacks in the Red Sea on what they called "Israeli-linked ships" to pressure Israel to stop its assaults in the Gaza Strip. The civil war in Yemen has raged since 2015, causing one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing famine. Dar Es Salaam, Jan 14 : At least 21 miners were killed and several others were missing after a gold mine collapsed following a heavy downpour in northern Tanzania's Simiyu Region, said Yahaya Nawanda, regional commissioner of Simiyu Region. Nawanda told Xinhua news agency over the phone on Saturday night that efforts to recover more bodies suspected to have been trapped in the collapsed mine in Bariadi District were being hampered by ongoing heavy rains. "Rescue work has been stopped for some time because of the rains," the official said. The mine collapsed at 5:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, burying the miners whose exact number has not been established. He said most of the victims were young people between the ages of 25 and 35. Washington, Jan 14 : US climate envoy John Kerry is reportedly planning to step down from his role and work on President Joe Biden's re-election campaign. 80-year-old Kerry, President Biden's special envoy for climate, plans to step down by spring, ending a three-year run in a major diplomatic role that was created especially for him and which will face an uncertain future with his departure, The New York Times reported. He led the US negotiating team through three United Nations climate summits, reasserting American leadership after the country withdrew from the Paris climate agreement during the Trump administration. Kerry championed cooperation on global warming between the US and China, the worldas two largest polluters, during times of tension, the media outlet reported. As Secretary of State under former President Barack Obama, Kerry was key to brokering the crucial 2015 Paris climate agreement. That deal saw nearly the whole world for the first time support a common strategy to cut the greenhouse gas emissions which cause global warming, the BBC reported. Pratapgarh, Jan 14 : In a seemingly bizarre request, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh has sought permission to hurl abuses at a newspaper for "two hours". The man made the request after an article in the newspaper alleged his involvement in land grabbing. In a letter addressed to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Prateek Sinha said that he wanted to be allowed for two hours outside the newspaper office with a mic. He was referred to as a "land mafia" in a news article published in the newspaper, and thus he expressed his eagerness to hurl abuses after having sent them a defamation notice. In the letter to the authorities, Sinha mentioned that a bulldozer action was taken on his land on January 9 "without any reason". Following this, as per the letter, the newspaper called him "a mafia". He has alleged that the piece in the newspaper lacked evidence and defamed his reputation. "In opposition to the same (article), I seek permission for January 15 at 12:00 p.m. to abuse the bureau chief and the reporter for two hours," the letter read. Interestingly, in the request letter, the person took a moment to clarify that he would not resort to violence or threats. He said, "And, I want to assure you (the SDM) that despite great urge, the applicant will not thrash them (newspaper agency) with shoes or threaten them." There was no comment on the request from the concerned officials. Greater Noida, Jan 14 : As the price of land shoots up around Jewar airport in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Budh Nagar, the land mafia and scammers are getting active. The latest case came to light after the Sector-63 Noida police arrested a man on January 12 for embezzling Rs 24 crore in the name of selling land near Jewar airport. The accused has been identified as 32-year-old Aqil, a resident of Rabupura n Jewar tehsil. The search for 15 other accused in this case is going on. The accused had defrauded many people by preparing fake and forged land documents. The police said that the accused had defrauded four people from Noida and Ghaziabad to the tune of Rs 24 crore in the name of getting land. In the complaint, victim Gaurav Sharma said that he does business with Gopesh Rohatgi, Yatish Aggarwal and Shilpi Aggarwal. In early 2022, all four met Sachin Bhati and Ravindra Sharma. Both of them claimed to be members of big landlords and political families of Jewar. They introduced the four people to other people and claimed that they had a large piece of aaagricultural land near the under-construction airport in Jewar. The accused said that they would provide 100 to 200 bighas of agricultural land. They also claimed that they had a large team of brokers, advocates, patwaris and tehsildars. The victims said that in 2022, they paid about Rs 24 crore to the accused to purchase the land. In return, the accused gave fake revenue documents. When the victims asked for a copy of the transfer of the land purchased from the accused in the revenue records, they started making excuses. Not only this, the accused also made the victims witnesses by getting them to sign some papers. Further investigation revealed that the purchased land did not exist. All the documents were fake. The accounts opened in banks were opened on the basis of forged documents. The accused deposited the cheques taken from the victims into the bank accounts and withdrew the cash within a few days. When the victims asked the accused to return the money, they were threatened with dire consequences. In this incident, a case has been registered against Sachin Bhati, Ravindra Sharma, Dheeraj Sharma, Sonu Sharma, Rishi Pal, Aas Mohammad, Mohammad, Aqil, Sakir, Vineet Kumar Gupta, Mudassir, Irshad, Salauddin, Tariqat Khan, Narendra and other unknown persons. December 26, 2023: The Yamuna Expressway Authority freed the authorityas about 150000 square meter of land worth Rs 150 crore from encroachments by running a campaign against the land mafia which had illegally captured the authority's land and was selling it to people. December 21, 2023: The district administration takes action after it came to their notice that some land mafias are illegally occupying the land acquired by Noida Airport. Accountant Pratyush Pathak working in Jewar tehsil under the Rabupura police station has filed a case against seven land mafias. It is being said that the report will also be submitted to the Yamuna Authority. While registering the FIR, Pratyush Pathak said that Nagla, Hukum Singh, Majra and Karauli Bangar villages currently fall in Jewar tehsil. Land has been acquired here for the Jewar airport project. Pathak said in his complaint that people like Rajkumar, Pushpendra, Rajiv Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, Jagjit, Dhirendra and Virendra and others are encroaching on this land. December 5, 2023: The Yamuna Authority, taking major action, freed land worth about Rs 236 crore from the possession of the land mafia. In Khair, Aligarh, the Authority officials, with the help of the Khair police and Aligarh officials, have demolished the illegal construction carried out by the land mafia and freed the land from encroachment. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath came to Greater Noida on December 8, 2023 and instructed the officials to take strict action against the land mafia. He said, "Illegal encroachment is becoming a menace. There is a need to take strict action against land mafias." Imphal, Jan 14 : Even as Manipur is battling with protracted ethnic violence, the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and the fishing community that is facing the impact of indiscriminate hunting of waterfowl and the illegal use of the electric shock method for fishing, has made an appeal to the public to emerge as responsible guardians of this invaluable natural resource. Imphal, Jan 14 (IANS) Even as Manipur is battling with protracted ethnic violence, the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and the fishing community that is facing the impact of indiscriminate hunting of waterfowl and the illegal use of the electric shock method for fishing, has made an appeal to the public to emerge as responsible guardians of this invaluable natural resource. Famous for its floating islands and picturesque landscape, Loktak Lake in Manipuras Bishnupur District is one of the largest freshwater bodies in northeast India. Three of northeast India's most important ecosystems - Rudrasagar Lake in Tripura, Deepor Beel in Assam and Loktak Lake in Manipur are categorised as wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Held in February 1971 at Ramsar in Iran, the Ramsar Convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources. Loktak Development Authority (LDA) Chairman, Asni Kumar Singh, said that encompassing an area of about 26,000 hectares and being the stateas fishery resource, the lake is not just a source of livelihood but a goddess to the people of Manipur and a mother to the fisher community. It is the cradle of Manipuri civilisation and culture. Appealing to the communities dwelling around Loktak Lake, Asni Kumar Singh has asked them to discontinue the illegal use of the electric shock method of fishing and illicit hunting of waterfowl and endangered species of migratory birds by using firearms. Emphasising the ecological, socio-economic, and cultural significance of Loktak Lake, Asni Kumar Singh highlighted its pivotal role as a cradle of Manipur's civilisation. He stressed that this natural treasure isn't just a body of water but an integral part of the region's identity, woven intricately into the fabric of its existence. Expressing grave concern about the adverse effects of illegal fishing and hunting on the fragile balance of the lake's ecosystem, the LDA Chairman sincerely urged the public to emerge as responsible guardians of this invaluable natural resource. His plea resonated with a call for collective environmental responsibility, urging citizens to understand that resorting to the use of electric shock in fishing and the illegal hunting of waterfowl not only poses a serious threat to the biodiversity of Loktak Lake but also violates established laws. The Chairman underscored the importance of unified action and encouraged individuals to promptly report any instances of such illegal activities to the authorities. Promising stringent action against offenders, he emphasised the consequences of such actions that not only harm the environment but also undermine the relentless efforts of the state government towards the conservation and preservation of Loktak Lake's natural heritage. Further emphasising the need for community involvement, he urged citizens to actively support the Loktak Development Authority in their mission to safeguard its ecological integrity. Significantly, the LDA chiefas plea follows a fervent call by the All Loktak Lake Area Fishers Union, Manipur (ALLAFUM) to ban fishing with LED lights, an activity that compromises its conservation objectives. Expressing concern over the dwindling fish populations impacting the livelihoods of Loktak fishers, the ALLAFUM secretary, Oinam Rajen Singh, condemned the recent trend of nocturnal fishing using LED lights. He said this practice not only leads to overfishing but also disrupts the feeding grounds of migratory water birds arriving between October and February annually. The Manipur Loktak Lake (Protection) Act, 2006 was enacted by the Manipur Assembly with the objective of conservation and preservation of the lake. Under the Act, the lake is divided into three zones in which the core zone is prohibited from all kinds of activities which would affect its biodiversity and water quality. Loktak, the largest freshwater lake in the northeast, is also one of the major tourist attractions of eastern India. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) Bhopal Jan 14 : After the assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, both the ruling party, BJP, and the Opposition Congress are not willing to take any chances in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Both parties are emphasising grassroots-level consolidation, as the assembly elections have revived hope within the Congress, while the BJP has encountered potential challenges. In the state's assembly elections, the BJP secured a significant lead, winning 163 out of the 230 assembly seats, while the Congress managed to bag 66 seats. Although there is a considerable margin between the BJP and the Congress in the assembly seats, when viewed in the context of the Lok Sabha elections, the outcome raises concerns in the BJP. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, out of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the BJP won 28, with the Congress emerging victorious only in Chhindwara. Analysing the assembly seats in the parliamentary constituencies, it is evident that the BJP faced defeat in Muraina (5 seats), Bhind (4 seats), Gwalior (4 seats), Tikamgarh (3 seats), Mandla (5 seats), Balaghat (4 seats), Ratlam (4 seats), Dhar (5 seats), and Khargone (5 seats). In Chhindwara parliamentary constituency, the BJP failed to win a single seat in the assembly. After the results of the assembly elections, the BJP called a meeting of the candidates who faced defeat, and discussions were held with officials. The BJP has now started focusing on the booths where it had to face defeat. While the BJP state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma is holding meetings and staying in Bhopal, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is touring the regional areas. On the other hand, the Congress has also initiated the formulation of strategies for the Lok Sabha elections. Congress state president Jitu Patwari, opposition leader Umang Singhar, and deputy opposition leader Hemant Katare have embarked on a tour together. Political analysts believe that the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh will be different from the assembly elections. However, it won't be as easy for the BJP as it was in the 2019 elections. This is why both the Congress and the BJP have intensified their preparations and are determined to secure victory under any circumstances. As a result, the elections in the state are expected to be interesting and intense, and any mistake will undoubtedly lead to significant losses for the concerned party. Mumbai, Jan 14 : In a political jolt, senior Congress leader from Mumbai and former Union Minister Milind M. Deora has quit the party here on Sunday. Deora himself tweeted the news, ending over four years of sporadic speculation on his political plans, remaining in denial mode till as late as Saturday night. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia. ending my familyas 55-year relationship with the party, " said Milind, the son of the late Congress stalwart and a 7-time MP Murli S. Deora. He also expressed gratitudeMilind Deora quits Congress, may join ruling Shiv Sena to all leaders, colleagues and workers for their unwavering support over the years in the grand old party. According to current indications, he is likely to join the ruling Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Rome, Jan 14 : Inter Milan registered a comfortable victory as they beat Monza 5-1 away in Serie A with Lautaro Martinez and Hakan Calhanoglu bagging a brace respectively. Inter were crowned the winter champion in the last round while Monza were coming off a 3-2 thriller over Frosinone. The away side opened the scoring in the 12th minute when Calhanoglu converted a spot-kick, two minutes before Lautaro slid it in on Federico Dimarco's assist. Calhanoglu made it 3-0 on the hour mark when Marcus Thuram's smart back-heel flick set up the Turk for a rocket. Matteo Pessina pulled one goal back for Monza through a penalty. As the home side just breathed a life back, Lautaro shattered their hope in the 84th minute as the Argentinean restored a three-goal margin by sending another penalty into the net, before Thuram put the icing on the cake with a low-strike. With the win, Inter maintained their leading position on the table with 51 points, five ahead of second-placed Juventus who host Sassuolo on Tuesday. Also on Saturday, Napoli ended their dismal run thanks to a 2-1 comeback victory over Salernitana, with Amir Rrahmani grabbing the last-gasp winner. Elsewhere, Hellas Verona beat Empoli 2-1, and Genoa shared the spoils with Torino at 0-0. Washington, Jan 14 : A US-led coalition launched airstrikes against targets in parts of Yemen held by Iran-aligned Houthis, escalating tensions in a region that is already dealing with the Israel-Hamas conflict that is in potential danger of expanding with the exchange of missiles between between Israeli forces and the Hezbollah in adjoining Lebanon. US and UK forces carried out the airstrikes with support from Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands. Germany, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, joined them in a joint statement explaining the strikes. More than 100 precision-guided missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles fire from the sea, struck 60 targets such as air defense systems, depots, launching sites and radars in 17 locations in Yemen. There were no reports yet of human casualties. The coalition said in the statement that the strikes were carried out "in response to continued illegal, dangerous, and destabilising Houthi attacks against vessels, including commercial shipping, transiting the Red Sea". "These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the worldas most critical commercial routes," US President Joe Biden said in a statement, adding: "I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary." A senior Biden administration official told reporters on condition of anonymity that the immediate provocation for these strikes was the "largest Houthi attacks in the Red Sea to date" earlier this week. Nearly 20 drones and multiple missiles were launched in multiple salvos directly against US ships on January 9, the official said. This attack was foiled by US and UK naval forces working jointly as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the defensive coalition established last month in response to these attacks. These retaliatory attacks are bound to escalate tensions in West Asia that are already dealing with the Israel-Hamas conflict, which is a matter of great concern for its potential to escalate and expand drawing in other countries. Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have exchanged missiles with Israeli forces and experts have warned that it will escalate into a full blown war. The senior official who briefed reporters about the strikes justified them against the backdrop of the existing tensions saying: "The United States has carried a special and historic obligation to help protect and defend these arteries of global trade and commerce. And this action falls directly in line with that tradition." Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan slammed the strikes. "First of all, they are not proportional. All of these constitute disproportionate use of force," he told journalists in Istanbul. "It is as if they aspire to turn the Red Sea into a bloodbath." The Biden administration has drawn criticism at home as well. And from Democratic lawmakers, although not for adding fuel to the fire. "This is an unacceptable violation of the Constitution," Representative Pramila Jayapal, who heads the partyas progressive lawmakers, wrote on X. "Article 1 requires that military action be authorized by Congress." Citing the same Article, Ro Khanna, another Democratic lawmaker, wrote on X, "The President needs to come to Congress before launching a strike against the Houthis in Yemen and involving us in another middle east conflict." (EDITED: ISRAEL ON TRIAL) Israeli strikes kill 111 Gazan journalists, but they can't stop them from speaking up. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : The only way the world would know about the catastrophe transpiring in the war-ravaged Gaza is through journalists. And that seems categorically an agenda for Israel to not let happen. New Delhi, Jan 14 (IANS) The only way the world would know about the catastrophe transpiring in the war-ravaged Gaza is through journalists. And that seems categorically an agenda for Israel to not let happen. Debatably violating the international convention on war (Geneva Convention, Article 19) with regard to bombing hospital and civic amenities, Israel has been strategically destroying hospital facilities and targeting staff, arguing that medical infrastructure serve as Hamas' establishment too, so as to finish the scope of existence of Hamas, and perhaps all of Gaza as well. In the process, among those who paid with their lives were journalists, as they and their families are increasingly being targeted, attacked, and eliminated by Israeli forces. Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders forewarns that "journalism is in the process of being eradicated in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel's refusal to heed calls to protect media personnel." New York-based body Committee to Protect Journalists has highlighted that there is a "pattern of journalists in Gaza reporting receiving threats, and subsequently, their family members being killed." An Israeli airstrike claimed eight members of Gaza-based independent photojournalist Yasser Qudih's family after a report by HonestReporting, a pro-Israel pressure group, suggested that Qudih and three other Gaza-based photographers had prior information of Hamas' attack on Israel. Although HonestReporting later withdrew its accusations, the report prompted the Israeli government to express that photojournalists were accomplices in 'crimes against humanity', posting on X with a picture: "Breaking: AP, CNN, NY Times, and Reuters had journalists embedded with Hamas terrorists on October 7 massacre." The media outlets concerned have denied the claim. Further, after multiple threats to Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, his 90-year-old father was killed in his home in an Israeli airstrike. Among the most recent deaths are that of AFP journalists Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, both in their 20's, in Khan Younis. Their car was struck by a missile when they were travelling around al-Mawasi, an area towards southwest of Gaza that is believed to be safe. Hamza was the eldest son of Al Jazeera's Arabic bureau chief in Gaza, Wael Dahdouh. On October 25, 2023, after an Israeli raid struck a house in a refugee camp where his family was sheltered, his mother, 15-year-old brother, 7-year-old sister and an infant nephew were killed. But his spirit never gave in. As per his colleague, what kept Hamza going was the motivation from his bereavement. He continued to cover the war undeterred like his father. In mid-December, Wael Dahdouh survived major injury in an attack that killed his colleague Samer Abudaqa, who after over five hours, bled to death as Israeli forces prevented ambulances and rescue workers from reaching him. The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate has documented the killing of at least 102 journalists and 71 injured by Israeli forces since the war broke out on October 7, 2023 (the number of the dead, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, has gone up to 111). Israel, however, denies that it targets journalists, and insists that it only targets Hamas. In the light of these events, the International Criminal Court is said to investigate crimes against Journalists in Gaza after Reporters Without Borders filed two complaints on killing of press personnel. Apart from journalists, medics are also understood to be targeted by Israeli forces. Besides destroying hospitals and healthcare infrastructure, more than 600 medical staff and patients are missing. Many from medical aid agencies were forced to evacuate hospitals over safety concerns. (Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in) (ISRAEL ON TRIAL) Why South Africa has asked ICJ to invoke provisional measures against Israel. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : The International Court of Justice (ICJ) may take several years to reach a final verdict in the genocide case against Israel, which is why South Africa has requested the world's highest court to order provisional measures to protect the Palestinian people in Gaza from further harm. South Africa has also sought Israel's compliance with the Genocide Convention and attempted to safeguard its ability to have the case fairly adjudicated, Human Rights Watch said. South Africa has asked the ICJ to issue these measures "as a matter of extreme urgency", arguing that Palestinians in Gaza are in "urgent and severe need of the Court's protection". On December 29, 2023, South Africa had filed the case with the court alleging that Israel is violating the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, Human Rights Watch said. South Africa contends that Israel has violated the Genocide Convention by committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, and by failing to prevent it, including by not holding senior Israeli officials and others accountable for their direct and public incitement to genocide. The case is not a criminal proceeding against individuals but seeks a legal determination of state responsibility for genocide. Among the provisional measures sought are for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza and abide by its obligations under the Genocide Convention. South Africa also seeks measures to prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of any evidence related to the underlying case including by giving fact-finding missions, international mandates, and other bodies access to Gaza, Human Rights Watch said. South Africa also asked the court to require Israel to report to it on steps taken to carry out a provisional measures order within a week of its issuance and then at regular intervals until the court issues its final ruling. Israel's Foreign Affairs Ministry, in a published statement on December 29, 2023, described South Africa's application as "blood libel" and that the claim "lacks both a factual and a legal basis and constitutes despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court." US National Security Council spokesman described South Africa's application as "meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis in fact whatsoever". US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said separately that Washington had not "at this point seen acts that constitute genocide" and that the ICJ case was "not a productive step at this time", Human Rights Watch said. South Africa, which ratified the Genocide Convention in 1998, brought its case under article 9 of the convention, which allows for disputes between parties to be submitted to the ICJ. The court previously confirmed that all member states of the convention have a duty to prevent and to punish genocide. Israel has been a party to the Genocide Convention since 1951. South Africa, together with Bangladesh, Bolivia, the Comoros and Djibouti, has also referred the Palestine situation to the International Criminal Court prosecutor in November 2023. South Africa asked the prosecutor, Karim Khan, to investigate the crime of genocide among other grave abuses in Palestine with a view to charging the individuals responsible, Human Rights Watch said. New Delhi, Jan 14 : War claims a great price which is paid by those who did not choose it. The amount of destruction in the face of a relentless war inevitably results in a humanitarian crisis, just as Gaza has been battling amid ceaseless assault by Israel. Nearly 100 days of the armed conflict has led to disruption of basic amenities and collapse of health and sanitation systems have escalated the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where at least 22,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed since Israel announced war on Hamas on October 7, 2023. As agencies try to bring in more food, water, medical supplies and shelter equipment into Gaza, it was announced in December that Israel would set up a second security check post at the Kerem Shalom Crossing, at the border between Israel, Gaza and Egypt, in order to screen humanitarian aid coming through Egypt. Humanitarian agencies have said that the rate of aid coming into Gaza has been dwindling after the temporary cease fire in December ended. Decimation of primary healthcare system there has exacerbated the urgency of providing medical care to increasing numbers of victims. Added to this is rampant malnutrition which has become difficult to contain, and spread of anemia and dehydration among children that has increased threefold, according to reports. In the absence of clean water and sanitation, shortage of food, and cold and wet weather, stomach, respiratory and other ailments are fast taking the shape of an epidemic in the region. The World Health Organization has announced that there are no functioning hospitals in Gaza. Amid rows of dead bodies and throngs of injured, patients who have been injured for more than a month await surgery. There are also many who are contracting infections after surgery because there is not enough post-operative care. Further, as it comes to light from sources on ground zero, the region is pushed to the brink of a famine. As per the UN, over 90 per cent of Palestinians in Gaza have regularly gone without food for an entire day. With about half of the population (nearly 2.2 million) at risk of starvation, Gaza has met the first criterion of a famine, where 20 per cent of the population face extreme scarcity of food. To compound woes further, thorough inspections at check points at two border crossings by Israeli authorities, strict time windows for passage for trucks carrying aid, bottlenecks and numerous safety concerns while traversing through rubble and ruins are further exacerbating the humanitarian concern in Gaza. Aid groups also say that their trucks at times come under Israeli fire despite efforts to coordinate convoys with the Israeli army in advance. The Israeli government denied creating obstruction to any humanitarian aid, instead, blamed Hamas for shortages, accusing them of appropriating some aid for their own use. However, Western and Arab authorities assert that Hamas is known to have accumulated food, fuel and medicine. Agencies and aid workers say that cease fire is the pre-requisite to alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe unleashing in Gaza. The war has claimed nearly 23,000 lives in Gaza alone, and this includes more than 150 aid workers. Meanwhile, India indirectly supported a call for humanitarian cease fire in Gaza in a joint statement with UAE on January 11, wherein both nations stressed the importance of multilateralism and "called for collective action to promote a just, rule-based global order." This statement followed the visit of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Gujarat on January 9 and 10, as the chief guest of the Vibrant Gujarat summit. (Kavya Dubey may be reached at kavya.d@ians.in) Pls use headline from Sourish Sir (ISRAEL ON TRIAL) 'Fortuitous event': How the Hamas-Israel war could be a strategic advantage for Russia. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : This conflict has left the world and societies divided, raised questions over the extent of "self-defence" and the definition of genocide, and brought into sharp focus the differing approach to conflicts around the globe. The Israel-Hamas war, which has entered its 100th day, has upended geopolitics in other ways too. One unforeseen -- and unintended -- beneficiary is Russia. While the diversion of attention - and of crucial funding and military aid - of the US and most European powers to Israel, leaving Ukraine and its grandstanding President Volodymyr Zelensky literally and figuratively in the cold, confer a marked strategic advantage to Russia, there are a host of other ramifications that portend favourably for it too. Long pilloried by the Western powers and its allies over its military action in Ukraine, Moscow has now a sense of satisfaction of seeing the same Western powers attempting to justify their unqualified support to Israel in its extremely ruthless and indiscriminate response against the hapless Palestinians of Gaza. The higher magnitude of civilian deaths and damage in Gaza, than in the entire Ukrainian conflict, has led to blowback from several countries of the Global South, across Africa and South America, as well as the Arab street - though not the Arab governments. Then, significant sections of citizens in Europe as well as the US are also on the streets to demand a ceasefire even as polite requests from the West for "restraint" evoke trenchant Israeli responses. The protests in Europe and the US over the plight of the Palestinians and the socio-political tensions they are evoking -- given the gulf between the protesters and their government -- could turn out to be a potent destabilising factor - whether Russia chooses to utilise it or not. While in the US, the Palestinian situation spells trouble for President Joe Biden and his Democrats ahead of the crucial 2024 Presidential and Congressional elections as key support demographics revolt against them, the consequences for Europe could be more dire. On the continent, their equal blind support to Ukraine has not only left armouries and arsenals bare in several European countries, but is also leading to economic distress -- due to the sanctions, particularly of fuel, and the consequent political turmoil as populist elements -- notoriously Eurosceptic too -- gain at the expense of the centrist parties. And then as the UN, and its agencies are not spared too by Israel while proponents of the "rules-based" global order stay silent -- this too works to to the gain of Russia which has been calling for a multi-polar and equitable global arrangement over the current hegemony of the Western powers and global agencies. Then, the ICC issued warrants against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova over alleged shifting of children from war-torn Ukraine, it was called over for its silence in the case of detention, denial of rights, and much worse for Palestinian children in Gaza and West Bank -- despite the same Prosecutor visiting the region - though he did not go to Gaza. Compare that to the shrill cries and condemnation over South Africa moving the International Court of Justice against Israel on charges of genocide. The differential treatment has again raised claims, evoked earlier in African circles, whether the ICC and other global institutions is only meant to be used against leaders from the continent, or a malefactor or two from the Balkans, while those from the rest of the world are immune from its remit. All this will not help the Western powers in their relations with the rest of the world, especially the Global South, and Russia is moving fast to supplant them. France is fast losing influence in several of its erstwhile northwest and west African colonies, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, and Russia, first through the Wagner PMC, and now the government itself, with Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov as its pointsman, is stiching up security deals. Moscow is not neglecting the rest of the continent either, be it the south, east, or the key northern region, where even the UN is not much in favour - as demand for withdrawal of its forces from Congo shows. Russia is also cementing its return to the Middle East, where it has struck up working relations with most Gulf monarchies too, especially Saudi Arabia in the matter of oil supplies, apart from its old Soviet-era client states like Syria, Iraq and restive Libya as well as significant regional power Iran. While maintaining cordial relations with Israel, It maintains ties with Hamas too -- despite Israel's fury. Coincidence in global affairs is as rare as morality, but the Israel-Hamas conflict came as a windfall for Russia after its Ukraine gamble. It remains to be seen how it plays out. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Jan 14 : The Symphony Orchestra of India (SOI), the country's only full-time professional orchestra, is set to unveil its Spring 2024 Season on the 2nd of February. Following a celebratory Autumn 2023 Season and the seven-city UK Tour, the eighteen-year-old orchestra, will be welcoming back beloved guest artistes - conductor Martyn Brabbins and pianist Barry Douglas, while introducing the India debuts of conductor Gergely Madaras, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and cellist Bryan Cheng. The SOI promises a wide repertoire that has something in store for everyone in the audience, including both seasoned concertgoers and first-time attendees of Western Classical music. The SOI Spring 2024 Season commences with two compositions of Mendelssohn A Midsummer Night's Dream and Symphony No. 4 (or more popularly recognized as - "Italian") accompanied with Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1. The second concert is a celebration of youth in Brahms' Academic Festival Overture, followed by the rustic charm of Hungarian folk music in Kodaly's Dances of Galanta and culminating the evening with Brahms' Symphony No. 2; collectively promising an immersive journey of joy and nostalgia. The third presentation is set to begin with the dramatic and powerful music of Berlioz music from The Trojans swiftly transitioning to Berlioz's dreamlike romantic composition - Les nuits d'ete (Summer Nights). The highlight of the evening is Saint-Saens' Symphony No. 3, known as the "Organ Symphony", which is considered a musical masterpiece owing to its grandeur and complexity. The Spring 2024 Season will conclude on the 16th of February with an exemplary line-up that comprises of Wagner's Overture to The Flying Dutchman, Elgar's Cello Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 "Pastorale"; ensuring a performance that is a seamless amalgamation of powerful and poignant melodies. Under the guidance of its co-founders,Khushroo N. Suntook and Marat Bisengaliev (Music Director), the SOI has earned several feathers on its cap and the forthcoming season will be yet another landmark. The SOI, residing at Mumbai's prestigious National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), curates unmatched Western Classical music concerts in the country and simultaneously exhibits the orchestra's prowess in international forums. The SOI is dedicated to fostering young talent through the SOI Music Academy's sustained efforts in imparting quality music education. Announcing the SOI's Spring 2024 Season, Khushroo N. Suntook, Co-founder, SOI and Chairman, NCPA, said, "We are delighted to present the SOI Spring 2024 Season and mark the beginning of the orchestra's eighteenth year. The SOI has reached many milestones in its latest seasons, and we are certain that the Spring 2024 Season will be no different. Internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists will be joining forces with the resident orchestra to deliver powerful performances of complex compositions and strengthen the SOI's caliber. We invite music lovers across the country to join us in experiencing another promising Season as the NCPA and the SOI continue to promote culture and preserve classical music traditions." IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in --IANS os/ lh Islamabad, Jan 14 : Five soldiers were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Pakistan's Balochistan province, local media reported. The IED planted by the roadside in the Buleda area detonated on Saturday evening when the vehicle of the security personnel was passing through the area, Dawn news reported, quoting Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani as saying. The IED explosion was followed by an intense exchange of fire between security personnel and the terrorists, said the Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Domki, Home Minister Mir Zubair Ahmed Jamali strongly condemned the incident Four militants were killed in two intelligence-based operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan districts. A clearance operation has been carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, the statement said. New Delhi, Jan 14 : Television actor Surbhi Chandna, famous for her roles in popular shows such as Naagin 5, Taarak Mehta ka Ooltah Chashmah, and Qubool Hai, has accused budget airline Vistara of subjecting her to "mental harassment" during a recent incident at Mumbai airport. Chandna took to her social media handles on Saturday to express her frustration and disappointment with Vistara, alleging that her priority luggage was misplaced, and she faced misbehaviour from a ground staff member. In a post, the actor narrated her ordeal, highlighting the distress caused by the airline's alleged negligence. "The WORST AIRLINE award goes to @airvistara. A priority bag was offloaded for reasons best known to them. They have wasted the entire day and i still have not been assured if the bag has reached the mum apt or no.. false promises by the incompetent staff horrible delays by airline," she wrote on X. Vistara responded to Chandna's claims promptly on the post, assuring the actor that her complaint would be addressed with the utmost priority. "Hi Ms. Chandna, we are concerned to learn of your dissatisfaction. Please assist us with your booking details and a convenient time to connect via DM and we will have this addressed at the earliest. Thanks," Vistara replied in a tweet. "Deepika Pawar - @Vistara Mumbai airport ground staff is extremely unprofessional & undertrained and was unapologetic of the situation. Extremely rude in her approach straight up said 'we do not know when your bag will come and we cannot commit anything'. Also when asked about delivery, she said 'my vendors are occupied and I will not be able to deliver the bag to you. It will be better if you come to pick it up. This is the pathetic staff and service of the airline when they are at fault," Chandna posted on her Instagram story. Amaravati, Jan 14 : Sankranti celebrations began across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana amid on Sunday with Bhogi usual pomp and gaiety. Villages and towns in both the Telugu states came alive with traditional celebrations to mark the harvest festival Three-day celebrations kicked off with Bhogi or burning of old and unwanted items like old clothes, mats and broom sticks in the belief that new things will usher into their lives. People in villages and towns began the day with Bhogi and prayers. Women were seen playing and dancing around the bonfire. Sankranti is a major festival, which highlights the rich Telugu culture. Ministers, MPs, state legislators and leaders of all political parties participated in Bhogi in various parts of the two states. Former vice-President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu celebrated Bhogi along with family members at Swarna Bharat Trust, Atkur, near Vijayawada. He noted that Bhogi is symbolic of discarding worthless things of the past making new beginnings Venkaiah Naidu greeted people and hoped that the festival will bring happiness and prosperity to them. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu participated in Bhogi along with Jana Sena Party (JSP) leader and actor Pawan Kalyan in Amaravati. A festive atmosphere prevailed in residential colonies in Hyderabad and the outskirts besides Vijayawada, Guntur, Visakhapatnam and other towns and villages in both the states. Lakhs of people employed in Hyderabad headed to their homes in various districts of both the Telugu states. State road transport corporations of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh operated special buses and Railways operated special trains to carry people to their destinations from Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy greeted people on Sankranti. Abdul Nazeer wished that the Bhogi festival would burn 'all negativity and inspire noble thoughts of love, affection & brotherhood in all of us'. Jagan Mohan Reddy also greeted people on Sankranti. He noted that Sankranti is the major festival of Telugu people as relatives and friends come together to celebrate it with great pomp. "Happy Pongal and Makar Sankranti festival greetings to all. May this festival of harvest bring in abundance of prosperity, health, happiness, and peace to you all," tweeted Telangana Governor. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy extended greetings to people on the occasion of Sankranti. He expressed the hope that every house will be illuminated with new radiance by taking away the darkness. The CM said that the new journey of the sunshine will usher in a new beginning and the light of the development along with welfare will spread across the state. The Chief Minister wished people to celebrate the Bhogi with prosperity, Sankranti and Kanuma with abundant happiness. He said that people should celebrate the festival happily by enjoying the freedom in the 'Praja Palana' started in the Telangana state. He stated that his government is committed to the welfare of all sections of people and to move the state on the development path. Lucknow, Jan 14 : Knives are out in the Samajwadi Party or senior leader Swami Prasad Maurya, who has been making a series of controversial statements on Hindu religion. From demanding deletion of verses from Ramcharitmanas to justifying the firing on 'kar sevaks' in Ayodhya, his statements have been irking Hindu legislators, particularly those belonging to the upper castes, in Samajwadi Party (SP). Last week, at a party meeting, legislators had raised the issue before party president Akhilesh Yadav and the latter had assured them that Swami Prasad Maurya had been asked to refrain from commenting on religious issues. However, a day after this, Maurya made the comment on 'kar sevaks', terming them as "anti-social elements." Senior SP MLAs, Rakesh Pratap Singh and Samarpal Singh have now asked the party leadership to take action against Maurya. Rakesh Pratap Singh, in fact, went to Ayodhya to offer prayers and met the Trust office bearer Champat Rai last week. Another SP MLA from the Brahmin community said: "It appears that Maurya is working at the behest of some vested interests who want to damage the Samajwadi Pretty in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He never uttered a word on these issues when he was minister in the Yogi Adityanath government." The legislator said that Akhilesh's silence on Maurya's behaviour was a major irritant and "self-respecting Hindus" wanted the party leadership to clarify on the issue. Interestingly, Swami Prasad Maurya has not yet found any support for his statements from OBC leaders within SP and even his former colleagues from the Bahujan Samaj Party have clearly distanced themselves from him. BJP is using Maurya's stand against Hindus to target Samajwadi Party. "Swami Prasad Maurya is speaking whatever Akhilesh Yadav tells him to. If Maurya is making these statements on his own, what is preventing Akhilesh Yadav from removing him from the post of party general secretary?" asked Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya. The Congress, too, is upset with Swami Prasad Maurya's remarks. A senior leader who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "This is a crucial time with the Ram temple all set to open. No one wants to be seen as anti-Hindu and Maurya's tirade is bound to send the wrong messages. Akhilesh Yadav to take steps to check this because his voters are also Hindu." Maha has 2nd highest number of wells in India, but just 45% of its groundwater remains. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Jan 14 : India has more than 2.19 crore wells -- dug-wells as well as shallow, medium and deep tubewells -- that suck out massive quantities of precious groundwater from the bowels of the earth. And, worryingly, only a modest amount of this water gets re-charged. Of these, Maharashtra has more than 3.2 million wells comprising 27,49,088 dug-wells, 131,100 shallow tube-wells, 174,194 medium tube-wells and 179,583 deep tube-wells. Uttar Pradesh tops the list with over 3.9 million wells of all types, but pleasantly, Sikkim and Manipur are the only states that have no wells of any kind, while Delhi, Punjab and Chandigarh have no dug-wells, though they have borewells, as per the Centre's official data presented to parliament (December 2023). According to a Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) report, nearly 70 per cent of the surface water in India is considered 'unfit for consumption', and only a small portion of almost 40 million litres of waste-water that is dumped into rivers and other fresh-water bodies daily in the country is adequately treated to prevent it from degrading the water quality. The details are even more shocking at the global level, where more than 80 per cent of the world's waste-water gets released into nature without being treated or recycled, even as the threat of global warming and its implications loom heavily over the planet. Around 200 crore (2 billion) people worldwide use drinking matter contaminated with fecal matter and other pollutants that pose massive health hazards, many with fatal consequences. Around 45 crore (450 million) children in the world live in high or extremely high water vulnerability, and the UN has forecast that around 70 crore (700 million) could be displaced due to water scarcity by 2030. Under such a grim scenario, Maharashtra presents a picture of concern with nearly 55 per cent of its precious ground-water resources getting depleted, and there is growing exploitation of underground water owing to various factors, mostly the burgeoning human population in urban and rural areas. Leading water expert and ex-Member, Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) & Maharashtra State Ground Water Authority (MSGWA) Vinod Tiwari warns that if stringent measures are not considered on priority, Maharashtra could see an irreparable loss of ecological health as uncontrolled exploitation of ground-water resources continues blatantly due to non-implementation of laws. He said that exploitation of ground-water is strictly banned for industrial, commercial or even agriculture though water from wells of upto 18 metres (60-feet) depth is allowed for drinking and cultivation purposes. "In cities like Mumbai, Pune and others, the water tanker mafia has turned ground-water into a thriving business enterprise worth over Rs 5,000 crore annually, despite orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and MWRRA, with big politicians also as players," Tiwari told IANS. As per the National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India (NCDGWR) 2023 report, the state has diverse rock types of varying ages in different areas, but is mostly covered by Deccan Traps. Other geological formations are found in the north-east parts of the state and in stray patches in the coastal Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts, but a large part is underlain by Basaltic hard rocks where dug-wells rule the roost. Mostly tapping the weathered and fractures/joints underground, the water yield of dug-wells, with a diameter of 3-15 metres and depths starting from 6 metres or more, can vary from just 3-5 litres per second (lps). A small part of the state has semi-consolidated sedimentary rocks where tube-wells yield between 5-45 lps. Surprisingly, the drought-prone parts of central Maharashtra, comprising Marathwada and surrounding regions, received very less rainfall (400 mm-700 mm/pa, but the geology is favourable for ground-water recharge. The dependency on ground-water here is very high, and nearly 65 per cent of all irrigation wells in the state are in this region comprising Aurangabad, Beed, Dhule, Osmanabad, Satara, Nashik, Sangli, Jalgaon, Solapur, Ahmednagar and Pune. The NCDGWR assessed ground-water resources for 1,534 watersheds in the state and then apportioned them to the taluka levels. It discovered that the total annual ground-water recharge of the state is around 32.76 billion cubic metres and annual extractable ground-water resources is 30.95 billion cubic metres. The annual ground-water extraction is 16.66 bcm and the stage of ground-water extraction is 53.83 per cent. Out of the 353 talukas, 9 (2.55 per cent) are categorised as 'over-exploited', another 9 (2.55 per cent) rank as 'critical', 57 (16.15 per cent) as 'semi-critical', and the remaining 277 (78.47 per cent) as 'safe', while one taluka (0.28 per cent was found to be 'saline'. The NCDGWR found that of the 259,914.03 sq km recharge worthy area in the state -- 7,034.69 sq km (2.71 per cent) is 'over-exploited'; 8857.49 sq km (3.41 per cent) is 'critical'; 56,959.42 sq km (21.91 per cent) is 'semi-critical'; 186,285.52 sq km is 'safe'; and 776.89 sq km (0.30 per cent) is classified as 'saline'. Compared with the NCDGWR's 2022 assessment, the annual ground water recharge and annual extractable ground water resources in 2023 has increased marginally from 32.29 bcm to 32.76 bcm and 30.45 to 30.95 bcm, respectively, but the annual ground water extraction remains almost stable, while the stage of ground-water extraction fell slightly from 54.68 per cent (2022) to 53.83 per cent (2023). Tiwari called for "extremely urgent" implementation of the Maharashtra Ground Water Act, 2009 and the Rules of 2018 which are yet to be finalised for the past over six years owing to 'sheer apathy and lack of political will'. "Unless the state enforces the laws and ensures ground-water replenishment on a war-footing - at least by 15-20 percent annually - more than 80 per cent of the population could face severe water scarcity challenges after 2030," warned Tiwari. Besides the fast-depleting ground water resources in India's top industrialised state, the MPCB has to monitor the water quality in terms of physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the liquid, ensure strict compliance with drinking water standards to help protect human health and environment. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Since voters declined to legalize recreational marijuana sales in Colorado Springs in November 2022, dispensaries in town have started to close as proponents of the ballot question predicted. The number of medical marijuana dispensaries in town is down from 114 to 96 since the ballot question, city data shows. Once dispensary licenses are surrendered to the city, they are no longer available and so the number can never rise. Statewide issues, such as low prices, have hurt the industry and those problems have been compounded by the lack of recreational sales, said Liz Zukowski, a spokeswoman for Native Roots. The company operates locations across the state and in Colorado Springs. Colorado has seen marijuana sales drop dramatically as other states have legalized it. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia now allow recreational marijuana. A change in the 2018 Farm Bill has also given rise to the sale of THC products derived from hemp in states where recreational marijuana is not legal. For example, Delta-8 products are common in Texas and they can also be ordered online. As marijuana tourism has fallen, so has the price of marijuana. Those factors and others are hitting the industry hard causing stores and marijuana grows to close. "We have seen 10,000 jobs lost," Zukowski said, addressing the statewide trend. She expects the consolidation will continue. "We are not at the end of businesses closing voluntarily, surrendering their licenses or being purchased by a larger operator," she said. Ryan McGuire, owner of Zipz, a medical marijuana dispensary, also expects more closures in the coming months. Amid the low prices, many small dispensary owners are making cuts to try to stay open. "I am now running my grow myself to cut costs as much as I can," he said. Sign up for free: Gazette Business Receive a weekly roundup of business news around El Paso County. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Featured Local Savings Prices dropped in the industry because after demand spiked during the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies increased their production and then demand dropped, McGuire explained. One of the changes that could help with the flooded market is the new use-by date regulation that went into effect statewide Jan. 1, he said. State law set the use-by dates nine months from the products' harvest or production. Shelf stability testing can support a longer shelf life, the law states. Legalizing recreational marijuana could also help Colorado Springs dispensary owners because millions of dollars in sales are diverted to the recreational shops in Manitou Springs, he said. City Council President Randy Helms opposed legalizing recreational marijuana sales and he is not concerned about the additional tax revenue the city could earn from expanding the industry. He is also not concerned about the current decline in the industry. He is personally opposed to marijuana, because it is still federally illegal and, as a member of the Air Force Academy's Association of Graduates board, he believes it is his responsibility to set a good example around marijuana use. "I still believe there are some real issues with marijuana," he said, noting problems with high-potency products. The majority of the council is also still opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana, he said. In 2022, former Mayor John Suthers and 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen appeared in ads opposing recreational marijuana sales and connected them with homelessness and crime. The ads helped reverse earlier support for legalizing marijuana sales, The Gazette previously reported. The question would have allowed existing shops to add recreational sales. While the council may not be interested, Zukowski said, she hopes Congress will allow marijuana businesses to bank just like any other industry this year. Such a change could allow marijuana business to get more traditional loans. "Having access to capital would help companies reinvest in their business to expand or innovate," she said. She would also like to see greater federal regulation of intoxicating hemp products. Colorado has already banned THC products made from hemp. Seoul, Jan 14 : After election of a US-friendly president, Lai Ching-te, South Korea hopes to see peace and stability maintained across the Taiwan Strait, government official said Sunday, Lai Ching-te, vice president of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president of the self-ruled democracy on Saturday, defeating his China-friendly rival from the main opposition party, Yonhap news agency reported quoting a foreign ministry official. "We expect peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait to be maintained and the peaceful development of cross-strait relations," the official said, noting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "essential" for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and an "essential element" for regional peace and prosperity. "We hope to continue to enhance practical cooperation with Taiwan in various sectors," the official said, adding the South Korean government's "basic position" on Taiwan issues has not changed. Despite concern the election of a US-friendly president could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing, some political watchers said the situation will depend more on the commitment of both sides to stably managing the situation across the Taiwan Strait. "Had the (opposition) Nationalist party won, China could have used stable cross-strait relations to try to naturally build up its arms," professor Kang Jun-young of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said. "Due to the US-China race for hegemony surrounding the Taiwan Strait, even if the Nationalist party had won, the mood wouldn't have changed toward peace." Against the backdrop of the election in Taiwan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Washington last Friday with Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee. On Saturday, US President Joe Biden told reporters of Taiwan, "We do not support independence." New York, Jan 14 : With just a day to go for the Iowa caucuses, Indian-American voters in the state have said that they "feel abandoned" by 2024 Republican presidential aspirant and "proud daughter of Indian immigrants", Nikki Haley. According to a New York Times report, while the lone woman in the presidential race has a number of prominent Indian-American donors, she has not aggressively courted voters from the community in the Hawkeye State, and rarely plays up her identity to pull in new votes. The two-time South Carolina Governor and former UN ambassador officially launched her presidential bid on February 15, calling herself a "proud daughter of Indian immigrants" who left Punjab in search of a better life. Being among a handful of Indian-American candidates to ever run for president and second woman of colour to ever seek the GOP's nomination for the White House, has inherently generated interest in the Indian and South Asian-American communities Speaking to the NYT, leaders of prominent Indian-American groups said they started reaching out to the Haley campaign at a time when she was still polling in the single digits, with hopes of hosting her at their temples, town hall-style events or house parties. But so far nothing has worked, the leaders said, calling the lack of outreach as frustrating and alienating for some their membership. "It really raises the question: Who are you willing to engage in the dialogue? Do you want the support and do you support the engagement of Indian Americans across the board?" asked Prakash Kopparapu, chairman of the Indo American PAC-IA. Himanshu Pathak, who has served as president of the Indo American Association of Iowa, surmised that Haley perhaps saw the electorate as too small to make a difference. That would be a mistake, he said, adding: "We are low in numbers -- but not that low. And we are increasing day by day". On the contrary, Haley's fellow Indian-American presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy has made several appearances at the Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Iowa. In addition, he is set to participate in an Indo American PAC-IA event this week. The 51-year-old has taken the lead over other GOP rivals but still trails behind former president Donald Trump in Iowa, according to a recent poll of 500 likely Republican caucus goers. The Indian-Americans form nearly 1 per cent of all registered voters in the US, and are considered to be key players in the battleground states. The community has historically been Democrat-leaning -- 72 per cent of registered Indian-American voters backed President Joe Biden in 2020, 77 per cent voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and 84 per cent for Barack Obama in 2012. Melbourne, Jan 14 : Matteo Berrettini withdrew from the Australian Open on Sunday with a right foot injury, the tournament announced on Sunday. The former Top 10 star was set for a first-round blockbuster against seventh seed and defending finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Belgian Zizou Bergs will step in as a lucky loser to face the Greek. "Matteo Berrettini has withdrawn from the #AusOpen with a right foot injury. He will be replaced in the draw by Zizou Bergs," Australia Open statement read. Berrettini has not competed since last year's US Open, where he retired from his second-round match due to an ankle injury. He went 12-11 in the 2023 season. Having faced a setback with a tear in an oblique muscle that kept him out of action for a few weeks in 2023, the 27-year-old has slipped to the 125th position in the men's rankings. Mumbai, Jan 14 : Actor Teja Sajja, who has been getting a lot of good response to his recently released film 'HanuMan', has shared that his favourite homegrown superhero films are 'Koi Mil Gaya', it's sequel 'Krrish' and the Malayalam film 'Minnal Murali'. The actor recently spoke with IANS about his film, the space that the Indian cinema is currently in given the unification of different film industries across India and what growing up with cinema feels like to an actor who has been a part of the industry since their childhood. Teja said that he is a "huge fan of 'Koi Mil Gaya'". He may not have watched many superheroes from international cinema but he takes immense pride in the homegrown superheroes. He told IANS: "I've not watched many English superhero films. Marvel and DC never clicked with me because of the lack of cultural understanding. But I love 'Koi Mil Gaya'. I love 'Minnal Murali' also. The other day I was in Kochi talking about 'Minnal Murali'. Tovino Thomas sir was also there, he said he also knew about 'HanuMan' and he wants to do something for 'HanuMan'. I hope we can do something together." Talking about the unified force that Indian cinema has become with the lines between different film industries in India blurring, the actor said that best is yet to come for Indian cinema. "We are always better than yesterday. Tomorrow will be brighter and better. That is what we aspire for. It has just begun. The biggest example is Shah Rukh Khan sir collaborating with Atlee sir, and Prabhas sir collaborating with Prashanth Neel sir from Karnataka. They collaborated with Prithviraj Sukumaran sir from Malayalam as well." "We have to give huge respect to both stars, Prithviraj sir in Malayalam, is a huge star. Prabhas sir, who is a huge star himself. There's 'Kalki' coming up and 'Thalaivar 170'. These are the kinds of collaborations that we are trying to launch because there are no more boundaries of languages, no more boundaries of cultures. It is just Indian cinema against the world cinema. That is an aspiration to dream about." Teja has been in Telugu cinema since he was 2 years old. When asked what it feels like to grow up in cinema, he told IANS: "I had great fun. One thing is, you start rubbing your shoulders with people much older than you. If you're working in cinema at a very young age that gives you a lot of exposure to real life. When you are working in cinema, when you are giving out your dialogues, you keep understanding at a very young age what they are talking about or what I am talking about. Nowadays it is a little natural and realistic, but in the old days, even small kids, 4- 5-year-old kids used to mouth dialogues that were too huge and over the top." "So, that kind of awareness you get from a very young age, which helps you in the later stages of your life because you'll be more mature and you'll make fewer mistakes. I think that is the advantage but there are many disadvantages too like we lose our childhood, we'll not have many friends. Even though we are one of the most influential industries across the world, cinema as a medium, people still look down upon us. This happened to me when I was a child. There is a bit of discrimination towards people who act in films." "I don't understand this. It's uncalled for. In the end, we are just entertaining the audience. That is a different aspect. Even if you look down upon a field entirely, then that doesn't make sense. I was a child artist back then when I faced something like this, it was quite an eye-opener for me." Islamabad, Jan 14 : Ahead of the February 8 general elections, the Supreme Court in the country has upheld the decision of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) , and nullified Imran Khan-led PTI's intra-party polls, depriving the party of its polls symbol bat, local media reported. After continuous hearing for three days, a three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali annoAunced the judgement at 11.15 pm on Saturday on the ECP's plea, Dawn reported. Setting aside the Peshawar High Court order regarding restoration of PTI's bat symbol, the bench said: "Mere production of a certificate by the PTI stating that intra-party elections were held could not suffice to establish that such elections had actually been held particularly when some party members were challenging this assertion. On December 22, the poll watchdog had invalidated the PTI's intra-party polls held on December 2 while hearing complaints filed by some rebel PTI members. The PTI had moved the Peshawar High Court against the ECP order which on Wednesday declared the polls body's decision "as illegal, without any lawful authority and of no legal effect". After the Supreme Court's decision, the PTI leaders said though the party has lost its polls symbol, they will contest the polls as independents. Gorakhpur, Jan 14 : The Gita Press in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur that publishes religious texts, has decided to upload Ramcharitmanas on its website www.gitapres.org in 10 languages. Trustee of Gita Press, Devi Dayal Agarwal, said that by Monday, Ramcharitmanas would be available on the website in Oriya, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, English, Bengali, Hindi, Assamese and Nepali languages. The server of the Press has been upgraded so that 1 lakh people can read or download the text at a time. The demand for religious books like Ramcharitmanas, Hanuman Chalisa and Sundar Kand has surged to the extent that the availability of these revered scriptures has become a challenge, as the stocks have depleted. For the first time since its establishment, the Gita Press is struggling hard to cope with the increasing demand. Gita Press officials said that demand for Ramcharitmanas and Hanuman Chalisa had started rising from October. In the past three months, the Press had published and sold 3.27 lakh copies of Ramcharitmanas and currently it was running out of stock. Similarly, 13.50 lakh copies of Hanuman Chalisa were printed and was now out of stock. Lalmani Tiwari, manager of Gita Press, said that demand for pocket size Ramcharitmanas from Rajasthan, Bihar and other states had crossed 1.59 lakh mark. Currently, they were facing difficulty in coping with the demand, so they had decided to upload it on the website. Tiwari confirmed that the Press was able to meet only 75 per cent of the demand. He said that the demand for Sundar Kand had also increased significantly and they had published and sold 4.75 crore copies and by the end of December, it went out of stock. Tiwari said that previously they used to publish a maximum of 75,000 copies of Ramcharitmanas in a month and currently, despite publishing 1 lakh copies a month they were not able to meet the demand. Order of 50,000 copies had been received from Jaipur and similar number from Bharatpur. Regional offices were also receiving extra orders for Ramcharitmanas and Ayodhya Darshan but their publication in a short span of time was not possible, he added. Trustee Devi Dayal Agarwal said that free text on the website was a aprasada of Ram Utsav for devotees. Apart from Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Darshan (new edition) and Ayodhya Mahatmya would also be uploaded. Gita Press has also decided to establish its outlet on Ram temple complex. Meanwhile, in Kanpur, Gita Press outlets have run out of stock of Ramcharitmanas and Hanuman Chalisa. Since the date of consecration was announced, the demand had soared, he said, adding that he had sold more than 30,000 copies in two months in Kanpur and nearby areas . "We could get only 25 copies of Manas and Chalisa in the current stock; all were purchased within minutes," he said. Seoul, Jan 14 : Amid indications of growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will visit Russia on January 15, the state media said on Sunday. "Choe Son Hui, minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, will pay an official visit to the Russian Federation from January 15 to 17 at the invitation of its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov," Yonhap news agency reported quoting the North's official Korean Central News Agency said. The visit will come as North Korea and Russia have been accused of exchanging weapons and military technology in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions since a September summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a Russian spaceport. Last week, the White House said Russia recently fired additional North Korean ballistic missiles into Ukraine following earlier such launches on December 30 and January 2. New Delhi, Jan 14 : A 19-year-old youth was stabbed to death by three individuals in Central Delhi's Meena Bazar, an official said on Sunday. The deceased was identified as Armaan a.k.a Kasim, a resident of Loni, Ghaziabad. According to police, the incident occurred at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday in the Jama Masjid area. "In the morning at about 5.20 a.m., an information was received in Jama Masjid police station that a person has been declared as brought dead by the doctors," said a senior police official. Immediately a police team reached there and on inquiry it was found that the person, who was later identified as Armaan, had stab injury in the upper part of the body. "The deceased and his father used to work as street vendors in Meena Bazar. Primary inquiry suggests that a dispute had arisen between the deceased and three other boys that resulted in this incident," said the official. "A case under section 302 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is being registered and investigation is in progress. The teams are working to solve the case," the official added. New Delhi, Jan 14 : Students, who will be able to bag research internship in any industries in the fourth year of their under-graduate programme, will get stipend, insurance and academic credits. As per University Grants Commission's guidelines, which have been shared with the higher educational institutions, the companies where the students will do internship, will provide them a fixed amount of money. The higher educational institutions will have to appoint nodal officers for research internships who will make agreements with various companies for the programme. Besides, the higher educational institutions may also search for group internship opportunities. The research internship will be done in the fourth year of Four Year Undergraduate Programme. For every student, internship supervisor will be appointed who will help the wards to complete their projects on time. For the draft of these guidelines, the UGC had sought suggestions from it stakeholders. UGC chairman M Jagdish Kumar said that as per the National Education Policy 2020, it has implemented credit framework at the undergraduate level. He said that the internship has been made mandatory to increase the employability of the students. For deciding on a research internship, a survey will be conducted by the educational institutions regarding the requirement in the local market. Based on the survey and courses being conducted, Internship projects will be prepared. The educational institutions will have to publish information about internship project and mentors for the purpose. The UGC is of the view that joint research project should be encouraged at the university level and University colleges should have student career counselling cell. The career counselling should have also have representatives from the industry, it said. For implementation of professional and skill developmental programmes, professionals related with the industries should also be roped in. As per the UGC guidelines, a cluster of state-level universities, colleges and industries should be created for facilitating students of higher educational institutions doing joint research. The students scores will get collected in 'Academic bank of Credit' implemented under the NEP. On the recommendation of the company in which they are doing internship, the tenure of the programme can be increased. The UGC chairman said that the higher educational institutions will have to make arrangements on their portal for API integration so that experts from companies or agencies can register on it. Internship projects will be linked to students' skill development courses. Hyderabad, Jan 14 : Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested two men from Haryana in an online investment fraud. Himanshu (30) and Praveen (26) were involved in creating fake Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and opening current bank accounts in the name of different firms to cheat innocent people. Another accused Devender Panchal, a resident of Delhi, is absconding. The duo from Haryana had colluded with Devender Panchal to supply current bank accounts and cheat the public through online part time job/investment. For committing these cyber frauds, the accused provided many bank accounts to Devender Panchal by using fake ID proofs. The arrests were made by the police during the investigation following a complaint received from a resident of Ameerpet area in Hyderabad stating that the cyber fraudsters cheated her through an online part time job/investment and made her transfer about Rs 4.75 lakhs to the bank accounts provided by them. Cyber Crime Police had registered a case under sections 66(C), (D) of the Information Technology Act and sections 419 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to police, Himanshu and Praveen had experience in generating new Aadhaar cards. Praveen had Aadhaar Seva Kendra situated at Faridabad, where he used to create fake Aadhaar cards. They created a current bank account in ICICI in the name of Ruchika Info System and got a fraud amount of Rs 2.5 crores. Police said Rs 6 lakhs have been freezed in fraudstersa bank account. Mobile Phones, SIM cards, bank cheque books and other documents were seized. Police have cautioned the public not to believe the fraudulent online part time Job/investment and also not to invest in unauthorised websites or through any other means, which lures the people in the guise of high returns by investing little amounts by sitting at home. Dharamsala, Jan 14 : Favouring good relations between Taiwan and China, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has written to Taiwanese President-elect Lai Ching-te to offer his warm congratulations. "Indeed," he wrote, "observing the exercise of democracy, as has just taken place in Taiwan, is a source of encouragement for all of us who aspire to live in freedom and dignity. "I have fond memories of the hospitality the people of Taiwan showed me during my visits there, when I was also able to see how firmly rooted democracy has become. The Taiwanese people have not only developed a flourishing, robust democracy, but have also achieved a great deal in terms of economics and education, while at the same time preserving their rich traditional culture. "I admire the strong devotion Taiwanese Buddhists have to the Buddha dharma. As a Buddhist monk, I try my best to fulfill their requests for teachings and spiritual guidance from time to time. "Good relations between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are of utmost importance. It is my longstanding conviction that engaging in dialogue is the best way to resolve difficult issues, whether on a local, national or international level." His Holiness concluded by wishing Lai every success in meeting the challenges that lie ahead in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people of Taiwan. London, Jan 14 : An Indian-origin postmaster continues to battle for compensation, three years after his conviction was quashed in what is being remembered as one of the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Vipin Patel, 70, who ran the Horspath Post Office in Oxford for five years, was among hundreds of employees falsely accused of theft and fraud by the Post Office over a 15-year period because of an accounting software glitch. He was charged with stealing GBP75,000 from the Post Office, convicted of fraud, and given an 18-week suspended prison sentence in 2011, the Oxford Mail newspaper said. Following a television drama on the scandal aired this month, the UK government said it would introduce new legislation to make sure the victims of the Post Office scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said in the Commons that a new upfront payment of 75,000 pounds ($95,000) will be offered to a group of former postmasters who took their case against the Post Office to the High Court in 2019. Patel's son, Varchas, said that his parents are "really pleased" that the television show raised public awareness, "but they are still battling for compensation". "There has been no payment at all from the government despite my fatheras conviction being quashed and the court saying my dad had no stain on his character. Iam angry it has taken a drama to speed things up but pleased as well -- a mixed bag of emotions," Varchas told the Oxford Mail. Patel, whose conviction was quashed by Southwark Crown Court in 2020, has been left disabled and 'bedridden' after the years-long ordeal, according to his son. aMy dad's 70 and heas been in hospital on two occasions in the past seven or eight months. He has a heart condition. I am concerned because of his bad physical health, we do not know what is around the corner," Varchas said. Varchas was 23 when Patel was prosecuted and remembers seeing a prison officer come upstairs to the flat and put an ankle tag on his father. The UK government paid more than 148 million pounds to 2,700 victims so far across different compensation systems, according to a Nikkei Asia report. Last year, the government said that each individual whose convictions were overturned would be entitled to 600,000 pounds in compensation. The scandal involved at least 700 post office managers who faced prosecution by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015. Many of them have spent years asserting their innocence, citing issues with a new accounting and stocktaking software program called Horizon, developed by Fujitsu, a Japanese IT company. Some of the managers served prison sentences after being convicted of false accounting and theft, and many of them were financially ruined, and some committed suicide. Fujitsu is facing growing calls to compensate post office operators who were wrongly prosecuted based on data from its faulty accounting software. Mumbai, Jan 14 : Actress Shriya Saran, who was last seen in 'Music School', attended the wedding reception of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan's daughter Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare, along with her husband Andrei Koscheev. While the couple was getting papped by the media personnel stationed at the venue, Andrei kissed his wife. Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) Actress Shriya Saran, who was last seen in aMusic Schoola, attended the wedding reception of Bollywood superstar Aamir Khanas daughter Ira Khan and Nupur Shikhare, along with her husband Andrei Koscheev. While the couple was getting papped by the media personnel stationed at the venue, Andrei kissed his wife. The moment, captured in video, is now gaining momentum as the actress blushes in the video. In the video, the actress can be seen wearing a golden colour saree with an off-white colour blouse. Her husband was wearing blue colour formals. Both were posing for the shutterbugs when he kissed her and she just canat stop blushing. Fans were also quick enough to comment. Many dropped heart emojis. The reception of the Bollywood superstar Aamir Khanas daughter Ira Khan and her husband Nupur Shikhare was a starry affair. The event organised at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in the BKC area of Mumbai saw not just the entire Bollywood reuniting but also witnessed celebrities from different walks of life. The whole of Bollywood, including Bollywood superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, actress Katrina Kaif, Oscar-winning music composer A.R. Rahman, veteran actress Rekha. Nupur Shikhare proposed to Ira in 2022 and is the official fitness trainer of Ira and Aamir. The pre-wedding festivities started with a Haldi ceremony in Mumbai. The couple made it official on January 3. They signed the marriage registration document in the presence of friends and family at the Taj Lands End in the Bandra area of Mumbai. New Delhi, Jan 14 : Ride-hailing platform Uber on Sunday flagged off its EV auto rickshaw service in Ayodhya, under its category Uber Auto, in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The company said it will also start operations of UberGo - its affordable car service along with Uber Intercity in Ayodhya that will support all inter-city travel needs to the holy city from popular destinations within Uttar Pradesh to connect the temple city with various destinations. "With this expansion, we are not only providing enhanced mobility options for tourists and pilgrims but also unlocking earning opportunities for many more in the region,' said Prabhjeet Singh, President Uber India and South Asia. The expansion into Ayodhya aligns with Uber's growth plans in India, said the company. Today, Uber is available across 125 cities. "We are committed to contributing to Ayodhya's tourism, promoting a seamless travel experience and fostering sustainable economic growth," said Singh. Earlier this month, Uber started testing its flexible pricing service in several tier 2 and 3 cities in India to expand its user base, allowing commuters to bid a particular fare for their ride. Caller Uber Flex, the flexible pricing service was tested for the first time in India in October last year. The service has now been expanded to cities like Aurangabad, Ajmer, Bareilly, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Gwalior, Indore, Jodhpur and Surat, among other cities. Kolkata, Jan 14 : : West Bengal Police on Sunday said that they have arrested two more persons in connection with the attack on ED and CAPF personnel which took place at Sandeshkhali in North 23 Parganas district on January 5. Police have identified the two accused as Ali Hossain Gharami and Sanjay Mandal. Police said that Gharami was arrested from Minakhan in North 24 Parganas district and Mandal was arrested from Nazat area in the same district. With Sundayas arrest, the total number of arrests in the case has risen to four. On January 12, the police also arrested Sukamal Sardar and Mehboob Molla. They were identified from the video footage of the attack. However, the alleged mastermind behind the attack and Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, at whose residence ED sleuths attempted the raid, is still absconding. The ED has issued a lookout notice against Shahjahan. The border outposts of the Border Security Force (BSF) have also been alerted in anticipation that the absconding ruling leader might escape to neighbouring Bangladesh, whose international border with India is very close to the place where the attack took place. West Bengal Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the police is aware about Shahjahan and is providing protection to the absconding leader. New Delhi, Jan 14 : After an encounter, the Crime Branch of Delhi Police arrested a gangster of Kala Jathedi-Raju Basodi gang, who was wanted in a murder case registered in Rajasthan, an official said on Sunday. The accused was identified as Vicky a.k.a Kartoosh (29), a resident of district Rohtak, Haryana and he is wanted in many heinous cases including murder, extorting etc. The Special Commissioner of Police (Crime), Ravindra Singh Yadav said that specific input was received that a wanted criminal Vicky would go to Dwarka via Chhawla Drain for committing heinous crime. It was also noted that Vicky consistently carried firearms and was not hesitant to attack or fire upon police teams. "The team positioned themselves near Chhawla Drain road, Delhi, and initiated picket checking. At approximately 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, they intercepted a motorcycle coming from Chawla Drain road, signalling the rider, who attempted to flee but lost control, causing the motorcycle to slip during a turn," said the officer. Despite being ordered to surrender, the accused fired four rounds at the police team. "In self-defence, the police team returned fire, successfully apprehending the accused along with his illegal weapons and ammunition," said Yadav. During interrogation, Vicky revealed that in 2018, he was released on bail in a murder case in Sonipat, Haryana, and started working as a financier. "He had a feud with individuals from his village who had killed his childhood friend. In 2022, he joined the Anil Chippi-Kala Jathedi-Raju Basodi gang, tasked with providing logistics and shooters for extortion activities in the Delhi/NCR area, working on a contract basis," said Yadav. It was also revealed that Vicky had hired two shooters, Kartik and Pardeep, to extort money from property dealers. Following his instructions on November 7, 2023, Kartik and Pardeep opened fire on a property dealer in the Om Vihar area of Uttam Nagar, Delhi, dropping a handwritten letter at the office on the direction of Dinesh Karala. "The letter demanded a sum of Rupees two crore from the property dealer, threatening violence if the demand was not met. The shooters fired rounds in the air while escaping, causing fear and panic in the community," said the Special CP. Kartik and Pardeep had previously been arrested by the Crime Branch with two sophisticated pistols and two cartridges. "In this case, Vicky provided these weapons for extorting money from the property dealer, and the Crime Branch had been actively searching for him," said the Special CP. In November 2023, Vicky was hired by a lawyer to eliminate a rival. "Following the lawyer's instructions, he committed a murder during a wedding function in Rajasthan, resulting in injuries to an Army personnel and an Uttar Pradesh Police personnel from gun shots," the Special CP added. New Delhi, Jan 14 : The Delhi Police's Crime Branch arrested a gangster of Kala Jathedi-Raju Basodi gang, who was wanted in a murder case registered in Rajasthan, after an encounter. an official said on Sunday. The accused was identified as Vicky a.k.a Kartoosh, 29, a resident of Haryana's Rohtak and wanted in many heinous cases including murder, extortion etc. Special Commissioner of Police, Crime, Ravindra Singh Yadav said that specific input was received that a wanted criminal Vicky would go to Dwarka via Chhawla Drain for committing heinous crime. It was also noted that Vicky consistently carried firearms and was not hesitant to attack or fire upon police teams. "The team positioned themselves near Chhawla Drain road, Delhi, and initiated picket checking. At approximately 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, they intercepted a motorcycle coming from Chawla Drain road, signalling the rider, who attempted to flee but lost control, causing the motorcycle to slip during a turn," said the officer. Despite being ordered to surrender, the accused fired four rounds at the police team. "In self-defence, the police team returned fire, successfully apprehending the accused along with his illegal weapons and ammunition," said Yadav. During interrogation, Vicky revealed that in 2018, he was released on bail in a murder case in Sonipat, Haryana, and started working as a financier. "He had a feud with individuals from his village who had killed his childhood friend. In 2022, he joined the Anil Chippi-Kala Jathedi-Raju Basodi gang, tasked with providing logistics and shooters for extortion activities in the Delhi/NCR area, working on a contract basis," said Yadav. It was also revealed that Vicky had hired two shooters, Kartik and Pardeep, to extort money from property dealers. Following his instructions on November 7, 2023, Kartik and Pardeep opened fire on a property dealer in the Om Vihar area of Uttam Nagar, Delhi, dropping a handwritten letter at the office on the direction of Dinesh Karala. "The letter demanded a sum of Rupees two crore from the property dealer, threatening violence if the demand was not met. The shooters fired rounds in the air while escaping, causing fear and panic in the community," said the Special CP. Kartik and Pardeep had previously been arrested by the Crime Branch with two sophisticated pistols and two cartridges. "In this case, Vicky provided these weapons for extorting money from the property dealer, and the Crime Branch had been actively searching for him," said the Special CP. In November 2023, Vicky was hired by a lawyer to eliminate a rival. "Following the lawyer's instructions, he committed a murder during a wedding function in Rajasthan, resulting in injuries to an Army personnel and an Uttar Pradesh Police personnel from gun shots," the Special CP added. Mumbai, Jan 14 : Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Milind M. Deora quit the grand old party early on Sunday and was warmly welcomed to the ruling Shiv Sena fold by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde here. Deora, 47, was accompanied by his wife Pooja Shetty-Deora and other family members at the induction ceremony held at the Chief Minister's official residence 'Varsha'. Shinde welcomed Deora with a stole, the party flag and flowers amid thunderous cheers and clapping from his supporters. Besides Deora, several leaders and activists of Mumbai Congress and its allied organisations from the city and state units also joined the Shiv Sena, sounding alarm bells for the grand 139-year-old party which was founded here in 1885. The departure shook the Mumbai Congress as a large number of office-bearers and senior activists also deserted the party to join Shiv Sena along with Deora. The development could have political repercussions for the Congress coming strategically ahead of the BMC elections plus the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls all due this year. The Congress which remained coy and smug amid the vertical splits in the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by former CM Uddhav Thackeray (June 2022) and later the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) headed by ex-CM Sharad Pawar (July 2023), was also politically mauled. Soon after joining the Shiv Sena, Deora said his father, late Murli S. Deora, and himself had enjoyed long familial ties with the family of Eknath Shinde and late Balasaheb Thackeray. The ex-union minister also lauded the "visionary and successful" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Modi, and said he would strive to strengthen their hands through the Shinde's leadership. He slammed the Congress, saying the party has changed drastically in the past over the past three decades, and now it has no place for talented and capable people. "The same Congress party which had ushered in economic reforms under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is now abusing industrialists, businesspersons and the government doing good work," said Deora. The Deora scion said he believed in politics of 'GAIN' (growth, aspiration, inclusivity and nationalism), rather than 'PAIN' (personal, attacks, injustice and negativity), and lamented how the Congress has always opposed the laudable performance by PM Modi. He said that it was imperative to take Mumbai and Maharashtra on the fast-track to development through Shinde and PM Modi, and said he was thankful for the opportunity to work under their leadership for the people of the state. Before starting his new saffron innings, Deora went and prayed at the famed Siddhivinayak Temple and offered respects at the memorial of late Balasaheb Thackeray in Dadar. Incidentally, amid the political 'kite-flying' of more than four years, Deora finally decided his new roost on Makar Sankranti dawn when he abruptly announced his resignation from the Congress. Deora himself tweeted the news, though he had chosen to be in a denial mode till as late as Saturday night, and even the Opposition MVA allies expressed doubts if he would actually take the plunge. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia. ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party, " said Milind Deora, the son of late Congress stalwart, former union minister and a 7-time MP Murli S. Deora, on snapping ties with the Congress. (Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in) Ahmedabad, Jan 14 : Home Minister Amit Shah took part in the Uttarayan celebrations on Sunday by offering prayers at the Lord Jagannath temple in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Shah also engaged in the festive spirit by flying kites alongside his supporters in Vejalpur. He also extended his heartfelt wishes for Uttarayan, expressing hope for joy, prosperity, and health for everyone. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marked the occasion of Makar Sankranti by initiating a week-long campaign to clean religious sites across the state. The Chief Minister took part in cleaning activities at a temple close to Gandhinagar. The Chief Minister -- in his message -- highlighted the Pran Pratishta of Lord Ram at Ayodhya scheduled for January 22 and urged the public to engage in a nationwide cleanliness drive for places of worship. The campaign, he said, is aligned with the PM Modi's vision which is set to run from January 14 to January 22. --IANS janvi/dan New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi addresses party leaders and workers during Victory celebrations at BJP headquarters. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will release the first installment to 1 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) scheme under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) programme, an official said on Sunday. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the first installment will be released on January 15 at 12 noon via video conference. The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of PM-JANMAN on the occasion. In line with the Prime Minister's efforts towards the vision of Antyodaya to empower the last person at the last mile, PM-JANMAN was launched for the socio-economic welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on November 15, 2023, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The PMO said that PM-JANMAN, with a budget of approximately Rs 24,000 crore, focuses on 11 critical interventions through 9 ministries. It is aimed to improve socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, electricity, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. A public hearing on annexing and rezoning land in unincorporated Kendall County for a proposed 813-unit residential development in Oswego has been continued for a second time. D.R. Horton Midwest is proposing to build Sonoma Trails on 228 undeveloped acres between the intersection of Wolfs Crossing Road and Fifth Street and the southwest corner of Wolfs Crossing Road and Roth Road. The northwest and south portions of the property are currently in unincorporated Kendall County, Oswego officials said, with the rest in the village. The Oswego Village Board approved a concept plan for Sonoma Trails in August 2022 which included a mix of single-family homes and multi-family units in the development. The developer at the Jan. 9 Village Board meeting requested the public hearing be extended to Jan. 23 to give time to finalize the annexation agreement, a request the board approved. The public hearing was originally set in December before being moved to Jan. 9. Village officials had said in addition to working on the annexation agreement, the developer is also working on significant improvements along Wolfs Crossing that would be incorporated in the development. The developer is also working on site plan modifications based on comments from the villages Planning and Zoning Commission and Village Board members, village officials said. D.R. Horton has expanded into 105 markets across 33 states since 2002. In the Chicago area, the firm has built more than 1,000 homes in communities that span from Wonder Lake in the north, Manhattan in the south, Hobart, Indiana, in the east and Yorkville/Oswego in the west, representatives have said. Mumbai, Jan 14 : Telugu superstar Ram Charan, who is known for 'RRR', celebrated the Makar Sankranti with his family. The actor even flipped dosas like a pro. The actor's wife Upasana Konidela took to her social media on Sunday and shared heartfelt moments from the mega family's Sankranti celebration. The festivities, held in Bangalore, witnessed the couple, along with little mega princess Klin Kaara and their furry companion Rhyme. Upasana's Instagram story offers an intimate look into the Konidela family's Sankranti gathering, as they flew to Bangalore to celebrate with the entire family. The newlyweds Varun Tej and Lavanya were also spotted in Upasana's stories making the memories even more special. The Konidela family's Sankranti celebration, marked by simplicity and togetherness, left fans eager for more glimpses of the iconic family's cherished moments. Recently, Ram Charan welcomed the legendary composer A. R. Rahman onboard his upcoming film tentatively titled 'RC 16'. The 'Rangasthalam' star took to his X, erstwhile Twitter and shared the update with his fans as he wished the composer on his birthday. He shared a poster of the film as he wrote, "Happy Birthday @arrahman sir, wish you health and happiness always". 'Rc 16' is helmed by director Buchi Babu Sana, who is known for the National Award-winning film 'Uppena'. Buchi Babu Sana has crafted a compelling script with a universal appeal, and the makers plan to unveil details about the remaining cast and crew soon. The film is produced by Venkata Satish Kilaru, presented by Mythri Movie Makers, under the banners of Vriddhi Cinemas and Sukumar Writings. Kabul, Jan 14 : Three security personnel were injured after a suicide bomber detonated explosives he was wearing in the Governor's building in Zaranj city, capital of Afghanistan's Nimroz province, on Sunday, local media reported. The suicide bomber detonated the explosives after he was identified by security forces, spokesperson for the security command of Nimroz province told Tolonews. Interior Ministry's spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani posted on X that three security members were injured in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Imphal, Jan 14 : Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi led 10-years governance as "anyay kaal" (period of injustice), the Congress on Sunday launched the 66-day long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur's Thoubal district. Imphal, Jan 14 (IANS) Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi led 10-years governance as "anyay kaal" (period of injustice), the Congress on Sunday launched the 66-day long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur's Thoubal district. The yatra will culminate in Mumbai on March 20 after covering 6,713 km through 15 states. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge flagged off the Yatra after paying tributes in the Thoubal district's Khongjom War Memorial, which was built in memory of those killed in the last Anglo-Manipur War in 1891. Besides Manipur (107 km in one day), the yatra, which is a hybrid Yatra -- including bus and padyatra -- will cover four other northeastern states -- Nagaland (257 km in two days), Arunachal Pradesh (55 km in one day), Meghalaya (five km in one day) and Assam (833 km in eight days). Before starting the Yatra, addressing a huge gathering, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi said that a large number of people including women and children, died during over eight month long ethnic riot but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no time for Manipur. "We understand the pain, sadness and loss of huge lives and we promise you to bring back the harmony, peace and affection in Manipur," Rahul Gandhi said. He said that during his earlier visit to Manipur in June last year, he has never witnessed such a horrifying situation in the state since he joined politics in 2004. "We got huge response in our earlier Kanyakumari to Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra (September 2022 to 30 January 2023) and interacted with lakhs of people," Rahul Gandhi said. He said that during the last Yatra, Congress listened to people from all walks of life and is again keen to listen to peoples' 'Man-Ki-Baat'. He said that the BJP-RSS have been spreading their hatred through their political campaign. Rahul said that the country has been passing through a great political injustice, monopolisation in the economy destroying the small and medium industries. "Backward people, dalits and tribals have no role in the governance," he said. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in his speech criticising Prime Minister Modi, said that in the name of vote bank politics he is now 'chanting ram nam' and visiting everywhere but staying away from violence ravaged Manipur. "The BJP before the 2019 election promised to give two crore jobs every year... where are the jobs... injustice has been done with all sections of people. Through Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, we promised to return justice to every one -- dalit, tribals, women, youths," Kharge said. He said that during the regime of former Congress Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi six northeastern states -- Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh -- got their statehood and all kinds of development were undertaken. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah; former Rajasthan Chief Minister and former deputy chief minister Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot; Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Pawan Khera, Pramod Tiwari, Gaurav Gogoi, Salman Khurshid, Digvijaya Singh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Karti Chidambaram among other leaders participated in the Yatra. Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who was suspended by Mayawati-led The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), announced that he would join Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, saying he would be failing in his duty as a politician if he did not join "biggest drive for unity and justice". The 66-day long yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 100 parliamentary constituencies in 15 states, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. Rahul Gandhi during the yatra will address small public gatherings and interact with people, civil society members and various organisations. Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and a host of other party leaders earlier on Sunday reached Imphal from New Delhi by a chartered flight and went straight to Thoubal district and paid homage at the Khongjom War Memorial. The Manipur Congress leaders accorded a rousing reception to the Congress leaders at the Imphal airport. The Congress leaders then went to a nearby private ground, named 'Nyay Maidan' from where the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra was flagged off. The Yatra will go to Nagaland on Monday and cover 257 km in five districts in two days. New Delhi, Jan 14 : An NRI woman was allegedly raped by a private company's CEO in a five star hotel in Delhi's Chanakyapuri area, a police official said. The official said that an FIR under section 376 of the Indian Penal Code has been filed at Chanakyapuri police station as per a complaint received from an Indian-origin US citizen. aShe has alleged that on September 14, 2023, the incident of sexual assault happened with her by the accused in a five star hotel of New Delhi district," tjhe senior police official said. As per the complaint, the victim woman was working as an Assistant General Manager at a company where the accused was a CEO, and was known to her uncle and had helped her in getting this job. "Further investigation is in progress on the basis of evidence on record," the official added. Milind Deora yet another Rahul's 'Young Brigade' member to quit Congress. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : Milind Deora is the latest member of the so-called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Young Brigade' who has quit the grand old party. "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my familyas 55-year relationship with the party.a," Deora, who joined the Shiv Sena, posted on 'X'. Jyotiraditya Scindia, Jitin Prasada were the other leaders of the 'Young Brigade' who had left Congress to join the BJP. Not just the young leaders, there has been a steady procession of Congress leaders deserting it to the join the formidable BJP. Other members of the 'Young Brigade' like Sachin Pilot, former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister are part of the Congress apex body, Congress Working Committee. Pilot is the General Secretary in charge of Chhattisgarh. Also considered in the next-gen Congress leadership, Randeep Singh Surjewala and Ajay Maken are also part of the CWC. Ajay Maken is the Congress Treasurer. Surjewala is General Secretary in-charge of Karnataka. Jitendra Singh and Gourav Gogoi, considered as Rahul Gandhi's confidantes, are also part of the CWC. Singh is General Secretary in charge of Assam with additional charge of Madhya Pradesh. Deepender Singh Hooda, another member of the 'Young Brigade' is also a permanent invitee to the CWC. --IANS nat/san/pgh Hyderabad, Jan 14 : An Indian Army soldier was killed after his throat was slit by Chinese Manja in Hyderabad. Naik Kagithala Koteswar Reddy, 30, who was riding a two-wheeler, died in the incident occurred on Indira Reddy Flyover in Langer House on Saturday evening. The profusely bleeding soldier was admitted to a hospital, where he succumbed. Koteswar Reddy was a native of Pedda Valteru in Visakhapatnam district of Andhra Pradesh. Police registered a case under Indian Penal Code's (IPC) sSection 304 (II) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder). The incident highlights how use of manja or glass coated nylon/synthetic thread for kite flying is continuing unabated despite the ban by authorities. The Forest Department claimed to have taken various measures to implement the ban on use of manja in kite flying during Sankranti festival. The state government had issued orders in 2016 imposing total ban on manja to save birds as well as for the safety of humans. The Environment, Forests, and Science and Technology department had issued orders imposing a ban on procuring, stocking, sale and use of manja. --IANS ms/vd Seoul, Jan 14 : North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) into the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said, in Pyongyang's first missile launch this year. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 2:55 p.m. and the missile flew around 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the sea, Yonhap news agency reported. The JCS strongly condemned the launch, calling it a "clear provocative act," adding that it shared data on the North Korean missile with U.S. and Japanese authorities, with an analysis on its specifications under way. "Under a firm South Korea-US combined defense posture, our military will closely monitor North Korea's various activities and maintain capabilities and readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocation," it said. The latest launch took place amid heightened tensions after North Korea fired artillery shells near the inter-Korean maritime border in the Yellow Sea from Jan. 5 to 7. The firing prompted the South to stage live-fire drills from its northwestern border islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong for the first time in over six years. The launch also came just before North Korean state media said its Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will visit Russia from Monday through Wednesday in the latest sign of growing bilateral ties. Seoul and Washington have accused Pyongyang of delivering arms to Moscow after the North's leader Kim Jong-un traveled to Russia's Far East in September for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 : Odisha Commissionerate Police has arrested one fraudster for cheating a contractor of more than Rs 7 lakh by impersonating a senior IPS officer and Superintendent of Police in the state vigilance department, said Goutam Kisan, the ACP Zone-V on Sunday. The police have identified the accused as Manoj Kumar Majhi (34) of Krushnaprasad area in Puri district. On May 31, 2023, Manoj Kumar Choudhury, a native of Rayagada district, filed a complaint at the cyber police station in Bhubaneswar that an unknown person had duped the complainant of Rs 7, 60,000. Based on the complaint, the Cyber Police registered a case and launched an investigation into the matter. Police later nabbed Majhi near his village and seized Rs 2.6 lakh in cash, six ATMs cards and other incriminating materials from his possession. "The accused contacted the complainant, Choudhury, a contractor, over telephone identifying himself as a senior IPS officer and the Superintendent of Police in the Vigilance department. During the conversation, he told Choudhury that several projects of the vigilance department would start soon and asked him whether he was interested in doing the building work," said ACP Kisan. When Choudhury expressed his interest in the building work of the Vigilance Divisional Office at Therubali and Rayagada, Majhi asked him to pay Rs 5 lakh as advance which he paid accordingly in April last year. He later again took Rs 2,6,0000 from Choudhury to help him get the buildings' contract after a few days. However, he later started avoiding Choudhury following the receipt of the advance money and also switched off his mobile phone. Finding no other way, Choudhury finally lodged a complaint with the police. "The accused Majhi used to work as the psychology lecturer at a College in Udala area of Mayurbhanj district. However, later he started cheating people through various means. We have so far found his involvement in five other cases of cheating including one case registered by the Economic Offence Wing of the state crime branch," added Kisan. --IANS gyan/dan Chennai, Jan 14 : The Madurai Police on Sunday said that the bull owners and tamers with passes issued by the police will only be allowed to entry the famous Avaniyapuram Jallikattu, which will take place on Monday, Pongal day. Avaniyapuram Jallikattu is the famous bull taming event held annually in Madurai district as part of the Pongal harvest festival of Tamil Nadu. Madurai City Police Commissioner J.Loganathan said that the passes with photo identity cards have already been issued and owners and tamers should also carry fitness certificates issued by the medical officer. He said that if bull owners and tamers are found to be in an inebriated state, they will not be allowed to enter the arena. He said that the police have informed the bull owners and tamers not to use knives or sharp weapons to cut the nose rope of the bulls. "The district administration has already appointed a trained person to cut them. Police have also directed the owners of the houses along the Jallikattu venue not to allow any persons other than their relatives to witness the event from their premises," he said. He said that if any law and order situation arises due to the presence of strangers, the owners of the houses who permitted them inside will face stringent action. He said that the bull owner and one assistant will be allowed to take the bull to the venue through Mullai Nagar and Avaniyapuram police station to join in the queue after midnight of Sunday to proceed towards the Jallikattu venue. He said that traffic has also been regulated, anticipating huge crowds at the Jallikattu event. New Delhi: An airplane stands at the airport as fog engulfs the area on a cold winter morning. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : Around 150 flights were delayed for hours due to traffic congestion at the IGI Airport here on Sunday, while 11 flights were diverted, and some cancelled as low visibility conditions due to dense fog disrupted operations, causing chaos for passengers and airlines alike. An official said that between 4.30 a.m. and 12 noon, a total of 11 flights, including three international flights, were diverted. Eight flights were redirected to Jaipur, while one each were sent to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Shimla. The dense fog not only impacted domestic routes but also caused substantial delays and cancellations for overseas services. Airlines took to social media to inform passengers about potential disruptions. Akasa Air posted on X: "Due to adverse weather (fog) at Delhi, Chennai, Varanasi, Bagdogra & Lucknow, our flight schedules have been affected, which may lead to consequential delays. We understand this may impact your travel plans and regret the inconvenience..." SpiceJet posted: "Due to expected poor visibility in Delhi (DEL), Amritsar (ATQ), Jammu (IXJ), Varanasi (VNS), Gorakhpur (GOP), Patna (PAT), Bagdogra (IXB), Darbhanga (DBR), Guwahati (GAU) and Tezpur (TEZ) all departures/arrivals and their consequential flights may get affected." Passengers took to social media to express their frustration with the disruptions. Udit, a user on X, complained about a 4-hour plus delay on IndiGo flight 6E 2346 from Delhi to Coimbatore, and the inconvenience it caused in finding local transportation and accommodation. Another user, Abhi Anand, criticised Vistara: "@airvistara, worst experience ever, been stranded at Delhi T3. No update on UK627, staff unsupportive. Telling nothing!!" In response, Vistara replied: "Hi Abhi, our commitment is to uphold on-time operations; however, we regret to inform you that flight UK601 experienced a delay due to air traffic congestion in Delhi and bad weather. Sometimes, such delays are beyond our control, despite our best efforts." User Satish posted: "Have been waiting at Gorakhpur airport with old parents 80+, since morning 1100 to board IndiGo flight 6e5288. Constant delays to now 2010 departure. The inbound flight is yet to get airborne from Delhi. Hellish experience especially with old parents." An IndiGo spokesman said: "Due to the low visibility and dense fog conditions across North India, IndiGo flight operations were impacted on Jan 14, 2024. This had a cascading effect on our operations throughout the day. Our staff kept passengers apprised of all delays and cancellations across airports and made every possible effort to facilitate the passengers. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers." --IANS ssh/vd Leading global airline British Airways on Thursday announced the launch of a new A350-1000 aircraft between Bengaluru and London as part of its 6.5 billion pound (Rs 60,817 crore) global investment plan across touch points.. Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Jan 14 : Recent social media posts have raised concerns about British Airways' customer service practices after accusations of discriminatory behaviour and questionable policies came from the high-profile individuals. On Saturday, Ashwini Bhide, a senior civil servant (IAS 95 Maharashtra), took to X, to express her dissatisfaction with British Airways. Bhide, known for her work on Mumbai's Aqua Line metro, accused the airline of downgrading her from premium economy to a lower class at the check-in counter, allegedly citing an overbooking situation. She claimed that not only the false reason was given to her, but she also said that no compensation was offered. This practice is said to be commonplace at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) in Mumbai. "Are you cheating or following discriminatory/racist policies @British_Airways? How come u downgrade a premium economy passenger at the check-in counter on false pretext of overbooking without even paying the price difference, forget about compensation? I'm told this is a common practice by BA @CSMIA Mumbai," Bhide wrote on X. British Airways responded to Bhide's tweet, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused. However, no further details or explanations were provided. Another incident was brought to light on Sunday when Jyoty Singh tweeted about an alleged cultural insensitivity incident involving a British Airways staff member at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Singh claimed that a staff member at check-in desk 19, counter 3, was ridiculing a group's culture and traditional clothing in front of customers. When confronted, the staff member reportedly defended her actions, stating that it was her opinion. "Hi @British_Airways your staff member at terminal 3, check-in 19 (desk 3) at @Schiphol. Amsterdam was ridiculing a group's culture and their traditional clothing in front of customers. When confronted that's unkind and unprofessional she said that's her opinion & we need to deal with it," wrote Singh. British Airways responded to Singh's tweet, acknowledging the incident and asserting that such behaviour is not consistent with their values. The airline promised to internally assess the matter, ensuring it does not align with their standards. "This is disappointing to hear and isn't consistent with our values, Jyoty. We appreciate your comments and can assure you this will be taken onboard and assessed internally. And we won't be doing a thing about it because our PR team doesn't actually make any decisions and our HR team doesn't actually care. All the best! "the airline's tweet read. Srinagar, Jan 14 : Indian Army's Northern Command chief Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi on Sunday said that the Army has started acting against terrorists in Rajouri-Poonch and the results would soon be visible. Addressing media on the sidelines of a function here today, he said: "We have started acting against terrorists in Rajouri-Poonch belt with focus on strengthening the synergy between different agencies of the security. "In the last few years, the Rajouri-Poonch area has witnessed prosperity. Our neighbouring country was not able to digest this peace and prosperity and so they are promoting terrorism in the area." aWe have started to take strong action in this regard and you will see that terrorism would be completely controlled," Lt Gen Dwivedi said. He said that they declared 2023 a zero-infiltration year as there was no infiltration from the LoC. "Among terrorists that have been killed, only 21 were locals whereas 55 were foreign terrorists. In 2022, 122 local youth picked up arms and in 2023, only 19 locals joined terrorism. We will continue to ensure that local terrorist recruitment is stopped," the army commander said. Islamabad, Jan 14 : Five Pakistani soldiers were killed and two others, including an officer, injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeted a security vehicle in the Buleda area of Balochistan's Kech district, the media reported. Separately, security forces killed four militants in two intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's North Waziristan and Dera Ismail Khan districts, Dawn reported. In the Kech incident, the security forces vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb while returning to the Gillisar checkpoint after patrolling, the Dawn reported. Makran Commissioner Saeed Ahmed Umrani confirmed the details of the attack. "An improvised explosive device planted by the roadside was detonated when the vehicle of the security personnel was passing through the area," he told the Dawn by phone. Following the blast, a brief exchange of fire also occurred with the attackers, who eventually fled the scene. Meanwhile, the first operation in KP took place in Mir Ali tehsil of North Waziristan, where an exchange of fire resulted in the death of two militants, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. These militants -- identified as Commander Tabbasum a.k.a. Qadarman and Sajid -- were engaged in numerous acts of terrorism, including attacks on security forces, the ISPR said, the Dawn reported. In a separate joint operation by the police and the security forces in the Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, two more militants were eliminated. New Delhi, Jan 14 : An IndiGo passenger took to social media to express his frustration after enduring what he described as the "worst flight experience" of his life with the airline. On Friday, the 10 p.m. Kolkata-Bengaluru flight, normally a routine journey, turned into a nightmarish ordeal for the passenger marked by a series of delays, totlaling a staggering seven hours. The user named Deedy, in a series of posts on X, said: "I had the worst flight experience of my life last night, with Indigo. My 10 PM Calcutta-Bangalore flight left at 4.41 AM, after 6 delays totaling 7 hrs. I missed an international flight. 'Always on-time' is false advertising from @IndiGo6E. Iad avoid flying them again." According to the disgruntled passenger, IndiGo, despite facing delays exceeding six hours, failed to offer the mandatory alternate flight and refund as required by aviation laws. Deedy outlined the sequence of delays, ranging from half an hour to a staggering four hours, before the flight eventually departed at 4.41 a.m. arriving at its destination at 7.02 a.m. At approximately 12.20 AM, frustrated and realising the impact on his international connection, Deedy decided to cancel his IndiGo flight and book a direct flight to San Francisco. He claimed it took the IndiGo team an additional two hours, until 2.20 a.m., to cancel his flight and return his checked-in luggage. Deedy alleged that IndiGo employees initially resisted the cancellation, stating, "we won't do cancellations". Adding insult to injury, Deedy also said that the misleading information provided by some IndiGo employees who dismissed the delays as "regulation procedure." Furthermore, he shared an encounter with a person who condescendingly advised him to keep "at least TWELVE hours between flights" for international travel. Deedy clarified that the delays were not due to fog, a common occurrence during December to February in India. While certain flights experience fog-related delays of approximately an hour, IndiGo's delays on this occasion were unrelated to adverse weather conditions. Expressing his frustration, he posted: "Absolutely zero respect for other people's time and money." In response to the tweets, IndiGo issued a statement, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused to Deedy and assuring him of a full refund, which he would receive between 5-7 business days. The airline acknowledged the importance of travellers' arrangements and claimed that such experiences were not reflective of their intended level of service. Jaipur, Jan 14 : Six people were killed while five others were injured as two cars collided in Rajasthan's Sikar on Sunday, police said. The collision, which occurred at around 4.50 p.m. on the Jaipur-Bikaner (NH-52) highway near Laxmangarh in the district, was so severe that both the cars were completely shattered. On receiving the information, police reached the spot and took out the bodies with the help of local people. The bodies stuck in the badly-mangled vehicles were taken out with great difficulty. Sikar MP Sumedhanand Saraswati also reached the spot. He said that Chief Minister has been briefed about the incident and that the state government will facilitate treatment of the injured. The accident occurred as an SUV coming from Laxmangarh towards Sikar and the other vehicle, coming from the other direction, crossed the divider to the other side of the road and collided with the SUV, as per local people. Washington, Jan 14 : President Joe Biden and other senior US officials are becoming increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rejection of most of the administration's recent requests related to the war in Gaza, media reports said. Since the October 7 Hamas attack 100 days ago, Biden has given Israel his full backing, with unprecedented military and diplomatic support, even while taking a political hit from part of his base in an election year. That support has largely continued publicly, but behind the scenes, there are growing signs that Biden is losing his patience, US officials said, Axios reported. "The situation sucks and we are stuck. The President's patience is running out," one US official told Axios. "At every juncture, Netanyahu has given Biden the finger," Senator Chris Van Hollen who has been in close contact with US officials about the war, told Axios. "They are pleading with the Netanyahu coalition, but getting slapped in the face over and over again." Biden hasn't spoken to Netanyahu in the 20 days since a tense December 23 call, which a frustrated Biden ended with the words: "This conversation is over." They had spoken almost every other day in the first two months of the war. Before Biden hung up, Netanyahu had rejected his request that Israel release the Palestinian tax revenues it's withholding, Axios reported. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tried to downplay the decrease in communication, telling reporters on Wednesday that "it doesn't say anything" about the state of the relationship. But more and more signs of irritation are emerging. "There is immense frustration," a US official said, Axios reported. The main driver of Biden's frustration is Netanyahu's resistance to moving on requests that are US priorities. In addition to the tax revenue issue, Biden and his advisers believe Israel isn't doing enough to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Axios reported. They're also frustrated by Netanyahu's unwillingness to seriously discuss plans for the day after the war and his rejection of the US plan for a reformed Palestinian Authority to have a role in post-Hamas Gaza. US officials are now growing increasingly concerned that Israel won't meet its timetable to transition to low-intensity operations in Gaza by the end of January, based on where things stand in Gaza, particularly in the southern city of Khan Younis, Axios reported. If Israel doesn't significantly scale down its operations in Gaza - which U.S. officials have been pressing for in hopes of reducing Palestinian casualties, it will likely become increasingly difficult for Biden to maintain the same level of support for Israel's military campaign. Gurugram, Jan 14 : The body of Divya Pahuja, a former Gurugram-based model and girlfriend of slain gangster Sandeep Gadoli that was recovered on January 13 -- eleven days after she was shot dead at a hotel here, was cremated on Sunday by her family members. Divya, 27, was allegedly killed by Abhijeet Singh, the owner of Hotel City Point where she was staying. Her family members performed the last rites here on late Sunday evening. Her body was brought to Gurugram after a medical board conducted an autopsy in Hisar on Sunday afternoon. Divya's body was recovered from a canal in Tohana in Haryana's Fatehabad district on Saturday. "After the postmortem of the body, it was handed over to the family members of Divya. They performed the last rites here in Gurugram," spokesperson of Gurugram Police, Subhash Boken, said. Meanwhile, an accused in the case Balraj Gill, who was arrested on January 11 in Kolkata, has been sent to four-day police custody. Gill had allegedly disposed of Divya's body after she was killed on January 2. Following his arrest in Kolkata, he was brought to Gurugram, and presented on Sunday at a court that sent him to police custody. According to the police, Divya and Abhijeet were in a relationship. Abhijeet told the police that he killed her in a fit of rage after she refused to delete some of his objectionable photos from her mobile phone. The police are, however, yet to recover the 'murder weapon' which was reportedly thrown away by Abhijeet after killing Divya. Balraj Gill had revealed during the transit remand that he and Ravi Banga had thrown Divya's body in Bakhra Canal in Patiala. Five teams of Gurugram Police were involved in tracking Balraj and Amit who had absconded along with Divya's body since January 2. Divya's body was identified by a tattoo on her back. Also, a clue regarding the whereabouts of the body was received after the arrest of Balraj Gill. In connection with Divya's murder, the police have so far arrested six persons including the prime accused, Abhijeet Singh, his aides Om Prakash, Hemraj, Balraj Gill, Parvesh, and a woman, Megha. The woman had helped Abhijeet in hiding documents and personal belongings of Divya. Om Prakash and Hemraj had helped Abhijeet to drag Divya's body into the boot of a BMW car. Parvesh had supplied the murder weapon to Abhijeet. Divya came in contact with Abhijeet through a jailed gangster, Binder Gujjar. Binder Gujjar is said to be the prime conspirator in the alleged "fake encounter" of gangster Sandeep Gadoli, along with the Gurugram Police, which took place in Mumbai in 2016. Divya was the prime accused in the case. Later, she was arrested in connection with the gangster's murder, and she spent seven years in jail. She was granted bail last year in June by the Bombay High Court. Divya's family has alleged that her murder was conspired by Sandeep Gadoli's family members, along with Abhijeet. Patna, Jan 14 : A man in Bihar's Bhojpur has been arrested for killing his friend over a Rs 500 dispute, police said on Sunday. Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, Pramod Kumar Yadav said that the accused, identified as Ajay Mahto, also tried to mutilate the body as well. "A complaint was filed by a person named Vinod Singh that his nephew Mohan Singh was found missing since January 10 from his native village Bada Basantpur under Mufassil police station in the district. His dead body was found a couple of days later. We constituted a team and managed to arrest the main accused of this case," he said. The accused confessed that he had a dispute of Rs 500 with the victim. On January 10, the accused brought Mohan Singh from home for a liquor party. When Singh became inebriated, accused Ajay Mahto throttled his neck until he was dead. He also tried to remove his eyes using fingers. However, he failed in his attempt," the SP said, adding that they were interrogating the accused to find out if there was involvement of other persons in the crime. Bhubaneswar, Jan 14 : One of the crew members of the container ship, 'MV Debi', that has been detained by the Customs officials at Paradip port following the recovery of cocaine valued at around Rs 220 crore in December last year, on Sunday reportedly jumped into the sea. Sources claimed that the Vietnamese national had slit his hand before jumping off the deck. He has suffered severe hand injuries while jumping into the sea. The crew member,working as the third engineer of the ship, was rescued and admitted to the Paradip Port Authority Hospital for treatment. However, the doctors later referred him to SCB medical college and hospital at Cuttack for advanced treatment. Police official on the condition of anonymity said the crew members are under mental depression and he might have tried to commit suicide. However, Customs official or local police authorities are yet to issue any official statement in this connection. Notably, Customs officials seized cocaine weighing 22 kg valued at around Rs 220 crore from the Panama registered container ship during a search on November 30 and December 1, 2023. The Denmark-bound ship reached Paradip International Cargo Terminal at the Paradip port on November 29. The ship with around 21 crew members has been detained since. Bhubaneswar, Jan 15 : The Odisha government has announced a holiday on January 17 for all educational institutions and state government offices in view of the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple Heritage Corridor project in Puri on the day. All the schools, colleges and government offices will remain closed so that the devotees can witness the grand opening event on January 17, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said on Sunday. The government is anticipating that a huge crowd of devotees will throng the holy city to witness the event. Rituals for the grand opening of the project have already commenced in Puri from Friday. Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb, the 'King of Puri', earlier invited priests for the 'Maha Yajna' scheduled to start with the placing of an 'Akhand Deepa' on Monday. The Maha Yajna which will be performed by 108 Sotriya Bramhins will culminate with the offering of Purnahuti by Gajapati in the presence of Chief Minister Patnaik on January 17. Later, Patnaik will walk through the corridor and dedicate the corridor to the public. He is also scheduled to address the devotees present at the event. Several dignitaries including the Sankaracharayas of all the traditional four mutts and the King of Nepal have been invited to attend the grand opening event. The 12th-century shrine and the holy city which is expected to witness a footfall of lakhs of devotees will be under a five-tier security blanket during the event. As many as 66 platoons of police force will be deployed to manage the traffic and security arrangements in the city on the day. Lucknow, Jan 15 : Renowned Urdu poet Munawwar Rana died due to a cardiac arrest at the SGPGI Hospital in Lucknow on Sunday night. He was 71. The poet had been battling with prolonged illness for the past several months and was undergoing treatment at the SGPGI Hospital. He was suffering from cancer, kidney and heart-related ailments. Rana's daughter Sumaiya Rana said that her father will be laid to rest on Monday. Rana's son Tabrez Rana said, "He was hospitalised for 14 to 15 days due to illness. He was first admitted to Medanta in Lucknow and then to SGPGI where he breathed his last around 11 p.m. on Sunday." The poet is survived by his wife, four daughters and a son. Born on November 26, 1952, in Uttar Pradesh's Rae Bareli, Rana was widely recognised for his contributions to Urdu literature and poetry, particularly for his ghazals. His poetic style was notable for its accessibility, as he often incorporated Hindi and Awadhi words while avoiding Persian and Arabic, which resonated with Indian audiences. His most famous poem was 'Maa', which celebrated the virtues of a mother within the traditional ghazal form. Throughout his career, Rana received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2014 for his poetry book 'Shahdaba'. However, he returned the award about a year later due to concerns over rising intolerance in the country. Other awards he received include the Ameer Khusro Award, Mir Taqi Mir Award, Ghalib Award, Dr Zakir Hussain Award, and the Saraswati Samaj Award. His works have been translated into several languages. Rana spent much of his life in Kolkata and had a significant presence in mushairas, both in India and abroad. The poet was also active in political developments in Uttar Pradesh. His daughter Sumaiya is a member of the Samajwadi Party (SP), led by Akhilesh Yadav. 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Created by Scott Frank (The Queen's Gambit) and Tom Fontana (Homicide: Life on the Street), the show co-stars Cara Bossom, Denis Menochet and Louise Bourgoin. "I am a huge Bogart fan, so when [Frank] called and said, 'I want to do this take on Sam Spade,' it was a super-quick 'yes,'" Owen, 59, told UPI in a recent phone interview. "It's a really good, fresh way of reinventing a genre that if you're not careful can kind of fall into traps of things we've seen before," Owen added. "To take him and move him a few years on and plant him as a fish out of water, he has still got this classic 1940s private detective atmosphere, but he is trying to live this very different life in a very quiet part of the south of France and then he is pulled back into his old ways." Although he has been trying to avoid any drama in his own life, Spade jumps right in when he is needed, reactivating the investigative skills he spent years honing. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "He's obviously been trying to shake off that past life," Owen said. "But all of those instincts kick in," he added. "He's kind of seen it all." Spade belongs to a relatively small club of 20th-century, literary sleuths -- including Raymond Chandler's Phillip Marlowe -- of whom noir film fans never seem to tire. "There's a number of characters that make such an impression and they almost become a kind of genre of their own," Owen said. "The Maltese Falcon, and Bogart as that classic private detective, has stood the test of time. It's something we still think of as a very cool character." One of the reasons private eyes from bygone eras are more fun for actors to play is because they relied on their wits, grit and personality to solve cases, as opposed to modern investigators who depend on cell phones, computers and GPS to get their jobs done, according to Owen. "The world was completely different," he said. "If you're writing a crime thing now, there is a huge amount of it that is dealt with on the Internet and through communication," Owen added. "Back then, it was much simpler. But even by moving it forward, there is still an element, even in the early 1960s, that [Spade] is 'old school' in the way he does things." The era-accurate clothes and cars made it easier for Owen to immerse himself in this world and inhabit his character. "I always think locations and sets are hugely important. They are big characters in the piece," the actor said. "It's not as if we were doing 1940s America. We've kind of seen that a lot. To suddenly have this character thrown into beautiful early 1960s France is just a great way of refreshing the whole thing." Owen described the rapid-fire dialogue of Frank's screenplays as "top-level" writing that was a "joy" to speak. "I went back and really studied Bogart and the way he did things and his voice and his rhythms and then when Scott started sending the scripts through, he completely nailed that Bogart rhythm," the actor said. In an effort to capture Bogart's spirit, Owen spent a lot of time rewatching his movies and listening to recordings of him. "I often thought of Bogart as quite laconic and very cool and slightly on his back foot and it's not actually true," he added. "Vocally, he's super-nimble, super-fast." Disney/James Clark By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 01/13/2024 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Faith Martin has explained how her dynamic with her ex, Gerry Turner , and close friend, Theresa Nist , has been "perplexing" and a little "hard" to deal with.Faith, whom Gerry had eliminated in third place after hometown dates on , just attended Gerry and Theresa's wedding, which aired as a two-hour The Golden Wedding special on January 4 on ABC.Although Gerry had shattered Faith's heart on , the 60-year-old high school teacher from Benton City, WA, managed to put on a good face and support Gerry and Theresa on their wedding day."I'm good. I'm surprisingly better than I thought," Faith told Trista Rehn on a recent episode of "The Ben and Ashley I: Almost Famous Podcast.Faith insisted she feels "great" and added, "I'm loving this whole adventure/opportunity to just be part of something so beautiful."Faith also said The Golden Wedding was "amazing" and "so fun," especially because she got to "connect with people in Bachelor Nation" and see Gerry and Theresa "so happy" firsthand."They just walked in [the] morning [after the wedding] and they were just settling in. They're finally together, and it was beautiful. It's a little bit hard still, but yeah," Faith shared.When Trista guessed that Faith still has feelings for Gerry because feelings of love can't just be shut off, Faith replied, "You know, it's perplexing to me."Faith explained, "Right from the get go, Gerry and Theresa and I would talk on the phone -- when it was out that they were together -- and I knew ahead of time. I love them both, and Theresa, Gerry and I are very transparent with our feelings," Faith explained."Theresa would be like, 'He loves you so much,' and I'd be like, 'I love him too! And I love you! And we're going to be friends for life, right?!' And they're like, 'Yes.' So we check in with each other all the time."Even though her relationship with the couple is healthy, Faith confessed she's still healing from her televised breakup with Gerry."I would be still so excited and so happy for them, and then all of a sudden, I would have to go into the bathroom and cry for a little bit," Faith admitted."And then I would come back out and I would call Theresa, or text her, and I'd say, 'Tell me how happy you are and how great this is going to be, because then my heart will heal.'" RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS) A AFaith elaborated, "Every time I talk to her or him and hear about their hope for the future, my heart got more and more healed. But, you know, it's still a little bit hard because I was so in love with him."Faith is apparently worried that she'll never find another man like Gerry."I don't know if I would ever find those qualities in another man," she lamented. "So I felt the loss, for sure. But I am super excited for them both, for sure."Faith also remains optimistic and "hopeful" for the future, now that she knows she's capable of loving a man to the fullest."I think that you go all in with your heart [on this show]. The immediate reaction [to being hurt] is, 'Okay, I'm done [dating]. I'm just going to be done. This didn't work and I'm just going to be done,'" Faith said.But Faith said that once she really thought things through and let the whole Golden Bachelor experience sink in, she realized that competing for Gerry allowed her "to feel again" and to know that she has a heart "that wasn't dead inside."Faith added, "And [the fact I could] I actually could muster up those feelings... made me think, 'I am still alive,' and that I just need to look at [dating again] differently.""It takes a little prodding every now and then, like I tell myself, 'Yes, I'm going to get back out there and start trying to date with purpose and find my person,'" she noted.Faith told Trista that while she hasn't gone on a date yet, she has "flirted a little" and has someone in mind that she'd love to meet up with.Faith wouldn't spill the tea or reveal this mystery man's identity, but she hinted it "may" be someone Bachelor Nation knows.Faith was admittedly "numb" after Gerry broke up with her and she left the show.Faith even began to question if her relationship with Gerry was ever real.Faith told producers in her final words on , "I feel like we connected on a level where I I was ready to marry the dude. I wanted so much more for me and I wanted so much more for my kids, for them to see me have that. Maybe it's just not in the cards for me."And on The Women Tell All, Faith and Gerry had, arguably, the most emotional and heart-wrenching reunion that's ever aired on franchise.Faith and Gerry embraced and cried in each other's arms for nearly 30 seconds, and Gerry apparently felt horrible for what he had said during her hometown date."You want to know what makes me feel the worst?" Gerry asked Faith. "I promised your family something, and I broke that promise. That's so awful. That's awful."Faith assured Gerry that it was "okay," but then he continued, "I promised them that I would protect your heart and I didn't do that.""I know," Faith replied. "[But] I don't feel like you deceived me. I don't feel like you purposely broke my heart in any way, shape or form."Gerry's Final 2 bachelorettes on were Leslie Fhima and Theresa Nist , and he ultimately proposed marriage to Theresa during the finale, which filmed in Costa Rica.Faith, however, apparently thought she was the best person for Gerry and would've made him happy -- at least that's how she felt in November."You could've walked off with me right then [after my hometown] and I'd have been yours for the rest of your life," Faith told star on The Women Tell All."I felt that safe, and I never felt that way... I hope someday I can feel that again, but I thank you for it."Gerry insisted his love for Faith was genuine in those moments but when he had three women left -- who are all "wonderful beyond description" -- he had to find out which one was "right" for him."It's just that one was right," Gerry explained."I get that. I totally get that. But in my heart, it still hurts because it's a loss. I feel such a loss," Faith concluded.Despite having to pick up the pieces of her broken heart, Faith said her family is "really glad" that she went on the televised journey to find love."I've done a lot of crying. They've had to listen to that ," Faith said on the "Bachelor Happy Hour" podcast late last year."And they've kind of gone through it with me because they, you know, fell in love with Gerry a little bit too. So it's hard on them... [But] I think that they've realized we all learned a lot... I think they can see it really has made kind of a life-changing effect for me."Interested in more news? Join our TheA Bachelor Facebook Group Returning home, I reflected on my journey through fashion while in France. With my curiosity piqued, I wondered how technology has affected our contemporary fashion trends? More importantly, does the longevity of our couture stand up against present-day developments? While the holiday season is over, its still important to remain an informed and educated shopper at all times. Former Belgium prime minister Yves Leterme has strongly advocated for the permanent inclusion of India in the United Nations Security Council, asserting that such a move will enhance the council's legitimacy and representation. IMAGE: Belgian ex-PM Yves Leterme (centre) being felicitated by Namit Bajoria, president, Merchant's Chamber of Commerce & Industry during a programme, in Kolkata, January 10, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Leterme contended that there is a need for the United Nations Security Council to adapt to the realities of the 21st century as it requires representation that goes beyond the structures established in the 20th century. Lauding the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for elevating India's geopolitical stature, Leterme said the country has earned the right to a more robust position in the multilateral arena. In an interview with PTI, Leterme applauded the new connectivity initiative, the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor, emphasising its complementary nature to China's Belt and Road Initiative. He said, "It complements and completes the one that is designed by the Chinese." Reflecting on the geopolitical aftermath of the Ukraine-Russian conflict, Leterme advocated for a more equitable distribution of roles in multilateral institutions, particularly urging greater participation from countries such as India, Brazil, and African nations. Leterme emphasised the need for a reset in multilateral institutions, suggesting a rebalancing to address the evolving global power dynamics. He said, "We are all preaching for a better distribution of roles. I think that our multilateral institutions have served us very well after the Second World War. But there is a need to reset and, by reset, I mean we need to rebalance, to make changes in the balance of power." Regarding rising nations like India, some African countries, and Brazil, Leterme insisted they are entitled to significant roles in the multilateral framework. Highlighting the imperative for India to have a more prominent role in multilateralism, Leterme argued, "The legitimacy of the work done by the (UN) Security Council would be enhanced if the P5 is enhanced with India and Brazil, making it more representative. You cannot tackle 21st-century problems with 20th-century setups and solutions." Expressing his support for India's bid for permanent UNSC membership, Leterme said, "The UN Security Council needs to be restructured so that India, Brazil, and some other rising nations have a say and have the right to influence decision-making." India, a strong contender for permanent UNSC membership, has expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in Security Council reform discussions. Currently, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and ten non-permanent members, elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France and the United States and these countries can veto any substantive resolution. Discussing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor Project, Leterme dispelled the notion of competition with China's Belt and Road Initiative, stating, "I don't see it from a competing point of view. The new initiative is very much welcome, because it complements and completes the offer that is existing and the one that is designed by the Chinese." Leterme emphasized the need for improved European Union connectivity with Asia, especially focusing on the existing disconnect between European economies and Asia. He called for a better transport infrastructure to enhance connectivity. The former prime minister underscored the importance of the connectivity partnership between the EU and India, proposing additional investment in infrastructure links for transporting energy goods and water to strengthen ties between the two regions. Commenting on Modi's leadership, Leterme praised India's progress in becoming a trustworthy partner in geopolitics. "I think the performance is there. This is a nation that makes progress, and India is growing in its role of being a trustworthy partner in geopolitics. And I think that's a very important dividend of the policy-making of the last years," he said. Regarding the Free Trade Agreement between India and the EU, Leterme emphasised the EU's interest in concluding the FTA with India, which he considers a powerhouse of the future. "The European Union has not been successful recently in striking trade deals. It is in the interest of the EU to conclude the FTA with India. It should be a priority to work towards drafting a good balanced FTA with India," he said. Leterme said there's a need for the European Union to invest more in the partnership with India. "I think that we have to work with India to better coordinate our position in the G20 System in the multilateral framework. So the European Union should invest more in its privileged relation with India to be allies in geopolitical processes," he said. He emphasized that it is in EU's interest that India play a non-aligned role, cooperating with all states rather than aligning exclusively with the United States or China. Amid the growing unemployment and housing crisis in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Saturday said in the next few months, he will be looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in the country, CTV News reported on Saturday. IMAGE: Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with high school students, at The Forks in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada May 24, 2023. Photograph: Shannon VanRaes/Reuters The minister didn't specify the extent of reduction the government is planning on making in the immigration system. In an interview to CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, the minister said, "This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments "to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis." "That volume is disconcerting," Miller said, with reference to the number of international students in Canada. "It's really a system that has gotten out of control," he added. Miller said he will be looking at the possibility of setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing in both the first and second quarters of this year. Asked why his government is only considering a cap now when the idea was floated months ago, Miller said there's a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking with "a little more granularity" at what individual academic institutions are doing in different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students, CTV News reported. "We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we're actually verifying offer letters," Miller said, adding, "And now it's time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that is having in certain areas." A cap on international students would not be a "one-size-fits-all solution" to housing shortages across Canada, Miller noted. On the number of international students coming to Canada, far outpacing the number of homes the federal government is planning to help build, Miller also said housing is only part of the calculation when it comes to immigration targets. The pressing need to bring down the average age of the workforce also needs to be taken into consideration, he said. While not going into specifics, Miller said a cap on international students is something the federal government is considering, "and will continue to consider." "We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers looks like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we're first going to have around the negotiating table," he said, adding that the financial needs of academic institutions is also a factor. The federal government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants--both permanent and temporary residents--while the country faces an acute housing shortage. Meanwhile, CTV reported citing The Canadian Press, which cited the internal documents obtained through an access to information request, the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability. The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. Temporary residents, largely comprising international students and migrant workers, are another part of the equation, with more than 300,000 of them arriving in Canada in just the third quarter of last year. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu on Sunday asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15 even as the two sides deliberated on finding a "mutually workable solution" to enable continued operation of the Indian military platforms in the island nation. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The issue was extensively discussed at the first meeting of the India-Maldives high-level core group in Male. The two sides decided to set up the core group on the contentious issue following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai last month. "Both sides also held discussions on finding a mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives," the ministry of external affairs said in a statement. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the principal secretary to the Maldivian president, said at a media briefing in Male that Muizzu asked the Maldivian delegation to inform Indian officials in the core group meeting that the troops must be withdrawn by March 15. "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration," Ibrahim said. "During the meeting, both sides held discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation towards identifying steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects," the MEA said in a statement. "It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the high-level core group in India on a mutually convenient date," it said. Around 90 Indian personnel are currently staying in the Maldives primarily to operate and maintain two helicopters and an aircraft. The Indian delegation at the meeting comprised high commissioner Munu Mahawar and a number of other diplomats from the Indian mission. The Maldivian team comprised the ambassador at large in the foreign ministry, Ali Naseer Mohamed, and the Maldivian high commissioner to India, Ibrahim Shaheeb, among several other officials. The India-Maldives ties came under some stress as Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, maintained after assuming charge as the president that he would keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties including in areas of defence and security witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. Muizzu was sworn in as the new Maldivian president on November 17. A day after taking charge of the top office, he called for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives. Muizzu has been maintaining that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country. The Maldivian president returned from a six-day visit to China on Saturday. The visit saw both sides ink a number of pacts to expand ties. Speaking to the media in Male on his return, Muizzu indirectly took a jibe at India. "We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us," he said. He also announced plans to reduce the country's dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries. A massive row erupted last week after three deputy ministers in Muizzu's government made derogatory posts against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Deputy ministers in the youth ministry Malsha Shareef, Mariyam Shiuna and Abdulla Mahzoom Majid were suspended by the Maldivian government after India strongly raised the issue with Male. The three deputy ministers used disparaging comments against Modi for his post on 'X' following his visit to Lakshadweep, inferring that it was an attempt to project the Union Territory as an alternative tourist destination to the Maldives. National security advisors of several countries met in Davos on Sunday to discuss a peace formula for Ukraine and pushed for early restoration of peace in the war-hit country, with the host Switzerland asserting that India can play a key role with its influence and relations with Russia. IMAGE: Yulia Svyrydenko (left), first deputy prime minister for Ukraine, and Andriy Yermak (right), head of the Ukrainian President's Office, during the fourth meeting of the NSAs on the peace formula for Ukraine, in Davos, Switzerland, January 14, 2024. Photograph: Gian Ehrenzeller/Pool via Reuters The meeting also saw many participants echoing India's position that war can never be a solution and that dialogue was a must to resolve the situation. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said Russia would be asked to join the peace plan discussions at some point in time but to bring Russia on the table would require mediation by some countries. He said restoring peace is the ultimate objective. The Swiss Federal Councillor for Foreign Affairs said currently, Russia is not willing to make any concessions, but there is no alternative to bringing both countries to the table for which a collective momentum would be required from more than 100 countries, including those from outside Europe. "Stakes are very high, and we need to go ahead. Without a dialogue, we cannot reach a satisfactory objective. History shows that war is not a solution," Cassis said. Replying to questions, he said participation from BRICS countries, including India, is very important, as these are the countries, which have got some relations continuing with Russia. He also lauded the position taken by countries like India, saying their actions are facilitating this collective movement. "They may be far away (physically from the conflict zone), but they can play an important role as they have influence. China can also play a key role, and we will have to work to involve China in these meetings," he said. Asked whether Switzerland can help bring China and Russia on the table, Cassis replied in the affirmative, saying, "Yes, I do see our role to do this". "Participation of countries from BRICS alliance is of utmost importance because these are the countries, which have relations and a degree of trust with Russia. Russia, of course, is part of that group. Therefore, the presence of these countries is important. We have Brazil, India, Saudi Arabia, South America. We also saw Ukraine President going to Argentina." All these actions are facilitating this collective action. "China can play a crucial role in all of this, and we should find a better way to cooperate and engage with China to make progress. It's not easy and it will be a long process, but there is no other option than dialogue," he said. While China was not present at the meeting, India was represented by Deputy National Security Advisor Vikram Misri. The Swiss Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said, "By organising the meeting, Switzerland continues to support Ukraine in achieving this goal". This was the fourth NSA meeting on the peace formula proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2022, which follows ten principles aimed at ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Earlier meetings have been held in Copenhagen, Jeddah and Malta. India has always pitched for restoration of peace in Ukraine, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his discussions with Zelenskyy, has said that India was ready to help in all possible manner to help restore peace. During his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin also, Modi said it is not a time of war. Sources said that the Indian representative at the Davos meeting again called for early restoration of peace, though there was no official word on this. Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who co-chaired the meeting along with Cassis, said it was attended by representatives of 81 countries and international organisations. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the aim of the conference is to finalise the talks at the level of national security advisers on principles for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. "These principles should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. Switzerland is making an important contribution to this through the conference in Davos," it said. The fourth NSA meeting also included panel discussions on food security and humanitarian aspects. The meeting was held a day before the start of the five-day World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, to be attended by over 2,800 global leaders, including nearly 60 heads of state and government. The Indian armed forces have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the "entire spectrum of warfare," Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Sunday. IMAGE: Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar (thief from left), IAF chief Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari (fourth from left) and other dignitaries launch the Navy 'Sagar Samvad' magazine during the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day 2024 celebrations, in New Delhi, January 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo In his address at an event hosted in New Delhi to mark the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day, he also asserted that resilient spirit, leadership, and vision of its veterans have laid the foundation of today's armed forces. The programme held at Manekshaw Centre in Delhi Cantonment was also attended by Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar, various senior officers of the three services, and a large number of veterans or their family members. "The Indian armed forces, we will all agree, are one of the finest in the world, and have transformed with changing times to meet the challenges of the entire spectrum of warfare," he said. The Indian Air Force, in particular, has grown from a very modest beginning just about 90 years ago, to being "one of the most formidable air forces in the world", the IAF chief said. This has been possible only through the "sustained efforts and yeoman services" rendered by the forces' veterans over the years, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari added. "I acknowledge with gratitude the sterling contributions made by all our veterans, whose resilient spirit, leadership, and vision have laid the foundation of today's armed forces," he said. Today is also a day to poignantly remember all the veterans who laid down their lives for the nation, the IAF chief said, adding, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty". The IAF, the youngest of the services, is only 91-years-old. And, as of December 31, 2023, "We have on record, 2,21,204 veterans," he said. The IAF chief shared that it has been a diligent effort to reach out to every veteran. "I am aware there are teething issues, we are taking up these issues constantly with the service providers and the Controller General of Defence Accounts," he said. In his address, Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari also shared some data regarding SPARSH and other initiatives. The System for Pension Administration (Raksha) or SPARSH is a web-based system for processing pension claims and crediting the pension directly into bank accounts of defence pensioners without any external intermediary. "In the year gone by, 1.85 lakh legacy pensioners have been migrated onto SPARSH," the IAF chief said. The Navy chief, in his address, underlined the contribution made by the veterans to the armed forces. "I can say with conviction that our armed forces of today are a product of the visionary leadership, unflinching efforts and selfless service of our veterans. I would like to assure each and every one of you that we will leave no water uncharted in carrying forward this legacy," Admiral Kumar said. So, towards that end, Navy's efforts have been focused on being a combat-ready, credible, cohesive and future-proof force, he said. "While pursuing our many operational commitments, the 'Bharatiya Nav Sena' remains committed to ensuring the welfare of our ex-servicemen," the Navy chief added. The Navy has been following a multi-pronged approach of proactive outreach, positive interaction, and persistent communication to address various issues faced by our veteran community, Admiral Kumar said. He noted that the outreach programme has been expanded. "We are aware that the serving Navy is a transit Navy, while the veteran Navy is a permanent Navy, that is where finally all of us will reach," the Navy chief said. The Indian Navy is privileged to have the continuing benefit of "your experience and wisdom", and, it looks forward to "your invaluable guidance, unstinted support and forthright suggestions to help us better address issues faced by both the services as well as the veteran community," he added. In a setback to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party has secured a landslide victory in the capital Male's mayoral election. IMAGE: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Photograph: Dhahau Naseem/Reuters The MDP candidate, Adam Azim, has been elected as the new mayor of Male, a post held by Muizzu till recently. Muizzu resigned from the position to contest the presidential elections last year. The Maldives media reported Azim's win as a 'landslide' and 'victory by a large margin.' The MDP is headed by pro-India former president Mohammad Solih, who was defeated by Muizzu, a pro-China leader, in the presidential elections. The interim results show that Azim won with 45 percent of the vote while Azima Shakoor of Muizzu's People's National Congress received 29 percent, PSM News reported. Others who vied for the mayoral seat included Saif Fathih, the candidate of The Democrats, and independent candidates Hussain Waheed and Ali Shuaib. The poll on Saturday was marked by a low turnout, according to reports. Around 30 percent of the 54,680 eligible voters cast their ballot. The Mayoral election victory is expected to revive the political fortunes of the MDP, which still holds a majority in the Parliament. Muizzu, who returned to Male on Saturday after a five-day state visit to China, congratulated Azim and pledged to cooperate with the Male City Council and the mayor. Azim said that his victory was a victory for all residents of Male. Speaking to Mihaaru News, Azim expressed gratitude towards those who supported him and voted for him in the election. He also thanked MDP's leadership and campaign teams. The Mayoral polls were held in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading to a diplomatic row with India. During his high-profile visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third. Former Union minister and ex-MP from Mumbai South Milind Deora's resignation from the Congress on Sunday is the latest addition to a list of young leaders who have left it to begin new innings in other parties, predominantly the Bharatiya Janata Party. IMAGE: Milind Deora with wife Pooja Milind Deora (third from left) and Shiv Sena MLA Sada Sarvankar (second from right) at Sddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, January 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The resignation also signals a continuing saga of unaddressed concerns of young leaders, once considered close to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi. The latest exit also highlights the disconnect and inaccessibility of the Gandhi family with the lower rung of party leadership, amid dwindling fortunes of the grand old party, which the young leaders are unable to accept. Sources close to Deora said he left the party after "a very long and futile wait". The ex-Lok Sabha MP could not manage an assurance from his party that he would get to contest from Mumbai South in the upcoming general election, a seat represented by his family for decades, the sources said. "The Shiv Sena UBT (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has been openly laying claim to Mumbai South and the Congress was unable to give an assurance of safety for Milind Deora's seat. A young leader's political future was thrown into uncertainty and there was no redressal," Deora's aides said as he ended a 55-year-old bond with the Congress in which his late father Murali Deora was a formidable figure and a petroleum minister in the UPA regime. Concerns cited by the Deora camp have been listed by leaders who had exited the party before. Lack of redressal of festering issues and intra-party factionalism earlier led several promising leaders of the erstwhile Rahul Gandhi camp to leave. The list is long with former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot standing out as the sole exception. Pilot stayed back in the Congress despite non-fulfilment of promises made to him by the top brass when he called off his revolt in 2020 and returned to the Congress, saying he had buried the hatchet with his bete noire Ashok Gehlot, then CM. Union Minister under the Congress-led UPA regime Jyotiraditya Scindia was not so patient with factionalism in Madhya Pradesh unit when he resigned from the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party in March 2020. Scindia said he could no longer take the disrespect coming from veteran Kamal Nath. In June 2021 another ex-United Progressive Alliance minister Jitin Prasada quit the Congress citing the party's growing disconnect with the people. A series of exodus happened thereafter with Priyanka Chaturvedi joining erstwhile undivided Shiv Sena, former Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev quitting for Trinamool Congress while former Union minister RPN Singh, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and party spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill joined the BJP. The exits that began with then Assam Congress stalwart Himanta Biswa Sarma leaving the party for the BJP on the eve of 2014 Lok Sabha polls never really stopped and high profile resignations continued with even ex-Punjab CM Amarinder Singh also going to the BJP citing personal insults by the party ahead of Punjab polls in 2022. "It is impossible to get an audience with Rahul Gandhi, there is a clear disconnect and one feels suffocated," a Deora aide said explaining his decision. Similar views were earlier aired by most leaders, including Sarma, at the time of their exit. Rahul Gandhi personally has long held a view that those who wish to quit are free to do so. The Congress leadership has so far chosen to explain the exits as resignations of leaders who don't have the capacity to take on the BJP in an ideological fight. "Once the tide turns in our favour all these leaders will return. For them it's individual above the party," he said. The Congress also questioned the timing of Deora's resignation, which came hours before Rahul Gandhi embarked on his ambitious Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur to Mumbai on Sunday. The BJP was quick to attack the Congress with IT cell head Amit Malviya saying, "The Congress should first give justice to its leaders rather than launch a Nyay Yatra." Shergill said, "First, Assam's general secretary (Apurba Bhattacharjee) resigned (from Congress), and now Milind Deora has too. The Congress 'todo yatra' has begun." "Rahul Gandhi has to answer regarding the injustice he has done to the party and its leaders," the BJP leader said. The northern border is stable but "not normal", a top Army commander said on Sunday, referring to the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Ladakh region. IMAGE: Northern Army commander Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi (right) during a Manthan with the officers of the ROMEO Force, DELTA Force and Ace of Spades Division on the dynamics of counter-terrorism operations in 2023, January 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Lieutenant General Upendra Dwivedi, the general officer commanding-in-chief of the Northern Command, said five of the seven friction points in eastern Ladakh, where the Indian Army and the Chinese PLA are locked in a standoff since May 2020, have been resolved and talks are underway for the remaining areas. "The northern border area is stable but it is not normal or I can say it's sensitive," he told reporters in Srinagar. Apparently referring to Pakistan, the Army commander said the neighbouring country has orchestrated the terrorist attacks in the Poonch-Rajouri region as they did not like the ongoing development work here. "There was prosperity and improvement in the lives of people in Poonch-Rajouri area. Investments were coming in and people were getting jobs. Our neighbouring country did not like this atmosphere of peace and prosperity. That's why they have been promoting militancy in the area but we have launched counter operations," he said, expressing confidence that they will control terrorist activities in the coming days. Lt Gen Dwivedi said the coordination among the police, military and local people needs to be improved in the area. "The number of police stations is being increased while we are carrying out some reorientation as well. This will help us in controlling the situation," he said. The Army commander said 2023 has been declared as "zero-infiltration year" as no terrorist was able to come in through the Line of Control. "...But as you said many terrorists are coming. We have taken action.... If you see last year, only 21 terrorists killed were locals, the remaining 55 were foreigners. In 2022, 121 terrorist recruitments took place but in 2023 only 19 have taken place," he told reporters. He said a lot of positive changes have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. "A lot of changes have taken place in the past four years. And all the changes have been for good, be it development of infrastructure, tourist arrivals or outside investments. Overall, it is good for the public, and Jammu and Kashmir is playing an important role in nation building," he said. He was in Srinagar to take part in an Armed Forces Veterans' Day event. The Armed Forces Veterans' Day is celebrated on January 14 every year as it was on this day in 1953 that the first Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Army, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, formally retired from the service. The Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began from violence-hit Manipur on Sunday with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the party will present a new vision for India that will be based on harmony, brotherhood and equitability and devoid of hatred, violence and monopoly. IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi wave the National Flag during the launch of Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, in Thoubal, Manipur, January 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo At a rally in Thoubal to flag off the over-6,700-km yatra from Manipur to Mumbai, Gandhi and Congress president Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur as it reeled under ethnic violence, and vowed to ensure justice for its people. Gandhi said he had to undertake the yatra as the country was going through a period of "great injustice" and stressed the party wants to listen to people's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, Kharge said everyone has faith in God but one should not resort to dhongbaazi (deception)" for securing votes. "Wo samandar ke upar sair karte firte hai, aur jap karte baithte hain -- Ram Ram Ram Ram (He is seen enjoying the sea, sitting and chanting Ram Ram). Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein churi, do not do this with the people," the Congress president said, referring to the Hindi idiom that cautions against people whose words and actions differ. Hours before the start of the yatra with much fanfare, senior Congress leader Milind Deora announced his resignation from the party, in the latest addition to a list of young leaders who have left it to begin new innings in other parties. But the Congress downplayed his exit, with general secretary Jairam Ramesh saying that one Milind Deora goes away but "lakhs of Milinds who believe in our organisation and ideology stay". The Bharatiya Janata Party described the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as "Bharat Todo Yatra", and said the Congress should first provide justice to the leaders deserting it and to the people wronged by its erstwhile governments instead of promoting Rahul Gandhi and trying to maintain the hold of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Later in the day, Gandhi embarked on the journey in a bus after it was unveiled by Kharge with top Congress leaders, including chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, cheering him on. The bus travelled from Thoubal to Manipur capital Imphal, a distance of about 40 km, with Gandhi interacting with locals who lined up along the route. The yatra flag-off rally was attended in large numbers by women and youth. Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who has been suspended by the BSP, also attended the rally and joined Gandhi in the bus for the yatra. Addressing the rally, Kharge alleged that Modi had earlier come to Manipur for votes but when people were in trouble, he did not visit. The ethnic violence in the northeastern state, which broke out in May last year, has claimed more than 180 lives and rendered thousands homeless. With top Congress leaders on the dais, Gandhi explained the reasons for taking out the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra after his Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra that ended January last year. "Question arises, why Nyay Yatra? Because we are going through a period of great injustice in India -- social, economic and political injustice. Injustice against the people of Manipur, the traditions of Manipur, but also injustice across the nation," he said. In the economy, monopolies are being built and a few people are getting access to all the wealth of the country, he alleged. "One or two businesses have their fingers in everything and the large majority of businesses -- small and medium businesses -- are being destroyed. Huge levels of unemployment and massive price rise is what the whole of India is facing," Gandhi said. "On the social side, the large mass of India's people -- the lower castes, Dalits and tribals -- simply do not have a say in the governance system of the country. I have given you example upon example of how the large mass of our people are excluded from the political system and from the governance system," he said. These are the issues that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is going to raise, "but this is less about us and more about you", he told the gathering. Noting that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, they used to walk during the day and an interaction in the evening, Gandhi said the idea was to listen to farmers, labourers, small shopkeepers, women and youth. This is the aim of this yatra (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) as well, he added. "We do not want to speak much, we do not want to tell you our 'Mann Ki Baat'. We want to listen to your 'Mann Ki Baat', understand your pain," Gandhi said. He said the party is going to present the next vision for India which is not of violence, hatred and monopoly, but a vision which is "harmonious, equitable and of brotherhood". "After listening to your voice, we are going to present that vision to India," he said. Later in a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "And from this grassroots dialogue will emerge the vision of building a peaceful, prosperous and powerful India. 'Vision of India' which is based on equality, brotherhood and harmony, in which there is no place for hatred, violence and monopoly." In his remarks at the rally, he also slammed the BJP-led central and state governments for the situation in Manipur. He alleged that the people of Manipur lost what is precious to them because of the politics and ideology of the BJP and the "hatred that was spread" by the ruling party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. "We understand, all of us on the stage understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through. We understand the hurt, the loss, the sadness that you have been through and we promise you, we commit to you, that we will bring back what you valued. We will bring back the harmony, the peace, the affection that this state has always been known for," Gandhi asserted. "I came to Manipur on June 29 (last year) and during that visit, what I saw, what I heard, I had never seen or heard of before. I have been in politics since 2004, for the first time I went to a state in India, where the entire governance infrastructure had collapsed. What we used to call Manipur, after June 29, it was no longer Manipur," he said. Gandhi said it got divided, hatred had spread in every corner, lakhs of people suffered losses and people saw their brothers, sisters and parents die before their eyes. But "till date the Prime Minister of India has not come to Manipur to wipe your tears, hug you, hold your hand... It is a shameful thing", Gandhi said. "Perhaps for Narendra Modi ji, for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India at all. Your sorrow is your pain, it is not their sorrow or their pain," he said. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will pass through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states and the Congress believes it will prove to be as "transformative" as Gandhi's earlier cross-country march. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly by buses but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. With its senior leader Milind Deora resigning just before the start of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress on Sunday alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for headline management to counter the yatra, and asserted that it will have no impact. IMAGE: Former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party. Photograph: @milinddeora/X Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI that one Milind Deora goes away but "lakhs of Milinds who believe in our organisation and ideology stay". Ramesh said Deora had spoken with him over phone this Friday and requested that he wanted to speak with Rahul Gandhi over his concerns over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. "He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 am and then at 2:47 pm I replied, 'Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48 he sent a message, 'is speaking to you not possible?' I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him," Ramesh said. "He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it," the Congress general secretary said. "Obviously all this was a farce and he had made up his mind to leave. The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM," Ramesh alleged. In a post on X, Ramesh recalled his long years of association with seven-time Congress MP Murli Deora with great fondness. "He (Murli Deora) had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who ALWAYS stood by the Congress party through thick and thin. Tathastu!" he said. Former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday said he had resigned from the primary membership of the party. In a post on social media platform X, the former South Mumbai Lok Sabha MP said, "Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of the Congress, ending my family's 55 year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years." Deora, who was recently appointed the joint treasurer of the All India Congress Committee, had expressed disapproval at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-UBT laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. Andrew DaRosa is a SPJ award-winning journalist who has worked at Hearst Connecticut Media Group since 2018. He currently works as a Senior Audience Producer and a Trending Reporter for CT Insider and also runs the SEEN section. He can often be found covering Connecticuts expanding music scene, supposedly haunted sites around the state or keeping track of big winners in the Connecticut Lottery. He has been at the forefront of multiple music-related stories around Connecticut, including the Sound On Sound music festival. With a passion for music, over the past decade, Andrew has interviewed members of Judas Priest, Goose, The National, Trey Anatasio Band, The Head and the Heart and Maren Morris. Originally from Massachusetts, Andrew graduated from Fairfield University in 2018 with a degree in digital journalism. Since working for Hearst Connecticut, Andrew has become a four-time winner of Connecticut Society of Professional Journalism awards for his coverage of Connecticut band Goose, hiking the state and his human interest stories. When he isnt writing about Ed and Lorraine Warren or jam bands, Andrew can be found going to concerts with his wife or hanging out with his cat, Spud. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmdarosa An overarching Consumers Association of Cambodia would be a welcome addition to the public sphere. Long gone is the heyday of Cambodias civil society, which a decade ago was the most vibrant and rumbustious in Southeast Asia. The authoritarian Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), in power since 1979 and now firmly in control of a one-party state, saw it as a threat and has systematically crushed the public sphere since 2013. Some NGOs still exist and are performing brave work, but they have been greatly defanged and are petrified of lawsuits or dissolution by the ruling party. Despite decades of tens of millions of dollars being pumped into Cambodias NGO sector, mainly from foreign governments, there has never been an association created that specifically represents the interests of consumers. There is apparently an NGO registered as the Cambodian Consumer Association, but it has no website and good luck trying to find out anything about its activity. Leader of Cambodian People's Party Hun Sen and his son Prime Minister Hun Manet release pigeons during a ceremony to mark the 45th anniversary of the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime in Phnom Penh on Jan. 7, 2024. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Consumers International, a global organization for consumer groups, has no affiliate in Cambodia, according to its website. Without consumer protection associations, a report on Cambodia stated, there will be an imbalance of bargaining power between consumers, and producers and sellers of products and services. As a result, consumers rights are not fully protected. Indeed, on the one hand, consumption is increasing and habits are changing. Household final consumption expenditure rose to $18.1 billion in 2021, up from around $10 billion in 2011 and just $3.3 billion in 2001, according to World Bank figures. Cambodias e-commerce sector, difficult to regulate, is expected to surge in value to $1.78 billion in 2025, more than double what it was worth in 2020. 'Scam-state' Yet, there remain major concerns about the quality of products being sold, especially by traders on Facebook, and other consumer protection issues. Certainly not helping the situation, Cambodia has gotten a damaging reputation as a country of scammersa scam-state, if you like. More and more Cambodians are also becoming consumers of government services, including the expanding healthcare sector, and contributors to the state through growing taxation collection. On the other hand, business groups, foreign corporations and the countrys powerful tycoons, many of whom have married into the political aristocracy, are increasingly calling the shots. A Cambodian protest against a controversial law regulating non-governmental organizations in Phnom Penh, July 24, 2015. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Hun Manet, who took over as prime minister from his long-serving father in August, has pitched himself as a friend to the capitalist class. His young government spent months preparing for its first Government-Private Sector Forum in November, at which Hun Manet stressed: Todays forum is also a testament to the close cooperation and culture of dialogue between the government and the private sector to jointly address the problems and concerns of investors in order to promote private sector development in Cambodia. The claim made by the CPP throughout the decades is that economic freedom is more important than political freedom. Yet rather unequal freedom when one side (the businesses and producers) has vast institutional power and the ear of the premier, yet there are no comparable groups defending the interests of consumers. Cambodia only adopted a Law on Consumer Protection in November 2019, and the commerce ministry created a National Programme on Consumer Protection last year. A lengthy report published in late 2021 by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, titled Law in the Digital Age: Protection of Consumer Rights, noted that the actual implementation of [the Law on Consumer Protection] in promoting and protecting consumer rights is questionable. Southeast Asian examples Chapter Seven of this report, titled Legal and Practical Considerations for Establishing a Consumer Association in Cambodia, is an interesting read on this topic. The report recommended that civil society and nongovernmental institutions need to play an outstanding role as check and balance agents in overseeing consumer rights promotion and protection in both traditional and electronic commerce. Civil society and NGOs shall urge, support, and join the establishment of consumer associations in different sectors to ensure that consumer rights to safety, rights to information, rights to choose, rights to be heard of concerns, and rights to redress are guaranteed. Cambodian security officers detain protesters in prisoner uniforms as they demonstrate against a controversial law regulating non-governmental organizations outside the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh, July 26, 2015. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) There are good examples across Southeast Asia. One is the Consumers Association of Singapore, a non-profit, non-governmental organization. It runs comparison websites that provide consumers with information on prices charged by companies for everyday necessities and energy. It operates an Accredited Businesses List so that consumers can check if companies are reputable. Importantly, consumers can also submit complaints on its websites which are then investigated. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, there is also the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations, the Myanmar Consumers Union, a Foundation for Consumers in Thailand and a Coalition for Consumer Protection and Welfare in the Philippines. An overarching Consumers Association of Cambodia would be a welcome addition to the public sphere and, with the right funding, including from foreign donors, could engage in the same roles as the Singaporean counterpart. Yet, more targeted associations would also be needed. Using public money One area could be in tax. In 2013, domestic tax revenue was just $900 million, or around $60 per capita. By 2022, it had spiked to $3.45 billion, or $206 per capita. As such, most Cambodians have become taxpayers as well as consumers of government services in recent years. The National Social Security Fund, a national healthcare insurance, has expanded rapidly in recent years and Hun Manet vows to expand it further. State expenditure has increased from $409 million (13 percent of GDP) in 2013 to $7.9 billion (27 percent of GDP) in 2022. Yet there remains no Taxpayers Alliance of Cambodia. Such an association would lobby the government to increase transparency around state revenue and expenditure as well as engage in public conversations about the best use of public money. Fresh produce market in Phnom Penh, June 13, 2023. Despite decades of tens of millions of dollars being pumped into Cambodias NGO sector, there has never been an association created that specifically represents the interests of consumers. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) An equally important consumer-rights NGO would be a Microfinance Borrowers Association, a group that would solely represent the interests of the tens of thousands of households, if not more, that are living untold misery because they took on debts that they can no longer afford to repay. By one count, microfinance debt now stands at around $16 billion and allegations of improper practice by lenders are rife. Expand debt away from just microfinance, and Cambodia is one of the most indebted countries in Asia. According to the World Banks East Asia and Pacific Economic Update, domestic credit to the private sector stood at 182 percent of GDP, the highest rate of the Southeast Asian countries listed. Indeed, debt is now arguably the biggest problem facing Cambodians, yet there are no groups that specifically campaign on behalf of the debtors. At the moment, there is the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), a business group that represents microfinance companies. Incidentally, the CMAs vice-president is Dith Nita, the wife of Land Management Minister Say Sam Al who is himself the son of Senate President Say Chhum and the sister of Agriculture Minister Dith Tina. Despite the obvious fact that the CMAs board is run by microfinance institutions and its mission is to lobby on behalf of microfinance lenders, it also receives funding, mainly from foreign governments, to design projects for responsible borrowing and to protect borrowers from unscrupulous lending, which it may well want to do but there is something of conflicting interests. Avoiding 'color revolution' accusations One could also imagine a Cambodian Association For Food Safety or a Cambodian Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, for instance. Another important one would be a Healthcare Consumers Association, given the exorbitant costs but shoddy services of many private health clinics in the country and the dangerous healthcare products being sold on Facebook. And a Cambodian Citizens Advice Bureau would also be a welcome addition to the NGO landscape, providing free and impartial advice to ordinary people. Maybe this sounds like a lot of new associations, but there were 6,109 associations and NGOs registered with the interior ministry as of December 2022. A man walks past advertisements promoting microfinance in Siem Reap province, Oct. 15, 2020. Cambodia Microfinance Association is a business group that represents the interests of the microfinance companies and lobbies on behalf of microfinance lenders. (Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP) Western governments have funded Cambodias civil society for decades. But the focus has been on human rights, trade unions, and environmental rights. Given that the Hun Manet government isnt about to allow any more freedom to those groups, while the labor movement has been utterly crushed by repressive legislation, lawsuits and ruling party-linked unions, more funding in these areas is throwing money against the wallor, rather, into the pockets of ruling party lawyers. Instead, international funding could go to new consumer-rights groups. The CPP government would struggle to claim consumer groups promote color revolution since the purpose of these associations would be to improve the economy and hold businesses to account. Cambodias authoritarian political system, which isnt about to open up, has denied space for ordinary people to express themselves as citizens. The next best thing would be to empower them as consumers. David Hutt is a research fellow at the Central European Institute of Asian Studies (CEIAS) and the Southeast Asia Columnist at the Diplomat. As a journalist, he has covered Southeast Asian politics since 2014. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of Radio Free Asia. A Panama-flagged cargo ship navigating the Black Sea on its way to a Danube River port to load grain, a crucial export commodity for war-hit Ukraine, was jolted by an explosion in late December that threw the vessel off course, sparked a fire on deck, and left two crew members injured. The Ukrainian military, which dispatched tugs to the site, said on December 28 that the ship had hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, the second such incident in as many months in the major trade route. Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022, the Black Sea has increasingly become a war zone, its waters littered with mines and its skies buzzing with drones and missiles. Russian attacks have hit targets close to the borders of NATO members Romania and Bulgaria, threatening new shipping routes that have been a lifeline for Ukraine. And tourists, usually bound for Black Sea resorts, have been scared away with reports of drifting rogue mines. There could be some respite, however, after Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria -- the only NATO countries with direct access to the Black Sea -- announced on January 11 the launch of a joint force to clear sea mines, the first major combined effort among allies in the dangerous waters since the start of Russia's 2022 invasion. The Turkish and Romanian defense ministers -- Yasar Guler and Angel Tilvar, respectively -- and Bulgaria's Deputy Defense Minister Atanas Zapryanov signed a memorandum of understanding in Istanbul establishing the Mine Countermeasures Naval Group in the Black Sea (MCM Black Sea). The joint operation will primarily deploy minesweepers -- specially equipped warships that remove or detonate naval mines in large areas -- and minehunters, smaller, more nimble vessels that destroy individual mines and can operate in shallow waters. The three countries will also utilize helicopters and drones from the air. While the new force is meant to protect Black Sea shipping, officials from Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria have said it is intended to be entirely peaceful and won't bring any new NATO vessels to the sea. The Bulgarian Defense Ministry told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service that the joint minesweeping action should be operative within a few months. Although not formally involved, NATO has welcomed the initiative. "Russia's war against Ukraine poses substantial risks to freedom of navigation in the Black Sea region, which is of strategic importance to NATO," the alliance said in a statement to RFE/RL. "We welcome efforts by our allies Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey to increase the safety of navigation in the Black Sea, including through a new countermine naval group." The idea of creating such a "trilateral initiative" was first aired by NATO defense ministers on October 12. Bulgarian Defense Minister Todor Tagarev said the aim would be to create a security belt, free from mines, to protect ships carrying Ukrainian exports. Three months prior, in July, Russia withdrew from a 2022 UN-brokered Black Sea grain export deal and threatened to treat all vessels as potential military targets. To get its grain to market, Ukraine created a new shipping corridor, which hugs Romania's 245-kilometer and Bulgaria's 378-kilometer coastlines on the Black Sea. In response, Russia has "absolutely" increased its mining and other hostile activities in and around the Black Sea to thwart Ukraine's efforts to get its grain to world markets, Tomas Alexa, a senior analyst of the British maritime security firm Ambrey, told RFE/RL. Ukraine has regularly accused Russia of dropping mines from aircraft in an attempt to disrupt commercial shipping. Mass Mining The danger and prevalence of sea mines in the Black Sea became quickly apparent in the weeks after Russia launched its February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the following weeks, Ukraine deployed mines to protect its ports in and around the Black Sea, Alexa said. Russia also was reported to have laid mines in the waters off Crimea, which it illegally seized from Ukraine in 2014. Ambrey has recently confirmed reports, Alexa said, that Russia has also deployed mines around the Crimean Bridge, which connects Russia to the illegally annexed peninsula and has been targeted by attacks allegedly carried out by Ukraine's military. No exact numbers are available, but Alexa said both Ukraine and Russia had stockpiles of Soviet-era YaM anchor mines, which are tethered with a chain and float a few meters below the surface. "Four hundred, 500 mines were deployed in the Black Sea at the start of the war, he said. The consequences of the mass mining were dramatic. On March 3, 2022, the Estonian-owned M/V Helt sank in the Black Sea after striking a mine some 40 kilometers south of Odesa, with all crew safely abandoning ship. Shortly thereafter, several warnings were issued cautioning ships about the possibility of drifting mines in the northwestern, western, and southwestern areas of the Black Sea, including by the NATO Shipping Center. Later that month, on March 26, 2022, the Turkish Navy detected and detonated the first stray mine in the Black Sea off the cast of Istanbul near the Bosphorus Strait, prompting the temporary closure of the key waterway. Two days later, a second drifting mine was detected off the coast of Igneada, near the Bulgarian border, and deactivated by a Turkish Navy dive team. That same day, the Romanian Navy minesweeper Vice Admiral Constantin Balescu detonated a floating naval mine spotted by a Romanian fisherman about 90 kilometers off Capu Midia, a Romanian military base located near the Black Sea port of Constanta. Turkey destroyed a fourth mine on April 6, 2022. For Romania, the danger posed by mines is especially acute given that "Romanian territorial waters and ports are now of crucial importance and have witnessed record traffic levels," explained Cristian Vlas, an analyst focused on Romania and Moldova. Romania's port of Constanta recorded its highest grain exports in 2023 thanks to a surge in shipments from Ukraine, Romanian officials said on January 10. "Romania will be the first to suffer the consequences in the Black Sea," said Dionis Cenusa, an associate expert at the Vilnius-based Eastern Europe Studies Center. "Because sea mines are moving south, even through Romanian waters." New Equipment The situation in the Black Sea region worsened after Russia pulled out of the UN-brokered grain deal in July and began bombing Ukrainian port and grain facilities in a bid to cripple Kyiv's exports. That same month, a sea mine exploded close to the Romanian resort of Costinesti, which is located 30 kilometers from the Bulgarian border. That summer, Russia held military drills in the Black Sea that encroached on parts of the Bulgarian and Turkish exclusive economic areas, making export routes even more dangerous to navigate. In August, Russia said in a statement that its Vasily Bykov patrol ship had fired automatic weapons on the Palau-flagged Sukru Okan vessel. The ship was located near Turkish territorial waters. And in October, a mine explosion caused minor damage to a Turkish-flagged cargo ship. The December 28 attack on the Panamanian vessel was one of the most worrying mine incidents to date, said Alexa. "The damage done is from the force of the blast under the ship. If the mine is on the surface, the explosion is not as damaging," he said. Bulgaria has three minesweeping vessels, two of which were acquired in 2020 from the Netherlands -- which had decommissioned the pair in 2011 -- for 2 million euros ($2.2 million). In September 2023, Romania bought two minesweepers from the United Kingdom -- the HMS Blyth and HMS Pembroke -- in a deal declared of strategic importance by the British Defense Ministry to bolster London's commitment to security in the Black Sea. One of the two ships -- the HMS Blyth -- was filmed passing through the Bosphorus Strait in December and renamed as the Ion Giculescu. Turkey has more than 10 minehunters, with the oldest dating from 1998 and the newest from 2009. While Ankara is on board with the mine-clearing initiative, it is blocking Ukraine from receiving its own minesweeping vessels. On January 2, Turkey said it would not allow two minehunter ships donated by Britain to Ukraine to transit its waters en route to the Black Sea. It claimed that such a move would violate the Montreux Convention, a 1936 international pact concerning wartime passage of its straits (the Dardanelles Strait, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus Strait). Turkey's stance has been criticized, including by former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis, who argued in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the Montreux Convention doesn't apply to minesweeping vessels since they "are entirely defensive." Washington's Black Sea Strategy Given its strategic importance and risks posed, Washington has recalibrated its strategy on the Black Sea. In a major announcement in October, the State Department outlined plans to increase regional security, multilateral cooperation, and strategic cohesion in that region. At the time, Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien told a congressional hearing that the Black Sea's fate is inextricably linked to that of Ukraine and wider Europe. Increasing and ensuring freedom of navigation, and restoring Ukraine's ability to access commercial shipping lanes, will boost the Ukrainian economy at a vital point in the war, O'Brien said. Washington's strategic rethink, analysts say, followed the loss of a U.S. surveillance drone last March after a hostile encounter with Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea. Soon thereafter, members of the Senate and House Foreign Relations committees submitted a bipartisan bill highlighting the importance of the region and the need to establish a new strategy. Concerns in Washington and among some Black Sea states have intensified, with Russia indicating it may have revanchist plans for the region. Putin waxed nostalgic recently about the period of history where imperial Russia held sway over much of the Black Sea area. During his annual press conference and call-in event on December 14, Putin said: "The entire Black Sea coast became Russian after the Russo-Turkish Wars," apparently referring to the war of 1877-78, although others have disputed the Russian president's interpretation of history. The Russian leader's remarks did not go unnoticed, especially in Sofia. Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said a day later, on December 15, that Putin's comment betrayed Russia's "imperial ambitions at the expense of several countries which are now in the EU" and should serve as a warning. Part of the Kremlin's immediate strategy could be sea mines, not only to target Ukraine but to deter their Western partners, maritime analyst Alexa said. "The Russians understand it is not in their interest to directly attack Western ships, but they want to discourage them from entering the area and helping the Ukrainians export grain," Alexa explained. "Since both sides have the same types of mines, they have plausible deniability if a ship hits one of these explosives." An emboldened Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, has changed the balance of power in the South Caucasus in recent years. Baku reclaimed full control over Nagorno-Karabakh, a breakaway region that for three decades had been under ethnic-Armenian control, last year. A weakened Armenia, meanwhile, has distanced itself from its traditional ally, Russia, and looked to move closer to the West. The geopolitical changes in the region have raised concerns in Iran, which neighbors Armenia and Azerbaijan. Tehran fears it could lose its clout in a region that has long been dominated by Moscow, an ally. The Islamic republic strongly opposes the proposed east-west Zangezur Corridor that would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its Naxcivan exclave through Armenian territory and open a long-sought trade route to Tehran's rival, Turkey, and beyond. Iran is also concerned Baku could forcibly seize territory in southern Armenia to create territorial continuity with Naxcivan, which would cut off Tehran from Yerevan, an ally. Iran also opposes normalization between Armenia and Turkey, a scenario that could reduce Yerevan's dependence on Tehran and pave the way for greater Western influence in the volatile region. "The changing dynamics in the region and the decline of Russia's relative influence pose potential challenges to Iran's long-term geopolitical and security goals in the region," said Hamidreza Azizi, a fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. Cutting Iran Out The top diplomats of Armenia and Turkey met on March 1 in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya and reiterated their nations' intention to fully normalize relations. That meeting was viewed with apprehension by some pundits inside Iran who suggested such a move would cut Tehran out of the region. "If Ankara's efforts to normalize relations with Yerevan are successful, leading to the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor, it could indeed marginalize Iran geopolitically," Azizi said. The 45-kilometer-long proposed corridor, Azizi said, would "not only enhance Turkish and Azerbaijani influence by providing a direct link between the two but also bypass Iran, diminishing its role as a potential regional transit hub." Eldar Mamedov, a Brussels-based expert on the South Caucasus, said the corridor would effectively leave Iran "excessively dependent on the goodwill of Ankara and Baku for the security of its northern borders and also for accessing transit routes [to Russia]." Azerbaijan's increasingly cozy relations with Iran's archfoe, Israel, have fueled tensions with Tehran. Iran is also wary that Baku's growing influence in the region could fuel "irredentist tendencies" among Iran's large ethnic Azeri population, separated from Azerbaijan by the Aras River and located primarily in Iran's East and West Azerbaijan provinces, Mamedov said. For Armenia and Turkey to normalize relations, Yerevan and Baku first need to sign a peace agreement, according to Benyamin Poghosyan, a senior research fellow at the Applied Policy Research Institute of Armenia. Poghosyan said Azerbaijan would only sign the deal if Armenia conceded to all of Baku's demands, including the establishment of the Zangezur Corridor. "But I don't believe Armenia will agree to provide Azerbaijan [with an] extraterritorial corridor," he said. Poghosyan added that Azerbaijan is unlikely to forcibly seize Armenian territory to establish the corridor given the presence of a "hard-power deterrent" like Iran. Wary of The West? In February, Armenia suspended its membership in the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). The government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has long criticized the CSTO for its "failure to respond to the security challenges" facing Armenia. In 2020, Baku recaptured parts of Nagorno-Karabakh, a mainly ethnic-Armenian-populated region inside Azerbaijan, following a six-week war that ended with a Russian-brokered cease-fire. In September 2023, Azerbaijan retook the rest of the territory after a lightning offensive that resulted in the full capitulation of the de facto Karabakh government. Armenian authorities have accused Russian peacekeepers deployed to Nagorno-Karabakh after the 2020 war of failing to stop Azerbaijan's offensive last year, a claim rejected by Moscow. Armenia on March 6 said it had requested Moscow to remove Russian border troops from the international airport in Yerevan, the latest sign of souring relations. The moves have fueled concerns in Iran that Armenia could turn to the West to guarantee its security. In an apparent warning, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Ashtiani on March 6 told his Armenian counterpart in Tehran that "looking for security outside the region will have the opposite effect." "We believe that the security architecture of the region should be designed in the region; therefore, any approach by countries in the region against this policy would be in no way acceptable," Ashtiani warned Suren Papikyan. Poghosyan said Armenia seeks to "diversify its foreign and security policy" but that it was too soon to tell whether it wants to completely pivot to the West or just strengthen relations with Western powers without abandoning Russia. He added that Iran has made it clear to Armenia that it "would not tolerate geopolitical changes in the South Caucasus, which means not only changes [to] borders, but also changes [to the] balance of power in the region." For all their differences, Iranian and Western interests converge on their support for Armenian sovereignty. As such, Mamedov argued, Iran's opposition to a Western presence "may not be as rigid as it appears to be in the official rhetoric." But it is unclear if that will lead to any collaboration. "The overarching anti-Western stance in Iranian foreign policy and Tehran's presumed desire not to upset Moscow in the South Caucasus make such cooperation very unlikely," Azizi said. Vladimir Putin has claimed a fifth presidential term with a landslide victory in a tightly controlled election that has been condemned by the West as neither free nor fair as the Russian leader seeks to prove overwhelming popular support for his full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increasingly repressive policies. With 99.75 percent of ballots counted, Putin won another six-year term with a post-Soviet record of 87.29 percent of the vote, the Central Elections Committee (TsIK) said on March 18, adding that turnout was also at a "record" level, with 77.44 percent of eligible voters casting ballots. The 71-year old Putin -- who has ruled as either president or prime minister since 2000 -- is now set to surpass Soviet dictator Josef Stalins nearly 30-year reign to become the longest-serving Russian leader in more than two centuries. "This election has been based on repression and intimidation," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told journalists in Brussels on March 18 as the bloc's foreign ministers gathered to discuss the election, among other issues. The March 15-17 vote is the first for Putin since he launched his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that has killed tens of thousands of Russians and led to a clear break in relations with the West. In holding what has widely been viewed as faux elections, Putin wants to show that he has the nations full support, experts said. The vote was also held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers are located. Moscow illegally annexed the regions since launching the invasion, though it remains unclear how much of the territory it controls. The Kremlin's goal "is to get as many people as possible to sign off on Russia's war against Ukraine. The idea is to get millions of Russian citizens to retroactively approve the decision Putin single-handedly made two years ago," Maksim Trudolyubov, a senior fellow at the Kennan Institute, wrote in a note ahead of the vote. In remarks shortly after he was declared the winner, Putin said the election showed that the nation was "one team." But Western leaders condemned the vote, with a White House spokesman saying they "are obviously not free nor fair," and EU foreign ministers roundly dismissing them as a sham ahead of agreeing to impose sanctions on individuals linked to the mistreatment and death of Kremlin critic Aleksei Navalny. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told RFE/RL in an interview in Tbilisi on the second day of a visit to the Caucasus that the Russian election was "not free nor fair." He said those who have had the courage to oppose Putin "are either force to flee, to live abroad, they are jailed, or some of them are killed as we saw with Aleksei Navalny." German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, speaking at the start of the EU foreign ministers' meeting, said Russia's election was "an election without choice." French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said the conditions for a "free, pluralistic, and democratic election were not met," and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said the election outcome highlighted the "depth of repression" in Russia. "Putin removes his political opponents, controls the media, and then crowns himself the winner. This is not democracy," Cameron said. France, Britain, and other countries condemned the fact that Russia had also held its election in occupied regions of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Putin has become "sick with power" and he is just "simulating" elections. "This imitation of 'elections' has no legitimacy and cannot have any. This person must end up in the dock in The Hague [at the International UN Tribunal for War Crimes]," Zelenskiy said on X. Putin's allies were quick to heap praise on the Russian leader for his election success. China, one of Russia's most important allies, congratulated Putin, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian saying President Xi Jinping and the Russian leader "will continue to maintain close exchanges, lead the two countries to continue to uphold long-standing good-neighborly friendship, deepen comprehensive strategic coordination." Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi called Putin's victory "decisive," the state news agency IRNA reported, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a congratulatory message to Putin quoted by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) that Russian voters had shown "unshakeable support and trust in" their president, state media reported. In the tightly controlled race, Putin was opposed by three relatively unknown, Kremlin-friendly politicians whose campaigns were barely noticeable. Prior to the election the Kremlin banned anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin from the ballot after tens of thousands of voters lined up in the cold to support his candidacy. Nadezhdin threatened to undermine the narrative of a united nation behind Putin and his war, experts said. Russias opposition movement suffered a serious blow last month when Navalny, who was Putins fiercest and most popular critic, died in unclear circumstances in a maximum-security prison in the Arctic where he was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism widely seen as politically motivated. Russian political analyst Ivan Preobrazhensky said in an interview with Current Time that Putin was also frightened by the rebellion staged by mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin in June when Prigozhin's forces briefly took control of Rostov-on-Don and were greeted by many citizens as heroes. Prigozhin ended his rebellion before reaching Moscow and was later killed in a plane crash that many believe was retaliation by the Kremlin. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Residents of the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro gathered on January 14 to mark the first anniversary of a Russian missile strike on a residential building that killed 46 civilians, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy prepared to travel to the Swiss city of Davos to discuss his proposed peace formula and attend the World Economic Forum. 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. In Dnipro, locals brought flowers, toys, and other items to the ruins of the building that was destroyed in the January 14, 2023, missile strike. Six of the killed were children, while dozens were injured in the strike, which occurred on a weekend when many residents were in the building. Although Moscow denies targeting civilians since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian missiles, drones, and rockets regularly strike residential buildings and civilian infrastructure across the country. Meanwhile, Zelenskiys office said the president will travel to Davos on January 15 to meet with security officials representing 81 countries and international organizations who are in the resort town to discuss his 10-point peace formula. In the course of the visit, the president will meet with the presidents of both houses of parliament, party leaders, and the president of Switzerland, take part in the World Economic Forum and hold a series of bilateral meetings, his office said. Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelenskiys office, had arrived in Davos and addressed the gathering, held one day ahead of the opening there of the World Economic Forum. It was the fourth international meeting to discuss the Ukrainian peace formula. Meanwhile, Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelenskiys office, addressed a gathering of security officials representing 81 countries and international organizations in Davos, one day ahead of the opening there of the World Economic Forum. It was the fourth international meeting to discuss the Ukrainian peace formula. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who co-chaired the talks with Yermak, told a news conference that Russia should eventually be brought in to such talks, but he added that the time was not right for that yet. "We will need to find a path to include Russia in the process. There will be no peace without Russia having its word to say," Cassis said. "But this does not mean -- quite the contrary -- that we should just be depressed and sit there and wait for Russia to do something. Every minute that we wait, dozens of civilians in Ukraine are killed or wounded. We have no right to wait forever. Participants said the Davos sessions are focused on criteria needed to end the fighting, bring about withdrawal of Russian troops, achieve justice for crimes committed during the war, and to prevent a restarting of the conflict in the future, according to AFP. In a post on Telegram, Yermak said he briefed delegates about the consequences of recent massive rocket attacks by Russia on Ukrainian cities. A simple cease-fire will not be the end of Russian aggression in Ukraine, Yermak wrote, but will only give the aggressor a pause to accumulate strength. This is definitely not the way to peace. The Russians do not want peace. They want dominance. Yermak echoed remarks earlier by Cassis stating that it was important that China an ally of Russia participated in any future peace formula talks. Chinese Premier Li Qiang is scheduled to lead his countrys delegation to Davos later this week. Asked if Zelenskiy would meet Li, Yermak told reporters, "Let's see." Zelenskiy last year presented his 10-point peace formula that includes the withdrawal of Russian forces and the restoration of Ukrainian territorial integrity, among other things. Also on the diplomatic front, France's new foreign minister, Stephane Sejourne, stopped in Berlin on January 14 following his visit to Kyiv, meeting his German counterpart and reiterating both nations commitment to aid Ukraine for as long as required. "We are in full agreement...that we must support the Ukrainians for as long as necessary," Sejourne told a news conference alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Baerbock said Germany and France would remain "on the side of Ukraine as long as necessary, until Russia has withdrawn from Ukrainian territory." She warned, however, that Russian President Vladimir Putin "does not want to stop" and "is not stopping" his war with Ukraine. The meeting of the two European Union powerhouse nations comes as the bloc is scheduled to hold a gathering on February 1 in an effort to unblock the 50 billion euro ($54.8 billion) Ukraine aid package that has been vetoed by the right-wing leader of Hungary, Viktor Orban. The Kherson region military administration on January 14 reported 103 artillery strikes overnight, in addition to hundreds of mortar shells and drone attacks. Twenty-eight shells reportedly fell in the city of Kherson. Six civilians were reportedly injured in the strikes. In its daily briefing on January 14, the Ukrainian General Staff reported 61 combat incidents in the previous 24 hours, with particularly heavy fighting around the Donetsk regional city of Avdiyivka. In recent weeks, Russian forces have been fighting to surround the city and dislodge Ukrainian defenders. Maruti is aiming to sell approximately half a million EVs per annum by FY2031, which will be around 15% of its overall sales Although Maruti Suzuki is a late entrant in the electric car segment, the company is looking to step up focus in this space. There are plans to launch at least 6 electric vehicles by the end of this decade. Marutis first EV will be eVX compact SUV that will rival the likes of upcoming Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Curvv EV. Maruti to export EVs, battery cells and battery packs Along with the domestic market, Maruti Suzuki will also target exports of its EVs. In addition, the company will also be exporting advanced lithium-ion battery cells and battery packs. The exports are targeted to commence this year itself. The export markets for EVs and related components include Japan and European countries. Speaking about the plans, Maruti Suzuki India Executive Director Rahul Bharti said that the company is looking at exports worth Rs 750 crore in the current financial year. The exports will include battery cells, battery packs and modules. Maruti Suzuki sources the battery cells and packs from the Automotive Electronics Power Private Ltd (AEPPL). This entity is a joint venture between Marutis parent company Suzuki Motor Corporation and Toshiba Corporation and Denso Corporation. The components are manufactured at a lithium-ion battery plant location in Hansalpur, Gujarat. Suzuki to invest 3,200 crores to boost BEV production Suzuki Group has allocated funds worth Rs 3,200 crores for the expansion of Suzuki Motor Gujarat (SMG) plant. It currently has a production capacity of 7.5 lakh units per annum. The fourth production line will add 2.5 lakh units per year, thereby increasing the overall production capacity of the plant to 1 million units per year. This new production line will cater exclusively to Marutis upcoming electric cars. It is to note that Suzuki Motor Corporation has around 58% shareholding in Maruti Suzuki. Suzuki is also setting up a new plant in Gujarat. An investment of Rs 35,000 crores has been earmarked for the project. The new plant will have a production capacity of 1 million units per annum. With increased production capacity, Maruti will be able to handle rising demand for its cars across both domestic and international markets. Apart from BEVs, Maruti will also be focusing on other fuels such as CNG, flex fuel, biogas and hybrid electric vehicles. By FY 2030-31, the company will have a total of 28 models in its portfolio. It has 18 models as of now. This year, Maruti will be launching the Creta EV-rivalling eVX compact SUV. In 2024, Tata will be introducing the Curvv ICE and EV models. Creta EV is expected to debut this year around the festive season. It will be a new battleground and difficult to say who will take the lead. Maruti is also working on a new entry-level EV that will primarily rival Tata Tiago EV. Based on a new born electric K-EV platform, the small EV is expected to give a big boost to the companys EV goals. It will be launched in 2026-27. Dec 2023 saw Sub 4m SUV sales increase by 34% YoY But registered a MoM decline of 11% In the ever-evolving landscape of the Indian automotive industry, the sub-compact SUV segment, particularly those measuring between 3.8 to 4 meters, continues to gain prominence. As of December 2023, the sales figures for these sub 4 meter compact SUVs showcase interesting trends and shifts in consumer preferences. Lets delve into the numbers and explore the key players in this dynamic market. Sub 4m SUV Sales Dec 2023 Tata Nexon and Punch Lead the Pack Tata Nexon emerged as the top performer with a robust sales figure of 15,284 units, witnessing a significant YoY growth of 26.81%. Punch, another offering from Tata Motors, secured the second spot with 13,787 units sold, boasting a remarkable YoY growth of 30.24%. Maruti Brezza, a consistent player in the sub-compact SUV segment, maintained a strong presence with 12,844 units sold. Although experiencing a YoY growth of 14.68%, the Brezza faces increasing competition as newer models enter the market. Hyundai Venue secured the fourth position with 10,383 units sold, marking a YoY growth of 25.32%. Hyundai Exter, a relatively new entrant, continues to register good sales with 7,516 units sold in Dec 2023. Mahindra Bolero, a stalwart in the SUV category, registered 7,995 units sold with a growth of 9.36%. Mahindra Thar, with 5,793 units sold, exhibited a remarkable YoY growth of 71.70%, emphasizing the growing interest in lifestyle SUVs that offer both on-road comfort and off-road capabilities. Maruti Fronx registered sales of 9,692 units last month. Renault Kiger faced a setback with 865 units sold, experiencing a significant YoY decline of 58.73%. Nissan Magnite and Maruti Jimny maintained their positions with 2,150 and 730 units sold, respectively. Kia Sonet, with only 10 units sold, witnessed a drastic YoY decline of 99.83%. This decline is due to the recent launch of new Sonet earlier this month. Month on Month Comparison Tata Nexon maintained its leadership position, recording 15,284 units sold in December, a modest increase of 2.47% from November. Tata Punch, however, experienced a dip with 13,787 units sold in December, reflecting a decline of 4.14% compared to November. Maruti Brezza and Hyundai Venue, two significant players, faced declines of 4.10% and 7.13%, respectively. Maruti Fronx managed to hold its ground with 9,692 units sold, experiencing only a slight dip of 1.77% from November 2023. Mahindra Bolero and Mahindra Thar witnessed declines of 14.34% and 0.29%, respectively. Hyundai Exter and Mahindra XUV300 encountered declines of 9.72% and 24.03%, respectively. Renault Kiger emerged as a notable performer with a substantial MoM growth of 63.21%. Conversely, Maruti Jimny faced a decline of 28.43%, this despite there were huge discount offers on the Jimny in Dec 2023. Upon learning about the severity of human trafficking in Thailand, a Carmel Valley teen decided to take action. Sofia Keyes, an incoming senior at Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad, created a project called Keyes to Freedom. The 17-year-old's organization creates and sells jewelry in the form of keys with amethyst pendants to raise money for nonprofits that raise awareness for and help rescue people in human trafficking situations in Thailand. "With these pieces that are sold and worn all over the world, my goal is to inspire others to take action, raise awareness and free these victims of human trafficking from bondage," Sofia said. Sofia Keyes (Courtesy) So far, she has partnered with organizations such as The Freedom Project, which focuses on children taken into the human trafficking market, and Destiny Rescue, which rescues girls from brothels. She explained she can't officially form her own nonprofit until she turns 18 in December. Sofia first learned about the exploitation problem in Thailand at Pacific Ridge, which integrates global engagement into its curriculum. At the end of every year, the school sets aside two weeks for global travel, with this year's trip being to Thailand in May. Sofia became interested in what she was learning about and began studying more. She said she was shocked to know the prevalence of the problem, including in her hometown of San Diego. "The size of the industry was truly incredible," Sofia said. "The more I became engrossed in my research, it was not just enough to be aware of what was happening. I wanted to do something. I wanted to create a physical symbol for people around the world to empathize with these victims and raise funds for organizations dedicated to stopping the exploitation of these people." When Sofia visited Thailand with her classmates in May, she said she was shocked by how people turn a blind eye to the issue. "Walking around Bangkok is incredible," she noted. "You'll see these 40-year-old German men walking around with a beautiful 13-year-old Thai girl on their arm. It's so incredibly obvious, yet it's normal there. People don't even recognize that it is a problem." Upon staying with a tribe in the most northern part of Thailand, Sofia learned the ignorance and naivety was even worse. She learned that the community was victimized the most because they are desperate for jobs due to their isolated location. Sofia said a lot of the families there will sell their children after being told their sons and daughters would be leaving to work in a restaurant in Bangkok or Phuket. In reality, the children were enslaved for sexual exploitation. "I was speaking with a mother, through a translator, and she was telling us about how she had just sold her daughter to go work and that she was going to be coming home soon," Sofia recalled. "She was excited for her daughter to bring home money for the family. It was just so odd because we knew her daughter wasn't working in a restaurant and wasn't ever going to come home. These families are naive, and it's so terrible." Keyes to Freedom necklace (Courtesy) Each Keyes to Freedom necklace was designed by Sofia, created with a 3-D printer, casted in silver and adorned with an amethyst stone to represent hope. Sofia said she assembles each piece by hand and has raised about $1,000 since October. Eventually, she said, she looks forward to establishing an entire jewelry line to include more pieces to raise awareness for her mission. The teen said the jewelry is a conversation piece that can get people talking about an otherwise taboo topic. "It was important for me to cast a spotlight on this problem because a lot of people don't want to talk about it," Sofia said. "I wanted to create an innovative approach to bring up an uncomfortable issue, and I think that's what it will take to solve something that's so pervasive." SDG&E is getting ready to begin its second phase of work in the Rancho Santa Fe community, replacing old wooden utility poles with new steel poles and converting the system to enhance safety and improve reliability. Willie Thomas, fire risk mitigation program manager at SDG&E, provided an update to the Rancho Santa Fe Association board on April 4 about the plan to replace 57 poles, install two new poles and upgrade the lines from 4 kV to 12 kV. Construction is expected to begin the week of May 13. Last year during phase ones work that replaced 70 poles, over 200 people signed a petition to stop SDG&Es project and to advocate for undergrounding to reduce both visual blight and fire risk. The Association board even explored the possibility of securing an injunction against the project. Advertisement Thomas said SDG&E is taking a different approach in Rancho Santa Fe for this second phase. Were trying to put our best foot forward here and making sure it goes as clean and precise as possible, said Thomas. Weve made quite a few changes in how were trying to manage this particular project. Thomas said the biggest changes include using internal crews and keeping open communication with the Association. SDG&E has proposed meeting with the Association every two weeks to ensure that the public is not adversely affected by the project and to coordinate construction with HP Communications ongoing work on the fiber optic network. Starting in May there are 115 locations where crews will be working, replacing 23,452 feet of overhead wire and 13,800 feet of underground wire. They will replace 57 wooden poles with steel and they estimate 10 will be placed using a helicopter. Thomas pointed out that while voltage is increasing doesnt mean the power is increasing, Theres no change in power but we are putting up more resilient facilities with steel poles. Construction is expected to take four months and the staging yard has moved from Calzada Del Bosque to San Dieguito Road and El Camino Real. Thomas said they hope to keep traffic delays and planned outages to a minimumplanned outages are unknown at this time but SDG&E will provide notification by mail within 10 working days. Thomas said SDG&E works closely with third parties that are attached to their poles to help them transfer their facilities as soon as possible. If the facilities are not moved within 90 days the pole becomes the property and responsibility of the third party. Orion Broadband has acknowledged its equipment remains on four old poles no longer used by SDG&E, however, SDG&E has identified 17. Both Thomas and RSF Association Manager Christy Whalen said Orion has not been responsive about removing its poles. During the update, RSF Association Director Mike Gallagher questioned why SDG&E has not rethought its position on undergrounding utilities in the community, particularly given what happened in Northern California with PG&E filing for bankruptcy as a result of the potential liabilities faced from wildfires caused over the last two years. Best practice seems to be undergrounding, Gallagher said. Gallagher said Rancho Santa Fe is considered enough of a high fire risk area that insurance companies have taken it off their coverage grids because of wildfire concerns. Additionally, he said due to the nature of the community with its winding roads, dark sky policy and power poles right next to roads, cars can and frequently have taken out power poles which causes outages as well as a potential fire threat. He said taking all of those factors into account, he doesnt understand why SDG&E wouldnt consider it a prime area for undergrounding. Gallagher said while Thomas and his team have established a good working relationship with the Association, he could not say the same about the management of SDG&E. We had asked for a meeting with the senior management at SDG&E to talk about this issue, Gallagher said. The meeting was requested in January, originally offered for June, this meeting is taking place now and the project starts in May. It was a disingenuous offer in my opinion. Thomas explained that SDG&E is 60 percent underground on the distribution side, one of the highest in the state and country. Undergrounding utilities is more expensive and they prioritize areas in higher risk threat areas such as Julian, Palomar, Valley Center that get higher winds more frequently. According to Thomas, Rancho Santa Fe is not considered part of the high fire risk district map that was put together by the California Public Utilities Commission in December 2017. We do recognize that the map is imperfect, we are trying to accommodate areas that we think are in that wildland urban interface, Thomas said. We are limited with resources, time and money and what weve done with our fire risk mitigation program is assess the risk and the monies we have available to try to come up with what we can, as quickly as we can, to prioritize things. Thomas said fire risk mitigation is more than just undergrounding. Other ways SDG&E works to mitigate fire risk includes vegetation management, meteorologists on staff and high definition cameras for fire detection in fire-prone areas. If extreme fire weather conditions are observed, they may shut off power for public safety. Thomas said that doesnt happen in Rancho Santa Fe as often as other areas, although power was shut off in the community last November during a red flag warning. Were continuing to look at options to minimize fire risk, Thomas said, noting SDG&Es practices of situational awareness, operational changes, more frequent inspections in higher fire prone areas and projects like this where they are rebuilding infrastructure. The American Red Cross is asking at least a dozen families who were left without shelter due to a fire at a Merrillville apartment complex Saturday night to contact the organization as soon as possible for assistance, its Northwest Indiana executive director said Sunday. The town, in conjunction with the Ross Township Trustees Office and the American Red Cross, opened the Dean and Barbara White Community Center, 6600 Broadway, Merrillville, as a temporary shelter to the residents who were displaced, Kristin Marlow said. Several went there, but others who made other arrangements will need to get themselves on the client roster list to receive assistance. Heres the challenge: When something happens on the weekend, we have a harder time getting property managers to call us back with the names of the families affected, Marlow said. And now with the 15th being MLK Day, we could end up losing another day to open up a case for them to get their basic needs met. At least 12 families were displaced Saturday when a fire broke out at Meadowlane Apartments, located at 140 E. 54th Ave. in Merrillville. Those left without shelter should contact the Red Cross (888) 684-1441 or (800) 733-2767 to set up their case. Marlow said that those affected who didnt stay at the community center need to either check in with Red Cross teams there or call (888) 684-1441 or (800) 733-2767 to set up their case. Meanwhile, the fire appears to have started in a basement laundry room of the 24-unit Meadowlane Apartments building at 140 E. 54th Ave., according to a release sent from the town Sunday. Merrillville Fire Chief Ed Yerga said the fire traveled up the walls into two false attic spaces that had no fire stops. The strong west wind really affected our operations, and it helped spread the fire quickly, Yerga said. A limited water supply also hampered firefighters ability to strike the blaze. Firefighters worked for more than six hours extinguishing the fire, and several departments assisted, Yerga said. One civilian suffered smoke inhalation, but no other injuries to residents or firefighters were reported, he said. Fire departments from Gary and Crown Point assisted at the scene. The frigid temperatures early this week, along with water and ice in the basement, will delay the official fire investigation, Yerga said. Officials evacuated a second building as well due to flooding, Merrillville Town Councilwoman Shauna Haynes-Edwards said in a news release. Haynes-Edwards was on the fire scene Saturday and met with residents at the Community Center on Sunday. It was heartbreaking. We are saddened by this tragic incident but are glad there were no fatalities, Haynes-Edwards said. We want to thank all of our Lake County firefighters who were there Saturday fighting this unfortunate fire. Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Politics spotlight APEC, Dreamforce, and JPM: How The City is cleaning up its act After thousands of people descended on San Francisco to attend another major conference, has San Francisco finally put to bed questions about its ability to welcome the world despite its well-known challenges? Mayor London Breed certainly thinks so. Speaking with The Examiner on the eve of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, which brought about 10,000 attendees to downtown San Francisco this week, Breed radiated confidence. Were going to continue to do everything we can to make sure people have great experiences, Breed said. Her assuredness follows The Citys hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference in November, which drew world leaders such as President Joseph Biden to San Francisco as well as a torrent of speculation about whether or not visitors would be put off by open-air drug dealing and visible homelessness. In her meetings during APEC, Breed said such issues were rarely, if ever, even brought up. Every person I talked to said how amazing The City is, Breed said. If anything, she claimed, they say, We have those problems in our city too. I just think all major cities are going to have a level of issues, Breed said. San Franciscos ability to draw conferences is a key not only to downtown hotel operators but The City as a whole, according to SF Travel, an organization representing myriad businesses with a stake in the travel industry. The J.P. Morgan conference will generate an estimated $86 million in economic activity in San Francisco, according to Cassandra Costello, executive vice president and chief policy and external affairs officer for SF Travel. The broader tourism industry generated $522 million in taxes and fees for The City in 2022, she said. That benefits every resident here in San Francisco, Costello said. Though city leaders say they are generally pleased with San Franciscos recent performance as host, its not as if events went off entirely without a hitch. APEC was a monumental headache for several businesses in and around its security perimeter, whose owners have lamented that they lost a significant portion of their typical revenue as customers avoided SOMA and Nob Hill. As of last week, Breed told The Examiner her administration was still considering ways The City could assist affected businesses but was not ready to announce anything specific. A pair of Czech television journalists in San Francisco to cover APEC were robbed at gunpoint in North Beach. The response from city officials was swift, and Breed even met with the journalists in her office. But such problems were relatively few and far between. APEC and the area immediately surrounding the conference were so abnormally clean that many questioned how The City could shape up so quickly and where its homeless encampments went. Breed said a ruling from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals late last year provided clarity to The City in its attempts to force homeless people off the street, ensuring it could do so as long as it first makes an offer of shelter. Breed acknowledged that The City does not have enough shelter for every person living without shelter, but when it conducts sweeps, we have options for people. Travel industry leaders said have noted signs of progress. Craig Lee/The Examiner Signs at the Moscone Center that APEC is going to be EPIC in San Francisco as seen on Thursday, November 9, 2023. San Francisco has its challenges like any other major city, but we do feel like city leaders are addressing them, Costello said. Thats backed up by the results of surveys the organization has conducted of San Francisco visitors, 92% of whom said last year that theyd like to return to The City. What were seeing as residents here, as professionals, as workers, as people who are also serving visitors, that those headlines and viral videos are not marrying with day to day experiences for most visitors, Costello said. Those quality-of-life issues prompted Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff to warn last year that the his companys megaconference could leave San Francisco but Breed said she never believed Dreamforce would leave. He loves San Francisco, and San Francisco did such a great job for him during his convention, Breed said. Such momentum is vital. While travel industry leaders are confident in San Franciscos long-term outlook for booking conventions, theres a need to bring in more events in the near term to offset pandemic declines. SF Travels most recent projections, released last August, were that San Francisco would see 23.3 million visitors in 2023. Thats about a 6% increase from the previous year, but still nearly three million short of what it saw in 2019. So far, there are 24 conventions booked at Moscone Center in 2024, compared with the 49 that took place in 2019. Pennsylvanias online casino scene is buzzing with excitement as 2024 kicks off, and BetMGM Casino is at the heart of it. 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Kathy Hochul is looking to take a bite out of retail crime, in part by forming a task force to coordinate efforts. Let me save the future task force members some time here: Crack down on shoplifters by stopping them in the act and hitting them with stiffer penalties. That would be a good place to start. No, thats no over-simplifying things. It really is as easy as that: punish those who commit crimes. Its not rocket science. How did New York get so backward that we dont even know how to attack crime when crime is staring us in the face? Shoplifting is one of those crimes and it basically goes unpunished. Not just in New York, but in California and other places as well. Mostly Democratic places, that is. Cities and states that have allowed what may have been a genuine desire for social justice to run amok to the point that criminals face little to no consequences for their crimes anymore. And were not talking about draconian, unfair or cruel and unusual punishments. Were talking about any punishment at all. Sometimes not even a slap on the wrist. Criminals dont fear arrest the way they used to. They know that even if they are brought in by the police, theyll probably be set free without bail. Chances are slim that theyll ever see the inside of a jail cell. Where is the disincentive in that? Merchants also know this all too well. Theyve seen their shelves emptied by crooks who simply stroll into a store, take what they want and walk out. Or, in more extreme cases, gangs of criminals smash the front windows in order to get their hands on the goods, everything from groceries and household products to electronics and pricey jewelry. And nobody does a thing to stop it. Because thanks to bail reform efforts, Raise the Age laws and other soft-on-crime initiatives, the criminal justice system is stacked in favor of the criminals, including hard-core recidivists, and against crime victims. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty, of course, and everyone deserves their day in court. But too many cases arent even getting to court these days. So now we see merchants locking their products behind protective shielding. Bottles of detergent are strung together with chains in order to keep crooks from pulling them off the shelves. Its become a huge inconvenience to honest shoppers. Hochul in her State of the State address last week said that the retail theft chaos must stop. She said the attacks on stores represent a breakdown of the social order. Shes stumbled upon the truth there! Among her initiatives are the formation of a State Police smash and grab unit and a crackdown on those who sell stolen goods online. The governor also wants to direct funding to district attorneys to tackle retail theft and wants to offer merchants a tax credit for store security measures. Hochul also called for increased penalties for assaults against store workers. Then theres the Retail Theft Joint Operation task force, which under the supervision of the State Police will focus on combatting organized retail theft crime. The proposals are all well and good, but as noted by the New York Post, there are no proposals to stiffen penalties against recidivist shoplifters. Remember too that Hochul vetoed a fentanyl task force that was unanimously voted for by state lawmakers, an effort that was led by Staten Island elected officials. But a task force on retail crime is called for? No. Attacking retail crime isnt a job for a task force. Its for local cops to do. Take the cuffs off them and let them do their jobs. Thats how you take a bite out of crime. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Capt. Zeita Merchant, commander of The Port of New York, will make history in April when she attains the rank of rear admiral, becoming the highest-ranking African American woman in the U.S. Coast Guards (USGC) 233-year history. After a lengthy confirmation process, Merchant was approved in December 2023 by Congress and will assume the rank during the Coast Guards Change of Command exercises in April. At that time, she will assume a new position in USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C At the USCG Sector One, based in Rosebank, Merchant is commander of one of the nations busiest port complexes, managing more than 1,000 personnel in 12 commands daily over an area spanning more than 6,000 square miles. She and her staff are tasked with keeping the waters of New York and New Jersey safe daily for both travelers and hundreds of billions of dollars in cargo. Calling the USCG a close-knit family, Merchant thanked her superior officers along the way, praising the climate for success fostered in the nations only military branch in the Department of Homeland Security. She said working in New York City has been the assignment of a lifetime, one she could never have envisioned herself in as a young college kid from the South, who admittedly joined the Coast Guard solely for college debt assistance. When I joined, I was focused on the three-year obligation, and even that was hard to swallow, she says with a laugh, recalling how she then quickly recognized the impact she could have on the nations homeland defense every day and all that changed. Those years went by so fast, and the impact I was making (with) my unit was one that I wanted to continue to experience,' she recalled. I remember having the conversation . . . What do I have to do to stay in?' Today, shes considered one of the USCGs top certified emergency managers leading large-scale, multi-jurisdictional incident responses. BREAKING BARRIERS Merchant has quickly ascended the USCG ranks during her nearly 27-year career. She also continued her education and earned a great many commendations while tearing through color and gender barriers along the way. Capt. Zeita Merchant, commander of Sector New York for the U.S. Coast Guard, poses in Rosebank on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. She will soon receive the rank of Rear Admiral. (Staten Island Advance/Jason Paderon) In most of her leadership roles in the USCG shes either been the first minority or the first woman to hold the position and most times she was both. Merchant quickly praises the many who have understood her vision during her career. At any point there could have been a barrier, but I was truly blessed to have people that supported me and gave me a climate in which I could bring my best self to work every day, she said. Thats my goal: to give others the same environment. Her promotion, she hopes, will shine a light on the Coast Guard for young African American women who are unfamiliar with it, as she was while growing up in Mississippi. People on the outside then get to consider the Coast Guard because they see someone that looks like them . . . and are, in turn, inspired by it, she said. That is what I see. Im giving them something that I didnt have. Her current position is also historic for the Coast Guard, as shes the first-ever minority to hold the position of captain of the Port of New York. A graduate of Tougaloo College, Merchant holds a masters degree in public administration from The George Washington University and both a masters degree and a doctorate from the former National Graduate School at New England Institute of Business. Shes also graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Governments Executive Education Leadership in Homeland Security Course, and is a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Seminar XXI National Security and Foreign Affairs Fellow. During her career, shes commanded maritime operations at Marine Safety Unit Chicago, served as executive officer of Marine Safety Unit Texas City, chief of port operations at Sector Miami and as a marine inspector and port operations officer at the Marine Safety Office in New Orleans. Shes also received personal military honors, including three Meritorious Service Medals, six Coast Guard Commendation Medals, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, three Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medals and four Commandants Letters of Commendation, among others. And Merchant was recently named a Hero of the Harbor by the non-profit Waterfront Alliance, which celebrates the importance of coastline decision makers. She also was honored as a Woman Who Moves the Nation by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials for her contributions to the nations transportation industry. As she eyes the next chapter of her career, her fourth move to the nations capital, Merchant is enthusiastic. Im excited about the opportunity to serve at the senior executive level for the Coast Guard, really making a difference, she said. It really is a pinnacle for me. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Quaker Oats company is expanding a recall of more cereals, bars, and snacks for the potential to be contaminated with salmonella, according to a recall notice posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last month, Quaker recalled products such as its Quaker Simply Granola Oats cereal, Quaker Chewy Bars, and Quaker Chewy Dipps with best by dates ranging until October 2024. Now, even more products are added to the recall list, including Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (Fruity Fun) flavors, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Yogurt flavors, Capn Crunch Treats bars, Quaker Chewy Granola Breakfast Cereal, Quaker Oatmeal Squares, Capn Crunch Instant Oatmeal, and Munchies Snack Mix (Munch Mix). Here is the full list: Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (Fruity Fun) Amazing Apple Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (Fruity Fun) Splendid Strawberry Quaker Chewy Granola Bars (Fruity Fun) Amazing Apple and Splendid Strawberry Variety Pack Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Yogurt Strawberry Flavor Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Yogurt Blueberry Flavor Quaker Chewy Granola Bars Yogurt Variety Packs Capn Crunch Treats Crunch Berries Cereal Bar Capn Crunch Treats Bars Variety Pack Capn Crunch Treats Peanut Butter Crunch Cereal Bar Capn Crunch Treats Original Crunch Cereal Bars Quaker Chewy Granola Breakfast Cereal Chocolate & Strawberry Variety Pack Quaker Chewy Granola Breakfast Cereal Chocolate Quaker Chewy Granola Breakfast Cereal Strawberry Quaker Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar Quaker Oatmeal Squares Honey Nut Capn Crunch OOPS! All Berries Cereal Capn Crunch Cinnamon Crunch Cereal Capn Crunch Sea Berry Crunch Cereal Gamesa Marias Cereal Capn Crunch Instant Oatmeal Capn Crunch OOPS! All Berries Instant Oatmeal Gatorade Protein Bar Peanut Butter Chocolate Munchies Snack Mix (Munch Mix) The products were sold throughout the United States. Consumers should check their pantries for any of the products listed in the FDAs recall notice. To date, Quaker has received no confirmed reports of illness related to the products covered by this recall. Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In rare instances, infection can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis, and arthritis. No other Quaker products are under recall. Consumers with any product noted below can contact Quaker Consumer Relations at 1-800-492-9322 or visit www.quakergranolarecall.com for additional information or product reimbursement. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Former President Donald Trump is referencing an odd character witness as his legal battles ensue: Former Graniteville resident and notorious mob snitch Salvatore Sammy the Bull Gravano. In a post on Truth Social, Trump shared a prior interview with the infamous Gambino crime family turncoat, who expressed he was unable to do business with the former president and referred to him as a legitimate guy. The video shows the former Staten Islander vouching for Trumps moral character, noting in the 1980s, when Trump was a real estate tycoon, he surrounded himself with former FBI officers for security. The content is featured with writing above it, that reads: Flashback: Former Gambino Crime Family Underboss Sammy the Bull Gravano says Donald Trump is incorruptible, and later says, This is why Washington hates him. I tried a couple times to press him, and make arrangements where I could work with him. I did that with other big contractors, Gravano said in the interview. I had the power of the unions. I could do all kinds of little things, but I couldnt get to him. He wouldnt bite. Trump thanked the Bull in his post by saying: Thank you to Sammy the Bull. I hope Judges Engoron & Kaplan see this. We need fairness, strength and honesty in our New York Courts. We dont have it now! The same post was later added to Trumps Instagram. Gravano, the former Mafia hitman and underboss, became a government informant in 1991 and helped bring down dozens of mobsters while testifying against then-Gambino boss John Gotti. Gravano was one of the mobsters who planned, and was present at, the 1985 assassination of former Gambino godfather Paul Castellano of Todt Hill and his aide, Thomas Bilotti of Eltingville. He confessed to 19 murders. Gotti was subsequently convicted on Gravanos testimony of masterminding the slayings. Gravano was placed in witness protection in Arizona, where at one point he nearly was rubbed out by a hit team sent by Gottis brother. Gotti was sentenced to life in prison, where he died in 2002. Gravano served two lengthy stretches of prison time, the second coming after he was arrested by federal authorities in connection with an Ecstasy ring in Arizona. Some of the countrys largest brands, along with government agencies, have removed TikToks data-tracking tool after the nations privacy commissioner launched an inquiry into the social media giants harvesting of Australians data without their knowledge or consent. Network Ten, BeyondBlue, Western Sydney University, Bunnings and Vodafone are among the organisations to confirm they removed the TikTok pixel amid privacy concerns. But the University of Wollongong, Woolworths, Sportsbet, Kmart and Ladbrokes will continue to use the tracking code, known as a pixel, because they believe they have put in place measures to restrict TikToks ability to scrape users personal information. The AFL did not respond to requests for comment on its policy. The nations privacy commissioner has launched an inquiry into TikToks harvesting of Australians data. Credit: AP The pixel is an invisible piece of code that tracks a users web history and personal information even if they do not have a TikTok account. It can then track a user across the internet and piece together their identity, including their email, phone number and buying habits. Mining billionaire Andrew Forrest has escalated his war against oil and gas producers, and Woodside in particular, flying by helicopter off the remote WA coast to lambast its $18 billion Scarborough gas export project as a carbon dioxide bomb. Just weeks after the COP28 international climate meeting in Dubai in mid-December called for the world to transition away from burning fossil fuels for energy, Forrest was flying over the ocean off Western Australias north-west surveilling a vessel conducting seismic testing of the Scarborough gas field. Andrew Forrest wants all projects in Australia to be judged on their climate impact. Credit: Emma Dolzadelli, Minderoo Foundation The December COP communique was the first to mention fossil fuel, and Forrest blamed the earlier 27 omissions on a cynical charade of lobbying by oil and gas companies. Theyve had thousands of their little soldiers riding around in their little suits, pushing back on anyone who would even mention that fossil fuel is destroying our planet, he said. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Last month, the Herald revealed allegations that Jones used his position of power as Sydneys most influential and feared broadcaster to prey on a number of young men, indecently assaulting them, groping or inappropriately touching them without their consent. A former 2GB employee, given the pseudonym Brad Webster, has expressed his hurt that senior staff who witnessed the broadcasters alleged inappropriate behaviour towards him have declined to speak up. Jake Thrupp (left) with Alan Jones and guests at the broadcasters farewell boat party after his final 2GB show in 2020. Credit: Rhett Wyman One of them was Jason Morrison, Webster said. Webster was 20 when he started at 2GB in the mid-2000s. One of his jobs was to drive the then 65-year-old Jones home from work. He alleged that during the 10-minute drive, Jones would go the grope, hed rub my penis. Webster said that although he was the most junior and least important employee, he was seated next to Jones, the stations star, at a team lunch at a harbourside restaurant. And he did the same thing at the dinner table, wed be sitting there and he would be doing that, Webster said, demonstrating the rubbing of his groin. Webster said that others at the table, including Morrison, would see what Jones was doing. And then afterwards and this stuff made me angry they would take the piss out of what just happened. Like, Oh, did you enjoy that? Morrison, who started at 2GB in 1989, aged 17, was the radios drive show host between 2008 and 2010. He also filled in for Jones, who dominated breakfast radio. In December, Morrison told the Herald he had never witnessed Jones groping anyone under the table or any other inappropriate behaviour. Alan was the victim of a lot of innuendo over a lot of years and I found it [to] be quite unfair, said Morrison, who was adamant that never, ever, ever did I see any evidence of [inappropriate behaviour]. Jason Morrison has filled in for Alan Jones on ADH TV. Credit: Facebook Last week, the Herald obtained permission to reveal Websters identity to Morrison. Asked if he would classify Webster as being a liar, Morrison replied: Oh God, no! He then said: I think we have spoken enough and ended the call. Jones, through his lawyers, has denied all allegations and has threatened legal action. Asked about his prospective job at ADH TV last week, Morrison told radio host Chris Smith that he was having a chat to these guys but that he was still under contract to Seven. Morrison went on to say he would love to do something new in what he described as the rapidly growing fringe space, and then laughingly invited Smith to come and work for me if I go there. Smith is working at digital radio TNT, having previously been sacked from Sky News and before that from 2GB over allegedly inappropriate behaviour towards young women at staff functions. Chris Smith on Sky News. Credit: In December 2022, while still at Seven, Morrison found himself at the centre of a controversy when it was revealed that Morrison had been one of the three judges who had awarded his wife, Heidi Tiltins, one of radios most prestigious awards for her role as a news presenter. On learning that Tiltins had outscored dozens of other nominees, the other two judges were outraged. After comparing notes, they worked out that Morrison had given his wife a perfect 10 for her to win. I find it highly offensive that there would be any suggestion something inappropriate has happened here, Morrison told the Herald at the time, adding: I have spent years recognising good talent, and there is no question that Heidi is excellent talent. While Jones is the major talent at ADH TV, other conservative hosts include Lyle Shelton, the former head of the Australian Christian Lobby, Nick Cater, a News Corp columnist and senior fellow of the Menzies Research Centre, and self-described provocateur Daisy Cousens. Jack Bulfin, chief executive of ADH TV, which stars Alan Jones. Credit: Peter Rae Jones, whose ADH broadcasts had been reduced to only two a week, finished on air at the end of November. His work email notes that I am off air until late January. Please, no correspondence. It wont be answered. In May 2020, Jones announced his retirement from Radio 2GB on doctors advice. Behind the scenes, Jones was being forced out on commercial grounds as advertisers had boycotted his program over controversial remarks suggesting that then-New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern should have a sock shoved down her throat. In early November 2021, Jones contract was not renewed by Sky News, where Jones had been hosting a nightly television program. Loading Numerous industry sources expressed surprise that Jones had delegated the contract renewal negotiations with Sky to Thrupp. Later that same month, corporate records show Australian Digital Holdings, a $1 company, was established by Jack Bulfin, who had just turned 22. Bulfin is the sole director and shareholder. ADH was the brainchild of Bulfin and Thrupp. In December 2021, at a press conference announcing ADH TVs launch, businessman and climate change sceptic Maurice Newman said he was absolutely delighted and excited to announce that Alan Jones has signed with Australian Digital Holdings of which I am the chair, to launch his digital television show, Alan Jones: Direct to the People. Newman expressed his hope that Jones audience would be in the millions. Jones told the assembled media that freedom of speech was his driving motivation to try a new platform. Dismissing traditional media as being too constrictive about what he could say, Jones offered: I will be saying what Alan Jones thinks. This is the world of tomorrow. Billionaire James Packer has confirmed he is a backer of ADH TV. Credit: Getty Images Jason Morrison, who attended the press conference, was singled out by Jones as a big candidate for an on-air role. Jones declined to identify who was funding the network, except to say that the backers broadly shared his view of the world. While Jones is not a backer of the venture, those who have invested are understood to include businessman Marcus Blackmore and former fund manager Simon Fenwick, one of the major donors to the No campaign for an Indigenous Voice to parliament. An alleged leader of the Hells Angels bikie gang, wanted in NSW after a major drug network went up in flames, snuck into Thailand on a private plane with a false passport before being pulled from a luxury villa hideout, local officials claim. Thai authorities, in unrelated stings, have also unearthed tonnes of drugs earmarked for Australias shores by major criminal syndicates. Photographs released by Thai authorities purporting to show the arrest of Australian alleged Hells Angels leader Rodrigo Elices in a luxury condo in Thailand in December. Credit: Thailand Immigration Bureau Thailands Immigration Bureau last month alleged an Australian national had entered their kingdom using an Italian passport with what they suspected was a false name. Fingerprints linked to the Italian passport matched a 31-year-old Australian, identified as Rodrigo Elices, Thai officials claim. More Sydney parents are pulling their children out of the public education system at the end of year 6 and enrolling them in private high schools compared with a decade ago. The growing exodus of students to private schools comes after years of sustained public focus on teacher shortages and debates over education funding. Department of Education enrolment figures, which track the progression of public pupils through each year of their schooling, show more than 9000 year 6 students left the public system between 2021 and 2022, equating to 21 per cent of the year 6 cohort. When schools in the rest of NSW were included, the exodus grew to more than 12,000 pupils in 2022, the latest year for which data is available. 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 Restaurants charging diners a non-discretionary surcharge for groups dining together are being unfair to their waiters and diners (Why the tip is added directly to your bill, January 7). While tips paid by diners are given directly to wait staff in cash, a surcharge added to a bill goes into the restaurant owners bank account, and it is then up to the owner to hopefully then distribute the surcharge from their account to the waiters that dealt with the large groups. I have grave doubts that this occurs in reality and the owner simply pockets the additional payment. This non-discretionary surcharge, on top of the penalty rate surcharge is just another profit grab by greedy restaurant owners. Mark Berg, Caringbah South Should you be forced to tip for large groups Credit: Sydney Morning Herald One wonders at what point the customer is going to stand up and say, Im as mad as hell and Im not going to take this any more! Restaurants adding their 10 per cent gratuity to the bill is egregious, preposterous and downright rude. Expecting customers to acquiesce to being the panacea for staff who are probably underpaid. When I dined out during a trip to the United States, I noticed our group of seven had been charged a gratuity on the bill. I counted out the cash less the gratuity. On leaving the restaurant, the manager followed our group to carpark, Excuse me sir, youve crossed out the gratuity. I replied, Ive no intention of being forced to make up staff wages without first allowing me to decide what tip I leave, if any. I would strongly recommend all diners do the same. I mean seriously, you order a meal these days then have to go through the menu to pick and pay for extras, like vegetables. That used to come with a main meal.I certainly wont be taking it any more. If you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen. Christopher Woodley, Vaucluse Economics is a funny business. Here I was thinking that handling things in bulk was cheaper than individually and up popped the restaurant industry to tell me it is the other way around. Handling groups is more expensive than handling individuals. A group of 50 is more expensive to cater for, than 50 individuals. On that logic, I suppose the supermarkets will put a surcharge if I process too many items at the checkout. Neville Turbit, Russell Lea Apartment downside We need to plan our green space and provide trees, not only for the climate but for our children to play (For the sake of our children, we need a tree change in our cities, January 7). Unfortunately, the downside of high rise and apartment living is the effort it takes to go outside. Its a chore to leave home when you cant just venture into your backyard. Involvement for teenagers in a team sport is one solution while younger children who cant stay home and play outside need parents who are willing and motivated to take them outside. Jenny Greenwood, Hunters Hill Daisy Turnbull is correct, green space and a connection to nature is vital for humans, but good luck in achieving that in a high-density environment. So far, the results in Sydney are unimpressive. Is anyone in government thinking about a stable and sustainable population level? If not, do we just keep expanding for ever? Paul Doyle, Glenbrook Robert Hosking (C8) could be in for a right royal comeuppance, according to friend of the Williams family, Berwyn Lewis of Bondi. For starters Sue was not raven-haired, she was blonde, and she did not have a sister. Of greater concern is the gun runner claim: The son of Sue and Leka is alive and well and might question those claims. That holiday in Tirana doesnt look so promising all of a sudden, Rob. While were talking royalty, Bob Roobottom of Taree requires a deep dive on The King: Ive borrowed a compilation CD of Nat King Coles work. All tracks except one feature vocals. The track in question, Riffamarole, written by one Benny Carter, is an up-tempo instrumental with trumpet and saxophone players added to Nats trio. Dr Google hasnt been much help. Any information about the track and personnel would be much appreciated. Glancing through the schedule for the Australian Open, I noticed a chap called Lucky Loser being called to fill in a number of times, says Nola Tucker of Kiama. I hope hes fit and fast on his feet. Hell be kept busy. Clearly inspired by the success of the Scottish Sex Pistols, Hugh McGinley of Drummoyne has joined the discussion on utilising remaindered Yes apparel (C8) and recalls while living in Scotland, I toyed with the idea of forming a Yes tribute band. I was going to call it Aye. Sticking with the repurposing of political duds, Gail Grogan of Constitution Hill doesnt hold back in advising Bruce Turner what to do with his Vote Tony Out T-shirt: Just add of Australia. It was winter 1982 and Phil Rowse had just got his licence when he heard about a hideaway surfing spot just south of Sydney where you could ride waves, sink a few beers around the fire and stay for just $10 a night in bush cabins behind the beach. The 17-year-old told his mum he was taking a week off from their tobacco shop in Eastwood, threw his surfboard into his new orange Datsun 180B and hit the Princes Highway, destination Don Hearns Cabins at Cunjurong Point. Don Hearns Cabins are built near Green Island, a rare left break for surfers on the east coast. Credit: Peter Rae It was my first-ever car and I drove it straight down there I went when the big south swell came, and it was offshore winds, and it was perfect conditions for [nearby] Green Island. Its the most beautiful place, Rowse said of the cabins, near Lake Conjola on the South Coast. Mate, you let go of society you let go of everything, you know? Its fantastic. Were very keen in getting koala movement data in these very fragmented agricultural cropping landscapes, that is data deficient. The Ceres Tag was originally designed for cattle. The koala is one of dozens of animals this Aussie-born cattle tech has been applied to. What were trying to do is take something thats made for a cow and stick it on all sorts of weird animals around the place and see how they go, Prof Allen says. Yet the solar-powered tag hasnt worked for all animals, including those that are nocturnal. Designed by CSIRO and launched in 2021, the Ceres Tag tracks an animals location via satellite and is valued for its small size. Ceres Tag founder David Smith says it was designed to help cattle producers back up environmental claims. Founder David Smith says the tech was designed to help cattle producers back up environmental and paddock-to-plate claims. We wanted to prove the animals were moving around on the land and where the improvement was happening, Smith says. And cattle producers are also using it to comply with new European Union legislation that bans imports from deforested land. When the animal comes in for processing, all of the areas theyve been to comes up on screen - if it hasnt been in deforested areas it can be eligible for the EU, Smith says. Were operating in 36 countries and over 7 million data points directly from satellite. From dingos to giraffes and black rhinoceros, the tag is being used on animals that are typically hard to catch. Sometimes theyve worked really well and then other times theyve been useless, which is not unusual in a wildlife setting, Prof Allen says. Half a world away, Julian Fennessy runs the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in Namibia where he uses the tag to protect the planets tallest animal. Over the past century the giraffe has been listed as extinct in seven African countries. We figure out where it is a safe area to bring the giraffe back, he says from Namibia Julian Fennessy, the Australian-born co-founder the Giraffe Conservation Foundation in Namibia, says he uses the tag to protect the planets tallest animal. Credit: Julian Fennessy They (tags) are awesome in helping us getting long-term data. The tags allow conservationists to monitor the animal extensively in the area theyve been relocated. If weve moved giraffes into a new area or a new country, we want to make sure theyre happy and healthy, well stick an extra ceres tag on the ear to help us monitor them long term. The Australian-born co-founder of the foundation says by tracking the animal it can help keep them away from poachers. Loading We can identify if someone needs to go out and try and look for them if theyve moved off too far, he says. Fennessy is one of about 80 conservationists who meet online every few months to discuss the benefits of the technology. More than 900 questions from the Senate about the health and aged care portfolio have been left unanswered since October, as crossbench and opposition members accuse the government of having contempt for transparency. As of January 12, data collated from the Senate community affairs committee found only 62 questions on notice were answered for the health and aged care portfolio since the supplementary budget estimates on October 26, with 931 unanswered. Liberal Senator Jane Hume. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In comparison, the social services portfolio has published 339 answers to questions on notice with 19 outstanding. Similarly, the Services Australia portfolio has answered all 362 questions with none outstanding. While more than 900 questions on notice would be a lot for the department to get through, says former secretary of the Health Department Stephen Duckett, answering only 62 after months highlights possible management problems. Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy has won Liberal endorsement for the federal seat of Dunkley, in Melbournes south-eastern suburbs, in what is shaping up to be a midterm contest for both Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Frankston Mayor Nathan Conroy. The result means the well-known face of Frankston City Council will face off against Labors Jodie Belyea at a federal byelection to be held in the coming weeks. Locals are returning to the ballot box more than a year out from when the next federal election is due after Dunkleys representative, widely respected Labor MP Peta Murphy, died from cancer in December. Conroy won preselection with a convincing 89 votes, according to two Liberal sources speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. The two other contenders, former state MP Donna Hope and Liberal staffer Bec Buchanan, received about 40 and 25 votes respectively, the sources said. Seymour resident Courtney Carroll sits on the timber floor joists of her home, still uninhabitable 15 months after the October 2022 floods, unsure when shell be able to move back in. Just a few minutes earlier, the mother of two gave The Age a tour of her mowing business, which was also inundated during the 2022 floods. That disaster has been described in some circles as a one-in-100-year event, and yet The Mower Shop had water lapping at its front door last week when nearby catchments received record-breaking rain. Courtney Carrolls Seymour home is still uninhabitable 15 months after the October 2022 floods. Credit: Darrian Traynor Look whats happened over the last two years, Carroll said. Its not giving us a good name. Why would anyone want to live here? As if the double blow of having her house and small business affected wasnt enough, Carrolls newly retired parents whose home was also ruined by the 2022 flood currently live in a caravan. Guyleen Castriotta is the mayor of Broomfield and Jan Kulmann is the mayor of Thornton. Australian executives are being urged to be more upfront and transparent when they suffer a data breach, as frustration grows among patients and staff at St Vincents Health who remain in the dark about whether their personal data was stolen by criminals. Data breaches and ransomware attacks are now hitting high-profile Australian businesses on a near-daily basis, impacting everyone from St Vincents to Court Services Victoria and travel agency Inspiring Vacations. While Australias mandatory reporting laws mean the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and any individuals impacted by a breach must be notified, many potential victims are still left unaware as to whether they have been caught up in a hack. CrowdStrike president Mike Sentonas. Australian industry veteran Michael Sentonas is the global president of cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike, which has a market capitalisation of over $100 billion. Speaking on the sidelines of the CES electronics show in Las Vegas, Sentonas said that he works closely with many Australian executives after theyve suffered a data breach, but that many havent been upfront enough about the breach theyve suffered, or what theyre doing about it. The escalation of human trafficking by sea from Coxs Bazar in south-east Bangladesh has not gone unnoticed in Canberra: officials want to ensure a new regional boats crisis does not reach Australian waters. As the number of departures picked up in December, the Australian government announced a new round of $235 million in humanitarian aid for displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh and in Myanmar. Demonstrators burn tyres at a protest rejecting Rohingya refugees in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, on December 27. Credit: AP The funding has allowed the cash-strapped UN World Food Program to lift the monthly food ration at Coxs Bazar from $US8 ($11.80) per person to $US10 after cutting it from $US12 last year. Eight [US dollars] as I understand it, is pretty close to starvation level so that would ease the hunger situation a little, says David Brewster, a senior research fellow at the Australian National Universitys National Security College. But the security situation in the camps is just completely out of control. There are kidnappings, rapes ... the Bangladesh authorities just dont have control of whats happening inside the camps. The violence from competing armed criminal gangs has left the Rohingya at the most vulnerable they have been since more than 700,000 crossed the border in 2017, according to a new report by Singapores International Institute for Strategic Studies. Ethnic Rohingya disembark from their boat upon landing on the north coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, in November. Credit: AP The military-led crackdown that pushed them from their homes in Myanmars western Rakhine State has been labelled by the UN as a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Unable to return to Myanmar as fighting persists between rebel groups and the military junta, 1.1 million people crammed into Coxs Bazar are also confronted by overcrowded conditions highly susceptible to fires, landslides and severe weather. Brewster welcomes the extra Australian support on the ground but argues it is in the Albanese governments interests to help build the capability of Bangladeshi maritime authorities and incentivise them to stop vessels departing, potentially for Australia. Given the pushback in Indonesia, the inevitability of offshore processing and detention in Nauru, not to mention the dangers of such a perilous trip, may not be such a barrier for the Rohingya, Brewster says. A Rohingya refugee hangs on to a pole trying to dismantle a solar panel and lamp as a fire blazes through their refugee camp at Kutupalong in Coxs Bazar district, Bangladesh on Sunday. Credit: AP It has to be a major issue in Australian thinking. The prospect of semi-indefinite detention in the [Pacific] island camps was sufficient deterrent for a lot of people, from Iraq or even Afghanistan, he says. But the Rohingyas are in such a desperate state that itd be like living in luxury, almost, from their perspective. Its a scenario also canvassed by a United Nations official at Coxs Bazar who has witnessed the dreadful reality confronted by the Rohingya there. The reality is theyre fast running out of places to go to, the official says, talking on the condition of anonymity to speak freely. Sooner or later [Australia] is going to become an option. Its glaringly obvious. Ive discussed this with a couple of Rohingyas, pointing out what would happen if [Australia] intercepted them while at sea. They said well, the [Pacific] islands are a hell of a lot better than the camps at Coxs, which is true. According to Saiful Arakani, a Rohingya journalist at Coxs Bazar who has charted recent boat journeys, two of the 14 vessels which left since November were organised by a refugee living in Australia. The despair of the Rohingya, who have fled oppression for years and are not recognised as citizens in Myanmar, has been a boon for people smugglers. Traffickers have seized on the latest rush to find refugees, charging about 120,000 Bangladeshi taka ($1620) for the voyage to Indonesia via the Andaman Sea. Rohingya children sit around a fire at their camp near a beach in Pidie, Aceh province, Indonesia, in December. Credit: AP One of the boats, carrying 180 people, has not been heard from since taking off in November. Its passengers are presumed drowned. If something is not done about stopping the boats [from Bangladesh] we are talking about a boat crisis the like we havent seen for at least a decade, the UN official says. A spokesperson for Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says the government was committed to countering maritime people smuggling and preventing deaths at sea and was working closely with neighbouring countries to combat trafficking. The December aid injection has built on $625 million provided since 2017. We are aware of reports of irregular maritime vessels in the Andaman Sea, including arrivals in Aceh. The Australian government is concerned that people smugglers exploit people, including women and children, and risk their lives at sea by selling such a dangerous journey, the spokesperson says. [The] Australian governments policy is steadfast; persons who travel irregularly to Australia by boat without a valid visa will not settle permanently here. Under Operation Sovereign Borders, maritime people-smuggling ventures targeting Australia will be detected, intercepted and returned to their country of origin or departure. Those that cannot be safely returned will be transferred to Nauru for regional processing. In Indonesia, another boat with more than 140 Rohingya refugees on board was permitted to reach the shore in North Sumatra province on December 31. Mayman, the UNHCR representative, says there was nothing to indicate any of the Rohingya in Indonesia would try their hand at making it to Australia. Loading She says they tended to prefer going on to Malaysia, where more than 100,000 Rohingya already live and where many have travelled irregularly from Indonesia including to reunite with family members. Amid resistance from the Acehnese, she is hopeful the situation will settle. There were a lot of Indonesians who were surprised, even shocked at what the Indonesian students did there was a backlash on social media, Mayman says. We just hope we will be given the conditions where we can actually be involved and help the local communities. When is the next blood moon? The next blood moon will occur on March 13/14, 2025. The lunar eclipse will begin at 11:57 p.m. EST on March 13 (0357 GMT on March 14) and end at 6:00 a.m. EST (1000 GMT) on March 14. What is it? A "blood moon" happens when Earth's moon is in a total lunar eclipse. While it has no special astronomical significance, the view in the sky is striking as the usually whitish moon becomes red or ruddy brown. Lunar eclipses can only happen during a full moon, when the sun fully illuminates the surface. Usually, a full moon has no eclipse because the moon orbits in a slightly different plane than the Earth and the sun. However, at times the planes coincide. Earth passes in between the moon and the sun and cuts off the sunlight, causing an eclipse. The last total lunar eclipse occurred on Nov. 8, 2022, producing a striking "Beaver Blood Moon" which thrilled observers around the world. This was the last blood moon until March 13/14, 2025. Related: Lunar eclipses 2024: When, where & how to see them If Earth partially blocks the sun, and the darkest part of its shadow falls across the moon's surface, it is called a partial eclipse. You will see a black shadow taking a bite out of the moon. Sometimes, the moon passes through the lighter part of Earth's shadow, causing a penumbral eclipse. Only seasoned skywatchers will be able to tell the difference because the moon only darkens very slightly. During a full eclipse, however, something spectacular happens. The moon is fully in Earth's shadow. At the same time, a little bit of light from Earth's sunrises and sunsets (on the disk of the planet) falls on the surface of the moon. Because the light waves are stretched out, they look red. When this red light strikes the moon's surface, it also appears red. Skywatcher Keith Burns took this montage of images, which shows the Dec. 20, 2010, total lunar eclipse. The montage won a NASA contest to become an official NASA/JPL wallpaper for the public. (Image credit: Keith Burns/NASA/JPL) How red the moon appears can depend on how much pollution, cloud cover or debris there is in the atmosphere. For example, if an eclipse takes place shortly after a volcanic eruption, the particles in the atmosphere will make the moon look darker than usual. While there are planets and moons all over the solar system, only Earth is lucky enough to experience lunar eclipses because its shadow is just large enough to cover the moon completely. The moon is slowly drifting away from our planet (at roughly 1.6 inches or 4 centimeters a year) and this situation won't persist forever. There are roughly two to four lunar eclipses every year, according to NASA, and each one is visible over about half the Earth. How a blood moon saved Christopher Columbus Some ancient cultures didn't understand why the moon turned red, causing fear. At least one explorer Christopher Columbus used this to his advantage in 1504. According to a Space.com Skywatching columnist Joe Rao, Columbus and his crew were stranded on an island now known as Jamaica. At first the Arawak people who lived there were welcoming, but over time, Columbus' crew grew restless and murdered or robbed some of the natives. Understandably, the native people weren't eager to help the crew search for food, and Columbus realized famine was drawing near. A blood moon seen over California in 2018. (Image credit: Getty Images) Columbus had an almanac with him foretelling when the next lunar eclipse would take place. Armed with this information, he told the Arawak that the Christian god was unhappy that Columbus and his crew received no food. God would turn the moon red as a symbol of his anger, Columbus said. As the event took place, frightened people "with great howling and lamentation came running from every direction to the ships laden with provisions, praying to the Admiral to intercede with his god on their behalf," according to an account by Columbus' son Ferdinand. Additional resources If you have a budding astronomer at home who wants to learn more about eclipses check out Solar and Lunar Eclipses (Explore Outer Space) by Ruth Owen or take a look at NASA's Space Place webpage on the different types of moons. Bibliography K. G. Strassmeier et al "High-resolution spectroscopy and spectropolarimetry of the total lunar eclipse January 2019," Astronomy & Astrophysics, Volume 653, March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201936091 Natural History Museum, "Lunar eclipse guide: what they are, when to see them and where," May 27, 2021. Royal Museums Greenwich, "How to see a lunar eclipse," January, 2022. Jessica Marshallsay, "Blood moon rising: How lunar eclipses might help us find life on other planets," The University of Queensland, January, 2022. Euch! How belittling and reductive a word for a film like this. And dont get me started on the Globes awarding Giamatti his gong for "best musical or comedy" role as opposed to "actor who was as good as, if not better, than Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer", because he goes far deeper than just laughs. Although this does contain the funniest penis cancer joke you are ever likely to hear. Diane Abbott, who was Jeremy Corbyns shadow home secretary but now sits as an independent, said: In 2020 Keir Starmer said no more illegal wars. He said that he would only back war if it was legal, had a viable objective and Parliament gave consent. We can only be a voice to our family members and our loved ones who are being held against their will for almost 100 days and demand their release, but there really is (only) so much we can do. He said: From an intelligence perspective, the two things we need to worry about are, obviously, Ukraine and what Chinas long-term behaviour globally is going to be, particularly in relation to Taiwan and how threatening China is to Western interests. But, more importantly, we have sent an unambiguous message: what the Houthis are doing is wrong, and we are determined to put a stop to it. We will work with allies. We will always defend the freedom of navigation. And, crucially, we will be prepared to back words with actions. And yet, in a very strange way, it made sense. I had the feeling that it was clearly not about what I had done, in terms of experience in the Church, it was about my life experiences, and what that might have to contribute now within the context of the Church of England. "The more dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm all maritime navigation, even the ships that are not going to Palestine, even the ships which are not Israeli, even the ships that have nothing to do with the matter, because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones and war ships," he said. Whereas I think, self-love happens with your lingerie. Its the first thing you put on, its the thing that you know youre wearing. Its not for someone else. Its the thing thats going to put a pep in your step. Glennon E. Engleman was a dentist who partnered with women in murder plots; he eventually pleaded or was convicted of five murders. But detectives suspected he committed more. He was caught after the 1980 death of Sophie Marie Barrera, 59, who owned a dental lab, and sued Engleman because he hadn't paid some bills. Engleman, with an accomplice, planted a car bomb; Berrera was killed when it exploded near her lab's office on Miami, east of South Grand Boulevard. At the same time he was charged in her death, he was charged with the 1976 shooting death of Peter J. Halm. Halm was married to a dental hygienist, Carmen Miranda Halm, who worked in Engleman's office. His widow testified that she and Engleman plotted for her to marry so they could kill her husband for insurance money. Jurors found Engleman guilty of the various charges in 1980 and 1981. (She received immunity for her testimony.) After his convictions in those deaths, Engleman was charged with killing Arthur Gusewelle and his wife Vernita, in November 1977; and their son Ronald, who died in April 1979. Engleman pleaded guilty to the three murders in June 1985. Ronald Gusewelle's widow, Barbara Gusewelle Boyle, was also convicted of murder for her husband's death. Engleman plotted to kill the couple, and then Ronald Gusewelle, for insurance money that he split with the widow. Engleman died in prison in 1999. He was never charged with the 1958 shooting death of James Bullock, who had married Engleman's first wife after she divorced the dentist. Bullock was found shot near the Art Museum in Forest Park, and the investigation and questioning of Engleman and the widow was closely followed in the news. He was also never charged in the 1963 death of business partner, killed in an explosion that, at first, looked like a work accident. Eric Frey died at the dragstrip near Pacific that Bullock's widow invested in after she received $64,500 in insurance money. Engleman was a director at the dragstrip. Engleman's defense attorney said, in 1985: "No, his motives were not money. He would treat people for nothing, and there were acts of kindness and charity in his background. "I think probably his desire to control individuals was his driving force to make all the little dummies walk in line and sing at the same time." EDWARDSVILLE As frigid weather clamps down on the area, a church-run organization that provides emergency shelter has locked horns with the city of Edwardsville. The city says First Baptist Church on St. Louis Street has to have a permit to run a homeless shelter. The church says Edwardsville cant regulate religious activity. People we know have suffered in the bitter cold and weve vowed not to let that happen again, the church posted on Facebook. Edwardsville spokesperson Cathy Hensley said the city has been trying to get the church to apply for the permit for months. Were perplexed as to how it got to this point, she said. This could have been approved in December. First Baptist has been operating since late November as an emergency shelter on nights that temperatures dip below 20 degrees, an undertaking supported by the Glen-Ed Ministerial Alliance, a group of about a dozen Metro East congregations. The plan was modeled on a similar effort in Alton, called Overnight Warming Location, which opened four years ago. The need became apparent, First Baptist leaders said, after an unhoused member of their congregation suffered frostbite on a frigid night in late 2022. We have a compassionate community that wants to help people where they are, said Michelle Babb, the secretary of the ministerial alliance. Some First Baptist neighbors began raising concerns in the fall, around the time that the congregation voted to use its gym as an emergency shelter, she said. At a meeting in October, city officials told the church it would need a special-use permit. We made it clear to them that its the citys legal position, said Hensley, the spokesperson. If someone wanted to open a hotel or an Airbnb, they would have to do this. Hensley said the city offered to waive the application fee of about $700. But First Baptist did not apply for a permit. Babb, who is not a member of that congregation, said that the Overnight Warming Location is part of the ministry of the church, which it has had a permit for since it opened in 1969. Having unhoused people spend the night is no different than when a youth group spends the night, she said: The fear is based on the population coming in and not on the activity. The first time the new shelter was open, in late November, no one came, Babb said. But after one person stayed overnight in December, the city sent First Baptist a cease-and-desist letter. This week, the ministerial alliance sent a letter to the city and posted it to social media, saying it would not be applying for a special-use permit. The citys authority does not extend to regulating the religious activity of churches, the letter said. We request cooperation among City leadership, not threats of shutting down a solution that can save lives, it read. There has not been an organized option for people to get inside overnight in Edwardsville, leaving them to sleep behind dumpsters, under ramps and in stairwells. On Friday, seven people stayed overnight at First Baptist, Babb said, when the temperature plummeted into the teens. And Saturday night was predicted to be even more frigid, with wind chills of at least 25 degrees below zero, according to the National Weather Service. First Baptist planned to be open again. The city of Edwardsville posted to its Facebook page Saturday that it had tried repeatedly, and for months, to work with the ministerial alliance. The zoning laws are in place to ensure safety and appropriateness, the post read. The City has a long history of supporting the nonprofit and social service providers who do so much for our community. The city has opened the lobby of the Public Safety Building on South Main Street for those who need overnight shelter during this cold snap. ST. LOUIS As St. Louis faces bitter cold and icy temperatures the next few days, here are five things to check off your list: 1. Avoid burst pipes Leave cabinet doors open so pipes are exposed to warmer air. People can also opt to wrap their pipes in heat tape available at home improvement stores or even newspaper. When temperatures are expected to fall below freezing for a sustained period of time, residents should let their faucets trickle. Some customers fear that will raise their water bill, but its a small price compared to the damage caused by burst pipes. 2. Know space heater safety Space heaters are a leading cause of house fires this time of year. Tips for space heaters include: Keep children, pets, furniture, drapes and electronics several feet away from space heaters. Do not overload extension cords or outlets. Many extension cords and power strips are not designed to handle the load of an electric heater. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. You can get assistance with smoke alarm installation from the Red Cross at redcross.org/smokealarmMO or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Do not use space heaters as the primary heating source for your home and never use ovens or outdoor propane heaters to heat your residence. 3. Keep your pet inside The Humane Society of Missouri urges people to bring pets inside whenever the temperature falls below 35 degrees to prevent frostbite on ears, tails and feet. Pet owners should also dry off wet pets and clean their paws after walking in the snow as chemicals and salt used to melt ice can get embedded and cause pain. Pet owners should also beware if theres antifreeze around their animals. Pets may try to eat it, but it can be lethal. Owners with short- or coarse-haired dogs might also consider putting them in a sweater or a coat on very cold days. 4. Stock up your car The Missouri Department of Transportation cautions drivers to check their vehicles for supplies and safety. The department suggests residents: Fill up gas tanks to be at least half full. Check vehicle antifreeze, battery and oil levels. Stock cars with an ice scraper, shovel, blankets and warm clothes, bottled water, nonperishable food, booster cables, a first aid kit and a small sack of sand to use for traction under your wheels. Residents can keep track of Missouri driving conditions and crashes at https://traveler.modot.org or by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT. In Illinois, visit https://www.gettingaroundillinois.com/winterconditions/. 5. Watch for frostbite, hypothermia Anyone with signs of frostbite or hypothermia should seek immediate medical attention. Signs of frostbite include numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness or waxy feeling skin, the Red Cross says. Early signs of hypothermia are confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering, according to the Red Cross. The Red Cross advises that if people must go outside in the bitter cold, they should wear layered clothing, cover their mouths in the bitter cold and change out of wet clothing quickly. Private investment and some high-profile government involvement is propelling hope that parts of Missouris Ozarks and the area long known as the Lead Belt could be transformed into a crucial domestic supplier of critical minerals and high-tech expertise for the fast-growing field of modern batteries and advanced energy products. Already, companies are working to open new facilities that will produce sought-after materials essential for cutting-edge batteries, electric vehicles, renewable energy projects and more products that some Missouri firms are currently gleaning from recycled electric vehicle batteries and tailings from old lead mines. And the region is now a potential target for significant federal investment, after being short-listed for consideration to receive tens of millions of dollars in grant money that aims to cement the region as a nationally prominent tech hub that helps anchor the industry with an American foothold. The effort revolves around coveted minerals like nickel, cobalt and rare earth elements, deemed critical because of their increasingly vital roles in technology, often tied to electricity and batteries. Presently, however, the U.S. is enormously reliant on foreign countries and notably China to get them. Were beholden almost completely to Chinese-processed materials, said Michael Hollomon, the commercial director for Missouri Cobalt, which bills itself as the owner of North Americas largest near-term primary cobalt reserve, and is the leading entity under its Clayton-based parent company, U.S. Strategic Metals. Were trying to get America to have its own supply chain, he said. That effort took a major step forward in late October, when the Biden administration designated more than 30 nationwide tech hubs as promising hot spots for future innovation and investment largely outside of the countrys established technology epicenters, like Silicon Valley. Missouris minerals hub spans 14 rural Ozark counties. The push is being led by Kwame Awuah-Offei, a mining engineering professor at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, as part of a 20-member consortium that includes colleges, state agencies and private companies, like Missouri Cobalt and Doe Run, the major lead producer. Doe Run declined an interview for this story. The group received $450,000 to develop plans to help build out the industry, and is eligible for far more additional funding. An announcement from the White House said the initiative aims to position south-central Missouri as a global leader in critical minerals processing to provide the materials needed to support battery technology. Some of those minerals, which can often occur alongside lead deposits, are already commercially produced in the Ozarks, after being recovered from old mine tailings and batteries and made into concentrates powdery products that contain a large portion of valuable metal. Those concentrates are then sent out of state to be processed into metal. But so far, we havent actually produced the metal, itself, said Awuah-Offei. The goal of those behind the tech hub isnt to stop at the extraction stage. They want to see Missouri host as much of the supply chain as possible. We are not just interested in the mining side, said Awuah-Offei, who wants the regions involvement to span from minerals to energy, which would include batteries. At Missouri Cobalt, Hollomon shares the same vision for the region, echoing that the plan isnt just mining and shipping it away. Think of the jobs that were going to provide to rural areas, he said. Missouri will absolutely be a leader, because were at the very beginning: the raw material phase. Full steam ahead This year, Missouri Cobalt is pushing to open a large-scale processing facility for multiple battery components in Fredericktown, at an old mine formerly owned by the National Lead Company. Once its fully running, Hollomon said the facility will support 1,200 jobs directly and indirectly, and possibly twice that many in about five years, as operations expand. Last month, Missouri Cobalts parent company announced that it had secured more than $200 million from a British mining financier, putting the Fredericktown project on track to start processing more than 200 tons of material each day, by years end. Were going full steam ahead, said Hollomon. Its a very exciting time. The company already has a smaller-scale facility in Earth City, in the St. Louis region, where it is recovering commodities such as nickel, cobalt, and lithium from mine tailings and electric vehicle batteries. Once impurities and specific metals are removed from the starting material, the refined products are destined to become the guts of other batteries, said Mike Cochran, Missouri Cobalts executive director of operations. Those leading the regions tech hub effort are working on an application for a second phase of federal funding the big prize, said Awuah-Offei due in February, and are weighing a request of between $40 million and $70 million. If the Ozark hub emerges as a Phase Two winner, the plan is to develop a scaling facility in Rolla, affiliated with Missouri S&T, where companies can hone commercial-scale production strategies. But win or lose with the next round of funding, some say the first wave of recognition from the White House already brings significant legitimacy and attention to the area. Being designated, itself, has certain advantages, said Awuah-Offei, adding that it can help make the area even more attractive for investment. The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip kicked off a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home after 100 days spent in Hamas captivity. Thousands of people poured into Hostages Square in Tel Aviv a central plaza opposite Israels Defense Ministry that has served as a gathering point for the campaigners. Hamas and other Gaza militants captured about 250 people during a deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel. About 1,200 other people were killed, most of them civilians, according to Israel. More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 remain held in Gaza including the remains of about two dozen who died or were killed. We were here on day 50 and spoke on this stage. We are not going to speak again in 50 days. Its time to bring them back. Now! Bring them back!, said Ronen Neutra, the father of Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier who was taken. They are being held in terrible conditions. They are starving. They are dying. Many of the protesters planned to stay out all night. The crowd listened to a recorded message from French President Emmanuel Macron, and heard from the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew. Lew and Macron pledged to exhaust every effort to bring the remaining hostages home. Today, as we mark 100 days since hundreds of innocent men, women and children were violently seized from Israel, we join as one in demanding their release, Lew said. In previous exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, nearly all freed on both sides were women and minors. Now, 111 men, 19 women and two children remain in Gaza. The Red Cross hasnt been permitted to see them, and almost nothing is known about their conditions. There has been little visible progress toward a new deal to release hostages. Their families are using the 100-day mark for a new appeal to the government to prioritize bringing home the abductees. Some have said the government has not done enough. Israel said Saturday that it brokered a deal with mediator Qatar to deliver much-needed medicines to the hostages with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. There was no immediate sign the deal was being implemented. One mothers ritual Every morning, before shes even out of her pajamas, Rachel Goldberg-Polin tears a piece of masking tape off the roll, grabs a marking pen and in thick black strokes writes down the number of days her son, Hersh, has been held hostage by Hamas militants. Then she sticks the tape to her chest. I find it so remarkable how nauseating it is every single time, she said. And its good. I dont want to get used to it. I dont want anybody to get used to the fact that these people are missing. Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was last seen Oct. 7, when militants loaded him into the back of a pickup truck with other people who were abducted from a southern Israel music festival where over 300 attendees were killed. The native of Berkeley, California, lost part of an arm when the attackers tossed grenades into the shelter where a group of young people had taken refuge. Rachel Goldberg-Polin, 54, now spends her days trying to bring him and the other hostages home. The mother of three spent the past three months crisscrossing the globe, reminding anyone who will listen that her child is more than just an inconvenient statistic: He is her only son, a music lover, a young man who deserves the chance to fulfill his dreams. Goldberg-Polin and her family, who moved to Israel from the United States when Hersh was 7, have met with U.S. President Joe Biden, Pope Francis, Elon Musk and dozens of journalists. Shes spoken at the United Nations, gone to protests and carried placards. The plight of the hostages and their families tireless campaign gained widespread support and sympathy, ratcheting up pressure on the Israeli government to make concessions to win their release. The Goldberg-Polin family planned to attend the start of the rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday and another Sunday on the Jerusalem Promenade. Similar events are scheduled in cities outside Israel, including London, New York and Paris. But so far, nothing stopped the number on the masking tape from going up. Ahead of the 100-day milestone, Goldberg-Polin asked people around the world to adopt her routine Sunday, hoping the show of solidarity would help her and the other families bear the pain and anguish of waiting yet another day for their loved ones to return. Her masking tape badge was inspired by childhood memories from 1979, when America was transfixed by the fate of 52 people held hostage at the U.S. Embassy in Iran. ABC News opened its coverage every night with a running count of how many days the crisis had lasted. The hostages were finally released after 444 days. The ritual began on Day 26, when Goldberg-Polin stuck the makeshift badge to her chest to show everyone the ever-increasing tally was the focus of her life, not just a factoid for news stories. It defines me anyway, she said Wednesday, when her badge read 96. She likened it to a name tag, in the fashion of Hello my name is. This is who I am, she said. My identity is the number of days hes been stolen. Photos: Scenes from the Israel-Hamas war The attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea by Yemens Iran-backed Houthi rebels have rerouted trade that normally flows through the crucial corridor for consumer goods and energy supplies, a shift that's delaying shipments and raising transport costs. Oil, natural gas, grain and everything from toys to electronics typically travel through the waterway separating Africa and the Arabian Peninsula en route to the Suez Canal, where usually 12% of the world's trade passes. Some of the worlds largest container shipping companies and oil giant BP have been sending vessels on longer journeys around Africa that bypass the Red Sea. In response to the growing impact to global trade, the United States and a host of other nations have created a new force to protect ships. Here are things to know about the impact of the attacks on global shipping: Last November, the Local News Initiative at Northwestern Universitys Medill School of Journalism released its annual report on the state of local news, and the findings were unsurprisingly troubling. The report identified 204 counties nationwide as news deserts, meaning they have no newspapers, local digital sites, public radio newsrooms, or ethnic publications. While none of Missouris 114 counties are yet news deserts, 70 must rely on just one source for local news. To assess this growing problems trajectory, the researchers built a predictive model that revealed 12 Missouri counties at substantial risk of becoming news deserts in the coming years. Local newsrooms cover school board meetings, investigations into municipal officials, road projects delayed and over budget, and stories of regular people making a difference. The professional journalists behind those stories have an impact beyond their readership when their work draws attention to matters of public interest. When reporters are less abundant or under-resourced, those inclined to abuse the public trust are emboldened because their misdeeds are more likely to go unquestioned. Journalists are uniquely positioned and qualified to identify the corruption, waste, or mismanagement that must be revealed before a problem can begin to be addressed. In a 2020 article in the Journal of Financial Economics, professors from Notre Dame and the University of Illinois at Chicago quantified the loss of a local newspaper to taxpayers. After eliminating the papers watchful eye, government salaries rose, deficits increased, and borrowing costs rose 5 to 11 basis points for taxpayer-funded projects. Declining subscription and advertising revenue cannot adequately support the professional journalists required to cover the complex challenges facing communities across Missouri. Our state lawmakers should draw inspiration from the extremely popular COVID-era federal Employee Retention Credit and expand the existing Missouri Works incentive program to include a refundable payroll tax credit to help nonprofit newsrooms partially offset the cost of retaining and hiring employees. A nonprofit entity under section 501(3) of the Internal Revenue Code cannot participate or intervene in political campaigns. By restricting the credit to nonprofit newsrooms organized under 501(c)(3), partisan propaganda will not exploit a tax incentive intended to benefit nonpartisan reporting. Northwesterns report went on to highlight the promise of digital news sites and newsrooms that utilize nonprofit status. Even longstanding papers such as the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Salt Lake Tribune have shifted to a nonprofit model. The report found that 80% of state-focused digital-only news sites are organized as nonprofits and 33% of locally-focused sites. By appealing to a broader audience, the state-focused sites have solicited a larger group of foundations, individual donors, advertisers, and subscribers to achieve financial stability faster than sites that focus on smaller cities and rural communities. However, communities of every size and makeup deserve the information and scrutiny that can only come from local independent journalists. Northwesterns report emphasized the mission of nonprofit public broadcasting to deliver local news to undercovered communities. For over 50 years, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has distributed federal funds to partially support local radio and television stations, such as NPR and PBS. Yet more financial resources are needed beyond what Congress currently appropriates. The combination of promoted misinformation and outnumbered journalists creates a fertile environment for bad actors to elevate baseless claims and dangerous policies. Recurring funding from the state in the form of a refundable tax credit could help more communities rely on access to independent local news instead of just those in locations that can attract the necessary philanthropy from private donors. Independent journalism is foundational to an ecosystem of accountability on which consumers, taxpayers, and voters can rely, and public officials cannot hide. Missouris lawmakers should embrace the opportunity to bolster a truly indispensable industry that is in distress. A state-level refundable payroll tax credit could protect and grow nonprofit local coverage in communities that find themselves vulnerable to becoming a news desert and in danger of the misinformation that spreads freely in the absence of independent journalism. While newsrooms struggle to survive on subscription and advertising revenue, a new sustainable funding mechanism must emerge for the public good. January 14, 2024: In mid-2023 a Japanese destroyer visited the Indian ocean and visited a shipyard in Sri Lanka, the tiny nation off the southern tip of India. The Port Blair drydock, and shipyard is a major economic enterprise for Sri Lanka, which is ideally located in the center of the Indian Ocean and available for ships from all nations in need of maintenance, upgrades, or repairs. Japan is spending $28 million to upgrade the Port Blair power generation facilities. More foreign warships are visiting the Indian Ocean, most of them on good terms with India and other Indian Ocean nations. For the United States, this is a natural progression of the increased US Navy presence in the West Pacific. Since the 1990s the United States has moved most of its fleet to the Pacific. This was to deal with the growing Chinese naval threat, as well as continuing problems with North Korea and Iran. From 1945 to 2016 the U.S. Seventh Fleet, based in Japan, controlled American naval operations in the West Pacific. In 2016 the Third Fleet took charge of western portions of the Central and South Pacific while Seventh Fleet dealt with North Korea, northern China, and Russia. One thing that brought the Third Fleet back was the need to conduct more FONOPS (freedom of navigation operations) in the South China Sea. The expansion of Third Fleet operating areas was no surprise. In 2012 the U.S. announced that it would have 60 percent of its 270 warships in the Pacific by the end of the decade. Actually, this was just a continuation of a process that began when the Cold War ended in 1991. There have been other major changes. In 2006 the U.S. Navy eliminated the Atlantic Fleet, after a century of existence. First established in 1906, the Atlantic Fleet was the first, world class, high seas, naval force from the Americas. At the time there was fear that Germany's ambitious warship building program might someday endanger the United States. The Atlantic Fleet did go to war with the Germans in 1917, and again in 1941. After 1945, the Atlantic Fleet remained a mighty force, in preparation for a potential battle with the growing naval power of the Soviet Union. But when the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, their fleet wasted away within a decade. At that point, the American Atlantic Fleet no longer had a major opponent. China, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran provided plenty of work for the Pacific Fleet, which normally supplied ships for Middle East and South Asian emergencies. The Pacific Fleet now has most of the warships and responsibilities for whatever problems emerge from East Asia and the Middle East. The Third Fleet will still stand ready to deal with potential problems in Asia. While Russia is again preparing for war with NATO and especially the United States, their Cold War fleet is not only gone but they find themselves unable to replace many of the larger warships they built during the Cold War. For that matter, neither can the United States. For both America and Russia, it takes longer, costs more and quality is a major problem. Even before the Cold War ended the U.S. Navy was losing its ability to design and build new and affordable ships of any type. This was not seen as a major problem during the Cold War because the Americans still had an enormous edge over Russia. To the surprise of many, the Soviet fleet lost most of its capabilities in the early 1990s, after the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. That meant the U.S. went from naval superiority to supremacy. It did not last. By the late 1990s the creation of a modern Chinese fleet was underway. China knew what they were doing. They had already invested heavily in commercial ship building, where they soon became the primary supplier of adequate, low-cost tankers and freighters. Japan, South Korea, and European firms provided the more complex vessels. China is slowly invading that market. China understood that if you were a major producer of commercial shipping, you had an edge in producing warships. The United States lost sight of this and tolerated the loss of the American ship building business to Europe in the 1960s and Pacific nations Japan, South Korea, and China in the late 20th century. The U.S. no longer had a lot of civilian shipyards that could also provide maintenance facilities for warships or, with some additional investment, build warships. The navy procurement bureaucracy lost its ability to impose cost and construction standards on the small number of shipyards capable of building large warships. For China it was just the opposite and thats why China has more warships than the United States. China also has problems with personnel, but these are different from what the U.S. Navy suffers from. China has no tradition of a fleet that sends many ships long distances on a regular basis in peacetime. As a result, few Chinese want to join, or stay in, the navy so its ability to grow much beyond its present number of ships built and building is questionable. The other potential problems, like ship design and crew quality, China had already noted. Rather than try to develop new ship designs, the Chinese copied what had worked in the West, especially the United States. However, China was surprised by the difficulty finding enough qualified Chinese to operate all these new ships. China understood that the way you obtain competent crews and commanders is to send your new ships to sea frequently. That was known to work but many Chinese were not willing to spend all that time at sea when there were similar jobs in the air force and army that paid the same and did not require so much that time at sea. China has demonstrated their ability to keep improving their manufacturing skills and, just as their commercial shipping designs became more capable and complex, so are their warships. Navies with experienced crews encounter Chinese warships more frequently and the consensus is that the Chinese are getting better and more quickly than expected. Western navies faced a comparable situation with Japan before World War II. The Japanese built Western type ships, after buying some from European builders. Japan trained its crews hard, more so than Western observers realized or would admit. Japanese naval victories early in the war were a surprise to everyone but the Japanese. The situation with China today is different in several respects. Before World War II the United States was the largest commercial ship builder in the world and had a GDP ten times larger than Japan. Japanese senior admirals understood that this meant Japan had to win the naval war decisively within a year, because after that the greater shipbuilding capability of the United States would, as it actually did, produce a fleet many times what Japan had. Japan could not replace major warship losses. Within two years it was obvious to Japanese naval leaders that they had lost their war. China is now building warships matching U.S. warship tech in terms of weapons and sensors (assuming their navy does not have crippling corruption defect problems like its ICBM forces). China does this in part because they can do it faster and cheaper. That is a side effect of China becoming the largest shipbuilder in the world. This is a status the United States held during World War II and surrendered as European nations and Japan revived their ship building industries. In the last few decades South Korea and China have become the major ship builders. It is no mystery that nations capable of building the most commercial ships can also produce lots of warships and do it quickly and inexpensively. That is why it costs so much more and takes longer for American shipyards to build warships. Worse, the decline in American commercial shipbuilding means there is a chronic shortage of skilled shipyard workers and managers for military ship construction. The U.S. is currently a minor factor in world ship building and most of that is smaller, coastal shipping plus specialty items like oil rigs. The U.S. has far fewer facilities for repairing its many large warships and a growing backlog in warship maintenance because of that. Three nations, China, South Korea, and Japan build 90 percent of all ships. China, South Korea, and Japan all have more robust warship construction and repair capabilities than the United States. It works both ways. America had maintained its primacy as a builder of commercial aircraft since World War II and made it possible to maintain primacy in warplane design and construction. Same with the automotive industry, which creates many essential innovative technologies needed for military vehicles. Now the Americans are on the wrong end of those World War II and Cold War trends. So were the Russians during the Cold War, where the United States always had a GDP at least twice that of the USSR and was more experienced in designing and building superior warships. China noted all that and strove to avoid the errors and enhance what worked. China is on its way to maintaining its status as the second largest GDP in the world for a long time. China already has the largest fleet of warships, although the U.S. Navy still leads in tonnage and experience. January 14, 2024: Since late 2017 there have been continuing nationwide outbursts against the religious dictatorship running the country. There was similar activity in 2009 to protest the lack of fair elections. The 2009 protests were put down with force as were the recent ones, with over a thousand dead in 2009 and several hundred since then. What started in late 2017 was different, with the protestors calling for the corrupt religious rulers to be removed. Some called for a return of the constitutional monarchy the religious leaders replaced in the 1980s after first promising true democracy. Even more disturbing were protestors calling for Islam to be banned and replaced with something else, like Zoroastrianism, the ancient Persian religion that Islam replaced, violently and sometimes incompletely in the 7th and 8th centuries. Right before the 2017 unrest the religious rulers saw Iran on the way to some major victories in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen. The optimism turned out to be premature. The good times were supposed to begin in the wake of a July 2015 treaty that lifted the many sanctions Iran had collected for bad behavior since the 1990s. That did not, as many financial experts pointed out, solve the immediate cash crises because oil prices were still low. This was because of continued use of fracking in North America which triggered a massive more than 70 percent drop in the price of oil in 2013. Iran made their situation worse by trying to avoid complying with the 2015 treaty while still getting most of the sanctions lifted and for a while that seemed to be working. That strategy backfired when the U.S. accused Iran of violating the 2015 deal and by the terms of that agreement the American could and did withdraw. That meant many of the sanctions returned in 2018. Even before the American action, foreign economists believed the Iranian economy wouldnt get moving again until the 2020s. Now it is going to take even longer, and most Iranians were extremely angry about that. The 2017 protests continue, but more discreetly because of the threat of lethal retaliation. The senior clerics are worried and openly seeking a solution that does not include them losing power. Few Iranians are willing to accept that kind of compromise. The religious dictatorship is not only hated, but also seen as corrupt, incompetent, untrustworthy and willing to kill any Iranians that oppose them too effectively. This has led to some odd acts of resistance. For example, in late 2022 a young Kurdish woman was arrested by the lifestyle police and accused of not covering her hair properly with her hijab. While in custody the girl died, apparently from beatings. This led to months of protests. The government refused to change its hijab policy and the protests faded away in early 2023. There are some more complications. Half the population consists of ethnic minorities. mainly Turks, Kurds, and Arabs, and some of these groups, including Arabs, Kurds and Baluchis are getting more restive and violent, for different reasons. Yet the Islamic conservatives are determined to support terrorism overseas and build nuclear weapons at home, rather than concentrating on improving the economy and living standards and addressing the corruption within their ranks. Expensive efforts to aid pro-Iran groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon were presented as examples of the ancient Iranian empire being reborn. The government sees these foreign adventures as a way to distract an unhappy population. This ultimately had the opposite effect as Iranians did the math and realized their poverty was the result of all the billions spent on these overseas adventures. At home the nuclear weapons project is still important because Iranian religious leaders have been increasingly vocal about how Iran should be the leader of the Islamic world and the guardian of the major Islamic shrines, especially Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Iranians believe having nukes would motivate the Arabs, and many others, to bend the knee. The potential victims are not cooperating and can retaliate. Saudi Arabia is believed to have funded enough of Pakistans nuclear weapons program to have first call on some of Pakistans several hundred nuclear weapons. The Arabs have been kicked around by the Iranians for thousands of years and take this latest threat very seriously. That has led to a major reform effort in Saudi Arabia with a new generation of leaders willing to take on corruption and go with alliances that benefit the Saudis. This includes openly working with Israel to deal with the Iranian threat. The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel received little active support from other Moslem nations, in part because Saudi Arabia opposed the Hamas violence. SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of ChargePoint Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CHPT) securities between June 1, 2023 and November 16, 2023, inclusive (the Class Period), have until January 29, 2024 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the ChargePoint class action lawsuit. Captioned Khan v. ChargePoint Holdings, Inc., No. 23-cv-06172 (N.D. Cal.), the ChargePoint class action lawsuit charges ChargePoint as well as certain of its top executive officers with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the ChargePoint class action lawsuit, please provide your information here: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-chargepoint-holdings-inc-class-action-lawsuit-chpt.html You can also contact attorney J.C. Sanchez of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected]. CASE ALLEGATIONS: The ChargePoint class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) ChargePoint was experiencing higher component costs and supply overruns for first generation DC charging products; (ii) as a result, ChargePoint was likely to incur impairment charges; and (iii) consequently, ChargePoints profitability would be adversely impacted. The ChargePoint class action lawsuit further alleges that on September 6, 2023, ChargePoint reported second quarter of fiscal year 2024 financial results, including a $28.0 million, or 19 percentage point, inventory impairment charge that 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 GAAP gross margin of 1%, down from 17% in the prior years same quarter, according to the complaint. The ChargePoint class action lawsuit alleges that on this news, the price of ChargePoint stock fell nearly 11%. Then, on November 16, 2023, ChargePoint announced preliminary financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, 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, the complaint further alleges. ChargePoint expected to report GAAP gross margin of negative 23% to negative 21% and further reported revenue had fallen to $108 million to $113 million, as compared to $150 to $165 million as previously expected, according to the complaint. The complaint also alleges that ChargePoints Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were both replaced, effective immediately. The ChargePoint class action lawsuit alleges that on this news, the price of ChargePoint stock fell more than 35%. THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired ChargePoint securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the ChargePoint class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the ChargePoint class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the ChargePoint class action lawsuit. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the ChargePoint class action lawsuit. ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller is one of the worlds leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud cases. The Firm is ranked #1 on the most recent ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering more than $1.75 billion for investors in 2022 the third year in a row Robbins Geller tops the list. And in those three years alone, Robbins Geller recovered nearly $5.3 billion for investors, more than double the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs firm. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs firms in the world and the Firms attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever $7.2 billion in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information: https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices. Contact: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP 655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101 J.C. Sanchez, 800-449-4900 [email protected] NEW YORK, Jan. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lowey Dannenberg, P.C. a preeminent law firm in obtaining redress for investors, is investigating breaches of fiduciary duties involving the directors and officers of Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (Spirit AeroSystems or the Company) (NYSE: SPR). Spirit AeroSystems is a non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that manufactures and supplies core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles, and related engine structural components, wings and wing components, as well as other miscellaneous structural parts for Boeing Co., including the B737 Max models. If you are a purchaser of Spirit AeroSystems common stock and wish to participate, learn more, or discuss the issues surrounding the investigation, please contact our attorneys Radhika Gupta ([email protected]) or Andrea Farah ([email protected]) or you can call us at 914-733-7212 to know more about this investigation. About Lowey Dannenberg Lowey Dannenberg is a national firm representing institutional and individual investors, who suffered financial losses resulting from corporate fraud and malfeasance in violation of federal securities and antitrust laws. The firm has significant experience in prosecuting multi-million-dollar lawsuits and has previously recovered billions of dollars on behalf of investors. Contact: Lowey Dannenberg P.C. 44 South Broadway, Suite 1100 White Plains, NY 10601 Tel: (914) 733-7256 Email: [email protected] AUSTIN, TX, Jan. 14, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Steam Team Restoration (https://www.thesteamteam.com/) of Austin, Texas, a prominent name in the restoration industry and a staple in the Austin community for more than 40 years, proudly announces its latest accolade - the Family-Run Business Award from the esteemed Austin Business Journal. This recognition marks a significant achievement for The Steam Team, highlighting the company's exceptional commitment to family values, innovation, and community engagement. A Legacy of Excellence Founded several decades ago, The Steam Team Restoration has been a cornerstone of the Austin business landscape, starting as a small, family-owned venture and growing into a thriving enterprise known for its top-tier restoration services like water damage and fire damage. The foundation of The Steam Team's success lies in a legacy of excellence passed down through generations - a testament to the dedication, hard work, and shared values of the family behind the business. Navigating Challenges Together The restoration industry, known for its unpredictability, has presented its fair share of challenges over the years. Economic shifts, technological advancements, and changes in consumer preferences have required adaptability and foresight to handle emergency restoration service during disasters. What sets The Steam Team apart is its unwavering familial bond that has served as a compass in navigating challenges. The family's collective resilience and ability to leverage individual strengths have been pivotal in overcoming obstacles and maintaining a trajectory of success. Collaborative Leadership At the heart of The Steam Team's success is a unique and collaborative leadership model. Unlike conventional corporate structures, The Steam Team values open communication and inclusive decision-making. This has helped us handle any emergency from large losses to huge natural disasters. The family members leading the business believe in harnessing the collective wisdom of each member, creating a leadership style that not only strengthens family ties but also fosters a sense of ownership and accountability among every team member. Innovation and Sustainability In a rapidly evolving industry, The Steam Team has embraced innovation while staying true to its commitment to emergency disaster readiness. The incorporation of cutting-edge restoration techniques and eco-friendly practices showcases the family's forward-thinking approach. The Steam Team's ability to balance restoration innovation with environmental responsibility has not only elevated the business but also resonated with a community that values businesses contributing positively to the environment. Community Engagement and Philanthropy For The Steam Team Restoration, being a family-run business is synonymous with being an integral part of the Austin community. The family's commitment to giving back is evident in their philanthropic endeavors, supporting local initiatives, and contributing to the betterment of the city they call home. This dedication to community engagement has not only endeared The Steam Team to its clients but has also established the business as a responsible and caring corporate citizen. Recognition by Austin Business Journal The Austin Business Journal, a leading voice in business journalism and recognition, recently honored The Steam Team Restoration with the Family-Run Business Award. This prestigious accolade is reserved for businesses that embody the spirit of familial collaboration, innovation, and sustained success. The Steam Team's multi-generational journey, commitment to excellence, and impact on the local community set them apart in a competitive field of family-run enterprises. Award Presentation and Acceptance The award ceremony, held in October of 2023, was a momentous occasion for The Steam Team. Surrounded by peers, community leaders, and fellow entrepreneurs, the family accepted the Family-Run Business Award with gratitude. The recognition was not just for the exceptional restoration services The Steam Team provides but, more importantly, for the legacy the family has built - a legacy marked by enduring relationships, positive community impact, and a commitment to the highest standards of business ethics. David Marquardt President has even held positions on the board of ethics for industry trade associations. Looking to the Future As The Steam Team basks in the glow of this well-deserved recognition, the family remains focused on the future. The award serves as both a celebration of past achievements and a motivation for continued growth and innovation. The Steam Team's story continues to inspire other family-run businesses, demonstrating that success is not just measured in financial gains but in the enduring relationships, positive impact, and the lasting legacy created along the way. About The Steam Team Restoration Founded on principles of excellence, integrity, and family values, The Steam Team Restoration has been serving the Austin community for [number] years. Specializing in restoration services, the Steam Team has become synonymous with quality, reliability, and a commitment to environmental responsibility. Social Links X: https://twitter.com/TheSteamTeamATX Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-steam-team-austin-6 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB_-E4P-hooIXPOaEtZsfGA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063738381022 Media contact Brand: The Steam Team Restoration Contact: Billy Arieno Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.thesteamteam.com/ SOURCE: The Steam Team Restoration Source: The Steam Team Restoration Explanation Economist: The social impact of venture capital may be even larger than previously thought. A recent study calculated that a dollar of venture capital stimulates three to five times more inventions to be registered with the government each year than a dollar of corporate research and development spending. This implies that if the current surge of venture capital funding continues, it would generate as much innovation as all corporate research and development spending added together. The economists argument about venture-capital funding depends on which of the following assumptions? A) An increase in the number of inventions registered with the government is a sign of a surge in venture-capital funding. B) Innovation is accurately reflected in the numbers of inventions registered with the government. C) There has been a decline in the number of inventions registered with the government that resulted from corporate research- and development spending. D) Corporate research and development spending currently has a smaller social impact than does venture-capital spending. it (venture-capital funding) would generate as much innovation as all corporate research and development spending E) Most corporations will remain fiscally conservative in their spending on research and development. Correct answer: MartyMurrayCoaching.com Contact me for a free consultation. Perfect Scoring Tutor With Over a Decade of ExperienceContact me for a free consultation. Signature Read More We see that the reasoning of the argument is basically that, if it's true that a dollar of venture capital stimulates more inventions to be registered with the government each year than a dollar of corporate research and development spending does, then venture capital funding will generate as much innovation as corporate research and development.In that line of reasoning, there is a clear gap, in that the evidence is about "inventions .. registered with the government" and the conclusion is about "innovation."The correct answer will state an assumption on which the argument depends, and it's likely that that assumption will somehow connect "inventions .. registered with the government" to "innovation."The argument does not depend on this choice being true. After all, even if an increase in the number of inventions registered with the government does not always result from a surge in venture-capital funding, and sometimes results from something else, it could still be the case that venture-capital funding will generate as much innovation as corporate research and development.In other words, the argument is not saying that corporate research and development or something else other than venture-capital funding couldn't cause an increase in the number of inventions registered. It's just saying that venture-capital funding will play a big role.So, even if this choice isn't true, the argument could still work.Eliminate.As we discussed above, the argument jumps from the evidence that "a dollar of venture capital stimulates three to five times more inventions to be registered with the government each year than a dollar of corporate research and development spending," to the conclusion that "if the current surge of venture capital funding continues, it would generate as much innovation as all corporate research and development spending added together."So, the argument depends on the assumption that "inventions ... registered with the government" are connected to "innovation."In other words, if it were not true that "Innovation is accurately reflected in the numbers of inventions registered with the government," then the evidence about "inventions" would not support the conclusion about "innovation" since the numbers of inventions registered with the government would not be accurate indicators of innovation.Keep.The evidence presented is that "a dollar of venture capital stimulates three to five times more inventions to be registered with the government each year than a dollar of corporate research and development spending." So, we see that the argument supports the conclusion with a fact about the relative results of a dollar of venture-capital funding and of a dollar of corporate research and development spending.That fact supports the conclusion regardless of whether there has been a decline in the number of inventions registered with the government that resulted from corporate research- and development spending. After all, even if there has not been a a decline in the number of inventions that resulted from corporate research- and development spending, the fact that a dollar of venture-capital funding is so much more productive than a dollar of corporate research- and development spending could still support the conclusion.So, the argument works regardless of whether this choice is true.Eliminate.The conclusion of the argument is "if the current surge of venture capital funding continues,added together."As much as" communicates the idea that the results of "venture-capital funding" and "corporate research and development spending" will be the same.So, the argument does not involve the assumption that corporate research and development spending has a "smaller" impact.Eliminate.This choice is a little tricky to eliminate because "Most corporations will remain fiscally conservative in their spending on research and development" seems to communicate "Most corporations will not increase their spending on research and development," and we could think that the author assumes that corporations will not increase their spending on research and development.At the same time,. I think we can eliminate this choice since the argument may work even if corporations will not remain fiscally conservative in their spending on research and development. After all, the fact stated by the passage, "a dollar of venture capital stimulates three to five times more inventions to be registered with the government each year than a dollar of corporate research and development spending," may be enough to support the conclusion even if corporations will increase their spending on research and development. After all, it could be that the author knows that corporations will increase their spending and still believes that, because "a dollar of venture capital stimulates three to five times more inventions to be registered," the conclusion is correct.In other words, we don't have a clear reason to believe that the author has assumed that the future will involve the specific situation that "Most corporations will remain fiscally conservative in their spending on research and development." The author could have many beliefs about the future and may believe that corporations will not remain fiscally conservative in their spending and that, in that case, the evidence still supports the conclusion.So, the argument can work even if this choice isn't true.Thus, since the argument clearly does not work unless choice (B) is true and can work if (E) is not true, we can safely choose (B) over (E).(B)_________________ Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. Babalawo and Finance Mentor, James Weeks, Inspires Spiritual and Financial Transformation in African-American Communities Today marks a momentous occasion as James Weeks announces the release of the second edition of his book, Meditations Across The Kings River: African-Inspired Wisdom for Lifes Journey. The book has now ascended to the status of an Amazon best-seller, reflecting the books profound impact on readers seeking inspiration and transformation. Discover the profound wisdom of Meditations Across The Kings River by purchasing a copy on Amazon. The announcement of Weeks achieving best-seller status on Amazon adds a triumphant layer to the books narrative, affirming its resonance with readers seeking spiritual guidance and a path toward financial empowerment. Renowned as a Babalawo in the Ifa spiritual tradition, James Weeks is also an internationally recognized spiritual advisor and finance mentor, known for his impactful work in promoting African cultural traditions, STEM education, and financial literacy. Experience personal guidance and spiritual insights by booking a session with Weeks at https://acrossthekingsriver.com/readings. We are lagging far behind in science, engineering, technology, and math, expresses Weeks. Our children must become leaders in science, finance, and technology. First published in 2019, Meditations Across The Kings River stood as a vibrant celebration of African culture, spirituality, history, and cuisine, attracting readers worldwide. The second edition of the book delves even deeper into Weeks extraordinary life experiences, featuring updated chapters on ancestral guidance, encounters with activists in Bermuda, his journey into trading and beekeeping, and the unexpected revelation of a familial tie to the late legendary actress Cicely Tyson. Weeks journey into African healing traditions began in 2002 during a crisis involving his sons involvement with gangs in East Oakland. The father-son duo later traveled to Nigeria, where Yoruba elders guided and healed them. Today, they share their story to inspire and heal others, emphasizing the importance of following ones purpose. The transformative journey within the pages of Meditations Across The Kings River urges readers to open themselves to ancestral spirit guides, embrace their gifts, and discover their unique purpose on earth. Weeks draws inspiration from the late African shaman Malidoma Some, the late poet/activist Audrey Lourde, renowned Bermudian costume designer Shiona Turini, and Ghana-based entrepreneur Maya King. A significant portion of the proceeds from book sales will support The Across The Kings River Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit founded by James Weeks. The Foundation aims to bridge gaps in STEM education and financial literacy within African-American communities while also preserving and promoting African spiritual and cultural traditions. We must also support our storytellers and traditional healers, states Weeks. Weeks is collaborating with Joel Mcphee, a financial services executive, and with Liana Nanang, CEO of Unstoried, a Bermuda-based multi-media company, who applauds the mission, stating, Our story has been told to us, rather than by us. Our mission is to disrupt the way films and books about us are made and marketed. Join the vibrant community of Across The Kings River on Facebook with over 147K followers, and be a part of the collective journey towards spiritual and financial transformation. About James Weeks: James Weeks is a Babalawo, or priest, in the Ifa spiritual tradition of West Africa and an internationally known spiritual advisor and finance mentor. He has spoken at Harvard University and featured in the Associated Press and Market Watch. Weeks is the producer of the upcoming documentary film Across the Kings River. For more information, visit www.AcrossTheKingsRiver.com. About The Across The Kings River Foundation: The Across the Kings River Foundation promotes African cultural, spiritual, and healing traditions, STEM education, financial literacy, and the empowerment of individuals in underserved communities. The Foundation also promotes African spiritual and cultural traditions and supports upcoming authors, filmmakers, and content creators. The Across The Kings River Foundation is actively seeking volunteers, mentors, and donations to further its mission. Learn how to get involved in supporting STEM education, financial literacy, and cultural preservation at The Across The Kings River Foundation. About the company: The Media Magic division of Business Acceleration Network, Inc. is recognized as an innovative and forward-thinking presence in the field of media and event production. Its unwavering dedication is centered on the creation of engaging narratives and the execution of memorable events that captivate global audiences. Driven by a deep passion for producing impactful results and a steadfast commitment to excellence, the division has refined its expertise in delivering top-quality content across various media platforms. Contact Info: Name: James Weeks Email: Send Email Organization: James Weeks Consulting Phone: +1-510-388-5500 Website: https://www.AcrossTheKingsRiver.com Video URL: https://youtu.be/LhQbNPfepVM Release ID: 89118648 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. Left-wing activists shout slogans during a protest at the gates of RAF Akrotiri, the British base on Cyprus which has been used as a launchpad for strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen, near the city of Limassol, Cyprus January 14, 2024. REUTERS/Mar AKROTIRI, Cyprus (Reuters) - Pro-Palestinian activists protested at the gates of RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Sunday, angry that the British base was used as a launch pad for strikes against the Houthi militia in Yemen. U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launched dozens of air strikes against Houthi forces in Yemen overnight Thursday to Friday in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping that the Iran-backed group says is a response to the war in Gaza. RAF Akrotiri was used as a staging point for Typhoon fighter jets involved in the operation. Several hundred protesters chanted "Out with the Bases of Death" at the entrance to RAF Akrotiri, one of two bases Britain retains in Cyprus, a former colony. The iron gates to the heavily-guarded compound, which sits on a peninsula on Cyprus's southernmost tip, were locked with dozens of police present. "We are here because we condemn the complicity of the UK government and using Cypriot land for their agenda to support Israel in their onslaught of Gaza," said Natalia Olivia of the Cyprus-based United for Palestine organisation. Another activist, Nicos Panayiotou, called the use of the British bases a disgrace. "They are using Cypriot land to do something every Cypriot is condemning," he said. Britain is not obliged to seek permission from Cyprus for operations out of Akrotiri under the terms of the bases' presence on the island. The strikes have added to concerns that the Israel-Gaza war could spread through the Middle East, with Iran's allies also entering the fray from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq. Sunday's demonstration was organised before Akrotiri was used for the strikes on Yemen amid perceptions - denied by Britain - that the base is being used to offer logistical support to Israel. In response to the protests, a British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "British Forces Cyprus continue to support the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza and no RAF flights into Israel have transported any lethal cargo." (Reporting By Michele Kambas; editing by Christina Fincher) A general view shows buildings and houses, amid the ongoing wave of violence around the nation, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, January 13, 2024. REUTERS/Henry Romero By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -All prison staff held by inmates at prisons in Ecuador amid a sharp uptick in violence had been freed by Saturday evening, the SNAI prisons agency said. The hostages, which SNAI previously said were 158 guards and 20 administrative staffers, were held since last Monday in at least seven prisons as a security crisis escalates in the South American country. President Daniel Noboa on the social media platform X congratulated SNAI, police and armed forces for the successful release of the prison staff. There would be an investigation to determine those responsible for the hostage-taking, SNAI said in its statement. SNAI reported incidents at several prisons earlier Saturday, including an armed confrontation with inmates at the prison in El Oro province that resulted in the death of a guard. Ecuador is grappling with a security crisis that worsened this week with the on-air storming of a TV station, unexplained explosions in several cities and the kidnapping of police officers. Armed groups appear to be reacting to Noboa's plans to tackle the dire security situation, according to the government. The police and the armed forces were continuing to carry out operations around the country. More than 1,000 people have been arrested since a state of emergency began on Monday, the government said. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia, writing by Cassandra Garrison;Editing by Alistair Bell, Will Dunham and Michael Perry) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Fadi Shana DOHA/GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli tanks and aircraft hit targets in southern and central Gaza on Sunday and there were fierce gun battles in some areas as the war reached 100 days since the Oct. 7 attack led by gunmen from the Islamist Hamas movement. Communications and internet services were down for the third day running, complicating the work of emergency and ambulance crews trying to help people in areas hit by fighting. The clashes were concentrated in the southern city of Khan Younis, where Hamas said its fighters hit an Israeli tank, as well as in Al-Bureij and Al Maghazi in central Gaza, where the military said several fighters were killed. Hamas' armed wing spokesman, Abu Ubaida, said on Sunday the fate of many Israeli hostages captured on Oct. 7 has become unknown. In his first televised appearance for several weeks, marking the 100th day since the outbreak of the war, he said many of the hostages "may have been killed", blaming their fate on Israel. Hamas showed it retained rocketry capacity, launching a fresh salvo on Sunday at Ashdod, an Israeli town 40 km (25 miles) away. There was no word of any casualties. Abu Ubaida said the group had been told by "several parties in the resistance fronts that they will expand their strikes on the Israeli enemy in the coming days." The Israeli military said it destroyed several silos used by Hamas to fire missiles at Israel. Over the past 24 hours, the Gaza health ministry said 125 people had been killed and 265 wounded, bringing the total number confirmed to have been killed since the start of the war to almost 24,000, with more than 60,000 wounded. Israel's military said it has killed around 9,000 Palestinian fighters, and lost 189 soldiers, in the Gaza war so far. Speaking through video link to a conference in Istanbul, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh praised the Oct. 7 attack by the group's fighters who rampaged through Israeli communities around the Gaza Strip, killing more than 1,200 people and seizing around 240 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. "We are not seekers of wars. We are seekers of freedom," he said, saying the attack was, in part, a response to the blockade Israel and neighbouring Egypt placed on the Gaza Strip after Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007. The Iranian-backed group is sworn to Israel's destruction. NEW PHASE OF WAR The Israeli military says it has shifted to a new phase of the war, focused on the southern end of the territory, where almost 2 million people are now sheltering in tents and other temporary accommodation, after the initial phase centred on clearing the northern end including Gaza City. In the northern Gaza Strip, health officials said an Israeli air strike killed a local journalist, raising the number of journalists killed in the Israeli offensive to more than 100, according to the Gaza government media office. In a statement on Dec. 16, in response to the death of a journalist in Gaza, the Israeli army said it "has never, and will never, deliberately target journalists". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has brushed off calls for a ceasefire, saying Israel will keep going until it achieves complete victory over Hamas and recovers the 132 remaining hostages. The military says, though, the next phase of the war will see months of more targeted operations against the movement's leaders and positions. On Israel's northern border with Lebanon, where there has been a constant, low-level exchange of fire between troops and fighters from the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia, the military said it killed four armed militants trying to cross the border. It said several anti-tank missiles were fired into northern Israel, one of which hit a house in Kfar Yuval village. Medical officials said a 76-year-old woman and her son were killed. The son was in the village's security squad, the military said. In Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Nana, a 17-year-old high school student displaced from northern Gaza, said 100 days of war "turned our life upside down." "We demand the occupation not only to end the war but also compensation for the psychological damage of displacement and the hardships endured," she said. The war in Gaza has also stoked violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Palestinian health officials said Israeli forces killed five Palestinians, including boys aged 14, 16 and 17, in three separate incidents in the West Bank. The Israeli military said two Palestinians in a car rammed through one of its checkpoints near Hebron and opened fire on pursuing troops. They were killed by return fire, the military said. Asked about a 14-year-old boy killed near Jericho, it said soldiers had shot at Palestinians who threw explosives at them. Palestinian health officials said two boys aged 16 and 17 were killed near Ramallah in the West Bank. The Israeli military said troops shot two Palestinians throwing a bomb at an army base. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Doha, Fadi Shana in Gaza; Additional reporting by Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem, Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Sharon Singleton and Ros Russell) A woman looks on after the preliminary results of the presidential and parliamentary elections, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, January 13, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins TAIPEI (Reuters) - Two former senior U.S. officials will arrive in Taiwan on Sunday for post-election talks and underscore the U.S. government's "longstanding interest" in peace across the Taiwan Strait, the de facto U.S. embassy in Taipei said. Lai Ching-te from Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the presidential election on Saturday and will take office on May 20. In a show of support for the government, a senior administration official said last week that President Joe Biden planned to send an unofficial delegation to the Chinese-claimed island. The Biden administration has feared that the election, transition and new administration would escalate conflict with Beijing. The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), which handles relations in the absence of official diplomatic ties, said former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg would visit. "As we have done previously following a Taiwan presidential election, the U.S. government has asked former senior officials to travel in their private capacity to Taiwan," AIT said, adding its U.S.-based Chair Laura Rosenberger would be accompanying. "On Jan. 15, they will meet with a range of leading political figures and convey congratulations from the American people to Taiwan on its successful elections, support for Taiwan's continued prosperity and growth, and our longstanding interest in cross-Strait peace and stability." Two sources familiar with the trip, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters such a post-election visit by former senior U.S. officials was routine and not out of the ordinary. Before the poll China repeatedly called Lai a dangerous separatist. China has stepped up its military and political pressure against Taiwan over the past four years. Lai and current President Tsai Ing-wen reject Beijing's sovereignty claims and say only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Both have offered talks with China but been rebuffed. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Michael Perry and Christian Schmollinger) ANBAR, Iraq (Reuters) - Islamic State militants killed three Iraqi soldiers and wounded one during an attack on Sunday evening on a military post in western Iraq, military sources said. Iraqi army sources said militants in two vehicles used snipers and semi-automatic guns in the attack on army soldiers stationed at a desert area near the town of Haditha, 190 km (120 miles) west of Baghdad. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Iraqi security and military sources said it was carried out by Islamic State militants who are active in the area. Despite the defeat of the Islamic State militant group in 2017, remnants of the group switched to hit-and-run attacks against government forces in different parts of Iraq. (Reporting by Kamal Ayash; Writing by Ahmed Rasheed, Editing by William Maclean) (Reuters) - Actress Joyce Randolph, who played the peppy working-class Brooklyn housewife Trixie on "The Honeymooners" and was the last surviving cast member of the seminal 1950s sitcom starring Jackie Gleason, died on Saturday at her Manhattan home, her family told multiple media. She was 99. The circumstances were not disclosed, but her son Randolph Charles confirmed the death to media, including People and TMZ. "The Honeymooners" starred Gleason, one of the top stars of the Golden Age of Television, as bus driver Ralph Kramden, Audrey Meadows as his wisecracking wife Alice, Art Carney as Ralph's best friend and neighbor Ed Norton and Randolph as Ed's wife. The foursome starred from 1951 to 1957 in "The Honeymooners" either as a segment in one of Gleason's popular variety shows or as a stand-alone series during the 1955-56 single TV season. The show was set in a Brooklyn apartment building and focused on decidedly blue-collar characters. Gleason's short-tempered Ralph chases get-rich-quick dreams that invariably do not lead to a pot of gold. Carney's sewer worker character drives Ralph crazy and both their wives lean toward the bossy side. But the characters all have a soft side - even Ralph, who one moment would threaten to knock his wife "to the moon" and the next would tell her, "Baby, you're the greatest." Experts consistently ranked "The Honeymooners" among the top TV comedies ever made. With Carney's death in 2003, Randolph became the last survivor of the cast. Gleason died in 1987 and Meadows in 1996. Randolph, who was born on Oct. 21, 1924, moved from her native Detroit to New York to pursue her acting career and performed in the early days of television. She got her big break based on a commercial she did for Clorets chewing gum on the old DuMont television network, the home of Gleason's "Cavalcade of Stars" variety show. Gleason noticed the "Clorets girl" and offered her the part of Trixie when he was casting "The Honeymooners" skits. "Trixie was married to a sewer worker and I guess she considered herself a little better than the character of Ed Norton," Randolph said in a 1999 interview with the Archive of American Television. "But she was just a housewife. She and Alice didn't have jobs. They stayed home all the time, which was kind of amazing. But the husbands didn't want them to work." Randolph said that despite her character's superior attitude, it was mentioned twice during the series that she may have been a dancer in burlesque before becoming Mrs. Norton. Known as a very difficult star, Gleason was famous for his aversion to rehearsal - he wanted performances to feel spontaneous - and the cast often was given the final script just the night before shooting. "Nobody worked like that in one day," Randolph told journalist Jane Wollman Rusoff in 2012. "It was ridiculous. But Jackie wanted it fresh. He was the boss and theatrically brilliant, a strange, immensely talented man." She said Gleason displayed extreme mood swings. "You never knew whether he would show up on Saturday morning in a black Irish mood or if he'd be jovial," Randolph said. After "The Honeymooners," Randolph performed in commercials and stage work. She did not appear in the 1960s revival of "The Honeymooners," which had Jane Kean in the part of Trixie. She had one child, with her husband, retired advertising executive Richard Charles. He died in 1997. (Reporting by Will Dunham; Additional reporting by Rich McKay; Editing by Bill Trott and Mark Porter) People protest following the U.S. and Britain strikes across Yemen against Iran-backed Houthi forces, at a rally in Seattle, Washington, U.S., January 12, 2024. REUTERS/David Ryder By Michael Martina and Ismail Shakil WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Family members of Palestinians killed in Israel's military campaign in Gaza shared grief-ridden stories with thousands of protesters who gathered in downtown Washington on Saturday demanding an immediate ceasefire. In one of the largest pro-Palestinian demonstrations to date in the U.S. capital, the protesters repeated their call for U.S. President Joe Biden to stop sending arms to Israel and chanted "free Palestine" and "ceasefire now." Some people chanted: "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" - a slogan that critics interpret as a call for the elimination of Israel. Adam Abosherieah, one of the speakers, said over 100 family members, including his 83-year-old father, mother, and brother, have been killed in Israeli air strikes. "Dozens of my family members' bodies are still under the rubble," Abosherieah, a pharmacist from New Jersey, said. "President Biden can easily put a stop to this genocide ... He can easily pick up the phone and call Israel to stop this madness." Other speakers included Randa Muhtaseb, who said she lost 36 family members in Gaza, and Alaa Hussein Ali, who spoke about over 100 of his relatives killed in Israeli attacks. Reuters could not independently verify these figures. The latest escalation in the Gaza conflict followed an attack on Israel on Oct. 7 by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which Israel said killed 1,200 people. Israel's subsequent assault on Hamas-governed Gaza has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, about 1% of the 2.3 million population there, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel and the U.S. deny allegations of a genocide in Gaza. South Africa has officially pressed those charges against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Washington and Israel have also argued a ceasefire will benefit Hamas and have resisted such calls. The war has led to protests in many parts of the U.S., including near airports and bridges in New York City and Los Angeles, vigils outside the White House, and marches in Washington near the U.S. Capitol. On Saturday, protesters came to Washington from different parts of the country and echoed concerns about Biden's military support for Israel. "We cannot tolerate this, we cannot allow our money to be used to murder children across the world ... that money could be used over here for good causes," said Suhail Mustafa, a protester from Cleveland. Though long a fervent supporter of Israel, Biden has expressed concern over civilian deaths as the war has gone on. Biden has previously described Israel's bombing campaign as "indiscriminate," and said on Monday he had been working "quietly" with the Israeli government to encourage it to reduce its attacks and "significantly get out of Gaza." Mohammed Kaiseruddin, 79, who flew in from Chicago for the protest, was holding a sign that read: Freedom for Gaza and the West Bank. The Biden administration has truly disappointed everyone, said Kaiseruddin, who described himself as typically voting for Democrats. They seem to have lost their sense of humanity. When it comes to Palestine and Israel, his values are upside down completely. Another protester, Judy Johnson, said she resigned from the Democratic Party over U.S. military support for Israel, although she added she would still vote for Democrats in the November U.S. presidential elections if the choice was between Biden and Republican rival former President Donald Trump. "I don't think people see an alternative to Trump, so they'll vote for Biden," Johnson said. (Reporting by Michael Martina in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; Editing by Marguerita Choy) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's financial regulator on Sunday said it plans to impose penalties on two unnamed global investment banks it is investigating. The Financial Services Commission said it found two global investment banks were engaged in the practice of naked short-selling transactions, which involves selling shares without borrowing them first. The FSC did not identify their names. South Korea has been widening a probe into global investment banks to weed out illegal short-sellers from the local stock market after it imposed a full ban on short-selling in November through the end of June 2024. In December, it said it would fine two unnamed global investment banks and one local brokerage 26.5 billion won ($20.2 million) in total for naked short-selling. ($1 = 1,313.2200 won) (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Chris Reese) FILE PHOTO: Texas National Guard troops watch a Mexican official prevent a group of people from entering the Rio Grande River across from Shelby Park at the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S., January 12, 2024. REUTERS/Kaylee Greenlee Beal/ By Jonathan Allen (Reuters) -A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande as they tried to the enter the U.S. from Mexico on Friday night after Texas military officers prevented federal border officials from aiding them, U.S. border officials and a member of Congress said. The deaths come as a dispute over immigration intensifies between Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, and the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat, with a record number of migrants having illegally crossed the border since Biden took office in 2021. Under Abbott, Texas has increasingly sought to implement its own border controls, which have historically been the legal domain of the federal government. Officials said the three were attempting to cross the river near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, which is not a legal port of entry and is where the Texas National Guard this week added concertina wire and fencing. In a filing in the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday, the federal government accused Texas of erecting the new barriers to block federal Border Patrol agents from reaching a boat ramp they use to access the Rio Grande. Responding on Saturday, Texas said federal Border Patrol agents had largely stopped using the boat ramp in recent months and, until Friday's filing, it was "unaware of federal law enforcement's current objections and was working promptly to address them." Federal Border Patrol agents learned around 9 p.m. Central Time on Friday (0300 GMT Saturday) of a group of migrants in distress as they attempted to cross the Rio Grande, according to the statement by U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar, a Democrat. Federal agents, failing to contact Texas officials by telephone, went in person to the Shelby Park entrance to speak to the Texas Military Department (TMD) and the Texas National Guard officials there. "However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants - even in the event of an emergency - and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation," Cuellar's statement said. The Texas military officials "physically barred" U.S. border agents from entering the area and performing their roles of arresting people crossing the border illegally and providing humanitarian aid, said Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. "The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks," Miranda said in a statement. "The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrol's enforcement of U.S. law." The bodies of the woman and two children were recovered on Saturday by Mexican authorities, Cuellar said. The identities of the three people have not been made public. "This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility," Cuellar said. The TMD, offering a starkly different account, said it was contacted by Border Patrol around 9 p.m. for a migrant distress situation and a unit in the vicinity of the boat ramp actively searched the river but saw no migrants. When they saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident on their side of the river about 45 minutes later, they ceased search operations after reporting their observations to the Border Patrol, who confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not require additional assistance, the TMD said in a statement. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," the statement said. "Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation." (Reporting by Jonathan Allen; Additional reporting by Gokul Pisharody in Bengaluru; Editing by Marguerita Choy, Christian Schmollinger and William Mallard) The city of Greensboro faces a gantlet of serious challenges in 2024. There is far too much gun violence, far too little affordable housing. As frigid temperatures approach this week, homelessness remains a vexing puzzle. And the police department is understaffed and overworked and now coping with a heart-rending loss. An off-duty veteran officer was shot and killed on Dec. 30 while trying to thwart a theft at a convenience store in Colfax. The community is still mourning the tragic death of Sgt. Philip Dale Nix, a husband, father and passionate victims advocate. And yet the Greensboro City Council saw fit at its Jan. 2 meeting to spend much of its time debating leaf collection? Mayor Nancy Vaughan is right. Thats such a first-world problem. The mayor added: We have so many issues facing our city, whether its homelessness, housing, public safety. Thats really what our focus should be on. While Rome burns some people are upset that they will have to rake or blow leaves and put them in bins and paper bags. Cry me an ocean. What happened at last weeks council meeting was both a shame and an embarrassment. As the News & Records Connor McNeely reported last week, before approving the purchase of 75,000 yard-waste carts, among other expenses the new process will entail, the council dove head-first (yet again) into mounds of leaves, rekindling a debate that, like the current leaf-collection process itself, never seems to end. An avowed and relentless critic of the planned new leaf-collection process, District 3 Councilman Zack Matheny said he shared the mayors lamentations about upside-down priorities even as he trashed the new leaf-collection process, which will begin in March. On March 1, residents will be required to use biodegradable paper bags for yard waste instead of plastic bags, which create headaches and injuries for city crews and consume precious landfill space. (A pack of five 30-gallon paper bags costs less than $3, but they are more expensive than plastic bags.) By summer, each city household also will receive a 95-gallon yard-waste cart with an option to purchase a second one. Heres the thing: Anyone who argues for leaf collection to remain unchanged in Greensboro is arguing for a process that does not work. Anyone who suggests otherwise simply isnt being honest. For the record (again): Hardly anyone follows the rules, dumping leaves into the street instead of the edge of their lawns. Leaf piles block parking, obstruct traffic and create obstacles for walkers and runners. Collection is slow and cumbersome and subject to weather delays. Leaves that are washed by rain or blown by winds into storm drains can cause flooding and back-ups in sewer lines. Then theres the fire hazard. Finally, some of the residents who complain about a change to the leaf-collection process are the same ones who have been complaining for years that the current process doesnt work. Make up your minds. The council settled the leaf issue in the summer of 2023, voting 7-2 for the new process, with Matheny and At-Large Councilman Hugh Holston dissenting. Then there is the issue of personal responsibility. If you have a bigger yard or own a bigger house, it will cost you more to maintain them. If your lot contains more trees, its up to you to dispose of the leaves they produce or not. As for some council members contention that the bulk of complaints are coming from west Greensboro, thats not being divisive. Thats being logical. Its where most of the trees are. More importantly, this is kids stuff. Its time for Greensboro to deal with its grown-up problems. There were 74 homicides in Greensboro in 2024, the most in history. Like many cities in the state and throughout the country, Greensboro lacks enough safe, affordable housing to meet the demand. Poverty persists and, despite recent economic gains, Greensboro needs more jobs that pay livable wages. Cmon, council. Stop sweating petty irrelevancies and LEAD. We are a city in crisis. Its beyond disheartening to see so much time and emotion invested in discarded leaves rather than jeopardized lives. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Capitol Dome is illuminated in Washington, U.S., June 1, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. congressional leaders have agreed on a two-tranche stopgap spending bill to keep the federal government funded into March and avert a partial government shutdown starting late next week, a source familiar with the measure told Reuters on Saturday. Politico, CNN and Punchbowl first reported that congressional leaders had agreed on what is called a "continuing resolution" or "CR," that would fund the government - extending two deadlines through March 1 and March 8. A spokesperson for the Senate's Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, said a text of the spending deal is expected to be posted online on Sunday. A second source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the earlier reports were accurate. Funding expires on Jan. 19 for some federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation, while others like the Defense Department face a Feb. 2 deadline. The top Democrat and Republican in Congress reached a $1.59 trillion deal on Jan. 7 to fund the government through the current fiscal year, but if they fail to pass it by Jan. 19, parts of the federal government would begin to shut down. Some lawmakers have said a short-term funding bill was needed to allow bipartisan negotiators from the House and Senate time to agree on full-year fiscal 2024 spending bills and for Congress to enact the legislation. On Thursday, Schumer took the first procedural step to pass a stopgap funding bill through the Senate early next week to give lawmakers more time to pass the full-year bill. The U.S. came close to a partial government shutdown last autumn amid opposition by the hardline House Republicans who ousted former Speaker Kevin McCarthy over reaching a bipartisan stopgap spending deal with Schumer. (Reporting by Michael Martina and Patricia Zengerle in Washington and Ismail Shakil in Ottawa; editing by Diane Craft, Will Dunham and Marguerita Choy) Taiwan President-elect Lai Ching-te speaks on stage at a rally, flanked by his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, following the victory in the presidential elections, in Taipei, Taiwan, January 13, 2024. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins (Reuters) -Following are reactions by some foreign leaders and other officials to the result of Saturday's election in Taiwan, won by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP) presidential candidate Lai Ching-te. Lai's party champions Taiwan's separate identity and rejects China's territorial claims. CHINA'S TAIWAN AFFAIRS OFFICE China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai's win would not change the basic landscape of cross-strait relations. In a statement carried on China's state Xinhua news agency, Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the office, said the results showed the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent mainstream public opinion on the island. U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN "We do not support independence," Biden said, when asked for reaction to Saturday's elections. Hours ahead of the polls opening, Washington had warned "it would be unacceptable" for "any" country to interfere in the election. U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTHONY BLINKEN Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory and the people of Taiwan for "demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process." The top U.S. diplomat went on to re-state U.S. policy of wanting peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as relations between Beijing and Taipei that are "free from coercion and pressure". "We look forward to working with Dr. Lai and Taiwan's leaders of all parties to advance our shared interests and values, and to further our longstanding unofficial relationship, consistent with the U.S. one China policy," the statement said. "We are confident that Taiwan will continue to serve as an example for all who strive for freedom, democracy, and prosperity." BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID CAMERON Cameron congratulated Lai and the DPP on his win and said he hoped Taiwan and China would renew efforts to resolve their differences peacefully. "The elections today are testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy," he said in a statement. "I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion." JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTER YOKO KAMIKAWA Japan offered congratulations for Lai's election and the smooth vote, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a statement. "We expect that the issue surrounding Taiwan will be resolved peacefully through dialogue, thereby contributing to the peace and stability in the region," the statement said. "For Japan, Taiwan is an extremely crucial partner and an important friend, with which it shares fundamental values and enjoys close economic relations and people-to-people exchanges," it said, repeating Japan's usual lines about Taiwan. RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting after the vote, said Moscow continued to view Taiwan as an integral part of China. GERMANY'S FEDERAL FOREIGN OFFICE Germany's Federal Foreign Office on Sunday congratulated the elected officials, and all the voters and candidates who participated in the elections in Taiwan. "Germany has close and good relations with Taiwan in many sectors and wants to expand them within the framework of its One-China policy," the foreign office said in a statement. FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTRY France congratulated Taiwan's voters and elected officials after the Taiwan election, which showed their deep commitment to democratic values, the French foreign ministry said in a statement on Sunday. The ministry official called on all parties to respect the status quo and said it hoped dialogue between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would resume. (Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Compiled by Frances Kerry; Editing by William Maclean, William Mallard, Michael Perry and Sharon Singleton) Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro speaks on stage during a change of command ceremony where Douglas Perry was promoted to vice admiral aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman at Naval Station Norfolk on Jan. 12, 2024. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot / TNS) (Tribune News Service) As tensions in the Middle East rise, Hampton Roads-based warships are playing a critical role in responding to attacks on military and commercial ships. We gave them hell last night, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said during a change of command ceremony held Friday at Naval Station Norfolk. I knew what was coming and I am extremely proud of our fleet. Early Thursday, U.S. Central Command forces, in coordination with the United Kingdom and support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain, reported conducting joint strikes on Houthi targets. The Houthis are an Iranian-backed militant group that began launching attacks on U.S. and international ships amid ongoing conflict between Hamas, deemed a terrorist organization by the U.S., and Israel. The U.S. and United Kingdoms Thursday action against the Houthis targeted radar systems, air defense systems and storage and launch sites, according to U.S. Central Command. Just days before, on Tuesday, U.S. officials said the Houthis launched one-way aerial attack drones, anti-ship cruise missiles and an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the Southern Red Sea toward international shipping lanes where dozens of merchant vessels were transiting. The U.S. and the United Kingdom shot down 18 drones, two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile, officials said. The firepower was brought by F/A-18 Super Hornets from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and destroyers USS Gravely, USS Laboon, USS Mason and the United Kingdoms HMS Diamond. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed from Naval Station Norfolk to the Mediterranean in mid-October. Within 12 hours of pushing off the pier, it was ordered to sail to the Middle East in response to what Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said were escalations by Iran and its proxy forces. Norfolk-based destroyers USS Gravely and USS Laboon, along with the USS Mason out of Mayport, deployed with the Eisenhower as part of its strike group. The U.S. Central Command shared news of the coordinated response to its social media platforms and included a video of a fighter jet taking off from the Eisenhower. The Houthis have attempted to attack 27 ships in international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since Nov. 19, U.S. defense officials said. Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command, said 55 nations have been affected so far by the attacks on international shipping. This kind of conduct just cannot continue. It is a violation of international law. It is a threat, obviously, to our fleet and the fleets of our allies and partners, Del Toro said. And it is having a dramatic impact, obviously, on the free flow of trade, which negatively impacts economies of all nations. The Eisenhower strike group is operating in the Red Sea and nearby Gulf of Aden, establishing a force presence to deter other forces from taking advantage of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The strike group could transit closer to Israel by way of the Suez Canal, an Egyptian waterway that connects the Red Sea to the eastern Mediterranean. Also working to deter further aggression are elements of the Hampton Roads-based USS Bataan amphibious group and a force of 2,500 Marines. Assault ship USS Bataan and transport dock USS Mesa Verde, both homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, and dock landing ship USS Carter Hall, homeported at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, are operating in the Eastern Mediterranean. The USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group was operating in the Eastern Mediterranean but has since began the journey back to Norfolk following a thrice-extended deployment. The Ford is due back to Norfolk next week. 2024 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Service members from the destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill board a stateless dhow off the coast of Somalia on Feb. 12, 2021. (Louis Thompson Staats IV/U.S. Navy) Two Navy SEALs still are missing in the Gulf of Aden more than two days after conducting nighttime operations off the coast of Somalia. The incident happened Thursday as the SEALs were attempting to board a suspicious vessel in rough seas, The Associated Press reported Saturday, citing unnamed U.S. officials. One SEAL was attempting to board the vessel when they were knocked off by high waves, AP reported. The other SEAL jumped into the sea to rescue their team member, according to the AP report. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing in the Gulf of Aden, where the waters are warm, AP reported. U.S. Central Command confirmed in a statement on Friday that the sailors were missing but did not offer additional details out of operational security concerns and respect for the families. The statement did not say what Navy ships or other U.S. military personnel may have been involved. It wasnt clear why the vessel drew the teams attention. Naval forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations regularly conduct operations intercepting weapons being sent to Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. Map shows the Kenya-Somalia coastline and disputed area. (AP) In January 2023, Navy forces intercepted 2,116 AK-47 rifles from a vessel in the Gulf of Oman along a maritime route from Iran to Yemen, Stars and Stripes reported at the time. That incident came after similar interdictions in late 2022 that resulted in the seizures of more than 170 tons of potentially explosive chemicals and 50 tons of ammunition rounds, fuses and rocket propellants from fishing vessels also transiting in the same area. Those international interdiction efforts also intercept millions of dollars in heroin, methamphetamine, hashish and other illicit drugs. The latest of those operations resulting in the seizure of an estimated $11 million of illegal drugs from a vessel on Jan. 5 by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter operating under Combined Task Force 150 of the Combined Maritime Forces, U.S. 5th Fleet said in a statement on Jan. 8. That interdiction followed others in late December that seized nearly $50 million in illegal drugs, the Navy said. U.S. officials have said proceeds from drug sales are used to finance weapons for Houthi militants. Since Nov. 19, Houthi militants in Yemen have attempted to attack or harass ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden 28 times, CENTCOM said Saturday in a post to its official page on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Those attacks included the use of anti-ship ballistic missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles, CENTCOM said. The January 2023 seizure of the rifles is part of a continued pattern of destabilizing activity from Iran, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/ U.S. 5th Fleet, said at the time. U.S. officials were careful to distance interdiction efforts in the region and retaliatory strikes on Friday and Saturday against Houthi-controlled military sites in Yemen from Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational effort to address Houthi militant attacks on ships in the Red Sea. U.S. special climate envoy John Kerry speaks with Chinas special representative on climate change, Xie Zhenhua at the COP28 summit. (Hollie Adams/Bloomberg) John F. Kerry, who has served as the U.S. special climate envoy for nearly three years, will leave the Biden administration by the spring, according to three people close to the situation. Kerry informed President Biden during a Wednesday meeting at the White House, and he told his staff during a virtual meeting on Saturday, according to one of the people. Both individuals spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. Kerry is expected to become involved in Bidens re-election effort, though he is unlikely to have a formal role on the campaign, one person familiar said. He is expected to focus on publicizing the presidents work to combat climate change. The exact date of Kerrys departure has not yet been set, although it will probably be between late February and late April, the people said. Kerry is still scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference in mid-February, and he is traveling to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week. Kerry, who turned 80 during the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Dubai last month, helped clinch a landmark agreement at the summit. For the first time, the deal calls for phasing out fossil fuels, the primary driver of rising temperatures around the globe. Kerry also played a pivotal role in restarting formal climate talks between the United States and China, the worlds two largest greenhouse gas emitters. He enjoyed a close relationship with his Chinese counterpart, Xie Zhenhua, who recently stepped down due to health reasons. Axios first reported Kerrys plans to leave the administration. Over the last three years, Kerry has kept up a fast-paced schedule, flying around the world to cajole other countries to curb their planet-warming pollution. He contracted covid-19 at the U.N. climate talks in 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and was sidelined to his hotel room during the final days of negotiations. It is unclear who would replace Kerry, who previously served as secretary of state during the Obama administration and as a senator from Massachusetts. His two top deputies at the State Department, Sue Biniaz and Rick Duke, would probably face a bruising confirmation process in the Senate, especially if Republicans retake the chamber in the November elections. A provision in the 2022 defense policy bill requires the Senate to confirm special envoys reporting to the State Department. Kerry was not subject to Senate confirmation before the provision took effect. Michael Birnbaum contributed to this report. The Porter County Board of Commissioners met for its first meeting of the year Tuesday morning, maintaining the status quo on officer appointments and jumped back in to receiving updates on the many building projects underway. Commissioners President Jim Biggs, R-North, and Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, were unanimously approved to maintain their posts, while Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, will retain her office as secretary. When asked why the offices werent rotated, Biggs said, because we didnt want to. He pointed out that his predecessor, former Commissioners President Jeff Good, a Republican who formerly held Regnitzs seat, held that office for eight years. Thats why Barb is sitting on the Redevelopment Commission, he said of her appointment to that board. Historically, thats the board president. For somebody to walk in here and fill that role after just one year is a pretty daunting task, he added of the possibility of her serving as president, pointing out that Porter County is the sixth largest of 92 in the state. Citizen appointments to open seats on the Alcohol Beverage Board, Board of Zoning Appeals, Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission, Parks & Recreation Board, Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, Redevelopment Commission, and Storm Water Advisory Board were almost exclusively reappointments of those already serving. The commissioners appointments to stormwater, community corrections, juvenile justice, Center for Workforce Innovations, Northern Indiana Regional Development Corporation, Plan Commission, EMA, and 911 remained the same as last year at Regnitzs suggestion. In other business, the commissioners began discussing how they would like to form an opioid selection committee for grant funds. The plan is for one commissioner, two Porter County Council members and two citizen appointments made by the commissioners to serve on the committee and make nonbinding recommendations as to which organizations should receive opioid grant money. Auditor Karen Martins office will also recommend a nonvoting member for a term of one year. Citizens interested in serving must submit an application to the commissioners office by Jan. 26. A plan to have an engagement letter drawn up between Porter County and Baker Tilly regarding the scope of services for a revenue and disbursement analysis died for lack of a motion. Biggs explained that then-Porter County Council President Jeremy Rivas, D-2nd, had emailed requesting the commissioners come up with a comprehensive plan. If they dont fund it, thats very difficult to do, Biggs said of the proposed analysis by Baker Tilly. The commissioners voted unanimously to offer their support to the writing of a financial commitment letter from the county pledging $1.5 million for its share of the 2024 Community Crossing Matching Grant which is used for road improvements. I think you guys have seen over the years what a valuable program that has been, Interim Director of Development & Storm Water Management Mike Novotney said. Regnitz asked Novotney if he expects buy-in from the council, as they are the appropriators of the countys funds. I think there has been, and will continue to be, support, he replied. In a phone call Friday Biggs said, I tip my hat to the county council and the previous commission for not tipping us into oblivion, regarding the stewardship of county finances, but said regarding the condition of the countys 800 miles and growing of roads, what were doing is just treading water. He has been vocal that maintaining Porter Countys status as the county with the lowest income tax at .5%, as well as the absence of a wheel tax, is not sustainable to maintain the roads. I think everybody knows if theyre being honest about it, knows what needs to happen. Theyre just afraid to say it. Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune. Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te, middle, addresses supporters as he stands with his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, right, during a rally outside the headquarters of the Democratic Progressive Party in Taipei on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, after Lai won the presidential election. (Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images/TNS) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) President Joe Biden said the U.S. did not support independence for Taiwan, after voters there defied China and returned the governing Democratic Progressive Party which has sought to limit Beijings influence to a third consecutive term. We do not support independence, Biden told reporters Saturday as he departed the White House for Camp David. The presidents comment appears intended to assuage concerns in China, who had hoped Taiwans current vice president, Lai Ching-te, would not be elected president. Results showed Lai, who has maintained close ties with the U.S., edging out Hou Yu-ih of the opposition Nationalist Party, who had pledged to expand trade and diplomacy with China. China has long claimed that the island of Taiwan is its territory, and President Xi Jinping has advocated for unification and refused to rule out a military intervention. The U.S. has traditionally adopted a policy of strategic ambiguity, where it acknowledges Chinas historical claims to sovereignty over Taiwan and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan while pledging defense assistance to the island. Still, suggestions by Biden that the U.S. would intervene militarily if China were to invade Taiwan have roiled the relationship between the U.S. and Beijing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the election shows the strength of Taiwans robust democratic system and reiterated that the U.S. is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure. The U.S. will work with Lai and all party leaders in Taiwan to further our long-standing unofficial relationship consistent with the U.S.s one-China policy, he said in a statement. House Speaker Mike Johnson will ask a delegation of House lawmakers to travel to Taipei after Lais inauguration in May, he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Ashleigh Carrington Fields contributed to this report. 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Troops at Kingsley Field Air National Guard Base fight a fire on an aircraft fuselage mock-up during training at the Oregon base in 2020. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has sued companies that made PFAS-laden foam used at Kingsley Field. A bill proposed in Congress would compensate military firefighters for illnesses caused by the chemicals. (Jefferson Thompson/U.S. Air National Guard) Two House lawmakers have proposed legislation to compensate military service members who were possibly exposed to cancer or other illnesses from chemicals used in fire retardants. The bill introduced by Reps. Marilyn Strickland, D-Wash., and Bill Posey, R-Fla., would create a fund to aid fire crew members who were exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foams. The Environmental Protection Agency reported last year that PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their useful properties. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others, the EPA report said. Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate are two PFAS chemicals in foam used to fight fires on military installations. One common characteristic of concern of PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment [from] time-laden firefighting foams, subjecting them to higher rates of cancer and other serious health effects, the EPA report said. The proposed bill would authorize the creation of the Military Firefighters Compensation Fund. Allocation methods and amounts for the fund would be determined later. Caring for service members and their families is the foundation of military readiness, Strickland, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Thursday. Our firefighters deserve our utmost gratitude for risking their health and lives in service to our communities, Posey said in the same statement. They need our assurance that we will take care of them like they take care us. While PFAS have been found in food containers, household products and as a soil additive, one of the most concentrated forms is as key ingredients in the firefighting foams used as an alternative to water to extinguish flames in incidents on military bases. Supporters speak as Donald Trump Jr. campaigns for his father, former president Donald Trump, at the Machine Shed on Jan. 11, 2024, in Urbandale, Iowa. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post) Former president Donald Trump is polling at 48% in Iowa, maintaining a wide lead over his two main rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, according to the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll released Saturday night. For months, Trump has dominated the rest of the field, but the race for second place has been hard-fought. The latest poll shows that former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley has seized the No. 2 position with 20% support, ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with 16%. This poll is widely considered an important benchmark, revealing voters preferences less than 48 hours before Mondays caucuses. The results are always anticipated, revealing who may be gaining momentum in the final days of the race. Haleys uptick in support comes despite a decline in her overall popularity with Iowa voters. Her favorable rating dropped to 48% in the latest poll, from 59% in December, while her unfavorable rating rose to 46%, from 31%. DeSantis also saw his favorable ratings decline, though 58 percent still view him positively. The poll also found Haleys supporters were much less enthusiastic about going to the caucuses. A 61% majority of Haley backers said they are mildly enthusiastic or not that enthusiastic about turning out. By contrast, 88% of Trumps supporters said they are extremely enthusiastic or very enthusiastic about caucusing for him, while 62% of DeSantis supporters said the same. The deep data on [Haley] suggest she looks stronger in the poll than she could on caucus night, pollster J. Ann Selzer told the Des Moines Register. Haley is looking ahead to New Hampshire, where she is hoping to woo the states more moderate, independent voters, but a stronger-than-expected finish in Iowa on Monday could give her a boost going into that contest. A Suffolk University poll released Thursday found Trump leading with 54% support, with Haley in second at 20% and DeSantis at 13 percent. (The Washington Post) In previous years, the final poll, conducted by Selzer & Co., has accurately captured late breakout candidates. In 2016, it showed Trump in the lead, at 28%, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at 23%. But, at the time, Selzer noted that Cruz appeared to show deeper support than Trump. Cruz went on to win the Iowa caucuses. There was a similar trend in 2012. The final Republican poll had found former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and former Texas congressman Ron Paul with a narrow edge over the field, but with former senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania gaining. Santorum narrowly won the Iowa caucuses that year. Cruz and Santorum both won with strong support from evangelical Christians, who typically make up a majority of Iowa caucus-goers. The new poll found Trump leading among that group with 51% compared with 22% for DeSantis and 12% for Haley. In the 2016 caucuses, evangelical Christians favored Cruz over Trump by 12 percentage points, according to the network entrance poll. Jeff Pitts, a lobbyist for the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition which has stayed neutral in the race said evangelicals have rallied behind Trump this time because he has a conservative track record, namely appointing the three Supreme Court justices who led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Hes a fighter and he fights for them. I think people on our side, rightly or wrongly, I think, feel pushed around by political correctness. When somebodys willing to stand up to it, I think they rally behind that, Pitts said. Trumps support is strongest among Republican voters without a college degree (59%) as well as those with incomes of less than $50,000 (60%). But Trump also leads among college graduates with 34 percent support compared with 27% for Haley. Complicating turnout this year will be the weather Iowa is being hit by a blizzard, and meteorologists have warned about whiteout conditions and record-breaking cold. Trump canceled two in-person campaign events Saturday because of the weather. Instead, he attended a tele-rally with Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, where he touted his lead in the polls. I think we have a huge advantage here, Trump said. He said that he worried about the weather but added that the news reports are saying the Trump voter has so much more spirit, dedication. They say they walk over glass. Haley resumed campaigning in person Saturday after holding virtual events Friday because of the weather. DeSantis also traveled around the state Saturday for events with Never Back Down, the super PAC running his field organization, and dropped into the groups West Des Moines campaign office with surrogates, including Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R). The Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll was conducted by phone Jan. 7-12 among 705 Iowa registered voters who said they will definitely or probably attend the GOP caucuses Monday. The margin of sampling error for overall results is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Marianne LeVine, Dylan Wells and Hannah Knowles contributed to this report. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Sunday arrived in Switzerland to participate in the 54th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), which is set to commence tomorrow. According to the state broadcaster, the premier was welcomed in Zurich by Pakistans permanent representative to Geneva, Bilal Ahmed, and Swiss Ambassador Amir Shaukat as well as other senior diplomatic officials. According to a foreign office spokesperson, the prime minister will be in Switzerland from January 15 to January 19. He will deliver a keynote address on the theme trade techs trillion dollar promise. Kakar will also attend three key thematic events preventing an era of global conflicts, restoring faith in the global system and preventing economic fractures. The FO spokesperson said PM Kakar would also hold meetings with government and business leaders of the sidelines of the event as well as lead a invest in Pakistan event. According to the WEF, the annual meeting of the Forum, with the participation of over 300 public figures including more than 60 heads of state and government, will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency, and accountability among leaders. It said the goal was to help connect the dots in an increasingly complex environment and provide foresight by introducing the latest advances in science, industry, and society. 121,000 was stolen from a Dublin solicitors' firm through invoice redirect fraud, also known as business email compromise A Dublin Circuit Criminal Court judge has warned that the court is totally fed up with young people who give their bank account details to third parties using stupidity as a shield. Judge Martin Nolan made the comments on Friday while sentencing four men in their twenties for various offences related to money laundering after 121,000 was stolen from a Dublin solicitors' firm through invoice redirect fraud, also known as business email compromise. The court heard that the solicitors' firm was able to recoup 64,000 of the stolen money but has been left at a loss of 57,216. Judge Nolan said it should be well known to everyone that every type of fraud needs a bank account to obtain the money without breaking cover. He said the court was totally fed up with young people coming to court and using stupidity as a shield in relation to this type of offence which can result in innocent third parties suffering. The judge said the court was giving notice that people who gave their bank details after January 2022 are going to be in danger of going to jail, depending on the circumstances of each individual case. I think the stupidity and ignorance defence has dissipated and young people are going to have to face accountability for their stupidity, he said. Patience must run out at some point, the judge said, adding this has been going on too long. Cameron Fanning Cameron Fanning (25) of Bishop Rogan Park, Kilcullen, Co Kildare pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering from the solicitor's firm on November 9, 2020 and one count of giving false information about his bank account to gardai. He was sentenced to three and half years in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. Mubarak Salawu (22) of The Paddocks Drive, Adamstown, Lucan, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in relation to the stolen monies which were credited to his account and an unrelated charge of possessing a pair of 600 Balenciaga runners bought from the proceeds of crime. He received a suspended two-year prison sentence. Olumide Lawal (27) of Fettercairn Road, Tallaght admitted to two counts of money laundering and possession of a 900 iphone bought using the proceeds of crime. Lawal was given a suspended prison sentence of two years. Aaron Clancy (21) of the Square, Walshtown Park, Newbridge, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to possessing 3,020, the proceeds of money laundering, in relation to the solicitors' firm and a further unrelated count of possessing 4,650, the proceeds of crime. Clancy received a suspended prison sentence of two years. Garda Ciaran Ronan told David Perry BL, prosecuting, that during the course of the investigation into the money stolen from the solicitors' firm, gardai uncovered further unrelated money laundering offences. The solicitors' firm, which was not named in court, declined to make a victim impact statement. The court heard that on November 9, 2020, an accounts assistant at the solicitors' firm sent a standard request to the company's financial controller for 121,000 to be paid to a client account. This email was blocked and a short time later, the financial controller got a fraudulent email asking for the same amount to be paid to a Bank of Ireland account in the name of Cameron Fanning. Bank of Ireland officials became suspicious of the transaction and alerted Fanning and gardai. Some weeks later on November 18, 2020, Fanning went to gardai and said he was acting on the advice of Bank of Ireland who said there had been suspicious activity on his account. Fanning said he had recently lost his bank card and had not reported it as he had only one cent in his account. He said he had no prior knowledge of the suspicious activity, that he would not give his bank details to anyone and that essentially his account had been hacked. Gardai observed a number of transactions out of his account totalling 57,218, dispersed in different ways including three withdrawals from post offices in Newbridge. In his second interview with gardai, Fanning admitted that his previous statement was false and said he had been asked by a friend to do him a favour and give him his bank details. The friend said he needed access to an account to get his wages of 1,000 transferred. Fanning said that when he checked his account later, he saw that far more than 1,000 had been transferred and he subsequently cancelled his bank account. He told gardai that three men turned up to his house and took him in a car to a bank in Newbridge and ordered him to withdraw money. When Fanning refused, he said the one of the men threatened to stab him with a knife so he withdrew 7,500 sterling in a number of transactions over an hour and a half, before he was dropped home. Fanning has no previous convictions. Counsel for Fanning said he deeply regrets having become involved in this offence and agreed that he had behaved in a naive and reckless fashion. Judge Nolan said the court accepted Fanning's explanation was reasonably believable, but noted that his actions were reckless. He said he considered the court would not be justified to use Fanning as a sacrificial lamb by imposing a custodial sentence on him and he gave him a suspended prison sentence. The court heard that sums totalling 10,914 from the solicitors' firm were transferred into a bitcoin account in the name of Mubarak Salawu and used to purchase cryptocurrency. In August 2021, gardai searched Salawu's apartment and found a pair of Balenciaga runners bought in the UK for 605 using laundered money, in an unrelated offence. Salawu has eight previous District Court convictions, all from the same road traffic incident, including dangerous driving, driving without insurance and giving a false name and address. Paul Greene SC, defending Salawu, said his client expressed remorse and wanted to sincerely apologise for his actions which have brought shame on himself and his family. Mr Greene said Salawu had received the sum of 500 for opening an account and now found himself with a serious criminal conviction. These were young men, gullible, said Mr Greene, adding that Salawu was in his final year of a degree course and also volunteered at a mosque. The court heard that one of the transactions out of Fanning's account was for the purchase of an iphone 12 for 963, with Olumide Lawal named as the customer. When gardai searched Lawal's apartment, they found three bank cards in a small fridge in his bedroom relating to accounts used to receive the proceeds of crime. When Lawal was arrested, he denied knowing Fanning and said he was buying the phone over SnapChat and was separately asked to hold three bank cards by another person. Garret Baker SC, defending Lawal, said his client was subject to severe bullying in his early years after moving to Ireland from Nigeria at the age of two. Lawal nonetheless progressed and represented his school in sport before completing a four-year degree in IT. Mr Baker said his client had difficulties paying his college fees and that his ability to work part-time was impaired after he was involved in a road traffic accident in 2019. Lawal immensely regrets the decision to get involved in holding the proceeds of crime and instructed counsel to deeply apologise, the court heard. Aaron Clancy told gardai he saw an ad on SnapChat from a friend of a friend looking for access to bank account details in exchange for money. He said he was naive and needed money, so he met three men who promised him 400 when he gave him his Revolut account details and access code. The court heard that of the monies transferred from the solicitors' firm, sums were placed into his Revolut account and then withdrawn from various ATMs in Athy. Counsel for Clancy said he was at the lowest rung of the ladder within this group and had taken full responsibility for his role in the offending. The court heard that Clancy is an apprentice electrician due to qualify in a month's time and was also a valued member of his sporting club. It would not serve society if he were to be put in custody at this stage, counsel claimed. Judge Nolan said innocent people lose their money and counsel come to court and say their client was stupid, made a bad decision or succumbed to temptation. But somebody is going to go to jail, to stop people making these stupid decisions, because this is continuing for years now. This court has dealt with dozens of these cases. We have a blameless, innocent defendant who really didn't know what he was doing...but he did. He took a chance, said the judge. Imposing sentence on Salawu, Lawal and Clancy, the judge noted that the amounts involved were lower and all three were young men with their futures in front of them. Kevin was paranoid he was being stalked by another gang... it turns out he was right It is believed Kevin Conway was a target because of his link to The Firm and the fact that he was isolated Kevin Conway is one of three men charged with the murder of Shane Whittla in Lurgan Murder victim Kevin Conway recently told police he was being stalked by another gang and feared he would be assassinated, the Sunday World can reveal. The 26-year-old father of two was gunned down in a hail of bullets in his Belfast home where he was bailed to live while he awaited trial for the murder of father-of-four Shane Whitla. We can reveal that the Lurgan man was shot at least nine times in the head and chest and that his killer simply called at the door of his flat. The Sunday World understands Conway a member of the notorious mid-Ulster drug gang The Firm had been living in fear of his life ever since the police charged him 12 months ago with the Whitla killing. It is believed Kevin Conway was a target because of his link to The Firm and the fact that he was isolated Underworld sources say he had confided to friends that he feared he was being followed by a hit squad and had gone to the cops to tell them his fears. Kevin knew he was under threat and he felt really worried because he was forced to live in Belfast, away from his family support network, said a source. He told friends he was being followed and he told the cops too. He was completely paranoid about it though it turns out he was right. He blamed the PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) for charging him over the Whitla murder. He told people the cops had effectively put a target on his back and he always denied being involved in that. All they had was him making a phone call. The PSNI are actively following a number of lines of inquiry as to the motive and who was behind the murder. One of those lines relates to whether his own gang killed Conway to stop him from touting on them. However, sources in Lurgan and Portadown where The Firm is strongest say members of the mob are living in fear after the shooting of Conway. They are absolutely sh**ting themselves after this, said one source. Kevin was still very close to all The Firm members and mixed with them regularly. In fact, the day before he was killed he spent the day at the gym with members of The Firm, including (name of Firm leader removed). If you go on any of their Facebook pages, they are all posting tributes to him every last one of them. So if it was them, they are going out of their way to make it look like it wasnt them. If The Firm had carried out the attack, theyd want everyone to know it was them to send out a warning. But they are absolutely terrified as a result of Kevins murder. He was like their wee mascot. Most likely, he was killed because he was in The Firm and he was isolated in Belfast so he was an easy target. There was no getaway car, so there was obviously local support for the killer to escape. If it wasnt dissident republicans who ordered the hit, they were paid to do it by someone. Meanwhile, a senior figure in The Firm who is believed to have directed the Whitla murder has deleted all his social media accounts and sources say he has gone to ground. He was very close to Kevin Conway and he apparently cried his eyes out when he heard he had been murdered, said a source. The Firm are on the run for sure. This has shocked them. A reward of up to 20,000 was announced by Crimestoppers on Friday for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those behind the murder. He was killed in Rossnareen Park in the Greenan area of west Belfast on Tuesday night. The nature of Conways brutal murder has heavily pointed to his killer being the same hitman who has already shot dead six other men linked to criminality in Belfast, including Sean Fox, JD Donegan and Warren Crossan. Graffiti supporting DAAD (Direct Action Against Drugs) a convenient cover name for dissident republican killers has appeared in parts of Lurgan along with a threat to other members of The Firm. After the murder of Whitla, the Sunday World revealed how dissidents had vowed to take the fight to The Firm. Kevin Conway is one of three men charged with the murder of Shane Whittla in Lurgan Last month, we revealed how thugs connected to the INLA in Co. Armagh had issued a list of Portadown drug dealers who were in their sights. A Lurgan source who knew Conway says he fell into drugs at a young age and it wrecked his life. He was taking drugs from when he was in primary school, said the former pal. He was bad that way but he was surprisingly kind-natured. He was more pitied in Lurgan than he was hated. However, the hammer kind of dropped for them (The Firm) last year when they lost a load of coke that was bought from a southern-based crime gang but they still owed the money. So when their bill was called in they started panicking, hence the murder of Whitla. They also had (name of Lurgan man who took his own life) tortured over an unpaid drug debt. They wrecked his car Kevin Conway did this personally because (name removed) owed them a few grand. He ended up taking his own life. It happened just after the Whitla murder when everyone in Lurgan was living in fear of The Firm because they were trying to settle all their drug debts. PSNI Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said Conway was brutally murdered in his own home and was shot multiple times. The senior cop said she believed there are people out there who have information, but who may be too frightened to speak up. Det Insp Quinn added: I want to offer assurance that information can be passed to Crimestoppers with 100 per cent anonymity, and I hope that the reward of up to 20,000 (23,000) will encourage people to come forward. A spokesperson for Crimestoppers reiterated that any contact from the public would remain anonymous. The reward is only payable for information passed directly to Crimestoppers and not to the police, they added. Please ask for a reward code when speaking to our contact centre or when completing an anonymous online form via our website. Mr Conway (26) was shot multiple times in his west Belfast home on Tuesday night Kevin Conway was shot multiple times in his west Belfast home on Tuesday night Requiem Mass has been held for murder victim Kevin Conway in his hometown of Lurgan. Mr Conway (26) was shot multiple times in his west Belfast home on Tuesday night. Mr Conway was a well-known enforcer and debt collector for the Co Armagh-based drugs gang known as The Firm. Family and friends of the father-of-two gathered at St Peters Church in Lurgan for his funeral mass, after which he was buried in St Colmans Cemetery. Mourners, some wearing Liverpool FC jerseys, flanked the hearse carrying his coffin as it made its way to St Peters Church on Sunday. Mr Conway was well known to police and was out on bail accused of another gangland murder linked to The Firm. He was shot dead almost a year to the day after his alleged victim, Shane Whitla, was also gunned down in Lurgan. He was one of three men charged in relation to Mr Whitlas murder, which took place on January 12 last year, and it was alleged in court in July that he had lured the victim to his execution. Kevin Conway Prosecutors have claimed Mr Whitla was killed over a suspected drug debt to The Firm. It has also emerged that the west Belfast property where Mr Conway lost his life last week had been targeted in August last year. The Rossnareen Park area had been sealed off as an army bomb disposal unit examined a suspicious object which was later declared a viable device. A reward of up to 20,000 has been offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and convictions of those who murdered Mr Conway. PSNI Detective Inspector Gina Quinn said last week that Mr Conway was brutally murdered in his own home. He was shot multiple times and was, sadly, pronounced dead at the scene, she added. This barbaric murder has left behind a loving family who are absolutely heartbroken. A notice from Mr Conways family said he was the dearly beloved son of Bridie and the late Kevin and much-loved brother of Lynsey, Victoria and Maria. Dissident republicans have been blamed for the murder. In 1998, Mr Conways father, Kevin Conway Snr (30), was also shot dead. He was found in a derelict farmhouse near the village of Aghalee, Co Armagh. Its understood one possible link being examined by police is to a gun attack at the home of leading dissident Colin Duffy. The Sunday Life reported that the murder victim is believed to have been involved in an attack where two shots were fired through the window of the republicans house in the Forest Glade area of Lurgan in 2019. Detectives are now examining whether this was the catalyst for Mr Conways murder in the Andersonstown area six days ago, with an insider saying: It would be a hypothesis that we are looking at an early stage of an investigation of this nature. Conway Jnr had a deep hatred for Duffy, whom he blamed for killing his father, it was reported. The Provisional IRA abducted Conway Snr, who was babysitting his then three-month-old son, from a house in the Kilwilkie estate. Two days later at a farmhouse in Aghalee his body was found tied up and with a bullet wound to the head. Duffy has always denied involvement in any crime. Dissidents are understood to have used this as one of the reasons to gun down Conway Jnr. There is no suggestion Duffy was involved in killing the 26-year-old, whose death is being viewed as republicans laying down a marker to drugs gangs. The Conway murder is republicans saying to The Firm and other armed drugs gangs: These are the consequences if you target republicans, said a source. These are the same people who shot up Duffys house. They have been threatening republicans in Lurgan, and other drug dealers have been doing the same in Belfast. Well, that wont be happening any longer. And if it does, these are the consequences. Burglar Philip Evans was among 139 prisoners in Irish jails who were granted temporary release over the festive period Convicted burglar was due back at Loughan House open prison in Cavan on December 27 Gardai are hunting a prisoner who went on the run after getting temporary release over Christmas. Burglar Philip Evans (37), of Caherslee, Tralee, Co Kerry, failed to return to Loughan House open prison in Cavan on December 27. He was among 139 prisoners in Irish jails who were granted temporary release over the festive period. The other 138 returned to jail as required. A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service (IPS) said: When a prisoner fails to return from a period of temporary release, An Garda Siochana is informed and they have the power to detain, arrest and return such persons to prison. Many of the prisoners who were released are nearing the end of their sentences and the overriding concern when considering the applications is the safety of the public. In addition to compassionate and humane considerations, other criteria taken into account include the nature and gravity of the offence, length of sentence served to date, prior record on temporary release, behaviour while in custody and previous criminal history. It is understood Evans was due to be released from prison later this year. The periods of release for the 139 inmates let out over Christmas varied from a few hours to seven nights, and all were subject to stringent conditions. Any prisoner breaking conditions can be arrested and returned to prison. The sensitivities of victims are also taken into account. Additional specific conditions also applied in relation to victim liaison cases, the spokesperson said. All registered victims with the Irish Prison Service victim liaison service were informed in the cases where prisoners received Christmas temporary release. Evanss sentence will be paused until he either voluntarily returns to Loughan House or is brought back by gardai, and he is likely to be disciplined. As the historian and journalist Peter Stark explains it, two figures in the late 1700s and early 1800s offered clashing visions of the North American future. One was Tecumseh, a Shawnee warrior and chief whod rallied a confederacy of tribes braced against American settlers expansion westward. The other was William Henry Harrison, then-governor of the Indiana Territory and later the ninth president of the United States. The Missoula author, whos written for Outside and Smithsonian magazines, discussed this critical juncture on Wednesday night at the Missoula Public Library. The occasion was his new book, published in August: Gallop Toward the Sun: Tecumseh and William Henry Harrisons Struggle for the Destiny of a Nation. He read from the prologue, which opens with a meeting between the two in 1810: Each man single-mindedly strove to defend or oppose his radically different vision on the heart of North America. This clash of competing imaginations had reached a pivotal moment. Harrison had designs on a second wave of Americas founding that rolled unstoppably westward by handing out cheap, abundant land to the small farmer at the existential expense of Native people. Tecumseh, who represented tribes from Canada down to the Gulf of Mexico, promised to refuse ceding their land, which was a last best hope to repel a relentless white onslaught bent on engulfing their ancestral lands and tearing up their ancestral cultures by the roots, he said. The resonances and repercussions were underscored at the library talk, held with his old friend and fellow author: Chris La Tray, Montanas poet laureate and a Metis storyteller. Stark and La Tray roamed widely, with asides about the Voyageurs (French-Canadians who transported furs and the elegant engineering of their canoes) and plenty of humor amid serious discussion. Heres a few highlights. If you want to watch the whole thing, their talk was recorded by Missoula Community Access Television and will eventually be posted online. The unofficial Indian policy A key point in "Gallop Toward the Sun" is that President Thomas Jefferson, one of Stark's personal heroes of Enlightenment thinking, wrote a secret letter to Harrison in early 1803, before the Louisiana Purchase. Jeffersons message, Stark said, was that we need to get as much land as quickly as possible from the Indians, and heres the strategy: Get their leading chiefs as deeply in debt as you can at the government trading post. Once theyre very deep in debt, they will have to split off their lands to settle their debt. While there was no official policy, Jeffersons amounted to this, Stark said: It was either you adapt to white ways, and take up white agriculture and sell us your land. And you wont need all this land because youre farming now, and youre taking up the superior ways of civilization. Or get out of the way. Go west of the Mississippi, or you can be exterminated. That's one of the things I admire, Peter, is that you go after these icons of American history, those faces on Mount Rushmore, La Tray said. "Your work kind of amplifies the Indigenous people who say, We want to blow those faces off.'" Starks previous books have centered on pivotal moments in the lives of presidents: Astoria: John Jacob Astor and Thomas Jefferson's Lost Pacific Empire: A Story of Wealth, Ambition and Survival (a New York Times bestseller), and Young Washington: How Wilderness and War Forged the Founding Father. Playing tribes against one another One of the U.S. governments strategies to negotiate legal agreements with tribes who had no concept of the European legal system or the idea of land ownership. The U.S. would appoint chiefs, who were not recognized as such by the people themselves, to sign treaties. Stark said that in his research of Eastern woodland tribes, most of the time leadership was determined by consensus. While there were hereditary chiefs, many became leaders due to wisdom, because of their skills as warriors, or other qualities. Stark also noted that many tribes had female chiefs as well, and without their support, major actions such as fighting wouldnt go ahead. La Tray explained how this tactic was used as a blueprint against his people, the Little Shell Band of Chippewa Indians, which left them landless. Jefferson and Harrison, these guys would say, OK, this person will agree what we want to do, so were going to call them a chief and forget about how the tribes have viewed their governance for millennia, he said. That creates this massive diaspora of people who just had their land and their homes and everything jerked out right from under them. La Tray will delve into that history at book length in August with the publication of "Becoming Little Shell," on Milkweed Editions. Tribal communication La Tray pointed out that people often have a flawed understanding of the settlers expansion, as though it was steadily moving westward. At the time of Tecumseh and Harrisons meeting, La Tray said, his Metis ancestors had already been to St. Louis and back, and were breeding cattle on the Northern Plains. Theres just so much ignorance about the degree of communication that was happening both between the United States and tribes and among the tribes themselves, La Tray said. In the East, Stark said, you could consider the tribes the same way you would Europe in 1500. Think of how many little principalities and kingdoms and city-states and all these political entities, he said. "And they were, of course, all in touch with each other." The tribes were the same, with shifting alliances and rivalries, buoyed by quick communications and travel via watersheds theyd studied well. La Tray said its called the moccasin telegraph, for those of you who dont know. I call it the birchbark canoe telegraph, Stark said. Assimilation La Tray pointed out that assimilation happened in the opposite order that many believe, as fur traders arrived in Manitoba and assimilated with Indian people because they couldnt survive. They didnt know the land, as you described, they didnt know how to get from Point A to Point B because they werent canoe people. Nor did they know how to survive in winters without game, he added. The Voyageurs, La Tray said, were these incredibly tough guys who paddle these canoes thousands of miles and carry these heavy loads, but they're actually a kind of a mix of both the French culture and the Indian culture. Their canoes, which could reach 40 feet and carry tons of material, were engineering marvels. To laughter from the audience, Stark asked, Could you and I sit out in the woods, trying to figure out how to make a birchbark canoe? The group has now had a record-breaking start to 2024, selling a bottle of whiskey to American collector Mike Daley, for the mammoth sum. Mike Daley and The Emerald Isle, the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold Daley has one of the largest private collections of whiskey in the United States A bottle of single malt Irish whiskey has sold for 2.55 million to an American collector, making it the priciest bottle ever sold. The Craft Irish Whiskey Co., who are based in Dublin city centre, sell the rarest whiskeys on the planet, with the tag line of Before whiskey was anything else, it was Irish. The group has now had a record-breaking start to 2024, selling a bottle of whiskey to American collector Mike Daley, for the mammoth sum. The sale makes The Emerald Isle, already the rarest triple-distilled single malt in existence, the most expensive bottle of whiskey on earth. "Irish is the future of whiskey. I'm excited to be part of it, as a collector, but most importantly as a drinker, Mr Daly said today. Daley has one of the largest private collections of whiskey in the United States The price he paid was roughly 100 grand more than a bottle of The Macallan 1926 which fetched a similarly large sum at auction last autumn. Mr Daley is one of the US' most prolific collectors of the spirit, with a vast collection consisting of several thousand bottles of Irish, American, and Scotch whiskeys. His latest record-breaking purchase is one of only seven sets in existence; a liquid which was three decades maturing in a variety of casks. The Emerald Isle's case includes a single decanter, alongside a Faberge egg containing an emerald gem a custom timepiece, and a pair of Cohiba cigars. Mike Daley and The Emerald Isle, the most expensive bottle of whiskey ever sold Daley also said: "The rebirth of Irish whiskey is relatively new, so I feel like I'm getting in on the ground floor. Luxury scotch, to me, is already a crowded type of market. But we're only just starting to see luxury Irish make a name for itself. I guarantee you that in the years to come, it will get to where scotch is today." Jay Bradley, founder and CEO of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. said: "A bottle of The Emerald Isle becoming the most expensive whiskey or whisky ever sold is a monumental achievement for my business, and an incredibly proud moment for me. "I started The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. with the goal of making Irish whiskey the most coveted luxury spirit and restoring Ireland's reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world, this brings us several steps closer to achieving that, and we're only six years into the journey. "There's a lot more to come from us, and I'm excited for our customers and competitors to see what we have in store." Formed in 2018, Mr Bradleys company have won 44 awards to date, including Gold and Silver at the IWSC Taste Awards, Gold, Silver, and Bronze at the World Whiskey Awards, and a prestigious Master Medal for The Donn at The Drinks Business Autumn Bling Tasting. In 1987, after being diagnosed with HIV, she was given two years to live. Three decades later, she is more alive than ever, having also overcome drug addiction and a period in sex work. Rebecca Tallon De Havilland knows what it means to be different. She transitioned in 1991 and was one of the first transgender women to get an Irish passport. Between growing up in Dublin and living in London, she thinks Ireland is ahead of the curve when it comes to acceptance. Im kind of fed up with people knocking on Ireland, including ourselves. You know, Ive had the luxury to work in London and here. Do you know what? Were leaders in many ways. We need to stop looking at America and the UK and just move forward. We were a slow starter, dont get me wrong. But weve come a long way. Weve got a way to go, but were on the right road, and thats how I see it, she admits. Rebecca had a second lease of life after transitioning, as well as the second puberty that some transgender people experience as they adapt to life as their true selves. In 1987, after being diagnosed with HIV, she was given two years to live. Three decades later, she is more alive than ever, having also overcome drug addiction and a period in sex work. But youd never think from her sunny disposition and easy chat that she experienced such a turbulent life. She started out working as a hairstylist to the stars for fashion photo shoots and even the Eurovision Song Contest. She returned to these shores in 2022 after a spell in London and currently works with HIV Ireland on raising awareness of the virus in trans people. This year, she heads up Virgin Media Televisions new show, Second Chances, which will see seven people be afforded a you guessed it second shot. Rebecca helps people from all walks of life to navigate a new phase The four-part series follows the participants as they navigate a new phase of life, with Rebecca there to guide them through it. She takes them to meet professional counsellors but also puts them through immersive experiences designed to help them start over. The participants come from all walks of life, and have myriad reasons to embrace a second chance. This is my kind of second chance in life too, to be able to get it right, says Rebecca. Each person within Second Chances, theres seven different people, not one of them is trans and not one of them is HIV, which Im really delighted about too because people cant say its tokenism, you know? One is an amputee, theres another thats diabetic. One is recovering from breast cancer. Another one is a refugee who came here when she was 13 and is now 19 and studying law in Maynooth, she explains. Im hoping that people will love it and that well get a second shot at it and be able to help more people. Isnt that what life should be about anyway? You know, shouldnt we be trying to help other people? Isnt that part of who we are as human beings? she adds. The show has given Rebecca, who is now in her sixties, a chance to reflect on her own path, and consider the way things turned out in the end. She transitioned over three decades ago, but sometimes still gets people referring to her by her dead name or the name she had pre-transition. A few people have done it to me recently, and I think after 35 years, if you dont get the fact that Im Rebecca and that I have a vagina, well then theres something wrong, she laughs. Rebecca Tallon De Havilland with Marlon Every now and again I do get people reverting back to that, and I just think, what rock have you been hiding under? Sometimes I think its just ignorance, and sometimes I think people just do it just to create something. I mean, I dont fire back on it. People often say to me, Do you not feel bitter about the past? Theres no point in that. The past is the past. If situations hadnt been the same, I definitely wouldnt have ended up as a sex worker or as a heroin addict. Thats for sure, because that was never on my to-do list, she adds. For me, with drugs and stuff like that, the pain was so great that when I discovered drugs and alcohol, they numbed it. I never thought Id get 19 years sober, ever, I couldnt get 19 minutes at one stage. I remember my sponsor said to me, to keep it, you have to give it away. For a long time, that didnt mean dog s**t to me. I suppose for me, thats whats really important, is like, I am in a really wonderful place right now, she says. Second Chances is Rebeccas first turn as a TV presenter, but it never felt like work because the connections she had with the people involved made it all the easier. What I found amazing about the whole thing, its like if you said to me about these seven people at the start, what do I have in common with them? Id have probably said, well, absolutely nothing, Rebecca says. But I found identification, and they found it in me. I thought that that was wonderful, that whatever illnesses we all go through, all of a sudden they become colourless, they become genderless, none of us are exempt from any of the ailments, she adds. Its remarkable that against all odds, each and every one of them has that fight. I suppose for me, when I look at even the younger ones, even in the forties, Im 65 now, I just think wouldnt it have been great if there had been somebody there for me? Second Chances starts on Virgin Media One tonight. The South African beauty hopes to return to the RTE series as soon as she has fully recovered. Professional dancer Kylee Vincent will not appear on tonight's episode of Dancing with the Stars after falling ill. The South African beauty hopes to return to the RTE series as soon as she has fully recovered. Kylees celebrity partner, jockey Davy Russell will still compete this week, dancing with pro dancer Laura Nolan. Laura, who is partnered with actor Shane Quigley Murphy, will dance twice on this evenings show. Shane and Laura will dance a waltz to At This Moment by Michael Buble tonight, and Laura will hit the dance floor once again with Davy as they perform a quickstep to Giddy Up by Shania Twain. The glitz, glamour, and nail-biting competition will continue on RTE One and RTE Player this evening Sunday, January 14 at 6.30pm. It comes after Rosanna Davison admitted stranger things have happened" when asked if her famous father could make a cameo on Dancing With the Stars. The former Miss World, who is partnered up with pro dancer Stephen Vincent, said its inevitable that shell end up jiving to one of Chris De Burghs hits at some point in the competition. I think its inevitable at some point in this competition if Im still in it, where someone thinks its a great idea to put me in a red dress and have me dance to Lady In Red. Although I had a conversation with my pro dance partner yesterday and he said wouldnt Spaceman be a cool song to dance to, wouldnt it be a really cool set, a real out of this world sort of space type set kind of set. So, well see. Im not sure what this creative team has planned, what surprises they will spring on me, but Im definitely anticipating it, she told the Sunday World. She expects her husband Wes to bring their three kids to dress rehearsals on Saturdays but is unsure if her father can make it to the live shows on Sundays. I dont know if he will come each week because he has his own busy schedule, she explains. He was only telling us the other day he is celebrating 50 years in the music industry this year, so he has got a whole series of tours and concerts and some musicals running at the moment in Germany, so he has got his own stuff going on, which is great. He is 75 now and theres no stopping him. Get ready New Zealand. Long or short, curly or straight, classic or modern... mullet season is here. Its the return of The Mullet Matters, a fundraising campaign in support of the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand. Last years inaugural event saw almost 700 mullet-loving souls take up the challenge and set their mullets loose around New Zealand, starting important conversations about mental health and raising over $130,000 for the mental health promotion charity. One of those who took part last year and is back for another round, is Hayden McGehan from Otautahi, Christchurch. Hayden McGehan. Photo: Supplied. Hayden says the power of the mullet is in its ability to spark important conversations about mental health. You dont have to walk up to someone and say, do you want to talk about mental health?, but someones going to come up to you and be like, whats up with the mullet? Thats your in," says Hayden. During last years campaign, Hayden, a freelance illustrator, created a mullet wearing character for friends who run a barbershop. He was so inspired by The Mullet Matters experience that he had the character tattooed as a permanent reminder. I dont know if Ill ever get rid of the mullet, but the tattoo will be there forever that whole event, Im never going to forget it because it was so powerful. The Mullet Matters group. Photo: Supplied. The funds raised during The Mullet Matters will help fund the vital mental health resources the Mental Health Foundation provides for free to one in five of us who will experience mental distress this year, and to those who support them. Each year the foundation shares around a million free mental health resources around the motu covering topics such as suicide prevention, wellbeing, depression, anxiety, suicide loss, and more. Taranakis Blake Taylor is another returning mulleteer. He knows the value of the free resources. I have some hanging up in my office and having them for free, without the barrier of cost, for our people who are seeking help is amazing. Cheyenne Marsters. Photo: Supplied. There were plenty of women who took up the challenge in 2023 as well, like Gisbornes Cheyenne Marsters. Walking into the barbershop to get my hair cut, at first was quite intimidating, but people in the shop overheard me talking about why I was having the haircut and as I was walking out afterwards, they started clapping and I felt really proud and it made me go, Yeah, I want to rock this even harder! To join Haydo, Blake, Cheyenne and hundreds of mullet champions in making a positive change for mental health, visit themulletmatters.co.nz. A former National minister and deputy chair of Te Urewera Board has accused energy company Genesis of negligence in its management of weeds at Lake Waikaremoana. The East Coast's great walk reopened this week after nearly 11 months of repairs following Cyclone Gabrielle. The lake is Maori land, majority owned by Ngai Tuhoe, and the Crown - which has a majority stake in Genesis - leases the lake. The company has been able to use the lake for energy production via an "operating easement", which Land Information New Zealand explains "is a right agreed between a landowner and another party to use land for a particular purpose, and can be registered against the property's title." Deputy chairperson of Te Urewera Board, Chris Finlayson, told RNZ's Summer Times the reopening of the track could not have gone better in terms of support, but he was shocked at the amount of weed growth in the lake. "It's caused immeasurable damage," says Chris. "[Genesis is] a mixed ownership model company, but they really need to be held to account for their negligence, frankly, I just couldn't get over the extent of the weeds in some of the bays, it's just a very serious matter." Lake Waikaremoana track. Photo: Supplied. Kirsti Luke, chief executive of the Tuhoe Iwi Office, agrees that the blame rests squarely on Genesis, and their resource consent needs to be reviewed. It had not been so bad for about 10 years, she says. But with changing weather patterns due to climate change, the problem was being exacerbated. "Rainfall happens, but rather than it happening evenly across the year, it happens in pockets, so [Genesis] have to hold the water longer," says Kirsti. When the lake was lowered quickly, it left the weed exposed to oxygen and sunlight, causing it to bloom, which then choked the lake and affected its eco-systems. Genesis says in these events, plants dried out and died, but over time, some terrestrial plants took over the beaches until lake levels rose again. "This is typical of the dynamic nature of the Waikaremoana shoreline, where lake levels vary by 3 metres under the current operational regime. "This is a natural process and does not cause the spread of Lagarosiphon." Last time, the problem was solved by the Department of Conservation paying NIWA to send divers, who laid mats on the bottom of the lake to stop the growth of the weed. Kirsti says Genesis had not contributed to that solution. "It continues to be the only real option to manage that - a dark thing to stop the light doing its photosynthesis, or a vacuum where you literally suck it out, and after that, you have to hand pick, diving, the individual plants." Cost was the prohibiting factor. "We don't think that we shouldn't pay for it given it's a consequence of hydro generation." Genesis rejects accusations Genesis says it was incorrect to infer it had not done any work regarding weed management. The company says it had historically been actively involved in the environmental management and mitigation of Waikaremoana since resource consents were granted in 1998, including funding a plan in 2012 with tools, tactics and monitoring of the Lagarosiphon (weed) incursion. However, it claimed it had been more difficult in recent times to engage with Te Uru Taumatua (TUT) at an operational level over many of these programmes, but it remained committed to the health and wellbeing of the lake's environment Genesis says it proposed further weed control work around the lake shore in 2021 to TUT operations and followed up several times. It says it was offering to fund this work, but the offer was not taken up. Despite the weed, the track itself was looking in good shape, and Kirsti says people should make the most of quiet bookings to check it out. Te Urewera was declared a legal entity in the Te Urewera Act 2014, giving it the rights, powers, duties, and liabilities of a legal person, with the board as its primary decision maker. Finlayson was the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations at the time. On Thursday, he said he would like the board to sit down with Genesis and talk through the issue. "Where there used to be beaches there are now weeds and that's totally unsatisfactory." Genesis says the weed growth was caused by a lack of weed control, which used to be managed collaboratively by many organisations, including Genesis, but stopped after the Tuhoe Treaty Settlement in 2014. "Genesis takes seriously its responsibility to operate the Waikaremoana Power Scheme within the strict resource consent requirements that take into account the communities that use the lake, live along and downstream of the scheme, and the environment," it said in a statement. "That extensive weed control work is simply not happening any more, which is disappointing," the company said. "Genesis has always been and remains willing to contribute to weed control efforts by those who have the responsibility to do so. We welcome meeting with the Te Urewera board and seeing how we can work constructively together." Kate Green/RNZ Road freight operators say safety improvement work on State Highway 5 between Taupo and Napier cannot start soon enough. The NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi project manager Chris Mahoney told RNZ that 60 serious crashes and 13 deaths had occurred along the stretch in the seven years prior to 2023. On Monday, January 8, contractors begin work widening centrelines and shoulders, and installing safety barriers at high-risk bends. Crews will also continue repairing potholes and resealing and re-marking parts of the road's surface A section of State Highway 5 between Te Pohue and Glengarry crumbles due to a slip after Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. Photo: Supplied: Waka Kotahi. A section of State Highway 5 between Te Pohue and Glengarry crumbles due to a slip after Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023. Photo: Supplied: Waka Kotahi. Transporting New Zealand interim chief executive Dom Kalasih says the difficult geography of the area means the work will have a far greater safety benefit than blanket speed reductions. "On the north end, there's quite a long section of road where it was relatively straight and the speed was reduced, now that's unlikely to make that much difference. "Whereas the type of work they're doing now - cordon widening, shoulder widening, centre line widening - in a really demanding piece of the network, that is where the risk is." Dom says that part of SH5 has had a bad history of crashes. "Trucks do try to pull over where they can, but often a lot of our slow vehicle bays... are still pretty marginal... They're still very narrow, very short. "These changes will make it easier for other motorists to get past the trucks." Dom says any costs incurred because of delays during the construction will be well justified, and he hopes motorists will be patient while the work is underway. Alba Tenza Alora Sunday, 14 January 2024, 19:39 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Barking was the trigger for one of the first rescues of the year by firefighters in Malaga province on 6 January. Three Kings Day gave two dogs abandoned inside a clothes container in Alora a second chance at life thanks to the rescue by the provincial fire brigade (CPB). It was the residents of the towns El Puente neighbourhood who heard the barking coming from inside the container, so they called the fire brigade. "I knew the dogs, the owner was a resident of a block next door who, by chance, has left the neighbourhood, I could have opened the door for her dogs and at least given them the opportunity to find a way to live, but she threw them straight into the container to die," Laura Requena, who had heard the owner of these animals complaining on several occasions about her own dogs, told SUR. Firefighters responded to the call and rescued both dogs using a special tool to open the container. The two canines were in good condition, the fire brigade reported on social media. However, as soon as they were freed, they ran away. "One of them was in heat, she was prowling around the area until seven in the evening, I tried to catch her but it was impossible," Requena said. Since 7 January, the dogs have not been seen again, so the local residents are waiting to see if they reappear. Raquel Merino Malaga Sunday, 14 January 2024, 20:24 Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook X LinkedIn Telegram Several storms and their associated fronts will approach the west of Galicia in Spain from Monday onwards and will affect many parts of the mainland, but will they leave rain on the Costa del Sol and in Malaga province? The local weather expert Jose Luis Escudero pointed out in his SUR blog Tormentas y Rayos (Storms and Lightning) that rainfall will affect the western part of the Andalucia region to a greater extent, while the provinces where less rain is expected are Malaga, Granada and, above all, Almeria. Escudero's forecast coincides with that of Spain's state weather agency. Although Aemet forecasts rainfall in practically the whole province of Malaga - including the Costa del Sol - from Wednesday evening and mainly on Thursday, it seems that it will not be enough to alleviate the drought. Aemet forecasts that rainfall will be likely to be heavy and intense in the western half of Andalucia on Wednesday, with occasional thunderstorms and hail, while in the far east of the region there will be little cloud in the sky. On Thursday, on the other hand, cloudy skies with precipitation are forecast for the Andalucia region, but with a lower probability on the Mediterranean coast. Therefore, it seems that the long-awaited and much-needed rains in Malaga will not happen in the second fortnight of January either. The Helena Regional Airport reported a low of 28 degrees below zero early Sunday as the brutally frigid weather continued its stranglehold on the Queen City. One well-known restaurant stated on social media that its pipes burst due to the cold, forcing it to temporarily close. Ray Greely, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Great Falls, said the low hit about 1:30 a.m. and continued a couple more times throughout the early morning hours due to cloud cover. The official high Sunday was expected to be -7 degrees. The weather brought some bad news for the Overland Express at 2250 11th Ave., according to a Facebook posting in the early afternoon. Sad news from the Overland, it stated. Pipes froze and broke in our (mechanical) room today. The city had to come and shut our water off. We are badly flooded, so we cannot open for the time being. Hopefully we can get all the pipes repaired and clean up all the water in the next few days. Until (it's) done we are closed until further notice. Thanks for your understanding. Efforts to reach the restaurant were unsuccessful. Sundays low did not break the record of -41 degrees that occurred in 1941, the NWS said. Earlier reports said that record was -38 degrees, set in 1888. The -35 degrees on Saturday broke an 1888 record of -34. This frigid weather, which has gripped other parts of the United States, is being caused by a cold air mass from Alaska and northern Canada and a weather system drawing it southward. The wind chill advisory, which was to expire at 5 p.m. Sunday, has been extended to 11 a.m. Monday, Greely said. Monday is expected to also be a frigid day. Tuesdays high will be 21 degrees and the low will be 9. Greely said there will be another shot of cold air with some snow Wednesday night through Thursday. It will be a lot shorter lived. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Two people were rescued and a firefighter was injured when a Syracuse house caught fire early Sunday. Around 12:28 a.m., firefighters responded to the fire at 100 Beard Place, District Chief Matthew Craner said in a news release. When firefighters arrived they found a two-and-a-half story home with heavy smoke and fire coming from the back second floor and attic. Aircraft manufacturer Boeing is under intense scrutiny after an improperly bolted door panel flew off a 737 Max 9 jetliner midflight, terrifying passengers and crew. Editorial cartoonists seized on the incident. TTe gallerys lead image by David Horsey (based in Boeings hometown of Seattle) highlights the reputational damage suffered by the iconic company. Michael Ramirez notes the companys stock price also took a fall. Mike Luckovich makes light of the situation by replacing oxygen masks with wrenches to tighten any loose bolts. Dana Summers sees the situation as metaphor for Bidenomics, while Nick Anderson sees it as metaphor for former President Donald Trumps business troubles. Another hot topic this week is Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austins mysterious absence without leave. Austin had prostate surgery but did not inform the White House, or his subordinates, of his incapacity. Walt Handelslman jokes that President Joe Biden went looking for Austin in the Pentagon lost and found. Jack Ohman unleashes NORADs tracking technology on the wayward secretary. Anderson sends SEAL Team 6 on the hunt for Austin. Other topics in this weeks gallery include the fight for second place behind Trump in the Iowa caucuses, featuring Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley; threats of violence hanging over Trumps civil trial in New York on business fraud charges; and the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate. WASHINGTON (AP) Just a few months after he took office, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a moratorium to halt federal executions a stark contrast after his predecessor carried out 13 in six months. Under Garlands watch and a president who vowed to abolish the death penalty, the Justice Department took on no new death penalty cases. That changed Friday as federal prosecutors said they would seek capital punishment for a white supremacist who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket. The decision doesnt change the halt on federal executions, but Garlands first approval of a new capital prosecution opens a new chapter in the long and complicated history of the death penalty in the U.S. Those complexities have been on full display in recent years. President Joe Biden campaigned in part on a promise to abolish it but has taken few concrete steps to do so. The Justice Department has pulled back significantly on the use of capital punishment under Garlands leadership, but also has shown a continued willingness to use it in certain cases. White House spokesman Andrew Bates didnt take issue with the decision in the Buffalo case Friday, saying the president has discussed his views on the issue and would leave individual cases to the appropriate authorities. The Justice Department, in keeping with its practice on ongoing cases, did not explain its decision. Its a little hard to identify a consistent approach, said Eric Berger, a law professor at the University of Nebraska. This Justice Department is far more reluctant to use the death penalty, certainly than the Trump administration was, and far more cognizant of the problems, but its not willing to throw away the death penalty altogether. Under Garland, the Justice Department has reversed more than two dozen decisions to seek the death penalty, including for alleged gang members accused in the deaths of two teens in New York. Garland has authorized the continuation of only two death penalty cases he inherited, including another mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue motivated by hate. Robert Bowers was sentenced to death in August for carrying out the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history when he shot and killed 11 worshipers in 2018. The other case was against Sayfullo Saipov, a 35-year-old Islamic extremist convicted of maniacally racing a truck along a popular New York City bike path, killing eight people and maiming others. A split among jurors meant he was not sentenced to the death penalty. In Buffalo, 20-year-old Payton Gendron pleaded guilty to driving across the state to target a largely Black neighborhood and carrying out the attack with a semi-automatic weapon marked with racial slurs and phrases including The Great Replacement, a reference to a conspiracy theory that theres a plot to diminish the influence of white people. Its a mass shooting, and mass shootings have only increased over the years and gotten worse. It was also racially motivated, and that seems to be a huge factor here, said Deborah Denno, a Fordham University law professor who studies the death penalty. Garland is sort of indicating what he thinks is important, what would drive him to ask for the death penalty. In changes made under Garland, the Justice Departments manual instructs prosecutors to give more weight to cases involving the most harm to the country. Still, the department chose not to pursue the death penalty in another racist mass shooting targeting Hispanic people that left 23 people dead in an El Paso Wal-Mart. In that case, 24-year-old shooter Patrick Crusius was diagnosed with a severe mental health condition, which may have played a role. Theres been no public evidence of mental illness so far in the Gendron case. But courts are increasingly questioning severe punishments for young defendants amid new research on brain development, said Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center. Gendron has also pleaded guilty and expressed sincere remorse, and been sentenced to multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole, she said. This federal trial will take a long time and they will cost taxpayers millions of dollars in pursuit of the very same result that exists today, which is that Mr. Gendron will die in prison, Maher said. Legal Defense Fund President Janai Nelson condemned the decision, saying that the history of the death penalty has been rife with racial discrimination. Justice for the many Black people that were killed in this horrendous attack does not begin with pursuit of the death penalty, she said. In times rife with extreme violence, we cannot resort to capital punishment as a solution. Death penalty opponents have long argued Biden has done little to fulfill his campaign promise and want him to commute sentences of those on federal death row. During his presidency, the Justice Department has fought vigorously in courts to maintain the sentences of death row inmates, an Associated Press review of dozens of legal filings found. And while the moratorium on federal executions Garland announced in 2021 means no federal inmates will be put to death while its in place, there have been no public signs that a review of execution policies that he ordered at the same time is nearing completion. In Buffalo, the victims loved ones have had different feelings on whether they thought prosecutors should pursue the death penalty. The death penalty decision-making process calls for a lengthy review involving the U.S. Attorney overseeing the case and a review committee. Garland is extremely exacting and meticulous and nonpartisan and careful, Berger said. Whether or not you agree with his ultimate decision, hes going to play the process exactly by the book. DECATUR The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is most often remembered through quotes from his I Have a Dream speech. At Saturday's event marking the civil rights leader's birthday, however, most speakers also quoted Jesus' Golden Rule: Treat others as you want them to treat you, which they said encapsulated King's work in civil rights. Many of the speakers were pastors who pointed to Christ as the way to achieve unity among people of different races and backgrounds, using him as the model for loving God and loving each other. The march was converted to a car parade in deference to the cold, beginning with brief speeches and prayers in front of the Samuel Bush memorial at the Macon County Courthouse. Bush was lynched in 1893, accused of assaulting two white women, and never made it to trial because a mob broke into the Macon County Jail and lynched him on the corner near the courthouse. A memorial was placed at that site in June 2023. Shemuel Sanders, who lost a daughter to gun violence in 2020 and began a youth organization, Shemilah Outreach Center, in her memory, told the people in attendance that he does what he does because he wants to make a difference. Today, on this important occasion, I want to raise awareness about an important issue that continues to plague our society, Sanders said. Gun violence affects not only the victim, but also the families, friends and communities. It leaves behind scars that may not ever fully heal. Each act of gun violence robs our community of potential and future contributions of our youth. It is a stark reminder that we have failed to nurture and protect the very individuals who are our hope for a better tomorrow. After the car parade proceeded down Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the Church of the Living God PGT Temple 1, people gathered in the sanctuary for a prayer-filled service with speakers who all mentioned faith as the guiding force in building a better society. Dana Ray said she attended because it's important to acknowledge the sacrifices that have been made in pursuit of equality. Considering the lives that have been lost for civil rights, considering that people's lives have been altered permanently, I need to remember the sacrifice, and I need to be a part of remembering the legacy of Martin Luther King and also living that legacy, she said. Cordell Ingram, principal of MacArthur High School, was one of the speakers, who told of King's membership in the same fraternity Ingram is a member of, Alpha Phi Alpha, the oldest African-American fraternity in the nation, which was founded at Cornell University in 1906. It's important because the fraternity was the driving force behind the (King) memorial, Ingram said. The fraternity raised about $10 million. King's statue in the National Mall in Washington, D.C., is the only one that does not depict a president, he said. King always visited colleges and fraternity chapters in his travels, and members also traveled with him, partly as security, but partly to show their support. The fraternity can boast of a number of prominent men as members, from Thurgood Marshall and Jesse Owens to W.E.B. DuBois. They saw the fraternity as a breeding place to gather like-minded individuals to advance the community, Ingram said. In his speech, he called King a gift to the world. Black people, Dr. King wasn't just for you, he said. When I look around the room and I see the diversity, Dr. King changed the world. We're so simple-minded that we think that the whole reason God sent this man here was to change Black people. That's not true. His message is powerful. His message is for all people. King's wife, Coretta Scott King, was a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the oldest Black sororities, said Gina Taylor, who challenged listeners to exercise their right to vote. The ballot is a powerful took that everyone has a right to, she said. Master of ceremonies Courtney Carson told the audience that of all the people in the room, only three had a fundamental right to vote the three white men in attendance. The Black men and all the women had to fight for their right, he said, and people died in the effort. That's why your vote matters, he said. If you gotta crawl to the ballot, then crawl. If it's cold, grab a jacket. If it's raining, grab an umbrella. The Rev. Leon Young, who gave one of the many prayers sprinkled throughout the event, said he'd been asked to speak about justice. It's good to get justice, he said. But it's great to give justice, too. We can't expect God to do everything. Some things he's given us to do. Close January 31, 1968 March 8, 1968 April 5, 1968 April 12, 1968 June 1, 1968 June 6, 1968 October 17, 1968 November 6, 1968 December 24, 1968 Herald & Review Archive: 1968 historical events From the Vietnam War, to the space race, to the Beatles, to the civil rights movement, to the deaths of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, to a legendary moment at the Olympics, 1968 changed the way we lived forever. That's why we're taking a look at 1968 using the Herald & Review Archives. Click here to explore them yourself! January 31, 1968 March 8, 1968 April 5, 1968 April 12, 1968 June 1, 1968 June 6, 1968 October 17, 1968 November 6, 1968 December 24, 1968 The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. CHICAGO After a month of standing in Home Depot parking lots in Chicago hoping to find work, Rayni Cuadrado had finally found a day job. The 29-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela, moved metal scrap and took measurements Thursday inside a decimated church in North Lawndale. He had once dreamed of studying art in his home country, he said, but due to the political and social unrest there, he instead walked to the United States with his daughter to find work. Like countless other groups of migrants and undocumented workers across the city, Cuadrado has been getting up at 5 a.m. every day for the past month to stand in parking lots and wait to be picked for day labor jobs. When a vehicle drives by, he said there is a rush. People want to find work so badly they will push each other. This is my first job in America. The majority of people dont want to hire us, he said. While hes living in a city shelter now, he hopes to make enough money to find an apartment for himself and his 4-year-old daughter. But he isnt part of the group of migrants who qualify for a work permit authorization. Thousands of people who have arrived in the city since August 2022 when Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending asylum-seekers to sanctuary cities like Chicago have been shut out of an initiative to help migrants get work permits. The program, launched in November by a coalition of federal, state and local governments and advocacy groups, has only made a small dent in the number of people even applying for work permits, much less getting them. Organizers call the program a one-stop-shop work authorization clinic, assisting migrants with the daunting application process for a permit and waiving the nearly $500 fee. But it is only available to migrants who entered the country legally with humanitarian parole or were granted the opportunity to apply for temporary legal status by President Joe Biden, and who are staying in one of the citys 28 shelters. The state had the goal of submitting roughly 11,000 applications for eligible asylum-seekers residing in Chicago shelters by February, according to a Nov. 16 news release from the governors office. But Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at Resurrection Project which spearheaded the program said only 1,655 people have registered for the program and a few hundred have been approved. Of more than 34,500 migrants who have arrived in Chicago, thousands like Cuadrado are left out of the legal pathway for employment, forced to find alternative options they say are unreliable and often risky and less lucrative. While only a fraction of the people in shelters qualify for work permits, most people outside shelters dont qualify either or cant afford to apply. Migrants who cant make enough in their home countries to live have decided to walk thousands of miles for economic opportunity, only to face a bureaucracy in the United States that prevents the vast majority of them from being legally hired. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward Cuadrado took almost four months to make it to the border between the United States and Mexico. He said he and his daughter witnessed crime and violence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that was almost worse than in his home country of Venezuela: kidnappings, shootings and threats. He said he couldnt stay in Juarez waiting for his online immigration appointment because it felt unsafe. The day before they left Mexico, he said, 16 people were taken from the house where they were staying. Nine disappeared. Fleeing for their lives, they crossed illegally, bypassing the Customs and Border Protections CBP One app an official mobile application the agency uses to inspect and document arrivals and departures in the United States. As a result, Cuadrado doesnt qualify for the program established by the city. Many migrants like Cuadrado and his daughter cross illegally without using the app, which they say is cumbersome and can take weeks or months. There were thousands of illegal crossings along the southern border in December alone, according to Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas. Migrants who enter illegally can technically file for asylum and apply for a work permit 150 days later, but migrants and their advocates say the process is long, confusing and expensive. Many know there is a chance they wont be granted asylum, so they may prefer to stay under the radar. Experts speculate that without more federal action, the migrants recently arriving in Chicago without the app will likely fold into existing undocumented communities who have worked under the table for decades. Its so hard, Ive even thought about going home to Venezuela, Cuadrado said on Thursday. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward. Program requirements Rendon said only 30% of migrants who live in shelters qualify for the new program. After digging more into it, actually the population (that qualifies for work permits) looks to be closer to about 4,600 people, she said. Venezuelans who entered before July 31 and apply for temporary protected status may be eligible for work permits. Migrants who have been paroled which is a separate program may also be eligible. Humanitarian parole is a measure expanded by the Biden administration in October 2022 that allows more migrants from countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua to temporarily enter the United States and apply for relief. This group must have entered with the CBP One app, unlike Cuadrado. He said he watches others at the shelter where hes staying receive help from the program. Im so worried because we were told we need to leave the shelter on March 4 and I dont have work, Cuadrado said. I spend all day outside, and my fingers freeze. A record number of migrants have crossed the southern border this year seeking employment and opportunities in the United States, pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another in national congressional debates about how to best respond to thousands of people who are in desperate need of shelter, food and health care. Most are from Venezuela, a country with a buckling economy under a far-left leader, made worse by over a decade of sanctions imposed by the United States on crude oil and gas exports. Migrants fill Home Depot parking lots waiting for day labor jobs. They stand on street corners with cardboard signs. They sell candy outside businesses to make small amounts of money. For months, migrant advocates and mayors of cities like Chicago have asked President Joe Biden to give migrants the chance to contribute to the economy legally. In September, facing mounting pressure, Biden gave some migrants, whose home countries are considered unsafe, the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary period of time. That protection, called temporary protected status, applies to an estimated 11,000 Venezuelans in Chicago who arrived in the country before July 31 and it fast-tracks their approval to work legally. At the time, migrant advocates celebrated, but warned that it would take a long time to make its way into city-run shelters. Work authorization applications are long and extensive. Just one application asks for pages of documentation in English, and costs close to $500, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. We can barely afford to buy anything Cuadrado said he had found his job Thursday with the help of God. Denzel Johnson, 29, owner of the construction company Need a Hand LLC drove by a Home Depot in the West Loop in a white car. A group of migrants came over to him, and he explained using Google Translate that he needed help cleaning up a church in North Lawndale that had been destroyed. Cuadrado and David Avendano, 25, were offered the work. They rode in the back of Johnsons Audi to the site. Johnson said the church had been broken into and wrecked. The perpetrator had pulled ceiling panels down and taken metal from the frames, exposing decades-old ornate floral tiling. Whoever had broken in had stolen everything of value, including the broom. They had cut the cord on the vacuum and the wires on the organ. Dust and debris covered the velvet red carpet. Metal hung from the ceiling. Thats what happens to churches on the West Side, said the owner, pastor Markel Anderson, 25, who grew up sitting in the pews of the church. The building had been in his family for 35 years, and he inherited it from his grandfather. It was under renovation when it was broken into. The damage would take at least a year to fix, he said. When asked about why he gave the migrants the opportunity to work, Anderson said he wanted to help. Jesus was a migrant, he said. Cuadrado said other employers werent always friendly. People he knew at the shelter where hes staying had worked for weeks at a different church and werent ever paid. He hoped Anderson would give him a fair amount for the days work, but they hadnt discussed wages yet. With the language barrier, the men communicated using hand gestures. The migrants spent the afternoon clipping metal trappings that hung from the ceiling, drilling holes in doors and picking up scraps in the cold church and the yard outside. They said they want us to come back (Friday), too, said Cuadrado, and his face lit up. Avendano said he had been in Chicago about a week, and also didnt qualify for a work permit. He has three children under the age of 8 staying in the city-run shelter with him. Yesterday, he spent an hour moving beds at a different church and was paid $25. How am I going to feed my family? he asked, worried. Food is so expensive. We can barely afford to buy anything. Everyone in the same room David Fish, an employment lawyer and partner at Fish Potter Bolanos PC, said migrants without work permits face more exploitation or abuse in the workplace, and likely make around 30% less than those who can work legally. He said businesses and restaurants need workers right now. Think of all the businesses and restaurants that have shut down, and all these people desperate for work sitting around, having trouble finding jobs, he said. Somebody needs to get these two sides together. It could really be great for Chicago. In an effort to do so, state, city and local officials launched their pilot program in early November to help abate the costs and ease the bureaucratic hoops of the work permit approval process, which normally takes two to four months or longer, experts say. Lawyers from the nonprofit Resurrection Project said it has both sped up the process and made it more affordable. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting local jurisdictions hosting recently arrived migrants, that is why President Biden submitted supplemental funding requests to Congress which address a series of national priorities, including funding for accelerating the processing of work permits for eligible migrants, a White House spokesperson said in a statement to the Tribune. The pilot program is unique in design, said Elizabeth Rompf Bruen, an immigration attorney with Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC and the immediate past chair of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who has worked in the clinics since they began in November. These parties often work together, but to have everyone in the same room is something Ive never seen before, she said. This workshop has been a perfect example of the progress that can be made when legal advocates, community members and the government city, state and federal coordinate with each other. Normally, submitting applications to USCIS is a multiple-step process. In this case, legal screening, translations, application preparation, submission, initial review by the government, receipt issuance and photos and fingerprints for biometrics processing all take place on the same day in the same location. Having all parties in the same room creates efficiencies that will save applicants and the government months of waiting time. Rompf Bruen said they typically see 100 to 150 people a day, four days a week. Case managers at city shelters conduct intake screenings and then schedule legal review and application preparation appointments. Migrants are picked up and brought to the clinic in a building downtown, where they fill out paperwork and are connected to potential employers. The Illinois Department of Human Services provides $8 million in funding to support nonprofits and pro bono attorneys who run the legal clinics, according to Rachel Otwell, a spokesperson for IDHS. The federal government has also waived all $500 fees for work permit applications in shelter. Work permits allow asylum-seekers to gain employment and achieve self-sufficiency, thereby alleviating the strain on state resources, said Otwell in a statement. Employment is a crucial first step to living independently, and our new arrivals are eager to get to work and build better lives for themselves and their families. A lifesaving document Undocumented immigrants for years have struggled to find avenues to work legally. They also gather in parking lots waiting for jobs, and are now competing for day labor with migrants. The government has created options for and has been able expedite work permits for recently arrived. But you have a lot of longtime undocumented in Illinois in Chicago for whom these arent viable options, said Katherine Greenslade, an attorney and the director of the Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic at the Resurrection Project. Rendon called a work permit a lifesaving document. She said she hopes Biden can use his parole authority to grant work authorization eligibility to undocumented communities who have been in Chicago for decades. Ultimately, she wonders if the pilot program can serve as a blueprint to reach all immigrant communities in Chicago who want to work but cant. In mid-February, the city hopes to expand the program to migrants who have moved out of the citys shelter system and dont currently qualify. For now, those outside the shelter system have been relying on smaller community-based organizations for assistance. Centro Romero in Edgewater has provided legal services and resources to more than 4,000 migrants since August 2022, according to Diego F. Samayoa, associate director. Samayoa said there is a high need to expand the criteria for fee waivers for programs like his, that dont look like the citys one-stop-shop. We are doing it, but its not like we have all the resources, he said. People always ask me if I have my work permit Every day, migrants across the city spend hours looking for work, often with no luck. A father from Venezuela stood outside a Home Depot in freezing rain Tuesday afternoon holding his thumb out. He said had been looking for work for more than six hours. Nelson Orellana, 30, shook a hand warmer for heat and watched a shiny Range Rover drive by. His daughter had turned eight years old the day before and he said he missed it. As he stood on a curb in Chicago, she was seven countries away. My little Sofia, he said, tearing up. Orellana said he came to Chicago for the future of his 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, and 6-year-old daughter, Victoria. He got to the city with the help of a free ticket bought by state officials in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is staying at a shelter in West Town. There was no future for my family in Venezuela. I struggled to pay for food. My daughters werent receiving an education, said Orellana, who said he worked in construction in his subtropical home city of Valencia. Wind and ice whipped his face. Hello, help me with something, to eat or work. Job please job, read a cardboard sign that lay discarded in the bushes nearby. At one point in the rainy cold afternoon, a car pulled over to talk to Orellana. The man driving rolled the window down. What kind of work are you looking for? the man asked in Spanish. Orellana walked over and leaned in to talk to him. Orellana showed the man videos of himself painting and doing little jobs which he called trabajitos. The man told him he would give him a call in three hours, and drove away. People always ask me if I have my work permit. And when I tell them I dont, they say they cant hire me. They cant help me, he said. He stood on the side of the road, shivering. He wore thin pants and white sneakers. I will bring them here, he said about his two daughters. DroopyGarfield Newbie Join Date: May 2023 Location: Pune Posts: 16 Thanked: 65 Times Re: BYD dealer insists they will register a 2023 manufactured car as 2024 manufactured on RC Quote: d3mon Originally Posted by So a friend of mine has decided to buy a BYD Atto 3. In the first week of 2024, he was promised by the BYD dealer in Bangalore that they can deliver a 2024 manufactured car to him within 3 days of full payment. But the crazy part here is that the dealer is insisting that my friend hasn't been lied to - they will still register this car that has been sitting in their stockyard since Oct 2023 as a 2024 manufactured car, and that the RC that my friend will receive will state the year of manufacture as 2024. The dealer has confirmed this multiple times in writing on whatsapp and said something to the effect of "BYD has updated this car on Vahan as a 2024 manufactured model" But we still want to understand if the dealer is somehow right in what he's claiming or if he's just taking us for a ride. 1. They falsify documents while submitting to RTO, hoping RTO never reconciles the data from OEM manufacturer on the date on manufacture. This is mostly the case when brokers/middlemen/touts are invoked to "devise" a solution. The dealer might already have pulled the stunt for other customers and hence, appears confident. 2. They made false promises to you and wont do anything illegal. This means RTO knows your car was manufactured in 2023 and it stays in records forever. The dealer would make a poker face on the date of delivery, give you a false apology and few freebies of accessories/service coupons; hoping your case never makes to social media for BYD HQ to take notice. Dealer moves the inventory, RTO is clean and your friend has few "Whatsapp" promises in his/her pocket. Remember, these promises are seldom enforced legally and imply that they are not a contract binding upon dealership. Simple rule: if the dealer was dishonest to you in the beginning of discussion, they would continue to do so later as well (exceptional dealership exists, but they are not the norm and they wont cheat in the first place). To a dealership, you are merely stats in the monthly charts and a promise broken once is worth breaking again. Any penalty paid to 1 customer (out of 10s or 100s cheated customer) is merely cost of doing business. They would pay a nominal fine, move on and continue to be the dealer for the same OEM. My response - this dealer is taking you for a ride in both ways. Dealer/Manufacturer could, legally speaking, never update Vahan through the backend at their own whims. Possible scenario:1. They falsify documents while submitting to RTO, hoping RTO never reconciles the data from OEM manufacturer on the date on manufacture. This is mostly the case when brokers/middlemen/touts are invoked to "devise" a solution. The dealer might already have pulled the stunt for other customers and hence, appears confident.2. They made false promises to you and wont do anything illegal. This means RTO knows your car was manufactured in 2023 and it stays in records forever. The dealer would make a poker face on the date of delivery, give you a false apology and few freebies of accessories/service coupons; hoping your case never makes to social media for BYD HQ to take notice. Dealer moves the inventory, RTO is clean and your friend has few "Whatsapp" promises in his/her pocket. Remember, these promises are seldom enforced legally and imply that they are not a contract binding upon dealership.Simple rule: if the dealer was dishonest to you in the beginning of discussion, they would continue to do so later as well (exceptional dealership exists, but they are not the norm and they wont cheat in the first place).To a dealership, you are merely stats in the monthly charts and a promise broken once is worth breaking again. Any penalty paid to 1 customer (out of 10s or 100s cheated customer) is merely cost of doing business. They would pay a nominal fine, move on and continue to be the dealer for the same OEM. Sangwan BHPian Join Date: Mar 2022 Location: Victoria/Rohtak Posts: 75 Thanked: 706 Times View My Garage Re: My Journey : From an International Student to a Permanent Resident in Canada 2022 Saga: Things notched up a little bit The new year started, I had big hopes from this year as maybe just maybe IRCC will finally approve or disapprove my wife and kid's application, I will be done with my studies and earn a decent income, will start gathering experience for PR process but the biggest point of happiness is I will have my son and wife here and no more phones and no more "Re-connecting..." error on WhatsApp. Hurray! Decision to move from Victoria to Surrey: Now, I mentioned in my earlier posts that Victoria has a housing crisis and it still is, and finally in Feb/March of 2022 IRCC approved our application and it was going to happen, I would see my wife and kid, but that gave rise to a new problem, where to stay? I again checked the usual websites, applied and things were as bleak as they were for me when I switched rooms. Most of the places were out of my budget and if something felt within the budget, then they were allowing only two people, not 3 even if one of them was a kid. So, I tried for few weeks and as I was running out of time, I finally decided to move to lower mainland, as there were more job opportunities, rent was less compared to Victoria and more Indian restaurants/grocery stores. So, I asked my friend CJ to see the listings I sent him and he finalized one, where I still stay (or I moved, depending on the time when this thread goes live). So, it was a 2 bedroom basement suite, which included hydro, electricity and Wi-Fi. The rent was $1250 for start and now at the time of writing it is $1400. Off-topic: In tiktok/Instagram reels I have seen how people show the "basement" in Canada, it is like this under the ground place with no ventilation and what not, which is true on the Ontario side, but at least the places I have seen in BC are decent. Most of the basement suites including mine are semi-underground i.e. the area below the window is in the ground but that doesn't mean its not ventilated, my place has big windows in every room and it is more than enough space for 3 people leaving together. Back to the story now, this place had two benefits, there was a children's park near-by and a day care just 3 houses away! With housing solved, I needed few more items to make this place a home for family. My landlord gave me a 2 seater reclining sofa and a round table, which we are still using and I decided the following was needed: Bed frame with mattress An almirah A drawer 4-5 chairs 1-2 stool A TV stand A TV Kitchen Items Shoe rack And most importantly, a CAR I had CJ living in Delta (Another city, adjacent to Surrey) and a friend living in North Vancouver (Where I lived for around 2 weeks before my wife and son came here), so all these things I could get later. The pressing matter for me was to get a Car and that's what I did first. Mind you, at this time I was still living in Victoria, it was March of 2022 and I decided to get my first car in Canada. I won't get into the details, you can read about it April 22nd, 2022: This was the day when I was re-united with my wife and kid, what was supposed to be a 3/4 months wait tops turned into more than a year of longing. As I type this I am still hoping to re-unite with my and my wife's family, its been close to 3 years now! I won't call myself a tall person, but by seeing them only on the phone and seeing things/people here in Canada, I found them pretty tiny the first time I saw them in person . I took my son in my arms, he came to me but I could see he has forgotten me a little bit, then we proceeded to the parking lot with all the luggage they brought with them and my wife was just walking and when I told her this is our car (our Blue Santa Fe), I can't explain with words but she had this look on her face as if she saw a behemoth (she was used to seeing our Honda City). Then came the hardest part, instead of talking and feeling happy, my son wanted to get into the driver seat with me, and this was my and my family's mistake. This kid had been either on the drivers seat or the co-drivers seat till this date and being a 2.5 years old, it wasn't easy for him to digest the fact and that day and the few weeks after that, it took him time to get used to car seats and sitting in the back. This is him(and look at his face in the IRVM) with my father in our 2015 Thar (we no longer have this one with us) back in Aug of 2021, so you can understand what I am talking about. Now, as I was already familiar with the steps to be followed for a new immigrant, we did the same and I got all the things done for my wife like getting the SIN number, a new phone number, including them in the medical coverage, new bank account and BC Id (which can be used as a valid ID instead of a passport). As for my son, as he is less than 5 years old, he was only included in the MSP, we can't get BC ID or anything else for him at this moment and that is fine. I couldn't recall if anyone has asked for some sort of Identification for him to this date. My wife was earning since 2015, so being at home doing nothing is not possible for her, as soon as we got the SIN for her, we updated her resume and started with Indeed. Believe it or not, I was applying jobs on indeed for almost 2-4 hours everyday and may be I had applied close to 500 or even 1000, I don't know, wherever we felt it was doable, we applied and money wasn't a concern at this moment as the priority was to earn right away without wasting any time. I would also list out the following places you should/shouldn't visit on the internet and apply/not apply: Apply on LinkedIn and Indeed On all the grocery stores such as Walmart, Thrifty foods, Save on Foods, Loblaw, London Drugs, Safeway. You'll need to go on their careers page and apply Print resumes in India as it is expensive here and leave space to write your phone number and then give print outs in local businesses in your area (I never tried it but worked for few of my knowns) Apply on gas stations Don't apply on emails where they want you send details on some random xyz@gmail.com, only send at careers@xyz.com or something as those businesses which are asking via email are just fulfilling their duty, they have already hired someone else and you'll never hear from them We applied to banks too because of our banking background but they hire people with PR/Citizen status I guess as they never responded to our applications. I have only heard twice (since 2021) back from them otherwise it was all in vain. Note: When you apply for grocery store jobs, keep the resume super simple, emphasize on customer service, don't provide all the details of your previous accomplishment as that will appear to the recruiters as you're just trying to find in something for a short term before you find your actual job. Back to our story, we gave three interviews in total and finally started with Thirst First Refreshments (TFR), where my wife still works. We said yes to the first person who said yes to us, TFR approached my wife first and TFR was one of the best decision we took because timing, pay for starting over there and the work culture suited her. She started working for them on May 16, 2022. So, in less than a month my wife was on a full-time job, but this took an effort by us and that's why we had this great start, otherwise if we had been lazy with our approach, it could have taken a month or two more to find a job. Guys! consistency matters! I would also like to shed some more light on the work culture in Canada. At my wife's workplace, meeting happen often and the employee who performs is given due credit. For the first time my wife was praised so much by her supervisors and even by the director and owner of the company. Back home in India, in our Nationalized banks, no matter how much effort you gave, it was not enough and appreciation from your seniors was the last thing you'll see. My wife felt difference of night and day here and now she jokes she can never go back and work for bank again after this. With wife's working life sorted, me with my last term on, everything was going well and then we started with our next target which was to get one of our parent over here, as our son was never left alone in a daycare/play school and we were not ready I guess at that time. My father was still working and my wife's father was retired, so he could come and help us and also that would have saved a ton of money which could have been used to buy other things, or used towards the down payment for a property. So, we thought lets get everyone's visa process done right away, so that when someone decides to come, then all they would need is purchasing the air tickets. Today is Nov 16th 2023, sheesh, its been over 2 months since I started this thread and there is so slow progress. So, this is the current process to apply for a Visitor Visa. I won't be attaching any screenshots, as I feel the process is pretty straight forward, but first I will list out the documents which you would need to file for visitor visa to Canada. The documents you should have with you when applying for a Visitor Visa. Your Passport. NOC from your employer (Not mandatory but super helpful). Last three years ITR ( Only the acknowledgement page is fine, the whole report is not needed). Last 3 months salary/savings account statement (6 if you need to show even more details). Bank balance certificate from Banks. Networth certificate from CA. Last 3 form 16s from your employer. 3 latest salary slips. If you own a business then most of the docs are same, you'll need to provide business registration proofs and your latest balance sheets will do. Property valuation report if you own one. If you're being sponsored by someone in Canada, then their salary/checking account statement, and latest 3 salary slips will be used. Very very important: Once you enter all the details in the visitor visa portal, you'll have a space to upload Letter of Invitation (LOI) and Statement of Purpose(SOP), SOP is uploaded in Additional Client Information section. I firmly believe that SOP and LOI help you represent your case in a better way and helps you to reduce your chances of application getting rejected. If your English ( mine isn't perfect either but does the job) isn't good then ask your kid or a friend or someone to write the SOP/LOI for you as with these documents ready and SOP/LOI in your hand, you won't need to hire any consultant at all. Almost 99% of the time, the refusal letters from IRCC mention the following reason, a) You don't have the financial means to support your stay in Canada. b) You won't leave Canada at the end of your stay. Your SOP should have the following details: I like to write them in a paragraph form, please don't use cheesy lines, or some English sayings or something idiotic, keep it simple, short and try to wrap it up in 1 or 2 page, don't write unnecessary things. Start with an introduction about you (and your spouse/travelling partner...if any), tell them where you reside, how old are you, things like that, like how we introduce ourselves in an interview. Then write about the person who is in Canada and how he/she is related to you and when and why you want to visit them. Then talk about your finances, how you're going to finance your stay, talk about your liquid assets more and if you're being sponsored by the person living in Canada, then talk about his salary, where he works etc. After that you'll move to a new paragraph stating what places you'll see in Canada if your stay is approved, don't use vague terms like "visit beautiful places in Canada". Canada is vast and so you should mention places which are tourist spots in the city you're visiting or the places in the nearby provinces. This will show that you've done your homework and have a rough itinerary in mind. Then tell them that after you have met your loved ones and have seen the places you wish to visit you'll return back to India or your home country. Talk about your ties, such as the property you own, or the job you have to join back once the leaves are over, your kids/parents back home, your extended family, you can even attach pics at the end of your SOP. Then end your SOP with a happy note like, "I/We hope the Canadian High Commission approves my visa application and I/we get to meet my/our XYZ. Thank you for reading. Regards, ABC" Steps to create account on new visitor visa portal: 1. You need to get an invitation code first, open this 2. Then go on to this 3. Then you'll start your application, just be calm and read everything, you'll not screw up and will easily ace it. Side Note: Its easy stuff if you'll read carefully, otherwise if you're confused but are a member of this forum, DM me, I'll help you and will charge a very nominal fee. Thank you. Another important note: Canada is part of Five Eyes (I guess that what's its called), the other four countries are US, NZ, UK, AUS. So, if your visa got refused in these countries or even somewhere else then be truthful and disclose it right away, because if you don't do so and then they find it out, it will leave a really bad impression, it can lead to refusal of visa or in some worst cases, being banned for a certain number of years. So, don't lie! Its raining visas Y'all: We applied the visas and got rejection in one application (re-applied again and next time it was successful), everyone who was thinking of coming here had visitor visa in their hand. But, then nobody came. You know, how sometimes we are like crazy after a thing and once you have it, it feels like it was nothing, and the euphoria dies. Well, this is how it went with our family, first everyone was on our back with their applications but once everyone got it, nobody showed willingness to come here. It was clear that our son is going to a daycare. Finding a daycare: You might be elder than me or younger than me, still I will share my parenting advice with you guys. There was a daycare just three houses away from where I live, I talked to them last, first I checked other daycares near me, my aim was to find the best one within the radius of 5 KMs. So, I went to 4 daycares in total and here is my takeaway on them: It is super expensive, I didn't know about Child Care Benefit (CCB) which comes through Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA), so CCB can be applied if you have a kid even if you're on temporary permit such as student visa or work visa, but as I didn't know, I paid out of pocket. Daycares at least here in Surrey area ranged from $600-1100 per month. Please ask questions, even if it sounds super stupid because you're going to leave your child for hours and if you don't feel comfortable then how you will? Ask how many people will manage, will the owner of the business do it alone or has some help? Daycare and Play school are different here, so at Daycare, your kid is free, he just plays throughout the day but at the Play school they are taught to read/write a little bit, the aim is to make them write their name at least once they are school going age. Play school and daycare can operate at the same building and play school doesn't happen every day, so if your kid is going to daycare daily, he may be only attending play school twice or thrice a week as thats how long they teach in a week, its not every day. As I mentioned earlier, I checked four daycares and the one where my son went wasn't my first choice but now I am glad it was as closer to home, we took our own sweet time to adjust him to new reality and overall it was great. He didn't went to my first choice because that day care was full and they were not taking in anymore kids. I am not mentioning the address of the daycare where my son went because it might move by the time this thread goes live. Daycare was expensive for sure, I was paying $800 per month in the start, but it was a boon because my son was now more confident amongst other kids, he communicated and was learning English, as I still prefer Hindi when we are home. And now he is always waiting for me to drop him at daycare so that he can just stay with other kids and play as much as he can. What about school? : In Canada, your schooling starts at the age of 5, so the year in which your kid is turning 5 he'll need to enroll in school. The schools start their term in the month of September and as the schools are public, education is free and they take kids based on the residential address. You need to register your kid in the month of Jan-Mar of the school year and that will ensure their seat in Sep. I have no idea about private schooling, nor I will write more on this topic now as my son is 4 years old. August 2022, and Flag polling: In the month of August, I completed my studies and got my "Official Transcripts" and "Letter of Completion" from college. Only these two documents are needed from your end to apply for Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). You have to apply online using your GCKey login but as I was living in Surrey which is close to US border, I decided to Flagpole, and to make sure not to get stuck in a crowd, I decided to go early in the morning at around 5 AM as the border office is open 24 hours. So, I got up really early and went to Peace Arch/Douglas border. Those of you who know about this place must have noticed that there is this point when you can make U-turn and not get into the US and just drive back to Canada, I did exactly the same. The Canadian Border Officer stopped me and I told him what I was doing, then he asked for my passport and here I realized my mistake, instead of my own passport, I brought my kid's. I apologized told him I'll be back in half an hour and that's what I did. I returned again, took the same U-turn and this time I was asked to go into the building with all my documents and wait, it was around 5:45 AM, they were changing shifts and so I had to wait for new staff to clock in. New staff came and asked me to give them all of my documents and I waited and my heart was racing. Why, you ask? Because I was working for Amazon and being a student there were instances where I crossed the 20 hour threshold and I was worried what if they see my timings and reject my application. They took almost 45-50 mins and then called me and asked me to pay the fees and printed the new work permit. YES!!!!! August 24, 2025 was the new expiry date and that is how long I had to make it in this country. Lets find a job now. Back on Indeed: I had already started applying for jobs in the start of August but after getting work permit I was applying everywhere. The goal is to find a NOC B/ TEER 3 or higher job. NOC or TEER are job classification level implemented by the Canadian Govt, in order to make your Canadian Experience count, your job should be at least NOC B or TEER 3 level. NOC is not being used anymore and its TEER system nowadays. So, I could work full time for Amazon as a delivery driver, earn decent money but it won't count as experience towards the residency which was the ultimate goal. So, I kept working and kept applying. First fulltime job offer and disaster: In the month of August itself, I got my first break. There is this firm called Spring Financial, they are based in Vancouver and offered me a position, I don't really remember the position but checked that it would count towards the Canadian Experience. So, everything went well, interview and everything and I deposited my documents and even my profile was set in their HR system. They asked me when can I start, it would be either August 29th or September 15th (don't remember Sep date for sure). My son had started daycare on Aug 17, 2022 and we were taking it slow with him, so I informed the HR at Spring Financial and told them I will join later on. I gave my notice to CCL where I was working as a driver and stopped applying on Indeed as I had got the job and was happy. So, on a Friday afternoon in September right before the Monday I was supposed to join the new position I got call from Spring Financial that their finances are not looking great and they have to take away job offers from everyone. I was sad/angry/devastated, I can go on and on with words describing my emotional state but all I said on the phone was OK. The guy on the phone said "if they offer new position in the future I will be on top of their list!", like really!? after all this has been said and done, I will still try to have a future at this company!? I hope this company dies and all the people go to hell. After this I shared the sad news with my wife and was back on the laptop, applying for jobs. Also, reached out to CCL where I was working and asked them to ignore my notice and keep on providing me shifts. Awful people at work again: So, CCL was wrapping up its business in Burnaby and were moving to Vancouver Island, and Sep 25th was supposed to be the last day of operation. I was still looking for job and a guy reached out to me from Jiffy Lube. Jiffy lube is a franchise operation, they perform basic maintenance like oil change, brake fluid change, transmission fluid change etc. They sell their franchise to businesses and so it is privately owned. I had applied there at one location and so this guy asked me to come in for an interview. I reached on time and met the supervisor, told him how crazy I was about cars and I will make sure that I will do my best here. He gave me the first bad news that I will be paid only $17/hr and it will increase based on my "performance" and I will be working 6 days a week. This salary was even less than what I was being paid at CCL but I needed the position in order to gain the experience (as every single day mattered to me) for residency and I was so happy, my happiness knew no bounds as I was going to be working on cars and being paid. The lower pay was really not affecting me or my spirits at all. Even with my family being here we managed on my 20 hour/week schedule, we can definitely make it work with this one, I said to myself. But, this happiness was very short lived and let me tell you why: Till this moment in Canada, I have received some sort of documentation but here even after 3 days there was no documentation whatsoever provided. I told them that I will need a job acceptance letter from them stating job duties and my position as this would be required to extend my wife's and son's stay, because till now it was until the expiry date of study visa. Although now I think and I might be right or wrong, but I could have applied on the basis of PGWP also. Have to look into that. I informed the supervisor, how weird it is that I was given no documentation whatsoever and why it is needed, he instead of helping me pointed towards the Area Manager, this guy gave me a whole speech and what I understood was this that they don't hand out any paper whatsoever because people use that to apply for residency and what not and the guys never show up at work, I told him that's not possible as they wouldn't be receiving any salary but anyways I won't do this and explained to him again how important the letter is as I have to extend my wife's and kid's stay. This guy then pointed me towards the owner of the business, again I went through all the details and he said yes and asked me to send him an email with all the details I did. I didn't send him anything. I was thinking I will learn so much here but turns out the major part was oil change and it was expensive, we used to go through a checklist and used to inform the customer about our findings and yes it was helpful but it was expensive. For example a simple cabin air filter replacement can cost you anywhere between $65-100 at Jiffy lube! The supervisor was pressuring me to make the sales of such things as there was huge margin but I am way too honest and it was not possible for me to trick someone in such ways. I tried few times but I wasn't comfortable and so gave up. Overall, I wasn't really learning actual working on cars, just the regular maintenance stuff and its just 2/3 days of observing this is enough. One fine day, my son got sick and I called in sick to work as I had to take care of him, I called my supervisor and told him the real reason and he instead of understanding gave me this huge disappointment, because he acted and talked like as if this is leaving really bad impression of me on everyone and they have gone to end of this earth to fix a meeting with the owner to get me that letter (which I still didn't have and I rightly deserved!). That was my tipping point but I was cornered as I had no options at this stage but I had made up my mind that I will start applying for jobs again. This business was owned by an Indian, either he settled here or his parents bought him up and raised him here. He was an old guy now but I was so disappointed by their overall behavior. No wonder sometimes we impress so many people and sometimes leave a bad taste. THE CALL: So, it was a Thursday when my son got sick and I didn't go to Jiffy Lube and had that disappointing call with the supervisor. Right after the call ended and I made up my mind to apply for jobs again, I got call from my current boss (depending when I finish this thread ) asking if I still was interested in the position. Remember, how I used to apply non-stop on every single position on indeed, turns out I had applied at Tforce Logistics for a Supervisor position and my boss was finally reaching out to the applicants. He took my interview over the phone and was impressed and asked me to come in for a final interview. Monday was off for me at Jiffy Lube and he said Monday is fine and we met, I gave another interview and he told me the hours of the job, my role and how many applicants I am competing with (we were 3 people at the end competing for this position). I was working at Jiffy Lubes and got the call from Tforce, they were offering me the position and asked me when can I join and what documents I need to send. I enquired about the salary and it was $50,000 a year. Not much compared to IT people but from $17/hr to this was a huge jump for me and I said yes. I told my supervisor about the developments and he said I can quit right now if I wanted to, no need to give in the notice period, no wonder they don't want one as everyone just wants to leave that awful place but I stayed there till the evening and next day I was at Tforce office with all my documents. I joined Jiffy Lube on Oct 3 and on Oct 21, 2022 I started working as Evening Supervisor at Tforce. These people at Jiffy Lube were so bad that they never gave me the hard copy of my last paycheck, they never gave me my T4 which I needed for tax filing. Awful, awful people. END OF THE YEAR, ANOTHER FLAGPOLLING AND ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO USA!!! : I started my role at Tforce and in order to get my wife's and son's visa/permit extended I needed two things, a letter from my employer stating my position, duties etc. and 3 pay slips. So, in Dec of 2022 I had everything with me and again on a Cold Canadian morning we were heading to US-Canadian Border again (haha!). Remember how I told earlier that there was a place to take a U-turn, well on that day it wasn't the case and we had no other choice but to enter towards the USA. The US side border officer stopped us, I explained everything but this one was a very stern person and he was like, "you have entered US illegally, there is nothing called flagpolling". He just wouldn't listen and my and my wife's hearts started racing, he pasted an orange paper on the car's windshield and asked us to head towards the building on US side. He updated the guys over the radio about our arrival. When we went inside there were two other officer, they were in their 50s I guess and asked what's the issue? We told them everything and they understood and said well now we can't return you as the officer has created a case, he needs to come in, do his report and then he can let you guys go. What a nightmare! Well we waited for sometime and then finally "that" officer came. He was now a little bit calm and said this isn't the way, there is no such thing as flagpolling, he took our passports, ran it through their system, took our fingerprints and finally gave us a single page form. I asked him that in the future we'll apply for US visa for sure, will today's incident create an issue for us? He said no, what this form basically means is that you came to US but you didn't had the visa so we returned you back where you came from. I still have that form with us and when I applied for my PR, we mentioned this incident to IRCC but seems what the officer was saying was true, as there was no issue whatsoever regarding this at all. This officer then came out with us, made sure we sat in our car and went on the road towards Canada. So, this is how, I along with my family went to USA unknowingly. On the Canadian side, it was a smooth sailing. We explained to officer what had occurred since the morning and why we are here, also showed him the form the US officer gave us, he asked us to go inside, they took my documents and my wife's and son's permit and again in 40-50 mins, we had our permits extended to Aug 2025. After getting the permits, I had to again update British Columbia Health department about our permit extensions, they made new Health Cards for us and sent them to us via email. Our SINs were extended and for once everything was taken care off and we can relax and wait out. Looking forward to 2023 now. Side Note: Flag polling is great as it saves you all this time and hassle but if everything is going okay, you have finished your studies and can work full-time then just apply for the work permit through the regular route. I know the wait can be longer but it will save you all this headache, what if something worse had happened on US side and it would have costed money and more time to get that rectified. So, overall I feel like going through regular channel is more suitable instead going on this adventure ride. The new year started, I had big hopes from this year as maybe just maybe IRCC will finally approve or disapprove my wife and kid's application, I will be done with my studies and earn a decent income, will start gathering experience for PR process but the biggest point of happiness is I will have my son and wife here and no more phones and no more "Re-connecting..." error on WhatsApp. Hurray!Now, I mentioned in my earlier posts that Victoria has a housing crisis and it still is, and finally in Feb/March of 2022 IRCC approved our application and it was going to happen, I would see my wife and kid, but that gave rise to a new problem, where to stay? I again checked the usual websites, applied and things were as bleak as they were for me when I switched rooms. Most of the places were out of my budget and if something felt within the budget, then they were allowing only two people, not 3 even if one of them was a kid. So, I tried for few weeks and as I was running out of time, I finally decided to move to lower mainland, as there were more job opportunities, rent was less compared to Victoria and more Indian restaurants/grocery stores. So, I asked my friend CJ to see the listings I sent him and he finalized one, where I still stay (or I moved, depending on the time when this thread goes live). So, it was a 2 bedroom basement suite, which included hydro, electricity and Wi-Fi. The rent was $1250 for start and now at the time of writing it is $1400.Off-topic: In tiktok/Instagram reels I have seen how people show the "basement" in Canada, it is like this under the ground place with no ventilation and what not, which is true on the Ontario side, but at least the places I have seen in BC are decent. Most of the basement suites including mine are semi-underground i.e. the area below the window is in the ground but that doesn't mean its not ventilated, my place has big windows in every room and it is more than enough space for 3 people leaving together.Back to the story now, this place had two benefits, there was a children's park near-by and a day care just 3 houses away!With housing solved, I needed few more items to make this place a home for family. My landlord gave me a 2 seater reclining sofa and a round table, which we are still using and I decided the following was needed:I had CJ living in Delta (Another city, adjacent to Surrey) and a friend living in North Vancouver (Where I lived for around 2 weeks before my wife and son came here), so all these things I could get later. The pressing matter for me was to get a Car and that's what I did first. Mind you, at this time I was still living in Victoria, it was March of 2022 and I decided to get my first car in Canada. I won't get into the details, you can read about it here (My TWO used Hyundai Santa Fe V6 AWDs | Ownership Review) and I am updating the ownership thread regularly (incase you're curious). So, I came to Vancouver through the ferry and then drove the car back to Victoria, loaded all my luggage and dropped them at new place. Then I was off to Vancouver to my friends and these are friends I know from College days, so it was like boys hostel again but now more civilized. During this time, I spent extensive time on FB Marketplace and bought an almost new 55" Samsung TV($450), a TV stand( $50), a shoe rack ($10). I got all the items such as almirah, drawer, small plastic boxes, towels, chair, stool etc from IKEA. I ordered king size frame and mattress from Walmart and Amazon and with this my place was ready to welcome my family.This was the day when I was re-united with my wife and kid, what was supposed to be a 3/4 months wait tops turned into more than a year of longing. As I type this I am still hoping to re-unite with my and my wife's family, its been close to 3 years now! I won't call myself a tall person, but by seeing them only on the phone and seeing things/people here in Canada, I found them pretty tiny the first time I saw them in person. I took my son in my arms, he came to me but I could see he has forgotten me a little bit, then we proceeded to the parking lot with all the luggage they brought with them and my wife was just walking and when I told her this is our car (our Blue Santa Fe), I can't explain with words but she had this look on her face as if she saw a behemoth (she was used to seeing our Honda City). Then came the hardest part, instead of talking and feeling happy, my son wanted to get into the driver seat with me, and this was my and my family's mistake. This kid had been either on the drivers seat or the co-drivers seat till this date and being a 2.5 years old, it wasn't easy for him to digest the fact and that day and the few weeks after that, it took him time to get used to car seats and sitting in the back.This is him(and look at his face in the IRVM) with my father in our 2015 Thar (we no longer have this one with us) back in Aug of 2021, so you can understand what I am talking about.Now, as I was already familiar with the steps to be followed for a new immigrant, we did the same and I got all the things done for my wife like getting the SIN number, a new phone number, including them in the medical coverage, new bank account and BC Id (which can be used as a valid ID instead of a passport). As for my son, as he is less than 5 years old, he was only included in the MSP, we can't get BC ID or anything else for him at this moment and that is fine. I couldn't recall if anyone has asked for some sort of Identification for him to this date.My wife was earning since 2015, so being at home doing nothing is not possible for her, as soon as we got the SIN for her, we updated her resume and started with Indeed. Believe it or not, I was applying jobs on indeed for almost 2-4 hours everyday and may be I had applied close to 500 or even 1000, I don't know, wherever we felt it was doable, we applied and money wasn't a concern at this moment as the priority was to earn right away without wasting any time.We applied to banks too because of our banking background but they hire people with PR/Citizen status I guess as they never responded to our applications. I have only heard twice (since 2021) back from them otherwise it was all in vain.When you apply for grocery store jobs, keep the resume super simple, emphasize on customer service, don't provide all the details of your previous accomplishment as that will appear to the recruiters as you're just trying to find in something for a short term before you find your actual job.Back to our story, we gave three interviews in total and finally started with Thirst First Refreshments (TFR), where my wife still works. We said yes to the first person who said yes to us, TFR approached my wife first and TFR was one of the best decision we took because timing, pay for starting over there and the work culture suited her. She started working for them on May 16, 2022. So, in less than a month my wife was on a full-time job, but this took an effort by us and that's why we had this great start, otherwise if we had been lazy with our approach, it could have taken a month or two more to find a job. Guys! consistency matters!I would also like to shed some more light on the work culture in Canada. At my wife's workplace, meeting happen often and the employee who performs is given due credit. For the first time my wife was praised so much by her supervisors and even by the director and owner of the company. Back home in India, in our Nationalized banks, no matter how much effort you gave, it was not enough and appreciation from your seniors was the last thing you'll see. My wife felt difference of night and day here and now she jokes she can never go back and work for bank again after this.With wife's working life sorted, me with my last term on, everything was going well and then we started with our next target which was to get one of our parent over here, as our son was never left alone in a daycare/play school and we were not ready I guess at that time. My father was still working and my wife's father was retired, so he could come and help us and also that would have saved a ton of money which could have been used to buy other things, or used towards the down payment for a property. So, we thought lets get everyone's visa process done right away, so that when someone decides to come, then all they would need is purchasing the air tickets.Today is Nov 16th 2023, sheesh, its been over 2 months since I started this thread and there is so slow progress. So, this is the current process to apply for a Visitor Visa. I won't be attaching any screenshots, as I feel the process is pretty straight forward, but first I will list out the documents which you would need to file for visitor visa to Canada.The documents you should have with you when applying for a Visitor Visa.Once you enter all the details in the visitor visa portal, you'll have a space to upload Letter of Invitation (LOI) and Statement of Purpose(SOP), SOP is uploaded in Additional Client Information section. I firmly believe that SOP and LOI help you represent your case in a better way and helps you to reduce your chances of application getting rejected. If your English ( mine isn't perfect either but does the job) isn't good then ask your kid or a friend or someone to write the SOP/LOI for you as with these documents ready and SOP/LOI in your hand, you won't need to hire any consultant at all. Almost 99% of the time, the refusal letters from IRCC mention the following reason, a) You don't have the financial means to support your stay in Canada. b) You won't leave Canada at the end of your stay.I like to write them in a paragraph form, please don't use cheesy lines, or some English sayings or something idiotic, keep it simple, short and try to wrap it up in 1 or 2 page, don't write unnecessary things. Start with an introduction about you (and your spouse/travelling partner...if any), tell them where you reside, how old are you, things like that, like how we introduce ourselves in an interview. Then write about the person who is in Canada and how he/she is related to you and when and why you want to visit them. Then talk about your finances, how you're going to finance your stay, talk about your liquid assets more and if you're being sponsored by the person living in Canada, then talk about his salary, where he works etc.After that you'll move to a new paragraph stating what places you'll see in Canada if your stay is approved, don't use vague terms like "visit beautiful places in Canada". Canada is vast and so you should mention places which are tourist spots in the city you're visiting or the places in the nearby provinces. This will show that you've done your homework and have a rough itinerary in mind. Then tell them that after you have met your loved ones and have seen the places you wish to visit you'll return back to India or your home country. Talk about your ties, such as the property you own, or the job you have to join back once the leaves are over, your kids/parents back home, your extended family, you can even attach pics at the end of your SOP.Then end your SOP with a happy note like, "I/We hope the Canadian High Commission approves my visa application and I/we get to meet my/our XYZ. Thank you for reading. Regards, ABC"1. You need to get an invitation code first, open this link and you'll get an invitation code on the email you mentioned.2. Then go on to this Sign up page and make the account with the invitation code you just got.3. Then you'll start your application, just be calm and read everything, you'll not screw up and will easily ace it.Its easy stuff if you'll read carefully, otherwise if you're confused but are a member of this forum, DM me, I'll help you and will charge a very nominal fee. Thank you.Canada is part of Five Eyes (I guess that what's its called), the other four countries are US, NZ, UK, AUS. So, if your visa got refused in these countries or even somewhere else then be truthful and disclose it right away, because if you don't do so and then they find it out, it will leave a really bad impression, it can lead to refusal of visa or in some worst cases, being banned for a certain number of years. So, don't lie!We applied the visas and got rejection in one application (re-applied again and next time it was successful), everyone who was thinking of coming here had visitor visa in their hand. But, then nobody came. You know, how sometimes we are like crazy after a thing and once you have it, it feels like it was nothing, and the euphoria dies. Well, this is how it went with our family, first everyone was on our back with their applications but once everyone got it, nobody showed willingness to come here. It was clear that our son is going to a daycare.You might be elder than me or younger than me, still I will share my parenting advice with you guys. There was a daycare just three houses away from where I live, I talked to them last, first I checked other daycares near me, my aim was to find the best one within the radius of 5 KMs. So, I went to 4 daycares in total and here is my takeaway on them:As I mentioned earlier, I checked four daycares and the one where my son went wasn't my first choice but now I am glad it was as closer to home, we took our own sweet time to adjust him to new reality and overall it was great. He didn't went to my first choice because that day care was full and they were not taking in anymore kids. I am not mentioning the address of the daycare where my son went because it might move by the time this thread goes live.Daycare was expensive for sure, I was paying $800 per month in the start, but it was a boon because my son was now more confident amongst other kids, he communicated and was learning English, as I still prefer Hindi when we are home. And now he is always waiting for me to drop him at daycare so that he can just stay with other kids and play as much as he can.In Canada, your schooling starts at the age of 5, so the year in which your kid is turning 5 he'll need to enroll in school. The schools start their term in the month of September and as the schools are public, education is free and they take kids based on the residential address. You need to register your kid in the month of Jan-Mar of the school year and that will ensure their seat in Sep. I have no idea about private schooling, nor I will write more on this topic now as my son is 4 years old.In the month of August, I completed my studies and got my "Official Transcripts" and "Letter of Completion" from college. Only these two documents are needed from your end to apply for Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). You have to apply online using your GCKey login but as I was living in Surrey which is close to US border, I decided to Flagpole, and to make sure not to get stuck in a crowd, I decided to go early in the morning at around 5 AM as the border office is open 24 hours. So, I got up really early and went to Peace Arch/Douglas border. Those of you who know about this place must have noticed that there is this point when you can make U-turn and not get into the US and just drive back to Canada, I did exactly the same. The Canadian Border Officer stopped me and I told him what I was doing, then he asked for my passport and here I realized my mistake, instead of my own passport, I brought my kid's. I apologized told him I'll be back in half an hour and that's what I did. I returned again, took the same U-turn and this time I was asked to go into the building with all my documents and wait, it was around 5:45 AM, they were changing shifts and so I had to wait for new staff to clock in. New staff came and asked me to give them all of my documents and I waited and my heart was racing. Why, you ask? Because I was working for Amazon and being a student there were instances where I crossed the 20 hour threshold and I was worried what if they see my timings and reject my application. They took almost 45-50 mins and then called me and asked me to pay the fees and printed the new work permit. YES!!!!! August 24, 2025 was the new expiry date and that is how long I had to make it in this country. Lets find a job now.I had already started applying for jobs in the start of August but after getting work permit I was applying everywhere. The goal is to find a NOC B/ TEER 3 or higher job. NOC or TEER are job classification level implemented by the Canadian Govt, in order to make your Canadian Experience count, your job should be at least NOC B or TEER 3 level. NOC is not being used anymore and its TEER system nowadays. So, I could work full time for Amazon as a delivery driver, earn decent money but it won't count as experience towards the residency which was the ultimate goal. So, I kept working and kept applying.In the month of August itself, I got my first break. There is this firm called Spring Financial, they are based in Vancouver and offered me a position, I don't really remember the position but checked that it would count towards the Canadian Experience. So, everything went well, interview and everything and I deposited my documents and even my profile was set in their HR system. They asked me when can I start, it would be either August 29th or September 15th (don't remember Sep date for sure). My son had started daycare on Aug 17, 2022 and we were taking it slow with him, so I informed the HR at Spring Financial and told them I will join later on. I gave my notice to CCL where I was working as a driver and stopped applying on Indeed as I had got the job and was happy. So, on a Friday afternoon in September right before the Monday I was supposed to join the new position I got call from Spring Financial that their finances are not looking great and they have to take away job offers from everyone. I was sad/angry/devastated, I can go on and on with words describing my emotional state but all I said on the phone was OK. The guy on the phone said "if they offer new position in the future I will be on top of their list!", like really!? after all this has been said and done, I will still try to have a future at this company!? I hope this company dies and all the people go to hell. After this I shared the sad news with my wife and was back on the laptop, applying for jobs. Also, reached out to CCL where I was working and asked them to ignore my notice and keep on providing me shifts.So, CCL was wrapping up its business in Burnaby and were moving to Vancouver Island, and Sep 25th was supposed to be the last day of operation. I was still looking for job and a guy reached out to me from Jiffy Lube. Jiffy lube is a franchise operation, they perform basic maintenance like oil change, brake fluid change, transmission fluid change etc. They sell their franchise to businesses and so it is privately owned. I had applied there at one location and so this guy asked me to come in for an interview. I reached on time and met the supervisor, told him how crazy I was about cars and I will make sure that I will do my best here. He gave me the first bad news that I will be paid only $17/hr and it will increase based on my "performance" and I will be working 6 days a week. This salary was even less than what I was being paid at CCL but I needed the position in order to gain the experience (as every single day mattered to me) for residency and I was so happy, my happiness knew no bounds as I was going to be working on cars and being paid. The lower pay was really not affecting me or my spirits at all. Even with my family being here we managed on my 20 hour/week schedule, we can definitely make it work with this one, I said to myself. But, this happiness was very short lived and let me tell you why:So, it was a Thursday when my son got sick and I didn't go to Jiffy Lube and had that disappointing call with the supervisor. Right after the call ended and I made up my mind to apply for jobs again, I got call from my current boss (depending when I finish this thread) asking if I still was interested in the position. Remember, how I used to apply non-stop on every single position on indeed, turns out I had applied at Tforce Logistics for a Supervisor position and my boss was finally reaching out to the applicants. He took my interview over the phone and was impressed and asked me to come in for a final interview. Monday was off for me at Jiffy Lube and he said Monday is fine and we met, I gave another interview and he told me the hours of the job, my role and how many applicants I am competing with (we were 3 people at the end competing for this position). I was working at Jiffy Lubes and got the call from Tforce, they were offering me the position and asked me when can I join and what documents I need to send. I enquired about the salary and it was $50,000 a year. Not much compared to IT people but from $17/hr to this was a huge jump for me and I said yes. I told my supervisor about the developments and he said I can quit right now if I wanted to, no need to give in the notice period, no wonder they don't want one as everyone just wants to leave that awful place but I stayed there till the evening and next day I was at Tforce office with all my documents. I joined Jiffy Lube on Oct 3 and on Oct 21, 2022 I started working as Evening Supervisor at Tforce. These people at Jiffy Lube were so bad that they never gave me the hard copy of my last paycheck, they never gave me my T4 which I needed for tax filing. Awful, awful people.I started my role at Tforce and in order to get my wife's and son's visa/permit extended I needed two things, a letter from my employer stating my position, duties etc. and 3 pay slips. So, in Dec of 2022 I had everything with me and again on a Cold Canadian morning we were heading to US-Canadian Border again (haha!). Remember how I told earlier that there was a place to take a U-turn, well on that day it wasn't the case and we had no other choice but to enter towards the USA. The US side border officer stopped us, I explained everything but this one was a very stern person and he was like, "you have entered US illegally, there is nothing called flagpolling". He just wouldn't listen and my and my wife's hearts started racing, he pasted an orange paper on the car's windshield and asked us to head towards the building on US side. He updated the guys over the radio about our arrival. When we went inside there were two other officer, they were in their 50s I guess and asked what's the issue? We told them everything and they understood and said well now we can't return you as the officer has created a case, he needs to come in, do his report and then he can let you guys go. What a nightmare! Well we waited for sometime and then finally "that" officer came. He was now a little bit calm and said this isn't the way, there is no such thing as flagpolling, he took our passports, ran it through their system, took our fingerprints and finally gave us a single page form. I asked him that in the future we'll apply for US visa for sure, will today's incident create an issue for us? He said no, what this form basically means is that you came to US but you didn't had the visa so we returned you back where you came from. I still have that form with us and when I applied for my PR, we mentioned this incident to IRCC but seems what the officer was saying was true, as there was no issue whatsoever regarding this at all. This officer then came out with us, made sure we sat in our car and went on the road towards Canada. So, this is how, I along with my family went to USA unknowingly.On the Canadian side, it was a smooth sailing. We explained to officer what had occurred since the morning and why we are here, also showed him the form the US officer gave us, he asked us to go inside, they took my documents and my wife's and son's permit and again in 40-50 mins, we had our permits extended to Aug 2025.After getting the permits, I had to again update British Columbia Health department about our permit extensions, they made new Health Cards for us and sent them to us via email. Our SINs were extended and for once everything was taken care off and we can relax and wait out. Looking forward to 2023 now.Flag polling is great as it saves you all this time and hassle but if everything is going okay, you have finished your studies and can work full-time then just apply for the work permit through the regular route. I know the wait can be longer but it will save you all this headache, what if something worse had happened on US side and it would have costed money and more time to get that rectified. So, overall I feel like going through regular channel is more suitable instead going on this adventure ride. Last edited by Sangwan : 13th January 2024 at 00:47 . Ponybha23 Newbie Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Chennai Posts: 9 Thanked: 53 Times Skoda Kushaq damaged in Chennai floods - Dealer sends repair estimate of ~16.5 lakhs This is regarding a relatively painful experience we have undergone due to the recent floods (Dec 4-6) in Chennai. While our house is not particularly in a low lying area, the unprecedented floods meant we had water to a level we have never had in the 38 years we have lived in our house. Three of our cars were parked inside the house, a sedan (Mercedes CLA), two SUVs (Jeep Compass and Skoda Kushaq). A photo of the water level in which the cars were submerged is enclosed. The level might have increased, at most, by another 2" since the photo was take late evening of the heaviest rainfall day and the rain continued till night before stopping completely. Given that water level was reasonably ok, we figured there wouldn't be much issues with the car (earlier 2015 floods also had water logging albeit to a slightly lesser extent of say, 4"). Once all the water receded, the CLA and Compass started without a hiccup. The Kushaq was a different story. Dead as brick when cranked. We managed to put the car in neutral and organised a tow vehicle to the workshop (that process itself was mind-numbing and was executed at 1 am finally, a story for another day!). After the usual insurance paperwork hassle, came the shocker ! The dealer quoted a repair estimate of ~16.5 lakhs! At first, we thought we misheard him but couldn't believe our eyes/ears when we reconfirmed (including an official emailed estimate). They said even the gearbox (~6.5 lakhs) needs to be replaced. A gearbox is a sealed case containing gear oil, if I am not wrong. How can water at atmospheric pressure enter and cause a full replacement? Cannot fathom my head around it. Mind you, the other two cars are working very well including a low slung sedan. Either the dealer wants to make a quick buck from this situation or Skoda has so poorly designed the car for Indian market that even a slight bit dampness in the underbody renders the car unusable. We have completely lost hope in Skoda products. We had a high opinion of it since we had the Skoda Yeti in 2015 floods and it didn't even break a sweat! In fact, it was one the major deciding factors in going for the Skoda product. We were like, its ok to live with a few days of frustration due to the lackadaisical customer service when the rest of the year, the car puts a smile on your face. Now its all gone. Will never buy a Skoda again! On another note, I had a question regarding total loss vehicles. Is it possible to repair them outside Skoda dealership and get it re-insured. I heard there is some re-certification process. Any feedback on this would help, thanks! Folks,This is regarding a relatively painful experience we have undergone due to the recent floods (Dec 4-6) in Chennai.While our house is not particularly in a low lying area, the unprecedented floods meant we had water to a level we have never had in the 38 years we have lived in our house. Three of our cars were parked inside the house, a sedan (Mercedes CLA), two SUVs (Jeep Compass and Skoda Kushaq). A photo of the water level in which the cars were submerged is enclosed. The level might have increased, at most, by another 2" since the photo was take late evening of the heaviest rainfall day and the rain continued till night before stopping completely.Given that water level was reasonably ok, we figured there wouldn't be much issues with the car (earlier 2015 floods also had water logging albeit to a slightly lesser extent of say, 4"). Once all the water receded, the CLA and Compass started without a hiccup. The Kushaq was a different story. Dead as brick when cranked. We managed to put the car in neutral and organised a tow vehicle to the workshop (that process itself was mind-numbing and was executed at 1 am finally, a story for another day!).After the usual insurance paperwork hassle, came the shockerThe dealer quoted a repair estimate of ~16.5 lakhs! At first, we thought we misheard him but couldn't believe our eyes/ears when we reconfirmed (including an official emailed estimate). They said even the gearbox (~6.5 lakhs) needs to be replaced. A gearbox is a sealed case containing gear oil, if I am not wrong. How can water at atmospheric pressure enter and cause a full replacement? Cannot fathom my head around it. Mind you, the other two cars are working very well including a low slung sedan.Either the dealer wants to make a quick buck from this situation or Skoda has so poorly designed the car for Indian market that even a slight bit dampness in the underbody renders the car unusable. We have completely lost hope in Skoda products. We had a high opinion of it since we had the Skoda Yeti in 2015 floods and it didn't even break a sweat! In fact, it was one the major deciding factors in going for the Skoda product. We were like, its ok to live with a few days of frustration due to the lackadaisical customer service when the rest of the year, the car puts a smile on your face. Now its all gone. Will never buy a Skoda again!On another note, I had a question regarding total loss vehicles. Is it possible to repair them outside Skoda dealership and get it re-insured. I heard there is some re-certification process. Any feedback on this would help, thanks! Attached Thumbnails DocwithFiesta BHPian Join Date: Nov 2022 Location: Chennai Posts: 47 Thanked: 431 Times A quick Kolkata-Puri-Kolkata trip in Vande Bharat and Shatabdi expresses! But, things have been different for me. We moved to Chennai around 20 years back, and during my summer vacations we would go to Kolkata, every year. This left us with no opportunity to visit places like Puri, until last year, when, in October, we decided to make a quick trip to Puri during our short stay in Kolkata. And yeah, we are Bengalis settled in Chennai for about 2 decades. I will keep this short and crisp. The travel: Now, we don't have a car in Kolkata, as we visit Kolkata once a year, for just a week. So, unlike any car enthusiast, we did not go to Puri by car. Although my uncle insisted on taking his Honda BRV i-VTEC, we didn't do that as we wanted our trip to be quick and hassle free. Booked the morning Vande Bharat tickets, opted for 3X2 seats as the price of the 2X2 seats seemed ludicrously high. Vande Bharat experience: We were greeted by a spick and span Vande Bharat express at Howrah station, ready to show us how travelling in a new era train feels like in one of the fastest growing economies in the world! Howrah station The plane like train The train started perfectly on time, was limited to a maximum speed of 130kmph, and reached almost every station before the scheduled time. The 3X2 seats were not uncomfortable and the journey was pretty smooth. Breakfast was served: the regular bread-omelette, tea, cookies and a tasty muffin. The train reaches Puri before lunch time, so lunch is not served by the railways. Tea, oat cookies: Breakfast Travelled by train after more than 10 years, felt good. The train reached Puri perfectly on time. The stay in Puri: Although we stay 300 metres from the sea in Chennai, we don't get to see the sea from our rooms. And for this reason, I desperately wanted a directly sea facing hotel room, where I would get to see the sea even while resting on the bed. After a little search, settled for a hotel named Golden Tree. The room was directly sea facing, and the only thing between me and the sea was a huge piece of soundproof glass panel. Tea with a view Day 1: We reached our hotel at around 1pm, quickly checked in, had lunch, and slept for a good 2 hours. Went to Swargadwar in the evening, using the local Totos(electric auto rickshaws) as mom has age related Osteoarthritis of the knee. They charged Rs. 15 per passenger for a distance of around 500 metres or so. Anyways, just explored the place, had dinner from a Bengali hotel chain named Bhojohori Manna, which was 300 metres from our place of stay. This concluded Day 1. Swargadwar Day 2: Visit to Puri Jagannath temple and Konark Sun temple Our hotel arranged a guide for the Jagannath temple darshan, who told us to be ready by 5:30 am the next day, i.e. on Day 2. The hotel was informed to arrange an auto, which they did. Darshan started at 7 am, and was pretty smooth sailing. We did not face much crowd or queue. The time spent inside the temple premise was about 45 mins to 1 hour. We did not carry our mobile phones with us, hence no pictures. The guide accompanied us all throughout, right from the hotel to the temple, inside the temple, and later back to the hotel as well. We were back at the hotel for breakfast by 9 am and spontaneously decided to visit Konark Sun temple as well, as it was still pretty early in the morning. Sun temple was not in our plan initially. We quickly asked the hotel to arrange a car for Sun temple. Within 45 mins, a Ciaz VDi was ready to take us to Konark. The road to Konark needs very little introduction, it's certainly one of the more scenic roads in the country. We reached Konark by 11 am, and first went into the Sun temple museum- a beautifully constructed place that tells us about the history of the Sun temple and the Jagannath temple as well. They also show a short animated movie where they tell us how and why the Sun temple was constructed and its connection with the Jagannath temple. Inside the museum The museum entry fee is Rs. 50 per head, and is highly recommended. After spending around 2 hours at Konark Sun temple, we left for our hotel in Puri and reached by 3pm, where we had lunch and slept off. While returning from Konark to Puri Also saw Eastern India's only Audi RSQ8 on the way to Konark Spent the evening doing some mandatory Puri shopping. Day 2 ended. Day 3, return to Kolkata: We returned in the early morning Shatabdi express. The travel experience was average, the train was old, the washrooms were not so good etc etc. It was still a Shatabdi express, so cannot complain much. The train did a maximum speed of 130kmph and reached Howrah station around 30 mins late. Breakfast and lunch were served, which were not so bad. Will clarify a few things or doubts that I had while planning for the Puri trip, in the form of question-answers: How to go to the hotel from Puri station? Like any other station in the country, one shall find lot of autos outside Puri station. They usually charge Rs. 150 for a 2.5km ride to the hotels located along Golden beach. How to travel in Puri? One shall find lots and lots of Totos, and can travel on a sharing basis. One can hire an entire Toto as well. Mandatory things to do in Puri? Definitely visit the Jagannath temple and Konark Sun temple. Buy Puri's famous Khaja, for yourself, as well as for your friends and family. How many days to spend in Puri? One and a half days, is the best. If you are from Kolkata and rarely get to visit beaches, an extended stay is definitely recommended. If you are travelling with your elderly parents or grandparents, two and a half days is recommended. This sums up my quick travelogue of our quick trip to Puri. Thanks From my childhood I have been hearing from my parents, especially from my mother, that Puri used to be their go-to destination during their school summer holidays.But, things have been different for me. We moved to Chennai around 20 years back, and during my summer vacations we would go to Kolkata, every year. This left us with no opportunity to visit places like Puri, until last year, when, in October, we decided to make a quick trip to Puri during our short stay in Kolkata.And yeah, we are Bengalis settled in Chennai for about 2 decades.I will keep this short and crisp.Now, we don't have a car in Kolkata, as we visit Kolkata once a year, for just a week. So, unlike any car enthusiast, we did not go to Puri by car. Although my uncle insisted on taking his Honda BRV i-VTEC, we didn't do that as we wanted our trip to be quick and hassle free.Booked the morning Vande Bharat tickets, opted for 3X2 seats as the price of the 2X2 seats seemed ludicrously high.We were greeted by a spick and span Vande Bharat express at Howrah station, ready to show us how travelling in a new era train feels like in one of the fastest growing economies in the world!The train started perfectly on time, was limited to a maximum speed of 130kmph, and reached almost every station before the scheduled time.The 3X2 seats were not uncomfortable and the journey was pretty smooth.Breakfast was served: the regular bread-omelette, tea, cookies and a tasty muffin. The train reaches Puri before lunch time, so lunch is not served by the railways.Travelled by train after more than 10 years, felt good.The train reached Puri perfectly on time.Although we stay 300 metres from the sea in Chennai, we don't get to see the sea from our rooms. And for this reason, I desperately wanted a directly sea facing hotel room, where I would get to see the sea even while resting on the bed. After a little search, settled for a hotel namedThe room was directly sea facing, and the only thing between me and the sea was a huge piece of soundproof glass panel.We reached our hotel at around 1pm, quickly checked in, had lunch, and slept for a good 2 hours. Went toin the evening, using the local Totos(electric auto rickshaws) as mom has age related Osteoarthritis of the knee. They charged Rs. 15 per passenger for a distance of around 500 metres or so. Anyways, just explored the place, had dinner from a Bengali hotel chain named, which was 300 metres from our place of stay. This concluded Day 1.Our hotel arranged a guide for the Jagannath temple darshan, who told us to be ready by 5:30 am the next day, i.e. on Day 2. The hotel was informed to arrange an auto, which they did.Darshan started at 7 am, and was pretty smooth sailing. We did not face much crowd or queue. The time spent inside the temple premise was about 45 mins to 1 hour. We did not carry our mobile phones with us, hence no pictures.The guide accompanied us all throughout, right from the hotel to the temple, inside the temple, and later back to the hotel as well.We were back at the hotel for breakfast by 9 am and spontaneously decided to visitas well, as it was still pretty early in the morning. Sun temple was not in our plan initially.We quickly asked the hotel to arrange a car for Sun temple. Within 45 mins, a Ciaz VDi was ready to take us to Konark.The road to Konark needs very little introduction, it's certainly one of the more scenic roads in the country.We reached Konark by 11 am, and first went into the Sun temple museum- a beautifully constructed place that tells us about the history of the Sun temple and the Jagannath temple as well. They also show a short animated movie where they tell us how and why the Sun temple was constructed and its connection with the Jagannath temple.The museum entry fee is Rs. 50 per head, and is highly recommended.After spending around 2 hours at Konark Sun temple, we left for our hotel in Puri and reached by 3pm, where we had lunch and slept off.Spent the evening doing some mandatory Puri shopping.Day 2 ended.We returned in the early morning Shatabdi express. The travel experience was, the train was old, the washrooms were not so good etc etc. It was still a Shatabdi express, so cannot complain much. The train did a maximum speed of 130kmph and reached Howrah station around 30 mins late.Breakfast and lunch were served, which were not so bad.Like any other station in the country, one shall find lot of autos outside Puri station. They usually charge Rs. 150 for a 2.5km ride to the hotels located along Golden beach.One shall find lots and lots of Totos, and can travel on a sharing basis. One can hire an entire Toto as well.Definitely visit the Jagannath temple and Konark Sun temple. Buy Puri's famous Khaja, for yourself, as well as for your friends and family.One and a half days, is the best.If you are from Kolkata and rarely get to visit beaches, an extended stay is definitely recommended.If you are travelling with your elderly parents or grandparents, two and a half days is recommended.This sums up my quick travelogue of our quick trip to Puri.Thanks Last edited by DocwithFiesta : 13th January 2024 at 14:00 . Getting long software support deals means that smartphones are useful for more years. Google did this to its Pixel 8 after extending the support for a whopping eight years. Samsung might have just taken a page from Google's book for its upcoming Galaxy S24 series. According to the reports, the new flagship's software support will continue until 2031. Samsung Galaxy S24 Software Support Samsung's decision to potentially offer seven years of software support marks a departure from its previous strategy. Traditionally, the company provided five years of support, comprising four major OS upgrades and five years of security updates. According to Android Headlines, the rumored extension aims to secure the Galaxy S24's relevance well into the future. This is great news for users who prioritize long-term usability, especially since it is expected to come with a premium price tag. In Android devices, a seven-year software support is groundbreaking. It surpasses the alphabetical limits of Android versions, ensuring the Galaxy S24 phones stay compatible and receive significant updates beyond what was previously deemed standard. With that being said, this move positions Samsung as a frontrunner in ensuring its devices evolve with the evolving Android platform. Related Article: Walmart Error Listing? Samsung Galaxy S24+ 'Accidentally' Listed on Online Site Ahead of its Launch Focus on Future-Proofing at CES 2024 The Galaxy S24 has become the focal point of excitement within the tech community even before CES 2024 kicks off. Beyond showcasing cutting-edge hardware, the South Korean tech giant is strategically addressing the longevity concerns of smartphone users. With a commitment to seven years of software support, the Galaxy S24 aims to deliver sustained value and relevance, making it an enticing prospect for consumers investing in high-end devices. Distinguishing Between Updates and Upgrades What Samsung does is not confined to routine software updates. It extends to major OS upgrades, promising a seamless transition to future Android versions. While this information awaits official confirmation, the prospect of Galaxy S24 phones running on Android version 21 underscores Samsung's dedication to incorporating the latest technological advancements into its devices. But When Is Samsung Galaxy S24 Coming? The Galaxy S24 phones are scheduled to launch on Jan. 17. While hardware upgrades, including the latest Snapdragon and Exynos processors, are anticipated, Samsung's emphasis on AI technology and an extended software support horizon adds a compelling layer to the upcoming Galaxy experience. In another report by Sam Mobile, Samsung presented a promo video for its official Unpacked event. There, the company presented the AI photo editing feature for Galaxy S24, which worked like photographic magic. Early leaks suggest that Galaxy S24 will have a more than 10% screen touch response speed increase. Meanwhile, other sources claimed that the Ultra version will get four rear camera lenses. Read Also: Non-Samsung Users Can Use Samsung Galaxy S24's AI Call Feature: Report 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Pokemon fans around the world will have to wait a little longer for the release of the highly anticipated animated series "Pokemon Horizons," VGC reports. The Pokemon Company has confirmed an unexpected delay in the series' Netflix release. Originally scheduled to debut on its streaming platform in the United States on Feb. 15, the series will now hit screens on Mar. 7. 'Pokemon Horizons' Coming to Netflix in March The delay was announced over the weekend, and while some fans were surely disappointed, the Pokemon Company assured everyone that the wait would be worthwhile. "We know fans around the world are looking forward to local debuts of the highly-anticipated, new animated Pokemon series - and it's almost here! Get ready for adventure with Liko, Sprigatito, and friends in the world of Pokemon!" they stated. This setback, however, is not the first time "Pokemon Horizons" has been introduced to the public. The series premiered in the United Kingdom in December and is currently available exclusively on BBC iPlayer and CBBC. The decision to postpone the Netflix release in the United States is intended to synchronize the global premiere, ensuring that fans all over the world can embark on this new adventure together. Read Also: Expert Predicts Nintendo's Next Switch as a 'Pro Model,' Costing $100 More Join Liko and Roy "Pokemon Horizons" introduces two protagonists, Liko and Roy, who travel through the captivating Paldea region with their Pokemon partners, Sprigatito and Fuecoco. This setting corresponds to the recently released Pokemon Scarlet and Violet games, giving fans a new perspective on the Pokemon universe. Notably, this is the first mainline animated Pokemon series in over 25 years, following the conclusion of Pikachu and Ash Ketchum's legendary journey. In Other News While fans wait for the animated adventures to premiere on Netflix, the Pokemon community has been abuzz with another piece of news - this time from Scarlet and Violet. Pokemon Scarlet and Violet players recently discovered a new item duplication glitch within The Indigo Disk DLC. The Indigo Disk DLC, which will be released in November 2023, adds depth to the storylines of Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. GameRant reports that the glitch, discovered in the Terarium, is associated with specific Pokemon, abilities, and moves. In a recent video, YouTuber Osirus demonstrated how players can duplicate and steal held items with a well-coordinated effort. The glitch revolves around a Level 100 Ditto with certain characteristics, a large Pokemon holding the desired item, and a third Pokemon with the move Trick. The process takes place in the Terarium's Savannah Rest Area 2, where players can encounter a Smeargle and set the glitch in motion. However, Osirus acknowledges that this glitch may be temporary, as developers typically patch such exploits quickly to ensure fair gameplay. While the item duplication glitch is not as simple as others in the past, it does provide players with a strategic opportunity to amass valuable in-game items. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Nintendo Tops Japan Sales Charts for 19th Straight Year, Switch Leads Best-Selling Games, Hardware Sales 2024 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. GLADE SPRING, Va. Monroe Preston recently stood outside the old segregated school he attended as an elementary student in Glade Spring, recalling a wealth of memories, from the natural light that beamed through the windows of the four-room building to the firm but compassionate voice of his teacher, Meredith Stuart, who instilled a love of learning. Thanks to Preston and other townspeople, the century-old elementary school that served African American children in Washington County is being recognized for its historical value and contributions to the community of Glade Spring during the segregation era. And a group of friends, including Preston, hope to do more to preserve the aging structure. Glade Spring is the recipient of one of six new historical markers granted by the Department of Historic Resources that will be coming to highway roadsides across Virginia. The Virginia Board of Historic Resources approved the markers last December. Three of the markers, including the one for Washington County, focus on Black history in Virginia in the 20th century. The former Glade Spring School is one of hundreds of Rosenwald Schools built in the early 1900s to help educate Black students in the segregated South. The new markers, which represent various topics in the states history, also will be placed in the counties of Essex, Fairfax, Rockbridge, and Loudoun, and the city of Virginia Beach. DHR creates markers not to honor their subjects but rather to educate and inform the public about a person, place, or event of regional, state, or national importance. In this regard, erected markers are not memorials, according to a press release from DHR. A formal dedication and unveiling of the historical marker will be held in the coming months at the former Glade Spring School, located at the intersection of Crescent and Azalea drives. Remember Us The small group of townspeople in Glade Spring who refer to themselves as Remember Us, was instrumental in securing the historical marker for their school which closed in 1965 when the countys schools were integrated. The building then became used as a community center up until the 1970s. Since then, the building has not been maintained or occupied. Despite the years that have passed, Preston of Farmville, Virginia, holds on to the sweet memories of his elementary school in Glade Spring. I felt like the historical marker was something that should be done, said Preston, who was instrumental in sharing the schools unique history with DHR. The designation of the historic marker in Glade Spring has given Preston and group members the incentive to work toward becoming a nonprofit organization, enabling them to apply for grant money to help restore the building. I hope the historical marker is just the starting point that opens more doors to opportunities for us, he said. After the building is restored, he can see turning it into a day care facility or even a museum. We want it to be something that will be educational and beneficial to the community, he said. In 1985, the school building was sold to Prince Coleman of Glade Spring and his daughter Cheryl Coleman of Bristol, Virginia. Cheryl Coleman, who was in the last first-grade class at the school, believes the historical marker will be a asset for the town. My main objective is to give something back to the community, she said. According to the press release, Virginias historical highway marker program began in 1927 with installation of the first markers along U.S. Route 1. It is considered the oldest such program in the nation. Currently there are more than 2,600 state markers, mostly maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, except in those localities outside of VDOTs authority. A school campaign The Glade Spring School was built in 1921-22 to serve African American children in grades one through seven. The creation of the school resulted from a partnership between Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears Roebuck and Company and Booker T. Washington, who headed Tuskegee Institute which is now Tuskegee University, a private, historically Black land-grant university in Tuskegee, Alabama. Together the men started a school campaign in 1917, building state-of-the-art schools for African American children in the South. As many as 5,000 schools were constructed with the assistance of the Julius Rosenwald Foundation. According to Prestons research, 382 of those schools were located in Virginia. Glade Spring School is the only one of the Rosenwald schools located in Washington County. Many of the Rosenwald schools that have survived over the years are standing because of the work of local communities who want to see the buildings preserved. Some of the schools are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was wonderful Cassandra Johnson, a retired educator of Glade Spring, has fond memories of attending the school through seventh grade. After her graduation from the school, she attended Douglass School in Bristol, Virginia for one year, before moving to Patrick Henry High School after segregation ended in 1965. I loved going to the Glade Spring School, said Johnson. It was one of the central hubs of our Black community. We had get-togethers and programs there. We all knew each other and were close. It was wonderful. Johnson said even her wedding reception was held in the building after it became a community center. Even though the facilities were not as good as the ones at the white schools, Johnson said she learned well at the little school. The books were leftover books and not in the best condition, but we learned a lot. It was great being taught on such a personal level. We lost a lot of that when integration came into being. Gary Coleman, a retired law enforcement officer in Washington County, attended the school through fifth grade. I have nothing but fond memories for that place, said Coleman, who walked to school, carrying his lunch. I saw the school buses run in town, but we didnt have a bus. Being so young, I didnt know if that was right or wrong. Preston recalled the Glade Spring School was distinctively built with windows facing the east and the west which provided sources for natural heat and light. Originally constructed as a wood structure, the building later received a brick exterior. Stuart, a native of Glade Spring who had attended Tuskegee Institute during Washingtons tenure, taught grades one through three. William Anderson taught grades four through seven and also served as school principal. Ms. Meredith told us stories that would help us in the future, said Preston. I later realized that the things she taught us were building pride in ourselves and helping us to work hard and stay focused. The local group plans to invite the three children ages 88, 92 and 96 of former teacher, Meredith Stuart, to attend the upcoming dedication, which is projected for this fall. Preston, whose family lived next door to the school, was excited to attend the school even before he was old enough to enroll. He would often sneak over to see his cousins in the classroom and play with them outside during recess time. After he graduated from Glade Spring School in 1964, Preston continued his education at Douglass School before returning to Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring when students were integrated the following year. There is so much history in this little building. Its amazing, he said. Preston and members of the group have spent months researching the historic school. And, it may take a few more years to actually see the fruits of their labors. We learned a lot in this building, said Preston. Now, were learning how to preserve it one step at a time. Pilita Clark is an associate editor and business columnist at the FT where she writes on corporate life and climate change. Formerly the FTs environment correspondent, her writing has won awards in the US and Asia and in 2019 she was named Environment Journalist of the Year for the third year in a row at the British Press Awards. With 96% of the tables scrutinized Lai won with 40.2% of the votes. The candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (PDP), William Lai (Lai Ching-te), won the presidential elections in Taiwan with 40.2% of the votes, according to the latest data released by the Central Electoral Commission (CEC). With 96% of the tables scrutinized, Lai far outnumbered the opposition candidates of the Kuomintang (KMT), Hou Yu-ih (33.4%), and the Taiwan Peoples Party (PPT), Ko Wen-je (26.3%), who appeared publicly to acknowledge their defeat. After the Lai's victory, a spokesman from the Chinese mainland commented on Saturday the results of the elections for the leadership and legislative body of Taiwan, which won the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (PDP). Chen Binhua, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Bureau of the State Council, said the results reveal that the Democratic Progressive Party cannot represent the dominant public opinion of the island. Russian MFA Spox #Zakharova: Relations between the two parties in the Taiwan Strait constitute an internal matter for China. Attempts to use the elections in Taiwan to pressure Beijing & destabilise the situation in the region are counterproductive https://t.co/hWGgcRKThi pic.twitter.com/ob3TE4W2bU MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) January 13, 2024 Noting that Taiwan is the Taiwan of China, Chen said the elections will not change the basic picture or the trend of development of relations between both sides of the strait. In the other hand the leader of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (PDP) underlined his intention to "maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait", and pledged to act in accordance with the "democratic and constitutional order" of the island to maintain the "status quo" with China. Chen Binhua added that continental China keeps it intention of a national reunification with Taiwan, and stated that those claims are still "remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock." A business manager suspected of having ordered the attack on an elected official from Saint-Denis Tigrane Seydoux, the Frenchman behind the fashionable Italians in Madrid in which you always have to visit the bathroom Energy transition: The experts say so, the Court of Auditors says so Ticks: How to protect yourself from the increasing tick population when taking a walk in the forest A member of the Fatwa Council in Britain calls on Western Muslims to adhere to their religion and identity Death and stuff, the worst series of the week: the copy of a copy of a copy of Agatha Christie Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further" Alaska Airlines passenger about hole in plane wall: "I kept staring into the hole and hoping it wouldn't tear any further" La Fievre with Ana Girardot and Nina Meurisse: what is the new event series from Canal+ worth? Ines Reg criticized for her attitude in Dancing with the Stars: the comedian breaks the silence Fatal accident in Wesseling: "Don't be a pathetic coward, come clean, turn yourself in to the police" Trump describes Zelensky as the best salesman and calls for him to loan him money.. How did tweeters comment? 9th day of the Grand Sumo Spring Tournament New entrant with only one winner Takafuji 9 consecutive wins IN PICTURES - Football: discover the new Blues jerseys for Euro 2024 and the Olympics For the fifth time in a row: Medvedev lost again to Alcaraz in the Masters final in Indian Wells Badminton Akane Yamaguchi "Shidamatsu" pair and others are guaranteed to participate in the Paris Olympics Rugby: here is the program of the French XV for the rest of 2024 Jean-Marie Rouart, the writer-academician, looks back on December 19, 1964, the entry of Jean Moulin into the Pantheon 2nd Bundesliga: FC Schalke 04 is in the black and fears falling into the 3rd league Daihatsu's name announced by the FTC: ``We were waiting, but we will set up a forum for discussions.'' La Unio denounces the second detection of Moroccan strawberries with hepatitis A in nine days Without unnecessary risks: the ruble has risen in price on the Moscow Exchange following the results of the presidential elections in Russia The "wave of rework" after the Spring Festival has driven the rental market in Guangzhou to heat up rapidly In the first two months, the total foreign trade import and export value of Kashgar, Xinjiang increased by 90% year-on-year. Shtayyeh rejects the foreign presence in Gaza and warns against displacement through the sea corridor Nigeria: more than a hundred people kidnapped in the northwest of the country The US said it does not plan to congratulate Putin on his victory in the Russian elections Wretched Creatures... Visual creativity and the brilliance of Emma Stone in the role of the child Civil servants will have the salary increase after Easter and before the Budgets are approved Niger: what follow-up after the denunciation of the military agreement between Niamey and Washington? TikTok is at the heart of the US election season Putin: all traitors fighting against Russia will be identified by name and they will not be given peace Urgent | Al Jazeera obtains exclusive photos showing the Qassam tracking the movements of officer in the Shaldag unit, Yitzhar Hoffman, before he was killed by a snipers bullet. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant First detection of object that may contain nuclear fuel debris on water Defeat in the FA Cup: Klopp breaks off interview I have no nerves for you In light of the confrontation with Israel... where has the Hezbollah-Free Patriotic Movement alliance reached? Operation seduction of the head of Chinese diplomacy in New Zealand and Australia 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. Google, Desarrollo Pais of Chile, and the Office of Posts and Telecommunications of French Polynesia (OPT), have announced Humboldt, a subsea cable route linking Australia, French Polynesia, and Chile, strengthening the reliability and resilience of digital connectivity across the Pacific. The network protocols driving the Internet work on routing packets of data through many interconnected paths to get information from here to there. And while it works like magic, it's an amazing series of cables, satellites, radios, and more. Google and its partners in Chile and French Polynesia have announced a direct fibre optic network link across Asia Pacific to South America - the first ever to directly connect them - and when operational, Humboldt will strengthen the reliability and resilience of digital connectivity across the Pacific by interconnecting the cables that comprise the South Pacific Connect initiative and adding geographically diverse cable investments that link French Polynesia and Chile. A direct fibre optic network link between South America and the Asia-Pacific region has been an ambition of the Chilean government since 2016, and Google says it is making it a reality. "Chile is a country that is at the forefront of technology and is a leader in the implementation of the latest generation networks. As a Government, we are working day by day to consolidate this position and create the conditions for new investments of this kind to continue to arrive. The interest of companies like Google shows that Chile is doing things right. The country is leveraging its potential to generate the growth that will help us improve the well-being and quality of life of the people. These are projects that create employment and later, when they become a reality, improve the working conditions of thousands of people, in addition to placing Chile as a leader in the region and strengthening its position as the gateway from South America to the digital world," said Chile transport and telecommunications minister Juan Carlos Munoz. Australia welcomes this new trans-Pacific cable connecting Australia and Latin America for the first time, supporting the growth of digital and economic ties. This new cable route will enhance Australias global connectivity and complement our work with Pacific countries to secure better access to the global digital economy, said Australia minister for communications Hon Michelle Rowland. "Economic vitality in my country relies on investments in the digital sector. We are thrilled to collaborate on the Humboldt project to continue advancing French Polynesias digital economy and keep Tahiti on the cutting edge of innovation," said French Polynesia president Moetai Brotherson. The Humboldt project is the latest in Google's digital infrastructure investments across Latin America and will join other infrastructure projects including the Google data centre in Quilicura in powering Google services, the Google Cloud region in Santiago supporting customers across Latin America, the cross-Andes terrestrial connectivity between Chile and Argentina, and the Curie subsea cable linking Chile, Panama, and the West Coast of the United States. Improving international connectivity helps drive economic growth in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and job creation, while greater network capacity and lower latency enable businesses and public sector organisations to deliver better digital experiences to their customers and constituents, and people can gain skills and knowledge that open new career paths. The benefits can be realised in Australia, as well as within Chile and French Polynesia. This marks a significant milestone for the flagship project, the Humboldt submarine cable. After years of dedicated work, we are now entering the materialisation phase. Google, our esteemed international partner, ensures that these works will adhere to the highest technical standards. Our goal is to position Chile as a global digital hub, seamlessly connecting countries in the region with the Asia-Pacific. This achievement underscores the instrumental role of Desarrollo Pais' public-private partnership model in fostering Chile's growth, said Desarrollo Pais general manager Patricio Rey Sommer. The Humboldt cable is named for Alexander von Humboldt, a German polymath, geographer, naturalist and explorer who travelled extensively to the Americas at the turn of the 19th century. The moniker was selected by Chilean residents, who voted via social media in a naming contest organised by Desarrollo Pais and Chiles Undersecretary of Telecommunications (Subtel). Chileans already share a special connection to the Humboldt project, and Google says it is excited to work with partners to bring it to life. From his first campaign for governor up until his final days in office as 2024 dawned, teachers were on John Bel Edwards mind. Advertisement Eating outBrisbane Opa team to unveil fast-paced, pan-Asian Longwang in one-of-a-kind CBD spot One of Brisbanes buzziest restaurant groups is teaming with a star former Same Same and Donna Chang chef. Its set to be one of the years biggest openings. Matt Shea January 14, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Michael Tassis had a big 2023. The restaurateur opened two new venues, seafood restaurant Fosh and steakhouse Rich & Rare, while announcing two more for the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge project. Thats on top of a roster that already includes Massimo, Opa, Yamas and a reopening Fatcow (on James Street). Tassis, it seems, cant stop wont stop. Longwangs Michael Tassis and Jason Margaritis. Markus Ravik Still, Longwang feels like a step change. The seafood-driven pan-Asian restaurant and bar will open in late February, with star chef Jason Margaritis formerly Same Same, Donna Chang and Spice Temple Melbourne on board as chef and partner. Advertisement And then theres the location. There shouldnt be a restaurant here. Six months ago, there was nothing here. It was simply a long, narrow CBD laneway wedged between a couple of office buildings on Edward Street. This beautiful new West End steakhouse features a $50 banquet menu I called up Clui [Tassis regular designers] and I said to [creative director] Callum [Lui], You tell me. I could walk away from this. Tell me if its gonna work. Dont think of the money Im gonna pay you. Just tell me if its gonna work, Tassis says. He said, I reckon we can make it happen. Seven weeks out from its opening, Longwang is beginning to take shape. Built into a three-metre-wide laneway next to the 144 Edward building (it was 144s landlords, Precision Group, that pitched the space to Tassis), the venue feels surprisingly spacious, thanks to its high ceilings and bright, airy upper floors. Advertisement With capacity for 120 guests over three levels (the second and third are separated by a short staircase), downstairs will be dedicated to dining, with the upper floors angled towards bar service and private events. I could walk away from this. Tell me if its gonna work. Michael Tassis At the back of the lower floor is a kitchen where Margaritis will prepare a menu that builds on his previous experience working with more region-specific Asian cuisines. He identifies Hong Kong restaurants such as Ho Lee Fook and Grand Majestic Sichuan as particular inspirations, and says to expect plenty of curries, dumplings and wontons, and lobster and mud crab in the tank. With previous places, Ive been a little bit constrained in terms of whats been pre-set and what the specific cuisine is, Margaritis says. I think [this is] just taking all of that, putting it into one package, and about serving food that I genuinely know people will really enjoy. Its just having those really vibrant flavours with lots of spice, lots of aromatics, all that kind of stuff. Advertisement Front of house, new group sommelier Ron Almera is helping compile a tightly curated 100-bottle wine list that favours rieslings, champagne and sparkling wines to better balance out the spice and umami of Margaritis food. There will also be a cocktail list with plenty of fruit and Asian flavours. Brisbanes best restaurant openings of 2023 Regarding the branding, Tassis says Longwang has already raised a few eyebrows. Thats in part intentional, but the venue is ultimately named after the Chinese deity, Longwang, that guards the ocean. It reflects the restaurants seafood-first focus and Tassis deep connections with local seafood suppliers, which runs back to his teens when he worked at the original Georges Paragon in Sanctuary Cove, owned by his father, George Tassis. Its ambitious stuff, and perhaps indicative of the kind of food and beverage projects well see sprout up in the CBD in the coming years as operators look to tap into the shine of the Queens Wharf project. After what the city has been through with COVID, you can see it starting to kickstart to life, Tassis says. Hopefully, we can contribute to that. Advertisement There are other big hospitality groups coming into the city. In this space as well, we had to submit it to Brisbane City Council, and they were so happy. They want to see more of this stuff in the city. Longwang will open at 144 Edward Street in late February. Get the inside word on the news, sport, food, people and places Brisbane is talking about. Sign up for our City Talk newsletter here. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up I think it was Jack Lemmon and Yoko Moto, he recalled telling his wife after meeting them in their apartment on Bank Street in Greenwich Village. She quickly corrected him. In the 2007 film, Mr. Lennon is seen telling reporters about Mr. Wildes: Hes not a radical lawyer. Hes not William Kunstler. Lennon had publicly opposed the Vietnam War, having recorded the antiwar anthem Give Peace a Chance in 1969, and he had been involved in protests on behalf of figures in the New Left movement, which campaigned against the war. Nixon administration officials feared that he had outsize influence among the young, who would be allowed to vote in greater numbers in the 1972 presidential election, the first after the voting age had been lowered to 18 from 21. In the paranoid atmosphere then prevailing in the White House, that was enough for administration officials and their allies, notably the conservative South Carolina senator Strom Thurmond, to go after Lennon. Their case centred on the London marijuana conviction. But the appellate court judge, Irving Kaufman, ultimately ruled that the crime was insufficient to make Lennon an excludable alien. Yoko Ono, former Beatle John Lennon and attorney Leon Wildes leave the Immigration and Naturalisation Service in New York, 1972. Credit: AP The real reasons for the pursuit of Lennon, Wildes argued, lay elsewhere, as he was able to show thanks to his relentless digging through records. Early in 1972, Thurmond had drafted a letter recommending that Lennon be thrown out of the country, which Attorney General John Mitchell forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, the agency then in charge of visas. Of particular concern was the fact that Lennon had performed at a rally in support of a New Left figure, the poet John Sinclair, who had been jailed on a marijuana charge. If Lennons visa is terminated it would be a strategic countermeasure, the South Carolina senator wrote. Ten days later, a telegram went out to all immigration offices in the United States instructing that the Lennons should not be given any extensions of their time to visit the United States, Wildes wrote in his book. The administration of US President Richard Nixon tried to deport John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Credit: AP For the next three years, the government continued to press its case, in efforts that appeared increasingly ham-fisted as public support for Lennon and Ono grew. Many of the eras cultural celebrities spoke up for them, including Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Leonard Bernstein, the artist Jasper Johns and the authors John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates and Joseph Heller. The sole reason for deporting the Lennons was President Nixons desire to remove John and Yoko from the country before the 1972 election and a new, much younger electorate getting the vote, Wildes wrote. To ensure his grip on power, any dirty tricks, including the abusive misuse of the immigration process, were acceptable. The whole time, the FBI was keeping a close watch on Lennon. Surveillance reports on him ran to literally hundreds of pages, Wildes wrote. When Lennon learned of the skulduggery, he was infuriated. Theyre even changing their own rules because were peaceniks, he said in a television interview. John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, at a news conference at the National Press Club, New York, 1972. Credit: Getty The 1975 ruling allowed him to remain in the country. He was killed in front of his New York City home five years later. In another breakthrough, Wildes found that immigration officials had the discretion to deport or not, depending on whether there were extenuating circumstances. The revelation of this policy continues to aid immigration lawyers battling the deportation of non-citizens today. Throughout what Wildes acknowledged was the all-consuming job of representing the Lennons, he kept a bemused and friendly eye on his famous clients, sometimes encountering them, as others did, in what he called the wonderful upright bed in their Bank Street apartment. One could meet half the world around that bed, he wrote. Leon Wildes was born on March 4, 1933, in Olyphant, Pennsylvania, a small coal-mining town near Scranton. His father, Harry, was a clothing and dry goods merchant, and his mother, Sarah (Rudin) Wildes, worked in his store. Wildes earned a bachelors degree from Yeshiva University in 1954 and a law degree from New York University in 1958. Social media is awash with images of gourmet and colourful bento school lunchboxes lovingly styled with bliss balls, gouda, chia seeds and fruit cut into exotic shapes. But one Australian mum developed a cult following online after her genius idea to comply with a rule at her sons school that all children must have fruit in their lunchbox. The day-tripping sultanas sit among other offerings that actually got eaten: pretzels, a tortilla pizza pocket and a slice. Credit: Danen Ferris Mum Danen Ferris invented the day-tripping sultanas. Theyre not going to be eaten, theyre going back to school the next day, and the next day, and the next day and they keep visiting the school for a day trip, she said. A sea of red and white flags appeared among the sleek Scandinavian furniture at Denmark House in the CBD on Sunday as Melbournes Danish community gathered to welcome in a new king and queen, the latter none other than Australian-born Crown Princess Mary. Revellers were treated to canapes, Carlsberg and rousing rounds of Klask, a Danish tabletop game in which opponents use magnetised pieces to bat around a tiny ball. Clara Kynne Schmidt helps three-year-old Ella with a crown at the Kings Ascension Day event in Melbourne on Sunday. Credit: Jason South While a bevy of tiny princes and princesses donned their best crowns and Viking helmets to mark the occasion, some older royalists wore home-made shirts emblazoned with the understated phrase Congrats to Fred and Mary. Crown Prince Frederiks accession to the throne is to take place early on Monday morning (AEDT) after his mother, Queen Margrethe, formally abdicates at a Council of State meeting at Christiansborg Palace. Frederik will be accompanied to the palace by Princess Mary and their son Prince Christian. Recently returned WWE superstar CM Punk is heading to Perth for the Asia-Pacific exclusive Elimination Chamber at Optus Stadium next month. The wrestler is back in the ring following a 10-year hiatus that included acting and a stint in MMA and his record-breaking comeback saw more than 71 million views across WWE social media. CM Punk has been confirmed for Elimination Chamber: Perth. The bill already includes Logan Paul, Seth Freakin Rollins, Australias Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio, Grayson Waller, LA Knight, Cody Rhodes and WWE legend The Undertaker, who will bring his sold-out Undertaker 1deadMAN Show to Fremantle Prison on February 23. WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth is expected to generate millions in tourism spending when thousands of fans from outside WA head to Perth to witness the one-of-a-kind spectacle. Federal Labor faces internal pressure to treat extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied Palestinian territories akin to listed terror groups as Foreign Minister Penny Wong heads to the Middle East on a high-stakes mission to help secure an end to the war in Gaza. Wong leaves for Jordan on Monday before visiting Israel, the West Bank and the United Arab Emirates. She will meet Palestinian victims of settler violence, a striking move that highlights growing alarm among western governments about the impact of the dramatic expansion of Israeli settlements. Wongs visit comes at a combustible moment in the Middle East, as tensions flare in the Red Sea after the United States and United Kingdom struck key Houthi rebel bases in Yemen and the International Court of Justice considers a genocide charge against Israel over the way it has conducted the war in Gaza. Australia is not a central player in the Middle East, but we are a respected voice we are a part of the international diplomatic effort reinforcing the imperative of a lasting peace, Wong said in a statement. 100 years ago, Jan 14, 1924 PHILIDELPHIA, Penn. Rev. George F. Oliver, a former pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church of this city, passed away suddenly in Philadelphia Sunday morning of heart failure, according to a telegram R.A. Gabbert received this morning from Joyce F. Oliver, his youngest son, also in Philadelphia. Mr. Oliver was pastor of the Mattoon church for about four years, having left this city about eight years ago for Quincy to assume charge of a church there. Later he was sent to Cleveland, where he was connected with a church for some time in a pastoral capacity. Mr. Oliver was eighty years of age...CHARLESTON When Rufus Alexander sold Directum K., a fast and rangy bay gelding by Chambertin, at a price of $7000 some time ago, it was thought that the pacer sold far above his worth, and that Mr. Alexander, well-known real estate agent and authority on race horses had "turned loose" at the proper time, but a recent issue of the Horse Review shows that the horse is a "comer," and was worth every time of the amount...MATTOON The last will and testament of the late Henry Mohlenhoff, who passed away at his home five miles southeast of town on Dec. 27, was filed for probate today. The state is valued at about $50,000 and his son, Fred Mohlenhoff, is named in the will as executor. Besides the son, other heirs are Mrs. Mary Mohlenhoff, the wife, and two daughters, Mrs. Anna Strong and Mrs. Mary Leonard, all the heirs living in the same neighborhood. Vause & Kiger are attorneys for the estate. 50 years ago, 1974 MATTOON Raymond Senteney, 51, will be appointed Mattoon police chief, the JG has learned. Senteney, an 18-year veteran, is currently serving as acting police chief. He was appointed assistant police chief in June of 1969. Mayor Roger Dettro, who is police commissioner, confirmed today that he will appoint Senteney to the position vacated by the death of Police Chief Robert Plummer last week...CHARLESTON A Charleston business and residence was completely destroyed by fire Sunday night. The Glidewell Trading Post, also the home of Dale and Ethel Glidewell, burned to the ground, despite the efforts of the four city fire trucks and 22 firemen. There were no injuries reported in the blaze. Firemen were able to enter the building when they first arrived and reported they found it unoccupied. Firemen have not yet determined the cause of the fire, or an estimate of the total damage to the building and contents. The Trading post contained used furniture and antiques...MATTOON James R. Livesay, II will show a film on the Asiatic Theatre of military operations at the High 12 Club meeting at noon Tuesday at the Holiday Inn. Livesay, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Livesay, has just returned from a tour of duty with the Navy. Tuesday's meeting will be Ladies day. 25 years ago, 1999 MATTOON The phone rang continuously Wednesday at Joe Hampton's rural Windsor home, a day after Gov. George Ryan announced Hampton is his choice for Illinois agriculture director. Hampton mixed in congratulatory calls with media interview requests and the business of preparing to lead an agency vital to Illinois interests Hampton, 55, is a Shelby County farmer who's been active locally, nationally and internationally in a variety of issues. The appointment requires confirmation by the Illinois Senate. Hampton said he anticipates officially taking on the duties in a couple of weeks...CHARLESTON The woman accused of wanting several Coles County officials and other people killed is not mentally fit to stand trial, a psychologist has concluded. Kennie Lynn Burch does not understand the charges against her and isn't able to help in her defense, Charleston clinical psychologist Jerry Boyd said in a report filed in court this week. Burch, 52, of rural Charleston is charged with two counts of solicitation of murder for hire accusing her of trying to hire someone to kill a county probation officer and a sheriff's deputy. History photos of Bergner's and Carson's in Mattoon 20 ways to save Bergner's Carson's Community Days to raise money for nonprofits Bergner to close in January Bergner's announces promotions Carson's to host festival, parade Bergern's 62nd Anniversary Sale Bergners to take over Carson's Pink Shops start September Value Days Carson's helping Goodwill Industries The property market reached unexpected heights last year thanks to the bank of mum and dad, which helped buoy prices when they were forecast to keep falling. Conventional economic wisdom suggests rising interest rates should have pushed property prices lower but the opposite happened, surprising even the best economic minds in the country. Sydneys property market reached levels beyond all expectations last year. Credit: Peter Rae Family help combined with other factors that boosted the market such as a dearth of homes listed for sale, false hope that interest rate rises were finished, and purchases from cash buyers who built up equity in the boom, driving last years V-shaped recovery. National home values fell 7.5 per cent during the downturn of 2022, then regained their losses by November last year, on CoreLogic figures, although Sydney and Melbourne remain below their peaks. Utility Issues Important Conservation and Safety Reminders Black Hills Energy is closely monitoring the National Weather Service - WY forecast this week for a winter storm and extreme cold temperatures predicted to impact the region. Our Wyoming operations teams are preparing for possible snow accumulation, high winds, ice and below freezing temperatures, which are expected to last through early next week. Energy Conservation Reminders With sustained cold and freezing temperatures in the forecast, energy use can increase and lead to higher monthly bills. Black Hills Energy is ready to help customers reduce energy use by sharing these conservation reminders and tips: According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, you can save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs simply by turning your thermostat down by a few degrees for eight hours a day. Did you know as much as 7-12 percent of a building's heating and cooling loss occurs around windows and doors? Jettison those leaks and weather-strip to seal around movable joints like doors or windows. Lower your water heater setting. Lowering your temperature setting a few degrees can save energy. Lowering your temperature to under 120 degrees can save you up to 10% on your water heater costs. Limit laundry and chores until later in the week when temperatures normalize. If you must do laundry or wash dishes, consider energy efficiency strategies to lessen the impact. For example, run complete loads of laundry, rather than partial loads, to avoid using more hot water than necessary. Changing dishwasher settings to air dry is another way to save energy. Make sure your fireplace damper closes tightly when you're not using it. Closing the damper could save 8% of your home's heat. You could save as much as 30% of your energy costs by better insulating your attic or top floor. Safety Reminders Black Hills Energy is also urging our customers to keep their homes safe with the following guidelines. Natural Gas Safety Snow and ice buildup on your natural gas meter can create a safety hazard and even cut off the flow of natural gas to your heating equipment and other appliances. Please follow these guidelines for staying safe: Gently clear snow away by hand or with a broom. Do not use a shovel, ice pick or other sharp tools, damage could result and make the situation worse. Keep snow blowers and shovels away from gas meters and other above-ground equipment. Carefully clear snow away from the outdoor vent on high-efficiency furnaces and gas water heaters. These appliances will not run safely and efficiently if the vents are blocked. Safely remove ice buildup from overhead eaves that could fall and damage gas meters below. Point out the meter and any other above-ground utility structures to anyone you hire for snow removal. Make sure the carbon monoxide detector in your home has fresh batteries and is functioning properly. Electric Safety In the event that you experience an unexpected outage in your home or business, please follow these guidelines for staying safe: If your power goes out, see if your neighbors have power. If they do, check your home for blown fuses or a tripped circuit breaker. If your neighbors don't have power or if you can't locate the problem, report the outage at www.blackhillsenergy.com/outages. If you see damaged outdoor electric power equipment, please contact us at 1-800-890-5554. Do not try to remove any debris if it is on a powerline or outdoor electrical equipment. If you are outdoors, never touch or attempt to pick up a fallen powerline. Assume any downed power line is energized. During an outage, unplug sensitive computer and electronic equipment or protect them with a high-quality surge protector. Helpful Links Stay up to date by visiting www.blackhillsenergy.com/weather. Customers can also find winter energy conservation and billing resources at www.blackhillsenergy.com/winter-ready. To receive outage notification on your mobile device, please log into your Black Hills Energy account at: https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/ An ongoing investigation by Cheyenne Police Detectives resulted in the arrest of five Cheyenne residents for felony theft of valuables, including 29 firearms. Two arrests were made in late December 2023, and three additional arrests were made on January 4, 2024. Timeline of Events - On November 22, 2023, Cheyenne, Wyoming residents, 37-year-old Michael Townsend and 43 year-old Kenneth Cain, were arrested in Abilene, Texas. During the arrest, a large collection of valuable coins was recovered. Investigators with the Abilene Police Department contacted Cheyenne Police Officers to notify them of the arrest and suspected stolen property. On December 12, it was reported that three unoccupied houses in the downtown area had been burglarized. According to the victim, several firearms and thousands of collectible coins, valued at over $250,000 had been stolen from the locations. It was at this point that detectives were able to make a connection between the arrests in Abilene and the burglaries reported in Cheyenne. On December 20, search warrants were executed for Cains residence in the 300 block of Medicine Bow Avenue and two vehicles that were parked nearby. During the search, investigators located duffle bags full of coins and two stolen firearms a total value of approximately $19,000. Kenneth Cain and 40-year-old Desiree Pantoja were subsequently arrested and booked into the Laramie County Jail on charges related to the burglary. Through ongoing investigative work, detectives learned that a storage shed in the 1900 block of South Greeley Highway was being used by Michael Townsend and 27-year-old Bailee Martinez to store stolen property. On January 4, detectives served a search warrant at the location and at their residence in the 400 block of Murry Road. Numerous silver coins were recovered, consistent with those reported stolen. Martinez and Townsend were both arrested and booked into the Laramie County Jail for felony possession of stolen property. Detectives also learned that a fifth suspect, 35-year-old Timothy Duke, was involved in the burglaries. On January 4, he was arrested and booked into the Laramie County Jail on an outstanding extraditable warrant out of Colorado, unrelated to the case. On January 4 and January 5, detectives served search warrants at Dukes residence in the 5800 block of Lunsford Avenue and also searched his vehicle, a Nissan Titan pickup truck. Numerous stolen items were recovered during the searches, including gold and silver coins valued at over $5,000, bags containing thousands of dollars in cash, checks belonging to the victim, antique silver dishware, a handwritten note from the victim, and four school yearbooks belonging to the victims mother. Detectives then learned that an enclosed trailer parked in the 200 block of South Greeley Highway was frequently used by Duke. On January 9, a search warrant was served on the trailer - 29 stolen firearms were recovered along with a box of silver coins valued at over $1,000. Additional charges related to the burglary are pending. The case remains under investigation, if you have any information regarding the individuals involved, or that leads to the recovery of stolen property, please contact us. Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers Silent Witness at 638-TIPS or www.silentwitnesslaramiecounty.com. You may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.00. The caller I.D. system is not installed on the Silent Witness phone lines. You are here: Business The China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base has handled over 500,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) through China-Europe freight trains over the past decade, according to Nanjing Customs. As the first entity project inaugurated under the Belt and Road Initiative, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base in the city of Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu Province. The Lianyungang freight train services cover major destinations throughout Central Asia, transporting more than 400 categories of goods such as household appliances, pharmaceuticals and construction materials. In 2023, the transit volume of China-Europe freight trains increased by 10.7 percent year-on-year to 66,100 TEUs from the logistics base, which has become a pivotal cross-border transportation hub between Asia and Europe. CHARLESTON The owners of Juanito's in Mattoon have opened a Charleston location, which has become the first Mexican restaurant downtown since the early 1990s. Restaurateurs Manuel and Daisy Mejia debuted Juanito's Bar & Grill on Friday at 611 Monroe Ave. on the north side of the courthouse square. They opened their Juanito's Mexican Cocina four years earlier at 808 Lake Land Boulevard in Mattoon. Daisy Mejia said they see a lot of potential with this location for meeting the need for additional dining options on the square and for being part of the City of Charleston's ongoing efforts to promote further economic revitalization there. The square has not hosted such an eatery since the Mattoon branch of Little Mexico closed approximately 30 years ago. "We want to bring something different," Daisy Mejia said, adding that Juanito's will offer its distinct take on Mexican cuisine. "We like to bring more traditional things to our restaurants and get creative with our dishes." Juanito's is known for the homemade tortillas that accompany its sizzling fajitas and other entrees, such as its La Parrillada meat lovers' skillet. This dish includes skirt steak, pork ribs, chicken breast, bacon-wrapped shrimp, pork carnitas, and spicy chorizo sausage. "We will be doing tamales, too, for sure," Manuel Mejia said. He sells fresh steamed tamales at the Celebrate Downtown Mattoon Midweek Market every season and plans to get involved in the farmers market activities on the Charleston square, as well. Daisy Mejia said the menu for Juanito's in Charleston also will offer items not available at the Mattoon location. She said this mixture will include cheeseburgers and several American-style appetizers, such as chicken wings, along with Mexican-style appetizers, such as barbacoa cheese fries, to reflect the fun nightlife atmosphere on the square. Delivery options will be available. In addition, Daisy Mejia said the Charleston location will offer a full bar and late hours, with a limited dining menu available, as part of being on the square. Juanito's will be open 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday-Saturday. She said they also plan to set up a pool table and video gaming in the near future in the back of the restaurant. Manuel Mejia said they have been renovating the storefront at 611 Monroe, which previously housed Champs Bar & Grill, in preparation for opening their first Charleston restaurant. His wife added that they also have brought in an experienced team of kitchen and wait staff members. "We just thing this is going to be a great location," Daisy Mejia said. Photos: 2023 Coles County new businesses Side by Side Gaming family (copy) Defense Depot plans (copy) Winery owner (copy) DHM exterior (copy) CRAFT EMPORIUM 060123-mat-nws-sports-groundbreaking_01.JPG (copy) Jaanata Raja returns: Reignites the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Staff Reporter The spirit of Maharashtras warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, chronicled back to life on Saturday as the three-hour spectacular drama Jaanata Raja took centre stage at Yashwant Stadium, Dhantoli, Nagpur. A series of shows spread over three days, till January 15, is organised by Maharashtra States Cultural Affairs Department, district administrations, and Nagpur Municipal Corporation, to mark the 350th anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajs coronation. The inaugural day witnessed the presence of Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister; Sudhir Mungantiwar, Minister of Forests and Cultural Affairs; Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector; Pravin Datke, MLC; Ashish Jaiswal; MLA; Krupal Tumane; MP; Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari, Municipal Commissioner; Dr Vikas Mahatme, Former MP; Jagdish Kadam of Maharaj Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan, Pune; and Kushal Jain. Devendra Fadnavis, in his address, said, We all draw inspiration from the legacy of Shivaji Maharaj, and the Government will keep making efforts to take forward the rich culture and history of Maharashtra. This presentation is a part of state-wide series of show, and it a great opportunity for citizens to witness the mega historical drama, stated Sudhir Mungantiwar. The mega drama, staged by more than 200 artists and technicians, is written and directed by late Padma Vibhushan Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, that has gained immense popularity across India and also by shows staged internationally. A total of 70 artists from Nagpur also played different roles in the drama. The presentation transports the spectators back to 17th century, with a magnificent backdrop of visionary kingdom scenarios, Shivaji Maharajs fearless raids on Mughal forts, and commitment to do justice and protect his kingdom by establishing an equitable society. The venue echoed with the sounds of swords clashing and powerful dialogues that portrayed the bravery and wisdom of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The enactment of Shivaji Maharajs coronation garnered a thundurous applause from the audience. Jaanata Raja is more than just a play; its a journey through history, a celebration of culture, and a reminder of ideals that continue to inspire us today. With two more performances to come, the shows on January 14 and January 15 will start at 6.30 pm. 12 arrested in W Bengal for attacking sadhus going to Gangasagar Mela KOLKATA, WEST Bengal Police on Saturday said that 12 people were arrested for allegedly attacking three monks from Uttar Pradesh who were heading to the ongoing Gangasagar Mela in Sagar Islands, North 24 Parganas district, on the basis of a kidnapping rumour. Police sources said that the monks were attacked on Thursday night by a group of villagers in Kashipur, Purulia district after rumours had spread that the victims were on the run after abducting a local teenage girl. The monks, originally hail from Bareilly, first went to Puri in Odisha and from there they reached Purulia on Thursday afternoon. On Thursday afternoon there was a misunderstanding between the three Gangasagar-bound sadhus and three local minor girls near Kashipur over language problems, said a statement issued by the Purulia district police on Saturday morning. The girls got scared and local people manhandled the sadhus and damaged their vehicle, alleging a kidnapping attempt. Local police promptly intervened and rescued the sadhus. Twelve people had been arrested over the incident on the basis of a specific case. All possible assistance was rendered to the sadhus, the statement added. After arriving in Kolkata on Saturday, Union Minister Anurag Thakur launched a scathing attack on the West Bengal Government over the attack. Why is such a situation surfacing in West Bengal? This is the result of the politics of appeasement. During a religious function a curfew-like situation is created in the State, where Hindus are not allowed to participate in their festivals. There had been attacks on monks. The State Government is silent in the matter. Where is West Bengal heading to because of this appeasement politics? Why is an anti-Hindu narrative created here? Thakur questioned while speaking to the mediapersons at the Kolkata airport. Crime to be a Hindu in West Bengal: BJPs Amit Malviya: Amit Malviya, on Friday lashed out at the ruling Trinamool Congress, claiming that it was a crime to be Hindu in West Bengal. Absolutely shocking incident reported from Purulia in West Bengal. In a Palghar kind lynching, sadhus travelling to Gangasagar for Makar Sankranti were stripped and beaten by criminals affiliated with the ruling TMC, Malviya posted from his official X handle on Friday. Alliance Air starts additional flights to Lakshadweep NEW DELHI, AMID the ongoing India-Maldives row, Alliance Air the only airline that operates to Lakshadweep has started additional flights. Due to a surge in the number of passengers willing to visit Lakshadweep, Alliance Air, the only Indian airline that operates to Lakshadweep, has started additional flights Kochi-Agatti-Kochi. A senior official of Alliance Air informed that the additional flights will operate two days a week i.e on Sunday and Wednesday. Alliance air, the only airline that runs in Lakshadweep, runs flights between Kochi in Kerala and Agatti island, which has a regional airport serving Lakshadweep. The airlines operate 70-seater aircraft to the island daily. It is running in full capacity and all tickets till March have been sold out, an official of the airline informed. We are getting lots of queries on phone and social media regarding tickets. Following to the huge demand for tickets, an additional flight has been added to the route. If required frequency of the flight will be increased, the official said. Recently in an Annual General Meeting, Ajay Singh, CEO of SpiceJet also informed that the airline have exclusive rights under Refional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for Lakshadweep and that they will soon launch flights to Lakshadweep. However, travel portals have reported that they are getting a record number of queries for Lakshadweep. Indias smallest Union Territory, Lakshadweep came into the spotlight after Prime Minister Modi shared delightful images from his visit to the Union Territory on January 22 and called for harnessing beach tourism in the island cluster. However, in a social media post that was deleted later, Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Mariyam Shiuna, made a mocking and disrespectful reference to PM Modis visit to the Indian island cluster. Amid an outpouring of anger on social media over the disparaging references to PM Modi, with #BoycottMaldives a top trend across online forums, leading faces from the Indian film industry as well as top celebrities came out in support of the call to promote beach tourism in Lakshadweep. Failure To Stop Wars By Dr Arun Mitra WAR IS the most serious threat to public health with catastrophic effects on infrastructure and environment and accounts for more deaths and disability than many major diseases combined. It destroys families, communities and sometimes whole cultures. It channels limited resources away from health and other social needs. Any nuclear exchange can be an existential threat to humanity. Since 1800, more than 37 million people world-wide have died while fighting in wars. As there is no fool proof method to count the number of dead in the wars, this number could be much higher if we add those who die of displacement, abuse, hunger and disease. In the past when it was possible to maintain secrecy during war, Nazi concentration camps were not exposed to the world until the Red Army found them after the defeat of Hitler. Not many people believed the situation in these camps until some survivors came out with the stories of the atrocities committed on them. With the advent of new technology, the satellites and now the artificial intelligence it has become almost impossible to keep anything hidden. Any activity can be watched with utmost precision from thousands of kilometres away. This has led to targeting the sites accurately during warfare to the extent that the Israeli defence forces were able to kill Wissam Tawil, commander of Hezbollahs elite Radwan forces on January 8, 2024 in Lebanon. Likewise Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian major general, was killed by an American drone strike near Baghdad International Airport, Iraq on January 3, 2020, while travelling to meet Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi. Based on the information, it is now easy for the global community to stop the wars with collective intervention. But it is an irony that at a time when nearly 24,000 people have been killed in Gaza, out of which 70% being women and children, the world community has failed to stop the Israeli aggression and occupation. The rules of war as agreed upon in various conventions are being flouted with impunity. In spite of the wisdom to choose the target precisely, the reports coming out from various conflict zones show that the number of non-combatants being killed or injured and infrastructural damage has increased many times. There has been an increase in civilian fatalities from 5% at the turn of the 19th century to 15% during World War I, 65% by the end of World War II, and to more than 90% in the wars during 1990s, affecting more children than soldiers. As a result of changes in warfare strategies and ideologies over the last decades, the battlefields have moved into civilians backyards, making them more vulnerable to and involved in wars as per an article published in frontiersin.org. The wars cause serious humanitarian crisis. There is large scale displacement in Ukraine. An estimated 5.1 million people have been driven from their homes and are internally displaced and more than 6.2 million people have crossed into neighbouring countries in the region including Poland, Hungary, Moldova or other countries globally. The displaced people are forced to live in refugee camps in unhygienic and unprotected conditions where they are likely to develop serious health problems. Women and children are more vulnerable to abuse of all kinds. In large scale aggression there is compete paralysis of health care system as we observe in Gaza today. This is further affected by the fact that work of relief agencies suffers in such conditions. President ICRC Mirjana Spoljaric who was in Gaza on 4th December 2023 said: The level of human suffering is intolerable. It is unacceptable that civilians have no safe place to go in Gaza, and with a military siege in place there is also no adequate humanitarian response currently possible. Several health workers have been killed adding to violation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), thus raising new ethical and moral concerns. There are several parts of the world with internal conflicts affecting the peoples lives. The on-going conflicts in Sudan, Yemen, Ethiopia, Niger, Nigeria and situations in Somalia, Syria and Afghanistan pose a serious threat to the lives of citizens. In such conflicts there occurs destruction of schools, hospitals, roads, factories, houses, cars and farms. The displacement and wars lead to several mental health problems including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. It was expected that globalization would add to an interdependent worlds economy, cultures, technology, and populations through increased cross-border connectedness, exchange of information, trade, and mutual use of technique and routines. It was expected that this interdependency would minimise military options to deal with bilateral and multilateral issues. But it did not happen. The phenomenon turned to be one way globalisation with the powerful countries trying to dictate in various spheres to maintain their socio-economic and political hegemony. This has led to impoverishment in several parts of the world. To sort out the deepening economic crisis in the developed world, they are furthering military engagements and arms sale. While there are resistance movement to this, it has also been observed that in many places there is rise of nationalism, and other types of reactionary movements. These lead to religious and political polarisation in the society, and fosters extreme views and actions, leading to terrorism and modern armed engagements thus adding to internal and external conflicts. It is unfortunate that the global structures responsible for restoration of peace have been weakened. This is clear from the veto by the US on the demand for cease fire in Gaza despite serious concern and appeal by the Secretary General and passing of resolution to the effect with an overwhelming majority by the UN General Assembly. This has necessitated urgent steps and effective measures by the global community to bring about changes in the UNO to make it responsive to the global needs for peace. How long we have to wait for such violations of human rights to go on? (IPA) IAF procured 16,000 indigenous components in 3 yrs: Air Chief Kaushik Bhattacharya Air Chief Marshal Vivek R Chaudhari, PVSM AVSM VM ADC, Chief of Indian Air Force (IAF), on Saturday, said that IAF was emphasising on indigenisation for combat readiness and the IAF had procured more than 16,000 indigenous components for their assets in last 2-3 years. Air Chief Marshal Chaudhari made this statement while interacting with mediapersons at Kasturchand Park on the sidelines of a function organised by Bhosala Military School. We have opened up all our Base Repair Depots (BRDs), including all air force, units for the industry. We can not rely on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for repair and maintenance of our assets. Therefore, Indian companies should be encouraged to meet the demand of IAF for maintenance and repair, he said. Today, the Indian defence industry is technologically viable. IAF is encouraging startups and local companies to promote Atmanirbhar Bharat, he added. Asked about the recovered debris of AN-32 aircraft of IAF after 7 years since it crashed in Bay of Bengal in 2016, the Air Chief Marshal said, India has progressed in state-of-the-art deep-sea technology. As a result, these technologies helped us to discover the aircraft even after seven years. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS) said, IAF is taking measures required to prevent such accidents in near future. We are using technology to avoid such incidents. The mystery surrounding the IAFs AN-32 transport aircraft, which had gone missing over the Bay of Bengal in 2016, may be solved after wreckage of a crashed aircraft was detected off the Chennai coast a couple of days ago. Twenty-nine personnel were onboard the aircraft which went missing during an operation mission. The National Institute of Ocean Technology, which functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, believes that the wreckage possibly belongs to the crashed AN-32 aircraft because no other aircraft crashed at that site or in that area and the photographs of the debris underpinned the results from the deep-sea search operation. Interacting with media, the CAS said, IAF is procuring more Made in India aircraft to meet its demand in near future. For example, the Defence Ministry has given nod to procure 97 more Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK 1A fighter jets. We have already signed a contract of 83 LCA MK 1As and the deliveries for which are to start in next few months. IAF already had 40 LCAs of the original IOC and FOC version. With this major procurement IAF will have 220 LACs in near future which will replace the Mig-21 series fighter jets, said the Air Chief. Mahadev app: ED makes two more key arrests Staff Reporter RAIPUR, CONTINUING its crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made two more key arrests under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 for their role in the operations of Mahadev Online Book. Arrested on Friday, the two accused identified as Nitin Tibrewal and Amit Agrawal, were produced in the court of Ajay Singh Rajput, Special Judge PMLA, which granted their 5-days custody to the ED till Jan 17th. ED investigations revealed that Nitin Tibrewal is the majority shareholder of M/s Techpro IT Solutions Ltd, which was acting as front for Mahadev Online Book and investing the proceeds of crime generated out of illegal operations in India by way of Foreign Portfolio Investment. Nitin Tebriwal tried to conceal this fact despite multiple opportunities granted to him. He also did not reveal his foreign bank accounts and assets before the ED which have been discovered by the ED during the course of investigations. Thus, Nitin Tebriwal was found to be knowingly assisting in layering the proceeds of crime by investing it in his name and through associated Indian and foreign entities. ED probe further unearthed that Amit Agrawal is the brother of Anil Kumar Agrawal who is also a partner in Mahadev Online Book. Amit Agrawal has knowingly utilised the proceeds of crime emanating out of Mahadev Online Book in purchasing assets in his name and name of his wifes. To fund these purchases, Amit Agrawal arranged entries totalling Rs. 2.5 crore in his and his wifes bank accounts against cash. In the statements recorded before the Directorate, he maintained these bank entries are loans, however, the entry operator involved in the transactions revealed the truth. Thus, Amit Agrawal was found to be knowingly assisting in concealing the Proceeds of Crime emanating out of the betting operations of Mahadev Online Book. So far, in this case, movable properties totalling Rs 572.41 crore have been seized/frozen during searches conducted under the PMLA, 2002. Two Provisional Attachment Orders have been issued, attaching movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 142.86 crore. Prosecution complaints dated 20.10.2023 and 01.01.2024, have been filed in the case. Two additional accused have been arrested, bringing the total to eight accused apprehended in connection with the case. Further investigation is under progress. ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIRs registered by Chhattisgarh Police. Subsequently, other FIRs registered by Visakhapatnam Police and other States were also taken on record. M/s Mahadev Online Book Betting APP which is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new Users, create User IDs and laundering of money through a layered web of benami Bank accounts. Maldives President talks Chinese lingo BEIJING/MALE, RETURNING home after a five-day high-profile state visit to China, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Saturday said that his island nation may be small but it doesnt give other countries the licence to bully us amid a diplomatic row with India. The diplomatic row with India erupted after derogatory social media posts by three of his Ministers against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We may be small but this doesnt give them the license to bully us, Muizzu, who is regarded as a pro-China leader, said without naming any country. Though we have small islands in this ocean, we have a vast exclusive economic zone of 9,00,000 square km. Maldives is one of the countries with the biggest share of this ocean, he told the media on his arrival from China after concluding the state visit, the first after assuming office in November last year. This ocean does not belong to a specific country. This (Indian) Ocean also belongs to all countries situated in it, he said, in an apparent jibe at India. We arent in anyones backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state, he was quoted as saying by the Maldives Sun Online portal. During his visit to China, Muizzu held talks with President Xi Jinping after which the two countries signed 20 agreements. The two sides agree to continue firmly supporting each other in safeguarding their respective core interests, said a joint statement issued at the end of Muizzus talks with the top Chinese leaders. China firmly supports the Maldives in upholding its national sovereignty, independence and national dignity, respects and supports the Maldives exploration of a development path that suits its national conditions, and firmly opposes external interference in the internal affairs of the Maldives, the statement said, without referring to any country. In his media briefing in Male, Muizzu said China has granted USD 130 million in assistance for his country. Muizzu said the bulk of the USD 130 million assistance will be spent on redeveloping the roads in Male, where the mayor election was held on Saturday. In a setback to Muizzu, the pro-India opposition Maldivian Democratic Party secured a landslide victory in the Males Mayoral election. New-borns body exhumed for post-mortem by police Infants family had buried the body following his death in stray dogs attack. Father did not inform police Staff Reporter The Bhopal Police exhumed body of the new-born baby who was killed in stray dogs attack for post-mortem, on Saturday. The parents of the baby had buried the body after his death in the stray dogs attack. The police said that the parents of the baby were unable to record their detailed statements. Police said that the father told that he hurriedly buried the body as he was nervous and unable to inform police or think anything else after losing his only son. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Akshay Chowdhary said that the dogs dragged this 7-month-old infant from the park and ate one of his hands on Wednesday. There were marks of dogs teeth and nails all over the body. This incident at Minal Residency came to light on Friday following a flurry of social media messages. On this incident, Chairman of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Priyank Kanoongo said that officers are responsible for this heart-wrenching incident. The commission will serve a notice to the district administration in the issue. On Saturday, Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh held a meeting with Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Frank Noble A for catching stray dogs. Action will also be taken against the responsible officers of the dog squad, said a municipal officer. Devendra, father of deceased innocent Keshav, told that on the morning of January 10, he had gone to Minal Residency along with his wife Raksha Bai, daughter Seveniya 7, Pari 5 and 7-month-old son Keshav. He said that they are engaged in cleaning work here. The child was put to sleep after feeding him milk at 11 in the morning. Sevaniya and Keshav were in the park. Pari was with us. However, Sevaniya too went somewhere and when she returned after a few minutes, the child was not in the park. As soon as the daughter told us, we started searching for the son. Then someone told that three dogs had tried to eat the infant and horror struck locals were standing near it. I reached there but no one even allowed me to see the childs face. I was very nervous, when I took the child to the hospital the doctors declared him dead. Then I could see his face, he said. We are poor people, do not know the rules, he said. The body was buried near the crematorium located at Chhawni Pathar. He said that all three are stray dogs and thus who should he blamed for the incident. Now, the BMC has intensified the campaign to catch stray dogs in the entire city from Saturday. The district administration has also given financial assistance of Rs 50,000 to the family. Virtual alliance doing virtual meet: Naddas swipe at Oppn NEW DELHI, BJP President J P Nadda on Saturday took a swipe at the Opposition bloc INDIA, saying it is a virtual alliance which is doing virtual meetings as a mere formality and that its leaders two-point agenda is to save their families and properties. Addressing a meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha to launch Namo Navmatdata Abhiyan to connect with first-time voters, he said while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working for a developed India, empowering the youth, farmers and women, and removing poverty, the Opposition stands for removing Modi. When he enquired about the meeting of I.N.D.I.A. parties, he was told they were meeting virtually, Nadda said. A virtual alliance will do virtual meetings only. It will do so for the sake of formalities, he said. Opposition leaders, including the likes of M Karunanidhi and Parkash Singh Badal who are no more, were always concerned about their childrens political future, he said, attacking Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar, Farooq Abdullah and M K Stalin among others. Isnt Akhilesh Yadav concerned about Dimple Yadav, his wife and a Lok Sabha MP, he asked. All of them are facing some CBI or ED cases, he claimed, alleging that they commit corruption but abuse probe agencies. In a reference to former Congress Presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he said both are on bail. Nadda asserted that Modi has redefined politics with his emphasis on sabka saath, sabka vikas and has left Opposition parties without any issue. They are unable to make out as to what issues they should raise, he said, alleging that they used to resort to divide and rule in the name of religion and caste but Modi has changed the conventional approach. PM has identified the poor, youth, farmers and women as the four biggest castes, he noted. What nyaya? THE East-West Nyaya Yatra of Congress leader Mr. Rahul Gandhi slated to begin on January 14, 2024, is considered the second version of the South-North Bharat Jodo Yatra he had undertaken a few months ago. Though he has chosen to name it differently, those who understand politics have only one question to ask: What Nyaya (justice) is Mr. Rahul Gandhi seeking? They also wonder if this particular activity is aimed at creating an alternative narrative when the country will be engaged in the consecration ceremony at the Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. Then there are members of the Congress party who wonder if it is good for the party to sink a lot of resources into Mr. Rahul Gandhis yatra when the Lok Sabha elections are just a few months away, and when the announcement of those elections may be made by the Election Commission in the next few weeks. No matter these questions, Mr. Rahul Gandhi and his advisers appear to have made up their mind that the Nyaya Yatra idea may be of immense political utility to the Congress party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. Their conviction might have stemmed from what they see as a positive outcome of the Bharat Jodo Yatra -- in the form of favourable results in the Legislative elections in Karnataka and Telangana. Obviously, Mr. Rahul Gandhi is quite charmed by that outcome, and is therefore looking for similar results even in the Lok Sabha elections through the Nyaya Yatra. Only time will tell if his idea would bear the desired fruit -- or just prove itself to be a big bust. Going by the assessment of political observers and analysts, Mr. Rahul Gandhi will be about half-way through his Nyaya Yatra when the Election Commission would make the announcement for the Lok Sabha elections. Probably, Mr. Rahul Gandhi may be expecting to convert the Nyaya Yatra into an election campaign march instantaneously. That possibility may not be denied, but by normal counts, such a conversion will need a lot of effort and planning -- for which Mr. Rahul Gandhi is hardly known. Be that as it may, it is necessary to analyse why Mr. Gandhi has chosen to call his march the Nyaya Yatra. Out on the campaign, he would seek justice from the people -- by highlighting how the current Narendra Modi regime at the Centre was heaping injustice and inconvenience on the common people of India. He will then promise justice on all fronts to the people -- and seek their electoral support in the next couple of months when the country to goes to the Lok Sabha polls. In other words, he would try to paint a politically negative picture of the country on the points the Opposition has been raising -- growing unemployment, rising prices, sinking economy (???!!!), unmitigated corruption (???!!!) etc. Since three Congress leaders have declined to attend the Shri Ram Mandir consecration ceremony, Mr. Rahul Gandhi also will not be there at Ayodhya on January 22 -- naturally because he would be on his Nyaya Yatra. But that will not stop Mr. Gandhi from stressing the Opposition theme that Shri Ram is a matter of personal faith and that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is weaving a political web around the activity. Of course, such a propaganda will go against the Congress partys political interest in both, short and long terms. However, in the euphoria of the Nyaya Yatra, Mr. Rahul, Gandhi is not likely to see sense in such arguments. Announcements The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation recently appointed new board officers and members to the organizations Board of Trustees and Council of Advisors. These two groups provide leadership for the nonprofit organization, which partners with the National Park Service to preserve and enhance the most-visited national park unit. The Board of Trustees elected the following officers: Former vice chairwoman Whitney Brown, of Meadows of Dan, Va., was elected chairwoman of the Board of Trustees. She is a dry-stone waller, folklorist, and writer. Greg Andeck, of Saxapahaw, was named vice chairman. Andeck is the director of partnerships at The Change Climate Project. Ken McFadyen, of Fincastle, Va., was elected secretary. He is the director of economic development for Botetourt County, Va. Sam R. Johnson of Dahlonega, Ga., was selected to be treasurer. He is an author and a partner in the Atlanta practice of Newport. Charles Hauser, Marsha Ralls Hershman and Tim Maloney joined the board of trustees after serving on the council of advisors. The board also includes Bob Stout (immediate past chairman), Deanna M. Ballard, Jim Barber, Roberts Bass, Tommy Cabe, David Huff, Bob Lassiter, Julie H. Moore and Tanya Marie Pender. The Council of Advisors welcomed three new members: Vivianette Ortiz Caraballo, co-founder of Latinos Aventureros en las Carolinas and Supervisory Case Advocate for Disability Rights North Carolina. James Houchins, director of tourism and marketing for Patrick County, Va. Elizabeth Skinner, author, adventurer and retired deputy director of the Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem. The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising partner of the Blue Ridge Parkway, helping to ensure cultural and historical preservation, natural resource protection, educational outreach, and visitor enjoyment now and for future generations. Since 1997, the Foundation has provided more than $22 million in support for the countrys most visited national park unit. To learn more, visit BRPFoundation.org. Awards The Boone Area Chamber of Commerce has announced its winners of the 2023 Watauga County Business of the Year Awards. Large Business of the Year: MOLTOX Small Business of the Year: Baker Forge & Tool Startup Business of the Year: Mountain Elite All-Star Cheer & Tumbling The winners were recognized Jan. 10 during the Eighth Annual High Country Economic Kickoff Luncheon, presented by Peak Insurance Group. MOLTOX is a manufacturer of products used in genetic toxicology, industrial microbiology, environmental biology and molecular biology. Baker Forge & Tool produces a wide array of steels for the knife making and EDC industry, ranging from custom-designed Mosaic Damascus and San Mai billets, to CopperMai and BronzeMai. Mountain Elite All-Star Cheer & Tumbling was established in 2021, offering low commitment tumbling classes for every age and skill level as well as All-Star cheer teams training year-round. Athletes are involved in the High Country community, perform locally and compete regionally. * * * * The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem recently honored six unsung hero employees for exemplary service above and beyond expectations to HAWS and its clients. The winners of the first annual HAWSY Awards were Hiram Vaugh, project manager; William Hupp, management information systems specialist; Matti McArthur, housing choice vouchers specialist; Raphael Jenkins, maintenance supervisor; Claire Bennett-Lookabill, director of finance; and Vincent Brown, housing choice voucher inspection manager. The Housing Authority of Winston-Salem works to solve the problem of housing instability in Forsyth County, developing, operating and facilitating solutions leading to housing independence for those who qualify. * * * * Beaver College of Health and Sciences at Appalachian State University has recognized Mount Airy native Stephen P. Fleming, president and CEO of The Well-Spring Group, with its Distinguished Alumni Award for extraordinary career accomplishments and continued support of the college and university. Fleming graduated from Appalachian with his MBA degree in 1990. He is a past chairman of both Appalachians Health Care Management Advisory Board and the Beaver College of Health Sciences Advisory Board. As part of his Distinguished Alumni recognition, Fleming was inducted into the colleges Trillium Society, which honors and celebrates distinguished achievements from college alumni and supporters who exemplify the values of the college leadership, innovation and caring and embodies the mission of the college of Taking Health to New Heights. On the Move Chase Law, president and CEO of the Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County, has resigned; her last day with the council is Feb. 16. Law joined the council in December 2020. Eastern Music Festival has appointed Bess Newton as the director of development and Mary Reading as the director of business operations. MV Realty, the bankrupt real-estate group subject to state attorneys general investigations of its business practices, has been banned from operating in North Carolina by the state Real Estate Commission. The commission confirmed Friday it has permanently revoked the licenses of MV Realty and Darryl Cook, a former broker-in-charge for MV. The commission charged the company violated state license laws and rules. MV Realtys business model was to offer to provide cash payments, typically less than $1,000, to homeowners in exchange for their agreement to exclusively utilize that companys services to list their property at any time over the next 40 years. The company has 120 days to wrap up its current business in N.C. It has been ordered to refrain from entering into any new brokerage agreements during that time. MV Realty, based in Boca Raton, Fla., can appeal the decision. The commission is proud of the work it does to protect consumers in North Carolina, according to a statement. We believe the actions taken by the board this week demonstrate our commitment to public protection. Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law on Aug. 25 a bipartisan House Bill 422 the Unfair Real Estate Agreements Act that aims to prohibit the use of predatory real estate service agreements. The law went into effect immediately. Bill sponsors were concerned that the signed contracts included a memorandum filed with the county that serves as a lien on the propertys title. The next step for the commission is to serve MV Realty with a written order, which will be prepared after the transcript of the hearing is complete. Once they are served with the order, they will have 30 days to appeal. Janet Thoren, the commissions legal counsel and director of regulatory affairs, said the commissions order has no impact on the legality of the memorandums. However, without a broker license, MV Realty cannot perform brokerage services as contemplated under the terms of the memorandums. Background In September, MV Realty filed for federal Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, along with each of its 33 state business subsidiaries that include North Carolina. It lists having more than 500 real-estate agents. For MV Realty of North Carolina LLC, it listed between 1 and 40 creditors, assets of between $1 million and $10 million, and liabilities of between $10 million and $50 million. On Sept. 1, the N.C. Attorney Generals Office said it had obtained a preliminary injunction against MV Realty for what is alleged to be predatory service agreements. The motion was approved by Judge Mark Davis, a special Superior Court judge for complex business cases. MV Realty was sued by Attorney General Josh Stein in March for marketing and selling these agreements. Stein also is seeking permanent injunctions, restitution for consumers and other monetary penalties. Davis said in his order that the state Justice Department will likely succeed on its allegations that MV Realty has acted in ways that have the capacity to deceive, and actually have deceived, homeowners in North Carolina. This company has preyed on too many North Carolinians, and well do everything in our power to provide relief for the more than 2,000 victims and to make sure that they cant harm others in our state ever again, Stein said Sept. 1. According to Stein, his office has received more than 20 complaints about MV Realty, which began doing business across the state in August 2020. The company has signed up more than 2,100 North Carolinians to its Homeowner Benefit Program typically people who are facing financial hardships and are in need of cash. According to the bill summary, several real estate companies have been using a predatory business model to target seniors and financially insecure homeowners with cold calls, even those on the Do Not Call registry. One review of the lending practice determined that in the states four largest Multiple Listing Service areas Charlotte, Raleigh-Durham, Greensboro-Winston-Salem and Asheville there have been more than 2,000 homeowners that signed an agreement with one of these firms since fall 2000. Donald J. Trump, for whom truth is a rare acquaintance and blatant lying his mother tongue, is at it again. The man who would be king has dusted off a vile myth from the past and repurposed it for 2024, suggesting that former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is not a legal citizen of the United States and therefore not eligible to compete with him for the Republican presidential nomination. The former president shared a post of that nonsensical idea last week on his social media site as Haley apparently crept a little too close for comfort in recent polls. Specifically, the post that Trump shared falsely contended that Haleys Indian immigrant parents were not yet U.S. citizens when she was born in America. Actually, that doesnt matter. Haley was born as Nimarata Nikki Randhawa on Jan. 20, 1972, in Bamburg, S.C., where she grew up. That means she is a natural-born U.S. citizen, as the Constitution requires of the president in addition to being at least 35 years old and a U.S. resident for at least 14 years. So, even as Trumps whoppers go this ones yuge. But, hey, the ploy has worked before, preying on fears, ignorance and distrust to dupe the gullible and sow doubt and confusion. As a private citizen Trump waged a similarly baseless campaign against President Barack Obama, who Trump insisted, very loudly and persistently, was born in Kenya, not the United States. Trump double-dog-guaranteed proof of the allegation, which he never produced. To be fair, Trump inherited this ridiculousness from others. The birther myth has no single author. Dubious whispers about Obamas citizenship began during the Democratic primaries in 2008. Barack Obamas mother was living in Kenya with his Arab-African father late in her pregnancy, one chain email said. She was not allowed to travel by plane then, so Barack Obama was born there and his mother then took him to Hawaii to register his birth. But it was Trump who grabbed hold of the ugly trope and ran with it more than a decade ago. Trump said in 2011 on The Today Show: I have people that have been studying (Obamas birth certificate) and they cannot believe what theyre finding. I would like to have him show his birth certificate, and can I be honest with you, I hope he can. Because if he cant, if he cant, if he wasnt born in this country, which is a real possibility then he has pulled one of the great cons in the history of politics. Trump later attacked U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) in 2016 as a noncitizen. And in 2020, Trump raised questions about the citizenship of Vice President Kamala Harris. Odds are Trump latest foray into blissful irresponsibility, just in time for the Martin Luther King holiday, will do little harm to Haley. But it is further confirmation, as if we needed it, of the depths to which Trump will sink with neither a moments hesitation nor one scintilla of conscience. Another familiar earmark of this attack is Trumps penchant for never, ever, apologizing. For instance, in what amounted to his admission that Obama was indeed, an American citizen, Trump simply decreed that it was so, without a hint remorse or accountability. President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period, Trump said in September 2016 while on the campaign trail. Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again. He didnt say how or why he had come to that conclusion, but, with no evidence, he did blame Hillary Clinton for starting the birther rumors. What will likely happen with this latest sequel in the Birther Saga is that it too will pass, more quietly than the others, because we have gotten used to Trumps antics. We have accepted his crude recklessness as a dysfunctional new normal: Trump being Trump. Millions still will vote for him and anoint him as The Only One Who Can Fix America, no matter what. Like the others that preceded it, this latest birther broadside is crass and racist and completely unsurprising. The pain I felt late Sunday, Jan. 7, was hard to pinpoint until I realized exactly when it struck: just moments after news of a tentative, 2024 budget deal between Senate and House negotiators had been announced. As such, it soon became apparent the pain wasnt physical; most likely it was emotional. What, though? Anxiety? Bewilderment? Sorrow? That was it, sorrow for Kevin McCarthy, now in early retirement because the Jan. 7 deal was almost the same as the one he had struck with the White House last October. That deal inflamed enough House Republicans to make him a former Speaker and a former House member. Poor old Kevin, I thought, gone and forgotten because he woke up one day wanting to legislate, not bloviate. Silly pragmatist, said the House Knucklehead Caucus, and within hours McCarthy was tossed aside only to have his deal resurrected weeks later. Alas, my McCarthy sorrow passed and by nightfall my cranky old self had reemerged. Congress, too, seems to have returned to its institutional senses at least temporarily to ensure it doesnt allow the fringe elements of either party into a la la land abyss of foolish, even stupid, policies most of the nation abhors. Daringly, the first task its leaders took on was a budget deal. Thats smart because as soon as the presidential primary season begins in Iowa, every House and Senate vote will be weighted even more with political implications for Nov. 5, the day of 2024s local, state and federal elections. And the U.S. isnt the only country that will hold crucial elections this year. Globally, reported Time magazine Dec. 28, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls as at least 64 countries (plus the European Union) representing a combined population of about 49% of the people in the world are meant to hold national elections Moreover, it added, just like in the U.S., the results for many, will prove consequential for years to come Some of the most affected nations include the worlds most populous country, India, and its neighbors Bangladesh and Pakistan. Other countries holding national elections are the United Kingdom, Mexico, Iran, Cambodia, Jordan, and incredibly both Russia and its battlefield opponent, Ukraine. All make 2024, Time adds, not just an election year but perhaps the election year. This year could also be the Farm Bill-writing year for at least two reasons its a year late already and the Dems may be running out of time to influence any final bill. The delay is typical of recent farm bill fights. Deep differences between the Republican-controlled House Ag Committee and the Dem-controlled Senate Ag Committee over food assistance have delayed past farm bills. Stark differences remain for the now-2024 bill and no one in either party or chamber returned from the holiday break in a charitable, lets-get-this-done mood. In fact, remarkably little news emerged from either camp in the past six weeks. Looming over any bipartisan, bicameral compromise is the pending retirement of Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the Democratic leader of the upper chambers Ag Committee and the key figure in passing the year-delayed 2018 Farm Bill. Stabenow has vowed to fight proposed House GOP cuts to food assistance and to protect the Biden Administrations long-term green ag spending. Still, her planned November retirement hangs over any deal-making this year. Continued delays by House Ag Republicans combined with the probable retaking of the Senate by the GOP in November would be a blow to both Stabenow and any hope for a bipartisan Farm Bill. First, however, Congress needs to pass the 2024 federal budget. Can this years renewed sense of institutional urgency move members to work through their personal and political differences to complete this straightforward responsibility? Only time and the Speaker-chucking Knucklehead Caucus will tell. Top Journal Star photos for January 2024 China-India anti-drug co-operation contributes to peaceful development of relations between the two countries | Dr Yengkhom Ronica Devi & Wang Jianhong In the current context of increasing globalisation, the drug problem has gradually evolved into a serious international challenge. According to the World Drug Report 2023 released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, different drugs cause different damages to the health system, and opioids have become the main cause of drug overdose deaths. The report shows that opioids account for 69 per cent of deaths from drug use in 2019. The drug problem is not only related to the areas of public health and law enforcement, but is also closely linked to international politics, economics, and socio-culture. In this context, the joint efforts of countries to come up with solutions need to be based on deep international cooperative relationships. In the case of two major countries, China and India, their actions in counter-narcotics cooperation are not only crucial to their own National security and social stability, but also have far-reaching implications for the security and development of the entire Asian region and the world at large. China and India are large Asian countries, as well as global drug producers, consumers and transporters, and face a complex drug problem. China and India share borders with a number of countries and have long borders, facilitating drug smuggling. China has a 2,000-kilometre border with Myanmar, and most of the heroin that enters China enters through the Myanmar border and is then transshipped through southern China to international markets. Myanmars political instability and conflicts between the Myanmar army (Tatmadaw) and ethnic militias have created a favourable environment for drug cartels. Drugs from the worlds major drug-producing regions, such as the Golden Triangle and the Golden Crescent, enter the two countries through complex international smuggling routes, posing a significant challenge to the two countries counter-narcotics efforts. The focus of counter-narcotics operations in the two countries has shifted due to a number of factors, including geography, technology and organised crime. For China, the focus is on combating the surge in synthetic drug production and trafficking. The manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs tend to be more covert and difficult to regulate and combat. India, however, faces the challenge of opioid trafficking, especially from the Golden Crescent region. The Golden Crescent, which includes parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan, produces illicit drugs that meet a significant portion of the worlds demand for heroin and methamphetamine. For both countries, rampant drug trafficking would have serious social and economic consequences, such as increased crime, decreased productivity and strained health-care systems. Since 1949, both China and India have been actively committed to combating drug trafficking and abuse and have taken a variety of measures at the domestic and international levels to address the drug challenge. The historical context of Chinas fight against drugs is deeply rooted in the experience of the Opium Wars (1840-1842). The Opium Wars were a direct result of Chinas efforts to stop the flow of opium from British India into China. Despite a ban on opium imports ordered by the Jiaqing Emperor in 1799, the opium trade continued to flourish, leading to widespread tobacco addiction and social problems in China. This history is closely linked to Chinas subsequent strict zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, which has been a major driving force behind the countrys anti-drug efforts. In addition, the drug trade has been a serious problem in India, seriously endangering the health of Indian youth and families. India has specially set up the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), promulgated the National Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Policy for the country, and signed a number of bilateral and multilateral agreements, such as the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, to strengthen cooperation in combating drug trafficking. As the mainstays of global anti-drug efforts, China and India have rich experience and resources in the anti-drug field. In the face of the ever-changing problem of drug smuggling and abuse, the two countries have vast room for cooperation in the future. Strengthening anti-drug cooperation between China and India will not only benefit the fight against drug smuggling and abuse, but will also contribute to the friendly development of relations between the two countries. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has released data showing that Asia is one of the worlds major drug circulation zones, with Southeast and South Asia being particularly prominent. The dominance of synthetic drugs continues to grow, fundamentally changing the illicit drug market with low prices, simple operations and rapid production. As a result, it is urgent to deepen China-India anti-drug co-operation. First, at the political level, China-India anti-drug co-operation will be a positive factor in improving relations between the two countries. By working together to combat transnational drug offences, China and India can establish effective cooperation mechanisms in law enforcement and intelligence sharing. The co-operation will enhance mutual trust on security issues, while laying a good foundation for dealing with other more complex bilateral issues. Secondly, at the economic level, China-India anti-drug cooperation will help protect the social stability and economic development of both countries. The resolution of the drug problem can reduce social costs and improve peoples quality of life, thus creating a more favourable environment for economic cooperation between the two countries. China-India co-operation in the field of anti-drugs can open up new areas of economic co-operation, such as drug regulation and exchange of medical technology. Finally, at the socio-cultural level, China-India anti-drug co-operation can help enhance the friendly feelings between the two peoples. China-India co-operation on public health issues and joint efforts in drug abuse prevention and treatment can enhance the positive perceptions of the two peoples towards each others countries. In the future, China-India anti-drug cooperation faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. China and India can work together to combat transnational drug offences through enhanced intelligence exchange, joint research and development of new anti-drug technologies, and collaboration in the international anti-drug arena. The two countries can also conduct in-depth discussions on anti-drug legislation, policy formulation and implementation, so as to improve anti-drug efficiency. It is believed that in the future China-India anti-drug co-operation will be just like the Yangtze River and the Ganges River, two great rivers converging and merging, nourishing the two territories together and flowing forward, promoting the peaceful and long-term development of the relationship between the two countries, and embracing a brighter and better future together. (Dr. Yengkhom Ronica Devi, Foreign Faculty China India Yoga Institute, Researcher Centre for China India People to People Studies Yunnan Minzu University; Wang Jianhongm, Young Scholar of Southwest University of Political Science and Law, China) Manipur should play its card well Abrogate SoO, call for NRC | Manipur should play and lay down its card well. For this, the people and the place should have a clear cut objective of what it is that is of utmost priority. Normalcy is still a far cry, and the silence of the gun or whatever one may call it, is but just the interrugnum, the proverbial lull before the storm and Manipur has been trundling from one such spell to the other, until the silence is broken by another set of cold blooded killing. Such cases are invariably followed by the misinformation campaign, some of which have been lapped up by media based in other parts of the country, adding to the sense of divide, misunderstanding and hatred. With no one less than the hand picked man by New Delhi, the Security Advisor to the Government of Manipur, openly admitting the involvement of Kuki armed groups in the recent series of attacks on security personnel at Moreh, the involvement of groups under the SoO pact with the Government should be an open and shut case. This is where the people and the different civil society organisations should know how to play its card and pile the pressure on Imphal to raise the need to abrogate or at least review the SoO pact with New Delhi. Such a move will certainly go a long way in placating the outraged sentiments of the people of Manipur. The Security Advisor may have negated the talk of Myanmar based militants being involved in the attack on the security personnel, but the very fact that the chairperson of the Zomi Revolutionary Army is a former MP of Myanmar should more than underline the involvement of foreign hands in the ongoing conflict. A former MP of Myanmar and a leader of an armed group with which the Government of India is involved in a dialogue and clearly the script is ready for foreign elements to have a hand in the ongoing violence. This again should be an open and shut case. Does not really need rocket science technology to draw this logical conclusion. Abrogate or review the SoO pact, highlight the foreign origin of the chairperson of an important armed group in the SoO camp and here is a case for Imphal to effectively highlight to New Delhi. The civil society organisations should also grab this opportunity and see what steps may be taken up to renew the call to abrogate the SoO pact, a call which rang out loud and clear during the early days of the ongoing conflict. Stay tuned to what is happening and take up steps accordingly is the suggestion that may be given to the different CSOs which have all emerged to bat for the understanding of Manipur. The call to get the SoO pact abrogated should go hand in had with the call for a National Register of Citizens. Imphal has more than indicated large scale influx from across the border and now is the time for the different CSOs to raise the call for an NRC a notch or two or three higher. The rapid increase in the number of new settlements, the rise in the number of Kuki-Chin MLAs in the 60 Member Assembly are the red flags which should be highlighted. The Government at Imphal should demonstrate that it has the capability to let its voice be heard in the corridors of power at New Delhi and this is the time to optimise the benefits of having a BJP led Government at Imphal too. The trust and confidence that was reposed and reflected in the 2022 Assembly elections should not be brushed aside so non-chalantly. Abrogate or review the SoO pact and conduct an NRC with the base year at 1952, as demanded by the civil society organisations. Such measures can go a long way in putting Manipur on the track of normalcy. The situation calls for some action and not just appeals and urgings to the people to ensure normalcy. Many have died, many have been rendered homeless and hundreds of houses have been levelled to the ground and it is against this reality that Manipur will have to return to a state of normalcy and for that to happen some proactive course of action is needed. Abrogate SoO and enforce an NRC here. This should be the calling card of Manipur now. A relatively new Nebraska Supreme Court rule making all court exhibits offered at hearings presumptively public records got what is believed to be its first ever hearing this week in a Lincoln murder case. Following Angelo Bol's bench trial to a judge last month, the Journal Star requested to review three of the exhibits that Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret will be basing her decision upon. At trial, Dr. Jennifer Cimpl-Bohn, director of forensic sciences at the Lincoln Regional Center, said in her medical opinion Bol was legally insane when he killed Kevin Carter on Nov. 6, 2020, in the prison cell they shared. She was the only witness. Unlike a jury trial, much of the evidence came in the form of exhibits jointly offered by attorneys for the state and the defense. The exhibits included police reports, prison records and Cimpl-Bohn's written report. Maret took the case under advisement and hasn't yet ruled. In the interim, the Journal Star requested to review three of the exhibits under Nebraska Supreme Court Rule 6-507, which was adopted Nov. 25, 2020. The rule says: "Unless nondisclosure or confidentiality is required by law or court rule, the following exhibits are presumed to be public records: (1) exhibits submitted in support of or in opposition to a motion; or (2) exhibits offered into evidence, whether or not admitted, in a court proceeding open to the public." The rule outlines limited exceptions in cases where the court finds a countervailing interest, for instance for confidentiality reasons, or if the release were to interfere with the "fair and orderly administration of justice," the protection of public safety or if the use of exhibits would be used for improper purposes. In Bol's case, the state objected, citing the "fair and orderly administration of justice" and public safety exclusions, prompting the need for Wednesday's hearing. "I think it's important that we have judicial oversight in these kinds of requests. Each and every case is going to be different," Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jim Rocke told Maret. He said he didn't have concerns with the reporter's motivations. "But I'm anticipating more and more of these kind of requests coming in the future. This is my first time dealing with this," Rocke said. "So I felt it was important to have some judicial guidance on how to deal with these situations and take them on a case-by-case basis." He said the exhibits requested include internal documentation from the Department of Correctional Services, home phone numbers for wardens and medical information about Bol, which he thought could be a HIPAA issue. But Bol, through his attorney, Todd Lancaster, chief counsel of the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy, didn't object to the release of the records. "Our view is ... they're presumed to be public and they should be available to the public, particularly the press," he said. He said there doesn't seem to be any way releasing the information would affect the court's decision. Attorney Daniel Gutman, director of the First Amendment Clinic at the University of Nebraska College of Law, and senior certified law student Alex Kleinjan represented the Journal Star at the hearing. "Exhibits are presumptively public," Gutman said. "It's their burden to give a sufficient showing to the court why the documents should not be public." He said he didn't think the state had shown their burden. "We also think there are First Amendment implications," Gutman said. He argued if the court had concerns with private information in the documents, like phone numbers, there's a middle ground to redact the information as opposed to withholding the entire exhibit from the public. Rocke, the prosecutor, said he didn't disagree that the documents could be redacted to alleviate the concerns and offered to work with the Department of Correctional Services. Maret asked if he anticipated that this would be an issue. "Do you offer your exhibits with the knowledge that once they leave your hand they become public record?" the judge asked. "I do now," Rocke said. He said he didn't know the rule existed before the notice was filed in this case. "I'm certainly going to be mindful going forward," he said. Rocke said he's concerned with the big picture because this is probably going to be coming up more and more. Maret said to seal or restrict access to the exhibits she has to find a countervailing interest. "They, down the street, think it's just a checklist," she said, referring to the Nebraska Supreme Court. "Actually, I believe it's a little more involved than that. And, Mr. Gutman is correct. It's the state's burden, or whoever objects, to present evidence to the court that the court can find that it needs to sustain or overrule the request." For now, Maret made the exhibits for attorneys' eyes only while they work through the redactions. She gave the attorneys a 30-day deadline to work out an agreement. Incarceration rate demographics in Nebraska 2022 Incarceration rate demographics in Nebraska Several lakh people have arrived from various parts of India to take the holy dip at Gangasagar on 15 January. As chief minister Mamata Banerjee already predicted, more than 40 lakh people will take the holy dip this year, according to estimates. The district administration of South 24-Parganas is expecting more than 60 lakh people to take the holy dip. For the mela, the entire square has been covered with security. Police camps have been set up at various places, and CCTV cameras have been installed for the fair. Surveillance is also going on through drones. State transport minister Snehasish Chakraborty and Sunderbans development minister Bankim Hazra supervised several spots of Gangasagar, especially visiting the Kapil Muni ashram to inspect the arrangement for pilgrims, as lakhs of devotees are coming from various parts of India to offer their puja at the sages ashram. As seashores 2, 3, and 3A were closed following the damage to embankments, the devotees queue was diverted to routes 5 and 6 for their hassle-free darshan. The district administration set up QR codes everywhere so pilgrims could find arrangements for drinking water and ambulances in their nearest locations. This year, the district administration installed signs and symbols everywhere to facilitate the journey of disabled persons. Meanwhile, the district magistrate of South 24 Parganas, Sumit Gupta, launched a no plastic campaign near Sagar panchayat samiti cottage, near the Temple Road. Several NGO workers and common people participated in the programme. Meanwhile, the NDRF team deployed 11 dedicated female NDRF personnel to manage any emergency during high tide, as a huge number of pilgrims were taking a bath at Sagar. Advertisement NDRF commander Puspendu Singh said that in a step towards women empowerment, they have deployed a woman team this year. We have more than 70 female personnel, who were trained regarding this management, he said. Two persons were also airlifted from Gangasagar to Kolkata following their emergency condition. They were dropped by a chopper at Dumurjala at Howrah, from where they were transported to MR Bangur Hospital for further treatment. The Winter Session of Parliament in December, last year saw the suspension of 146 opposition MPs, which, political observers feel, is unprecedented. The situation was so precarious that only 42 of the legislators from the INDIA bloc remained inside. The parliamentarians were raising their voices against the security breach inside the House. But what does this mean to Indian politics? With the Lok Sabha election due within a couple of months, would this have any impact on it? Experts feel, hardly. Advertisement Prof Zaad Mahmood of Presidency University feels this move will hardly have any impact on the people. What has happened in Indian polity is that the legislature has lost its relevance in politics, and this is not just in New Delhi. Nobody is interested in what goes on in the West Bengal legislative Assembly or in the debates and discussions in the Parliament, said the professor, adding that as the parties become dominant, the shine and glory of the legislature gets diminished in front of the executive. Prof Mahmood feels the suspensions would not have taken place without the Assembly results in the states which went to the polls recently. These suspensions are an assertion by a resurgent BJP and the Ram Mandir coming up. The move by the BJP is to incapacitate the Opposition before the polls, said he. Prof Mahmood feels the suspensions, in effect, might lead to the INDIA alliance firm up because of the high handedness of the government. If their existence of power is at stake then they have a greater interest to combine and oppose the bigger party. This has also happened during the Congress reign when Indira Gandhis assertion led to an anti-Congress alliance, said Mr Prof Mahmood. Jadavpur University professor Imankalyan Lahiri feels it is unfortunate that the Parliament move will make any dent with the majority of voters. Corruption is a major issue but we have seen even issues like Narada and Saradha scams had no impact on the votes. I dont think people are too bothered about corruption. It is unfortunate but true, said Prof Lahiri. The professor adds that there is an ethics committee in the LS. And you have to believe in the committee of you have faith in democracy. If they make a decision, we have nothing to say as a citizen. These suspensions have nothing to do with Bengal politics, even though their MPs are suspended. Calcutta University professor feels institutional structure of Indian democracy functions differently than the actual politics. Prof Asis Mistry said, The institutional process and the politics on the ground are moving in different directions. The brand of populism exists in India. The majority, minority binary is created in a way, it is hard to dismantle it and the rulers are very comfortable about it. Interestingly, if you look at it, they are not violating the institutional processes. They are playing small games with these institutions. They have snatched their autonomies. Through their brand of populist politics, they somehow regulated or controlled these institutions. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Textiles and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Sunday said the Food Corporation of India (FCI) should emerge as a trusted partner of farmers and people of the country. Delivering an address during 60th Foundation Day of the FCI here, Goyal said the corporation plays a crucial role in facilitating flagship schemes like Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) by providing ration to beneficiaries in every corner of the country. However, he emphasized that the role of the FCI is not only to deliver ration, but also to instill confidence in farmers and beneficiaries by bringing transparency, efficiency and accountability. Advertisement The Union Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to make India Corruption Free. To ensure this promise of Viksit Bharat, he called upon youngsters and staff of the FCI to bring transparency and become a whistleblower. Talking about the second area of priority, Goyal said the FCI needs to embrace digitization and technology by bringing quality. He said quality can be achieved in areas like inspection, procurement, transportation, distribution and storage. Goyal also suggested to reduce operational costs through route optimization, mechanised loading/unloading, innovative storage solutions and others. He said the FCIs Open Market Sale Scheme (Domestic) operations have also proved to be an effective tool in moderating the prices of essential commodities like wheat and rice to benefit consumers. Goyal added that Bharat Atta, Bharat Dal, interventions regarding Onion and Tomato has assisted Government of India in price stabilization. He said the FCI has provided fair value of farmers produce and ensured no farmer should take up distress sale. The Union Minister said the Corporation should collectively continue to work towards strengthening dialogue with the farmers. He further added the FCI has now entered the modern era operations, adopting digitization, streamlining the procurement process, setting up state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, streamlining food grains procurement, construction of steel silos for better storage, installing CCTV cameras for better monitoring thereby, bettering infrastructure. Present during the event was Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sanjeev Chopra, Secretary Department of Food and Public Distribution, Ashok KK Meena, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) FCI and other officers and staff. Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has urged the judiciary not to order demolition of any jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) cluster in Delhi until in-situ house is provided to the slum-dwellers as provided under the law. The Delhi Cabinet minister alleged that the DDA, Railways, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and the Delhi Police are demolishing slums in violation of the countrys laws, court orders, and humanitarian principles. Expressing his concern, the minister further added that in the Safdarjung Flying Clubs slum cluster, the Railways has issued a notice stating that people should evacuate on their own, while the responsibility for rehabilitation lies with the Central government. Advertisement Bharadwaj alleged that the Central governments agencies have rendered countless people homeless in Sunder Nursery, Tughlaqabad, Mehrauli, Vasant Vihar, and Priyanka Colony. For the last few months, it has been observed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government agencies like ASI, Railways, Delhi Development Authority, Land and Development Organisation are conspiring to demolish JJ clusters wherever they are on their lands, he said. Bharadwaj said the law of the country and the law of Delhi are very clear that notified JJ clusters in Delhi can be demolished only when the dwellers are rehabilitated at the same place. This means that legally these clusters are old but before they are demolished, the people living in those JJ clusters will have to be given houses in-situ, he said. Launching AAPs campaign, Ghar bachao, BJP hatao on Sunday against the BJP-ruled Central governments policy to render Delhis slum-dwellers homeless, Bharadwaj met the people who live in jhuggis behind the Safdarjung Flying Club. In the ongoing crackdown on criminal gangs in the national capital, the Delhi Polices Crime Branch has arrested a member of the Kala Jathedi-Raju Basodi-Anil Chipi gang, the police said on sunday. Identified as Vicky alias Kartoos, the accused wanted in a murder case registered in Rajasthan was nabbed following a shootout during the wee hours on Sunday, a police official said. The accused is a resident of Haryanas Rohtak and wanted in many cases of heinous crimes including murder extortion and other crimes, the police said. Advertisement According to a senior police official, the Crime Branch had a specific input that Vicky would go to Dwarka via Chhawla Drain area to execute a crime. Six pistols and 17 live rounds were recovered from the possession the arrested gangster. He was intercepted at the Chhawla drain area at around 2.45 am. When the police team asked him to surrender, the accused opened fire and shot four rounds at the cops. In self defence, the police team returned the fire, successfully apprehending the accused along with his illegal weapons and ammunition, a senior police official said. Later during questioning, Vicky revealed that in 2018, he was released on bail in a murder case, and had started working as a financier. He was tasked to provide logistics and shooters for extortion activities in the Delhi/NCR area on a contract basis with the above mentioned gangs, the police said. In November 2023, the accused was hired by a lawyer to execute a rival, wherein he allegedly committed a murder during a wedding function in Rajasthan. In the same incident an Army man and Uttar Pradesh Police official were also injured with gun shots, the police added. The accused came in contact with Raju Basodi in Sonipat jail, who introduced him to Kala Jathedi and Anil Chippi. To earn easy money, he started working with them to gain easy fame and name while he started recruiting the foot soldiers for the gang who were capable to execute the tasks given to them, the police added. (The Journal Star is publishing a selection of older Jim McKee columns every other week. This one appeared Jan. 12, 2014.) During World War II, Nebraska, like many states, especially in the Midwest, became the site for U.S. military industries and training facilities. Not only was Nebraska a major producer of aircraft, pilot-training airfields and munitions plants, but it also was a major source of womens entry into the workforce, many for the first time. Some of the wartime activity left visible artifacts, such as the Hastings Ordnance Depot and Martin Aircraft plant in Omaha, while others largely have disappeared and, like the ordnance plant at Grand Island, gradually are being forgotten. With Americans entry into WWII, Nebraska and much of the countrys middle states were given emphasis for military sites as being far removed from the more vulnerable sea coasts. For this reason as well as its large unpopulated areas, Nebraska was of prime interest not only for training and aircraft manufacturing but also for the production of explosives, mines and artillery shells. With more than 60 ordnance plants established within months, Nebraska became home to four: the smallest at Mead, the largest near Hastings as well as the Sioux Ordnance Depot at Sidney and lastly the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant west of Grand Island. In investigating sites, the Grand Island location was considered ideal because it was served by two transcontinental railroads, was equidistant from the coasts, was almost perfectly flat, had an inexhaustible source of water, sat on good highway access, was not too close to other similar plants and was not near a major metropolitan city, yet had good sources for a nonmilitary labor force. Thus in 1940 a large tract about five miles west of Grand Island on Old Highway 2, the Old Potash Highway and midway between the Union Pacific and Burlington Railroads was considered almost perfect. In 1942, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began buying about 20 square miles of farm land, including houses, barns and buildings for which they ultimately would pay $912,233. The original estimates said that the resultant construction could reach $28 million and have a payroll of about $100,000 per day. In late February and early March, construction contracts were let to firms in Minnesota, Colorado, Missouri and Nebraska for production facilities, administration buildings and four dormitories. A 6-mile-long north/south rail connection also was begun to meet the Burlingtons line on the north at Ovina and the Union Pacific line on the south at Alda. Construction of structures began on March 7 with a mixture of temporary wood and permanent concrete buildings, which were virtually all completed by that October. Production workers were hired at 60 cents to 70 cents an hour or nearly double what was then being paid at Grand Island. Also, many of the employees were women, which freed up men for other wartime work as well as the military. For many of the women, known as WOWs or Women Ordnance Workers, it was their entry into outside employment. Thus began a trend that completely changed Americas postwar workforce. Workers at the ordnance plant were part of a three-shift force with a basic 48-hour workweek, which would reach 4,229 workers at its peak. The plants primary description was to load, assemble and pack bombs produce auxiliary boosters as well as ammonium nitrate [and] TNT [to be] loaded into bombs. One product, called Amatol, was a mixture of ammonium nitrate and TNT, which extended and conserved critical TNT. Initially the operating contract for the Grand Island facility was issued to the Q.O. Ordnance Co., interestingly a division of the Quaker Oats Co. that was chosen not for its experience in bomb production, which was considered trainable, but for its administration expertise, which was universally applicable. The first bomb, a 1,000-pound explosive, was finished Nov. 11, 1942. As an aside, it was said that workers at the plant could easily be spotted because working with the chemicals turned their skin kind of yellowish green and even altered hair color. As production reached its peak, the area became a virtual small city unto itself, even issuing its own newspaper the Coplanter. With additional construction during its life, the original 545 buildings on the 11,936-acre site grew to about 645 with 15 miles of electrical distribution lines and 12 miles of sanitary sewers. In August 1945, with VJ Day, the Cornhusker Ordnance Plant closed, having manufactured 90-, 220-, 260-, 1,000- and 2,000-pound bombs. Two weeks later, the U.S. Army began salvage operations. Though the property was first put up for sale, its status was changed to standby. Portions were leased for storage and other uses, while some production of ammonium nitrate for use as fertilizer continued. Leases were terminated, and the plant was reactivated by the army in 1950 to produce rockets and artillery shells during the Korean War. After again being put on standby in 1956, the plant was once again reactivated in September 1965 as the only American bomb-loading facility during the Vietnam War. After again closing in October 1973 the facility was declared surplus property in 1981. The Journal Star's most memorable photos of 2023 In a recent interview, Agastya Nanda, the grandson of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, candidly shared that he remained blissfully unaware of his grandfathers towering fame for a significant part of his childhood. The revelation came to him rather unexpectedly, with the first hints emerging during a special visit by the senior Bachchan to Agastyas school in Delhi. Recalling the unassuming atmosphere within his family, Agastya noted that discussions about work were strictly left outside the home. His grandfather, whom he affectionately refers to as nanu, maintained a deliberate separation between his professional and personal life. This approach created an environment where Agastya perceived Amitabh Bachchan as just a regular grandfather, leading to a lack of awareness regarding the immense popularity his nanu enjoyed in the outside world. The turning point came during a school event, specifically the grandparents day celebration. When Amitabh Bachchan made a surprise appearance, the reaction from the crowd perplexed Agastya. He couldnt comprehend why everyone around him suddenly erupted with excitement and admiration. It was in that moment that the young Bachchan scion had an epiphany his grandfather was not an ordinary individual but an iconic figure who commanded adoration from a vast audience. Advertisement The realization deepened as Agastya delved into the world of cinema. As he began watching films, he gradually recognized the exceptional talent his grandfather possessed. The nonchalant acknowledgment of his grandfathers stardom gave way to a profound appreciation for the senior Bachchans acting prowess. Agastya Nanda recently made his debut in the film industry with a noteworthy role in Zoya Akhtars coming-of-age period film, The Archies, which premiered on Netflix India last month. Being the third generation to step into the acting arena within the illustrious Bachchan family, Agastya appears poised to carry forward the legacy established by his iconic grandfather. This revelation offers a glimpse into the unique dynamics of the Bachchan household, where normalcy prevailed despite the extraordinary nature of Amitabh Bachchans fame. Agastyas journey of discovery, from a grandfather who seemed like any other to recognizing him as a cinematic legend, adds a personal touch to the larger-than-life narrative of the Bachchan legacy. Hema Malini, BJP MP, is set to showcase a dance drama based on the Hindu epic Ramayana in Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ram Mandir, scheduled for January 22, 2024. Expressing her excitement in a video message, Hema Malini mentioned, I am coming to Ayodhya for the first time during the pranpratishtha of Ram Temple, an event awaited by people for years. On January 17, Ill be presenting a dance drama based on Ramayana in Ayodhya Dham. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the ceremony at the Ram Temple on January 22. The event has attracted significant attention, with invitations extended to several VVIP guests from India and abroad. Advertisement #WATCH | BJP leader Hema Malini says, "I am coming to Ayodhya for the first time at the time of the 'pranpratishtha' of Ram Temple for which people were waiting for yearsOn January 17, I'll be presenting a dance drama based on Ramayana in Ayodhya Dham" (Source: Hema pic.twitter.com/TjY34WTFNO ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2024 Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla (infant Lord Ram) in Ayodhya will commence on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. Varanasi-based priest Lakshmi Kant Dixit will conduct the primary rituals on January 22. Ayodhya will observe the Amrit Mahotsav from January 14 to January 22. Organizers plan a 1008 Hundi Mahayagya, providing provisions to feed thousands of devotees. Ayodhya is preparing for the influx of devotees, setting up tent cities to accommodate the expected crowd. The Sri Ram Janambhoomi Trust aims to facilitate arrangements for 10,000-15,000 people. Local authorities are actively implementing enhanced security measures and logistical arrangements to ensure a smooth and spiritually enriching experience for all attendees during the grand ceremony. (ANI) Also Read: I could have spoken personally to you but: Dharmendra pens emotional note for wife Hema, daughters Esha, Ahana Vikrant Massey, who succeeded in 12th Fail, has now embraced a new venture in the world of cinema, as he has officially joined hands with the renowned film producer Ekta R Kapoor for an upcoming socio-political thriller. This film, yet to receive a title, delves into a shocking true story from the early 2000s that reverberated across the nation, leaving an indelible mark on the political landscape of India. The visionary director behind this project is none other than Ranjan Chandel, celebrated for his directorial prowess in the widely acclaimed digital series, Grahan. Ekta R Kapoor, known for her bold and innovative choices, expressed her enthusiasm about bringing this compelling narrative to the silver screen. Despite years of heated debates surrounding the incident, no filmmaker has dared to tackle this sensitive subject until now. Ekta, renowned for her risk-taking attitude, has taken the plunge to back this unique story, promising a cinematic spectacle. The screenplay, meticulously crafted, left even Vikrant Massey astonished when he first laid eyes on it. Described as a hard-hitting narrative, the film unfolds with the backdrop of a true event, providing ample room for a riveting performance. Beyond appealing to his creative sensibilities, the script resonates deeply with the actor, offering the potential for a robust and multifaceted portrayal. Advertisement The collaboration between Vikrant, Ekta, and Ranjan has been in the works for several months, marked by numerous brainstorming sessions. Eager to bring this compelling tale to life, the trio is gearing up to commence filming in the coming months. The project is ready to be produced under the banner of Balaji Pictures, an emblem of quality in the Indian film industry. As the curtains rise on this socio-political thriller, audiences can anticipate a cinematic experience that not only captivates with its narrative depth but also showcases Vikrant Massey in a role that promises to be a defining moment in his already illustrious career. With Ekta R Kapoors bold vision and Ranjan Chandels directorial finesse, this film is ready to make a significant impact in the realm of Indian cinema. In a candid revelation, Kit Harington, renowned for his role as Jon Snow in HBOs Game of Thrones, recently shared the profound impact of fame on his mental health and the subsequent battle with alcoholism. Speaking on the Hidden 20% wellness podcast, Harington opened up about his tumultuous journey, disclosing that the intense fame stemming from the wildly popular series became a catalyst for mental health struggles. The actor disclosed that in 2019, he confronted his alcoholism and sought rehabilitation, where he received an unexpected diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Reflecting on the pivotal moment, Harington recounted, I realized that my life was hinging on this. Luckily, it was the right place at the right time. I managed to forge a new life from there. He revealed that he initially entered rehab inebriated, only to sober up and decide to take charge of his life. Choosing to confront his challenges head-on, Harington opted for a second rehab stint where he was formally diagnosed with ADHD. Despite an initial attempt to handle it independently, he acknowledged the futility of this approach after four years. The actor expressed gratitude for the transformative experience, stating, Ill try to deal with this by myself, emphasizing the importance of seeking professional assistance. Advertisement Currently, Harington proudly attests to a life of sobriety and mindfulness, actively focusing on his 2-year-old son and 6-month-old daughter, whom he shares with his Game of Thrones co-star and wife, Rose Leslie. The actors battle with ADHD manifests as occasional restlessness, especially during playful moments with his children, as he humorously admitted, My head wants to go to every other thing in the room at once. Game of Thrones catapulted Kit Harington into instantaneous fame, a phenomenon that he found challenging to navigate. Attempting to project an image of utter sophistication and coolness, the actor confessed to harboring underlying fears. As the series approached its conclusion, the actor found himself spiraling into a dangerous rabbit hole of self-doubt and scrutiny. Reflecting on this period, he noted, You find all of the bad stuff that people are saying as well as the nice stuff. In the wake of these revelations, reports suggest that HBO is contemplating a Jon Snow spinoff, adding an intriguing layer to Haringtons post-Game of Thrones journey. In a dazzling intersection of Hollywood and music, Selena Gomez is set to step into the shoes of the legendary Linda Ronstadt in an upcoming biopic, as reported by various credible sources. The multi-talented Gomez took to her Instagram story to confirm the news, sharing a post from Variety that officially spilled the beans on this exciting cinematic endeavor. Linda Ronstadt, an iconic figure in the realms of rock n roll and country, will have her remarkable journey brought to life on the silver screen by Gomez. Ronstadt, a recipient of 11 Grammy Awards, not only made waves with her musical prowess but also embraced her Mexican heritage, delving into the realm of Spanish-language music later in her illustrious career. The announcement came out on Ronstadts own words, shared on her Instagram, where she reflected on the inception of her extraordinary journey. The project, still in its nascent stages, leaves fans eagerly awaiting news on the director and the additional cast members. However, it has come out that James Keach, the producer behind the acclaimed documentary Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice, and John Boylan, Ronstadts manager, are both parts of the project. Notably, a distributor is yet to come on board, adding an air of anticipation to the unfolding cinematic venture. Advertisement The collaboration between Gomez and Ronstadt, both of Mexican descent, goes beyond the screen. A note on Boylans company, Great Eastern Musics website, shared that the two stars spent valuable time at Ronstadts residence, delving into discussions about the upcoming project and building a deeper understanding of each other. Linda Ronstadt, who bid farewell to the stage over a decade ago due to a Parkinsons Disease diagnosis, witnessed a resurgence in her classic track Long Long Time after its feature on the HBO series The Last of Us last year. A pivotal moment in her career came in 2014 when she solo inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by none other than the Eagles Glenn Frey. As the project gains momentum, Gomez, renowned not only for her vocal prowess but also for her acting talents, continues to make waves. Her nomination at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role in the Hulu show Only Murders in the Building is a testament to her versatile and accomplished career. In the confluence of two remarkable talents, the Selena Gomez-led Linda Ronstadt biopic promises to be a cinematic celebration of music, heritage, and the indomitable spirit of two extraordinary women. Hours after quitting the Congress party, former Union minister Milind Deora on Sunday joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena in Mumbai. Deora said that he believed in the politics of GAIN and not that of PAIN. I believe in the politics of GAIN Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I dont believe in the politics of PAIN Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity, he said. Soon after joining Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde), Deora launched a scathing attack on Congress, accusing the party of having the only goal of attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Advertisement The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it, he said. The Congress turncoat also praised the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and asserted that India has become stronger in the last 10 years. A strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger todayI would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars, he said. Speaking at the event, Shinde said that he understands Deoras feelings as he himself went through the same 1.5 years ago. The Maharashtra CM was apparently refering to his rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray. The feelings that you (Milind Deora) have in your mind today are the same that I had 1.5 years back. Such situations arise when a decision has to be made, the Shiv Sena chief said. Encouraged by the positive response Prime Minister Narendra Modi received during his recent visit to Kochi and Trissur, the BJP leadership in Kerala seems determined to overturn the partys history of electoral setbacks in the state. The success of PM Modis spectacular roadshow in Trissur on 3 January has inspired the party leadership to organise more such roadshows featuring PM Modi at various places across the state. The Prime Minister is scheduled to take part in a roadshow in Kochi on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, Modi will attend the marriage ceremony of actor Suresh Gopis daughter at the Guravayur Sree Krishna temple in Trissur. Modis presence at the wedding of Suresh Gopis daughter appears to be a calculated political move as Suresh Gopi is likely to be declared as the BJP candidate for Trissur Lok Sabha constituency. With Modi attending the marriage of Suresh Gopis daughter, the event is sure to be transformed into a campaign platform for the actor-politician. Advertisement After attending the marriage ceremony on Wednesday, the Prime Minister will proceed to Kochi where he will address the booth-level office bearers of the BJP at Marine Drive. The state unit BJP will use the Modi Ki Guarantee slogan, which proved to be a success in the recent Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Rajasthan, in Kerala as well to reach out to the voters. According to reports, efforts are also being made to ensure PM Modi visits the capital city next month. Modi visited the Guruvayur temple for the first time after his swearing-in as the Prime Minister in 2019. This time, Modi will visit Guruvayur before the general election. BJP leaders in Kerala claim that the party got a positive response from the Christian community through its Christian outreach programme in the state. Speculation is rife that the PM might meet some Church leaders during his visit to Kochi on Tuesday. In 2019, the partys vote share in Kerala was 15.53 per cent. However, BJP leaders claimed that a recent survey conducted by the party shows more than twice this percentage support PM Modi in the state. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has predicted that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would emerge as the single largest party in 2024 Lok Sabha elections but may not get enough seats to form government on its own, thus, giving the Opposition a chance to form government. Addressing the India: The Future is Now session during the ongoing Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), Tharoor said, I still expect that the BJP will emerge as the single-largest party. But I do believe their numbers can be brought down to a level where their potential allies required to form a government may no longer be willing to ally with them and may be willing to ally with us. So we have to give it a try. As many as 28 Opposition parties, including the Congress, have formed an alliance named INDIA to take on the mighty Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Advertisement The Opposition is hoping to turn the tide by contesting the polls together. However, Tharoor felt that an alliance between the two INDIA allies the Congress and CPI(M) in Kerala is almost impossible. In Kerala, it is almost impossible to imagine the two major opponents, CPI(M) and Congress, agreeing on seat-sharing. However, in Tamil Nadu, CPI, CPI(M), Congress, and DMK are allied together with no dispute, Tharoor stated. The Congress MP from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram candidly acknowledged the differences between INDIA alliance partners while deciding the seat-sharing agreement. He expressed hope that the Opposition could reach sufficient agreements in order to avoid preventable defeats in several states. The BJP refers to it as people abandoning a sinking ship, while the Congress asserts that leaders fearing the saffron party are welcome to leave, perpetuating the cycle of prominent leaders quitting the grand old party. From stalwarts like Kapil Sibal and Ghulam Nabi Azad to young guns like Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada, several high-profile leaders have severed ties with the Congress in recent years. The latest addition to the list is former Union Minister and senior Maharashtra leader Milind Deora, once a prominent member of Team Rahul Gandhi. Advertisement The son of the Congress stalwart late Murli Deora, Milind Deora announced his resignation from the Congress on Sunday in a social media post, marking the end of his familys 55-year association with the party. Deora expressed gratitude to leaders, colleagues, and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years. He is expected to join the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. The trend continues: Kapil Sibal: The former Union Minister, once one of the Congresss most prominent leaders, ended his decades-long association with the party on May 16, 2022. He made the announcement six days after his resignation and filed his Rajya Sabha nomination as an independent, supported by the Samajwadi Party. Ghulam Nabi Azad: His resignation marked one of the biggest exits from the saffron party. The former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir reportedly grew upset over the overall functioning of the Congress. Azad formed his own political outfit Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Progressive Azad Party. Jyotiraditya Scindia: Once close to Rahul Gandhi, Scindia not only resigned from the Congress but also engineered a rebellion against the Madhya Pradesh government. He joined the BJP and was soon rewarded with a Union ministers post. Hardik Patel: Brought into the Congress fold by Rahul Gandhi in 2019, the Gujarat leader resigned from the party in 2022 and joined the BJP. Ashwani Kumar: The former Union Minister quit the Congress in February 2022, just days before the assembly elections in Punjab. Sunil Jakhar: A senior Congress leader from Punjab, Jakhar quit the party in 2022, joining the BJP and currently serving as the Punjab chief of the saffron party. RPN Singh: Another member of Team Rahul Gandhi, Singh left the Congress to join hands with the BJP in 2022, reportedly upset over being sidelined by the Congress party. Jitin Prasada: A close associate of Rahul Gandhi, Prasada quit the Congress in 2022 and joined the BJP. Anil Antony: His resignation even surprised his father, Congress veteran AK Antony, who was caught unaware of his sons sudden switch to the BJP. Sushmita Dev: The president of Congress partys womens wing, Dev quit the grand old party in August 2021 and joined the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha paid tribute to the brave martyrs on the occasion of the Armed Forces Veterans Day and interacted with veterans, Veer Naris, and the next of kin of the bravehearts at the Raj Bhavan here on Sunday. The nation will forever remain indebted to our soldiers, who are safeguarding the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. Welfare of the ex-servicemen is the top priority of the administration, the Lt Governor said. J&K has witnessed drastic improvements in the last four years, for which you all have worked throughout your life. Today, Jammu & Kashmir is marching ahead on the path of growth and prosperity. After Independence, J&K has seen the highest footfall of tourists, he said. Advertisement Police, Army, and CAPFs are working in coordination to defeat the nefarious attempts of the neighboring country to disrupt peace in Jammu & Kashmir. Terrorism is breathing its last breath. I am confident that our ex-servicemen will continue to make their important contribution in the fight against terrorism, the Lt Governor said. He appealed to all citizens to generously contribute towards the welfare of ex-servicemen and Veer Naris. It is our collective responsibility and our foremost duty to ensure that our veterans and the families of our martyrs live a life of dignity, he said. He assured every support from the administration in terms of the availability of land for Sainik Colonies in both the regions of Jammu and Kashmir. We are also determined to increase the ex gratia as a mark of respect to our Army bravehearts, he added. The Lt Governor also honoured the Veer Naris on the occasion. The dignitaries present on the occasion included Lt Gen RK Sharma (Retd.); Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to Lt Governor; Brigadier Gurmeet Singh Shan (Retd.), Director Sainik Welfare Department, J&K; Brig. Anil Gupta (Retd.) and officials of the Sainik Welfare Department in J&K. Gov. Jim Pillen declared an emergency Saturday as state and county crews worked to dig out from the "crippling storm" that struck Nebraska Thursday and Friday. He and other state leaders gathered at the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency Headquarters to provide updates on their efforts and to urge that Nebraskans stay home and have patience. "The best thing we can do right now is stay home and stay in your house," Pillen said. "Once the wind stops blowing, then we can go out and we can start helping neighbors and we can make sure that we get back to normal as quick as possible." State Transportation Director Vicki Kramer said that, as of Saturday afternoon, there were 1,700 miles of state roads closed and impassable. Most of the closures were east of Highway 281, which runs north and south through Grand Island. She said the Department of Transportation has 370 plows at work in eastern Nebraska opening up state roads but she predicted it will be days before everything can be cleared. She said crews have had little rest since an earlier storm hit at the beginning of the week. "There's no question everybody's worn out," Pillen said. Nebraska State Patrol Superintendent John Bolduc said troopers have assisted more than 400 motorists since the most recent storm began on Thursday. The number of assists is approaching 1,000 for the week. "Troopers have encountered hundreds of motorists who thought it was safe to travel," he said. Among them was an adult and child in Saunders County who had been stuck overnight while crews tried to reach them. Bolduc said they were six miles away from any clear road and the drifts were too high for plows. He said crews were working to bring in blowers that could tackle the drifts. He said he hoped the pair, who were in communication with emergency personnel, could be reached by mid-afternoon. Photos and videos: Winter storm brings heavy snow, winds to Lincoln The government of Maldives has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from Maldivian land by March 15. There are some 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives. According to local media reports, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has formally conveyed this to India. Addressing a press conference, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the Maldivian Presidents Office said, Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration. Advertisement Soon after being elected as the president, Muizzu had asked India to withdraw its troops from the archipelagic state. Following his request, both India and Maldives had formed a high-level committee to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. Earlier today, the committee, according to the reports, held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male. During the meeting, which was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, Male formally gave New Delhi the mid-March deadline. The development comes in the backdrop of a diplomatic row between India and Maldive over derogatory remarks against PM Modi by some of Muizzu governments ministers. It also came just days after Muizzu returned from China. The new Maldivian president is perceived to be pro-China. Addressing a press conference at the Velana International Airport upon his return to Maldives from a five-day China visit, Muizzu said, We may be small but this doesnt give them the license to bully us. Without taking Indias name, the Maldivian leader further asserted that the Indian Ocean doesnt belong to any specific country and that Maldives is one of the countries with the biggest share. Though we have small islands in this ocean, we have a vast exclusive economic zone of 900,000 square kilometers. Maldives is one of the countries with the biggest share of this ocean, he was quoted as saying by a local daily. As the sun embarks on its journey northward, the vibrant festival of Pongal is set to illuminate households and hearts from Sun, Jan 14, 2024, to Wed, Jan 17, 2024. Known as Thai Pongal, this multi-day Hindu harvest festival holds deep cultural significance for Tamils worldwide. Falling in the month of Thai according to the Tamil solar calendar, Pongal is dedicated to Surya, the Sun God, and aligns with Makar Sankranti, celebrated under various regional names across India. The festival unfolds over three or four days, featuring Bhogi, Surya Pongal, Maatu Pongal, and Kaanum Pongal, each observed on consecutive days. Families come together to express gratitude for the blessings of the harvest and bask in the warmth of cherished traditions. Here is how you can wish your friends and family on Pongal 2024: May the festival of Pongal bring you prosperity, joy, and good fortune. Happy Pongal! Advertisement As the sun starts its journey northward, may your life be filled with the warmth of happiness and success. Pongal wishes to you and your family! On this auspicious occasion, may the blessings of the harvest season fill your home with abundance and your heart with gratitude. Happy Pongal! Pongal is not just a festival; its a time to give thanks for the blessings of the harvest and the warmth of family and friends. May the sweet taste of Pongal fill your life with sweetness and joy. Wishing you a bountiful harvest season! Pongal is a time to celebrate the hard work of farmers and the abundance of nature. Lets express our gratitude for the gifts we have received. Embracing the harvest vibes and celebrating the spirit of Pongal! #HappyPongal May the festival of Pongal fill your days with happiness, your heart with love, and your home with prosperity. #PongalCelebration Grateful for the bountiful harvest and the love of family and friends. Wishing everyone a Pongal filled with joy and abundance! Celebrating the richness of the harvest season and the warmth of family bonds. Happy Pongal to all my dear ones! Lets come together to thank the farmers for their hard work and appreciate the abundance that nature provides. Happy Pongal, everyone! May the festival of Pongal bring new beginnings and the promise of a brighter future. Wishing you all a harvest of happiness and success! #PongalFestival Feel free to share these heartwarming wishes, quotes, and statuses with your loved ones to spread the joy and festive spirit of Pongal 2024! Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said the festival of Pongal reflects the national spirit of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat. He said a similar spirit can be witnessed in the tradition started by Kashi-Tamil Sangamam and Saurashtra-Tamil Sangamam which records enthusiastic participation by people from the Tamil community in large numbers. This feeling of unity is the biggest force to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047. The main element of the Panch Pran that I have invoked from the Red Fort is to energise the unity of the country and to strengthen the unity, the Prime Minister said while taking part in Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister L Murugan in the national capital. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes on the occasion of Pongal and said the festive fervour can be witnessed emanating from every home in Tamil Nadu. Advertisement Modi wished for a continuous flow of the stream of happiness, prosperity and contentment in the lives of all citizens. Observing the tradition of drawing Kolam outside the houses by women from the Tamil community during Pongal celebrations, the Prime Minister dwelt on the process and noted that the design is laid by making multiple dots on the ground using flour, each one having a different significance, but the real look of the Kolam becomes more magnificent when all these dots are joined and filled with colour to create a big artwork. Drawing similarities to Indias diversity with Kolam, Modi said when every corner of the country connects emotionally with each other, the nations strength appears in a new form. He expressed delight in recognising similar faces and recalled meeting them during Tamil Puthandu celebrations last year. Thanking Union Minister L Murugan for extending the invitation to todays event, Modi said the feeling is similar to celebrating festivities with family and friends. Quoting great saint Thiruvalluvar, the Prime Minister highlighted the role of educated citizens, honest businessmen and a good crop in nation-building and said during Pongal, fresh crop is offered to god which puts Annadata Kisans at the centre of this festive tradition. He underlined the rural, crop and farmer connection of every festival of India. Modi recalled how last time he had talked about the connection between millets and Tamil traditions. He expressed happiness that there is a new awareness about the superfood Shri Anna and many youth have taken up startup ventures on millets Shri Anna. The Prime Minister informed that more than three crore farmers involved in millet farming are directly benefiting from millet promotion. He also noted the Lohri celebrations that took place yesterday, the festive occasion of Makar Uttarayan today, Makar Sankranti to be celebrated tomorrow and the onset of Magh Bihu very soon. The Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes to all citizens for the ongoing festive period in the country. Modi concluded with a call for re-dedicating ourselves to the resolution of strengthening the unity of the nation on this auspicious occasion of Pongal. CPI-M Kerala secretary MV Govindan on Sunday termed the investigation initiated by the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs against Exalogic Solutions, a company owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter Veena T, as politically motivated. Speaking to media persons here, MV Govindan termed the Centres probe against Veena Ts company as politically motivated. The BJP government at the Centre has been using central probe agencies for political gains. Exalogic Solutions is facing a probe as the Chief Ministers daughter owns it. It is a clear case of political vengeance, Govindan said. Advertisement Stating that the probe against Exalogic Solutions wont affect the party, Govindan said the CPI-M is not scared of the probe. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has ordered a probe against Exalogic Solutions, owned by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayans daughter Veena T, for allegedly receiving payment from Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL) without providing any service. A three-member panel, comprising Karnataka deputy registrar of Companies Varun BS, Chennai deputy director KM Sanker Narayan, and Pondicherry registrar of companies A Gokulnath, will conduct the probe. The inquiry panel has been asked to submit the report within four months. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday arrived in Manipurs Thoubal to kick-start his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, one of the grand old partys biggest public outreach programme ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024. From Manipur to Mumbai, the yatra will cover around 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, going through 110 districts. Upon his arrival in Imphal, the Congress leader recieved warm welcome from party workers in Manipur. Advertisement #WATCH | Congress MP Rahul Gandhi receives a warm welcome from party leaders and workers as he arrives in Manipurs Imphal He will kick-start Bharat Jodo Nyaya Yatra from Manipurs Thoubal today. The yatra will cover over 6,700 kilometres over 67 days, going through 110 pic.twitter.com/dq7mDfknjB ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2024 The flagging-off ceremony of the yatra has been moved to Thoubal from Imphal after Manipur government denied permission citing security reasons. The BJP-led state government has also imposed several restrictions on the yatra event. As per the government restrictions, the flagging-off ceremony should not take longer than one hour. The administration has also restricted the number of participants to 3000 due to prevailing law and order situation. There shall be no anti-national or communal or any adverse slogan during the rally and the Yatra and the organisers should fully cooperate with the state authorities, the Thoubal administrations order read. The permission for the Yatra will stand cancelled if any situation arose warranting such gathering to be disassembled in order to maintain peace, public order and tranquility in the area, it added. This is the second-leg of Gandhis pan-India Bharat Jodo Yatra, which was conducted from Kanya Kumari to Kashmir and covered 35,00 km over 12 states in around 150 days. The yatra will pass through 15 districts, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat before concluding in Maharashtra. Badshah Khan furthered his nationalistic agenda by forming a group of young people who also tried to advance the cause of social progress and justice. All these were aimed at teaching the Pakhtoon people principles of industry, economy and self-reliance. Khan met Gandhiji and Nehru at this time and this friendship was to last for their lifetime. The formation of the Red Shirts or Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) played an unforgettable role in Indias free- dom struggle and promoted Khans ideas of social reform, unity, independence and non- violence. A Khudai Khidmatgar, Khan felt, had first to be a man of God or a servant of humanity which would demand of him purity in thought and action accompa- nied by non-stop honest and selfless work. The volunteers, therefore, had to learn some skills to be offered to millions of people. Khan told his followers: A per- son who renounces the sword dare not remain idle for a single minute. Idleness corrodes the soul and the intellect. A person who has renounced violence will take the name of God with every breath and do his work all the twenty-four hours. Besides believing that lear- ning skills like spinning and weaving could promote the cau- se of peace, Frontier Gandhi also pushed for the ideal of self-suffi- ciency: We will wear only the clothes that we ourselves pro- duce, eat only such fruits and vegetables as we raise there and set up a small dairy to provide us with milk. We will deny our- selves what we cannot ourselves produce. Khudai Khidmatgars were highly disciplined and had their own flags, initially red and later tricolour, and bands of bagpipes and drums. They seemed like an unarmed army of peace and the emphasis of their training was on forbearance and tolerance. Each member took an oath: We are the army of God, / By death or wealth unmoved, / We march, our leader and we, / Ready to die. Khan, a devout Muslim, taught his people that being a Muslim meant complete sub- mission to Gods will. He would say: I give you the weapon of the Prophet, patience and right- eousness. No power on earth can stand against it. Not only Islam, Ghaffar Khan believed that all religions are benevolent: Every religion that has come into the world has brought the mes- sage of love and brotherhood. Tho- se who are indif- ferent to the wel- fare of their fellow- men and whose hearts are empty of love do not know the meaning of religion. The conviction in non- violence on the part of Khan was an unusual one as the society he be- longed to was not much accustomed to it. But, for Khan, non-violence was not merely a belief; it was a way of life. He was ready to cou- nter any charge against it: Some remarked that the Pakh- toons are a brave and powerful people, but Ghaffar Khan wants to turn them cowards The fact of the matter is non-violence is a great force in itself, just as vio- lence is a force. The difference is that the weapon of non-violence is preaching or tabligh, while the weapon of violence is the gun. Not only men, a large number of women too joined Khans movement as it promoted equ- ality for women and female edu- cation. Pathan women partici- pating in non-violent campai- gns would frequently take their stand facing the police or lie down in orderly lines holding copies of the Quran. The British, however, thou- ght of Ghaffar Khans movement as a ruse. To them, a non-violent Pathan was unthinkable, a fraud that masked something cunning and darkly treacherous. In the most horrifying case, the British killed about 400 Khi- dmatgar members in Peshawar on 23 April 1930. The massacre at the Qissa Khawani Bazaar became a defining moment in the non-violent struggle to drive the British out of India. In the face of raining bullets of the British rulers the Khidmatgars showed utmost patience and commitment to the ideal of non-violence, chanting Gods name as they went to their death. The mas- sacre reminded everyone of the show of British brutality at Jallian- wala Bagh. When the co- ercive tactics of the British failed, they played the communal game for breaking the movement. But Khan, though a devout Muslim, had a universalis- tic approach. He said that all revealed reli- gions have come to us from God. They have come in order to bring unity, love and amity in this worldIt is incumbent upon the followers of all religions to rid the world of hate and intol- erance. He continued to work for religious harmony even when he was in jail. He requested the jail authorities to arrange the teach- ing of Quran for the Hindus and Bhagavad Gita for the Muslims. Khan himself would often read the Gita and joined Gandhi in daily prayers and also in the readings of Tulsi Ramayana. Comfortable with Hindu friends, comrades and collea- gues, Badshah Khan also had many Christians and westerners among his friends and he tried earnestly to dispel misunder- standings about the Pathans among people of other faiths and societies. Like Gandhi, whose non- violence was based on the Jain concept of Ahimsa, Khans too was spiritual and it was based on Islams Sabr which implies holding on to a righteous cause without retaliation. Like Gandhi, Khan too lived like an ascetic and his personal belongings were nothing more than a small bundle of spare clothes. While in prison, Gandhi and Khan shared their reading glasses. But what is more impor- tant is that they shared a vision of asceticism and self-purifica- tion. Gandhi said of him, The more I see him the more I love him, and Ghaffar Khan in his turn felt uncomfortable in being called Frontier Gandhi as he thought that the name of Gand- hi should be reserved for one and only Mahatma. Partition pained Badshah Khan as much as it did Gandhiji. He too felt betrayed by the Con- gress, and told Gandhi and the Working Committee that they were throwing us [Pathans and Khudai Khidmatgars] to the wolves. The ideological differences with the Muslim League made Khidmatgars truly hapless in their own land under Pakistani domination. True to Khans fears, the Khidmatgars were treated sav- agely after the Partition and they were dubbed friends of India and the Congress and traitors to Pakistan. The Khudai Khidmatgar was banned as a political party and most of the Khidmatgars were thrust into prison includ- ing Khan. Though released from prison due to his deteriorating health condition, he was never happy with any regime in Pak- istan. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1987, but in the follow- ing year, he breathed his last. On his demise, the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan was opened to allow tens of thou- sands of his followers from Pak- istan to travel to Afghanistan to attend his funeral. It is indeed a tribute to the life and activities of Frontier Khan that even the warring Mujahedeen and Soviet-backed Afghan government agreed to a ceasefire for three days. His dream of seeing India getting freedom in the undivid- ed state was ruthlessly shat- tered, yet his death saw people of the divided nations united in their grief and homage to the great soul. (Concluded) The writer, a PhD from Calcutta University, teaches English at the Government- sponsored Sailendra Sircar Vidyalaya, Shyambazar, Kolkata Advertisement In the serene Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, a politi- cal tide has once again affirmed the triumph of de- mocracy. The recent parliamentary elections have solidified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the chosen vehicle for Bhutans aspirations, with it securing 30 out of 47 seats. At the helm stands Mr Tshering Tob- gay, a familiar face from the nations political landscape, poised to embark on a second term as Prime Minister. What sets Bhutan apart are not just its breathtaking landscapes but also its commitment to a unique metric ~ the Gross National Happiness (GNH) index. A bold departure from traditional economic measures, GNH encompasses factors often side-lined in the GDP narra- tive, including emotional well-being and recreation. This distinctive approach mirrors the nations ethos, one that values happiness and well-being alongside economic prosperity. The PDPs victory signals a continuity of this ethos. Mr Tobgays leadership during his previous term from 2013 to 2018 reflected a commitment to these prin- ciples. As the leader of a party that emerged in 2007, Mr Tobgay has navigated Bhutan through the nuances of democracy, fostering a sense of stability crucial for a na- tion of fewer than 800,000 people. The challenges awaiting the PDP government are not insignificant. Bhutan, reliant on aid and tourism, faces an uphill battle in revitalising its economy post- Covid-19. Mr Tobgays pledge to attract investment be- comes pivotal in this context, as the nation seeks ave- nues to bolster its $3 billion economy. The plight of un- employment, propelling Bhutanese youth abroad in sea- rch of opportunities, underscores the urgency of effec- tive economic policies. In the diplomatic arena, Bhu- tans delicate balancing act is palpable. With deep-root- ed economic ties to India, its largest donor, and on- going border negotiations with China, Bhutan navigates regional dynamics with finesse. The absence of formal diplomatic relations with China while engaging in bor- der talks is a testament to Bhutans cautious diplomacy, closely observed by India amid its own border disputes with China. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis con- gratulatory message to Mr Tobgay and the PDP under- scores the significance of the regional relationships at play. Strengthening ties with India is not just a diploma- tic formality for Bhutan but a strategic imperative given the shared history and economic interdependence. Amid these complexities, Bhutans commitment to hap- piness as a national goal remains a beacon. The GNH index is a testament to a holistic vision that places the well-being of citizens at its core. As Bhutan grapples with economic revival and geopolitical intricacies, this commitment to happiness becomes a guiding principle, a compass steering the nation through challenges. The Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP), emerging as the main opposition, holds a cru- cial role in the democratic discourse. In a nation where the political landscape is still evolving, a robust opposi- tion contributes the checks and balances vital for a thriv- ing democracy. As Bhutan awaits the formation of its new government, the world watches a Himalayan nation for its unique experiment in harmonising democracy with happiness. Advertisement To be treated as equals to the West, the Global South must decolonize its minds What does the Decline of the West mean? After Ukraine and Gaza, the line between the West and the Rest (what is today called the Global South) has been drawn clearer and clearer. In Ukraine, the West expected the Rest to support its principled stance in fighting for national sovereignty, free- dom to choose and against aggression from neighbours. They were surprised that the Rest did not fall in line, with many abstaining from taking sides. In abandoning diplomacy and balance in favour of weaponizing everything, the collective West (America, Europe, Japan and Australasia) is increasingly isolating itself from the Rest, divided into the East (strangely grouped as Russia, China, Iran and North Korea) and the Global South, comprising those countries that refuse to be aligned either to the East or the West. Todays modernity is clearly asso- ciated with the West, which has set the scientific, educational and cultural standards since the 15th century, when Portuguese and Spanish explor- ers opened up the Americas, Africa and Asian maritime trade routes. Col- onization became a land and power grab by Europeans against the Rest, with the use of superior military fire- power, energy and industrial and financial technology. This power grab continued to the 20th century, with Belgium taking Congo as late as 1908, the Philippines by the United States in 1906, whilst the Italians tried to col- onize parts of Ethiopia in the 1930s. When the United States took over the global hegemon mantle from the British empire after the end of the Sec- ond World War, many former colonies bought the neoliberal ideology that free trade and markets, democracy, rule of law and equality would be a universal creed for all nations and cul- tures. That naive belief ended when inequality within the West itself widened, even as the gap with the Rest narrowed. Neoliberal idealism shat- tered as the Wests middle class began to turn toward protectionism, indus- trial policy and in the case of Israel, military occupation and subjugation of Palestinian rights. Advertisement The Palestinian-American father of post-colonial studies, Edward Said says: Part of the main plan of imperi- alismis that we will give you your his- tory, we will write it for you, we will re-order the pastWhats more truly frightening is the defacement, the mutilation and ultimately, the eradi- cation of history in order to createan order that is favourable to the United States. Mental colonization, which is the ultimate aim of imperialism, is reached when the colonized, slave or vassal believe that the imperial power is superior to his or her own culture. Mental slavery is more frightening than physical slavery. But as rock-star Homo Sapiens historian Yuval Noah Harari said, artificial intelligence (AI) is all about mental colonization, when the private or state-run platform knows more about you than you your- self, and influences your likes, dislikes, and future. Decolonization means different things to different peoples, depend- ing on their own colonial or near- colonial history. For indigenous peo- ple like the Maoris in New Zealand, it means remembering the cruel past of taking their lands and rights and at a minimum restoring their dignity in todays laws. In former colonies like India and South Africa, the British Raj mentality is being replaced by home grown narratives in which the country seeks strategic autonomy in foreign affairs and greater sovereignty (some call it nationalism) in owning data and developing control or regu- lation over generative AI. No one has total sovereignty when a few plat- forms can use AI to obtain full data of how individuals and even nations are thinking or behaving. We are on the cusp of uncharted mental territory where no man has gone before. The self-order of free markets is being replaced by an unpredictable non-order arising from competition by new state-market bureaucracies that are neither fully elected nor humanly designed. The new order may even be machine or AI generated. Where is the justice when AI-generated algorithms can order the execution by missile strike or drone of someone branded a terrorist outside legal jurisdiction? Who will enforce natural justice when the system sys- tematically dehumanizes humanity by treating individuals as digits to be manipulated, controlled or deleted? In an entangled over-crowded planet, the system is inherently unsta- ble when we resolve differences through conflict and war, because his- tory has shown that war begets more war. Humanity survived through cooperation and peace. The neocon presents the case for preparing for war to maintain peace, but since war can only be destructive, we must prepare always for the post-war peace. If there is a fundamental differ- ence between the West and the Rest, it is that the theory-biased, principles- based West often forgets history and context, opting for fundamental prin- ciples of inalienable rights to guide action. Russian historians remember that it was the Western Europeans (Napoleonic France and Nazi Ger- many) that invaded Russia twice in the last two centuries. The Israeli expansion of territory in Palestine over time is there for all to see. In population terms, the West is in the minority of one plus billion in an 8 billion world, owns more than half of global wealth and income, but on a per capita basis, consumes more than its fair share of planetary resources. For the majority Global South to consume like the average Westerner is a suicidal path because the world will run of planetary resources. The paradox of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is that the Global South must find its own paths and intellectual paradigms in a diverse search for sustainable liv- ing and meaning. Decolonization of the mind therefore requires the courage to reject the unsustainable, but also to find new pathways that are more holistic and democratically legitimate than the old. In short, decolonization is a journey waiting to unfold. The Spanish poet Antonio Machado, in his famous poem, Cam- inante no hay camino traveler, there is no road, made the important point that the road is made by walking. In the post-Western world, the Global South must walk their own paths in search for a more peaceful and sus- tainable future. (The writer, a former Central banker, writes on global affairs from an Asian perspective) How strenuous is the seat- sharing exercise for the India alliance, and can the Opposition overcome its challenges before the polls? The main objective is to find a mutually acceptable formula that sat- isfies all 26 partners. The coalition has decided to field a single candidate against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to avoid splitting the opposition vote. The Congress is currently in dis- cussion with its partners in the alliance to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. While forming part- nerships before the polls is relatively easy, the real challenge lies in agreeing on seats and choosing a suitable leader for the Opposition bloc. Advertisement However, the Congress, the lead negotiator of the coalition, finds itself in a difficult position as most regional parties are bargaining hard for more seats, which could only come at the cost of the Congress partys interests. The party president, Mallikarjun Kharge, has instructed the party to ini- tiate talks with other leaders in the alliance to address this dilemma. The Congress has formed pre- poll alliances with different political parties across several states. It has partnerships with DMK in Tamil Nadu, RJD and JD (U) in Bihar, and JMM in Jharkhand. However, the party has not formed alliances with major political parties in crucial states like Assam. The Congress is currently try- ing to strike a balance between fulfill- ing its own needs as well as those of allies. While Congress leaders are will- ing to make compromises, there are varying opinions among local Con- gress units in different states. To address this issue, Kharge has directed the partys alliance committee to put in extra efforts to accommodate allies. He has also reached out to opposition leaders to coordinate with the India bloc. The party faces the challenge of maintaining positive relationships with its regional partners. The Con- gress is prepared to compete against the BJP in 13 states in direct fights. It will contest against non-BJP parties in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Odisha and Telangana. The Congress will share space with the CPI (M) in West Bengal and Tripura.The Opposition faces problems in the states of Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi, and Punjab. In the past, Congress held significant political power in Delhi and Punjab. However, the Aam Aadmi Party has emerged as a strong contender against its domi- nance, as it holds power in both states. There is bitter rivalry between AAP and Congress. Similarly, the Samajwa- di Party in UP, the RJD and JD (U) in Bihar, the National Conference and PDP in Jammu and Kashmir, and the DMK in Tamil Nadu are expected to have the upper hand. The Chief Min- ister of West Bengal, Mamata Baner- jee, will be in control of her state. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, the Con- gress, JMM and RJD are each aiming to secure a larger share of seats than their partners in the India bloc. Con- gress contested 421 seats during the 2019 elections but managed to win only 52. They formed alliances in some states and competed for a few seats; in others, they contested for more seats. For example, they con- tested only nine seats in Bihar, seven in Jharkhand, 21 in Karnataka, 25 in Maharashtra, and nine in Tamil Nadu. However, they challenged in 70 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Congress has less chance of defeating the BJP on its own. The party will not compete for the 272 seats required to form the government independently. They will compete for 250 seats, the lowest ever, and their best-case scenario is to win 125 seats. As a key player, the Con- gress should focus on directly chal- lenging the BJP in over 190 seats, with strong leaders contesting from con- stituencies.The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, has also sparked controver- sy. K.C. Tyagi, leader of JD (U), ques- tioned why the Congress did not make it a joint yatra with opposition bloc partners. Although Congress invited its partners, how they will respond is still uncertain.The Opposition is in a difficult situation regarding the inau- guration of the Ram Temple. While Congress was internally divided on the matter, they ultimately declined the invitation. The CPI (M) leader, Sitaram Yechury, also politely declined the invitation. As the event is a politi- cal spectacle for the BJP, attending it would only support their narrative. The opposition coalition has decided to boycott the event.Although poll surveys have predicted that Prime Minister Modi will win the upcoming election, the Opposition still has a chance if it remains united. The oppo- sition parties should take inspiration from successful coalitions like the Janata Party, United Front, and National Front. To succeed, the Opposition must effectively communicate the failures of the Modi government to the peo- ple and adopt a new approach in the Hindi belt where the BJP is strong. But it will be a challenging task. US climate envoy John Kerry is planning to step down from his post by this spring after serving in the position for three years at the helm of US climate diplomacy under the Biden administration, CNN reported citing a source close to Kerry on Saturday. The 80-year-old former secretary of state and Democratic nominee for president led US negotiations at three international climate summits, the most recent of which was held in Dubai. CNN reported the source close to Kerry said he will still attend the World Economic Forum in January and is expected to attend the Munich Security Conference in February. Advertisement Kerry specifically prioritised restarting international climate talks between the US and China, and was key in negotiating the November Sunnylands agreement, a wide-ranging climate agreement between the two countries before COP28. Axios first reported Kerry was stepping down and intending to join the Biden campaign. CNN has reached out to the Biden campaign and the White House for comment. Before joining the Biden administration, Kerry had long worked on climate issues. As secretary of state, he played a key role in negotiating the Paris agreement, which was adopted by nearly 200 nations in 2015 and was aimed at addressing the negative impacts of climate change. And in 2019, Kerry co-founded a bipartisan initiative of world leaders and celebrities to combat the climate crisis called World War Zero. Kerry also served alongside Joe Biden in the Senate for decades. He was first elected to the Senate to represent Massachusetts in 1984 after serving as lieutenant governor of the state under Gov. Michael Dukakis. In 2004, Kerry won the Democratic nomination for president before losing the general election to incumbent President George W. Bush. In 2009, when Biden became vice president, Kerry took over his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was nominated to serve as secretary of state by Barack Obama in 2012. Kerry also served in the Navy in Vietnam as a gunboat officer on the Mekong Delta and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. Lawsuits challenging book bans in Florida and Iowa are proving to play a key role in the growing fight for students' access to literature. A U.S. District judge ruled recently that the federal lawsuit challenging Escambia County School Board for censoring library shelves can move forward. The publishing conglomerate Penguin Random House, alongside free-speech advocacy group PEN America as well as banned authors and parents, filed the lawsuit against the Florida school district last May. Judge Kent Wetherell said the plaintiffs have standing to pursue their claims that the school district is violating the 1st Amendment by scrubbing library shelves of books based on a political or ideological disagreement with the ideas the books express. Wetherell also shot down the state's argument that its decisions to ban books are immune from the 1st Amendment. In May, Dan Novack, Penguin Random House vice president and associate general counsel, told The Times the publishing house was suing to stop "one of the most unsubtle attempts at viewpoint discrimination" they'd ever seen. Shalini Goel Agarwal, counsel at Protect Democracy, said in a statement that "after targeting books centering on people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals and ignoring its own review committees' recommendations, the government baldly asserted that this could not be viewpoint discrimination because the 1st Amendment does not apply to school libraries. Today's ruling makes clear that they are wrong." The suit also alleged a 14th Amendment violation citing the Equal Protection Clause, because the challenged books are disproportionately titles by nonwhite and/or LGBTQ+ authors. Wetherell denied the 14th Amendment claim, but ruled that 1st Amendment protections are implicated when the school district removes books based on ideology or viewpoint. The books challenged in Escambia County include Toni Morrison's classic novel "The Bluest Eye" and Kurt Vonnegut's "Slaughterhouse-Five" as well Anne Frank's "Diary of a Young Girl." According to a list obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project, picture books, middle grade books, young adult titles and even five dictionaries have been banned by the county. Since the lawsuit was filed last spring, the district has removed additional books due to new state laws, including HB 1069 an education law, which became effective July 1, that restricts books depicting "sexual conduct" from grades deemed age-inappropriate. Recent titles affected ranged from "The Teen Vogue Handbook: An Insider's Guide to Careers in Fashion" to a biography of the nation's first Black United States Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall. PEN America has released a list of more than 1,600 challenged titles pending investigation in Escambia County. "Today, we urged the court to vindicate the constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers," said Katie Blankenship, the director of PEN America, Florida. "We are heartened that Judge Wetherell agreed and that our case can proceed." "These books need to be returned to the shelves where they belong, and every day that students are refused access is a day they're not getting the high-quality education they deserve," she continued. While Florida and Texas have become the epicenters of book banning in recent years, many other states have seen similar efforts. And one Iowa law has become another national flashpoint. U.S. District Judge Stephen Locher granted an injunction against Iowa Senate File 496 and its book-banning provisions just days before penalties for violating the law were planned to take effect. Enacted in May 2023, SF 496 prohibits K-12 students from accessing books including any description of sex and forbids discussing or reading about gender identity or sexual orientation through sixth grade. Penguin Random House, again citing 1st and 14th Amendment violations, filed a lawsuit Nov. 30 alongside the Iowa State Education Association, critically acclaimed authors Laurie Halse Anderson, John Green, Malinda Lo and Jodi Picoult as well as a high school student, her parent and three educators. Books pulled from libraries as a result of SF 496 included three novels by Toni Morrison, "Ulysses" by James Joyce, "As I Lay Dying" by William Faulkner, "Forever" by Judy Blume and more. The student who joined the suit is a senior at Urbandale High School who, as a result of SF 496, lost access to books including Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" and Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale." "Our mission of connecting authors and their stories to readers around the world contributes to the free flow of ideas and perspectives that is a hallmark of American democracy and we will always stand by it," said Nihar Malaviya, chief executive at Penguin Random House. "We know that not every book we publish will be for every reader, but we must protect the right for all Americans, including students, parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians, to have equitable access to books and to continue to decide what they read." Inside the book-ban machine: The rise of 'parental rights' groups and their efforts to ban books Inside the book-ban machine: The rise of 'parental rights' groups and their efforts to ban books Conservative education groups have spread rapidly, frequently in areas with politically mixed populations New conservative book rating sites are fueling book bans Regional groups are also organizing to challenge books: About 1 in 6 complaints nationwide in 2022 were from St. Tammany Parish New state laws support attempts to restrict library materials Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today A mixture of rain and snow showers. High around 40F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 26F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Bilkis Bano cried tears of relief, her lawyer, Shobha Gupta, told me as the news filtered in that the Supreme Court had ordered her 11 convicted rapists to be sent back to jail. The passage of time can dull the memory of the horror that was inflicted on Bilkis when she was just 21 and three months pregnant. She was gangaped, pinned to the ground and forced to witness the rape of her mother. Worst, Bilkis was held forcibly as her three-year-old daughter was killed; her head smashed with a stone. Several other relatives were killed. The men who did this were sentenced to life imprisonment. But they were released by the Gujarat government in a wholesale remission decision that has now been described by the Supreme Court as an order obtained through fraud, ...abuse of power... and misrepresentation of fact. We are often desensitised because of what we see everyday, but this was a crime against society, a crime against humanity, a crime against the Constitution, Justice Deepak Gupta told me. Gupta was part of the Supreme Court bench that had in 2019 ordered the Gujarat government to pay Bilkis Rs50 lakh in compensation. Illustration: Bhaskaran Justice U.D. Salvi, who had sentenced Bilkis Banos rapists to life imprisonment in 2008, said the verdict would reaffirm the trust of people in the judiciary at a time when all kinds of things are being said about it. The fact that these convicts had walked out to celebrations, garlands and sweets, Salvi told me was proof that they had never reformed at all. The Bilkis Bano verdict is seminal and not just because it delivers long overdue justice to a beleaguered woman who has spent the last two decades fighting in court. It is important because it reminds the judiciary about what its role is in a healthy democracy. This is what justice feels like is how Bilkis expressed it, but she spoke for millions of Indians. Justice B.V. Nagarathna, whose bench delivered the powerful order and who might well be Indias first woman chief justice, located the Bilkis case within the larger debate around the rule of law as the essential principle of a democracy. Rule of law means whenever and wherever the state fails to perform its duty, the court would step in. Courts have to be mindful of not only the spelling of the word justice but also the content of the concept, say the judges. Most bravely, in a possible nod to their own colleaguesbecause remember this judgment nullifies an earlier verdict by the Supreme Courtthe order states, Those concerned with the rule of law must remain unmindful and unruffled by the ripples caused by it. The last word in this case has, unfortunately, not been spoken. The lawyer for the convicts, Rishi Malhotra, has made it clear that he will exercise legal options in seeking a review of the Supreme Court response. On the ground, several of the convicts have been missing from their homes since 2022, raising questions about whether they will surrender in the two-week time frame set by the court. Another set of pleas and petitions could consign Bilkis Bano to more years of struggle. But with all these caveats, the Supreme Court verdict does what is needed in every democracy. It restores checks and balances. It is a spring-cleaning moment to clear out the cobwebs. editor@theweek.in Johri is the former chairman of Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs Epona Horse Rescues Lin Guyton was snowed in Friday, leaving it up to her to care for all the animals at her place near Crete. It was tough, because she's still recovering from injuries she suffered in an accident last fall. She said shes desperate for help, especially as she continues to care for the horses taken from veterinarian Jennafer Glaesemann last fall. I have to risk my well-being, but I will not let them go without, she said. Glaesemann was charged in August with several counts of livestock neglect after an estimated 15 to 17 horses died under her care. Guyton said she's been informed that Glaesemann has been suspended from the American Quarter Horse Association, which she said makes her unable to own, breed or register quarter horses in her name. "A small victory for the horses," Guyton said. Those horses continue to flourish. They are cold, but they are good, she said. They have unlimited amounts of food, and thats the best we can do in this situation. Guyton said she also still needs financial support, since it costs about $9,000 a month to keep the horses in hay. Donations can be sent to Epona Horse Rescue, 20000 SW 114th St., Crete, NE 68333. Photos and videos: Winter storm brings heavy snow, winds to Lincoln I knew a judicial magistrate in Kerala who got a trifle upset when his parish priest was produced before him as a murder accused. He regained his composure in a minute, recorded the statements, and passed the custody order. All the same, his momentary discomfiture proved to be the undoing of his judicial career; it drew adverse remarks from the High Court. The bench is no place for passion. The law, said Aristotle, is reason free from passion. Philosophers of law have viewed passion as subordinate to reason. Much so, when you are dispensing justice. Yet there are times when judges get emotional, though not to the point of being moved to tears, as they show in Bollywood. When confronted with gross injustice and long-enduring agony, it requires superhuman effort to stay stoical. In Bilkis Yakub Rasool, Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan have achieved that. They didnt look at the womans plight, nor uttered a word of sympathy. Yet they delivered her justice, the greatest gift within their power. A woman protesting against the release of men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano in August, 2022 | AFP Pardon the word play, but Bilkis Bano has been living a court life for two decades. She was chased and mass-raped by men whom she knew as her neighbourhood bhais and chachas. They killed her kin in front of her eyes, smashed her child to death. Yet she had to go to the court to get a case filed. Twenty years on, she is still living out of court. It is the only arm of the state that heard her out when those raping bhais and chachas came out of jail to mock at her. In 20 years of her youthful life she had to wage half a dozen court battles, right from the local magisterial, through the sessions and high courts of two states, to the Supreme Court. The state, which was bound to protect her life and liberty under Article 21, was often aiding the other side. At the start, it aided them by refusing to file an FIR; in the end, it aided them by remitting their punishment. Naturally, the cold gaze of the court through 250 pages of well-reasoned judgement is on the state. The judges focused on three thingsone, the condoning attitude of the state while one of the convicts was perpetrating fraud on the court; two, usurpation of one states power by another state; and three, the temerity of the state to even disregard a court order asking the convicts to pay a nominal fine. Lets take one and two together. Though the crime had been committed in Gujarat, the trial and the conviction took place in Maharashtra. It followed that the authority who had the power to remit the sentences was the Maharashtra state. As much was repeatedly told to the convicts by many an authority, yet Gujarat usurped the power of Maharashtra to order remission after one of the convicts misled the Supreme Court to obtain a favourable order. Indeed, it exposed chinks in the judicial armour, toohow easy it is to mislead the wise judges. The third point is of pettiness. The convicts had also been imposed monetary fines, failing to pay which they would have had to spend a few months beyond their life terms, remission or no remission. The convicts failed to remit even those few thousand rupees, yet the state agreed to remit their sentences. Indeed, they hastily paid after the remission was challenged. In the end, Bilkis Yakub Rasool affirmed a new notion of law: when the state fails, the victim can step in to seek punishment for crime. Anyway, alls well that ends well. Or, is it? The villains will be back in jail soon, and may next approach Maharashtra for remission. Your next battle, Bilkis! prasannan@theweek.in Deloitte Private announced the winners of third edition Indias Best Managed Companies for 2023. Six companies emerged as winners in this edition. Marico Limited, Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited, Syngene International Limited, Carborundum Universal Limited, Welspun Living Limited (formerly known as Welspun India Limited), and CEAT Limited were the winning companies. Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Limited and Welspun Living Limited have made it to the list for the second time consecutively. While, Carborundum Universal Limited made it to the 2023 list after qualifying once before in 2021. The winners were announced in the awards ceremony held on January 12 in Mumbai. "The Best Managed Companies 2023 honorees, emerging from a meticulous and comprehensive evaluation process, are more than just winners in a competition; they are pioneers redefining industry standards, said K.R. Sekar, Partner, Deloitte India. These companies are not just driving economic growth; they are shaping the future of their respective industries, demonstrating that ethical practices and innovative strategies are key to long-term success in the rapidly evolving business world, added Sekar. According to Dhiraj Bhandary, Partner, Deloitte India, participants engaging in this programme undergo a thorough and independent evaluation. It was gratifying to see several of last year's participants make it to the list again, displaying their excellent management, resilience, and innovation in a dynamic business environment. Participants engaging in this programme undergo a thorough and independent evaluation, where they are assessed based on a uniform framework focusing on four key aspects of business excellence: strategy, capabilities and innovation, culture and commitment, and governance and financials, said Bhandary. The Best Managed Companies programme significantly contributes to the advancement of private businesses, thereby securing a more promising future for stakeholders, he added. The Best Managed Companies programme has brought value to almost 1,300 private companies across 45+ countries. The winners were assessed by a panel consisting of industry experts Kalpana Morparia, former chairperson of JP Morgan, South and Southeast Asia, Ajay Tyagi, former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI); Dr Alka Mittal, former CMD and director (HR) at ONGC; and Harish Bijoor, brand and business-strategy expert and founder of Harish Bijoor Consults Inc. Infosys founder Narayana Murthy revealed that he once applied to join Wipro but was rejected, leading him to establish Infosys along with six other engineers. Former Wipro chairman Azim Premji later told Murthy that he made a mistake by not hiring him, the Infosys founder told CNBC-TV18 in an interview. Murthy and his wife, Sudha Murty, said that if he was hired, then Wipro would have no competition. Murthy and his friends founded Infosys in 1981 with a seed money of Rs 10,000 given by Sudha. Infosys is currently valued at Rs 6.65 lakh crore while Wipro stands at Rs 2.43 lakh crore, as per data available on January 12. Murthy was the CEO of Infosys from 1981 to 2002, following which he served as the board chairman from 2002 to 2006 and later as chief mentor. Though he retired in 2011, he returned to Infosys as the executive chairman and director for a year as the company performing below the industry's growth average. Later, he became the chairman emeritus. On the other hand, Premji diversified that vegetable oil business he had inherited into an IT services solutions provider that Wipro is today. His son Rishad Premji took over the firm in 2019. Calling Sandeep Reddy Vanga as someone "who thinks out of the box", actor Vivek Oberoi says he wants to work with the "Animal" director one day. Vivek's father, veteran actor Suresh Oberoi starred in Vanga's latest "Animal" and in 2019's "Kabir Singh", which was the Hindi remake of the director's Telugu debut "Arjun Reddy". Vivek also said Vanga reminds him of director Ram Gopal Varma, who gave the actor a break with the 2002 gangster drama "Company". "He (Vanga) is a man who feels madly (for cinema). The day he calls me and says, 'I have this role for you', I'll be like, 'Count me in'. "I want to be directed by a person who thinks out of the box. It reminds me of what Ramu ji (Varma) used to be," the actor, who will next be seen in Rohit Shetty's "Indian Police Force", told PTI in an interview. "Animal", one of the top grossing Hindi films of 2023, was slammed by a section of viewers and critics for its poor portrayal of women, misogyny and graphic violence. Asked to comment on Vanga receiving flak for the movie, Vivek said "artists, crazy people, and maverick thinkers" often court criticism for their work. "As a creative person, I don't believe in judging people by any moral compass because moral compass can shift. There was a time when if you (women) didn't cover your head, you would receive flak for it. "If you are a professional working where other men were involved, you would receive flak. So, things change, the moral compass shifts... As an artist, you cannot have boundaries. You have to see things from an artistic perspective," the 47-year-old added. Vivek said he is happy for his father, known for films such as "Phir Wahi Raat", "Sharabi", "Vijaypath" and Soldier", who is receiving several offers after the success of "Animal". In "Animal", Suresh Oberoi played the role of Ranbir Kapoor's grandfather. The film also starred Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, Triptii Dimri and Prem Chopra, among others. "He (Vanga) chased my father and said, 'You have to be part of 'Animal'. You were part of 'Kabir Singh', you are my lucky charm'. He made him do it. He (dad) was so happy working with Sandeep on set. "Then, Ranbir made it so comfortable, he has this whole sense of respect and values... You want to work with people who make you feel nice. Dad is so excited, he is getting so many offers," he said. Vivek also heaped praise on his father. "He is such a fine actor... He is one of those people who is ahead of his times. He was doing natural performances when the tone was melodrama in the '80s. He is in his 70s and he has so much to give as an actor but he has to be inspired," he said. The Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will be flagged off from Thoubal district in strife-torn Manipur on January 14, an event which will be conducted amid restrictions. Though the state government initially declined permission for Yatra's initial venue, it later gave the nod, but with with limited number of participants. As per the new restrictions, the programme should not exceed an hour and the number of participants shouldn't exceed 3000. The permission was issued by the office of Thoubal deputy commissioner on January 11 and was shared by the party with the reporters here on Saturday, a day ahead of the yatra. Earlier, the Imphal East district magistrate had ordered that the number and name of the participants shall be provided in advance so that all necessary precautionary measures can be taken. The cap on programme timing has been mandated because the venue is just beside and along the national highway and traffic has to be diverted to alternate routes. The Congress had changed the venue from Imphal Palace Ground to a private ground in Thoubal after the BJP-led N Biren Singh government had given conditional approval to flag off the yatra from the Palace grounds in Imphal restricting the number of people to 1000. The participants of the Yatra have been asked not to use any anti-national or communal slogans. "There shall be no anti-national or communal or any adverse slogan during the rally and the Yatra" and the organisers should fully cooperate with the state authorities. The permission for the Yatra will stand cancelled if any situation arose "warranting such gathering to be disassembled in order to maintain peace, public order and tranquillity in the area", the order from Thoubal deputy commissioner read. The Yatra is slated to be flagged off from a private ground at Khongjom area in Thoubal district on Sunday and Rahul Gandhi will lead it. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and top leaders of the party will participate in the programme. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will travel through 100 Lok Sabha segments in 15 states before it culminates in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. Congress believes it will prove to be as "transformative" as Gandhi's earlier cross-country march. On Saturday, the Congress said the Yatra was an ideological yatra and not an electoral one, adding that it was being taken out against the "anyay kaal" of 10 years of the Narendra Modi government. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the biggest challenge before the country is that it is facing an ideology which believes in polarisation, economic inequalities and political authoritarianism. "The prime minister shows golden dreams of 'amrit kaal' but what is the reality of the last 10 years - 'anyay kaal'. No mention of 'anyay kaal' is made while big boasts of 'amrit kaal' are projected," Ramesh said. With a little over a week left for the consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday turned down the invite to attend the ceremony, stating he would visit the temple with his family after the event. In a letter to Ram Janmabhoomi Theerth Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai, the SP chief thanked him for the invitation received on Saturday morning. Posting the letter thanking Rai on X, Yadav extended best wishes for the programme. His response came a day after Yadav claimed that he had not received any invitation to the consecration ceremony either in person or by courier, and had also demanded proof in case it was sent by post. Celebrations in the US The Hindu community in the US on Saturday celebrated the upcoming consecration of the Ram Temple. Hundreds gathered to attend the car rally in Maryland and New Jersey holding flags inscribed with the images of Lord Ram. The US chapter of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) also put up more than 40 billboards in over 10 states, displaying the message around the grand 'Pran Pratishtha' ceremony. The billboards have gone up in Texas, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, among other states, reported ANI. It added that celebrations will also be held in Arizona and Missouri starting Monday. "The Hindu community in New Jersey is brimming with joy, eagerly anticipating the upcoming car rally, exhibition, curtain raiser, and billboards across New York and New Jersey. Grand celebrations are slated for the 21st night. The enthusiasm is palpable, with members from Mandirs across NJ eagerly looking forward to this once-in-a-generation event," Teja A Shah, VHP joint general secretary, told ANI. The VHP also organised an Epic Tesla Musical light show in Maryland state. Videos from the state showed people from the Hindu community holding flags inscribed with images of Lord Ram and raising 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Ram Lakshman Janki, Jai Shri Hanuman Ki' slogans. The Tesla car light show was synchronised to the tunes of Jai Shri Ram. CM Yogi to flag off electric autos, buses A worker paints the railing of a bridge ahead of the consecration of Ram Temple, in Ayodhya | PTI Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath will arrive in Ayodhya on Sunday to flag off 25 electric autos and 50 buses from Ayodhya bus station. He will also launch a massive cleaning campaign that will run from 14 to 21 January. The Chief Minister will also review the preparations for the consecration. The operation of electric buses will be initiated on the Dharma Path and Ram Path from Monday. New areas have also been marked for parking on the Chaudah Kosi and Panchkosi Parikrama routes. Union Minister Narayan Rane was on Sunday slammed after he said the Shankaracharyas should bless the Ram temple instead of criticising some aspects. He also accused them of looking at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP through a political prism. On Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Rane insulted Hinduism by questioning the contribution of the Shankaracharyas. He also sought Rane's dismissal from the Narendra Modi government, asking the BJP to apologise. "The BJP must apologise before January 22 (when the idol consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple will take place in Ayodhya). The BJP must apologise to the people and Prime Minister Narendra Modi must sack Rane from the Union cabinet," Raut said. On Saturday, Rane told media, No one could do it until now. Modi, BJP took it up and a temple is being built. Should they bless the temple or criticise it? It means Shankaracharyas look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP through a political prism. This temple is not built on politics but on religion. Ram is our God," Rane said. "Shankaracharyas should tell what is their contribution to the Hindu religion," he had said. Rane's remarks came after reports said that Shankaracharyas of Shri Shringeri Sharda Peeth Karnataka, Dwarka Sharda Peeth in Gujarat, Jyotir Peeth in Uttarakhand and Govardhan Peeth in Odisha would not attend the consecration ceremony. Jyotirpeeth Sankaracharya Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati had reportedly said it would not be right to perform a consecration ceremony as the temple construction is yet to be completed. A thick layer of fog blanketed several parts of Delhi affecting visibility. The minimum temperature dropped to 3.5 degrees Celsius, lowest this winter season, in the national capital on Sunday and the air quality dropped to severe category. Visibility levels have plunged to zero metres at several places and IMD has advised people to avoid unnecessary travel and to take precautions while driving. Considering a deterioration in air quality, the Commission of Air Quality Management conducted an emergency meeting on Sunday and has invoked Stage-III of GRAP regulations. CAQM Sub-Committee for operationalization of GRAP called on an emergency meeting today morning in view of sudden deterioration of air quality of Delhi-NCR from last evening. The Sub-Committee decides to invoke eight-point action plan as per Stage-III of revised GRAP in the entire NCR with immediate effect, CAQM tweeted. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded an AQI 456 at 1pm on Sunday. Under Stage-III curbs, non-essential construction work, stone crushing, and mining have been banned in Delhi-NCR. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers cannot be operated in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. A spokesperson for the Railways said fog impacted the schedules of 22 trains arriving in Delhi. As many as nine flights were diverted at the Delhi airport on Sunday morning due to bad weather. These flights, including an international flight, were diverted to Jaipur between 4.30am to 10.30am. According to reports, passengers are stuck inside flights, awaiting landing, for about two hours. An Air Quality Index (AQI) between zero and 50 is considered good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 severe-plus'. Former Congress MP Milind Deora joined Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena at the chief ministers official residence on Sunday. Deora announced his resignation from Congress earlier today. Chief Minister Shinde welcomed Deora to the party and also welcomed other senior leaders from Congress during Paksh Pravesh. "I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added. Deora was disgruntled over Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public. The Uddhav Thackeray-led group had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which has not gone down well with the Congress leader. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. Reportedly, along with Deora, 10 former municipal corporators, 25 senior party functionaries, 20 top trader and merchant unions heads and about 400 party workers are joining the Shiv Sena under his leadership. Congress leader Milind Deora has resigned from the primary membership of Congress, stating that he was "ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party." This came a day after he dismissed "rumours" about his exit from the party. "I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party," he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added. Though there are rumours that he would join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deora has not made any confirmation in this regard. However, there are reports that he will head to Shinde's official residence Varsha on Sunday evening to officially join the party. Deora recently made his displeasure over the Shiv Sena (UBT) staking a claim to the Mumbai South Lok Sabha constituency public. The Uddhav Thackeray-led group had staked a claim to contest the Mumbai South constituency, represented by Deora before 2014, in the upcoming general elections, which has not gone down well with the Congress leader. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. Meanwhile, the Congress alleged that the timing of the announcement of his departure from the party was determined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI that Deora had spoken with him over phone this Friday and requested that he wanted to speak with Rahul Gandhi over his concerns over the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) laying claim to the South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat. "He messaged me on Friday at 8:52 AM and then at 2:47 PM I replied, Are you planning a switch?'. At 2:48 he sent a message, is speaking to you not possible?' I said I will call you and at 3:40, I spoke to him," Ramesh said. "He (Deora) said he is concerned that it is a sitting Shiv Sena seat, he wanted to meet Rahul Gandhi and explain to him about the seat and also wanted me to talk to Mr. Gandhi about it," the Congress general secretary said. Jairam Ramesh alleged that it was all a farce and Deora had clearly made up his mind to leave. "The timing of the announcement of his departure was clearly determined by the PM," Ramesh alleged. However, the Prime Minister recalled his long years of association with seven-time Congress MP Murli Deora with great fondness. "He (Murli Deora) had close friends in all political parties, but was a stalwart Congressman who ALWAYS stood by the Congress party through thick and thin. Tathastu!" he said. Lincoln Sen. Eliot Bostar put forward a proposal Friday morning that would put the state's counties on the hook for the property valuations they assign and bring county boards into the real estate business. Under Bostar's bill (LB1183), an assessed property valuation would be considered an offer by the county board to purchase property at the assessed value meaning a homeowner could sell their house to their county at its assessed value. "It is against our laws for your property to be valued in excess of 100% of its market value," Bostar said in an interview Friday, which marked the eighth day of this year's 60-day legislative session. "So, if the valuations are following the guidelines we have within the law, there should never be a problem with having that be potentially executed as a purchase," he said, later adding: "I think it's a good idea." And it comes with a few caveats. Valuations of commercial or industrial property assessed at more than $1 million would not constitute offers, nor would residential property that has received an allocation of federal low-income housing tax credits. But, for the most part, the bill would require counties to put up the money to back their assessments, giving property owners 90 days to accept the offer as long as their house or other property is in "substantially the same condition upon acceptance" as it was when it underwent assessment. "I think if this bill passed, you would see immediate reduction in property values and you would see property tax relief," he said. Bostar said he introduced the bill after hearing numerous complaints from constituents who don't believe their homes would sell for as much as their valuations. And while he acknowledged that county officials who he has run the proposal by offer an "initial negative reaction," he said they "have also been able to identify real opportunities within this that can help counties." "This has the potential to be good for counties," Bostar said, adding: "If they're doing their job correctly, the majority of the properties that they would have to take ... would net a gain in revenue, because they would turn around and essentially flip the property." The bill would also eliminate elections for county assessors, instead allowing county boards which are responsible for balancing their municipalities' budgets to appoint an assessor. Eliminating an elected officer wasn't Bostar's goal when he set out to write the bill, he said, but the provision is necessary to "ensure we didn't have an independent assessor going rogue and then bankrupting the county." "We worked hard to figure out, 'What's the right way to do this?" he said. "If you have a county that's on the hook financially for the results of assessments that are happening, having an independently elected assessor is a liability within that system that makes it unworkable." Still, that change which would strip power from voters and divert it to the county board, which is also elected could raise eyebrows, particularly since Bostar's legislative aide, Sean Flowerday, helped draft the bill and sits on the Lancaster County Board. "I want to be clear: this was Sen. Bostar's idea," Flowerday said, adding that it "is not endorsed by Lancaster County." Flowerday said he's unsure what position the County Board might take on the proposal. Bostar, too, said he's not sure whether counties will view his proposal through the same rose-tinted lens he does, but he's "interested to find out," he said. "Here's what would make me suspicious: if we see broad opposition from counties, it would make me concerned that they don't have confidence in their ability to set valuations according to our laws," Bostar said. "This legislation introduces accountability into that process. Because right now, there is no accountability." Jon Cannon, the executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, said the group's board will meet late next week to determine the organization's position on newly proposed legislation but said the board is "probably not going to look favorably upon" Bostar's proposal. Cannon did not take particular issue with the appointing of county assessors, though he said he's not sure the process laid out in Bostar's bill "is necessarily the right route" since county boards are not immune from political whims and county board members are not experts in evaluating the qualifications of would-be assessors. His more urgent concerns are with the administrative challenges that would come with a county board's entrance into the real estate business and what a sudden recession or housing market collapse could mean for county governments. Cannon also said that while counties are permitted to own property, they aren't set up to be real estate brokers and haven't historically been a player in the market. "And I'm not sure we want counties to be in the business of acquiring large swaths of property or potentially large swaths of property," he said. Bostar's proposal, too, leaves unanswered questions over agricultural land, which state law requires be assessed at 75% of its fair market value. As the bill's written, Cannon said, it's not clear whether counties would be required to pay an additional 25% on top of their valuation for ag land. He also took issue with Bostar's targeting of valuations themselves, which, Cannon said, are not the driver of high property taxes in Nebraska. The true culprit, he said, is local governments' property tax rate. Cannon argued that valuations are "merely a function of what your tax will be," but said property owners seem more inclined to protest their valuations than to lodge opposition to government spending at local budget hearings. "I don't think this bill really drives at the heart at this disconnect," Cannon said, adding that he's "sure that (Bostar) has some very solid reasons for introducing a bill like that." And even as he remained skeptical of the somewhat radical proposal and its potential impacts, he lauded the conversation it might start. "I'm very, very curious to see what comes of this," Cannon said. Former South Mumbai MP and Congress leader Milind Deora is likely to join Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena on Sunday evening. Deora, who resigned from the primary membership of the party on Sunday, is reportedly taking along a chunk of leaders, including trade union heads and former municipal corporators to join Sena. Deora, who announced his resignation from the Congress party through social media platform X was reportedly disgruntled over Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena staking claim for Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat. United Shiv Sena won the seat in the 2014-2019 Lok Sabha elections. Deora, son of Congress veteran Murli Deora, had won the Mumbai South seat in 2004 and 2009. He ended up as the first runner-up in the subsequent elections in 2014 and 2019 against Shiv Sena (Undivided) leader Arvind Sawant. According to sources in the know of developments, along with Deora, 10 former municipal corporators, 25 senior party functionaries, 20 top trader and merchant unions heads and about 400 party workers will be joining the Shiv Sena under his leadership at Varsha, the official residence of CM today. According to sources, Deora will pay respects at Balasaheb Thackeray Statue, Regal Cinema at 12 noon and leave for Varsha bungalow at 1.30pm. Senior ministers and leaders are expected to be present along with Shinde during Deoras induction into the Shinde-led Sena. "I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," Deora tweeted announcing his resignation from the party. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said they wouldnt compromise on South Mumbais Lok Sabha seat as the party has won from the constituency in the past two general elections. Congress leader Milind Deora announced his resignation from the party on Sunday reportedly due to his displeasure over Sena staking claim over the seat. United Senas Arvind Sawant won the 2014 and 2019 elections from South Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, a constituency Deoras family had been representing for years. Sawant, now with the Uddhav Thackeray faction defeated Milind Deora in the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Commenting on Milind Deoras resignation from Congress, Raut said, We knew Murli Deora well and what it is to work for the party and sacrifice for it. If people change localities to contest elections, it shows a new trend has started in the state." On South Mumbai seat, Raut said, Sawant is a two-time MP. What is wrong with him contesting again? There will be no compromise on this. Son of Congress stalwart late Murli Deora, Milind Deora announced his resignation from Congress on Sunday. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of Congress, ending my family's 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues and karyakartas for their unwavering support over the years," he added. Earlier in the day, former chief minister and Congress Working Committee member Ashok Chavan said Deora wanted to contest from the South Mumbai seat but the understanding within the MVA alliance was to not disturb the sitting MP. -with PTI inputs. The ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict entered its 100th day on January 14 and the death toll has neared 24,000 on the Gaza side alone. Here are some key points about the war: Deadliest Israel-Palestinian conflict The war, which is still continuing, is the longest and deadliest war between the two sides since Israel was formed in 1948. According to the Gaza health ministry, at least 23,843 Palestinians, roughly one per cent of the Strip's population, have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes since October 7, 2023, with at least 60,317 injured. The number of Palestinians killed in West Bank is 347 with over 4,000 wounded, as per reports. Casualties among Israelis More than 1,300 Israelis have been killed and 12,415 injured in the conflict since the war began. Of these, 790 were killed on October 7. A total of 314 Israeli soldiers were killed on October 7 and at least 187 more were killed during the ground offensive. Twenty-nine of these soldiers were killed in friendly fire or by accident. At least 2,496 Israeli soldiers were reportedly injured since October 7 and 1,085 of them were injured in the ground offensive. Israeli and foreign hostages Around 250 people were taken as hostages by Hamas on October 7. At least 33 hostages died or were killed in Hamas captivity. The number of remaining hostages held in Gaza are 132, as per latest reports. Of the 132 remaining hostages, 111 are men, 19 women and two children. Eleven of them are foreigners. Toll among UN staff, health workers and journalists At least 148 United Nations staffers have lost their lives during the ongoing war so far while at least 337 health workers and 82 journalists have also been killed. No food and health care About one-quarter of Gazas population is starving and only 15 of the 36 hospitals in the territory are operational, at least partially, according to the UN. A total of 121 ambulances were also damaged. Schools, mosques, churches destroyed It is also reported that around 45 to 55 per cent buildings in Gaza have been destroyed during the war and more than 69 per cent of school buildings have been damaged. Around 625,000 students have missed more than three months of school The number of religious buildings suffering damages include 142 mosques and three churches. More than 80 per cent of the population has been displaced and tens of thousands of people are now crammed into sprawling tent camps. Number of militants killed and captured Israel Defence Forces and other security agencies have captured 2,650 militants so far of who about 1,300 belong to Hamas. During the ongoing war, more than 8,000 militants, including senior commanders of Hamas, have been killed by Israel. How the war began? Israel declared war following a cross-border attack launched by Hamas on October 7. The group killed some 1,200 people, of whom most were civilians. Around 250 others were taken hostage of which many have been killed. This was the deadliest attack in Israels history and the deadliest for Jews since the Holocaust. Israel unleashed intense airstrikes in Gaza and later began the ground offensive. Tel Aviv said its goal is to get the remaining hostages released and the war is likely to continue throughout 2024. Hezbollah and Houthis join conflict With Iran-backed militant groups like the Hezbollah in Labanon and the Houthis in Yemen have also conducted attacks in response to the ongoing war. Following the Hamas attack on Israel, Hezbollah militants also struck the country with Tel Aviv strongly retaliating. On January 2, Israel killed a senior Hamas leader in Beirut. However, there is no full-blown war between the two sides yet. Meanwhile, the Houthi rebels, also backed by Tehran, attacked civilian cargo ships in the Red Sea. In response, the US and British militaries struck several Houthi targets in Yemen. Ending her 52-year reign as Denmark's longest-serving monarch, Queen Margrethe II signed her declaration of abdiction on Sunday. Her eldest son Frederik became the king and head of the state. Thousands of people gathered on the streets of Copenhagen to bid farewell to Margrethe. Abdication has become more common now. Here's a look at some sovereigns who have handed over their thrones to their younger and more energetic heirs in the past. Akihito of Japan Emperor Akihito abdicated in 2019 at the age of 85, citing old age and health issues. He handed over the throne to his son Emperor Naruhito. It was Japan's first abdication in two centuries. The emperor emeritus is 90 years old. Juan Carlos of Spain Juan Carlos I (86) abdicated in disgrace in 2014. Once he has been so popular among the Spaniards, however, things took a turn in 2020. In his young days, Carlos played a key role in ensuring Spain's safe transition from decades of Francisco Franco's dictatorship rule to a modern constitutional monarchy. However, after injuring himself on an elephant hunting trip in Botswana at a time when his country was suffering an economic crisis hit his reputation. He had left Spain amid investigations into his involvement in alleged financial wrongdoings. His son King Felipe has tried to rebuild the reputation of the House of Bourbon after his father's actions. Beatrix of the Netherlands After a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands announced her abdication in 2013, shortly before turning 75. Her son King Willem-Alexander took over the throne. Announcing her decision, she said it was time now to hand over responsibility to a new generation. Albert II of Belgium Three months after Beatrix' abdication, King Albert II decided to hand over the throne to his son, Philippe. At 79, Albert said his age and health no longer allowed him to fulfil all of his duties. He was the first king to voluntarily abdicate since Belgium gained its independence in 1830. Sheik Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani of Qatar was also among the rash of royals who retired in 2013, handing over power to his fourth son. He announced his decision at the age of 61. The move was viewed as an indirect acknowledgment of the demands for reforms opened by the Arab Spring. (With PTI inputs) After US-UK airstrikes on Yemen has endangered all maritime navigation, said Hezbollah on Sunday. While calling the strikes as an act of stupidity, Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said the Houthis would continue targeting ships belonging to Israel and going to its ports in the Red Sea. The more dangerous thing is what the Americans did in the Red Sea will harm all maritime navigation, even the ships that are not going to Palestine, even the ships which are not Israeli, even the ships that have nothing to do with the matter, because the sea has become a theatre of fighting, missiles, drones and war ships. Security has been disrupted," Nasrallah was quoted by Reuters. Since the Israel-Hamas war started after the October 7 attacks, border tensions escalated with Lebanon. Israel and Hezbollah have been targeting each others regions. In its latest attacks, a missile from Lebanon had killed two people in northern Israel, said reports. China calls for an end to attacks in Red Sea Meanwhile, China Foreign Minister, Wang Yi called for an end to the attacks on the ships in the Red Sea. Wang was speaking at a press conference in Cairo after meeting Egypts president, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. "The situation in the Red Sea has escalated sharply recently and China is deeply concerned about this, he said. China calls for a halt to the harassment and attacks on civilian ships and for the maintenance of the smooth flow of global industrial and supply chains and the international trade order," said Wang. He also said adding of fuel to the existing tensions in the Red Sea should be avoided. Further, the two nations expressed concerns over the expansion of the conflict in the region. According to the health ministry, the death toll in Gaza reached 23,968. In the past 24 hours, 125 Palestinians were killed and 265 were injured, the ministry added. As the war passes 100 days, communication and internet services were down for the third day running in Gaza, complicating the work of emergency and ambulance crews trying to help people in areas hit by fighting. Israels ground troops mainly targeted southern city of Khan Younis, Al-Bureij and Al Maghazi in central Gaza. Israeli army claimed that they had killed several militants in central Gaza. While talking about the war, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said, "We are not seekers of wars. We are seekers of freedom. He also added that Hamas attack was, in part, a response to the years-long Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. According to the Israeli military, the new phase of the war focused on the southern end of the territory, where almost 2 million people are now sheltering. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again brushed off calls for a ceasefire, and said Israel will keep going until it achieves complete victory over Hamas. Amid the raging diplomatic tension between India and the Maldives, Male has set a March 15 deadline for New Delhi to withdraw all its troops from the island country. Interestingly, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzus direction comes a day after he concluded his visit to China where he held extensive talks with President Xi Jinping. "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office, said. There are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives, as per the government figures. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering. According to Maldivian media reports, both the countries have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops and the panel held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male' on Sunday morning. Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar was also present at the meeting. New Delhi has not responded to the media reports so far. India and the Maldives have been locked in a diplomatic row after a few ministers of the Muizzu government mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media over his recent visit to Lakshadweep. Male placed three deputy ministers under suspension in an attempt to defuse the tension even as India summoned the Maldivian envoy in New Delhi and lodged a strong protest over the alleged derogatory remarks made against the prime minister. Muizzu, a pro-China leader, had demanded the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives soon after taking oath as the president on November 17 last year. Muizzu came to power with his "India Out" campaign and withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was his key election promise. On Saturday, concluding his China visit, Muizzu had lambasted India, saying nobody can bully his country. "We may be small, but it doesn't give anybody the right to bully us, he said at a press conference. Amid the tension with India, Male has been trying to deepen its bilateral relationship with China with both the countries signing 20 agreements, including cooperation in tourism, during Muizzus Beijing visit. Canada is considering the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said on Saturday. Though he didn't mention how big the reduction will be, Miller said the system has "gotten out of control." Miller told Canada's CTV News that the federal government will take up the issue with provincial governments. "This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis." "That volume is disconcerting," Miller said, in reference to the number of international students in Canada. "It's really a system that has gotten out of control." Miller's statement comes as the country faces a housing and employment crisis. Local media reports claim that the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability. "In Canada, population growth has exceeded the growth in available housing units," their report said. The country's population grew by more than 430,000 during the third quarter of 2023, marking the fastest pace of population growth in any quarter since 1957. Public opinion polls also show Canadians are increasingly concerned about the pressure immigration is putting on services, infrastructure and housing, leading to waning support for high immigration. Official data show there were more than 800,000 foreign students with active visas in 2022, up from 275,000 in 2012. Of these, a sizable chunk are Indians, though the number has come down drastically. Between July and October 2023, the Canadian government processed nearly 87,000 new study permit applications for Indian nationals though this is over 40 percent less than the same period in 2022. According to Miller, the government will monitor both the first and second quarter of this year at possibly set a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing. On why the government was considering this now, Miller said theres a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking into individual academic institutions at different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students. "We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we're actually verifying offer letters," Miller said. "And now it's time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that that is having in certain areas." Singapore did not take part in military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen but is involved in a multinational task force aimed at keeping ships safe in the Red Sea, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday. Singapore troops are taking part in Operation Prosperity Guardian -- an international maritime security force formed to respond to attacks on shipping vessels by the Yemeni Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, the Defence Ministry (Mindef) said. "Operation Prosperity Guardian is unrelated to the military strikes against the Houthis," the ministry said in the statement, quoted by The Straits Times. Tension is growing globally over the Houthi militants targeting merchant vessels in the Red Sea amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Iran-backed rebels have said the attacks are meant to show support for Hamas -- a Palestinian armed group -- in its war with Israel in the Gaza Strip. The US and the UK have already launched air strikes targeting Houthi positions in Yemen. In December, the Singapore-flagged Danish container ship Maersk Hangzhou was hit by a Houthi missile in the Red Sea. Two US destroyers responded to its call for help and one of the warships shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles that were being fired towards the vessel. That same month, the rebel group said it would target all vessels, regardless of nationality, heading to Israel and warned international shipping companies against docking at Israeli ports. US helicopters directly struck Houthi forces for the first time on December 31, sinking three boats and killing fighters attempting to board a ship. On Tuesday, the US and the UK shot down 21 missiles and drones in what the two countries described as the biggest Houthi attack so far that directly targeted their warships in the region. On Friday, the two countries launched air and sea strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen. The Houthis -- an armed rebel movement -- have come to control large parts of Yemen over the past decade. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the attacks by the Houthi rebels resulted in all five of the world's largest shipping companies suspending transit through the Red Sea -- the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia. He added that the Singapore Armed Forces will send a team from the Republic of Singapore Navy's Information Fusion Centre to support information sharing, and a team of planners to work with international partners on operational plans. The Mindef statement said Operation Prosperity Guardian is an effort that comes under the ambit of the 39-nation Combined Maritime Forces, headquartered in Bahrain. One of the missions is the Combined Task Force 153: Red Sea Maritime Security -- involving more than 20 countries and focusing on efforts to protect shipping vessels against security threats such as through information sharing and maritime patrols. About 12 per cent of the world's seaborne trade passes through the Red Sea. From the imposing Andes mountains through the rushing Amazon to the thick Atlantic Forests, from its southernmost tip at Tierra del Fuego across to the Texas border, Latin America has a new guest at the table: The dragon has arrived from across the Pacific, hungry and ready to eat. In this long-slumbering region, the rise of the Asian superpower promises both riches and ruin. As the United States' influence wanes, China offers a pragmatic path toward prosperity. When Li Xi, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China and member of the Politburo Standing Committee its 7th most powerful member made a several-days' visit to Brasilia after the G77+China meeting in Havana this past September, many questioned louder whether the dragon's gifts come laced with hidden curses. What sacrifices will be asked for in return? And can sovereign dignity survive such indebtedness and dependence? These haunting doubts linger as Latin America walks the foggy road ahead under the dragon's shadow. The voyage began innocently, but now looms with ominous unknowns. Over the past two decades, China has aggressively expanded its economic, political and even military influence across Latin America. A region once firmly in the Western sphere of influence is increasingly coming under Beijing's sway. This tectonic geopolitical shift is driven by China's quest for resources, markets, and global power projection. Latin American nations, eager for investment and unburdened by historical grievances, have welcomed China's embrace. However, beneath the surface of smiles and handshakes, tensions and unease are simmering. With Brazil at the helm of G20 in 2024, China has a strategic opportunity to advance its interests in Latin America. Beijing is leveraging economic ties with Brasilia to counterbalance Washington within the G20 where a deferential Brazil could boost its regional sway. It is not lost that China's rapid inroads present complex challenges for Latin American development and sovereignty. As the US watches anxiously as its southern neighbors drift toward its main strategic rival, the future balance of power in the Western Hemisphere hangs in the balance. The anatomy of Chinese ambition in the Americas Passage through the Dragon's den Two decades ago, China was a peripheral player in Latin America, barely registering in the regions consciousness, mentioned mainly in minor economic dispatches or stories on Hong Kong immigrants and passing references in the financial pages of their newspapers. Yet in the span of a generation, the dragon has emerged from obscurity to cast its imposing shadow over the region. From the cosmopolitan capitals of Mexico City and Buenos Aires to the winding Amazon, the lithium-rich salt flats of Bolivia, and endless Patagonian steppe, China's presence looms everywhere and concerns grow about expanding Chinese influence. What began quietly as trade has now blossomed into an extensive web of economic, diplomatic, technological and even military ties. This increasingly multifaceted relationship holds profound implications for Latin America's development model and geopolitical alignment. The dance begins In the early 1990s, bilateral trade totaled a paltry $2 billion annually. The US dominated economic ties, along with Europe and Japan. Latin America served mainly as a source of raw materials and agricultural goods. However, China's exponential growth in the 1990s, followed by its 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization, upended the status quo. Hungry for resources to fuel its industrial expansion, China turned to Latin America's bountiful mines and fields. It voraciously imported iron ore from Brazil, copper from Chile, and soybeans from Argentina. At the same time, Chinese manufacturers flooded Latin American markets with affordable consumer goods. Two-way trade rocketed from $12 billion in 2000 to nearly $450 billion in 2021a 37-fold increase. In the process, China overtook the European Union to become the region's second largest trading partner behind the US. It is Brazils largest trade partner. This growing economic relationship is built on clear motivations. For Latin American countries, China represents a crucial export destination and source of investment. They supply the raw materials and agricultural products that have enabled China's economic miracle. In return, Chinese companies provide financing and construction for major infrastructure projects across the region. For China, Latin America offers a steady supply of commodities to fuel domestic growth. It also serves as a promising market for Chinese goods and services as millions of Latin Americans enter the middle class. On a strategic level, China sees economic ties as way to garner diplomatic support and undermine US regional influence. Some observers have compared this dynamic to the past relationship between Western powers and Latin American nations. However, there are key differences. China avoids forceful intervention and political conditionality. It presents itself as a fellow developing country and partner in overcoming colonial legacies. This narrative has strong appeal for many Latin American leaders and publics. The rhythm quickens In the 2000s, China's presence in Latin America was largely restricted to trade and some mining/oil investments. However, the 2008 global financial crisis marked a turning point. With the US economy paralyzed, China unleashed massive stimulus spending. It doubled down on Latin American commodities to sustain its breakneck growth. Soon resource extraction projects were insufficient to meet China's needs. The government realized it required more control over the entire supply chain and Chinese state-owned companies went on a Latin American shopping spree acquiring mines, oil fields, farmland, ports, and infrastructure. Investment surged from a few billion dollars annually to nearly $30 billion by 2015. Majority state-owned enterprises like Sinopec, China Minmetals and State Grid spearheaded the charge. While Western multinationals focused on service sectors, the Chinese sought to physically lock up Latin America's natural wealth. Here are significant Chinese acquisitions and investments that have shaped strategic partnerships in key Latin American nations: Brazil State Grid purchased CPFL Energia, Brazil's largest power utility controlling electricity distribution to 80 million people across the country. China Minmetals acquired one of Brazil's largest iron ore mines in 2017 for $1.3 billion. China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) bought a 10 per cent stake in Brazil's Libra offshore oil field for $1.6 billion in 2013. China's Three Gorges (CTG) purchased two hydro-electric plants on the Sao Simao and Jupia rivers for over $1.7 billion. Bolivia China's Xinjiang TBEA Group invested $2.3 billion in 2013 to develop the massive Mutun iron ore mine in Bolivia. This was one of Bolivia's largest mining investments. Chinese oil company Shengli acquired shell company Vinto Petroleo from Bolivia for $460 million in 2015. This provided Shengli rights to oil and gas blocks with reserves estimated at 277 million barrels. China's Sinosteel purchased the Agua Rica iron ore mine in southern Bolivia in 2007 for $120 million. Sinosteel had previously held rights to develop the mine but acquired it outright to secure the resource. China Railway Construction Corporation constructed a $1.3 billion highway linking Santa Cruz to Puerto Suarez on the Brazilian border. The lucrative 190 mile project was financed by Chinese loans. Huawei partnered with Bolivian state firm BOA to provide 4G telecommunications infrastructure. Huawei also opened an information technology academy in Bolivia to train engineers. China's first satellite monitoring facility in the Western Hemisphere opened in Bolivia in 2018. China provides satellite data to Bolivia in exchange for its strategic location. The pattern shows Chinese state-backed firms focused mainly on extracting Bolivia's minerals, oil/gas and agricultural potential rather than value-added investments. Securing rights to iron ore, lithium and hydrocarbons appears as priorities. Argentina State Grid acquired 89 per cent stake of electricity distributor CPD Argentina for $3 billion in 2018. This provided access to 10 provinces. China Molybdenum bought the massive Bajo La Alumbrera copper mine for $2.5 billion in 2022. CITIC Agri Fund (China) acquired farmland developer CRESUD for $300 million in 2021. Chile China's Tianqi bought 24 per cent stake in Chilean lithium producer SQM for $4.1 billion in 2018, securing access to the mineral critical for electric vehicles. State-owned Sinomach (China National Machinery Industry Corporation) purchased 323,000 hectares of agricultural land in Chile in 2011 to produce crops for export back to China. Peru Chinalco owns the Toromocho copper mine, one of the largest in Peru, having spent $3.5 billion on its development. Chinese consortium CNPC acquired Petrobras Peru's hydrocarbon assets for $2.6 billion in 2013. China Fishery Group gained control of Peruvian fishmeal giant Copeinca in 2008 for $210 million. Ecuador China National Petroleum Corporation operates and owns part of the Sacha oil fields in the Amazon, purchased for over $1 billion. China Great Wall Drilling Company invested $70 million in drilling wells in Ecuador starting in 2015. These illustrate only part of China's voracious appetite for Latin America's natural resources and strategic infrastructure assets like ports and utilities. However, these high-profile acquisitions expanded Chinese control over entire supply chains. On a parallel timeframe, Chinese policy banks unfurled billions in loans for Latin American infrastructure. Projects like highways, dams and railways conveniently facilitated the export of raw materials back to China. They also undermined the lingering influence of Western-dominated institutions like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. On the political front China aggressively courted Latin American governments. In the past years, it drew countries like Argentina and Ecuador deeper into its orbit with credit lines and trade deals. These partnerships gave China leverage to peel away Taiwan's remaining Latin American allies, with Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic all switching recognition to Beijing. Military ties also expanded, though more quietly. China began sending advisers and limited weapons sales, while partnering on technology and defense industries. China's security collaborations in Latin America encompass not only arms sales but also technology transfers that have played a pivotal role in shaping regional dynamics. Lets take a country-by-country look: Bolivia China provided military helicopters, transport planes, and HJ-5 anti-tank missiles to Bolivia over the past decade. It has also donated trucks and buses for military use. Chinese military advisers have trained Bolivian forces on maintenance and use of Chinese-origin equipment. China launched Bolivias first satellite, the Tupac Katari (TKSat)-1 in 2013 aboard a Chinese Long March rocket. The satellite provides Internet and telecommunications connectivity to the millions of Bolivians in rural areas not connected to the telecommunications grid China opened a joint aerospace technology center with Bolivia in 2017 and has provided space technology assistance. A second satellite launched in 2022 also used Chinese technology. Brazil China sold tracking radars in 2009 to Brazil for use with surface-to-air missiles. It also contracted to co-produce short-range missiles. Chinese aerospace firm CASIC is partnering with Brazil's Embraer on satellite technology development and aircraft manufacturing. Huawei contracted to construct an information security lab with the Brazilian military in 2017 to research cybersecurity, encryption, and communications systems. Venezuela From 2005-2012, China exported over $500 million in arms to Venezuela, including jet fighters, radar systems and armored vehicles. It also jointly developed multiple rocket launchers and drones with Venezuela. China launched three satellites for Venezuela to provide telecommunications and remote sensing capabilities. It also constructed satellite control facilities. Huawei and ZTE built thousands of cellular network base stations across Venezuela over the past decade. They provide ongoing technical support. Argentina In 2015, China provided financing for Argentina to purchase military helicopters, armored vehicles, trainer aircraft, naval vessels, and surface-to-air missile batteries worth over $1 billion. China constructed a space mission control center near Las Lajas to support its lunar exploration program. It is China's first intercontinental space communications hub. The defense relationships entail more than just transactional weapons sales. However, they provide China sustained access and influence to shape security policy in key states. Advanced communications and space partnerships also extend China's global surveillance and navigation capabilities. China also initiated Confucius Institutes to enhance people-to-people ties and extend soft power. The implications of these moves would soon become apparent. The world notices By the early 2010s, media reports trumpeted China's newfound sway in the Western Hemisphere. Pundits wondered if the US had blundered in its own neighborhood. Some even predicted Chinese domination of the region. The reality, however, is more nuanced. There was no denying China's growing footprint. But trade remained dominated by low value-added commodities like soybeans and iron ore. Manufacturing links were minimal. And despite headlines about multi-billion-dollar investments, actual financial flows never matched the hype. Much of the relationship's expansion stemmed from Latin America's primary commodity dependence dovetailing with China's development needs. Still, some countries did form genuinely close ties with Beijing. Argentina under leftist populists Nestor Kirchner and Christina Fernandez grew addicted to Chinese currency swaps and infrastructure loans (theses continued through the Alberto Fernandez regime that ended this past December 10). At the same time, Venezuela, shunned by the West over human rights abuses, fell deep into debt with China. By historical standards, China was still a minor player in Latin America compared to the US and Europe. But the trendlines were clearly moving in Beijing's favor. Alarmed by this, the Obama administration announced a "pivot to Asia" to counter China's rise. Efforts like the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal were meant to strengthen economic bonds with Latin American and isolate China. However, US attention soon shifted elsewhere. The music picked up again under China's ambitious new president, Xi Jinping. In 2013, he unveiled the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a trillion-dollar push to boost China's global connectivity through infrastructure. Though it focused mainly on Eurasia and Africa, Latin America was a natural extension given its commodities and transport links to the Pacific. Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia signed up to be early partners. Brazil has been cautious about joining the initiative citing concerns over Chinese influence in the region and reluctant to take on additional debt, which is often a requirement to participate in the BRI. Chinese military engagement progressed, nevertheless, highlighted by a 2015 visit from the PLA Navy to Chile. That same year, China pledged $250 billion in Latin American investments over a decade and ramped up cultural outreach. President Xi conducted extensive regional tours amidst great fanfare. Clearly, China was playing the long game in Latin America. The Trump interlude After the 2008 financial crisis, Latin America had leaned economically toward China but was still politically close to the US The Trump presidency would severely test those bonds. Trump's protectionist rhetoric, immigration policies, and disinterest in Latin American relations were seen as offensive throughout the region, despite Bolsonaro cozying up to the American president. China cleverly portrayed itself as the responsible global citizen compared to the erratic Trump. The US withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017 was a gift to China. Beijing quickly forged its own massive trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which included Latin American states Chile, Peru and Mexico. Trump's tariffs on Chinese goods also benefited China-Latin America ties. Since many tariffs excluded major commodities, Latin American resource exports to China soared while US manufacturers suffered. Meanwhile, China made headlines by promising $250 billion in regional financing and securing a free trade deal with Uruguay. More quietly, almost every Latin American country signed onto China's Belt and Road Initiative during this period. The US backlash was coming. Bumps in the Road The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 demonstrated both the promise and perils of China's Latin American inroads. Early shipments of Chinese medical supplies and vaccines were welcomed. However, public opinion later soured in some countries like Peru and Brazil where inferior Chinese vaccines underperformed. It reinforced lingering wariness of China's geopolitical intentions. Diplomatically, the Trump administration warned Latin American countries away from partnering with Chinese telecom giant Huawei for 5G networks, with mixed success. It harshly criticized China's opaque infrastructure loans and overfishing in the region. The US also slammed Latin American partners who continued engaging with Venezuela's dictatorship. This pressure revealed cracks in China's relations. Ecuador negotiated a restructuring of its oil-for-loans deals with Beijing. Mexico cooled ties after investments like a mega-railroad failed to materialize. The incoming Biden administration has vowed to compete vigorously with China in Latin America. But China remains undeterred. Chinese firms continue aggressively acquiring assets like lithium mines to dominate electric vehicle supply chains. And Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, tightens cooperation with China. Renewed US protectionism and domestic political uncertainty may further alienate Latin American states. For all the ups and downs, however, Beijing stays patiently on the dance floor. The Chinese toolbox Trade: For individual Latin American countries, China is now the number 1 or 2 trading partner and export destination. Failure to maintain access to Chinese markets could devastate their economies. This dependency gives China huge leverage. Financing power: China has become the dominant creditor across Latin America. Policy banks like China Development Bank and China ExIm provide tens of billions in infrastructure loans. State-backed firms invest billions more in mining/oil. This financial muscle buys influence. Infrastructure vision: China banks have funded ports, roads, dams, and railways across Latin America. Besides facilitating trade, these projects make recipient countries beholden to China. They also frustrate decades of Western calls for transparency. Security ties: While still limited, China's police, military, and technology partnerships offer ideologically aligned states like Venezuela and Nicaragua an alternative to the US. These ties could expand power projection into Latin America over time. Elite capture: China cultivates extensive high-level political connections in Latin America through state visits, party-to-party ties (Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, Li Xi was in Brasilia partly to sign agreements between the Communist Party and Lulas Workers Party) and advisors. It uses these links to shape decision-making in its favor. Corruption and lack of transparency aid this elite influence strategy. Propaganda and media: China frames itself as a fellow developing country and partner through state media and cultural initiatives like Confucius Institutes. It downplays dangers of its authoritarian model. Criticism is dismissed as Western bias. Technology trap: Chinese firms like Huawei and ZTE are major telecom providers in Latin America. Their 5G infrastructure could enable espionage or coercion, say critics. But avoiding Chinese tech may delay modernization. United front outreach: China funds non-profit and grassroots groups to build societal goodwill. It taps into anti-US resentment and left-wing ideology common in Latin America. This soft power is harder to counter. Multipolarity pitch: China encourages Latin American partners to embrace a multipolar world order and reduce dependence on the US. But greater autonomy may not benefit smaller economies long-term if China dominates. Patience and persistence: Unlike the US, China takes a long view in Latin America. It sticks with investments despite crises and leadership changes. This constant engagement breeds familiarity and trust from elites. A region divided Ambivalence colours the dancefloor Given its deep ties with the US, Latin America remains conflicted about growing Chinese intrusion into its sovereign affairs. Polls consistently show populations wary of China's hunger for resources and rising economic clout. They also recoil at China's leniency toward Venezuela's dictatorship. However, China's infrastructure blandishments find many takers across the ideologically diverse region. The chance to balance US dominance also appeals to some leaders. So, China enjoys enough political access to keep expanding influence despite public skepticism. With the election of Milei, Argentina swings back to closer US ties and away from China. The ambivalence across Latin America reflects uncertainty about ceding regional hegemony to an authoritarian superpower. Commodity colony or equal partner? Leftist politicians especially chafe at Latin America's neo-colonial relationship with China. While leaders welcome Chinese investment, they lament reproducing the region's traditional role as a mere exporter of natural resources. Dreams of diversifying into manufacturing or services under Chinese guidance have largely failed. Latin America's value to China lies in its raw materials and vast agrarian potential. As China buys up mines and farmland for its own needs, tensions will grow over whether the relationship can ever evolve toward equality. Who needs whom more? For all its growth, China accounts for just 5 per cent of foreign direct investment in Latin America while the US accounts for 38 per cent. Chinas $150 billion line of credit since 2005, while substantial, pales compared to lending from Western-led multilateral banks. And should China's economy slow significantly, demand for Latin America's commodity and agricultural exports could crater. Despite the hype, China still needs Latin America more than vice versa. This inherent asymmetry ought to give the region leverage to demand more beneficial and sustainable ties. Whether Latin American countries have the bargaining power and collective will to assert their interests remains to be seen. Buying loyalty through modernization While citizens worry about dependency, many Latin American governments enthusiastically court China to finance national modernization dreams. Chinese banks provide the credit and expertise to finally build long-awaited highways, hydro-electric plants, and telecom networks. This dependency on Chinese largesse to fund their political agendas makes leaders reluctant to criticize any dark side of the relationship, they fear jeopardizing ongoing or future projects. China exploits this vulnerability by tying loans and investments to political loyalty. The bargain, however, erodes national autonomy. Who's zooming who? For Latin Americans, China represents both opportunity and threat. China offers a path to prosperity, along with risks of economic domination. For China, Latin America provides resources and markets to sustain growth, but relatively minor political or strategic benefit currently. Despite interdependence, neither fully trusts the other's motives. This uneasy pas de deux continues as long as it serves both parties' interests. However, if sovereign rights and development models clash, the dance could end abruptly with serious consequences for power dynamics in the 21st Century's most important bilateral relationship. The future choreography no return to the solo spotlight The days of uncontested US hegemony in Latin America are over. Though America remains embedded culturally and economically, its political grip has loosened. Dependent on China trade, Latin American countries now loudly resist US dictates. They have options, and maneuver to extract benefits from both superpowers. For the US, restoring credibility means proving its model better serves the region's interests. Bullying and coercion only drive Latin America toward China. Is it time for collective bargaining? Latin American nations struggle to negotiate sustainable ties with China individually. Collective institutions like Mercosur, the Pacific Alliance, and CELAC should jointly formulate demands for more transparency, technology transfer, and investment diversification from China. Though hardly a bloc, Latin America possesses substantial economic clout to shape a more balanced relationship if wielded cooperatively. The region's future autonomy may depend on smart power-balancing between the major powers. The democracy dilemma China's rise poses awkward questions for Latin America's democratic aspirations. While communism failed to take root, leftist populism endures across the region. Will growing economic dependence on an efficient authoritarian regime undermine Latin America's already fragile institutions? Or will the desire to preserve freedoms temper attraction to the Chinese development model? China touts its respect for national choices, but will this hands-off policy survive if Latin American nations challenge its interests? This is where the struggle for democracy in Latin America enters complex new terrain. Winning hearts and minds To sustain influence, China cannot rely solely on elites and economic leverage. Its model needs intrinsic appeal to Latin American societies. Otherwise, partnerships will stay fragile and transactional, vulnerable to geopolitical shifts. Investing in environmentally and socially sustainable industries, rather than just resource extraction, could improve perceptions. But China's authoritarian politics hinders its soft power in the region. Without underlying affinity, its role as partner remains limited. The BRICS factor Beyond bilateral ties, China's deepening involvement in the BRICS bloc has strengthened its hand in Latin America. BRICS serves as a coordination forum between major emerging economies. For China, BRICS is a vehicle to amplify its political and economic sway globally, providing an alternative to Western-dominated institutions. BRICS highlights Global South solidarity and shared development goals. It also establishes a financial architecture less dependent on the US and EU, which is one of Chinas major goals in Latin America. The BRICS New Development Bank (NDB), headquartered in Shanghai and currently headed by former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, finances infrastructure in BRICS states and beyond. The Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) allows members to tap pooled foreign currency reserves during crises. The China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) parallels the NDB. Brazil gains investment funding from these institutions. China uses BRICS forums to deepen ties with the regional giant. Collaboration on 5G, satellites and other technologies is increasing between China and Brazil, and that spreads throughout the region. Diplomatically, BRICS provides China cover to shield regimes like Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba from international pressure. BRICS also enables China to divide Latin America. Brazil and Argentina have significant trade with China, while Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Mexico remain more economically linked to the US. Chinese infrastructure loans create dependencies. This increases the risks splitting Latin America between pro-China and pro-US camps. For Latin America, skillfully navigating ties with both superpowers will be crucial to sustaining regional autonomy. The geopolitical tension surrounding BRICS underscores China's aim to redraw hemispheric power dynamics. The perils of dependence Latin America's commodity and infrastructure dependency on China is deepening just as the global economy faces grave uncertainties. This concentration of trade and investment could prove disastrous if China's economy falters. Diversification is critical, even if it angers Beijing. Meanwhile, overly relying on Chinese 5G, surveillance and AI tech gives China dangerous leverage over national infrastructure. And Chinese criminal groups are flooding Latin American cities with fentanyl. The convenience of embracing China's largesse may be obscuring alarming vulnerabilities. The Dragon is here to stay Whatever tensions and anxieties remain, China's new prominence in Latin America will not recede anytime soon. The dance will continue given mutual needs. But it remains an open question whether China's regional footprint will keep expanding exponentially to displace the US or will Beijing's ambitions hit natural limits as Latin Americans determine some sovereign spheres are off-limits to China's influence? Argentina under Milei may be one of those limits. The new president has talked of cutting ties with China though the likely outcome is that his country will find to soothe relations with China reset on more assertive and limiting terms. Striking the right equilibrium will demand nuance and confidence from all countries involved. The geostrategic and economic implications are immense as Latin America negotiates its relationships with the two superpowers that will define the 21st century. Also read: An Iranian bear in Brazils backyard: How Iran is wooing South America Davos, Jan 14 (PTI) National security advisors of several countries met here on Sunday to discuss a peace formula for Ukraine, with India and many other nations pushing for the restoration of peace in the war-hit country. A representative of the Swiss Foreign Ministry, which co-hosted the meeting along with Ukraine, said, "By organising the meeting, Switzerland continues to support Ukraine in achieving this goal". This was the fourth NSA meeting on the peace formula proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2022, which follows ten principles aimed at ensuring a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Earlier meetings have been held in Copenhagen, Jeddah and Malta. India has always pitched for restoration of peace in Ukraine, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his discussions with Zelenskyy said that India was ready to help in all possible manner to help restore peace. During his conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin also, Modi said that it is not a time of war. Sources said that the Indian representative at the Davos meeting again called for early restoration of peace, though there was no official word on this. Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who co-chaired the meeting with Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, said it was attended by representatives of 81 countries and international organisations. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said the conference aims to finalise the talks at the level of national security advisers on principles for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. "These principles should form the basis for the next stages of the peace process. Switzerland is making an important contribution to this through the conference in Davos," it said. The fourth NSA meeting also included panel discussions on food security and humanitarian aspects. The meeting was held a day before the start of the five-day World Economic Forum Annual Meeting here to be attended by over 2,800 global leaders, including nearly 60 heads of state and government. Ten Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers arrived at Eppley Airfield on Saturday after 10 months spent helping train Ukrainian soldiers in Europe. The 10 soldiers, as well as two others who also returned to the state Saturday, are part of the 1-134th Cavalry Squadron. They were deployed with Task Force Bowie, which was made up of around 160 soldiers in total, as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine in March 2023. Task Force Bowie was the 13th group to deploy in support of the training group, which was created in 2014 after the Russian invasion of Crimea and Donbas. Gov. Jim Pillen spoke to the soldiers and their families as they congregated outside the terminal at Eppley Airfield, welcoming them back to Nebraska. We just can't thank you enough for your service, Pillen said. What you've been through, I can't comprehend it all, but what I do know is you guys have built an incredible team." The soldiers were primarily stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany, where they mentored and advised Ukrainian troops in a combat training center. This included training them on U.S. weapon systems and other equipment, logistical and operational planning processes and leader development, Maj. Scott Ingalsbe said. Altogether, Task Force Bowie directly trained or supported training for about 7,500 Ukrainian soldiers, Ingalsbe said. Lt. Col. Rob Schepers said he hears praise for the work of Nebraskan soldiers time and time again, and this operation was no exception. He said positive feedback on the task force made it all the way up to the secretary of defense. Whether it's domestic, overseas, training, operations ... always Nebraska sets the standard," he said. "You set the standard in Europe for everybody to follow to train Ukrainians, Schepers said. Capt. Jon Gronewold said he was glad to be home after reuniting with his wife, Emily, and 2-year-old daughter, Ada, on Saturday, but he hopes people keep the Ukrainians on their mind as they continue to fight against Russia. Its tough to leave the Ukrainians we trained behind, he said. I know a lot of them are back on the front lines right now." Some of the families gathered at Eppley Saturday morning held signs welcoming their soldier home. Wyatt Cade, 5, held a sign welcoming his dad, Maj. Cody Cade, home that read, Ive waited 285 days for this moment. Wyatts mom, Elaine Cade, said she had surprised him by saying they were picking up a friend from the airport, when in reality it was his dad. We wanted him to be completely caught off guard, and it worked, Elaine said. Photos: 10 members of the Nebraska Army National Guard return home after deployment training Ukrainian Troops Chandigarh, Jan 14 (PTI) The Potato Technology Centre (PTC) in Haryana's Karnal district will come out with a new variety of potato mini-tubers, produced through a hi-tech technique, by the end of the month, people engaged in the process said. Since its inception seven years ago, the PTC has been catering to the demand of large quantity of disease-free planting material and introduction of new varieties. The new variety, which will be out by the end of January, will be rich in zinc and iron. These mini-tubers, which are used for the production of high-quality potatoes, are naturally bred, miniaturised seed potatoes and are produced in controlled, disease-free conditions using aeroponics technique. Aeroponic farming is a soil-less farming technique that grows more crops faster with limited use of water and other resources. The aeroponics facility established at PTC, a government institute, is one of the largest in the country. "The mini-tubers of a new variety called Kufri Uday, which is especially for north Indian plains, will prove to be a boon for the farmers," subject matter specialist, PTC, Shamgarh in Karnal, Jitender Singh, told PTI. The PTC Karnal campus is spread over 45 acres, with two sub-centres in Panipat and Kurukshetra. He said micropropagation of culture tubes procured from the Shimla centre is conducted at the Karnal centre. "We bring these culture tubes in our tissue culture lab. Then these are multiplied using techniques like aeroponics for production of high-quality mini tubers of potato seed. "In aeroponics technique, tubers formed per plant are many. We can also control their size whether we need up to three grams, five grams, seven grams and we can harvest it accordingly on daily basis which is not possible in the soil medium. Farmers can directly sow several thousand tubers per acre," Singh said. "These are early generation potatoes. We make these for seed production," he said. Singh said a potato expo is being held at the Karnal centre on January 15 and it will be inaugurated by Haryana's Agriculture Minister J P Dalal. "In addition to Haryana and Punjab, farmers from other states, like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal, Bihar will also take part in the expo," he added. Washington, Jan 14 (PTI) Former US president Donald Trump for the first time has lashed out at his rival Vivek Ramaswamy, who is most closely aligned with him in the race for the Republican nomination, accusing the Indian-American entrepreneur of engaging in deceitful campaign tricks". Trump's remarks came ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Monday, marking the beginning of the long process by which the Republicans and Democrats choose their nominees for the presidential election. The comments come after a series of remarks and posts by Ramaswamy, 38, that have angered Trump and his team. Trump's criticism stemmed from shirts that Ramaswamy's campaign is handing out that say 'Save Trump, Vote Vivek' on them. Ramaswamy posted a photo with a group of young men wearing them after his event in Rock Rapids, Iowa, on Saturday, which caught the former president's attention. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks, Trump, 77, wrote on Truth Social on Saturday. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this. Vote for TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA," he added. Make America Great Again (MAGA) is an American political slogan and movement popularised by Trump during his successful 2016 presidential campaign and is used to refer to Trump's political base, The criticism marks the first time Trump and his team have made direct, public attacks against Ramaswamy. Until now, Trump has largely avoided criticising Ramaswamy due to his strong praise and defence of the former president. However, the criticisms come as voters will start making their voices heard in the first-in-the-nation caucuses on Monday and as Ramaswamy has started to become more direct in laying out the case for why he is the Trump alternative, ABC News said. On the campaign trail, the biotech entrepreneur has pitched himself to Trump-leaning voters as the best of both worlds: someone with experience as a businessman who also has a deep understanding of the Constitution. After Trump's post, Ramaswamy who had previously stayed away from bashing Trump, again praised Trump. Ramaswamy said he respects "the hell out of Trump" and that he's the "best President of the 21st century." But he doubled down on his claim that Trump's political enemies aim to narrow the Republican field into a "2-horse race" between Trump and Nikki Haley, another Indian-American in the Republican race and that they will eventually "eliminate" him from the race. "OPEN YOUR EYES to the hard TRUTH: this system will stop at nothing to keep this man away from the White House,"Ramaswamy continued. Ramaswamy in an extended comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, referred to the former president's comments as an "unfortunate move by his campaign advisors, I don't think friendly fire is helpful." Ramaswamy also continued to claim that Haley and Trump were being positioned as the two candidates in the race with the end goal of eliminating Trump from the contest. Iowa, Jan 14 (AP) Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa on Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to former President Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. Trump cancelled his two in-person rallies on Saturday due to a blizzard blanketing much of the state, scheduling two virtual "tele-rallies" instead. That left DeSantis and Haley, the two strongest candidates of the other Republicans competing in Iowa, with the chance to meet voters in person at several sites. Both were planning to finish the day with events in the Mississippi River town of Davenport. Trump is the heavy front-runner in Monday's caucuses. Perhaps more important than the margin of Trump's expected victory is whether either of his remaining top rivals can claim a clear second-place finish and gain momentum as the race moves forward to New Hampshire and other states. DeSantis in particular is under great pressure in Iowa given his campaign's heavy bet on a strong finish in the caucuses. "You're going to pack so much more punch on Monday night than in any other election you'll ever be able to participate in," the Florida governor told about 60 voters at his first event in Council Bluffs on the western edge of Iowa. DeSantis is hoping for more voters like Michael Durham, a former Trump supporter who braved sub-freezing temperatures to hear the Florida governor and plans to caucus for him Monday. "He's just kind of no nonsense," said Durham, a 47-year-old from Council Bluffs. Durham praised DeSantis for opening Florida schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging federal government power. "He is who he is. He doesn't make any apologies for the way he thinks." Other Iowans showed why DeSantis and Haley, the former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor, still have work to do in their respective final pushes. Courtney Raines, a special education teacher, came to hear Haley on Saturday and said she would try to see DeSantis later in the day. "I'd like to know how she's going to handle the border crisis and mitigate the racial divide," said Raines, who said she was adopted from South Korea and is concerned about the divisiveness she perceives among Americans today. Haley told Raines and other potential caucusgoers in Cedar Falls that they have a chance to "make history" and "right the ship in America". Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the conservative Koch Brothers' network, canvassed the state through the winter storm on behalf of Haley. Patti Parlee, a 65-year-old accountant from Urbandale, was among the Iowans who were visited at home by AFP canvassers. But Parlee said she is choosing between Trump and DeSantis and likely won't make a decision until Monday night, when she will hear the two candidates' representatives make a pitch on their behalf at her caucus site. "That's what the caucuses are all about is people get to speak for their candidates," Parlee said. "And we have to keep in mind: This isn't the final election. It goes on from here." Parlee said she believes DeSantis has not gotten fair treatment from political media, while Trump has not been treated fairly by prosecutors who have charged him in four separate criminal cases. She said she loved Trump's policies during his administration but thinks he sometimes acts like a "fifth-grader". "I almost want to vote DeSantis just to say yes, he should be getting more support than it seems like he is," Parlee said. "I almost want to vote Trump just to say: We know that all this bullcrap out there is bullcrap." Trump, meanwhile, is looking for as wide a margin of victory as possible on Monday, with his campaign aides arguing for months that the former president can become the presumptive nominee early in the primary calendar with wide margins that keep DeSantis and Haley from mounting a sustained threat. But his advisors have also privately reminded reporters that no Republican presidential candidate has won a contested Iowa caucus by more than 12 points since Bob Dole in 1988. While Trump was delayed returning to the state and his Saturday rallies cancelled, Kari Lake, the failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate who is now running for Senate, paid a visit to the campaign's Urbandale, Iowa, campaign headquarters. Lake, who grew up in Iowa and is one of Trump's most vocal supporters, made several calls herself after delivering remarks and taking questions from the crowd, which included volunteers from Florida and Texas. "The Republican caucus that's going to happen on Monday night is going to send a shockwave. We're going to see such huge numbers," she said. After days of storm conditions, Monday's weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history, with temperatures falling below zero degrees Fahrenheit when Republicans are supposed to head to their caucus sites. Aides for multiple campaigns and longtime Iowa political observers have suggested the weather could sharply depress turnout. Carroll Hinchion, a 30-year-old independent voter, is considering caucusing with Republicans on Monday. Hinchion voted for Democratic President Joe Biden, a Democrat, over Trump in 2020 but is now looking at alternatives, saying she would not support Trump but could still end up supporting Biden. She came to hear DeSantis on Saturday, explaining that she is especially interested in candidates' plans for mental health care services in America. But after DeSantis spoke, she said she was unmoved: "Nothing that he talked about resonated with me." (AP) SZM Male, Jan 14 (PTI) The Maldives and India on Sunday initiated official talks on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean archipelagic nation, according to a media report, nearly two months after Male sought their removal. The talks began at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male, SunOnline newspaper reported. Ibrahim Khaleel, the Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications, told the newspaper that the meeting was that of the high-level core group which Maldives and India agreed to set up during the meeting between Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai in December. Khaleel said the group was discussing the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and expediting India-backed development projects in the Maldives, the report said. Soon after taking oath as the President of Maldives on November 17 last year, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw its military personnel from his country, saying the Maldivian people have given him a "strong mandate" to make this request to New Delhi. Khaleel had earlier said the new Maldivian administration led by President Muizzu has established that there are 77 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi. There were 24 Indian military personnel to manage the first helicopter, 25 Indians to manage the Dornier aircraft, 26 personnel to manage the second helicopter, and two more for maintenance and engineering. The discussions on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel come amid a row between the two nations in the backdrop of derogatory comments posted by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Modi. During his just-concluded state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing. Muizzu suspended the three ministers after their social media postings, which stirred concern in India and calls for a boycott by Indian tourists who ranked highest in numbers followed by Russia. Chinese tourists figured third. Colombo, Jan 14 (PTI) The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 12 Indian fishermen and seized their trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation's waters, an official statement said on Sunday. The fishermen were arrested, and their three trawlers seized on Saturday off the coast of Karainagar in the northern Jaffna peninsula, the Navy said in a release. They were escorted to the Kankesanthurai harbour for further action, it said. The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters. The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries. There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. In 2023, the island nation's Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for poaching in Sri Lankan waters. Colombo, Jan 14 (PTI) Sri Lanka police on Sunday said that they would launch a new phase of the controversial drug bust operation despite concerns raised by the UN Human Rights chief over its fairness. Police said they were targeting 42,248 suspects identified criminals. "All police stations must work 24 hours a day for the next one month to arrest 42,248 suspects and bring them to justice," a statement said. On Saturday, the UN Human Rights body slammed Sri Lanka polices ongoing operation to curb the narcotics menace and called on the government to reassess strategy with a human rights-based approach. We are very concerned that authorities in Sri Lanka are adopting a heavily security-based response to the countrys drugs problem...A staggering 29,000 people have reportedly been arrested on drug-related matters since December 17, with allegations that some have been subjected to ill-treatment and torture, a statement issued in Geneva on Saturday by Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. Operation Yukthiya (the Sinhala term for justice) was launched on December 17 with a June 30 deadline to end the drug menace plaguing the island nation and arrest all the drug dealers. He said the Security forces have reportedly conducted raids without search warrants, detaining suspected drug sellers and users, with hundreds sent to military-run rehabilitation centres. The police said the new phase to arrest criminals should complement the drug bust raids with action to break the network of drug distribution and dealers. Sri Lankas own Human Rights Commission and the lawyers body the Bar Association had also raised questions on the operation. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Copenhagen, Jan 14 (AP) Denmark's Queen Margrethe II signed her historic abdication on Sunday, paving the way for her son Frederik X to immediately become king, Danish broadcaster DR reported. Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years since King Erik III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery in 1146. She signed her abdication during a meeting with the Danish Cabinet at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime minister's office and the Supreme Court. The document was presented to her as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated. Frederik, 55, was present in the room. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will next proclaim him king on the balcony of the palace before thousands of people. Frederik's 18-year-old son, Christian, who becomes Denmark's crown prince and heir to the throne, was also in attendance. (AP) PY PY London, Jan 14 (PTI) At least five illegal migrants were killed in French waters early on Sunday when their boat overturned while trying to cross the English Channel, authorities said. Around 70 people were trying to board a small boat attempting to launch near Wimereux beach, Pas-de-Calais, when it overturned, French media reports said. The migrants got into trouble almost immediately after the boat departed the French coast for England at around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT), the French Maritime Prefecture said. A tugboat patrolling the coast attended the scene and found the five bodies. Dozens of people were pulled from the water during overnight rescue efforts in Wimereux, south of Calais. The five deaths were confirmed by the French Coast Guard, according to the BBC. Local authorities said that four of the dead were from Iraq and Syria. A spokesperson from the French Maritime Prefecture told the BBC that 32 people had been rescued, and one person, in critical condition, was transferred to a hospital in nearby Boulogne-sur-Mer. Another person received treatment at the scene for severe hypothermia, the spokesperson said. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron called the incident "heartbreaking". According to media reports, he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, "It's heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night; it breaks my heart to hear about it." The migrants were trying to board the vessel as it left the beach and found themselves in difficulty at sea, the French Maritime Prefecture said. Des Moines (Iowa), Jan 14 (AP) Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley pushed across ice-cold Iowa Saturday to find voters open to an alternative to former President Donald Trump with just two days before the state's caucuses open the Republican primary calendar. Trump, the heavy front-runner in Monday's caucuses, opted for tele-rallies after canceling larger in-person events due to a blizzard blanketing much of the state, but he remained confident as he looks for a big victory to blunt the potential rise of any rival. Shortly after arriving in Des Moines, Trump held a livestreamed town hall-style event hosted by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, one his top Iowa backers. It's nasty out there, he said of Iowa's icy conditions. He confessed to some worry that weather could dampen turnout Monday but said his supporters will walk over glass to support him. Perhaps more important than the margin of Trump's expected victory is whether either of his remaining top rivals can claim a clear second-place finish and gain momentum as the race moves forward to New Hampshire and other states. The final Des Moines Register/NBC News poll before the caucuses found Trump maintaining a formidable lead, supported by nearly half of likely caucusgoers compared with 20% for Haley and 16% for DeSantis. Haley, the former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, and DeSantis, the Florida governor, remain locked in a close battle for second. Trump is also viewed more favorably than the other top contenders by likely caucusgoers, at 69% compared with 58% for DeSantis and just 48% for Haley. Trump's modified schedule gave DeSantis and Haley a chance to see more voters across the state on Saturday. DeSantis in particular is under great pressure in Iowa given his campaign's heavy bet on a strong finish in the caucuses. You're going to pack so much more punch on Monday night than in any other election you'll ever be able to participate in, the Florida governor told about 60 voters at his first event in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the western edge of the state. DeSantis is hoping for more voters like Michael Durham, a former Trump supporter who plans to caucus for him Monday night. He's just kind of no nonsense, said Durham, a 47-year-old from Council Bluffs. Durham praised DeSantis for opening Florida schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and challenging federal power. He doesn't make any apologies for the way he thinks. Other Iowans showed why DeSantis and Haley still have work to do in their respective final pushes. Courtney Raines, a teacher, came to hear Haley on Saturday morning and planned to see DeSantis later in the day. I'd like to know how she's going to handle the border crisis and mitigate the racial divide, said Raines, who expressed concern about divisions in American society. Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the conservative Koch Brothers' network, canvassed the state through the winter storm on Haley's behalf. Patti Parlee, a 65-year-old accountant from Urbandale, was among the Iowans visited at home Saturday by AFP. But Parlee said she is choosing between Trump and DeSantis and likely won't decide until Monday night, when she will hear the two candidates' representatives make a pitch at her caucus site. That's what the caucuses are all about is people get to speak for their candidates, Parlee said. And we have to keep in mind: This isn't the final election. It goes on from here. Parlee argued that DeSantis has not gotten fair treatment from political media, while Trump has not been treated fairly by prosecutors who have charged him in four separate criminal cases. She said she loved Trump's policies during his administration but thinks he sometimes acts like a fifth-grader. I almost want to vote DeSantis just to say yes, he should be getting more support than it seems like he is, Parlee said. I almost want to vote Trump just to say: We know that all this bullcrap out there is bullcrap. In Des Moines, Trump hit Haley for working with the Koch network. Haley, for her part, was measured in her criticisms of Trump, a reflection of her attempt at broad appeal. That includes Republicans who still have favorable opinions about the former president and independents and moderate Republicans who have soured on Trump and could be wildcards on Monday. Speaking Saturday in the liberal college town of Iowa City, Haley drew enthusiastic applause when she hit her signature line aimed at raising doubts about Trump: Chaos follows him. You know I'm right. We can't defeat Democratic chaos with Republican chaos. It struck Julie Slinger, who voted for Trump in 2016 but then for President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the 2020 general election. Trump is a disaster waiting to happen. A time bomb, the 57-year-old accountant said. Even if you like Trump, he is going to be crippled by this mayhem swirling around him. Haley's appearance in Iowa City, part of the state's most Democratic county, highlights the wide net she is casting. Slinger entered the event undecided. She left committed to Haley. DeSantis and Haley held back-to-back events a few miles apart in Davenport on Saturday evening, making little mention of the other to their friendly crowds. They'll both travel north to Dubuque on Sunday. Trump is looking for as wide a margin of victory as possible in Iowa. His aides say the former president can become the presumptive nominee early in the primary calendar with comfortable victories that keep DeSantis and Haley from mounting a sustained threat; alternately, his advisers have privately reminded reporters that no Republican presidential candidate has won a contested Iowa caucus by more than 12 points since Bob Dole in 1988. Before Trump's late arrival Saturday, Kari Lake, the failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate who is now running for Senate, paid a visit to the campaign's Urbandale, Iowa, campaign headquarters, where dozens of volunteers were gathered making calls. The Republican caucus that's going to happen on Monday night is going to send a shockwave. We're going to see such huge numbers, said Lake, who grew up in Iowa. After days of storm conditions, Monday's weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history, with temperatures falling below 0 degrees Fahrenheit when Republicans are supposed to head to caucus sites. Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was hit from behind Saturday by a semi-trailer on her way to Haley's event in Iowa City, according to fellow GOP Rep. Ashley Hinson, who spoke to the crowd in Miller-Meeks' place. Miller-Meeks said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, that she did not require medical attention. Aides for multiple campaigns and longtime Iowa political observers have suggested the weather could sharply depress turnout. Republican caucus turnout peaked at more than 180,000 in 2016, Trump's first campaign. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won the caucuses narrowly that year. Trump's campaign has put considerably more effort this time into building a caucus turnout structure. (AP) NSA NSA RACINE A downtown Racine business has branded itself Dry January Headquarters, and for good reason. Whether youre sober, sober-curious or participating in Dry January, Inmoxicated, at 329 Main St., is the spot to explore nonalcoholic drink options. What is Dry January? After weeks of celebrating the holidays, and perhaps partaking in a few too many alcoholic beverages, the start of a new calendar year is branded as Dry January for those who want to challenge themselves to stop drinking alcohol for the first 31 days. Dry January began in 2013 as a public health initiative from Alcohol Change UK, a British charity. Cutting alcohol for even a month can lead to noticeable differences in your health. According to a study from the British Medical Journal, abstinence from alcohol in moderate to heavy drinkers improves insulin resistance, weight, blood pressure and cancer-related growth factors. A safe, sober space At Inmoxicated, alcohol is totally out of the equation. You cant accidentally get served a drink here, said Shannon Goodman, who founded Inmoxicated to create the support system she wished she had when she quit drinking. Or if youre having a weak moment, you cant in the spur of a second just order a drink with alcohol. The woman-owned business is meant to foster a supportive space for sober people to socialize without all the things at a traditional bar that might be triggering, like the smell of alcohol, for someone who is trying to abstain. Everybody is here to just have a good time and try some new things, Goodman said. They come here to socialize and meet new people with the same interests. The sober bar celebrated its second anniversary Dec. 14, and it continues to be a safe space for those practicing sobriety. Jeff Gustin, who runs the bar at Inmoxicated and was a bartender at traditional venues, said he appreciates the environment that has been fostered at Inmoxicated. Theres never been an argument in here, he said. Theres never been a fight. Weve never had to throw anybody out. If somebody spills a drink, its legitimately an accident. Just like traditional bars, Inmoxicated hosts game nights like Bingo, trivia, and board and card games. The whole premise is that we want people to know that theyre not actually giving anything up when you quit drinking alcohol, Goodman said. You can still go out to a bar and play pool, darts, listen to music and go to trivia or karaoke whatever used to be your thing when you went out and drank, you can still do that here. While Inmoxicated has fully sober customers, some of their patrons partake in drinking during the weekends but choose not to drink during the workweek so that theyre sharper and dont have to deal with hangovers. We are not anti-alcohol, but we are about giving people the space to improve their lives in the ways that they want to, Goodman said. Offerings Inmoxicated welcomes anyone 18 and older and offers a variety of nonalcoholic options, as well as a retail section with nonalcoholic beverages to take home. Some of the bars top sellers are the white Russian, the old fashioned and margaritas. You dont realize you have all these options. You can make almost everything alcohol-free vodka, tequila, gin, the whole gamut recreating the same flavors, Goodman said. And there are a lot of things too, that arent even modeled after an alcohol thats out there to make alcohol-free cocktails, so those are nice because then they dont trigger people who are previous drinkers. Inmoxicated also serves CBD-infused cocktails. We used to use the term mocktail a lot to try to help people understand what we were doing here, Gustin said. Were trying to get away from that now because theres nothing fake about our drinks. For those interested in Inmoxicateds retail section but who may not know where to start, Gustin offers personal consulting so customers can learn about and sample different products before making a purchase. We would rather you walk out of here with something we know youre going to like rather than you thinking, I hope I like this, when you get home, he said. Dry January events While Inmoxicated is dry year-round, there are some events and specials for people visiting the soBar during Dry January. Thirsty Thursdays includes free pool table access, $2 off mixed drinks and $1 off nonalcoholic beers in January. On Saturday, Jan. 27, Game Night: Bingo is a free event beginning at 7 p.m. The night will include prizes and drink specials. Inmoxicated hosted a mocktail workshop and drink-sampling event Jan. 8. Attendees learned how to make three popular alcohol-free cocktails and sampled liquor-free alternatives and N/A beers. Goodman and Gustin attended Milwaukees N/A Day festival on Jan. 6, which gave people an opportunity to enjoy samples of more than 50 nonalcoholic drink options. Year-round availability When Dry January ends, Inmoxicated will still be committed to its nonalcoholic offerings. The sober bar is open Tuesday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, 2-10 p.m. It is closed Sundays and Mondays. Inmoxicated is also on-the-go. During the summer, you can find Goodman and Gustin at fairs, festivals, farmers markets and parties with their mobile bar trailer. Bhopal, Jan 14 (PTI) About 12 crore people are likely to participate in the Ujjain Simhastha Mela in 2028 as per the assessment by the Madhya Pradesh government and various works like cleaning the Kshipra river and construction of stop dams to check the flow of effluent are being undertaken. These instructions were given at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav in Ujjain on Sunday. It is estimated that about 12 crore devotees will participate in the 2028 Simhastha (Kumbh Mela or fair), which is organised once in 12 years, an official release said. Yadav directed officials to construct stop dams at various places in neighbouring Indore and Dewas to check the release of waste in the Kshipra River. He told officials to ensure that the river is rid of pollution and its water becomes drinkable before 2028, it said. "The chief minister also directed officials to chalk out a work plan after consulting saints and sadhus. If needed, the third phase of the Mahakal Lok corridor can be started," as per the release. Officials said nine stop dams will be constructed in Indore where polluted drains release water in the Kshipra river. The ghats on the banks of the river where saints reside will be developed on a priority basis, it said. Yadav also said the road leading to the Mahakal temple be widened and an alternative road constructed. He directed setting up a power station, lodging and boarding facilities for devotees, expansion of the airstrip and vehicle parking arrangements, the release said. Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday attacked Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar over the split in the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party and accused them of "stealing parties". The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 after a rebellion by Shinde, while the NCP got divided after Ajit Pawar joined the state government along with eight MLAs in July last year. "Some are stealing their uncle's party and some are stealing somebody else's party. Have the guts to form your own party and take us on," he said in a swipe at Pawar, whose uncle Sharad Pawar founded the NCP, and Shinde, whose Sena was started by Uddhav Thackeray's father late Bal Thackeray. Hitting back, CM Shinde said, "We are taking forward Balasaheb's party. Those who gave up his ideology for power should not speak about us." Shinde routinely accuses Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva to join hands with the Congress and NCP to become chief minister in 2019. Mumbai, Jan 14 (PTI) Supriya Sule of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday mocked the BJP and asked if it had no talent of its own, her statement coming in the backdrop of former Union minister Milind Deora quitting the Congress. There is speculation Deora will join the Shiv Sena of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, which is allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party. Asked about the development, Sule said the BJP and its allies were becoming the Congress, an apparent reference to leaders from the grand old party switching allegiance to the ruling side. "I wonder if there is no talent in the BJP. What about those BJP workers who have toiled tirelessly for the party," she asked. New Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) A day after the five accused in the Parliament security breach were brought back to Delhi following their polygraph, narco-analysis and brain mapping tests, a police source claimed that Manoranjan D was the mastermind behind the incident. Earlier, the police had said that Lalit Jha was the mastermind behind the December 13 incident. All six accused -- Sagar Sharma, Manoranjan D, Amol Shinde, Neelam Azad, Lalit Jha and Mahesh Kumawat -- were presented before the Patiala House court on Saturday which sent them to judicial custody, police officials said. According to police sources, except for Neelam, the other five accused were taken to Gujarat for a polygraph test on December 8. Sagar and Manoranjan have also undergone additional naro-analysis and brain mapping tests. Neelam had not given consent to undergo the tests before the court. So far investigations and interrogations have revealed that the accused had planned to send a message to the government. The accused have revealed that they were upset over the issues of unemployment, the Manipur crisis and farmers' agitation. The narco and brain mapping tests have indicated that Manoranjan was the mastermind of the Parliament breach case, a police source said. According to another source, investigators are awaiting some forensic reports and a few more people were yet to be questioned. In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13, Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during the Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by the MPs. Around the same time, two other accused -- Shinde and Azad -- also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside the Parliament premises. New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) A 19-year-old man was allegedly stabbed to death following a dispute in the early hours of Sunday in central Delhi's Meena Bazar area, police said. Police said the deceased has been identified as Armaan, a resident of Ghaziabad. "The information about the stabbing incident was received around 5.20 am at Jama Masjid police station from hospital. A team was sent to the spot," a senior police officer said. Police said doctors had declared the man dead and further investigation into the matter was taken up. "Armaan and his father used to work as a street vendor in Meena Bazar area. Prima facie, investigation suggested that there was a dispute between Armaan and three other men, due to which they stabbed him multiple times," the officer said. Police have registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and launched an investigation, the officer said, adding that no one has been arrested so far. Jaipur, Jan 14 (PTI) Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra said on Sunday that soldiers are not only vigilant guards of our country's borders, but they are also symbols of sacrifice and dedication. He called upon everyone to honour the services of ex-servicemen and their families, who have "sacrificed everything" for the nation, and provide every possible support to them. Mishra was addressing a function organised at the Saptashakti Auditorium of the Army on the eighth Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Day. Recalling the services of first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, Field Marshal K M Cariappa, he said his selfless services will always be remembered. Therefore, an initiative has been taken to celebrate their retirement day as Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Day. He also called for effective implementation of schemes for the welfare of soldiers, delivery of ex-servicemen pension and other facilities to them in a timely and convenient manner and working under a well-planned mechanism for their welfare. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also participated in the 8th Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Day celebration organised at Amar Jawan Jyoti (Janpath) in Jaipur and paid tribute to the bravery, valour and spirit of service to the nation of retired soldiers. In the function organised at the Saptashakti Auditorium, while sharing his memories related to the Army, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who is the minister-in-charge for soldiers' welfare, said that effective efforts will be made at all levels to encourage the soldiers. He assured to work at the practical level through the Sainik Welfare Department for their prosperity. Minister of State Vijay Singh Chaudhary, while remembering the bravery of soldiers, said that soldiers are synonymous with courage and bravery, and everyone should work with determination for the nation by learning from them. Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, Commander, South Western Command provided information about the work being done for ex-servicemen. On this occasion, the "brave women", "brave parents" and "bravery" and special medal holders were honoured by the governor, and ministers. Earlier, the governor read out the 'Preamble of the Constitution' and the fundamental duties to everyone. He paid tribute to the ex-servicemen in the Sapta Shakti Sena area by laying a wreath in their memory. RACINE A trial date was set for Laquan Russell, who is accused of child abuse and neglect, during a status conference Monday. Russell is charged with two counts of child neglect and three counts of child abuse. He and Dashja Turner are accused of keeping her five kids, ages 1-14, in a basement and allegedly allowing them to become severely malnourished. Turner faces five counts of neglecting a child (consequence is great bodily harm). Russell plead not guilty to all counts Sept. 27 and Turner plead not guilty to all counts Oct. 12. On July 31, 2023, officers from the Racine Police Department and Racine County Child Protective Services investigators went to a residence on Metron Court to check on the welfare of five children. In one room of the basement, investigators found a twin-sized air mattress with four frail, unkempt children laying on it, according to the criminal complaint filed in this case. The mattress reportedly had one sheet, but no pillows or blankets. Turner reportedly was found in the other room with a child who was crying in a bassinette. The room reportedly had a mattress, pillows, a desk and a box fan. There were no bathrooms or food, the complaint said. The children were removed from the home and taken to Childrens Hospital of Wisconsin, where all were reportedly diagnosed with severe neglect. Injuries that aligned with physical abuse also reportedly were identified on two of the children. During Russells preliminary hearing Sept. 20, Investigator William Lojeski testified that one of the children said Russell hit the three oldest kids with cords, while another denied that Russell hit them. Several welfare checks had been requested since September 2021 in Kenosha, Mount Pleasant and Racine, according to the complaint. During a status conference Monday, the trial against Russell was scheduled to begin March 19. A trial date for Turner has not been set yet. Russell will appear in court again Feb. 19 for a final pretrial hearing. Today in history: Jan. 9 1861: Star of the West 1945: Battle of Luzon 1972: Howard Hughes 1987: Oliver North 2005: Mahmoud Abbas 2012: Alabama 2012: Amir Mirzaei Hekmati 2012: Barry Larkin 2015: Paris 2017: Clemson 2017: Jared Kushner 2021: The Java Sea In My Own Shoes: Ill never be able to retire the soapbox MyPillow chief executive and prominent election denier Mike Lindell said Friday that Fox News has stopped running his companys commercials, disputing the networks assertion that it is simply because he hasnt paid his bills. Lindell went public by tweeting that Fox, which had been one of MyPillows biggest advertising outlets, had canceled him. He said in his tweet that he didnt know why but that he suspected that the network was trying to silence him. Fox denied that. Losing Fox was just the latest in a series of financial and legal setbacks for Minnesota-based MyPillow and Lindell, who continues to propagate former President Donald Trumps lies that the 2020 election was stolen from him, in part by rigged voting machine systems. Several big-box retailers, including Walmart, have discontinued his products, and lawyers who were defending him against defamation lawsuits by voting machine companies quit. As soon as their account is paid, we would be happy to accept their advertising, Fox spokeswoman Irena Briganti said. In an interview with The Associated Press, Lindell acknowledged that MyPillow owes money to Fox. He put the figure at $7.8 million, but he insisted that the sum is within his credit line with the network. He said MyPillow has long spent an average of $1 million a week to run its ads on Fox. And he said the network had long allowed him 12 weeks of credit until it recently cut that to eight weeks. Lindell said he believes Fox wants to silence him because I want to secure our election platforms an assertion that Fox disputes. And he said he suspects the network is sore because his Lindell TV/FrankSpeech online channel recently hired former Fox Business host Lou Dobbs, whose debut show on Monday night featured an interview with Trump, who made further false claims that the 2020 election was rigged. Fox last April agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems nearly $800 million to avert a trial in the voting machine companys lawsuit that would have exposed how the network promoted lies about the 2020 election on shows by Dobbs and other hosts. Fox canceled Dobbs show three years ago. Lindell acknowledged in an interview in October that he owed two law firms that were defending him against lawsuits by Dominion and Smartmatic millions of dollars that he couldnt pay, which is why they quit. He said MyPillow had been decimated. But Lindell insisted Friday that MyPillow is doing great. He said its still running ads on another conservative network, Newsmax, and on his own platforms. But he conceded that losing Fox will hurt the business and said he would run his ads there again if Fox would take them. Obviously, it would be great if Fox said, Hey, come back, Lindell said. (AP) Denmarks prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son. Margrethe, 83, is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily relinquish the throne in nearly 900 years. Many thousands of people gathered outside the palace where the royal succession was taking place, the mood jubilant as the Nordic nation experienced its first royal succession in more than a half-century, and one not caused by the death of a monarch. Wearing a magenta outfit, Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the Danish Cabinet at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish Parliament, the prime ministers office and the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen next proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before thousands of people subjects of a kingdom where the trappings of royalty are mostly symbolic in todays modern era of constitutional democracy. Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals. He was then joined on the balcony by new Queen Mary and the couples four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem. My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow, Frederik said. It is a task I have approached all my life. The abdication document was earlier presented to Margrethe as she sat at a massive table covered in red cloth around which royals and members of the Danish government were seated. Frederik sat beside her. After signing it, Margrethe rose and gestured to Frederik to take her place. God save the king, she said as she left the room. The abdication leaves Denmark with two queens: Margrethe keeps her title, while Frederiks Australian-born wife becomes Queen Mary. Frederik and Marys eldest son Christian, 18, has become crown prince and heir to the throne. Christian handed Margrethe her walking stick as she departed from her abdication ceremony. Citing health issues, Margrethe announced on New Years Eve that she would step down, stunning a nation that had expected her to live out her days on the throne, as is tradition in the Danish monarchy. Margrethe underwent major back surgery last February and didnt return to work until April. Even the prime minister was unaware of the queens intentions until right before the announcement. Margrethe had informed Frederik and his younger brother Joachim just three days earlier, the Berlingske newspaper wrote, citing the royal palace. People from across Denmark gathered outside parliament, with many swarming streets decorated with red-and-white Danish flags. Several shops hung photos of Margrethe and Frederik, while city buses were adorned with smaller Danish flags as is customary during royal events. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live television broadcast of the historic event. The royal guards music band made their daily parade through downtown Copenhagen, but wore red jackets, instead of their usual black, to mark major events. Copenhagen resident Rene Jensen, wearing a replica of a royal robe and a bejeweled purple crown on his head, said that he expected Frederik to be a king for the nation, representing us everywhere. The last time a Danish monarch voluntarily resigned was in 1146, when King Erik III Lam stepped down to enter a monastery. Margrethe abdicated on the same day of January that she ascended the throne following the death of her father, King Frederik IX, on Jan. 14, 1972. Denmarks monarchy traces its origins to 10th-century Viking king Gorm the Old, making it the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. Today the royal familys duties are largely ceremonial. Australians also turned out on the streets of Copenhagen to celebrate one of their own becoming queen. I think its good that shes not from royalty and has a normal Australian background. We can relate more to that, because shes from a middle-class background, and we are too, said Judy Langtree, who made the long journey from Brisbane with her daughter to witness the royal event. A survey commissioned by Denmarks public broadcaster DR published Friday showed that 79% of the 1,037 people polled by the Epinion polling institute said that they believed Frederik was prepared to take the reigns and 83% said they thought his wife Mary was ready to become queen. The survey margin of error was 3 percentage points, DR said. (AP) Leaders of talks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys peace formula on Sunday said a growing number of countries are working to help set the groundwork for Russia to join one day, an admittedly distant goal as the nearly two-year war grinds on and neither side willing to cede ground. The fourth such meeting of national security advisers takes place in the Swiss town of Davos, where Zelenskyy is set to attend the World Economic Forums annual meeting starting Tuesday. He will endeavor to keep up international focus on Ukraines defense amid eroding support for Kyiv in the West and swelling distractions like conflict in the Middle East. Andriy Yermak, the Ukrainian presidents chief of staff, posted photos of the meetings opening and hailed a good sign that the number of participants in a string of conferences on Zelenskyys peace formula was growing nearly half from Europe, as well as 18 from Asia and 12 from Africa. Countries from the Global South are increasingly getting involved in our work. It shows understanding that this European conflict is in fact a challenge for all humanity, he wrote. Zelenskyy has presented a 10-point peace formula that, among other things, seeks the expulsion of all Russian forces from Ukraine and accountability for war crimes at a time when the two sides are fighting from largely static positions along a roughly 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Such ideas are rejected out of hand by Moscow. Yermak said if Ukraines territorial integrity now violated by Russia including through illegal annexations is not restored, soon other aggressors elsewhere in the world will be able to seize parts of other countries and start staging fake elections there. Co-host Ignazio Cassis, the Swiss foreign minister, said 83 delegations were on hand for the Davos talks. Peace is something that Ukraine needs, he said during a break in the talks Sunday. We are going to do all we can to end this war. The talks in Davos aim to build on previous such closed-door efforts in Denmark, Saudi Arabia and Malta last summer and fall. Any peace deal naturally will require Russian participation and Moscow is not represented at the talks. The last round, in Malta in October, involved envoys from 65 countries. Cassis said the plan should serve as a departure point toward possible peace, and stressed the need to reduce the conflict from intensifying. He said the talks aim to get ready for the moment when Russia might join a peace discussion. Russia, which hasnt been invited to any of the meetings, has dismissed the initiative as biased. For the moment its illusory to think that Russia would respond positively to an invitation, he added, but thats not the goal of the Davos conference. For now, Russia is not ready to take any step or make any concession. Cassis acknowledged many challenges and negotiators were working to modulate the fine print of the peace formula to make it more workable as a blueprint for the way forward. He said neither Ukraine nor Russia was ready to make territorial concessions. Russian forces have recently stepped up missile and drone attacks that have stretched Ukraines air defense resources, leaving the country vulnerable in the 22-month war unless it can secure further weapons supplies. The war is far from over and peace is still nowhere in sight, the Swiss department of foreign affairs said in a statement previewing Sundays talks. (AP) Ruling-party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwans presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracys contentious relations with China over the next four years. China had called the poll a choice between war and peace. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. At stake is peace, social stability and prosperity on the island, 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of China, which Beijing claims as its own and to be retaken by force if necessary. China is run by the Communist Party, which allows no political opposition. While domestic issues such as the sluggish economy and expensive housing also featured prominently in the campaign, Lais Democratic Progressive Partys appeal to self-determination, social justice and rejection of Chinas threats ultimately won out. Its the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. At a post-election news conference, Lai thanked the Taiwanese electorate for writing a new chapter in our democracy. We have shown the world how much we cherish our democracy. This is our unwavering commitment. He added: Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies from around the world through our actions. The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election. Lai supporter Hsieh Hsin-chou, a 57-year-old physical therapist, said he was very proud of the election result. We choose our own president in Taiwan. We are a country. We are a country. We are a light of the world. We love freedom. We love democracy. We (are) supposed to choose our new president, Hsieh said. Lai and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen reject Chinas sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a former Japanese colony that split from the Chinese mainland amid civil war in 1949. They have, however, offered to speak with Beijing, which has repeatedly refused to hold talks and called them separatists. Beijing was believed to have favored the candidate from the more China-friendly Nationalist party, also known as Kuomintang, or KMT. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. He had vowed not to move toward unifying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait if elected. In his concession speech, Hou apologized for not working hard enough to regain power for the KMT, which ran Taiwan under martial law for nearly four decades before democratic reforms in the 1980s. I let everyone down. I am here to express my sincerest apologies, Im sorry, Hou said in front of an audience whose numbers fell well short of expectations. Hou supporter David Chiau, who works in information technology, said the loss came as a shock, but he was pleased by the turnout for the KMT, which he had hoped could have merged with the opposition. A third candidate in the race, Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan Peoples Party, or TPP, had drawn the support particularly of young people wanting an alternative to the KMT and DPP, Taiwans traditional opposing parties, which have largely taken turns governing since the 1990s. Ko said that dialogue between the sides was crucial, but that his bottom line would be that Taiwan needs to remain democratic and free. At least this time the TPP has become a critical opposition power. I would like to say thank you to every one again, as the chairman of the TPP, Ko said. Each vote represents recognition and support for us. This is also the first time that Taiwan managed to create a whole new three-party-competition between the clash of the green and blue, he said, referring to the DPP and the KMT by the colors with which they are affiliated. Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the Chinese Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Beijing wouldnt accept the election result as representing the mainstream public opinion on the island, without giving any evidence or justification. This election cannot change the basic situation and the direction of cross Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides to get closer and closer, nor can it stop the general trend that the motherland will eventually and inevitably be reunified, Chen said. The United States, which is bound by its laws to provide Taiwan with the weapons needed to defend itself, had pledged support for whichever government emerges, reinforced by the Biden administrations plans to send an unofficial delegation made up of former senior officials to the island shortly after the election. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory. We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process, Blinken said in a statement. Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40%, while Hou claimed 33.5%. Ko garnered 26.5%. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwans election. I would really like to experience what it is like to be empowered, the 24-year-old student told The Associated Press. She said that she started paying closer attention to relations between Taipei and Beijing after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is worried that China could one day do the same with Taiwan. Besides the China tensions, domestic issues such as the dearth of affordable housing and stagnating wages dominated the campaign. For Tony Chen, a 74-year-old retiree who voted in Taipei in the hour before the polls closed, the election boiled down to a choice between communism and democracy. I hope democracy wins, he said. He added that more Taiwanese were open to Chinas model of governance decades ago, when the Chinese economy was growing by double digits annually, but are repulsed by the crackdown on civil liberties that has occurred under current Chinese President Xi Jinping. Stacy Chen, 43, said she has always voted for the DPP, because Taiwan is an independent country. She said she wanted her son to grow up in a country that is separate from China. Taiwans election was seen as having real and lasting influence on the geopolitical landscape, said Gabrielle Reid, associate director with the global intelligence consultancy S-RM. The outcome of the vote will ultimately determine the nature of ties with China relative to the West and will have strong bearing on the state of play in the South China Sea, she said. The warming of Taiwans ties with the U.S. will likely continue under Lais administration, said Wen-Ti Sung, a fellow with the Washington, D.C.-based Atlantic Council. Beijing is likely to deploy a maximum pressure campaign to influence the new administration along military, economic and political lines, Sung told the AP. (AP) JOIN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS WHO ALREADY ARE ALERTED OF BREAKING NEWS LIKE THIS IN LIVE TIME: YWN WHATSAPP STATUS UPDATES: CLICK HERE to join the YWN WhatsApp Status. YWN WHATSAPP GROUPS: CLICK HERE to be added to an official YWN WhatsApp Group. MAKE SURE TO CHECK THIS PAGE FREQUENTLY AS UPDATES WILL BE PUBLISHED IN LIVE TIME THERE IS NO NEED TO REFRESH THIS PAGE AS UPDATES WILL APPEAR AUTOMATICALLY (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The U.S. military early Saturday struck another Houthi-controlled site in Yemen that it had determined was putting commercial vessels in the Red Sea at risk, a day after the U.S. and Britain launched multiple airstrikes targeting Houthi rebels. Associated Press journalists in Sanaa, Yemens capital, heard one loud explosion. U.S. Central Command said the follow-on action early Saturday local time against a Houthi radar site was conducted by the Navy destroyer USS Carney using Tomahawk land attack missiles. The first day of strikes Friday hit 28 locations and struck more than 60 targets. President Joe Biden had warned Friday that the Iranian-backed Houthis could face further strikes. Biden was asked on Saturday, as he left the White House to spend the weekend at Camp David, about the message sent to Iran from the U.S. strikes against the Houthis: We delivered it privately and were confident were well prepared, he told reporters. The latest strike came after the U.S. Navy on Friday warned American-flagged vessels to steer clear of areas around Yemen in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden for the next 72 hours after the initial airstrikes. The warning came as Yemens Houthis vowed retaliation, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already beset by Israels war in Gaza. U.S. military and White House officials said they expected the Houthis to try to strike back. The U.S.-led bombardment came in response to a recent campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the vital Red Sea. It killed at least five people and wounded six, the Houthis said. The U.S. said the strikes, in two waves, took aim at targets in 28 different locations across Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue this outrageous behavior along with our allies, Biden told reporters Friday. Biden also pushed back against some lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, who said he should have sought congressional authorization before carrying out the strikes. Theyre wrong, and I sent up this morning when the strikes occurred exactly what happened, Biden said. The Pentagon said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered the military action from the hospital where he is recovering from complications following prostate cancer surgery. The White House said in November that it was considering redesignating the Houthis as a terrorist organization after they began their targeting of civilian vessels. The administration formally delisted the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorists in 2021, undoing a move by President Donald Trump Lt. Gen. Douglas Sims, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Fridays U.S. strikes were largely in low-populated areas, and the number of those killed would not be high. He said the strikes hit weapons, radar and targeting sites, including in remote mountain areas. As the bombing lit the predawn sky over multiple sites held by the rebels, it forced the world to again focus on Yemens yearslong war, which began when the Houthis seized the countrys capital. Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea, saying they were avenging Israels offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade and energy shipments. The Houthis military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, said in a recorded address that the U.S. strikes would not go unanswered or unpunished. Though the Biden administration and its allies have tried to calm tensions in the Middle East for weeks and prevent any wider conflict, the strikes threatened to ignite one. Saudi Arabia, which supports the government-in-exile that the Houthis are fighting, sought to distance itself from the attacks as it tries to maintain a delicate detente with Iran and a cease-fire it has in Yemen. The Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. It remained unclear how extensive the damage was from Fridays strikes, though the Houthis said at least five sites, including airfields, had been attacked. U.S. Air Forces Central Command said the strikes focused on the Houthis command and control nodes, munition depots, launching systems, production facilities and air defense radar systems. The strikes involved more than 150 precision-guided munitions and Tomahawk missiles. The United Kingdom said strikes hit a site in Bani allegedly used by the Houthis to launch drones and an airfield in Abbs used to launch cruise missiles and drones. In a separate development, Iran released footage of its seizure of an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that once had been at the center of a dispute between Tehran and Washington. In the footage, a helicopter hovers over the deck of the St. Nikolas. Irans navy seized the vessel Thursday. The vessel had been known earlier as the Suez Rajan. The U.S. seized 1 million barrels of sanctioned Iranian oil off the vessel last year. In Yemen, Hussein al-Ezzi, a Houthi official in their Foreign Ministry, said, America and Britain will undoubtedly have to prepare to pay a heavy price and bear all the dire consequences of this blatant aggression. The Red Sea route is a crucial waterway, and attacks there have caused severe disruptions to global trade. Benchmark Brent crude oil traded up some 4% Friday at over $80 a barrel. Tesla, meanwhile, said it would temporarily halt most production at its German factory because of attacks in the Red Sea. In Saada, the Houthis stronghold in northwest Yemen, hundreds gathered for a rally Friday, denouncing the U.S. and Israel. Another drew thousands in Sanaa, the capital. Houthis now control territory that is home to some two-thirds of Yemens population of 34 million. War and misgovernment have made Yemen one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, and the World Food Program considers the vast majority of Yemens people as food-insecure. Yemen has been targeted by U.S. military action over the last four American presidencies. A campaign of drone strikes began under President George W. Bush to target the local affiliate of al-Qaida, attacks that have continued under the Biden administration. Meanwhile, the U.S. has launched raids and other military operations amid the war in Yemen. That war began when the Houthis swept into Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led coalition including the United Arab Emirates launched a war to back Yemens exiled government in 2015, quickly morphing the conflict into a regional confrontation as Iran backed the Houthis with weapons and other support. The conflict, however, has slowed as the Houthis maintain their grip on the territory they hold. In March, Saudi Arabia reached a Chinese-mediated deal to restart relations with Iran in hopes of ultimately withdrawing from the war. Iran condemned Fridays attack in a statement from Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani. Arbitrary attacks will have no result other than fueling insecurity and instability in the region, he said. At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council late Friday, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused the U.S., U.K. and allies of blatant armed aggression against Yemen and warned if the escalation continues, the entire Middle East could encounter a catastrophe. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield and U.K. Ambassador Barbara Woodward insisted the attacks were in self-defense. So de-escalation needs to happen, Thomas-Greenfield said. It needs to happen from the Houthis who are putting all of our shipping lines in jeopardy. (AP) Israeli officials informed Egypt that they are planning to carry out a military operation to take control of the border area between Egypt and Gaza, the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend. Israels plan involves removing Palestinian officials from the Rafah crossing point and stationing Israeli forces along the border, allowing Israel to block Hamas tunnels, thwart the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, and prevent Hamas terrorists from fleeing the Strip. There is no chance we will allow this crossing to operate as it did before, said Michael Milshtein, a former head of the Department for Palestinians Affairs in Israeli military intelligence. But it is a very, very complicated situation, he added, likely referring to Egyps recent refusal to Israels request for Israeli security officials to carry out joint patrols with Egypt on the Egyptian side of the border. Egypt assured Israel it is stepping up its surveillance of the border but it wont share surveillance feeds with Israel. Another complicating factor is that an operation in the area involves complex planning due to the presence of over a million Gazan civilians who evacuated the Strip, most of whom are assembled in the city of Rafah next to the border. A senior Israeli military official said: Israel does not want to be responsible for Gaza in the long term, but the question is how do you make sure that Gaza stays demilitarized? Its a real dilemma. The only way to control a geographic area is to control whats going in and out. Right now in the near term, in the next few decades, Israel needs to control the borders because of the security issues, said the official. Israel hasnt finalized a plan for a military operation on the border and even when approved, its timing can only be determined after negotiations take place with Egypt. When Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2002, it maintained control of Gazas territorial waters, airspace, and most of its border crossings except for Rafah, relinquishing control of it to Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and a European Union monitoring mission. [The EU monitors left when Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007.] The Philadelphi Corridor has to be in our hands, it has to be closed, Netanyahu said last month. Its clear that any other arrangement wont guarantee the disarmament that we want. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Four heavily armed terrorists infiltrated Israel from southern Lebanon overnight Motzei Shabbos and were eliminated by IDF troops after a gun battle, during which 5 soldiers were injured. The terrorists took advantage of the rainy weather and heavy fog on the mountain and infiltrated Israel in the Har Dov area, where there is no fence separating the two borders. Shortly before 3 a.m., they opened fire at a patrol of IDF reservists. The terrorists were heavily armed with Kalashnikov rifles, cartridges, grenades, and short-range anti-tank missiles. The soldiers returned fire although they could barely see the terrorists due to the heavy fog. A lengthy gun battle ensued with the help of artillery fire and mortar fire until the four terrorists were eliminated. Five soldiers were injured from grenades thrown by the terrorists and were evacuated to Rambam Hospital in Haifa after the battle ended. As of Sunday midday, two are in moderate condition and three are in light condition. Security officials believe that the terrorists were planning on carrying out a major attack on an IDF base. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) An Israeli man of about 40 was murdered after a Hezbollah anti-tank guided missile scored a direct hit on a home in Kfar Yuval in northern Israel on Sunday morning. The mans mother, in her 70s, was seriously injured in the attack. She was evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Tzfas but succumbed to her injuries shortly later. The victims were identified as Barak Ayalon, Hyd, a member of the yishuvs security team and his mother, Mira Ayalon, Hyd. Miras husband and Baraks father was lightly injured in the attack and is being treated in Ziv Hospital. Following the attack, IDF forces carried out strikes against Hezbollah bases in Lebanon. Earlier, Hezbollah launched rockets at several other northern yishuvim, including Misgav Av and Goren, and they fell in open areas. In addition, they launched anti-tank missiles at several other yishuvim. Overnight Motzei Shabbos, four Hezbollah terrorists infiltrated northern Israel from Lebanon and were eliminated by IDF troops after a gun battle, during which 5 soldiers were injured. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) SOMERS As the only girl at a science camp in elementary school, Temple Lester was initially told she would be a princess. After talking with her mother, Lester stood up for herself the next day. I dont want to be a princess, she told camp counselors. I want to be a scientist just like all the boys. That is when Lester learned the importance of self-advocacy, a lesson she shared Thursday during the 11th annual Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Lester, the GEMS conference keynote speaker, was occasionally made fun of for her interest in science, but she did not let that deter her. I used to not like telling people what I did in fear of their judgment, but I had to learn that its OK to be myself, and theres people out there who will celebrate me no matter what, Lester said. That stood out to Jada Lue, an eighth grader at the R.E.A.L. School. Most people told (Lester) no; she still did what she believed she could do, Lue said. Lue was one of more than 550 Racine Unified middle school girls, nearly all of whom were eighth graders, who attended the GEMS conference. Students were from all seven RUSD buildings with middle schoolers: Gifford, Gilmore Fine Arts, Jerstad-Agerholm, Mitchell, R.E.A.L, Starbuck and Walden. Girls spent the day at UW-Parksides campus. After hearing from speakers in the morning, students participated in several workshops and listened to a panel discussion. Workshops included students building Bluetooth speakers, making jewelry and learning about brains. Lester said it is crucial to get girls and people of color interested in science, technology, engineering and math careers, fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented. I think its important for girls to see people who look like them, whether thats a girl or their ethnicity, that are doing incredible things in these male-dominated fields, Lester said. I think its important for people, especially girls, to know that they dont have to change to be in (STEM careers), and they dont have to suppress themselves. Lue agreed. If you be yourself, you cant really do nothing wrong, she said. The conference was hosted by Girls Inc. of Southeast Wisconsin and intended to teach students about potential STEM activities and careers. Hosting this conference for over a decade underscores our commitment to empowering girls with the tools they need to be resilient, complete their education successfully, maintain good health and seize control of their destinies, Jeanette Brown, CEO of Girls Inc. of Southeast Wisconsin, wrote in a statement. Lynn Akey, UW-Parkside chancellor, urged students to take all of the opportunities that are given to you today to explore, and to see what might pique your interest, to see where your curiosity takes you. It might just surprise you where you end up, because theres all kinds of possibilities for you ahead, she said. Soren Gajewski, RUSD interim superintendent, encouraged students to tell their families and friends what they learned and what inspired them Thursday. This is about fostering your creativity and innovation, and empowering you to develop critical thinking skills and, most importantly, confidence, he said. Today is all about learning. I so hope that you are inspired and one day serve our community by pursuing a STEM career. We need you to fix a lot of problems that people like me created We need you to invent and innovate and make our world a better place, and we really hope you do that back here in our community. Jessica Safransky Schacht, United Way of Racine County chief operating officer, said young people can do great things. When we think about who can really create change and improve the future, its all of you, she told the students. Lester, a 16-year-old who lives near Atlanta, is creating change. She is an entrepreneur and public speaker who created the STEM Swag Box, an educational science kit. She said middle school girls are the perfect audience because they are impressionable yet intelligent and mature. RUSD students enjoyed hearing a speech from someone only a few years older than them. It was cool, it was inspiring, Lyric Henderson said. That could be me someday. Henderson, a sixth grader at Mitchell, said science is her favorite class because she likes experiments. Brooke Roushia, an eighth grader at Mitchell, is interested in a math career because she likes challenging herself to solve problems. She appreciated attending the conference with girls. We can all connect, Roushia said. Its pretty cool. Lester is interested in an astronomy career and hopes that girls know science can be cool and fun. She also encouraged students to uplift each other, share their success stories and be strong, brave and smart. Keep dreaming, Lester said. The world will tell you that youre not enough because youre a girl, because of your background, because of how you look, but one thing that I learned from science is that anything is impossible until its done. Continue being yourself, get into STEM and keep dreaming. Seven photos of the 11th annual GEMS Conference Group Students listen Thursday during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Having fun Students laugh with one another during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Team effort Kidia Burns, founder of Professional Women in Trades Inc., helps Khadija Ndiaye, Walden School eighth grader, build a Bluetooth speaker during Temple Lester Temple Lester gives the keynote address during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Les Mackenzie Ortiz Mackenzie Ortiz, Gifford K-8 School eighth grader, builds a Bluetooth speaker during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the Building a speaker Emie Idstein, Walden School eighth grader, builds a Bluetooth speaker during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Conference at the Univers Emie Idstein Emie Idstein, Walden School eighth grader, works to build her own Bluetooth speaker Thursday during the Girls Empowered by Math and Science Co Temple Lester speech The IDF has disclosed that 1,106 soldiers have been wounded since the commencement of the Gaza ground operation, with 240 of them in serious condition. Additionally, the military has reported that within the past 24 hours, 12 officers and soldiers sustained injuries during battles in the Gaza Strip. The ground operation in Gaza, which began in late October, has taken a significant toll on the Israeli military. According to official figures released by the IDF, 187 Israeli soldiers have lost their lives during the course of this operation. The ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip has resulted in a high number of casualties, with Israeli forces engaged in various military operations to combat the terror group and its infrastructure. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Ronen Bar, the chief of Israels Shin Bet security service, will resign following the conclusion of the current conflict in Gaza, according to former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Perry. Perry, who said he has spoken directly with Bar, told Army Radio, I have no doubt that he will be one of the first to hand over the keys. His intention is to leave the position. Bar has previously accepted personal responsibility for the failure to provide timely intelligence that could have prevented the attack on southern Israeli communities. In a message to his agency on October 15, Bar said, Despite a series of actions we carried out, unfortunately, on [October 7] we were unable to generate a sufficient warning that would allow the attack to be thwarted. Emphasizing his accountability, Bar added, As the one who heads the organization, the responsibility for this is mine. There will be time for investigations. Now we are fighting. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Two Palestinian terrorists were shot dead by IDF Forces in the West bank on Sunday, after their vehicle breached an IDF roadblock adjacent to the community of Metzad. The soldiers pursued the terrorists car, during which the terrorists opened fire toward them. In response, the soldiers fired toward the terrorists and neutralized both of them. The rifle used by the terrorists, an axe, and ammunition were found at the scene. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) According to Axios News Agency, President Biden and top U.S. officials are increasingly exasperated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus dismissive response to their recent proposals concerning the war in Gaza. This sentiment emerges despite Bidens robust support for Israel since the Hamas attack 100 days ago, as conveyed by four U.S. officials familiar with the matter. The backing from the Biden administration, featuring unprecedented military and diplomatic aid, has continued, even amidst political repercussions for Biden during an election year. However, behind the scenes, patience seems to be wearing thin. The situation sucks and we are stuck. The presidents patience is running out, a U.S. official expressed to Axios. Senator Chris Van Hollen, in touch with U.S. officials regarding the war, added, At every juncture, Netanyahu has snubbed Biden. The strain in relations is evident from the lack of communication between Biden and Netanyahu since a tense phone call on December 23, breaking their almost daily contact during the wars initial two months. This call ended abruptly with Bidens declaration: This conversation is over, following Netanyahus refusal to release Palestinian tax revenues. Despite John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, attempting to minimize the significance of reduced communications, the frustration is becoming increasingly apparent. Central to Bidens frustration is Netanyahus resistance to U.S. priorities, including the release of Palestinian tax revenues and insufficient efforts to facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza. Moreover, Netanyahus reluctance to engage in serious discussions about post-war plans and his rejection of a U.S.-proposed role for a reformed Palestinian Authority in post-Hamas Gaza has heightened concerns. U.S. officials worry Israel might not scale down its Gaza operations by the end-of-January deadline, risking Bidens continued support level for Israels military campaign. In response to these frustrations, an NSC spokesperson told Axios that the administration is concentrating on ensuring Israels defense capabilities against Hamas, increasing aid to Gaza to relieve Palestinian civilian suffering, and collaborating with Israel to secure the release of all hostages. During Secretary of State Tony Blinkens recent visit to Israel, tensions within the White House and State Department intensified. Although Netanyahu agreed to allow a UN mission into northern Gaza, his concessions were limited. Blinken openly criticized the Israeli governments post-war plans as unrealistic and emphasized that Arab nations would not assist in Gazas rebuilding and governance without Israeli concessions. Blinkens meetings revealed that Netanyahus withholding of Palestinian tax revenues is obstructing U.S. efforts for Palestinian Authority reforms. The Biden administration is now exploring a potential mega-deal with Saudi Arabia, including a historic peace deal with Israel, contingent on Israels commitment to a two-state solution. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Rabbi Nosson Scherman is an icon. Hes been called the father of contemporary Torah literature and for good reason. From the day so many years back when he partnered with Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Sheah Brander to the present time, Rabbi Schermans contributions to the world of Torah and Judaism have been transformational. In the following interview, which has been divided into two segments, Rabbi Scherman takes us on a trip down memory lane, from his youth in Newark, New Jersey, attending a local public school, to his years at Yeshiva Torah Vodaas, his career in chinuch, and ultimately his world-changing work through ArtScroll/Mesorah. Here is Part II of this fascinating conversation filled with history, stories, and insights from one of the treasures of our people. Watch and enjoy. WATCH: Watch all Inside ArtScroll episodes at: Inside.Artscroll.com. TO LISTEN TO THE PODCAST OF THE INTERVIEW, CLICK ON THE PODCAST PLATFORM YOU WANT: Spotify Apple Podcast Podbean Tune-In Stitcher Or Podcast.ArtScroll.com Inside ArtScroll is also available on TorahAnytime.com. The chosson, the son of Rabbi Naftali Lankry ztl breaks down crying: I wanted you to see me dressed as a chosson, Abba; I wanted you to hold my wedding invitation in your hand- but now Im left with only your kever* The entire family wail and cry brokenheartedly They got up from shivah and traveled to the kever of the father, Rabbi Naftali Lankry ztl, a much-loved kollel avreich and talmid chacham who learned day and night. He lived with his family in Beitar, and passed away last week after a continual decline in his state of health as a result of the diabetes and heart condition he suffered from. Rabbi Lankry left nine children behind, three of whom got married in his lifetime. Another child is scheduled to get married today- on January 14, and the five who are left at home are mostly older singles waiting for their yeshuos which will bezH come soon- the youngest is 20 and the oldest 31. DONATE NOW>>> When they visited their fathers kever at the conclusion of shivah, the chosson brought a surprise with him- his wedding suit and his wedding invitation. The suit and the invitation were laid gently by the chosson on his fathers fresh grave, as he sobbed and cried stormily. Abba, he shouted, Abba! I wanted you to see me dressed like a chosson! Abba, I wanted you to hold my wedding invitation in your hand. I knew that because of your health situation you might not be able to participate, but at least to hold the invitation, to feel youre with me as my wedding approachesbut now Im left with only your kever. I cant see the tears of excitement flowing from your eyes when you see the suit and the invitation. Instead, you see the tears of grief and mourning flowing from my eyes when I visit your kever. Kever! Instead of Abba, we have a kever The family, deeply moved by the chossons powerful words, all started to cry stormily and gave voice to their bottomless pain, which echoed throughout the cemetery- the searing pain over a precious person who was taken from them and will not return But they dont have any more time to mourn or cry. They have to finish the last preparations for the wedding, which is scheduled for only a week from now. They have nothing- they are coming to the wedding with empty hands. The family was so involved with the difficult situation of the father, who was hovering between life and death, that they could barely think about the approaching wedding. Preparations were done half-heartedly, and they have no money to pay for the rest. Now they must try to make the wedding especially joyful, but their hearts just arent in it and they have no money they need help! Please, whoever is sharing in this sad and painful episode, please open your heart and eyes and see the grief of this precious chosson and contribute as much as you can, and maybe even more than that, so well be able to lift our eyes to Shamayim and say to our Father there: Dear Abba, weve done whatever we can to make this mother, the widow, rejoice with her son the chosson, who is getting married while deeply mourning his departed father. Now its your turn to do whatever you can- and He will bless you; His abilities are limitless. 1. Yes. It will be convenient and the fares are cheap. I plan to use the transit system often. 2. Yes. I have a vehicle, but I may still use the service now and then, especially in bad weather. 3. No. I dont use the current bus service, and I dont plan to use the micro-transit service either. 4. No. It may be fine in town, but it still involves a transfer for longer trips. That wont work. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on how well the service works once its in place. Vote View Results StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of AMCON Distributing (NYSEAMERICAN:DIT Free Report) in a report published on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Separately, TheStreet downgraded AMCON Distributing from a b- rating to a c rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Get AMCON Distributing alerts: Get Our Latest Research Report on AMCON Distributing AMCON Distributing Trading Down 0.5 % NYSEAMERICAN:DIT opened at $195.00 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a current ratio of 3.35 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $122.85 million, a P/E ratio of 11.70 and a beta of 0.51. AMCON Distributing has a one year low of $160.00 and a one year high of $249.99. AMCON Distributing (NYSEAMERICAN:DIT Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, January 18th. The company reported $1.78 earnings per share for the quarter. AMCON Distributing had a net margin of 0.38% and a return on equity of 9.82%. The firm had revenue of $644.96 million during the quarter. AMCON Distributing Cuts Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were given a $0.18 dividend. This represents a $0.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 1st. AMCON Distributings dividend payout ratio is presently 4.30%. Institutional Trading of AMCON Distributing Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its position in AMCON Distributing by 139.6% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 127 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC grew its stake in shares of AMCON Distributing by 83.5% in the first quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 312 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 142 shares in the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada bought a new position in shares of AMCON Distributing in the second quarter worth $103,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in shares of AMCON Distributing during the second quarter valued at $203,000. Finally, CM Management LLC raised its stake in shares of AMCON Distributing by 20.7% during the third quarter. CM Management LLC now owns 7,240 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,491,000 after purchasing an additional 1,240 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.97% of the companys stock. AMCON Distributing Company Profile (Get Free Report) AMCON Distributing Company, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the wholesale distribution of consumer products in the Central, Rocky Mountain, and Mid-South regions of the United States. It operates through Wholesale Distribution and Retail Health Food segments. The Wholesale Distribution segment distributes consumer products, including cigarettes and tobacco products, candy and other confectionery, beverages, groceries, paper products, health and beauty care products, frozen and refrigerated products, and institutional foodservice products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for AMCON Distributing Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AMCON Distributing and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSE:NBY Free Report) in a research report report published on Tuesday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Trading Up 3.5 % Shares of NBY stock opened at $0.15 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $987,184.80, a P/E ratio of -0.02 and a beta of 2.02. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $0.17. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals has a 12-month low of $0.12 and a 12-month high of $2.25. Get NovaBay Pharmaceuticals alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On NovaBay Pharmaceuticals An institutional investor recently bought a new position in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals stock. Armistice Capital LLC acquired a new stake in NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE:NBY Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 718,768 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $147,000. Armistice Capital LLC owned approximately 11.01% of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors own 1.34% of the companys stock. NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Company Profile NovaBay Pharmaceuticals, Inc, a biopharmaceutical company, develops and sells eyecare, skincare, and wound care products in the United States and internationally. It offers Avenova Spray, a solution for removing foreign materials, including microorganisms and debris from skin around the eye, such as the eyelid; and wound care products, which are used for cleansing and irrigation as part of surgical procedures, as well as treating certain wounds, burns, ulcers, and other injuries under the NeutroPhase and PhaseOne brands. Read More Receive News & Ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NovaBay Pharmaceuticals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. We've been waiting for this note and Sunday is good time to share it . . . For those who don't know Kansas City, Kansas Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann is one of the most outspoken local Catholic leaders and his views are traditionally conservative on social and cultural issues. He's a bit more lenient on the Mexicans immigration. In his recent column featured in The Leaven Catholic newsletter . . . The local cleric takes a great deal of time and offers EXTREMELY DETAILED perspective on Church views of sex, gay marriage and the Catholic liturgy. Most of the opinions are kinda cringe-y and his activist opponents might even call them homophobic. TKC isn't in the biz of telling people what to believe, how to feel or where to get breakfast. There is no morality in politics and that's why it's fun . . . Look closely and you'll notice Republican alliances with some members of the gay community. Denizens of the discourse can consider themselves rubes if they call themselves "conservative" but haven't take at least a moment to acknowledge the advocacy and work of right-wing gay author Andrew Sullivan and his thoughtful contributions over years and decades. Meanwhile . . . The reality is that Archbishop Naumann was one of the architects of an EPIC Kansas political defeat on abortion that set Republicans back across the nation. And all this is merely to provide context and delineate the very important differences betwixt religion and politics for people tempted to sloppily intertwine the two very distinct practices. Accordingly . . . Here's the crux of the archbishop's note that offers DEFINITIVE perspective on EXACTLY what Catholics are required to believe if they want to adhere to the tenants of their faith . . . In public at least. Check-it . . "The Jan. 4 press release makes clear that the changes the document promotes do not alter the churchs moral teaching, but rather seek to expand the understanding of a blessing. It suggests that we call the prayers for individuals seeking Gods assistance in changing their lives to be pastoral blessings and not liturgical blessings." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The Leaven: Fiducia Supplicans does not change perennial church teaching When it comes to my vacation personality, I wouldnt call myself an explorer. My goal is to squeeze in as much relaxation as possible as often as possible I aspire to be the single, rich aunt who only comes home to regale her family about her latest escape. On a recent trip to Punta Cana's Riu Palace Macao with Sunwing Vacations, I lived out my vacation fantasy with even more luxurious touches than I could have hoped for. After five days floating through the adults-only, all-inclusive resort, I felt recharged and like myself again. Everything at the newly renovated Riu Palace Macao is designed to make guests feel at ease. My room featured chic neutral tones, soothing aromatherapy infusions and a king-sized bed with crisp white sheets. When I opened the sliding glass doors to my patio and saw the swim-up pool overlooking soaring palm trees, my switch to vacation mode was complete. At the nearby beach, palm trees dot the gorgeous landscape, offering shade to guests snoozing on loungers. In the private Elite Club area, I read on a Bali bed, surrounded by lush vegetation. As someone who doesnt drink alcohol, I appreciated the lengthy menu of mocktails on offer; one particularly refreshing concoction I tried combined pineapple with mint. Since Im an all-day grazer, I was thrilled that room service is offered 24/7, so I could grab a club sandwich in the middle of the night if I wanted. But breakfast quickly became the meal I looked forward to the most. At the buffet, the croissant French toast with fresh watermelon juice became my go-to. If buffets arent your thing, theres a quieter exclusive area on the patio where Elite Club guests can order dishes like eggs benedict a la carte. On the third day of my stay, I headed to the Splash World Water Park. The park, which features five different water slides, is open to all Riu guests and features a kiddie park (the Riu Palace Macao is adults-only, but there are other nearby Riu resorts for families). I laughed hysterically at my travel companions screaming their heads off on the water slides, but I stuck with my relaxation policy and chilled underneath the water cascading from a fake palm tree in the splash pad area. Later, my friends set off in search of more adventure with NexusTours. The tour provider offers myriad excursions: sand buggy tours, a catamaran cruise, snorkeling and more. They came back raving about how much fun they had, but I wouldnt have traded my afternoon for anything: I had booked a massage at the Renova Spa. I didnt give myself quite enough time for the hydrotherapy circuit (which features two hot plunge pools, a cold plunge pool and a pool with jet showers), but lying on a plush massage table while a therapist gently worked over my tired muscles took my getaway to a whole new level of luxury. On the last evening, my group met for a dinner of fusion cuisine at Krystal, an open-air restaurant overlooking the beach. Our first course was an avocado and lobster dish I still dream about. Altogether, we dined at four different restaurants during our stay (there are six on the property, including one exclusive to Elite Club guests), but Krystal was my favourite. Theres nothing like enjoying an amazing meal while watching crashing waves under the stars. Before I got ready for bed, I put on my bikini and slipped into my pool one last time, filled with peace and gratitude. I kept thinking about a quote I saw on the wall of the lounge in the spa: Keep taking time for yourself until you are you again. Ill carry that spirit with me on all future vacations. Lora Grady travelled as a guest of Sunwing Vacations, which didn't review or approve this article. I captured hundreds of photos and videos during the dozen or so trips I took last year for work and pleasure. They sit on my phone waiting to be posted on Instagram or turned into a quick, slick video for TikTok or scrolled past while Im wasting time. But there are only three that I can clearly picture in my mind, and I have no record of those three, digital or otherwise. In October, I went on a group trip to Morocco and brought a Fujifilm Instax camera the companys version of an old-school Polaroid. My intention was to take candid shots of the others in the group so theyd each have a memento from our week together. The first time I pulled out the camera, we were at Tawesna, a small, women-run cafe near the historical village of Ait Ben Haddou. I snapped a shot and was waiting for the photo to appear when our driver, Jamaal, waved at me. He wanted his photo taken. I joked, Is this your new Tinder profile photo? His English was very limited, but the word Tinder has clearly broken language barriers because he laughed before posing (turns out he has a wife and two kids). I handed over the photo and watched him inspect it. He smiled, then put it in his pocket. Had I been taking the picture on my smartphone, this never would have happened in fact, we werent interacting. He was scrolling on his phone before he noticed the Instax in my hand. It was because the experience was analog that it happened at all, connecting us in an unexpected way. Hell remember where the photo came from and Ill never forget the organic opportunity for me to give back, even in a small way, something thats rare when youre a tourist. Were typically busy going places or checking things off a list, or asking questions of locals. This was a chance to do something for him, and its made me realize the power of a physical photo. Im not the only one whos learned this lesson. Flight search engine Skyscanner, in its report on 2024 travel trends, noted a rise in analog adventurers, citing a growth in the desire of travellers to scale back on the use of digital devices. In the companys annual consumer behaviour survey, it found that 28 percent of Canadians aged 18 to 24 bring a Polaroid camera on their holidays. The limitations of the Instax included the number of photos I could take I had only brought two small packs of film with me and the setting in which I could use it. Pictures had to be taken outdoors, where the light was brightest. I had to slow down to capture each image, getting closer to each subject than I normally would. The only zoom available was my arms. And given my finite film resources, I couldnt absently take a photo for the sake of taking one. Each shot had to have a purpose. The owner of the cafe caught wind of my camera and asked for a portrait. I remember the way the sunlight sliced through the wooden slats of the outdoor patio and danced across her pink floral headscarf and dress. I wish I had taken a digital photo of that photo, but she disappeared with it before I had a chance to ask A couple of days later, while exploring the Fint oasis, we toured the village with a local named Azziz Ouaziz, whose family has lived on the land for several generations. We had tea at his home, and he played music for us. On the way out, we passed his parents and two of his grandchildren gathered by their front door. I asked if I could take a family portrait for them, and the boys lined up with Ouaziz and their great-grandfather. We watched as the kids faces turned from confusion to delight as the photo appeared. These interactions were only possible because of that instant camera, and Id never imagined the possibility when I had packed it in my luggage. Now, I wont be taking a trip without it. In a digital world, the printed photos are a novelty and a means of creating a connection across cultures and language barriers. To some, Wilson Shierk was a teacher. To others, he is a deacon and fearless leader of mission trips to the Dominican Republic. But to everyone, Shierk is a humble, dedicated and selfless person. Shierk has been selected as the 2023 Kenosha News Person of the Year. Shierk, a Kenosha native, is a Bradford High School alum. He received his undergraduate degree at the old Racine Dominican College and his masters in curriculum and instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, along with other credits in administration from UW-Milwaukee. He was ordained as a church deacon in 1996. Career in education He first started teaching in a small country school before going on to work in the Kenosha Unified School District, beginning at Lance Middle School. Shierk also served as assistant principal at McKinley Middle School and Whittier Elementary School. After he retired from Kenosha Unified schools, Shierk taught part-time for Carthage College, and later went to teach at a catholic elementary school in Kenosha County for six and a half years before retiring again. He also served as an interim principal at Bullen Middle School and McKinley Elementary School for brief periods since he retired. Former Kenosha Unified Superintendent Joe Mangi was principal at Lance while Shierk worked there, and described him as a humble person and leader who just works so hard for students. He practically lived at the school, Mangi said. Hes just a really humble, dedicated person whos done so much for the community. Mangi said Shierk listens to all points of view and has a knack for making everyone feel like a million dollars. He recalled when Shierk held mock elections at Lance and involved the entire school. It was so well planned and took mountains of time, he said. Ive never seen something so well-organized. It was really well-planned out. Shierk recalled his involvement in Lances first TV news programs run by ninth grade students. I learned a little bit about how difficult and frustrating it is to edit film. Its not easy to do at all and its very, very time consuming, he said. But that was a lot of fun. He also organized several school trips for students. We took kids overnight to Detroit, Michigan, to Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum, he said. Its just the fun of taking those kids and they really enjoyed that trip. When Shierk went to college it was originally to become an engineer. However, when he struggled in his introduction to chemistry class, he took his advisors advice and looked for a different career path. I was very fortunate when I went through school. I had some teachers who I really respected, Shierk said. Former Kenosha Unified teachers Carl Young and Howard Dunham were educators he looked up to. These two gentlemen were just so helpful in making a difficult time for me much more rewarding, Shierk said. Mission trips Since 2006, Shierk has been traveling on mission trips to the Dominican Republic, where residents receive eye surgeries or prescription eye glasses. He was in the first group to go, and has since returned 16 times with groups of various people from various places within the U.S. and other countries. The trips began because the priest that was in the Dominican Republic was a former St. Marys associate pastor. You dont know what to expect, because youve never been there before, Shierk said, recalling his first trip. I was somewhat appalled by the ability for these folks to be welcoming and very generous in what they had, even though they had so little. Peter Emer, a Kenosha optometrist, has been going on mission trips with Shierk for 13 years and described Shierk as a leader through every step of the process. Hes like a shepherd. Hes always the one looking out for us, he said. He usually was the last one on the plane and made sure everyone was safe and together. Shierk recalled one trip in which the busses did not come to pick the group up for the airport, so the group had to pack half their luggage into the available vehicles and drive to OHare airport. We were very fortunate we had a guy that traveled out of OHare a lot, so he kind of led the parade and he was able to get the cars parked, get the people back and get checked and run through customs, Shierk said. And we just made the flight. Shierk also remembers times when people bringing back suitcases filled with coffee were pulled aside by customs agents. It comes in one pound bags and there are 20 one pound bags in a big bag, so some people would take an extra bag and they would carry the coffee back, inevitably going through customs (and) they open those bags to make sure that its coffee in there, he said. So there were at least one or two times when some people almost missed the flight because they were held up in security trying to determine what they had was really coffee. Shierk continues to go year after year because, he said, We are responsible to our own family. We are responsible to the neighbor that lives across the street, or the neighbor that lives across the world. We have an obligation to make the world a better place, he said. We have an obligation to make certain that whatever it is that we can spend our lives doing, we want to make sure that we are responsible for making life better for other for other folks. Charity work Shierk is a long-time board member of the Shalom Center in Kenosha, and is involved in the various committees at St. Mary Catholic Church, including the Human Concerns Committee, which coordinates the parishs outreach to the community. Im not the only person doing (the St. Vincent de Paul outreach program), he said. Its a group of 12 people altogether that do various aspects of that ministry to provide the support for folks needed. Shierks passion for helping others developed as he watched his mom, a widow with three children, struggle and work diligently to make ends meet while on welfare. Theres empathy for folks because, as a kid, I went through that when I was growing up, he said. My dad also was a wonderful guy. He would never say no to anybody. And he was always very willing to help others, even though he died very young and left my mom with three kids to raise. From him I learned you should never turn anybody down and to get help. Shierk said his role as deacon is to be the servant of others. My role is to be a support person for for the spiritual direction of the parish, he said. And Ive decided to really focus on making St. Marys the parish that focuses on the poor and those who are struggling. In the United Kingdom, Ukrainian warriors are being taught to spend the night in the forest, field trenches and abandoned buildings. The relevant statement was made by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The field combat output of a group of warriors is an important training component of the multinational military training operation, Operation Interflex, on the territory of the United Kingdom, the report states. The first field combat output lasts one day, and the final one up to five days. The military spend the night in the forest, field trenches or abandoned buildings. At the same time, they arrange security and defense measures, and are trained to interact and communicate between groups. In addition, servicemen have to choose the most optimal things from the whole range of clothing and equipment to match the weather conditions. Before the training starts, according to the General Staff, each Ukrainian serviceman receives a set of equipment, clothing and footwear for warm and cold weather, as well as in case of rain and wet ground, totaling about USD 3,000. Hence, each warrior has to choose the correct layers of clothing to stay warm and comfortable in outdoor conditions for a long time. Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Ukraine is holding talks with partners to sign agreements on security guarantees, and about 30 countries, including the G7 member states, are ready to establish such partnership. The relevant statement was made by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a nationwide telethon, commenting on the Agreement on Security Co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. We are holding talks with partners to sign similar agreements. [] These are 30 countries, which joined the G7 leaders declaration that had been announced during NATOs Vilnius summit. Of course, we have the G7 member states in this pool of partners that will join and sign similar documents, Shmyhal told. In his words, more of such agreements are expected to be signed in the near future. Our friendly countries are ready to establish such partnership with Ukraine as soon as today despite the Russian full-scale aggression. The agreement with the United Kingdom became the first step, and in the near future we expect such historic moments the signing of agreements, Shmyhal noted. A reminder that Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak arrived in Kyiv on January 12, 2024. Following his negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a 10-year Agreement on Security Co-operation. Photo: Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine The representatives of Ukraine and Romania have started negotiations on signing a bilateral security commitments agreement. The relevant statement was made by the Office of the President of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The bilateral negotiations started on the sidelines of the fourth meeting of national security advisors and political advisors to the heads of state on the implementation of the Peace Formula in Davos, Switzerland, at the instruction of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky within the framework of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian side was represented, in particular, by Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. Iulian Fota, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, represented the Romanian side. According to the Presidents Office, the above negotiations marked the advancement of bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership. This logically furthers the agreements reached following the phone call between the Presidents of Ukraine and Romania on January 9, 2024, and is a step towards the implementation of the Joint Declaration of the two leaders of October 10, 2023. Hence, Romania became the 9th country to start bilateral security talks with Ukraine, and once again reaffirmed its unflagging support for Ukraines independence and territorial integrity, as well as its European and Euro-Atlantic path. According to Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, it is impossible to imagine full-fledged security guarantees in Europe, particularly in the Black Sea region, without Romania. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Mykola Tochytskyi expressed gratitude to Romania and the Romanian people for their continued assistance to Ukraine. The parties discussed the main elements of a future bilateral security agreement and agreed on modalities for further negotiations. A reminder that, on January 12, 2024, Ukraine and the United Kingdom signed a 10-year Agreement on Security Co-operation. According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, about 30 countries are ready to establish security partnership with Ukraine. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine Ukraines Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has proposed that an international working group at the level of defense ministers and national security advisers be established to jointly develop a mechanism for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. The Defense Minister offered that at the fourth meeting of national security advisers on the Ukrainian Peace Formula, when presenting the 6th point of the initiative to the participants: "The withdrawal of Russian troops from the territory of Ukraine". In a post on his Facebook page, Umerov wrote that the Peace Formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky already unites 83 countries. As reported, on January 14, the fourth meeting of national security and foreign political advisers took place in the Swiss city of Davos, with the participation of the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak. Representatives of 81 countries and international organizations took part in the event. The agenda of the meeting included consideration of five points of Ukraines Peace Formula, namely: the withdrawal of Russian troops, the restoration of justice, environmental security, preventing a recurrence of war, and confirming the end of the war. Photo: Rustem Umerov/FB ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Jan, 2024) The Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has launched the latest edition of its Discourse Magazine this week, aiming to initiate a nationwide debate on the reform of key sectors, domains, and institutions. Around 15 unique areas have been covered in 'Discourse: Reconfiguring Pakistan: State, Society, and Economy,' including Reconceptualizing Development, Constitutional Reform, Political Contestation, Parliament and Civil Service, Economic Policy, Foreign Aid, Energy, Trade and Industry, Land and Agriculture, Labour Relations, education, Public Welfare, Cities and Local Governance, Climate, and Society and Culture, as stated in a PIDE news release on Sunday. The publication features contributions from a number of prominent personalities in the academic domain, political sphere, legal fraternity, media sector, government bureaucracy, diplomatic circle, business community, development network, and more. Their insights aim to provide a framework within which a productive policy agenda could be formulated. The complete discourse is available online at https://file.pide.org.pk/pdfpideresearch/discourse-2023-06.pdf. All 136 hostages seized during prison riots in Ecuador were freed on Saturday night, prison authorities said. "Security protocols and the joint work of the police and the national army enabled the release of all the hostages who were being held in various prisons across the country," the SNAI prison authorities said in a statement on X. President Daniel Noboa celebrated their release. "Congratulations to the patriotic, professional and courageous work of the armed forces, national police and the SNAI [...] for achieving the release of the prison guards and administrative staff held in the detention centers of Azuay, Canar, Esmeraldas, Cotopaxi, Tungurahua, El Oro and Loja," Noboa wrote on X. Police said 46 guards and one civil servant were released from the Cotopaxi prison, 13 from Tungurahua prison, and 15 others from El Oro prison, where the body of a civil servant was found. Images broadcast by the police showed the guards, many in tears, exhausted and supported by their colleagues shortly after their release. During their ordeal, the hostages had often begged authorities for help via videos posted on social media. At least two hostages were killed by the inmates, one of them hanged, according to the videos. Nearly 180 prison guards and civil servants were taken hostage by the end of last week, with 41 freed earlier. The prison workers were taken hostage after Noboa launched a military takedown of criminal groups this week, sparking a deadly confrontation with narco gangs in the South American nation. The crisis was triggered by the escape from Guayaquil prison of one of the country's most powerful narco bosses, Jose Adolfo Macias, known by the alias "Fito," triggering riots in at least five prisons and attacks on security forces aimed at spreading terror. More than 22,400 military personnel were deployed across the country and in prisons, while a nightly curfew was imposed. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden's administration keeps pressing Israel to reengage with Palestinians as partners once fighting in Gaza is over and support their eventual independence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu keeps saying no. That cycle, frustrating to much of the world, seems unlikely to end, despite U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's fourth urgent diplomatic trip last week to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war started. Though the United States, as Israel's closest ally and largest weapons supplier, has stronger means to apply pressure on Israel, it shows no willingness to use them. For both Netanyahu and Biden, popular opinion at home and deep personal conviction in the rightness of Israel's cause, and each man's battle for his own short-term political survival, are combining to make it appear unlikely that Netanyahu will yield much on the U.S. demands regarding the Palestinians, or that Biden will get much tougher in trying to force them. Support of Israel is a bedrock belief of many American voters. Biden's presidential reelection bid this year puts him up against Republicans vying to outdo one another in support for Israel. For his part, Netanyahu is fighting to stay in office in the face of corruption charges. Some experts warn it's a formula that may lock the U.S. into deeper military and security engagement in the Middle East as hostilities worsen and Palestinian civilians continue to suffer. "It's a self-defeating policy," said Brian Finucane, a former policy adviser in the State Department on counterterrorism and the use of military force. "What may be expedient in terms of short-term domestic politics may not be in the long-term interests of the United States," said Finucane, who is now a senior adviser to the International Crisis Group research organization. "Particularly if it results in the United States involving itself in further unnecessary wars in the Middle East." The administration says Biden's approach of remaining Israel's indispensable military ally and supporter is the best way to coax concessions from Netanyahu, whose government ministers were trumpeting their rejection of some U.S. requests even as Blinken was still in the region. Since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, the U.S. rushed arms and other aid to Israel, deployed forces to the region to confront escalated attacks by Hamas' Iran-backed allies, and quashed moves in the United Nations to condemn Israel's bombing of Palestinian civilians. As Blinken was wrapping up his diplomatic mission, U.S. warships and aircraft hit targets in Yemen, hoping to quell attacks that country's Iran-allied Houthis launched on commercial ships in the Red Sea since Israel started its devastating offensive in Hamas-controlled Gaza. American officials claim modest success for Blinken's latest diplomatic efforts. He secured limited, conditional support from Arab leaders and Turkey for planning for reconstruction and governance in Gaza after the war ends. But prospects are uncertain because Israel's far-right government is not on board with several key points. The Biden administration placed a particular premium on Israel reducing the number of civilian casualties in its military operations. The U.S. urging seemed to have some effect in recent days, as Israel began to withdraw some troops from northern Gaza and moved to a less-intensive campaign of airstrikes. Israel has been openly hostile toward some smaller U.S. requests, such as when Blinken pressed Israel to turn over the tax revenue it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which Israel refused to do. "We will continue to fight with all of our might to destroy Hamas, and we will not transfer a shekel to the PA that will go to the families of Nazis in Gaza," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X, in a message welcoming Blinken to Israel last week. The biggest U.S. disagreement with Israel has been with Netanyahu's refusal to consider the creation of a Palestinian state. Arab states say a commitment on that point is essential to convincing them to participate in and contribute to postwar planning for Gaza. The Palestinians have been divided politically and geographically since Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel's destruction, overran Gaza in 2007, leaving internationally backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with self-rule over isolated enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The U.S. wants Abbas' Palestinian Authority to undergo administrative reforms before setting up a unified government in Gaza and the West Bank, as a precursor to statehood. Blinken and his aides believe Israeli leaders eventually will realize that Palestinian statehood is the key to Israel's long-term security and accept it because it will have the effect of isolating Iran and its proxies, which are the biggest threat to Israel and the region. "From Israel's perspective, if you can have a future where they're integrated into the region, relations are normalized with other countries, where they have the necessary assurances, commitments, guarantees for their security that's a very attractive pathway," Blinken said in Cairo, his last stop. "But it's also clear that that requires a pathway to a Palestinian state. We've heard that from every single country in the region." Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the U.S., called Blinken's remarks "tone deaf." For Israelis, the U.S. push to revive negotiations for Palestinian statehood signals that American leaders haven't realized how Israeli public opinion hardened on Palestinian issues over the years, and especially since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack. Ultimately, he said, U.S. and Israeli interests don't always converge. "At the end of the day, there's a limit, because if (Biden) says stop, we're not going to stop," he said. Israel-Hamas war at 100 days Companies chaired by a prominent Cambodian tycoon are quietly starting the approval process for two dormant hydropower dam projects in Cambodias Ratanakiri province, according to documents reviewed by VOA, alarming environmentalists who say the projects could disrupt Indigenous peoples livelihoods and the Mekong River ecosystem. Lower Srepok 3 and Lower Sesan 3 are named for the major Mekong tributaries where they would be built and have been part of Cambodia's dam pipeline since 2003, when the government began planning hydropower investments. Several Chinese companies pursued approvals for the dams around a decade ago, but the projects did not move forward. Now, assessment work at Lower Srepok 3 is underway again, with plans to follow suit at Lower Sesan 3, this time under the direction of two companies chaired by tycoon Kith Meng. A letter sent to Ratanakiri districts, photos of a feasibility study, and company records indicate that Meng's companies China (Cambodia) Rich International Co. and Royal Group are working to complete feasibility studies at the Lower Srepok 3 and Lower Sesan 3 dams. Such studies would pave the way to receive approvals to build the dams. About 10,000 families in total could be affected by the two projects, said Leang Bunleap, director of Ratanakiris 3S Rivers Protection Network, which works with those affected by dams along three Mekong tributaries. "Theyre very careful not to share whether theyre planning dams or not. Theyre not open," Bunleap told VOA, speaking of the government and investors. "Too many people in the community dont know about this." In November 2022, three Ratanakiri districts Veun Sai, Ta Veaeng, and Andoung received a letter from provincial authorities seeking cooperation with a feasibility study for Lower Sesan 3. The letter, reviewed by VOA, said Phnom Penh-based China (Cambodia) Rich International Co. had signed a memorandum of understanding in 2020 with the Ministry of Mines and Energy to study the dam site. Cambodian Commerce Ministry records list the companys directors, in addition to Kith Meng, as Thomas Pianka and Mark Hanna, who also hold executive positions at Mengs Royal Group. The executives did not respond to a request for comment. Photos of the Lower Srepok 3 feasibility study in Lumphat district, reviewed by VOA, meanwhile refer to the "300-MW [300-megawatt] Srepok 3A dam project of Royal Group." The project is usually referred to as "Lower Srepok 3," but sometimes "3A." In response to a question about China (Cambodia)'s activities at Lower Sesan 3, Ratanakiri Governor Nhem Samoeun responded with answers about Lower Srepok 3, telling VOA via text that "the company" had finished the feasibility study for Lower Srepok 3, met with provincial authorities and now plans to complete the next step of an environmental impact assessment. The Lower Sesan 3 project will be studied next, Samoeun said. He did not pick up follow-up calls. Efforts to revive the projects arrive as the Cambodian government distances itself from other hydropower plans. In late November, Prime Minister Hun Manet said that his government would "not build any dams along the Mekong" because of the harsh environmental impacts, echoing a 10-year moratorium that was announced in 2020. The promise garnered praise from local and international experts who said it would help protect the river and the Tonle Sap Lake, one of the worlds most productive inland fisheries. Two hydropower projects that were planned for the Mekong mainstream, Sambor and Stung Treng, would have "seriously impacted" the rivers fisheries, hydrology and ecosystems, said Ian Baird, a University of Wisconsin professor who studies hydropower dam development in the Mekong Basin. "Either one of those dams would have been very significant, so thats why [the announcement] is so great to hear," Baird said. "Its not just about Cambodia, its about the whole region, and I think Cambodia should be commended for that." The moratorium does not apply to tributary dams such as the two Ratanakiri projects, however. Fay Sot, a 68-year-old Cambodian-Lao woman and representative for Indigenous and ethnic groups in Veun Sai district, said she heard last year that Lower Sesan 3 would go ahead. Like her neighbors, she lives about 10 meters from the river and relies on it for daily fishing and farming. More than a decade ago when the dams were first explored for development, locals in her district petitioned the government against it. "When the dam is built, the amount of water in the river will be reduced, and it will be difficult for us to do farming, fishing, or even to drink it," Sot said. "We don't want to be removed from here. If we move, well have to start from scratch," she added. Local leaders say they have not received details about the projects. Veun Sai District Governor Heng Savoeun said no company representatives had contacted the district to discuss the feasibility study; Lumphat officials either refused to comment or said they did not know which companies were involved. Chinas Sinohydro Group was previously expected to develop Lower Sesan 3; a Korean company, KTC Cable Co., studied the project too, while China's Huadian Hong Kong Co. Ltd. was attached to Lower Srepok 3, according to local news reports. A spokesperson for the Mines and Energy Ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Aside from its vast telecom, banking and property holdings, Royal Group is known for co-developing Cambodia's Lower Sesan 2 dam in Stung Treng province, which Human Rights Watch deemed a "disaster" after its 2018 completion. About 5,000 people, many members of Indigenous minority groups, were evicted or lost their livelihoods, while the project devastated fishing yields and ecosystems. The company was also slated to develop the Stung Treng mainstream dam before Manets speech. Mak Bunthoeurn, a program manager at Cambodian group NGO Forum that works for community rights in hydropower planning, said he believes regrets over the Lower Sesan 2s impacts influenced the governments recent decision to stop mainstream dam development. "They tried to keep it silent and echo the positive sides," Bunthoeurn said. "But I think the government learned from this development, and used it as a baseline or evidence, to decide whether the mainstream hydropower dams should go ahead or not." The number of potential hydropower projects in Cambodias pipeline is not certain. Stimson Centers Mekong Dam Monitor project has tracked 60 planned projects dating back to the 2000s. Research from NGO Forum, along with a 2040 Power Development Plan released earlier this year, indicate roughly 17 projects. Campaigners will gather Sunday at Sydney Town Hall for a rally to urge Australia to send unwanted helicopters to Ukraine. The Australian Defence Force plans to decommission 45 Taipan helicopters later this year and replace them with U.S.-made Blackhawks. Australias entire fleet of MRH-90 Taipan helicopters was grounded after a crash during a multinational military exercise off the coast of Queensland state in July. Officials have said that the aircraft will not return to "flying operations" before they are due to be withdrawn from active service in December of this year. The Taipans will be replaced by U.S.-made Blackhawk helicopters. Starting next year, the new Apache helicopters will also be introduced into service for the Australian army. Ukraine has asked Australia about using the European-designed Taipan helicopters for its war against Russia. However, Australian officials have said the aircraft will be dismantled as planned and buried at an Australian defense site because of concerns over the safety and reliability of the aging Taipan fleet. Campaigners Sunday will gather in Sydney to change the government's mind. Stefan Romaniw, the co-chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations told VOA that the aircraft would help Ukraine repel the Russian invasion. "The way to support Ukraine now would be to give those Taipan helicopters," he said. "They need to fight the war in the air. The air is very, very important to Ukraines winning of this war. Therefore, the callout is, support Ukraine now, send the Taipan helicopters ASAP [as soon as possible]." Australia has promised to provide military support to Ukraine for "2024 and beyond." Acting Defense Minister Matt Thistlethwaite told local media that "Australia is one of the strongest supporters of the people of Ukraine and their military and their effort to resist the illegal and unprovoked aggression and invasion by Russia." Australia is one of the largest non-NATO contributors to Ukraines war effort. Canberra has also imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian politicians, military commanders and businesspeople. China's foreign ministry and embassies around the world this weekend warned countries against supporting Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and condemned foreign governments that congratulated the island's president-elect Lai Ching-te. After the DPP's presidential candidate Lai won the election on Saturday, several ministers and politicians from countries that share warm, if in most cases unofficial, ties with the self-ruled island sent congratulatory messages to Lai and the DPP. This drew swift responses from Chinese embassies, highlighting Beijing's sensitivity to other countries appearing to give legitimacy to a candidate and political party it views as "secessionist forces" hoping to turn Taiwan, which it claims as its own, into an independent sovereign nation. The Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday described a statement from U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, which congratulated Lai and said Washington looked forward to further its unofficial relationship with Taiwan, as "sending a seriously incorrect signal" to "Taiwan independence separatist forces." "China has always firmly opposed any form of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, and resolutely opposes the United States interfering in Taiwan affairs in any form and under any pretext," the foreign ministry said in a statement published on its website. The Chinese Embassy on Saturday condemned what it called the "incorrect actions" of British Foreign Minister David Cameron after he said, in a statement congratulating Lai and his party, that the elections were a "testament to Taiwan's vibrant democracy." "We urge the United Kingdom to acknowledge the position that Taiwan is a province of China, cautiously handle Taiwan-related matters in accordance with the one-China principle, stop any remarks that interfere in China's internal affairs," the embassy said in a statement published on its official WeChat account. The Chinese Embassy in Japan went as far as lodging solemn representations, a form of official diplomatic protest, after Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory. Kamikawa called the self-ruled island "an extremely crucial partner and an important friend" but in the same statement she also stated that the working relationship with Taipei was on a "non-governmental basis." "We solemnly urge the Japanese side to ... refrain from disrupting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and China-Japan relations," the Chinese Embassy said. Beijing, which has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control, fears that Lai could declare the establishment of a Republic of Taiwan, which Lai has said he will not do. Even on the eve of the election, Chinese diplomats were already warning their host countries of the consequences of supporting Lai and the DPP. Xiao Qian, Chinese ambassador to Australia, published an article in The Australian on Friday where he warned his host country of unspecified dangers if it were to support "Taiwan independence forces" like the DPP. "If Australia is tied to the chariot of Taiwan separatist forces, the Australian people would be pushed over the edge of an abyss," he wrote. Voting was under way in Comoros on Sunday in an election widely expected to hand a fourth five-year term to President Azali Assoumani, who faces five opponents in a vote some opposition leaders have boycotted. The polls opened across the Indian Ocean archipelago at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT) for the 338,940 registered voters out of its 800,000 population. Voting ends at 6 p.m. Comoros has experienced around 20 coups or attempted coups since winning independence from France in 1975 and is a major source of irregular migration to the nearby French island of Mayotte. Some opposition leaders have called for a boycott, accusing the election commission of favoring the ruling party. The commission denies this, saying the process will be transparent. "I am delighted with this anchoring of democracy in our country," Assoumani told reporters after voting in his home town of Mitsoudje, adding that he hoped for victory in the first round. The former army officer first came to power in a coup in 1999. He has since won three elections and has served as the chair of the African Union for the past year. He won the 2019 election with 60% of the vote, breaching the 50% mark required to avoid a run-off. Critics say since then his government has cracked down on dissent, an accusation it denies. Assoumani's opponents include a former interior minister and Salim Issa, a medical doctor and flagbearer for Juwa, former president Ahmed Abdallah Sambi's party. "We welcome the conduct of the vote. We hope that everything will continue calmly," Issa wrote on social media from Foumbouni, his hometown in the south of the Comoros. Sambi is now behind bars after being sentenced to life in prison in 2022 for high treason related to accusations of corruption. Political protests have been repeatedly banned for security reasons. Comoros changed its constitution in June 2018 to remove a requirement that the presidency rotate among its three main islands every five years. This allowed Assoumani to seek re-election. The opposition leaders calling for a boycott and their supporters have wanted the armed forces barred from involvement in the elections and the unconditional release of Sambi and other political prisoners. Provisional results are expected on Friday, according to the election commission. The crew of a tanker seized by Iran's navy this week in a row with the United States are safe, the vessel's Greek owners said on Sunday. Empire Navigation said in a statement that an associate had contacted Iranian authorities and reported that "all the crew members on board the St. Nikolas are safe and in good health." The company added that it had not been itself able to directly contact the 19-man crew of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship, which is anchored in the vicinity of the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas. Eighteen Filipinos and a Greek are on board. Iran said it had seized the ship off Oman on Thursday to retaliate for the "theft" of its oil from the same tanker which at the time was called the Suez Rajan last year by the United States, state media said. The United States condemned what it called an "unlawful seizure" and demanded Iran "immediately release the ship and its crew." Iran has responded with tit-for-tat measures in the past after seizures of Iranian oil shipments. Crippling U.S. sanctions, reimposed following Washington's 2018 withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal, target Iranian oil and petrochemical sales in a bid to reduce Iran's energy exports. The vessel had been loaded with 145,000 tons of crude oil in Basra, Iraq, and was destined for Aliaga, Turkey, via the Suez Canal. British maritime risk company Ambrey this week said the recently renamed tanker was previously prosecuted and fined for carrying sanctioned Iranian oil, which was confiscated by U.S. authorities. In September, the United States said it had several months earlier seized the Suez Rajan and its cargo of 980,000 barrels of crude oil. The U.S. Department of Justice said at the time that the oil on the Greek-managed tanker was allegedly being sold by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to China. The Gulf of Oman, a key route for the oil industry that separates Oman and Iran, has witnessed a series of hijackings and attacks over the years, often involving Iran. Shipping in the resource-rich region is also on heightened alert following weeks of drone and missile attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. First it was the snow, then the bitter cold temperatures that iced out most of the campaign events in the U.S. Midwestern state of Iowa the weekend before the January 15 caucuses. Former President Donald Trump, who has spent much of the week before the caucuses outside of the state, canceled most of his in-person events because of the weather. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley moved many of her events online. "It will make the non-passionate people stay home, and the passionate people will come out," said Carson Odle, who was undeterred by the bad weather as he attended one of the few, in-person events that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis didn't cancel, in the Des Moines suburb of Ankeny. "The die-hards will come," said Cheryl Weisheit, who also braved traveling in the snowstorm to hear DeSantis' campaign pitch. "Early on it wasn't that bad. I don't know we're just so used to this!" Weisheit, who chairs a local Republican group, said physically attending an event was important to her because she still doesn't know who to support on caucus night. "I probably won't know until that night," she said. Snow could affect turnout Iowa Democrats shifted their presidential preference caucuses to mail-in balloting later in the election cycle, with incumbent President Joe Biden likely to be the winner. A Des Moines Register-NBC News-Mediacom poll released Saturday night showed Trump with a commanding lead in the Republican contest, with 48% support among people intending to go to the caucuses, to 20% for Haley, 16% for DeSantis and 8% for entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Despite the polling numbers, DeSantis told CNNs State of the Union show Sunday, Were going to do well on Monday. Our voters are very motivated. Theres a lot of excitement on the ground. The Iowa caucuses are a first-in-the-nation political event when supporters assemble in person to choose their candidate for the Republican nomination. It comes amid some of the heaviest snow and coldest temperatures Iowa has experienced during the caucuses in many years, creating several unknowns for how it will impact the results. The unknown here is how much the supporters for the various candidates will turn out, said University of Iowa political science professor Tim Hagle. Will the Trump supporters really be as loyal to him and as faithful to him as everyone expects? Hagle says if polling translates into turnout, its more difficult for the Republicans vying to unseat Trump as the front-runner and curbs their ability to pick up momentum as the race moves beyond Iowa. "If Trump is still 30 points ahead or maybe even more, it seems pretty unlikely that DeSantis or Haley is going to be able to beat him or even come close because to a certain extent they are splitting the anti-Trump vote," he said. Hagle added that polling also shows Trump's legal troubles haven't dampened his support. "Given that he was indicted in four different places, he's got a civil trial going on in New York, he's got a defamation trial going on there as well, states are trying to kick him off the ballot, all this means in the eyes of a lot of his supporters is that they're politically persecuting him and so there's a rally-around-the-chief effect that's going on," Hagle said. Campaigns urge voters to show up But there are signs of fatigue among Iowa voters. Retired police officer John Frank supported Trump before, but not this year. "He's getting up in age, just like Joe Biden, and we have to consider that," Frank told VOA. "And he's never learned in his life, especially his political life, to keep his mouth shut." Frank said he'll caucus for DeSantis. "Trump is probably going to win, but I don't think it's going to the be slam dunk people think," said Weisheit, who has narrowed her choices to DeSantis and Haley, but not Trump. "Well, if Trump is the candidate, I will [vote for him], but right now he's not the one that I will caucus for," she said. "You really have to energize your supporters and get them to turn out," Hagle said, because "we often see some movement up until caucus night," which is why the messaging from every candidate left in the race in the final days of the campaign is a push to encourage their supporters to physically show up to support them at caucus locations across the state on January 15. At least 10 people were killed and six are missing after an accident at a coal mine in central China's Henan Province, state media said Saturday. The accident, a likely coal and gas explosion described as an "outburst," happened around 2:55 p.m. (0655 GMT) Friday in Pingdingshan, state broadcaster CCTV said. Search and rescue efforts were continuing, CCTV said. State news agency Xinhua said 425 people were working underground when the blast took place. Those in charge of the mine have been taken into custody by authorities, Xinhua said. Mining safety in China has improved in recent decades, as has media coverage of major incidents, many of which were once overlooked. However, accidents are still common in an industry with a poor safety record and where regulations are not necessarily enforced. In 2022, 245 people died in 168 accidents, according to official figures. Last month, 12 people were killed and 13 injured in a mining accident on the outskirts of Jixi city in northeastern Heilongjiang province. Eleven people were killed in November in an accident at another coal mine in the same province. And in September, at least 16 people were killed in a coal mine fire in southwest China's Guizhou province. Denmark's King Frederik X ascended the throne on Sunday, succeeding his mother, Queen Margrethe II, who formally abdicated after 52 years as monarch, with big crowds gathered in the capital to witness history. Margrethe, 83, stunned the nation on New Year's Eve when she announced she planned to become the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. The succession was formalized the moment Margrethe signed the declaration of her abdication during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament, the royal palace said. Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies in the world, does not have a coronation. The meeting was attended by government representatives, Margrethe, Frederik, 55, his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who is now queen, and their oldest son Christian, 18, who is the new heir to the throne. About an hour after the signing, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was due to proclaim the new king on the balcony of the parliament and Frederik will give a short speech. In close to freezing temperatures, tens of thousands of people from all over Denmark converged on the capital to witness events, in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying in the nation of nearly six million. "We have come here today because this is history being made in front of our eyes. We just had to be here," said Soren Kristian Bisgaard, 30, a pilot. He was drinking champagne with three friends, sitting in camping chairs in front of parliament. "I'm very fond of the royal family. I have been in the Royal Life Guards myself, standing guard at the royal palace. I'm very proud to have done that and also to be here today," he said. Later in the afternoon, the new king and queen were due to ride by horse carriage back to their residence, Amalienborg, a royal complex built in the 1750s and located in central Copenhagen. The couple will continue to reside with Margrethe, who will retain her title as queen, in Amalienborg albeit in their respective palaces in the octagonal complex. Royal power couple Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. "It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now," said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. "He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles." The British king was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82% of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86% said the same about Mary. January marks the start of the U.S. state-by-state nominating contests that determine the presidential candidates. The voting process, which includes primary elections and caucuses, lasts for nearly six months and is followed by Republican and Democratic conventions in July and August, in which each party formally chooses its candidate for the November general election. Here is everything you need to know about the primaries. What are primaries? Primaries are statewide voting processes in which voters select a party's nominee who will later compete in the general elections. The rules of the primary, including who can vote, are determined by the states and the parties. Unlike in a caucus, voters in a primary cast a secret ballot for their candidates and can vote at any time when the polls are open on Election Day. What are caucuses? Caucuses, like primaries, are a way for a political party to select their nominees for a general election. Unlike primaries, caucuses are a system of local gatherings that typically occur at a set time and can last for several hours. They allow participants to publicly discuss the candidates running for office, and voting is sometimes done by a show of hands. Caucuses were once the most common way of choosing presidential nominees, however today only a few states and territories rely on this method. How do the primaries and caucuses lead to the party nominees? U.S. voters in primaries and caucuses do not directly select their candidates to advance to the general election. Instead, voters choose delegates, who in turn choose the nominees at the parties' national conventions. Those nominees will then compete in the general election in November. The more populous a state is, the more delegates it sends to the national conventions. What is the strategy of candidates? The staggered nature of the primary calendar allows candidates to focus their resources on groups of states at different times instead of all at once. Often candidates focus on winning some or all of the early states to gain momentum in the race as well as seeking to win large states that can earn them a high number of delegates. The largest delegate states are California, Texas and Florida. Which states vote first? Traditionally, Iowa has held the first caucus of the election season and New Hampshire the first primary. While the Republican Party will continue to start their nominating contests in these states, the Democratic Party has sought to make South Carolina the first Democratic contest, arguing that the state is more representative of the party's demographics. As a result, the Democratic National Committee has scrapped the Iowa caucus (instead holding a primary in the state in March) and urged candidates not to put their name on the New Hampshire ballot. What is Super Tuesday? Most U.S. states and territories hold their primaries or caucuses on a Tuesday. Super Tuesday is the day when the greatest number of jurisdictions hold nominating contests. This year it is Tuesday, March 5, when 15 states will choose candidates to compete in the general elections. How are the delegates distributed? The way delegates are distributed to the candidates depends on the rules in each state. Some states, like California, allocate all their delegates to the one candidate with the most votes, while other states, like New Hampshire, use a proportional method and award delegates based on a candidates' share of the vote. What is the difference between 'pledged' and 'unpledged' delegates? Delegates chosen in the primaries and caucuses are known as "pledged" delegates because they are expected to endorse the candidate that voters have chosen. But both the Republican and Democratic parties also have delegates at their conventions who are not chosen by voters. Republican conventions include "unpledged" delegates, also called "unbound" delegates, which are the party's three top officials from each state and territory. Democrats employ a system of more unpledged delegates called "superdelegates" made up of hundreds of party leaders and elected officials. Both Republican unpledged delegates and Democratic superdelegates are free to support any candidate. What are open versus closed primaries? In states with open primaries, all registered voters can cast a ballot for any candidate regardless of their political affiliation. For example, a Democrat is able to vote in a Republican open primary and a Republican can vote in a Democratic open primary. However, a voter cannot vote in more than one primary. In contrast, in states with closed primaries, a voter can vote only for a candidate with their same party affiliation. For example, a registered Democrat can vote in the Democratic closed primary, but not in the Republican contest. What does the US Constitution say about the primaries? The U.S. Constitution makes no provisions for political parties, which are technically independent organizations that can select their nominees in any way they choose within legal limits. Furthermore, the federal system allows individual states a great deal of control over when and how their elections are conducted. Mexico's two main drug cartels have long taken their deadly rivalry with them as they expand into distant markets from Asia to Australia to Africa, but never with such intensive street gang violence and a presidential declaration of a state of "internal armed conflict" this week in Ecuador. Gunmen from an Ecuadorian gang believed aligned with Mexico's Jalisco New Generation cartel took over a television station during a live broadcast and brandished explosives. Meanwhile, a rival gang believed to be backed by Mexico's Sinaloa cartel called for peace in a statement apparently issued from Mexico City. Why are Mexican cartels in Ecuador? It's the location. And the bananas. Ecuador is attractive as a shipping point for drugs because the South American country is sandwiched between two top cocaine producers, Colombia and Peru. Ecuador has been ravaged by poverty, the COVID-19 pandemic, a weak law enforcement system and corruption, but it also has a big active, legitimate foreign trade. Ships sail to ports in the U.S. and Europe with huge containers of bananas Ecuador is the world's top exporter and those are good places to hide cocaine. "You have a confluence of factors and, yes, you have bananas, a huge amount of containers and establishments and cover to be smuggling around the world in Europe, across Europe to Turkey, and to other parts of the world," said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology at the Brookings Institute. In a few short years, experts say, the experience and muscle of the Mexican cartels has turned Ecuador into the shipment point for almost one-third of the cocaine entering Europe. According to a 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, "the proportion of cocaine reported to the Regional Intelligence Office for Western Europe with Ecuador identified as a departure point rose from 14% in 2018 to 29% in 2020 and 28% in 2021." Much of that cocaine was connected to Mexican cartels, who have moved into producer countries like Colombia following the 2016 peace accords there with leftist rebels. Coca bush fields in Colombia have also been moving closer to the border with Ecuador due to the breakup of criminal groups after the 2016 demobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. In Mexico, from where the cartels ship mostly fentanyl and meth to the United States, the battle between the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels has caused a persistent, decadelong wave of violence. Something similar can be seen in Ecuador, but at an astoundingly rapid rate. The homicide rate in Ecuador skyrocketed from about six homicides per 100,000 people in 2016 comparable to the United States to around 40 per 100,000 in 2023. The Mexican cartels' business model abroad is largely copied from their domestic playbook: assert control over territory by recruiting local gangs with offers of guns and cash. Then ruthlessly battle the rival cartel for control of territory. "You will see the Jalisco cartel or the Sinaloa cartel insisting that the local criminal groups chose between them, that you're only with one or the other, and act violently against rival groups who make a different choice," Felbab-Brown said. "So this has playing out in Ecuador," she said. The problem worsened when the Mexican cartels stopped paying the local gangs in cash, and began paying them in drugs instead, said Fernando Carrion, a political science professor at the Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences in Ecuador. The local gangs "have to sell those drugs in local markets, and that forces local gangs to organize, increases local (drug) consumption and laundering, and for this reason also increases the violence," Carrion said, as street-dealing turf battles cause homicide rates to spike. That's why you don't see Mexican cartels sending their own flashy, heavily armed troops or their armored vehicles to Ecuador; Ecuadorians are doing the dying, in what Carrion describes as a form of outsourcing. "They connect in Ecuador with other organizations in an outsourcing scheme," Carrion said. "In the concrete case of the two Mexican groups, Sinaloa is connected to the Choneros," one of Ecuador's oldest gangs. Jalisco New Generation is connected to the Lobos, or Wolves, which like Jalisco itself is a more recent upstart, he said. Jalisco also apparently works with the Tiguerones, the gang that took over the television station this week. "In this outsourcing scheme, these (local) groups perform certain tasks," Carrion said, like guarding or transporting cocaine shipments overland to seaports. The local gangs' power is frightening, and it extends from the prisons to the streets. In August, presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was assassinated less than two weeks before the election. He had complained of receiving threats from the Choneros, the gang associated with the Sinaloa cartel. A couple of months later, six suspects in the assassination, all Colombians, were killed in prison. Last Sunday, the leader of the Choneros, Adolfo Macias, disappeared from the prison where he was held. Since Macias' apparent escape, gangs have kidnapped police officers and inmates have taken at least 178 corrections personnel hostage. On Tuesday, after the takeover of the TV station, President Daniel Noboa designated 20 drug-trafficking gangs as terrorist groups and authorized the military to "neutralize" them. Whether the government can regain the upper hand remains to be seen. India's Minister of External Affairs will make a two-day trip to Iran starting Sunday, following Western airstrikes against Yemen's Houthi rebels over the Tehran-backed group's attacks on vessels in the Red Sea. The visit by Subrahmanyam Jaishankar comes a month after a drone attack on a ship near Indian waters that the United States blamed on Iran. A government statement issued Saturday said that Jaishankar would meet his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian to discuss "bilateral, regional and global issues," without giving further detail. The Houthis have carried out scores of drone and missile strikes on the key international route through the Red Sea since the start of Israel's war in Gaza, which was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. Many vessels have been rerouted from the Red Sea due to drone and missile attacks carried out by the Houthi rebels in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. India has significantly stepped up its own maritime patrols in the Arabian Sea to "maintain a deterrent presence" after the string of attacks on vessels. In December a drone attack hit the MV Chem Pluto oil tanker 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) off the coast of India, which the United States blamed on Iran claims Tehran dubbed "worthless." Earlier this month India's navy said it had rescued 21 crew members from a vessel in the Arabian Sea after a hijacking distress call. Jaishankar said Thursday he had spoken to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken about "maritime security challenges, especially (in) the Red Sea region." More than a week after Iran experienced its deadliest terror attack in decades, its Islamist rulers said one of the suicide bombers trained in Afghanistan with the Islamic State group that claimed responsibility for the attack. Iranian leaders have vowed to retaliate against the IS perpetrators of the January 3 suicide bombings that killed at least 90 people in the city of Kerman as they attended a memorial for top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his death in a U.S. drone strike. In a statement published Thursday, Irans intelligence ministry identified one of the two bombers as a 24-year-old citizen of Tajikistan named Bazirov Israeli and said he received several months of training at an IS camp in Afghanistans northeastern province of Badakhshan that borders Tajikistan. It said that following his training, smugglers helped him cross the border into southeastern Irans Sistan Baluchistan province near Saravan city. The intelligence ministry statement marked the first time that Iran publicly identified neighboring Afghanistan as source of the Kerman attack. It also said Tehran considers the pursuit of justice against the perpetrators "beyond the borders of [Iran]" as a "right and definite duty." However, Irans options for retaliatory strikes in Afghanistan are limited by its diplomatic relationship with the Taliban Islamist government of Afghanistan, according to a U.S. researcher who leads a project tracking IS activity worldwide. Iran and the Taliban see the IS group and the United States as their common adversaries. The researcher, Aaron Zelin of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, discussed the challenge posed to Iran by IS in the latest edition of VOAs Flashpoint Iran podcast. The following transcript of Zelins January 9 interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. VOA: What part of the IS group was responsible for the Kerman attack? Aaron Zelin, Washington Institute for Near East Policy senior fellow: The Islamic State Khorasan Province, which is based in Afghanistan, was most likely involved in planning and executing the attack, especially since the previous two IS attacks within Iran in the last year or so also were traced back to ISKP. Plus, many of the arrests that Iran has carried out against IS over the last few years have been related to ISKP networks. VOA: How is it possible to trace an attack like this to ISKP? Zelin: It is a combination of things. One is information directly coming from the Iranian government. Two is from IS claims through its media outlets. They provide a certain level of detail. And three is the ethnic background of the attackers. Tajiks have been involved in many ISKP attacks, not only in Iran, but in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the region. VOA: What have you learned about the motives of the IS group in attacking Kerman? Zelin: The IS group historically has been extremely anti-Shiite and anti-Iran. Part of this ideology is that they are against the veneration of saints and mausoleums and the like. So it makes a lot of sense that they would target [a ceremony at the burial place of Qassem Soleimani in Kerman], since so many people were there, creating a mass-casualty attack. And they wanted to send a message of vengeance against Soleimani, who previously had been fighting IS in Iraq and Syria, and all of his supporters. VOA: How was IS able to hit back at Tehran in such a dramatic way with the worst bombings that Iran has seen since its 1979 Islamic Revolution? Zelin: Part of it is that over the last few months, Iran has been more focused on Israel, post the October 7 attack by Hamas, and on coordinating the various Iranian proxies in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, etc. Therefore, it is plausible that Iranian intelligence assets have focused less on the threat of IS, which might have been able to go under the [Iranian] radar. Every few months, Iran usually arrests some type of IS cell trying to conduct an attack locally. The Kerman attack is the third IS attack within Iran in the last 15 months. VOA: What can Iran do going forward against IS beyond just continuing to carry out arrests? Zelin: It is pretty limited beyond that, to be honest. The Kerman attack did not emanate from Iraq and Syria, where you still have Iran's IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] force as well as its proxy networks fighting against IS on a low level. Next door in Afghanistan, the Taliban are fighting IS also on a daily basis. It is unlikely that Iran would want to impede on what the Taliban are doing, since they have had such burgeoning relations over the last couple of years since the Taliban took power. So, I think more intelligence sharing between the Taliban and Iran related to these threats, and continued local law enforcement, are the limits of Irans options for now. VOA: How do you think the Kerman attack could affect the Iran-Taliban relationship? Zelin: I do not think it will affect things that much. When there have been prior attacks on Iran by ISKP-related networks in Afghanistan, nothing has changed in terms of their relationship. It has only gotten stronger over time. Plus, days after this most recent attack, you saw Iranian Ambassador in Kabul Hassan Kazemi Qomi meet the Taliban Deputy Prime Minister Abdul Kabir. They were talking about various issues related to the relationship, including that they will not let a terrorist attack, like the one committed by IS, get between them, and that they have a shared interest in fighting IS. And independently, the Taliban media also have talked about how they have provided details and warnings in the past to Iran about plots and attacks. So I think the relationship will continue to be fruitful from their perspective on both sides. VOA: What do you think IS will do next vis-a-vis Iran? Zelin: So long as IS has the assets, capabilities and opportunities to do an attack, they will continue to plot within Iran itself. This is now their third successful attack within the country over the last 15 months. But they also have plotted other attacks in the last few years, and the Iranian government has been able to stop them ahead of time. I cannot predict whether they will be successful again. But they will continue to try, no matter what. Two Iranian journalists who were serving long prison sentences over their coverage of the death of Mahsa Amini have been released on bail pending their appeal, Iranian media reported Sunday. Niloufar Hamedi, who broke the news of Amini's death while in police custody for wearing her headscarf too loose, and Elaheh Mohammadi, who wrote about Amini's funeral, were sentenced to seven and six years in prison, respectively, in October, on charges including collaborating with the U.S. government. The two women had been in prison for 17 months. The semi-official ISNA news agency reported that they were each released on $200,000 bail and they are banned from leaving the country until the appeal is heard. The Tehran Revolutionary Court had charged the journalists with collaborating with the American government, colluding against national security and propaganda against the system, according to the Mizanonline.ir news website, affiliated with the country's judiciary. Hamedi worked for the reformist newspaper Shargh, while Mohammadi worked for Ham-Mihan, also a reformist paper. They were detained in September 2022. In May 2023, the United Nations awarded the journalists its premier prize for press freedom for their commitment to truth and accountability. Amini's death touched off months-long protests in dozens of cities across Iran. The demonstrations posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 2009 Green Movement protests drew millions to the streets. Although nearly 100 journalists were arrested during the demonstrations, Hamedi's and Mohammadi's reporting was crucial in the days after Amini's death in spreading the word. Their detentions sparked international criticism. Since the protests began, at least 529 people have been killed by security forces during demonstrations, according to human rights activists in Iran. Over 19,700 others have been detained by authorities amid a violent crackdown trying to suppress the dissent. Iran for months has not offered any overall casualty figures, while acknowledging tens of thousands were detained. Several Jewish students have filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, accusing it of becoming "a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment." The lawsuit filed Wednesday mirrors others filed since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, including against The Art Institute of Chicago, New York University and the University of Pennsylvania. In the Harvard lawsuit, the plaintiffs include members of the Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. They accuse Harvard of violating Jewish students' civil rights and allege that the university tolerated Jewish students being harassed, assaulted and intimidated behavior that has intensified since the October 7 attack. "Mobs of pro-Hamas students and faculty have marched by the hundreds through Harvard's campus, shouting vile antisemitic slogans and calling for death to Jews and Israel," according to the lawsuit. "Those mobs have occupied buildings, classrooms, libraries, student lounges, plazas, and study halls, often for days or weeks at a time, promoting violence against Jews." It was unclear what the reference to mobs in the lawsuit refers to, but the university has been rattled by protests since the October 7 attack. At one point, pro-Palestinian students occupied a campus building for 24 hours. Marc Kasowitz, a partner at the law firm that brought the suit, Kasowitz Benson Torres, said in a statement that the litigation was necessary because Harvard would not "correct its deep-seated antisemitism problem voluntarily." "Harvard must be forced to protect its Jewish students and stop applying a double standard when it comes to anti-Jewish bigotry," he added. A spokesperson for Harvard said the school doesn't comment on pending litigation. About a dozen students are potentially facing disciplinary charges for violations of protest rules related to pro-Palestinian activities, but the spokesman said the school couldn't comment on their cases. Fallout from the Israel-Hamas war has roiled campuses across the U.S. and reignited a debate over free speech. College leaders have struggled to define the line where political speech crosses into harassment and discrimination, with Jewish and Arab students raising concerns that their schools are doing too little to protect them. The issue took center stage in December when the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT testified at a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. Asked by Republican lawmakers whether calls for the genocide of Jews would violate campus policies, the presidents offered lawyerly answers and declined to say unequivocally that it was prohibited speech. Their answers prompted weeks of backlash from donors and alumni, leading to the resignation of Liz Magill at Penn and Claudine Gay at Harvard. Hamas' October 7 attacks killed 1,200 people in Israel, mainly civilians, and abducted around 250 others, nearly half of whom were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November. Since the war began, Israel's assault in Gaza has killed more than 23,200 Palestinians, roughly 1% of the territory's population, and more than 58,000 people have been wounded, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza. About two-thirds of the dead are women or children. The U.S. Department of Education has repeatedly warned colleges that they are required to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses or risk losing federal money. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said the agency has opened more than 40 investigations at colleges and universities in response to complaints of antisemitism and Islamophobia since the Oct. 7 attacks, including at Harvard, Stanford and MIT. "No student should feel unsafe on campus," Cardona told The Associated Press on Wednesday, after he met with students. "The Office for Civil Rights takes these cases very seriously. They investigate harassment, or violations for antisemitism, Islamophobia, anti-Arab sentiment. We take that role very seriously. If any student on campus feels that any protest or messaging makes them feel unsafe, we ask for an investigation." In November, Gay issued a memo laying out plans to address antisemitism on campus. The university said it was starting a process to examine "how antisemitism manifests within our community" and developing a plan to address it. It also is implementing a program to educate students and faculty about antisemitism and "redoubling our efforts to make students aware that appropriate avenues exist to report feelings of fear or incidents causing harm" including an anonymous hotline for bias incidents. Two civilians were killed in northern Israel on Sunday after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border, raising new concerns of a second conflict erupting against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The deadly strike came on the 100th day of a conflict between Israel and Hamas that has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swaths of Gaza, driven around 85% of its 2.3 million residents from their homes and pushed a quarter of the population into starvation. The war was triggered by Hamas Oct. 7 terror attack into southern Israel in which militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took around 250 hostages, around half of whom are still in captivity. Tensions have soared across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, Iran-backed militias attacking U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq, and Yemens Houthi rebels targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of U.S. airstrikes last week. Sunday's missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said that his group wont stop until a cease-fire is in place for Gaza. We are continuing, and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people, Nasrallah said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas. The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge allegations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel adamantly denies the accusations and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else," Netanyahu said Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. Israel has also vowed to return the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza as its leaders have faced mounting protests from their families, including a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv that began Saturday evening and drew tens of thousands of supporters. Israeli forces have only managed to rescue one hostage, while more than 100 were released during a weeklong cease-fire in November in exchange for 240 Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Hamas says no more hostages will be released until Israel ends its offensive. Fears of a second front Israel and Hezbollah have been careful not to allow their back-and-forth fighting to erupt into full-blown war on a second front. But they have come close on several occasions most recently in the aftermath of an airstrike that killed a top Hamas official in Beirut on Jan. 2. Hamas and Hezbollah have both blamed Israel for the strike. The latest attacks on Israel, including the deaths of two civilians Sunday, raised the likelihood of new Israeli reprisals. The missile hit a home in the town of Yuval in northern Israel, killing a man in his 40s and his mother, who was in her 70s, Israeli rescuers said. Although Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along the northern border evacuated by the government in October, Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture. More than 115,000 Israelis have evacuated from northern Israel due to the ongoing tensions. In Israel, 12 soldiers and seven civilians have died from rocket launches from Lebanon, and more than 170 were injured. Hezbollah has reported at least 150 fighters and 20 civilians have been killed in the near-daily exchanges of fire. The deadly strike came hours after the army said it killed three militants who entered a disputed Israeli-controlled enclave in the Golan Heights. A group called Islamic Glory Brigades claimed responsibility for the infiltration. The Associated Press could not independently verify the statement, and Hezbollah, the Lebanese branches of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad all said the group was not affiliated with them. US shields Israel from calls for truce Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but has so far been shielded by U.S. diplomatic and military support. Israel argues that any cease-fire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel's destruction. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back operations in northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, where weeks of airstrikes and ground operations left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Netanyahu said there are no immediate plans to allow hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to return to their homes there, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised the issue during a visit to the region last week. Israel has meanwhile launched major operations against the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza. These camps date back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven out and never allowed to return. Israel eyes expanding offensive Netanyahu said Israel would eventually need to push further south and take control of Gaza's border with Egypt, which Israeli officials say is still used by Hamas to smuggle in arms. Egypt, which in recent years has fortified the border, demolished tunnels and established a buffer zone, insists it has full control of the border and says any such operation would have to be considered in light of agreements reached with Israel and the United States. The area in and around the border town of Rafah is also packed with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled from other parts of Gaza and are crowded into overflowing U.N.-run shelters and tent camps. Taiwanese voters handed Taiwans pro-sovereignty ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, a historic victory in the islands presidential election over the weekend, despite pressure from China. While several democratic countries around the world congratulated DPPs President-elect Lai Ching-te for his victory Saturday, Beijing claimed the election outcome doesnt reflect the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan and emphasized that Taiwan remains Chinas internal affair. The United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada all congratulated the DPP for the win, with a U.S. State Department spokesperson praising Taiwan's people for demonstrating the strength of the islands robust democratic system. In response, Chinas foreign ministry characterized Washingtons message as a violation of the One China principle and said the basic fact that Taiwan is part of China will never change. China considers Taiwan a wayward province and has never ruled out using force to take full control. The Taiwan question is at the very core of Chinas core interests and the first red line that must not be crossed in China-U.S. relations, said an unnamed Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson in a statement, urging Washington not to use the Taiwan question to contain China. Hitting back at Beijings claim over Taiwan, the islands foreign ministry said Chinas comments are inconsistent with the international perception and contrary to the expectation of the global democratic community as well as the will of the Taiwanese people. This kind of rhetoric is not worth refuting, the ministry said in a statement. With the DPP winning a third consecutive presidential term, some analysts say Taiwan is likely to continue to deepen ties with the U.S. and other like-minded democracies while Beijing may further increase pressure on Taipei. The messages from Washington show that Taiwan is an important ally to the U.S., and I think both sides will further deepen ties in the next four years, Chen Fang-yu, a political scientist at Soochow University in Taiwan, told VOA by phone. Taiwans Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that a U.S. delegation including former U.S. national security adviser Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, arrived in Taipei on Sunday for a three-day visit. The delegation is expected to meet Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, government officials and other political figures during the visit. While U.S.-Taiwan ties will remain robust, some experts think Beijing will maintain the same amount of pressure on Taiwan, especially at a time when the island is expected to be governed under a divided government over the next four years. Following Saturdays election, no political party secured a majority in the legislature, which some analysts say may weaken the DPPs hold on power for the next four years. Beijing will less likely extend the olive branch toward the next DPP government, Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at the Australian National University, told VOA by phone. In his view, since the DPP no longer has a majority in the legislature, the Chinese government may think the next Taiwanese governments hold on power is delicate enough that they can maintain a high level of pressure on Taipei. This means the continued cross-strait tension seems to be in the offing, Sung added. Ahead of Saturdays election, the Chinese government had repeatedly characterized the election as a choice between war and peace and criticized Taiwans new president-elect as a troublemaker who spreads Taiwan independence remarks. To maintain a high level of pressure on Taiwan, Beijing in recent weeks unleashed a series of measures to influence Taiwans election, conducting military maneuvers in areas near the island and imposing targeted sanctions on certain Taiwanese products. Some analysts think Beijing will continue to exert pressure on Taiwan but the effect of some of their measures, such as military maneuvers and economic coercion, may be limited. Regarding the gray zone operations, I think Taiwans population has more or less normalized it, Ian Chong, a political scientist at the National University of Singapore, told VOA by phone. When it comes to coercive economic measures, Chong thinks China is only targeting commodities that wont harm its economic interests. If Beijing really wanted to put pain on Taiwan, they would stop electronic imports and semiconductor imports, he said. But they are not going to do that since it would hurt their economy. Despite the limited effect of Chinas military and economic measures, Chong thinks Beijing is likely going to start forcing Taiwanese politicians, especially those with business interests in China, to toe the line mandated by the Chinese government. Im sure Beijing will try to find new ways to put pressure on Taiwan, and they will try to pressure the Lai administration in the next year to see where they can force him into making mistakes, he said. Since all three political parties failed to secure a majority in the legislature, Chen at Soochow University said the DPP will likely face obstacles when it comes to policy implementation. Many important policies and personnel appointments may be blocked by opposition parties in the new legislature, Chen told VOA. Apart from focusing on negotiating with opposition parties, Chen thinks the incoming administration led by Lai also needs to reestablish a connection with civil society, especially at a time when public opinion isnt supportive of the DPP. The DPP needs to create dialogue with civil society and try to use public opinion as a foundation to implement policies, he said. Among different policy platforms, Chen thinks the two opposition parties, the China-friendly Kuomintang and the Taiwan Peoples Party, may try to make it tougher for the DPP to push through key policies related to Taiwans bilateral relations, such as the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade and U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The split government situation will test the Lai administrations wisdom, such as how to negotiate with opposition parties and how to work with civil society groups, he said. Its important for them to learn how to properly explain policy implementation to the public. The incoming president takes office in May and will succeed Tsai Ing-wen, who has been in office since 2016. VOAs Nike Ching contributed to this report. Romanian farmers and truck drivers continued sporadic protests across the country on Sunday as negotiations with the coalition government over high insurance rates and slow subsidy payments resumed. Convoys of tractors and trucks began gathering five days ago on national roads, mainly near large Romanian cities, slowing or blocking traffic. Farmers and haulers also briefly blocked a border crossing with Ukraine in northeastern Romania on Saturday, and tried to prevent entrance to the Black Sea port of Constanta. They are demanding the government address high insurance premia and excise levels on diesel fuel, loan moratoriums, the time taken to pay farm subsidies and drought damages as well as technical measures to reduce long waiting times at border crossings. Truckers have also asked that lorries coming from the European Union have a separate line at border crossings and in Constanta port than trucks from outside the bloc, including Ukraine. Ukraine is one of the world's biggest grain exporters and Constanta has become Kyiv's largest alternative export route since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, with grains arriving at the port by road, rail and barge across the Danube. The port shipped 36 million metric tons of grain last year, up 50% from the previous year. Ukrainian grain accounted for roughly 40% of the total, or 14 million tons. After talks with transport and farm ministries on Saturday, protesters were set to meet the finance minister on Sunday. Romania holds local, parliamentary, presidential and European elections this year. German farmers also began a week of nationwide protests against subsidy cuts on Monday while Polish truck drivers and farmers have blocked several crossings with Ukraine since late 2023, demanding that the EU reinstate a system whereby Ukrainian companies obtain permits to operate in the bloc. Russia's Ministry of Justice late Friday designated one of the country's most popular fiction writers a "foreign agent" because of his opposition to Moscow's war in Ukraine. The historical detective stories of Boris Akunin, the pen name of Georgian-born Grigori Chkhartishvili, used to be bestsellers in Russia before the authorities turned on him for what they said were his unacceptable anti-Russian views. The justice ministry cited Chkhartishvili's opposition to what Moscow calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine and accused him of distributing false and negative information about Russia and of helping raise money for the Ukrainian military. The 67-year-old author lives in Britain. The "foreign agent" designation carries a negative Soviet-era connotation and obliges people to identify as foreign agents on social media and in other publications and exposes them to burdensome financial reporting requirements. Other writers and cultural figures who have angered the authorities by speaking out against the Ukraine war have received the same designation. Books by "Boris Akunin" best known for his fictional Tsarist-era detective Erast Fandorin have already been removed from sale in Russia after the authorities added him to a list of people they accuse of being involved in terrorism or extremism. Chkhartishvili, who makes no secret of his opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine, made light of his foreign agent designation in a social media post. "They are writing that I have been declared a foreign agent today. Me, a terrorist and extremist?! I feel like Bin Laden who has been given a ticket for parking illegally," he wrote. The United States, South Korea and Japan have expanded their security cooperation beyond North Korea with their Indo-Pacific Dialogue, which one expert called a significant development aimed at deterring Beijing from escalating threats in the region. The three countries held their first Indo-Pacific Dialogue last week in Washington, where they called out China by name and discussed its dangerous and escalatory behavior in the South China Sea. They also opposed any uniliteral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion in the Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait in a statement issued after their meeting on January 5. Gary Samore, who served as the White House coordinator for arms control and weapons of mass destruction during the Obama administration, said, The U.S. would like this trilateral Indo-Pacific cooperation to be more than a response to North Korea and to also address potential threats from China. The three countries agreed to launch the Indo-Pacific Dialogue when they held their summit at Camp David in August. There, U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida issued a statement calling attention to Chinas aggressive behavior in the region. Chinas maritime actions to assert sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea have caused friction with Southeast Asian countries that reject Beijings claim. China also claims sovereignty over the self-governing island of Taiwan. In East Asia, Chinese jets have been making dangerous incursions into the Korea Air Defense Identification Zone without identifying themselves. Daniel Russel, who served as the assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs in the Obama administration, said, Enhanced trilateral strategic and security cooperation has a substantial deterrent effect and sends an important signal to Beijing that its provocative behavior is driving ever closer unity among three immensely powerful nations. At a news briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing opposes a trilateral attempt to cobble together [an] exclusionary grouping and separatist moves toward Taiwan independence. The Chinese state-run Global Times paper published an article Sunday citing a Chinese expert as saying that Seoul and Tokyo have been wooed by the U.S. to recognize China as a common adversary. The article continued that the political and military alliance among the three countries will be further strengthened so they can contain Chinas development and join the U.S. in collectively countering China. 'Major milestone' Before Seoul and Tokyo mended their frayed ties over historical differences rooted in the Japanese colonization of the Korean Peninsula in 1910-45, South Korea was mainly focused on deterring North Korean threats. Seoul was also reluctant to call out China as posing threats in the Indo-Pacific. But since Yoon and Kishida mended their countries relations in March, which culminated in the trilateral summit in August, South Korea has been forthrightly joining the U.S. and Japan in countering China. The trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue was quite significant largely because it reflects a much closer alignment by Seoul in opposition to Chinese bullying beyond the Korean Peninsula, Russel said. He said it was a major milestone that Yoon had recognized South Koreas security and its interests were no longer confined to the Korean Peninsula. South Koreas security and economy are at stake if conflict breaks out in the South China Sea, according to experts. A report by Markus Garlauskas, director of the Indo-Pacific Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council, warns that if the U.S. is engaged in protracted conflict with China over Taiwan, Beijing could attempt to strike U.S. bases in South Korea. Biden has made pledges to defend Taiwan as well as the Philippines if China attacks. Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, senior nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Indo-Pacific Security Initiative of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, said, The Indo-Pacific region is critical for Seoul for both geopolitical and geoeconomics reasons, particularly given the interconnectiveness of the problems in the region that consequently affect the Korean Peninsula. He continued, Moreover, the ROKs [Republic of Korea] increasing capacity to deal with international security issues is also a big factor. Economically, conflict between China and Taiwan could slash South Koreas GDP by 23.3%, according to Bloomberg Economics cited by Seoul-based magazine BusinessKorea. Terence Roehrig, professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, said, The ROK economy is heavily dependent on trade and any disruption to maritime commerce would have a significant impact. More than 90% of South Koreas trade volume passes through the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea. Asylum-Seeker Attacked in Kazakhstan After Fleeing Xinjiang Kaster Musakhan, an ethnic Kazakh seeking asylum in Kazakhstan after escaping imprisonment in Xinjiang, China, was assaulted by four unidentified individuals in Almaty. The attackers left him with injuries, including a broken rib and a damaged kidney. Musakhan believes the assault is linked to his vocal criticism of Chinese authorities' treatment of Muslims in Xinjiang. This incident adds to a series of attacks on Kazakh asylum-seekers, raising concerns about potential Chinese involvement. Xinjiang Tours, China's Narrative Amid Human Rights Concerns Beijing has been arranging visits to Xinjiang for foreign diplomats and journalists to showcase the region's development and counter allegations of human rights abuses. While some visitors, like Moiz Farooq from Pakistan, praised Xinjiang's prosperity, others, like Albanian-Canadian journalist Olsi Jazexhi, left shocked after witnessing what they considered attempts to eradicate Islam. Critics argue that these organized tours serve as a tactic to amplify China's narrative and contradict global criticism of its human rights record. The international community, including the United Nations, has expressed concerns about potential crimes against humanity in Xinjiang, with accusations of forced labor and cultural suppression. China Adds Jobs in Xinjiang, But Forced Labor Concerns Persist China recently announced the addition of 456,000 workers in Xinjiang in the first 10 months of the year, framing it as a sign of successful economic development. However, Uyghur experts and activists argue that many of these jobs involve forced labor of individuals who have been or are still detained in reeducation camps. Authorities are accused of using forced labor to maintain surveillance on the Uyghur population, subjecting them to Chinese control throughout the workday. Survivor's Chilling Account of China's Coercion in Xinjiang Crackdown Gulpiya Qazybek, an ethnic Kazakh from Xinjiang, reveals the horrifying details of her role in China's ethnic crackdown, shedding light on the brutal tactics employed by the Chinese government. Qazybek, a former government employee tasked with monitoring families, recounts being ordered to round up Muslim families and witnessing their distressing arrests. Her account exposes the coercion faced by Uyghurs and Kazakhs, who were compelled to implement oppressive policies against their own communities. Despite escaping to Kazakhstan, Qazybek continues her fight for justice, demanding the release of her elderly mother and others still suffering under China's harsh measures. China Battles Sanctions, Targets US Firms Linked to Xinjiang Research China has retaliated against U.S. sanctions by imposing new restrictions on U.S.-based firms involved in gathering open-source data about business connections to Xinjiang where the U.S. accuses China of forced labor of Uyghurs. The move is seen as an attempt to force companies to choose between the U.S. and Chinese markets. The latest restrictions target U.S. data analytics firm Kharon, its director of investigations Edmund Xu, and Xinjiang-focused researcher Nicole Morgret. Uyghur Jailed for Islamic Studies 11 Years Ago A Uyghur crane operator, Ebuzer Abbas, who was previously arrested for pursuing Islamic studies in Xinjiang's Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, has been confirmed by Radio Free Asia to be in jail after a sudden new detention in May. The 24-year-old was arrested at his home in Ghulja's Kepekyuzi Ara Mehelle district, according to his cousin Nureli Nuraxun, who lives in Turkey. News in brief Rights activists and experts are criticizing China's recent law on ethnic embedding in Xinjiang as the first step in legalizing China's assimilation policies in the region. The new regulation actively encourages comprehensive embedding of other ethnic groups in Xinjiang into Han Chinese culture, utilizing measures such as economic subsidies and neighborhood optimization with gradual ethnic mingling. Experts shed light on the historical roots and impact of the new regulation. Quote: "So-called 'fostering a sense of national identity from kindergarten' means intensifying China's push on ethnic assimilation, promoting and imposing Han Chinese culture onto other nations, eradicating different ethnic and national identity of Uyghurs and other Turkic people in Ghulja, East Turkistan." Zubayra Shamseden, Chinese Outreach Coordinator at the Washington-based Uyghur Human Rights Project and vice president of Munich-based World Uyghur Congress. A former mayor of the Russian city of Vladivostok has enlisted to fight in Ukraine and departed for the front after he was sentenced to 12 years in prison for corruption, the Kommersant newspaper reported Sunday, citing his lawyer. Oleg Gumenyuk, a former Vladivostok mayor, was last year sentenced to 12 years in prison for taking bribes of 38 million rubles ($432,000). He served as mayor from 2018 to 2021, resigning amid a flurry of criticism of his record from local and federal officials. "According to an order issued to Gumenyuk, he was supposed to report to his military unit on December 22," Kommersant cited Gumenyuk's lawyer Andrei Kitaev as saying. Kitaev could not be reached for immediate comment. Tens of thousands of Russian prisoners volunteered for service in Ukraine, taking advantage of an offer of clemency for those who survive their stints at the front. In December, Kommersant reported that Alexander Tyutin, a St. Petersburg businessman who had been serving a 23-year sentence for ordering contract killings until signing up for Ukraine had been rearrested for plotting more murders. Recruitment of prisoners was initially pioneered by the Wagner mercenary outfit, whose leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in an August 2023 plane crash after a failed mutiny against Russia's military leadership in June. Russia's defense ministry has since adopted the tactic, forming its Storm-Z units partly out of convict volunteers recruited directly from prisons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Switzerland on Monday as Ukraine tries to ensure stable support from allies as the war against Russia nears its second anniversary. Zelenskyy is due to "meet the heads of both houses of parliament, party leaders and the president of Switzerland, participate in the World Economic Forum" in Davos, said a statement from the presidency Sunday. "In Davos, I will hold important bilateral meetings with EU and NATO representatives to advance our Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as with other leaders and CEOs, to strengthen Ukraines defense and economic resilience," Zelenskyy said on X, following his arrival. His trip comes on the heels of France and Germany reaffirming their support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. "We are in full agreement... that we must support the Ukrainians for as long as necessary," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne told journalists in Berlin Sunday, alongside German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Baerbock said they would remain "on the side of Ukraine as long as necessary, until Russia has withdrawn" from Ukrainian territory. Sejourne's visit to Germany came a day after he traveled to Kyiv to meet Zelenskyy, his first official trip in his new role as foreign minister another clear signal to the international community. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had visited Ukraine just a day earlier, on Friday, announcing a fresh package of aid to the beleaguered country. But the release of major blocks of funding, from Brussels and from Washington, have been tied up for political reasons. The European Union is due to hold a meeting on February 1 to try to unblock the 50-billion-euro aid package for Ukraine, vetoed by Hungary's leader Viktor Orban in December. Talks on a peace deal The conflicts in Ukraine and in Gaza look set to dominate the annual Davos forum in the Swiss Alps, with Ukrainian officials trying to stave off war fatigue among allies. On Sunday, national security advisers from over 80 countries held talks there based on Zelenskyy's 10-point proposals for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. They were co-chaired by Ukrainian top presidential aide Andriy Yermak, who heads Zelenskyy's office, and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. The talks were particularly focused on the criteria to end hostilities, the withdrawal of Russian troops, justice for crimes committed and the prevention of further escalation. Cassis said talks had to find a way to "include Russia in the process" at some point, but thus far, neither Kyiv nor Moscow has been prepared to take such a step. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. He defended the Azovstal steel plant, survived Russian captivity in occupied Olenivka and Donetsk, as well as torture and starvation. Anton Shtukin, a 20-year-old fighter with the National Guard of Ukraine, was released after a year of Russian captivity on May 6, 2023. Mr Everson Sinyolo, a headmaster at Masholomoshe village in Gwanda North, has been sent packing by villagers accusing him of a plethora of misconducts, the villagers on Tuesday morning besieged the school forcing him to flee. Sinyolo has since been placed on forced leave pending investigations. Plans are being made to construct a bike path along the CSAH 46 corridor through Alexandria. The plan would call for it to run along CSAH 46 near Woodland Elementary School. There is also discussion for a sidewalk along this portion of CSAH near the Viking Plaza Mall. In November, the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement began a campaign of attacks against Israeli merchant ships or ships linked to Israeli interests transiting the Red Sea. The Yemeni movement specified at that time that the attacks would continue until Israel puts an end to the massacre of the population of Gaza. When the Western powers expressed their support for Israel, Ansar Allah extended the attacks to those countries ships Chinese and Russian merchant ships have never been attacked. The United States announced the start of Operation Prosperity Guardian, with a new international coalition, to protect Western maritime traffic in the Red Sea. France and Spain, which were initially part of the coalition, subsequently announced their withdrawal from Operation Prosperity Guardian. The Yemeni Ansar Allah movement referred to pejoratively in the West as Houthis or Hutists, i.e. the gang of the al-Huthi family organized this week a gigantic demonstration in support of the Palestinian people. The following video provides a snippet of what the West calls the al-Huthi gang. On 10 January 2024, the UN Security Council met to discuss the matter and condemned all attacks carried out against merchant ships. Algeria, China, Mozambique and Russia abstained from the vote. However, following a proposal by Russia, the Security Council resolution specifies that peace can only be restored by addressing "the root causes, mainly the conflicts that are fueling regional tensions and that contribute to threatening maritime security." The next day, 11 January, the United States and the United Kingdom conducted an extensive bombing campaign against Yemen (73 air strikes) and reportedly destroyed a dozen Ansar Allah positions. Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands participated in the bombings. The operation was supervised by General Michael Erik Kurilla, Commander of US Forces for the Greater Middle East (CentCom). The president of the United States, Joe Biden, announced that he had ordered the bombings against Yemen with a view to protecting "one of the most vital waterways in the world." However, the UN Security Council resolution does not sanction any type of military action. On the contrary, the resolution calls for strengthening the embargo on arms supplies to the different Yemeni factions, implying that the operation by the United States and its Western partners constitutes an attempt to extend the Gaza conflict. According to Reuters press agency, the bombings hit targets throughout Yemen, mainly in the capital city of Sanaa, in the cities of Saada and Dhamar and in the governorate of Hodeida. The Yemeni Ansar Allah movement has just emerged victorious from a cruel 9-year war with Saudi Arabia and Israel, with the active support of the United Arab Emirates. After 8 years under the bombs, the Yemenis have undoubtedly learned to protect themselves and it is highly unlikely that the Anglo-Saxon aggression will make them back down. BELIEVE (Joy Behar when she says she could have been on Ted Lasso). Photo: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images Earlier this week, Joy Behar revealed on The Views Behind the Table podcast that she was approached to play the role of Ted Lassos mother on the hit Apple TV+ series. But, unfortunately for View stans everywhere, she passed on the gig because she didnt want to travel to London during a heat wave. It was too hot, you remember? There was a heat wave going on at that time, like, 100-degree weather, and Id have to get on a plane and go in the middle of the heat? No, Behar told producer Brian Teta during the podcast, while also wondering why she was in the mix in the first place: Is he Italian or something? His name ends with an O. But not long after that revelation, Ted Lassos Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt were asked about Behars comments during a pre-Emmys panel with People and IHG Hotels & Resorts, and didnt seem to know that Behar might have been joining the team. I no. Joy Behar? From The View? Sudeikis asked. Respectfully, it would be news to us. We just work there, Hunt chimed in. In any case, the role went to professional mother Becky Ann Baker, who was nominated for an Emmy for her performance and apparently doesnt mind the heat. Ponte Vecchio bridge dates to 1345. An American tourist was fined 500 for driving onto Florence's Ponte Vecchio bridge on Thursday, according to Italian news reports. The man, 34, was stopped by traffic police as he drove his rented Fiat Panda onto the landmark bridge which dates to 1345. The tourist, from California, told police he was looking for a parking space, reports Florence-based newspaper La Nazione. Florence recently announced a 2 million restoration project for Ponte Vecchio which was the only bridge in the city spared from destruction in world war two. Three years ago a 21-year-old US tourist was fined 160 after being caught writing his name on the bridge. Forget the lucky country. Australians are an angry bunch, dobbing in each other in record numbers about abandoned trolleys, dumped rubbish and bad parking. Data from Snap Send Solve shows parking (49,629), abandoned trolleys (37,764), rubbish and bins (36,999) and trees (16,039) were the biggest gripes for NSW residents, who made more than 239,000 reports via the complaints app last year. Abandoned trolleys and dumped rubbish are the issues Australians complain the most about. Credit: Snap Send Solve But Victorians were the biggest whingers, sending more than half a million complaints about rubbish and bins (111,414), parking (61,102), trees (56,867) and abandoned trolleys (51,947). Parking and cars (17,283) was the number-one gripe among Queenslanders, followed by trees (12,024), rubbish and bins (11,765) and roads and signage (10,738). Foiling a spate of homegrown terror plots in Melbourne from 2016 to 2018 has already cost taxpayers more than $31 million and the bill could top $45 million by the time the convicted jihadists finish their jail sentences. The figures have been obtained through a series of freedom of information requests to the Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and Attorney-Generals Department and an analysis of data on the costs of incarcerating offenders sourced from the Productivity Commission. Five of the six convicted tinnie terrorists and the boat they planned to use to travel to the Philippines The heavily redacted documents reveal the expenses incurred by federal and state agencies to investigate, arrest and prosecute members of three Melbourne-based terror cells who were convicted of actively planning mass casualty attacks or sought to journey overseas to allegedly engage in terror-related activities. The single largest expense was the cost of Legal Aid representation for the offenders. The three plots are the so-called tinnie terrorists, who planned to sail a fishing boat to the Philippines; the ISIS-inspired 2016 Christmas Day plot to attack people in Melbournes CBD with machetes and explosives; and a planned mass shooting in 2018. Legislation will govern the use of artificial intelligence in high-risk settings such as law enforcement, job recruitment and healthcare, with the Albanese government poised to legislate mandatory safety requirements in its first steps towards regulating the technology. Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic said a new advisory body would work with government, industry and academic experts to devise the best legislative framework and define what constituted high-risk technologies and their applications across industries. Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says a new advisory body will guide its efforts to legislate AI safeguards. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen He said the starting point for assessing high risk would be anything that affects the safety of peoples lives, or someones future prospects in work or with the law. Those are areas that are likely to be targeted by future changes. These technologies are going to shape the way we do our jobs, the performance of the economy and the way we live our lives. So what we need to ensure is that AI works in the way it is intended, and that people have trust in the technology. We have to be united, united for Taiwan, Hou said. The former police inspector warned the escalating tensions between China, Taiwan and the United States was putting residents at risk, particularly in the south of the country where fighter jets are a feature of daily life. We have to make sure the people in southern Taiwan feel safe and stable, he said. Kuomintang presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih on Friday. Credit: Daniel Ceng Foreign officials in Taipei who were not authorised to speak publicly said they expected Beijing to make their displeasure over a Lai victory known, with military threats escalating ahead of the scheduled inauguration in May. On Saturday, eight Chinese warplanes and six navy ships passed through Taiwans south-western air defence identification zone. They followed 15 fighter planes on Friday. Lais victory has already put his relationship with foreign governments in Beijings crosshairs after years of hostility with his DPP predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen. The DPPs win secures Tsais legacy after eight years in office, during which her popularity soared after Chinas crackdown in neighbouring Hong Kong and years of resistance to an increasingly aggressive Beijing, which has vowed to unite Taiwan with the mainland by force if necessary. Lai, who was Tsais vice president, said he would try to pick up the phone to China to replace confrontation with dialogue, but it is unlikely Beijing will answer after freezing all formal diplomatic contact with the DPP after Tsais first victory in 2016. Chinas ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, warned in an opinion piece published in The Australian on Friday that any miscalculations in Canberras ties with the new Taiwanese government would see the Australian people pushed over the edge of an abyss. Lai Ching-te (centre) campaigns for the Democratic Progressive Party earlier this month. Credit: Daniel Ceng A spokesperson for Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Saturday that Canberra would continue to build its unofficial relationship with Taiwan. The Australian government does not recognise Taiwan as an independent country, but it maintains economic ties with the democratic island that has become Australias seventh-largest trading partner. It is important that everyone respects the outcome of democratic elections, the spokesperson said. Peace and stability is in all our interests. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Alex Chan with his wife and his daughter outside a polling station in Taipei. Credit: Daniel Ceng Despite the victory in the presidential vote, Taiwan will have a minority government in the lower house for the first time in two decades. The DPP lost youth votes to its rival Taiwan Peoples Party [TPP] after a campaign that targeted at young people and promised them economic growth while stabilising tensions with China. Loading As polls closed on Saturday, Alex Chan emerged from a polling station in Datong with his seven-year-old daughter Annie and his wife Cheng Wen-yen after voting for the TPP. Im worried about her safety, said Chan. I want to keep her away from the frontline. Younger Taiwanese workers also said they had been worn down by years of talk about conflict with Beijing. They need to stop using the idea that Taiwan is dying, said 26-year-old sales assistant Emma Ling. The DPP, which legislated same-sex marriage in 2019 and fostered a reputation as a leading progressive government in Asia, became more predictable in Tsais second term as president, and leaked youth votes to its rival the TPP, which has come from nowhere to become a threat to the centre-left government. They need to be more radical, said 27-year-old Jason Li after voting for the TPP in downtown Taipei. Taiwan Peoples Party supporter Jason Li in downtown Taipei. Credit: Daniel Ceng TPP leader Ko Wen-je said his four-year-old party had taken the fight to the two major parties that have dominated Taiwanese politics for the past three decades. We proved to the world that Taiwan has a party apart from the DPP and KMT. We are positive for the future democracy of Taiwan. The task of blunting the TPPs challenge will now fall to Lai as he takes the DPP into a history-making third term. Lai ran a campaign based largely on continuing Tsais legacy, but he will need to do more to pull in young voters if he is to see off the TPPs threat in four years time. For Beijing, Lais win is the worst-case scenario, culminating in a repudiation of its push for unification by a candidate who in 2017 described himself as a pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence. Worshippers pray at the Taipei Xiahai Chenghuang Temple after voting in Saturdays election. Credit: Daniel Ceng The comments infuriated the Chinese government. The uneasy truce between Beijing and Taipei, known as the status quo acknowledges Chinas claims to the island, while allowing Taiwanese officials to continue governing without declaring formal international independence. Outside the Xiahai Chenghuang Temple shrine in central Taipei on Saturday evening, hundreds of Taiwanese came to pray after casting their votes. More than 70 per cent turned out for the vote this year, making Taiwan one of the highest-ranking voluntary voting constituencies despite no postal, absentee or early voting system. Flash A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson made remarks on the result of the election in the Taiwan region on Saturday. The spokesperson of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council has commented on the result of the election in China's Taiwan region, said the Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a statement. The spokesperson said that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change; the Chinese government's position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing "Taiwan independence" separatism, "two Chinas" and "one China, one Taiwan" will not change; and the international community's prevailing consensus on upholding the one-China principle and the long-standing and overwhelming adherence to this principle will not change. The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, and understand and support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification, said the spokesperson. WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Pennsylvania State Police are continuing the investigation into a woman who disappeared without a trace more than 50 years ago. According to state police, 20-year-old Ilonka Cans was last seen at her home in Huntington Mills, Luzerne County, on May 26, 1970. Cann would be 73 years old today. Her husband of two years, Charles Cann II, saw her at 7:20 a.m. before he went to his teaching job at the Berwick Junior High School, police said. When he returned home at 3:30 p.m., Ilonka was gone and the couple's fifteen-month-old son was alone in the house, crying in his crib upstairs. Charles reported her missing the next day. Ilonka was reportedly pregnant at the time of her disappearance, and has never been heard from again. Police say the facts and circumstances surrounding Ilonka's disappearance are suspicious, and the case is being treated as a homicide. An extensive search of the area, including a dive team checking a nearby pond, turned up no indication of Ilonka's whereabouts. The investigation continues to this day, with investigators recently draining two ponds and excavating an island on the Cann property in July 2022. Anyone with information is urged to contact PSP Wilkes-Barre at (570) 822-5400. Republican presidential candidates these days are barely discussing abortion in Iowa just days away from the state's caucuses. That's a remarkable change in a state whose Republicans have long supported religious conservative priorities. The AP spoke to more than 20 voters about why. Several said they felt the issue has less urgency after the Supreme Court overturned a federally guaranteed right to abortion. But other Republicans say they're worried Democrats have won campaigns by advocating for abortion rights since the court's decision. They're lining up with former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner, who has refused to support a national abortion ban because he says it's bad politics. Weather Alert ...Elevated Fire Danger Today and Tuesday... ...Hard Freeze Expected Tonight... The combination of very dry air and northwest winds gusting up to 20 mph will create an elevated risk of uncontrolled fire spread this afternoon. Relative humidity values will fall to 20 to 35%, with the lowest humidity levels over the Ozark Foothills of southeast Missouri. A more substantial fire danger is expected Tuesday, as southwest winds increase significantly, with gusts of 25 to 40 mph forecast Tuesday afternoon. Relative humidity values Tuesday afternoon will fall to 25 to 35%. If you are planning outdoor burning today and Tuesday, use extra caution and have fire suppression equipment ready. Tonight, very cold and dry surface high pressure will allow temperatures to drop into the middle and upper 20s throughout the region. Although the growing season has not officially started, tender vegetation could be impacted by these cold temperatures. Please take necessary actions to protect any tender vegetation tonight. At least 500,000 people demonstrated in London on Saturdays National March for PalestineCeasefire Now rally in an outpouring of opposition to Israels genocidal attack on Gaza and Britains involvement in the bombing of Yemen this week. The march took place just days after South African lawyers put forward a devastating case proving that Israel is carrying out genocide against the Gazan population. The London event was part of a global protest, with demonstrations held in over 120 cities in 45 countries, across the six inhabited continents. In the United States on Saturday, a massive demonstration encompassing 100,000 people took place in Freedom Plaza in Washington. While not as large as the November 4 protest, which drew in over a quarter million, Saturdays demonstration, organized by several American Muslim groups, was nevertheless extremely significant. More than 100 days of slanders and propaganda from the media and both political parties did not prevent masses of people of all backgrounds, including many Jewish people, from marching in the cold. Tens of thousands of protesters, including entire families with their children, chanted against Genocide Joe Biden and Bloody Blinken, the US secretary of state. The WSWS will be publishing extensive interviews with protesters. In New York City on Friday night, roughly 100 people marched in support of Yemen and against the illegal US/UK airstrikes. Despite the fairly small size of the march, roughly 100 police officers were dispatched to the march to police and harass the peaceful protestors, who chanted, Hey hey, ho ho, Israeli boats have go to go, and Gaza called, Yemen answered. Saturdays march in London was the seventh national demonstration held in the UK since Israel unleashed its destruction of Gaza on October 8, with the backing of Downing Street and other imperialist governments. The protests have seen millions pour onto Londons streets. This was the first demonstration in the capital for over a month and the largest since the November 11 march, which attracted 800,000 people. The march assembled in Londons banking district before heading west down Queen Victoria Street and along Fleet Street to Parliament Square in Westminster. The Metropolitan Police flooded London, with 1,700 officers including numbers bolstered by other forces from as far away as Lancashire. Restrictive conditions were put in place, including no one being allowed to deviate from the route specified; that no participant could enter a sealed off area around the Israeli embassy in Kensington, and that the speeches at the assembly after the procession ended by 4:30 pm and the whole event by 5 pm. Ahead of the march, the Mets Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said, in an attack on free speech, that protesters who intentionally push the limit on placards or chanting slogans faced arrest. This was after Conservative Home Secretary James Cleverly said, I back them to use their powers to manage the protest and crack down on any criminality. There were nine arrests, including three people under the Terrorism Act who were distributing leaflets. They were arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation. Three arrests were made for inciting racial hatredone related to a placard and two for chanting. Among those arrested was a member of the Revolutionary Communist Group. The marches in London give expression to the mass opposition to Israels genocide, with the latest polls showing almost 80 percent support for a ceasefire in Gaza. But for the last three months, this opposition has been denied any viable perspective by the perspective of the main organisers of the UK protests, the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The majority of MPs from the opposition Labour Party are fully behind the Sunak government in backing Israels genocide, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer specifically endorsing war crimes by saying that Israel had a right to deny the Palestinian population water, food and medicine. Therefore, the rallies in London have regularly featured the few Labour MPs opposed to Israels onslaught. These include Apsana Begum, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Richard Burgon and John McDonnell. Also speaking on platforms are two MPs expelled by Starmer from the Parliamentary Labour Partyformer party leader Jeremy Corbyn (who led Labour from 2015-19) and Corbyns then shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott. Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the rally in London, January 13, 2024 Corbyn spoke again this week, after having been invited by the South African delegation to the Hague to listen to their case against Israels war crimes. Speaking, after being introduced yet again as the Peoples Prime Minister, Corbyn denounced Israels genocide and made his usual calls for world peace, but once again managed to omit any mention of Starmer or the Labour Party. Such is Starmers role in facilitating genocide in the week he agreed with the bombing of Yemen that Stop the War Coalition Deputy President Andrew Murraya Stalinist who served for two years as the special political advisor for Corbynsaid, Sunak and Starmer are up to their waists in Palestinian blood. But no conclusions were to be drawn from this and no political break from the Labour Party or struggle against it was proposed. Instead, Murray declared that there could be peace in the Red Sea tomorrow if Israel stopped its attack on Gaza. That is the root of the problem. The answer was for the Royal Navy to get out of the Red Sea and get back to Portsmouth and imperialism out of the Middle East. Andrew Murray speaking at Saturday's rally in London, January 13, 2024 Murray stated this while speaking alongside Begum and Ribeiro-Addy, who represent a party that along with the Tories functions as a single party of imperialist war in Parliament. Begum and Ribeiro-Addy were presented by one of the hosts of the rally declaring that while most members of Parliament in that place should be hanging their heads in shame for their complicity in Israels killing and for their action in Yemen, there are a handful who do speak up for peace. Both MPs made correct points in opposition Israels genocide, while studiously not mentioning the role of their own party in this and avoiding any mention of Starmers name so as to avoid any clash with the Labour right. To bulk up their credentials and convince demonstrators that there was a core of the Labour Party which remained anti-imperialist, a tiny number of Labour MPs prepared to go on record in opposing genocide participated for the first time on an anti-Gazan genocide protest as part of a self-proclaimed Labour Bloc. Among the groups involved are the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Momentum, Labour Women Leading, Labour and Palestine, Labour CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament), Arisea Festival of Left Ideas, and Welsh Labour Grassroots. Also backing it are the Labour Hub, Labour Outlook and Left Horizons organisations. Assembling at Saturdays rally, they were addressed by McDonnell and Ribeiro-Addy. One of the Labour Blocs representatives is Jess Barnard, a non-MP member of Labours National Executive Committee and the chair of UK Young Labour. Barnard has been alone in routinely denouncing Starmers support for genocide from platforms. At the rally Barnard hailed the forming of the Labour Bloc, which she called the Left Bloc. Barnard said from the platform of Saturdays rally that the air strikes in Yemen and continued support for Israel has received the backing from my own party leader Keir Starmer, who has shown himself to be less human rights lawyer and more human rights liar Starmer is on the brink of repeating the bloody history of Tony Blair, marching hand in hand with the US into another disastrous war in the Middle East. In contrast, she added, we, the people, and the members demand a ceasefire, and that is why we need to build a resistance to warmongering in the Labour movement. Jess Barnard (left) speaking next to a Labour Members For Palestine banner Barnard followed up by hailing how this week for the first time the Left Bloc, a coalition of groups had joined us to march for Palestine, despite attempts to restrict us from attending these demonstrations. Labour members are joined together, join the Left Bloc we will not become a mouthpiece for war, we are Labour Members for Palestine. Barnards isolated declarations only serve to highlight the deafening silence of her parliamentary allies. In the recent WSWS article, Corbyn, the Stop the War Coalition and the way forward in the fight against the genocide in Gaza, Socialist Equality Party National Secretary Chris Marsden explained: The STWC must laud the anti-war credentials of Corbyn and his dwindling band of supporters all the more urgently given that the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress are so openly pro-war and their grip on workers has been massively eroded. Holding up Corbynism as an anti-war tendency is therefore essential if the STWC are to hold out the prospect of forcing Labour to make a turn on Gaza. This year a general election will be held in the UK, with all polls showing that Labour holds a commanding lead over the widely hated Tories. The moment an election is called, the band of left Labourites mounting anti-war platforms will be on the stump campaigning for a Starmer-led government and performing whatever political gyrations are necessary to portray this as a huge step forward for the working class. Investigator Eric Ulis said he traced fragments from D.B. Cooper's tie to a Pennsylvania steel company that worked with Boeing Federal Bureau of Investigation D. B. Cooper Investigators are one step closer to uncovering the identity of infamous plane hijacker D.B. Cooper after new evidence came to light. History's Greatest Mysteries star Eric Ulis, who is an expert at investigating crimes that took place in the past, shared with Fox News that a microscopic metal fragment found on Coopers tie has led him to a theory of who the famed plane hijacker could be. Cooper is known for threatening to blow up a commercial jet from going from Portland, Ore., to Seattle, Wash., in 1971 before leaping into the night with a parachute and $200,000 he extorted as ransom. While his identity has never been discovered, he did leave behind a clip-on-tie on his seat on the plane, which several investigators have used as a starter clue. The investigator told Fox News that scientists have applied these sticky stubs to the tie which was likely purchased at a J.C. Penny around the Christmas season in 1964 for $1.49, according to Ulis pulling off some of the particles on it. So far, scientists have pulled more than 100,000 particles from the clothing item, he told Fox News. Related: Man Identified in History Channel Show as Notorious Skyjacker D.B. Cooper Denies Accusation "You apply modern state-of-the-art technology to it, things they didnt have back in 1971 when this occurred. It tells a story," Ulis told the outlet. He said he was able to trace three of the fragments which were partly made up of stainless steel and titanium found on the tie using U.S. patents, which led him to a Pennsylvania plant called Crucible Steel. Ulis described the company as a significant subcontractor all throughout the 1960s" that supplied the lion's share of titanium and stainless steel for Boeing's aircraft." Related: D.B. Cooper Case: A New Break in 1971 Hijacking Investigation Ulis told Fox News that if Cooper worked at Crucible Steel, he would have had extensive knowledge of the plane he hijacked, a Boeing 727 aircraft, along with knowledge of the Seattle location, where Crucible Steel workers often traveled to for business as Boeing was their contractor. He also noted that Boeing had a significant downturn in 1971, when the hijacking occurred, and that its reasonable to deduce that D.B. Cooper may well have been part of that downturn." The investigator and researcher told the outlet that he believed these findings point to the companys titanium research engineer, Vince Peterson, who died in 2002, as the identity of Cooper. 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. "I can put him in Seattle, I can put him at Boeing," Ulis said. "Hes a compelling person of interest. However, he also added that he isnt crossing off any of the suspects off the list until he can fully solidify his findings. As for now, he said hes going to continue to dig into Petersons history. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Our downed-wire days add up. And in these strange and hazardous recent years, people often invoke gentle giant Fred Rogers, who still reminds us to "look for the helpers." Some of us translated Rogers' advice through our own tendencies, and began looking to the poets, who soulfully help by summoning the remnant good and beauty in this world. On his new album "No Ponies in the Wreckage," Noah Earle embodies the poet as helper or vice versa. This set of 13 songs expresses the quiet resolve of a man who simply wants to live right, love his neighbors and leave us a few lingering lines to sing when life grows cold. The cover for Noah Earle's "No Ponies in the Wreckage" album was designed by iconic Columbia artist Mike Sleadd Arguably the finest songwriter our area knows, "No Ponies" represents Earle's most complete statement since 2012's "A Ghost in the Attic" (my choice for the most essential Missouri album of the 21st century so far). The mid-Missouri bard released the sprawling and excellent "Milk Fever" in 2019, but Earle describes that effort as a cathartic act, a sort of musical spring cleaning. The record commences with "Bad Weather Friend," and the instant feeling Earle is in the room. Like the Paul Simons or Andrew Birds of the world, he has a rhythmic cadence and sense of melodic motion all his own; those qualities live in the guitar passages which open and guide the song. "Bad Weather Friend" sounds, by equal measures, like a starry-night cowboy ballad and a different, more authentic sort of love song. Earle imbues the concept of "for better, for worse" with a new sort of life. "I would gladly follow you to forever / And be your very best bad weather friend," he croons. As the track progresses, Earle duets with himself in a fashion; his well-trained, quavering whistle plays with and against a Spanish guitar figure. Earle, who sings in Spanish like it's a second native tongue, engages the romance within that language on the subsequent "Enredarme," the track loping along with a spiritual richness. Perhaps the strongest song here, "Blind Luck" arrives with beautifully open-ended first lines: "Patiently waiting / For the other shoe to fall / When the light is fading / Or the shadows are tall." The way Earle wraps his words in melody makes them sound ancient, like some uncovered holy writ, yet freshly inspired. He bookends the track with another reading of the phrase "patiently waiting," tying a bow loosely around this story song while reminding listeners some stories remain forever open. On "Threading the Needle," Earle's guitar and Andrew Weir's piano frame a folk number in the John Hiatt vein, examining tensions which define us and paradoxes threatening to swallow our very best intentions. "Move On" fulfills its name, a fitting document of Earle's perpetual musical and existential motion punctuated by Stephen Varner's ace percussion. Elsewhere, "Waiting on the Moon" flutters and seems to float heavenward or at least toward a Midwestern version of heaven. "Fry and Egg" whirs into being, an anthem for collars painted nearly every shade of blue. And album closer "Till the Morning Comes" brings wistfulness and wisdom, sentimentality and forward-facing hope, into tender conversation. Our best artists, across discipline, observe innate, rhyming truths before articulating them in unheard language. They usher us into clearings where we might see ourselves and our neighbors as if for the first time. Earle reminds us why he's one of the best on "No Ponies in the Wreckage," gently preaching that we don't have to be beholden to our worst impulses, chasing mercy and melody into an integrity that may stretch across our best and worst years. Earle will celebrate the release of "No Ponies in the Wreckage" with a show at 7 p.m. Saturday at Orr Street Studios. Learn more about him at https://www.noahearle.com/. Aarik Danielsen is the features and culture editor for the Tribune. Contact him at adanielsen@columbiatribune.com or by calling 573-815-1731. He's on Twitter/X @aarikdanielsen. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: How Noah Earle's new album is a guide to good living VOA Learning English presents America's Presidents. Today we are talking about Joe Biden. He took office in 2021, becoming Americas 46th President. A member of the Democratic Party, Biden had been in national politics for a long time before he got to the White House. He served 36 years in the United States Senate representing Delaware. After that, he held two terms as the nations vice president, serving under President Barack Obama. Because Biden's presidency is so recent, this report will not discuss his time in office. Instead, it will discuss his earlier life. Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. was born in 1942 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. His family moved to Delaware when he was 10 years old. The Bidens were Roman Catholics of Irish ancestry. Joe was educated in private Roman Catholic schools as a youth. Later, he attended the University of Delaware. He received a degree in political science and history in 1965. He also fell in love at Delaware with fellow student Neilia Hunter. The two married the following year. Over the next few years, the couple had three children. Joe Biden also received his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law in New York. In 1972, at age 29, Joe Biden was elected to the U.S. Senate, representing Delaware. A few weeks later, Biden faced tragedy. Neilia and their children were in a car accident. She and daughter Naomi were killed in the crash. Sons Beau and Hunter were injured. Biden was suddenly a single father. He briefly considered leaving his Senate seat. But he decided to stay in office. Unlike most lawmakers, however, he did not move to Washington. He did not want to uproot his little boys. Instead, he traveled daily to and from Washington, D.C. on the train so he could be home with his sons every night. The senator continued this custom for 36 years. Also during that time, Biden met Jill Jacobs, an English teacher. They fell in love and married in 1977. Daughter Ashley was born in 1981. Biden was a candidate for president in 1987 and 2007. After Barack Obama was nominated as the Democratic Partys 2008 presidential candidate, he asked Biden to join the campaign as his running mate. They won election and Biden began serving as vice president. Four years later, Obama and Biden were re-elected for a second term. Most political experts say Biden was an especially powerful vice president. He and Obama worked closely together and Biden was influential in policy decisions. The president sought Bidens help in establishing a national economic stimulus program, for example. Biden also traveled the world as vice president and led diplomatic missions in troubled regions. He is widely considered one of the most successful vice presidents in American history. During his second term as vice president, Joe Biden faced another family tragedy. His adult son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. Joe Biden had considered running for president in 2016. But after Beau died, the Vice President decided against it. The death of his son was too recent and the grief was too great to spend time on a campaign. Biden announced his candidacy for president in April of 2019. At 77, he was among the oldest presidential candidates ever. His age became an issue of debate during the campaign. But his main competitor, President Donald Trump, was just three years younger. Joe Biden called the presidential race a battle for the soul of America. He won that battle when Americans went to voting stations on November 3, 2020. U.S. election officials announced later that week that Joe Biden and his vice presidential running mate, Kamala Harris, had defeated President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Biden received 81 million votes in all --- more than any other American presidential candidate in history. Trump won about 74 million. However, Trump rejected the official vote count as incorrect and dishonest, calling the election stolen. Many of Trumps supporters took the same position, causing severe division in the country. On January 20, 2021, Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States. In a speech that followed, he called on the American people to seek unity with one another. He described unity as one of the most elusive qualities in a democracy. Im Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Quiz - Joe Biden: Oldest Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________ Words in This Story stimulus - n. something that incites or stirs to action mission - n. a task, job or goal region - n. a broad geographic area elusive - adj. hard to find or capture We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Sarah Snook revealed that she was mistreated by both a casting director and film producer in the early part of her career. In a new interview with The Sunday Times, the Succession star said that after she landed a film role, the casting director told her, We dont really want you because youre a nobody, but the director and the writer think youre good for the role. So what well do is change all of you so that youre marketable: Well whiten your teeth, darken your hair, well give you a personal trainer so you can lose weight and look the part. More from Variety The actor agreed to these conditions, figuring that in order for me to be successful, I have to be all the things that arent me. Snook also recalled a situation where a film producer chastised her in front of the cast and crew for having the tiniest bit of chocolate cake. A costume designer intervened and encouraged her to continue eating. And all the while I am dying inside. The infantilizing of women, to not be able to make their own decisions, why would we do that to women? Snook asked rhetorically. Snook recently scored her second Golden Globe win for her performance as Shiv Roy in the critically-acclaimed HBO series Succession, and will vie for an Emmy at the awards ceremony on Monday night. She wept when the series finale aired in May 2023. I was three or four weeks postpartum, the hormones were raging, she said. But it was just the chrysalis of knowing thats the end of this really important, special part of my life. Up next, Snook is returning to Londons West End to portray all 26 parts in a production of Oscar Wildes The Picture of Dorian Gray. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Who would want to live in the Alaskan wilderness? Separated from the American border by almost 1,500 miles (but only 650-odd from Russia), this is bleakness incarnate. The wind moans, the soil is hard as iron, and the water runs still as stone. This land of snow on snow is the setting for True Detective: Night Country, the fourth instalment of Skys acclaimed series, which probes the very darkest recesses of our inhabited world and the human psyche. Jodie Foster is Liz Danvers, chief of police in the small central Alaskan town of Ennis. The community there has grown to serve local mining interests, but tensions surface between the newer residents and the indigenous communities who have long lived in this frozen wasteland. We were here before, a group of protestors chant. Also out on the tundra is the TSALAL Arctic Research Centre, which is where the shows central mystery unfolds: the eight men who work there suddenly go missing. An investigation into the vanished scientists will bring Danvers back into contact with her estranged protege Evangeline Navarro (former professional boxer Kali Reis) who is defrosting her own, somehow related, cold case. Around Danvers and Navarro, a constellation of characters twinkle like stars in the Alaskan sky. Theres John Hawkes as Hank Prior, Danvers insubordinate deputy, and Finn Bennett as his son, the more accomplished copper, Peter. Rounding out the police complement is Christopher Ecclestons hot shot detective, up from Anchorage and trying to nick the case away from Liz (who also just so happens to be his recently rekindled lover). Posing bigger problems on the domestic front is Lizs step daughter Leah (Isabella Star LaBlanc), who is struggling with her identity and place in this remote community. Oh, and then theres Fiona Shaw as a mysterious former professor who now lives out on the ice and speaks in elliptical gobbets. The True Detective project has always attracted A-list, big screen talent, from Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, in its first season, to Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams and Mahershala Ali in future instalments. But its not just the scale of the casting ambition that marks the show out Night Country is cinematic in its every facet. Cinematographer Florian Hoffmeister revels in the wintery scenery; Iceland stood in for Alaska for the bulk of the shoot. Each snowflake refracts its source of light like a glitterball, rendering the blackness of Alaskan winters almost vividly bright. No detective show should be reviewed without thorough examination of its central mystery. True Detective has always revelled in pulling existential threads from the most grievous of mortal crimes, and Night Country is no different. They live here all year long. What are they looking for? puzzles Danvers of the missing men. The origin of life, her junior, Peter, replies. What they find is closer to the origin of death. As bodies start turning up in the permafrost, Night Country indulges in the sort of body horror tableaus you could hang in the Louvre. The swirling fog of mysticism, both supernatural and theological (Its not magic, Danvers judges, theres a real explanation for this), can make the narrative threads slippery. Characters come and go, as crimes, old and new, are thawed out and show creator Issa Lopezs scripts do not deal in easy exposition. But True Detective: Night Country is a visual experience its horror and beauty pummelling viewers with a relentless barrage of wordless feeling. This isnt to say Night Country is always an enjoyable watch. The atmosphere can be relentlessly defoliated, and the dialogue, excessively tantalising. Secrets buried beneath a thick layer of snow take an age to come to the surface. And Danvers is not always a comfortable presence in the lead role: Take a look in the mirror Liz, Navarro tells her. No one can stand you. In the word cloud of adjectives used to describe Jodie Foster over the course of her career, I suspect that cold and icy would be quite large so, shes perfectly cast here. Reis brings more fragility and humanity to her side of the detective duo. Familial struggles are treated with the shows trademark lack of sentimentality, though some of the conflict between the indigenous communities (the sort of issues addressed so compellingly last year in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon) feel, at times, like political currency shoehorned into a timeless drama. Ennis is where the fabric of all things is coming apart at the seams, announces Fiona Shaw, cryptically. Night Country takes the middle of nowhere as a jumping off point for a descent into madness, violence, and the loss of faith. At its best and bleakest, the series reflects a true dark night of the soul. It's that time again time to enjoy the funniest signs of the week, courtesy of r/funnysigns. Feel free to giggle, chortle, and laugh to your heart's content: 1."My car wash is really funny." 2."Somewhere in Australia apparently." 3."Please dont have an emergency at this location." 4."Theyre out of c*ck." 5."It qualifies as a sign, and its damn funny" 6."Beware of Zeb." 7."Take that, criminals." 8."Life will not let you forget your 'high school' days even if you want to." 9."Save advice." 10."Sign in washroom at work." 11."The naked man fears no pickpocket." 12."Ive urned the right!" 13."Id rather not..." 14."Drunken people." 15."Is this true?" 16."A good reason." 17."Mom's authority." Don't miss last week's funniest signs: 18 Funny Signs That Actually Made Me Forget What A Complete Dumpster Fire 2023 Was The people of Spain are known for having a joyful zest for life. Friends and family join together regularly to enjoy tapas and pintxos, lively conversations, and thirst-quenching beverages to cool the palate during the country's arid days. Spain is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. With more than 35,000 years of humans inhabiting Spain, the fourth-largest European country has had a diverse range of rulers, including the Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Visigoths, the Moors, and a variety of Christian Spanish monarchs, each infusing their culture, traditions, and cuisine into Spanish life. With such diversity, the country serves up dozens of drinks and cocktails that tell the story of the land and its rich history. Deciding which Spanish drinks to enjoy can be overwhelming. We are here to help by narrowing down some of the most authentic, delicious, and noteworthy Spanish beverages you must try at least once. Read more: 23 Cocktails To Try If You Like Drinking Gin Rioja Wine Glasses of Rioja wine - Binny's/Facebook Spain is the world's third-largest wine-producing country, just behind Italy and France. The tempranillo-based red wines from Rioja are some of the most well-known and respected. Grapes have been growing in the central northeastern Spanish region for more than 2000 years. Sitting entirely inland, surrounded by mountains to the north and south, with the Ebro River running through it, the region has a moderate continental climate, a vast array of soil types, and elevations ranging from 900-1800 feet above sea level. The terroir makes Rioja ideal for growing high-quality grapes. While tempranillo is the main variety, blending varieties like garnacha, graciano, and mazuelo also thrive. The combination creates wines with fresh aromas, deep color, balanced acidity, and tannin. Rioja wines feature a medium to full body, with layers of red and black fruits, earthy dried tobacco, leather, toasted spice, and vanilla. Crianza Rioja, which age two years, of which one is in barrel, pairs beautifully with pizza, burgers, and seafood paella. In contrast, bold, Gran Reserva wines, which age five years, of which two are in barrel, are perfect with hearty stews or slow-cooked meat, like braised beef short ribs. Due to the area's quality and diversity, Rioja wines are Denominacion de Origen Calificada (Denomination of Qualified Origin), or DOCa, representing the highest quality classification for Spanish wines. Rioja is home to more than 500 wineries, including top producers like CVNE, Muga, Beronia, Valdemar, and Marques de Murrieta, with some wines priced at around $20 a bottle. Sherry Bottles of sherry - Taberna TECA/Facebook Though there is not one official drink of Spain, the country's famous fortified wine, sherry, ranks among its most widely known and celebrated beverages. The wine hails from the south in Andalucia, where palomino, pedro ximenez, and moscatel grapes grow in an area known as the sherry triangle around the city of Jerez. The region's white albariza soils impart a mineral-rich character to the fruit. The production of dry sherry is either biologically, where, after fermentation and fortification, the palomino wine ages in barrels under a yeast cap known as flor, or oxidatively, where wine is exposed to oxygen while aging in the barrel. Sherry is available in various styles and colors, from very dry, young, light golden fino with floral, citrus, and saline notes to well-aged, rich, espresso-colored, highly oxidized oloroso with flavors of dried fruit, nuts, and spice. Though the color of the sherry may become very dark, sherry production uses only white grapes. Producers like Gonzalez Byass, Lustau, and Valdespino are producing quality options with prices ranging from around $20 a bottle to several hundred dollars. Cava Cava pouring into a glass - Cava Vilarnau/Facebook The most well-known sparkling wine in Spain is cava. The most famous cava wines come from Catalunya, in a region known as the Penedes, not far from Barcelona. Still, there are four authorized Denominacion de Origen (DO) or designation of origin, areas within the country, including Rioja, Valencia, and Extremadura. By law, cava production occurs using the traditional method, similar to the production of Champagne, where the second fermentation creates the bubbles inside the bottles. Though the production techniques are French by origin, everything else about cava is entirely Spanish, including the Spanish white grape varieties that create it, among them macabeo, parellada, and xarel-lo (pronounced cha-rel-o). Xarel-lo adds acidity and alcohol with herbal notes, macabeo adds orchard fruit and floral notes, and parellada adds aroma and texture with fresh white fruit notes. While the production of cava creates a wine with similar characteristics to Champagne, including yeasty notes of fresh brioche, blanched almonds, and citrus cream, the price of most cava wines is a fraction of what a typical Champagne will cost, with many options priced below $20. There are 147 cava producers in Spain today, including the historic Freixenet brand, started in 1914 by husband and wife Pedro Ferrer and Dolores Sala. Today, the Ferrer family still owns the brand along with Segura Viudas, which has been producing Cava since 1969, and Can Sala, which has a history dating back to 1861. Agua De Valencia Agua de Valencia cocktail - Vasantytf/Getty Images If you enjoy a brunchtime mimosa, Spain's Agua de Valencia should be on your radar. It is one of the best brunch cocktails in the country. Meaning "Valencian Water," this drink originated in 1959 in Valencia, on the eastern coast of Spain, where Constante Gil, owner of Cafe Madrid, answered a challenge by a group of regulars to create a new drink. Gil mixed fresh orange juice with vodka and gin using the region's beloved sweet Valencia oranges. Gil topped the cocktail with cava, creating what would become a staple for the bar and the entire coastal region. Today, pitchers of ice-cold Agua de Valencia are served at tapas bars throughout Valencia, especially on hot days at the beach. Horchata Glasses of horchata - Israel Solorzano/Shutterstock Horchata's history dates back to 2400 B.C. when North Africans ground a tuber known as chufa or tiger nuts and then mixed them with water and sugar to create a sweetened drink with cooling and medicinal abilities. When the Moors arrived in Spain, they brought horchata with them. Today, preparing horchata with tiger nuts is still prevalent in Valencia. Almonds, cashews, or other nuts are also popular bases for the drink, which is now appreciated throughout Latin America. Other versions include Mexican horchata, which typically uses rice, and Puerto Rican horchata, which uses sesame seeds. Classic Spanish horchata has the silky, creamy texture of milk with a balance of earthiness from the nuts and just the right amount of sweetness. A sprinkle of cinnamon on top finishes the drink with warm spiciness. Kalimoxto Kalimoxto cocktails on tray - Kalimoxto_cocktails/Instagram Mixing wine with club soda or seltzer is a relatively standard way to create a white or red wine spritzer. The Spanish prefer a slightly sweeter spritzer, so they add Coca-Cola to red wine instead to make a drink known as a kalimotxo or calimocho (pronounced cali-mo-cho). Its origins are in the northern Basque Country, dating back to the 1920s. However, soft drinks were not widely obtainable at the time. By the 1970s, the soda was available nationwide, as Coca-Cola established its first factory in Spain in the 1950s. The kalimotxo creation story goes that purveyors at a music festival realized their wine had gone off, likely from cooking in the sun's heat. To salvage the drink, they added Coca-Cola to the wine in equal parts, naming it kalimotxo. Thirsty festival goers loved the spritzer, and it quickly caught on, spreading throughout Northern Spain. The traditional way to enjoy this drink is as an aperitif with plates of jamon Iberico, olives, almonds, and chips. Tinto De Verano Pitcher of tinto de verano - Mediterraneo Brunch y Tapas/Facebook Atinto de verano, meaning "red wine of summer," mixes lemon-lime soda, like Sprite, or in Spain, La Casera, with red wine in equal parts. As in a kalimotxo, it is best to refrain from using your best bottles of Bordeaux or Burgundy for the cocktail, as the sugary drink will ruin the nuance of fine wine. Instead, any inexpensive red will work. Creating a kalimoxto or tinto de verano is one of the best uses for leftover wine. The sweetness from the soda will mask the day-old, slightly oxidized flavors in the wine. This refreshing, low-alcohol cocktail combines the drinks in a 1-to-1 ratio with a lot of ice, becoming the ideal way to enjoy red wine throughout the hot summer months. Chocolate Caliente Pouring hot chocolate - New Africa/Shutterstock Chocolate has been a part of Spanish culture for more than 500 years. Though cacao beans are not native to the country, Spaniards were the first to add sugar, removing the bitterness and creating a sweet drink known as chocolate caliente, similar to the hot chocolate we enjoy today -- but much thicker. Spanish explorers saw the importance the Mayan and Aztec people placed on cacao beans, so they brought them back to Spain as a gift for the nobility. Spain's Cistercian monks were responsible for the original creation. Though some hot chocolate preparations feature cocoa powder, Spain's hot chocolate uses melted chocolate as the base, resulting in a thick, custard-like texture you can eat with a spoon. Or better yet, use the chocolate as a dipping sauce for hot, fried churros. Orujo Glass of orujo - Fabiobalbi/Getty Images In the production of wine, after pressing the grapes and extracting the juice, the pomace of the fruit remains; some winemakers opt to discard the remnants. By contrast, others utilize the pomace to craft a type of brandy. This is known as grappa in Italy. In France, it is called marc. Those in Northern Spain refer to the drink as orujo. Meaning "grape pomace," orujo is typically crafted to 100-proof alcohol. The brandy is a clear, colorless liqueur made by fermenting and distilling grape pomace, seeds, and stems slowly to produce the high-alcohol spirit with a slightly bitter, fruity flavor reminiscent of grapes. Galicians, fashioning the drink for centuries, pass down family recipes from generation to generation. Spaniards most often enjoy orujo at the end of a meal, slowly sipping a single shot of the brandy. While un-flavored, unaged orujo is the most standard, some versions are aged in barrels, known as orujo envejecido or aged orujo. Flavored orujo often includes ingredients like lemon, honey, or chocolate. Txakolina Pouring a Txakolina glass - Institutodelpintxoss/Instagram One of Spain's most regionally authentic wines is Txakolina, (pronounced chock-oh-LEE-nah). Txakolina is a slightly effervescent wine made in the Basque Country from hondarrabi zuri grapes for white Txakolina wine or hondarribi beltza for red wines. Sometimes referred to as just Txakoli, the wine is light, fresh, and clean, with a subtle fizziness enhanced by holding the bottle high and far away from the glass when pouring. The Basque region enjoys a maritime climate thanks to the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which provides a salty, saline note in the region's white wines, amplifying the floral, citrus, and stone-fruit notes. With a moderate alcohol content, usually around 11%, and an uncomplicated style, Txakolina is an ideal summer wine pairing with every type of Basque pintxos and other authentic Spanish dishes, particularly seafood-based options like fried clams, grilled calamari, or marinated fresh anchovies, called boquerones. Rebujito Rebujito cocktail with Tio Pepe - Marisma.winebar/Instagram Around the same time Spaniards were drinking kalimotxo cocktails in the north, southern Spaniards around Andalucia began drinking rebujitos, (pronounced re-boo-he-toe). The cocktail combines one of the region's signature drinks, fino sherry, with lemon-lime soda. Using fino-style sherry made biologically without oxidation ensures the drink will deliver a light, fresh body and taste. Fino's natural flavors of almonds, citrus, freshly baked bread, and a subtle note of salinity meld with the lemony fruitiness of the soda; the soft drink's sweetness cuts through the slight bitterness of the sherry. A rebujito is traditionally served over ice with a sprig of fresh mint to add an extra herbaceous note. Though sherry lovers throughout the country enjoy rebujitos, the cocktail is an ideal thirst-quencher in Andalucia on a hot summer day. Cafe Cortado Cup of cafe cortado - Chokolata_villarrica/Instagram The residents of Spain's northern Basque country love cafe cortado, or "cut" coffee. The drink combines one part espresso with one part milk, creating a small but mighty, highly flavorful espresso drink that could change how you drink coffee. Espresso features an inherent acidic bitterness, so combining espresso with lightly steamed milk adds creaminess and a subtle sweetness to balance the strong coffee flavor. The key to creating the best-tasting cafe cortado? Keeping the ratios of the two drinks equal. This ratio is generally 2 ounces -- or a double shot -- of espresso with 2 ounces of steamed milk, resulting in a 4-ounce drink that is the standard size whether you sip on a cortado in the Basque city of San Sebastian or elsewhere in Spain. Cafe Con Leche Cafe con leche mug - FoodVideoPhoto/Shutterstock Cafe con leche is one of the tastiest Spanish coffee drinks to try. Where the cafe cortado is typically a small, 4-ounce serving of espresso and milk, a cafe con leche comes served as a larger portion, blending equal parts coffee and milk in a large mug. Whole milk adds richness and natural sweetness. Spanish cafe con leche traditionally uses espresso versus drip coffee, with the espresso lending the drink a hearty earthiness and bitterness. The drink's preparation also differs from that of a cortado. Instead of using steamed milk, cafe con leche has scalded milk. Scalding the milk gives the coffee a creaminess and a textured mouthfeel without adding foam. Spaniards often enjoy the espresso drink with their breakfast in the morning. Gin And Tonic Gin and tonic cocktails - Plateresca/Getty Images Nothing is better than enjoying a classic cocktail like a gin and tonic. The herbal, botanical, juniper notes of gin meld harmoniously with bitter quinine, with its refreshing bubbles tickling the palate. However, a gin and tonic -- or as the Spanish say, "gin-tonic" -- in Spain is unlike any other you have had. Using premium tonic waters, high-quality gin, and a wide assortment of garnishes, bartenders throughout the country are elevating the Spanish gin and tonic. The accouterments set Spain's take on a gin and tonic apart. The drinks include a wide variety of colorful, flavorful enhancements, including apple slices and cinnamon sticks, cucumber and mint leaves, lemon peels, and rosemary, each working to enhance the liquor's floral and herbal notes. The cocktail is typically served in a large, bowl-shaped glass, allowing the aromas to rise from the glass while adding a festive vibe to the experience. Sangria Sangria served in glasses - Oksana Mizina/Shutterstock Sangria, Spain's internationally famous wine and fruit-based summertime cocktail, continually inspires creative mixologists, resulting in hundreds of variations that amp up the flavor. The drink has been around since Roman times, when Spaniards would add wine made from grape vines planted by the Phoenicians to water to kill bacteria. This was important back when sanitation was lacking, and water wasn't always safe to drink on its own. Left with watered-down wine, people would add fruit, herbs, and spices to enhance its taste. Sangria's name stems from the Spanish term sangre, or blood, indicating red wine is the original base for the drink. Today, there are versions with white wine, rose, cava, and numerous fruits, juices, herbs, and liqueurs. Though some Spaniards consider it a drink for tourists, no one can resist sitting on the beach in Barcelona with a pitcher of refreshing red sangria. Vermouth Vermouth cocktail with tapas - Miguel Tamayo Fotografia/Shutterstock Vermouth in Spain, or "vermut," is unlike vermouth in other parts of the world. While all vermouth is a grape-based, fortified wine with an alcohol level between 14% and 22%, Spain's version represents a well-rounded drink that goes beyond what you rinse your glass with before pouring a martini. The Spanish enjoy vermut on its own, over ice, with an orange twist, and sometimes a splash of seltzer. It is often imbibed during la hora del vermut, or "vermouth hour," at vermuterias or "vermouth bars" across the country, which serve the aromatized wine on tap. Where Italian vermouth can be sweet, and French can be bitter, Spain's option balances the two flavors, rounding out the bittersweet characteristics with an infusion of herbs, spices, citrus, and other fruits. While the drink is available in a dry, semi-sweet, and sweet style, the low-alcohol, sweet vermouth rojo is the most common in Spain. The base wine is white; however, the color of the vermouth is a deep red, achieved through a prolonged infusion of caramel, herbs, spices, and botanicals. Mahou Cerveza Can of Mahou beer - Sergio_Leon/Shutterstock An old saying in the wine industry states "It takes a lot of beer to make good wine." Given that, it makes sense that Spaniards consume a lot of beer in the country that produces the third most wine in the world. According to the World Population Review, Spain is among the top 10 countries in drinking the most beer, both in total consumption and per capita. One of the most popular in the country is Mahou Cerveza. The Madrid-based producer has been brewing beer since 1890. Its signature selection, Mahou Cinco Estrella -- or five stars -- is an aromatic, refreshing pale lager-style beer with fruity, floral notes and a delicious, creamy palate that pairs well with such foods as ham and cheese croquettes. Queimada Preparing a queimada drink - Javier Perez/Getty Images Travelers walking the ancient Camino Santiago trail to pay respects at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela between spring and fall may encounter a fiery, mystical drink called queimada. The origin of queimada (pronounced kei-mah-da) remains unknown. Many believe that drinking the traditional cocktail, found in the northwestern region of Galicia, will ward off evil spirits. This makes it popular during Halloween (October 31) and the San Juan Festival, also known as Witches Night, on June 23. The former date coincides with Samhain, marking the Celtic new year, and the latter the summer solstice. Due to the region's Celtic ties, these are two important holidays. Queimada combines high-alcohol orujo with coffee beans, sugar, lemon, and orange peel. The ingredients are stirred together in a large fireproof clay pot during a Galician ritual, which includes casting a spell to protect imbibers from malevolent spirits. The pot is then set on fire, creating a vibrant blue blaze that caramelizes the sugars and citrus peels, roasts the coffee, and burns off the alcohol. It is believed that drinking the Galician punch will cleanse the mind and soul from hate and evil while opening your heart to love and passion. Static Media owns Tasting Table and Mashed. Read the original article on Tasting Table. The summer travel season is still a few months away, but it's never too early to start making preparations for your big trip. Depending on where in the world you're traveling from, you could have a very different process to enter certain countries that might require visas and other legal documentation to clear customs. Every year, the Henley Passport Index ranks 199 national passports from around the world and scores them based on how many visa-free destinations the passports allow. Japan has retained the top spot for five years in a row, with 194 countries accessible without a visa using a Japanese passport. This year, though, it shares the top billing, as Singaporean passports also allow visa-free travel to 194 countries. They're joined in at the top of the list by France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The U.S. isn't among the 10 best passport countries, although it does make the larger list. It's ranked at number seven on the list with visa-free access to 188 countries, sitting alongside Canada and Hungary. But many other nations, largely located in Europe, occupy the spots above it. "The average number of destinations travelers are able to access visa-free has nearly doubled from 58 in 2006 to 111 in 2024," Dr. Christian H. Kalin, the inventor the passport index, said in a statement. "However, as we enter the new year, the top-ranked countries are now able to travel to a staggering 166 more destinations visa-free than Afghanistan, which sits at the bottom of the ranking with access to just 28 countries without a visa." The top passportsand how many visa-free destinations they alloware as follows: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Spain (194) Finland, South Korea, Sweden (193) Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands (192) Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, U.K. (191) Greece, Malta, Switzerland (190) Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand, Poland (189) Canada, Hungary, U.S. (188) Estonia, Lithuania (187) Latvia, Slovakia, Slovenia (186) Iceland (185) In March 1943, on the island of New Guinea, a young Australian pilot was put on a truck by his Japanese captors. It was twilight, and the young man gazed out wistfully at the hills and sea, lost in thought. When the truck eventually came to a halt, he was ordered down and told he was about to be killed. He knelt on the ground, and a few minutes later, he was beheaded by sword. Hissing could be heard as blood spurted from the neck. The head, noted a Japanese diarist, is dead white, like a doll. A senior corporal laughed: Well, he will enter Nirvana now. This was one of the many disturbing testimonies heard at the courtroom on a hill overlooking Tokyo, where, between 1946 and 1948, 28 of Japans war leaders were put on trial. The list of rapes, bayonetings, beheadings, cannibalism and extreme torture appalled those listening. In the Anglophone sphere, the Ichigaya trial has been remembered far less well than that of the Nazi leadership at Nuremberg; yet in Judgement at Tokyo, the American scholar Gary J Bass proves their significance every bit as forensically as the best courtroom lawyer. The trial itself was a mass of paradoxes and conflicted interests, and beset by significant debate over the justification of its authority and rulings. It was held in a city and a country laid waste by US bombers. Near the start of the trial, the Philippines became independent; halfway through, India followed, then Burma. China, already devastated, became embroiled in a catastrophic civil war that would see many more millions killed and displaced. By the time the process in Tokyo ended, American and Commonwealth judges were sitting alongside a Soviet colleague, even as the Berlin Airlift was underway. Judgement at Tokyo, subtitled World War II on Trial and the Making of Modern Asia, is thus not just a book about the trial itself, but also the nature of the Allied victory and Japanese defeat, and the emerging world in the Indo-Pacific. In a theme to which Bass repeatedly returns, racism and anti-imperialism were major features of both the trial and the climate in which it was prepared and concluded. The Japanese insisted their war was one of liberation from white colonials Asia for Asiatics yet, in their war of conquest, they repeatedly showed themselves capable of far greater cruelty and supremacist attitudes than any Western colonial power had. Basss examination of India, British rule, the tragedy of the Bengal famine, and particularly his analysis of the Indian nationalist leader Subhas Chandra Bose still venerated in India despite siding with the Nazis and Imperial Japan are fascinating and creditably even-handed, at a time when balanced views are often lacking. At the heart of the trial lay a problem: how to pin local war-crimes on Japans leadership. With China gripped by civil war and the Japanese having torched many of their papers, the Chinese struggled to amass hard written evidence for the horrific deeds performed on their soil. Even more problematic was agreeing the trials authority and justification, in the absence of a programme as clear-cut as the Holocaust. The trial president, Sir William Webb of Australia, privately believed that waging aggressive war was not criminal in opposition to the prime argument of the prosecution. In the end, all living and sane defendants were found guilty of at least one count; yet four of the 11 judges dissented, including, most outspokenly, Radhabinod Pal, a Bengali lawyer and academic and apparent loyal servant of the Raj. Pal remains a hero in Japan to this day. A map of the Japanese Empire's 1931 borders, shown in the courtroom - Bettmann The American-led victors strived to bring legal justice rather than nationwide retribution, in order to help build a lasting global peace ideals that already lay in tatters in India, China and elsewhere around the Far East. In contrast, Japan itself emerged from the war as a peaceful, democratic and astonishingly successful nation state. Part of this success was the insistence of the Americans, and particularly General Douglas MacArthur, that Emperor Hirohito remain in power, despite his all-too-obvious culpability. This was another of the trials paradoxes: realpolitik trumped the ultimate perpetrators guilt. Seven men in all, meanwhile, were hanged, including Hideki Tojo, the ultra-nationalist hawk and wartime prime minister, and one of the towering figures in Basss book. Every so often, a new work emerges of such immense scholarship and weight that it really does add a significant difference to our understanding of the Second World War and its consequences. Judgement in Tokyo is one such, a monumental work in both scale and detail, beautifully constructed and written, leaving the reader not only moved but disturbed as well. And Basss book is published at a time when Europe is once again at war, with the number of casualties and depths of destruction rapidly reaching 1940s levels unthinkable a few years ago while, overseas, the Middle East is in turmoil, many parts of Africa are in conflict and sabres are rattling again in the Pacific. Political leaders and military commanders around the world should read this book and, with a bit of good sense, hurriedly learn the cautionary lessons it holds. Judgement at Tokyo by Gary J Bass is published by Picador at 30. To order your copy for 25, call 0844 871 1514 or visit Telegraph Books 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. Costco boasts nearly 130 million members worldwide. The vast majority of these are found in the United States, but regardless of whether they're shopping in the U.S. or abroad, customers turn to Costco for the same reason: the store's shockingly low prices. Bargains form the basis of Costco's brand, and discounted products can be found everywhere in the store. Furthermore, some of the store's most iconic products -- such as the $4.99 rotisserie chicken or $1.50 hot dog and soda combo -- have not experienced price increases for years. But while the prices of these products are widely and frequently celebrated, few customers are aware of the outsized social, environmental, and ethical costs associated with them. In an effort to drive down prices and maximize profit, Costco has been linked with some rather unsavory business practices including rearing animals in horrible conditions, the use of illegal labor, and questionable product labeling. Although prices remain low, it appears that Costco's well-loved bargains do not come cheap. Read more: All The Benefits Of A Costco Membership Costco's Chickens Were Reared Inhumanely Chickens at Costco farm - mercyforanimals/YouTube Costco's $4.99 rotisserie chicken is the store's most celebrated product. In fact, the cheap chicken is so integral to the brand that Costco has spent $1 billion building an industry-leading chicken processing plant in Nebraska with the sole goal of streamlining its rotisserie chicken supply chain. That being said, a $4.99 chicken is never going to be far from controversy, and Costco's rotisserie chicken has received its fair share of criticism in recent years. The majority of these complaints stem from a 2021 investigation of a Costco-controlled poultry farm. Videos taken by nonprofit organization Mercy For Animals showed birds living in cramped, filthy conditions. Some were even suffering from open wounds. When confronted with the evidence, Costco claimed to the New York Times that much of the footage was unremarkable and also stated that the company adhered to standards laid out by trade associations (via CNN). Despite pressure, Costco has not followed the lead of many other food businesses and signed on to the Better Chicken Commitment, a welfare policy designed to improve the lives of industrially reared broiler chickens. Following the Mercy For Animals investigation, two shareholders, represented by the litigation nonprofit Legal Impact for Chickens, launched a lawsuit against Costco. The lawsuit alleged that decisions made by Costco executives caused the company to neglect its livestock, meaning the fast-growing chickens were often unable to access food and water. The case was dismissed, but during the summer of 2023, Costco announced it was reviewing and investigating the issue. No actions have been reported. Several Costco Products Have Been Linked With Child Labor A Darigold plant - Ian Dewar Photography/Shutterstock An article published by The New York Times at the end of 2023 alleged that numerous migrant children were and are working for the producers of various Costco products. According to the article, the vast majority of these children use forged documents to gain and keep employment. Lax checks and the huge workforces associated with many plants and factories mean that child workers are often missed by private auditors, while senior employees often turn a blind eye. What's more, auditors rarely visit businesses during the night shift when child labor is most prevalent. As part of its article, NYT interviewed Miguel Sanchez, a child migrant who works at Darigold, a milk supplier for Costco. In his interview, Sanchez detailed dangerous working conditions that resulted in him suffering from an injury. Other workers noted that minors were a common part of the workforce. This is not the only instance of child labor linked with Costco. Underage workers have also been found to work in sanitation teams, cleaning slaughterhouses which supply Costco with meat. Packers Sanitation Services, the company that employed these minors, had over 100 underage workers on its payroll and was fined $1.5 million. In all these instances, Costco has said it was not aware of any child labor practices in its supply chain. Customers' Private Health Data Was Shared With Meta Costco Pharmacy sign - Bloomberg/Getty Images Costco boasts a pharmacy as part of its business. As with any pharmacy, Costco's pharmacy frequently requires and receives customers' private healthcare information, including their prescriptions and prior illnesses or conditions. This information is both private and sensitive, meaning it should be treated with the utmost care. Unfortunately, Costco has not always managed to do this. According to The Seattle Times, a lawsuit raised against Costco in 2023 alleged that the company had shared millions of Americans' medical information with Meta without customer consent. This was due to Costco's improper use of Meta Pixel, a tracking code that is designed for use as a business tool. By having Meta Pixel active on the health care section of Costco's website, any sensitive information that customers entered was automatically shared with Meta. Health-specific targeted ads were reported as a result of the illicit information sharing. Meta itself has said that using Meta Pixel in this way is against company policy and claims that steps are taken to educate businesses on how to use Meta products properly. Costco has refused to comment on the issue, and the lawsuit is currently ongoing. Terrible Conditions Were Reported At Costco's Egg Suppliers An egg-laying hen at a Costco farm - Direct Action Everywhere - DxE/YouTube It's not just Costco's rotisserie chickens that have been victims of inhumane farming practices but the company's egg-laying hens, too. Initially, calls to improve the chicken's lifestyles centered upon the removal of battery cages from the company's supply chain. These cages were shown to cause the birds immense suffering due to the chickens' inability to move properly in such a small space. Celebrities such as Bill Maher and Brad Pitt called for the company to remove them in 2015, and Costco listened; 97% of Costco eggs were cage free by September 2022. Unfortunately, the near complete removal of battery cages from Costco's supply chain does not mean hens are reared in humane conditions. Videos recorded by a network of animal rights activists, Direct Action Everywhere, at a chicken farm that supplied eggs for Costco's Kirkland brand showed appalling conditions. The barn the animals were kept in was filthy, and dead and rotting birds littered the floor. Many living chickens also bore injuries associated with the increased aggression the animals display in cage-free systems. In a response to the video, reported by The Seattle Times, Costco said: "We have reinspected the barn and other operations of this supplier, and based on these inspections and prior audits, we are comfortable with the animal-welfare aspects of the operation." Costco Is Clamping Down On Membership Card Sharing Costco member card being checked - View Press/Getty Images Costco runs a membership model wherein customers must pay an annual fee to shop at its stores. In order to ensure that non-members do not slip into the shop -- and benefit from its low prices -- all members are given a card they must display when prompted by cashiers or other staff members. These cards usually feature a photograph of the member, ensuring one card cannot be used by numerous people. However, savvy shoppers have frequently used the self-checkout lanes to get away with using another person's membership card. Costco committed to closing this loophole during the summer of 2023 by requiring all customers to show their membership cards when using the self-service checkouts. While an unpopular policy for those who have benefited from this loophole, many members think it is only fair that such a policy gets put in place. After all, they pay for access to discounted goods, so why shouldn't others? Some Costco members are not in favor of the crackdown. Many of these individuals are tired of being forced to prove they are members time and again. As one Redditor put it, "I think people are getting more annoyed when they're getting accused of card sharing and have to jump through hoops to prove that it's them. It doesn't help that the picture quality on Costco's cards is cra***." The Company's Advertising Practices Have Been Challenged Costco canned tuna in boxes - The Image Party/Shutterstock In 2023, it was announced that Costco was being taken to court over false and deceptive advertising and labeling practices. The product at the center of the lawsuit was Kirkland Signature White Albacore Tuna in Water. This product carried the "Dolphin Safe" label on its packaging. The plaintiff in the case, Melinda Wright, claimed that this label was directly misleading as the method in which tuna was caught is not dolphin safe. The Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act lays out specific criteria tuna products need to achieve to be labeled as dolphin safe. Due to Costco supplier's use of potentially harmful longline fishing techniques to catch tuna, the Kirkland Signature White Albacore Tuna cannot be defined as dolphin safe according to the Dolphin Protection Consumer Information Act. This suggests that Wright, and other customers like her, were deliberately misled by Costco, which sought to play up the product's environmental credentials. This is not the first time Costco has been accused of mislabeling seafood. Also in 2023, the grocery store brand was forced to pay $33,000 AUD after it sold imported Canadian lobsters in its Australian stores, per 9News. In this instance, it was not how the lobsters were caught that was misrepresented but where. Although hailing from Canada, the crustaceans were erroneously labeled as being from Australian waters. Costco Accepted Illegal Kickbacks From Drug Companies Tony Gagliese talking - The Fifth Estate/YouTube Kickbacks, often known as rebates, are payments drug companies make to pharmacy chains. These payments are made to ensure the pharmacy will stock the company's drugs. Kickbacks are legal in some parts of Canada but not in Ontario, which outlawed the practice during 2013 in an effort to lower drug prices. Despite the law, two senior pharmacy executives at Costco in Ontario -- Joseph Hanna and Lawrence Varga -- demanded kickbacks from drug salesmen several years after 2013. Tony Gagliese, a salesman for drug company Ranbaxy, secretly recorded Costco pharmacy executives asking for kickbacks in 2018. The Ontario government subsequently launched an investigation into the brand's illegal kickback practices. It found Costco had accepted over $7.2 million in illegal kickbacks. In an email to CBC, Hanna said: "I genuinely believed at the time Ranbaxy made the payments in question that they were permissible. Neither I, nor Costco, would ever knowingly accept a payment that was prohibited." Costco was fined the amount it illegally earnt in kickbacks, around $7.25 million according to CBC. Hanna and Varga were ordered to pay $50,000 each in fines and costs. Neither pharmacy executive was fired. Costco Underwent An Eight-Year Lawsuit With Tiffany People by Costco jewlery case - Bloomberg/Getty Images Unlike many other grocery store brands, Costco often stocks an impressive range of jewelry. However, this aspect of the store took a hit when famous jewelry brand Tiffany and Co. launched a lawsuit against Costco on Valentine's Day 2013. Once again, the lawsuit revolved around Costco's advertising and labeling choices. In this instance, Costco used the name "Tiffany" to describe a range of diamond rings. Costco defended this choice by stating that "Tiffany" was being used to describe the ring's pronged setting and did not indicate any connection with the well-known jewelry brand. Tiffany and Co. begged to differ, alleging that Costco was deliberately misleading customers into believing the rings were made by or in association with the brand. Over 3,000 of the rings were sold. In 2017, four years after the lawsuit was brought against Costco, a judge ruled that Costco had to pay Tiffany and Co. nearly $20 million in damages and punitive damages, per Reuters. Costco appealed the judgment and won. The two companies settled out of court in 2021, according to CNBC. No details regarding the settlement were released. Multiple Employees Have Accused Costco Of Discrimination Rae Ellis smiling - Bloomberg/Getty Images Costco has a reputation for being a good place to work. Employee pay and benefits are among the highest in the sector, and the company's employee turnover is very low. That being said, Costco has also been accused of taking various discriminatory actions against employees. The most infamous of these resulted in over 700 women launching a class-action lawsuit against Costco. The lawsuit, led by plaintiff Rae Ellis, alleged that Costco discriminated against women when it came to filling managerial positions. The lawsuit was initiated in 2004. At this time women made up half of Costco's entire workforce, yet only 13% of Costco store managers were female. The lawsuit was settled in 2013, according to Public Justice. As part of the deal, Costco committed to changing its promotion procedures. These changes are working; at the end of the 2022 fiscal year 37.5% of Costco managers were female. Other lawsuits have accused Costco of disability discrimination. One such lawsuit was leveled against the company by Marisa Martinez. Martinez was the Mexico Buyer for Costco and was on a work trip to the country when she witnessed a car being held at gunpoint. Martinez developed anxiety after this event and did not feel able to travel to Mexico. In retaliation, Costco banned her from performing any other work-related travel and threatened to remove her from management if she did not travel to Mexico. In the ensuing court case, Costco was forced to pay Martinez $1.85 million in damages, per McGillivary Steele Elkin LLP. Costco Was Found To Have Lax Pharmacy Controls Employee working in Costco pharmacy - Bloomberg/Getty Images In January 2017, it was announced that Costco would pay $11.75 million as a result of a number of its pharmacies improperly filling prescriptions. Lax controls were reported in multiple Costco pharmacies in locations including Washington, Michigan, and California. Among the alleged actions were the filling of incomplete prescriptions and the filling of prescriptions without valid Drug Enforcement Administration registration numbers. After the settlement was reached, U.S. Attorney Eileen M. Decker released a statement. In it she said: "These are not just administrative or paperwork violations -- Costco's failure to have proper controls in place in its pharmacies likely played a role in prescription drugs reaching the black market." In an effort to ensure such violations do not occur again, Costco invested in a new pharmacy management system. The chain also adopted an auditing system that involved the use of external auditors. Many Of Costco's Steaks Are Mechanically Tenderized Costco meat - ARTYOORAN/Shutterstock The process of mechanically tenderizing meat involves tiny holes being punctured into the meat by needle-like blades before packaging and selling. This process helps break down some of the meat's fibers, making the meat feel more tender when it is eaten. While there is no disputing that mechanically tenderizing steaks works, the process has drawn some criticism as it increases the risk of foodborne illnesses being transferred by the meat. The United States Department of Agriculture highlights that mechanical tenderizing increases the risk of foodborne illnesses, as any pathogens or bacteria that happen to be located on the meat's surface will be driven into the center of the meat during the puncturing process. This makes the pathogens harder to kill during cooking, increasing the chances that a contaminated piece of meat makes a customer ill. One way to mitigate this risk is to cook the steaks more thoroughly, raising their internal temperature to 145 degrees Fahrenheit and holding it there for three minutes, or making sure the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees as Costco recommends. Thankfully, Costco indicates on a steak's label whether it has been mechanically tenderized, giving customers the knowledge they need to prepare and consume their steaks safely. Costco's Gold Ingots Are Not A Great Investment Gold bought from Costco - goldeagleprice/X, formerly known as Twitter Costco made headlines throughout 2023 due to the popularity of an unlikely grocery store product: 1-ounce gold bars. Costco repeatedly sold out of the product, with CFO Richard Galanti indicating in a company earnings call that after restocking, the product sold out in a few hours. The ingots do not come cheap; Costco has been selling them at around $2,000, and some customers have likely seen them as a worthwhile investment. Although gold is known to hold its value in times of uncertainty, those looking to make some money are probably better off looking elsewhere. George Milling-Stanley, chief gold strategist at State Street Global Advisors, explained the reason for this in an interview with Investopedia: "There's a premium of up to 5% when you go to buy it, and there's often a discount of up to 5% when you want to sell it [...] gold's really got to go up 10% before you actually break even." Despite being known as a discount wholesaler, Costco has not waived the costs associated with gold. The price of the company's gold ingots has hovered between 5% and 7% above the market value. This ensures that it's Costco, and not the buyers, that are benefiting from this transaction the most. Read the original article on Daily Meal. A Tar Heel State family made the first of two large land donations to the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina in 2021. The Camerons David and Martha and their son Rob Messick gave up 222 acres of their 323-acre property and will bequeath the rest in their estate, WLOS News 13 reported. The area, near Thermal City in Rutherford County, features a van-sized balanced rock, the headwaters of Catheys Creek, and two homes, one built in 1852. WLOS noted the family hoped to have the grounds turned into a public park named Cameron Park after Davids parents. David and Martha Cameron in 1978 bought the real estate with other families who shared a similar desire to get out of the city and own land, according to WLOS. They became sole owners years later. We would love to see trails built across the property for people to explore, David said. We are really looking forward to sharing this land that weve loved for so many years. The Foothills Conservancy has protected 70,193 acres since 1995, according to its website. The agency was formed by volunteers in the 1990s as the South Mountains Coalition to protect 35,000 acres of the South Mountains from being clear-cut and subdivided. It inspires conservation in Western North Carolina by permanently protecting land and water for the benefit of people and all living things and envisions a thriving region to live and visit, with clean water, healthy forests, productive farmland, diverse wildlife, access to outdoor recreation, and communities that value conservation. Land protected by the conservancy offers stunning views and includes the Blue Ridge Mountains and Chimney Rock. The preservation efforts improve health and happiness, food security, access to and availability of water, and climate issues as well as support job growth in the local economy. Donations like these have earned a lot of headlines in recent years, with many other notable recent cases taking advantage of the vast tracts of land in Texas, such as donations of land near San Antonio and Austin. Conservationists no doubt love seeing moves like these wherever they come. Foothills Conservancy greatly appreciates these generous property donations from David, Martha, and Rob, said Tom Kenney, the conservancys land protection director and a friend of Rob. It is a tremendous legacy that they will make by the permanent conservation of their ecologically significant lands. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. In America, people take lunch breaks that typically last for around 30 minutes to an hour, which is a very quick respite from a busy work day. The shorter your lunch break is, the less time you have to actually make food, so bringing a ready-made, packed lunch to work is the norm. France has a much more leisurely approach to lunch breaks that the locals take very seriously. Instead of a meager hour or less, everyone, including school children, is allotted two full hours to eat and wind down with friends or family. This stems from the country's passion for food and its firm belief that eating lunch slowly is the proper (and only) way to do it. Everyday from 12 to 2 p.m., shops and businesses in France close their doors and restaurants are flooded with lunchers. The stresses and professionalism tied to one's job are shed in favor of a light-hearted gathering with friends who are keen on keeping work out of conversation topics altogether. A three-course lunch is traditional in France, paired with a glass of wine. This is the biggest meal eaten all day, which accounts for half of the day's total calories eaten, so the two-hour time window allows for a comfortable digestion period as well. Not only are French workers accustomed to taking a full two hours to enjoy their midday meals, they are required by law to leave their desks to do so. Read more: US Foods You Surprisingly Can't Find In Canada Eating Lunch At Work Has Been Banned In France For Over A Century table with cheese, bread, wine - Lechatnoir/Getty Images If an expat living in France were to work through their lunch hours or use up less than two hours, they can expect a lot of side-eye from their French coworkers. This was the experience of one New Yorker who moved to a town near Paris for work, who described the confusing experience to Transitions Abroad. "Only through hearing rumors did I realize that what I thought was an honorable work ethic on my part was so intense that [my coworkers] actually thought I was working to get them fired or steal their jobs." Slowing down to take pleasure in the French lunch break is seen as a sacred privilege throughout the country, where there is an active ban prohibiting employees from scarfing down food at work. While this law is a great motivator for getting out of the office and enjoying life, that's not the reason it was initially enacted. In the late 1800's, French factory workers were operating heavy machinery surrounded by fumes and it was easy to spread germs in such tight spaces. To lessen the spread of bacteria through food and disease contraction, the government enforced the lunch break, which was only suspended briefly in 2021 due to the pandemic. Eating delicious food during "le dejeuner" is now widely regarded in France as a necessity that improves workplace mental health, prevents burnout, and encourages a positive attitude about one's job. Read the original article on Mashed. When most people think of carrot cake, they probably picture sweet, dense, carrot-laden dessert cakes frosted with cream cheese icing and perhaps decorated with a little icing carrot on top. However, if you find yourself in Singapore and order a carrot cake, you might be in for a bit of a shock when your plate arrives. Singapore carrot cake, known locally as chai tow kway, isn't a dessert at all. It doesn't even have carrots in it. Rather, it's a savory dish made of rice flour and daikon radish (which is also known as a white carrot,) that is steamed, chopped into cubes, and then fried with egg and other mix-ins in a wok. The result is more reminiscent of a stir fry or an omelet than the carrotty, sugary confection most people in the United States are used to. Although those are the basics of Singapore carrot cake, the exact ingredients in it are a little more nuanced. Plus, it's got an interesting backstory that can also help unlock some of the mysteries of why this dish is called what it is. Read more: 12 Vegetables And Fruits That Used To Look Very Different If Not Carrots, What's In Singapore Carrot Cake? Plate of black Singapore carrot cake - comickay/Shutterstock Before exploring what goes into Singapore carrot cake, it's important to know that there are two versions -- black, and white. Both have similar ingredients, but there are a couple of distinct differences you should know about. The white Singapore carrot cake is made of a steamed rice flour cake with white daikon radish mixed into it. The cake is chopped into cubes and fried with eggs and often with mix-ins including garlic and preserved vegetables. It is seasoned with fish sauce or light soy sauce and served with hot chili sauce and chopped scallions. White Singapore carrot cake tastes salty and eggy and can have a bite to it, thanks to the chili sauce. Black chai tow kway is made a little differently. Although black Singapore carrot cake uses the same ingredients and cooking methods as white carrot cake, it is seasoned with a dark, sweet soy sauce instead of light soy or fish sauce. The dark soy sauce is what gives black Singapore carrot cake its distinctive appearance and sweet, caramelized flavor. Why Is It Called Singapore Carrot Cake If It Doesn't Have Carrots? Plate of white chai tow kway - Ariyani Tedjo/Shutterstock To better understand the nuances of Singapore carrot cake, it helps to know a bit about its origins. The dish is said to have originated in Southern China, and was brought to Singapore by Teochew immigrants sometime in the 1800s. The meal was originally made by frying rice cake cubes with soy sauce. Eventually, the meal evolved into "black" and "white" versions, and is now a popular meal sold by street hawkers in Singapore. There is still a lot of debate over who invented the modern versions of Singapore fried carrot cake. In the 1960s, Teochew hawker Ng Soik Theng, claimed credit for adding white radish to the rice flour cakes and renaming the dish chai tow kway. Meanwhile, hawker Lau Goh claimed to be the first person to use light soy sauce instead of dark soy sauce, and many other hawkers have also claimed to have popularized or created new versions of the meal. Regardless of who first came up with modern versions of Singapore carrot cake, the savory radish dish is enjoyed throughout Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, and other Southeast Asian countries. If you ever find yourself in that corner of the world, toss your conventional ideas of carrot cake with creamed cheese frosting right out the window and give this dish a try. Read the original article on Daily Meal. Minnesota has the second-highest education level in the U.S. as measured by the scholarship research website Scholaroo.com. A representative from Scholaroo told VOA Learning English that the state has a high percentage of residents with advanced degrees. It is ranked above Connecticut and just behind Massachusetts overall. The state is number one in the percentage of residents with doctoral degrees, Schoolaroo says. The top study programs there are in education, medicine and law. VOA Learning English talked with students and college supporters to learn why they think Minnesota is a good place for higher education. Next gen med Akhil Kollengode is an undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota-Rochester. He is in a new program that offers an undergraduate degree in two and a half years compared to the traditional four. His study program is in health sciences. It is called NXT GEN MED, which deals with medical administration. He hopes to move from studying to working at the nearby Mayo Clinic, a well-known hospital based in Rochester. It is a big reason why I chose to stay in Minnesota, he said. Kollengode is in his second year of college. He said he and his classmates saw how the COVID-19 pandemic took away some of the in-person college experience from their older friends. He said, We felt a little more motivation because we understood how much it could be taken for granted. He also saw the example of his parents working in the medical field and wanted to follow their path. Kollengode said many young people in Minnesota think they can only reach their goals by moving away. These younger students are always told oh everything is so good when you leave home and when you can finally live on your own. But you can do all of those things when you're still in your hometown. Saving money, getting the same education and sometimes maybe better education if youre in your hometown. College in three Lori Carrell is the chancellor, a top official, at the University of Minnesota-Rochester. She said a number of universities in the U.S. are part of a new program testing college in three. It aims to get students a degree in three, not four years. She said many students in the U.S. are questioning the value of college because of the cost. They also are concerned about finding a good job when they finish. Schools like hers are working to help students complete their degrees with a good job and not a lot of debt. Students stay in school all year and work at the Mayo Clinic, which is close by, Carrell explained. She said, We need people to come to Minnesota: There are a lot of needs for people with advanced degrees in Minnesota, making this three-year undergrad option even more attractive. Once people finish their undergraduate degree, she said, they can move on to advanced degrees and find a good job in Minnesota. Out of State Students from other states like Minnesota, too. Siya Sakhardande came from Texas to study psychology at the University of Minnesotas main campus, in Minneapolis and St. Paul, known as the twin cities. She said she considered schools in California, Michigan and the rest of the U.S. But the combination of a strong educational program and a good financial aid offer brought her to Minnesota. She said she and her classmates consider undergraduate degrees just the start. I plan to go to law school. I have friends who want to go to medical school at the university. I have friends who want to get their masters and their graduate degrees at the university. The university definitely encourages that and like uses whatever resources they can to like, help us plan a future and a career beyond just going to school there. But she also said the school wants students who come from families that might not be considering college. Sakhardande noted the universitys scholarship for Native American students, called the Native American Promise Tuition Program. It started last year. The university says it pays for 100 percent of school fees for students from recognized Native American tribes in Minnesota. In addition, Sakhardande helped with a recent campaign by a state lawmaker to push the state to pay low-income students costs for attending a Minnesota public college. She said the North Star Promise scholarship program will make sure all students in Minnesota think about college. Community college saved me The state senator who worked on the project was Omar Fateh, whose district is in Minneapolis. He said he is not surprised Minnesota ranks high in education. Minnesotans have long seen the value of higher education as a path to economic mobility, he said. Fateh said it is important to make higher education possible for all students in the state. He said the scholarship he is supporting can be used at both two-year and four-year colleges. Fatehs parents were immigrants from Somalia. His father came to the U.S. to study at Montana State University. He grew up in Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia. But he was not a good student in high school. He said he was saved by a school program. ... a program called the Pathways Program, which recruited students that were deemed to be at risk youth into Northern Virginia Community College. That's why I'm a big supporter of community colleges because I believe it really it really helped me and saved me. Carrell said Minnesota clearly values higher education: Theres a great appreciation for advanced degrees and higher education in the state of Minnesota. She added that education leaders there feel a responsibility to give students a good ROI, or return on investment, for their time in school. Sakhardande thinks students from inside and outside of the U.S. should consider Minnesota schools. It's just a little bit less recognized than states like California and the Ivy Leagues. But I think once you get to Minnesota, you understand that there are great things to do here. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Quiz - Minnesota Named Second-most Educated US State Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _________________________________________________ Words in This Story scholarship n. an amount of money given to a student to reduce the cost of their education to them resident n. a person who lives in a particular place advanced degree n. a degree higher than a bachelors degree doctoral adj. related to the highest degree given by a university take for granted v. to fail to recognize the value of something deem v. to think of something in a certain way district n. an area established by a government for a certain purpose mobility n. the quality of being able to move around or go to a different level We want to hear from you. After reading this story, would you consider schools in Minnesota? As far as early Christmas presents go, the one the Foothills Conservancy of North Carolina received in 2023 was truly incredible. On Dec. 23, the organization was given a donation of 120 acres of land among the Brushy Mountains. In addition to abundant trees and lush grassland, the property boasts almost a mile of headwater streams of the Muddy Fork tributary, according to ABC 13 News. Larry Sorkin, who has owned the protected land for almost five decades, was the generous donor, and he said the property, which is located less than three miles from the Rocky Face Mountain Recreational Area, has provided no end of wonder. Im grateful and want to return the favor by offering it the protection it deserves, he said, per ABC 13. Im thankful that Foothills Conservancy is proving to be the perfect partner in achieving that end. The easement agreement means Sorkin can keep the land in his name but will receive assistance from the Foothills Conservancy in monitoring the property. Sorkin will also prevent developments or subdivisions from being granted that would disrupt or destroy the surrounding environment. We deeply appreciate Larrys commitment to environmental conservation, Andrew Kota, Foothills Conservancy executive director, told ABC 13. This property has tremendous environmental value and will allow us to protect more of the Lower Little River and several peaks of the Brushy Mountains in Alexander County. Donations like these can be a real lifeline for a states natural resources, keeping land out of private hands to ensure that these spots remain untouched for the benefit of local wildlife and to stop the destruction of vital trees and green spaces which are essential in the battle against global heating. In Texas, a similar gift has been given recently, with the Collins family signing an easement with the Texas Nature Conservancy for 531 acres in Williamson County, north of Austin. Outside of the U.S., Kris Tompkins handed over $345 million worth of land she bought with late husband Doug Tompkins to the Chilean and Argentinian public, ensuring 14.7 million acres and 30 million marine acres will be protected for 99 years. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Fossils preserved within ancient rock may prove that photosynthesis started way earlier than we thought. If correctly dated to 1.75 billion years ago, the new find provides additional insight into early Earth ecosystems. Scientists believe the study of additional fossils could yield more clues about the origins of life. Researchers on a quest to understand the origins of life just learned a little lesson about photosynthesis from 1.75 billion years ago. In a new study published in Nature, a team of researchers claim that microfossils found in the desert of north Australia show off the earliest known signs of photosynthesis. And that could means a better understanding of how all of life could have begun. These microfossils are remnants of a type of organism called cyanobacteria, which experts believe have been around for as long as 3.5 billion years (though the oldest confirmed fossil examples are from about 2 billion years ago). At some point in their evolution, some varieties of these organisms developed thylakoidsstructures within cells in which photosynthesis occurswhich may have allowed them to contribute huge amounts of oxygen to Earths atmosphere through photosynthesis in what has become known as the Great Oxidation Event. These new findings offer up the oldest evidence of photosynthesis found to date. The researchers claim that their discovery extends the fossil record by at least 1.2 billion years, and that these very first photosynthesizing cells appeared roughly 1.75 billion years ago. [This discovery] allows the unambiguous identification of early oxygenic photosynthesizers and a new redox proxy for probing early Earth ecosystems, the authors wrote in the paper, highlighting the importance of examining the ultrastructure of fossil cells to decipher their paleobiology and early evolution. These exciting fossils were discovered in ancient rockslocated in the McDermott Formation in northern Australiaand feature the pigment chlorophyll, which allows organisms to absorb the sunlight during photosynthesis. The presences of chlorophyll was enough for researchers to determine that photosynthesis had occurred in these little compartments, which would mean that the process evolved much earlier than was previously demonstrable. And that would likely help explain the Great Oxidation Event. Evidence in the fossil record shows us that there was a huge jump in atmospheric oxygen levels around 2.4 billion years ago. It was critical to the existence of life on Earth as we know it, and while scientists arent sure what caused it, one theory is that this is around the time that photosynthetic organisms evolved into being and began to exist in large numbers. By dating fossilized cells with the necessary components for photosynthesis to as close to that oxygen-flourishing event as possible, researchers are able to move one step closer to understanding the role of oxygenand the cells helping create itin the origins of life on Earth. Of course, the next step is more research. Specifically, the team intends to examine fossil cells across the world to see just how well they match up with this new timeline. We predict, the authors wrote, that similar ultrastructural analyses of well-preserved microfossils might expand the geological record of oxygenic photosynthesizers and of early, weakly oxygenated ecosystems in which complex cells developed. Take a deep breath, and dive on into the science. You Might Also Like The Banh Mi is a flavorful sandwich we have Vietnam to thank for because it originated there as a fusion of French and Vietnamese cuisines back in the 1800s. It transformed to its current form with baguette-style bread in the late 1900s and is a popular sandwich around the globe today. If you haven't tried one (yet), it's traditionally made with ingredients like chicken or pork, pickled carrots, thinly sliced cucumber, fresh cilantro, and plain mayonnaise. Like all sandwiches, it's easy to give the Banh Mi a boost of heat by swapping the plain mayo with a spicy version of the creamy condiment if you appreciate a dose of spice. Your best bet might be to try the sandwich at your local authentic Vietnamese eatery, but you can also try this spicy ingredient hack with our simple Banh Mi sandwich recipe from Tasting Table recipe developer Susan Olayinka. Our recipe calls for regular mayonnaise, so it's an easy upgrade to give your sandwich some heat. Regardless of how you get your hands on the sandwich, the addition is easy with your favorite store-bought spicy mayo from brands like Hellman's, or with a homemade version made your go-to hot sauce. Read more: 15 Best Knife Brands, Ranked Give Banh Mi Sandwiches A Kick Of Heat With Spicy Mayo Spicy mayo next to red chili peppers - Bhofack2/Getty Images Making spicy mayo with hot sauce at home for your sandwich is rather easy, especially compared to making the rest of the Banh Mi. You can use any variety of hot sauce like mild Frank's Red Hot or Texas Pete if you have a low heat tolerance, Tabasco for a bit more spice, or sriracha if you want to lean into the Asian flavors. Start with a squirt of hot sauce then add more until you reach your desired heat level. You can also blend chipotle peppers in adobo sauce with mayonnaise for a spicy condiment. A spoonful of spicy mayo isn't the only ingredient to give your Banh Mi a kick of heat. A dash of spices like curry powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, or paprika can also add a kick to plain mayo if you don't have hot sauce in the kitchen. It might not be traditional, but you can also add other spicy ingredients like sliced cherry peppers, a sprinkle of crushed red pepper, pickled jalapenos, spicy pickles, or hot giardiniera for a spicier Banh Mi. Read the original article on Tasting Table. Starbucks egg bites make for a compact yet fulfilling breakfast, but they may not always be the most convenient or affordable option. Fortunately, you can find a worthy copycat at Aldi, which features two flavors of Breakfast Bites from its Whole & Simple brand. These omelet bites have people on Reddit talking, prompting comparisons between the Aldi version and what's available at Starbucks. "I live for the sous vide egg bites at Starbucks but they are a special occasion treat," explained the Aldi shopper when speaking of the spinach and turkey sausage variety they'd purchased. In a different Reddit thread, another commenter went into a bit more detail while comparing the two. Per the commenter, the Aldi brand is "Similar, but a slightly different texture. Not as... soft? More like an omelette." The person went on to say that Aldi's bites "are also larger and more filling than Starbucks." That means you can enjoy the same quality snack at a much lower price, and without the need to visit a local Starbucks. Read more: 10 Frozen Foods You Should Always Buy At Aldi Comparing Aldi And Starbucks Bites Boxes of Aldi egg bites - theamazingaldi/Instagram When it comes to flavors, Starbucks egg bites are available in Egg White & Roasted Red Pepper, Kale & Mushroom, and Bacon & Gruyere. Conversely, Aldi's Breakfast Bites feature turkey sausage paired with spinach and bell peppers with uncured ham and cheddar. As for their size, it appears that both versions are pretty hefty at around 2 ounces per bite. As explained in a Reddit thread about Aldi's product, "The "bites" were pretty large, I would not eat these in one bite." As far as price is concerned, the cost of Aldi's omelet bites is not totally clear. They were described as being "about $5" on Reddit, but their price is not listed on the Aldi website (instead, shoppers are directed to visit their nearest location for the exact price). In comparison, the egg bites from Starbucks cost $5.25 before tax at certain locations. It should be noted that prices can vary from place to place, so other Starbucks locations might offer the bites for a different price. However, Redditors apparently feel that Aldi's version provides more food for about the same price, which would seem to make them the better buy overall. Not Everyone Is A Fan Of Breakfast Bites customers shopping at Aldi - Nils Versemann/Shutterstock Aldi has a history of trying to ensure its customers remain happy with the chain. And while the egg-based Breakfast Bites are beloved by many, not everyone is impressed. One Aldi shopper on Reddit was pleased with the bites overall but called out the spiciness of the turkey sausage. They also mentioned that the spinach flavor was a bit too mild for their liking, leading to a satisfying but unbalanced breakfast. Another Redditor was a little more passionate about their dislike of the Whole & Simple Turkey Sausage & Spinach bites specifically. According to the commenter, "The other egg bites are good, but that cooked then frozen then reheated spinach is terrible." These criticisms could certainly be a matter of taste, as not every flavor combo will appeal to every palate. Also, Aldi customers can take heart in the fact that the grocery store often updates its products to ensure that shoppers remain happy. That means your luck may improve if you revisit the same item in the future. Read the original article on Daily Meal. For those who live outside of the United States, you may be surprised to find that you can't buy Kinder Surprise eggs in America. William Salice invented the Kinder Surprise eggs out of Easter egg molds. Despite selling around 1.2 billion candy eggs per year globally, Italian company Ferrero is banned from selling the eggs in the U.S. The candy features a chocolate egg shell housing an inner plastic egg. Within these plastic eggs is typically a toy. Since the plastic egg and toy are considered inedible and shouldn't be eaten, it breaks the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. In 2011, a Ferrero spokesperson clarified to Metro why it can't sell its Kinder Surprise eggs in America, saying, "Kinder Surprise is not available in the United States as the [FDA] has taken the position that a specific regulation relating to non-nutritive objects embedded in food stuff makes Kinder Surprise not suitable for sale and distribution in the U.S." According to the 1938 Act, consumable items are banned if it "has partially or completely imbedded therein any nonnutritive object." Essentially, Kinder Surprise eggs are banned in America because they pose a choking risk to consumers. The plastic toy inside is seen as non-essential to the item, whereas a Tootsie Roll sucker stick gets a pass because it's needed for functionality. Read more: What These Imitation Foods Are Actually Made Of Kinder Surprise Eggs Are Prohibited kinder surprise eggs - Walter Cicchetti/Shutterstock Not only are Kinder Surprise eggs prohibited from being sold in America, but they're also prohibited from being brought across the border as well. It's a fact that's caused grief for some travelers unaware of the ban. In an interview with FEE Stories, one startled traveler thought border control were joking when they said they were confiscating their Kinder Surprise eggs, but this wasn't a joking matter. A fine for a single Kinder Surprise egg can be as much as $2,500, making it a costly mistake for those unaware of the law. "Kinder eggs are prohibited just like narcotics are prohibited," U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesperson Mike Milne told FEE Stories. "Our officers, if they encounter prohibited stuff, they're subject to seizure." The amount of Kinder Surprise eggs confiscated varies year to year but ranges in the several thousand. For instance, in 2011, border control seized 60,000 Kinder Surprise eggs. Meanwhile, that number was slightly less at 30,000 in 2015. While people do make mistakes when it comes to accidentally bringing Kinder Surprise eggs into the U.S., there's also a black market for the candy as well. Holidays like Easter raise the desire for the banned candy. Kinder Joys Are Legal kinder surprise eggs - BELIMBINGperak/Shutterstock As mentioned above, the risk of choking seems to be the main reason for the ban in the United States. However, how many people have actually died from choking on the toys? Although the number is low, a few children have died from choking on the toy. In 2016, a three-year-old girl in France died after a choking incident caused brain damage. Critics have pointed out that on average 140 children die choking on other foods like grapes every year, but the ban remains. However, that hasn't stopped other companies from attempting to challenge the 1938 Act. In 1997, Nestle introduced a similar product to Kinder Surprise called the Nestle Magic. It featured a toy inside the candy. Despite the candy company going to bat in a lengthy legal process, Nestle was forced to pull Nestle Magic from the stores, making it banned like Kinder Surprise before it. That being said, there are Kinder products available in the United States. The company introduced Kinder Joy, which is egg-shaped but not actually an egg. It features a toy in a separate pouch making it legal. As far as the candy portion, it's a white chocolate mixture with wafers. Read the original article on Daily Meal. Readers leafing through the Argentinian womens magazine Idilio (Love Affair) in 1949 were in for a shocking sight: a kneeling woman, waiting for a man with a giant finger to turn her on or, possibly, off like a human lamp. The pictures title? Dream No 1: Electrical Appliances for the Home. The coming months brought yet stranger visions to the magazines readers: a woman unimpressed by a male companion who happens to have the face of a snapping turtle (Dream No 28: Love Without Illusion); a girl watching, intrigued, as a phallic train its engine also replaced by a turtles head roars towards her across a frothing sea (Dream No 40: The Dreams of Trains). Freaky: Dream No 28: Love without Illusion (1951) - The Estate of Grete Stern, Courtesy of Galeria Jorge Mara These Freudian images, all photomontages, were created by the German photographer Grete Stern to accompany a regular column in the magazine called Psychoanalysis Will Help You, which promised to interpret readers dreams. The strangeness and satirical bite of her pictures struck a very different note to the straight-laced, paternalistic advice of the columns agony uncle Professor Richard Rest the pseudonym of two male intellectuals who deigned to collaborate with Idilio on condition of anonymity. Born in Wuppertal in 1904, Stern had honed her craft at the Bauhaus, where she met Ellen Auerbach, with whom she founded the mischievous, surrealist advertising agency ringl + pit (named after their childhood nicknames they thought Auerbach & Stern would sound too much like a Jewish clothes manufacturer). Message in a bottle: Dream No 5: Sea Bottle - The Estate of Grete Stern, Courtesy of Galeria Jorge Mara Stern was a fine portraitist, whose subjects included such celebrated authors as Brecht, Borges and Neruda, but today her reputation rests on the Suenos (Dreams): 140 images, all published in Idilio between 1948 and 1951, and now recognised as a landmark of proto-feminist, surrealist art. Whitney Otto, the novelist, has called Suenos perhaps the most brilliant and telling psychological document ever made of the inner lives of women of that era.Stern, who died in 1999, was the subject of a 2015 retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, which placed her work alongside that of the Argentinian photographer Horacio Coppola (whom she met at the Bauhaus, married in 1935 and divorced in 1943, following the birth of their two children). This month, highlights from Suenos will appear in an exhibition on psychoanalysis and Latin America, at the Freud Museum in London. Today, Buenos Aires has more psychoanalysts per capita than any other city on Earth. But being a Freudian or, indeed, a surrealist in 1940s Argentina was tricky. Peron was against all of it, as Roxana Marcoci, one of the curators of the MoMA show, has pointed out. The psychoanalysts were blacklisted. [Suenos] could only appear in a womens magazine. Long way down: Dream No 20: Perspective - The Estate of Grete Stern, Courtesy of Galeria Jorge Mar Sterns work for Idilio put her at one remove from the art establishment, according to Jamie Ruers, curator of the London exhibition. She suggests that if a work of art is never in a frame on a wall, it will never be held in as high regard. But, for Stern, pursuing commercial work was an extremely savvy thing to do and her unique magazine brief allowed her to get away with imagery that was challenging and quite progressive for the time. It seems that Suenos only 46 negatives of which survive caused real trouble for Stern on just one occasion, when a montage showed a girl looking at her hand, in which each finger was replaced by a different man. The artist needed someone short, fat, and without a hat for Mr Thumb, so imported a face from a group photograph of workers shed seen years earlier and was aghast when the mans widow turned up at the magazines offices, very offended, to complain. Freud and Latin America is at the Freud Museum, London NW3 (freud.org.uk), Jan 17-July 14 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. President Joe Biden on Friday said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a lapse in judgement by not notifying him of his hospitalization, but White House officials made a point in emphasizing Austin remains heavily involved in military decision making. Touring an Allentown, Pennsylvania-area coffee shop, Biden was asked by reporters whether Austins delay in informing him about his treatment for prostate cancer showed a lapse in judgment. Yes, Biden responded. But asked if he still maintains confidence in Austin, the president said: I do. Still, White House officials said Austin had been heavily involved in the US airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen as he approaches his second week in the hospital. Austins role in the US airstrikes was seamless, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters Friday, though he was working from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. His participation was no different than it would be on any other given day, except that he was briefing the president on options and engaged in the discussions from the hospital, Kirby said during a news briefing aboard Air Force One. Kirby said Austin was fully engaged as he would be in any other event. The defense secretary has been very much in command of all issues, a senior administration official who has spoken with Austin multiple times told CNN, coordinating the strikes while facing sharp questions about the initial lack of transparency related to his health. Defense officials told CNN that Austin, who is hospitalized with complications from the treatment of prostate cancer, has access to everything he needs to fulfill his duties. Austin monitored Thursdays strikes real-time from the hospital with a full suite of secure communications, an official said. The US and UK-led strikes in Yemen on Thursday come as Austin and Biden deal with criticism over transparency, the strength of Bidens command over his Cabinet officials and the efficiency of the process for transferring military power and decision-making after the belated announcement of Austins prostate cancer diagnosis. Austin has now been hospitalized for more than 11 days due to complications from the treatment. The fallout from that hospitalization and the delays in reporting it to the public, the president and senior national security officials has seen the initiation of three separate reviews from the White House, the Pentagon and the Pentagons inspector general to examine the notification process and whether policies need to be changed, not to mention increasing scrutiny from Capitol Hill. This was an unusually prolonged hospitalization, said Dr. Oliver Sartor, chief of the Genitourinary Cancer Disease Group at the Mayo Clinic, who is not treating Austin. At this point, I am a little bit uncertain as to what is happening, but it would seem as though whatever complication that he has experienced is actually rather severe, because otherwise the hospitalization would not have lasted this long. According to different statements from the Pentagon, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center officials and the White House, medical providers identified the cancer during a screening in early December. Officials havent given a precise date. Austin underwent what the Pentagon described as an elective medical procedure on December 22. He was discharged from Walter Reed and went home December 23. On New Years Day he participated in a call with Biden and other administration officials. On that same day its not clear whether it was before or after Austin participated in the call he was taken back to Walter Reed after experiencing severe pain. He was transferred to the hospitals intensive care unit the next day. That same day, top defense officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Austins military adviser and Austins own chief of staff, learned he was hospitalized, and Austin delegated some of his authority to his deputy. It took another two days for Biden to learn about Austins hospitalization on January 4. A day later, the Pentagon released the first public statement revealing Austins hospitalization. Austin on Saturday released his first public statement since being hospitalized, in which he conceded he could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. Austin was transferred from the ICU on Monday. At that point, the public had not been told exactly why he was in the hospital and neither had the president, despite the two men speaking over the weekend. Biden was made aware about Austins cancer diagnosis on Tuesday morning, and the rest of the world learned about it later that afternoon. Working from the hospital amid military strikes Austin remains hospitalized in good condition and has resumed his full duties, Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said. The secretary gave the order to Central Command to initiate those strikes, Ryder said Friday on CNN This Morning, adding that afterwards, Austin monitored the strikes, conducting phone calls with Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan and other top military officials for an initial assessment. Hes been actively engaged throughout, Ryder said. Another senior administration official said that following a barrage of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea on Tuesday, Biden convened his national security team to discuss possible military options and that it was at the end of that meeting that Biden specifically ordered Austin carry out the airstrikes. Senior White House officials pushed the Pentagon to release a statement on Austins hospitalization after learning of his status last week, two administration officials told CNN earlier this week. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and Sullivan called Austins chief of staff, Kelly Magsamen, last Thursday urging the department to release a public disclosure statement as soon as possible, the officials said. The Pentagon said that department officials began drafting the public statement as a logical next step, seemingly pushing back on reports that the White House pressed defense officials to release a statement. Politico was the first to report on the White Houses push for a statement. Questions remain over Austins hospitalization Several important questions remain, including why Biden apparently didnt learn about Austins cancer for about a month after the diagnosis was made despite the president and Austin speaking last weekend after news of his hospitalization broke and why members of Austins own inner circle didnt learn about the complications for a day after he was hospitalized. The intensely private defense secretary has since allowed more of his health details to be released. In public statements, Austins doctors have reported that he was readmitted to the hospital on New Years Day with complications that followed a recent surgery to treat prostate cancer. Those complications included a urinary tract infection and fluid buildup in his abdomen that impaired the function of his small intestines. He also reportedly had severe pain in his abdomen, hips and legs. To me, it was a bit vague exactly what the complication was, Sartor said. Fluid is a pretty nebulous term because there are so many bodily fluids out there, Sartor said, noting that in that part of the body it might have been urine, blood, or even fluid from the bowel. Other experts said that because Austin is a high-ranking official, his doctors may be exercising an abundance of caution and that might explain Austins extended hospital stay. Taking care of big-name people who get into trouble, you start getting very, very cautious, said Dr. Otis Brawley, an oncologist at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Its possible that it if were me and I had the problems he had on January 1, that Id already be at home, said Brawley, who is not treating Austin. Taking care of senators, Supreme Court justices, you get very, very cautious. Members of Congress want accountability Calls for accountability over the lack of transparency have been steadily rolling in from members of Congress. This doesnt need to happen again, Sen. Roger Wicker, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said on Thursday. Were thankful that nothing so serious occurred during this incapacity of the secretary that national security suffered, but it is a learning experience, I hope, for the administration, for the secretary, and an opportunity for us to make sure this never happens again. Other legislators said the US was lucky there was no major national security emergency while Austin was undergoing treatment and before notification of his hospitalization had been made. Were talking about command here, and this is serious, Sen. Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, said Thursday, warning that the breach in protocol damaged the US ability to project strength on the world stage. Look at whats going on in the world this is so serious that you have somebody out of pocket, the president doesnt even know that the secretary of defense is out of pocket. One Democrat went as far as to call on Austin to resign. Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania said he lost trust in Secretary Lloyd Austins leadership of the Defense Department due to the lack of transparency. But Austins job appears to not be in any danger. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Monday that there are no plans or anything other than for Secretary Austin to stay in the job and continue in the leadership that hes been demonstrating. But Kirby later also tersely acknowledged significant shortcomings in Austins failure to notify the public, members of Congress and the president about his condition. It is not optimal for a situation like this to go as long as it did without the commander in chief knowing about it, he said on Tuesday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Female saboteurs who poisoned 46 Russian soldiers in Crimea are on the run after shoot-out with police, reports say Russian security forces attempted to arrest two women suspected of poisoning its troops in Crimea. The alleged saboteurs pulled weapons and escaped after a shoot-out. The women are suspected of giving food and drinks laced with poison to Russian soldiers. Ukrainian saboteurs alleged to have poisoned 46 Russian soldiers are on the run in annexed Crimea after a shoot-out with police, a local report says. Two young saboteurs who had poisoned members of the Russian military in Simferopol and Bakhchysarai fled when authorities attempted to detain them in Crimea, the Telegram channel "Kremlin Snuffbox" said on Tuesday. Police went to apprehend the two at a private house in Yalta but were surprised to find them "well armed" and "well prepared," the post said. The two opened fire and fled the scene in a car, and authorities do not know their whereabouts. Three officers were killed and two were wounded in the shoot-out, a source in Russia's Federal Security Service told the Telegram channel. In December, members of a Ukrainian partisan group called the Crimean Combat Seagulls poisoned and killed 24 Russian soldiers after lacing their vodka with arsenic and strychnine. At the time, Kremlin Snuffbox quoted unnamed sources as saying that "two nice girls" tricked the unit in Simferopol, Crimea, into drinking the vodka, according to the Kyiv Post translation. In another incident, saboteurs killed 18 and hospitalized 14 Russian personnel in Bakhchysarai, Crimea, by putting arsenic and rat poison in pies and beer, Kremlin Snuffbox previously reported. Russian military personnel stationed in Crimea have been asked not to take any food or drinks from strangers and to detain any suspicious young women who approach them to prevent further incidents of poisoning. Business Insider could not independently verify the report. There were also reports of two mass poisonings of Russian troops in Mariupol, Ukraine, in 2023. Ukrainian resistance and partisan groups sometimes use acts of sabotage to harass Russian soldiers in Crimea the Ukrainian peninsula that Russia has occupied since 2014 and other occupied territories and supply intelligence for Ukrainian strikes on military installations. Read the original article on Business Insider Around 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2022, I left my dorm in an Alabama prison to speak to a friend about our next days work in the laundry room. Rain drizzled on me as I exited the dorm and went outside. I walked down a wheelchair ramp at the front door to our dorm. Then I cut across a patch of cement in the direction of my destination. I failed to see the new, slick enamel paint coating a spot on the concrete, but my foot found it with ease. First, a slip. Then a crunch. Then a hard, jarring impact on my left side. Birmingham native Richard Fox is an incarcerated writer at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility. Everything happened in a couple seconds, but the damage was severe. It felt like the crunch of breaking a chicken leg off of the thigh. I had broken my ankle in three places. I was quickly loaded into a wheelchair by friends and rushed to the prison infirmary. After an evaluation, I was taken to the prisons back gate, placed in a van and carried away to a free-world hospital. This all might seem like the normal course of action following a traumatic injury like this. But its what happens next where Alabama prisons fail incarcerated people and their families. Once inmates leave the confines of an Alabama institution, all information on us goes into a black hole. When were outside the facility, there are increased limitations around contact with family and, in general, loved ones cant know where weve been taken. There are exceptions for life-threatening circumstances, but in most cases the Alabama Department of Corrections makes it extremely difficult for families to know the status of their loved one. We cant call our families, they cant come see us, nor can they know where weve been taken. As a reason for this flawed policy, they cite security concerns such as preventing escapes and keeping inmates and corrections officers safe. Ive come to understand both of those reasons, but I dont understand why loved ones are left in the dark about the incident, injury and health status of the incarcerated patient. After breaking my ankle, I remained at the hospital for 11 days and received two surgeries on my ankle. My family and friends had no clue what was happening to me, and this was a problem. I always call my mom in the early afternoon on Saturdays, and my sister on Wednesdays, to hear whats happening in their lives. But once I started missing those calls, my family became concerned. They started calling my prison. Heres what they were told: Your son is in the hospital, but hes still alive. They provided no other details or means of contacting me. According to a statement provided in an email from the Alabama Department of Corrections, Inmates are not allowed to make phone calls from the hospital for security reasons. Inmates emergency contacts are notified when the inmates condition is determined to be critical by medical personnel. Since my broken ankle wasnt potentially fatal, my family was never notified of what happened to me. And since I wasnt permitted to call my family, I could not inform them myself. They were left to worry about me. Perhaps what happened to me should come as no surprise. Alabamas prison system is rife with problems. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state of Alabama and the Alabama Department of Corrections, claiming our prison system had violated the Constitutions Eighth Amendment prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. Over a recent four-year period, more than 698 incarcerated people died in Alabama prisons, according to research by the nonprofit Alabama Appleseed. My prison, William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility, has its own slew of problems. A description from the Department of Corrections own website reads: Donaldson specializes in controlling repeat and/or multiple violent offenders with lengthy sentences that are behaviorally difficult to manage. Last summer, seven inmates died at Donaldson in just one week. And this August, one incarcerated man was able to gain access to a pistol and carry it around the facility. Thankfully, the gun was not fired. Against this backdrop, you can imagine what our mothers might think and feel when they hear the words: Your son is in the hospital, but hes still alive. That response opens the imagination to all manner of horrific scenarios. Whats maddening about all of this is what the Department of Corrections is holding back: That I broke my ankle in a freak accident. People do this all the time. Hell, my moms sister has done it twice in the last two years. But instead of my 75-year-old mom having peace of mind, she was left to assume that I had been through something terrible. After my 11 days in the hospital, I returned to prison and was finally able to call my mom and inform her of my injury. Her breath was shaky with worry when she answered. Then she told me: I can finally go to sleep at night. When I heard that, I cried. The secrecy around my injury brought serious emotional damage to my mom. Now, if I call her at an unscheduled time, the first words are not Hello. Her first words are Whats wrong? This incident made me reflect on all the unnecessary emotional pain loved ones have experienced while trying to obtain important information about an incarcerated person. A journalist friend once asked me to check on another inmate at my prison because his family had heard he was stabbed but was unable to get any information. Thankfully he was OK. The problem is solvable. Security secrets dont have to be exposed. We just want our loved ones to have clarity when the state can reasonably and safely provide it. All the Department of Corrections needs to do is broaden the medical emergency notification system. If someone is going to be in the hospital for a prolonged period of time, the Department of Corrections should let that family know the extent of their loved ones ailment and their current condition. Hey, your son is at a hospital, someone could say. We cant tell you where for security reasons, but he slipped and fell, and broke his ankle. Hes fine, though, and well have him call you as soon as he returns to prison. Richard Fox is an incarcerated writer at William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility. He is a native of Birmingham, and was raised in Tarrant. Richard became interested in writing through the Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project, an Auburn University initiative. This essay was published in partnership with Prison Journalism Project, which publishes independent journalism by incarcerated writers and others impacted by incarceration. Sign up for The Prison Journalism Projects newsletter, or follow them on Instagram or X. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Flawed Alabama prison medical policy leaves families fearing the worst The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning the public about a cluster of gastrointestinal illnesses potentially linked to raw oysters consumed at local restaurants. So far there have been 27 identified cases connected to four unidentified restaurants. Public Health says its working with the California Department of Public Health to investigate and confirm the source of the illnesses. In the meantime, L.A. County residents, particularly those most vulnerable, including young children, the elderly and those who are immunocompromised, are discouraged from consuming raw oysters. Until the source is confirmed, consumers should be cautious before eating raw oysters due to the potential risk of foodborne illness, said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer. If you are sick, avoid spreading illness by washing your hands frequently and cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and kitchen countertops. Public Health is working to identify other possible instances of gastrointestinal illness that may be linked to raw oysters. If you have recently consumed raw oysters and experienced symptoms, you are urged to file a report with the Department of Public Health. To file a report online, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. The Iowa caucus is set for next week, one of the most important contests of the 2024 presidential election. The Hawkeye State's caucuses have long had the opportunity to shape presidential elections. And in 2024, all eyes will be on Iowa to see if Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's rivals have made any progress in the critical early voting state. Candidates are spending Saturday making their final campaign pushes during a challenging winter storm. Why does one state's election matter for the rest of the nation? Keep up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the upcoming Iowa caucus as voters make their 2024 picks. Nikki Haley pulls ahead of DeSantis for second place in Iowa poll, Donald Trump leads Donald Trump retains a commanding lead in the final Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll before Mondays caucuses, with Nikki Haley sliding past Ron DeSantis into second place. The former president is the first choice of 48% of likely Republican caucusgoers, while former United Nations Ambassador Haley is at 20% and Florida Gov. DeSantis drops to 16%. No other candidate reaches double digits. The poll of 705 likely Republican caucus goers was conducted Jan. 7-12 by Selzer & Co. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. --Stephen Gruber-Miller Coming Saturday night: Here's when new Iowa Poll will show Iowans' picks for GOP caucuses Who will win the 2024 Iowa Caucuses? A new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll of the 2024 election cycle will reveal whether former President Donald Trump's overwhelming lead among likely Republican caucusgoers is still holding firm or if Trump's opponents have eaten into his lead with Caucus Day just around the corner. The poll will measure caucusgoers' first and second choice for president among Trump and five competing candidates, including: Texas businessman Ryan Binkley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy. --Mike Trautmann Trump lands in Iowa: 'That's a lot of cold weather' Donald Trump has landed in snowy Des Moines and is now getting ready for his livestream speech. He is also a little chilly. Thats a lot of cold weather," he told reporters at the Des Moines airport. "We have a lot of meetings tonight, a lot of tremendous support ... but its nasty out there. --David Jackson Haley ends day in East Iowa Nikki Haley wrapped up Saturday with an event in the eastern city of Davenport, Iowa.A crowd of around 50 gathered in Thunder Bay Grille and waited for the former governor while chatting over cold drinks and fried appetizers. Savannah Kuchar Looking for momentum: Haley supporter says Iowa is just the beginning Sanford Owens, 67, travelled to Iowa from Portland, Oregon, to support Haley during the caucus. Yet, he said he doesnt expect her to come out on top. I think shes going to have a good showing, but no I dont think shes going to win. I think Trump will win, Owens said. Thinking Iowans will already be pre-set on a candidate, Owens said he believes Monday's outcome will simply get the ball rolling for Haley heading into the New Hampshire primary next week. Were looking for momentum, Owens said. If Nikki gets momentum into New Hampshire, I think were going to do extremely well. A registered Republican and foreign policy officer for 25 years, Owens said he started supporting the former UN ambassador about a month or two ago, largely due to her stances on overseas issues, including aid to Ukraine. Savannah Kuchar Trump headed to Iowa to give a speech Saturday evening The Trump campaign announced late Saturday afternoon that the former president is en route to Iowa and will give a livestreamed speech in the early evening. Trump "will deliver his Vision for America Live from Iowa on Saturday, January 13, 2024, at 6:30PM CST," the campaign said in an email. No more details were provided, not even the location of the remarks. Trump also plans to speak Sunday at a mid-day "commit to caucus" rally in Indianola. --David Jackson Totally a Nikki: Iowans choose their candidates, as campaign events continue Nancy Wildanger said she and her husband have been attending events, including those held by Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, for weeks as they prepared to pick a candidate to caucus for. He was totally a Nikki. I was totally undecided, she said. Now Im for Nikki. Wildanger, a resident of Iowa City, said she believes Haley is the best candidate in this years election. I dont think she backs down Wildanger said. Shes also really smart. I just think shell have a better chance of winning over Trump. -- Savannah Kuchar Trump lashes out at Ramaswamy as Iowa Caucus approaches Donald Trump tore into challenger Vivek Ramaswamy on social media Saturday afternoon, warning his supporters that caucusing for the author and entrepreneur "is a vote for the 'other side.'" "Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, 'the best President in generations,' etc.," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the 'other side' dont get duped by this. "Vote for 'TRUMP,' dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!!" Trump's post came after Chris LaCivita, a senior advisor to the former president, attacked Ramaswamy for posting a photo with a group of supporters wearing t-shirts saying "SAVE TRUMP, VOTE VIVEK." "1. Trump doesn't need 'saving,'" LaCivita wrote on social media. "2. If you support (Donald Trump) you sure as hell dont vote for this FAKE." Despite Ramaswamy's challenge of Trump for the Republican nomination, the two have had a relatively friendly public relationship until today, with Trump at times praising Ramaswamy's policy positions and public statements and Ramaswamy defending Trump amid his ongoing legal battles. The Ohio-based author of "Woke, Inc." has barnstormed Iowa, making more stops than any other Republican candidate this cycle as he pitches himself as the "next generation" of the "America First" movement. He has said if elected, he would pardon Trump if he was convicted on any of the charges pending against him. In a response posted to Twitter on Saturday evening Ramaswamy praised Trump as the best president of the 21st century but said his opponents would prevent him from serving a second term a theme he often strikes on the campaign trail.Open your eyes to the hard truth, Ramaswamy said, this system will stop at nothing to keep this man away from the White House. -Galen Bacharier Whats the weather forecast in Iowa today? Severe wintry weather conditions continue in Iowa, with a blizzard warning still in place for several counties. Temperatures in the capital of Des Moines are near zero but feel like closer to 20 degrees with the wind. Snowfall and frozen patches have made road travel dicey in areas across the state. Still, some candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy, appear to be continuing with the days campaign events. Savannah Kuchar Congresswoman rear-ended on way to speak at Haley event U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' staff say she is unhurt after she was rear-ended by a semi on Saturday, causing her to miss a Nikki Haley campaign event where she was scheduled to speak. Miller-Meeks, a Republican who represents the 1st Congressional District in southeast Iowa, was scheduled to speak at a 2 p.m. Haley event in Iowa City, but was replaced by U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, who represents northeast Iowa's 2nd District. Travel conditions are hazardous in many parts of Iowa this weekend as the state deals with a blizzard warning. Monday's Iowa Caucuses are expected to see record cold temperatures. "It's my pleasure to be with you today kind of subbing in for your congresswoman, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who unfortunately had a little bit of travel trauma," Hinson told the crowd at the event. "She actually got rear-ended by a semi on her way here. So pray for her. She's fine. I've already talked to her." -Stephen Gruber-Miller Intruder tries to give DeSantis a 'participation trophy' In an awkward moment for Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday in Iowa, a man at an event in Atlantic suddenly walked up to the candidate and taunted him with a "participation trophy." "DeSantis, I want to present to you this participation trophy - probably not gonna win the election right, but we're proud of you trying, the man said. He's our little snowflake. DeSantis replied, I dont need a participation trophy," as the intruder was hustled away. CNN reported that the man was "one of the political comedians from 'The Good Liars,'" a comedy duo. DeSantis opponents gleefully shared the video on social media. David Jackson DeSantis continues to rip climate protesters who interrupted event this week Gov. Ron DeSantis used a question-and-answer session after his event in Council Bluffs on Saturday morning to rip protesters who have disrupted his campaign appearances. The governor was interrupted multiple times by climate change protesters during an event in Ames on Thursday. Security there tackled one protester who unfurled a banner reading DeSantis: Climate Criminal and shouted the phrase as he was removed from the event, along with asking DeSantis how much money are you taking from oil companies? DeSantis said Saturday that climate change protesters might not want to do that in the middle of a blizzard. The climate change comments came after DeSantis was asked by a volunteer named April about his efforts to restore Floridas Everglades. A question about helping farmers also prompted DeSantis to criticize climate change policies. They view agriculture as like a big problem with global warming, which is going to make you change all your practices, he said, adding it will lead to a farm crisis. April told DeSantis she traveled to Iowa from out of state to volunteer for his campaign, prompting DeSantis to remark that his GOP primary opponents Donald Trump and Nikki Haley dont have that kind of committed volunteers. He said Haleys billionaire donors arent coming to Iowa to knock on doors in the snow. At least 42 billionaires contributed to DeSantis reelection campaign for governor, according to a USA TODAY Network-Florida analysis. Zac Anderson Trump appears to lobby U.S. Supreme Court over state ballot access case As snow blankets Iowa, Donald Trump appeared to use his Truth Social media site Saturday to campaign against the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump did not specifically mention the U.S. Supreme Court by name, but did rail on "Republican judges" as the justices consider efforts by some states to keep him off the president ballot. "Republican Judges are very often afraid to do the right thing," Trump said in his post. "They go out of their way to show they are totally impartial, to the point of making really bad and unfair decisions." Trump has expressed similar sentiments on the campaign trail while discussing his appeal of last month's decision by the Colorado Supreme Court; the state court ruled last month that Trump is ineligible for the presidential ballot because of the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021. The high court has a Feb. 8 hearing on the Colorado ruling. David Jackson Roy stumps for DeSantis, in defiance of Trump Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, continued his campaign for the Florida governor in Iowa, stopping in Council Bluffs on the western edge of the state Saturday morning. Roy, an ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus member, breaks with many House Republicans who have either quietly or publicly supported frontrunner Donald Trump. Let me just be very clear, Roy said, pointing to Trumps COVID policies as top issue, when you shut down the economy, when you shut down government and when you allow states to create millions of mail-in ballots, youre going to get the fraud that kills your own election. Judges and officials, including from Trump's own administration, have rebuked claims of any significant election fraud in 2020. Savannah Kuchar How cold and snowy is it? The NFL just postponed a playoff game How bad is the weather nationwide this weekend? The NFL has postponed a playoff game once scheduled for Sunday. The Buffalo Bills, a city like Iowa inundated with snow and wind chill, will now host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday afternoon. Rest assured: The Iowa caucuses are still scheduled to happen Monday night. David Jackson Trump promotes endorsement from Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano While waiting to fly to Iowa, Trump on Saturday promoted a most unusual endorsement: Former mobster Sammy 'The Bull' Gravano. On his Truth Social account, Trump re-posted an interview in which Gravano said he tried unsuccessfully to influence Trump back in the day: "I tried to get to him; he just wouldn't bite." "Thank you to Sammy the Bull," Trump said in a post that criticized New York-based judges in the civil bank fraud and defamation cases pending against him. Trump said he hopes the judges "see this. We need fairness, strength and honesty in our New York Courts." David Jackson On the legal front: Trump ordered to pay NYT reporters nearly $400K in legal fees Iowa pre-caucus weekend also brought Trump some bad legal news: An order that he pay nearly $400,000 in legal fees to three New York Times reporters he had sued. New York Judge Robert Reed dismissed the Times' reporters from the Trump lawsuit that included estranged niece Mary Trump over a 2018 story about his wealth and tax breaks. As the Associated Press reported: "Reed said that given the 'complexity of the issues' in the case and other factors, it was reasonable that Donald Trump be forced to pay lawyers for the Times and the reporters a total of $392,638 in legal fees." David Jackson On the legal front: Trump's classified documents trial may get delayed The weekend before the Iowa caucuses brought favorable legal news for Trump: Another sign that his federal trial for mishandling federal documents will be delayed from May. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon denied a prosecutors' motion to compel Trump's legal team to disclose details about lawyers call his "advice-of-counsel" defense. The ruling bodes well for Trump's strategy of trying to delay all four of his criminal trials past Election Day on Nov. 5. On the social media platform X (former Twitter), former federal prosecutor and MSNBC analyst Joyce Vance White said that "Judge Cannon has just refused to enforce a routine deadline." In the Mar-a-Lago case, Judge Cannon has just refused to enforce a routine deadline & it's entirely clear she has no intention of letting this case go to trial before the election or possibly ever. pic.twitter.com/ggwOzcEUa1 Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) January 13, 2024 She added: "It's entirely clear she has no intention of letting this case go to trial before the election or possibly ever." David Jackson Iowa is getting frigid, snowy weather the weekend ahead of its caucus. When is the Iowa caucus? The Iowa caucuses are scheduled for Jan. 15, starting at 7 p.m. The Democratic and Republican contests function function differently. Catch up with the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, on what you need to know about the caucuses. Marina Pitofsky Why does the Iowa Caucus matter? For 50 years, Iowans have gathered in school gymnasiums, community centers and family living rooms to kick off the nation's presidential nominating process, wielding their outsized influence to winnow and shape the field of contenders. Ahead of each caucus, presidential candidates flood the state for months, if not years, to try to woo Iowans and gain their support. The national and international media descends on the state, ready to derive meaning from caucus night results. Brianne Pfannenstiel Most candidates head to New Hampshire next - DeSantis goes to South Carolina While coping with the weather, campaigns are also making post-Iowa plans - and not all of them are heading straight to New Hampshire, the next contest state. Ron DeSantis plans to first travel Tuesday to South Carolina, the home of rival Nikki Haley and the host of a big Republican primary on Feb. 24. "You look at South Carolina, Nikki Haley was governor there, and I've got like five times more endorsements from state legislators current and former than she does," DeSantis told Fox News. DeSantis is also battling Haley for second place in Iowa, and is far behind her and Donald Trump in polls out of New Hampshire, which holds a primary on Jan. 23. And to be sure: Right after his Tuesday event in Greenville, S.C., DeSantis heads back up to New Hampshire for a town hall. David Jackson Trump: I'll get to Iowa sometime this weekend Former President Donald Trump says he will get to Iowa sometime this weekend, but when and what he will be doing is up in the air because of the horrible weather. "One way or the other I'm getting there," Trump said in a video posted on social media late Friday by him and members of his campaign team. Trump said he would try to get to Iowa on Saturday night, and would be in the Hawkeye State on Sunday and Monday. "I'll get to see you on Sunday and Monday, and maybe Saturday night late," Trump said. The video surfaced after Trump's campaign announced that a series of weekend rallies have been replaced by tele-rallies. Trump, who still has a traditional rally scheduled for Indianola on Sunday, said he wants to make sure his people get to their caucuses on Monday despite the weather. "We're going to caucus and we're going to do great," Trump said. David Jackson This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Candidates make final push in snowy Iowa as caucus draws near A man murdered in front of his family in Brazil last week was actually a contract killer wanted by Interpol. Darko Geisler posed as a Slovenian national in Brazil for nine years, police said, until he was shot at point-blank range while returning home with his wife and three-year-old son. Police found that Geisler was actually Serbian, not Slovenian, after the Slovenian consulate confirmed that the passport found on his person was not his but the long-lost possession of a real Slovenian citizen. Geisler was wanted for a string of killings across the Balkans, and had been living under a false name in Brazil for nearly a decade. His wife and neighbors claimed to have no idea about his true identity until he was unmasked after death. While his killers identity remains unknown, police suspect Geisler's criminal past is related to his murder. Read it at Fox News Read more at The Daily Beast. Wearing their press jackets, a group of journalists sit together as they sing a haunting melody: We will remain here in our homes, until the pain goes away. Sitting among the circle of Palestinians is Wael al-Dahdouh, an Al Jazeera correspondent all too familiar with pain and loss. The world watched as he learnt that his wife, son, daughter and grandson had been killed in an Israeli air strike on 25 October. Just two months later, al-Dahdouh was hit by shrapnel while he was reporting from the scene of a bombarded school in Khan Younis. Weeks later, his other son, Hamza also a journalist was killed in an airstrike by Israeli forces. Wael al-Dahdouh buries his son, who was killed in an Israeli strike (Getty) The same group that have been singing together gather around al-Dahdouh as he buries his son with one hand gripping a press helmet. Despite his unimaginable losses, he has continued reporting, saying: All the world needs to see what is happening here. As Sunday marks the 100th day of the war, data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) shows that more journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Hamas war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year. The CPJ places the death toll at at least 82 75 of them Palestinian, four Israeli, and three Lebanese. The four Israeli journalists were killed in the 7 October Hamas attacks that left more than 1,200 people dead. Among them was Yaniv Zohar, a former Associated Press videojournalist, who was killed along with his wife and two daughters. The son of our colleague Wael Dahdouh, Hamza, was killed in an Israeli strike along with journalist Mustafa Thuraya. Wael lost his wife, two of his children, and a granddaughter a few weeks ago. May God be with you Wael, RIP Hamza. pic.twitter.com/o72sbKXyOZ Ali Hashem (@alihashem_tv) January 7, 2024 The International Criminal Court has announced it is investigating alleged offences against Palestinian journalists since the Hamas attacks, after Paris-based NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) filed a second complaint in December. RSF described the targeting of journalists as intentional homicides of civilians. The United Nations said Gaza has seemingly become the deadliest place in the world for journalists and their families, as it raised concerns once again following the killings of Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, a freelance videographer working for Agence France-Presse. Very concerned by high death toll of media workers in Gaza, the UN rights office wrote on X, adding: Killings of all journalists, including Hamza Wael Dahdouh and Mustafa Abu Thuria in reported IDF strike on car must be thoroughly, independently investigated to ensure strict compliance with international law, and violations prosecuted. Motee Masbhah says he feels obliged to continue reporting despite the danger posed (Supplied) Efforts to document the war are already being hindered by frequent communication blackouts and the refusal to allow journalists to rotate in and out of the Gaza Strip. Only a handful of international journalists have been permitted to enter Gaza with Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops. Speaking from al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah, reporter Motee Masbhah tells The Independent: No journalist here knows if they will live until the evening. We are under deliberate and intentional targeting by the occupation, he claims. Israel wants to stop the Palestinian people from learning what is happening on the ground. It is blatant. Israel has denied targeting journalists, and said it does everything it can to avoid harming civilians in its war on Hamas. Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah was killed while stationed 1km from the northern Israeli border with Lebanon (Reuters) Following the strike on Hamza Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuria, Israel initially claimed that its forces had identified and struck a terrorist who operated an aircraft that posed a threat to IDF troops. We are aware of the reports that, during the strike, two other suspects who were in the same vehicle as the terrorist were also hit, it added. However, the Israeli militarys chief spokesperson appeared to contradict this statement when he was asked by NBC to provide evidence to support the claims, as he responded: We understand they were putting a drone, using a drone. And using a drone in a war zone, its a problem. It looks like the terrorists. He added that the incident would be investigated. The families of the journalists strongly rejected the claims. Al-Dahdouhs family told the BBC they were fabrications made to justify the targeting of journalists. Abeer (centre), the sister of Abdallah, weeps at his funeral (AP) Ramy Abdu, the founder of non-profit organisation Euromed Monitor, paid tribute to Bilal Jadallah, the director of Press House-Palestine, who was killed when an airstrike hit his car on 19 November. His most recent work, for the CPJ, documented a deadly pattern of journalist killings by the IDF. No foreign press got into Gaza without Bilals help, Abdu says. But he was killed without any word of condemnation from Europe. They forgot about him. Press House - Palestine mourns its General Director journalist Bilal Jadallah, who was martyred in an Israeli bombing in Gaza City. pic.twitter.com/fgRvhyaE3H Press House (@PressHouseGaza) November 19, 2023 Journalists documenting developments in the West Bank say they have also found themselves under threat while doing their job. Asif Nawfal, 28, describes dodging bullets as he and other journalists tried to cover settler attacks on the village of Deir Sharaf, west of Nablus, on 2 November. Abd Elkader Abd Elhalim, a Palestinian journalist based in Nazareth, calls the press climate militant as he describes a marked shift in his reporting. Asif Nawfal describes dodging bullets while reporting in the West Bank (Supplied) The news I write is not at the same level that it used to be before, because we are afraid, he says. We are not as courageous as the people of Gaza. We are afraid of being detained or arrested, while others are facing death to tell their stories. No one should have to show this level of bravery. No one should have to go through this. They are doing what has never been done before. The world chooses to see what they want, and chooses to ignore what they want. If these stats were coming out of any other country outside of the Middle East, you would find condemnations and unbelievable efforts to stop this. The Israeli military has been contacted for comment. North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said, two months after they claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant US targets in the region. The launch was North Korea's first this year. Experts say they could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Korea's parliamentary elections in April and the US presidential election in November. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from their capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, center, inspects as he tours munitions factories in North Korea on 8 - 9 January - Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Korea's military will maintain its readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea. The South Korean assessment suggests North Korea could have launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose solid-fuel engine it said it had tested in mid-November. The missile is mainly designed to hit US military bases in the US Pacific territory of Guam, which is about 3,400 kilometres (2,110 miles) from Pyongyang, the capital. With a range adjustment, the missile can also be used to attack closer targets - including the US military installations in Japan's Okinawa island, according to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile is powered by liquid-fuel engines. Japan's Defense Ministry said its analysis showed the missile travelled at least 500 kilometres (300 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50 kilometres (30 miles), data that suggest North Korea may have fired a short-range and not an intermediate-range missile. Japan and South Korea said they closely exchanged information about the launch with the United States, but they didn't immediately explain the discrepancy in data. The last time North Korea performed a missile launch that was publicly announced was Dec. 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, their most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the country's only known solid-fuel ICBM and it's designed to strike the mainland US. On 5 January, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. South Korea accused North Korea of continuing similar artillery barrage in the area for the next two days. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999 - and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes ahead of an election year in South Korea and the US Leader Kim Jong Un, during visits last week to munitions factories, called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win the election and pursue rapprochement with North Korea, and for former US President Donald Trump to be elected again. They say Kim may believe he could win US concessions like sanctions relief if Trump returns to the White House. Negotiations over North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal have been dormant since the Kim-Trump diplomacy broke down in 2019. Kim has since focused on enlarging his nuclear and missile arsenals in what foreign analysts say is an effort to boost his leverage. In recent months, North Korea has also been expanding its military and other cooperation with Russia. The US government said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the US, South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russia's war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. North Korea and Russia announced Sunday that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Three women were lined up at their usual table to eat lunch. The trio met after each faced a moment they hoped would never come. They all had become homeless for the first time after the age of 50. More than 2,000 people 55 and older are experiencing homelessness in Maricopa County, according to data collected during the January 2023 point-in-time count. Across the U.S., senior homelessness has risen steadily, with experts warning that even more will lose their homes in the face of rising rent and stagnant fixed income. Justa Center exists to serve the needs of this population. The organization is a past Season for Sharing grant recipient and used funds raised by readers of The Arizona Republic to help reduce the isolation of 100 formerly homeless, newly housed seniors. More than 150 Arizona nonprofits received $1.6 million from readers of The Arizona Republic as part of the 2022-23 Season for Sharing campaign. Just off of Jefferson Street in downtown Phoenix, the brick Justa Center building is a short walk from Key Campus once known as the Human Services Campus, a collection of more than a dozen homeless service organizations. Justa Center has been serving older adults experiencing homelessness since 2006, making it one of the few facilities of its kind across the U.S. Judy Sell, 74, left her home once she couldnt afford a more than $1,000 jump in rent. She said she spent more than $10,000 on hotel rooms for her and her grandson before eventually coming to Central Arizona Shelter Services more than a year ago. This was my last resort, she said about living in the congregate shelter. Sell and her friends, Lori White, 60, and Toni Spina, 55, start each day together with a walk to get coffee at Justa Center. They first came to the center for a place where they could feel safe. Now, they say theyre not sure what they would have done without it. What does Justa Center provide? Justa Center serves around 100 people per day, providing access to food, showers and other resources to navigate homelessness. Throughout the week, programming cycles through various topics older adults might need help with. On Mondays, an attorney offers free advice for evictions and other legal issues. Thursdays bring guidance on Medicaid and food stamps. Tami Marks, director of housing solutions for the center, said the nonprofit was created to help seniors receive a specific kind of care. Many are retired or unable to work. Others are more vulnerable when using a walking aid or living unsheltered outside. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's annual report on homelessness, nearly half of the older adults experiencing homelessness are living in places not meant for human habitation. Marks said she knows there are resources invested in helping older adults, but still believes the housing crisis they face has often gone undiscussed in broader conversations. Its sad that one of the most vulnerable populations is basically forgotten, she said. According to Harvard Universitys Joint Center for Housing Studies, the number of people over 62 who qualify for rental assistance rose by nearly 50% over the last decade, reaching nearly 6 million people. The report found that while government programs do provide rental assistance, the "demand dramatically outstrips supply, with years-long waitlists in some areas." Marks said she often sees older adults become homeless after an unexpected rent increase that can no longer be covered by a fixed income, or when a spouse dies unexpectedly. White said she lost her home after her husband died of cancer. She could not afford a lawyer to fight for her to stay in the house, she said. I am shocked at how easily I lost my home, White said. White was looking for places to live with Spina after they realized how well they got along. A case manager was helping them find eligible locations across the Valley that they had started touring. Creating a safe space for older adults: My type of people Justa Center is one of the only homelessness organizations across the country serving exclusively older adults. People who work there said their mission is to provide a safe space for each of their members, who are not often in spaces made just for them. The center hosts bingo events and computer training sessions. The lunchtime trio said its nice to be at a location where everyone gets their jokes, too. These are my type of people, Spina said. Marks said Justa Center is a safe space for their guests. Even when the facility hosts events for other community members, they make sure to host them outside of the building. Nonprofit sees rising homelessness: Playing catch-up In early December, Gary Laird came into the Justa Center building on his day off to make sure everyone was attended to. Laird, who has worked for the center for four years, said he sometimes works 16 hours a day providing care to guests. Hes spent his Christmases and Thanksgivings there and from time to time, hell get to help people move into their new home. The looks on peoples faces when we move them into a new apartment, its incredible, he said. Laird once experienced homelessness himself, before Justa Center helped him find his current apartment. He said hell always be grateful to the organization for being there when, he said, he felt ashamed to just look others in the eye. Even still, Laird said, it's difficult to not get discouraged when he knows there are more people who need help than help is available. Executive Director Dean Scheinert said the goal is to help as many people across the Valley as possible. But even still, the number of seniors experiencing homelessness in the region is likely going to get worse before it gets better. Were playing catch-up, he said. To prepare for impending needs, the nonprofit is always looking for its next sources of funding, much of which will go toward housing support. Currently, the organization is looking to provide more transitional housing for seniors who are on housing voucher waitlists. The Justa Center accepts monetary donations on its website where a list of current needs can also be found, including detergent, pens and notepads. Donate to Season for Sharing Since 1993, because of readers like you, The Arizona Republic's Season for Sharing campaign has raised and given away more than $73 million to Arizona nonprofits. Please help The Republic continue supporting our neighbors in need. Where does the money go? When you give to Season for Sharing, you're contributing to nonprofits that help teachers and students, aid older Arizonans and support struggling children and families. The Republic pays all administrative costs, so 100% of donations go back to the community. Ways to give Fill out the secure online form at sharing.azcentral.com. Text "SHARING" to 91-999 and click on the link in the text message. Go online at facebook.com/seasonforsharing and look for the featured "DONATE HERE" post. Clip the coupon on Page 4A of The Arizona Republic, fill it out and mail it to P.O. Box 29250, Phoenix, AZ 85038-9250. Scan the QR code with your smartphone camera, and click on the link to donate. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When older adults experience homelessness, Justa Center can help Subfreezing temperatures, bursts of heavy snow and strong wind gusts battered the U.S. over the holiday weekend, causing thousands of flight disruptions. Over 2,400 U.S. flights were canceled and more than 21,000 delayed Monday as of 3:15 p.m, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. Southwest Airlines was hit the hardest with 717 cancellations or 18% of its schedule, followed by United Airlines with 339 cancellations or 13% of its schedule. If your flights are impacted by the weather, it's important to know your rights. You may be entitled to compensation from the airline or even a full refund, depending on the situation. The Department of Transportation has an airline customer service dashboard to help travelers understand the basics, and the commitments outlined there are legally binding on the airlines. The general rule of thumb is you're entitled to a refund if your flight is canceled for any reason and you choose not to travel on the alternative flights you're offered. For delays, airlines are required to compensate you in the event of delays they cause, like those that result from crew scheduling or mechanical issues. But "uncontrollable delays" like those that result from weather or air traffic control requirements are not usually eligible for compensation. A traveler checks his phone at the O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Over 70 flights were cancelled at Chicago airports Sunday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) Airlines also usually offer increased flexibility to rebook in advance of severe weather if you think your plans may be affected. Airline weather waivers The following airlines are offering change waivers to allow you to adjust your travel plans in the coming days. Click each airline to see the policy details. What happens if my flight is canceled? For any cancellation, you're entitled to a refund if you choose not to travel. If you accept alternative flights, however, your entitlements change. For example, if American, Delta, Hawaiian or United cancel a flight for controllable reasons, they're committed to: rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline, at no extra cost providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the cancellation results in a passenger waiting at least three hours for a new flight providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight cancellation Alaska and JetBlue offer the same, plus some additional compensation. Allegiant, Frontier, Southwest and Spirit do not book passengers on partner airlines. Additionally, Frontier does not offer hotel accommodations and related transport. United Airlines flight information screen displays today flight information, including canceled flights at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Over 70 flight cancellations at Chicago airports Sunday. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) What happens if a flight is delayed? "There are no federal laws requiring airlines to provide passengers with money or other compensation when their flights are delayed," according to the Department of Transportation, but U.S. carriers have committed to various levels of compensation for significant delays. Each airline, however, defines significant delays differently. If a flight is significantly delayed for reasons within their control, Alaska, American, Delta, Jet Blue and United offer: rebooking passengers on the same airline or a partner airline, at no extra cost providing a meal or cash or voucher for a meal when the delay results in a passenger waiting for at least three hours for departure providing complimentary hotel accommodations for any passenger affected by an overnight delay providing complimentary ground transportation to and from a hotel for any passenger affected by an overnight delay Alaska and JetBlue offer the same plus some additional compensation. Allegiant, Frontier, Hawaiian, Southwest and Spirit do not rebook travelers on partner airlines. Frontier doesn't offer hotel accommodations or related transport either. How to check the reason for your flight delay or cancellation There usually isnt a central repository for the cause of airline delays or cancellations, but carriers will typically advise passengers whats behind a schedule change. Your best bet for finding out what happened is to look at your airlines app or any emails you get from the carrier about your flight. If youre already at the airport, you can speak to a gate agent or other customer service employee. The FAA also has a website that lists general air traffic restrictions by airport, and that can be a good way to find out if its weather or air traffic control staffing problems delaying your flight. How do you request additional compensation from airlines during controllable delays and cancellations? Many times, youll have to speak to a customer service agent or may even have to wait in line at the airport to get things like hotel and meal vouchers. Refunds or credits can often be processed over the phone or through airline customer service chat features, and it may be worth waiting a few days for the call volume to drop if all youre looking for is a refund and dont need to be rebooked. Airlines rarely compensate you after the fact if you've paid out of pocket for a hotel, meal or ground transportation as a result of a delay, but a travel insurance policy often will, which is why getting one can be such a big benefit. In the very few cases when airlines do offer compensation for out-of-pocket expenses, they'll outline what you need to do to claim it, as Southwest did during its meltdown over the winter. How else can I protect myself when I travel? Especially during the winter when storms can snarl flights, it's a good idea to take out travel insurance. That will give you an extra measure of security if something goes wrong. Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY, The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is my flight canceled, delayed Monday? What to know, what you're owed Wait a minute. Didnt PG&E just get a rate increase? It doesnt matter. Now its asking for another one. On top of the $35-a-month increase that just took effect, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is asking for an additional $14 a month beginning in March. That will bring the average bill to over $300 a month for customers who get both their electricity and natural gas from PG&E. And heres the kicker: If approved, the new increase will not pay for any upgrades, equipment or any other additional customer benefits. It will reimburse PG&E for work already done. The utility is asking the California Public Utilities Commission to retroactively approve $2 billion in expenditures dating back mostly to 2022 and 2023 and to stick ratepayers with the bill. The reasonableness test To be fair, its not unusual for costs to run over budget, whether its a government agency, a private contractor or a utility doing the work. Thats especially the case in times of emergency, which have been all too frequent in California. For that reason, the PUC allows utilities to submit applications for reimbursement for expenses that went beyond what was already approved. That makes sense, as long as it doesnt become routine, which seems to be exactly whats happened. The commission does analyze documentation to determine whether the expenditures are reasonable a process that can take several months. PG&E doesnt want to wait that long. Its asked the PUC to allow it to begin collecting 85% of the requested amount from customers in March. If the PUC later determines that the level of reimbursement is not justified, PG&E will refund the money. Heres where the money went So how, exactly, did PG&E wind up $2 billion over budget? Breaking it down by spending category, the biggest request included in the application $1.2 billion is for catastrophic event responses, which included restoring power, repairing damage caused by wildfires and storms and removing trees and other storm-related debris. There were also planned fire prevention activities that went over budget, such as vegetation management. PG&E wants an additional $833 million for that, on top of the $795 million that had already been approved for both routine maintenance and the once highly touted enhanced vegetation management program that was later abandoned. Enhanced vegetation management referred to as EVM by PG&E goes above and beyond existing regulations in an attempt to identify and remove trees that pose a danger. But it didnt work out that way. It resulted in only a 13% reduction in ignitions during fire season, and just 7% when measured across an entire year, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. According to a company publication, PG&E Currents Aug. 7, 2023, the utility realized that engineered controls were more effective than trying to gauge which trees need to be trimmed or removed. We cannot identify every tree that may pose a risk, the publication explained. Engineered controls refer to power-line settings that automatically shut off electricity within 10 seconds of a branch or other object hitting a line. Ignitions decreased 68% in lines equipped with the shut-off feature in 2022, The Journal reported. Thats a remarkable improvement and it explains why PG&E is reversing course and relying more on automatic shutoffs and on undergrounding lines, though the utility says it will continue with routine vegetation management and will remove potentially dangerous trees identified during EVM. But is it fair for ratepayers to pick up the tab for what might be called a failed experiment? And is the current system that allows PG&E a second bite of the apple, so to speak, the best way to hold the company accountable? Doesnt it disincentivize cost-cutting measures if the company can turn to ratepayers to bail them out when things dont go as planned? PUC commissioner: This pattern of increase is not sustainable Those issues were broached at the PUCs November meeting when PG&Es general rate increase was approved. I am increasingly concerned that utility risk and the cost of minimizing this risk is being borne disproportionately by ratepayers, Commissioner Darcie Houck said. And as we see in this case, the rates that we are asking ratepayers to pay are increasing at a rate that will be unaffordable in the very near future if we dont find mechanisms to better control costs. As many of the parties in this proceeding have noted, this pattern of increase is not sustainable. Consider this: When a government agency in California goes over budget, it cant raise taxes to offset costs not without voter approval, anyway. Yet the PUC allows investor-owned utilities that provide essential public services to continue to raise rates. Houck is correct. That is not sustainable, and mechanisms must be found to rein in rates. Simply acknowledging that something needs to be done is not enough. It makes for a good sound bite, but in the end nothing changes. TURN, a nonprofit organization that advocates for rate reform in California, has proposed tying rate increases to the rise in the cost of living. Thats worth exploring. Ratepayers cannot be expected to continue bailing out utilities especially for their mistakes and miscalculations. Californians deserve a break. The California Public Utilities Commission should deny, or at least substantially reduce, PG&Es latest request for a rate increase. In the early 1860s, Linda Wert, a student at the Hagerstown Female Seminary, packed up her painting supplies and headed off to paint the Hager Mill, only an eight-minute walk from campus. Werts painting, which she later titled "The Old Hager Mill," now resides in the Washington County Historical Society collection. It represents a young woman's story, and the history of an institution in Washington County that provided young women with vital education in the 19th century. Linda E. E. Wert's "The Old Hager Mill," oil on canvas, circa 1860-1862. The painting is the first item in the Washington County Historical Society's new "Adopt an Artifact" program. This month, the painting becomes the first item selected for a new restoration program that invites donors to help preserve the important artifacts in the society's collection. Malinda Linda E. E. Wert (also spelled Wirt) was born on Aug. 2, 1841, in Millersburg, Pa., to Simon and Sarah (Mark) Wert. The Wert family deeply valued education; of the five Wert children, three daughters and one son pursued higher education. The 1860 census recorded Linda Werts occupation as Attending Female Seminary, indicating she had already begun her education at the seminary, nearly 96 miles from Millersburg. The Hagerstown Female Seminary was a young institution when Linda Wert arrived. Built in 1853 by the Evangelical Lutheran Church, the seminary stood prominently on an 11-acre tract of land situated at what is now Washington Park, between East Antietam and East Baltimore Streets. Built in a Greek Revival style, the seminary featured a full-height entry porch and four Ionic columns facing Mulberry Street. The brick building, composed of four stories and three wings, had a prominent cupola, encompassing a view of Hagerstown and South Mountain. The well-tended grounds held more than 100 evergreen trees and 500 other tree varieties. Arriving as a boarding student in 1859, age 18, Linda settled into a dorm room, attending school with 100 other female students. Her four-year curriculum included one ancient and one modern language, English literature, composition and rhetoric, and music and art courses. She had access to a library of literary and scientific texts, as well as physical fitness programs. Linda most likely painted The Old Hager Mill during an art class. Her painting captures a pastoral landscape of the Hager Mill, built by Daniel Stull and Nathaniel Rochester in 1790. The mill still stands today near 276 Mill Street, along a bend in the road beside Hager Park. Andrew Hager operated the mill during the Civil War, when Confederate soldiers raided it for supplies. Lindas brushstrokes, made just before the war, capture a tranquil scene: A bonnet-clad woman walks with a cane while others work by the water. Linda completed several terms before the Civil War began in April 1861. Records do not tell us which students and teachers remained in Hagerstown, or who returned home to their families across Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Students and teachers pose in front of the Hagerstown Female Seminary in the late 1860s. The school was later renamed Kee Mar College. The Hagerstown Female Seminary witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam in September 1862, and the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, when the seminarys buildings and grounds were used as a military hospital for Federal and Confederate soldiers. In addition, Union forces set up artillery on the seminary grounds in July 1863, when Union and Confederate cavalries clashed in Hagerstown following the Battle of Gettysburg. The seven-hour skirmish resulted in 200 casualties. It is unclear whether Linda remained at the seminary during this time; most likely students returned to their families. But we can imagine the seminary during these years, when local and national events converged and female students lives and educations were upturned by civil war. In June 1875, the seminary welcomed the Rev. Cornelius Luther Keedy as its principal. Keedy, born in 1834 in Rohrersville, had been educated at the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological Seminary. Keedy purchased the seminary in 1878, during institutional financial challenges, and devoted himself to its administration. The seminary became a center of womens education, attracting female students from many states. Kee Mar College graduating Class of 1902, nine years before the college closed. In 1889, Keedy renamed the seminary Kee Mar College, a combination of the first three letters of his surname and his wife Elizabeths maiden name, Marbourg. Cornelius and Elizabeth lived in Hagerstown until his death in March 1911. With Keedys passing, Kee Mar College closed its doors, having educated women for 58 years. But the building did not remain dormant long; the Washington County Hospital purchased the property that same year. The hospital desperately needed the large college building. A fledgling organization chartered by Maryland in 1904, the hospital had operated out of the M.P. Moller residence with only 10 beds, six staff and 12 physicians. After the seminary building was acquired, renovations transformed it into a fully functional hospital with 46 beds, growing to include x-ray machines, trained graduate nurses, laboratories and expanded wings. By 1950, most of the original seminary building was torn down as the hospital expanded. Today, years after the hospitals relocation, the property is now Washington Park, a large expanse of green space with a historical marker at the corner of King and East Baltimore streets. After graduating in the 1860s, Linda Wert returned to live with her parents in Millersburg. She taught in local schools for 40 years. By 1900, with both parents having passed away, she lived with relatives, retiring by 1910 and moving in with her niece and nephew-in-law in Chambersburg, Pa. She died Nov. 16, 1924, at age 85. Wert had been a young adult during the Civil War and had lived into the Roaring Twenties. Her painting, The Old Hager Mill, will be the first adoptable artifact in our new Adopt an Artifact program beginning this month. This program allows donations to directly support specific WCHS artifacts that require restoration or storage, such as The Old Hager Mill, whose frame and canvas need professional restoration. Visit washcohistory.org for more information about this program. We cant wait to see the colors of Werts painting come to life after nearly 160 years. Abigail Koontz is the curator/program director for the Washington County Historical Society. Washington County Historical Society has safeguarded local history for more than a century This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Civil War-era painting is the first item in a new preservation program In three years of litigation, Donald Trump has never opposed NY's civil fraud case on constitutional grounds. But in spirited closing arguments Thursday, Trump's lawyer raised multiple constitutional issues. The arguments suggest Trump will appeal a verdict all the way to the US Supreme Court. In spirited closing arguments Thursday, a defense lawyer told a Manhattan judge that the extraordinary penalties New York seeks in the state's $370 million fraud lawsuit against former President Donald Trump and his real-estate empire violate the US Constitution. That word Constitution hasn't cropped up often, if at all, in the long history of New York Attorney General Letitia James's pursuit of Trump. Thursday's closings were, in fact, the first time in three years of litigation that Trump has opposed the attorney general on constitutional grounds, one trial insider noted, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to comment on the case. But the newly-debuted constitutional focus now suggests that when a verdict comes down in the next two weeks, Trump wants to be ready to fight it all the way to the US Supreme Court, the insider and other experts who've monitored the case said Friday. Donald Trump addresses reporters after closing arguments in his civil fraud trial in New York. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Laying the groundwork for a SCOTUS challenge is a smart move, according to attorney Marc Frazier Scholl. After a three-year history of futile defenses including Trump's repeatedly rejected claim that he's the victim of a political attack a constitutional challenge is one of the most reasonable and promising legal moves Trump has tried, Scholl said. "This type of claim is the way the case should have been defended all along," said Scholl, a former financial crimes prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office who also worked as a public corruption investigator for the New York Inspector General. "They should have focused all along on actual arguments, as opposed to what Trump wanted them to say about unfairness and witch hunts," said Scholl, who is now of counsel at Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss. Donald Trump listened to closing arguments in his civil fraud trial in New York. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters The path to SCOTUS An appeal of the judge's final setting of penalties complaining it's too high or that the judge made mistakes in presiding over the investigation and trial is all well and proper on the state level but would never reach the US Supreme Court. Instead, his lawyers must challenge the constitutionality of Executive Law 63(12) , the two-paragraph New York statute that has empowered James over the course of six years to develop her fraud case against Trump and bring it to trial. This law lets a judge shut down a business and banish its executives from the state if an attorney general proves persistent fraud and criminality, as James has alleged of Trump. On their way to the US Supreme Court, Trump's lawyers would first need to exhaust their New York state appellate options. If the state's highest court, the Court of Appeals, ultimately upholds Executive Law 63(12) as constitutional, at least as it applies to Trump, the defense can ask the US Supreme Court to hear the case next. New York Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron presided over closing arguments in the Trump civil fraud trial. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Throwing the case to the US Supreme Court could, at the least, delay the imposition of penalties, Scholl said. It would transfer the case into what Trump sees as friendlier hands, given the high court's six-three conservative supermajority, including three justices he nominated himself. A constitutional challenge could also have a fighting chance, Scholl said. It's unlikely the US Supreme Court would throw out New York's executive law in its entirety, he predicted. But the court could quite possibly pare back, at least in Trump's case, its most severe penalties. New York Attorney General Letitia James attended closing arguments in the Trump civil fraud trial. Pool/Reuters And those severe penalties are? James has demanded that Trump, his business, his two eldest sons, and two other long-standing Trump Organization executives give back $370 million plus interest that she says they pocketed through fraud. The AG additionally wants to permanently ban Trump from running a New York business and to ban him for five years from selling or buying commercial property in New York or borrowing from a New York-registered bank. And in a bombshell pre-trial fraud ruling from September, the judge presiding over the non-jury case, state Supreme Court Justice Arthur Engoron, has already set the most damaging penalty allowed under 63(12), ordering the "dissolution" of all Trump properties licensed to do business in New York. The properties are to be be placed in receivership and sold, with Trump keeping the cash proceeds. These looming dissolutions remain on hold pending appeal. It remains to be seen if Engoron will preserve that draconian penalty in his final verdict, expected by the end of January. "My guess would be that they would say that a penalty that amounts to a financial death sentence, or a corporate death sentence, is unconstitutional," Scholl said of the US Supreme Court. "It's a massive thing to lock him and his company out of the state, basically, and say you are no longer allowed to do business here." A court sketch artist's depiction of defense lawyer Christopher Kise speaking on Donald Trump's behalf at the New York civil fraud trial in Manhattan. Jane Rosenberg/Reuters Trump's lawyer debuts a constitutional strategy "What they're asking you to do implicates the Constitution," Trump's lead lawyer, Christopher Kise, told the judge in Thursday's closing arguments, broaching the topic as Trump watched from the defense table. Kise devoted a page of his summation slide show to the sections of the Constitution that he believes the attorney general wants the judge to violate. One was the Fifth Amendment, which, in addition to offering protection against self-incrimination, also protects against excessive punishments, including high fines. "A number in the sky" and "absurdly disproportionate," Kise called the AG's $370 million demand. This may not be Trump's strongest Constitutional argument, experts said, given that James has painstakingly justified that number. The bulk of the proposed penalty is $169 million in loan-interest savings that James says Trump enjoyed over the course of a decade through fraudulently exaggerating his wealth in annual net-worth statements sent to banks. Donald Trump attends his New York civil fraud trial flanked by his lawyers, from left to right, Christopher Kise, Alina Habba, and Clifford Robert. Pool/Getty Images The 'Takings Clause' Kise also cited the Fifth Amendment's protection against the seizure of property without due process, known as the "Takings Clause." "A prohibition on President Trump engaging in any commercial real-estate transactions!" Kise argued, outrage rising in his voice. "I mean, that interferes with his power over the disposition of his own property," he argued. "It impacts hundreds of nondefendant companies, employees, properties. This is a taking. It's a confiscatory taking without compensation." The Takings Clause is Trump's strongest constitutional argument, Scholl said, calling it "the argument with the best chance." Due process Kise made the very briefest of mention on Thursday of Trump being denied "due process." "The court has to consider the harm or potential harm actually suffered" by Trump's alleged misdeeds, and then weigh whether that would be "an excessive punitive award," Kise said vaguely before moving on to another topic. Due process is something that shows up in both the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. It protects against a state enforcing a judgment against someone without giving them an opportunity to be heard. Trump arguing that his due-process rights were violated would seem a stretch, experts said. "States have the power to take away licenses and the ability to do business in cases of fraud and deception," noted Adam S. Kaufmann, also of Lewis Baach Kaufmann Middlemiss, where he is an executive partner. And Trump has had three years of litigation in which to be heard, culminating Thursday, when the judge let him make a five-minute statement on his own behalf. But there are two kinds of due process, Scholl explained. "It can be argued that he had plenty of opportunity to be heard in the case, but that's only what's called "procedural due process," Scholl said of Trump. There's also what's called "substantive due process." A substantive due process challenge would go beyond questioning whether Trump had an opportunity to be heard. It would question the process itself. Is it due process for New York state to have the power to take someone's property in this circumstance, in a case where no bank or individual has complained they were defrauded? "For somebody who just lied about how much they're worth, can you really take all their property away?" Scholl asked, describing what a substantive due process challenge would question. The Commerce Clause In his closings Thursday, Kise also mentioned the Commerce Clause from Article I of the Constitution, which empowers Congress to regulate commerce among the states. "The AG wants you to rule that a Florida resident, President Trump, cannot transact any lawful business with any New York financial institution," he told the judge. James wants to deny "New York financial institutions the right to transact commerce with him," Kise said. "This is an exceptional unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce." Invoking this Article would be a stretch, Scholl noted, calling it Trump's weakest constitutional argument. "I think that his argument that he is a Florida resident is a waste of time," he said. "That's just part of a shotgun approach." Kise did not respond to a request for comment on this story. Read the original article on Business Insider When "48 Hours" found Jaclyn Edison sitting on a bench with a book in her hand, we might have mistaken her for a young professional on her lunch break. But Edison wasn't on the job. She was on probation. She was sitting in front of an Austin, Texas, jail, where she'd just finished serving time after pleading guilty in a 2018 murder plot that sent three others to prison for up to 35 years. So why did Edison get a sentence of 120 days behind bars? "48 Hours" contributor Jim Axelrod reports on the crime and the punishments in "Shootout at the Shaughnessys,'" now streaming on Paramount+. The March 2, 2018 shooting murder of affluent jeweler Ted Shaughnessy, and the near-murder of his wife Corey shocked people in Austin, where many knew the couple and assumed they'd been targeted as part of some sort of botched robbery. With no relevant prints from any outsiders at the scene, authorities had to consider the victim's widow herself as a suspect. But in the following weeks, they cleared Corey Shaughnessey and concluded her son Nicolas Shaughnessy had planned the murder with his high school sweetheart Jaclyn Edison so they could live large on the Shaughnessys' money, hiring two hit men to do the dirty work. It was just after 4 a.m., when police say two intruders entered the Shaughnessys' sprawling suburban home. Corey said she woke up when she heard one of their two pet Rottweilers bark. "Ted sits up in bed and he grabbed his gun to go see what it was," she said. "I hadn't even gotten my head back on the pillow before I heard the first gunshot And then there was a barrage of gunfire." Corey said she was still in bed when the shooting suddenly turned in her direction. She grabbed a .357 revolver from above her headboard and returned fire. "I ran out of ammo I just bailed into the closet." Trapped in the closet with bullets flying, she said she called 911. "Travis County 911 do you need police, fire, or paramedic?" asked the dispatch operator. "I don't know," Corey responded. "I'm in the closet!" "There were shots fired Help me!" "OK, we're helping you ma'am," the operator said. "Help me!" Corey sobbed again. Even in her hiding place, Corey couldn't escape the horror unfolding in the house. "I heard this horrible, horrible moaning," she said. "When I came out of the closet I saw Ted's legs and I could tell he was dead." When police arrived at the scene minutes later, it looked like a battlefield. Broken glass and bullet casings were scattered on the floor. Ted's lifeless body lay in a pool of blood near the kitchen table. One of the dogs had been shot dead in the master bedroom. Corey told authorities she hadn't seen the attackers' faces. But she did have an idea why they'd come. Though she said she and Ted rarely kept valuables from their business in the house, "being a jeweler you might someday be a target." Sitting in the back of a police cruiser before dawn that morning, Corey spoke by phone with Nicolas, then 19, who lived with Edison, then 18, in the city of College Station more than 100 miles away. The couple made the two-hour drive to the scene, arriving around 8 a.m. They had met in high school when Edison moved to Austin from New Jersey after her parents divorced. Nicolas brought her home in 2016. "It was an awkward dinner," said Corey. She said Edison struck her as socially awkward, but before long, she was spending so much time at their house, Corey and Ted actually let her move in. Edison lived with the Shaughnessy family until she and Nicolas moved 116 miles away to College Station. About two hours after Corey notified Nicolas about the murder, he arrived with Edison at the scene. According to investigators they began acting strangely. When Edison learned they planned to test her hands for gunshot residue, she broke down sobbing. "That was a major red flag for me," said Sgt. James Moore, who was then a detective for the Travis County Sheriff's Office. "We knew there was something more to this at that point." Investigators began to suspect even more strongly that they were involved in the murder when they searched the couple's College Station home. "Once we get into the apartment we're going through it, we're finding ammunition," Moore said. Though common among gun owners, the ammunition was the same brand and caliber found at the crime scene. And investigators were about to find proof that Nicolas and Edison weren't telling the whole truth about themselves. "We find a marriage certificate for Nick and Jaclyn," Moore said. "In all of the conversation you were having they never said that they were married?" asked Axelrod. "No," Moore said. Corey said they'd never told her or Ted either. In fact, they didn't tell her the news of their marriage until after the murder. "I thought it was incredibly stupid," said Corey. "You're too young. This was really dumb." Trying to be a supportive mother to Nicolas, Corey said she accepted the marriage, but demanded the couple plan and host a proper wedding. She had ample opportunity to supervise that process, because just days after the murder, Nicolas and Edison moved back in with her. As investigators continued looking into the couple, they discovered suspicious text exchanges on their phones, written just days before the murder. To authorities, it sounded like they were in cahoots and arranging a hit. "Nick is saying he's 'working on it,'" said Axelrod, paraphrasing one of the texts. "Yeah," said Moore. "And Jackie's response to the text message was, 'do they want 50K or not?'" added lead detective Paul Salo. "And she said, "'we can't afford to pay half before.'" In another exchange, Nicolas asks Edison to withdraw money from her account: "So if it happens cash in hand." Bank receipts show Edison withdrew $1,000 from the bank just days before the murder. Nicolas Shaughnessy and Jaclyn Edison / Credit: Travis County DA's Office Over the next three months, police would come to believe Nicolas and Edison had masterminded the attack and on May 29, 2018, authorities arrested them for criminal solicitation in the murder of Ted Shaughnessy. When Corey read the arrest affidavits, she said her long-standing belief in her son's innocence started to crumble. And she remembered a particularly awkward conversation she'd had with Jaclyn back in 2017. "She even asked me one evening when we were getting ready to go out, what would happen to all my jewelry when I was dead," said Corey. "I just chalked it up to bad manners." Just two weeks after her arrest, Edison began cooperating with investigators and pointing the finger at Nicolas. She acknowledged he had hired someone to kill his parents, but claimed she didn't know who. After her cooperation, authorities released Edison on a reduced bond. Using video from Edison and Nicolas' home security cameras, they then tracked down one of the attackers, 21-year-old Johnny Leon, who eventually acknowledged having been in the Shaughnessys' home the night of the murder. Leon's phone records around that time showed intensive communications with a man named Aerion Smith, age 20, who later confessed to firing the fatal shot. Both were arrested for capital murder. But Nicolas Shaughnessy and the two men never went to trial. There was a new district attorney in town, Jose Garza, whose office offered them a deal: plead guilty to a reduced charge of murder, avoid a possible death sentence and serve just 35 years. Jaclyn Edison got a deal too. Plead guilty to attempted solicitation of capital murder and serve just 120 days in prison plus 10 years' probation. Corey thinks Edison's sentence is outrageous. "It is an outright dismissal of everything that I went through as a victim, she said. "And it's a dismissal of Ted's life." "Do you understand Corey's frustration?" Axelrod asked Salo. "Absolutely," he replied. "Is she innocent?" Moore asked rhetorically. "Absolutely not." "She knew, Amy Meredith added. "She knew what he was trying to do." In a prison interview during the summer of 2023, Nicolas told "48 Hours" that Edison was a full partner in crime. "Was this a fifty-fifty thing?" asked Axelrod. "Most definitely," Nicolas replied. And though Edison denies it, Nicolas told us killing his parents was largely her idea. Edison declined our multiple interview requests, but when she walked out of jail on Oct. 17, 2023, "48 Hours" producer Jenna Jackson was waiting. "Nick got 35 years, the hit men got the same," Jackson said to her. "You got 120 days are you getting away with murder? "No I think that it's fair, Edison responded. "I think it accurately reflects the level of involvement." Edison insisted the Shaughnessys are overstating her role. "Corey and Nick have both told us is that you are a partner in this murder plot," Jackson told her. "Yeah I think Nick is, is saying whatever he has to say to kind of clear his name," Edison responded. "Corey is very much in denial about what really happened." "48 Hours" asked the district attorney for an interview to discuss why his office gave Edison 120 days behind bars, but Garza would not agree to speak with us on camera. A district attorney's spokesperson sent us a statement saying, "Our office takes acts of violence seriously and is committed to holding people who commit violent crimes accountable." The statement also said Edison is on probation for 10 years and if she violates the terms, she faces 20 years in prison. Corey says a full explanation from authorities would have helped her make sense of something that has always struck her as impossibly wrong. "So no one's ever explained to you why this enormous disparity in sentence?" asked Axelrod. "No, absolutely not," Corey replied. Now, more than five years after the murder and living out of state and under a different name, Corey seems finally to have made her peace with what happened. She hasn't spoken directly to Nicolas since the day of his arrest, but made sure Edison got the message in a video for authorities, played at Edison's plea hearing. "I'm alive because your plan to have me murdered didn't succeed," said Corey. "You are a monster. You are evil and everyone needs to know it." Learn about larimar, rare blue gem found only in the Dominican Republic Quaker Oats expands granola product recall due to salmonella risk Photographer documents life on Golden Gate Bridge An internet-based propaganda campaign failed to convince voters in Taiwan to pick Beijings favorite presidential candidate Saturday, potentially showing the limits of Chinas ability to sow discord ahead of the 2024 U.S. election. Taiwans Vice President Lai Ching-te was elected president on Saturday, as voters ignored warnings from Beijing not to support a candidate it has called a separatist and a troublemaker, though his party did lose its legislative majority. Online propagandists targeted voters with falsehoods in the weeks and months ahead of Saturdays pivotal election, creating scores of fake accounts and promoting a fictional tell-all book slamming Taiwans outgoing president. Voters have been inundated with posts from fake social accounts that often disparage Taiwans outgoing president and democracy itself, analysts say, two frequent themes pushed by Chinas government. The online influence operation offered a sense of what the U.S. could be in for ahead of its November elections, said Lennon Chang, the acting director of Doublethink Lab, a nonprofit that aims to track and counter Chinese disinformation aimed at Taiwan. Taiwan has long been a test field for China in trying out different tactics, he said. These might be tactics that theyll use to manipulate or to disseminate messages. It isnt clear how much of an impact, if any, the propaganda had. Artificial pro-China messaging on social media sites often gets very little engagement online. Still, China-linked information operations have emerged in recent years as a serious threat. In November, Meta discovered a sprawling pro-China campaign that it described as the largest known cross-platform covert influence operation in the world, spanning more than 50 different platforms and websites. That campaign drew little attention or engagement. In an emailed statement, the spokesperson for Chinas embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, denied the country was behind any such activity and said that China respects the current social system of [the] Taiwan region. The so-called China-based online influence campaigns is clearly disinformation, he said. Taiwans election was in part a referendum on its appetite for eventually uniting with China. Outgoing President Tsai Ing-wen, who is term-limited, is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which is more in favor of independence than the Taiwans second major party, the Kuomintang. In December, the social media analytics firm Graphika published a report that found campaigns of fake social media accounts pushing anti-democracy messaging about Taiwans elections had started at least as early as May 2022. Those accounts often pretended to be real Taiwanese voters who commented on the news, often in favor of the Kuomintang and critical of the DPP. Taiwan People's Party presidential candidate Ko Wen-je in Taipei on Jan. 11, 2024. (I-Hwa Cheng / AFP - Getty Images) Most of the accounts engaged in that behavior had little traction with users and were taken down last year. Still, pro-China information operations have persisted in recent weeks, even using artificial intelligence to create personas that promote the fake book about Tsai, Graphika analyst Libby Lange said in an emailed statement. The e-book, called The Secret History of Tsai Ing-wen, appeared online in recent weeks. Accounts that promoted the book have used AI-generated avatars in a series of accompanying videos a sign of how China-linked IO actors are leveraging AI technologies to produce deceptive content, Lange said. That book, published anonymously and viewed by NBC News, is hundreds of pages of salacious, unsubstantiated claims about Tsai, often aimed at denigrating her personal life and her family. Videos of people promoting the book have appeared on TikTok and YouTube, though by Friday it appeared the videos had been removed from those platforms. A Taipei Times investigation of the book found it first surfaced in December on the website Zenodo. The report cited a Taiwanese national security official who claimed that videos about the book, promoted by what they say were AI-created hosts, were initially shared hundreds of times a minute on social media. Spokespeople from YouTube, TikTok and Meta all of which are popular in Taiwan each told NBC News they have taken down fake accounts pushing such propaganda. Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Lai Ching-te, his running mate Hisao Bi-khim and Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, center, at a rally on Jan. 11, 2024 in Taipei. (Annabelle Chih / Getty Images) A YouTube spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the company was working around the clock as we approach the Taiwanese elections and had removed a significant number of channels for violating our policies. As recently as Wednesday, China reiterated its long-standing stance that it would never compromise on its position that it has sovereignty over Taiwan and criticized the U.S. for arming the self-ruling democracy. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office this week accused the DPP of potentially triggering confrontation and conflict if it retained the presidency. U.S. President Joe Biden said in 2022 that he would have U.S. troops defend Taiwan if China were to invade it. In a press call with reporters Wednesday, a senior White House official, who agreed to speak on the call under the condition she not be named, said that the U.S. was not formally endorsing a party in Taiwans elections but that it opposes any attempt to interfere in them. It is no secret, I think, that Beijing has views on the outcome of the election and is trying to shape and course in various different ways, the official said. Beijing will be the provocateur should it choose to respond with additional military pressure or coercion. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com FILE -- Micahn Carter, senior pastor of Together Church in Yakima, sings with the worship team at Together Conference 2017 held at Stone Church. Carter has filed a defamation suit against a woman who said he raped her at the Together Church in 2019. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. With efforts to bring passenger rail service to Madison once again gaining momentum, the city has identified eight potential sites for a rail station, located along three corridors Downtown, near the coming Madison Public Market and by the former Oscar Mayer plant. A proposed Milwaukee to Madison to Minneapolis Amtrak route is one of five in Wisconsin getting $500,000 federal planning grants with the routes selected as priorities for passenger rail expansion. Restoring Amtrak service to Madison is long overdue and Im so thankful to the Biden administration for investing in Wisconsins passenger rail future, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway said. The city is committed to moving this forward in any way we can, including identifying the best site for an Amtrak station. The city and national consultant HNTB, which has offices in Wisconsin, have explored six corridors and recommend advancing three of them Downtown/Isthmus, First Street near the Public Market, and around Oscar Mayer for further evaluation. The study recommends dropping three other corridors the UW-Madison campus, the East Side near Starkweather Creek and by Dane County Regional Airport. The study looked at ridership potential, rail operations, access and multimodal connections, land use and development, and equitable access. Within the three recommended corridors are eight potential station sites with the city looking at space for an approximate 3,200-square-foot station, a desired 700 feet of track, ADA requirements, and train layover and servicing. The sites are at Monona Terrace, Blair Street, Livingston Street, Baldwin Street, First Street, Johnson Street, Commercial Avenue and Aberg Avenue. Each site has opportunities and challenges, city transportation director Tom Lynch and project manager Liz Callin said. The goal is to identify a location that meets the technical needs of the station, acknowledges ridership potential, and balances community priorities, they said. Madison is part of the proposed Milwaukee to Minneapolis route that also includes Eau Claire. It would be new service on an existing alignment. The other four state projects include expanding the existing Hiawatha service between Chicago and Milwaukee to Green Bay; adding service on the existing Hiawatha service between Milwaukee and Chicago; new service between Eau Claire and St. Paul, Minnesota, on an existing alignment; and adding service from La Crosse to St. Paul on the long-distance Empire Builder that runs from Chicago through La Crosse. The preliminary study will be presented to the city Transportation Commission at an online meeting at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Additional public meetings are being scheduled for late January and early February. Madison already has been studying a potential station, which would provide access to pedestrians, bikes, buses and vehicles, and be a catalyst for economic development, officials have said. The sites being considered: Downtown/Isthmus corridor Monona Terrace. The station and the waiting area would be incorporated into the Wisconsin Department of Administration building, 101 E. Wilson St., with new passenger track and a 700-foot platform extended under the convention center parking garage. Blair Street. The station, new passenger track, a 500-foot platform, drop-off, and possible new development would be located at Blair Street between the existing railroad tracks and Williamson Street on the Near East Side. Livingston Street. The station, new passenger track, drop-off and short-term parking, and a 580-foot platform would be located at the corner where Livingston Street intersects with the existing track, just north of the Capital City Trail on the Near East Side. Baldwin Street. The station, short-term parking, new passenger track, a 450-foot platform and possible expansion of McPike Park would be on Baldwin Street between the existing track and East Wilson Street on the Near East Side. First Street corridor First Street. The station, drop-off, new passenger track and a 400-foot platform would be next to the Public Market, 200 N. First St., where East Johnson Street intersects with existing tracks on the East Side. Johnson Street. The station, drop-off, new passenger track, a 700-foot platform, a shared-use garage, and possible development would be located in a triangle-shaped area between Johnson Street and existing tracks on the East Side. Oscar Mayer corridor Commercial Avenue. The station, short-term and long-term parking, new passenger track, a 700-foot platform, and an intercity bus stop would be located on Commercial Avenue between existing track and to the south of Ruskin Street on the East Side. Aberg Avenue. The station, short-term parking, a shared-use garage, new passenger track, a 700-foot platform, an intercity bus stop and possible development would be located off Roth Street between Huxley Street and existing tracks on the East Side. Generally, sites closer to Downtown have greater ridership potential and are closer to the citys most popular visitor destinations, Lynch said. Sites farther from Downtown tend to have better train operations and may provide greater opportunities for parking. The Downtown/Isthmus sites, for example, have the most people within a short walk, bike ride or transit trip, the most jobs, hotel rooms, and access for underserved populations, the study says. But Monona Terrace is the longest distance from Milwaukee and trains would be serviced off-site. Blair Street and Livingston Street need partnerships with private landowners. And Baldwin Street would require trains to stop on a track switch and need to back out, requiring more time. At First Street, the project could collaborate with the Public Market, but stopping a train on a curve between two streets is not optimal, Callin said. Johnson Street could accommodate a full program with a large platform, even providing opportunities for future expansion, but the site is being actively marketed so project timelines may not mesh, she said. Commercial Avenue would accommodate all program needs with extra room to provide parking, but its far from Downtown, with weak multimodal connections, she said. At Aberg Avenue, the city has a lease on the large site and redevelopment could promote the citys vision for the Oscar Mayer area, but it has low proximity to popular visitor destinations, she said. An in-person public meeting is set for 5 p.m. Jan. 30 in Room 215 of the Madison Municipal Building, with an online meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Feb. 6. The city expects corridor evaluation to be done by late 2024 with planning for a site in 2025-26, corridor development in 2026-28, and design and construction in 2028-31. Long a dream The city has been considering a passenger rail route and station site for more than two decades, with momentum building in the early 2000s and again a decade later. The state was in line to get $810 million in federal funding to build a Madison-to-Milwaukee high-speed rail system a proposal supported in 2010 by then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat. In the fall of 2010, then-Mayor Dave Cieslewiczs proposed capital budget envisioned a $12 million passenger rail station at the states Department of Administration Building as part of a larger redevelopment initiative south of Capitol Square. But Doyles successor, former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, rejected the federal funds in 2011. Walker later sought $150 million to upgrade Amtraks Hiawatha line from Chicago and Milwaukee to Madison, but the funding was denied. In early April 2021, Amtrak released what officials called an aspirational map detailing a vision for 2035. That map included proposals for new routes with stops in Madison, Eau Claire and Green Bay, which reignited the prospect of expanded passenger rail service in the state. Madison appears on a lot of 'best of' lists. Here are 24 of them Happiest city Most caring city Most dog-friendly city Best place to live Best Beer Best biking Best city for the young and broke Best state capitals Best remote work situation Best city for recent grads Best city to rent with pets Best School Best place for kids Best food truck Best college football Sportiest city Best outdoor activities Best work-life balance Best city for runners Best scientists Best place to walk Most successful women Greenest city Best place to retire In a thrilling showdown between the top two seeds at the Malaysia Open 2024, India's dynamic men's doubles duo, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, displayed exceptional skills but ultimately fell short against China's formidable Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang. The final, which took place in Kuala Lumpur, proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions for fans as the Indian pair fought valiantly but succumbed to a hard-fought defeat. Thank you @satwiksairaj @Shettychirag04 for a wonderful final! Resilience, Dominance, Comeback, Speed, Perception, & Confidence - all skills displayed by you both in this thrilling, nail-biting match against WR No. 1 in the final of Malaysia Open 2024! Hats off for rewriting pic.twitter.com/AVTYjDecFN Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) January 14, 2024 Aggressive Start by Indian Duo: Satwiksairaj and Chirag, ranked second in the world badminton standings, commenced the final on a strong note. Their aggressive playing style allowed them to secure an 11-4 lead at the break, capitalizing on openings in the Chinese defense. The effective collaboration and high-pressing game of the Indian duo set the tone for the match, leading to their triumph in the opening game within just 13 minutes. Chinese Response in Second Game: Anticipated as a fierce battle, the second game saw the world No. 1 Chinese pair, Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, responding with determination. They demonstrated improved shot selection, building a five-point lead before the break. However, the Indian duo, resilient and strategic, chipped away at the Chinese lead, narrowing it down to a single point at 19-18. The fierce competition forced a decisive third game. Decisive Game Drama: The final game witnessed both pairs leaving nothing on the court, each vying for supremacy. Satwiksairaj and Chirag initiated the proceedings with powerful smashes, showcasing their intent to claim the title. The Asian Games winners took an early 10-3 lead, but the Chinese duo, undeterred, mounted a spectacular comeback. Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang leveled the score at 12-all, eventually seizing control of the match at 14-13 and securing victory in a gripping contest that lasted nearly two hours. Heartbreak for Indian Pair: Despite their gallant efforts and a commendable performance, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to settle for the runner-up position in the Malaysia Open 2024 men's doubles final. The defeat, marked by a scoreline of 21-9, 18-21, 17-21, reflects the intensity and competitiveness that defined this enthralling clash between two top-tier pairs. New Delhi: The buzz on social media is reaching new heights as details of the pre-wedding celebrations of Anant Ambani, the youngest child of Mukesh and Nita Ambani, and Radhika Merchant have surfaced. The leaked invitation card outlines a grand three-day affair set to take place from March 1 to March 3, 2024, at Reliance Greens in Jamnagar, Gujarat. Invitation Card The couple's invitation card, adorned with lush greens and forest motifs, comes with a personal touch. Mukesh and Nita Ambani penned a heartfelt handwritten note inside, revealing their decision to travel to Jamnagar to kickstart Anant Ambani's new chapter. (Also Read: Decoding Budget Terms: What Is Indirect Tax? Definition, Types, And More - Check Here) In their note, they shared insights into Reliance's significant environmental contributions, highlighting the plantation of over 10 million trees in the arid region near Jamnagar. (Also Read: Want To Invest In Eco-Friendly Schemes? SBI Introduces THIS Term-Deposit Plan) Engagement Ceremony Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant officially got engaged in January 2023, marked by a ceremony steeped in Gujarati traditions. The engagement festivities included Chunari Vidhi and Gol Dhana, with a surprise performance stealing the show. Anant donned a dark blue kurta pajama, while Radhika stunned in a cream lehenga adorned with intricate embroidery. Rumors had previously hinted at a July 2024 wedding for the couple. Mukesh and Nita Ambani, proud parents of Akash, Isha, and Anant, have already celebrated the weddings of their older children in 2019 and 2020. Anant Ambani, a graduate of Brown University, has been an integral part of Reliance Industries in various roles, contributing as a director on the boards of Reliance Retail Ventures and Jio Platforms. Radhika Merchant, daughter of industrialist Viren Merchant and a New York University alumna, serves as a director of Encore Healthcare. New Delhi: Today's inspiring story revolves around a man who demonstrated that unwavering commitment and a profound passion for one's goals can yield enduring accomplishments, serving as an inspiration for the generations to follow. Balvant Parekh, a law graduate, book enthusiast, former peon, and freedom fighter, stood out as a significant entrepreneur in post-independence India. He was famously referred to as 'The Fevicol Man of India and he earned this title for establishing Pidilite Industries, the billion-dollar company that stands as the force behind Fevicol.(Also Read: Job Hurdles To Entrepreneurial Heights; Poonam Gupta's Home Business Blossoms Into An Rs 800 Crore Empire) Balvant Parekh hails from Mahuva, Gujarat and was born during a crucial period of India's fight for independence. Despite actively participating in the freedom struggle as a youth he eventually opted to pursue a law degree due to familial pressure. Even after achieving a law degree by passing the Bar Council Exam, his heart remained dedicated to the realm of business. He faced considerable challenges, residing in a factory basement with his wife and working as a peon. Fueled by his entrepreneurial ambitions, Balvant embarked on diverse ventures, importing items such as bicycles, areca nuts, and paper dyes from the Western world to India. After enduring years of hardship, Parekh seized the opportunity to visit Germany where he acquired valuable business knowledge. Upon returning to Mumbai, he along with his brother established Parekh Dyechem Industries and successfully developed the well-known adhesive, Fevicol. Fevicol made its debut in India during the year 1959, coinciding with the business's name change to Pidilite Industries in the same year. Fevicol gained popularity as a user-friendly adhesive crafted specifically for carpenters. Starting as a small shop, Pidilite Industries gradually expanded and went on to become a dominant force in the adhesive market. Presently, the company boasts a market capitalization of approximately Rs 139,000 crore. THOUBAL: The Congress' Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra began from violence-hit Manipur on Sunday with Rahul Gandhi asserting that the party will present a new vision for India that will be based on harmony, brotherhood and equitability and devoid of hatred, violence and monopoly. At a rally here to flag off the over-6,700-km yatra from Manipur to Mumbai, Gandhi and Congress president Kharge attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting Manipur as it reeled under ethnic violence, and vowed to ensure justice for its people. Gandhi said he had to undertake the yatra as the country was going through a period of "great injustice" and stressed the party wants to listen to people's 'Mann Ki Baat'. Ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ayodhya Ram temple, Kharge said everyone has faith in God but one should not resort to "dhongbaazi (deception)" for securing votes. "Wo samandar ke upar sair karte firte hai, aur jap karte baithte hain -- Ram Ram Ram Ram (He is seen enjoying the sea, sitting and chanting Ram Ram). 'Mukh mein Ram, bagal mein churi', do not do this with the people," the Congress president said, referring to the Hindi idiom that cautions against people whose words and actions differ. Hours before the start of the yatra with much fanfare, senior Congress leader Milind Deora announced his resignation from the party, in the latest addition to a list of young leaders who have left it to begin new innings in other parties. But the Congress downplayed his exit, with general secretary Jairam Ramesh saying that one Milind Deora goes away but "lakhs of Milinds who believe in our organisation and ideology stay". The BJP described the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra as "Bharat Todo Yatra", and said the Congress should first provide justice to the leaders deserting it and to the people wronged by its erstwhile governments instead of promoting Rahul Gandhi and trying to maintain the hold of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty. Later in the day, Gandhi embarked on the journey in a bus after it was unveiled by Kharge with top Congress leaders, including chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, cheering him on. The bus travelled from here to Manipur capital Imphal, a distance of about 40 km, with Gandhi interacting with locals who lined up along the route. The yatra flag-off rally was attended in large numbers by women and youth. Lok Sabha MP Danish Ali, who has been suspended by the BSP, also attended the rally and joined Gandhi in the bus for the yatra. Addressing the rally, Kharge alleged that Modi had earlier come to Manipur for votes but when people were in trouble, he did not visit. The ethnic violence in the northeastern state, which broke out in May last year, has claimed more than 180 lives and rendered thousands homeless. With top Congress leaders on the dais, Gandhi explained the reasons for taking out the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra after his Kanyakumari-to-Kashmir Bharat Jodo Yatra that ended January last year. "Question arises, why Nyay Yatra? Because we are going through a period of great injustice in India -- social, economic and political injustice. Injustice against the people of Manipur, the traditions of Manipur, but also injustice across the nation," he said. In the economy, monopolies are being built and a few people are getting access to all the wealth of the country, he alleged. "One or two businesses have their fingers in everything and the large majority of businesses -- small and medium businesses -- are being destroyed. Huge levels of unemployment and massive price rise is what the whole of India is facing," Gandhi said. "On the social side, the large mass of India's people -- the lower castes, Dalits and tribals -- simply do not have a say in the governance system of the country. I have given you example upon example of how the large mass of our people are excluded from the political system and from the governance system," he said. These are the issues that the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is going to raise, "but this is less about us and more about you", he told the gathering. Noting that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, they used to walk during the day and an interaction in the evening, Gandhi said the idea was to listen to farmers, labourers, small shopkeepers, women and youth. This is the aim of this yatra (Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra) as well, he added. "We do not want to speak much, we do not want to tell you our 'Mann Ki Baat'. We want to listen to your 'Mann Ki Baat', understand your pain," Gandhi said. He said the party is going to present the next vision for India which is not of violence, hatred and monopoly, but a vision which is "harmonious, equitable and of brotherhood". "After listening to your voice, we are going to present that vision to India," he said. Later in a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi said, "And from this grassroots dialogue will emerge the vision of building a peaceful, prosperous and powerful India. 'Vision of India' which is based on equality, brotherhood and harmony, in which there is no place for hatred, violence and monopoly." In his remarks at the rally, he also slammed the BJP-led central and state governments for the situation in Manipur. He alleged that the people of Manipur lost what is precious to them because of the politics and ideology of the BJP and the "hatred that was spread" by the ruling party and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). "We understand, all of us on the stage understand the pain that the people of Manipur have been through. We understand the hurt, the loss, the sadness that you have been through and we promise you, we commit to you, that we will bring back what you valued. We will bring back the harmony, the peace, the affection that this state has always been known for," Gandhi asserted. "I came to Manipur on June 29 (last year) and during that visit, what I saw, what I heard, I had never seen or heard of before. I have been in politics since 2004, for the first time I went to a state in India, where the entire governance infrastructure had collapsed. What we used to call Manipur, after June 29, it was no longer Manipur," he said. Gandhi said it got divided, hatred had spread in every corner, lakhs of people suffered losses and people saw their brothers, sisters and parents die before their eyes. But "till date the Prime Minister of India has not come to Manipur to wipe your tears, hug you, hold your hand... It is a shameful thing", Gandhi said. "Perhaps for Narendra Modi ji, for the BJP and the RSS, Manipur is not a part of India at all. Your sorrow is your pain, it is not their sorrow or their pain," he said. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will pass through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies in 15 states and the Congress believes it will prove to be as "transformative" as Gandhi's earlier cross-country march. The yatra will traverse 6,713 km, mostly in buses but also on foot. It will cover 110 districts in 67 days, before culminating in Mumbai on March 20 or 21. New Delhi: The Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22 has sparked a political controversy, as Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has decided not to attend the event. The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that he would visit the temple with his family after the inauguration, instead of being part of the ceremony. He expressed his gratitude and wishes to the temple trust in a letter, which he shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) late on Saturday night. We will surely visit with family as devotees after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony, he wrote, thanking the trust for the affectionate invitation to the ceremony of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Ayodhya. He also congratulated the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust for the successful completion of the ceremony. Akhilesh Yadavs decision came after he accused the BJP of humiliating the opposition parties in the name of Lord Ram on Friday. He said that the BJP was using the Ram temple as a political tool, rather than a religious one. The Congress, which is an ally of the SP in the INDIA bloc, also announced that it would not participate in the ceremony. The INDIA bloc is a coalition of opposition parties that aims to challenge the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, on the other hand, has been targeting the parties that have declined the Ram temple invite, calling them anti-Ram parties. New Delhi: Six people, including two children and four members of a family, lost their lives after allegedly inhaling poisonous gases from coal braziers in their rooms in two different incidents in Delhi on Sunday, news agency PTI reported. The incidents occurred as the city witnessed its coldest day of the winter, with the minimum temperature dipping to 3.5 degrees Celsius. The first incident took place in Alipur area in outer north Delhi, where a family of four was found dead in their room. The victims were identified as Rakesh (40), a water tanker driver, his wife Lalita (38), and their sons Piyush (8) and Sunny (7). The police said that they received a PCR call around 7 am, informing them about an unconscious person at Khera Kalan village in Delhi. When the police reached the spot, they found that the door of the room was locked from inside. They broke the glass window and opened the door, only to find four people lying unconscious inside. They were taken to the hospital, where they were declared dead. The police said that a coal brazier (angithi) was found in the room and it appeared that the family died due to suffocation. The police have initiated further investigation and proceedings under section 174 of the CrPC. The second incident happened in Inderpuri area of west Delhi, where two men from Nepal were found dead in their rented room. The deceased were Ram Bahadur (57), a driver, and Abhishek (22), a domestic help. The police said that they received a call at 8.30 am, saying that two people were not opening their door. The police found that the door was locked from inside and they forced it open. They found two men unconscious in the room and rushed them to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The police said that a coal brazier with burnt residue was found in the room, which had only one window that was closed. There were no signs of injury on the bodies. The police have started further investigation and proceedings under section 174 CrPC. New Delhi: Delhi air pollution has once again increased in the city. The air quality (Delhi AQI Today) reached 456 today. As a result, GRAP-3 restrictions (GRAP-3 Restrictions) have been imposed in Delhi once again. Under this, vehicles with BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel will not be allowed entry in Delhi. Along with this, construction, building demolition and other construction works will be stopped. It is to be noted that the CAQM sub-committee (CAQM Sub-Committee) has implemented GRAP-3 in Delhi amid worsening AQI. After the implementation of GRAP-3, an 8-point action plan will be worked on. Delhi air quality deteriorates It is to be noted that the air quality (Delhi Air Quality) in Delhi is very poor today. The overall AQI in Delhi is above 450. The air quality in all areas of Delhi is in the severe category. Today, the AQI was 478 in Anand Vihar, 465 at Delhi Airport and 455 at ITO. Meanwhile, talking about NCR, the AQI was 444 in Noida, 392 in Greater Noida and 396 in Gurugram. What is banned under GRAP-3? The implementation of GRAP-3 in Delhi means that now stone crushing, mining and related activities, construction and building demolition activities will be banned in the entire NCR area. Action will be taken against those who violate the rules. These rules will have to be strictly followed. These vehicles will be barred from entry Along with Delhi, NCR i.e. Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Noida will also have a ban on the movement of BS-3 III petrol and BS-4 diesel 4 wheeler vehicles. In addition, online classes for children up to class 5 in schools in NCR can be started. The government will have to decide on this. Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 14-01-2024 Live: The Kerala lottery "AKSHAYA AK-634" Result, on behalf of the Kerala government, will be announced today, January 14, 2024, at Gorky Bhavan Near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Lotteries department, which releases the lottery in 12 series (subject to change), will draw the result. Each week, 108 lakh tickets are made available for purchase, and the series may vary. The first-place winner stands to receive a substantial 70 Lakh Rupees as the bumper prize. For those eagerly awaiting today's draw, the AKSHAYA AK-634 outcome for January 14, 2024, can be checked on this website. Stay tuned to ensure you don't miss the live results of Kerala Lottery AKSHAYA AK-634. Kerala Lottery Result 14-01-2024 Jan: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-634 LOTTERY LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AZ 668146 LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AN 763270 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AN 425000 AO 409872 AP 870329 AR 465006 AS 435496 AT 339783 AU 904154 AV 899459 AW 941099 AX 748561 AY 858884 AZ 827560 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AN 668146 AO 668146 AP 668146 AR 668146 AS 668146 AT 668146 AU 668146 AV 668146 AW 668146 AX 668146 AY 668146 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0001 1587 1596 2250 2396 2407 3599 4255 5256 5385 7240 7631 7777 7878 8051 8495 8971 9601 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 0894 3564 4425 5312 5519 6927 6991 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0126 0866 0974 1322 1758 2581 3151 3473 3665 3860 4232 4324 4478 4946 5906 6019 6172 6518 6537 6607 7056 7852 8331 9658 9797 9973 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0108 0335 0350 0568 0799 0806 0874 1004 1021 1311 1385 1437 1529 1550 1640 1654 1783 2054 2106 2272 2349 2381 2400 2408 2445 2641 2773 2805 2808 2852 2894 3124 3319 3337 3506 4045 4150 4399 4667 4701 4709 4787 4802 5279 5636 5781 5866 5909 5926 6113 6122 6235 6699 6791 6870 6981 7015 7096 7137 7245 7367 7419 7738 7863 8075 8205 8631 8941 9008 9144 9157 9557 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0024 0296 0393 0501 0629 0703 0826 0840 0872 0899 0940 0965 1112 1138 1176 1403 1443 1570 1951 1956 1989 2131 2417 2529 2657 2729 2745 2751 2754 2761 2863 2880 2989 3071 3163 3197 3220 3225 3424 3656 3720 3819 3843 3891 3914 4119 4168 4213 4230 4304 4366 4486 4492 4531 4606 4716 4842 4928 5116 5143 5336 5656 6090 6109 6133 6180 6234 6462 6590 6661 6691 6710 6959 6963 7011 7043 7094 7095 7177 7350 7424 7429 7493 7602 7689 7694 7739 7831 7862 7879 7904 8040 8071 8191 8215 8263 8279 8334 8386 8418 8482 8487 8527 8582 8662 8826 8882 8980 9059 9125 9205 9252 9279 9342 9377 9528 9529 9542 9678 9766 9832 9900 9998 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 14-01-2024 January TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-634 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) New Delhi: Shiv Sena gets a new ally as Milind Deora resigns from CongressParaphrased article: In a major political development, Milind Deora, a senior leader of the Congress party, resigned from his primary membership on Sunday. Sources said that he is expected to join the Shiv Sena, headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, later in the day. Milind, who is the son of late Congress stalwart Murli Deora, announced his resignation on X, and said, I have decided to end a significant chapter in my political journey. I have submitted my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, severing my familys 55-year association with the party. Today marks the conclusion of a significant chapter in my political journey. I have tendered my resignation from the primary membership of @INCIndia, ending my familys 55-year relationship with the party. I am grateful to all leaders, colleagues & karyakartas for their Milind Deora | (@milinddeora) January 14, 2024 He also thanked all the leaders, colleagues and workers for their constant support over the years. Milind Deora has been a Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology and Shipping in the Congress government from 2012 to 2014. He was also the former president of the Mumbai Pradesh Congress Committee. He had expressed his unhappiness over the Shiv Sena (UBT) taking over the Mumbai South Lok Sabha seat, which he had represented earlier. Flash Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation on a visit to the United States from Jan. 8 to 13. During the visit, Liu met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, federal senators and representatives from both Democratic and Republican parties, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and professionals from such U.S. sectors including finance, industry and commerce, think tank, and media. Liu attended a symposium under the China-U.S. Track 1.5 Dialogue, and delivered a speech at the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations. Liu also met with United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The delegation had an in-depth exchange of views with various parties on China's development prospects, China-U.S. relations, and global governance. Both the Chinese and the U.S. sides said that they will continue to implement the important consensuses reached by President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden and take concrete actions to promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. As we honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday Monday with a federal holiday, well remember his powerful dream in 1963 from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. But that dream remains largely unfulfilled. Kings dream was one of a colorblind society. He challenged America to live up to its founding promises of freedom, equality and justice for all. In spite of a record 62 Black members serving in Congress and Black mayors leading major cities Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia Black Americans face inequalities in education, criminal justice, health care, economics and contracting. Whats worse is that many state legislatures, including in Georgia, Florida and Mississippi, have passed laws removing Black history from schools and regulating how teachers can discuss race in the classroom, which is a blatant attempt to rewrite history. Kings dream can be realized if Black elected leaders use their power and prestige to bring about equity. For the first time in history, seven Black speakers are in power in statehouses. Too often, though, the voice of Black communities is left out of policymaking. The minority leader of the U.S. House of Representatives is Hakeem Jeffries, a Black man. The collective power of Black elected leaders is unparalleled at this moment. What good is that power if it is not being used to right the wrongs of the past and present? Black elected leaders must be bold in their policies to end generational poverty and provide hope for communities that have been left behind. They must not be content with the trappings of power. The Black community needs equity in housing, health care, education, jobs and contracting. The Pew Research Center, in a poll last year, found that more than 80% of Black Americans say efforts to ensure equality havent gone far enough. In the same poll, 58% of Latinos, 55% Asians and 44% of white Americans suggest we havent done enough to ensure equality. In Kings beloved Chicago, a place he once called home, homelessness, hopelessness, drug addiction and mental illness abound. Homeless encampments in public parks and tent cities along expressways underscore the necessity for public policy around affordable and fair housing. In 1966, King moved his family to the North Lawndale neighborhood to highlight awful living conditions for Black people and fight for fair housing. Those conditions have worsened. King likely would be shocked to see the dehumanization of the dispossessed and disinherited and wonder if his protesting was in vain. When King led a protest in Chicagos Marquette Park neighborhood, he was primarily fighting against a white supremacist establishment that wanted to maintain the status quo. According to the Citizen newspaper, King declared, I have never in my life seen such hate ... not in Mississippi or Alabama. I wonder what King would say today as the political paradigm in Chicago, for example, has shifted to Black people serving as major political leaders in Congress, state legislatures and big cities. And yet Black people remain at the bottom of the economic and social ladder. Black leaders and Springfield Democrats allowed the Invest in Kids scholarship program to expire. The program helped Black students escape poor-performing public schools. Welch, the first Black Illinois House speaker, failed to call the bill for a vote. OUR VIEW: Keep diversity efforts on campus Charleston shows the value of having a point person on campus, despite Vos insult Our city, state and nation continue to grapple with persistent health disparities. King said: Of all forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death. West Side United, a collaborative of hospitals and community leaders started by Dr. David A. Ansell, found that people who live on Chicagos West Side have a projected life expectancy that is up to 14 years shorter than those who live downtown. Their research suggests the life expectancy gap is driven by inequities in healthcare, education, economic opportunity, and the physical environment. Our elected leaders matter because government has an impact. Government leaders arrogance and perpetuation of inequality can be seen in their response to the migrant crisis. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle are diverting hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars to provide for migrants. A government that fails to prioritize, protect and provide for people is morally bankrupt. The following are suggestions to make Kings dream a reality: Black elected leaders at the federal, state and local levels must unite and use their collective voice to present bold policy initiatives and resources to close racial disparities. Business and government leaders should fund think tanks at historically Black colleges and universities to measure progress on generational issues affecting Black communities. Citizens must vote and hold elected officials accountable for improving their quality of life. I write this commentary to make those comfortable with promoting inequality and injustice uncomfortable. Munawwar Rana, the famous Urdu poet and author, breathed his last on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He took his last breath at the age of 71. Following a deterioration in his health, he was admitted to a private hospital in Lucknow on Thursday. His daughter, Sumaiya Rana, had informed that he was on a ventilator, and his condition was critical. It is reported that Munawwar Rana was shifted to the ICU when his health deteriorated further, and unfortunately, he succumbed to the illness. Daughter Sumaiya confirms the worst Sumaiya Rana confirmed the demise of Munawwar Rana to Zee News. She mentioned that her father had "fought valiantly against illness every time." He continued to fight until the end, but this time, a heart attack led to his demise. Severe abdominal pain Sumaiya Rana had earlier revealed in a video released around 3:30 AM on Thursday that her father had been experiencing deteriorating health over the past two to three days. He had severe abdominal pain during dialysis. After a CT scan, doctors identified an issue in his liver. Subsequently, he underwent an operation. Three heart attacks Munawwar Rana's daughter, Faziya Rana, shared that he had suffered three heart attacks. After the operation, his condition had initially improved, and he had been eating. However, on Saturday afternoon, he suffered another heart attack, leading to a worsening of his condition. Following this, on Sunday evening, he experienced a second heart attack, and shortly after, around 11 PM, he suffered a third heart attack, resulting in his demise. Rejected Sahitya Akademi Award Munawwar Rana was a celebrated poet in India, known for his numerous ghazals. In 2014, he declined the Sahitya Akademi Award for Urdu literature, alleging intolerance in the country. He had vowed never to accept any government awards. Rana was also actively involved in the political events of Uttar Pradesh, with his daughter, Sumaiya, being a member of the Samajwadi Party. His political statements often garnered attention in the media. NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will release the first installment to 1 lakh beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) scheme under Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan (PM-JANMAN) programme, an official said on Sunday. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the first installment will be released on January 15 at 12 noon via video conference. The Prime Minister will also interact with the beneficiaries of PM-JANMAN on the occasion. In line with the Prime Minister's efforts towards the vision of Antyodaya to empower the last person at the last mile, PM-JANMAN was launched for the socio-economic welfare of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) on November 15, 2023, on the occasion of Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. The PMO said that PM-JANMAN, with a budget of approximately Rs 24,000 crore, focuses on 11 critical interventions through 9 ministries. It is aimed to improve socio-economic conditions of the PVTGs by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities such as safe housing, clean drinking water and sanitation, improved access to education, health and nutrition, electricity, road and telecom connectivity, and sustainable livelihood opportunities. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended the Pongal celebrations at the residence of Union Minister of State (MoS) L Murugan in the national capital. PM Modi also enjoyed a cultural program at the residence of Murgan on the pious occasion of Pongal. PM Modi in a special gesture gifted his shawl to one of girls who sang melodius tracks in the event. In a video of the event, the girl can be seen touching PM Modi's feet and he gifts her the shawl he wore at the event. Extending greetings on the Pongal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the festival depicts the emotion of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat.' The PM said this while attending "The country celebrated the festival of Lohri yesterday. Some people are celebrating Makar Sankranti today and some people will celebrate tomorrow, Magh Bihu is also coming, I extend my greetings to the countrymen for these festivals," he said. PM Modi further said that he felt like celebrating Pongal with his kith and kin. "Wish you all a very happy Pongal! On this pious occasion, I wish happiness, prosperity and contentment to flow in your lives. Today, I feel like I am celebrating Pongal with my kith and kin," he said. Puducherry Lt Governor and Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan was also present on the occasion. "The festival of Pongal depicts the emotion of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat'...This emotion of unity will give strength to the 'Viksit Bharat' of 2047," the PM said. He further said that all the festivals are, in one way or other, connected to agriculture. "Saint Tiruvallur has said that 'Good harvest, educated men, and honest traders together build the nation'. It's a tradition that on Pongal the first harvest is offered to God. At the heart of this tradition lies our farmers. In fact, all our festivals are, in one way or other, connected to agriculture," he said. The Prime Minister further said that more than three crore farmers in the country are involved in the production of Shree Anna (millet grains). If we promote Shree Anna, then it directly benefits these three crore farmers. Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamils. It is a celebration to thank the Sun, nature, and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest. Celebrated over four days, Pongal also marks the beginning of the Tamil month called Thai, which is considered an auspicious month The Northern Army Commander, Lt. General Upendra Dwivedi, said today that the army has commenced operations against terrorists in the Rajouri-Poonch belt, with a specific focus on strengthening synergy among various security agencies. During the Veterans Day celebration on the sidelines of a function, the Northern Army Commander stated, "In the last few years, the Rajouri-Poonch area has witnessed prosperity. There was investment and employment. Our neighboring country was not able to digest the peace and prosperity, so they are promoting terrorism in the area. We have started to take strong actions in this regard, and you will see that the situation will be under control very soon." We have declared 2023 as a zero-infiltration year, meaning there was no infiltration from the Line of Control in 2023. If you observe, among the terrorists that have been killed, only 21 are locals, whereas 55 are foreign terrorists, the Northern Army Commander explained. He also mentioned that the army suffered 20 casualties last year in a spate of attacks in the Rajouri-Poonch belt. In 2023, only 19 individuals joined terrorism compared to 122 youth who took up arms in 2022. We will continue to ensure that local terrorist recruitment is curtailed. We are working to further strengthen the synergy among various security agencies, he stated. In a significant event, Northern Army Commander Lt. Gen Upendra Dwivedi, AVSM, honored veterans who have dedicated their lives to the service of the nation. The ceremony, marking the 8th Armed Forces Veterans Day, took place at the Jammu & Kashmir Light Infantry Regimental Centre in Srinagar, Kashmir. This historic celebration showcased the unwavering camaraderie between retired and serving soldiers, reaffirming the bond that unites them. The Indian Armed Forces Veterans Day, celebrated annually on January 14th, pays homage to the exceptional services of Field Marshal K M Cariappa, the First Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Rahul Gandhi has kicked off programs for his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra from Manipur today but at the same time, his party Congress has suffered a massive setback in Maharashtra where senior party leader Milind Deora resigned from the party and has joined CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. While the Congress leaders have accused the BJP of hatching conspiracy ahead of Rahul Gandhi's yatra, the grand old party has turned a blind eye to a storm that is brewing within the party. According to reports, Milind Deora resigned after Congress agreed to let Shiv Sena-UBT retain Mumbai South Parliamentary seat. Deora was adamant about contesting the seat and thus left the party. Deora is the first casualty of the INDIA Bloc seat-sharing deal. With the impending general elections this year, the Congress is navigating a delicate balance, aiming to steer clear of potentially embarrassing incidents akin to Sachin Pilot's rebellion in Rajasthana state they recently lost in the assembly elections. The Mumbai South Seat is currently held by Arvind Sawant of the Shiv Sena, aligned with Uddhav Thackeray's faction. Since Sena UBT won the seat when it was in alliance with the BJP, if Shinde Sena fields Deora from the seat, it might be looking at a potential winning candidate with a proven track record in the constituency. For Congress, Deora's departure marks a significant loss for the Congress, particularly in terms of shaping the party's strategy in the region. This exit creates a void that may pose challenges to fill in the upcoming elections. As the Lok Sabha election gets closer, the Congress has lost a leader of calibre who commands a significant vote share in the region. While Sawant had got around 4.21 lakh votes in the 2019 polls, Deora was runner-up with over 3 lakh votes. Deora's exit will also have an impact on the impending Maharashtra assembly elections. Deora's exit also marks the increasing void within the Congress as leaders who were once close to Rahul Gandhi are slowly deserting the party. This includes Jyotiraditya Scindia, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Hardik Patel, Ashwani Kumar, Sunil Jakhar, RPN Singh, Amarinder Singh, Jitin Prasada, and Anil Antony among others. Now, the Congress party is already in talks with the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, and Trinamool Congress for seat sharing in Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Since Congress has shown a willingness to take a backseat in the seat-sharing deal, it will be ceding more seats to INDIA bloc partners and that may certainly hurt the ambition of its many leaders. If the Congress party fails to control the dissent, then more leaders may quit the party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, further weakening the party. The Congress has already witnessed voices of dissent over its decision to avoid the Ram Temple consecration ceremony. Leaders from across the northern belt are reportedly unhappy with the party's move to desist from attending the Ram temple event. These issues are crucial and Congress needs a solution at the earliest. Otherwise, for a party which is almost on life-support for the last two parliamentary polls, the coming days will be more challenging. Milind Deora, senior Congress leader, today severed his and his family's five-decade-old ties with the party and joined Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. After joining Sena, Deora said that the Congress party today opposes everything said by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also said that the grand old party has lost the path of constructive politics. Milind Deora also said that a strong government is needed at the Centre and States in India. "It is a matter of pride for all of us that under the leadership of PM Modi, India is stronger today...I would like to add that in the last 10 years not one terror attack has happened in Mumbai. This is a major achievement for Mumbaikars," said Deora. He further said, "The same party that used to offer constructive suggestions to this country, on how to take the country forward, has now just one goal - speak against whatever PM Modi says and does. Tomorrow, if he says that Congress is a very good party, they will oppose it. I believe in the politics of GAIN - Growth, Aspiration, Inclusivity and Nationalism. I don't believe in the politics of PAIN - Personal Attacks, Injustice and Negativity." #WATCH | After joining Shiv Sena, Milind Deora says, "I have been receiving a lot of phone calls since morning that why did I sever 55-year-old ties of my family with Congress party...I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today's Congress is pic.twitter.com/PVU6SdibOv ANI (@ANI) January 14, 2024 Deora further said that the same party that once ushered in economic reforms is today abusing industrialists, and businessmen and calling businessmen 'anti-nationals'. Deora said that he has received many calls over his decision. "I was loyal to the party during its most challenging decade. Unfortunately, today's Congress is very different from the Congress of 1968 as well as that of 2004. Had Congress and UBT given importance to constructive & positive suggestions and merit & capability, Eknath Shinde and I wouldn't have been here. Eknath Shinde had to make a major decision, I had to make a major decision," he said. Deora reportedly quit Congress after the grand old party agreed to leave the Mumbai South seat for Sena-UBT. Sena-UBT won the seat in 2019 when it was in alliance with the BJP. Now, it's likely that Deora may contest the seat on the Shinde-Sena ticket. New Delhi: The Amazon Great Republic Day Sale is currently underway and will continue until January 18. The e-commerce giant, Amazon, is offering discounts and lucrative deals on a variety of smartphones, heightening the excitement for those seeking new mobile phones. Notably, this marks the company's first major event of the year. For users intending to purchase a new smartphone this year, this sale offers a golden opportunity. Amazon is implementing substantial price cuts on leading brands such as Apple, Samsung, Redmi, Motorola, and many more. Interestingly, an additional 10 percent instant discount will be available for SBI credit card users opting for EMI transactions. (Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S24 Series To Receive 7 Years Of Software Support, OS Upgrades!) Now, let's take a quick look at the top smartphone deals available right now Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra The smartphone is currently priced at Rs 1,24,999 on Amazon for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage variant during the Republic Day sale. Furthermore, the company is also offering a Rs 10,000 instant discount when making a payment via HDFC Bank credit cards. Apple iPhone 13 The iPhone 13 features a dual-camera system on the back. It also offers a number of impressive features, including sensor-shift optical image stabilization (OIS) on the main lens. It is listed at Rs 49,999 during the sale. You can get an additional Rs 1,000 discount on payment made through SBI Bank credit card or EMI transaction. iQOO 11 5G This handset is powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. It is available at a price tag of Rs 44,999 on Amazon. Moreover, the company is also offering a Rs 2,000 discount on payments made through SBI Bank credit cards. Motorola Razr 40 Ultra The smartphone is a foldable phone, featuring a 6.9-inch P-OLED display with a smooth 165Hz refresh rate. It is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor, paired with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. During the Amazon sale, the smartphone is priced at Rs 69,999. There will be No-cost EMIs for up to 9 months. (Also Read: OnePlus 12 India Price Leaked On Amazon Ahead Of Launch Event On January 23) Redmi Note 13 5G The newly launched smartphone is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 9200+ processor for smooth performance and multitasking. It is available at a price of Rs 17,999 during the Amazon Great Republic Day sale. You can avail an additional discount of Rs 1,000 when making a payment using SBI bank credit cards. New Delhi: The government has made it clear that there are no restrictions on importing certain IT hardware, like desktop computers. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), a division of the commerce ministry specified in a circular to customs authorities and the industry that only the import of laptops, tablets, all-in-one personal computers, ultra-small form factor computers and servers is restricted, and their imports are permitted with a valid import authorization. "The given import restriction does not apply to any other goods such as desktop computers, etc, under the tariff head 8471," it said. In the language of international trade, each product is classified using an HSN (Harmonised System of Nomenclature) code, also known as tariff heads. This system aids in the organized categorization of goods worldwide. HS Code 8471 encompasses items associated with automatic data processing machines and units such as mouse, printers, scanners, and CD drives. In August 2023, the government implemented limitations on specific IT hardware items. However, in October of the same year following concerns raised by both domestic and foreign companies, it adjusted the restrictions on the import of laptops and computers.Importers were then permitted to bring in these hardware shipments from abroad by simply obtaining authorization, provided they provided details regarding the quantity and value. The goal of the new "import management system" is to oversee the arrival of laptops, tablets, and computers in the country without disrupting market availability or establishing a complicated licensing system. Importers can request multiple authorizations, and these authorizations will remain valid until September 30, 2024. Regarding desktop computers, an official mentioned that some companies had informed the DGFT about customs not permitting desktop imports. In response to this, a clarification has been issued. In desktop computers, the CPU and monitor are distinct, while in all-in-one personal computers, the CPU is integrated. New Delhi: Sam Altman-run OpenAI has allowed applications of its AI technologies for the purposes of "military and warfare". The company reportedly deleted language expressly prohibiting the use of its technology for military purposes from its usage policy, reports The Intercept. We aimed to create a set of universal principles that are both easy to remember and apply, especially as our tools are now globally used by everyday users who can now also build GPTs, an OpenAI spokesperson was quoted as saying. A principle like 'Don't harm others' is broad yet easily grasped and relevant in numerous contexts. Additionally, we specifically cited weapons and injury to others as clear examples, the spokesperson added. The real-world consequences of the policy are, however, unclear. According to the report, there are several killing-adjacent tasks that a large language model (LLM) like ChatGPT could augment, like writing code or processing procurement. OpenAI's platforms could be of great use to army engineers looking to summarise decades of documentation of a region's water infrastructure, reports TechCrunch. OpenAI has softened its stance on military use but it still bans AI for using it for weapons development. - Advertisement - Frances President Emmanuel Macron called Saturday for fresh talks for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip The French nation is determined that all the hostages of the October 7 terrorist attacks are freed, he said in a video posted online and broadcast at a meeting in Tel Aviv in support of the hostages. France does not abandon its children, he added. That is why we have to resume negotiations again and again for their release. During its October 7 attack, Hamas seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to have been killed. Three French citizens remain unaccounted for following the October 7 attack and are thought to be among the hostages held in Gaza. - Advertisement - On December 15, the Israeli army announced the death of Franco-Israeli Elya Toledano, who was captured and abducted while attending a desert rave party called the Supernova festival. His friend, fellow French-Israeli Mia Shem, was among those released under a truce agreement at the end of November. Israel says the Hamas attackers killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in their unprecedented attack on October 7. Israel retaliated with a relentless bombing campaign and a ground offensive that the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza said Saturday had killed 23,843 people, mainly women and children. Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who was on a visit to China days ago, has again shown his pro-Beijing attitude by not only rejecting the existence of Taiwan but also by setting a deadline for India to withdraw its troops from the island nation. Muizzu came to power on November 17 last year. Breaking away from the tradition of first visiting India, Muizzu went to China and inked several deals with China. It also urged China to send more tourists to Male. Pursuing 'India Out' Policy Muizzu, who came to power in November last year through his vicious 'India Out' campaign, has asked India to withdraw its military personnel from his country by March 15. According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration, said Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President's Office. Amid this, a high-level core group of the two nations met today to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. Diplomatic Row Between India and Maldives The call for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel arises amidst heightened tensions between the two nations, triggered by offensive remarks made by three deputy ministers of the Muizzu government against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following their controversial social media posts, Muizzu suspended the three ministers. These comments raised concerns in India and led to calls for a boycott by Indian tourists, who held the highest numbers, followed by Russia, with Chinese tourists ranking third. Muizzu's Veiled Attack On India Muizzu, who has just returned from China, has sought to move Maldives closer to Beijing. Speaking to reporters, he said that Maldives being small doesn't give anyone a license to bully it. He also announced plans to reduce the country's dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries. He also said that the Indian Ocean doesn't belong to just one country and belongs to all countries located in the ocean. Toeing Chinese Line During his China visit, Maldives and China issued a joint statement that even rejected the existence of Taiwan. "The Maldives is firmly committed to the one-China principle, recognizing that there is but one China in the world, the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Maldives opposes any statement or action that undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, opposes all 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities, and will not develop any form of official relations with Taiwan," read the statement. Maldives To Become Chinese Colony? This shows that Muizzu has already bowed down to China for financial assistance and trade needs. Muizzu is not realizing that his pro-Beijing moves may lead the Maldives into a crisis like Sri Lanka. While India was there to help Colombo, that may not be the case for Maldives. Thus, the day is not far when Maldives will become a colony of China run by a puppet government. This definitely poses a security challenge for India and the Indian Navy needs to be on alert for any misadventure in the region. - Advertisement - The Department of Migrant Workers on Sunday expressed hopes for the immediate repatriation of the 18 Filipino crew of the oil tanker that was seized in the Gulf of Oman. DMW officer-in-charge Hans Cacdac said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is taking care of the negotiations for the safe return of the crew back in the Philippines. The DFA will handle the negotiations regarding their safe repatriation. The DFA said they have coordinated with Iranian authorities, Cacdac said, in an interview with radio DZBB. What we know is that theyre safe now. Were praying with the family of those in St. Nikolas that they will be able to go home soon, the DMW chief added. The DMW earlier said that 18 Filipino crew of the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker St. Nikolas, which Iran seized in the Gulf of Oman, were safe and were now in Iran. - Advertisement - Besides the DFA, the DMW is also coordinating with the licensed manning agency of St. Nikolas and the families of the crewmembers, Cacdac said. Empire Navigation, the company that manages the seized oil tanker, had said it was also in contact with authorities and the crews families. - Advertisement - The Philippines on Sunday said it remains committed to its one-China policy following the recently concluded elections in Taiwan in which a pro-sovereignty candidate won. The United States did likewise, as US President Joe Biden, asked by reporters for Washingtons position on Taiwan, said: We do not support independence. The Philippines is committed to its one-China policy, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said, as it reaffirmed the principles contained in the joint communique signed by the two countries in June 1975. The joint communique states that the two governments agree to settle all disputes by peaceful means without resorting to the use or threat of force, the DFA added, referring to the communist government in China and the democratic system in Taiwan. Chinas foreign ministry and embassies around the world also warned countries against supporting Taiwans Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and condemned foreign governments that congratulated the islands president-elect Lai Ching-te. - Advertisement - The US State Department on Saturday congratulated Lai on his victory and hailed the people of Taiwan for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process. China quickly condemned the statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulating Lai on his win. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side, a foreign ministry spokesperson said. The Chinese embassy in London also condemned what it called the incorrect actions of British Foreign Minister David Cameron after he said, in a statement congratulating Lai and his party, that the elections were a testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy. The Chinese embassy in Japan went as far as lodging solemn representations, a form of official diplomatic protest, after Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory. Even on the eve of the election, Chinese diplomats were already warning their host countries of the consequences of supporting Lai and the DPP. Xiao Qian, Chinese ambassador to Australia, published an article in The Australian on Friday where he warned his host country of unspecified dangers if it were to support Taiwan independence forces like the DPP. Meanwhile, an unofficial US delegation sent by the Biden administration will arrive in Taipei on Sunday, a move sure to draw condemnation from Beijing. The delegation, including a former US national security adviser and a former deputy secretary of state, will meet a range of leading political figures on Monday, the islands de facto US embassy said in a statement. The question in the coming days will be whether China decides on merely a diplomatic and rhetorical response to the election or steps up with a big show of force. World powers are keen to see as much stability as possible between China and Taiwan, not least because of the vital role the island plays in the global economy. The Taiwan Strait is one of the worlds most important maritime trade arteries and the island itself is a major tech manufacturer, particularly of vital semiconductors the tiny chips used in everything from smartphones to missile systems. But Taiwan told China on Sunday to face reality and respect its election result, after voters defied Beijings warnings and chose pro-sovereignty candidate Lai Ching-te as president. Voters spurned Beijings repeated calls not to vote for Lai, delivering a comfortable victory for a man Chinas ruling Communist Party sees as a dangerous separatist. Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its territory and has never renounced force to bring it under its control, responded to Lais victory by saying it would not change the inevitable trend of Chinas reunification. Lai, of the ruling DPP, had vowed to defend the island from Chinas intimidation and on Sunday Taipeis foreign ministry told Beijing to accept the result. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on the Beijing authorities to respect the election results, face reality and give up suppressing Taiwan in order for positive cross-strait interactions to return to the right track, it said in a statement. External forces After a campaign marked by diplomatic pressure from Beijing and near-daily incursions by Chinese fighter jets, Lai beat his nearest rival Hou Yu-ih of the Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday by more than 900,000 votes. In his victory speech, the 64-year-old Lai congratulated voters for refusing to be swayed by external forces trying to influence the election. He said he wanted to cooperate with China Taiwans biggest trade partner and maintain peace and stability, but pledged not to be cowed by Chinese belligerence. We are determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China, he told supporters. Four Chinese naval vessels were seen in waters around the island on polling day, according to Taiwans defense ministry, and one high-altitude balloon passed over. China warned Taiwans voters in the days leading up to the election to make the correct choice, saying that Lai would take the island closer to war. Lai will take power on May 20 alongside his vice-presidential pick Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwans former representative to the United States. Both were the targets of disinformation efforts during the campaign that experts linked to China. The turnout of 72 percent showed an enthusiastic electorate and voter Tsai Jin-hui said on Sunday Beijing should mind its own business. What China thinks is a matter for China. We are electing the president of our own country, the 62-year-old taxi driver said. Continuity Lai and the DPP have toned down past calls for independence, saying there is no need for a formal declaration since Taiwan is effectively independent already, defending the islands sovereignty. But China still sees them as skirting too close to the I-word a red line for the communist giant. Beijing cut off official contact with current President Tsai Ing-wen of the DPP in 2016 and is not expected to budge with Lai, setting the stage for four more years of frosty cross-strait relations. The ruling partys unprecedented third consecutive presidential victory will disappoint China, but it is unlikely to spur any near-term change in Beijings reunification strategy, Bonnie Glaser, a Taiwan-China affairs expert at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, wrote in an analysis piece. A visit to Taiwan by then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2022 triggered Chinas biggest-ever military exercises around the island, involving warships, missiles and fighter jets. Further ahead, Lais presidency could be affected by the US election in November, with the possible return of Donald Trump to the White House meaning the islands biggest ally could take a different stance. On Sunday, a spokesperson for Beijings foreign ministry said the US statement sends a gravely wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces. We strongly deplore and firmly oppose this, and have made serious representations to the US side, the spokesperson said. They added that Washingtons statement seriously violates the one-China principle as well as its pledge to only maintain unofficial ties with Taiwan. We urge the US to stop its official interaction with Taiwan and stop sending any wrong signal to the separatist forces for Taiwan independence, the spokesperson said. They did not mention the unofficial post-election visit of a US delegation to Taiwan announced Sunday by Washingtons de-facto embassy on the island. With AFP - Advertisement - President Marcos flew to Brunei Saturday evening to attend the wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen and Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, the Palace said in a statement. The Presidential Communications Office said Mr. Marcos was invited by Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah to take part in the special occasion. Mr. Marcos will return to Manila today (Sunday). Mateen, one of Asias most eligible bachelors, married his commoner fiancee on Thursday as part of a lavish 10-day celebration in the oil-rich sultanate. An Islamic marriage ceremony for the 32-year-old prince and Yang, 29, was held inside a gold-domed mosque in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. With AFP - Advertisement - Mateen is the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the worlds longest reigning monarch and once the richest man on the planet and is well down the succession pecking order. His bride the granddaughter of one of his fathers key advisers and a member of a prominent family in Brunei reportedly has a fashion brand and co-owns a tourism business. Celebrations for the royal wedding will reach their climax on Sunday with a glittering ceremony in the 1,788-room palace and an elaborate procession. The guest list is expected to include international royalty and political leaders. With AFP - Advertisement - Senator Ronald Dela Rosa is urging the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to conduct training on rules on engagement for military personnel, specifically for the auxiliary members of the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU). Dela Rosa, chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order, cited an earlier viral video of a CAFGU auxiliary member who fatally shot a man who allegedly ran amok and the latters father in Negros Occidental. Due to this, Dela Rosa stressed the need to train CAFGU members on the rules of engagement as this particular unit of the AFP is deployed in different far-flung communities where police officers are not present. The CAFGU auxiliary member who was involved in the incident reportedly claimed that he defended himself after the victims allegedly threatened him with a boloa large single-edged knife commonly used in Filipino households. Citing his years of experience in the Philippine National Police, Dela Rosa explained that under the Police Operational Procedure, the victims should have been given a warning shot before the CAFGU auxiliary member resorted to firing his gun against the supposed offenders. - Advertisement - For Dela Rosa, there is no justification for the shooting of the father of the man. - Advertisement - The Department of Tourism (DOT) has expressed optimism over the travel industrys potentials this year, buoyed by the remarkable increase in foreign tourist arrivals last year that surpassed the targets in both revenues and visitors volume. Yung sa international visitor receipt, lumagpas tayo sa P482.5 billion pesos na napunta sa ating ekonomiya (The international visitor receipt overshot the target at P482.5 billion which went to the economy), Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said in an interview with Super Radyo dsBB on Sunday. We hope to be able to surpass the P1.5 trillion in domestic visitors receipt that went to our economy in 2022, she added. DOT records showed that there were 5.45 million foreign tourist arrivals last year, exceeding the years target of 4.8 million. Meanwhile, tourism-related employment created 5 million jobs nationwide, Frasco said. - Advertisement - The Tourism chief said among her marching orders this year from President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is to enhance the overall experience of the tourists. Gusto natin na masaya ang mga turista. Maramdaman nila ang love, warmth of the Filipino people at tsaka yung convenience sa pag-travel (We want the tourists to be happy, to feel the love and warmth of the Filipino people, and their comfort during the journey), Frasco said. The DOT aims to sustain the use of Love the Philippines slogan. Feedbacks from travellers indicated that the construction of 18 tourist rest areas that provide clean public restrooms was among the positive factors behind the growth of the tourism industry. Our domestic tourism has been massively successful, especially in the regions, provinces, cities, and municipalities across the country, Frasco said. She pointed out that Cebu, her home province, has always been a favorite tourist destination, along with Palawan, Boracay, Siargao, Metro Manila, and Batangas. Frasco also disclosed that among the DOTs priorities is the promotion and development of emerging and lesser known destinations under the Philippine Experience Program. The scheme involves highlighting the areas heritage, culture, and indigenous arts, as well as the local delicacies, festivals, and the communities themselves. - Advertisement - We trust that Comelec will engage the most qualified, capable, and proven performer in automated elections technologies Serious concern on the problematic track record of the lone bidder in the Comelecs ongoing tender for the purchase of the Full Automation System with Transparency Audit/Count or the FASTract project to be deployed in the 2025 mid-term elections has been raised by election watchdog Democracy Watch Philippines, an official observer of this ongoing procurement process. The components of the P18.8-billion FASTract project include: over 90,000 automated counting machines to replace vote counting machines (VCM) used in the 2016 and 2019 elections, ballots, canvassing, and all materials needed to operationalize the automated election system. A separate bidding will be held for internet voting and transmission. Of the six parties that showed interest, only Miru was able to submit its bid. SMMT-TIM 2016, Incorporated (Smartmatic) which supplied all the past automated elections was disqualified from all Comelec biddings to uphold the integrity of Comelec, pointing to the still unresolved claims that Smartmatic was involved in bribing a former Comelec Chairman for the 2016 automated elections contract. - Advertisement - Smartmatic had been the technology provider since the Comelec implemented automated elections in 2010, which saw the most peaceful, speediest, and credible elections in Philippine history, giving legitimacy and stable transition of opposing administrations. Smartmatic had protested the unfair disqualification and is pursuing legal remedies. Smartmatic actually showed up to submit its proposal but was not accepted. The first bidding last Dec 14 was actually declared by the Special Bids and Awards Committee (SBAC) a failure of competitive bidding as Miru failed to comply with some documentary requirements and was therefore found ineligible. One would think these technical lapses in submissions should not happen to a serious, and professional proponent vying to supply an automated election system that must not fail. Still the lone bidder, the South Korean firm finally passed the eligibility check of the 2nd round of bidding last week and will now undergo the more stringent post-qualification evaluation wherein SBAC has vowed to scrupulously check the authenticity of all submitted documents and the financial and technical competence of Miru. Together with the Democracy Watch team, we initiated an online research on past elections wherein Mirus technology was deployed. It did not take much to find over 20 articles reporting alarming instances of machine failures and irregularities in the recent elections of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq. To cite some examples, in DRC elections last Dec 20, there were still no results as of Jan 4, thats already 15 days! If you recall in our last presidential elections, we already knew that President Bongbong Marcos Jr. won just hours after the polls closed and many local positions were already awarded. Local observers from Election Observation Mission of the Catholic and Protestant Churches reported over 45 percent of the polling stations malfunctioned, forcing the extension of voting period. In contrast to what happened here, the May 9, 2022 report of PCIJ reported only 1.8 percent encountered issues but contingencies were in place to rectify them accordingly. It was much worse in Iraq where 75 percent of voting machines failed during the first round of voting, forcing what can only be a very messy shift to manual count. The way our voters are very passionate and how hotly contested local elections can be, you can imagine how dangerous this can become. This actually puts into perspective how efficient automated elections in the Philippines have been, so far. In its posted statement, Democracy Watch urged Comelec to give Mirus track record a thorough once-over as part of its due diligence, as it should with all suppliers. It might want to investigate the companys alleged links to controversies in Congo and Argentina. Such concerns over hacking vulnerabilities and vote manipulation are so grave as to have prompted watchdog groups and independent experts to flag many fatal weaknesses in Mirus technology publicly. Democracy Watch Philippines has officially submitted a letter pointing out these issues to the Comelec SBAC and copied Chairman Garcia, the other commissioners, and also the other election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting and NAMFREL. Now that this is out in the open, we trust that Comelec will engage the most qualified, capable, and proven performer in automated elections technologies who can deliver a much better election experience in 2025. We must not compromise the stability of our democracy. - Advertisement - As the nation stands at the threshold of a new era in economic leadership, we anticipate that Rectos tenure will be marked by transformative initiatives House Speaker Martin Romualdezs congratulatory statement on the reported appointment of Deputy Speaker Ralph Recto as the new Department of Finance secretary signals a promising era for economic leadership in the Philippines. Rectos extensive knowledge and profound grasp of economics, coupled with a remarkable track record, make him an excellent choice for this critical role. Rectos distinguished career, including his tenure as a longtime senator and recent position as Batangas 6th district representative, showcases a deep commitment to public service. As Romualdez pointed out, Rectos role as the former chairperson of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means demonstrates his pivotal contributions to shaping legislation that significantly influenced the countrys economic landscape. The Speakers characterization of Recto as a visionary economist aligns with Rectos demonstrated dedication to crafting policies that address the needs of the people. - Advertisement - His leadership as socioeconomic planning secretary and director-general of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) further underscores his competence and commitment to formulating strategies for sustainable growth and progress. The synergy between Romualdez and Recto is crucial for advancing the economic goals of the Philippines. Romualdezs acknowledgment of Rectos incisive leadership and the recognition he received as one of the deputy speakers in the 19th Congress highlights the collaborative spirit that will be essential in the pursuit of a more economically vibrant and inclusive Philippines. It is noteworthy that Rectos previous experience as the Senate President Pro Tempore adds a layer of legislative expertise to his new role. This multifaceted background positions him well to navigate the complex intersections of policy, legislation, and economic strategy, ensuring a holistic approach to the challenges facing the Department of Finance. The positive reception of Rectos appointment by both Romualdez and his colleagues reflects a shared confidence in his capabilities. This collective optimism should serve as a rallying point for Filipinos, encouraging them to embrace the potential positive impact Recto can bring to the nation. As Recto takes on this pivotal role, it is essential for Filipinos to remain engaged and supportive of the initiatives that will shape the economic future of the country. Rectos vision and experience, combined with the collaborative efforts of leaders like Romualdez, are poised to usher in groundbreaking initiatives that uplift the lives of the people and propel the nation toward greater heights. Rectos appointment marks a significant milestone for the Philippines, and we extend our warmest congratulations. As the nation stands at the threshold of a new era in economic leadership, we anticipate that Rectos tenure will be marked by transformative initiatives that contribute to a more prosperous and inclusive future for all Filipinos. - Advertisement - Indonesia is one our closest neighbors to the south. Were bound not only by geographical location but also by historical and cultural ties. They were colonized by the Dutch, we by the Spaniards. We also share a common racial stock. All this makes our two countries naturally gravitate to one another, as demonstrated by the recent visit to our shores by Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo. This visit yielded agreement on several issues, including dealing with the maritime tension in the South China Sea and enhancing cooperation among the10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The Philippines and Indonesia are founding members of the regional bloc. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said after the visit that he and Widodo had a fruitful and honest discussion on issues of mutual interest in the Asia-Pacific region. - Advertisement - As neighbors, we must remain united in addressing the many challenges that our region now faces, Mr. Marcos said. They both affirmed our insistence on the universality of Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), which lays down the legal framework that governs all activities in the worlds oceans. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said they are ready to work with other Southeast Asian nations to finalize a long-delayed Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, where many of its neighbors have overlapping claims with China. Asean and China have been trying to negotiate a Code of Conduct, a plan dating as far back as 2002. The two leaders also agreed to strengthen defense cooperation and to enforce existing agreements on border cooperation, such as joint patrols and crossings. During the bilateral meeting, Presidents Marcos and Widodo also discussed our proposal to buy antisubmarine aircraft from Indonesia to strengthen the capability of the Philippine Navy to patrol our Exclusive Economic Zone in the West Philippine Sea. Regarding economic cooperation between Jakarta and Manila, Widodo assured Marcos that Indonesia remained committed to keep market access open for Philippines agriculture commodities. Apart from these, the two leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding to strengthen energy cooperation between the two countries amid supply constraints on energy commodities, such as coal and liquefied natural gas. This MOU would push collaboration on energy transition, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and alternative fuels. In three days of the Indonesian presidents visit to Manila, what has been achieved is a strengthening of bilateral relations that augurs well for even deeper economic and defense cooperation for mutual benefit in the years ahead. - Advertisement - Olive ridley sea turtles, also known as pawikans, have experienced a troubling decline in recent years, rendering them endangered in the Philippines. Despite their long life span, a significant number of hatchlings fail to reach adulthood. Recognizing the pressing nature of this issue, Aboitiz Land Inc., the real estate arm of the Aboitiz group, has initiated conservation efforts in its seaside development in San Juan, Batangas. Since October 2023, Aboitiz Land has documented 956 pawikan eggs within its Pawikan Sanctuary at Seafront Residences, as an integral component of its ongoing pawikan conservation initiative that started in 2018. On December 2023 and January 2024, the developer successfully released a total of 331 pawikan hatchlings into the sea. In our ongoing commitment to marine conservation, we are thrilled at the potential for more pawikan releases in the upcoming weeks, contributing to the continued success of Seafront Residences Pawikan Sanctuary, Aboitiz Land senior assistant vice president of legal and corporate affairs Irene Mischele Sta. Ana said. The initiative was carried out through a collaborative effort involving the Aboitiz Foundation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the University of the Philippines Diliman Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology. - Advertisement - The engagement also featured the active participation of Seafront Residences vecinos or homeowners, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bantay Dagat, and the Council of Barangay Calubcub II. Seafront Residences, situated along the San Juan, Batangas coastline, is home to the Pawikan Sanctuary. The long-term project which started in 2018 is dedicated to the conservation and protection of endangered Olive Ridley sea turtles and their nesting habitat. The endeavor aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 14 and 15, Life Below Water and Life on Land. Emphasizing the collaborative spirit essential for nurturing both human lives and delicate hatchlings, I applaud the collective efforts of our team members, partners, and the community in safeguarding local biodiversity here in Batangas, said Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. chief reputation and sustainability officer and Aboitiz Foundation president Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar. Witnessing this has deeply inspired me, reaffirming the crucial importance of synergy in preserving nature for the benefit of future generations, Hontiveros-Malvar added. Seafront Residences, with its exclusive beachside development, stands as a beacon of conservation efforts. Aboitiz Land has renewed its five-year commitment to marine life, evident in recent initiatives such as the Pawikan Night Patrol and coastal cleanup efforts conducted in partnership with Planet CORA and the Aboitiz Foundation. - Advertisement - The picturesque island paradise of Palawan clinches the fourth spot in the 2024 Travelers Choice Awards by TripAdvisor. This recognition places Palawan in the company of popular destinations across the world, including Tokyo in Japan, Seoul in South Korea, Halong Bay, and Sapa in Vietnam, Bogota in Colombia, Pattaya in Thailand, Casablanca in Morocco, and Taipei in Taiwan. As a must-visit destination for avid travelers in the current year, the travel platform commends Palawans sun-soaked beaches, turquoise waters, and lush rainforests teeming with exotic wildlife. The acknowledgment underscores Palawans status as an essential destination for global explorers seeking an immersive and unforgettable experience, as noted by Department of Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco. Explore the beauty of Puerto Princesas Subterranean River National Park Frasco expressed gratitude for the recognition, pledging the Department of Tourisms commitment to sustainable tourism development in Palawan. We could not be more grateful to the travel community for placing Palawan at the forefront of global travel trends. This singular achievement motivates us to maintain our commitment to sustainable tourism and showcase the beauty of Palawan to the world. Further to this, Palawans winning streak on TripAdvisor will certainly have a positive impact on its tourism industry, Frasco said. - Advertisement - With the global recognition, the island is poised to attract a surge in visitors, providing a boost to the local economy and reinforcing Palawans position as a top-tier travel destination, she added. Frasco anticipates the global acknowledgment to boost tourism, benefiting the local economy and solidifying Palawans position as a premier travel destination. Have a quick tour of the Calauit Safari Park in Busuanga For avid travelers, what makes Palawan so special is its quaint fishing villages, indigenous traditions, and delectable Filipino cuisine. The Philippines last frontier offers a comprehensive cultural immersion. History enthusiasts are beckoned to Coron Island, home to sunken Japanese shipwrecks from World War II, providing a unique glimpse into the past. The countrys largest province in terms of the total area also caters to a broad spectrum of travelers, from budget-conscious backpackers to those seeking luxurious vacation experiences. The islands diverse landscape, friendly locals, and an abundance of activities make it an ideal destination for everyone. TripAdvisors Travelers Choice Best of the Best award, based on millions of reviews and opinions from globetrotters worldwide, underlines Palawans exceptional standing in the travel industry. Travel enthusiasts are advised to plan their Palawan adventure early, especially during the peak season from November to May. Palawan has been gaining buzz for its natural appeal To reach Palawan, the journey typically begins with an international flight to one of the major airports in the Philippines, such as Manila or Cebu. From there, travelers can book a domestic flight to Palawan, with primary airports being Puerto Princesa International Airport, El Nido Airport, and Coron Airport. Airlines like Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific, and AirAsia operate flights to Palawan. Alternatively, some ferries operate between Manila and Puerto Princesa, providing a slower but scenic travel option. Within Palawan, local buses, vans, and private transportation options are available for traveling between towns and attractions. Its essential to consider weather conditions, especially during the typhoon season from June to October, and plan for local transportation within the island. 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: With only days left before open enrollment closes, the Biden administration has announced that 20 million Americans have already signed up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. "Today, we hit a major milestone in lowering costs and ensuring all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. With six days left to still get covered, 8 million more Americans have signed up for ACA coverage than when I took office," President Joe Biden said in a news release. "The Affordable Care Act is more popular than ever, and Affordable Care Act coverage is more affordable than ever. Thanks to efforts by my Administration, millions of Americans are saving hundreds or thousands of dollars each year on health insurance premiums, and most people who shop for coverage at HealthCare.gov can find a plan for $10 a month or less." The latest enrollment figures mean a quarter more Americans have signed up for coverage this year compared with last year, when a record-breaking 16.3 million Americans enrolled in the program. After Biden took office, Democrats rolled out a series of tax breaks that gave millions of Americans access to low-cost plans, some with no premiums, the Associated Press reported. The administration has also spent millions hiring so-called navigators who help people enroll. But the increased enrollment figures could also include some of the roughly 14.5 million Americans who have recently been removed from Medicaid rolls after the federal government lifted a pandemic ban that barred states from removing ineligible people from the government-sponsored health insurance. States began removing millions from Medicaid last year, a troubled process that has left thousands of children and pregnant women without health insurance coverage in some states, the AP reported. Although open enrollment for health insurance plans bought under the Affordable Care Act ends on Jan. 16, people who have been removed from Medicaid may be eligible to enroll through the end of July. More information: Associated Press article Copyright 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved. DES MOINES The issue of abortion has become one of the most thorny discussions in the Republican presidential primary. Candidates have taken a wide array of approaches, from seeking national abortion bans to leaving the decision to the states to seeking consensus on related issues. Here's what the Republicans running for president have to say about their abortion proposals. Donald Trump Former President Donald Trumps appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court were instrumental in the 2022 decision that overturned Roe vs. Wade and the long-held right to an abortion at the federal level. Trump touts that record when appealing to anti-abortion voters. At a Fox News town hall this week, he told a voter you wouldnt be asking that question about his abortion stance if he had not appointed the conservative justices that ended the federal protections. Still, Trump has been critical of harsh abortion restrictions and has not publicly committed to a national abortion ban. He says six-week abortion bans, like the one Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed last year, are too harsh and will lead to Republicans losing elections. Were going to come up with something that people want and people like, he said at a Fox News Town Hall this week. You have to go with your heart but you do also have to win elections. Trump has said he would work with abortion rights supporters and anti-abortion advocates on a compromise at the national level that he says would satisfy all parties. We're living in a time when there has to be a little bit of concession one way or the other, he said. And I want to get it right; I have to get it right. But without what I did you would never even be asking that question. Ron DeSantis Last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a strict six-week abortion ban in Florida. DeSantis often says abortion issues should be largely left up to the states, but that he would advocate for states that enact strict abortion restrictions. I understand that some of these states are doing it a little bit different, he said in a November debate. Texas is not going to do it the same as New Hampshire. Iowas not necessarily going to do it the same as Virginia. So you got to work from the bottom up. DeSantis has previously said he would sign a 15-week abortion ban into law if it was passed at the national level. He also says Republicans should work harder to grow support among voters for abortion restrictions. What happens at the national level is a reflection of what is happening on the ground with the electorate, he said on Iowa Press in December. And when you see things like what has happened in Ohio that tells you, OK, what are we doing to not deliver the message about the importance and the dignity of human life? So, I will be a part of that 100%. I think we can move the needle. Nikki Haley Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley calls herself unapologetically pro-life, but she has called for finding common ground on the issue at the national level and says a federal ban is unlikely. She says federal lawmakers should look to policies that she thinks can develop a consensus, including banning late-term abortions, encouraging adoption, making contraception more accessible and giving doctors the right to opt out of performing abortions. We have to stop demonizing that issue and humanize that issue, she said at the Iowa State Fair this year. It is personal to every woman and every man and it deserves the respect of the heaviness of that issue. While she has noted it is unlikely, Haley has said at other times she would sign a national abortion ban as president if it came to her desk. She has been supportive of early-term state abortion bans, like the one in Iowa, and said she would sign a six-week abortion ban if she was still governor of South Carolina. I think the right thing was to have the states decide, she said in an interview with the Sioux City Journal. Some states are going more pro-life, I welcome that. Some states are going more on the choice side. I wish that wasn't the case, but the people decided. Vivek Ramaswamy Vivek Ramaswamy generally says the issue of abortion should be left up to the states, but he believes it should be banned at the time brain activity begins, at around five to six weeks. I think that the pro-life movement, and I consider myself a part of that, hasnt done enough to walk the walk in actually standing for life and pro-life principles," he said in an interview with the Des Moines Register and NBC News. He says that includes expanding access to adoption and child care, as well as creating more legal responsibility for fathers. Ramaswamy voted against an Ohio ballot measure to enshrine the right to an abortion in the states constitution. He also said in an Iowa CNN town hall that the Supreme Court should restrict the availability of a medication used to induce abortion in a pending case. Asa Hutchinson Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson told the Quad-City Times he would not push for a national abortion ban, but that he would sign one if it came across his desk. Just to be totally frank, if there was a consensus, and reasonable exceptions were present, and reasonable restrictions, I would sign it, he said. Im not going to veto the bill. But Im not pushing at the national level, and I dont expect that to happen. Hutchinson said he expects the issue to be worked out at the state level, with different states taking different approaches to how to regulate abortion. Ryan Binkley On his campaign website, Texas pastor and CEO Ryan Binkley says that he believes in promoting a culture of life. He says that care should extend to improving adoption and foster care services for children. His stated position does not advocate for any specific federal abortion policy. My heart breaks for hundreds of thousands of unborn children who lost their lives to abortion last year, but it also breaks for the hundreds of thousands of kids without a real home, his campaign website says. Close Two audience members watch Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaign for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday, January. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Iowa Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, introduces Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, to campaign for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, on second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. An attendee watches Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaign on Jan. 6, 2024, on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, outlines his vision for the presidency in a stop Saturday Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. He was joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, (left), and Rep. Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, (right). Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. An attendee listens as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaigns for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport as DeSantis seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Massie's lapel pin shows a live tally of the U.S. national debt. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, campaigns for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. To his left is U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley campaigned Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley takes a photo with a supporter Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu hit the campaign trail in Iowa with Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Sununu came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand, joking that it'd just been handed to him on his way out. Attendees clap at a campaign event for Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Jake Chapman, the former Iowa Senate president who lost his reelection bid in 2022, campaigns for Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for him Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Attendees fill the Quad Cities Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport for a Vivek Ramaswamy event Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the party's presidential nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday, just nine days ahead of the Iowa caucuses. GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the Republican nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy beams as she's introduced Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. GOP hopefuls visit Quad-Cities nine days ahead of 2024 Iowa caucuses With just more than a week to go until the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, GOP hopefuls have ramped up their campaign schedules in the state. And on Saturday, Scott County was a popular place for Republican candidates three presidential hopefuls campaigned with their endorsers. Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy arrived at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport for a 9 a.m. event, introduced by former state Senate President Jake Chapman and Ramaswamy's wife, Apoorva, a throat surgeon. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigned with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas at a noon-ish event on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. And Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the UN, campaigned with New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, in the afternoon at the Tangled Wood restaurant in Bettendorf. Two audience members watch Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaign for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Saturday, January. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaigns for president on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Iowa Rep. Mike Vondran, R-Davenport, introduces Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican congressman from Kentucky, to campaign for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, on second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. An attendee watches Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis campaign on Jan. 6, 2024, on the second floor of the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, outlines his vision for the presidency in a stop Saturday Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. He was joined by Rep. Thomas Massie, Republican of Kentucky, (left), and Rep. Chip Roy, Republican from Texas, (right). Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. An attendee listens as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined his vision for the country to potential caucusgoers on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including DeSantis, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., campaigns for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport as DeSantis seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Massie's lapel pin shows a live tally of the U.S. national debt. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, campaigns for Ron DeSantis on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Phoenix Restaurant in Davenport. To his left is U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley campaigned Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley takes a photo with a supporter Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu hit the campaign trail in Iowa with Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Sununu came out of the kitchen with a beer in his hand, joking that it'd just been handed to him on his way out. Attendees clap at a campaign event for Nikki Haley Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Former Ambassador to the UN and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley outlined her vision for the country to potential caucusgoers Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Tangled Wood Restaurant in Bettendorf, as she seeks the GOP nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Haley, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Jake Chapman, the former Iowa Senate president who lost his reelection bid in 2022, campaigns for Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns for him Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center as Ramaswamy seeks the GOP presidential nomination. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio biotech entrepreneur and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, talks with volunteers for the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024 in Davenport. Attendees fill the Quad Cities Veteran Outreach Center in Davenport for a Vivek Ramaswamy event Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the party's presidential nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday, just nine days ahead of the Iowa caucuses. GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy campaigns Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Outreach Center in Davenport. Ramaswamy was one of three candidates for the Republican nomination that stopped in Scott County on Saturday. Apoorva Ramaswamy, a throat surgeon and wife to GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy beams as she's introduced Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, at the Quad Cities Veterans Outreach Center. Three GOP presidential hopefuls, including Ramaswamy, campaigned in Scott County on Saturday with just nine days to go until the Iowa caucuses. The city of American Canyon will hold a public hearing later this month to consider approval for construction of a new ecology center. The hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 at City Hall, 4381 Broadway (Highway 29). The permit applicant, Napa River Ecology Center Design Permit Project, aims to repurpose an existing 5,000-square-foot city corporation yard and 3-acre parcel at 205 Wetlands Edge Road into an ecology center. The goal is to facilitate both indoor and outdoor instructional uses and community activities, according to the notice for the hearing. These activities would focus on conservation and environmental science, nature art and wellness programs, according to the public hearing agenda. Adjacent to wetlands along the Napa River and surrounded by a field, the parcel also houses the American Canyon Public Works building. The city is accepting public comment online and by mail until the scheduled hearing. The notice for the hearing warns that if someone were to challenge the proceedings in court, they may be limited to issues raised at the public hearing or in written correspondence. Comments on the project can be submitted online or by mail to Nicolle Hall at 4381 Broadway (Suite 201), American Canyon, CA 94503, prior to the hearing. Online commenting can be accessed at www.cityofamcan.org/ProjectReview. Throwback Thursday: Napans celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day with volunteer activities Guwahati: Uruka, the eve of the Assamese festival of Magh Bihu seems to be a day for fish and only fish in Assam. The entire state of Assam goes crazy over fish on this day, which falls on either January 13 or 14 every year. It is a custom to either catch fish from the water bodies or buy it from the market on this day, however cold the water is, or whatever the price may be. On this day of feasting, despite the skyrocketing prices of fish, people do not hesitate to buy one and take it home dangling by their hands, as the entire state remains soaked in the annual festival. Nothing matters for the people, only what matters on Uruka day, is just fish. Fish like the chital, borali, bhakua and rou, are among some of the favourite fishes that the people prefer to have on this day. For the fish sellers too, it is a carnival time to earn a good amount of money through their sales. Also Read: Assam: BSF seizes 6.4 tonnes of sugar being smuggled to Bangladesh In Guwahati, people thronged the famous Uzan Bazar fish market, one of the oldest fish markets in the city, located on the banks of the Brahmaputra river, since the foggy wee hours on Sunday. Thousands of fish of different varieties were seen being sold in the market. The prices of the fish started from Rs 1,000 and went up to a whopping Rs 30,000. However, the prices of the fish did not discourage the people from buying it as the fish lovers wanted to take home a big fish to have a sumptuous meal in the evening feast. The people also consider it a matter of pride to take home the biggest fish. Also Read: Assam: Son accused of murdering father, burying body in Dibrugarh I came to the Uzan Bazar fish market early in the morning. Though the prices of fish have soared today due to Uruka, I did not hesitate to buy a three-kilogram chital fish having a price tag of Rs 5,000. I came here not only to buy fish but to see the atmosphere in this market on this day, which is unique in itself, with different varieties of fish all around. I love to see the live fishes on display, a fish lover Ramen Das said. Magh Bihu, also called Bhogali Bihu, which marks the end of the harvesting season in Assam, is a festival of feasting. The three-day-long festivities begin with Uruka, the eve of Magh Bihu. Imphal: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatras launch on Sunday, pledging that his party would work to restore peace and lost trust. Speaking against the backdrop of the nine-month-long conflict, Gandhi expressed empathy for the suffering of the people. We understand the pain, the loss, and the sadness you have been through, he declared. Referring to his previous visit to the state in June 2023, he added, I will never forget what I saw in the relief camps. Also Read: Assam: People go crazy over fish on Uruka Gandhi also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the violence-hit state, stating, We promise you that we will bring back what you value, we will bring back the harmony, the peace. This remark subtly implied that the Prime Minister may not consider Manipur a priority compared to other parts of the country. Also Read: Assam: BSF seizes 6.4 tonnes of sugar being smuggled to Bangladesh The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, flagged off in Thoubal district, aims to cover over 6,700 kilometres through 100 Lok Sabha constituencies across 15 states in just 67 days. Israel-Hamas war enters 100th day Israel-Hamas war enters 100th day The war between Israel and Hamas entered its 100th day on Sunday after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that "no one will stop Israel from destroying the militant group. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with more than 23,000 people reported killed in Gaza and much of the besieged Palestinian territory reduced to rubble, as fears grow that fighting could engulf the wider region. Fresh strikes hit Iran-backed Huthis in Yemen on Saturday after the rebels warned of more attacks in support of Gaza on what they deem Israeli-linked Red Sea shipping. The US Central Command said its forces hit a Huthi radar site, a day after the first strikes by US and British forces on rebel sites in Yemen. The war in Gaza was triggered on October 7 when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack from the Gaza Strip that resulted in about 1,140 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians. Hamas also seized about 250 hostages, 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to have been killed. Israel vowed to destroy Gaza's Islamist rulers and launched a relentless bombardment that has killed at least 23,843 people, mostly women and children, according to the latest toll from the territory's health ministry. After the Hague-based International Court of Justice heard arguments this week that accused Israel of breaching the UN Genocide Convention, Netanyahu insisted no court or military foe could stop Israel from achieving its aim of destroying Hamas. "No one will stop us -- not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and no one else," he told a televised news conference on Saturday, referring to the Iran-aligned "axis of resistance" groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Netanyahu is under growing domestic pressure to bring home hostages who have now been held in Gaza for 100 days, with thousands rallying in Tel Aviv to call for their release. (AFP) Actor Varun Dhawan on Sunday shared a glimpse from the 'Mahurat Pooja' ceremony of his upcoming action film 'VD 18'. Taking to Instagram, Varun shared a video on his stories which he captioned, "VD 18 (fire emoticos) Title reveal soon." The short video showcased a decorated venue, with the movie's clapperboard embellished with flowers. Producers Atlee and Murad Khetani made their entrance into the pooja ceremony. Actor Keerthy Suresh, graced the occasion dressed in a vibrant yellow saree. Varun Dhawan looked stylish as he wore a blue shirt and white pants, and was seen warmly greeting the guests. Wamiqa Gabbi, who has recently garnered acclaim for her work in projects like Khufiya and Jubilee, looked stunning in an ethnic blue suit. The film tentatively titled 'VD18' is directed by Kalees and produced by Atlee and Murad Khetani. The makers will be announcing the title of the film very soon. The film also stars Keerthy Suresh and Wamiqa Gabbi. Excited about the project, Wamiqa earlier said in a statement: "Being a part of 'VD18' is a thrilling experience for me. Collaborating with exceptional talents like Varun Dhawan and Keerthy Suresh under Atlee sir's visionary direction is a creative journey I'm eager to explore. I have been and will always be eternally grateful to 2023, the year that plunged things to new beginnings. And to end the year by being on sets now for my next is truly the perfect curtain call for the year. The moments like these remind me why I love what I do, and I can't wait for audiences to witness the magic we are creating on screen." Meanwhile, Varun was last seen in director Nitesh Tiwari's romantic drama film 'Bawaal' opposite Janhvi Kapoor. The film premiered exclusively on the OTT platform Amazon Prime Video and received positive responses from the audience. He will also be seen in the Indian adaptation of the Hollywood series 'Citadel' opposite actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu. It is an Indian adaptation of the Russo Brothers' series of the same name. Priyanka Chopra and Richard Madden headlined the international version. The release date of the Indian version of Citadel is awaited. Raj and DK have created the Indian version. (ANI) Artists from Lucknow are involved in the work and are using oil paint for making paintings. The work is in its final stages. Vishwa Hindu Parishad spokesperson Sharad Sharma said that the Ram Temple Trust is considering installing these paintings in the courtyard of Ram Lalla. However, a final decision on this is yet to be taken. Apart from the men, who died waging the fight for the Ram Temple since 1949, the paintings will also feature slain Kar Sevaks from 1990 and thereafter. Karsevakpuram is an area in Ayodhya roughly two kilometres from the Ram Janmabhoomi site where the volunteers had taken refuge during the Ram Mandir movement, in a bid to escape arrest and police firing. At that time, it was a desolate area surrounded by guava trees. The place was also infested with simians back in the day and wasn't patrolled regularly by the police. Today, the securely gated Karsevakpuram serves as VHP's headquarters in Ayodhya. The complex houses the VHP office, alongside a guest house, a school, a gaushala (cow shelter), and a dining hall named Sita Rasoi. Ahead of the Pran Pratishta ceremony, Karsevakpuram has been bedecked with decorative items themed on the epic 'Ramayana'. The temple Trust has made elaborate arrangements to welcome and honour all the attendees, and will present them with gifts that include 'Ram Raj.' As part of the celebration, Teerth Kshetra Trust will also distribute special 'Motichoor laddus' made from desi ghee as 'Prasad' to the guests. (ANI) After the approval of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the State Finance Department has issued orders for a 4 per cent increase in dearness allowance (DA) to state employees and pensioners. With this order, the DA of employees has increased from 42 to 46 per cent in the state. Earlier, the Uttarakhand government announced to increase DA for employees working in the administrative departments of public undertakings and corporations, according to an official release on December 31, 2023. According to an official release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), "The benefits of the orders issued by Secretary Vinay Shankar Pandey will be available to the employees drawing the fifth and sixth pay scales as well as the employees drawing the seventh revised pay scale." As per the release, the dearness allowance of employees drawing from the seventh revised pay scale was increased from 38 per cent to 42 per cent. "While the dearness allowance of employees drawing fifth and sixth pay scales was increased from 212 per cent to 221 per cent and from 396 per cent to 412 per cent, respectively," said the release. Along with this, the allowance for the employees on the sixth pay scale who are being given a dearness allowance as of July 1, 2022, has been increased from 203 per cent to 212 per cent. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will soon be implemented in the state, adding that it will be presented in the Assembly soon. "Now we are also preparing to implement the Uniform Civil Code of Conduct in Devbhoomi. It will be presented in the Assembly soon," CM Dhami said. The Uniform Civil Code is a proposal to formulate and implement personal laws that will apply uniformly to all citizens regardless of their religion, gender, and sexual orientation. (ANI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) started a cleanliness drive on Sunday as part of the Swachchata Abhiyan campaign at all religious places until January 22 when the country will witness the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. Speaking with ANI, party chief JP Nadda said, "On PM Modi's direction, the party has decided that starting from January 14 (Makar Sankranti) till January 22 (Pran Pratishtha of Ram Temple), we will hold a cleanliness drive at all the religious places..." Earlier during the day, Nadda participated in a cleanliness drive at Guru Ravidas Mandir in Delhi as part of the 'Swachhta Abhiyaan'. In Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited and held a cleanliness drive at Kainchi Dham in Nainital, while his counterpart Yogi Adityanath participated in a cleanliness drive in Ayodhya. Speaking with ANI on the 'Swachhta Abhiyaan' being carried out in temples across the country, the Union Railway Minister said, "PM Modi has started a campaign to keep our cultural legacy and our temples clean. Today, we did our bit after performing prayers at Jhadeswar Temple." Earlier, the PM appealed to the people to carry out Swachhata activities (cleanliness drives) at temples across the country ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. Preparations are underway in full swing for the grand temple opening, which will draw dignitaries and people from all walks of life. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust has decided to enthrone Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple at noon on January 22. Vedic rituals for the Pran-Pratishtha ceremony of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya will begin on January 16, a week before the main ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will preside over the ceremonial installation of Shri Ram Lalla inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. Earlier, on Friday, PM Modi announced a special 11-day 'anushthan' (ritual) ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at Ayodhya's Ram Temple. (ANI) Tripura Governor Nallu Indrasena Reddy organized Makar Sankranti celebrations at his official residence, Raj Bhavan, Agartala, on Sunday. The Chief Minister of the state, Manik Saha attended the function.The governor wished everyone on the occasion of Makar Sankranti. "The harvest festival is celebrated with great joy and energy in all parts of India. As we mark the end of the winter solstice and prepare to welcome spring and summer, there is positivity in the air and expectation in our hearts. One of the truly cultural festivals of the country, Sankranti has always been a favourite because it celebrates nature and the bounty that the hardworking hands of farmers have blessed us with," said the governor. A prominent festival on the Indian calendar, devotees make offerings to the Hindu deity Surya on Makar Sankranti. The day marks the first day of the sun's transit into the Makara, marking the end of the winter solstice and the start of longer days. The festival is known by various names in different parts of the country such as Pongal, Bihu, and Maghi. Devotees in several parts of the country performed rituals at different ghats.In Gujarat, the festival is celebrated as Uttarayan as it marks the first day of the sun's transit into the Makara. The state is well-known for its International Kite Flying Festival. After finishing their morning prayers, people gather on their terraces with colourful kites. During the kite flying festival, people are often heard shouting "Kai Po Che" to the losing team. Aside from that, people eat delicacies like Chikki, which is made of sesame seeds and peanuts, and Undhiyu, which is made of winter vegetables. Also known to strengthen the bond of friendship, this festival is all about making khichdi, kite flying, sesame sweets, and coconut laddoos. Makar Sankranti marks a message, that the winter season is now clearly, leaving. (ANI) After Pakistan's Supreme Court revoked the Peshawar High Court (PHC) order reinstating 'bat' as the electoral symbol of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party announced that its candidates would contest elections independently, ARY News reported on Saturday. The three-member bench led by CJP Qazi Faez Isa announced the verdict, dealing a big blow to the previous ruling party's hopes of retaining its symbol. Speaking to media persons outside the court, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said all the party candidates will contest the Feb 8 general elections independently. "We will issue a list of all our candidates with their election symbols," he said. Gohar said the Supreme Court order was 'controversial' and left him 'deeply disappointed', adding that his party would challenge the Supreme Court's verdict. "Whether we have the bat or not, the people are still us," the PTI chief said, noting that it was the court's duty to ensure that every person's basic rights are guaranteed. He pointed out that the technical grounds on which the judgment was given were misread, claiming that contesting elections independently would open new doors of corruption. Taking over the presser, PTI leader Barrister Ali Zafar said the party was anticipating the decision, and therefore, their preparations were complete. "We will compete the February 8 with all-out force," he added. Earlier, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf got back its 'bat' election symbol after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) nullified the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) order stripping the party of using the 'bat' symbol, ARY News reported. The PTI had moved the Peshawar High Court to challenge the ECP's decision declaring the intra-party election as null and void and revoking their electoral symbol "bat". A two-member PHC bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Arshad Ali announced the verdict. The PHC while nullifying the order of the ECP, allowed the PTI to contest elections on 'bat' symbol. The verdict further directed the electoral body to upload the PTI's certificate on its website, as per ARY News. (ANI) In its first official reaction to the Presidential elections in neighbouring Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated its claim on the breakaway territory as part of its own, saying that any changes in the island nation would not change the status of Taiwan as 'part of China,' CNN reported on Saturday. The report quoted the spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying that no matter "whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China, will not change." "The one-China principle is the solid anchor for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. We believe that the international community will continue to adhere to the one-China principle and understand and support the Chinese people's just cause of opposing 'Taiwan independence' separatist activities and striving to achieve national reunification," the spokesperson added. Earlier, CNN quoted a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office as insisting that the election result "does not represent the mainstream view on the island". Earlier, before the presidential elections in Taiwan, President Xi Jinping, in his year-end address, asserted that Taiwan will be reunified with China, Fox News reported. As tensions between Beijing and Taipei remain high, Xi has repeatedly affirmed China's stance that the island-nation is a part of mainland China and that it must be reunified, by force if necessary. "All Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be bound by a common sense of purpose and share in the glory of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said in Sunday's address. "The motherland will surely be reunified," he added. Earlier, on Saturday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Lai Ching-te won the much-anticipated Taiwanese presidential polls and is set to be the next President amid concerns of escalating tensions with China, Taiwan News reported. The mandate marked the historic third-straight victory for the DPP after Tsai Ing-wena completed her two terms as Taiwan President since 2016. According to the Central Election Commission report, Lai received over 5 million votes and more than 40 per cent of the vote share after counting was done from over 90 per cent of polling stations as of 7:45 pm (local time). Previously undecided voters split three ways among the candidates, giving Lai a seven-point lead over Kuomintang candidate Hou Yu-ih, who received 33 per cent of the total votes. In third place, the Taiwan People's Party candidate Ko Wen-je took 26 per cent of the national vote, performing marginally better than expected, according to Taiwan News. Lai, who previously served as Tainan's mayor has pledged to continue bolstering national defense, the economy, and cooperation with democratic allies. He also said he would maintain deterrence and uphold the cross-strait status quo, during an election speech. Lai said he would form a new government staffed by individuals based on their 'capabilities' rather than 'party affiliation', adding that this way, "it could effectively respond to challenges, be open and inclusive, and unite Taiwanese to face both domestic and international challenges". He also vowed to continue initiatives focusing on value-based diplomacy, cross-strait stability, defense self-sufficiency, economic upgrading, energy transition, youth investment, housing justice, and educational equality. (ANI) It reported that the attack prompted security forces to open retaliatory fire, resulting in the death of three terrorists in the Buleda area of Balochistan's Kech district. The soldiers killed during the attack were identified as Sepoy Tipu Razzaq (23, resident of district Sahiwal), Sepoy Sunny Shaukat (24, resident of district Karachi), Sepoy Shafi Ullah (23, resident of district Lasbela), Lance Naik Tariq Ali (25, resident of district Orakzai) and Sepoy Muhammad Tariq Khan (25, resident of district Mianwali), ARY News reported. Moreover, the sanitization operation is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area. "Security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts of sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," ISPR said in a statement. The attack was the latest such incident amid a surge in terrorist activities across the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, since the outlawed militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022. A day earlier, ISPR reported that two terrorists were gunned down in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in North Waziristan. The security forces conducted the intelligence-based operation (IBO) on reports of terrorists' presence. During the operation, two terrorists identified as Abdullah Khadri and Khalid alias "Janan" were gunned down. (ANI) US climate envoy John Kerry is planning to step down from his post by this spring after serving in the position for three years at the helm of US climate diplomacy under the Biden administration, CNN reported citing a source close to Kerry on Saturday. The 80-year-old former secretary of state and Democratic nominee for president led US negotiations at three international climate summits, the most recent of which was held in Dubai. CNN reported the source close to Kerry said he will still attend the World Economic Forum in January and is expected to attend the Munich Security Conference in February. Kerry specifically prioritised restarting international climate talks between the US and China, and was key in negotiating the November Sunnylands agreement, a wide-ranging climate agreement between the two countries before COP28. Axios first reported Kerry was stepping down and intending to join the Biden campaign. CNN has reached out to the Biden campaign and the White House for comment. Before joining the Biden administration, Kerry had long worked on climate issues. As secretary of state, he played a key role in negotiating the Paris agreement, which was adopted by nearly 200 nations in 2015 and was aimed at addressing the negative impacts of climate change. And in 2019, Kerry co-founded a bipartisan initiative of world leaders and celebrities to combat the climate crisis called World War Zero. Kerry also served alongside Joe Biden in the Senate for decades. He was first elected to the Senate to represent Massachusetts in 1984 after serving as lieutenant governor of the state under Gov. Michael Dukakis. In 2004, Kerry won the Democratic nomination for president before losing the general election to incumbent President George W. Bush. In 2009, when Biden became vice president, Kerry took over his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was nominated to serve as secretary of state by Barack Obama in 2012. Kerry also served in the Navy in Vietnam as a gunboat officer on the Mekong Delta and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and three Purple Hearts. (ANI) Amid the growing unemployment and housing crisis in Canada, Immigration Minister Marc Miller on Saturday said in the next few months, he will be looking at the possibility of putting a cap on the number of international students living in the country, CTV News reported on Saturday. The minister didn't specify the extent of reduction the government is planning on making in the immigration system. In an interview to CTV's Question Period host Vassy Kapelos, the minister said, "This is a conversation the federal government will need to have with provincial governments "to make sure that the provinces that have not been doing their jobs actually rein in those numbers on a pure volume basis." "That volume is disconcerting," Miller said, with reference to the number of international students in Canada. "It's really a system that has gotten out of control," he added. Miller said he will be looking at the possibility of setting a cap on international students to help reduce the demand for housing in both the first and second quarters of this year. Asked why his government is only considering a cap now when the idea was floated months ago, Miller said there's a need to sort out numbers on a federal level before looking with "a little more granularity" at what individual academic institutions are doing in different provinces, possibly profiting off bringing in more international students, CTV News reported. "We need to be doing our jobs and making sure that we have a system that actually makes sure people have a financial capability to come to Canada, that we're actually verifying offer letters," Miller said, adding, "And now it's time for us to have a conversation about volumes and the impact that is having in certain areas." A cap on international students would not be a "one-size-fits-all solution" to housing shortages across Canada, Miller noted. On the number of international students coming to Canada, far outpacing the number of homes the federal government is planning to help build, Miller also said housing is only part of the calculation when it comes to immigration targets. The pressing need to bring down the average age of the workforce also needs to be taken into consideration, he said. While not going into specifics, Miller said a cap on international students is something the federal government is considering, "and will continue to consider." "We have a sense of what those numbers would look like, what the reduction of those numbers look like, out of courtesy to my colleagues in the provinces, those are discussions that we're first going to have around the negotiating table," he said, adding that the financial needs of academic institutions is also a factor. The federal government has faced criticism for welcoming an increasing number of immigrants--both permanent and temporary residents--while the country faces an acute housing shortage. Meanwhile, CTV reported citing The Canadian Press, which cited the internal documents obtained through an access to information request, the federal government was warned by public servants two years ago that its ambitious immigration targets could jeopardise housing affordability. The Liberals have set targets aiming to bring in 485,000 immigrants this year, and 500,000 in both 2025 and 2026. Temporary residents, largely comprising international students and migrant workers, are another part of the equation, with more than 300,000 of them arriving in Canada in just the third quarter of last year. (ANI) Officials from the Indian High Commission in the Maldives met with officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Male, Maldives, local media reported on Sunday. According to local newspaper SunOnline International, Maldives and India have initiated official talks regarding the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives. However, the Ministry of External Affairs has not issued any statement on the reported meeting so far. The newspaper cited Ibrahim Khaleel, the Minister at the President's Office for Strategic Communications, as saying that the meeting was that of the high-level core group that Maldives and India agreed to set up during the meeting between Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the COP28 in December. According to SunOnline International, the talks began at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male. Khaleel said the group was discussing the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and expediting India-backed development projects in the Maldives, the publication reported. The removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu's party. Currently, there are around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives. On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives. In December last year, President Muizzu claimed that, after dialogue with the Indian government, an agreement has been reached to withdraw Indian military personnel. This comes a day after Maldives President Muizzu said that Maldives cannot be "bullied" despite its small size. A diplomatic row erupted over disparaging remarks made by some Maldivian deputy ministers and government officials against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lakshadweep visit. Several Maldivian politicians, including former presidents and ministers, too, condemned the remarks and reiterated that India was a close and important partner for the island nation. In the face of online fury and a flurry of cancellations of scheduled visits to the island country, the Maldivian government distanced itself from the remarks made by its ministers. Maldivian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Moosa Zameer, said such remarks against foreign leaders were "unacceptable" and did not reflect the official position of the government. Meanwhile, Muizzu was on a state visit to China from January 7-12 at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. Xi also hosted a state banquet for President Muizzu and First Lady Sajidha Mohamed. (ANI) Baloch activist Mahrang Baloch on Sunday condemned the attack and arrests at the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) meeting hall in Bannu, Pakistan, stressing that these incidents mark the continuation of decades of state oppression of Pashtuns. Baloch further emphasised that the dream of ruling nations by force and guns is now in oblivion, and the outcome will be different from what they are expecting. Moreover, she said that the friends and the close ones of PTM will continue to stand and struggle with bravery. Mahrang Baloch took to his social media X, and stated, "The attack, torture and arrests at the PTM meeting hall in Bannu last night is a continuation of decades of state oppression of Pashtuns. The dream of ruling nations by force and gun is in oblivion, the results will be much different than your expectations. Friends of PTM continue the struggle with courage, courage and bravery." https://x.com/MahrangBaloch_/status/1746429728511181277?s=20 Earlier, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen was arrested for breaching a ban stopping his entry into Balochistan. The police claimed that the PTM chief was arrested after a vehicle of officers was fired at in Balochistan. However, the PTM accused the law enforcers of firing at Pashteen's vehicle, according to The Express Tribune report. Later, in January, he was granted post-arrest bail, but, was re-arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Manzoor Pashteen expressed his frustration on social media, stating that court orders were not accepted, jail rules were manipulated, and the existence of a normal state was only on paper. He stressed that "brutal colonial rule" still continues in Pakistan. Recently, Mahrang Baloch termed the court's silence on the rearrest of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) chief Manzoor Pashteen a "joke with the constitution and the law." She stated that Pashteen was arrested in front of the prison despite the High Court's order to release him, calling it the "height of fascism." Manzoor Pashteen, who founded PTM in 2014, advocates for the rights of Pashtuns, who are affected by Pakistan's war against the Taliban and its local affiliate, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Meanwhile, earlier today, Mahrang Baloch filed a petition urging the UN to investigate human rights violations in Balochistan. The human rights activist has filed a petition demanding a "fact-finding mission led by United Nations working group to investigate the human rights violations in Balochistan." (ANI) Ahead of upcoming general elections in Pakistan, a third resolution seeking a delay in the February 8 polls landed in the Senate on Sunday, citing the weather and the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as reported by Dawn. The third resolution demanding a delay in elections was submitted to the Senate Secretariat by an independent senator from KP, Hilalur Rehma. It cited the cold weather and increasing incidents of terrorism in KP as reasons for delaying polls, adding that the increasingly cold weather and snow were not providing a conducive environment for citizens to cast their votes and were also creating challenges for candidates trying to campaign, according to Dawn. "In the same way, due to security concerns in the country, especially in KP, candidates are facing threats of terrorist attacks while campaigning," it said, adding that it was also creating obstacles and limiting candidates' participation in their campaigns. The resolution said that because of this, the people of the province and candidates, especially those belonging to erstwhile Fata, were being affected. Earlier on January 5, the Pakistan Senate passed a resolution seeking to delay the polls due to 'security concerns'. However, the resolution was introduced by independent Senator Dilawar Khan and it received support primarily from Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) senators. It also appeared to have the tacit support of some other parties, and the absence of lawmakers from mainstream political parties raised several questions, as reported by Dawn. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Senator Bahramand Tangi not only stayed silent at the time of the voice vote but also delivered a speech stressing the need for peace before polls. However, later, he was issued a show-cause notice by his party for deviating from its policy, Dawn reported. Moreover, the resolution was subsequently condemned by politicians and lawyers, who also termed it a "conspiracy against democracy" and asserted that polls should be held on time. Following this, a resolution was submitted in the Senate by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, highlighting the need to adhere to "constitutional requirements" and ensure that the polls are being held on time. Moreover, independent Senator Hidayatullah on Friday submitted a second resolution seeking a delay in polls to the upper house of Parliament. The second resolution referred to the surge in acts of terrorism and violence in the country with particular reference to armed attacks in North Waziristan, Bajaur and Turbat, causing severe injuries to a veteran nationalist politician running for national and provincial assembly seats, and killing of another candidate. The resolution said that these incidents have left the country anxious and created an environment of insecurity, according to Dawn. The resolution urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court to sympathetically consider the conduct of peaceful elections and postpone the polls for three months given the security challenges. During this time, the resolution said, the government should create an environment guaranteeing a level playing field for all political parties and candidates. Furthermore, it noted that due to the increasing "sense of deprivation" and the fear of KP's citizens being left out of the election process, the date announced for the polls was proving to be "unsuitable" for the province. Moreover, it urged the ECP to delay polls to a date that is acceptable for all the relevant stakeholders and hence, it would also help in removing hurdles in the way of free and fair elections. (ANI) Ahead of the general elections, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has directed political parties to ensure "mandatory" 5 per cent representation of women candidates on general seats, Pakistan-based Geo News reported. In an order issued on Sunday, the ECP directed all political parties concerned to comply with Section 206 of the Elections Act, 2017, to ensure a mandatory 5 per cent representation of women candidates on general seats after the allocation of election symbols. The ECP also directed the political parties to submit a list of male and female candidates for general seats within five days. The electoral watchdog on Sunday concluded the crucial phase of allotment of electoral symbols to registered political parties, Geo News reported. The institution was forced to extend its deadline for symbols' allocation multiple times due to the pending verdict of the Supreme Court hearing as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) tried to get back its electoral symbol. A three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa and comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali announced their unanimous verdict. The apex court declared the Peshawar High Court's (PHC) January 10 order "null and void", depriving PTI of its electoral symbol 'bat' just days before the general elections set to be held on February 8, Geo News reported. It is pertinent to note here that an electoral symbol is important for any political party as voters are aware of which candidate to vote for on election day. However, PTI does not have a unified symbol now, which might result in the party losing votes due to confusion among the people, according to Geo News report. After the verdict, the ECP announced that it had completed the symbols' allocation process to advance to the next phases of the upcoming elections. According to the schedule, the upcoming phase will further clear the air about the final candidates who will participate in the electoral contest. As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) stands deprived of its iconic 'bat' symbol after the Peshawar High Court order, the party candidates are being allotted other symbols by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), ARY News reported Following the Supreme Court verdict, PTI chairman Barrister Gohar said that all party candidates would contest elections independently. Khan, who has been deprived of his post of PTI chairman after the apex court judgement, was allotted "teapot" as election symbol while Shaukat Yousafzai's symbol has been "racket", ARY News reported. PTI's Shahryar Afridi will contest the election with the "bottle" symbol, and Shandana Gulzar has been given the symbol "bowl". On the other hand, PTI senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi's children Mehr Bano Qureshi and Zain Hussain Qureshi have been allotted electoral symbols chimta (tongs) for NA-151 and shoe for NA-150 constituencies of Multan, respectively. Umair Niazi will fight the election with the symbol 'door' on Mianwali's NA-90 seat. Shoaib Shaheen has been given a 'shoe' to contest elections in Islamabad's NA-46 constituency, according to ARY News. Shandana Gulzar will fight the elections with 'Piyala' (bowl) in NA-30 constituency of Peshawar and 'kettle' will represent Barrister Gohar Ali Khan in NA-10 constituency of Buner. According to the returning officer, in NA-177, PTI's Maqsood Khan Jatoi has been allotted the symbol of a 'hookah', and in NA-178, PTI's Daud Khan Jatoi has been given the symbol of a keychain, ARY News reported. PTI's Shairam Tarkai from PA-20 and Rangzeb Khan from PK-49 have been given the symbol of a dove. PTI's Aqibullah Khan will fight with the peacock symbol in PK-50 while Abdul Karim has been allotted the symbol of a kettle in PK-51. (ANI) COLUMBIA COUNTY, Ark. One person is dead and another arrested after a shooting in Columbia County on Saturday. According to investigators, Magnolia police and Columbia County deputies responded to a report of a gunshot victim at the Magnolia Regional Medical Center. Investigators said there was no information on where the shooting happened, but Patrick D. Jamerson of Magnolia was pronounced dead soon after arriving at the hospital. Fayetteville man fleeing Arkansas State Police causes fatal crash Detectives and Deputies later received information on a possible suspect and a vehicle that may have been involved. During a search, police were able to track down a person of interest. After questioning the suspect, Investigators arrested Joshua Carrington of McNeil who is now facing a charge of second-degree murder. Carrington is now being held at the Columbia County Detention Facility. The body of the victim was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. One person died in a residential fire in Louisville's California neighborhood Sunday morning, the Louisville Fire Department reported. Around 9:50 a.m., crews were dispatched to a fire inside a two-story home in the 1600 block of West Kentucky Street, Capt. Donovan Sims, a spokesperson for the department, said. It took about 30 firefighters around 30 minutes to put out fires on the first floor and basement. While searching the home for a second time, firefighters found a person who had died, Sims said. Firefighters had not found any occupants when they first searched the building. The fire department also received a report of a possible rescue by a person who had evacuated the home. No other injuries were reported. The coroner's office will determine a cause of death, Sims said. The fire department's arson unit is investigating the cause of the fire. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: 1 dead in house fire in Louisville's California neighborhood Fire from Lebanon kills 2 Israeli civilians on 100th day of war Two civilians were killed in northern Israel on Sunday after an anti-tank missile fired from Lebanon hit their home in a town near the border, raising new concerns of a second front erupting against the backdrop of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Tensions have soared across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group, Iran-backed militias attacking US targets in Syria and Iraq, and Yemens Houthi rebels targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of US airstrikes last week. Sunday's missile strike came a day after the Israeli army said it killed three militants who had crossed into Israel from Lebanon and attempted to carry out an attack. Hezbollah's leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said that his group wont stop until a cease-fire is in place for Gaza. Netanyahu vows to not stop fighting Israel will pursue its war against Hamas until victory and will not be stopped by anyone, including the world court, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said in a defiant speech, as the fighting in Gaza reaches the 100-day mark. Netanyahu spoke after the International Court of Justice at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africa's allegations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, a charge Israel has rejected as libelous and hypocritical. South Africa asked the court to order Israel to halt its blistering air and ground offensive in an interim step. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil and not anyone else," Netanyahu said in televised remarks on Saturday evening, referring to Iran and its allied militias. The case before the world court is expected to go on for years, but a ruling on interim steps could come within weeks. Court rulings are binding but difficult to enforce. Netanyahu made clear that Israel would ignore orders to halt the fighting, potentially deepening its isolation. Protesters shout slogans outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. - Patrick Post/Copyright 2024 The AP. All rights reserved Israel has been under growing international pressure to end the war, which has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians in Gaza and led to widespread suffering in the besieged enclave, but has so far been shielded by US diplomatic and military support. Thousands took to the streets of Washington, London, Paris, Rome, Milan and Dublin on Saturday to demand an end to the war. Protesters converging on the White House held aloft signs questioning President Joe Bidens viability as a presidential candidate because of his staunch support for Israel during the war. Israel argues that ending the war means victory for Hamas, the Islamic militant group that has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israel's destruction. The war was triggered by a deadly 7 October attack in which Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians. About 250 more were taken hostage, and while some have been released or confirmed dead, more than half are believed to still be in captivity. Sunday marks 100 days of fighting. Could there be a regional escalation? Fears of a wider conflagration have been palpable since the start of the war. New fronts quickly opened, with Iran-backed groups - Houthi rebels in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria - carrying out a range of attacks. From the start, the US increased its military presence in the region to deter an escalation. Following a Houthi campaign of drone and missile attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea, the US and Britain launched multiple airstrikes against the rebels on Friday, and the US hit another site on Saturday. In more fallout from the war, the world court this week heard arguments on South Africa's complaint against Israel. South Africa cited the soaring death toll and hardships among Gaza civilians, along with inflammatory comments from Israeli leaders presented, as proof of what it called genocidal intent. In counter arguments on Friday, Israel asked for the case to be dismissed as meritless. Israel's defence argued that the country has the right to fight back against a ruthless enemy, that South Africa had barely mentioned Hamas, and that it ignored what Israel considers attempts to mitigate civilian harm. What next for the affected Palestinians? Netanyahu and his army chief, Herzl Halevi, said they have no immediate plans to allow the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza, the initial focus of Israel's offensive. Fighting in the northern half has been scaled back, with forces now focusing on the southern city of Khan Younis, though combat continues in parts of the north. Netanyahu said the issue had been raised by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit earlier this week. The Israeli leader said he told Blinken that we will not return residents (to their homes) when there is fighting. At the same time, Netanyahu said Israel would eventually need to close what he said were breaches along Gaza's border with Egypt. Over the years of an Israeli-Egyptian blockade, smuggling tunnels under the Egypt-Gaza border had constituted a major supply line for Gaza. However, the border area, particularly the city of Rafah in southern Gaza, is packed with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who had fled northern Gaza - and their presence would complicate any plans to widen Israel's ground offensive. We will not end the war until we close this breach, Netanyahu said on Saturday, adding that the government has not yet decided how to do that. In Gaza, where Hamas has put up stiff resistance to Israel's blistering air and ground campaign, the war continues unabated. Gaza death toll reaches nearly 24,000 The Gaza Health Ministry said on Saturday that 135 Palestinians had been killed in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall toll of the war to 23,843. The count does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, but the ministry has said about two-thirds of the dead are women and children. The ministry said the total number of war-wounded surpassed 60,000. Following an Israeli airstrike before dawn on Saturday, video provided by Gaza's Civil Defence department showed rescue workers searching through the rubble of a building in Gaza City by flashlight. Footage showed them carrying a young girl wrapped in blankets with injuries to her face, and at least two other children who appeared dead. A boy, covered in dust, winced as he was loaded into an ambulance. A Palestinian child wounded in an Israeli airstrike is brought to Al Aqsa Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip - Adel Hana/The AP The attack on the home in the Daraj neighbourhood killed at least 20 people, according to Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal. The Palestinian telecommunications company Jawwal said two of its employees were killed on Saturday as they tried to repair the network in Khan Younis. The company said the two were hit by shelling. Jawwal said it has lost 13 employees since the start of the war. Israel has argued that Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. Since the start of Israels ground operation in late October, 187 Israeli soldiers have been killed and another 1,099 injured in Gaza, according to the military. More than 85% of Gazas population of 2.3 million has been displaced as a result of Israels air and ground offensive, and vast swaths of the territory have been levelled. Fewer than half of the territory's 36 hospitals are still partially functional, according to OCHA, the United Nations' humanitarian affairs agency. Amid already severe shortages of food, clean water and fuel in Gaza, OCHA said in its daily report that Israel's severe constraints on humanitarian missions and outright denials had increased since the start of the year. The agency said only 21% of planned deliveries of food, medicine, water and other supplies have been successfully reaching northern Gaza. American and other international efforts pushing Israel to do more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinian civilians have met with little success. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) More than 150 soldiers from Fort Bliss returned home Saturday, Jan. 13 after being deployed in the Middle East. Medical soldiers from the 528th Hospital Center returned to Fort Bliss after being deployed in Kuwait for about nine months. Soldiers from the 528th Hospital Center arrive at Fort Bliss on Saturday, Jan. 13. Photos courtesy of 528th Hospital Center Facebook page A redeployment ceremony was held Saturday afternoon at Fort Bliss. Friends and family attended to welcome the soldiers back home. Command Sgt. Maj. Thuan Cao said the biggest hardship was being away from their families for nine months. Soldiers from the 528th Hospital Center returned from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait on Saturday, Jan. 13. Photos by Sebastian Esquivel/KTSM For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. In mainstream accounts of the Civil Rights Movement, names like King, Parks, and Du Bois headline textbook chapters and, over time, have become synonymous with resistance itself and for good reason. But if other names like Hamer, Diamond, and Colvin sound less familiar to you, youre not alone. The mid-20th century push for equality between Black and white Americans led to the end of racial segregation in schools, the workplace, and beyond. The Civil Rights Movement, long-preceded by the work of older generations of Black activists and thinkers, followed decades of Jim Crow-era violence and injustice. It was clear that the equal protection of the laws promised in the 14th Amendment to all Americans, regardless of race, failed to play out in reality. The fight for racial equality was marked by protests such as sit-ins, marches, and Freedom Rides. By the time of Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination in 1968a time commonly referred to as the end of the Civil Rights Movement, though civil rights activism continued for decades afterthe movements influence had spread across the globe, inspiring and taking inspiration from decolonization movements in Africa and Asia. The third Monday in January marks Martin Luther King Jr. Day, in remembrance of the most recognizable figurehead of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. But many other Civil Rights leaders working alongside King have been largely overlooked within the collective memory of Americans. To commemorate the contributions of some of these figures, Stacker used historical documents, news articles, and museum sources to uncover the stories behind 14 heroes of the Civil Rights Movement whose names you might not recognize. Many of the names on this list preceded the more prominent heroes of the mid-century, with their lives and work spanning from the Great Depression to World War II. They built the foundation that would allow King, Rosa Parks, and many others to take action during the movements most heated years. The list includes government officials, journalists, students, lawyers, and many others, demonstrating just how far-reaching civil rights activism was. This collection of leaders also exemplifies how civil rights were, and continue to be, unifying across many dividesrace, gender, and politics included. Read on to find out how these figures came together to support a fight that changed the course of Americanand globalhistory. Many may not realize that Rosa Parks refusal to give up her seat on a bus was not an isolated or spontaneous occurrence; it was actually part of an orchestrated boycott. Nine months before Parks act of resistance, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin not only refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus to a white person, leading to her being arrested and jailed; she also notably challenged the law as a plaintiff in Browder v. Gayle, which successfully overturned bus segregation mandates in Alabama. Colvin told NPR in 2009 that she believes Rosa Parks became the national symbol for the bus boycott in part because Parks had a more middle-class look and was an adult. Additionally, an unmarried Colvin became pregnant soon after, causing the NAACP to consider her a less appropriate choice as a moral figurehead. Robert Weaver Robert Weavers work towards urban reform spanned several presidencies. While he was board chairman of the NAACP, John F. Kennedy appointed him the director of the Housing and Home Finance Agency, marking the then-highest position ever held by an African American in the U.S. government. When Kennedys successor, Lyndon B. Johnson, named Weaver secretary of the newly minted Department of Housing and Urban Development in 1966, Weaver snagged another first: this time, the inaugural African American member of the White House Cabinet. In this role, Weaver notably advocated for the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which prohibited housing discrimination based on race, as well as religion, color, or national origin. Weavers contributions have perhaps been remembered less because of his relatively short career in governmentafter Johnsons term ended, Weaver left to pursue a life in academia as president of Baruch College and as a professor at Hunter College. A. Philip Randolph The 1963 March on Washington is considered by many to be a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement and was the venue where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous I Have a Dream speechbut the march would not have been possible without the efforts of A. Philip Randolph. Randolph founded the most successful African American labor union of the time, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, during the 1920s. Two decades later, he succeeded in convincing President Franklin D. Roosevelt to prohibit discrimination in the war industry workplace. He then went on to found the Negro American Labor Council and was instrumental in organizing the 1963 march. The central focus of the marchand Randolphs work as a wholewas to advocate for the rights of Black workers. Claude Barnett Many Civil Rights Movement leaders would arguably have struggled to reach national attention if not for coverage by the Associated Negro Press, which was founded by Claude Barnett in 1919 in the hopes of connecting activists and their work to the Black public. While the concerns and actions of Black Americans went largely unreported by the white-dominated national newspaper industry, the ANPwhich Barnett once described as the eyes and ears of the Black communityfocused on covering just those stories and distributing them to at least 150 Black-owned U.S. newspapers, and an additional 100 in Africa. Barnett effectively handed a nationwide megaphone to some of the most influential voices of the day, including Zora Neale Hurston, Langston Hughes, and Richard Wright. The role of civil rights attorney may not exist as we know it today if it werent for Charles Hamilton Houston, who received a law degree from Harvard at a time when African Americans were not even allowed membership in the American Bar Association. He went on to become Dean of Howard Universitys Law School, where he encouraged other Black lawyers to use their powers to champion civil rights. His most famous mentee was future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Houston also acted as legal counsel for the NAACP and argued many civil rights cases that challenged the legitimacy of separate but equal, thus laying the foundation for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. Howard Thurman One of the most distinctive aspects of the Civil Rights Movement was its use of nonviolent direct action, which was largely thanks to the influence of human rights activist Howard Thurman. Thurmans advocacy for nonviolent protest, which he was introduced to during meetings with Mahatma Gandhi in India, led to his position as dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University. While there, he mentored many students on the idea of civil disobediencemost notably, Martin Luther King Jr., who was pursuing his Ph.D. at the time. King directly cited Thurman as a guiding influence throughout the Civil Rights Movement, including rereading Thurmans book Jesus and the Disinherited throughout the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott. Pauli Murray It is hard to pin down Pauli Murrays legacy onto just one action: Throughout their lifetime, they co-founded the National Organization for Women, became the first Black student to earn a JSD from Yale Law School, and authored the book States Laws on Race and Color, which is considered by many to be the bible of civil rights law. Murray wrote Roots of the Racial Crisis: Prologue to Policy and Jane Crow and the Law: Sex Discrimination and Title VII, both of which contributed to legal arguments that challengedand ultimately endedseparate but equal doctrines. Murray was gender-nonconforming and mostly had relationships with women, an experience that informed their writing on the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. Mamie Till-Mobley Mamie Till-Mobley was thrust into the national spotlight after the tragic lynching of her son, Emmett Till, in 1955. Till-Mobleys decision to have an open-casket funeral, ensuring Emmetts brutalized body was viewed by mourners and photographed by national publications, set off nationwide outrage. After his killers were acquitted, Emmetts killing became a galvanizing moment in the Civil Rights Movement. Till-Mobley traveled across the country telling her sons story, contributing to a flood of growth and support for the NAACP. She continued to advocate for civil rights nationally until her death in 2003. Diane Nash Diane Nash was a driving force behind two of the Civil Rights Movements signature strategies: sit-ins and Freedom Rides. While a student in Nashville working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Nash organized sit-ins at segregated lunch counters throughout the city, successfully integrating some of the restaurants. Just one year later, Nash worked on behalf of the Congress of Racial Equality to organize Freedom Rides on buses across the South, continuing despite often-violent opposition from police and angry white mobs. While living in Mississippi, Nash continued her work with the SNCC and was eventually arrested for teaching nonviolent protest tactics to minors. Rather than pay a fine, a then-pregnant Nash chose to serve her jail sentence. Fannie Lou Hamer Like Nash, Fannie Lou Hamer also started out working for the SNCC, traveling nationwide throughout the 1960s to spread awareness about voting rights amongst Black communities and helping register many to vote. At the time, only 5% of Mississippis Black population was registered to vote, and many would-be voters were kept from the polls by intimidation tactics and poll taxes. Hamer helped found the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, which greatly expanded African American representation in the states Democratic Party. She was undeterred by several targeted attacks on her life, including being beaten by police officers and having her home shot with 16 bullets by white supremacists. Dion Diamond Dion Diamond began his work as a civil rights activist at just 15 years old, when he began undertaking one-man sit-ins at segregated lunch counters in Virginia. He was frequently arrested, perhaps preparing him for the weeks he would later spend in jail as a result of participating in the 1961 Freedom Rides in Mississippi. Diamonds actions mainly occurred during his young adulthood, but they were still impactful. His activism career ended, by his own account, when he enrolled in college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, perhaps contributing to his relative obscurity in the history books. Ella Baker Ella Baker was involved in three of the most influential groups of the Civil Rights Movement: the NAACP, the SNCC, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She first worked for the NAACP in the 1940s, traveling throughout the South to speak with African American communities and urging them to advocate for their civil rights. She also advised SCLC activists to adopt group-centered leadership, rather than organizing around an individual leader. Baker believed grassroots organizing to be the key to the long-term success of the movement. In 1956, she co-founded In Friendship, a group that supported grassroots movements throughout the South. Baker was influential in the founding of the SNCC, as well as the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Amelia Boynton Robinson The 1965 Selma to Montgomery march was a watershed moment in the Civil Rights Movement, and Amelia Boynton Robinson stood at its center. Already a voting rights activist in Selma in the early 1960s, it was Robinson who asked Martin Luther King Jr. and the SCLC to come to the city to protest, resulting in the march. At the start of the march, Robinson and other marchers in the demonstration were savagely beaten by police in an event that would be known as Bloody Sunday. Photos of the protestors helped galvanize civil rights supporters nationally. In 1964, Robinson became the first Black woman to run for Congress in Alabama, and she continued to work as an activist after Kings assassination. Daisy Bates As president of Arkansas chapter of the NAACP, Daisy Bates played a pivotal role in advising the Little Rock Nine in 1957. Prior to that, Bates and her husband co-founded the Arkansas State Press, an outspokenly pro-civil rights newspaper. This led to Bates position advising the nine Black Little Rock students who volunteered to desegregate the citys Central High School, a task for which Martin Luther King Jr. personally praised her. In 1963, Bates was the only woman to give a speech at the pivotal March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Story editing by Eliza Siegel. Copy editing by Tim Bruns. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. If you're one of the millions who suffer from thalassophobia (i.e. the intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or sea), then I probably don't have to remind you that the ocean, lakes, and other bodies of water can be scary places. Vajirawich Wongpuvarak / Getty Images/iStockphoto If you're one of the millions who suffer from thalassophobia (i.e. the intense fear of deep bodies of water such as the ocean or sea), then I probably don't have to remind you that the ocean, lakes, and other bodies of water can be scary places. So, when I decided to go searching for creepy Wikipedia stories (LOL, what's wrong with me?!) about the ocean and other watery places, WELP, I found some nightmare-worthy results. Check it out: Warning: Some images in this post are potentially disturbing. Continue at your own risk. Roopkund or Anuroop Khandelwal / Getty Images/iStockphoto Roopkund or "Skeleton Lake" where you can see hundreds of human skeleton remains. This shallow lake in India is famous for having hundreds of human skeletons at the edge, which you can see when the snow melts. According to researchers, the bones are the remains of people killed in a sudden and violent hailstorm in the 9th century. We will Never give up!! Love and miss you Beck xxxxxx pic.twitter.com/Zm6zSh1Xv3 Find Rebecca (@RebeccaCoriam) June 13, 2014 We will Never give up!! Love and miss you Beck xxxxxx pic.twitter.com/Zm6zSh1Xv3 Find Rebecca (@RebeccaCoriam) June 13, 2014 ">The Disappearance of Rebecca Coriam who was a crewmember on the cruise ship Disney Wonder. Coriam missed her shift one morning aboard the Disney cruise in 2011, and couldn't be found in her room or anywhere else on the ship. However, investigators did find CCTV footage of her (at 5:45 a.m. that morning) having a phone conversation and appearing emotionally distraught. This was the last record of her presence aboard the ship and her body has not been found. The disappearance of Andrew McAuley whose distress calls were later found on a recovered memory stick. Handout / Getty Images The disappearance of Andrew McAuley whose distress calls were later found on a recovered memory stick. McAuley was an Australian kayaker who attempted to cross the Tasman Sea in 2007. He slept in the kayak using a sea anchor and a capsule that enclosed him into the kayak's hatch. When his kayak was recovered, the capsule was missing. In the aftermath, footage was found on a memory stick in his camera and shows him making distress calls saying he was sinking and needed a rescue. The Murder of Helle Crafts whose chopped up remains were found in a lake. New York Post Archives / The New York Post via Getty Imag The Murder of Helle Crafts whose chopped up remains were found in a lake. After Helle Crafts's disappearance, a snowplow driver reported seeing her husband using a woodchipper near the lake on the night Helle was last seen. In and near the lake, police found pieces of metal and human tissue including a tooth, a fingernail, bone chips, human hair, fingernails, and blood that all matched Helle. Police concluded her remains had gone through a woodchipper. The Salish Sea human foot discoveries. RT America The Salish Sea human foot discoveries. Since August of 2007, there have been at least 20 DETACHED human feet discovered off the coasts of British Columbia in Canada and Washington state in the US. There are a ton of theories as to why JUST feet have been discovered ranging from boating accidents, plane crashes, suicide, foul play, and even the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. The Lake Bodom murders, one of the most infamous unsolved homicide cases in Finnish criminal history. Romi Tolonen / Getty Images/EyeEm The Lake Bodom murders, one of the most infamous unsolved homicide cases in Finnish criminal history. In June 1960, four teens decided to camp on the shore of Lake Bodom. Three of the teens were stabbed and bludgeoned to death. The only survivor, Nils Gustafsson, sustained a concussion and some facial fractures. He claimed to have only gotten a glimpse of the attacker. Gustafsson was later tried for their murders but acquitted. The Lady in the Lake trial about a woman whose body was discovered by amateur divers at the bottom of a lake. Pa Images / Getty Images The Lady in the Lake trial about a woman whose body was discovered by amateur divers at the bottom of a lake. Carol Park's body was discovered at the bottom of Coniston Water in North West England. She had been wrapped in a pinafore dress, plastic bags, and weighed down with lead piping. In a post-mortem, it was discovered that her face had been smashed and that the murder weapon was an ice axe. Her husband, Gordon Park, was eventually found guilty, but there was a ton of controversy surrounding the case. The existence of bog bodies i.e. human cadavers that have been naturally mummified in a peat bog. Tim Graham / Getty Images The existence of bog bodies i.e. human cadavers that have been naturally mummified in a peat bog. The preservation of bodies in bogs is a natural phenomenon, i.e. not a result of humans purposefully doing it. The bogs' acids, with pH levels similar to vinegar, conserve human bodies in the same way as fruit is preserved by pickling. The Lake Nyos disaster that killed almost 2,000 people. Eric Bouvet / Getty Images The Lake Nyos disaster that killed almost 2,000 people. This 1986 eruption in northwestern Cameroon triggered the sudden release of about 100,000300,000 tons of carbon dioxide. It's believed that most of the victims had been poisoned by a mixture of gases that included hydrogen and sulfur. Among eye and nose pain, victims also suffered asphyxiation similar to being strangled. Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee, an unidentified young woman found murdered in Florida. Sumter Sheriff Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee, an unidentified young woman found murdered in Florida. This Jane Doe was discovered partially submerged in Lake Panasoffkee in Florida. The victim was fully clothed, with a ring on her ring finger (suggesting she may have been married), and with a man's size 36 belt fastened around her neck. The Lava Lake murders, one of the oldest unsolved murder cases on Oregon's history. Donald_gruener / Getty Images The Lava Lake murders, one of the oldest unsolved murder cases on Oregon's history. This was a triple murder that occurred at Little Lava Lake in Central Oregon's Deschutes National Forest almost 100 years ago, way back in 1924. Three friends had planned to spend the winter in a log cabin, working as fur trappers. After going missing, blood, human hair, and teeth were found leading to the lake where their bodies were eventually discovered as the frozen ice thawed. The MV Joyita, a ship whose crew and passengers mysteriously disappeared. Tagata Pasifika The MV Joyita, a ship whose crew and passengers mysteriously disappeared. This merchant vessel set sail in the South Pacific in 1955 with a crew of 25, but was found adrift five weeks later with no one on board and in bad condition. There are many theories about what happened, especially since the ship had been called "unsinkable." The sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis that left crew members floating alone in the ocean...with sharks. Bettmann / Bettmann Archive / Getty The sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis that left crew members floating alone in the ocean...with sharks. Apparently, the sinking of this ship resulted in the most shark attacks on humans in history. It was so bad that some survivors killed themselves or even other crew members in various states of delirium and hallucinations. The Abyssal zone, the part of the ocean that remains in perpetual darkness. Nat Geo WILD The Abyssal zone, the part of the ocean that remains in perpetual darkness. This layer of the ocean comes from the Greek word meaning "bottomless," and makes up over 83% of the ocean and covers 60% of the Earth. Since there's no light, there are no plants to produce oxygen which results in a death trap for organisms that can't quickly return to oxygen-enriched water above. Oba Chandler a murderer who threw his victims into the water while still alive. ABC Action News Oba Chandler a murderer who threw his victims into the water while still alive. Chandler murdered a woman, Jo Rogers, and her two teen daughters in Tampa Bay, Florida in 1989. The victims' bodies had water in their lungs, proving they'd been thrown into the water while still alive and were initially tied down with concrete blocks. However, because the bodies bloated from decomposition, they floated to the surface where they were found. Chandler was executed on Nov. 15, 2011, at Florida State Prison in Raiford. The very long List of Bermuda Triangle incidents. James Gass / Getty Images The very long List of Bermuda Triangle incidents. There are at least 923 fatalities attributed to the Bermuda Triangle including many missing planes, incidents at sea (allegedly Christopher Columbus and his crew even saw strange lights there), and one incident on land where two lighthouse keepers went missing, never to be found. And finally the Diving bell spider a species of spider that lives almost entirely underwater. Windmill Books / Universal Images Group via Getty And finally the Diving bell spider a species of spider that lives almost entirely underwater. Found in clean fresh water (like lakes, ponds, and more), this is the only known spider that spends almost all its life underwater. It only comes above the surface to briefly replenish its oxygen supply. Their bite is very painful and can cause vomiting and feverishness. Just one more reason to be afraid of water. In June 1905, the Tribune recalled that some 70 years earlier, diplomacy had been a thriving industry on Lake Michigans shore, far removed from its accustomed focal point in the nations capital. In the days of Chicagos youth, treaties were negotiated here. Representatives of the United States and of the Potawatomi and other tribes held solemn councils here and entered into agreements by which the Indians gave up much and got little. Collectively, those treaties stripped the Indians of their tribal lands. They proceeded apace with the westward movement of European farmers and ranchers. Indians not only lost their hunting grounds, they became foreigners in someone elses country. Until 1924, Indians werent American citizens. But in 1914, one group fought back. Weaponizing the white mans legal chicanery, the Pokagon Indians sued the city of Chicago, claiming a valuable piece of the metropolis was rightfully theirs. They wanted land that is now home to parts of the Gold Coast, Lincoln Park and Lake Shore Drive returned to them. The Pokagon Band was a subdivision of the Potawatomi tribe that historically inhabited villages in stretches of land that became Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. But in 1833, progress, as Europeans defined it, caught up with the Potawatomi. On March 5, 1833, Thomas Jefferson Vance Owen, the governments Indian agent in Chicago, sent a letter to Elbert Herring, commissioner of Indian Affairs in Washington. Having consulted with the most intelligent and influential Indian chiefs, Owen said he didnt think they would surrender their tribal lands and move West of the Mississippi River, as Congress had ordered three years earlier in the Indian Removal Act. The act envisioned a division of the United States into separate territories for Native Americans and whites. But the Indians were suspicious of exchanging familiar hunting grounds for unseen frontier land. The feds felt pressured to get a deal done. The opening of the Erie Canal made it easier to get to Chicago from the East Coast. The number of would-be farmers arriving here was increasing. Should they bump heads with Indians, bloodshed seemed certain. The two ways of life were incompatible. Agriculturalists need defined plots to seed. Nomads need wide-open land to hunt. That scary scenario was reinforced when Owen was instructed to convene a meeting of whites and Native Americans to hammer out an agreement. Negotiations ran through late September. Tribal members and other sorts descended on Chicago. According to a Tribune remembrance of the event from 1942, a large open arbor was put together north of the Chicago River and east of State Street for a council house By September about 6,000 Indians had come in for the doings, as well as claimants, tourists, travelers, horse dealers and stealers, and rascals and rogues of all kinds, the Tribune wrote. Under terms of the treaty, land along Lake Michigan were ceded to the United States, and federal appropriations of more than $1 million in grants for the Native Americans displaced by the treaty were approved two years later. On Aug. 18, 1835, in a final act of defiance before the deadline for them to be gone, hundreds of Indians wielded tomahawks and held a War Dance in Chicago. The Indians realized that this was their last parade on their native soil, so the performance was a sort of funeral ceremony for old associations and memories for them, the Tribune wrote in 1910, just ahead of the dances 75th anniversary. White settlers saw it as the template for a massacre. John D. Caton, an eyewitness, left a bloodcurdling account: Their tomahawks and clubs were thrown and brandished about in every direction with most terrible ferocity and with a force and energy which could only result from the highest excitement, and at every step and every gesture, they uttered frightful calls in every imaginable key and note generally in the highest and shrillest possible. Legend and lore has it that the Pokagon sat at a distance from other Potawatomi. They didnt want to be called upon to sign the Treaty of Chicago. They could scarcely realize it at the time, but a provision of the treaty became the fulcrum by which they hoped to pry Chicago neighborhoods out of the white mans hands. The Pokagon took their name from an early Wkema, or leader, Leopold Pokagon. He negotiated an exception to the Treaty of Chicago that allowed his band to remain on land in Michigan when the other Potawatomi were exiled. Reportedly he had the advantage of being a teetotaler during the negotiation over the treaty even as booze flowed freely, thanks to speculators determined to pocket the cash the government was offering the Indians. Leopold was succeeded by his son, Simon Pokagon. A charmer, he was admired in high-society salons while campaigning to get the land under Chicagos mansions returned to the Pokagon. He turned the trick with literary accomplishments. He was known as the Red Mans Longfellow. He wrote poetic laments for the passing of traditional Indian culture. One was an ode to the birch tree for donating its bark for his people to build canoes and tipis. His Red Mans Rebuke was a sharp-tongued put-down of the Worlds Fair belatedly marking the 500th anniversary of Columbus voyage. In behalf of my people, the American Indians, I hereby declare to you, the pale-faced race that has usurped our lands and homes, that we have no spirit to celebrate with you the great Columbian Fair now being held in this Chicago city, the wonder of the world. Nonetheless, he spoke to an enormous audience at the 1893 Fair. Until his death in 1899, he insisted that Indians were due the return of their lands. The next activist generation took the war of words to the courts, and the Indians struggle became national news. If the Chicago claim is established, they will squat on all the lake front from the Indiana line to Grand Haven, Michigan, the Los Angeles Times reported in 1901. At the time of the Chicago Treaty, the shoreline was just east of Michigan Avenue. Subsequently it moved further east, beginning with the dumping of remains of buildings destroyed in the Chicago Fire of 1871. Whole new neighborhoods emerged. So how could their forefathers have conceded land that didnt exist in 1833, as the government contended? The Pokagon put the issue to the U.S. Court of Claims and asked it of a congressional Committee. Both dodged it. In 1901, there was a rumor of an invasion of Chicago, possibly floated by the Indians as a bargaining chip. The superintendent of police dismissed it as overindulgence in fire water by the chiefs of the tribe, the Tribune reported. The tribe tried selling their claim, an investor said he had bought it, and threatened invasions continued until a prominent Chicago attorney took the Indians case. One day in the year 1913 seven American Indians were ushered into J.G.s office, wrote the grandson of Jacob Grossberg, in his biography of the prominent Chicago attorney. In essence, the Indians claimed that land along the shore of Lake Michigan upon which built expensive residences, a steel mill, parks and tracks and terminals of the Illinois Central Railroad belonged to them. The following year Grossberg filed a lawsuit that would end in strikingly similar fashion to Simon Pokagons forecast in his book, Queen of the Woods. The protagonist prays that his late wife will save him from an impending death, when her spirit appears. The maiden passed her hand above his head; he began to grow small, streams of water began to run out of his mouth, and soon he was a small mass upon the ground, his clothing turned to withered leaves. In courtrooms, the Indians dream became a nightmare. The city of Chicago argued that the Indians had abandoned their claim, forfeited it by not asserting it earlier. In 1917, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the trial courts decision, saying: The claim set up in this cause is without merit. Subsequently, the court cited the Chicago case as precedent when turning down other tribes requests for compensation for land they lost. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com. April Nardini from Warner Bros / AWarner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection April Nardini from "Gilmore Girls" "She did literally nothing wrong except be born, try to win first prize at the science fair, and eat some pasta after!! All she wanted was a strand of Lukes hair, and to skedaddle on out of there. Luke was the one that then sought her out and asked to be a part of her life. He was also the one that hid her existence from Lorelai, and the one that decided Lorelai wasnt allowed to have any interactions with herthat is, until he needed her to come save Aprils birthday partyand then tried to gaslight her into thinking she was in the wrong/to blame, when Anna found out and got mad." kbozymow7 Ben Chang from Yahoo / AYahoo/Courtesy Everett Collection Ben Chang from "Community" "He just wanted friends that would accept his batshit crazy self and when the Greendale Seven, all of whom are batshit crazy in their own ways, denied him... His worst tendencies were brought up to the surface and amped to over 9000 in retribution. He gets a bad rap." jayjjimenez Jules Vaughn from Courtesy HBO Jules Vaughn from "Euphoria" "Yeah she may have screwed up and she may have cheated on Rue and had a bad storyline in Season 2, but at least she wasn't some sadistic psychopath who tormented her friends and family due to a fragile ego like Cassie did. The worst part is they paint Cassie as some innocent tragic heroine who never did anything wrong and call out Jules for the same mistakes." tanyam44ab2253d Karen Filippelli from Nbc / ANBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Karen Filippelli from "The Office" "At the end of the day, we all hated her because she wasn't Pam, but if you take that piece out of it, she was a great character. I'm on my millionth rewatch and am really appreciating her character. She was a hardworking woman who went after what she wanted while trying to deal with the fact that her boyfriend was in love with someone else. LOVE that they gave her a happy ending with her Regional Manager job, husband, and baby. She deserved it." tudorgirl21 Roland Schitt from Pop / Everett Roland Schitt from "Schitt's Creek" "Everybody I know who watches Schitt's Creek hates Roland, which is absurd. Chris Elliot is objectively hilarious as Roland Schitt." doofenshmirtzevilinc "I like Roland! At least he is who he is and unapologetically so!" analeehope Mona Wu from The CW Mona Wu from "Legends of Tomorrow" "She was too young to really fit in with this group of 30-somethings, so she ended up coming across as childish and annoying sometimes. I've said a few times that if she was introduced when Astra, Spooner, and Behrad came along, the younger generation, she'd have been great. I don't dislike her; I just don't think they knew what to do with her. She wasn't bad; she was a victim of shitty writing." garebehr Imogen Heaney from Netflix / Everett Imogen Heaney from "Heartstopper" "She had a crush on a guy who wasn't into her, and people took that as her trying to ruin Nick and Charlie's relationship even though she didn't even know about it. Her character development in Season 2 made her even better, in my opinion." jorjasee13 Lori Grimes from AMC Lori Grimes from "The Walking Dead" "I didn't hate Lori because of the Rick/Shane thing, she was just irritating. I will say, though, I don't understand why they acted like she was a bad mother. Anytime something happened to Carl, it was Rick's fault, yet she apologizes several times in Season 3 for 'not being the best mom.' I thought she was a pretty good mom, especially in those circumstances!" thegreatcatsby33 Luther Hargreeves from Netflix Luther Hargreeves from "The Umbrella Academy" "The series is still ongoing, I know. But people were so bizarrely hateful of him after the first season when he was literally just did what he thought was right and what the plot was setting him up to do the whole time. Also he's a total dorky sweetheart, how anyone thought he was a callous asshole is beyond me." deebee2118 Theon Greyjoy from Courtesy HBO Theon Greyjoy from "Game of Thrones" "Theon Greyjoy has always been my favorite character. I never understood why everyone disliked him. I was so proud of him with his character arc, but omg that poor man did NOT deserve the torture Ramsey did to him. Those scenes were really hard to watch, and I'll be honest I skipped through most of them because they made me so anxious." global_havoc18 "I think the reason people get angrier at Theon Greyjoy is because we trusted him first. When a character you know is a terrible or morally questionable person does terrible things, you expect it. But a character who is the closest and most trusted friend of a protagonist betraying him? It hurts more, and thus is harder to forgive." Spn42 Vanessa Abrams from Cw Network / ACW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection Vanessa Abrams from "Gossip Girl" "As someone who consumed the books before the show came out, Vanessa was a main character. But they made her into a recurring one for the show and never really gave her any storylines of her own. She sort of just felt forced into other peoples storylines, which made her less of her own character. And then they wrote her out. Theres also something to be said about the inherent anti-Blackness of the choice to make her biracial (Black/white) and just do NOTHING with it. The Gossip Girl writers had no idea what to do with any character who wasnt white, cisgender, and heterosexual. And while I love the show for what it was, the mistreatment of Vanessa Abrams will always be a stain upon the show for me." kyronp Skyler White from Amc / AAMC / courtesy Everett Collection Skyler White from "Breaking Bad" "Skyler White is one of those characters who annoyed the hell out of you at the time the show was running... but, as you began to absorb the full context and scope of everything that took place in that series, one is able to empathize with her much more." joeschoe33 Mark Brendanawicz from Nbc / ANBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Mark Brendanawicz from "Parks and Recreation" "Hes not a favorite as such but Mark gets scapegoated for Season 1s first step wobbles. Mark wasnt a bad character but he just wasnt a good fit for the identity the show fell into and was the butt of the jokes for this. For a show that had the triplet continuity nod with Leslie, forgetting a main character existed is a deliberate omission at points he should have referenced like with Anns boyfriend boxes." jbmasta Elena Gilbert from Cw Network / ACW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection Elena Gilbert from "The Vampire Diaries" "I hate post-Season 4 criticism about her being selfish and annoying. While she's not the funniest or most badass character on the show, she is shown from the beginning that she's a teenage girl who is incredibly kind, empathetic, resourceful, selfless, and brave despite the trauma she's endured. She sympathizes with others, even as they are victimizing her, she's willing to sacrifice herself for others, and shows a lot of intelligence and quick thinking in stressful situations. I am disappointed with her character development after Season 3, but the core of who she is the person who was was established since the beginning of the show is worth admiring, in my opinion." thinkaboutitbbbb Jeremiah Fisher from John Merrick / Amazon / Courtesy Everett Collection Jeremiah Fisher from "The Summer I Turned Pretty" "Jere isn't perfect, but people really act like he is the devil (and I don't wanna hear anything about the books, because right now, we're talking about the show). I don't hate Conrad, either, but I just can't stand the double standard. When Jeremiah does something, people will make it SUCH a big deal, but when Conrad does the EXACT same thing, people will say, 'Oh, he's going through a hard time with his mom and everything.' Um...Jere is his brother so they are going through the SAME THING! " lilqueenb19 Emily Waltham from Nbc / ANBC/Courtesy Everett Collection Emily Waltham from "Friends" "Emily was actually super nice, caring, and easy-going in all the episodes she was in before the 'Wrong Name' episode. Then, they tried to make her 'bitchy,' when in reality, she was not being unreasonable at all. She still agreed to face the shame of her family and friends and move to New York with Ross. She only wanted him to stop being friends with the woman whose NAME HE SAID AT THEIR WEDDING. We all would have done the same. But suddenly, all of Ross's friends turned on Emily when they liked her a lot before. They made her out to be an evil shrew and it was so untrue." mercuryrising Zari from The CW / Courtesy Everett Collection Zari from "Legends of Tomorrow" "There is so much hate for 2.0, because she's not the same person as 1.0, and she's 'not like the other girls' People hate her because she's an influencer and ignore the rest of her story. She's a smart woman [and] uses those skills to help the Legends all the time. She's sweet, she's funny, she's a good friend, [and she's] a great big sister. Yes, she had a learning curve, but that's called character growth." constanvee Peyton Sawyer from Cw Network / ACW Network/Courtesy Everett Collection Peyton Sawyer from "One Tree Hill" "I think she is amazing. I loved having a female character like her represented. People always pit her against Brooke and Haley but to me all three girls were amazing and Peyton deserves more love." teiganb Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk from Marvel / Everett Jennifer Walters aka She-Hulk from "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law" "People wouldnt bat an eyelash if the gender roles were reversed and she was never even meant to be a serious character. Her show was made to be a comedy, and Jennifer Walters fits perfectly in it. I truly believe shes likable, a good superhero, and will interact well with other Avengers if Marvel chooses to do that." thescarletwitchhhh Two children and a woman died trying to cross the Rio Grande on Friday near a Texas park where state officials have blocked access to federal Border Patrol officers. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed the deaths Saturday night to USA TODAY. But Texas officials on Sunday called the claims "wholly inaccurate." The migrants were already dead when Border Patrol requested access, according to a Texas Military Department statement. Border Patrol officers learned around 9 p.m. Friday that migrants were in distress as they tried to cross the river separating the U.S. and Mexico near Eagle Pass' Shelby Park, according to a Texas congressman. The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the three who died were Mexican people trying to cross to the U.S. but didn't make it. Since last week, Texas officials, under orders from Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, have prevented federal officials from entering a stretch of border that includes the 47-acre city park that's become a focal point in the broader border control debate amid increases in crossings. "In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area," the DHS statement said. "The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrols enforcement of U.S. law. Feds, Texas dispute events that led to deaths DHS said Mexican officials alerted the Border Patrol about migrants in distress. Later, officials in Mexico recovered the three bodies and rescued two migrants from the group who had signs of hypothermia, according to DHS. In a statement posted to the social media site X, Rep. Henry Cuellar, a moderate Democrat whose Texas district is southeast of the park, first announced the deaths. Cuellar, citing Mexican sources, said the three migrants were a family, a mother with an 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. Cuellar blamed Abbott's policies. In 2021, Abbott launched "Operation Lone Star" to use state resources to stop migrant crossings. The personnel at Shelby Park are part of the state's latest actions. "This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility," Cuellar said. The Texas Military Department said via email Saturday that Border Patrol contacted state soldiers about migrants in distress at 9 p.m., but the state agency denied seeing any migrants in the river, turning back migrants attempting to cross unlawfully or finding bodies on the U.S. side at Shelby Park. A unit near the park's boat ramp searched the river with lights and night vision goggles but found no migrants, the state agency said in a statement. At 9:45 p.m., the statement said, state soldiers saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river. Border Patrol told the state soldiers they didn't need additional assistance, according to the statement. The Texas Military Department then stopped the search. "TMD maintains water rescue equipment and actively works with local EMS to aid migrants needing medical care," the statement said. In a follow-up statement on Sunday, Texas officials said they investigated the drownings and disputed the claims that Border Patrol alerted state officials about migrants in distress and attempted to access the park to get them. State officials didn't deny blocking entry to Shelby Park. "Soldiers confirmed that when Border Patrol requested access to the park they stated that Mexican Authorities had already recovered the bodies of two drowned migrants," the Texas Military Department statement said. Texas officials said the Border Patrol specifically requested access to the park to secure two other migrants presumed to have been traveling with the three who had died but made it across to Shelby Park's boat ramp. State personnel apprehended the two, turning one over to the state Department of Public Safety and another to EMS for hypothermia. In refuting Cuellar's account, Abbott laid blame on Democratic President Joe Biden. "When (Border Patrol) requested access to river the drownings had already occurred & found in (Mexico)," Abbott said in a post on X Sunday. "The fact is the deaths are (because) of Biden's Open Border magnet." Cuellar didn't deny the state investigated and searched for migrants, but he said Border Patrol couldn't investigate the deaths and hasn't been given access to the area since last week. Federal, state and local partners must work together to handle increases in migrants at the border, he said. Texas seizes city park near where migrants drowned In court filings, the state acknowledged it has seized control of Shelby Park for law-enforcement and disaster relief purposes. Texas officials said they hadnt been aware of the federal governments complaints about access and are working promptly to address them. Immigration history: Can the US handle more immigration? History and the Census suggest the answer is yes. Shelby Park, along the Rio Grande, is used as a staging area for Operation Loan Star on July 21, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Grupo Beta, an aid organization with the Mexican government, and the Mexican National Guard recovered the woman and children, according to the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Sunday. Two others, both Mexican, were rescued by Mexican officials. On Friday, the city of Eagle Pass issued a warning for cold weather in the area. Air temperatures hovered in the mid-40s Friday night. Abbott's office did not respond to questions, nor did U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, the Republican congressman who represents Eagle Pass. Court fight, cease-and-desist over border control Texas and the Biden administration are embroiled in a court battle about who has jurisdiction over the Eagle Pass park. The Justice Department told the Supreme Court on Friday that the state has prevented the Border Patrol from being able to determine whether a migrant in that area needs emergency aid. Fencing is restricting access to the Eagle Pass park, which contains a staging area for the Border Patrol and the boat ramp from which patrol boats are launched, the federal government said in requesting on Jan. 2 that the Supreme Court take on the case. "Texass new actions since the governments filing demonstrate an escalation of the States measures to block Border Patrols ability to patrol or even to surveil the border and be in a position to respond to emergencies," U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote. On Sunday, the DHS issued a cease-and-desist letter to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to stop blocking Border Patrol's access. Federal lawyers said Texas is violating federal law, and the three deaths highlight Texas' failure to provide access even when danger is present. DHS ordered Texas officials to stop blocking access and to remove the barriers by Wednesday or they will refer the matter to the Department of Justice "for appropriate action and consider all other options available to restore Border Patrols access to the border," the letter said. Buoys float on the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas, on July 20, 2023, as a Mexican engineer with the International Boundary and Water Commission uses GPS determine to see whether the buoys are crossing into Mexican territory. The buoys were installed on orders by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as an obstacle to prevent migrants from reaching the north embankment of the Rio Grande. Crosses in park While the most recent deaths highlight the inability of Americans to care for migrants in distress, deaths aren't new to the border community. Earlier Saturday, a group called Border Vigil Eagle Pass held a rally in Shelby Park to remember those who previously lost their lives crossing the border. "You have to see the ambulance coming back from the river without the flashing lights on," Amerika Garcia-Grewal, an organizer with the group, told USA TODAY. The lack of sirens, she said, means "there is somebody dead inside, and we have to live with that." In the dusk Saturday, hundreds of white crosses in Shelby Park's patchy grass were seen in photos posted on Facebook by Border Vigil, each one representing someone's life lost. Contributing: Maureen Groppe and Lauren Villagran This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Children, woman die in Rio Grande as feds, Texas debate border control The Lexington Herald-Leader is profiling 24 individuals this month that you should be keeping an eye on in 2024. The selected group represents a cross-section of industries, political parties, missions and the state itself. We believe each is notable for their contributions to Kentucky, as well as their plans for the next 12 months. Who: Geoff Marietta, Appalachian investor and entrepreneur. Background: Marietta is chief impact officer for the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky; founder of Invest 606, a business accelerator and pitch competition; and manages the Appalachian Impact Fund. Marietta and his wife, Sky, also own an events venue in Corbin called 2nd & Main; coffee shops in Harlan and Williamsburg; and are partners in the Harlan County Beer Company, a bar and restaurant in Harlan. Marietta grew up in the Iron Range, a mining area in Minnesota, and received a degree in forestry from the University of Montana before joining Teach for America and teaching on the Navajo Nation in New Mexico. Marietta later received a masters in business administration and a doctorate in organizational behavior from Harvard University. In 2015, he and his wife, Sky, and sons, Harlan and Perry, moved to Harlan County, where his wife had family. Marietta was executive director of Pine Mountain Settlement School for four years and also held a position as entrepreneur in residence at University of the Cumberlands. Why 2024 will be notable: In addition to continuing to run his family businesses, Marietta is overseeing the launch of the Southeast Kentucky Angel Investment Fund. The fund received a $680,000 federal grant as part of an initial capitalization of $1 million to build capacity to help entrepreneurs in the region. In addition, Invest 606 will top more than 60 alumni in 2024, enlarging the reach of the non-profit. Why do you think he will be successful in 2024? Geoff embodies all that makes success inevitable in our region. Hes got a wealth of knowledge that he shares by working with diverse and eclectic small businesses, all while investing personal resources in his own ventures, said Gerry Roll, longtime executive director of the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky. Geoff doesnt just work here; he lives here with his family; this is his home. And he is determined to make it the best place to be not just for his children, but for everyone in the community. Why is 2024 such an important year for you or your organization? The combination of the new angel investment fund, Invest 606 and the Appalachian Investment Fund creates a system to identify promising entrepreneurs and provide them low-cost capital to start or expand businesses, and will complement other lenders, Marietta said. We now have a nascent ecosystem of an entrepreneurial pipeline and a capital pipeline, Marietta said, which can help bring businesses from start-up to investable from a private, commercial capital perspective. If a person has a dignified, living-wage job, that is one of the best ways out of poverty, out of drugs, out of addiction. It can literally have generational effects in terms of wealth and opportunity, Marietta said. Three people from the metro Atlanta area were sentenced after stealing $6 million from the federal government. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Georgia said they stole the funds through a far-ranging fraud and identity theft ring where they laundered government funds. In just a few months, these defendants used hundreds of stolen identities and laundered millions in fraud proceeds from government programsseveral of which were designed to help those most severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said. Their sentences reflect the scope of their conduct and our commitment to partner with federal, state, and local investigators to prosecute individuals who seek to exploit government programs. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Officials said the money was obtained by Edwin Owie, Deborah McNeill and Osemwengie Imarhia through the use of stolen identification information and by opening fraudulent bank accounts. The USAO said the three took in unemployment benefits, economic impact payments, fraudulent federal income tax refunds, and Small Business Administration loans from at least 21 states from January 2020 to October 2020. These convicted criminals caused great stress to their victims upending their lives when they stole their identities and utilized the stolen identities to fraudulently gain federal tax funds intended to aid taxpayers, Demetrius Hardeman, Acting Special Agent in Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, Atlanta Field Office, said in a statement. TRENDING STORIES: In addition to prison time, Owie, McNeill and Imarhia will have to pay restitution to federal and state victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. As a result, the following charges and sentences were delivered: Edwin Owie, 63, of Dallas, Georgia, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,390,357.03 in restitution to the federal and state victims. Owie pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Deborah McNeill, 55, of Loganville, Georgia, was sentenced to four years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,390,357.03 in restitution to the federal and state victims. McNeill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft. Osemwengie Imarhia, 43, of Acworth, Georgia, was sentenced to two years, six months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,390,357.03 in restitution to the federal and state victims. Imarhia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit access device fraud. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Three migrants, a woman and two children, drowned in the Rio Grande in Eagle Pass, Texas very recently the epicenter of the migrant crisis just days after state authorities blocked the US Border Patrol from accessing miles of the US-Mexico border in that area, officials said. This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility, US Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democrat from Texas, said on X, formerly known as Twitter. Border Patrol learned six migrants were in distress in the Rio Grande at about 9 p.m. on Friday, the congressman said. Border Patrol officials called the Texas Military Department, the Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety but were unsuccessful in relaying the information by phone, Cuellar said in the social media post. Federal agents then went to the gate at Shelby Park a city park at the Rio Grande blocked off by state authorities with fencing, gates and razor wire to provide the information, Cuellar said. However, Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants even in the event of an emergency and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation, Cuellar said on X. Three migrants bodies were recovered by Mexican authorities early Saturday, Cuellar said, though the exact time is unclear. The US Department of Homeland Security confirmed the deaths and said Border Patrol agents were stopped from assisting at the border. In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area, a DHS spokesperson told CNN in a Saturday statement. The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The Texas Military Department said by the time Border Patrol agents requested access to the site Friday night, the drownings had occurred, Mexican authorities were recovering the bodies, and Border Patrol expressed these facts to the TMD personnel on site. Tensions have been high between the state and federal officials as theyve challenged the policies of Texas Republican governor, including the use of razor wire along the border and a new law that makes entering Texas illegally a state crime. The Biden administration on Friday complained to the US Supreme Court about the state blocking Border Patrol from the Shelby Park area and asked the high court to quickly intervene. The state on Saturday told the high court it was working promptly to ensure Border Patrol has access to a boat ramp at Shelby Park. In the deadly weekend incident, Border Patrol specifically requested access to the park to secure two additional migrants that were presumed to have traveled with the deceased, though had crossed to the boat ramp, the agency said in an updated statement Sunday night. Two migrants were apprehended by (the Texas Military Department), with one turned over to (the state Department of Public Safety) and the other transferred to EMS in response to initial hypothermic conditions. The Texas Military Department earlier Saturday said it was contacted by Border Patrol at 9 p.m. Friday about a migrant distress situation and searched the river with lights and night vision goggles, but no migrants were observed. About 45 minutes later, Mexican authorities were seen responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river bank, said the Texas Military Department, which then reported their observations back to Border Patrol, and they confirmed that the Mexican authorities required no additional assistance, according to its statement. At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period, the Texas Military Department said. Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the US side of the border regarding this situation. Migrant encounters drop substantially In Eagle Pass once a focal point of the migrant crisis city officials last week reported a significant drop in the number of migrant encounters, down to about 500 apprehensions daily from thousands a few weeks ago. Still, the Border Patrol has been blocked from Shelby Park since Wednesday night, when Texas authorities put up fencing, gates and razor wire to take custody of it and adjoining areas of the Rio Grande. The state was preparing for future migrant surges and blocking organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings, the Texas Military Department told CNN in a statement. We are saddened by tragic migrant drownings in Eagle Pass, a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement. We remain gravely concerned by actions that prevent the US Border Patrol from performing their essential missions of arresting individuals who enter the United States unlawfully and providing humanitarian response to individuals in need. Texas officials blocked US Border Patrol agents from doing their job and allowed two children to drown in the Rio Grande, US Rep. Joaquin Castro, another Texas Democrat, said Saturday in a statement. Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office and the Texas Department of Public Safety both referred CNN to the Texas National Guard for further information. The White House on Sunday called the recent migrant deaths tragic and characterized Abbotts directives on the border as political stunts, according to Angelo Fernandez Hernandez, White House assistant press secretary. While we continue to gather facts about the circumstances of these tragic deaths, one thing is clear: Gov. Abbotts political stunts are cruel, inhumane, and dangerous. US Border Patrol must have access to the border to enforce our laws, Fernandez Hernandez told CNN in a statement. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Sara Weisfeldt, Priscilla Alvarez and Jay Croft contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com On a bitter cold January morning when the thermometer refused to budge above -20, the men, women and families who find shelter at the Great Falls Rescue Mission gave thanks for the refuge it provides The Great Falls Rescue Mission is not contained within the distinctive building on 2nd Ave. South alone, but includes a complex of three buildings clustered together within a block of the century old building. Its origins trace back to the vision of a former Montana lumberjack/muleskinner named Harold Ross. In 1963 Ross rented a building within the old skid row area of Great Falls where, with the support of local churches, he began ministering to homeless men in Great Falls. In October 1973 he was able to purchase the old Martin Hotel building at 326 2nd Ave. South, which then became the Great Falls Rescue Mission mens shelter. A womens shelter opened in 2005, located at the former Salvation Army Hospitality House directly across the street from the mens shelter. The missions newest addition, the Cameron Family Center, opened its doors to great acclaim in January 2017. Combined, these three facilities represent a unique organization that extends its services to homeless people across 17 Montana counties from the Canadian border, south and east across most of the upper half of eastern Montana. Founder Harold Ross stands outside the original Great Falls Rescue Mission in the early 1960s There are no other homeless shelters from here all the way to the Canadian border and we kind of share the eastern part of Montana with Billings," explained Carrie Matter, Development Director for the Mission Our capacity within all three shelters is about 310 occupants." Temporary residency within any of the Rescue Mission's three shelters comes with conditions, with an emphasis on ensuring the safety and security of the hundreds of occupants and staff who work, eat and sleep there. "In order to qualify for a bed we require a urinalysis test upon intake," Matter said. "We test for drugs, and we test to see if theyve been drinking. We do that in order to keep everybody in the building safe. We also have a recovery program in all three of our shelters. We want to honor those residents who are already clean and sober. The residency guidelines are relaxed whenever overnight lows drop below freezing. These cold weather services allow additional people to take refuge at the mens and womens shelters between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. as long as space is available. Newly arrived mothers with children are welcomed into the Cameron Center beginning at 5:30 p.m. to reduce the likelihood of parents carting their children around town in the dark and cold. Occupants at the men's and women's shelters must leave during daytime hours, but can find shelter at the Great Falls Public Library, the Methodist Church, and St. Vincent de Paul to stay warm. When daytime temperatures drop below 15-degrees shelter occupants are permitted to remain both day and night. During cold winter nights the population of the Rescue Missions three shelters can swell by more than 80 people, pushing up to a maximum capacity of just under 400. We try to accommodate as many people as we can with other parts our buildings, Matter said. We have a dayroom with couches they can sleep on, and we provide camp mats and blankets so people can sleep on the floor. We just have one simple rule that people have to maintain a respectful attitude, follow the rules, and to check in any bags at the front desk. Addressing the core issues of homelessness While providing overnight shelter to the homeless of central Montana is a critical component of what Great Falls Rescue Mission does, finding ways to get people into permanent housing is the greater goal. Achieving that requires collaboration between a wide range of organizations, businesses, and individuals. It isnt just the Rescue Mission, said Matter. Its our entire community thats working with the homeless to try and overcome any barriers they may have to finding a home. Sometimes the barrier is criminal one, or maybe there are fines that havent been paid. Maybe theres some housing debt or medical debt we all work together to try and make sure they are addressing the things that are keeping them from getting into housing. Theres no cookie-cutter situation, she added. Our frontline staff are assigned an individual, and the trajectory for each individual varies depending upon their situation. You have to build trust, and also honor their confidentiality. People have to be willing to help themselves too. As you are navigating through all of this at the same time youre trying to put all those pieces together. You also have to do it in a way that honors them as a human being and as an individual. A growing problem in recent years has been the increasing number of homeless with significant mental health problems. Matter said there have been repeated occasions in the recent past when the Rescue Mission has had to deny access to an individual due to safety concerns for the hundreds of other people who occupy the shelters. "Were getting individuals from the state hospital who are being released and maybe they were given two- or three-days worth of medication," she described. "They are supposed to have some kind of connection to other services outside of our organization and thats not necessarily set into place." Sometimes, being in a shelter may not be the appropriate place for them," Matter acknowledged. "There are some people with extreme mental health issues the need to be addressed. We try to accommodate them as best we can, but were not mental health providers and were not medical professionals, so we work very closely with others in order to get them the help they need. We try to do the best that we can. Everybody get's the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes they have to move on. During this weather that makes it extremely difficult." Matter said the Rescue Mission works with Many Rivers Whole Health, a mental health and life management clinic in Great Falls, as well as the Behavioral Health Center at Benefis Health System to provide services to those with mental health issues. Many Rivers in particular provides a mobile therapeutic support service for adults challenged with a severe, disabling mental illness (SDMI) and need additional support for maintaining successful independent living. We have continual conversations with them," she explained. "They come on site with their multi-disciplinary team to perform functional crisis assessments. Sometimes the Many Rivers hospital is literally or behavioral health up at Benefis are the only place these people can go. So, were developing good relationships with Benefis and Many Rivers make sure that people are properly assessed before being dropped off here." A unique, privately funded operation All this and more, including meals for hundreds of people each day, basic medical care, addiction services and a youth outreach program is done at the Rescue Mission without taxpayer money. The majority of the people we serve has experienced trauma in some form or capacity," she added. "Just being homeless in and of itself is traumatic." "We receive no government funding," she said. "The majority of our funding comes from donations from individuals, private organizations, trusts and grants. We dont receive any tax dollars to do what we do. That gives us the freedom to help people without them having to qualify for multiple state and federal programs. We want to have the freedom to be able to help as many people as we can." "The majority of the people that we serve are from Great Falls, Cascade County and all the surrounding counties around us," Matter said. "When it comes down to it, if youre from Montana were all neighbors," Matter said of the Rescue Mission's perspective. "Were here to help each other. "If a rural community doesnt have the resources, naturally theyre going to go to the areas that do have them. Great Falls is a hub. We are the regional medical center for our area. Even if people get stranded, theyre still Montanans. Very rarely will you get individuals who are from out of state, and if you do it could be that they were born in Montana, they went out of state and theyre coming back because it just didnt work out for them." Such a program always needs contributions. Food is a special concern. "It could be things like ground beef, breakfast sausage or milk things that you would need in your own home," Matter said. "About half the food we serve is donated. Thats from businesses around town and individuals who will bring stuff down. Cold weather clothing is also a concern. Woolen hats, gloves, coats, boots and shoes are always welcome - as are twin sized sheets, blankets and pillow cases, shirts and pants in large 2X and 3X sizes, which are especially difficult to get. The Rescue Mission maintains a regularly updated list of their most basic needs at www.gfrm.com "If people want to donate clothing the largest sizes are what we are in most need of," Matter said. "We ask that people donate either new or like-new items." This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Rescue Mission offers relief to homeless during record cold snap Four fines totaling $62,500 leveled by federal safety officials against the operators of a Harbor Bridge project crane that malfunctioned and burned last year have been challenged and an appeal process appears to be underway. The incident sent debris cascading into a work zone below the tower crane and into part of Whataburger Field during a Corpus Christi Hooks baseball game. The bridge contractor and federal regulators confirmed Friday that fines are being contested, but the status of negotiations was unclear. The accident injured the wife of a visiting baseball player when debris from an 18,000-pound concrete bucket smashed into the ground below as part of the crane caught fire. The four fines were imposed last month against Flatiron/Dragados, LLC. "The citations were contested by the company, discussions are ongoing at this time," Chauntra Rideaux of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Public Affairs in Dallas said Friday. She said any fines assessed would be paid once a settlement is reached. Rideaux also said Friday that the settlement is not yet finalized. Flatiron/Dragados LLC likewise had little comment. "We are pleased to note that after an ongoing review and further discussions with OSHA, the citations have been withdrawn," said Flatiron/Dragados LLC Public Information Manager Lynn Allison. "As always, safety for our workforce and the public remains our highest priority. We are unable to provide further comment at this time." "Our understanding is that Inspection: 1665883 has been resolved and is or is in the process of being closed by OSHA," Allison noted. The violations, all listed as serious by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), included the manner in which the South Pylon tower crane was operated, employee certifications and a lack of inspections. A Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) spokesperson declined to comment on the OSHA investigation while it was ongoing. The agency did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Scary sight, flying debris A "large piece of industrial metal" found in a parking lot south of Whataburger Field rests on a table at the Port of Corpus Christi Command Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Port of Corpus Christi surveillance footage obtained by the Caller-Times last year showed a person running from the area under that falling bucket and debris on April 22, 2023, when that tower crane associated with the new Harbor Bridge construction project malfunctioned. Workers told a Port of Corpus Christi police officer that the crane had a "brake issue" earlier in the day, according to a police report obtained by the Caller-Times. The brake issue had caused a concrete bucket to become suspended in the air and not able to lower or raise, the police report stated. I was advised that both workers were attempting to diagnose and fix the issue when something broke. It was not determined by the workers what had broken. The concrete bucket came down at a rapid rate crashing into the ground. The concrete bucket had lodged itself into the ground when it hit. Workers said a blaze began atop the crane in containers of grease located at the top to help lubricate the cables, the police report states. The report said a crane operator tried but failed to put out the fire with an extinguisher, and neither of the operators were injured during the incident. Emergency officials allowed the fire to burn out. OSHA: Inspections not done OSHA stated in its Inspection Detail report that every month the crane was in service it was supposed to be inspected in accordance with federal rules during each shift. The OSHA document said in part that at the time of the incident the employer did not maintain and provide monthly inspections for Linden Comansa Tower Crane operated around the clock, OSHA wrote in one report. As a result, the employee hired to maintain the crane maintenance could not properly maintain the crane. A fine of $15,625 was imposed Dec. 22 for that violation following an informal settlement agreement, according to an OSHA document. A concrete bucket that fell from a 450-foot tower crane sticks out of the ground at a Harbor Bridge construction site on April 22, 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas. A baseball spectator at Whataburger Field was reportedly struck by flying debris and was hospitalized for three days. Unauthorized crane operations A similar fine was issued related to how the crane was operated. The OSHA document also said in part that at the time of the incident the employer allowed the load to be manually lowered with a modified brake system where procedures were not readily available, and no registered professional engineer approved the modified crane use, OSHA found. This condition posed a catastrophic failure of the suspended 18,000 lbs concrete bucket and struck by hazard to those on the ground and fall and struck by hazard to those on the crane. Crane operator certifications A third violation also resulted in a $15,625 fine Dec. 22 over general requirements for crane operators. The employer did not ensure that each operator is trained, certified/ licensed, and evaluated in accordance with this section before operating any equipment covered under subpart CC, except for the equipment listed in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, the violation report stated. On or about April 25, 2023 and at times previous, employees conducted a manual descent of a load on the South Pylon tower crane without having been trained in the proper procedures and were exposed to struck by hazards in the event of failure. Prohibited equipment modifications The fourth violation, which also had a $15,625 fine attached, was due to prohibited modifications or additions which affect the capacity or safe operation of the equipment, the document stated. On or about April 25, 2023 and at times previous, employees modified the brake system to allow manual lowering of an 18,000 lbs suspended load using handles and the procedures were not approved by a registered professional engineer or the crane manufacturer, the final violation notice stated. This condition caused the load to fall in an uncontrolled manner. OSHA has an appeals process OSHA documents state that a serious violation shall be deemed to exist in a place of employment if there is a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a condition which exists, or from one or more practices, means, methods, operations, or processes which have been adopted or are in use, in such place of employment unless the employer did not, and could not with the exercise of reasonable diligence, know of the presence of the violation. OSHA may propose a penalty for each violation, an OSHA document stated. OSHA provides employers with a process to contest any portion of a citation. Those wishing to contest "must submit a Notice of Intent to Contest in writing to the OSHA area office within 15 working days after receipt of the Citation and Notification of Penalty. This applies even if you have stated your disagreement with a citation, penalty, or abatement date during a telephone conversation or an informal conference," an OSHA document states. "Your contest must be made in good faith. OSHA will not consider a contest filed solely to avoid your responsibilities for abatement or payment of penalties. A proper contest of any item suspends your legal obligation to abate and pay until the item contested has been resolved," the document states. "...After you file a Notice of Intent to Contest, your case is officially in litigation. If you wish to settle the case, you may contact the OSHA area director who will give you the name of the attorney handling your case for OSHA. All settlements of contested cases are negotiated between you and the attorney according to the rules of procedure of the OSHRC." This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: 2023 Harbor Bridge project crane failure sparked $62,500 in OSHA fines Boris Katkov, the chairman of the Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association Board and a citizen of the Russian Federation, has been expelled from Latvia. Source: LSM Details: At the initiative of the Latvian State Security Service (VDD), the Minister of Internal Affairs of Latvia, Rihards Kozlovskis, added Katkov to the list of undesirable persons in the country "for his long-term and systematic activities carried out in Russias favour." Katkov was subsequently expelled from the country. According to Katkov, on 10 January, he received a letter signed by the Minister of Internal Affairs of Latvia stating that he was a threat to national security and would be deported. On the morning of 12 January, border guards came to the 82-year-old man, gave him an hour to pack and escorted him to the border. In the evening of the same day, Katkov crossed the Russian border at the Terehova-Burachki checkpoint in Pskov Oblast. According to information from open sources, Boris Katkov arrived in Latvia in 1966. At first he worked in the military enlistment office in the city of Cesis, then in Daugavpils. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1991. Katkov received a passport as a non-citizen of Latvia in 1998, and in 2000 took Russian citizenship. Due to his age, he was exempt from passing the Latvian language exam and submitted the remaining documents for obtaining a permanent residence permit. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called Katkov's deportation a "provocative" action, the purpose of which is to "intimidate Russian-speaking residents of Latvia." The Russian Embassy in Latvia described the actions of Latvia as "absolutely cynical", and committed in violation of "the principle intended to prevent the separation of family members" (Katkov left his wife, children and grandchildren in Latvia). Support UP or become our patron! Three migrants, including two children, drowned in the Rio Grande on Saturday, CNN reports. A woman and two minors were part of a group attempting to cross into the United States from Mexico on Friday night at Eagle Pass, Texas, where federal Border Patrol access has been blocked by Texas Governor Greg Abbotts border security project, Operation Lone Star, since last week. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar posted a statement to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, blaming Abbott for the tragedy. Border Patrol personnel were forced out of Shelby Park earlier this week by the Texas National Guard under order of Governor Abbott. As a result, Border Patrol was unable to render aid to the migrants and attempt to save them. This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility. In a follow-up, he clarified, the Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants. U.S. Customs and Border Protection told Texas Public Radio that Border Patrol agents were prevented from initiating rescue efforts Friday evening on Friday. Shelby Park, a 47-acre public park in Eagle Pass on the banks of the Rio Grande. Shelby Park was seized under an emergency declaration by Abbott on Wednesday, surprising local residents. Shelby Park had previously been under state control until the city council reclaimed it last August for public recreation. Texas Military Department did not deny that it had blocked access, reports TPR, but claims a unit actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles. No migrants were observed, then later observed Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexico side of the river bank. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," the Texas Military Department continued in a statement to press. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro released a statement Saturday on the deaths, saying, This is what Operation Lone Star looks like on the ground. Texas officials blocked U.S. Border Patrol agents from doing their job and allowed two children to drown in the Rio Grande. Governor Abbotts inhumanity has no limit, Castros statement continued. Everyone who enables his cruelty has blood on their hands." The U.S. Department of Justice has petitioned the Supreme Court to intervene after a court ordered Border Patrol to stop removing concertina wire installed by Texas at the border, arguing that Texas was blocking access to a crucial boat ramp in Shelby Park and, in effect, "Border Patrols ability to patrol or even to surveil the border and be in a position to respond to emergencies, as Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar wrote in the filing. Some time into his tenure as the defence secretary, Ben Wallace asked the Navy to think the unthinkable. Could they scrap one of Britains precious aircraft carriers? To understand what a shocking suggestion this was, we must go back to the late 1990s when HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales were conceived. It took three Labour governments; one coalition; two Tory governments; umpteen political about-turns; and a multiple of the original 2.3 billion budget to transform the vessels from a job-creation scheme for bored shipbuilders on the Clyde to anything remotely seaworthy. The 25-year saga almost bankrupted the Navy and drove successive defence secretaries to despair. Now, amid the most serious challenge to freedom of navigation since the two ships were delivered, they are nowhere to be seen raising serious questions about their utility in an age of modern warfare. On the face of it, the crisis in the Red Sea is the perfect opportunity for the Navy to show that all the pain and woe for the ships they call our nations spearhead was worth it. After all, the United States has sent one of its carriers to the region. Various fighter jets including the F/A-18 Super Hornet and E2 Hawkeye command and control aircraft have been zooming off USS Dwight D Eisenhower to teach Houthi militants a lesson. As Britain joins US air strikes against dozens of positions in Yemen, surely one of our great carriers is on its way to the action? Sadly not. Both ships are currently keeping watch in that notorious trouble spot known as... Portsmouth Harbour. A few days ago, Tobias Ellwood, the Tory MP and former defence minister, asked the Defence Secretary whether he plans to task an aircraft carrier to the Middle East. The answer was no time soon, though according to the Ministry of Defence, our Carrier Strike Group (the collective term for the carriers and their support vessels) is ready to sally forth, should the call come. To describe that as misleading is generous. For while it is true that the Navy could just about cobble together something resembling a Carrier Strike Group, despatching it anywhere remotely risky would be criminally foolhardy and leave Britain dangerously exposed. The painful truth is that since the ships were first commissioned, the march of technology has threatened to render them both obsolete. We do not have enough smaller warships or submarines or indeed weaponry to optimally protect them, in the way the US carrier is kept safe, unless we are willing to abandon the protection of our own coast and our nuclear deterrent. In 1998, when Tony Blair and Gordon Brown approved the project, carriers were still the undisputed empresses of the sea. They had played a key role in the Falklands and would be critical to operations in Afghanistan. No piece of military hardware was more emblematic of hard power. Few countries can afford them, making them international status symbols. In the time it took to make them, the UAE built an entire booming metropolis: Dubai. No sooner were they ready, than they developed mechanical faults. Meanwhile our enemies have been busy developing carrier killers. As a result, what the Navy optimistically calls our national spearhead is now vulnerable to a new generation of weapons such as Chinas Dongfeng-21D, a ballistic missile said to be able to close in on its target at 10 times the speed of sound. They are extremely difficult to intercept, and Beijing can make about 1,200 for the price of an aircraft carrier. Iran has similar stuff so our carriers need to be kept hundreds of kilometres away from conflict zones. Unfortunately they are equipped with a take-off and landing system that limits aircraft range rendering them somewhat useless in a situation such as we now have in the Red Sea. It is hard to avoid a sinking feeling that these two glorious vessels will never be much more than a ruinously expensive display piece. No wonder Wallace, head in hands, commissioned a study into the viability of mothballing one of the pair. What he actually meant was getting rid of it altogether. Ashen-faced admirals then pretended they would be more expensive to scuttle than keep. Presumably Wallace couldnt face an almighty fight or the national humiliation of scrapping a flagship. The unprecedented threat to freedom of navigation all over the world shows that the Navy is more relevant to our national security and prosperity than ever. Sadly, the absence of any realistic role for our two flagships in todays conflict suggests that our carriers are not. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but Wallace was probably right. 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. (Bloomberg) -- At 5 a.m. on Monday, Cynthia Frey will climb into her 300-horsepower tractor and drive through the dark to the center of Berlin. There shell join hundreds of other farmers at the Brandenburg Gate and call for Chancellor Olaf Scholz to resign. Most Read from Bloomberg Without us, you would be hungry, naked and sober reads a sign the 26-year-old single mother has prepared for the demonstration. For a week, German farmers have blocked highways all over the country. But far from attracting resentment, theyre finding nationwide support for their protests. What emerged from opposition to the threat of subsidy cuts in agriculture has quickly morphed into an outlet for rage against Scholzs three-party government whose approval ratings are at an all-time low. About three out of four German voters are unhappy both with Scholz as leader and the entire government, according to a poll by research institute INSA published by Bild am Sonntag. The planned cuts to agriculture diesel subsidies were just the straw that broke the camels back, Frey said at a protest in the town of Meseberg on Thursday. She stood in front of an enormous Fendt 930 tractor whose engine she kept running. These protests are a noisiest manifestation yet of a culture-war realignment thats shaken up old alliances in places like the US but which had been relatively absent from Europes largest economy. On the same day that Frey makes the 70km (43 mile) ride to Berlin, Germany will release GDP numbers that are likely to show that the economy contracted last year. The irony for the farmers at the vanguard of these protests is that, by contrast with the broader economy, theyve rarely had it so good. Theyre railing against a subsidy cut to the diesel that tractors like Freys consume at around 14 liters (4 gallons) an hour. But the impact that would have on farm budgets about 3,000 euros ($3,300) per farm, according to Sebastian Lakner, an agriculture economist at the University of Rostock is dwarfed by bumper profits on the back of the prices they now command for many of their products. The farmers say theyre spurred less by economic motivations than a sense theyre being maligned and ignored. Long perceived as an anchor of European stability, since Scholzs election in 2021 Germany increasingly appears to be a country divided. Its government is now mired in squabbling about the budget just as political extremes are on the rise. Earlier in the week the country was shaken by a news report about a meeting between neo-Nazis and members of the far-right AfD, who discussed plans for the mass deportation of migrants. The AfD are nevertheless second in polls. And two days previously an eponymous new party was founded on the far-left under the leadership of lawmaker Sahra Wagenknecht. Read more: Germanys New Far-Left Party Targets Voters Angry With Scholz But its not just those at the fringes calling the administration out of touch. When the federal government decided to claw back budget from the agricultural sector, there was no attempt to discuss this with farmers beforehand, said Lower Saxony State Premier Stephan Weil, a member of Scholzs Social Democrats. So the frustration runs much deeper. When Scholz visited a train-maintenance facility in the eastern German town of Cottbus on Thursday, he was greeted by protesting farmers and hundreds of tractors honking their horns. But he seemed characteristically unmoved by the protests and instead praised the success of Germanys high-speed trains. The fact the countrys train drivers were also on a three-day nationwide strike, Scholz addressed with an ironic remark. Train rides are at the moment an exciting adventure, he quipped. After his speech Scholz met representatives of the local farmer lobby, but made clear once again his unwillingness to withdraw the planned subsidy cuts, according to his spokesman Steffen Hebestreit. His government had previously made concessions by dropping a plan to end certain tax breaks. One of the reasons the farmers arent giving up is that they sense weakness from a government thats experienced a tremendous loss of authority in recent months. A recent poll for public broadcaster ARD showed that more than 80% of Germans are dissatisfied with their government. Scholzs personal approval rating slipped by one point to 19%, the lowest for a German chancellor since the survey was first conducted in 1997. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck from the Greens, who used to be the star of the cabinet, dropped six points to 24%. The protesting farmers despise the Greens in particular, on account of a climate protection agenda which has led to onerous environmental regulations. In the past two years, the government has overloaded us with so much red tape that we can barely do our daily work anymore, said Bernhard Schaal, a farmer in the Eifel region in the far west corner of Germany. This comes from people in Berlin who have no clue what they are doing. Habeck experienced this anger in person when a group of farmers prevented him from disembarking a ferry earlier this month on the North Sea coast of his home state of Schleswig-Holstein. The Green politician later posted a video in which he said the protest had been hijacked by right-wing extremists and warned German democracy is in danger. There are calls circulating with fantasies of a political overthrow. Extremist groups are forming, ethnic nationalist symbols are openly displayed, Habeck said in the eight-minute video. But Habecks response only fueled further anger. Many farmers see it as proof that Scholzs coalition partners dont understand their problems. Its such a cheap move to put us in the bag with right-wing extremists just because we are not happy with this left-green government, said Bjoern Heinemann, a 48-year-old potato farmer from the town of Liebenwalde, in an interview at the Thursday protests. This government is so far removed from the people and has no idea whats happening on our fields. The AfD and other right-wing groups have indeed tried to join the protests. A few demonstrators have waved symbols like the black flag of the Landvolkbewegung, a farmers protest movement which was central to the rise of National Socialism in the late 1920s. More common are pictures of traffic lights representing the three-party coalition hanging from the gallows. Speaking on his Saturday video podcast, Scholz thanked Joachim Rukwied, the president of the farmers association, for clearly distancing himself from extremists. Gallows are not arguments, he said. In former East Germany the AfD polls higher than in the rest of the country, and many fear they could profit from the unrest in state elections that are approaching this year. The majority of protesting farmers arent extremists but rather a group thats taken the brunt of recent economic changes, according to sociologist Rolf Heinze. People in the countryside feel it directly when the gas prices are going up. The protesters are counting on radical changes like an overthrow of government which, Heinze says, are unlikely to be met. My worry is that many will drive home frustrated, he said. Frey is clear that she wont give up so easily. We will not stop until this government is gone, she said. --With assistance from Michael Nienaber, Iain Rogers, Zoe Schneeweiss, Aine Quinn and Monica Raymunt. (Updates with INSA poll results in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Old Prints, New Tricks New research suggests that our fingerprints aren't actually unique, in what could potentially be a blow to a long-held cornerstone of forensic science. The work, published as a study in the journal Science Advances, involved using a type of AI model commonly used for facial recognition, which the researchers configured to look for patterns and identifiers in fingerprints that humans may be overlooking. And that, according to the researchers, is exactly what the AI did, identifying whether prints from different types of fingers came from the same person with 75 to 90 percent accuracy, the BBC reported. "It is clear that it isn't using traditional markers that forensics have been using for decades," study co-author Hod Lipson, a roboticist at Columbia University, told the broadcaster. Beyond the Minutiae The researchers trained their AI model on a database of 60,000 fingerprints. Lead author Gabe Guo, a senior undergrad at Columbia University, told CNN that the AI was able to look beyond finger features known as "minutiae" that detectives have relied on for centuries. "They are great for fingerprint matching, but not reliable for finding correlations among fingerprints from the same person," Guo told the network. Instead, the AI homed in on the angles and curvatures of the swirls at the center. In theory, these insights could be used to link fingerprints of different types found across multiple crime scenes to the same person. "This won't just help catch more criminals," Guo told CNN. "This will also actually help innocent people who might not have to be unnecessarily investigated anymore. And I think that's a win for society." Yesterday's News The researchers' claims have received significant pushback from forensic scientists, an area that Guo and his team had no background in before undertaking the research. One such critic is Simon Cole, a professor of criminology, law and society at the University of California who argues that these findings which he admits are interesting aren't necessarily anything new and are a far cry from disproving current forensic techniques. "We were not 'wrong' about fingerprints," he told CNN. "The unproven but intuitively true claim that no two fingerprints are 'exactly alike' is not rebutted by finding that fingerprints are similar," he added. "Fingerprints from different people, as well as from the same person have always been known to be similar." Still, Guo maintains that their findings are "incontrovertible." He remains adamant that beyond his work here, AI will revolutionize other areas of analysis. "We're going to see people using AI to discover things that were literally hiding in plain sight, right in front of our eyes, like our fingers," he told CNN. More on forensics: Scientists Reconstruct What You're Looking at by Enhancing Reflection in Your Eye Donald Trump's lawyers have now made the argument that he is constitutionally protected from prosecution for any of the crimes he may have engaged in during his presidency. Former President Donald Trump is facing by the most recent count 91 felony charges of various kinds, many connected to his alleged attempted subversion of the electoral process in reversing his failed bid for a return to the White House 2020. Trying to keep up with his trials is becoming increasingly complex and cumbersome, even for those determined to delight in his troubles. But Trump has now made the argument that he is constitutionally protected from any prosecution of any of the crimes he may have engaged in during his presidency. The weird new take on the Constitution emerged during an appeal hearing last week. The first time Trump had engaged a court with this silly idea it was batted aside: Whatever immunities a sitting President may enjoy," U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan wrote, 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. Trump appealed, and the appeals panel questioned the thing further. The Washington Post reported that Judge Florence Y. Pan asked [Trumps attorney] John Sauer if a president could be criminally prosecuted if he ordered SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival. Such a scenario ordering the military to do something would fall under presidential duties. But having a rival murdered would also be a clear violation of the law. Sauer argued that [Mr. Trump] could not be prosecuted unless he had been tried and convicted in the Senate. Politico reported that Judge Pans colleague, Judge Karen Henderson, addressed Trumps lawyers, saying, I think its paradoxical to say that his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed allows him to violate criminal law. Indeed. Yet this seems to be exactly what he is arguing. Once we remove the absurdity of the idea, the question arises as to whether what Trump is accused of doing is, actually, just as awful as an elite squad of professionals being ordered around like common gangsters. The problem, constitutional and otherwise, is that what Trump is alleged to have engaged in is nothing less than the intentional crippling of the American system of elections and the peaceful transfer of power that has endured in the U.S. since we became a republic. And this, surely, is not a protected act. It is worth noting that Sauer had gone on to explain that of course the president would have been tried and convicted in the Senate if he had committed murder leaving unsaid the most telling aspect of the argument: that attempting to sabotage our system of government apparently did not or had not - risen to the occasion. Ledger Columnist Bruce Anderson in Lakeland Fl Thursday December 22,2022.Ernst Peters/The Ledger While the idea that U.S. Navy Seals would liquidate a political rival at the behest of Trump is preposterous, the fact is that an army of people under his command seemed very willing to assist with wrecking the American republics most cherished institutions and values. Which is why many of them are on trial. More from Bruce Anderson: Want an Article 5 Convention to change the Constitution? Here come the clowns The entire mess is unprecedented. No former president of the United States has ever had to make such an argument before because no prior former president has been accused of committing any crime in office, much less the horrendous accusations lodged against Trump. I was interested in Judge Hendersons note about the oath to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, and it seems to me that the coming trial will do just that. As with any American citizen, Trump is innocent until proven, by the evidence, that he is criminally culpable. The courts have yet to have their say. But the idea that the courts should be denied this say is to place Trump above the law. And no American citizen, whatever their office, is entitled to that. R. Bruce Anderson is the Dr. Sarah D. and L. Kirk McKay Jr. endowed chair in American history, government and civics and Miller distinguished professor of political science at Florida Southern College. He is also a columnist for The Ledger and political consultant and on-air commentator for WLKF Radio in Lakeland. This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Appealing to unreason: Donald Trump's and the courts | Anderson Its something Ive done thousands of times reach in my back pocket and pull out my wallet. But what if its not there? Ive come up empty a few times when I was especially forgetful. But that was just a matter of driving a few blocks to my house and then coming back to get my meal or groceries. Although there was one time I seem to remember when I left my family as hostages at a pizza joint while I retrieved my wayward wallet. But when you miss your wallet on the farm in Missouri you could be searching 160 acres on the home place. Luckily when I did notice I didnt have that familiar lump in my back pocket, I was at my sisters house. I had parked the car, walked to the door and on to a couch. How hard could that be to search? But, despite literally turning the couch upside down, we didnt find it. Must be in the garage or the driveway? Nope. Must be in the car then. I waited until I was back at the farm before I looked. There are about a hundred places where it could have fallen out of my pocket and have been swallowed by the ghosts that hide things in cars. Not under the floor mats. Not under the seats. Not down the sides of the seats. Not on the dash in plain sight. I did find someones pocketknife stowed in a nook on a door. Otherwise little except some petrified fast food and a piece of wrapped candy which I ate. The candy, not the fast food. It wasnt on the ground anywhere around the car. I probably would have spotted it because it is bright blue. That seemed like it would help me keep track of it. Didnt work this time, although it did help me find it once in the backyard at home. By now a little bit of panic was starting to creep in. There was only a dollar in it but it was loaded with plastic cards that would have to be replaced. I had no idea how to do that. I also hadnt finished the fast food gift card that was in there. It was time to take a deep breath and approach this logically. I hadnt been anywhere other than the cabin and my sisters house. I lose a ton of stuff and usually I find it when I backtrack my steps. I dreaded telling my wife and hearing the Oh, honey, that I knew would come as it usually does when I have done something goofy. I enlisted the help of my wife and my son, a double oh honey except he uses Dad instead of honey. They looked under everything. Still no luck. It had to be there. Finally, when I started yanking the covers off the bed, it fell out. I had looked there and so had my wife. I can only figure that the god of lost items took pity on me and returned my wallet after a sufficient amount of teasing. It only required that expenditure of time and effort and extreme stress to appease the god. The Arizona "In God we trust" specialty license plate supports the Alliance Defending Freedom. Why is the State of Arizona, through its customized license plate scheme, raising money for blatant political action groups? In God We Trust plates raise cash for the Alliance Defending Freedom, identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a hate group for its anti-LGBTQ views. Choose Life license plates raise cash for the Arizona Life Coalition, an anti-abortion political action group. Why is Arizona raising money for one side of the nationally charged abortion debate? This program is ripe for abuse. The State of Arizona should not be in the business of sharing license plate fees with any advocacy group, no matter what its cause may be. Vince Wade, Cave Creek Yes, highlight our water problems It was refreshing to hear the governor talk about our states water problems. For way too long, corporations have been pumping our states most precious resource without any accountability, and our state government has encouraged this. As a Cochise County resident who has loved ones who use groundwater from a well for everyday household needs, Ive worried that running out of groundwater will destroy even more communities and livelihoods across rural Arizona. The last governor sold our states water to the highest bidder. The new governor has already taken some action on this: her bipartisan water policy council has recommended policy solutions to the Legislature that can work for everyone in our state, from city dwellers in the Valley to rural farmers and residents across the state. Economic development is important; but no amount of economic growth is worth anything if our state runs out of water. For once Im finally feeling a bit optimistic about our water future. Christie Brown, Sierra Vista Arizona needs moderate lawmakers All we hear from the politicians and the media is lets flip the state blue or flip it red. Flip the statehouse. Flip the governor. Flip the Congress. Flip left, flip right. They are ignoring the biggest voting block in Arizona and in the country independents. Add moderate partisans and you have over half the voting public people who are every bit as motivated, but just want the problems solved. Gov. Hobbs proves: She's ready to flip the Legislature They dont want problems preserved so party politicians can exploit them with their base. The center, where independents are, is not a fixed position. Its a mindset. One that considers the valid concerns of all sides and works toward solving problems for all. Think what would happen if the Arizona Legislature were led by independents and moderate partisans, rather than the left or right base. Things would happen that would represent the desires of the majority of Arizonans, on issues such as schools for all, water policy, abortion, immigration, whatever. We dont need to flip back and forth just to protect the flippers jobs. We need problem solvers, not flippers. Lets flip them out! Doug Metzger, Phoenix Let's stop demonizing migrants I welcome the opinion column on the border situation written by Randy Mayer (What an abandoned stroller tells us about our broken border with Mexico). It should help end the demonizing of immigrants. As John F. Kennedy wrote, we are A Nation of Immigrants. Let us not forget that. I would recommend the presidents upcoming State of the Union speech include the articles thrust about: what these poor people are fleeing; the work program idea the writer outlined; and that the Border Patrol should end sensationalized border tours for elected officials. I agree. Money cant solve this problem. I believe unified, international military and law enforcement action could; it is about time the entire hemisphere sees the drug cartels and human trafficking organizations as terrorizing and invading forces that must be eradicated. This is no different than good and decent people working together to fight and defeat the scourge and aggression of terrorizing and invading forces throughout history. Steve Grogan, Sun City How many jobs can migrants fill? The column by Randy Mayer suggests that available jobs in the U.S. can be filled by border crossers. According to federal sources, there are more than 8 million jobs available in the U.S. How many of the available jobs require English to be spoken, and how many of the border crossers speak English? What are the skills of the border crossers vs. the skills required to perform the jobs? Many available jobs require a high school education. What percentage of the crossers have met that requirement? There are only so many jobs available that only require minimal skills in the U.S. Jim Herbster, Scottsdale Whats on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona specialty license plate fees should never fund these groups A jailed member of the Proud Boys extremist group was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison for his role in a mobs attack on the U.S. Capitol three years ago, court records show. William Chrestman, a U.S. Army veteran from Olathe, Kansas, brandished an axe handle and threated police with violence after leading other Proud Boys members to the perimeter of the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Chrestman pleaded guilty in October to obstructing the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. He also pleaded guilty to a second felony count of threatening to assault a federal officer during the Capitol riot. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly sentenced Chrestman to four years and seven months in prison, according to court records. Prosecutors had recommended a prison sentence of five years and three months, arguing that he played a significant role during the riot due to his presence and conduct at pivotal moments during the day. Indeed, Chrestman regularly presented himself as a leader among the rioters including when he was part of the tip of the spear that created the breach at the Peace Circle, encouraged other rioters to move to the police barricades, told rioters to stop the arrest of a rioter, and thanked them for supporting the Proud Boys, prosecutors wrote. Chrestman has been jailed since his arrest in February 2021. Hell get credit for the nearly three years he already has served in custody. Defense attorney Michael Cronkright argued that Chrestman never used his axe handle to do anything remotely violent on Jan. 6. To date, the worst thing that the government has asserted is that he used it to touch a security gate that was already going up, Cronkright wrote. Chrestman also had a gas mask, a helmet and other tactical gear when he traveled to Washington with other Proud Boys members from the Kansas City, Kansas, area. On Jan. 6, he marched to the Capitol grounds with dozens of other Proud Boys leaders, members and associates. Chrestman and other Proud Boys moved past a toppled metal barricade and joined other rioters in front of another police barrier. He shouted a threat at officers and yelled at others in the crowd to stop police from arresting another rioter, according to prosecutors. Facing the crowd, Chrestman shouted, Whose house is this? Our house! the crowd replied. Do you want your house back? Chrestman asked. Yes! the crowd responded. Take it! Chrestman yelled. Chrestman also pointed his finger at a line of Capitol police officers, gestured at them with his axe handle and threatened to assault them if they fired pepper ball rounds at the crowd of rioters, according to a court filing accompanying his guilty plea. Also on Friday, a man who briefly ran an unsuccessful campaign for governor of Oregon after storming the Capitol was sentenced to nearly four years in prison. Reed Knox Christensen, 65, charged at a group of police officers outside the Capitol and assaulted five of them before rioters breached the police line, prosecutors said. Christensen captured less than 1% of the votes cast in Oregons May 2022 Republican primary for the governors race. Prosecutors said he used the campaign to obtain free publicity and brag about his participation in the riot. Christensen also wrote a self-published book about his experiences prior to and including January 6, according to his attorney, Troy Nixon. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Christensen, an engineer from Hillsboro, Oregon, to three years and 10 months in prison, court records show. More than 1,200 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. About 900 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trials decided by a jury or judge. Over 750 of them have been sentenced, with nearly 500 receiving some term of imprisonment, according to data compiled by The Associated Press. Dozens of Proud Boys leaders, members and associates have been arrested on Jan. 6 charges. The groups former national chairman, Enrique Tarrio, was sentenced to 22 years in prison the longest for a Capitol riot case so far. A jury convicted Tarrio and three lieutenants of seditious conspiracy charges for a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 election. AMES, Iowa Asa Hutchinson, once the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and governor of the same state, is making his "last arguments" to the Iowa "jury" this weekend before the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses on Monday. "You have to make the case that our country needs to go a different direction than Donald Trump. And if someone does not say that then ... we're basically saying he's going to be a great nominee for us," Hutchinson said during a meet and greet on Sunday at Jethro's BBQ in Ames. The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll had Hutchinson at 1%, far below the frontrunner Donald Trump at 48% and second place Nikki Haley at 20%. More: Iowa caucus night: Where to find results, follow live coverage "One person in America who really likes the poll numbers where they see Donald Trump 28 points ahead, is Joe Biden. He's sitting there loving it because that's the one chance he has to win," he said. Hutchinson continued to say that he believes Republicans can still win the general election if they have the right nominee. "And that's the case I have to make," he said. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson speaks at a meet and greet on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Gravitate Coworking (Downtown) in Des Moines. Ken and Bonnie May, of Slater, said that they're convinced that Hutchinson is the right choice to be the nominee. At the Jethro's event on Sunday, Ken told the Des Moines Register he will caucus for Hutchinson on Monday. "I think he's really authentic and down to earth. He's really intelligent, you can ask him anything and he just seemed to answer honestly," Ken May said. "This to me is an opportunity to vote for somebody that I think could be really good. I don't see a downside to this." Also attending the Sunday event, Julie Skaar, of Story City, says she and her husband, Brad, are doing some last-minute "shopping" for the "best candidate that most closely aligns with our thoughts." More: How the Iowa Caucuses work, who can caucus and where to caucus Brad Skaar said Hutchinson happened to be one of the first candidates he heard speak earlier in the process, and said he was impressed by his maturity, experience and calm demeanor. "All the right things," he said. "Probably the kind of candidate that won't catch glitzy media attention, unfortunately. ... We need an administrator, not a showman, not a Hollywood stage manager, not a TV businessman. I need an administrator of a country." GOP presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson talks to his supporters during a campaign stop at Jethro's BBQ Ames on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, in Ames, Iowa. (Nirmalendu Majumdar/Ames Tribune-USA Today Network) When asked what it would take for him to caucus for Hutchinson, Skaar said he was impressed that Hutchinson used the word "we" more than "I." He said he's still torn between Hutchinson and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose experience and military service Skaar finds admirable. "It's given me a lot to think about for tomorrow," Skaar said. Hutchinson's two events in Des Moines and Ames drew more than 100 people combined more than many of his other events, although many attendees of Saturday night's event, hosted at Gravitate Coworking in downtown Des Moines, were college students visiting Iowa to observe the caucus process. More: Where the candidates stand on the issues At Jethro's, Hutchinson reflected on his nine months of campaigning across the Hawkeye State. "We have campaigned all through this state," he said. "We've been on the farms in Iowa, we've been in the ethanol plants, we've been on combines." Virginia Barreda is the Des Moines city government reporter for the Register. She can be reached at vbarreda@dmreg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @vbarreda2. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Asa Hutchinson makes final push to win over Iowans ahead of Caucus Day Bruneis Prince Abdul Mateen, dubbed Asias most eligible bachelor, has married a commoner in a fairy-tale 10-day royal wedding with 5,000 guests. Well-wishers lined the streets of the tiny kingdoms capital to catch a glimpse of the prince and his new wife Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah as they rode through Bandar Seri Begawan in an open-top Rolls-Royce on Sunday Having trained in the RAF at Brize Norton, Prince Mateen has cultivated something of a James Bond-like image, posing in military fatigues with guns one minute and riding on a horse playing polo the next. He is reportedly worth around $30 billion, has some 7,000 cars and a passion for exotic pets. In one photo, he can be seen kneeling next to a tiger, beneath which reads the caption: Back home with my buddy. Prince Mateen had built an online persona followed by millions who would fawn over photos of him appearing muscle-bound and shirtless on a beach. Many of his fans took to his Instagram to wryly express their delight at the happy day. The bride is absolutely stunning. Beautiful couple. RIP to all the girls who has crush on him. Wake up! Movies and reality are two different things, wrote one. Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, 29, comes from a more humble background though one not devoid of prestige. She is the granddaughter of an adviser to Bruneis leader, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and is reported to own a fashion and tourism company, Silk Collective. She also studied at the University of Bath. Its not clear how she met the prince, though they are reported to have been dating for a number of years. This week, the extravagant life she was marrying into was heralded by an occasion that spared no expense. A traditional powdering ceremony they attended on Wednesday began with a parade of 40 spear-carriers and the firing of 17 cannons. A lavish banquet is due to take place on Monday. Following the lavish ceremony there is expected to be a banquet on Monday - AFP/Iqbal Selamat Unlike other countries in Southeast Asia, Brunei has enormous financial reserves and is less reliant on tourism. It is an absolute monarchy with strict Islamic laws and a population of only around 450,000 people. Brunei is one of the worlds richest countries. Prince Mateen is the 10th child of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, though he is unlikely to ever ascend the throne because he holds no immediate claim to succession. 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. One Ring Lurking some nine billion light years away from Earth is what appears to be a so-called cosmic megastructure in the shape of an enormous ring. It's so large that its existence should be impossible, according to new research reported on by The Guardian, challenging a fundamental assumption of our understanding of the Universe. Known as the "Big Ring," the structure spans an astonishing 1.3 billion light years in diameter a significant portion of the observable Universe's estimated size of 94 billion light years. By contrast, the largest known galaxy is a "mere" 16 million light years across. If it were visible in the night sky to the naked eye, the Big Ring would be equal in diameter to fifteen full moons. Succinctly put: it's unfathomably huge. The unpublished findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society on Thursday, add to a growing list of inexplicably large structures that remain confounding if not controversial to scientists. The work was led by Alexia Lopez, an astronomer at the University of Central Lancashire in England, who previously discovered an even larger cosmic megastructure dubbed "the Giant Arc" in 2021. "From current cosmological theories we didn't think structures on this scale were possible," Lopez told The Guardian. "We could expect maybe one exceedingly large structure in all our observable universe." Fundamental Rethink There should be just one, but there are many. The largest and most notable of all is the Hercules-Corona Borealis Great Wall, a supercluster of galaxies thought to be 10 billion light years across. Why are these megastructures a big deal? They fly in the face of what's known as the cosmological principle, which holds that the universe, at a grand scale, should be homogenous. Think of looking at a vast, still ocean at a distance: there's just water in every direction. From that understanding, nothing larger than 1.2 billion light years across should exist because, among other reasons, the Universe isn't old enough for them to form. To find the Big Ring, Lopez combed through data on quasars in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, according to The Guardian. These extremely bright objects helped bring to light distant and hidden galaxies. Lopez then applied a statistical algorithm to these galaxies detect potential structures, yielding the Big Ring. "It doesnt seem to be a mere chance alignment," Jenny Wagner, a cosmologist at the Bahamas Advanced Study Institute and Conferences, told The Guardian. On its own, this discovery won't be enough to upend our understanding of cosmology as we know it, but Lopez believes that astronomers can't ignore the implications of these megastructures forever. "These oddities keep getting swept under the rug, but the more we find, we're going to have to come face-to-face with the fact that maybe our standard model needs rethinking," Lopez told The Guardian. "As a minimum it's incomplete. As a maximum we need a completely new theorem of cosmology." More on space: Hubble Detects Uber-Strong Radio Transmission From Ancient "Blob" Mary waves from the balcony of Christian VII's Palace after her wedding to Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark on May 14, 2004 in Copenhagen - IAN WALDIE/GETTY Denmarks royals remain hugely popular, but opinion polls suggest that King Frederiks wife, Mary, has a slight advantage over him. A study conducted shortly after the announcement of Margarethe IIs abdication in December found that 82 per cent of Danes feel that Frederik will fare well or very well in his new role. But the study also found that 86 per cent of Danes felt the same way towards Queen Mary, a 51-year-old former advertising executive set to become the worlds first Australian-born queen. Born in Tasmania, Australia, Mary met Frederik at the Slip Inn during the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary on the balcony as the Royal Life Guards carry out the changing of the guard on Amalienborg Palace square on Frederik's 50th birthday on May 26, 2018 in Copenhagen - PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/GETTY She was reportedly unaware at the time of his royal lineage, with Frederik having introduced himself as just Fred. Once we started our conversation, it never stopped, Mary recalled of their first conversation in an interview marking her 50th birthday. Danish Crown Prince Frederik and his bride Princess Mary kiss as the Royal couple appear on the balcony of Christian VII's Palace after their wedding on May 14, 2004 in Copenhagen - IAN WALDIE/GETTY After a long-distance relationship, during which Frederik made several low-key visits to Australia, the future King and Queen wed in Copenhagen in 2004. Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine at the Ringsted horse ceremony at Grasten Slot during their summer vacation on July 16, 2017 in Grasten, Denmark - PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/GETTY Danes are particularly fond of Mary for her social outreach work on the rights of girls and women, and in 2007 she founded The Mary Foundation, which tackles bullying, domestic violence and loneliness. There has reportedly been some turbulence in recent months between the couple. Rumours have swirled in the press of an affair between Frederik and a Mexican socialite, after they were spotted on a night out together in Madrid in October. At the time the Danish Royal Household declined to comment on the photos of Frederik with Genoveva Casanova, but she denied the rumours of an affair as malicious. The royal couple have four children, Prince Christian, 18, Prince Isabella, 16, Prince Vincent, 13, and Princess Josephine, also 13. 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. Union Township residents look at a draft future land use map during an information session about the township's comprehensive plan on Thursday, Jan. 11. Licking County continues to grow, and Union Township is being proactive to ensure a balance between future development and the area's rural character. Since Intel Corp. announced its $20 billion computer chip factory in January 2022, Licking County communities have been planning for future development that will follow the tech giant to central Ohio. The township has worked since March to update it's comprehensive plan for the first time since the early 2000s and is now sharing the draft plan with the community. First, in an open house with more than 120 people in November and most recently in two information sessions Thursday. Holly Mattei, president of Crossroads Community Planning, who led the planning process, presented residents with a draft plan that outlines where and how the township can welcome housing and business development but in a way that maintains the rural character and quality of life residents love. Holly Mattei, president of Crossroads Community Planning, shares information about Union Township's draft comprehensive plan during an information session on Thursday, Jan. 11. Union Township Trustee Roger Start said since he took office in January 2022, the township has been proactive about planning for the kind of development residents want. And so far residents have been receptive. "We've taken the strategy that we've got to get out ahead of this," he said. The draft plan has four key themes: Balancing growth and preservation to protect and enhance the quality of life Fostering partnerships to enhance community services Supporting sustainable infrastructure Promoting economic prosperity Each theme has at least four goals that outline how to achieve each theme. For example, the first theme includes goals for outlining growth in areas with existing or planned infrastructure, protecting farmland outside of designated growth areas, creating attainable housing and preserving open space. Draft materials, including the goals, can be viewed on the township's website, under the "Comp Plan Information" tab. The draft plan includes an updated land use map, which shows the types of uses for township land in the future. Union Township is updating it's comprehensive plan for the first time since the early 2000s, and this draft land use map shows the use types for township land. Mattei said about three-fourths of the map isn't changing, and the northwest portion of the township will remain agricultural and rural residential. The plan is to keep Union Township rural, which residents said they want during the November open house and through a survey. The biggest change to future land use is along Ohio 37, from Refugee Road to the north and the township line to the south. Within that area are U.S. 40 and Interstate 70. "If we're going to dictate where we want development, that's the best place for it," Start said after the presentation. In that area, the comprehensive plan recommends the township adopt an overlay zoning district, which does not replace a property's existing zoning but instead gives landowners another option if they choose to develop their land. If adopted, the overlay district would include standards for road improvements, setbacks, aesthetics, architecture, landscaping and design elements to protect the rural quality of life while also allowing some development, Mattei said. Through the overlay district, Mattei said the township can limit the number of housing units and warehouses within the area, and caps are included as part of the draft language. The overlay district would include the specific types of housing and businesses allowed within the defined area. It matches the properties that agreed to join a joint economic development district, or JEDD, that the township approved last year. A JEDD is an economic development tool that allows townships to collect income tax on commercial properties within a defined area. A draft of Union Township's overlay district map, which covers land along Ohio 37, from Refugee Road to the north and the township line to the south. The overlay district would be separated into subsections: Subarea A: Surrounding the I-70 and Ohio 37 interchange. Allowed uses would include hotels, restaurants, assisted living facilities, banks and other uses to service Union Township and those traveling along I-70. Subarea B: Southeast of the Ohio 37 and U.S. 40. Allowed uses are research and development, manufacturing, lumberyards, contractor's offices, commercial recreation and more that are compatible with the existing commercial uses in the area. Structures would be limited to 45 feet tall. Subarea C: Along Ohio 37, between I-70 and U.S. 40. Allowed uses are truck service centers, logistics, makers spaces, retail and more. Subarea D: Southwest of Ohio 37 and U.S. 40, as well as west of Canal Road south of I-70. Allowed uses are advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, data processing centers, wholesale businesses and more. Structures would be limited to 60 feet tall. Subarea E: Generally southwest of Refugee Road and Ohio 37 and south of U.S. 40 near the township's west boundary. Allowed uses are mixed-use buildings, schools, nursing homes, restaurants, daycares, multifamily dwellings and more. Structures would be limited to 45 feet tall. Subarea F: Generally south of U.S. 40 to Canal Road. Allowed uses are mixed-use buildings, duplexes, single family housing, schools, restaurants, nursing homes, parks and more. Structures would be limited to 35 feet tall. Brenda Weaver, a township resident who attended Thursday's session, said it's been scary to watch industrial warehouses coming closer to the area. But as a real estate agent, she knew it was expected with Intel coming less than 20 miles from Union Township. She appreciates that the township is acting now to preserve the rural environment people want. "It's better to be proactive rather than just letting it happen," she said. Start said the township is continuing to gather resident feedback about the draft comprehensive plan and then will share the final draft in a public presentation in the coming months. The final step in the process is adoption by the township trustees, which Start and Mattei said they expect to happen this spring. mdevito@gannett.com 740-607-2175 Twitter: @MariaDeVito13 This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Union Township to balance future growth, rural charm ahead of Intel The Biden campaign hired a former spokesperson for progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to its communications team, as it seeks to beef up its national staff ahead of the election. Lauren Hitt, the now-former communications director for Ocasio-Cortez, confirmed the move on Saturday, writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: Pretty excited to be joining this very talented team and incredibly important fight. Hitts addition to the team comes along with the hire of Andy Crystal, the former lead research producer for The Problem with Jon Stewart and Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. He will be joining the reelection campaign as a research director, according to his profile on X. Politico was the first to report on the hires. John Kerry is also reportedly planning to assist the presidents reelection bid. Multiple media outlets on Saturday reported Kerry is expected to step down as the U.S. special climate envoy to help Bidens reelection campaign. A source close to the administration told Axios, which first reported the news, that Kerry believes Bidens reelection is the single biggest difference that will help climate progress in the U.S. and globally. Kerry, 80, previously served as secretary of State, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004. He has played a large role in renewing climate negotiations between the U.S. and China, the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitters. The bulking up of the campaign team comes amid scrutiny from several prominent Democrats who are criticizing the teams strategy and structure. These political figures, including former President Obama, expressed concerns over the structure of the team in which too few staff are empowered to make decisions without first clearing them with the White House, The Washington Post reported earlier this month. The campaign argued it is building its staff up at the right time. A source close to the campaign defended the timing to The Hill earlier this month, stating, Everyone Ive spoken to on the campaign is working diligently on broadening the campaign to win. Theyre staffing up at all levels including at the leadership level, which is totally appropriate at this point. Biden in recent weeks has faced a series of polls showing him either in a dead heat or close behind former President Trump, who has maintained a wide lead in GOP primary polls. The aggregation of polls from the Decision Desk HQ and The Hill shows Trump with a 1.1 percentage point lead over Biden. Trumps lead over Biden could be narrowing in several key swing states Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, according to a recent poll from Redfield & Wilton Strategies, in partnership with The Telegraph. The Hill reached out to the Biden campaign for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. President Biden marked 100 days since hostages were taken from Israel on Oct. 7, reiterating his commitment to rescue the approximately 140 people still held by Hamas in Gaza, including as many as six Americans. For 100 days, they have existed in fear for their lives, not knowing what tomorrow will bring, Biden said in a statement. For 100 days, their families have lived in agony, praying for the safe return of their loved ones. And for each of those 100 days, the hostages and their families have been at the forefront of my mind as my national security team and I have worked non-stop to try to secure their freedom. Just over 100 hostages were released during a weeklong pause in fighting in a deal mediated by Qatar that involved Israel, the U.S. and Hamas in November, but no hostages have been released since. Biden vowed to continue such work in the future but also blamed Hamas for the resumption of fighting late last year. But the United States and our partners have not given up, he continued. I look forward to maintaining close contact with my counterparts in Qatar, Egypt, and Israel to return all hostages home and back to their families. The Israeli government announced Friday that it reached a deal with Hamas, through Qatari mediators, to supply medicine for the remaining hostages. Ground fighting in Gaza has slowly advanced as the U.S. continues to pressure the Israeli government to pare back its offensive in the region, citing significant civilian casualties and a dire humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military strategy has faced criticism from many in Israel and the U.S., including the families of some hostages, who claim that the efforts to snuff out Hamas in an all-out offensive only put the remaining hostages lives at risk. The Biden administration and Israel have publicly disagreed on what a future postwar Gaza looks like, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushing back on the notion of the Palestinian Authority ruling over the enclave. Biden reaffirmed Sunday that ultimately, the U.S. role in the conflict is focused on the hostages well-being. I will never forget the grief and the suffering I have heard in my meetings with the families of the American hostages. No one should have to endure even one day of what they have gone through, much less 100, he said. On this terrible day, I again reaffirm my pledge to all the hostages and their families we are with you, he continued. We will never stop working to bring Americans home. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. U.S. President Joe Biden said during a press briefing on Jan. 13 that Republicans will have "an awful lot to pay for" if they don't help pass military aid for Ukraine. Republicans in the U.S. Senate blocked a supplemental funding bill that included $61 billion in aid for Ukraine in a procedural vote held on Dec. 6, insisting that any further military aid must include major significant domestic border changes. Regarding U.S. border security, Biden said on Jan. 13 that he was "prepared to make significant alterations at the border." "And there are negotiations going on for the last five weeks, so Im hopeful well get there." U.S. Democrats have criticized their Republican counterparts for their lack of urgency in passing additional military aid for Ukraine. Senator Chris Murphy told NBC News in mid-December that this was a "crisis moment for Ukraine" as the country is rapidly running out of ammunition. "(Russian President) Vladimir Putin is delighting right now in Republicans' insistence that we get a deal on immigration reform and if we don't, then they're gonna allow Vladimir Putin to march into Ukraine and perhaps into Europe," Murphy said, adding that the extra military aid can change the outcome of the war in Ukraine's favor. Read also: Francis Farrell: Ukraine could still lose the war. Lets get some things straight Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. (Bloomberg) -- President Joe Biden said the US did not support independence for Taiwan, after voters there defied China and returned the governing Democratic Progressive Party which has sought to limit Beijings influence to a third consecutive term. Most Read from Bloomberg We do not support independence, Biden told reporters Saturday as he departed the White House for Camp David. Read: Taiwan Elects US-Friendly President, Defying China Warnings The presidents comment appears intended to assuage concerns in China, which had hoped Taiwans current vice president, Lai Ching-te, would not be elected president. Results showed Lai, who has maintained close ties with the US, edging out Hou Yu-ih of the opposition Kuomintang. Hou had pledged to expand trade and diplomacy with China. China has long claimed that the island of Taiwan is its territory, and President Xi Jinping has advocated for unification and refused to rule out a military intervention. The US has traditionally adopted a policy of strategic ambiguity, where it acknowledges Chinas historical claims to sovereignty over Taiwan and maintains only unofficial relations with Taipei while pledging defensive assistance. Still, suggestions by Biden that the US would intervene militarily if China were to invade have roiled the relationship between Washington and Beijing. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the election shows the strength of Taiwans robust democratic system and reiterated that the US is committed to maintaining cross-Strait peace and stability, and the peaceful resolution of differences, free from coercion and pressure. The US will work with Lai and all party leaders in Taiwan to further our longstanding unofficial relationship consistent with the USs one-China policy, he said in a statement. Also: Ex-US Officials Set to Meet Taiwan Politicians, Testing China Chinas Foreign Ministry hit back at the State Department on Sunday, saying it lodged a diplomatic complaint with the US. Washington should stop sending any wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces, the ministry said. House Speaker Mike Johnson will ask a delegation of House lawmakers to travel to Taipei after Lais inauguration in May, he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. Johnson was among several legislators from around the world who congratulated Lai on X. Kira Rudnik of Ukraine and Australian Catherine West also sent good wishes. --With assistance from Ashleigh Carrington Fields and Cindy Wang. (Updates with comments from Chinas Foreign Ministry.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Longtime "Days of Our Lives" star, Bill Hayes, has died. He was 98. The actor who portrayed Doug Williams on the soap opera died Jan. 12 in Los Angeles, his agent and friend Gregory Mayo confirmed to TODAY.com. Hayes joined his then future real-life wife, Susan Seaforth Hayes, on "Days of Our Lives" in 1970 and were deemed the first couple of daytime television. The two married Oct. 12, 1974 with their characters also exchanging vows on an October 1976 episode. The two made appearances on the show over subsequent decades and returned once the soap opera aired on Peacock in September 2022. Hayes garnered two Daytime Emmy nominations for his role in 1975 and 1976, with the couple earning a lifetime achievement award from the Daytime Emmys in 2018. Born in Harvey, Illinois on June 5, 1925, Hayes enlisted in the Navy Air Corps during his freshman year at DePauw University and served for three years before returning to finish his studies, per the school. He graduated as a Rector Scholar with a degree in music and English, and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Hayes started at NBC as radio host of NBC-Radio Monitor, then serving the national spokesperson for Oldsmobile, according to soapcentral.com. Moving into the national television world, Hayes first appeared on "Fireball Fun-For All," followed by a singing position on "Your Show of Shows." Other shows and films of his career include "Matlock," "Hooperman" and "Cop Rock," as well as "Stop! You're Killing Me" and "The Cardinal." In 1953, Hayes made his Broadway debut in "Me and Juliet," the publication reported," also touring with "Bye Bye Birdie," "Student Prince," "Anything Goes," Camelot," "On a Clear Day," and "Pajama Game." In 1955, Hayes released "The Ballad of Davy Crockett," which was made popular by actor Fess Parker on the ABC's television series "Disneyland." Hayes is survived by the five children whom he shares with ex-wife Mary Hobbs, as well as 12 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire investor Bill Ackman said hes contributing $1 million to support Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips to become the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential election. Most Read from Bloomberg Phillips is a long-shot challenger to President Joe Biden in his reelection bid. But with polls showing sagging support for the president against leading Republican rival Donald Trump, some are seeking alternative candidates. I am doing so because I believe that Dean Phillips would be a truly outstanding President of the United States, and I believe he has a credible path to winning the nomination despite what the oddsmakers may think, Ackman, 57, said in a post on the social media platform X late Saturday. Read more: Trump Leads Haley With 48% in Iowa Poll Days Before Caucus Ackmans support of Phillips, 54, amplifies some of the worst fears of the Biden campaign: Donors and voters are unenthusiastic about reelecting the 81-year-old president. The activist investor has previously said that Bidens legacy will suffer if he runs again and that he should step aside to make room for a younger generation of Democratic leaders. Ackman, who has donated to Republicans and Democrats in recent years, has become a highly polarizing figure in recent months following his campaign to combat antisemitism on college campuses, which included harsh criticism of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The Pershing Square Capital Management founder used his X account he has more than 1 million followers to lead a successful campaign to force out Harvard Universitys president Claudine Gay, the institutions first black president, including by questioning her scholarship and qualifications for the role. He has said he will continue pushing for change in US higher education and now the media by setting up a think tank. Read more: Bill Ackman Brings Activist Playbook to Americas Culture Wars Hes giving the money to a political action committee that supports Phillips, after the candidate gave a presentation to employees at the Pershing Square offices. Ackman said he was impressed by his entrepreneurial and business success, as well as his views on the economy and the border crisis. The contribution is by far the largest investment I have ever made in someone running for office, he wrote. He added in another post that he was not opposed to voting for a Republican and would vote for Phillips whatever the ticket he was on. He joins a small but growing group of prominent supporters for Phillips. Mike Novogratz, chief executive officer of Galaxy Investment Partners, announced in December he plans to support Phillips. As Dean rises in the polls and Biden deteriorates, the Democratic party is going to having to choose a candidate that can beat the Republican nominee, Ackman wrote in his post. If by then, as I expect, Dean is polling substantially better than Biden against Trump, I predict that the party will choose Dean Phillips over Biden. The party will have no choice. A University of New Hampshire poll released Jan. 9 showed Biden notching 69% among likely primary voters in the state, while Phillips had 7%. --With assistance from Amanda Gordon. (Updates with Ackmans criticism of DEI in fifth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman said he plans to donate $1 million to a political action committee backing Rep. Dean Phillips (Minn.) the Democrat who launched a long-shot primary challenge to President Biden last year. In a lengthy post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Ackman said Phillips would be a truly outstanding President of the United States, adding that he believes he has a credible path to the nomination. He said he will donate $1 million to the We Deserve Better PAC this week. On Tuesday, I am wiring $1 million to wedeserve.org, a political action committee that supports Deans run. This is by far the largest investment I have ever made in someone running for office, and I am making this investment at a high-risk, but critically important moment for his campaign, Ackman wrote on X. Phillips is trailing far behind Biden in the poll as he pushes forward with his campaign for the nomination. According to RealClearPoliticss polling average of the Democratic primary, Biden is polling at nearly 70 percent support, followed by author Marianne Williamson at nearly 8 percent and Phillips at about 3 percent. Ackman said Phillips has a way forward in the primary if he does well in New Hampshire. He also said Bidens numbers are only going to get worse as he ages. As Dean rises in the polls and Biden deteriorates, the Democratic party is going to have to choose a candidate that can beat the Republican nominee. If by then, as I expect, Dean is polling substantially better than Biden against Trump, I predict that the party will choose Dean Phillips over Biden, he wrote. The party will have no choice. Biden will not appear on the states Democratic primary ballot because the Democratic National Committee is not recognizing the primary this year. Despite Biden not being on the ballot, a recent poll found that nearly 64 percent of Democrats said they would vote for Biden as a write-in candidate over someone else. Ackman had previously signaled support for Phillipss bid for the White House, saying he was impressed by the congressman last year. He also said it was time for Biden to step aside in the primary. I think Bidens done a lot of good things. But I think his legacy will not [be] a good one if he is the nominee, Ackman said in an interview in November with Bloomberg Televisions The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations. I do think the right thing for Biden to do is step aside, and to say hes not going to run, and create the opportunity for some competition. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A bipartisan group of senators is hosting families of American and Israeli hostages at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, to mark more than 100 days since the attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) announced Sunday that they will host families at the Capitol on Wednesday for a press conference to call for continued U.S. support to help bring their family members home. Monday will mark 100 days since the surprise attack on Israels southern border that left about 1,200 Israelis dead and almost 250 taken hostage by Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that rules the Gaza Strip. Israel estimates that more than 130 hostages still remain in Gaza, after the U.S. helped broker a temporary cease-fire that brought home some hostages. Schumer and Cardin will be joined by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Sen. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and others to be announced soon, a press release said. The group will host American and Israeli families of hostages abducted by Hamas terrorists for a bipartisan press conference in the U.S. Capitol to discuss the urgent need for continued U.S. support to help bring home their loved ones after more than 100 days in captivity following the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. President Biden sent Congress an aid request that would send $100 million to Israel and funds to Ukraine, but talks over any potential supplemental packages have yet to produce legislation. The State Department also twice bypassed Congress to approve a provision that allowed for the transfer of weapons to Israel. The move upset some Democratic allies, who have called for the de-escalation of violence in Gaza and who criticized the administration for not going through Congress. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. When Hassan Sharif first stepped inside the Charlie Dew Drop Boxing Club in Newark, New Jersey, he was a young dad with a hulking frame. But what stood out more than his size, his former boxing coach said, was the quiet, dignified way he carried himself outside of the ring. He was all muscle, said John Brother Yahya Thompson, who trained Sharif for a handful of amateur bouts in the late 1990s. But he was a peaceful guy. Ive never even heard him argue. Sharif went on to become the imam of one of Newarks most storied mosques. He developed a reputation as a tireless community leader who fed the needy and fought gun violence. But Sharif, 52, was fatally shot outside the Masjid Muhammad mosque on Jan. 3, a still-unsolved murder that has stunned and baffled those who knew him well. When I heard what happened, I was like, Whod want to do something to him? Thompson said. Newark detectives are investigating whether a family member is behind the killing, three law enforcement sources have told NBC News. It wasnt clear what may have motivated the attack. A spokesperson for the Essex County Prosecutors Office, which is leading the investigation, said it remains ongoing. He declined to comment further. The revelation that the killing may have been carried out by a relative came as a shock to some of Sharifs close friends and family. If it was somebody in the street world, I could understand that, because he was trying to put a stop to the crime around the neighborhood, his cousin Andre Little said. But for the life of me, I couldnt even begin to understand why somebody in his family would want to hurt him. Whoever did this, Little added, theyre not safe anywhere they go. The incident wasnt the first time an imam who led the mosque was killed. It also wasnt the first time that someone had pulled a gun on Sharif outside his house of worship. He always showed up for us Sharif was raised in Newark, where his father ran a tire repair shop. His given name was Tony Wooten. But he changed it after converting to Islam around the age of 20, his cousin said. Sharif became imam of Masjid Muhammad in late 2018 when he was 47 and already working as an officer for the Transportation Security Administration at Newark Liberty International Airport. His relative youth allowed him to connect with young people in a way that many imams cannot, his supporters said, and he quickly became known as a progressive leader for whom no request was too big or small. Sharif gave lectures at local high schools, attended rallies on climate change and police brutality, participated in interfaith events for murder victims, and went out into the streets to implore gang members to turn their lives around. Any rally, any community event, the imam was always on speed dial, and he always showed up for us, said Dawn Haynes, a Newark Board of Education vice president and member of the mosque. Four weeks before Sharif was killed, Haynes 11-year-old daughter was raising money ahead of a cheerleading competition in Florida. He welcomed her into the mosque to make her pitch. The imam didnt hesitate, Haynes said, and he made sure other congregants supported her, too. Sharif volunteered at a local food pantry. He also opened up his mosque for the Muslim League of Voters to serve hot meals to people in the community. Jimmy Small, the organizations president, said Sharif had a great sense of humor and the ability to connect with people from all different walks of life. On the days he did the feedings, cops would come up to have friendly conversations, Small said. Drug addicts, alcoholics, all kinds of folks they would all come and talk to him. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said he last saw Sharif at an event held at a local church to provide support to family members who were grieving the loss of friends and relatives. The imam spoke in church to many people praying for their families who lost loved ones during the past year, not knowing his life would soon come to an end, Baraka said at a gathering of Muslim leaders last week. He was in service all the way up to his last days. On Jan. 3, Sharif arrived at the mosque for morning prayers in the pre-dawn hours. He was still inside his car when he was shot multiple times at about 6:15 a.m., authorities said. The imam was rushed to a nearby hospital, but he couldnt be saved. He died at 2:20 p.m. As the news spread across the city and state, dozens of worshipers and friends of Sharifs gathered at the mosque, a former vaudeville theater painted in a distinctive teal and yellow. Police at Masjid Muhammad-Newark, in Newark. N.J. (Lokman Vural Elibol / Anadolu via Getty Images) The building was turned into a Nation of Islam mosque in 1958. The house of worship known as Mosque 25 was led by Imam James Shabazz, a top aide to Malcolm X. In September 1973, Shabazz was shot several times while in the driveway of his home in Newark. The two gunmen fled and were never caught, according to local reports. The killing was believed to be orchestrated by members of a rival faction who accused Shabazz of being corrupt. Imam Wahy-ud Deen Shareef, the convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, said Sharif and the other religious leaders in his group follow the teachings of Imam W. Deen Mohammed, who renounced the hard-line Black nationalism pushed by his father, Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad, and moved his followers toward mainstream Islam. Many of the mosques that exist today exist as a result of members who were at Masjid Muhammad and went out and established other mosques, Shareef said. Shareef said he gave Sharif a history lesson about the mosque soon after the man was named resident imam. He was intense in terms of his focus on what he wanted to accomplish, Shareef said. He wasnt the kind of leader who is content with just giving lectures or speaking with people. He was the kind of leader who would demonstrate to people the kind of work that needed to be performed to improve the quality of life for the community. I will not be intimidated Sharif had been working for the TSA for more than 10 years before he took over as imam of the mosque. He often worked the overnight shift and headed straight to Masjid Muhammad from the Newark airport for morning prayers. One day last August, Sharif pulled into the parking lot of the mosque in the early-morning hours and got out of his car. Just then, he wrote on Facebook, a man put a gun to his head. Sharif managed to wrestle away the firearm. As the man fled, he pulled the trigger, but the gun didnt fire, Sharif wrote. As Im writing this, tears are flowing from my eyes, because [if] that gun wouldve fired, I wouldve killed a young black man, ending his life, Sharif said in the Facebook post. But he also added: I will not be intimidated by anyone of you punks who thought it was ok to come up with this plan or to put the idea in this young mans mind. A friend, Ali Muslim, said he was at the mosque at the time and stepped outside just as the two men were tussling. Muslim said Sharif bit the gunmans finger and then got control of the weapon. He watched as Sharif tried to shoot the fleeing man. I dont know why that guy did it and I dont know whats going on now, Muslim said. Investigators are probing whether the August incident is connected to the imams murder, two law enforcement sources said. When Sharifs cousin heard about the August run-in, he suspected the gunman was a local drug dealer seeking to intimidate the imam. But Sharif himself seemed to have no idea who was responsible. He just wasnt sure, said the cousin, Little. Shareef, the convener of the Council of Imams in New Jersey, said he spoke with Sharif in the days after the confrontation. One thing the imam said struck Shareef and remained in his memory. He didnt want to talk too much about it, Shareef said. His comment was, Thats not going to deter me from doing what I have to do. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A case has been filed against Mia Goth (PA Archive) British actress Mia Goth has been accused of kicking a background actor in the head during filming for slasher movie MaXXXine. In a Los Angeles court filing, actor James Hunter claims that the incident took place last April while he was drenched in fake blood and told to lie on the ground and play dead for a scene. He said he had been laying "in the dirt for several hours, enduring ants and mosquitoes" while Goth was supposed to step over him. After a few takes playing dead parishioner, he alleges the actress was warned about stepping on him. The filing to the Superior Court of California, county of Los Angeles states: In the following take, defendant Goth intentionally kicked plaintiff in his head with her boot. The kick in the head caused plaintiff to immediately experience headache and stiffness in his neck. Mr Hunter says he reported the incident and was told filming would continue. Following the shoot ending, he alleges that Goth laughed at him in the bathroom and, after removing his costume, left for the day. He claims the next day he was was banned from the film set and was diagnosed a few days later with concussion at Placentia-Linda hospital in Placentia, California. Mr Hunter alleges he has continued to suffer, symptoms of the head trauma, including disorientation, vertigo, migraines, nightmares, and severe emotional distress and has filed a civil action of battery against Goth. He also also filed action on A24 Films LLC, Goth, and director Ti West claiming wrongful termination. Goth has starred in all films in the X film series, which focus on a female protagonist and have been directed and written by West. The origin story, Pearl, was also written by Goth and she has served as a producer on the project. The 30-year-old is in a relationship with American actor Shia LaBeouf, who she starred with in Lars von Triers Nymphomaniac, and they have one child. Goth, West and A24 Films have been contacted for comment. As we watch the war in Israel and Gaza unfold on our TV screens every night, it can be easy to lose sight of how we got here. But for the Jewish community across Britain, the horror of October 7 and the hatred it has unleashed here at home remains at the forefront of our minds. One hundred days ago, we saw the worst pogrom since the Second World War, as thousands of Hamas terrorists poured into Israel to slaughter, rape, maim and abduct civilians. Hundreds of young people, who had gathered at the Reim music festival to celebrate freedom and promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians, were murdered. At kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, terrorists went door-to-door butchering innocents. A hundred days may have passed, but more than 100 hostages remain in captivity or unaccounted for. Accounts I read of those who have returned, in particular women who endured sexual violence and psychological torture, will stay with me forever. Within Israel and the wider Jewish community, there is always passionate political debate as we saw last year in disputes over constitutional reform. Such debates are the hallmark of healthy democracies. What should not be a matter for debate is whether Israel can let these crimes go unanswered. The state of Israel can and must defend itself. It can and must act to prevent such atrocities from happening again. And it is clearer than ever that many of those who deny Israels right to self defence start from the premise that Israel has no right to exist at all. The scenes from Gaza are desperate and heartbreaking. I despair at the scale of suffering and loss of life. We must be clear where responsibility lies. Such is Hamass disregard for Palestinian lives that they had no hesitation in digging their tunnels, storing their weapons and planning their attacks under schools and hospitals. Understandably, much of the focus now is on what happens next in Gaza and the implications for the region. The affinity with Israel among British Jews runs deep this is unsurprising when you realise that 70 per cent of the community have family members currently living in Israel. An even higher proportion will have other friends and connections in Israel. So the events of October 7 and since feel very close to home. Many British Jews will also be reflecting on the new reality they are experiencing every day. It pains me to say this in 2024 but I have never seen British Jewry more under attack or witnessed a more hostile environment. The Community Security Trust (CST), which seeks to secure safety for the UK Jewish community, has collected figures on anti-Semitism for 40 years. Its records were shattered in the weeks following October 7, with anti-Semitic incidents up more than 500 per cent on the year before. This has understandably generated fear in our community and frustration as those who have taken to the streets calling for violence against Jews go unpunished. Jews know all too well how offensive language can soon turn into physical violence. Just ask the Jewish pupil assaulted outside his school earlier this month by attackers who tried to force him to say Free Palestine. Despite this, there is cause for hope and an overwhelming feeling of pride in the resilience we have shown. The community has come together as never before, determined to get through this together. We have collectively taken important steps to protect ourselves, thanks to the work of the CST. Whilst we wish additional security was not needed, we are doing what is required to ensure children can still go to school and families can still go about their lives. We have also drawn strength from the support we have received from members of wider society. We have seen peaceful events and rallies uniting Jews and non-Jews against anti-Semitism, showing our ability to pull together in the face of hate. We are proud to be British Jews and of our contribution to the fabric of this country. We have a deep and rich history across the UK that we are determined to persevere. Britain must remain a tolerant home for our entire community. Whilst Jews have had to endure unacceptable levels of hostility in the last 100 days, it is clear that we will not be cowed. I take solace in our communitys response and know our resolve is steadfast. Claudia Mendoza is chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council 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. Semafor Signals Insights from The New York Times, Art News, and BBC. The News The British Museum has started its search for a new director to replace former director Hartwig Fischer, who resigned along with his deputy last August following 1,500 alleged thefts of jewels and other treasures by curators over the past 30 years. Whoever steps up to lead the worlds third most-visited museum will face significant challenges, the job listing states. These include repairing the museums reputation and staff morale after the theft scandal, digitizing its entire collection in five years, and dealing with renewed calls for the repatriation of the Elgin Marbles and Benin Bronzes, which many consider stolen from their countries of origin. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Poor catalog maintenance and ignored warnings enabled museum thefts Sources: BBC, ArtNet News As much as half of the British Museums artifacts were never fully cataloged a weakness shared by other major cultural institutions that makes them ripe for exploitation, ArtNet reported. Museums suffer from a general lack of funding and a tendency to focus on blockbuster exhibitions at the expense of tedious activities such as cataloging, the publication argued. But the sheer size of modern museum collections poses a conundrum for how to keep track of everything, and even precious gems can easily become a needle in a haystack. If it takes just one hour to identify, handle, photograph, and digitize a collection piece for cataloging, and you have 8 million pieces, it would take a team of four 685 years to complete the catalog if they work non-stop, eight hours a days, seven days per week, art theft expert Anthony Amore wrote on X. The British Museum was undoubtedly slow to act, however senior museum officials ignored warnings by a Dutch antiquities dealer that stolen jewels were turning up on eBay, and the dealer accused the former director of sweeping it all under the carpet, the BBC reported. Countries have called for the repatriation of certain artifacts Sources: Al Jazeera, The Guardian The theft scandal underscored the British Museums inability to care for its artifacts and intensified calls to return objects in its collection stolen under colonial rule. However, British lawmakers have punted responsibility to the museums trustees, saying that the items are integral to its mission of showcasing world history. Critics have also pointed to how the institution glossed over the dark history of some of its collection. For instance, the British Museum rarely references wars and colonization in descriptions for some 73,000 African objects. And human rights advocates and culture ministers have noted that the majority of the museums loot is not even on public display. Museums were definitely devices that helped to shape colonialism and stories of conquests and the legitimizing of the conquests, the director of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa told Al Jazeera. BROCKTON Seven Brockton businesses are facing fines and a three-day loss of tobacco sales for allegedly recently selling products to a 16-year-old. Commissioner of Buildings James Plouffe said that an agent of the Massachusetts Officers Health Association performed a tobacco sale sting at 50 businesses in Brockton on Nov. 7. Brockton High's principal said some students were leaving school and heading over to local businesses. What's the impact? We asked the businesses. In Bridgewater, a five-year-old passenger was among four people injured in a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Bedford Street (Route 18) and Winter Street, and a Rockland father died in a single-vehicle crash on Auburn Street. State Police raided a Whitman drug lab and said they seized 33 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine,. In case you missed it, here are five stories of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. 7 Brockton businesses sold tobacco to a 16-year-old. They face these penalties Seven Brockton businesses are facing fines and a three-day loss of tobacco sales for allegedly recently selling products to a 16-year-old. Commissioner of Buildings James Plouffe said that an agent of the Massachusetts Officers Health Association performed a tobacco sale sting at 50 businesses in Brockton on Nov. 7. "I am dismayed that seven of these establishments not only failed to ask for identification of the 16-year-old female, but also sold a tobacco product to her," Plouffe said at a Brockton Board of Health meeting in December. Businesses sold tobacco to 16-year-old: 7 Brockton businesses sold tobacco to a 16-year-old. They face these penalties Whitman drug lab raided, 33 pounds of fentanyl, meth seized, property condemned: police A 39-year-old Plymouth man who was running a "rudimentary drug laboratory" out of a Whitman property was arrested at his place of work in Plymouth, State Police said. The Whitman property "was so badly contaminated with strewn drug material" that it was evacuated and condemned by the town of Whitman, state police said in a written statement. "Upon entry to the Whitman property, Troopers immediately encountered large amounts of white powder, thousands of counterfeit prescription pills, a pharmaceutical grade pill press and related drug paraphernalia," police said. Whitman drug lab raided: Whitman drug lab raided, 33 pounds of fentanyl, meth seized, property condemned: police State Police Detective Unit for Norfolk County raided a Whitman drug lab and seized nearly 35 pounds of fentanyl and methamphetamine Broken drink machine, smoking cannabis: Groups of Brockton students can stress restaurants Charleys Cheesesteaks sits across Belmont Street from Brockton High School. The restaurants Manager Barry Hoffman said a group of 20 or so BHS students will come in nearly every day from the time school lets out at 1:50 until 3 p.m. He said one kid will buy something while the others hang out at the tables or clump in front of the stores doorway. A month or two ago, Hoffman said, the students took the fire extinguisher off the wall and sprayed it inside the restaurant. Hoffman started setting rules for the BHS students who come by his restaurant. If they dont order food, hell usually make them leave. Brockton students stress restaurants: Broken drink machine, smoking cannabis: Groups of Brockton students can stress restaurants Brockton High School students get out of school on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 Rockland father, 34, dies in Bridgewater crash. What we know about the fatal accident Police identified a man who died in a single-vehicle crash on Auburn Street as a 34-year-old Rockland man. Bridgewater police and firefighters received a 911 call about 10:50 p.m. on Jan. 7 for a report of a vehicle that had crashed into a tree in the area of 46 Auburn St. When they arrived at the scene, first responders located a 2006 Chevy Avalanche up against a tree with significant damage, according to a joint written statement from Police Chief Christopher Delmonte and Acting Fire Chief John Schlatz. The driver and sole occupant was pronounced dead at the scene, the statement said. Bridgewater fatal crash: Rockland father, 34, dies in Bridgewater crash. What we know about the fatal accident Bridgewater police and fire departments are invesigating a fatal crash on Auburn Street on Sunday, Jan. 7. Fall River woman sentenced to 10-12 years in prison in Brockton road-rage killing Fall River woman has been sentenced to serve 10 to 12 years in prison after being convicted of manslaughter in the 2019 road-rage killing of a Brockton woman. Jacqueline Mendes, 36, was sentenced by a judge in Brockton Superior Court last Thursday to 10 to 12 years in state prison. On Dec. 8, a jury found Mendes guilty of one count each of manslaughter and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. Mendes had been charged with first-degree murder in the June 28, 2019, slaying of Jennifer Landry, but the jury returned a lesser offense of manslaughter after two days of deliberations. Fall River woman sentenced: Fall River woman sentenced to 10-12 years in prison in Brockton road-rage killing Fall Rvier woman found guilty: Fall River's Jacqueline Mendes found guilty of manslaughter in Brockton road-rage killing What happened in court: Road-rage turned deadly or self-defense? What happened in court in Brockton murder case Fall River woman indicted: Fall River woman indicted in Brockton road rage murder Murder defendant Jackie Mendes of Fall River appears in Brockton Superior Court during her jury trial on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Mendes is charged with fatally stabbing Jennifer Landry of Brockton during an alleged road rage incident in Brockton on June 28, 2019. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories: Brockton stores fined; students disorder Top officials in the Broward State Attorneys office and the former prosecutor in the YNW Melly case wont have to testify at a hearing in which the judge will decide whether the case should be thrown out. On Friday, Broward Circuit Court Judge John Murphy quashed the subpoenas the defense issued to State Attorney Harold Pryor and Chief Assistant State Attoreny Regina Faulk as well as Public Corruptions Unit prosecutor Christopher Killoran, prosecutor Steven Klinger and Kristine Bradley, the former lead prosecutor in the YNW Melly case. Judge John Murphy speaks during a hearing in preparation for the trial of Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Demons is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018. Murphys decision came after the rappers legal team asked the judge to throw out the double murder case or appoint an entirely new out-of-county prosecutor team. Defense attorneys continue to allege that the Broward State Attorneys Office covered up misconduct by Bradley and Miramar Police Detective Mark Moretti. The subpoenas, which the defense issued in its third attempt to dismiss the case, invade the work privilege exception, the state argued. Friday was the second time the judge has swatted down the defenses attempt to get top Broward prosecutors on the stand. Why testify? The defense previously tried to subpoena Pryor and others at the office over the allegations surrounding Moretti that came about after the testimony of Michelle Boutros, a Public Corruptions Unit prosecutor. READ MORE: Prosecutor accused detective in YNW Melly case of lying. Shes now a defense witness In 2022, Moretti was taking a statement from King in a conference room at the Broward courthouse. Boutros, Kings attorney Robert Trachman and Broward Sheriffs Office Sgt. Jason Hendrick were also there at the time. At some point, Hendrick stepped out, and Moretti executed a search warrant for Kings phone. Shortly thereafter, BSO Deputy Adam Gorel arrived at the conference room. When King and Trachman left, Moretti allegedly made a comment to Gorel about saying he was present while the search warrant was executed. Assistant State Attorney Michelle Boutros sworn in to testify as a witness during a hearing in the trial of Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. Defense lawyers say she overheard Miramar Police Detective Mark Moretti, the lead investigator on Demons case, express a willingness to lie about his seizure of a phone belonging to Demons mother, Jamie King, during a Fort Lauderdale courthouse interview last October. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Accounts of what Moretti said or didnt say differ among the parties in the case. According to a filing by Bradley, Moretti asked Gorel whether he was there when the phone was taken, and Gorel said something along the lines of: I can be if you needed me to be. Boutros, on the stand, declared that Gorel didnt say that. But Murphy, in both rulings to quash the subpoenas, declared that the defense hadnt provided enough evidence that the State Attorneys Office engaged in a cover-up. Where do the allegations stand? In a 17-page filing from early January, prosecutors Alixandra Buckelew, Taylor Collins and Justin Griffis dissect and poke holes in Boutros previous testimony. They also cast doubt on her credibility. The state, in the filing, argue that Boutros allegations of wrongdoing against Moretti arent supported by evidence presented. Moretti and BSO Deputy Adam Gorel, they say in the filing, both deny that the solicitation to lie ever occurred. Defense attorney Stuart Adelstein shows Miramar Police detective Mark Moretti documents as he questions him during the trial of Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Monday, July 17, 2023. Demons, 22, is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel) Moretti was cleared of wrongdoing after a Miramar Police Departments internal affairs inquiry, according to a memo. Internal Affairs Sgt. Brittany Parker closed a complaint made by King against Moretti, also writing that Boutros claims about the detective contradicted Gorels sworn statement. READ MORE: Another account emerges as detective in YNW Melly case takes the stand. What did he say? Amid the allegations, defense attorneys accused Bradley, the former prosecutor, of not turning over Brady material related to the incident with the detective. Under Florida law, prosecutors are required to disclose any information that may be favorable to the defense. The discovery of Brady violations, in some cases, have even led to overturned convictions. Defense attorneys, from right; Daniel Aaronson, Jamie Benjamin, and Raven Ramona Liberty speak with prosecutor Steven Klinger, second from left, before the start of a hearing in preparation for the trial of Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Demons is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018. The new prosecution team said Boutros was also accused of withholding Brady material in a 2010 case involving defense attorney Jamie Benjamin, whos currently representing Melly. Boutros, according to the prosecutors, was also accused of lying by former Public Defender Howard Finkelstein and was disciplined by the Florida Bar for misconduct. It is only Detective Moretti whose record is unblemished, having had no IA complaints in either his 20 years in the Military nor his 20 years as a Law Enforcement officer, prosecutors say. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) endorsed former President Trump for president on Sunday after dropping out of the presidential race last month. But four years ago, I was speaking on behalf of President Trump at the Iowa caucuses in Sioux City, and today Im here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done. And thats endorse Donald J. Trump for the president of the United States of America, Burgum said at a rally for Trump in Indianola, Iowa. The North Dakota governor launched a long-shot bid for the White House last year but suspended his 2024 GOP presidential campaign last month after failing to gain traction in the polls, typically averaging between 1 and 2 percent support. Burgum qualified for the first two of the Republican National Committees primary debates last year but did not meet the cut for the third one last November. He praised Trump for his policies on the economy, the border and energy in his endorsement speech. Ive seen President Trump and what hes been able to do. Ive seen it as a business leader and Ive seen it as a governor. Ive seen the difference that President Trump can make because remember when I first took office, President Obama was still president. Trying to work with his administration was a disaster, Burgum said. Then President Trump took office and everything changed. States like Iowa, states like North Dakota, heartland states, we were respected. We had a friend and a partner in the White House, who understood us and who wanted to see our states succeed versus being regulated out of business, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (Bloomberg) -- North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum endorsed Republican frontrunner Donald Trump for president, a day ahead of the Iowa caucus. Most Read from Bloomberg Im here to do something that none of the other presidential primary candidates have done and thats endorse Donald J. Trump for the president of the United States of America Burgum said at a Trump rally in Iowa Sunday. The endorsement gives Trump additional tailwinds as he heads into Mondays Iowa caucuses. Polls show he is leading the Republican primary field by more than 30 percentage points. Burgum ran for president this cycle, but suspended his campaign last year after failing to gain traction. He ran an issues-driven campaign focused on energy independence, technological innovation and national security. His early exit and his refusal to attack rivals, including Trump puts him in a strong position to serve in a future Republican administration. He just has a great record in everything hes ever done, so on behalf of the Trump family we thank you, Trump said in response to the endorsement. --With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron. (Adds additional context starting in the third paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Psilocybin mushrooms are in a grow room in 2007 at the Procare farm in Hazerswoude, Netherlands. (Peter Dejong / AP) The movement to legalize psychedelics in California appears to be entering a new phase, with a focus on incremental steps to permit the drugs in therapeutic settings following failed efforts to pass more sweeping change. An initiative that sought to ask voters to decriminalize so-called magic mushrooms and products containing psilocybin failed to qualify for the 2024 ballot when it missed last week's deadline to submit signatures. That followed Gov. Gavin Newsom's veto last year of a bill that would have decriminalized a short list of natural psychedelics, including magic mushrooms. Now, the Legislature is considering much narrower approaches. A bill expected to be introduced in the coming weeks will call for legalizing psychedelic-assisted therapy, while a bill that passed the Assembly health committee last week would fund a work group to study the benefits and dangers of psychedelic therapy . "As we know, California is experiencing a severe mental health crisis," Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-San Diego) said during the hearing Tuesday. "Having the data will help us legislate good policy regarding the use of psychedelics in clinical settings. These therapies have the potential to save countless lives." Read more: Newsom vetoes bill to decriminalize 'magic mushrooms' and other psychedelics in California In vetoing last year's bill to decriminalize psychedelics, Newsom said he wants the state to craft "regulated treatment guidelines" instead of broadly sanctioning the use of the drugs. He suggested California "immediately begin work" on that. Testifying alongside Waldron on Tuesday was state Sen. Scott Wiener, the San Francisco Democrat who wrote the psychedelics bill Newsom vetoed. "Assemblymember Waldron and I are partnering together this year in the space of psychedelic therapy," Wiener told the committee. "Later this month or early February we will introduce a Senate bill to legalize and create the structure of psychedelic-assisted therapy in line with the governor's veto message." Waldron emphasized that her bill would not decriminalize psychedelics and that no one would be treated by psychedelics if passed. She also pointed to Oregon and Colorado, two states that have already decriminalized the drugs, saying it's time for California to "step up." "What we need is a foundation to get all of that put together in one place. So this work group would be comprised of folks who are working in clinical settings," Waldron said. Read more: Scientists explore using psychedelics to treat alcohol, drug disorders Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa), who is an obstetrician-gynecologist, asked what she meant by "clinical setting." "The lingo you're saying is tripping me up," Weber said, asking for clarification several times on what exactly the group would be studying and whether it would be randomized controlled trials or relying on anecdotes. Weber was also skeptical about the timeline specified in the bill that would require the work group to conclude by 2026. Similarly, Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth), who didn't support Wiener's bill last year, said it was "unclear" who would be conducting the work group studies. Outside of the Capitol, a ballot measure launched by Decriminalize California has been pitching voters "a world where anyone can cultivate, manufacture, distribute, possess, transport, and consume an unlimited amount of magic mushrooms or psilocybin-containing products without fear of any criminal charges." It failed to meet a Jan. 10 deadline to submit 546,651valid signatures needed to get on the statewide ballot in November. The campaign did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Times. A different initiative that calls for creating a state agency to regulate psychedelics including psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis and finance research into their therapeutic uses is still gathering signatures in hopes of landing on the November ballot. It faces a March 20 deadline to submit 874,641 valid signatures. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Which candidates will be helped and hurt by the bitter weather for the Iowa caucuses? DES MOINES Iowa looks set for the coldest caucus day on record Monday. Its a factor that could have a real political impact. The problem is, no one can agree quite what the effect will be except for curbing turnout in general. The weather has led all the major candidates to cancel some events. It also postponed the arrival of former President Trump in the state until Saturday evening. Trump canceled events in Sioux City and Atlantic on Saturday, though he is still scheduled to speak at an Indianola rally Sunday. Arriving in Des Moines, Trump bragged of a lot of tremendous support but also added, Its nasty out there. Jeff Kaufmann, the chair of the Iowa Republican Party, told The Hill that he expected some drop-off in caucus turnout from 2016, the last time the GOP had a contested nomination race. But, Kaufmann contended, The atmosphere still feels passionate especially when youre inside not feeling the windchill. Kaufmann noted that there are 1,567 caucus sites across the state, so there are going to be thousands of Iowans with less than five miles to travel. The final Des Moines Register poll, long seen as the gold standard in the state, was released Saturday evening. It put Trump at 48 percent support, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley at 20 percent, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 16 percent and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 8 percent. Here are five theories circulating here in the Hawkeye State as to whom the weather could help or hurt. Nobody will know until Monday night which theory proves correct. It will help Trump because of the passion of his supporters A sign supporting former President Donald Trumps bid for the Republican partys nomination for president sits along Interstate 80 in central Iowa on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. (Nick Rohlman /The Gazette via AP) Bad weather in any election aids the candidate who has the most fiercely loyal supporters. That looks to be Trump, whose MAGA base has seen him through two impeachments, four indictments and too many controversies to count. Despite it all, he leads national polls for the GOP nomination by more than 50 points even as Democrats and some independents consider him a real danger to American democracy. The intensity of support for Trump can be seen in other data too. An Economist/YouGov poll released Jan. 8 asked voters how they would feel if each of the major GOP candidates became the nominee. Sixty-one percent of Republicans said they would be enthusiastic about Trump being their standard-bearer. That figure was far higher than that of his rivals. The next best performing choice was DeSantis, but just 20 percent of Republicans said they would be enthusiastic about the Florida governor being the nominee. Forty percent said they would be satisfied but not enthusiastic. The fire in the belly of Trumps supporters might be enough to keep the cold at bay. It will hurt Trump because his polling lead will make his supporters complacent Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump participates in a virtual rally at Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) As always with Trump, there are two sides to the story. Its true that his MAGA base is devoted to him. But there are surely some softer supporters too backers who have enabled him to leap out to a 35-point lead in the Hawkeye State, according to the average maintained by The Hill and Decision Desk HQ. Will those less intense fans turn out Monday, when the temperature in Iowa is forecast to range between a low of -19 degrees and a high of -1 degrees? It seems at least plausible that some of them will stay at home, especially in rural areas, if they think Trumps victory is a foregone conclusion. Perhaps mindful of this possibility, Trump aides have begun to scale back expectations for a landslide victory. A wins a win, Trump senior adviser Jason Miller told NewsNation reporter Kellie Meyer on Saturday. It will hurt Haley because her supporters are less hardcore A sign supporting Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is pictured, Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) The final Des Moines Register poll was solid for Haley since it pointed towards her securing second place, which is her real objective here. But the Register poll also flashed big warning signs in the snow for the former U.N. ambassador. Most glaringly of all, just 9 percent of her supporters said they were extremely enthusiastic about her candidacy much lower than the supporters of either Trump or DeSantis. There is underlying weakness here, pollster J. Ann Selzer told NBC News. If turnout is low, it seems to me that a disproportionate share of her supporters might stay at home. On top of that, roughly half of Haleys support was drawn from independents or Democrats who intend to participate in the GOP caucuses. There has to also be a question mark over whether those people show up in adverse conditions. Haley has not done quite so many campaign trail events as DeSantis in the final days, and her crowds have sometimes felt not quite so energized. All in all, Haley could be the one candidate most at risk in the grim conditions. Rain or shine or snow! Weve got a country to save, she wrote Saturday on social media, urging her supporters to attend the caucuses. It will help DeSantis because of his ground game Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis departs after speaking at a Northside Conservatives Club Meeting at The District in Ankeny, Iowa, Jan. 12, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) Supporters of DeSantis insist that he is going to do far better than the pollsters and pundits think. Steve Deace, a conservative radio talk show host based in the state, has endorsed DeSantis and spoke at an event with the candidate in West Des Moines on Saturday. Deace discerned incredible energy around DeSantis, which he insisted was incompatible with the Florida governors modest standing in polls. Another key DeSantis backer, evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats, told The Hill at an event in Ames, Iowa, on Thursday evening that the DeSantis organization could make all the difference. This has always been a turnout game and it always will be, Vander Plaats said. And, at the West Des Moines event, the biggest endorser snagged by DeSantis, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), encouraged audience members to layer up and get to the caucus Monday. Never Back Down, the main super PAC supporting DeSantis, has been rife with infighting for much of the campaign. But it also claims to have knocked on the doors of about half of all the households in Iowa a potential difference-maker, if its true. Team DeSantis is also reportedly already well advanced in plans for how to transport supporters to caucus locations Monday. If DeSantis does exceed expectations, look to the weather and his organization as the big reasons. It will help Ramaswamy because his supporters tend to be younger Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, left, leaves his commit to caucus event on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, at the National Czech and Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (Geoff Stellfox /The Gazette via AP) Ramaswamy, at 8 percent in the Des Moines Register poll, is not a huge factor. But the widespread assumption that he garners most of his support from younger people could help him. Firstly, younger caucusgoers might have less trepidation about braving the weather. Secondly, they are more likely to live in urban or suburban areas where the distance to caucus locations tends to be shorter. Ramaswamys name does come up, in relatively favorable terms, even among audience members at other candidates events. And a blast of criticism aimed his way by Team Trump in the final days suggests they might be at least slightly concerned that he could eat into the former presidents vote. There is a flip side, though. Some skeptics wonder if the entrepreneurs young supporters are more comfortable at their keyboards than at a freezing caucus site. If thats true, even his low level of support in polls could prove illusory. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin stops a Nashville Predators shot during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Zaleski) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Alexandre Carrier scored with 7.9 seconds remaining in the third period, and the Nashville Predators beat the New York Islanders 3-1 on Saturday night. Luke Evangelista and Juuso Parssinen also scored in Nashvilles third win in four games. Juuse Saros made 24 stops. It was sort of a playoff-like atmosphere on a Saturday, Nashville coach Andrew Brunette said. The Islanders are a hard team to play against. They dont give you a lot of room and make you earn everything. Tonight was a good battle test for us. Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored and Ilya Sorokin made 25 saves for the Islanders, who have dropped three of four. With time winding down in the third, Carriers slap shot went off the stick of Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield and over Sorokins shoulder. Great forecheck by our forwards and they created a turnover by their D, Carrier said. Great bounce, but sometimes youve just got to put it on net and good things happen. Saros is 7-1-0 in his career against the Islanders. Parssinen added an empty-netter with 1 second remaining. After two scoreless periods, Pageau found the back of the net 12 minutes into the third when he deflected Noah Dobsons shot by Saros. We played a pretty solid road game for most of it, Dobson said. Weve got to manage the moments better, especially the last five minutes there. Weve got to at least get that to overtime and get a point out of it. Its disappointing. Evangelista tied it with 4:52 remaining with a power-play wrist shot from the right circle. I saw a lane from a little higher out, and I just decided to rip it and it ended up going in, Evangelista said. (Its) a really good feeling. New Yorks Brock Nelson played his 800th career game. UP NEXT Islanders: Visit Minnesota on Monday. Predators: Visit Vegas on Monday. ___ AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL Child migrants drowned in the Rio Grande after Texas blocked Border Patrol from the area, congressman says Three migrants drowned after Texas authorities blocked Border Patrol. A woman, an 8-year-old girl, and a 10-year-old boy drowned in the Rio Grande, authorities said. Rep. Henry Cuellar said in a post on X that it was "a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility." Three migrants, including two children, died in Texas on Saturday after state authorities blocked Border Patrol from accessing the area. A woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande, near Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Cuellar said that Border Patrol had been informed of six migrants in distress as they were trying to cross the Rio Grande on Friday. But its attempts to phone the Texas Military Department (TMD), the Texas National Guard, and the Texas Department of Public Safety about the situation were fruitless, he added. After making "physical contact" with the Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard at an entrance gate at Shelby Park, "Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant access to the migrants even in the event of an emergency and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation." The TMD confirmed to Texas Public Radio that it had been contacted about a "migrant distress situation" at 9 p.m. on Friday. "TMD had a unit in the vicinity of the boat ramp and actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles. No migrants were observed," it said in a statement, adding that it later "observed a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexico side of the river bank" and reported this to Border Patrol. "They confirmed that the Mexican authorities required no additional assistance. At that time, TMD ceased search operations," it continued. Cuellar said that the bodies of three migrants were subsequently found on Saturday morning by Mexican authorities. "Mexican sources say that the three migrants recovered today were a family. The female adult was identified as the mother of both children, an 8-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy," Cuellar added in another post. In a statement to Business Insider, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed the news: "Tragically, a woman and two children drowned in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was commandeered by the State of Texas earlier this week. In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area," the DHS said. 'The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane' David Zalubowski The tragedy comes a day after it was alleged that Texas National Guard soldiers had been blocking US Border Patrol agents from accessing parts of the US-Mexico border. The Justice Department said in a court filing on Friday that the Texas National Guard had erected new razor-wire barriers and fencing along a stretch of the border in Eagle Pass. "That fencing further restricts Border Patrol's ability to reach the river in particular areas," the Justice Department said in the filing, as it blocks access to a boat ramp that agents use to get to the Rio Grande. Under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, the state has pushed its own border controls, which the federal government normally handles, Reuters reported. "The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrol's enforcement of U.S. law," the DHS said. The US Customs and Border Protection said it remained "gravely concerned by actions that prevent the U.S. Border Patrol from performing their essential missions of arresting individuals who enter the United States unlawfully and providing humanitarian response to individuals in need." The Texas National Guard and the Texas Military Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows the brine pools of SQM lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows the brine pools of SQM lithium mine on the Atacama salt flat in the Atacama desert of northern Chile, SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chile's SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, said it has suspended operations at the Atacama salt flat in Chile due to road blockades. "Since we do not know how long the road blockade will continue, it is not possible for us to estimate the financial impact of the stoppage," the company said in a statement dated Saturday. Indigenous groups for days blocked public roads that lead to mining operations in the south of the salt flat, the world's largest lithium deposit, where SQM and U.S. firm Albemarle extract the metal, preventing workers, supplies and lithium from entering or leaving. The Atacama Indigenous Council, however, on Saturday said that protesters would end the occupation after the mining ministry promised that President Gabriel Boric would come to the area. It was not immediately clear if protesters remained in the area on Sunday. The demonstrations were sparked by an agreement signed last month between SQM and state-run copper firm Codelco that indigenous leaders said sidelined local communities despite a recent government promise of a dialogue to discuss lithium mining in the Atacama. (Reporting by Santiago newsroom; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Mark Porter) There was no Chinese representative at the fourth meeting of national security advisors concerning the Ukrainian Peace Formula in Davos on 14 January. Source: European Pravda Details: The Office of the President of Ukraine reported earlier that 81 countries and international organisations had taken part in the meeting, but China was not among them, although Beijing had been invited. Two sources confirmed Chinas absence to European Pravda. When European Pravda asked Andrii Yermak, Head of the Presidents Office, a question about who attended the meeting, he replied that many Western countries and countries of the Global South had participated. Quote: "The number of participants is increasing over 80 countries and international organisations [participated this time]. There were 66 at the previous meeting in Malta." Yermak added that "a lot of countries are expressing their opinions, especially the countries of the Global South". A European Pravda source said Davos was deliberately chosen as the location of the peace formula meeting so that Chinese representatives would not have to travel, as they are already in Davos attending the World Economic Forum. Of the four Ukrainian Peace Formula meetings so far, only one, held in Jeddah in early August last year, has been attended by a Chinese representative. At the time, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Chinas participation a "major breakthrough". China was not present at the following meeting in Malta. The Office of the President of Ukraine said this was due to a "scheduling conflict". Support UP or become our patron! In the market for change: the newcomer TPP gathered strong support among young people disillusioned by the ruling and main opposition parties (Getty) For millions of Taiwanese people, this weekends presidential and parliamentary elections were an example of a vibrant democracy at work, despite the ire in Beijing that Lai Ching-te also known as William Lai had won an unprecedented third term in power for the pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). I think the result is a loud and clear message, from us to the rest of the world, that democracy is our preferred way of life and that Taiwan should be viewed and treated differently from China, Angus Lai, a 23-year-old delivery worker, tells The Independent in the Taiwanese capital Taipei. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory, and in the wake of the result, its foreign ministry put out a statement claiming: The Taiwan question is Chinas internal affair. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change. On Sunday, Taiwans own foreign ministry hit back, saying that such statements are completely inconsistent with international understanding and the current cross-strait situation. It added: It goes against the expectation of global democratic communities and goes against the will of the people of Taiwan to uphold democratic values ... Such cliches are not worth refuting. While many Taiwanese people share this sentiment, some citizens remain concerned that the approach favoured by the government led by the DPP, which has tried to highlight the Taiwan identity as something that is unique and different from that of China, will continue to put the island under threat from Beijing, which has upped its military exercises around Taiwan in recent months. A military-themed mural at a public park on Pingtan Island, the closest point in China to Taiwans main island, in Chinas southeastern Fujian province (AFP/Getty) I really dont think its a good idea for a small island like Taiwan to keep going against giant countries like China, says Chin Szu, a 38-year-old engineer. Instead of continuing to buy weapons from the US, I think the Taiwanese government should focus on maintaining business exchanges with China... like how the US and Russia engage with each other. Apart from concerns about Beijings military manoeuvres around Taiwan, some Taiwanese voters also worry that China may decide to adopt more forceful measures if its domestic problems, including a slowing economy, persist. What I worry about is, if Chinas economic development and social problems cant be resolved smoothly, Beijing may consider doubling down on the threat against Taiwan to divert the Chinese publics attention from those domestic problems, Emma Lin, a 47-year-old high school teacher, says. One thing that she says she has witnessed in this election is how Beijing tries to influence Taiwans younger generation through content on social media platforms. She is worried that Taiwan is not well equipped to cope with such endeavours. To me, Taiwan faces a major problem of how to handle the challenges that come with Chinas influence campaign against Taiwans civil society through false narratives, she says. Local newspapers mark the ruling Democratic Progressive Partys victory in the presidential election (AFP/Getty) Despite the DPP winning an unprecedented third consecutive presidential term, its failure to secure a majority in the legislature, where no political party ended up having a majority, means it may struggle to implement certain policies, according to experts. It is possible that the Taiwan Peoples Party [the TPP, whose candidate finished third in the presidential election] will work with the main opposition party Kuomintang [KMT] to win control over the legislature, and in the next two years, KMT and TPP will exercise their power to scrutinise whatever [the] government does and [will] try to claim credit for any political scandal they find, Austin Wang, an expert on Taiwanese politics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, tells The Independent. In his view, the DPP may have to make some compromises in order that key social policies can be implemented. Some compromises, such as increasing some key social welfare spending, may be made eventually ... but the [political] cost may be lower spending on defence," Wang says. The KMT [has] opposed increasing the national defence budget, and the TPP didnt consider it the most urgent issue, he adds. Apart from facing potential pushback against efforts to strengthen Taiwans defence capabilities, other experts think the DPP also needs to properly address the economic issues that some young voters are most concerned about, including the low wages and unaffordable housing prices. During the elections, the newcomer party, the TPP, gathered strong support among young people disillusioned by the ruling and main opposition parties. The DPP needs to realise that the voters who supported the TPP in this election will remain a social force in Taiwan, so if the DPP fails to address their concerns properly in the third term, they may further lose support from this group of voters in the next presidential election, says Yen Wei-ting, a political scientist at Franklin and Marshall College in the US. Lin, the high-school teacher in Taipei, agrees that one of the new governments first tasks should be tackling issues such as the rising cost of buying or renting a home, and the dwindling birth rate. Young peoples anxieties, the unaffordable housing and Taiwans low birth rate are all issues that will continue to affect the younger generation in Taiwan, and I think the government should find a way to properly address them, she says. Ignazio Cassis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, where the fourth national security advisors meeting on the Ukrainian peace formula was held, assumes China must be involved in the efforts aimed at stopping the war between Ukraine and Russia. Source: Cassis cited by the Reuters agency, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "China plays an important role. We must find ways to cooperate with China concerning this issue." Details: "Peace is needed by the Ukrainian peopleWe must do everything to end this war," Cassis said, adding that so far neither Russia nor Ukraine is ready to make concessions. He noted that the countries that have a lively dialogue with Russia, such as Brazil, India and South Africa participate in the discussions in Davos and can play an important role. "The participation of the BRICS alliance is very important because these countries have relations with Russia. All this may create a collective movement in order to involve the countries which are far from the conflict but can play a certain role in influencing China and Russia," Cassis explained. China was not present at the national security advisors meeting on the Ukrainian peace formula held before the World Economic Forum in Davos. Among the four meetings dedicated to the Ukrainian peace formula, a Chinese representative only participated in one, which was held last August in Jeddah. Then, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba called Chinas participation a "major breakthrough". China was not present at the meeting after that one in Malta. The Office of the President of Ukraine explained it with a "schedule mismatch". Support UP or become our patron! BEIJING (Reuters) - The Chinese embassy in Japan said on Sunday that it "resolutely opposed" Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa's statement congratulating Taiwan's new president-elect Lai Ching-te. In a statement published on the Japanese foreign ministry's website on Saturday, after the results of the Taiwan presidential election were announced, Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory, calling the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing "an extremely crucial partner and an important friend." In response, the Chinese embassy in Japan, without mentioning Lai or acknowledging his victory, described Kamikawa's comments as "a serious interference in China's internal affairs", according to a statement published on Sunday on the embassy's official WeChat account. "We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side," the embassy said. Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China. But Japan's alliance with the United States, Taiwan's most important backer, and its proximity to the island, along with recent tensions in its ties with China, have prompted Tokyo to pursue closer ties with Taipei. "The Government of Japan will work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan," Kamikawa said in her statement. The Chinese embassy also said that Japan should refrain from sending any "wrong signals" to "Taiwan independence" forces, a label Beijing uses to describe Lai and his political party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions Taiwan's separate identity and rejects China's territorial claims. Lai said he would maintain the status quo in relations across the Taiwan Strait, but that he was "determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China". (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) FRIANT, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) A DUI investigation is underway after a man died following a head-on crash near Millerton Lake Saturday afternoon, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP says around 2:30 p.m. a 35-year-old man was driving a blue Chevy Silverado westbound on Millerton Road near Marina Drive as a 78-year-old man was driving his white Toyota Tundra eastbound on the same road. Detectives report the Chevy crossed over the double solid yellow line and crashed head-on into the Toyota. Witnesses told officers that the blue Chevy was driving recklessly before the crash. Officers say the driver of the Toyota succumbed to his injuries while his passenger sustained major injuries. Investigators report the driver of the Chevy also sustained major injuries and is being investigated for DUI as alcohol is believed to be a factor in the crash. This is an active investigation and more information will be released as it becomes available. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. The City of Jackson is continuing to urge residents to stay home and be properly prepared for freezing temperatures the capital city is expected to face this week. Gov. Tate Reeves also declared a state of emergency in advance of the winter storm. Interstate 55 has already seen a glazing of ice with several accidents reported near Batesville. Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba held another press conference Sunday to discuss tips residents can use to be adequately prepared. He was joined by Michael Hill, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, Robert Lee, interim director of the city's Department of Public Works, Chief of Police Joseph Wade and Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones. "Jackson can expect some dangerously cold temperatures over the next several days, that is what we're very, very confident in," Hill said. "That is the thing we are most concerned about is the prolonged cold." Monday morning will see freezing temperatures around 25 degrees and a high that is slightly over 32 degrees, Hill said, with snow and freezing rain in the evening hours. Tuesday and Wednesday will see below freezing temperatures all day, with a wind chill of around 0 degrees to -5 degrees. Hill added that residents can expect to see up to a 10th of an inch of ice to hit Jackson, potentially more. An accident on Interstate 55 near Batesville was an early indicator of the icy conditions in parts of Mississippi. The mayor suggested the following tips for residents to stay prepared: Stock up on nonperishable items. Drip faucets. Plan for outages and stock up on blankets and flashlights. Bring plants and pets inside. Check on elderly family members or neighbors to ensure they are safe. Keep devices charged in-case you need to call for assistance. More tips to prepare for freezing temps: How to keep your pipes from freezing during cold temperatures? See tips here The mayor also reiterated that the city has opened an emergency shelter at Shephards Gym, 1355 Hattiesburg Street, that will be open until the storm passes. The shelter is available for the city's unhoused population, as well as any residents who experience power outages and need somewhere safe and warm to stay. Other shelters, such as Opportunity Center, will be open with extra beds. The city's public works department is prepping for winter operations and will be using salt and sand on the city's major streets to prevent icing, Lee said. He asked residents to stay at home and only travel Monday through Wednesday if it is absolutely necessary. MDOT preps for freeze: MDOT official say the department is preparing for extreme polar weather ahead Both Wade and Jones also said the Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department will be available to assist residents. Jackson police officers will on 12-hour shifts starting at 6 a.m. on Monday with additional patrol officers. Jones said the sheriff's department will be assisting JPD and working throughout Hinds County. Governor issues state of emergency Reeves issued a State of Emergency Sunday in anticipation of winter weather expected to impact the state starting Sunday. The National Weather Services is forecasting freezing rain, sleet, and snow for a significant portion of the State, along with dangerous cold for the week. The state of Mississippi is proactively taking steps to prepare for freezing temperatures and severe winter weather, Reeves said in a release. By declaring this State of Emergency, we can mobilize state assets, and better support response and recovery efforts. All Mississippians in the impacted areas are encouraged to take precautions over the next few days. Prepare your homes now for below-freezing temperatures, bring pets inside, and check in with your loved ones who are most susceptible during this frigid weather.This State of Emergency allows the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to move assets throughout the state to support local governments in preparation for, response to, and recovery from the impending weather. Snow showers were expected Sunday in the northern part of Mississippi including Oxford, teh Memphis area and Tupelo. Parts of the Delta could see freezing rain and snow overnight. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Jackson residents should stay home during upcoming freeze, City says More than 60 years have passed since Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his iconic I Have a Dream speech at the March on Washington and yet his words still resonate today. I think its very difficult to find a human being, especially an American, who can hear that speech and not be moved, said Lerone Martin, Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University. Kings dream that Black children will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character, is powerful, Martin said, because he was describing what America could be, what America should be. But decades later, warring interpretations of one of Kings most famous quotes have fueled a culture war over the merits of affirmative action and diversity and inclusion efforts. As each side uses Dr. Kings words to justify their stance, historians say were at risk of erasing the fullness of his legacy and ignoring the long history of discriminatory practices that have fueled inequality in our society today. Edward Blum dedicated his career to overturning affirmative action. He said he's inspired by Dr. King's speech at the March on Washington. - Shuran Huang for The Washington Post via Getty Images As a child, legal activist Edward Blum said he grew up discussing civil rights at the dinner table. Decades later, his fight for equality would take him all the way to the Supreme Court where he was the legal strategist behind Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, the case that dismantled affirmative action in college admissions. Blum told CNN he was inspired by Kings speech from the March on Washington specifically the idea that people shouldnt be judged by the color of their skin to launch a lifelong crusade against affirmative action practices. He said hes dedicated his career to trying to re-establish this great legal covenant of color-blindness. Americans of all races wholly understand that Dr. Kings most enduring line from his I Have a Dream speech means that an individuals skin color should not be used to help, or harm, them in their lifes endeavors, Blum told CNN. Dr. Kings [I Have a Dream] quote means that affirmative action is polarizing, unfair and illegal, he added. But many historians and at times some of Kings own children have disagreed with the notion that Dr. King would have disavowed affirmative action. Bernice, Kings youngest daughter, has at times been a vocal critic on social media of what she has described as the repeated misuse of her fathers quotes, especially ones from his I Have a Dream speech. People using not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character to deter discussion of, teaching about, and protest against racism are not students of the comprehensive MLK, King posted last August on X, formerly known as Twitter. My fathers dream and work included eradicating racism, not ignoring it. Martin said he feels reducing Dr. Kings legacy to a single quote in a speech diminishes the gains the civil rights leader fought for. He encourages critics of race-based affirmative action and diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts to look at the breadth of Kings work, including his final book published in 1967, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community. In the book, King wrote, a society that has done something special against the Negro for hundreds of years must now do something special for the Negro. Martin said this context underscores how King felt about affirmative action, which became law through an executive order in 1965. Instead, the I Have a Dream quote, Martin said, has been repeatedly repurposed as a quote to call for the dismantling of various mechanisms that were intended to bring about a more equitable society. Ive seen [Kings words] be misunderstood as a call for color-blindness, he said. Colorblindness asks us to explain systemic racial inequality by using raceless explanations. It asks us to explain or solve a phenomenon but bars us from addressing the root cause of the phenomenon. Proponents for affirmative action in higher education rally in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in October 2022. - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Shayla Nunnally, professor of political science and Africana studies at the University of Tennessee, agreed, and believes King would not have supported the decision to dismantle affirmative action. I say that because I think accounting for ways that we can make society more inclusive would have been a part of that vision for Dr. King, she said. Nunnally said the fight over affirmative action ultimately comes down to whether you believe the dream King spoke of that day has already been achieved. We would have hoped that this would have been something that we saw fully change by the end of the Civil Rights Movement, but thats not the case, she said. Martin said as long as race remains a strong determinant of where one lives, goes to school, income, encounters with police, he feels American society still has a long way to go before achieving Dr. Kings dream. While they disagree on whether King would have supported affirmative action and DEI to bring about a more inclusive society, both Blum and Martin said America must continue Kings work to dismantle the legacy of racism. Most Americans dont think how someone looks, tells them much about who they are as an individual, Blum said. And that is a deeply embedded American belief. Martin said he sees our countrys progress toward Kings vision as an ongoing journey. If you take [King] at his fullness, youll realize that we have a long way to go before we fully arrive at the society which we dreamed about and spoke about and encouraged us to become, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DENVER Colorado Democratic House Speaker Julie McCluskie welcomed the 74th General Assembly last week with remarks focused heavily on housing, education and equality. Coloradans can expect to see multiple legislative measures and funding promises passed in 2024 by the Democrat-controlled legislature, according to McCluskie's opening day remarks. Here's a look at the stage McCluskie set as Colorado lawmakers gathered for their annual legislative session. Future potential housing crisis legislation Colorado Governor Jared Polis delivers his State of the State address to lawmakers assembled in the House of Representatives chamber in the State Capitol Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) McCluskie stated that lawmakers will present multiple bills to assist Coloradans with the state's increasing housing costs this year. "Last year, we did not accomplish everything we'd hoped for, but this year, we will try again and deliver," she said. "Lawmakers this year will present a meaningful package of bills to build more homes and save people money on housing." McCluskie stated that a major approach to help reduce evictions will be legislation to legalize accessory dwelling units and multifamily housing near transit infrastructure, along with incentives for local governments to preserve affordable housing stock. An ADU is an additional residential building that occupies the same lot as a primary residence such as a guest house or a detached garage with a rented apartment above. The establishment and use of an ADU falls under different zoning rules depending on the municipality. Statewide legislation could help utilize more ADUs as an affordable housing option, according to McCluskie. 'Historic level of funding' promised for Colorado schools McCluskie announced that 2024 will be the year that Colorado's public school budget stabilization factor is eliminated. The Budget Stabilization Factor was established in 2010 by the legislature as a way to reduce funding provided to school districts in order to balance the state budget. "This means we will deliver a historic level of funding to Colorado schools that districts can use to increase teacher and educator pay, reduce class sizes, and set our students up to thrive," McCluskie said. She also urged legislators to drive equity into the school finance formula this year in order to bolster funding for rural districts and services for students in need. Equality concerns at epicenter of housing, education, and environmental issues McCluskie warned the House that there should be no disagreement when it comes to climate change harming Colorado communities. She stated that legislature should avoid further climate denialism while Coloradans face chronic health conditions from air pollution, annual wildfire evacuations and agricultural losses. "Far too often, the impacts of this crisis fall disproportionately on people of color, marginalized communities and vulnerable Coloradoans, leading to cycles of poverty and health disparities," she said. This year, McCluskie stated, legislature should further strive to eliminate the health, education and economic disparities that continue to harm people of color around the state. "This year, we will pass legislation to create a trailblazing investigation proposed and led by the Black Caucus to look into how systems of racism, state actions, and discrimination in housing, health care, and education have led to longstanding inequalities for Black Coloradoans," she said. Opening day conclusions from the House Majority and Minority The speech ended with McCluskie urging the house to hold each other accountable and deliver these promises to the people of Colorado. House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, spoke briefly and acknowledged that both sides would benefit from working together better this upcoming year. We plan to work with the majority party on our shared goals but expect them to listen, collaborate, and share that willingness to work together, Lynch said. Lynch stated that the Republican focus this year is on Coloradans' security, including financial security by tackling the persistent affordability crisis, security with property taxes, and security at home and on the streets by making sure that laws are abided. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado lawmakers set 2024 stage around housing, schools, security In its nearly 115 years, the historic Stanley Hotel, in Estes Park, Colorado, has hosted everyone from Theodore Roosevelt to the Titanic's "unsinkable" Molly Brown, and more recently, author Stephen King. If the hotel's long, narrow hallways look creepily familiar, it may be because the Stanley is where King was inspired to write "The Shining" a hotel haunting that director Stanley Kubrick turned into a horror classic. But The Stanley was also haunted by something else: decades of financial woes. It was in bankruptcy when hotel entrepreneur John Cullen found himself the latest in a long line of supposedly cursed proprietors to invest in this creepy hotel. The Stanley Hotel, in Estes Park, Colo., which inspired Stephen King's horror classic about a haunted hotel, He knew he had to capitalize on the hotel's ghoulish reputation. So, he fixed up Stephen King's actual room, #217 (you can now stay in it), and he built a hedge maze right out front, just like the one where Jack Nicholson's crazed caretaker finally met his frozen end. And in keeping with that frozen theme, Cullen got another idea. In 2022 he asked the mayor of Estes Park for permission to allow one very special guest to check in a man who'd been frozen himself for 30-plus years. "And she goes, 'Cullen, you know, I've seen a lotta weird out of you in the last 25 years, but this reaches a new level of weird,'" he recalled. His name was Bredo Morstl. He died in Norway in 1989, but his remains ended up about an hour away from the Stanley, in Nederland, Colorado, unceremoniously laid to rest in a Tuff Shed, frozen stiff. Every two weeks for more than three decades, people like Brad Whickham have been rotating in and out hauling more than a thousand pounds of dry ice up the mountain, all to keep Grandpa tucked in for his eternal winter's nap. "From what I understand, he was a very kind gentleman," Whickham said. "You could just tell that he was the glue of the whole family." Brad Whickham (pictured with correspondent Lee Cowan) has been assisting in keeping the remains of Bredo Morstl on ice during Morstl's residency in a backyard shed. / Credit: CBS News It's all an experiment in cryonics. Bredo's grandson, Trygve Bauge, lived here, and believed that by keeping his grandfather frozen in the backyard, doctors of the future might one day be able to revive him. "At the worst case, this is essentially a form of burial, but it's also for research," said James Arrowood, co-CEO and president of the non-profit Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Scottsdale, Arizona, where hundreds of "patients" (as they call them) are patiently waiting, frozen in liquid nitrogen not a box filled with dry ice in a Tuff Shed. Morstl's grandson was forced to move back to Norway (he was deported actually for overstaying his visa), and he had to leave Grandpa behind. But Grandpa hasn't exactly been alone. Our own Bill Geist went to pay his respects in 2003. He learned Grandpa wasn't forgotten; he was being celebrated with an annual "Frozen Dead Guy" festival, complete with a Frozen Dead Guy parade, and events that included coffin races and a polar bear swim. Cullen notes, "It's almost like a frozen Burning Man, if that actually can be in one sentence!" Frozen Dead Guys Days eventually became so popular, Nederland couldn't handle the crowds anymore. But its gallows humor fit the Stanley perfectly, so Cullen moved Frozen Dead Guy Days here. He said, "It's a little humor, little fun, little beer, little bit of attitude, but all in good spirit." But what's a Frozen Dead Guy festival without the frozen dead guy? Cullen needed the festival's namesake, and Grandpa needed an upgrade. So, this past August, with his grandson's permission, Grandpa Bredo was moved by a team from Alcor, driven to the Stanley's old ice house, removed from his aluminum casket, put in a sleeping bag, and then submerged head-first in liquid nitrogen. The frozen remains of Bredo Morstl are transferred to their new resting place, at the Stanley Hotel. / Credit: CBS News We had to ask: What does he look like? "Damn good," said James Arrowood. "He looked better than embalmed people." He's now the centerpiece of a small exhibit at the Stanley on the science of cryonics, and he gets visitors every day. As for John Cullen, he sold the Stanley, but is proud of his ghostly legacy. After all, he linked a fictional frozen dead guy to a real one, and he managed to find the perfect guest: one who never complains, and will never check out. For more info: The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colo.Frozen Dead Guy Days, Estes Park, Colo.Alcor Life Extension Foundation Story produced by Dustin Stephens. Editor: Carol Ross. See also: Cryonics: Putting your future plans for life on ice ("Sunday Morning") What to expect from the New Hampshire GOP primary next week King Charles to undergo procedure for enlarged prostate WebMD parent company under fire for return-to-office video Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses, which have grown into a political industry, gained their coveted spot on the presidential calendar through serendipity. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press) When Iowas brave and hardy Republicans venture Monday night into the arctic cold to cast the first presidential ballots of 2024, Richard Bender will be watching with special interest and a twinge of regret. Bender, 78, has been called the godfather of the Iowa caucuses , in recognition of his role more than 50 years ago in creating one of the most closely watched and idiosyncratic events in American politics. He was a young Iowa Democratic Party staffer at the time, an ardent foe of the Vietnam War and an architect seeking to build bridges between the partys old guard and anti-establishment wings. Today, Bender is retired from a career on Capitol Hill, living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and sorry to see his party shun Iowa at President Bidens behest in favor of later contests in South Carolina and Nevada. It was good for my state, Bender said of the caucuses that both major parties relied on for decades to begin choosing their presidential nominees. I think we really did have an impact on national politics. I suspect Jimmy Carter and [Barack] Obama who used strong Iowa showings to launch themselves to the White House would agree with me on that. And frankly, I had a personal pride in it, Bender said. So I wasnt very happy to see it go by the wayside. Read more: Column: Biden's fellow seniors have advice for the 81-year-old president: Lose the script, project your voice As Bender is the first to attest, no one imagined the caucuses would turn into todays internationally watched spectacle and crucial early test of political strength. Their timing, as the first event on the presidential calendar, began as pure coincidence. Iowa had long chosen its delegates in a series of gatherings beginning at the precinct level those are the caucuses being held Monday night and concluding at a statewide convention. But those meetings, typically held in the spring, were largely the province of party bosses and political insiders who anointed their chosen candidates. After the maelstrom of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, when party chiefs picked the presidential nominee and blood ran in the streets of Chicago, there was a strong push to overhaul the process and give voters more say. In Iowa, the party was headed by Clif Larson, whod backed Eugene McCarthys 1968 antiwar candidacy. He tasked Bender with leading an effort to devise a new, more open system for choosing the states presidential delegates. Among the changes were the elimination of the winner-take-all rule, allowing candidates to receive a portion of delegates based on their grassroots support, and a requirement for public notification before each step of the nominating process. The partys straitened circumstances led to Iowas serendipitous place at the head of the political calendar. Democrats were essentially broke ahead of the 1972 campaign and dependent on an old mimeograph machine. Counting back from the state convention on May 20, and allowing for printing and mailing materials out before each of four rounds, the party came up with Jan. 24 for the initial, precinct-level balloting making it the first vote in the country. Thus was born an institution. A modest contingent of national political reporters showed up in Iowa to chronicle that first January caucus. Four years later, interest exploded when Carter, a little-known former Georgia governor, surged from nowhere and outpolled a field of Democratic heavyweights to catalyze his underdog campaign. (Carter actually finished second in the caucuses, behind uncommitted, but his 28% showing exceeded expectations, which has become the measure of success.) By 1976, Republicans were on board with the early vote, and for years Iowa and its rituals kaffeeklatsches, state fairs, pandering to farmers and agricultural interests were an indelible part of presidential politics. Mindful of their privileged role, Iowans really started to care and feel responsible, said Bender, in a corned-beef-thick accent he retains from his native New York. (He moved to Iowa in 1967 to study biochemistry at Iowa State.) They became a very sophisticated, careful electorate, Bender said. Knowledgeable. Thoughtful. But as Iowas clout grew, so did resentment. Politicians in big states like California griped about Iowas outsized influence. Others complained the state was too white and too rural, making Iowa unrepresentative of the country at large and the Democratic Party in particular. When Iowa Democrats bungled the 2020 caucuses taking days to declare a winner it provided all the more reason to strip the state of its prime spot. (It also didnt help that Biden, who was twice a candidate in Iowa, never finished better than fourth in the caucuses.) This year, Democrats have officially bypassed both Iowa and New Hampshire, which has long hosted the nations first primary and also been criticized as too white and rural. The party will begin awarding it delegates Feb. 3 in South Carolina. Republicans have had their own Iowa foul-ups. On caucus night in 2012, Mitt Romney was declared the winner by a mere 8 votes. The state GOP then backed off that call, and more than a week later announced that former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had, in fact, finished first. By then the campaign had long since moved on. Even so, with no incumbent dictating the 2024 presidential calendar, Republicans kept Iowa first. Watching from afar, Bender acknowledged that the caucuses are considerably removed from their humble origin. Thousands of journalists now descend on the state to chronicle its presidential campaigns, which have turned into multiyear extravaganzas fueling a multimillion-dollar industry. The time has seemingly passed when a candidate can win Carter-style by slogging from small town to small town, bunking with local families and spending years meeting voters a handful at a time. Trump, who made a splash in 2015 giving kiddie rides on his helicopter, has shown up relatively few times this election cycle and is still the heavy favorite to win. He was an extreme example of whats been happening for a long time, Bender said, as TV, radio and, more recently, social media have come to matter more than the one-on-one campaigning that gave the caucuses their intimacy and charm. Read more: Column: Newsom loves Trump? Not at all. But he made the right call on ballot access Still, Bender holds out hope optimistically? naively? that once Biden departs, Iowa may regain its prominence in Democratic politics. It remains a place where voters can approach most presidential hopefuls and get a question or two across. And I think thats really useful, Bender said, as opposed to [candidates] creating five 30-second ads to represent what they are. Its also still relatively easy and inexpensive to campaign across Iowa, where plenty of people are willing to give a political unknown a careful listen. Itd be the Jimmy Carter situation, Bender said, envisioning a Democratic caucus renaissance. He built it. He hopes his party will come, again. Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol. Sign me up. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. House Democrats communications director Alexis Simmons filed to run for the 58th District representing Topeka, a seat currently held by her boss House Minority Leader Vic Miller. She moved to Topeka to attend Washburn University and ingrained herself in state politics, working as an office assistant in the civil litigation division of the Office of the Kansas Attorney General during her freshman year in 2014. I moved here for college and immediately felt welcomed into the fold, Simmons said. It really has a small-town feel. I feel like everywhere I go I see people I know. Alexis Simmons, communication director for Kansas House Democrats, works Thursday. Simmons, 28, will be running to replace current Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, after Miller announced he will run for the Kansas Senate. By 2016, she moved from the AGs Office to the Kansas Senate, interning with then-Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley in the 2016 legislative session. I decided I was more interested in the policy piece of lawmaking, Simmons said. I got to see how much influence and how much good you can do in a persons life by doing constituent work as an intern. But now, as a staffer, I feel the same way. Simmons interned with lobbyist Stuart Little from 2017-2019, and during that time moved to Washington, D.C., to study political science at American University. After graduating, she returned to Topeka and resumed working in state politics. In 2021, she started working as the Kansas House Democrats communication director and in 2022, started teaching Intro to American Government at Washburn University and joined the board of the Topeka Human Relations Commission. Simmons said her work behind the scenes will help her if shes elected to the House. Theres something to be said about the experience that you get from doing the constituent work from learning policies. I feel positioned very well to hit the ground running on day one, Simmons said. Rep. Vic Miller, D-Topeka, walks with spokesperson Alexis Simmons on the way to the House of Representative chambers Wednesday. Simmons interest in politics started much earlier, though. Growing up, the schools she attended was deemed underfunded in the Gannon v. Kansas. She said her and her politically oriented family would discuss disparate education funding around the dinner table. I would think our ZIP codes should not dictate the quality of our education, and I saw the consequences of that very early, Simmons said. Throughout college and her career, Simmons worked on increasing the participation of women in politics. While studying in D.C., she helped train women to run for office and wrote a newsletter about women in politics. In 2021 Emilys List, a pro-choice advocacy group, selected her to help train candidates to run for office. More: This longtime Topeka Democrat is giving up his House seat for another run at Kansas Senate Women are traditionally underserved in politics in 100 different ways. So, giving them the tools to run a quality campaign is so important to make change, Simmons said. At 28 years old, Simmons would be one of youngest active elected officials in theStatehouse. I certainly dont want to dismiss the value of experience, Simmons said. But with that said, I think a fresh perspective is so real. If elected, Simmons wouldnt be the first member of her family to hold political office. Her great-uncle Robert Stephan served as the attorney general of Kansas from 1979 to 1995, making him the longest-serving attorney general in the history of the state. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Alexis Simmons running to represent Topeka in Kansas House The City of Orlando and the Southwest Orlando Jaycees hosted the 40th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade this weekend. Hundreds of people lined the streets of downtown to watch the festivities on Saturday. Several local leaders, bands and first responders marched down Orange Avenue. Spectators said its important to take time to remember and celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Read: Central Florida is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with these events I think its important to learn about our history, about Martin Luther King, to teach them the importance of equality, said Lenora Spence. This years theme is It Starts With Me: Shifting the Culture Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence. Community members said the holiday is a time to honor him but also encourages people to serve others and volunteer. See a complete list of events here. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Security personnel stand guard near the site of a suicide blast in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Aziz/Xinhua) KABUL, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Three security personnel were injured after the security forces foiled attempts of a suicide bomber who wanted to target governor's office in west Afghanistan's Nimroz province on Sunday, a statement of the Ministry of Interior Affairs said. "A suicide bomber was attempting to target the provincial governor office in Nimroz province today, but the security personnel identified and gunned him down before reaching his target," the statement asserted. "Unfortunately, three security personnel were injured in the incident," the statement said. This is the fourth blast in the war-torn Afghanistan over the past nine days, three of them in the national capital Kabul city. Earlier, three blasts have shocked Afghanistan's capital Kabul on different days claiming at least 10 lives. The Islamic State outfit has claimed responsibility for a blast in a mini-bus that left five dead and 15 others injured. Security personnel stand guard near the site of a suicide blast in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Aziz/Xinhua) Security personnel stand guard near the site of a suicide blast in Nimroz province, Afghanistan, Jan. 14, 2024. (Photo by Aziz/Xinhua) Only days after being convicted in a sweeping federal corruption case, former Ald. Ed Burke began the new year by collecting a bigger pension check courtesy of an automatic hike that former House Speaker Michael Madigan is also all but guaranteed to get now that his own corruption trial was recently postponed until fall. Burke, Chicagos longest-serving alderman, stands to collect nearly $50,000 this year half of his new $99,200 annual pension rate because pensions arent cut off for City Hall officials convicted of corruption until they are sentenced, which for Burke isnt scheduled until mid-June. As a result, Burke received his annual 3% bump right on schedule when the calendar turned to 2024. Madigan, the longest-serving speaker in American history, meanwhile, will continue to safely collect his roughly $153,400 annual pension thanks to this months court win that secured him a six-month delay in his trial. The postponement means Madigan stays on track to get his own automatic 3% pension increase in July, taking his retirement income to $158,000 a year. Had Madigans original April 1 trial moved forward as scheduled, a conviction could have prompted his pension payments to be suspended before the increase kicked in. The cases of Burke and Madigan spotlight how the public pension spigot can take a while to shut off when public officials face legal troubles. And the two Southwest Siders from neighboring wards stand to benefit from the variety of lucrative laws that favor longtime politicians in Chicago and Springfield. Still, the city and state pension rules for elected officials could play out differently in two major ways for the 80-year-old Burke and Madigan, who turns 82 in April. Along with the state immediately suspending pension payments once an elected official is convicted or enters a guilty plea rather than when they are sentenced, the state also has a stricter policy than the city pension system for longtime officials like Burke and Madigan when it comes to refunds of personal contributions they paid into the retirement systems. Despite his conviction, Burke is able to collect hundreds of thousands of dollars from his pension account as a refund for all of the personal contributions he made toward his aldermanic pension. But if Madigans convicted, hes likely to receive no refund for his contributions to the state system. Thats largely because hes on pace to receive more in pension payments by his October trial date than hes contributed to the system. The differences in state pension policies follow Tribune stories that highlighted how some elected officials, including former Republican Gov. George Ryan, had collected hefty pension payments when immersed in long criminal cases and then became eligible for refunds for their own personal contributions once sentenced. The boards moves sought to restrict the flow of taxpayer-supported pension money when retired politicians cases move slowly through the courts. While more should be done, the board overseeing state elected officials pensions has made progress in recent years reforming the system, said former Democratic state Sen. Susan Garrett, now the chair of the Center for Illinois Politics. The states changes represent at least a good sign and should be followed more widely, said Garrett, whose group is a nonpartisan, nonprofit. Even so, court cases favorable to retirees dating back decades, including the federal Operation Gambat investigation that uncovered corruption in the old 1st Ward, are viewed as impediments to making taxpayer-friendly changes. A conviction and a not guilty plea Burke was convicted Dec. 21 of racketeering and bribery for using his elected office to pressure developers doing business with City Hall to hire his private law firm for property tax appeals. Only 12 days later, the longtime 14th Ward alderman, who chose not to run for reelection in 2023, automatically started collecting a slightly bigger city pension. At the beginning of the new year, Burke became eligible for the annual 3% bump, raising his monthly checks to $8,268 from $8,027. And on Jan. 2, the newly adjusted pension payment was deposited directly into his bank account, records show. Madigan has pleaded not guilty in his racketeering case in which federal prosecutors charge he squeezed jobs and benefits for his political allies from Commonwealth Edison and AT&T as the two major state-regulated utilities sought the powerful speakers support for their legislative agendas. A federal judge set Madigans new trial date to Oct. 8 while the U.S. Supreme Court reviews a case from Indiana that challenges the validity of charges that are similar to some of those facing Madigan. He and co-defendant Michael McClain, a former lobbyist already convicted in last years high-profile ComEd Four case, have pleaded not guilty in their case. In supporting Madigans defense he played by the rules, his lawyers recently sent a subpoena to his former House speakers office for records from 2000 through 2020 of communications discussing potential conflicts of interests, actual votes and times Madigan recused himself on House votes. These documents may have been referred to as the MJM Vote List, the subpoena said, referring to the ex-speakers initials. The subpoena requests communications with Madigans longtime law partner, Vincent Bud Getzendanner, and several top legislative aides, including the ex-speakers legal counsel David Ellis, now an Illinois Appellate Court justice, and former chief of staff Tim Mapes, who was convicted last year of perjury. Mapes has kept collecting his monthly pension checks since his conviction in August. He also received an automatic increase this month that lifted his annual pension rate to more than $154,000, but officials will review the benefit once he is sentenced, which is now scheduled for next month. Another politician involved in both the Burke and Madigan cases former 25th Ward Ald. Danny Solis is also collecting his pension. Solis used to be an ally to both Burke and Madigan but became a government mole who secretly recorded both men in the course of the federal governments investigations. Solis phone and video recordings were instrumental in Burkes conviction, and other recordings Solis made are expected to play a major role in Madigans criminal case. Solis cooperated with federal authorities to try to avoid a conviction for his own misdeeds. Solis has been charged, but his case is expected to be dropped once his cooperation is complete. As a result, Solis has kept his pension intact, and, like Burke, received an increase in January. Solis is now getting an annual pension worth nearly $110,000. Political funds paid $11 million in legal costs While Burke and Madigan are, of course, allowed to defend themselves, their legal fights in federal court showcase how favorable laws give these two formerly prominent politicians a flexibility in their finances that an ordinary citizen could likely not afford. Burke and Madigan both tapped their political war chests to pay their legal fees totaling more than $11 million between them and saved the pair from having to dip into their own pockets to pay defense lawyers. Many lower-profile defendants often decide to plead guilty and cut deals rather than spend their life savings or go in debt to fight federal charges against them. Burke has spent more than $3 million out of his campaign funds on legal fees since 2018, state campaign records show. But Burke not only used those campaign resources for his own legal costs. The Tribune reported Burke also paid hundreds of thousands of dollars from his political funds to cover the costs of co-defendant Peter Andrews Jr., a longtime aide who was acquitted. State campaign reports showed $220,000 of those payments were labeled as consulting fees paid to Andrews, but his lawyers said that money was passed along to them. Madigan has spent more than $8 million in legal fees from his campaign kitty. Campaign cash for personal use While the practice of paying legal fees from a campaign fund is common for politicians, an attempt to curb the spending of campaign money on personal matters has led to two systems one for old-timers and the other for everyone else. Burke and Madigan benefit from being among a dwindling number of politicians still eligible to convert campaign funds into cash for themselves. The benefit arose from a compromise reached in Springfield in the late 1990s as lawmakers and then-Gov. Jim Edgar pushed for reforming the states campaign finance laws. As a way to coax votes from sitting lawmakers who didnt want to give up their ability to use campaign cash for personal use, the law bifurcated the new restrictions. It grandfathered an exemption for those in office at the time and allowed the incumbents to tap their own campaign funds for personal use up to the amount of money in their political war chests when Edgar signed the legislation into law in 1998. That option is now outlawed for less senior public officials. For Burke, the exemption means there are fewer restrictions on how he can spend the $2.45 million he had in his campaign fund on June 30, 1998. At that same time, Madigan held nearly $1.5 million in his campaign funds that he could convert. Back then, several other politicians actually took out loans to boost the amount of money in their campaign funds that theyd eventually be able to tap for personal matters. Pension refunds While both men are allowed to access their old campaign cash, only Burke is eligible for a refund of the money he personally paid into his pension over his 54 years on the City Council. Burke stands to be refunded about $540,000 even if city pension officials rule him ineligible to receive more monthly pension payments following his June 19 sentencing. Due to his longevity in city office, Burke is grandfathered out of another law, passed in 2017, that allows the city pension system to deduct how much money a convicted City Hall criminal has collected from how much they put in. For Madigan, though, the equation is far different. He made $352,345 in personal contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System while serving in the House for just over 50 years. He has already received $339,157 in total benefits since retiring almost three years ago. By the time his trial occurs, Madigan will have received more in benefits than he put into the system, meaning the state pension boards policy would not allow him to collect a refund if the former speaker is found guilty, said Tim Blair, the systems executive secretary. Legal precedents have been viewed as a roadblock to making similar policy changes in many pension systems. In various public pension funds, refund policies have long been based on a 2003 Illinois Supreme Court ruling that sided with David Shields, a former Cook County judge convicted of pocketing a $6,000 bribe to fix a case in the Operation Gambat sting. When the judicial pension system deducted from his refund the amount of money he had received in pension checks, he sued and won a full refund. Unlike with Burke, whose pension benefits are still flowing, the state legislative pension board will suspend pension payments once any retired lawmakers are convicted of a felony. The board takes final action on forfeiture following an attorney general review. Legislative pension payments to longtime lobbyist McClain, who previously served in the House with Madigan, were suspended when he was convicted last year. State Sen. Robert Martwick, the Chicago Democrat who chairs the board of the General Assembly Retirement System, said the policy changes arose in response to state elected officials charged with corruption stretching out the time between a guilty plea or guilty verdict and a sentencing, allowing them to collect many extra pension payments. Martwick said the boards policies prevent elected state officials who are expected to lose their pensions from gaming the system. The board overseeing pensions for retired lawmakers and statewide officers established the more restrictive policies in 2015 following a series of Tribune stories highlighting perks and quirks for state elected officials. In a 6-1 opinion, for example, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that Ryan, the former governor, should forfeit his pension following his 2006 corruption conviction that grew out of a licenses-for-bribes scandal rooted in his two terms as secretary of state and that spilled over with more corruption during his single term as governor. Still, Ryan was able to collect $635,000 in pension payments during the three years between leaving office and his conviction. He also was able to get back a $235,000 refund for the contributions hed made to the system over the years. The lone justice to oppose the ruling to take away Ryans entire pension was Anne Burke, who is married to Ed Burke. Justice Burke, once the chief justice of the states high court, maintained that Ryans corruption could be connected only to his terms as governor and secretary of state. In her dissent, she contended there was no such nexus to corruption during his time as lieutenant governor or House lawmaker and that his pension benefits for those years should not be disqualified. Justice Burke, who watched her husbands trial from a front-row seat in a federal courtroom, is retired and receives an annual state pension of $226,278. Chicago Tribunes Dan Petrella contributed to this report. rlong@chicagotribune.com A man who was convicted for stopping an anti-LGBTQ+ assault during Sydney WorldPride last year had his conviction overturned in court on earlier this month, as reported by the Australian AP. Mirco Olivieri, 30, had been convicted of his involvement in the incident which took place in the Darlinghurst section of Sydney in January 2023. Olivieri, a fashion consultant originally from Italy, said he saw two large men bullying a young gay man identified as Jack Schmidt outside a kebab shop when he stepped between the men. The dispute escalated and Olivieri was thrown to the ground by the men, who also uttered a homophobic slur. Olivieri responded by landing multiple blows. Despite protestations from Schmidt at the scene, police arrested all three men. Last April, Olivieri was convicted and sentenced to conditional release and community service by local court magistrate Brett Shields. Olivieri maintained his innocence all along and appealed the decision. Judge Mark Williams overturned the decision in his Downing Centre District Court. This man was intervening to protect someone he thought was being unfairly victimized, Williams said. These two apparently larger, more aggressive men they were the ones who initiated it. At court, a statement was read from Schmidt expressing his gratitude for Olivieris actions and confusion as to the polices lack of interest in taking his statement at the scene. I was confused and upset as they didnt want a statement about what I felt and believed was a homophobic attack and a gay hate crime, Schmidts statement read. Pictured: Mirco Olivieri A Pennsylvania police officer who was charged with rape and other related offenses this week allegedly told his victim the assault was an accident. Officer Justin Hain with the Steelton County Police Department is accused of assaulting the woman on Wednesday, and he was charged Thursday, according to PennLive. Citing court documents, the news outlet reports that Hain was in the home of the woman, and after she came out of the shower, he allegedly ripped off her towel and ignored her pleas for him to stop. The court documents state that when the victim called Hain the next day to ask him why he attacked her, he said, I didnt intentionally rape you. Hain is charged with one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, one count of rape by forcible compulsion, two counts of sexual assault, one count of indecent assault with forcible compulsion and one count of indecent assault without consent, according to court documents. Read it at Penn Live Read more at The Daily Beast. King Frederik X appeared on the balcony as his ascension to the throne was proclaimed by Mette Frederiksen - Martin Meissner/AP Denmarks new king had just brushed away a tear after announcing his accession to the throne when he turned to his wife for a kiss. But as Frederik X leaned in to seal the historic occasion on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace, the new queen, Mary, appeared to turn away from him. It was an awkward moment on an otherwise smooth transition of power in Copenhagen on Sunday. However, it may well have sent tongues wagging after the royal handover was partly tarnished by claims of infidelity. It took a few tries before the royal couple found the rhythm, one Danish newspaper remarked. Nevertheless Danes in the streets below whooped and cheered as the kiss finally landed. Hundreds of thousands of Danes gathered around the palace to hear King Frederik address the nation - Martin Meissner/AP Denmarks royals are overwhelmingly popular, with 80 per cent of Danes in support of the family. But rumours have swirled for months about an alleged affair between Frederik and Genoveva Casanova, a Mexican socialite, after they were spotted on an evening out in Madrid in October. The Danish Royal Household declined to comment on the alleged tryst, though Ms Casanova has rejected the speculation as malicious and strongly denies any affair. Some have speculated the accession was designed to keep the royal family together. As many as a hundred thousand Danes had gathered around Christiansborg, with confetti released amid thunderous cheers when Frederik, 55, addressed the nation for the first time as their new king. My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow, Frederik, a former Frogman (Danish Navy Seal), told the cheering crowds, dressed in a ceremonial military uniform and medals. It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a responsibility I take on with respect, pride and great joy. It is a deed I will make an effort to carry through the trust I encounter, he added. People streamed across Copehagens bridges towards the palace, with some dressed in toy crowns and red robes, while a few opted for woolly Viking-style hats. Over 100,000 Danes braced the cold winter weather to line the streets of the capital to see Queen Margrethe's final procession - RITZAU SCANPIX DENMARK/REUTERS Although spirits were high in the crowd, this was a fairly low-key accession to the throne in comparison to the Coronation of Charles III, with no crown or sceptre in sight. Denmarks royal family prides itself on being close to the people and adopting a more understated approach to royal events. I think hes an amazing guy, very down to earth and sporty. Hes really interested in people, said Tina Slott, a 43-year-old surveyor company worker. Even though hes becoming the king hes still going to participate in the royal run, she added, referring to an annual event where Frederik puts on his running shoes and races alongside regular Danes. Scottish-Danish airport worker John Paul Houston, 59, said his opinion of the Danish royals had grown much warmer over the years. They are great representatives. The Danish royal family are much more in touch with the country while [the British royals] seem a bit more distant, said the Celtic fan, originally from Glasgow. You can see here today the support they have got from young, old and everyone in between. I think he will do well, said Marianne Pedersen, 62, a media graphics designer, of King Frederik. He has been growing up very shy and insecure and feeling awkward, and when he met Mary he got the confidence and formed into who he is today...now hes got a big job keeping his popularity because the only way he can go is down. After signing the declaration Queen Margrethe said: 'God bless the King' - EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK Queen Margrethe had shocked Denmark when she announced she would abdicate the throne in a New Years Eve address, making her the first Danish monarch to relinquish the throne of her own free will in some 900 years. Even her own family were only informed three days prior to the announcement. King Charles and Queen Camilla sent a message of congratulations to Frederik and Mary, 51, conveying our very best wishes on the day of your accession to the throne of the Kingdom of Denmark. The King added: I look forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries, and our families, remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world. 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. ST. LOUIS On November 24, 1971, a mysterious person named D.B. Cooper took over Northwest Orient Airlines flight 305, a Boeing 727. He then disappeared after jumping from the plane, leaving everyone wondering who he was and what happened to the money he stole. How has Coopers infamous hijacking influenced airplane hijackings in the St. Louis area? John Wigger, a history professor at the University of Missouri, shares his insights. Wiggers interest in flight, inspired by childhood experiences flying with his pilot father, led him to teach a history of flight course at the University of Missouri. During the pandemic, he saw that students were more interested in the DB Cooper hijacking than in famous events like the disappearance of Amelia Earhart or the successes of the Wright brothers. This lead Wigger to write a book on the hijacking of American Flight 119 in St. Louis and how D.B. Cooper inspired many to attempt to copycat what he got away with. A mothers fight for justice: He still has to face me In his research for the book, Wigger connected with FBI agents, pilots, and flight attendants involved in hijackings between 1968 and 1972. There were five who followed (Cooper), and the last of that group was Martin McNally on American 119, a flight that he boarded in St. Louis. In many ways, McNallys hijacking was the most daring, said Wigger. McNally, the last in a series of hijackers following Cooper, boarded American 119 in St. Louis. In many ways, his theft was one of the bravest. After using Zoom to visit Wiggers class, McNally talked to the students and told them not to make the same decisions. McNally went to federal jail for 37 years and got out in 2010. He was great with the students. He answered their questions happily and told them that the hijacking was the stupidest thing he had ever done, advising them to stay in school and make something of themselves, said Wigger. Temps take a dive: How cold will it get this weekend and beyond? Wigger talked about Robb Dolin Heady, another parachute hijacker who took over a flight in Reno, Nevada, which is known as hijacker heaven because of how lax the security was there. He jumped over a three-foot-high fence without a ticket. He wore a pillowcase over his head with eye holes cut out of it and carried a handgun and a parachute in hand and he was able to take over the plane. Well, I just had one more thing that people often ask, which is, What does this say about the DB Cooper hijacking? And I think one of the interesting things about looking at the other parachute hijackers is that the other five survived except for very minor injuries. And so I think it probably indicates that, in all likelihood, DB Cooper survived his jump as well in many ways, said Wigger. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News He says that Martin McNallys jump was a lot more dangerous, for example. Cooper jumped at 200 miles per hour at about 10,000 feet, but McNally jumped at 320 miles per hour even though he had never been parachuting before. He didnt know it, but McNally had only been given the small front backup chute and not the main backpack shoot. He landed safely. So if Martin McNally could survive his job, then, in all likelihood, DB Cooper did as well, he said. Wiggers book, titled The Hijacking of American Flight 119: How D.B. Cooper Inspired a Skyjacking Craze and the FBIs Battle to Stop It, is available wherever books are sold, including an audiobook version, offering readers a comprehensive exploration of this intriguing chapter in aviation history. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. People gather in the square at Christiansborg Palace. After 52 years of regency, the long-serving Queen Margrethe II hands over the throne on Sunday to her son Crown Prince Frederik, who will in future bear the title King Frederik X. Steffen Trumpf/dpa Denmark's Queen Margrethe II gave up the throne on Sunday to her son Frederik after a 52-year reign. The 83-year-old signed her abdication declaration at a meeting with the government in Copenhagen on Sunday, as television footage from Christiansborg Palace, the seat of the Danish parliament, showed. The former crown prince then symbolically took his mother's place at the table. "God bless the king," said Margrethe as she left the hall, then drove back to Amalienborg Palace, the official residence of the Danish royal family. The royal accession is now formally complete and the former crown prince is the new king of Denmark. At 3 pm (1400 GMT), the 55-year-old is to be officially proclaimed King Frederik X by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace. A huge crowd is waiting outside for the proclamation. The incoming monarch is expected to address the nation in a speech. Margrethe stunned Denmark by announcing in her New Year's speech that she would be abdicating on January 14 and that she intended to hand over the throne to her eldest son. Notably, the date marks exactly 52 years since she succeeded her father Frederik IX after his death. People gather in the square at Christiansborg Palace. After 52 years of regency, the long-serving Queen Margrethe II hands over the throne on Sunday to her son Crown Prince Frederik, who will in future bear the title King Frederik X. Steffen Trumpf/dpa Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has proposed an international working group on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, the minister wrote on Facebook on Jan. 14. Umerov presented the plan at the fourth meeting of national security advisors regarding the Peace Formula in Davos, Switzerland. He suggested creating a group at the level of Ministers of Defense and National Security Advisors to jointly work out a mechanism for the withdrawal of (Russian) troops. It's impossible to talk about restoring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine without the complete withdrawal and disarmament of Russian troops and terrorist organizations from the temporarily occupied territories, Umerov wrote. President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the ten-point Ukrainian Peace Formula in 2022, which includes the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory. Currently, 83 countries support the peace plan. 80 countries and one international organization attended the fourth national security advisers' meeting, an increase from the 66 attendees at the previous meeting, held in Malta. This is the second large-scale event organized in Switzerland to support Ukraine after the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano in July 2022. According to the Swiss Foreign Ministry statement, the main goal of the meetings is to finalize the talks at the level of national security advisers on principles for a lasting and just peace in Ukraine. Read also: Swiss diplomat: China needs to help end war in Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Denmarks prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as King on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication. The countrys longest-reigning monarch, Queen Margrethe stunned the nation on New Years Eve when she announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years on the throne, becoming the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily stand down. Margrethe signed her abdication during a meeting with the government at the Christiansborg Palace, a vast complex in Copenhagen that has been the seat of Danish power for centuries. It now houses the Royal Reception Rooms and Royal Stables as well as the Danish parliament, the prime ministers office and the Supreme Court. After the abdication was signed, prime minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed Frederik king from the balcony of the palace before the cheering crowd of thousands. Denmark's newly proclaimed King Frederik and Queen Mary wave on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Reuters) Unlike King Charles IIIs coronation, the Danish royal household opted for a simple ceremony at Christiansborg Palace. King Frederik, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, left the royal palace at 1235 GMT in a 1958 Rolls-Royce. Margrethe followed by horse carriage a few minutes later to take her final ride as monarch through the streets of the capital. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark leaves for the proclamation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary of Denmark at Amalienborg Palace Square (Getty Images) Huge crowds gathered before parliament to witness the momentous occasion (Reuters) Ms Frederiksen read the proclamation three times, which is the tradition, as Frederik stood beside her wearing a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals. He was then joined on the balcony by the new Queen Mary and the couples four children, and the crowd spontaneously sang the national anthem. My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow, Frederik said. It is a task I have approached all my life. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen proclaims King Frederik X as the new king from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen (AP) After signing the declaration of abdication Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, second right, leaves the seat at the head of the table to her son King Frederik X of Denmark (Getty) It is the custom for each new sovereign to adopt a royal motto as a guiding principle for their reign, and Frederiks is: United, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark. I want to return the trust I meet, the new king said. I need trust from my beloved wife, you and that which is greater than us. Frederik then kissed Mary, who wore a white dress, and another great cheer rose from the crowd. Denmark's newly proclaimed King Frederik and Queen Mary kiss on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace (Reuters) Queen Margrethe II of Denmark signs a declaration of abdication on Sunday (Getty) The abdication will leave Denmark with two queens: Margrethe will keep her title while Frederiks wife will become Queen Mary. Their eldest son Christian, 18, will become crown prince and heir to the throne. Karen Holk Jeppesen, 31, a communications consultant, who arrived in Copenhagen with her sister on Saturday, said she booked a hotel in the capital the day after the queens announcement. I was in shock and started crying when the queen said on New Years Eve she would abdicate, said Jeppesen, standing in front of parliament. Its very rare to witness a real historical moment that you know will be written about in the history books, she said. Soren Kristian Bisgaard, 30, a pilot, said: We have come here today because this is history being made in front of our eyes. We just had to be here. He was drinking champagne with three friends, sitting in camping chairs in front of parliament. Im very fond of the royal family. I have been in the Royal Life Guards myself, standing guard at the royal palace. Im very proud to have done that and also to be here today, he said. People gather in the early morning at Christiansborg Palace Square ahead of the proclamation of the abdication (AFP via Getty Images) Several shops hung photos of the queen and king, while city buses were adorned with smaller Danish flags as is customary during royal events. Many others across the kingdom of nearly 6 million people followed a live TV broadcast of the historic event. The royal guards music band made their daily parade through Copenhagen but wore red jackets, instead of their usual black, to mark major events. Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now, said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. Hes 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles. Charles was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The former queen, affectionately known as Daisy after the marguerite flower, was congratulated by her cousin Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf, who himself celebrated 50 years on the throne in September. Your Majesty, dear Cousin Daisy! When you step down today from your high office as Queen of Denmark, I want to say a warm thank you for the good cooperation over the years, the Swedish king said on Instagram. The new king and queen take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82 per cent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 per cent said the same about Mary. The fairy-tale rise of an Australian sales executive to the upper ranks of European royalty was completed Sunday when Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth of Denmark became the countrys Queen Consort. The final stretch of Marys path from Tasmania to the Danish throne was cleared on New Years Eve by the surprise abdication of Queen Margrethe II, who announced that she intended to step down. Its an exceedingly rare move in Denmark, where a monarch hasnt abdicated since 1146 when King Eric III gave up the crown to join a monastery, according to the Royal House. Margrethes eldest son, Crown Prince Frederik, took the throne as the new king, while his wife, Crown Princess Mary, became the worlds first Australian-born queen, a development that has delighted her supporters back home. For many of Marys Australian admirers, its a fitting finale to a romance that famously began in a rowdy Sydney pub around the time of the Olympics in 2000. As the story goes, the two locked eyes in the Slip Inn, considered an unlikely place to find a Danish royal, much less the origins of a couple who would later become Denmarks future king and queen. Millions watched the couple get married in 2004. Two decades later, their ascension to the throne captivated audiences worldwide from Copenhagen to the Tasmanian capital of Hobart, where Mary was born. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark and Australian born Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson married in May 2004. - Bjarke Orsted/Scanpix/AFP/Getty Images Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said in a statement that the state could not be prouder of Crown Princess Mary. With her demonstrated humility, grace and kindness I am sure Crown Princess Mary will be embraced as Queen alongside her husband, King Frederik, once proclaimed later this month, Rockliff said. I look forward to watching the next generation, and Tasmanias own-born Queen, lead Denmarks future. A royal abdication For the most part, Queen Margrethes New Years Eve speech covered the familiar territory of a monarch summing up the highs and lows of the year just passed. She touched on the tragedy of war, of innocent lives lost in Gaza, the spread of antisemitism and the importance of Denmarks support for Ukraine. She spoke about climate change, the challenges of artificial intelligence, and the pride she has in her grandson, Prince Christian, who has just turned 18. Then the monarch turned to her own life and how recent successful back surgery had given her cause to think of the future. More specifically, she said she considered whether now would be an appropriate time to pass on the responsibility to the next generation, and she concluded that now is the right time. On 14th January, 2024 52 years after I succeeded my beloved father I will step down as Queen of Denmark. I will hand over the throne to my son Crown Prince Frederik, Margrethe said. The announcement temporarily paused New Years celebrations in Denmark, as royal correspondents rushed to fill in the gaps. Nobody knew, Kristian Ring-Hansen Holt told ABC breakfast television in Australia. Juliet Rieden, editor-at-large for The Australian Womens Weekly, said most Danes expected Margrethe to be in the job for life, much like Britains Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled until her death in September 2022. But in hindsight, some decisions suggested that Queen Margrethe was preparing to step aside, Reiden told CNN. For example, her move to slim down the royal family and strip the royal titles from the children of her youngest son, Prince Joachim, and his wife, Princess Marie, who werent happy with the move and recently relocated to the US. I think she did it so her son, Crown Prince Frederik, didnt have to do it in the early stages of his monarchy, so she could get it all out of the way and then he could start with a fresh slate, Rieden said. It also reflects the reasoning of a pragmatic monarch who wanted to present the royal family as offering value for money, led by two of their most popular members, Rieden said. The royal family is running at 82% popularity in Denmark these are the sorts of figures politicians dream about, said Rieden. Denmarks royals have a limited role under the countrys constitution, with power resting with parliament. Monarchs play an important ambassadorial role as well as signing off on new legislation. A popular royal Mary was born in 1972 to a Scottish mathematics professor and a British executive assistant. According to her official biography, she started her education in Houston, Texas before moving back to Hobart to attend school and university. Marys introduction to the working world included stints as an advertising executive and travel around Europe before she landed a role with a Sydney-based property firm. It was there that she met Frederik, a young Danish prince who shed later marry at Copenhagen Cathedral in a lavish ceremony televised worldwide. Four children followed including Prince Christian, now next in line to the throne. Danish Crown Princess Mary photographed during the Copenhagen Fashion Week Autumn/Winter 18 on January 30, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. - Christian Vierig/Getty Images Aside from being praised for her poise and fashion sense, Mary has gained a following for her staunch commitment to social causes through The Mary Foundation, established in 2007. Shes a fierce advocate for the sexual rights of women and girls. Shes a fierce advocate for refugees. So shes proved her worth as a serious role model and leader in Denmark, and I think Australia can be very proud of the sort of royal she has become, said Rieden. Trips home typically generate local headlines but not all have been welcome. Late last year, media worldwide carried stories of Prince Frederiks alleged romance with Mexican-born actress Genoveva Casanova. Casanova issued a statement vehemently denying the claims and threatening legal action against Lecturas, the Spanish magazine that published images of them on a night out. The Royal House hasnt commented. I think that that was probably an annoyance, one of those never complain, never explain scenarios from the Danish royals, said Rieden. Nothing happened as far as they were concerned. When the new generation of Danish royals ascended the throne, there was little of the the pomp and pageantry that accompanied the coronation of Britains King Charles III last May. Queen Margrethe abdicated at a meeting of Council of State, an advisory body for the monarchy, before the new king and queen appeared on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace with the Danish prime minister. That is likely to increase interest in Mary in Australia, said Rieden, who added that putting the princess on the cover of The Australian Womens Weekly magazine typically leads to higher sales. Shes a very, very popular cover star. So I think that popularity can only increase now she is to become a queen, she said. Sign up for CNNs Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and whats happening behind palace walls. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com BEIJING, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang is embarking on his first overseas voyage in 2024, attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2024 and paying an official visit to Switzerland and Ireland from Jan. 14 to 17. Seeing Europe as a strategic force in the international arena, China has placed great emphasis on its relations with the continent. In 2023, after taking office as Chinese premier, Li made Europe his first destination for overseas visits. The first trip abroad by a Chinese leader in the new year marks the continuation of high-level exchanges between China and Europe in 2024 and symbolizes China's desire to play its role in fostering global economic recovery and governance and addressing common challenges together with the international community. In recent years, the world has been struggling to recover from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and profound geopolitical transformations. Cold War mentalities and recurring conflicts have cast a heavy shadow over the entire world, impeding the progress of globalization and undermining the very foundation of global peace and development. The World Bank recently warned that "the global economy is set for the weakest half-decade performance in 30 years." As both a beneficiary and an unwavering champion of global economic openness and cooperation, China has consistently put its shoulder to the wheel to safeguard the fruits of globalization and foster global collaboration to surmount challenges facing all. The upcoming European tour undertaken by the Chinese premier is a testament to China's unswerving commitment to this cause. During the trip, Li is scheduled to participate in the opening plenary of the WEF annual meeting and deliver a special address, elaborating on China's proposals for the international community to promote global cooperation, address various risks, bridge the development divide, and seek peaceful coexistence and win-win outcomes. Over the past decade, China has been pulling its weight in driving global economic growth through its development, serving as a crucial powerhouse of the world economy by contributing over 30 percent to global economic growth. Today, China's determination and confidence to propel global growth with its development are going from strength to strength. With its continuously optimized economic structure, the dual circulation of domestic and international markets, and increasingly extensive international cooperation, China is generating a steady stream of growth momentum and potential for its economy. WEF President Borge Brende said in a recent interview with Xinhua that China will continue to be a major engine for global economic growth. Furthermore, China has been striving to forge stronger collaborative ties with various economies. Among them, Europe is a priority. In a spirit of mutual benefit and win-win results, China and Europe have established dozens of mechanisms for consultations and dialogue covering various fields such as politics, economy, trade, culture, science, and technology. Trade between the two sides in various fields, like lithium batteries and new energy vehicles, is rapidly expanding. Chinese investment is supporting Europe's transition to green, digital, and intelligent industries. All indicate that China and Europe are partners, not adversaries -- they offer each other opportunities, rather than posing threats. China's pivotal role has garnered extensive recognition in Europe. In the past year, numerous European leaders have visited China to explore more potential for cooperation. Recently, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo just concluded an official visit to the country. By embarking on trips to Switzerland and Ireland, the Chinese premier will inject more vitality into the dynamic China-Europe relationship. When it comes to the global economy, everyone is in the same boat and has to pull at the same oars. Therefore, when certain countries may perceive China as a rival, threat, or risk, China is more inclined to view them as partners who ought to pull together and trust each other. As pointed out by the Chinese premier when debunking the so-called "de-risking" rhetoric during his European visit last year, for all members of the international community including Europe, failure to cooperate is the biggest risk, and failure to develop is the biggest insecurity. Amidst the ongoing regional hotspots like the Ukraine crisis and the Israel-Hamas conflict, Europe has witnessed the repercussions of confrontation and distrust firsthand. Now, China once again shows its commitment to cooperation. For Europe and the world at large, joining forces with China is the fundamental way to navigate the headwinds facing the global economy. Sunday marked a turning point for the Danish monarchy, as Queen Margrethe II officially abdicated the throne after a historic 52-year reign. The Queen, who is 83, signed formal abdication papers during a meeting at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, where huge crowds filled with people of all ages gathered to celebrate the royal succession. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II arrives at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. / Credit: Martin Meissner / AP Her son, now King Frederik X, took the throne once the declaration was finalized. He was proclaimed King of Denmark from the palace balcony in a spectacle that, while traditional, is not called a coronation ceremony, unlike events held for the passing of the crown in other places including the United Kingdom. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaimed the new monarch's ascension. King Frederik's wife, Mary Donaldson, becomes Queen Consort with his ascension. Princess Mary was her previous title. Their son, Crown Prince Christian, is next in the monarchy's line of succession and the current heir to the Danish throne. In a speech addressing thousands corralled below the balcony at Christianbourg Palace, Frederik praised his mother's legacy and said he hopes to become a "king of tomorrow." "My mother, Her Majesty Queen Margrethe the 2nd, has ruled Denmark for 52 years. Through half a century, she has followed the times with our common heritage as a starting point," said Frederik, according to a translated social media post shared Sunday by the Danish royal house. "She will always be remembered as a regent beyond the ordinary. My mother, like few, has managed to be at one with her kingdom. Today, the throne passes on." Denmark's King Frederik X and Denmark's Queen Mary wave from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. / Credit: Martin Meissner / AP Queen Margrethe, the longest-reigning monarch in a country with one of the world's oldest dynasties, will keep her title. The Queen announced her plan to abdicate the throne during her annual New Year's Eve speech, a televised address where she said the back surgery she underwent in early 2022 informed her decision. "I have decided that now is the right time," she said in the speech. "Thank you to the many, many people who on special occasions and in everyday life have embraced me and my family with kind words and thoughts, turning the years into a string of pearls." Margrethe abdicated the Danish throne on the 52nd anniversary of her ascension, on Jan. 14, 1972, when she was 31 years old. She succeeded her father, King Frederik IX, following his death that same day. The Queen was Denmark's first woman monarch in more than 500 years, and she took the throne around two decades after the country passed a referendum that changed succession rules to allow women to inherit the crown. Margrethe was beloved across Denmark and known throughout her reign for her multilingual expertise as well as her artistry. She is the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down in almost 900 years. Reaching the heights of professional cliff diving Pee-cycling: Turning human urine into fertilizer Broadway's "How to Dance in Ohio" shines a light on autistic stories King Frederik X and wife Queen Mary of Denmark are seen here on the balcony of Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen after their proclamation by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Jan. 14, 2024. Credit - Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images Denmark ushered in a new era on Sunday as King Frederik X ascended to the throne after his mother, Queen Margrethe II, formally signed her abdication, ending her 52-year reign as Denmarks longest-serving monarch. The formal transfer of power occurred at a meeting of the Council of State at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen, where thousands of people gathered to bid farewell to Margrethe after she became the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. Margrethe, 83, surprised the public when she announced her abdication in a live address on New Years Eve, citing a major back surgery she underwent in February last year. God save the King, she said on Sunday, after signing the abdication declaration. A cheerful crowd of supporters, many holding miniature Danish flags, filled the route as King Frederik, 55, traveled to the castle in a motorcade, accompanied by the resonating toll of bells from a nearby church. Royal guards conducted their routine daily parade in downtown Copenhagen, donning red jackets in lieu of their customary black attire. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark signs a declaration of abdication as Crown Prince Frederik becomes King Frederik X of Denmark in Copenhagen on Jan. 14, 2024. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau ScanpixGetty Images Denmark, one of the oldest monarchies across the globe, does not have a coronation ceremony. Instead, the new king and queen made a public appearance on the balcony of the palace, a tradition dating back to the constitution of 1849, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen proclaiming the Kings accession. "My hope is to become a unifying king of tomorrow, Frederik X said in his first speech as king, donning a ceremonial military uniform adorned with medals and golden epaulets. It is a task I have approached all my life. It is a task I take on with pride, respect, and joy." Under Denmark tradition, each new sovereign adopts a royal motto as a guiding principle for their reign. Frederik's motto is: "United, committed, for the kingdom of Denmark." The abdication leaves Denmark with two queens, as Queen Margrethe retains her title, and Frederik Xs wife of 19 years, Queen Mary, takes on the role of queen consort. King Frederik X's 18-year-old son, Christian, now assumes the position of Denmarks crown prince and heir to the throne. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark rides in a gold carriage as she is escorted to Christiansborg Castle for her abdication on Jan. 14. 2024. Nils Meilvang/Ritzau ScanpixGetty Images Denmarks monarchy, with its origins tracing back to 10th-century Viking king Gorm the Old, stands as the oldest in Europe and one of the oldest globally. While the royal family's duties are largely ceremonial in the constitutional monarchy, King Frederik X and Queen Mary have been praised for their efforts to modernize the monarchy, even sending their children to state schools. Recent surveys reflect widespread optimism, with 82% of Danes expressing confidence in King Frederik X's ability to perform well in his new role and an even higher percentage, 86%, expressing the same positive outlook for Queen Mary. Thousands gathered in the Christiansborg Castle Square to witness the momentous occasion on Jan. 14, 2024. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau ScanpixGetty Images British Monarch King Charles III, whose coronation in March 2023 drew millions of spectators, congratulated King Frederik on his new role. My wife joins me in writing to convey our very best wishes on the day of your ascension to the throne of the Kingdom of Denmark, he said in a statement. I look forward to working with you on ensuring that the enduring bond between our countries and our families remains strong, and to working together with you on issues which matter so much for our countries and the wider world. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy of Texas is just the latest conservative lawmaker to misuse the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to judge a person on character and not race. In the protracted battle to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House, Roy, a Republican, nominated a Black man, Byron Donalds, a two-term representative from Florida who had little chance of winning the seat. Considered a rising star in the GOP, Donalds has opposed the very things that King fought for and ultimately was assassinated for nonviolent demonstrations and voting rights protections. Calling Donalds a dear friend, Roy noted the selection by Democrats of another Black man, Hakeem Jeffries of New York, and invoked Kings words. For the first time in history, there have been two Black Americans placed into nomination for speaker of the House, Roy said. However, we do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but rather, the content of their character. Republican U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida is applauded after being nominated for House speaker on Jan. 4, 2023. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images As a scholar who researches social movements, racial politics and democracy, I have seen the consequences of the misuse of Kings words play out everywhere from the halls of Congress to corporate diversity training sessions to local school board meetings. In Roys case, the invocation of Kings legacy was an attempt to hide Donalds outspoken right-wing political views, including his vote with 146 others to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Roys speech also omits Donalds support for voting reform laws in Florida that many Black civil rights leaders understood as efforts to disenfranchise minority voters. As scholars, civil rights activists and Kings own children have long pointed out, uses of Kings words, especially by right-wing conservatives, are too often attempts to weaponize his memory against the multicultural democracy of which King could only dream. A sanitized MLK As every Martin Luther King Jr. Day nears on the third Monday in January, politicians across the political spectrum including those who opposed establishing the national holiday in 1983 issue their heartfelt dedications to King or quote him in their own speeches. Yet January is also a month that commemorates a darker, more recent memory of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by right-wing extremists. The two issues misuses of Kings memory and the Jan. 6 attacks may seem like unrelated phenomena. Yet in my book, The Struggle for the Peoples King: How Politics Transforms the Memory of the Civil Rights Movement, I show how there is a direct line from distortions of Kings words and legacy to right-wing attacks on multicultural democracy and contemporary politics. U.S. President Ronald Reagan signing Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday proclamation with, from right, Kings widow Coretta Scott King, son Dexter and sister Christine Farris on Jan. 12, 1983. Diana Walker/Getty Images The misuses of King are not accidental. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, a sanitized version of King was part of a conservative political strategy for swaying white moderates to support President Ronald Reagans reelection by making Kings birthday a national holiday. Even after Reagan finally signed the King holiday into law in 1983, he would write letters of assurance to angry political allies that only a selective version of King would be commemorated. That version was free of not only the racial politics that shaped the civil rights movement but also of the vision of systemic change that King envisioned. In addition, Reagans version left out the views that King held against the Vietnam War. Instead, the GOPs sanitized version only comprises Kings vision of a colorblind society at the expense of the deep, systemic change that King believed was needed to achieve a society in which character was more important than race. Weaponizing Americas racist past This interpretation of Kings memory would become a powerful political tool. Increasingly through the 1980s, right-wing social movements from the gun rights and family values coalitions to nativists and white supremacists deployed Kings memory to claim they were the new minorities fighting for their own rights. These groups claimed that white Christians were the real victims of multicultural democracy and in fact were the new Blacks. This false version of social reality eventually evolved into the great replacement theory, the far-right conspiracy theory, espoused by public figures like Tucker Carlson on Fox News, that white people are being demographically and culturally replaced with nonwhite peoples and that white existence is under threat. In these distortions, gun rights activists called themselves the new Rosa Parks, anti-abortion activists declared themselves freedom riders and anti-gay groups claimed themselves protectors of Kings Christian vision. These distortions of the past were not just rhetorical. Over time, these political strategies had powerful effects and generated what appears in my view as an alternative social reality that, for many white Americans, began to feel like the only reality. Misinformation threatens democracy Through the making of these alternative histories, right-wing strategists such as Steve Bannon could stir up white right-wing voters to reclaim and take back America. In this 1965 photo, President Lyndon B. Johnson discusses the Voting Rights Act with Martin Luther King Jr. Hulton Archive/Getty Images Such was the politics that led to Donald Trumps 2016 election and shaped a presidential administration that rolled back civil rights, emboldened white supremacists and banned anti-racism training. Through the misrepresentation of the racial past, this alternate social reality hardened. Ultimately, these revisionist narratives have fractured the collective understanding of who we are, how we got here and where we go next. In my view, moving forward means honestly confronting the often ugly past and the deep roots of white supremacy that shaped it then and now. It is only by facing, rather than ignoring, the complexity of Americas history that the beloved community that King once envisioned can be realized. This article was updated to correct the year of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and to correctly identify people in the photo caption of the holiday signing. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Hajar Yazdiha, University of Southern California Read more: Hajar Yazdiha does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. In Dnipro, the memory of those killed in a Russian missile attack is commemorated Residents of Dnipro city have held a memorial to mark the one-year anniversary of a 2023 Russian missile strike on an apartment building that killed 46 people, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty reported on Jan. 14. People are gathering at the building's ruins, laying flowers, toys, and portraits of the deceased while lighting candles in their memory. Read also: Number of deaths in Russian missile strike on Dnipro building grows to 40 (UPDATED) January 14 marks the grim anniversary of the missile strike at 118 Naberezhna Peremohy which claimed 46 lives, including six children, and resulted in numerous other casualties. The Russian missile hit the building on Saturday, when many people were at home. The head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Council, Mykola Lukashuk, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and the injured on Telegram. "This day left a deep scar on the heart of every Ukrainian, Lukashuk said. Among the victims were children, the elderly, and young people each of them had their dreams, plans, and hopes for the future, which were brutally cut short by this merciless blow from the occupiers." This tragedy serves as a reminder of the sacrifices Ukraine makes for its freedom and independence, he said. Nevertheless, Ukrainians persist in their fight for peace, independence, and a future where such tragedies never recur. /Telegram /Telegram /Telegram /Telegram "It is impossible to forget, regional governor, Serhiy Lysak, said on Telegram. Only to learn ... To learn to navigate life with this wound. Condolences to relatives and friends. To all whose lives were cleaved into 'before' and 'after' Jan.14, 2023." Lysak also expressed gratitude to those who didn't turn away during the tragedy. It was possible to rescue 39 residents of the apartment building damaged by the Russian missile, he said, emphasizing that over 80 wounded individuals received timely medical assistance. /Telegram /Telegram /Telegram /Telegram Read also: Russian Shahed drone hits residential building housing 22 families in Dnipro, no fatalities 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 Chinese Premier Li Qiang engages in candid exchanges with President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere on a special train from Zurich to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) BERN, Switzerland, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation in various fields with Switzerland for more practical results, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Sunday. Li made the remarks on a special train from Zurich to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, during which he engaged in candid exchanges with President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere. Noting that Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to recognize the People's Republic of China, Li said the two countries enjoy a long history of friendly cooperation. Switzerland not only boasts beautiful natural landscapes but also has a good ecological environment, leading innovation capability and high-quality "Made in Switzerland" products, he said. At present, China is advancing the Chinese modernization in an all-round way with high-quality development, Li noted, adding that China is ready to enhance exchanges and mutual learning with Switzerland. The friendship between countries lies in the affinity between the people. China is willing to seize the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025 as an opportunity to enhance local level and people-to-people exchanges and promote friendly relations between the two countries and their people, Li said. He further noted that Swiss enterprises have deeply participated in China's reform and opening-up process in the past 40 more years, contributing to the economic and social development of China while achieving substantial benefits for themselves. China will only open its door wider and wider to the outside world, welcoming more Swiss companies to invest in the country, he added. For her part, Amherd welcomed Li for the official visit to Switzerland and introduced to him the national conditions of Switzerland and the customs of various states along the way. The people of Switzerland and China harbor friendly feelings towards each other and the two countries have a long history of cooperation with many fruitful results, she noted. Many Swiss companies have achieved good performance in investment and development in China and are willing to further deepen their presence in the Chinese market, said Amherd. The Swiss side is willing to work together with the Chinese side to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and further enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the people of the two countries, she said. The two sides also exchanged views on scientific and technological innovation, green development, cultural tourism, winter sports, among others, and agreed to promote cooperation in related fields. Chinese Premier Li Qiang engages in candid exchanges with President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd in a relaxing and friendly atmosphere on a special train from Zurich to Bern, the capital of Switzerland, Jan. 14, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) For the family and friends of the 132 remaining Israeli hostages in Gaza, the past 100 days have been an eternity. On October 7, when Hamas brought terror, horror and chaos to Israel, they seized an estimated 240 hostages and took them to the Gaza Strip. Yesterday, the agony of Israeli families deepened when Hamas said the fate of many remaining hostages had become unknown, and that some may have been killed. The footage of the hostages being taken among them children, the elderly and infirm were some of the defining early images of the conflict. Alongside Israelis there were Thais and Filipinos, as well as Israelis with dual citizenship, including British nationals. Since the hostages were taken, 110 have returned, but the majority remain in captivity. Last week the Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron, confirmed that two British nationals were still being held. We are very frustrated and fearful, says Ashli Waxman, 38, a cosmetics entrepreneur whose cousin, 19-year-old Agam Berger, is one of the hostages still being held in Gaza. Personally Im angry, too. We are worried. It has been raining and cold in Israel and every time it rains I think of Agam. Shes in a tunnel, I dont know if shes wet, or if shes cold or if shes alive. I dont know if shes getting food or in the dark. We dont know anything. On top of that, theres the fear of sexual abuse. On October 7, everybody knows there was rape, but we also know from the released hostages that they talked about how people told them they were being sexually abused. With a 19-year-old girl, naturally thats one of our biggest fears. '[She's] that very naive 19-year-old who believes in beauty and love in the world' says Ashli Waxman, cousin of Agam Berger (pictured) - stories.bringthemhomenow.net Agam was on a kibbutz when she was taken hostage. Agam means lake in Hebrew, says Waxman, and she is how you would picture a beautiful, calm lake. Shes a beautiful young girl who volunteered with the less fortunate. She plays the violin. For her 19th birthday she wrote herself a letter in which she wished for peace and love and unity. Shes that good person, that very naive 19-year-old who believes in beauty and love in the world. She has a twin sister, so you can imagine how difficult that is for her, and two younger siblings of high-school age. The family has been torn apart. In the months since October 7, as Israel has exacted its retribution on Hamas and the conflict has spilled over to other countries, the worlds focus has threatened to move on. A hundred days since the hostages were taken, their plight risks being eclipsed by an escalating war and a growing clamour for ceasefire. We are frustrated because we feel like there is nothing we can do, says Waxman. We are frustrated with Qatar [who have been brokering hostage releases]. We hope our government is doing everything it can but we can never know whats going on behind closed doors. Theres so much hypocrisy. In 2018 Michelle Obama was putting up pictures, talking about bringing our girls back [after Boko Haram]. But when it comes to our girls, we feel like only the Jewish communities around the world are with us on this. It doesnt matter what your political or religious ideologies are, its inhumane not to support the release of hostages. Were seeing our country being taken to the international court of justice. Were the ones who were attacked on October 7. We didnt start this war. We didnt choose to have hostages taken, we didnt choose to have rockets shot at us. We didnt choose any of this. On the one hand there is a lot of support from governments, but theres a big gap between that and what were seeing on the streets in Europe and North America. It frightens us. Theres so much going on, its overwhelming. We have our national fight but theres a personal fight when our cousin is one of them. Daniela Gilboa, 19 - stories.bringthemhomenow.net Berger is one of the youngest female hostages still remaining in Gaza. Along with Liri Albag, 18, Karina Ariev, 19 and Daniela Gilboa, 19, she featured in a Hamas propaganda video released soon after the assault. The footage showed them being bundled into a truck at gunpoint. The terror was stark on their faces. Last week Albags father Eli, 54, told reporters: Think for one day that you dont have connection with your daughter and you know they are in the hands of bad people. Then tell me what you would say after 90 days. This is killing us. Every minute is like an hour. But there has been no progress in the days since. Liri Albag, 18 - stories.bringthemhomenow.net The girls were sighted by Chen Goldstein-Almog, 49, another hostage who was released after 51 days in captivity, and said she saw some of the girls being held in a flat in Gaza. Some of them are close in age to my daughters and I hugged them so hard, she was reported as saying, adding that sexual abuse was prevalent. There were girls who spent 50 days and more alone. When they were sad, crying, their captors would stroke them and touch them. They described accounts of sexual abuse under gunpoint on a regular basis. Some of the girls were badly wounded and havent been getting proper medical care. Gunshot wounds, even lost limbs. They said they can cope with the disability but not with the manner they were constantly violated. Hamas released 105 hostages at the end of November as part of a six-day ceasefire, in exchange for prisoners held by the Israelis. Four more were unilaterally released, while one was rescued by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). In December the IDF reported that it had mistakenly shot three hostages, thinking they were enemy combatants. This week, the Israeli press has reported that possibility that some of the female hostages being released are pregnant from having been raped in captivity. Last week, the International Court of Justice at The Hague held two days of hearings on South Africas charge that Israel is perpetrating a genocide against the Palestinians. But on Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, gave a defiant speech in which he said Israel would not be deterred, despite growing international opposition. No one will stop us, not The Hague, not the axis of evil [a reference to Iran and its allies] and not anyone else, he said. Demonstrators carry Israeli flags and portraits of Israeli hostages Chaim Peri (L) and Karina Ariev as they march to mark the 100th day of their captivity - AFP It comes after a speech Netanyahu gave at Christmas, during which he was booed and heckled by hostages families. After visiting Gaza on Christmas Day, he said the conflict [wasnt] close to finished. We are expanding the fight in the coming days and this will be a long battle, he said. As he promised to continue the war, relatives of the remaining hostages interrupted him, shouting Now! Now! Later, protesters appeared outside the defence ministry with placards saying Free our hostages now - at any cost!. The opposition leader, Yair Lapid, said we are not doing enough to bring the hostages home. A lot of people have been asking me what they can do to help, says Waxman. First of all the citizens of the United Kingdom could reach out to their Jewish friends and ask them if theyre OK. Secondly, for the hostages, show support for the British government so it knows it has its citizens support to continue supporting Israel. And go to the streets. Weve been seeing violent and scary anti-Israel protests - I would say pro-Hamas protests - on the streets of London. We should be seeing more protests in support of Israel, calling for the release of the hostages. In the past week the war has spilled beyond Gaza and Israel, with the US and UK launching strikes against Houthi rebel positions in Yemen, in retaliation for attacks on military and merchant naval vessels. The Houthis have said they are acting in solidarity with Hamas. While the world worries about how big the conflict might become, the hostages, and their families, are praying for an end to more personal ordeals. 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. One person was killed early Sunday morning when a minivan ran off a Midlands road and crashed, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle collision happened at about 3 a.m. in Orangeburg County, Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway said. A 2006 Honda minivan was driving east on Wildol Street, and near the intersection with White Sands Road it ran off the right side of the road, according to Ridgeway. The minivan then hit a culvert, flipped over and crashed into a tree, Ridgeway said. The driver died at the scene, according to Ridgeway. The Orangeburg County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the minivan driver. No other injuries were reported. There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt. Information about what caused the minivan to veer off the road was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol. Through Wednesday, 15 people have died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 997 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported. At least two people have died in Orangeburg County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 34 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS reported. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said that items seized in Operation Flight Canceled amounted to would could have been $20,000 worth of contraband items inside Washington State Prison. Three men were arrested in Jefferson County Friday, Dec. 29, attempting to fly a variety contraband items to the Washington State Prison grounds using an unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, commonly referred to as a drone. A spokesman for the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office, which has referred to the incident as Operation Flight Canceled, said that officers were initially made aware of the incident by an unnamed citizen who called in a suspicious sighting. Derek A. Spugeon, 17, of Augusta and Harvey Simpson, also 17, of Augusta, were intercepted and taken into custody while leaving a privately owned wooded area, the spokesman said. Tylub-Deen El-Amin, 34, of Columbia, S.C., was discovered in a nearby vehicle. The spokesman said that the men were attempting to use the drone to fly packages of tobacco, narcotics, pre-paid cellular telephones, chargers and other various items onto the prisons grounds. The prison, located in Davisboro, is roughly three to four miles from the site where the men were apprehended. The spokesman estimated the prison value of all of the items at around $20,000. It looks like they were attempting to use some type of hanging device from the drone to drop the items either in or near the prison yard, the spokesman said. In prison a cell phone like this can sell for $500 and one cigarette can sell for as much as $5. The spokesman went on to say that officers in Washington County said that there have been as many as a dozen illegal drone drops in and around the prison over the last year. The investigation into Operation Flight Canceled is on-going and the spokesman said that more arrests are anticipated. We encourage anyone who sees anything strange or unusual to call local law enforcement immediately, the spokesman said. We will be happy to look into it and see if there is anything criminal about the activities witnessed. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Drone seized attempting to fly contraband into Washington State Prison Firefighters in Eastern Kentucky found one person dead when responding to a fatal residential fire on Sunday morning, authorities said. The fire took place at a residence at Buckeye Branch in David, a small unincorporated community in Floyd County, according to Middle Creek Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to the call. Floyd County Coroner Greg Nelson said the body has been sent to Frankfort for an autopsy which will determine the the identification, cause and manner of death. He said the bodys condition after being located in the home made it hard to do a positive identification himself. David Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the/ structure fire call, which came around 8 a.m. on Sunday, according to a social media post. The scene was cleared around noon. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by Kentucky State Police, according to Nelson. Elite teams from the Ecuadorian armed forces carry out patrols and searches to combat crime in conflict-prone sectors of the city of Quito. They are looking for weapons, drugs and possible members of the "terrorists", as the central government calls organized crime groups. Juan Diego Montenegro/dpa In the midst of recent violent clashes between criminal gangs and state security forces in Ecuador, 41 prison officers who had been taken hostage have been released. A total of 24 prison guards and 17 administrative staff have been released, the penitentiary authority announced on Saturday. However, 136 prison officers are still being held by prisoners in several prisons throughout the South American country. One guard was killed and another injured in fights in one prison, the statement added. Criminal gangs had recently rioted in several prisons and seized numerous guards. Many prisons in Ecuador are controlled by criminal syndicates. The security forces often only ensure that the prisoners remain in the prisons and prisoners are largely left to their own devices within the walls. After gunmen stormed a studio of the state television station TC Television during a live news programme on Tuesday and took numerous hostages, the government sent the armed forces into battle against the gangs. President Daniel Noboa declared that Ecuador was in the midst of an internal armed conflict and that 22 criminal groups were considered to be terrorist organizations that needed to be eliminated. The security situation in Ecuador has recently deteriorated dramatically. The murder rate of 46.5 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants last year was the highest in the history of the once peaceful Andean country and one of the highest in Latin America. SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KSWB) The gig is up for a narcotrafficker who moved hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine into the U.S. for more than three decades. According to U.S. attorney Tara McGraths office, Raul Flores Hernandez, 74, was sentenced in federal court Friday. He received a hefty 262 month prison sentence, while also being ordered to forfeit $280 million in drug proceeds. The mother of imprisoned drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has died in Mexico, official confirms According to court documents, Flores Hernandez was a leader of a prolific drug trafficking organization that worked closely with Joaquin El Chapo Guzman of the Sinaloa Cartel and Hector Beltran of the Beltran Leyva Organization. As explained by the attorneys office, Flores Hernandez utilized his connections with suppliers in South America and corrupt government employees to transport hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cocaine into Mexico for importation into the U.S. It may be impossible to quantify the destruction wrought by this defendant channeling vast quantities of cocaine across the globe, said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. One thing is certain the world is far safer with this sentence. This prosecution was a joint effort between the Southern District of California, the Department of Justice Criminal Division Narcotics, and Dangerous Drugs Section. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A local military contractor recently rescued a second dog he befriended while deployed overseas. Evan Barney and Erba met in Erbil, Iraq. Mild and meek in manner, Erba made an impression on Barney that he kept in mind after he took her to an animal shelter in Erbil, where his family wound up making a huge decision. After talking about it, we decided that, you know what? She deserves a home just like them. And we wound up mutually deciding as a family that we would include her as well, Barney said. But years before bringing Erba, Barneys family had welcomed Tripod, a three-legged dog he met while deployed in Syria. Amongst several puppies, Tripod stood out as the most senior and calmest of them all. During Barneys roughest days, Tripod would magically show up and lighten his mood. Barney and his family would eventually adopt him, Tripod the immigrant dog. Pretty much from the beginning, as much as everyone loved the puppies because theyre cute, young, I always felt that he out of all of them, probably deserved it the most. He was the one that had seen the most. And I mean, hed lost his legs, and it just felt right. He needed a retirement from his current life, Barney said. However, Barney explained that bringing Erba and Tripod to the states was a lengthy and expensive process. They have to get medically cleared, go through the CDC and immigration. But with the assistance and efforts of SPCA International, Barney was able to reunite with his pet-friends. Its bringing it full circle, bringing them brings peace, brings joy. And its nice giving them the respite they deserve after surviving on the street for two years, or losing a leg, and having to basically survive as well, Barney reflected. Like Barney, military members deployed overseas often develop special bonds with local stray animals. However, upon the end of their deployment theyre forced to leave them behind. For more than a decade now, SPCA International has worked with service members to reunite them with their friends and bring them to a new home through a program called Patriot Pets. To date, they have helped rescue over 1,200 animals from different parts of the world, according to their website. Challenges still remain however. Military members overseas are prohibited from caring for, or adopting local domestic or wild animals while in service, according to the U.S Militarys General Order Number One. Barney acknowledges this rule is a good safety measure in the instance an animal may be carrying diseases, but believes it should be applied on a case-by-case basis because many of the animals they encounter are generally healthy, and they cant help but develop a special friendship. These creatures give meaning and something to look forward to. It gets very monotonous; theres days youre having a bad day. They arrive, they cheer you up, they motivate you, and they motivate the soldiers. If I were to ask one thing, it would be that maybe the people in these leadership positions would consider or reconsider their mascot rule on general order number one, Barney said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. The world's richest man and YouTube's biggest star have a long-standing friendship. Elon Musk and Jimmy Donaldson, AKA MrBeast, have quipped back and forth on social media for years. But their relationship may be souring, as Donaldson does not shy away from criticizing Musk's ventures. Elon Musk and YouTube's biggest star, MrBeast, have had a long-standing friendship based on back-and-forth quips on social media. But their relationship may be beginning to sour, judging by Musk's notorious dislike for his critics. MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, has more than 220 million subscribers on YouTube. The 25-year-old is known for his philanthropy, social experiments, and various entrepreneurial ventures. So it's no surprise he and the world's richest man hit it off. However, in recent months, Donaldson has not shied away from questioning Musk's attempts to draw big creators to X, formerly Twitter, and criticizing some of the billionaire's more rash decisions. The move may mean the two aren't buddies for much longer. Their friendship began with a charity venture Jimmy Donaldson, AKA MrBeast, and his #TeamTrees initiative. YouTube/MrBeast In 2019, Donaldson was becoming a huge name on YouTube, and was dabbling in some ambitious philanthropical stunts. One of them was the #TeamTrees challenge, where he aimed to plant 20 million trees in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation the idea was that with every $1 donated, one tree would be planted. The idea came from a fan's suggestion, but it ended up raising millions of dollars and catching the attention of some of the world's biggest influencers, including PewDiePie and Jeffree Star, as well as YouTube's CEO Susan Wojcicki. This was when Donaldson appeared on Musk's radar too (other than a short conversation about Musk hosting PewDiePie's "Meme Review" a few months prior). "Sounds cool," Musk responded to Donaldson's tweet about the project on October 28, 2019. "Where are the trees being planted and what kind of trees?" When the initiative was explained, Musk responded again, saying: "Ok, sounds legit, will donate 1m trees." "I'm so happy right now," Donaldson replied, giving Musk the nickname "Treelon." "Someone help me I can't stop smiling." They exchanged messages back-and-forth after that The cover of "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashlee Vance. Amazon Over the following months and years, Donaldson and Musk exchanged messages on X (Twitter back then). Donaldson said several times that he admired Musk. In one tweet, he said he had been reading "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future" by Ashlee Vance. "I'm about to finish this book and I want you to know that I respect the hell out of you," he wrote on February 11, 2020. "Ever since I started learning about your work ethic and passion I've been more motivated than ever to make a difference. I look up to you." Donaldson also tweeted messages of support about Musk's developments at Tesla, and said he would be tuning in when Musk hosted "Saturday Night Live" on May 8, 2021. On February 27, 2022, Musk tweeted asking why the "traditional" media was "such a relentless hatestream." "Bro I could literally feed a million people and they wouldn't care in the slightest," Donaldson replied. "But the second I slip up and do something wrong they'll pounce all over it lmao." Donaldson then asked to buy Twitter Jimmy Donalson, AKA MrBeast. Steve Granitz/Getty Images Many of Donaldson's earlier messages to Musk went unanswered, but one caught the billionaire's attention on May 9, 2022. It was when Musk was in the middle of trying to buy Twitter. He had also been accused by Dmitry Rogozin, the head of Russia's space agency, of being "involved in supplying the fascist forces in Ukraine with military communication equipment". "And for this, Elon, you will be held accountable like an adult no matter how much you'll play the fool," Rogozin said. Musk then cryptically tweeted out: "If I die under mysterious circumstances, it's been nice knowin ya." Donaldson replied: "If that happens can I have Twitter." Musk responded with a simple, "Ok." "Jokes aside, be safe!" Donaldson said. "I wuv u." Musk then started making bold claims about the future of X MrBeast and Elon Musk. Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for TikTok; Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images Musk officially bought Twitter, which he later renamed to X, on October 27, 2022. He started making bold claims about the future of the company almost immediately. Donaldson responded to one of his tweets about the site's daily active users, saying he wondered what YouTube's equivalent was. "Let's see what happens when Twitter offers good video with higher compensation for creators " Musk responded, laying the groundwork for his plans to try and poach some of the biggest online creators from other platforms. Donaldson said higher compensation than YouTube where he has his main following would be "hard." Some YouTubers were getting moer than $20 per 1,000 views, he said. "I'd be shocked if you crack that code," he said. Musk didn't respond. Donaldson made it clear he didn't shy away from criticism Jimmy Donaldson AKA MrBeast. Lex Fridman via YouTube Musk made a lot of changes to Twitter in his first few weeks, and Donaldson wasn't afraid to call him out when he disagreed. On December 18, 2022, Musk made a characteristically trollish poll on his account, asking users to vote on whether he should step down as CEO. "I will abide by the results of this poll," he said. Donaldson replied a few hours later, saying: "If you're going to keep doing stuff like this, yes," with a vomiting emoji. He shared a link to and a screenshot of a new policy Musk had put in place over that weekend, which prohibited users from linking to other sites such as Facebook, Instagram, or Mastodon. "We recognize that many of our users are active on other social media platforms," the policy said. "However, we will no longer allow free promotion of certain social media platforms on Twitter." Musk didn't respond publicly to Donaldson, but the policy was retracted. Donaldson then asked again to control Twitter, tweeting on December 22, 2022: "Can I be the new Twitter CEO?" "It's not out of the question," Musk replied. Over a year in, Musk still cannot land MrBeast's content Elon Musk. Toby Melville - Pool/Getty Images Musk and Donaldson continued to have friendly conversations in public over the next year. But there was seemingly no progress in Musk's plans to entice Donaldson, or any other major YouTubers, to post their content exclusively on X. Donaldson's latest brutal comment on the struggle may have hit a nerve. "I uploaded, go watch or I'll drop kick you," he wrote on X on December 30, 2023. A user then responded by asking him to "upload on this platform too." Musk chimed in, adding: "Yeah." But Donaldson didn't seem thrilled with the idea. "My videos cost millions to make and even if they got a billion views on X it wouldn't fund a fraction of it," he said. "I'm down though to test stuff once monetization is really cranking!" Since then, Musk and Donaldson haven't exchanged any public messages. But in January, he implied that finding competitive revenue streams for creators was a priority. "Creator rewards will increase significantly this year," he said. Musk and Donaldson did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider The process for selecting a new Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi is nearing an end as the diocese readies to introduce five candidates for consideration. What amounts to a road show around Mississippi will help members of Episcopal churches throughout the state better understand the process. The candidates will be answering questions submitted by the laity and clergy of the diocese, along with having more informal time to visit with attendees after the room rotations. All of the meetings will be live-streamed in an exercise that is completely open. Brian Seage, the current Episcopal Bishop of Mississippi who led the diocese through the COVID-19 pandemic and Jackson water crisis, will be leaving the state once a replacement is elected. Seage, the diocese's 10th bishop, was elected in 2014 and succeeded Bishop Duncan Gray in 2015, upon Gray's retirement. Brian Seage, bishop of the Episcopal Church of Mississippi, reads a statement from Working Together Mississippi, a diverse coalition of faith and civic institutions, outside St. Peter's Cathedral in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 11, 2020, calling to change the state flag. Seage will be leaving the diocese once a new bishop is named in February. The move comes as St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Northeast Jackson announced that Kyle Seage, also an Episcopal priest and the bishop's wife, had accepted a job as rector of St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Belvedere, California. She had been the rector of St. Phillip's for 12 years. Brian Seage said his family wasn't looking for a move, but when they saw the profile listing for St. Stephen's, they felt like she had to apply. Now, the transition committee will begin to host four opportunities to meet the candidates around the state, beginning Wednesday. How much money did Jackson get? More than a decade later, Jackson wins millions in settlement with insurance company Keeping an eye on the weather: Jackson area schools prepare for possible severe weather Friday morning The first meeting will be at St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville on Wednesday, followed by Thursday at All Saints Episcopal in Tupelo, Friday at Coast Episcopal Church in Long Beach and finally Saturday at Chapel of the Cross in Madison. A new Bishop will be elected Feb. 3 during the Diocese's Annual Conference. The new Bishop will be ordained on July 20. Here are the candidates: The Rev. Canon Jason Alexander The Rev. Canon Jason Alexander The Rev. Canon Jason Alexander has served as Canon to the Ordinary in the Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas since 2009. He is the chief advisor to the bishop in the general oversight of the diocese and focuses on clergy transitions and congregational development. He travels often among Arkansas' 54 congregations, preaching, teaching and troubleshooting. As the diocesan transition minister, he has overseen more than 50 clergy leadership transitions and fostered lay leadership in rural and urban congregations alike. He is a graduate of Hendrix College as well as the Church Divinity School of the Pacific and Virginia Theological Seminary. The Very Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly The Very Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly The Very Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly is a native of Atlanta, Georgia and was raised there and in Western North Carolina. She received her undergraduate education at Duke University in political science and holds master's degrees from Virginia Theological Seminary and the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Business. She was ordained to priesthood in 2010. She is married and met her husband while serving as U.S. House of Representatives Pages in high school. They have two school-age daughters. The Very Rev. Rob Courtney The Very Rev. Rob Courtney The Very Rev. Rob Courtney is a South Louisiana native, born and raised in Crowley. He attended the University of Louisiana-Lafayette in the early 1990s with a major in music before beginning a career in radio. Courtney worked as an on-air personality and program director in both Lafayette and New Orleans before leaving radio in 2002 to become the first Parish Administrator at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans. While working full time at the cathedral, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through the University of Phoenix. In 2006, he attended the University of the South's School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee and earned a Master of Divinity in 2008. He is married and has three children. The Very Rev. Walton Jones The Very Rev. Walton Jones The Very Rev. Walton Jones grew up in Grenada, Mississippi. While completing his undergraduate degree in computer science from Mississippi State University. From there, he says he fell a call to to take a position as a youth minister and enter discernment to the priesthood. He received a Master of Divinity from the University of the South in 2007. He has served several churches in Mississippi, including his current Church of the Resurrection in Starkville since 2016. He is married and has two children. The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells The Rev. Dr. Dorothy Sanders Wells is Rector of St. George's Episcopal Church in Germantown, Tennessee and is chaplain of the church's preschool. She has been there since 2013. She is a native of Mobile, Alabama. Wells graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis with a degree in vocal performance. She also has a juris doctorate from the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis. Her Master of Divinity is from Memphis Theological Seminary and her Doctor of Ministry degree is from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Wells is married with two daughters. See complete bios here. Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on the X platform, formerly known as Twitter @GreenOkra1. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: MS Episcopal bishop candidates to meet church members Former US President Donald Trump briefly returned as a central character in European politics earlier this week. According to the European Unions internal market chief, Thierry Breton, Trump told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020 that if Europe is under attack, we will never come to help you and to support you. Bretons remarks during an event at the European Parliament came less than a week before the Iowa caucuses and the start of voting in the US Republican presidential primary, which Trump is widely expected to win. They also coincided with Bretons proposal for a 100bn fund to bolster ammunition production across the bloc - a fact not lost on his critics. Multiple EU officials and diplomats noted to CNN that his sudden recollection came at a particularly sensitive time, as the EU attempts to build its own defense capabilities outside of the US-led NATO alliance. It is no secret that ammunition stocks across NATO member states have become depleted because of Western military support for Ukraine. Whether Trump actually made these comments or not is largely immaterial to European officials. The former presidents views on Americas historic role in European security are well known. During his presidency, Trump regularly talked about defunding NATO while also complimenting authoritarian leaders, including Russias Vladimir Putin, who are considered adversaries of the very same military alliance. Donald Trump holds up a news story about New York Attorney General Letitia James as he speaks to the media at one of his properties at 40 Wall Street following closing arguments at his civil fraud trial on January 11, 2024 in New York City. - Spencer Platt/Getty Images The reminder that Trump holds this view and the fact that he might soon return to the White House do, however, cause real concern and anguish in Brussels. Partly, because his beliefs are rooted in the uncomfortable truth that European nations have underfunded their militaries for decades on the assumption that war was unlikely and that if the worst were to happen, the US would rush to their aid. However naive that might sound, Trump trashed that assumption. And his hostility toward the Ukraine war effort has an impact even now, playing into the Republican Partys reluctance to pass more US funding for Ukraine. When Trump came along it woke us up to the fact that the US might not always act in European interest, especially if it goes against American interest, a senior EU diplomat told CNN. It sounds naive saying it out loud, but that was the assumption a lot people made. During the Trump presidency, this new reality caused Europe to do some soul-searching. Officials concluded that Europe needed to prepare itself for a future where the United States couldnt be relied on in the same way it always had been. That thinking was underscored when President Joe Biden kept many of Trumps America-first policies, particularly on trade and China. This is the second reason that reminders of Trumps anti-Europe sentiments sting: Despite its best intentions, Europes Trump-proofing, as some inelegantly call it, has not gone very far. On trade, Europe has taken measures to reduce its dependencies on single nations and diversify its supply chains so it cannot be held to ransom should a trading partner suddenly change its policies, as Trump did on steel, placing tariffs of 25% on imports from the EU. No amount of de-risking can make up for a sudden policy change that makes it harder for Europeans to sell into America, says Ian Bond, deputy director at the Centre for European Reform think-tank. In a second term, its not beyond the realms of possibility that he could decide some other material is a risk to American security. Donald Trump speaks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen prior to their meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, on January 21, 2020. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images On defense and security, the EU has acknowledged its past failures and agreed to dramatically increase its defense spending across the bloc and the continent more broadly. It has taken the war in Ukraine very seriously, sending billions of euros in funding along with weapons and aid. It is also working hard to bring Ukraine into the bloc as soon as possible. Historically, poking Russia and sending this level of European money and resources to a third-party would have been impossible as the member states would almost certainly disagree over whether it was in their own national interest. It has been remarkable that Europe the EU has been able to go as far and as fast as it has in supporting Ukraine since the start of the invasion. Despite this, the uncomfortable truth is that rearming 27 countries and changing the way they trade takes a very long time, so the deep-rooted ties with and ultimate dependency on would not be easy to unpick, even under normal circumstances. But the past few years have been anything but normal for Europe. Covid-19 took up an enormous amount of its bandwidth, while the war in Ukraine, a country that borders the EU and is trying to join the bloc, is top of the agenda at every meeting of EU leaders. Aside from the distractions, Trump-proofing is hard because Trump himself presents quite a unique threat to Europe. Unlike China or Russia, the US is not a hostile state. It is an old ally and is not actively attacking Europe in the way Beijing or Moscow might through cyber attacks or military action. In both those cases, Europe can use economic sanctions or an increased military presence to protect its interests. Clearly, even under Trump, that would not be appropriate or necessary against the US. However, diplomatic action against Trump is also tricky, as his thin-skinned nature means any criticism risks a massive overreaction. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel (center) deliberates with Donald Trump (seated far right) on the sidelines of the official agenda on the second day of the G7 summit on June 9, 2018 in Charlevoix, Canada. - Jesco Denzel/Bundesregierung/Getty Images The conclusion some diplomats have reached is that the best way to deal with Trump, should he win this years election, is to stay calm and keep plugging away at distancing Europe from the US. Last time, we spent so much time scrambling to respond every time Trump blurted out whatever thought has just dropped into his head. Quite often, though, he didnt act on things he said, an EU official told CNN. Another European diplomat said Brussels cannot get distracted by Trump as it did the first time around, nor can it pay too much attention if Trump raises the prospect of ending US support for Ukraine. If he starts talking about that, theres not much we can really do. We just need to be mature and carry on because however this war ends, its Europe that will bear the consequences, not America. Its no secret that European officials would rather Trump doesnt return to the White House. Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, said only this week that Trumps return would be a threat for Europe. The toxic legacy of his first presidency might be that the trans-Atlantic relationship is never the same again. The trouble for Europe is that it will take years, maybe decades, to end its reliance on the US. And in that time, it will be very hard to ignore what the most powerful person on the planet is saying on any given day, especially when its about you. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- A delegation of former top US officials is set to arrive in Taiwan to meet leading political figures, testing a recent improvement of ties between Washington and Beijing. Most Read from Bloomberg A delegation led by ex-National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and former Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg is scheduled to arrive on Sunday, Washingtons de facto embassy in Taipei said in a statement. On Monday, theyll meet with a range of leading political figures and convey congratulations from the American people to Taiwan on its successful elections, support for Taiwans continued prosperity and growth, and our longstanding interest in cross-strait peace and stability, the American Institute in Taiwan added. Read: Taiwan Elects US-Friendly President, Defying China Warnings The delegation is likely to meet Vice President Lai Ching-te, who won the election on Saturday, and Hsiao Bi-khim, his running mate and Taiwans former top envoy to Washington. China calls Lai a separatist, and vehemently opposes nations having contact with political leaders in Taiwan. Beijing has vowed to bring the island under its control eventually, by force if necessary. Lai pledged after winning that hed maintain Taiwans sovereignty as well as keep the peace with Beijing. China lashed out at the US last week after reports of the trip first emerged despite such visits by former US officials being routine after Taiwan elections. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said at a regular press briefing Thursday that the US should properly handle Taiwan-related issues, stop official contact with the Taiwan region and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces. After Lais victory, President Joe Biden said the US did not support independence for Taiwan, reiterating Washingtons long-standing policy in an apparent bid to assuage Chinas worries. China-US relations have stabilized since November last year, when Biden met Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Those talks led to a recent flurry of meetings between the two nations officials. More: Biden Says US Doesnt Support Taiwan Independence After Vote Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. By Eduardo Baptista BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese military bodies, state-run artificial intelligence research institutes and universities have over the past year purchased small batches of Nvidia semiconductors banned by the U.S. from export to China, a Reuters review of tender documents show. The sales by largely unknown Chinese suppliers highlight the difficulties Washington faces, despite its bans, in completely cutting off China's access to advanced U.S. chips that could fuel breakthroughs in AI and sophisticated computers for its military. Buying or selling high-end U.S. chips is not illegal in China and the publicly available tender documents show dozens of Chinese entities have bought and taken receipt of Nvidia semiconductors since restrictions were imposed. These include its A100 and the more powerful H100 chip - whose exports to China and Hong Kong were banned in September 2022 - as well as the slower A800 and H800 chips Nvidia then developed for the Chinese market but which were also banned last October. The graphic processing units - a type of chip - that are built by Nvidia are widely seen as far superior to rival products for AI work as they can more efficiently process huge amounts of data needed for machine-learning tasks. The continued demand for and access to banned Nvidia chips also underlines the lack of good alternatives for Chinese firms despite the nascent development of rival products from Huawei and others. Prior to the bans, Nvidia commanded a 90% share of China's AI chip market. Purchasers included elite universities as well as two entities subject to U.S. export restrictions - the Harbin Institute of Technology and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, which have been accused of involvement in military matters or being affiliated to a military body contrary to U.S. national interest. The former purchased six Nvidia A100 chips in May to train a deep-learning model. The latter purchased one A100 in December 2022. Its purpose was not identified. None of the purchasers mentioned in this article responded to requests for comment. The Reuters review found neither Nvidia nor retailers approved by the company were among the suppliers identified. It was not clear how the suppliers have procured their Nvidia chips. In the wake of U.S. curbs, however, an underground market for such chips in China has sprung up. Chinese vendors have previously said they snatch up excess stock that finds its way to the market after Nvidia ships large quantities to big U.S. firms, or import through companies locally incorporated in places such as India, Taiwan and Singapore. Reuters sought comment from 10 of the suppliers listed in tender documents including those mentioned in this article - none of them answered. Nvidia said it complies with all applicable export control laws and requires its customers to do the same. "If we learn that a customer has made an unlawful resale to third parties, we'll take immediate and appropriate action," a company spokesperson said. The U.S. Department of Commerce declined to comment. U.S. authorities have vowed to close loopholes in the export restrictions and have moved to limit access to the chips by units of Chinese companies located outside China. Chris Miller, professor at Tufts University and author of "Chip War: The Fight for the World's Most Critical Technology", said it was unrealistic to think U.S. export restrictions could be watertight given that chips are small and can easily be smuggled. The main aim is "to throw sand in the gears of China's AI development" by making it difficult to build large clusters of advanced chips capable of training AI systems, he added. MILITARY, AI BUYERS The review includes more than 100 tenders where state entities have procured A100 chips and dozens of tenders since the October ban show purchases of the A800. Tenders published last month also show Tsinghua University procured two H100 chips while a laboratory run by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology procured one. The buyers include one unnamed People's Liberation Army entity based in the city of Wuxi, Jiangsu province, according to tenders from a military database. It sought 3 A100 chips in October and one H100 chip this month. Military tenders in China are often heavily redacted and Reuters was not able to learn who won the bids or the reason for the purchase. Most tenders show the chips are being used for AI. The quantities of most purchases are, however, very small, far from what's needed to build a sophisticated AI large language model from scratch. A model similar to OpenAI's GPT would require more than 30,000 Nvidia A100 cards, according to research firm TrendForce. But a handful can run complex machine-learning tasks and enhance existing AI models. In one example, the Shandong Artificial Intelligence Institute awarded a 290,000 yuan ($40,500) contract for 5 A100 chips to Shandong Chengxiang Electronic Technology last month. Many of the tenders stipulate suppliers have to deliver and install the products before receiving payment. Most universities also published notices showing the transaction was completed. Tsinghua University, dubbed China's Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a prolific issuer of tenders and has purchased some 80 A100 chips since the 2022 ban. In December, Chongqing University published a tender for one A100 chip that explicitly stated it could not be second-hand or disassembled but had to be "brand new". The delivery was completed this month, a notice showed. ($1 = 7.1592 Chinese yuan) (Reporting by Eduardo Baptista; Additional reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, speaks with David Satterfield, right, director of Rice University's Baker Institute, during the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series at Rice University Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, speaks with David Satterfield, right, director of Rice University's Baker Institute, during the Shell Distinguished Lecture Series at Rice University Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke) David Satterfield, a retired ambassador who President Joe Biden appointed as a special Middle East envoy on humanitarian issues focused on the Israel-Hamas war, will leave his post in the coming weeks, according to a source familiar with his plans and a U.S. official. The departure is striking amid Israels ongoing U.S.-backed offensive in Gaza, which it launched against Hamas the Gaza-based Palestinian militant group following a shock Oct. 7 attack inside Israel. The United Nations and aid groups warn Gaza faces famine and the amount of humanitarian assistance flowing into the territory is deeply insufficient given restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt. Spokespeople for the State Department where Satterfield is serving did not immediately respond to a HuffPost request for comment. Satterfield will likely return to his role at the Baker Institute at Rice University, from which he took a limited break to serve as a U.S. special envoy. Its not immediately clear if Biden will appoint a replacement given the dire conditions in Gaza. Satterfields tenure was controversial: HuffPost reported that he suggested moving Palestinian refugees in Gaza into Egypt, an idea that the U.S. has publicly disavowed and that would be met with huge opposition from Palestinians and their supporters. The move would be especially fraught given Gazans ties to their homes of decades and would spur echoes of the forced displacement of Palestinians into the territory that became Israel in 1948, a process widely referred to in the Arab world as the Nakba or catastrophe. Outside observers were skeptical of Satterfields work, noting how his time in office saw a significant collapse in the conditions for Gazans as well as a continued bombardment by Israel that President Joe Biden referred to as indiscriminate. In December, HuffPost reported that Satterfield had not responded to requests from aid agencies for a meeting. I dont think the United States has been effective on either the policy or the logistics and the operations of aid delivery, said Dave Harden, who led the U.S. Agency for International Development operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank between 2013 and 2016, at the time. LONDON (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas have been waging war for 100 days since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group went on the rampage in southern Israel, triggering an Israeli military campaign in which nearly 24,000 Palestinians have been killed. The war between Israel and Hamas that has raged since October is the latest in a conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has rumbled on for seven decades and destabilised the Middle East. Since the devastating Hamas attack on Oct. 7, in which Israel says about 1,200 people were killed and around 240 taken hostage, Israel has carried out an air and land offensive on the Gaza Strip which it says aims to eradicate Hamas. WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE CONFLICT? The conflict pits Israeli demands for security in what it has long regarded as a hostile Middle East against Palestinians' unmet aspirations for a state of their own. In 1947, while Palestine was under British mandate rule, the United Nations General Assembly agreed a plan to partition it into Arab and Jewish states and for international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, giving them 56% of the land. The Arab League rejected the proposal. Israel's founding father, David Ben-Gurion, proclaimed the modern state of Israel on May 14, 1948, a day before the scheduled end of British rule, establishing a safe haven for Jews fleeing persecution and seeking a national home on land to which they cite deep ties dating to antiquity. Violence had been intensifying between Arabs, who made up about two thirds of the population in the late 1940s, and Jews. A day after Israel was created in 1948, troops from five Arab states attacked. In the war that followed, some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Palestinians lament this as the "Nakba", or catastrophe. Israel contests the assertion that it forced out Palestinians. Armistice agreements halted the fighting in 1949 but there was no formal peace. Palestinians who stayed put in the war and their descendants make up about 20% of Israel's population now. WHAT MAJOR WARS HAVE BEEN FOUGHT SINCE THEN? In 1967, Israel made a pre-emptive strike against Egypt and Syria, launching the Six-Day War. Israel captured the West Bank and Arab East Jerusalem from Jordan, the Golan Heights from Syria and the Gaza Strip from Egypt and occupied them. An Israeli census that year put Gaza's population at 394,000, at least 60% of them Palestinian refugees and their descendants. In 1973, Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israeli positions along the Suez Canal and Golan Heights, touching off the Yom Kippur War. Israel pushed both armies back within three weeks. Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982 and thousands of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) fighters under Yasser Arafat were evacuated by sea after a 10-week siege. Israeli troops pulled out of Lebanon in 2000. In 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew settlers and soldiers from Gaza. Hamas won parliamentary elections in 2006, and seized full control of Gaza in 2007. Gaza saw major flare-ups of fighting between Palestinian militants and Israel in 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021. In 2006, Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah militants captured two Israeli soldiers in the volatile border region and Israel launched military action, triggering a six-week war. Besides wars, there have been two Palestinian intifadas, or uprisings, from 1987 to 1993, and 2000 to 2005. During the second, Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups carried out suicide bombings against Israelis, and Israel carried out tank and airstrikes on Palestinian cities. Since then there have been several rounds of hostilities between Israel and Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel and is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Israel, the European Union, the United States and other countries. Hamas says its armed activities are resistance against Israeli occupation. WHAT ATTEMPTS HAVE THERE BEEN TO MAKE PEACE? In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel. In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Arafat shook hands on the Oslo Accords establishing limited Palestinian autonomy. In 1994, Israel signed a peace treaty with Jordan. U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Arafat took part in the Camp David summit in 2000, but failed to reach a final peace deal. In 2002, an Arab League plan offered Israel normal relations with all Arab countries in return for a full withdrawal from the lands it took in the 1967 Middle East war, the creation of a Palestinian state and a "just solution" for Palestinian refugees. The presentation of the plan was overshadowed by Hamas, which blew up an Israeli hotel full of Holocaust survivors during a Passover seder meal. Further peace efforts have been stalled since 2014. Palestinians stopped dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after he broke with decades of U.S. policy by recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state. Qatar and Egypt have acted as mediators in the latest war, securing a truce that lasted seven days, during which hostages held by Hamas were exchanged for prisoners held by Israel, and more humanitarian aid flowed into Gaza. WHERE DO PEACE EFFORTS STAND NOW? U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has focused on trying to secure a "grand bargain" in the Middle East that includes normalisation of relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam's two holiest shrines. The latest war is diplomatically awkward for Riyadh as well as for other Arab states, including some Gulf Arab states next to Saudi Arabia that have signed peace deals with Israel. WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN ISSUES? A two-state solution, Israeli settlements on occupied land, the status of Jerusalem, agreed borders, and the fate of Palestinian refugees. Two-state solution: An agreement that would create a state for the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel. Israel has said a Palestinian state must be demilitarised so as not to threaten its security. Settlements: Most countries deem Jewish settlements built on land Israel occupied in 1967 to be illegal. Israel disputes this and cites historical and biblical ties to the land. Continued settlement expansion is among the most contentious issues between Israel, the Palestinians and the international community. Jerusalem: Palestinians want East Jerusalem, which includes the walled Old City's sites sacred to Muslims, Jews and Christians alike, to be the capital of their state. Israel says Jerusalem should remain its "indivisible and eternal" capital. Israel's claim to Jerusalem's eastern part is not recognised internationally. Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, without specifying the extent of its jurisdiction in the disputed city, and moved the U.S. embassy there in 2018. Refugees: Today about 5.6 million Palestinian refugees - mainly descendants of those who fled in 1948 - live in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza. About half of registered refugees remain stateless, according to the Palestinian foreign ministry, many living in crowded camps. Palestinians have long demanded that refugees should be allowed to return, along with millions of their descendants. Israel says any resettlement of Palestinian refugees must occur outside its borders. (Editing by Edmund Blair and Timothy Heritage) The young Brooklyn woman fatally run down during an argument over a suspected love triangle couldnt help but show off her big heart for all to see, grieving relatives said Saturday as her mother begged for those responsible to surrender to police. I want them to turn themselves in and everybody to go to jail, said Maria Serrano. They killed my daughter, and I want them in jail. Shakira Serrano, 24, perished outside NYCHAs Pink Houses in East New York on Thursday night under the wheels of a Mercury that may have been driven by a woman believed to be involved with her boyfriend, police sources and witnesses told the Daily News. She was a good, stand-up girl. She was very smart, said the distraught mom, 73. Shakiras mother wondered Saturday about the whereabouts of the Mercurys driver and added that her daughters boyfriend, who was released after questioning, didnt speak to the family when first responders rushed Shakira to Brookdale University Medical Center. The boyfriend hasnt reached out to fill us in, Maria Serrano said. I thought we would see him at the hospital. Shakira was involved with her boyfriend for three or four years, her mom said but the exact nature of the relationship wasnt clear to her. She never really expressed her relationship, the mom said. When the couple visited her home, Serrano said, everything was smooth, I guess. Grisly video taken of the fatal strike shows Shakira Serrano, wearing a gray sweatshirt, arguing with her boyfriend as the driver of the Mercury made a U-turn in a parking lot off Loring Ave. near Autumn Ave. after an initial attempt to run her down. Serrano dodged the car and ran over to her boyfriend as they continued to argue, the video shows. As she pulled on her boyfriends shirt, he knocked her to the ground just as the Mercury turned and ran over her. The car dragged her several feet to the sidewalk. Serrano disappeared under the vehicle for more than a second before the callous driver rolled on, the video shows. Serranos 25th birthday would have been Wednesday. We were going to have a birthday party, said her mother. We talked about it. We were going to get a cake and have a good time. She liked to sing and dance, Maria Serrano added. Like many parents and children, Maria and her daughter went through a rough patch in their relationship. At the time of Shakiras death, mom and daughter were taking the high road and patching things up. It was just miscommunication between us, Maria Serrano said. But we were working on it, and getting better. Cops questioned the boyfriend about his role in Serranos death on Thursday night, said police sources. He was released later Thursday after he asked for a lawyer and the questioning ended, said the sources. His name has not been released. Cops were still searching Saturday for the woman behind the Mercurys wheel. On the morning before she died, Serrano revealed new ink to her brother: a tasteful heart tattoo below her left eye. I done tatted my face, Serrano wrote in a text to Derell Serrano. She attached a picture of the tattoo. U tweakin! the brother wrote back, expecting to continue the conversation at another time. But that chat never came. On Saturday, all Derell could think of was the little heart tattoo his sister had just gotten. [It was] the same day, Derell said. I got [the text] in the morning and she died later that day. Who thinks someones going to die? he asked, stunned. Especially my sister. Shakiras neighbors at the Pink Houses were also mourning her loss. Some had put together a small memorial for the murdered woman outside her building. She was a nice girl, said one neighbor, who wished not to be named. She liked to have fun like most 20-something-year-olds do. Shakiras death was a second massive blow to hit the Serrano family in the last six months. In August, Benjamin Rivers the oldest of Maria Serranos children died in a police shooting in upstate Niagara Falls. Rivers, 53, was shot dead by cops after he was accused of opening fire on his girlfriends car, and refused to drop his weapon when cops arrived, according to reports. Were still going through it, losing him, Maria Serrano said. We had managed to take care of him, Derell said of his brothers funeral arrangements. But God didnt give us time before he went and took another. Relatives seeking to raise money for Shakiras funeral have put together a GoFundMe page. We have two weeks to raise the money or she wont be laid to rest, Derell said. And Im putting my sister to rest. Family man's assassin past revealed after he was killed in front of his wife and child A man was gunned down in Brazil last week in front of his wife and child. Only after authorities attempted to identify the man was his secret past as a hitman revealed. Darko Gleiser evaded Interpol for a decade before his death. His killer has not been caught. In a plot twist fit for an action movie, a man who was shot and killed last week in front of his wife and toddler son was revealed after death to be a hitman hiding from his lethal past. Brazilian authorities say Darko Gleiser, who publicly used the name Dejon Kovac, had a history as a contract killer and evaded Interpol for a decade after fleeing Montenegro in 2014 following the Christmas Day assassination of a man outside a prison gate, Fox News reported. He, in turn, was killed last week in front of his family in Brazil as they returned home from a bike ride. CCTV footage showed a masked gunman approached the trio and shot Gleiser at point-blank range, Fox reported. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Authorities suspect Gleiser's death has something to do with his criminal past, though his killer has not been caught. A secret, deadly past Per Fox, after moving from Montenegro to Bosnia and eventually to Brazil, Gleiser met his wife in 2015 or 2016. The outlet reported that the woman claimed she knew nothing of his past, citing local news outlet Folha de S.Paulo. The family's neighbors told Folha de S.Paulo Gleiser was a family man who, despite not speaking much Portuguese, often visited the local bakery and mingled with other parents when he dropped his son off for school. The outlet reported he identified himself as a carpenter and claimed his family lived off money from a business he ran back in Slovenia. Gleiser's true identity was revealed after his death when it was discovered the passport he carried with him actually belonged to a Slovenian citizen who lost the identification document in 2017. "Investigations showed that he lived here clandestinely and under a false Slovenian name," Fox News reported Luiz Ricardo Lara Dias Jr., the lead officer on the investigation, told reporters Friday. Upon discovering Gleiser's given identity was false, police began investigating his background, ultimately finding that the man's fingerprints matched a set provided by the Montenegro authorities in connection to a homicide there, Folha de S.Paulo reported. "That's when it was discovered that Dejon was Darko, even wanted a decade ago by Interpol," Dias told Folha de S. Paulo. Montenegrin authorities wanted Gleiser on multiple murder charges, and for the possession of weapons and explosives, Fox reported. Representatives for Interpol, the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in Brazil, and the Civil Police of the State of Sao Paulo did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Responsible growth Riverbanks River Walk development raises concerns, (modbee.com, Dec. 10) A recent Modesto Bee reported on the recent filing of a Riverbank ballot measure with 1,469 signatures against the annexation of 1,500+ acres of prime farmland for building up to over 3,000 homes. The article covers the scope of the proposed River Walk project and local opposition to growth. The Farmland Working Group also recently penned an op-ed discussing sprawling growth, the need for urban limits and related fiscal impacts on city residents. There are many reasons to establish limits to ensure that growth occurs on lesser soils while preserving prime farmland as well as our countys multi-billion dollar agriculture industry. The hope is that Riverbank voters will support the ballot measure and responsible growth that protects prime farmland. Farmland Working Group, a nonprofit organization, applauds Modestos efforts to rezone and implement infill strategies to protect prime ag land from being paved over. The hope is that Riverbank and other local cities will follow Modestos example as well as support urban limit initiatives. Barney Aggers Modesto No further development Riverbanks River Walk development raises concerns, (modbee.com, Dec. 10) I am a resident of Riverbank. We have been farmers all of our adult lives. In this season of prime agricultural land potentially being destroyed, my family is very much opposed to the River Walk development proposal for the following reasons: The project does not preserve ag land; it would substantially increase travel, congestion and pollution; it does not improve quality of life; and it further invites people from other parts of the state. This ag land should be set aside as an agricultural preserve. The proposal does not address infill within Riverbank, Modesto or other local communities, and places additional stressors on city services. We do not need further development. Garry Pearson Riverbank Opinion Biden warns against Trump reelection after Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a day we nearly lost America, (modbee.com, Jan. 6) Its time to get Biden off the 2024 ticket. I cant pretend to understand whats going on in his brain, but he is handing America to Trump. Theres no way Im going to vote for him let alone knock on doors or make phone calls for him. There are many other people like me, and thats on top of his already anemic polling numbers. Biden/Harris 2024 is a likely sprint to a Trump victory. We need an insurgent candidate with a capacity to clearly demonstrate that Biden needs to come off the ticket. Tracy Herbeck Modesto Justice served Biden warns against Trump reelection after Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a day we nearly lost America, (modbee.com, Jan. 6) Americans should be hoping that Trumps insane plea for presidential immunity is quickly granted. If so, legally elected President Joe Biden can without fear of reprisal do what the courts and our country have been trying to do for the past six years: lock up Trump. Biden can send federal troops to Mar-a-Lago, arrest seditionist Trump and toss him in jail saving taxpayers millions of dollars. And, more importantly, saving our democracy. Our country will be protected from the mind-numbing reek of Trumps MAGA malarkey. The multitude of shysters that Trump is employing will have to go back to chasing ambulances and preying on the sick and elderly. Americans can finally get our country back. Brooks Judd Turlock Give a little bit Stanislaus County funds homeless center, shelter for six more months. Change may be coming, (modbee.com, Dec. 22) Local charities are asking folks to look in their closets for usable coats and jackets that could be given to homeless individuals to help keep them warm this winter. Simple acts can go a long way. In this season of giving, it makes people feel good to give to those in need. I encourage those who can to donate items or cash to local charities and nonprofits. No amount will be refused. Food banks and pantries use cash donations to help give a few extras during the holiday season.Donations made here stay here to benefit friends and neighbors. Daniel Marsh Modesto No room at the inn Donald Trumps civil fraud trial in New York heads to closing arguments, days before vote in Iowa, (modbee.com, Jan. 11) It must have created a warm holiday glow when the many Christians who support Donald Trump heard him demeaning immigrants. Especially at a time when the birth of Christ heralded a message of love and inclusion. No room for them at the inn or in the hearts of all too many of us. Jack Heinsius Modesto WASHINGTON Donald Trump is sparking fears among those who understand the inner workings of the Pentagon that he would convert the nonpartisan U.S. military into the muscular arm of his political agenda as he makes comments about dictatorship and devalues the checks and balances that underpin the nations two-century-old democracy. A circle of appointees independent of Trumps political operation steered him away from ideas that would have pushed the limits of presidential power in his last term, according to books theyve written and testimony given to Congress. Most were gone by the end. In a new term, many former officials worry that Trump would instead surround himself with loyalists unwilling to say no. Trump has raised fresh questions about his intentions if he regains power by putting forward a legal theory that a president would be free to do nearly anything with impunity including assassinate political rivals so long as Congress cant muster the votes to impeach him and throw him out of office. Now, bracing for Trumps potential return, a loose-knit network of public interest groups and lawmakers is quietly devising plans to try to foil any efforts to expand presidential power, which could include pressuring the military to cater to his political needs. Those taking part in the effort told NBC News they are studying Trumps past actions and 2024 policy positions so that they will be ready if he wins in November. That involves preparing to take legal action and send letters to Trump appointees spelling out consequences theyd face if they undermine constitutional norms. Were already starting to put together a team to think through the most damaging types of things that he [Trump] might do so that were ready to bring lawsuits if we have to, said Mary McCord, executive director of the Institution for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown Law. Part of the aim is to identify like-minded organizations and create a coalition to challenge Trump from day one, those taking part in the discussions said. Some participants are combing through policy papers being crafted for a future conservative administration. Theyre also watching the interviews that Trump allies are giving to the press for clues to how a Trump sequel would look. Other participants include Democracy Forward, an organization that took the Trump administration to court more than 100 times during his administration, and Protect Democracy, an anti-authoritarian group. We are preparing for litigation and preparing to use every tool in the toolbox that our democracy provides to provide the American people an ability to fight back, said Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward. We believe this is an existential moment for American democracy and its incumbent on everybody to do their part. Americas commander-in-chief has vast powers at his disposal some well-known, others not so much. Some lawmakers and pro-democracy advocates worry there may be nothing stopping a president from mobilizing the military to intervene in elections, police American streets or quash domestic protests. Wary of Trumps staying power he is running about even with President Joe Biden in the polls Democratic lawmakers already known to be adversarial to Trump are working on a parallel track. Among the least-understood tools available to a president is the Insurrection Act. Vaguely worded, it gives a president considerable discretion in deciding what constitutes an uprising and when it is OK to deploy active-duty military in response, experts say. Some lawmakers on Capitol Hill worry that Trump might invoke the act to involve the armed forces in the face of domestic protests or if the midterm elections dont go his way. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., is crafting a bill that would clarify the act and give Congress and the courts some say in its use. Its chances of passage are slim given that Republicans control the House and are largely loyal to Trump. There are an array of horrors that could result from Donald Trumps unrestricted use of the Insurrection Act, Blumenthal said in an interview. A malignantly motivated president could use it in a vast variety of dictatorial ways unless at some point the military itself resisted what they deemed to be an unlawful order. But that places a very heavy burden on the military. Trumps vow to seek retribution on behalf of those he says have been wronged and betrayed has sparked fears that he would use presidential powers more broadly as a cudgel against political foes. Compounding the anxiety, he remarked at a Fox News town hall last month that he would be a dictator though only on his first day in office for the purposes of closing the border and drilling for oil. He later posted on his social media site that he had made that remark in a joking manner. More recently, Trump told a Fox News town hall in Iowa that Im not going to have time for retribution. Detractors arent buying it. Hes a clear and present danger to our democracy, said William Cohen, a former Republican senator from Maine and defense secretary in the Clinton administration who is not involved in the loose-knit network. His support is solid. And I dont think people understand what living in a dictatorship would mean. Sent a list of questions about the fears recounted in this article, Trumps campaign did not respond. The same lessons Lincoln learned Trumps legal troubles offer new insights into his vision of a presidency that has shed restraints. Not even bribery or murder could land a president in jail so long as Congress didnt first impeach and convict him, under a legal theory his lawyers advanced in a federal appeals court hearing Tuesday. Trump is facing charges for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. In his defense, his legal team contends that in trying to reverse Bidens victory, Trump fell within the outer perimeter of his official duties and is thus shielded from prosecution. Where does such reasoning lead? In the hearing, which Trump attended, one judge sketched ominous scenarios about what a president might do under that notion of broad presidential immunity. Donald Trump West Point (Andrew Harnik / AP file) Judge Florence Pan asked one of Trumps lawyers whether a president could, for example, sell military secrets or order the elite SEAL Team 6 to assassinate a political rival with impunity under the legal argument. He would have to be impeached and convicted first, replied Trumps lawyer, Dean John Sauer. In an interview, Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said of Trump: Hes going to be one creative motherf----- when it comes to trying to figure out how to abuse it [power]. Whatever your guess is, open up your imagination a little more. In the last term, Trumps generals and civilian advisers proved to be a restraining influence: Theyd tell him when he had a bad idea. And for a while, Trump seemed to take seriously the advice coming from aides with a military pedigree. My generals, he called them. Relations soured as time passed. One by one, most quit or were fired. A new team may not be so quick to cross him. The same lesson Lincoln learned in his first two or three years are the lessons that President Trump learned: Just because a guy has a title and uniform doesnt mean anything, Steve Bannon, a Trump ally and former senior White House official, said in an interview. Soon after the 2020 election, as Trump was refusing to concede defeat, he upended the Pentagon leadership, firing Defense Secretary Mark Esper even though at that point he was a lame duck with just over two months left in the term. The upheaval was jarring, recalled Mark Milley, then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in an interview with the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In its final written report, the committee wrote that some at the [Defense] Department had genuine concerns, counseling caution, that President Trump might give an illegal order to use the military in support of his efforts to overturn the election. A new sheriff in town Plenty of rank-and-file members of the armed forces appear sympathetic to Trumps cause. George Washington Universitys program on extremism found that more than 150 of the nearly 1,200 people who were charged with crimes for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol came from a military background. The military is hundreds of thousands of people strong, and ultimately Trump will find people to follow his legal orders no matter what, said a former senior official who served in the Trump administration, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely. The Insurrection Act is a legal order, and if he orders it there will be military officers, especially younger men and women, who will follow that legal order, the former official added. In policy videos posted to his website, Trump said he would provide record funding for our military. He faulted Biden for enacting woke policies that are hampering military recruitment and said he would flush out what he called Marxism, communism and fascists. Trumps allies say there is little doubt that he would make the military a particular focus. The Pentagon is going to be a super high priority, and they have to understand there will be a new sheriff in town, Bannon said. Youre going to see a massive housecleaning at the Pentagon. President Trump wants to put in a philosophy of how to win wars. Like any good dictator As president, Trump was both fascinated by the militarys capabilities and frustrated by advisers who tried to dissuade him from carrying out plans they deemed ill-advised. Esper wrote in his memoir, A Sacred Oath, that in an Oval Office meeting, Trump inquired about having U.S. soldiers shoot domestic protesters in the legs. Esper wrote that his reaction to Trumps suggestion was one of utter disgust. A couple of times in 2020, Esper wrote, Trump broached the idea of firing missiles into Mexico to destroy illegal drug labs. Esper told Trump that would be an act of war; Trump replied that the U.S. would deny involvement, Esper wrote. donald trump military profile (Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images file) My sense was that Trump always came to the Defense Department to solve his toughest problems, such as building a wall on the border, handling protesters in Americas streets, and dealing with Covid, Esper said in an interview. He kept coming back to DOD because it is seen as an institution that gets things done. But in some situations, this can end up politicizing DOD if the military is asked to do things it shouldnt be doing. Lawmakers like Blumenthal are taking steps akin to placing sandbags around a building before a hurricane hits. Theyve made it tougher for a president to pull out of the NATO military alliance, for example. Unhappy that many NATO countries werent ponying up enough for defense, Trump had considered dropping out of the post-World War II alliance, his former national security adviser John Bolton wrote in his book, The Room Where It Happened. Trying to pull out of NATO wont be so easy next time around. Last month, Biden signed a $886 billion defense bill that bars a president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO, a move that could stymie Trumps 2024 campaign pledge to fundamentally reevaluate NATOs purpose and NATOs mission. A second Trump term would be day after day of constitutional crisis the Justice Department one day, the Pentagon the next and Homeland Security the next, Bolton said in an interview. It would be unremitting. The militarys role is unique in that soldiers and sailors are trained to obey the commander-in-chief but are told not to follow illegal orders. Things get murky when an order comes down in the category of lawful but awful, as some military experts describe it. There were a few of those in the last term, former Trump appointees say, that they managed to beat back. While Trump never invoked the Insurrection Act, he believed the protests in the summer of 2020 surrounding the George Floyd killing made the U.S. look weak and wanted the military to quash the demonstrations, former appointees said. Sending troops into American streets is often a bad idea, military experts say, pointing to the sort of tragedy that unfolded at Kent State University in 1970 when National Guardsmen shot and killed four students protesting the Vietnam War. In his appearance before the congressional Jan. 6 committee, Milley said that there was significant pressure on Secretary Esper to deploy forces to deal with the 2020 racial justice protests. Trumps subordinates deflected such demands from the president. But in a new term, critics expect hell surround himself with loyalists determined to carry out his commands, whatever their merit. Like any good dictator, hes going to try to use the military to basically perform his will, said Leon Panetta, former defense secretary and CIA director in the Obama administration. Political performance theater Defense secretaries under Trump didnt enjoy much job security. Five came and went over the four years. But there is likely to be no shortage of candidates should Trump return to office. One possible nominee is Keith Kellogg, a former senior national security official. Trump recently praised Kelloggs television appearances on Fox News and continues to value his advice, according to a person with direct knowledge about the matter. Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, who served briefly as Trumps national security adviser, would be at the top of the list to be taken care of, said another person familiar with Trumps thinking. Flynns role in a second Trump administration could be whatever he wants, this person said. A barrier for Flynn might be Senate confirmation. Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Trump later pardoned him. I definitely think that Gen. Flynn would be interested in helping his friend Donald Trump in his next administration, Flynns brother Joseph Flynn said in an interview. He added, though, that DOD secretary is a role that requires congressional approval. Thats a lot more challenging for someone as much of a lightning rod as Gen. Flynn. Nominating Flynn might also draw renewed attention to his appearance on the conservative network Newsmax in December 2020, when he said that Trump could use military capabilities to rerun the election in swing states if he chose. military exercise smoke demonstration (Carlos Barria / Reuters file) Other potential nominees include Mike Pompeo, who served as both secretary of state and CIA chief during Trumps administration. He has told people that if there is a job for him in a future Trump administration, defense secretary would most interest him, a person familiar with the matter said. Pompeo gets credit for not challenging Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination, said Peter Navarro, a former senior White House adviser who has been involved with efforts to help plan for a future conservative administration. One of the things that did not go unnoticed in Trumpland was Mike not getting into the presidential primary, Navarro said in an interview. Another candidate would be Christopher Miller, whom Trump made acting secretary after ousting Esper. We had Miller at the end who did a very good job, Trump said in an interview last month with conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt. The starting point for a second Trump term will be the last year of his first term, Esper said. The caliber of civilian leaders you would want to see in the Defense Department and elsewhere wont be there. Loyalty will be the attribute Trump will be seeking above all else. He wont pick people like [former Defense Secretary] Jim Mattis or me who will push back on him. So, the question becomes, what harm might occur over four years? That depends on who you ask. Americas democracy has proved remarkably resilient. It has endured a civil war and economic depression, political scandals and domestic protests. In Trump, though, some former officials see a man backed by a fervent movement that could shatter the American experiment. Were about 30 seconds away from the Armageddon clock when it comes to democracy, said Cohen, the former Republican senator and defense secretary. I think thats how close were coming to it when you have a presidential candidate who can be indicted on 91 counts, who can be [found liable for] sexual aggression, who we have seen lies pathologically, who has flouted every rule in the book. Others whove seen Trump up close arent convinced. Plenty of obstacles would confront an administration that tries to steer the nation in an authoritarian direction, including the courts, Congress and the determined opposition of pro-democracy activists. The republic has been around for over 240 years now, Bolton said. Weve had our share of bad people in this country, and the republic is still here. I dont think one man, however influential, is going to bring it down. You need to mobilize people for the fight ahead and not say its over. Ken Cuccinelli was a senior Homeland Security official working under Trump. He was at the center of an issue that animated the Trump White House and remains a fixation of the Trump campaign: immigration. In private conversations with Trump over securing the border, Cuccinelli said he came away convinced that the former president was mostly bluster. Before the 2018 midterm elections, Trump sent thousands of U.S. troops to the southern border to confront a caravan of Central American migrants making their way to the U.S. It was total political performance theater, said Cuccinelli, a founder of a super PAC backing Trump GOP primary rival Ron DeSantis. They were heavily armed with paper clips and laptops. The guy isnt running on anything particularly consistent, he added. Its just all about him. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Donald Trump begins the last day of campaigning in bitter cold Iowa before Mondays caucuses, boosted by new polling showing him with a dominant lead among Hawkeye State Republicans, as his closest competitors continue their jockeying for second place. Trump leads the pack with 48% of likely caucus-goers naming him as their top choice, according to the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll, with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley getting 20% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 16% The polls release kicked off a frenetic final day ahead of whats expected to be the coldest caucus on record, and Iowas iciest January day in at least five years, with wind chills as low as 40-degrees below zero. The frigid forecast, coming on the heels of a week of extreme weather, largely forced Republicans off the trail and onto Zoom calls and tele-town halls, creating at least one element of uncertainty in a slog of a campaign that Trump has always seemed destined to dominate. Our grassroots supporters have put us in position to win, and now we have to show up to Caucus for President Trump on Monday and get the job done, Trump said in a statement late Saturday, after the polls release. We have to show up. Questions and concerns over how the weather will affect voter turnout are looming over the final furlongs of the race for Iowa, which effectively began more than a year ago and have throughout appeared to be Trumps to lose. It seems now that the only way he might would be if his backers took the result for granted and chose their warm living rooms over polar passage to the caucus sites. The DeSantis campaign seized on that uncertainty in a late Saturday night message to supporters who might have felt stung by the latest horse-race numbers. Any pollster who tells you they know what turnout will be on Monday night given the historic weather conditions isnt telling the truth, the campaign said in a messaging memo, obtained by CNN, that described DeSantis get-out-the-vote organization as being perfectly designed for the forecasted conditions. The Haley campaign framed it differently, touting their improved poll numbers and promising that, despite the cold weather, on Monday, Iowans will have the first chance in the nation to voice their desire for a new generation of conservative leadership with Nikki Haley. Thank you for coming out on this cold snowy day, Haley told voters earlier Saturday in Cedar Falls. This (election) comes down to a choice Youve got the opportunity to look back at the past and continue or go forward and start new. Trump was absent from the Hawkeye State for most of Saturday after canceling a number of in-person events due to the weather. But he will be on hand for a rally in Indianola on Sunday afternoon and is slated to host a teatime tele-rally with GOP state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann. Like everyone else, Trump was thinking about the weather and what it could mean for the caucuses upon setting foot in Des Moines. I just landed in an airplane and its nasty out there, Trump said, I worry about (voters getting to their caucus sites), but at the same time, Im watching even the newscast today, theyre saying the Trump voter has so much more spirit, dedication, they say theyll walk over glass, that the Trump voters coming to vote. The former president, on this occasion at least, has the data to back up his claim. Nearly 90% of Trump-backing likely caucus-goers say in the poll that they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting for him. Its a remarkable figure, befitting an incumbent president, and towers over his nearest rivals. Sixty-two percent of DeSantis backers feel the same way, while only 39% of Haleys supporters in Iowa were excited about the prospect. DeSantis Sunday schedule is the busiest of the top tier candidates. Hell be on his Never Back Down super PACs Countdown to Caucus tour making four stops beginning in Dubuque, on the Mississippi River, before heading over to Cedar Rapids, taking a trip out to Sioux City, in the states conservative northwest, before ending in Ankeny, just outside Des Moines. Haley too begins her Sunday in Dubuque. She then heads to Ames, home to Iowa State University and some of the less conservative voters shell need to coalesce around her here and in coming contests before closing out the day in Adel. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is trying to outdo them all, with five stops listed on his itinerary. But the real excitement around his campaign, which registered 8% in the DMR poll, is how he will respond to a late barrage from Trump, whom Ramaswamy has defended on the trail as he tries to stake a claim with the MAGA faithful. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks, Trump said in a post on his social media site. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this. Trump also attacked Haley on Saturday night, his eyes already trained on the New Hampshire primary next week when she will try to solidify her place as the Republican Partys alternative to Trump. I know Nikki very well. She was my ambassador to the United Nations and she had a lot of weakness, to be honest, she had a lot of weakness, Trump said during his evening event. I dont think Nikkis strong enough to be president. The former president also had some unkind words for President Joe Biden, hospitalized Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the judge overseeing Trumps defamation trial, which begins next week. More notable than that, though, was the rival who did not get much attention in Trumps remarks: DeSantis. The Florida governor entered the 2024 GOP presidential primary as the odds-on favorite to challenge Trump for the nomination. Now, on the eve of the primary season finally beginning, hes become something of an afterthought. Some of the underlying data in the DMR poll suggests he could outperform the baseline numbers, but even then, DeSantis will be campaigning over the next day like a man whose aspirations are very much on the line along with a ticket to New Hampshire that could yet go unused. This story has been updated. CNNs Jennifer Agiesta, Kate Sullivan and Veronica Stracqualursi contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com DES MOINES, Iowa Boosted by his standing with evangelical Christians, first-time caucusgoers and registered Republicans, former President Donald Trump holds a nearly 30-point lead in the final NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll before Mondays GOP caucuses. The poll also finds Trump enjoying the backing of the most enthusiastic and committed likely caucusgoers, which could be crucial as the state grapples with subzero temperatures and even colder wind chills on caucus night. I know theres a lot of controversy on him, but I just feel like hes the man for the job right now, said 34-year-old poll respondent Owen Monds of Des Moines, who said hes caucusing for Trump. You know, I dont feel like anybody else whos running is really qualified like he is. Follow live results from the 2024 Iowa caucuses The poll shows former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley narrowly edging past Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place, although the gap is within the polls margin of error. Yet while Haleys first-choice support has ticked up, just 9% of her supporters say theyre extremely enthusiastic about her candidacy substantially lower than the enthusiasm for Trump and even DeSantis. There is underlying weakness here, pollster J. Ann Selzer said of Haleys standing. If turnout is low, it seems to me that a disproportionate share of her supporters might stay at home. According to the Iowa poll, which Selzer has been conducting over the last three decades, Trump gets first-choice support from 48% of likely Republican caucusgoers followed by Haley at 20% support, DeSantis at 16% and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at 8%. Trumps 28-point lead over his nearest competitor is down, though only slightly, from the 32-point advantage he enjoyed in Decembers NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll. But if his current lead holds on caucus night, it will be the largest margin of victory for a nonincumbent competing in Iowas Republican presidential caucuses. The current record margin, 13 points, was set by Bob Dole in 1988. He is still in a commanding position, but there is slippage, Selzer said of Trump. The game appears to be for second place, without a real challenger on the horizon. Trumps strongest groups are evangelical Christians (with 51% of them picking him as their first choice), registered Republicans (54%), first-time caucusgoers (56%) and likely caucusgoers who dont have college degrees (59%). Haleys 20% first-choice support in the poll is up 4 points from Decembers poll, and she overperforms among independents (with 33% of them picking her as their first choice) and those with college degrees (27%). Strikingly, half of Haleys supporters identify as either independents (39%) or Democrats (11%) significantly different from the polls overall makeup, which stands at 69% Republicans, 23% independents and 5% Democrats among likely GOP caucusgoers. And DeSantis 16% first-choice support is down 3 points from December, when he was in a distant second place to Trump. The Florida governor overperforms among evangelicals, with 22% of them selecting him as their top candidate. The poll was ongoing when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie suspended his presidential campaign on Jan. 10. But Christie did not set foot in Iowa during his campaign, preferring to focus his resources and attention elsewhere, and the Iowa poll shows almost no change after his exit. (The sliver of caucusgoers who picked Christie as their first choice had their support reallocated to their second choice, barely affecting the overall horse race.) Donald Trump Jr. On The Campaign Trail In Iowa ( Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images) Enthusiasm factor helps Trump, hurts Haley Beyond Trumps lead in first-choice support, what stands out in the poll is the enthusiasm from his backers. While 32% of all likely Republican caucusgoers say theyre extremely enthusiastic about their candidate, nearly half of Trumps supporters 49% say that about the former president. Hes a proven winner. He knows what to do starting Day 1. Theres no learning curve, said poll respondent Joel Shaw, 65, of Batavia, Iowa, who said hes caucusing for Trump. By contrast, 23% of DeSantis supporters say theyre extremely enthusiastic about the Florida governor. And just 9% of Haleys backers say theyre extremely enthusiastic about her down from 21% who said that about her in December. Not very enthusiastic, said poll respondent Ryan Knapp, a 34-year-old independent from Cedar Rapids, of his support for Haley. Mainly picking [Haley] because ... she seems like the only sane one, and Im down to do anything to make sure that Trump doesnt ever get another opportunity ever again. More than two-thirds of caucusgoers say their minds are made up The poll also finds that more than two-thirds of likely Republican caucusgoers 68% say that their minds are made up, an increase from 49% who said this in December. Thats compared with 25% who say they could still be persuaded, which is down from 46% last month. The remaining voters are still undecided. As with the enthusiasm factor, Trump holds an advantage over his rivals among the caucusgoers who say their minds are made up. Eighty-two percent of Trumps supporters say their minds are made up, versus 64% of DeSantis supporters and 63% of Haleys backers. I will swing my vote for either one of them in order to beat Trump, said poll respondent Nicole Woodley, 43, of Clarion, Iowa, who is still deciding between DeSantis and Haley and who voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. US-POLITICS-ELECTION-IOWA (Jim Watson / AFP via Getty Images) Other findings in the poll Trump holds the highest net favorable/unfavorable rating among the GOP candidates at 69% favorable, 29% unfavorable (+40). Hes followed by DeSantis at 58% favorable, 36% unfavorable (+22); Ramaswamy at 52% favorable, 36% unfavorable (+16); and Haley at 48% favorable, 46% unfavorable (+2). Haleys mark is down considerably from her 59% favorable, 31% unfavorable rating in December (+28), after facing a wave of TV attack ads over the last month. When it comes to second choice, 20% of likely caucusgoers pick DeSantis as their backup option, 18% select Ramaswamy, 14% choose Haley and 12% pick Trump. And Trump enjoys the most committed caucusgoers with 87% of Trumps supporters saying they always supported him as their first choice. That compares with 67% of DeSantis supporters and 46% of Haley backers who said they always supported those candidates as their first choice. The NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll of Iowa was conducted Jan. 7-12 of 705 likely Republican caucusgoers, and it has an overall margin of error of plus-minus 3.7 percentage points. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Palestinian looks at the destruction after an Israeli strike at a residential building in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) JERUSALEM (AP) The White House said Sunday that its the right time for Israel to scale back its military offensive in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli leaders again vowed to press ahead with their operation against the territorys ruling Hamas militant group. The comments exposed the growing differences between the close allies on the 100th day of the war. Also Sunday, Israeli warplanes struck targets in Lebanon following a Hezbollah missile attack that killed two Israeli civilians an older woman and her adult son in northern Israel. The exchange of fire underscored concerns that the Gaza violence could trigger wider fighting across the region. The war in Gaza, launched by Israel in response to the unprecedented Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, has killed nearly 24,000 Palestinians, devastated vast swaths of Gaza, driven around 85% of the territorys 2.3 million residents from their homes and pushed a quarter of the population into starvation. Speaking on CBS, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. has been speaking to Israel about a transition to low-intensity operations in Gaza. We believe its the right time for that transition. And were talking to them about doing that, he said on Face the Nation. Israel launched the offensive after the Hamas attack killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead until Hamas is destroyed and all of the more than 100 hostages still in captivity are freed. The war has sent tensions soaring across the region, with Israel trading fire almost daily with Lebanons Hezbollah militant group and Iranian-backed militias attacking U.S. targets in Syria and Iraq. In addition, Yemens Houthi rebels have been targeting international shipping, drawing a wave of U.S. airstrikes last week. Hezbollahs leader, Hassan Nasrallah, said his group wont stop until a cease-fire is in place for Gaza. We are continuing, and our front is inflicting losses on the enemy and putting pressure on displaced people, Nasrallah said in a speech, referring to the tens of thousands of Israelis who have fled northern border areas. In other developments, tens of thousands of people in Europe and the Middle East took to the streets Sunday to mark the 100th day of the war. Opposing demonstrations either demanded the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas or called for a cease-fire in Gaza. In Israel, supporters of the hostages and their families wrapped up a 24-hour protest in Tel Aviv calling on the government to win their immediate release. Late Sunday, Hamas released a short video in which three Israeli hostages, presumably speaking under duress, pleaded with their government to end the war and bring them home. It was not clear when the video was taken. At the end of the clip, Hamas said it would provide an update on their fate Monday. Hamas has released several videos of this kind, in an apparent effort to pressure Israel to agree to its demand of ending the war ahead of negotiations on a possible release of all hostages in exchange for most or all Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE The unprecedented level of death and destruction in Gaza has led South Africa to lodge allegations of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Israel denies the accusations and has vowed to press ahead with its offensive even if the court in The Hague issues an interim order for it to stop. Israel has also been under growing international pressure to end the war in Gaza, but it has so far been shielded by U.S. diplomatic and military support. Israel argues that any cease-fire would hand victory to Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007 and is bent on Israels destruction. Its been 100 days, yet we will not stop until we win, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Sunday. But differences with the Americans have begun to emerge. During a visit to the region last week, Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed his calls on Israel to do more to reduce civilian casualties and increase the supplies of desperately needed humanitarian aid entering Gaza. In recent weeks, Israel has scaled back operations in northern Gaza, the initial target of the offensive, where weeks of airstrikes and ground operations left entire neighborhoods in ruins. Kirby, the White House spokesman, acknowledged that Israel had taken some precursory steps toward scaling back the offensive. But he said there was more to do. Were not saying let your foot up off the gas completely and dont keep going after Hamas, he said. Its just that we believe the time is coming here very, very soon for a transition to this lower intensity phase. FEARS OF A SECOND FRONT The deadly Hezbollah missile strike in northern Israel renewed concerns about a second front erupting into full-blown war. It came shortly after the Israeli army said it killed three Lebanese militants who tried to infiltrate Israel. Late Sunday, the Israeli military said it had struck Lebanon in response to the missile strike. Israeli officials said a woman in her 70s and her son, in his 40s, were killed in the town of Yuval. The armys chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israel would not tolerate attacks on civilians. The price will be extracted not just tonight, but also in the future, he said. Yuval is one of more than 40 towns along Israels northern border evacuated by the government in October. Israeli media reported that the family stayed in the area because they work in agriculture. Tensions have also spread to the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where Palestinian health officials say nearly 350 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in confrontations throughout the war. On Sunday, the Israeli army said troops opened fire after a Palestinian car breached a military roadblock in the southern West Bank and an attacker fired at soldiers. Palestinian health officials said two Palestinians were killed. Late Sunday, Palestinian health officials said two teenage boys were killed by Israeli fire. The army said it shot them after they threw a bomb at an army base. ISRAEL STRIKES CENTRAL, SOUTHERN GAZA Israel has launched major operations against the southern city of Khan Younis and built-up refugee camps in central Gaza. No one is able to move, said Rami Abu Matouq, who lives in the Maghazi camp. Warplanes, snipers and gunfire are everywhere. In the central town of Deir al-Balah, health officials said at least 15 people were killed in Israeli strikes late Saturday. At the entrance of the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, men lined up to pray for the dead, their bodies wrapped in white shrouds. The bodies were put on the back of a pickup truck before they were taken to be buried. Meanwhile, the Egyptian TV station Al-Ghad said a cameraman was killed in an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza. The channel said Yazan al-Zwaidi was apparently in a crowd of people at the time. Details were not immediately available, and the Israeli military had no comment. The internet advocacy group Netblocks said communications in Gaza were still out after a 48-hour outage. The Palestinian telecommunications operator in Gaza, Jawwal, said two of its employees were killed Saturday when they were hit by a shell while fixing lines in Khan Younis. The Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday that hospitals had received 125 bodies in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall death toll to 23,968. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around two-thirds of the dead are women and minors. It says over 60,000 people have been wounded. Israel says Hamas is responsible for the high civilian casualties, saying its fighters make use of civilian buildings and launch attacks from densely populated urban areas. The military says 189 soldiers have been killed and 1,099 wounded since the start of the ground offensive. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. Chehayeb reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut contributed to this report. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Firefighters battled a massive blaze Saturday night after three oil tankers in New Hampshire erupted in flames. Crews from Exeter and other communities rushed to North Atlantic Fuels in Epping when the oil tankers and a tractor-trailer caught fire. As of 6:30 p.m., over 500 gallons of foam had been sprayed on the enflamed vehicles to try and quench the blaze. The crash truck from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport also arrived to help combat the fire. Just before 7:00 p.m., the Exeter Fire Department shared that fire had been brought under control. In video and photos shared by the Exeter Fire Department on Facebook, enormous balls of fire can be seen erupting high into the air, silhouetting crews against a raging, burning wall. No injuries have been reported as of yet. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Dayton fire crews extinguished a house fire Saturday night, according to a Montgomery County dispatch supervisor. >> STAY INFORMED: Latest church and business closures and delays At 8:39 p.m., Dayton fire crews were dispatched to the 800 block of N Euclid Avenue on reports of a structure fire. It is unclear if anyone was injured. Dayton police officers were dispatched to the scene as firefighters were working to put out the fire. We are working to learn why they were called. News Center 7 is working to learn more about this fire. A fire brigade in Donetsk Oblast affected by a Russian attack. Stock photo: Ukraine's State Emergency Service The Russians attacked a local fire brigade unit in the village of Stanislav with a kamikaze drone on the afternoon of 14 January, injuring several firefighters. Source: a report from Kherson Oblast Military Administration Details: The report noted that four firefighters had been injured. They were diagnosed with contusions, explosive and head injuries. Having received medical care, the injured refused to be hospitalised. Support UP or become our patron! Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., center, speaks to a wildly cheering crowd of African American supporters on Jan. 2, 1965, in Selma, Ala. King was calling for a new African American voter registration drive throughout Alabama and promising to march on the ballot boxes unless African Americans were given the right to vote. | Horace Cort, Associated Press I Have a Dream may be the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s most famous speech, but it wasnt really a sermon as it was delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and was more about civil rights than about religious faith. But the Rev. King, who will be honored in federal and local observances this week, was a minister before he was a civil rights leader, and any remembrance of him should also celebrate his deep Christian faith and the oratorical skills that made him among Americas best preachers. He himself said, Before I was a civil rights leader, I was a preacher of the gospel. This was my first calling and it still remains my greatest commitment. Ordained at age 19, the Rev. King was a pastor at two different churches: Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where he was co-pastor with his father for eight years preceding his death, and Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where he served from 1954 to 1960. Unfortunately, there seems to be no transcript or audio of the trial sermon that the Rev. King gave prior to his ordination at Ebenezer, now designated a national historic park. But there are many other transcripts and videos available that convey at least a little of what it was like to listen to the Rev. King preach in person. Here are five of his most memorable sermons worth reading (or listening to) as America celebrates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Ive Been to the Mountaintop One of the Rev. Kings most famous speeches, given the night before he died, almost never took place. He had considered backing out of the scheduled appearance April 3, 1968, at the Bishop Charles Mason Temple in Memphis, Tennessee. He had a sore throat and a slight fever, and it was stormy that night, but he decided to go anyway. An excerpt: All we say to America is, Be true to what you said on paper. If I lived in China or even Russia, or any totalitarian country, maybe I could understand the denial of certain basic First Amendment privileges, because they hadnt committed themselves to that over there. But somewhere I read of the freedom of assembly. Somewhere I read of the freedom of speech. Somewhere I read of the freedom of the press. Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for right. And so just as I say, we arent going to let any injunction turn us around. We are going on. ... Its all right to talk about long white robes over yonder, in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear down here. Its all right to talk about streets flowing with milk and honey, but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who cant eat three square meals a day. Its all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, Gods preachers must talk about the New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do. The speech in its entirety can be read here. A video clip is here. Loving Your Enemies The Rev. King delivered a version of this sermon at Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel in Washington, D. C., the week before he gave it at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in November of 1957. An excerpt: Ive said to you on many occasions that each of us is something of a schizophrenic personality. Were split up and divided against ourselves. And there is something of a civil war going on within all of our lives. There is a recalcitrant South of our soul revolting against the North of our soul. And there is this continual struggle within the very structure of every individual life. There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Ovid, the Latin poet, I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do. There is something within all of us that causes us to cry out with Plato that the human personality is like a charioteer with two headstrong horses, each wanting to go in different directions. There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Goethe, There is enough stuff in me to make both a gentleman and a rogue. There is something within each of us that causes us to cry out with Apostle Paul: I see and approve the better things of life, but the evil things I do. So somehow the isness of our present nature is out of harmony with the eternal oughtness that forever confronts us. And this simply means this: That within the best of us, there is some evil, and within the worst of us, there is some good. When we come to see this, we take a different attitude toward individuals. The person who hates you most has some good in him; even the nation that hates you most has some good in it; even the race that hates you most has some good in it. And when you come to the point that you look in the face of every man and see deep down within him what religion calls the image of God, you begin to love him in spite of. No matter what he does, you see Gods image there. There is an element of goodness that he can never slough off. Discover the element of good in your enemy. And as you seek to hate him, find the center of goodness and place your attention there and you will take a new attitude. The full text can be read here. The audio of the sermon is here. Pauls Letter to American Christians In this sermon, delivered at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, the Rev. King imagined what the apostle Paul would write in an epistle to Christians living in the United States in 1956. An excerpt: ... America, as I look at you from afar, I wonder whether your moral and spiritual progress has been commensurate with your scientific progress. It seems to me that your moral progress lags behind your scientific progress. Your poet Thoreau used to talk about improved means to an unimproved end. How often this is true. You have allowed the material means by which you live to outdistance the spiritual ends for which you live. You have allowed your mentality to outrun your morality. You have allowed your civilization to outdistance your culture. Through your scientific genius you have made of the world a neighborhood, but through your moral and spiritual genius you have failed to make of it a brotherhood. So America, I would urge you to keep your moral advances abreast with your scientific advances. I am impelled to write you concerning the responsibilities laid upon you to live as Christians in the midst of an unChristian world. That is what I had to do. That is what every Christian has to do. But I understand that there are many Christians in America who give their ultimate allegiance to man-made systems and customs. They are afraid to be different. Their great concern is to be accepted socially. They live by some such principle as this: everybody is doing it, so it must be alright. For so many of you morality is merely group consensus. In your modern sociological lingo, the mores are accepted as the right ways. You have unconsciously come to believe that right is discovered by taking a sort of Gallup poll of the majority opinion. How many are giving their ultimate allegiance to this way. Read the entire sermon here. Listen to the audio here. A Knock at Midnight Variations of this sermon have been dated to 1958. This version was delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1962. The title of the sermon later became the title of a book, edited by Clayborne Carson and Peter Holloran, about the Rev. Kings greatest sermons. An excerpt: The most popular preachers are those who can preach soothing sermons on How To Be Happy and How To Relax. Some have been tempted to re-translate Jesus command to read Go ye into all the world and keep your blood pressure down and lo I will make you a welladjusted personality. All of this is indicative of the fact that it is midnight in the inner lives of men and women. It is also midnight in the moral order. Midnight is a time when all colors lose their distinctiveness and become merely a dirty shade of gray. In so many instances moral principles have lost their distinctiveness. Nothing is absolutely right or absolutely wrong for modern man; it is just a matter of what the majority of people are doing. For most people right and wrong are merely relative to their likes and dislikes and the customs of their particular community. We have unconsciously taken Einsteins theory of relativity, which properly described the physical universe, and applied it to the moral and ethical realm. Midnight is a time when everybody is desperately seeking to avoid getting caught. It is the hour when hardly anybody is concerned about obeying the Ten Commandments; everybody is passionately seeking to obey the 11th commandment thou shall not get caught. According to the ethic of midnight the only sin is to get caught and the only virtue is to get by. Its all right to lie, but do it with real finesse; its all right to steal, but be a dignified stealer, so that if you are caught it becomes embezzlement rather than robbery; its all right even to hate, but dress your hate up in the garments of love and make it appear that you are loving when you are actually hating. So in place of the Darwinian survival of the fittest, many have substituted a philosophy of the survival of the slickest. This has led to a tragic breakdown of moral standards. And so the midnight of moral degeneration grows deeper and deeper. Read the full sermon here. The Man Who Was a Fool Variations of this sermon were given at different churches, and sometimes entitled Why Jesus Called a Man a Fool. This was delivered at Central Methodist Church in Detroit at an interfaith Lenten series in 1961. An excerpt: Now it is true that one day a man came to Jesus wanting to raise certain questions about eternal life, and Jesus said to that man, Sell all. But at that point he was prescribing individual surgery and not setting forth a universal diagnosis. There is never a sweeping indictment against all wealth in the New Testament. As I said, it is the misuse of wealth that Jesus constantly condemns. And so there is nothing inherently vicious about wealth, and there is nothing inherently virtuous about poverty. I am sure that if there is a hell there will be plenty poor folk in it. Why then did Jesus call this man a fool? Where do we find the basic reasons for this? It seems to me that the first reason that Jesus called this man a fool was because he allowed the within of his life to be absorbed within the without of his life. Each of us lives on two levels, so to speak, and we operate within two realms the within and the without. ... This is the without of life the car we drive, the house we live in, the clothes we wear, and all of those material objects that are necessary for our earthly survival. Then there is a within of life. And this is that realm of spiritual ends, which expresses itself in art, literature, morality and religion, for which, at best, we live. Now, the foolishness of this man consisted in the fact that he allowed the within of his life to become absorbed in the without. In other words, he allowed the means by which he lived to become, to absorb, the ends for which he lived. He allowed his civilization to outdistance his culture. And so he was a victim of that something that Thoreau referred to when he said, Improved means to an unimproved end. He failed to keep a line of distinction between him and his. He failed to keep a line of demarcation between his life and his livelihood. And there is always the danger that we will find ourselves caught up in this foolishness. We must always be careful in America because we live in a capitalistic economy, which stresses the profit motive and free enterprise. And there is always the danger that we will be more concerned about making a living than making a life. There is always the danger that we will judge the success of our professions by the size of the wheel base on our automobiles and the index of our salaries rather than the quality of our service to humanity. There must always be a line of distinction between the within and the without of life. Read the full sermon here. The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida encourage students and educators to participate in the 2024 Black History Month Contests. WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS The contest theme is Celebrating Floridas African American Heroes and Their Contributions to Freedom. The contest will go until Wed., Feb. 7. Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr said, Black History Month serves as a perfect chance for students to learn about the accomplishments that African Americans heroes have contributed to Florida in the name of freedom. Read: Central Florida is honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with these events The student art contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Students can submit original, two-dimensional artwork based on this years theme. Four winners will receive a $100 gift card for school supplies and one-year passes to Florida State Parks. Read: Kissimmee celebrates new inclusive playground with ribbon cutting The student essay contest is open to fourth through twelfth-grade students in Florida. Students must submit a 500-word essay based on this years theme. Six winners will selected: Two elementary school students (grades 45), Two middle school students (grades -68) Two high school students (grades 912). Winners of the contest will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $100 gift card for school supplies. Read: Gigi, the Teddy Bear, makes 2nd to space, hopes to inspire kids and space exploration The Black History Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to any full-time educator in an elementary, middle or high school in Florida. A principal, teacher, parent/guardian or student may submit nominations and four winners will be selected to receive a $2,500 monetary prize from Volunteer Florida. For more information about the 2024 Black History Month Contests, CLICK HERE. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Since Hamas horrific attacks of October 7, the Biden administration has been clear and consistent in its expectations for the eventual outcome of the Israeli military offensive that has devastated the Gaza Strip. Early on, President Biden laid out his red lines for post-conflict policy in Gaza. To start, 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. And after this war is over, the voices of Palestinian people and their aspirations must be at the center of post-crisis governance in Gaza. Secretary of State Antony Blinken doubled down on the presidents position at a speech in Tokyo, echoing Bidens prohibitions against forced displacement, reoccupation, reduction in Gazas territory, use of Gaza as a platform for terrorism, and besiegement. The administration is now referring to those five prohibitions as the Tokyo principles, holding them up as the basis of U.S. policy regarding Gaza. Principles, rather like New Year's resolutions, often are incredibly worthy. The trouble is with their implementation - and the gulf between their stated principles and what the Biden administration has thus far accepted from its Israeli partners is stark. First off, the notion that Gaza shouldnt be used as a platform for terrorism isnt controversial. The horrific acts of October 7 have rightfully been condemned, including by my organization, repeatedly. Yet, the administrations endorsement of a military solution to destroy Hamas fails to engage with our very own history of trying to defeat terrorism on the battlefield. Two decades of war in Afghanistan ended without eradicating al Qaeda and the Taliban back in charge. In Iraq, a war premised on removing the threat from Saddam Husseins regime resulted in violent instability and directly spawned the horrors of ISIS, requiring another war to which the U.S. is still committing troops. And throughout the parts of northern Africa where the war on terror has expanded, the results have been spreading violence, military coups, and a surge in the number and power of extremist organizations. While mission accomplished has been declared more than once, the failure of our own war on terrorism is crystal clear. Even Bidens own Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, said: If you drive [civilians in Gaza] into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat. The War On Terror was the igniting force behind the creation of ISIS - imagining what a more extreme group than Hamas would be in Gaza is horrifying even to comprehend. We should be forwarding these lessons to the Israeli government - not enabling a strategy that will lead to even more horrific cycles of violence. Also, the current military strategy is a threat to hostages still held by Hamas. Weeks of war delivered the release of a single hostage and the accidental killing of three others, while the temporary ceasefire saw more than a hundred reunited with their families. The concern over the treatment of the hostages is real and urgent. We should be doing everything we can to get hostages released and theres been a single pathway that has delivered results - diplomacy and a ceasefire. Second, the president made clear that Palestinians must not be forcibly displaced in Gaza. The Israeli government has advocated for just that outcome, including Gila Gamliel, Israels intelligence minister, who argued for a worldwide refugee resettlement scheme and said that those who supported Palestinians should be willing to welcome Gazans to their countries. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called forced displacement correct, just, moral, and humane, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that forced displacement from Gaza is what needs to be done. Such comments are not only dangerous to Palestinians but for Muslims and Arabs experiencing hate around the world - including here at home. But only when the call started being echoed repeatedly did the Biden administration offer a public condemnation, and even then it came from a State Department spokesperson - not the White House. Even if the Biden administration is more vocal in private conversations with their Israeli counterparts, we know the current strategy is not working. According to the United Nations, nearly 1.9 million Gazans (85 percent of the population) have been displaced since October 7, and there is no plan in place to get them back to their homes. While we are told that Israeli military operations in Gaza have slowed down, there is little evidence to back that up. The Israeli government is still pushing further into the South of Gaza, where only weeks ago it told people to flee to safety. The conditions near Gaza's southern border are overcrowded and the people do not have access to clean water or basic medical support - where organizations have warned about the outbreak of disease and a humanitarian catastrophe. As Gaza has been reduced to rubble, the Biden administration has offered little: no concrete public plans of its own, no public regional forums on how to rebuild Gaza. The Biden Administration can and should work with Arab leaders as well as civil society groups in Palestine to commit resources and political support so people in Gaza can rebuild and safely return to their homes. Lastly, the president said that the voices of Palestinian people and their aspirations must be at the center of post-crisis governance in Gaza. Yet, there havent been high-profile roundtables of Palestinian leaders with the president or Palestinian voices alongside the U.S., Israel, and Arab leaders to lay out a political solution that offers peace and dignity for Palestinians and Israelis alike. Theres been little talk of which civil society groups the administration is engaging on the ground who have key perspectives to offer. Such conversations wont be easy, especially given the widespread grief in these communities. Still, it is an opportunity for this administration to lead and model the behavior needed to make this principle a reality. As this crisis polarizes people in the U.S., the president and all senior members of the administration have a key responsibility: centering and engaging with Palestinian voices to counter the destructive us vs them narratives and humanize the debate. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Thankfully, the Biden administration has a track record that shows that when it chooses to use them it makes a difference in the calculation of the Israeli government. The administration did the right thing when it helped broker a temporary ceasefire that saw dozens of hostages reunited with their families and gave people in Gaza access to aid and a respite from bombing. Theyve taken other concrete steps such as warning the Israeli government that they were violating the visa waiver agreement if they arbitrarily denied Palestinian Americans living in the West Bank entry into Israel. Theyve also issued sanctions against West Bank settlers who are convicted of violence towards Palestinians. After both these moves, the Israeli government shifted its approach somewhat. The Biden Administration has leverage and an obligation to apply pressure. As the violence and regional volatility continue to escalate, the administration is running out of time to use its leverage to help shift us away from more devastation and certain catastrophes. If the Tokyo Principles are to be taken seriously, the Biden administration needs to take concrete action to enforce them. If it does not, the Israeli government has shown that it will simply ignore the principles, immiserating Gazans even further and dealing yet another blow to U.S. credibility. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Sunday endorsed Nikki Haley in the presidential race the day before the Iowa caucuses. Hogan said he thinks its pretty clear that former President Donald Trump will win Iowa, but that Nikki Haley has all of the momentum to make her a strong nominee in November. What this race is all about is to try to nominate the strongest possible nominee for November, Hogan said on CNNs State of the Union. Im convinced the momentum is with Nikki Haley, he added, pointing to a path for Haley to get a distant second in Iowa, possibly win New Hampshire and then have momentum going into her home state of South Carolina. Pressed by CNNs Jake Tapper to clarify whether he was endorsing Haley, Hogan replied, I really did not want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump. I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November. Polls show that that is Nikki Haley. That shes 17 points ahead of Joe Biden. And it is a tossup with Trump and Biden, Hogan said. Yes, it is time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley. A source close to Hogan said the Haley team reached out to a representative for Hogan recently and asked him to hold off on endorsing until after the Iowa caucuses. Hogan said he appreciates the efforts former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whom he considers a friend, put into his campaign before dropping out on Wednesday. But I think Nikki Haley is our chance to put forward the best possible candidate for November, he continued. Asked about his decision to step down from leadership of the group No Labels, which is considering launching a third-party bid, Hogan brushed off speculation that he was considering getting into the race on their ticket. Im focused on trying to nominee the strongest possible Republican, which is why Im urging everyone to get behind Nikki Haley, he said. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has endorsed former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley for the GOP presidential nomination, shutting down rumors the anti-Trump Republican would make a third-party run for the office himself. Hogans endorsement on Sunday comes just one day before the Iowa caucuses, where the 2024 presidential candidates will try to convince the states voters to choose them as the partys representative in the general election. With the caucuses serving as the partys first primary event, candidates hope a high ranking in Iowa will propel them forward for the remainder of the race. Speaking on CNNs State of the Union, Hogan said he thinks its pretty clear Trump will take first place in the Iowa caucuses. The final pre-caucus Des Moines Register/NBC News poll showed that nearly half the responders who consider themselves likely caucus-goers plan to support the indicted former president, while Haley sits at 20% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 16%. I think thats not a big surprise. I dont think it matters that much because, for the past 24 years, the winner of the Republican Caucus in Iowa has not been the nominee, he said. So its really about the fight for second place, and Ron DeSantis has put all the marbles on Iowa and spent all of his time and money, and seems to be going in the wrong direction. Former Gov. @LarryHogan endorses @NikkiHaley on #CNNSOTU: "It's time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley." pic.twitter.com/D8PimSHG6x State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) January 14, 2024 The former Maryland governor stressed that he believes Haley has the momentum to become the Republican Partys nominee in November. Second place in Iowa on Monday night could lead her to potentially win next weeks primary in New Hampshire, where Hogan said shes only trailing behind Trump by single digits. I think that thats a real possibility, if she could potentially come in second place in Iowa, move on to New Hampshire, he said. Its possible she could win, which would put her in a much better position when she moves into her home state of South Carolina. Hogan has become one of Donald Trumps fiercest critics, declining last year to run for the GOP nomination if it meant another candidate could have a better chance at challenging the former president in 2024. The former governor has said that he did not vote for Trump in the past two presidential elections. Last month, Hogan stirred speculation that he may enter the race when he resigned as co-chair of the third-party movement No Labels. Hogan told The Associated Press of his resignation just one day after former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is also vocally opposed to Trump, bowed out of the Republican primary race. I have been saying since last spring, when I made the decision not to run, that I really did not want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump. I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November, Hogan said. Polls show that that is Nikki Haley that shes 17 points ahead of Joe Biden, and its a tossup with Trump and Biden, and DeSantis is losing. So yes, I think its time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley, he continued. My friend Chris Christie dropped out of the race in New Hampshire. I appreciate his effort. But I believe that Nikki Haley is the strongest chance for us to put forth our best possible candidate for November. Related... Nearly 30,000 migrants crossed the Channel from mainland Europe to Britain in small boats in 2023 - Ben Stansall/AFP Five migrants have died and a sixth in critical condition after trying to reach Britain from northern France despite freezing temperatures, the French maritime authority said. The group was attempting to reach a vessel off Wimereux when their small boat got into difficulty around 2am on Sunday, the maritime prefecture told the AFP news agency. The five dead were recovered from the sea or found washed up along the beach, maritime authorities said in a statement. A French navy helicopter and several rescue vessels were involved in the search. Weve got the stop the boats The incident happened near Wimereux at around 2am on Sunday, triggering a major emergency response as 72 people, including 10 children, were rescued and taken to Calais while one person was rushed to hospital, French paper La Voix du Nord said. Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, said the heartbreaking deaths of five migrants as they tried to cross the English Channel showed weve got to stop the boats. Ministers have been informed that the migrants died in an attempt to launch from French waters, the PA news agency understands. Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Lord Cameron said: Its heartbreaking when these things happen, and the loss of life that takes place. And you can only think about what an appalling end it would be, and the cold waters of the Channel in the middle of the night. It breaks my heart to hear about it. But it just shows weve got to stop the boats, weve got to stop this illegal trade in human beings. Sir Keir Starmer, who described the incident as a tragic loss of life, told Laura Kuenssberg he did not support radical action like the Rwanda plan as argued by Lord Cameron. He said: I think he is wrong about that. I absolutely agree that we need to stop these Channel crossings. They are dangerous, we have lost control of our borders, and we need to do something to stop the boats. Now I think the starting place for that is to go after the criminal gangs that are running this vile trade. Terrible loss of life French media said the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. A Navy helicopter, police and 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. The Refugee Council called for decisive action to stop Channel crossings following the terrible loss of life. Enver Solomon, the chief executive of the Refugee Council, said: The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the Government to expand safe routes for refugees, its only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again. This must act as a wake-up call to take decisive action and reduce dangerous Channel crossings by providing safe routes for those fleeing war-torn countries or repressive regimes. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the Government must put in place safe routes and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our countrys values. The Home Office has been approached for comment. The UK Coastguard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters. 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. Five people have died after a boat carrying migrants got into trouble attempting to launch from a beach south of Calais, according to reports in France. The incident happened near Wimereux in the early hours of Sunday morning. The French newspaper La Voix du Nord said that 72 people, including 10 children, had been rescued and taken to Calais, while one person was taken to hospital in Boulogne. The newspaper said that the migrants got into difficulty while trying to board the boat in darkness and cold temperatures. It was initially reported that four people had died, before this afternoon a fifth was confirmed. A Navy helicopter, police and 50 firefighters were involved in the rescue operation. The Home Office has yet to comment, but speaking on the BBC on Sunday morning, foreign secretary David Cameron said the deaths were a tragedy, adding that the incident highlights the need to stop the boats. The UK Coast Guard could not comment because the incident took place in French territorial waters. The UK saw its first small boat crossing of the year this weekend (Getty) The latest tragedy came the day after former home secretary Suella Braverman took another shot at Rishi Sunak, accusing the prime minister of relying on bad weather to stop small boat crossings. Ms Braverman lashed out at the PM after Britain saw its first arrivals of the new year cross the English Channel on Saturday. The country had seen zero arrivals in 26 days, which was the longest period without small boat crossings since 2020. But, as the poor weather eased, around 50 people were reportedly brought ashore from the Channel by UK Border Force. The first crossings of 2024 have come as the row over the governments troubled Rwanda plan continues to cause schisms in the Conservative Party. Rishi Sunak is facing a showdown over the Rwanda plan he claims will tackle the small boats crisis (AFP via Getty) Lord Cameron said the deaths of four people crossing the Channel from France were heartbreaking. The foreign secretary said the thought of the appalling deaths in the bitterly cold waters in the middle of the night breaks my heart. And he said that the tragedy shows why we have got to stop the boats from attempting to cross in the first place. He said that in an ideal world, migrants would be immediately returned to France, which would collapse the whole trade. That is not available, and that is why we are pursuing the [deportation] policy with Rwanda, Lord Cameron said. Sir Keir Starmer said the deaths were a tragic loss of life and that his thoughts were with family members and friends grieving the awful way these four individuals lost their lives. In a sense, we dont need to know the details; to lose your life in a small dinghy or boat in the winter in the Channel is just awful, the Labour leader said. But he disagreed with Lord Camerons suggestion that the deaths show the need to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The starting place for that is to go after the criminal gangs that are running this vile trade, Sir Keir said. Thats where I put my political muscle, if you like, rather than a gimmick, which is the Rwanda scheme, he added. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: Awful that more lives have been lost in cold waters of the Channel. More families grieving while dangerous criminal smuggler gangs are making huge profits from these perilous boat crossings whenever the weather calms they need to be stopped before more lives are lost. Awful that more lives have been lost in cold waters of the Channel. More families grieving while dangerous criminal smuggler gangs are making huge profits from these perilous boat crossings whenever the weather calms - they need to be stopped before more lives are lost Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) January 14, 2024 Charity the Refugee Council said it was deeply saddened by the terrible loss of life in the Channel and that the tragedy should be a wake-up call. Its chief executive, Enver Solomon, said: The sad reality is that this is not the first time we are waking up to such devastating news. With no meaningful commitment from the government to expand safe routes for refugees, its only a matter of time before tragedy strikes again. Rather than pushing ahead with unlawful and costly policies such as the Rwanda plan, the government must put in place safe routes, and seek to treat refugees and people seeking asylum with compassion and fairness in line with our countrys values. Mr Sunak is braced for a Commons showdown over the plan after being warned by Tory MPs that the proposal will not work unless it is significantly beefed up. As the right wing of the party geared up for a parliamentary battle, the prime minister was warned by former immigration minister Robert Jenrick that the plan simply doesnt work in its current form. Dozens of right-wing Conservatives are backing amendments to the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill that are aimed at effectively ignoring international law and severely limiting the capacity of individual migrants to resist being put on a flight to Kigali. Mr Jenrick refused to say whether he would vote for the legislation if it is not rewritten. This is the third piece of legislation in three years. Its three strikes or youre out, weve got to get this right, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme earlier this week. A spokesperson for the British government said: We can confirm there has been an incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters. Our thoughts are with all those involved. French authorities are leading the response and investigation. We will not be commenting further at this stage. Palm Beach homeowner and Fox News political anchor Bret Baier this month made some national news headlines himself, having co-moderated three Town Halls in Des Moines for the network as a preview to the Jan. 15 Iowa presidential caucuses. The week before the Town Halls, Baier made headlines in Palm Beach when he discussed the 2024 race for the White House and former President Donald Trumps divisiveness among voters during a sold-out talk Jan. 2 at the Society of the Four Arts. All of which may make a recent request to Town Hall for two new driveway gates at the Palm Beach house Baier shares with his wife, Amy, on Wells Road seem like small-news potatoes indeed. Bret Baier But in appearance-conscious Palm Beach, any change to a houses exterior can generate controversy, even when the request comes from a celebrity seeking to enhance security at an estate. As other homeowners including Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone have learned the hard way, driveway gates can be contentious projects for town officials, including the volunteers who sit on the powerful Architectural Commission. Commissioners are known to scrutinize every detail of a proposed gate, since it will be one of the first things passersby notice from the street. In 2021, for example, it took two appearances before the design board and a redesign before Stallone and his wife, Jennifer Flavin, won the boards approval for a replacement driveway gate at their North End estate. Commissioners had described the first gate design for the Stallone property as foreboding and out of scale. A rendering shows one of two solid-wood privacy gates initially designed for the Palm Beach estate of Sylvester and Jennifer Stallone but rejected by the Architectural Commission in July 2021. The board eventually approved a simpler gate design for the property. FROM THE 2021 ARCHIVES: No peeking! Sly Stallones Palm Beach renovation, including driveway gates, earns approval The board has also looked askance at requests for gates in neighborhoods where most of the homes dont have them. It those cases, gates can send an unwelcoming signal that makes the neighborhood appear less friendly, commissioners have told applicants. Fortunately for the Baiers, the design board had few reservations at its most recent meeting with the gates proposed for the couples house at 125 Wells Road on the North End. Theres a lot of gates on Wells Road, designer Keith Williams of Nievera Williams Design assured the panel before presenting the design Dec. 15. Bret Baier used a trust in his name to buy the Palm Beach Regency-style house for $37 million in July, property records show. The gates will be added to driveway columns that are already standing on the property, Williams said. A rendering depicts the driveway gate that was recently reviewed by the Architectural Commission for the Palm Beach home of Fox News political anchor Bret Baier and his wife, Amy. PRIVATE SALE: Fox's Bret Baier buys Palm Beach house for $37 million on Wells Road The look of the metalwork on the gates and front door was inspired by a design the Baiers saw in Paris and fell in love with, Williams added. We tried to replicate that. Commissioner Richard Sammons said he was fine with the design, but suggested that it could be refined a bit. He said the scrollwork on the top and the bottom shouldnt necessarily be identical. But I have no problem with it in concept, he said. Williams responded that he would restudy the design during the engineering process. After about 2 minutes of discussion, commissioners unanimously approved the project in a 6-0 vote. A rendering shows the new front door designed for the Palm Beach home of Fox News political anchor Bret Baier and his wife, Amy. Commissioners, who were considering the item at the tail end of a multihour meeting, joked about the short time it took to approve the project, saying it might be a record. Timing is relative, Commission Chairman Jeff Smith implied in a quip: It happens to old men with babies. They grow up so slowly, he said. At the same meeting, as previously reported by the Palm Beach Daily News, the board approved a security gate for house near the public dock on the North End at 1616 N. Ocean Blvd. That decision came after the board learned that trespassers visiting the dock had become a nuisance for the homeowner. The Wells Road house is one of two home the Baiers have bought in Palm Beach. The couple just sold, for a recorded $13.49 million, a house they bought for in March 2022 at 244 Fairview Road for a recorded $12 million. They purchased the Fairview Road house from a company controlled by fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger and his wife, Dee Ocleppo. Shortly before they acquired their larger house on Wells Road, they listed the Fairview Road property for sale. Priced at $15.9 million through broker Christian Angle of Christian Angle Real Estate, the house landed under contract on the day after Christmas, the MLS shows. The sale closed Jan. 12, according to the MLS. * This story was updated Jan. 16, 2024, to add information about the the sale of 244 Fairview Road. * Darrell Hofheinz is a USA TODAY Network of Florida journalist who writes about Palm Beach real estate in his weekly Beyond the Hedges column. He welcomes tips about real estate news on the island. Email dhofheinz@pbdailynews.com, call 561-820-3831 or tweet @PBDN_Hofheinz. * This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Fox's Bret Baier's $37M Palm Beach home OK'd for new security gates EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Theta Delta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. surprised 58 families by paying for their groceries Saturday, Jan. 13 at a Walmart in Northeast El Paso. The fraternity is on its third year of organizing the Pay it Forward service event in honor of one of its most notable members, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., according to a press release sent by the fraternity. The event took place at noon, Saturday, Jan. 13 at the Walmart at 5631 Dyer Street. In total, the fraternity paid $2,900 towards groceries, according to the press release. Rev. Dr. Anson Jordan is the current president of the Theta Delta Lambda Chapter. Theta Delta Lambda was chartered in 1962 and is a chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the oldest intercollegiate fraternity established for African-Americans. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. Penn States wrestling program has been around for 115 years. Cael Sanderson has been the coach for 15 of those years. On Sunday, in what may have been the No. 1 Nittany Lions first dual to never surrender a takedown, they shut out No. 21 Indiana, 46-0, in their Big Ten opener. It was the 21st shutout during Sandersons tenure, and continued the teams dual win streak to 48. It was the first shutout Penn State had since beating Rider, 45-0, on Feb. 20, 2022, and the first Big Ten shutout since blanking Maryland, 46-0, on Jan. 7, 2022. Seniors Aaron Brooks and Carter Starocci sat in amazement when told about the team holding a 35-0 takedown advantage. I was thinking actually about a close buddy of ours. Hes a local kid, he (wrestles) for State (College) High, but he just committed to Indiana, Starocci said with a laugh. I sent him a text today, Hey dude, were going to crush these dudes. He was like, Yeah, you are. Im going to give him a hard time, but that was my first thought. Its fun crushing teams and people. The seniors somewhat sat back seat to some freshmen in Sundays win. Yes, Brooks and Starocci tallied identical 19-4 technical falls, but true freshmen Braeden Davis, Tyler Kasak and Josh Barr recorded bonus point victories too. As a team, Penn State had bonus points in nine of the 10 bouts. Penn States Tyler Kasak controls Indianas Graham Rooks in the 149 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. Kasak had the biggest win of the day for any Nittany Lions wrestler. He took on No. 14 Graham Rooks, who was one round away from being an All-American last year. Kasak locked up a double-overs arm lock and tripped Rooks to the mat, and straight to his back. Rooks fought off his back to keep the match from ending so quickly. Late in the first period, Kasak chinned Rooks to his back for more nearfall points to give the Penn State wrestler an 11-0 lead. The second period saw Kasak secure another takedown as the lone points. The match came to an end as Kasak got an escape with one second left for a 15-0 technical fall. Shayne (Van Ness) wrestled that kid in the quarterfinals of the nationals last year. (Rooks is) a pretty good wrestler. (Kasak) just went out there and kind of scored his points, Sanderson said. He kept scoring, and found a way at the end to get that 15th point, which is pretty cool. Kasak threw a couple of different things out there today, which was good to see. Penn States Braeden Davis controls Indianas Michael Spangler in the 125 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. Davis, who has reached his max five competition dates, still has his redshirt available. However, after his performance on Sunday, that may be off come Friday when the Nittany Lions square off with Michigan. He opened the dual by taking on Michael Spangler and recorded points right away on a takedown. In the second period, Davis opened with a reversal and added another takedown to hold an 8-2 lead. The third period saw Spangler open with an escape, but Davis took him down and collected nearfall points in a 16-3 major decision. Were going to have to have some difficult discussions this week before we wrestle again, Sanderson said. Penn States Aaron Nagao wrestles Indianas Isaac Thornton in the 133 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. Between Davis and Kasaks victories, Aaron Nagao racked up a 19-4 technical fall on Isaac Thornton at 133 pounds in 5:24. Beau Bartlett followed Nagao with an 8-1 win over No. 23 Dan Fongaro. Penn State held a 22-0 lead at the half as Levi Haines followed Kasak with the Nittany Lions third technical fall, 17-0, in 6:12 over Zack Rotkvich. Mitchell Mesenbrink opened the second half with an injury default win against No. 23 Tyler Lillard in 2:07. Penn States Josh Barr wrestles Indianas Roman Rogotzke in the 184 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. Barr was sandwiched between Brooks and Staroccis wins as he filled in for Bernie Truax at 184 to make his Penn State dual debut. The Michigan native hit a nice double leg takedown on Roman Rogotzke to open the bout. Barr added a pair of takedowns in the second period to hold a 9-3 advantage. In the third period, Barr started from his feet and took Rogotzke down for a fourth takedown. He added a riding time point for a 13-4 major decision. I think hell be a multiple time national champ for sure, Starocci said of Barr. Hes one of those kids, you just got to kill him because hes going to keep coming after you just nonstop. When I wrestle someone for the first time, just to see their breaking point. He just never stopped. I think having that (mentality), the skills are going to keep adding on every single practice. Indianas Robert Major cant get away from Penn States Carter Starocci in the 174 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. No. 1 Penn State 46, No. 21 Indiana 0 Sunday at University Park 125: Braeden Davis, PSU, major dec. Michael Spangler, 16-3 133: No. 4 Aaron Nagao, PSU, tech. fall Isaac Thornton, 19-4 (5:24) 141: No. 2 Beau Bartlett, PSU, dec. No. 23 Dan Fongaro, 8-1 149: Tyler Kasak, PSU, tech. fall No. 14 Graham Rooks, 15-0 (6:59) 157: No. 1 Levi Haines, PSU, tech. fall Zack Rotkvich, 17-0 (6:12) 165: No. 10 Mitchell Mesenbrink, PSU, injury def. No. 23 Tyler Lillard, 2:07 174: No. 1 Carter Starocci, PSU, tech. fall Robert Major, 19-4 (3:42) 184: Josh Barr, PSU, major dec. Roman Rogotzke, 13-4 197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks, PSU, tech. fall Gabe Sollars, 19-4 (3:56) 285: No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet, PSU, major dec. Nick Willham, 14-2 Takedowns: I 0, PSU 35 Records: Indiana (3-2, 0-2 Big Ten), Penn State (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) Next match: Penn State at Michigan, Friday, 6 p.m. Penn States Greg Kerkvliet controls Indianas Nick Willham in the 285 lb bout of the match on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024 at Rec Hall. By Fadi Shana and Mohammed Salem RAFAH (Reuters) - Daubed in red paint on a fallen wall, the names Omar, Abdullah and Massa mark the spot where the three children were buried alive by an Israeli air strike in the Gaza Strip in November, their relatives say. Mohammad Abu Aweidah, an uncle of the missing children, said he visits the rubble of the home in Rafah every day in the "hope one can pull out their bodies, or take a last look at their remains". "We pray to God that we will be able to pull them out and see them," said Abu Aweidah. They were among 16 children killed in the strike that day, one of them his 18-month-old son, whose body was recovered, he said. The three children are among thousands of Palestinians whom authorities in Hamas-run Gaza say remain missing after 100 days of war, indicating the casualty toll could be well above the nearly 24,000 deaths recorded by health authorities in Gaza. The war, which began on Oct. 7 when Hamas fighters stormed Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 240 more, according to Israeli tallies, has been the deadliest in decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Health authorities in Gaza have estimated that about 40% of those confirmed killed are aged under 18. Abu Aweidah said his son had been "martyred in his sleep" after he'd put him to bed, asking what the infant had done to deserve such a fate. The ground was covered in chunks of masonry and twisted metal as he visited with his young daughter. "We have nothing left, the house is all gone, that was my father's labour, he spent 40-50 years building it and it vanished in a second, all of it, became a memory, became history, without prior notice," he said. Nearly the entire population of Gaza - 2.3 million people - have been forced to flee their homes during the Israeli offensive which has laid waste to the territory. Khaled Abu Aweidah, another relative, said his son Ihab and six grandchildren were among family members killed in the strike. Two of those grandchildren - Abdullah and Massa - were among the three children still missing, he said. "We long to get those three children out from under the rubble and bury them like human beings," he said. Ziad Mansour, a neighbour, recalled how he used to watch from his balcony as the Abu Aweidah children played. "In a blink of an eye, they vanished," he said. "They come here every day ... in hope that they can pull them out and bury them, knowing very well that they are with God." Mohammad al-Mughair of the Gaza civil defence said residents were calling in to appeal for help to get children out from under the rubble, including from areas in northern Gaza that have been too dangerous to reach due to military operations. He said rescue workers faced difficulties including the psychological impact of recovering bodies, especially "people who have been under the rubble for more than two months". "Moreover, we suffer from the limited resources, especially with the malfunction of the machines and bulldozers." (Writing by Nuha Sharaf and Tom Perry, Editing by William Maclean) St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov has claimed after meeting with wounded Russian soldiers that they knew what they were fighting for after seeing toilets "for gender-neutral people" in Ukrainian schools. Source: Beglov on Telegram; BBC News Russian Quote from Beglov: "Those who went through the Ukrainianised version of Donbas with an assault rifle in their hands are well aware of what we are fighting for. These guys have seen toilets in schools where instead of two rooms for girls and boys, there are three rooms for girls, boys and gender-neutrals - they dont need to be told what kind of values we stand for." Details: BBC News Russian reported that Beglov's remarks have surprised both supporters and opponents of Russia's war against Ukraine. Boris Vishnevsky, a lawmaker from St Petersburg, reminded people that "according to Rosstat, a quarter of Russians do not have centralised sewage systems and use cesspools and septic tanks". The so-called protection of children from Western influence and the strengthening of "traditional values" have been repeatedly cited by Russian politicians and officials as justification for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. When Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced the illegal annexation of four Ukrainian oblasts in September 2022, he devoted part of his speech to accusations against Western countries, where he claims "perversions are being imposed on" children. "Do we want to have 'parent number 1, number 2, number 3' instead of 'Mum' and 'Dad' here in our country, in Russia? Have they gone completely mad?" he said. In December 2022, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov complained about gender-neutral toilets in Sweden: "I asked where the toilet was. I was shown a door marked with the letters WC. I asked: Is this for ladies or gentlemen? I was told: We have everything shared. I didn't believe it, but it was true. You can't imagine how inhuman it is; it's just not human." Background: In April 2022, after the discovery of mass looting by the Russian military in the occupied territories of Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian dream is "to steal a toilet and die". Support UP or become our patron! Smaller or short-haired breeds may be more susceptible to the cold and could benefit from warm clothing or protective gear like doggy sweaters, jackets or boots. David J. Phillip/AP As the arctic chill arrives in San Antonio, the city is urging pet owners to ensure that the whole family stays warm. San Antonio Animal Care Services sent out a memo this weekend reminding residents that they are violating city and state law if they leave their pets outdoors when the temperature is below 32 degrees. With the forecast calling for freezing conditions over the next several days, San Antonio Animal Care Services will have zero tolerance for weather-related violations, the agency said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pet owners who do not provide adequate, humane shelter for their cats, dogs, rabbits and other household pets will face criminal citations from Animal Care patrol officers. Fines begin at $300 per violation. In a Facebook post, Animal Care Services said pets should be brought inside and shielded from the cold or, if they are outside, they should be provided shelter with three walls, a raised floor and a roof." The post also encourages everyone to check for outdoor cats seeking warmth near their hood or tires before starting their car. Other animal welfare organizations also posted helpful tips on Facebook. The San Antonio Humane Society, for example, encouraged people who are bringing outside animals indoors to set up an area in the laundry room, bathroom or carrier to keep it from getting into mischief. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And if you are keeping an animal in the garage, make sure it has a blanket to sleep on and is not exposed to any toxic substances like antifreeze, the organization said. The Animal Defense League of Texas, in its Facebook post, said a great way to keep pets happy and busy indoors is by providing enrichment like snuffle mats, toys and puzzles that mentally and physically stimulate dogs the same way as outdoor walks. Smaller or short-haired breeds may be more susceptible to the cold and could benefit from warm clothing or protective gear like doggy sweaters, jackets or boots to protect their paws from snow and ice, the post states. While some organizations focus on preparing pet owners for the winter weather, local shelters are asking for the publics help in keeping their animals safe. Advertisement Article continues below this ad On Saturday, ahead of the impending cold snap, San Antonio Pets Alive issued a request for fosters to help move its more than 100 animals from the kennels into warm homes. Our team is preparing to care for our most vulnerable, but we would be relieved if most of our precious animals were safely tucked away in a warm home and out of our multiple locations, the Facebook post reads. Those willing to open their homes to an animal, either longer-term or short-term, are asked to email San Antonio Pets Alives foster team at foster@sanantoniopetsalive.org. The shelter also is asking for blankets and space heaters to help keep all the animals that are left in the kennels warm. The supplies can be dropped off at the San Antonio Pets Alive Medical Center or 151 Rescue Center locations or purchased directly from the rescues Amazon Wishlist. Ukraine's Air Force conducted targeted strikes on 11 clusters of Russian personnel, ammunition, and military equipment, according to a morning update from the General Staff published on Jan. 14. Ukrainian troops have also intercepted seven Kh-101/555/55 cruise missiles and one Kh-59 guided missile. Additionally, Ukraine's missile units targeted three Russian clusters, nine artillery systems, four air defense systems, an ammunition depot, and an electronic warfare system. Over the past 24 hours, Russian troops launched 32 missile strikes and 91 air strikes against Ukraine. The military recorded at least 82 instances of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) firing on Ukrainian positions and civilian settlements. Russian artillery strikes affected over 120 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled four attacks in the Kupiansk direction near Synkivka in Kharkiv Oblast, according to the General Staff. In the Lyman direction, four Russian assaults were repelled in the vicinity of Makiivka in Luhansk Oblast and Terny in Donetsk Oblast. Read also: Biden: Republicans will have a lot to pay for if they dont pass Ukraine aid Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Hundreds of meals will be delivered to the Hospitality Hub Warming Center in response to this weeks winter weather. Employees at Global Cafe have a big order to prepare on Sunday. Many of them even came in despite it being their day off. General manager Juan Viramontes says its all for a good cause. So, we just want to make a little bit of an impact. We want to do what we can to help out as much as we can, said Viramontes. Employees are preparing 210 meals for people staying at the Hospitality Hub of Memphis during the severe winter weather. Accumulating snow, dangerous cold heading to the Mid-South Temperatures are expected to dip into the single digits which means many people will be not only in need of a place to stay but a meal to eat. Some of us know what it feels like to not know where your next meal is coming from, Viramontes said. Employees are not just delivering food. We cook food from these folks home country and hometown. What mom and grandma used to cook for you at home when you were little, said Viramontes. He says Global Cafe is a social enterprise business that primarily works with refugees and immigrants, and all of the food prepared will be from a different culture. Hickory Hill church opens warming center amid dangerous cold We have a home dish from Venezuela thats called pollo asado. Its earthy. Its homemade. Its chicken with potatoes and a cheese sauce, and it comes served with rice. Then were going to do some chicken shawarma. Were going to do some albondigas, which are meatballs, he said. While everyone may not speak the same language, Viramontes says these dishes are just another way to communicate. Food is a universal language. Not all of us will understand immigration. Not all of us will understand even homelessness, said Viramontes. Its good to be humble and to remember to give when you can because you dont know when youre going to be on the other end of things. Juan says he does not want this to be a one-day thing. He wants to continue doing this Monday and possibly Tuesday, but they need donations. Click here to make a donation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Nearly every sake story in U.S.-based publications opens with a historical vignette. Not one about the Japanese imperial court secretaries who 2,500 years ago interspersed their written reports on soil conditions and strange weather events with references to a beverage made from rice and mold. Instead, these stories start with the writer remembering when he was foolish enough to believe sake was always served summer sidewalk-hot in a handleless cup. Americans! For Ben Bell of Origami Sake Company in Hot Springs, Arkansas, though, any discussion of sake begins with a moment located between those two hash marks on the global timeline. Bell keeps a pair of empty wine bottles at Origami. The solar-powered brewery, which opened in 2023 in a former flour mill, has the capacity to annually produce 1 million liters of sake, which would make it by far the biggest sake producer in the country. (At this point, Origamis scrappy crew is straining to fill its Northwest Arkansas orders, an unsurprising circumstance in an industry that classifies century-old breweries as upstarts. Sake is complicated, says Bell, who serves as vice president of operations.) One of Bells spent bottles bears a Heitz Cellars label. The other once held Haut-Medoc from Margaux. These are props that Bell uses when he tells brewery visitors about the Judgment of Paris, the legendary 1976 showdown between Napa Valley and Bordeaux wine makers. Following a blind tasting, French judges ruled the winners came from California. Americans! Since then, the event has been relitigated, recreated and dramatized in two movies. Because while Gallo descendants and members of the UC Davis Viticulture department might want to argue otherwise, nothing changed the trajectory of American grown-and-made wine like the Judgment, which transformed fermented grape juice for the la-di-da set into a $79 billion business. These days, the average American drinks roughly 3 gallons of wine a year. By comparison, even though sake continues to make inroads with the domestic drinking public, your per capita share is just a little more than one tablespoon. Sake has crouched on the banks of the mainstream for decades, much as crickets have long been on the cusp of becoming a standard pantry item. Sake is booming in America, The New York Times announced in a 2023 article, citing import growth (relatedly, sake is cratering in Japan), retailer enthusiasm and a profusion of craft breweries, including Proper Sake in Nashville and North American Sake in Charlottesville. Yet at Origamis scale, theres us, them and another one, according to Bells accounting. Without a Judgment of Paris-like tipping point, popularizing a category now represented on a mere 2% of U.S. restaurant menus could prove downright undoable. Still, as the display wine bottles demonstrate, Bell and his business partner, CEO Matt Bell (no relation), plan to keep trying while they wait for the watershed. And at a time when their state is galloping off in a political direction away from New York Citys influential sake cognoscenti, theyre making Arkansas central to their marketing strategy. Something new that no ones on to yet Say Hot Springs, and people think of water, just as they know what to expect when they get to Butte, Montana. But the mineral-rich thermal waters that soothed President Harry Trumans poker losses and failed to clear up Al Capones syphilis arent the same as the water that Mountain Valley Spring Water has been bottling in Hot Springs since 1871, and its not the water that goes into Origamis sake. While Hot Springs groundwater is plentiful and clear, the Bells set up shop in the middle of Arkansas for another reason. Sake consists of four ingredients: Water, koji, yeast and rice. With apologies to the chemists in the crowd, lets focus on the rice, which is so abundant in Arkansas that some of it is shipped to China. Arkansas yearly produces more than 9 billion pounds of rice, or about half of the entire U.S. rice harvest. Much of that rice gets drunk in the form of Budweiser beer, which has been made with Arkansas rice since 1876. Yet Anheuser-Busch only recently started playing up its purchasing record, printing up vinyl Made with Arkansas rice advertising banners for bars to hang alongside their dartboards. Nevertheless, Ben Bell points out that the everyday guzzler isnt going to get a surge of state pride by looking at a Bud can. By contrast, he says, with sake, Rice is visible. Its on our label. Its our number-one talking point. Refrigerated koji, the cultivated mold needed to make sake, at Origami Hanna Raskin/The Food Section Specifically, Origami uses rice from Isbell Farms, which has been cultivating Koshihikari rice a short-grain varietal favored by Japanese sushi connoisseurs since the 1990s. Around 2010, Chris Isbell set aside five acres to see whether he could best his previous agricultural feat, which so stunned Japanese eaters who believed Koshihikari couldnt be grown off their island that tourists came to his farm by the busload. I dont know good sake from bad sake. I just grow rice, Isbell told an Arkansas Times reporter who in 2014 chronicled his successful Yamada Nishiki experiments. Japans top sake makers pounced on Isbells rice, which fit beautifully into their brews. But it also squared with Ben Bells dream of turning his home states crop into the beverage hed come to adore as a wine shop employee. A sensitive kid from Sheridan, Arkansas, Bell had a musical streak and quick mind that intimidated his public boarding school classmates, including those who physically towered over him. After graduation, he enrolled at and then flunked out of Grinnell College, before moving back to Little Rock. He took a job at Colonial Wine & Spirits in 2005 because it sounded less taxing than landscaping. He soon discovered that among wine geeks, Theres always a desire to find something new that no ones on to yet. Craft sake ended up becoming that thing to me. Over the next several years, Bell assembled a sake section for the store, wrote extensive sake lists for restaurants he ran and eventually apprenticed at a sake brewery in Japan. But making Arkansas sake lingered on his to-do list, as he told Isbell when Bell persuaded him to meet over catfish. In 2017, Bell got serious about the project. He abandoned it two years later, exhausted by the challenges of starting a new business, moving to New York City to help manage Skurnik Wines Japanese portfolio. He had every intention of staying with the distributor when serial entrepreneur Matt Bell called to recruit him for Origami. Bell demurred politely. He liked his work. He liked his salary. He liked the chopped cheese sandwiches at his neighborhood bodega. His willpower faded when he got to Hot Springs. It did look like a building you could make sake in, Bell said. On the drive back to Little Rock, I was like, Shit, Im going to do this. Ben Bell at Origami with bottles of two sakes Hanna Raskin/The Food Section A taste only Arkansas can make Wine grapes are famously malleable, developing different characteristics as the ambient temperature changes and nitrogen supply fluctuates. Rice isnt quite so capricious. A quality varietal is essentially the same everywhere, year over year, and a decent sake brewer can smooth over any flavor deviations. In fact, thats their job: Unlike wine makers who aim to showcase what a grape witnessed while on the vine, sake makers stay true to their labels signature styles. So, then, does sake have that sense of can-only-be-done-here terroir? Bells former instructor and acknowledged sake savant, John Gauntner, asked in a 2014 essay. I espouse that it does. As Gauntner sees it, sake terroir resides in the kura, or building, where its produced. That doesnt mean the physical structure alone, although Gauntner maintains that sake made in an industrial-walled factory wont taste exactly like sake brewed in a wooden hut. Rather, kura encompasses the intention and personality of the toji (master brewer), and the nature of the kuramoto (brewery president). In other words, the Bells determination to celebrate Arkansas, and participate outwardly in Hot Springs current cultural renaissance, is what ultimately shapes the distinctive flavors of Origamis two sakes: A fruity, acidic sake that Origamis website suggests pairing with smash burgers, and a cloudy counterpart that Japanese sake snobs might reflexively reject as too rustic. Their pro-Arkansas position has raised some eyebrows in progressive Northern cities where sake is starting to take hold. People who only know Arkansas as the place where one out of every four legislators meets the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights criteria for far-right extremist arent sure what to make of its elected officials touring and touting Origami. But Ben Bell remembers an Arkansas that wasnt so glaringly red; he isnt ready to cede the states identity to archconservatives. Were a big sense-of-place place, said Bell, whos endlessly frustrated by movie actors using generic Southern accents instead of narrowing their twangs to specific states. To that end, when representatives of sake equipment companies visit from Japan, Bell insists on taking them to Wards The Crawfish Hole, where the fried frog leg platters are trimmed with hushpuppies. Of course, making Arkansas case to sake professionals is just half of Origamis daunting task. To instigate a revolution that yields sake microbreweries in every sizable city and rows of sake on Kroger shelves, Origami has to pitch sake to Arkansans. This is kind of the hard truth, Bell said. People have to taste it. Its not going to become legitimate until the work of putting sake in front of people gets done. Pairings So, I tasted it. Before my trip to Hot Springs, I asked Bells former Skurnik boss, Jamie Graves, to choose imported sakes to match with Arkansas most iconic foods. He was game, although he had a few questions about the list of dishes I emailed. Id be lying if I said I knew what fried pie is, he wrote. Just deep-friedpie? (He made the call for Hojo Biden, based on its caramel notes, but the name which means pastoral beauty in Japanese made me feel patriotic about illegally drinking it in a park with a Feltners Whatta-Burger apple pie.) Not every pairing was persuasive. A swig of Gikyo Junmai Ginjo registered as harsh and alcoholic in the face of a McClards Half Spread, with the tamales tomato-based sauce blunting the promised hints of melon. On the savory side, Id recommend instead picking up a bottle of Shinkame Junmai, which in its cohesive richness was a more flattering complement to fried pickles than the ranch dressing supplied by Ed Walkers Drive-in in Fort Smith. Judgment of Camden has a nice ring to it, doesnt it? That Ouachita River railroad town policed until March by the states oldest cop, 93-year-old Buckshot Smith was the site of my sake tours apotheosis, where I drank Zaku Miyabi no Tomo Junmai Ginjo, soft and clean as freshly laundered towels, with white cheese dip. The two wildly disparate items were remarkably harmonic. Honestly, I didnt want to stop snacking and sipping. That gave me plenty of time to think, and heres where I landed: The tipping point for a beverage that stands to deepen the Souths complex and ongoing relationship with rice may not consist of the sake bombs being pushed at one end of the sophistication spectrum, or the tasting classes at the other. It might look a lot like a hot cup of something that Arkansans already love. This story first appeared in The Food Section, a Charleston-based newsletter covering food and drink across the American South. To learn more about the James Beard Award-winning publication, visit thefoodsection.substack.com. In a Myrtle Beach hotel ballroom that holds just under 2,000 people, Vice President Kamala Harris began ticking off President Joe Biden administrations accomplishments that benefit Black Americans. We are connecting every family in South Carolina and across our nation with high-speed internet, she said to the Black crowd at the 7th Episcopal District AME Church Womens Missionary Society annual retreat. Because you voted in 2020, we are removing every lead pipe in our nation ... we were able to invest more than $7 billion in our HBCUs. Her speech, on the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, went on to tout the appointment of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. As Republican presidential candidates campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, President Joe Biden and Harris are grabbing attention in South Carolina in January. Biden traveled Monday to Charleston to speak at Mother Emanuel AME Church, where nine Black churchgoers were killed by a white supremacist. And Harris returns to Columbia on Monday to speak at the annual King Day at the Dome festivities hosted by the NAACP South Carolina State Conference. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff traveled to the Lowcountry on Thursday, including a stop at Old Grace Chapel A.M.E. Church in Beaufort. The efforts are meant to energize Black voters, a demographic that rocketed Bidens campaign to the Democratic nomination after winning South Carolinas primary. These voters will need to be enthusiastic about voting for Biden if hes going to win a second term in the White House, even as polling indicates Biden has lost some of their support. Its one of the demographics the state party wants to energize ahead of the First in the Nation Democratic Presidential Primary on Feb. 3, to boost turnout in a primary Biden is expected to easily win. In addition to highlighting voters who are Black, live in the South and come from rural areas, having a high turnout for the primary will be another argument, to the Democratic National Committee that the Palmetto State should keep the first spot in the 2028 presidential nominating cycle. Joe Biden, on stage with Jim Clyburn and his daughter, Ashley Biden, and his wife, Jill Biden, thanks South Carolinians for after support at the University of South Carolina volleyball center. Biden won the South Carolina Democratic Presidential Primary in 2020. Biden drop in polling According to a USA Today/Suffolk University poll released this month, one in five Black voters says they will support a third party candidate in this years election. Biden only has support from 63% of Black voters down from the 87% of Black voters in 2020. A Harris/Messenger poll in November found 59% of Black voters planned to back Biden. Those numbers could be alarming for the incumbent president, but one Black lawmaker isnt worried. State Rep. JA Moore, D-Charleston, is not concerned about the low poll numbers for Biden among Black voters, pointing to how millions if not billions of dollars are spent ahead of an election to gain support. The poll numbers may just be a function of the calendar before full campaigning takes place. Its disingenuous to compare those numbers because youre talking about at the end of election cycle where at least a billion dollars was spent number one, and hundreds of thousands of hours, hundreds of thousands of doors were knocked, millions of pieces of mail went out, hundreds of thousands of radio ads were done, Moore said. We have a whole election cycle to get to that peak. State Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, said Democrats need to do a better job of touting the administrations accomplishments. She said the party needs to tell its story in plain language. We dont need the language of the bureaucracy describing the administrations accomplishments, Cobb-Hunter said. Democrats we dont do a good job of tooting our own horn. I think we have allowed Republicans to steal the message, Cobb-Hunter added. The stuff that the President has done, we do know about it, but weve not done a good job telling people what has been done, number one, and he has just started over the last few months pushing back against Republicans who voted no on all of these spending packages but are back home claiming credit. Supporters say they share the concern about messaging to the Black community. The Rev. William Swinton, the pastor at Ebenezer AME Church in Mount Pleasant, said the administration could do a better job of getting its message out. Unfortunately, some media sources tend to be more aggressive in terms of tearing down and accusing and, and blaming, Swinton said. And I think sometimes, as Democrats, we tend to just assume that people know what were doing, and how were helping the country and our communities to be better. So that messaging will need to come from other sources, not just through the media, Swinton said. Weve got to get the message out of it personally, in our congregations and our communities in our meetings in our fraternities and sororities, Swinton said. I think weve got to take some ownership of the message and not allow the media to dominate what needs to be said about our progress or whatever were doing in this country. Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at South Carolina State University on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. Rosa McWhite, 79, of Pamplico, who attended Harris speech in Myrtle Beach, said her health care insurance cost has gone down during Bidens administration, and plans to continue her support. I think theyre doing a fantastic job because I follow everything and what the economy is doing. I hear people saying that things are not going well that I dont have as much money as I should have in my pocket, McWhite said. But I look at the price of gas, thats down. I look at things that I do that cost less, the investments, I have a few (and) theyre going up I just know that if what the other party is promising happens, Im going to be worse off than I am today. She added the administration needs to tout accomplishments more as Democratic voters dont always vote as a bloc. If you notice one thing about the Democratic voters theyre not herd followers where the Republicans usually follow suit. If a Republican is doing one thing everyone does it. Democrats have never been like that, McWhite said. As Biden and Harris bring their messages to Black voters, theyre painting Republicans as extremists who will only hurt minority communities. During Bidens remarks in Charleston, the president touched on how on Jan. 6 one person even carried a Confederate flag while storming the capitol to try to stop certification of the 2020 presidential election. We saw something on Jan. 6th wed never seen before, even during the Civil War, Biden said. Insurrectionists waving Confederate flags inside the halls of Congress built by enslaved Americans. A mob attacked and called Black officers, Black veterans defending the nation those vile of racist names. Both former Gov. Nikki Haley and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott were both critical of Bidens visit. Fear is a common denominator in politics. President Bidens visit to Charleston to stoke fears as his numbers are dropping amongst all minority groups is remarkable, said Scott, the U.S. Senates only Black Republican, in a video released Jan. 8. But its also indicative of the fact that people of color, Americans all across this nation, are losing confidence in this president because the economy is volatile. Crime is raging. Education for the poorest kids in America seems elusive. Haley, who is running for the Republican nomination for president and recently was criticized for initially not saying slavery was a cause of the Civil War, used Bidens visit to point out the presidents past relationships with known segregationists. I dont need someone who palled around with segregationists in the 70s and has said racist comments all the way through his career lecturing me or anyone in South Carolina about what it means to have racism, slavery, or anything related to the Civil War, Haley said during a recent Fox News town hall. But, the Biden-Harris campaign says it will push back and is planning ad buys on African American radio, streaming audio, TV and print outlets in the state to communicate with constituencies about what the administration has accomplished and what could occur if the GOP wins the White House. Voters of color are the ones who have the most at stake in this election and we need to make sure that every single one of them understands the choice in front of them, said Biden-Harris 2024 Principal Deputy Campaign Manager Quentin Fulks. Because while MAGA Republicans push an extreme agenda that would harm communities of color and take our country backwards. President Biden and Vice President Harris have been fighting for policies that will make a real difference in their lives. A get out the vote march in Columbia, SC, last October. Ensuring high voter turnout in Democratic primary Biden is widely expected to win the South Carolina Democratic primary even though he has two challengers on the ballot: Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips and self-help author Marianne Williamson. According to an Emerson College Poll of South Carolina Democratic voters, Biden leads with 69% of support in the Palmetto State, Phillips is at 5%. Williamson is at 3%. The poll found 22% of Democratic voters are undecided. Despite the historic nature of this years Democratic primary, perception the result is a foregone conclusion could dampen turnout. A low voter turnout doesnt speak well for continuing to be the first in the nation, Cobb-Hunter said. Im just focused on getting people to want to participate and its tough, because people are just turned off. Whatever the turnout is Feb. 3, it may be compared to the 2020 South Carolinas Democratic primary, where 540,000 people participated, according to the State Election Commission. Cobb-Hunter said it will take more than just the Democratic Party to turnout voters for the primary, saying other groups, such as the progressive network and community-based groups and issue advocacy groups, can help promote turnout. But South Carolina voters dont register with political parties and can choose to vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary. Cobb-Hunter said she has spoken to some in Orangeburg County who are considering crossing over to the Republican Primary on Feb. 24 to vote for Haley. Cobb-Hunter said someone had reached out to a woman in a rural part of her district, indicating some sort of organized effort to draw non-Republican voters into the GOP primary. There is an effort, I dont know how widespread it is, but it certainly is one that is being made in my district, Cobb-Hunter said. Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison alongside South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain (right) speaks outside of the SCDP office in Columbia on Monday Dec. 11, 2023 about the state partys get out the vote efforts ahead of the Feb. 3, 2024 First in the Nation Democratic presidential primary. Katina Williams, a 50-year-old customer service representative for a warehousing company, she says she plans on voting in the Democratic primary. The Black Greenwood woman credits the administration for her helping bring down her health insurance costs for her and her family of four. She dismisses thoughts of even crossing over to the GOP primary even though Biden is the clear favorite to win the South Carolina Democratic primary. Theres nothing over with the Republicans thats for Katina at this point, Williams said. Im staying with Biden because Biden and that team has what I needed, what I sought for Katina in my household. To encourage turnout, the state party is making a six-figure investment in a get out the vote effort. It includes a statewide tour, outreach on college campuses. Its an effort Democratic Party officials are confident will help keep South Carolina in the lead-off position in 2028, as the Democratic National Committee said it would revisit the primary order every four years. I think if you take a look at the track record of the South Carolina Democratic Party in terms of getting voters to the polls and picking the eventual nominee of the Democratic Party, its almost second to none, said DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison, a South Carolina native. I am assured that we are going to get the turnout necessary to demonstrate to everybody, because we know here in South Carolina, but to demonstrate to the rest of the world that South Carolina is where presidential politics starts from now on. But anywhere South Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Christale Spain goes, she is ready to repeat the message to Democratic voters that they should not take advantage of the states open primary system and vote in the GOP Primary on Feb. 24. This is no time to sit on the sidelines of the Democratic primary, Spain said in a statement. Freedom and democracy itself are under direct attack from the extreme slate of GOP candidates running for president, including Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, who want to destroy the very foundations of our country. With so much on the line, its no exaggeration to say the future of this nation starts in the hands of South Carolinians. Spain sometimes is even more direct. Make sure you vote in your Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 3. Do not go try to do nothing else, Spain told attendees at state Sen. Tameika Isaac Devines victory party Jan. 2. Go vote for Democrats on Feb. 3. Youre not helping if you dont do that. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, criticized former President Donald Trump on Sunday for his use of the word hostages to describe his supporters who were imprisoned in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, saying theres no comparison between their incarceration and the plight of those taken hostage by Hamas after the terrorist groups Oct. 7 attack on Israel. At an event in Iowa last week, Trump said President Joe Biden ought to release the J6 hostages. Theyve suffered, using the abbreviation for Jan. 6. I call them hostages, he said. Some people call them prisoners. I call them hostages. Release the J6 hostages, Joe. Release them, Joe. You can do it real easy, Joe. On NBC News Meet the Press on Sunday, moderator Kristen Welker asked Ernst, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee who recently traveled to the Middle East with other lawmakers as part of efforts to secure the release of remaining American hostages, whether the former presidents characterization of the Jan. 6 rioters bothers her. It does in this context because we do have American hostages that are being held against their will all around the globe, and especially if you look at the innocents that were attacked and kidnapped on Oct. 7, Ernst said. We are approaching nearly 100 days. These are people that have been taken. Theyre held in tunnels with terrorists, they are being tortured, they have been raped, they have been denied medication. So equating the two, there is no comparison. The hostages are hostages, she added. I would certainly, you know, ask to speak to any of their families and see the anguish and the pain of not knowing whether their loved ones are alive or dead. There is a very clear difference. Trumps remarks have also drawn criticism from the families of those being held hostage by Hamas. The former president has additionally raised the possibility of pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. Asked on Sunday whether she would be against pardoning those convicted for participating in the Jan. 6 riot, Ernst said, I am not opposed to that. That is a presidents prerogative. After Welker noted that hundreds of the Jan. 6 rioters have pleaded guilty to crimes in connection with the Capitol attack, Ernst said she was not saying she would support pardoning them, but repeated her assertion that it is a presidents prerogative to do so. We have seen many presidents through the years that have pardoned many others. And so if Donald Trump chooses to do that as our next president of the United States, again, that will be his decision, she said. When Welker pressed her again on her stance, noting that she had called the rioters insurrectionists, Ernst denied having used the term. In an op-ed published in The Des Moines Register days after the Capitol attack, Ernst wrote that storming the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to influence elected officials an insurrection as many have called it is not, and will never be, a peaceful protest. She also wrote that the people who lawlessly breached the Capitol were a violent mob and criminals who should all be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The majority of the alleged rioters, many of whom were charged with misdemeanors, have been released pending trial. Most of those who remain in prison pleaded guilty to crimes or were found guilty by juries. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com With days to go before a Friday government funding deadline, disputes among House Republicans over a top-line spending deal and opposing strategies about how to approach any stopgap bill are threatening to plunge Washington into a partial shutdown. Such a prospect would mark a significant setback for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who is juggling warring factions within his party as he aims to execute the first major legislative deal of his Speakership. Efforts to fund the government saw a small sign of relief Friday when Johnson, after enduring days of sharp pushback from hard-line conservatives, said a top-line spending deal he struck with Democrats and the White House remains in place a win for swing-district Republicans and appropriators who have urged Johnson to follow through with the bipartisan agreement. But even as Johnson stuck by the deal, House Freedom Caucus Chair Bob Good (R-Va.) insisted he believed Johnson was still legitimately considering alternatives. Congress, nonetheless, will first have to pass a stopgap bill by Friday to buy the body more time to complete the dozen spending bills, appropriators in both parties say. Questions about what form that legislation takes, and how long it lasts, have moved to the front of the disputes between hard-line conservatives and moderates. Johnson had said in November that he would not support any more short-term stopgaps, and has not explicitly said if he supports a continuing resolution this time around. Asked about a potential stopgap last week, however, the Speaker said he had not ruled anything out. Its not only political storms complicating the path to averting a shutdown. Cross-country winter weather over the long weekend and into the week could shuffle travel plans for lawmakers trying to get back to Washington ahead of the funding deadline a reality that could complicate any GOP-only undertakings in the razor-thin House majority. As part of their push to get Johnson to renegotiate spending levels and secure conservative policy priorities, hard-liners are urging the Louisiana Republican to move ahead with a long-term continuing resolution potentially through the rest of fiscal 2024 in September which would trigger a 1 percent across-the-board cut, a mechanism included in the debt limit deal then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) struck with President Biden last year. The threat of that cut, long-term stopgap advocates argue, could give Republicans leverage to secure concessions such as changes to border policy. That creates the incentive to actually do the work were supposed to do, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said earlier in the week. But that patch faces roadblocks. Johnson asked a group of moderate Republicans if they could support a full-year continuing resolution during a meeting in his office Friday morning, and nearly all lawmakers said no, according to one attendee. He then hinted at a continuing resolution that would last through February or March to buy more time to complete work on all 12 spending bills, the source added. Democrats, appropriators and GOP defense hawks are also balking at the prospect of a full-year continuing resolution. I think their fallback position is really this year-long CR, and no appropriator likes a CR, said Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), a top appropriator, noting that a clean stopgap would mean no increase to military spending. So theres a lot of pushback, particularly in the House Armed Services [Committee] and with defense appropriators. Moderates and appropriators are pushing for a short-term continuing resolution just long enough to buy lawmakers more time to finish the appropriations process, believing it is important to keep up time pressure to quickly pass more funding measures. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Ohio), another top appropriator, said after leaving a meeting with Johnson that it would take at least 18 to 21 days for appropriations cardinals to finish their work and hash out policy riders in the funding bills Other ideas are in the mix, too. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said a stopgap should just fund the basic components of our government until new spending is approved. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-Fla.) said another concept being kicked around now is a cromnibus, which would fund government by combining a continuing resolution and a longer-term regular funding omnibus. The Senate, meanwhile, is not waiting for Johnson to navigate his fractious, slim majority. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took the first step toward advancing a stopgap bill Thursday, filing cloture on a shell bill that will be the vehicle for a continuing resolution. The chamber is eyeing a vote Tuesday. But it is unclear how Johnson will handle that move from the Senate amid all the intraparty disputes and whether he will side with the hard-liners or the appropriators. With time ticking until the funding deadline, the Speaker has not even explicitly said he will support any kind of stopgap though he has said that he does not want a shutdown. Under the two-step deadline structure pushed by Johnson to avoid a massive omnibus funding bill, money for the energy and water programs, military construction, and the departments of Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development run out Jan. 19, and funding for the rest of the government expires Feb. 2. Aside from deliberations over a stopgap bill, hard-line conservatives are demanding that border security be included in any government funding effort, pinning the politically prickly topic to the already convoluted shutdown showdown. Were asking for border security to be a feature of the discussion over government funding, not just something that is resolved within some supplemental Christmas future, said Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), referring to the ongoing bipartisan negotiations in the Senate on border security to unlock aid for Ukraine. After months of talks, the negotiators have not unveiled a deal. Some members of the right flank are going as far as to suggest they are willing to shut down the government if the border is not addressed in the funding fight. Asked if he was concerned about the government shutting down after the end of the week, Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, responded no. The governments not doing its job anyway, so whether its open or closed, in my view, is largely irrelevant, he said. Its not doing its job. Mike Lillis and Aris Folley contributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In April 1960, Charles Williams was picketing Joskes cafe, a downtown lunch counter that would not serve Black customers. A police officer, not in uniform, stopped him. Who do you work for, boy? the officer asked, planning to call the employer to have Williams removed from the picket line. Williams was self-employed, as a barber. Mr. Williams, he replied, handing the officer a business card. Call him anytime. The officer ripped up the card. I felt that was a blessing for me, Williams said. I had a leader say, God put you in a position that other folks cant do. I still believe that. As the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, San Antonio civil rights activists are looking toward the next generation of change-makers. San Antonio leaders see promise in three of the newest members of the city's MLK commission, which organizes the annual march Ananda Tomas, Trent Breitung and Valerie Reiffert. Dwayne Robinson, chair of the commission, said the trio brings a fresh perspective to the 16-member board. Tomas is the founder and executive director of ACT 4 SA, a police reform organization. Breitung is the digital organizer for the Texas Organizing Project, which strives to increase the political power and representation of people of color. Reiffert is co-founder of Radical Registrars, one of the few voter registration organizations led by Black women. The younger activists have big shoes to fill. San Antonio civil rights leader and owner of Williams Historical Museum, Charles E. Williams Sr. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News San Antonians such as Williams, Mario Salas and Aaronetta Pierce fought for desegregation. They worked to improve conditions on the East Side, a predominantly Black part of town. They made San Antonios march on Martin Luther King Jr. Day one of the largest in the nation. Williams once marched against segregation beside the Rev. Claude Black, civil rights leader Harry Burns and NAACP members. Local businessman and civil rights activist from the city's East Side, Charles E. Williams, Sr., at high school graduation. Today, he owns and operates the Williams Historical Museum. Below, he addresses the audience at a memorial service for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1977, in San Antonio. Express-News file photos, courtesy and Josie Norris Express-News file photos, courtesy and Josie Norris Local businessman and civil rights activist from the city's East Side, Charles E. Williams, Sr., at high school graduation. Today, he owns and operates the Williams Historical Museum. Below, he addresses the audience at a memorial service for Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1977, in San Antonio. Express-News file photos, courtesy and Josie Norris Express-News file photos, courtesy and Josie Norris Now he owns the site of the former St. Josephs AME church on Montana Street on the East Side. He turned it into the Williams Historical Museum, which features historical items from the pre-civil rights era to the present. Six decades after the police officer questioned Williams, Tomas is working to reform policing. She said 2020 provided the perfect storm for unjust acts across the nation. In May 2020, she joined thousands at Travis Park to protest the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police officers. She believes fighting for change honors her ancestors. Tomas said that truly living Kings dream means battling injustice. Thats part of her duty to future generations. We need folks fighting for change, she said. I hope we focus on moving forward and the people who are pushing that envelope even more. ALSO READ: Historic East Side church revived as San Antonio Black history museum Mario Salas poses for a portrait on Friday, Jan. 5 at the Williams Historical Museum. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Salas, a member of the countys historical commission who has taught African American studies, joined the Floyd protests to support Tomas and her generations call to arms. Im proud of her and the group that doesnt give up, Salas said. To this day, when you see it, you love it. Salas was 10 when he was walking to see a movie downtown and was intrigued by the sight of Williams and other protesters at Joskes. He asked a woman in line if he could carry a picket sign and join the protest. She told him no, he needed to ask his mother. Salas returned another day, picked up a sign and joined his first protest anyway. San Antonio civil rights leader, Mario Salas, speaks at a Selective Service System demonstration in 1970. Today, he is a member of the Bexar County Historical Commission who has taught African American studies. Below, he addresses the VIA Board as Co-Chair of the MLK March Committee. Express-News file photos and Josie Norris Express-News file photos and Josie Norris San Antonio civil rights leader, Mario Salas, speaks at a Selective Service System demonstration in 1970. Today, he is a member of the Bexar County Historical Commission who has taught African American studies. Below, he addresses the VIA Board as Co-Chair of the MLK March Committee. Express-News file photos and Josie Norris Express-News file photos and Josie Norris Several years later, as a member of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, hed march against discrimination and the death of Bobby Joe Phillips, a San Antonio Black man beaten by police. Williams is delighted when he sees a young person step up. He admires young folks who are daring and making a difference. Last week at the museum, Williams talked with Salas about the days when he was one of the young protesters Williams called rabble-rousers. I recall a gentleman saying to me one time, A washing machine is no good without an agitator, Williams said. And thats what they are theyre agitators; they keep things going. Salas said thats what the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., called for good trouble. We need folks fighting for change. Before it gets better, well have to go through some rough times, Williams predicted. After each storm, theres a rainbow. I do believe that we will see a beautiful rainbow for this country. At the end of the day, right wins out. Pierce agreed. She grew up in Nashville, Tenn., during the Jim Crow era, not far from historically Black universities and colleges. Striving for excellence against all odds was the baton her ancestors handed down. She became well-versed in African American history, an advocate of youth and respected across the city, qualities that prompted then-Mayor Henry Cisneros to select her as inaugural chair of the MLK commission. Pierce said one of the challenges todays torchbearers face are entities that want to rule others bodies and orientations. Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, who fought for equality in the 1960s and was the founding chair for the first MLK March in San Antonio, poses for a portrait on Wednesday in the Jo Long Theatre for Performing Arts at the Carver Community Cultural Center in San Antonio. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News A democracy of the people, by the people, for the people, is exactly that, Pierce said. We need to learn to stay out of the lanes that infringe on the rights of other people. Becoming a mother prompted Reiffert to take action in the city where she was born and raised. Reiffert said she came out of her fog after seeing the killings of Trayvon Martin and other Black men across the nation. It feels like its something that had to be done, Reiffert said. I feel grateful to be in a position to affect change. African-American arts advocate and civic leader, Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, fought for equality in the 1960s and was the founding chair for the first MLK March in San Antonio. As vice president of the San Antonio Performing Arts Association and board member of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Pierce worked to bring prominence to works of Black artists. Below she is seen with her longtime friend and fellow arts advocate, Maya Angelou. Express-News file photo, courtesy and Josie Norris Express-News file photo, courtesy and Josie Norris African-American arts advocate and civic leader, Aaronetta Hamilton Pierce, fought for equality in the 1960s and was the founding chair for the first MLK March in San Antonio. As vice president of the San Antonio Performing Arts Association and board member of the San Antonio Museum of Art, Pierce worked to bring prominence to works of Black artists. Below she is seen with her longtime friend and fellow arts advocate, Maya Angelou. Express-News file photo, courtesy and Josie Norris Express-News file photo, courtesy and Josie Norris Breitung is encouraged by young activists, such as the marchs scheduled guest speakers, fighting for economic and environmental justice. This years speakers are Anya Dilliard, a community activist and social entrepreneur; Jerome Foster II, the youngest member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council in the Biden administration; and Amariyanna Copeny, a 16-year-old who says she is a future president. Incoming Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo takes the oath of office during his swearing-in ceremony in Guatemala City, early Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo) GUATEMALA CITY (AP) Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemalas president on Monday minutes after midnight despite months of efforts to derail his inauguration, including foot-dragging and rising tensions right up until the transfer of power. Arevalo arrives in the presidency after winning Augusts elections by a comfortable margin. But nothing has been straightforward since, with Attorney General Consuelo Porras and the establishment forces observers say she represents throwing one legal challenge after another at Arevalo and his party. It fills me with deep honor to assume this lofty responsibility, showing that our democracy has the necessary strength to resist and that through unity and trust we can change the political panorama in Guatemala, Arevalo said in his first address as president. Arevalo thanked Guatemala's youth for not losing hope and the country's Indigenous peoples for their support, acknowledging historic debts that we must resolve. He summarized his administration's guiding principle as: There cannot be democracy without social justice and social justice cannot prevail without democracy. Despite hundreds of Arevalos supporters pressuring lawmakers to follow the constitution, even clashing with riot police outside the congress building Sunday, the inauguration process dragged for hours before he took the oath of office just past midnight. A progressive academic-turned-politician and son of a Guatemalan president credited with implementing key social reforms in the mid-20th century, Arevalo takes office with expectations of confronting Guatemalas entrenched corruption. But it will not be easy. He has little support in congress and Porras term as the top law enforcement official extends to 2026, though Arevalo has said one of his first orders of business will be to request her resignation. Supporters had been waiting hours for a festive inauguration celebration in Guatemala Citys emblematic Plaza de la Constitucion and were fed up with yet another delay, sweeping police roughly out of their way before gathering outside congress demanding legislators stop delaying and name the delegation that must attend the ceremony. Congress, which was supposed to attend the inauguration as a special session of the legislature, engaged in bitter infighting over who to recognize as part of the congressional delegation, as members yelled at each other. The leadership commission tasked with doing that was packed with old-guard opponents of Arevalo, and the delay was seen as a tactic to draw out the inauguration and weaken Arevalo. Arevalo wrote in his social media accounts that they are trying to damage democracy with illegalities, inconsequential details and abuses of power. Representatives from the U.S. government and Organization of American States called on the congress to respect Guatemala's constitution. Minutes before midnight, the special session of congress was convened. Porras had tried every legal trick in the book to put Arevalo on trial or in jail before he could take office. And Arevalos party won't have a majority in Congress and may not even have formal recognition there. Arevalo is an academic, diplomat and the son of a progressive president from the middle of the 20th century, and his election marked a political awakening in a population weary of corruption and impunity. I feel enthusiastic, because we are finally reaching the end of this long and torturous process," Arevalo said before his inauguration. Guatemalan society has developed the determination to say no to these political-criminal elites. In his address immediately after his swearing-in, Arevalo said we will not allow our institutions to submit again to corruption and impunity. Outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, widely criticized for eroding the country's democratic institutions, did not attend the inauguration. But as much as Arevalo wants to change things, he faces enormous obstacles. His anti-corruption stance and outsider status are threats to deep-rooted interests in the Central American country, observers say. Still, the fact he got this far is a testament to international support and condemnation of the myriad attempts to disqualify him. For many Guatemalans, the inauguration represented not only the culmination of Arevalos victory at the polls, but also their successful defense of the countrys democracy. In his first act as president, Arevalo visited the site outside the Attorney General's Office where Indigenous protesters have kept vigil for more than three months, demanding authorities respect the vote and that Porras step down. He applauded them for defending the country's democracy. It was an important gesture by Arevalo, who was criticized last week for including only one Indigenous person in his Cabinet. In October, hundreds had blocked highways across the country for three weeks to pressure authorities. Indigenous leaders took the opportunity Monday to urge Arevalo not to forget their support and the many basic needs of their communities. Meanwhile, back in the central plaza outside the theater where Arevalo was sworn in, supporters danced and cheered early Monday. I am very happy, said Manuel Perez, a 60-year-old retired teacher, as he danced to a band playing salsa music. Im here because Im Guatemalan and I love my country. I hope for a better life for everyone. Were going to be here celebrating until dawn. That Arevalo made it to within a day of his inauguration was largely owed to thousands of Guatemalas Indigenous people, who took to the streets last year to protest and demand that Porras and her prosecutors respect the Aug. 20 vote. Many had called for her resignation, but her term doesnt end until 2026 and it's not clear whether Arevalo can rid himself of her. Prosecutors sought to suspend Arevalos Seed Movement party a move that could prevent its legislators from holding leadership positions in Congress and strip Arevalo of his immunity three times. On Friday, his choice for vice president, Karin Herrera, announced that the Constitutional Court had granted her an injunction heading off a supposed arrest order. She was also sworn in early Monday. Prosecutors have alleged that the Seed Movement engaged in misdeeds in collecting signatures to register as a party years earlier, that its leaders encouraged a monthlong occupation of a public university, and that there was fraud in the election. International observers have denied that. One key was that Arevalo got early and strong support from the international community. The European Union, Organization of American States and the U.S. government repeatedly demanded respect for the popular vote. Washington has gone further, sanctioning Guatemalan officials and private citizens suspected of undermining the countrys democracy. On Thursday, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere, Brian A. Nichols, said the aggression toward Arevalo won't likely stop with his inauguration. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Latin America at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america Bernardo Arevalo takes the oath of office as Guatemala's President, in Guatemala City Bernardo Arevalo takes the oath of office as Guatemala's President, in Guatemala City By Sofia Menchu GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) -Anti-corruption crusader Bernardo Arevalo was sworn in as Guatemala's president in the early hours of Monday after a chaotic inauguration that was delayed for hours by a last-ditch attempt by Congress opponents to weaken his authority. The latest in a series of legislative setbacks triggered by opponents underscored the challenges Arevalo faces as leader of Central America's most populous nation, to which he has pledged to bring sweeping reforms and tackle the rising cost of living and violence, key drivers of migration to the United States. Arevalo won August elections by a landslide and about 9 hours after his inauguration was scheduled to start, he took the oath as president, replacing conservative politician Alejandro Giammattei whose government has been engulfed in corruption scandals. Giammattei skipped the ceremony. "Our democracy has the strength to resist and through unity and trust we can transform the political landscape in Guatemala," Arevalo said moments after taking office. "Never again will there be human rights violations," he added, as hundreds of supporters gathered in the capital's Plaza de la Constitucion to sing, dance and celebrate. Arevalo's unexpected election victory was seen as a watershed moment for Guatemala, where the 65-year-old has cast himself as a democracy advocate and the leader of a progressive movement bent on reshaping a political landscape long dominated by conservative parties. A career diplomat, sociologist and son of a former president, Arevalo has faced steady opposition from established political parties such as those of Giammattei, whose allies have repeatedly tried to undermine his election victory. Guatemala's attorney general, an ally of Giammattei, has made several attempts to hinder Arevalo's transition to the presidency, including trying to strip Arevalo and his vice president of legal immunity, attempting to suspend his Semilla party and annul the election. The attorney general's office has defended its actions as within the framework of Guatemala's laws, but the political infighting has highlighted to many Guatemalans the limitations Arevalo's administration faces. "My hopes are that he can at least really initiate change for Guatemala," said Adolfo Zacarias, 40, an accountant who waited many hours to hear Arevalo speak in Guatemala City. In addition to tackling domestic issues, the government of Arevalo and Vice President Karin Herrera will have to balance demands by the United States to stem migration amid record-high remittances that keep the local economy afloat. Acting on U.S. pressure, Giammattei often deployed the police and the military to stop migrants, and they used heavy-handed tactics such as launching tear gas at the crowds. In his inauguration speech, Arevalo said his government was committed to treating migrants crossing Guatemala's territory with "dignity, respect, compassion, in the same way we will demand that Guatemalan migrants are treated abroad." CONGRESS WRANGLING Arevalo's inauguration was thrown into disarray after the Supreme Court allowed opposition lawmakers to maintain their leadership of Congress, and forced members of the president's Semilla party to stand as independents, further diluting its presence. Semilla holds only 23 of the 160 seats in Congress. The move sparked wrangling in Congress, and supporters of Arevalo threatened to storm the building as police in riot gear amassed in the streets. The United States and several Latin American countries also called for Arevalo's election win to be respected. Arevalo's authority, however, got a boost after prominent Semilla lawmaker, Samuel Perez Alvarez, was unexpectedly elected as the Congress president. Leftist Honduran President Xiomara Castro attended the inauguration but the lengthy delay meant Chilean leader Gabriel Boric missed the event as he had to fly back home. The delays, however, did not seem to dim the joy of many of Arevalo's supporters, who set off fireworks as they celebrated late into the night. "The hopes for the new president of the republic are high," said Eli Montes, a 27-year-old doctor who waited for hours to hear Arevalo speak. "He has the opportunity to bring about change and leave to the next government a Guatemala that is on the road to the development." (Reporting by Sofia Menchu in Guatemala City; additional reporting by Laura Sanicola in Washington and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Cassandra Garrison and Drazen Jorgic; Editing by Mark Porter, Richard Chang and Diane Craft and Miral Fahmy) Haley says she is not interested in being vice president GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley said she is not interested in being vice president as the former South Carolina governor hopes for a strong finish in Iowa. CBS News reporter Tony Dokoupil asked Haley in an interview that aired on Face the Nation how she felt about some voters saying they would prefer her as a vice president rather than a president. I dont play for a second. Ive never played for a second. Im not going to start now. Im not interested in being vice president. Im running to be president and Im running to win and we will, she told him. Dokoupil pressed her further on what she would say to voters who like her for vice president but who are still backing former President Trump. Well, I think look, if you want four more years of chaos, thats what youre gonna get, she said. But whats more concerning is, you look at those head to head polls, Trump and Biden are pretty much even. Its gonna be a nail biter of an election. Were gonna be holding our breath I dont want a President Kamala Harris. Haley has faced criticism from her GOP rivals over speculation that she would accept an offer to be Trumps running mate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) campaign launched a Trump-Nikki 2024 website that argues Haley wants to be Trumps vice president, not president. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. New Hampshire firefighters are battling a massive blaze after multiple oil tankers caught fire on Saturday, the Exeter Fire Department said on X. Our firefighters have responded with mutual aid to this scene at 76 Depot Road in Epping involving multiple oil tankers reported on fire. pic.twitter.com/qCVVvZd7So Exeter Fire Dept. (@ExeterFire) January 13, 2024 Three oil tankers and a tractor-trailer at North Atlantic Fuels in Epping, caught fire, officials said, setting off a blaze large enough to require the assistance of a crash truck. A truck from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport arrived to provide foam fire suppression, the fire department said. A Southeast HAZMAT team with 500 gallons of foam also arrived to assist various fire crews on site. Video from the scene posted by the Exeter Fire Department shows burnt-out truck bodies engulfed in red-hot flames. Officials reported that there were no injuries. Exeter firefighters along with crews from several communities continue to work the scene of a massive fire involving three oil tankers and a tractor-trailer at North Atlantic Fuels in Epping. pic.twitter.com/mrvIBLGRDc Exeter Fire Dept. (@ExeterFire) January 13, 2024 This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Learn about larimar, rare blue gem found only in the Dominican Republic Quaker Oats expands granola product recall due to salmonella risk Photographer documents life on Golden Gate Bridge Council Member Marc Whyte listens to colleagues speak as the San Antonio City Council met late Sunday morning to pass a censure vote on the District 10 council member. Robin Jerstad As Mayor Ron Nirenberg listens, Council Member Marc Whyte speaks prior to the City Council censuring him for his recent arrest during a special session late Sunday morning. Robin Jerstad Council Member Marc Whyte hugs colleagues Marina Alderete Gavito and Melissa Cabello Havrda after a vote censuring him for his recent arrest was passed by the San Antonio City Council during a special session late Sunday morning. Robin Jerstad Council Member Marc Whyte speaks to the talks with colleague Manny Pelaez after a vote censuring him for his recent arrest was passed by the San Antonio City Council during a special session late Sunday morning. Robin Jerstad Council Member Marc Whyte speaks to the talks with colleague Manny Pelaez after a vote censuring him for his recent arrest was passed by the San Antonio City Council during a special session late Sunday morning. Robin Jerstad The San Antonio City Council voted 10-0 on Sunday morning to censure District 10 Council Member Marc Whyte after his arrest on a charge of driving while intoxicated in late December. Whytes reprimand is the third that council has leveled against members in the last 14 months. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the censure sent a message that council does not take drinking and driving lightly and that when one member of council behaves badly, it tarnishes San Antonians trust in city government. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Nobody on this dais is eager to discipline a colleague, but we are linked as members of the City Council, and its our duty to protect that reputation, he said. As community leaders, elected officials are held to a higher standard, and rightfully so. Such measures are symbolic, carrying no concrete penalties for the affected council members misbehavior. However, Nirenberg did punish Whyte in a tangible way, suspending the Northeast Side council member last week from three council committees on which he sat. His suspension will make it harder for Whyte to influence city policies, many of which take shape in council committees. The first-term council member sat on the Public Safety, Audit, and Economic and Workforce Development committees. Nirenberg has not said when he will let Whyte return to committee assignments. Sundays resolution states that Whytes actions and pending DWI charge have negatively impacted his and the City Councils ability to conduct its business. Advertisement Article continues below this ad A Councilmember should not put the public at risk, and by Councilmember Whyte irresponsibly drinking and driving, he put the public at risk, it states. But in his comments to council ahead of the vote and to reporters afterward, Whyte characterized his censure as a broader statement against drinking and driving, downplaying his own DWI arrest. This resolution here today, making a statement to the public that we dont want anyone to consume any amount of alcohol before they drive a car, I believe is worthy, he said as he urged his colleagues to vote for the censure without debate. The resolution didnt include a general statement along the lines Whyte described, and City Attorney Andy Segovia pointed that out during the meeting. He told council members that they were voting on the resolution as it was publicly posted late last week rather than as Whyte interpreted it on the dais. When asked about the discrepancy between the resolutions wording and his take on it, Whyte said that though the reprimand was based on his actions, he believes the broader message to the community is that people should not drink and drive. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whyte was not allowed to vote on the resolution Sunday. Council now has reprimanded two District 10 council members for drinking and driving since November 2022, when members unanimously cast a vote of no confidence against Council Member Clayton Perry, Whytes predecessor, who was accused of DWI and fleeing the scene of an accident. The week before the vote against Perry, council censured then-District 1 Council Member Mario Bravo for verbally attacking then-Council Member Ana Sandoval, a former romantic partner of his, during a meeting about two months earlier. In the two weeks leading up to Sundays censure vote, District 8 Council Member Manny Pelaez expressed concerns over symbolic reprimands, though he had voted to rebuke Bravo and Perry. He questioned whether council should reprimand members because the city charter does not outline when or how to do so. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Pelaez said he voted to censure Whyte on Sunday because Whyte had asked his colleagues to do so. Thats profound, Pelaez said. Very rarely, sad to say very rarely, do we see elected officials or anyone in leadership positions ask, Please hold me accountable and insist on something meaningful when it comes to that accountability. District 2 Council Member Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, one of councils most liberal members, called on Whyte, councils staunchest conservative, to rethink his tough-on-crime approach in light of his recent actions. When I found out this happened, it was a shock to me, and I know it doesnt speak to your character, McKee-Rodriguez said, addressing Whyte. But also, as a friend and colleague, what I hope to hear from you, Councilman Whyte, is a shift in rhetoric, because you now know what it feels like to be criminalized for something youve done, that you now regret actions that dont reflect on your character. And I believe thats what you owe our community. Council chose to meet Sunday, Nirenberg said, because it wanted to act swiftly. It would have been difficult to schedule a meeting during the week partly because of Mondays Martin Luther King Day Jr. holiday and Nirenbergs travel schedule. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Whytes arrest On the night of Dec. 29, an officer with the San Antonio Police Departments DWI unit pulled over Whyte, 43, after watching him drive erratically in the eastbound lanes of the Northeast Loop 410 access road south of San Antonio International Airport, according to the officers affidavit. Whyte was allegedly speeding and changing lanes without signaling. Whyte told officer D. McCroy that he had consumed three beers that night: one at El Mirasol, a popular Mexican restaurant at the upscale shopping and dining center Alon Town Centre on Northwest Military Highway; a second at Myrons Prime Steakhouse next door; and a third at the Thirsty Horse Dance Hall & Saloon, the affidavit states. Whyte met up with friends at El Mirasol, including District 6 Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda, who also visited Myrons with Whyte. However, she told the San Antonio Express-News that when the group decided to go to the Thirsty Horse, she was suffering from allergies and decided to go home. She had taken an Uber to El Mirasol, but Whyte drove her home, dropping her off between 9 and 9:30 p.m. before meeting his other friends at the Thirsty Horse. Whyte was arrested shortly after 11 p.m. that night. District 1 Council Member Sukh Kaur was also at El Mirasol that night, but with a different group. She told the Express-News that she spoke briefly with Whyte at the restaurant and had no other interaction with him. Neither Kaur nor Cabello Havrda made comments before voting to reprimand Whyte. On the day he was arrested, Whyte had returned to San Antonio after a weeklong family trip to Australia. He landed in Houston that morning, then drove back to San Antonio. His family remained in Australia for another week to continue visiting with Whytes cousins. Whyte left early for a volunteer engagement in San Antonio. On McCroys body camera footage, the council member was polite and coherent, and he insisted he was sober and able to drive. McCroy questioned Whyte and put him through a series of field sobriety tests in the parking lot of a PNC Bank branch. Whyte refused to take a breathalyzer test or have his blood drawn to determine his blood alcohol concentration. Police got a warrant, and a nurse drew his blood about 1:30 a.m. Dec. 30. The results of the blood test arent expected for several weeks or months. Whyte was released from the Bexar County jail early Dec. 30, his bail having been set at $2,000. A court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30. The day he was released, Whyte apologized for driving after having a few drinks, though he insisted he did not feel intoxicated. Whyte continued to apologize Sunday for his actions. HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) The Hampton Sheriffs Office is warning citizens about scammers impersonating deputies over the phone. According to the sheriffs office, the caller pretends to be a deputy and tells victims they have warrants out for their arrest because of a missed court appearance. Then the scammer tells the victims they must make a payment in the form of a prepaid debit card to avoid arrest and demands that they remain on the phone until the payment is received. Officials say the scammers have brazenly asked some victims to meet them at the sheriffs office. The sheriffs office confirmed that it does not request collection fines over the phone but by serving summons. Anyone who receives this type of call should avoid giving out any information and should never meet the caller anywhere. For questions or to report a scam call the Hampton Sheriffs Office at 757-728-2010 or 757-926-2540. Please call the Hampton Police Division at 757-727-6111 to file a report of losses as a result of this scam. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this listing had the wrong date for the presentation on schools in Tanzania. It will take place Saturday afternoon at St. Placid Priory and on Zoom. Monday, Jan. 15 Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration: The New Life Baptist Church in Lacey is again providing a community celebration and commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his national holiday, Monday, Jan. 15. The church is located at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE. The event recognizes the life, work, and legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and drum major for justice. Senior Pastor Rev. David L. Reaves and the churchs Community Engagement Ministry invite the Thurston County community to join the event that was warmly embraced by many in 2023. All are welcome. Questions can be directed to Dr. Thelma Jackson at 360-259-7304. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Inspiring Kids Preserve: Join Capitol Land Trust on this annual day of service to honor the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. and help improve important wildlife habitat. This project will take place at the land trusts 108-acre Inspiring Kids Preserve on Henderson Inlet. Volunteers will remove invasive plants such as scotch broom and English ivy from areas where they are threatening vulnerable native plants. The project will involve using hand tools, walking on uneven ground both on and off trail, and through knee-high grass. Distance walked will be up to a mile. A portable toilet will be available in the parking area. Snacks and warm drinks will be provided. Space is limited. Learn more and RSVP on the land trust website. Driving directions will be sent after registration. Tuesday, Jan. 16 Thurston Board of County Commissioners public hearing on agriculture code changes: The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, to accept comment on proposed changes to the Thurston County code to clarify and expand allowed uses in agricultural areas. You can view more detailed information about the proposals at www.thurstonag.org. The hearing will take place in Suite 110 at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia or online. You can submit written or emailed comments no later than noon Tuesday, Jan. 16. Send comments to Maya Teeple, Senior Planner, at maya.teeple@co.thurston.wa.us or by mail to: Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development, Attn: Maya Teeple, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Suite 100, Olympia, WA 98501. Proposed amendments include new and revised definitions for agricultural uses, increased flexibility within Long-Term Agriculture, and clarified language and standards in the Agritourism Overlay District. Zoning map changes are not included as part of this hearing and will have a separate hearing in the future. Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 1 p.m. is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and Programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To get a link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you. Wednesday, Jan. 17 Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation: The presentation at 4 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and Programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. For more information, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. Thursday, Jan. 18 Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday in an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. To get a link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you. Olympia World Affairs Council monthly speaker program via Zoom: Dr. Kristie L. Ebi will speak about Climate Change: An Update on Recent National and International Activities at 7:30 p.m. Ebi has been conducting research and practice on the health risks of climate variability and change for 25 years. She has just returned from the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, called the Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in early December in Dubai UAE. For more details and login information, visit the OWAC website. Wonderful, Weird, and Worrisome Objects in Washington State Museums: Most museums display no more than 10 percent of their holdings, often citing not enough space as the reason. But there are also a wide range of cultural, philosophical, political, environmental, historic, and even superstitious reasons why museums keep some objects from public view. In this talk, explore a wide range of hidden objects found in the back rooms of museums in Washington state and around the country. Examples include a Spokane institution that holds Bing Crosbys toupees and a museum in Lynden thats home to a 150-year-old pickle. This talk takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Quarry House, 319 W. Park Ave., Tenino, and is hosted by the Tenino Timberland Library. Friday, Jan. 19 Quixote Village 10-year anniversary: Quixote Village, a tiny home village at 3350 Mottman Road SW, is turning 10. Celebrate with the community at its free Open House from 3-5 p.m. Friday. Light refreshments will be provided. Saturday, Jan. 20 Make Some Noise at the WET Science Center: Put your ears to the test! Listen to a variety of interesting sounds and guess what they are. Build a recycled musical instrument to join the jam session and make music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free. Cultural Community Center Resource Day: ASHHO will host a Cultural Community Resource Day, a bimonthly event designed to foster connections and showcase the wealth of free and low-cost resources available in the local community. It will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at ASHHO (which means come join in Bengali), 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater. Discover opportunities to connect with fellow community members and explore resources that contribute to the well-being of Thurston County, from educational support and health services to cultural enrichment. Runia Soul Cafe will be open, serving ethnic soul food. Presentation on Schools in Tanzania: The Chipole Connection supports the work of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes in Tanzania. Sister Redempta Ndunguru, a graduate of Saint Martins University in Lacey, will give a presentation on the orders schools and daycare programs in Tanzania. This is a fundraiser for all the programs the sisters support. The presentation will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the multi-purpose room at St. Placid Priory, 500 College St. NE, Lacey. The program will also be available to watch on zoom, Meeting ID: 822 8609 9765, Password: 270201. For more information, email chipole.connection@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page Chipole Connection. Would you like to have your event included in our weekly Whats Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put Whats Happening in the subject line. When Rep. Emilia Sykes was minority leader of the Ohio House, shed sit down each term with her Democratic freshman colleagues and ask them, What does success look like for you? Inevitably, theyd share grand but unrealistic plans things like, Im going to fix the school funding formula. Sykes realized as a Democratic leader in a Republican-controlled state legislature that she had to choose her battles and find ways to help her constituents. She knew getting her bills passed would likely be an uphill battle. Effective lawmakers find ways to assist those they were elected to serve and to advocate for their community, even when gridlock makes it nearly impossible to get laws passed. Sykes has taken this approach with her to Washington as she begins the second year of her first two-year term representing Ohios 13th Congressional District. During a recent meeting with the editorial boards of the Akron Beacon Journal and Canton Repository, Sykes shared how she has tried to effectively navigate what she calls one of the least effective Congresses in modern history to benefit the region. Her tenure marks the first time in decades that Akron and its nearly 200,000 residents are represented by a single member of the U.S. House of Representatives. The citys power had been diluted because lawmakers carved the city into as many as four separate districts. Its a welcome change. We did not seek out a very broad package of legislative activity because, quite frankly, I just didnt think it was going to be very fruitful to do so, Sykes said. And Im very glad that we made that decision, because you could spin your wheels pretty significantly trying to put together a lot of legislation for it to go nowhere. Instead, Sykes secured appointments on the Houses Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Science, Space and Technology Committee bodies that are important to the region, especially as Akron seeks to capitalize off its polymer expertise. In October, the U.S. Department of Commerce named Akron one of 31 new federal tech hubs from more than 400 applicants across the country. Akrons polymer cluster will now compete for about $500 million in funding from the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act. Between five to 10 of the hubs will receive up to $75 million each. This potential influx of federal funding could be exactly what Akron needs to take advantage of its historical strengths to expand the local economy. Sykes has been working with the Greater Akron Chamber and other regional partners in the initiative to help strengthen the application. Theres also more clout, as she said, in a letter of support from a member of Congress who actually lives here and is going to ask and lobby and continue to advocate in a way that we really havent had because all of our members of Congress lived elsewhere for so many periods of time. When the Federal Railroad Administration announced last year that Ohio is in line for service expansion but Akron and Canton werent part of the plans, Sykes took notice. No one even bothered to mention Akron-Canton in the conversation, she said. It just never came up. And that is what I hear over and over. No one said it; no one said those two communities. She then met with the Amtrak CEO to urge future expansions to include the region, citing such benefits as connecting travelers with Akron-Canton Airport and workers in Central Ohios growing job market with Greater Akrons more affordable housing stock. Theres no word yet whether her request will go anywhere, but at least someone is speaking up for the region. During her tenure, she brought back $100 million in federal dollars to the district. The Akron Metro RTA station, for example, received a $37 million grant to build a new facility. In Stark County, SARTA is getting another $4 million in federal funds to continue to be the leader in hydrogen-powered vehicles in the country. As a legislator, Sykes cant write grants for constituents, but she has knowledge of what grants are available, and she can share advise on how to secure them. There is still a lot work to be done a fact Sykes readily acknowledges. Too many Akron-Canton residents still struggle to make ends meet or pay off students loans. Downtown Akron has many vacancies to fill in a post-COVID, work-from-home era. And local businesses need more workers. Whats Sykes No. 1 priority for the remaining year of her freshman term? So its pretty boring, she said. I just want this government to work for people in this area. In these times of uncivil discourse and ineffective division in federal politics, well take boring any day. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Having one voice for Akron in the U.S. House brings many benefits By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Heavy rains that buffeted Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state this weekend have killed at least 11 people, according to the state fire service. The rains flooded streets, the capital city's metro line and peoples' homes, bringing down trees and causing landslides. Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes announced a state of emergency while President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government offered federal support. Firefighters are still looking for one woman who is missing after her vehicle fell in a river. (Reporting by Gabriel Stargardter; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) Heavy snow started falling in the Oklahoma City area mid morning Sunday, accumulating on roads and making for difficult driving conditions as temperatures hovered around 3 degrees. Check here for live weather updates and to check road conditions, power outages and school closings in real-time. Snow continues to move to the east with the most persistent snowfall from Oklahoma City to Guthrie to Perry to Stillwater across central to north central Oklahoma. Brief periods of moderate snowfall are possible in this area. #okwx pic.twitter.com/yfKxzqhhds NWS Norman (@NWSNorman) January 14, 2024 Weather outlook for Oklahoma City area The Oklahoma City metro will endure another couple days of bitter cold before a brief break and the possible return of snow next week. Bands of snow across the area Sunday produced up to an inch of snowfall, according to the National Weather Service in Norman. Parts of Oklahoma highways were shut down due to collisions. EMSA medics in the Oklahoma City area responded to what the agency said was a high number of cold exposure calls. EMSA responded to eight exposure calls through 3:30 p.m. Sunday and a total of 13 since Friday. EMSA made six cold exposure transports through the same time Sunday and a total of 9 since Friday. NWS forecasters predict a warmup for the middle of the week before the chance of snow again. The clouds are going to start clearing out tonight and it will be very dry through the week, Meteoroligist Jennifer Thompson with the National Weather Service in Norman said. Brutal wind chills are expected over the next couple days, with a high of 14 degrees predicted for Monday and a high of 25 degrees predicted for Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday will be sunny with a high around 43 degrees, according the NWS. Friday is expected to dip down to a high of 29 degrees. Saturday will sunny with a high of 34 degrees before a chance of snow returns late next Sunday, according to the NWS. Josh Dulaney EMSA responding to cold exposure calls EMSA medics in the Oklahoma City area have responded to what the agency says is a high number of cold exposure calls. EMSA responded to eight exposure calls through 3:30 p.m. Sunday and a total of 13 since Friday. EMSA made six cold exposure transports through the same time Sunday and a total of 9 since Friday. The agency urges those who must go outside to layer clothing, and wear a heavy coat, hat, gloves and warm boots or shoes with traction. Josh Dulaney Part of Turner Turnpike closed The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reports the Turner Turnpike westbound in Lincoln County is closed at mile marker 166 due to a multi-vehicle collision. Josh Dulaney Heartland Flyer remains in Fort Worth The Oklahoma Department of Transportation reports that the Amtrak Heartland Flyer will remain Sunday night in Fort Worth due to winter weather forecasted in Oklahoma and Texas. If weather permits, the Flyer will return to Oklahoma City on its usual schedule Monday night, according to ODOT. Josh Dulaney How long will snow fall in OKC metro? Forecasters expect light snow to fall in the Oklahoma City metro through 3 p.m. Sunday. In general we're looking for near an inch of accumulation in some parts of the metro, Meteorologist Ryan Barnes with the National Weather Service in Norman said. The NWS says the high will hit around 9 degrees, with wind chills at -14 degrees because of a northeast wind around 10 mph. The main concern continues to be very cold wind chills through tonight and tomorrow, Barnes said. The NWS forecasts a slight chance of snow before 7 p.m., then a slight chance of snow after 1 a.m. Forecasters project a 20% of snow before 7 a.m. Monday. The high Monday is expected to be near 17 degrees with wind chills as low as -10 degrees. Josh Dulaney Check Oklahoma road conditions Check Oklahoma road conditions thanks to ODOT's interactive map. Live Oklahoma power outages map See live updates on how winter weather is impacting OGE power. Closings due to the weather Keep up with school, church and event closings using the link below. Oklahoma City Severe Weather Closings: Schools, churches, other services This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Live updates: Oklahoma weather forecast, OKC road conditions, closures The Scene ATLANTIC, Iowa Donald Trumps Republican opponents returned to the trail on Saturday, facing sub-zero temperatures but no new snow. They also faced pranksters. At a stop here, where the the Super PAC that supports Ron DeSantis, Never Back Down, bought McDonalds cheeseburgers for around 30 potential voters, DeSantis was interrupted by The Good Liars, a liberal-leaning comedy duo. Nothings going to stop us, said the candidates wife, Casey, before being interrupted by Davram Steifler. Real quick, before we get started thank you, everyone! said Steifler. I want to present to you this participation trophy. A dozen cameras rolled as Steifler attempted to hand the candidate his prize. Some in the Republican crowd laughed, quieting after Steifler told DeSantis he was probably not gonna win the election. DeSantis blocked the trophy with his hand. I dont do participation trophies, he said, beckoning a security guard as Casey DeSantis put herself between the prankster and her husband. Sorry, buddy. The DeSantises, joined by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, Texas Rep. Chip Roy, and social conservative activist Bob Vander Plaats, went ahead with the program. Steiflers partner, Jason Selvig, slowly moved between the press corps and the DeSantis team. When he attempted to speak, guards sprung into action and hauled him out of the room. He was not from Atlantic, DeSantis said. He told the crowd about a protester whod interrupted an event in Ames the day before, shouting about his donations from the energy industry: Theyre charging the stage and complaining about fossil fuels in the middle of a blizzard. Winter storms have thinned candidates crowds this week, but each candidate on the ground Trump canceled his Saturday schedule had dealt with unwelcome interruptions. Vivek Ramaswamy repeatedly quieted climate protesters at a stop in Des Moines, telling them they werent being productive, and blowing their chances at asking real questions. Nikki Haley, whose campaign has more firmly controlled attendance and media access, ignored a question from a man working with pro-Trump social media influencer Laura Loomer would she return a donation from LinkedIns Reid Hoffman in light of the Epstein documents? Haley does not take questions while meeting voters after her event, as journalist Michael Tracey found when he attempted to ask the candidate a question about U.S. military strikes in Yemen; he was removed, and told not to return, before she could respond. Davids view Id thought this weeks weather might pre-empt the usual caucus circus the pranksters and hecklers who put themselves between candidates who dont want to go off message, and reporters thirsty for spontaneous weirdness. Well, no. The Good Liars, whod shown up to tweak Democrats four years ago, delighted pro-Trump influencers this time. Video of the trophy exchange was shared widely on Saturday, a coup for comedians who have spent hours conducting oddball interviews of Trump supporters. MAGA Twitter, part of the conservative media that DeSantis has griped about, has delighted in footage of the candidate being mocked or confronted. This is [whats] wrong with the college system right there, DeSantis said in Ames, as the climate protester was wrestled to the ground. Ramaswamy has made the most of the interruptions; his campaign, which streams all of his events, highlighted how hes dealt with hostile questioners or protesters, talking them down instead of removing them. The campaigns recording of the candidate debating gender surgery with an LGBT protester has 1.3 million views on YouTube. Hed also criticized Haley and DeSantis for keeping out Laura Loomer, who on Friday followed the Florida governor in the lobby of his West Des Moines hotel. (When are you gonna drop out? she asked him. Dont you think youve already wasted enough of peoples money?) Trump, who has traveled with Secret Service protection since 2015, is kept away from this sort of embarrassment. He arrived in the state on Saturday night, checking in to the Hotel Fort Des Moines and then sitting for a friendly town hall interview conducted by Attorney Gen. Brenna Bird. Notable The Des Moines Register Iowa poll, a quadrennial benchmark, found Trump ending the campaign with 48% of the caucus electorate, Haley with 20%, and DeSantis with 16%. Haley is drawing support from Democrats and independents a potential advantage in small, early votes but a liability as the election moves into large states with primaries closed to Republican electorates. The cold could make an already unrepresentative process even less representative, the AP suggests. Elderly Iowans, the backbone of the caucus, are wondering how they will make it to their sites Monday. Political types are mentally downgrading their expected turnout and wondering who a smaller, harder-core electorate will favor. Terry Mikeska is a San Angelo native who saw the destruction an earthquake caused in Nepal in 2015 and knew he had to help. The Terry Mikeska Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization, provides continuous assistance to the Nepalese and other nations rebuilding from natural disasters. "To see such total destruction half-way around the world just broke my heart," he said on his website. Thanks to over 300 family, friends, businesses and churches, the San Angelo community raised over $16,000 in cash donations and supplies to enable his group to provide assistance aiding over 3,000 people. "During this trip I was able to get a first-hand look at the extent of dire need in this area, which fostered plans for my next mission," he said. "After returning to San Angelo, I was approached by a Christian family who saw my vision and wanted to help. With their support, I formed the Terry Mikeska Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization, thereby enabling continuous assistance to the Nepalese and other nations rebuilding from natural disasters by making all donations tax-deductible." In the past eight years since the earthquake, the foundation has completed 114 aid projects in the country of Nepal. The Terry Mikeska Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization, provides continuous assistance to the Nepalese and other nations rebuilding from natural disasters. The foundation constructed of a new school including school supplies, solar systems for generating electricity, housing and medical camps, restrooms and sanitation stations, water filtration systems, health care supplies, and the opportunity for health care providers to attend to the villagers, some of whom have never had medical attention before. "We seek to serve the whole person with the construction of two Christian churches and the distribution of hundreds of Holy Bibles," Mikeska said. "We have developed training classes for women who want to learn a skill and provided musical instruments for school programs. We have provided the first-ever special sanitary services for young women who were previously neglected during their periods and provided health education to support those efforts." Mikeska's most recent trip was in August and September in 2023, where he joined pastor Amosh Khadka and his family to finish the construction of his second Christian church in west Nepal. "Due to the past years of COVID restrictions throughout the country, it was a challenge getting the supplies needed to finish construction and complete the project," Mikeska said. In August, the church was completed. The pastor invited the district Hindu governor and staff to the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with a few hundred Christian people. "It was truly an unbelievable sight," he said. On Nov. 3, 2023, there was a 6.4 M earthquake where several provinces suffered structural damage and over 150 fatalities. "Our new church stood strong throughout," Mikeska said. Since then, Mikeska has been on the west side of Nepal delivering truckloads of rice, Bibles, knitted hats and clothes to the Christian churches and their families. The Terry Mikeska Foundation, a non-profit 501c3 organization, provides continuous assistance to the Nepalese and other nations rebuilding from natural disasters. "Hundreds of families lined up with their children and babies tied to their backs to receive help, many of whom had walked miles to get there," he said. Also in 2023, the foundation hosted a three-day conference where they provided transportation by bus for attendees. "That trip could take more than a day on foot," he said. "We would bring in speakers from the Nepal Bible Study and provide meals." Eventually, 203 Christian leaders signed up for the conference. "I was not budgeted for that many, but how do you tell a pastor they cannot attend? But because of my many foundation angels, we made it happen," he said. "After the conference the pastors and leaders asked if we had any Holy Bibles they could take back to their villages and through the grace of God we made it happen. Missionary work isnt always planned. Sometimes the hardest part and the best part is seeing a need and responding to it without any bureaucracy, just for the benefit of the people." Mikeska also took over 100 children on their first-ever field trip off to three different areas in the Jhapa district. "We had breakfast and lunch and toured a museum," he said. "The children were able to learn much about their history. It's hard to believe the entire field trip only costs $3.80 U.S. per student for the tours and meals. Here, even small donations change the world." While on the east side of Nepal, Mikeska visited the Lions Club of Women in Nepal and Leo Club of Girls as the foundation continues to build large restrooms with sanitary cleansing stations and sanitation vending machine products for the schools. The Lions Club of Women also gives sanitation classes to remote schools. "I was recently contacted by them about a school that desperately needs a water tank and filtration system for its students," he said. "Im currently working on that project which will cost about $1,600 in total." While in east Nepal, the foundation also distributed mosquito nets, a projector for a school and womens training center, and 100 stacking chairs for a womens organization that meets monthly and usually sits on the ground for their meetings. These womens organizations work in their local communities on projects that benefit children. With the help of the Wall Brethren Church Christian Sisters, hundreds of undergarments were collected that Mikeska could distribute to the many villages throughout Nepal along with hundreds of knitted hats and gloves made by the angel donors in San Angelo. "Many of the children in the villages had never owned a pair of underwear," he said. Mikeska said he slept most of the way back to the U.S. with a 12-hour layover in Qatar. "When I landed at DFW airport, I realized how blessed we are to have so many programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, unemployment benefits, government programs, COVID relief, food banks and so on," he said. "I am beyond grateful and blessed to live in the USA, and happy that I have been blessed with donors who believe in what we try to do for these very poor people." The Terry Mikeska Foundation will provide warm clothes, blankets and food for 400 families this winter. They estimate this to cost $3,500. The next Terry Mikeska Foundation mission will happen in the spring of 2024 and the requests that have come in for projects already total over $40,000. If you or your organization would like to participate in the Nepal missions with the Terry Mikeska Foundation you may contact the Foundation at terrymikeskafoundation.org. or terrymfoundation@aol.com or call 325-277-5466. You can also mail your gift to the Terry Mikeska Foundation P.O Box 61692, San Angelo, Texas 76906. Your contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. "Prepare now to make your mark around the world," Mikeska said. This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Here's what the Terry Mikeska Foundation did in 2023 in Nepal The name Martin Luther King Jr. is iconic in the United States. President Barack Obama mentioned King in both his Democratic National Convention nomination acceptance and victory speeches in 2008, when he said, [King] brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincolns Memorialto speak of his dream. Indeed, much of Kings legacy lives on in such arresting oral performances. They made him a global figure. Kings preaching used the power of language to interpret the gospel in the context of Black misery and Christian hope. He directed people to life-giving resources and spoke provocatively of a present and active divine interventionist who summons preachers to name reality in places where pain, oppression and neglect abound. In other words, King used a prophetic voice in his preaching the hopeful voice that begins in prayer and attends to human tragedy. So what led to the rise of the Black preacher and shaped Kings prophetic voice? In my book, The Journey and Promise of African American Preaching, I discuss the historical formation of the Black preacher. My work on African American prophetic preaching shows that Kings clarion calls for justice were offspring of earlier prophetic preaching that flowered as a consequence of the racism in the U.S. From slavery to the Great Migration First, lets look at some of the social, cultural and political challenges that gave birth to the black religious leader, specifically those who assumed political roles with the communitys blessing and beyond the church proper. In slave society, Black preachers played an important role in the community: they acted as seers interpreting the significance of events; as pastors calling for unity and solidarity; and as messianic figures provoking the first stirrings of resentment against oppressors. The religious revivalism or the Great Awakening of the 18th century brought to America a Bible-centered brand of Christianity evangelicalism that dominated the religious landscape by the early 19th century. Evangelicals emphasized a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This new movement made Christianity more accessible, livelier, without overtaxing educational demands. Africans converted to Christianity in large numbers during the revivals and most became Baptists and Methodists. With fewer educational restrictions placed on them, Black preachers emerged in the period as preachers and teachers, despite their slave status. Africans viewed the revivals as a way to reclaim some of the remnants of African culture in a strange new world. They incorporated and adopted religious symbols into a new cultural system with relative ease. Rise of the Black cleric-politician Despite the development of Black preachers and the significant social and religious advancements of Blacks during this period of revival, Reconstruction the process of rebuilding the South soon after the Civil War posed numerous challenges for white slaveholders who resented the political advancement of newly freed Africans. As independent Black churches proliferated in Reconstruction America, Black ministers preached to their own. Some became bivocational. It was not out of the norm to find pastors who led congregations on Sunday and held jobs as schoolteachers and administrators during the work week. Others held important political positions. Altogether, 16 African Americans served in the U.S. Congress during Reconstruction. For example, South Carolinas House of Representatives Richard Harvey Cain, who attended Wilberforce University, the first private Black American university, served in the 43rd and 45th Congresses and as pastor of a series of African Methodist churches. Others, such as former slave and Methodist minister and educator Hiram Rhoades Revels and Henry McNeal Turner, shared similar profiles. Revels was a preacher who became Americas first African American senator. Turner was appointed chaplain in the Union Army by President Abraham Lincoln. To address the myriad problems and concerns of blacks in this era, Black preachers discovered that congregations expected them not only to guide worship but also to be the communitys lead informant in the public square. The cradle of Kings spiritual heritage Many other events converged as well, impacting Black life that would later influence Kings prophetic vision: President Woodrow Wilson declared U.S. entry into World War I in 1917; as boll weevils ravaged crops in 1916 there was widespread agricultural depression; and then there was the rise of Jim Crow laws that were to legally enforce racial segregation until 1965. Such tide-swelling events, in multiplier effect, ushered in the largest internal movement of people on American soil, the Great Black Migration. Between 1916 and 1918, an average of 500 Southern migrants a day departed the South. More than 1.5 million relocated to Northern communities between 1916 and 1940. Records of immigration and passenger arrivals during the Great Migration stored at the National Archives in Washington. AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite A watershed, the Great Migration brought about contrasting expectations concerning the mission and identity of the African American church. The infrastructure of Northern black churches were unprepared to deal with the migrations distressing effects. Its suddenness and size overwhelmed preexisting operations. The immense suffering brought on by the Great Migration and the racial hatred they had escaped drove many clergy to reflect more deeply on the meaning of freedom and oppression. Black preachers refused to believe that the Christian gospel and discrimination were compatible. However, Black preachers seldom modified their preaching strategies. Rather than establishing centers for Black self-improvement focused on job training, home economics classes and libraries, nearly all Southern preachers who came North continued to offer priestly sermons. These sermons exalted the virtues of humility, good will and patience, as they had in the South. Setting the prophetic tradition Three clergy outliers one a woman initiated change. These three pastors were particularly inventive in the way they approached their preaching task. Baptist pastor Adam C. Powell Sr., the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AMEZ) pastor Florence S. Randolph and the African Methodist Episcopal bishop Reverdy C. Ransom spoke to human tragedy, both in and out of the black church. They brought a distinctive form of prophetic preaching that united spiritual transformation with social reform and confronted black dehumanization. Bishop Ransoms discontentment arose while preaching to Chicagos silk-stocking church Bethel A.M.E. the elite church which had no desire to welcome the poor and jobless masses that came to the North. He left and began the Institutional Church and Social Settlement, which combined worship and social services. [ Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. ] Randolph and Powell synthesized their roles as preachers and social reformers. Randolph brought into her prophetic vision her tasks as preacher, missionary, organizer, suffragist and pastor. Powell became pastor at the historic Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. In that role, he led the congregation to establish a community house and nursing home to meet the political, religious and social needs of Blacks. A March 9, 1965 file photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Alabama. King learned from these progressive black preachers who came before him. AP Photo, File Shaping of Kings vision The preaching tradition that these early clergy fashioned would have profound impact on Kings moral and ethical vision. They linked the vision of Jesus Christ as stated in the Bible of bringing good news to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind and proclaiming liberty to the captives, with the Hebrew prophets mandate of speaking truth to power. Similar to how they responded to the complex challenges brought on by the Great Migration of the early 20th century, King brought prophetic interpretation to brutal racism, Jim Crow segregation and poverty in the 1950s and 60s. Indeed, Kings prophetic vision ultimately invited his martyrdom. But through the prophetic preaching tradition already well established by his time, King brought people of every tribe, class and creed closer toward forming Gods beloved community an anchor of love and hope for humankind. This is an updated version of a piece first published on Jan. 15, 2017. Editors note: This piece has been updated to fix the year the U.S. entered into World War I, and to reflect changes in our style for Black. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Kenyatta R. Gilbert, Howard University School of Divinity Read more: Kenyatta R. Gilbert does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. The emergency police dispatch went out just before 10 p.m.: Gunfire reported at the Washington, DC, home of a prominent federal official. A male caller said he shot his girlfriend and threatened to kill himself, according to a source familiar with the incident last Sunday. With claims of a gunshot victim and a potentially barricaded suspect, DC metropolitan police launched officers to the residence and the citys fire department began dispatching multiple rescue teams. Eleven minutes later, the clipped, agitated voice of a firefighter on the scene came across the radio, instructing dispatchers to immediately halt all inbound resources. Weve thoroughly searched the area with (police), the first responder reported. We find nothing. Return all units. According to a police report, an unidentified woman at the residence told officers she was alone and uninjured. The home belonged to Tanya Chutkan, the federal judge overseeing the election subversion case against former President Donald Trump. She is just one of the latest high-profile victims in a new wave of swatting incidents occurring during an election season security experts fear will be marked by increased intimidation and violence. US District Judge Tanya Chutkan was the victim of swatting. - Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Toxic mix for misunderstanding and danger Swatting is a dangerous criminal hoax where a false report is made to police with the express purpose of luring them to a location, where they are led to believe a horrific crime such as a mass shooting, an imminent bombing, or hostage taking has been committed or is in progress. This can result in a forceful response from local police and SWAT teams, who have no way to know the call is a hoax. Swatting has been on the FBIs radar for nearly two decades, and gained notoriety after high-profile celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, Justin Bieber and Kim Kardashian became victims. In a 2008 assessment of the new phenomenon, the FBI said a group of recently convicted swatters were motivated by bragging rights and ego, versus any monetary gain, noting group members did it because they could. Over time, law enforcement analysts studying incidents of swatting have observed an expanded list of motivations, including personal or societal grievances, disrupting operations at schools and places of business, diverting law enforcement resources away from other crimes, and financial gain. And what started as a way for mischief-making video gamers to commit pranks has, in recent months, resulted in numerous high-profile political victims. The troubling trend even reached the White House on Monday, when a call was placed to 911 falsely claiming there had been a fire and someone was trapped inside, a source familiar with the incident told CNN. Multiple fire and EMS units were dispatched to the White House following the call at 7:03 a.m., which was traced to a fake number, the source said. The call was quickly determined to be a false alarm resulting from a swatting incident and an all clear was heard on dispatch radio at 7:15 a.m. President Joe Biden spent the weekend at Camp David and wasnt at the White House at the time. The US Secret Service declined to comment, directing questions to DC Fire and EMS. CNN has reached out to the department for comment. On Thursday morning, Nassau County police in New York rushed to the home of Judge Arthur Engoron in response to a bomb threat on the same day he was presiding over closing arguments in the $370 million civil fraud trial against Trump. Investigators said they were treating it as a swatting incident, and deemed it an unfounded threat. Last week, Capitol buildings in multiple states were temporarily shut and evacuated because of threats claiming explosives had been placed inside. We have a tendency to view these swatting incidents as not really real because, by definition, they are a hoax, but there is nothing funny or pretend about them, said CNN Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem, who specializes in threat management. Rapidly responding police officers coming upon a startled bystander who is totally unaware of what is happening is a toxic mix for misunderstanding and danger. The results of swatting have indeed been deadly. In 2017, Andrew Finch was killed by police after a group of online gamers later imprisoned took part in calling 911 to report a man at his residence shot his father in the head, and was holding his mother and brother at gunpoint, threatening to set the home ablaze. Finch came out of the house when police arrived and was shot, according to the US attorney, when he dropped his hands as officers were telling him to raise his arms. A Capitol police officer responding to a swatting incident January 3 at the Mississippi State Capitol in Jackson. - Rogelio V. Solis/AP An old technique using modern technology While prank calls and fake threats are as old as telecommunication, the relative anonymity afforded by the internet has often frustrated the ability of law enforcement to geographically pinpoint bad actors who are causing panic and fear. According to law enforcement intelligence analysts, sophisticated techniques used by swatters have included calls placed online using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services, so-called virtual private networks that can mask a users unique address, as well as the use of multiple internet routers to help obfuscate the origin of the call. Some swatters also have employed artificial intelligence to alter a callers voice. An analysis by the Washington Post of fake threats to hundreds of schools last year found incidents in at least 12 states involved a perpetrator making free calls using a foreign VoIP service. It is an old technique using modern technology, said Oren Segal, vice president of the Center on Extremism at the Anti-Defamation League, who spoke with CNN following threats to more than 400 US Jewish institutions in one weekend alone last month. More than 30 FBI field offices across the country were involved in investigating those threats, which investigators believe were connected and sent from overseas. Online threats are cheaper and easier to mask than any time in human history, Segal said. Investigate and prosecute In response to the recent spate of swatting incidents, law enforcement across the country has stepped up efforts to better share real-time information in hopes of catching perpetrators. Last year, the FBI launched a Virtual Command Center in partnership with state and local authorities, a law enforcement official told CNN. The initiative allows police and intelligence fusion centers to share details of swatting incidents taking place within their jurisdictions, providing authorities nationwide with a common operating picture regarding the nature of the threat, and can assist in identifying whether the same perpetrator is responsible for multiple incidents. Since its inception last May, over 500 swatting incidents have been reported to the initiative, the official said. Authorities also have increased efforts to help educate first responders on how to determine if an emergency call might be a hoax. State homeland security analysts in New Jersey, for example, note a call reporting a mass casualty event might be suspicious if it is the only call police have received, compared to the multiple calls typically received following an actual incident. Analysts say another revealing sign of a potential hoax is if the caller is dialing a nonemergency line to report a threat since VoIP services often used by swatters do not allow users to dial 911 and if the callers vocal tone and background noise do not match the attack they are claiming to witness. While online investigations can be extremely difficult, authorities point to another critical avenue of deterrence: arrests. Last month, the FBI and local police announced the arrest of a juvenile in Southern California, whom authorities say was part of a swatting ring responsible for a series of threats targeting numerous religious, educational, and public institutions in the United States, to include Jewish synagogues and African American churches. In May, a 16-year-old was arrested in Florida on suspicion of making a series of false reports of bomb threats at several schools and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. National security experts predict the increase in incidents will be met by a ratcheting up of aggressive prosecutions. We have to set a baseline of acceptable conduct, Kayyem said. The only way to stop these is to investigate and prosecute to the full extent of law. A message to be silent The latest wave of swatting incidents targeting high-profile political figures has threat watchers concerned about the impact such a continued campaign of fear will have on those running for office and the public servants responsible for managing free and fair elections. What happened to me was designed to send a message to be silent, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows said in an interview this week with CNN. State police responded to a swatting call at her home last month, a day after she removed Trump from the states 2024 primary ballot in a decision based on the 14th Amendments insurrectionist ban. The Democrat called the swatting of her home and the non-stop threatening communications her colleagues have been receiving unacceptable. Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows was the victim of swatting after she removed Donald Trump's name from the primary ballot in her state. - Robert F. Bukaty/AP We as a state and we as a nation are better than this, said Bellows, but noted those who seek to intimidate through swatting are a tiny minority seeking to sow discord. She said most Americans share values in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Our laws and our Constitution will carry us through. Those sentiments were echoed by former Democratic state senator Adam Morfeld of Nebraska, who told CNN his home was swatted on Christmas morning by a perpetrator who told police Morfeld had just killed his wife and was threatening to kill himself. I think its meant to silence people and keep them from exercising their constitutional rights and participating in the political sphere, said Morfeld. This is a bipartisan issue, said Georgia state Sen. Clint Dixon one of several Republican officials who also have been recent victims of swatting. Some states, such as Ohio, Virginia and Washington, have recently enacted laws to strengthen the penalties for swatting, but Dixon told CNN swatting should also be made a federal crime. While authorities have begun adapting to a new type of threat, some elected leaders say the burden should not just be on law enforcement and the criminal justice system, but on those responsible for the toxic political climate. Theres something every one of us can do to ensure 2024 is peaceful and protect democracy: de-escalate rhetoric, Bellows said. Stop dehumanizing. Have civil, even passionate dialogue with respect and civility. CNNs Dakin Andone, Adam Levine, Jason Hanna, Jamiel Lynch, Artemis Moshtaghian, Melissa Alonso, John Miller, Sabrina Shulman, Betsy Klein and Rene Marsh contributed to this report For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com People fill the street along Martin Luther King Drive as they take part in the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. March in San Antonio. Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer San Antonios annual Martin Luther King Jr. March and Celebration will be delayed to 11 a.m. Monday because of the wintry weather forecast, the city and the MLK Commission announced Sunday. The event originally was slated to begin at 10 a.m. with lineup beginning at 9 a.m., but its being delayed by one hour because of the possibility of a mix of freezing rain and sleet. Lineup will now begin at 10 a.m. with the march setting off an hour later. As one of the largest MLK marches in the nation, thousands of people are expected to show up to the march this year. However, weather conditions are expected to be extra chilly with an arctic cold front that moved into San Antonio over the weekend and is expected to stay in the area through Wednesday morning. Monday is expected to be one of the coldest days of the year with low temperatures likely to fall to 25 degrees by 6 or 7 a.m. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory thats in effect through noon Monday. Marchers will start their route at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Academy at 3501 Martin Luther King Drive and head west for about 3 miles before ending at Pittman-Sullivan Park, where a celebration will be held. The city is encouraging residents to take precautions when traveling and wear appropriate clothing to the march. The city offered several tips: Wear two to three or more layers, with at least one insulating layer. Wear an outer layer to keep out wind. Wear gloves and a warm hat. Wear warm, waterproof boots. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) endorsed GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley just one day ahead of the Iowa caucuses on Sunday. I think Nikki Haley has got all the momentum. And what this race is really all about and is trying to nominate the strongest possible nominee for November, Hogan said on CNNs State of the Union. Im convinced that the momentum is with Nikki Haley. Hogan, who has been critical of former President Trump, said Haley could potentially win New Hampshire if she does well in the Iowa caucus on Monday. Haley clinched the second-place spot in a recent NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll released Saturday, but is still 28 points behind the former president. You know, I have been saying since last spring when I made the decision not to run that I really did not want to see a multicar pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump. I think we want to have the strongest possible nominee in November. Polls show that that is Nikki Haley, that shes 17 points ahead of Joe Biden, and its a toss-up with Trump and Biden and DeSantis is losing. So, yes, I think its time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley, Hogan said. My friend Chris Christie dropped out of the race in New Hampshire, appreciate his effort. But I believe that Nikki Haley is the strongest chance for us to put put forth our best possible candidate for November, he added. Hogan recently stepped down from his leadership position on No Labels, a political organization pushing for a bipartisan ticket. This sparked speculation that he may be launching a third-party bid, but the former governor dismissed the rumors when asked by CNNs Jake Tapper. No, Jake, my it kind of created a whole lot of speculation and then I didnt mean to do that my position on No Labels has not changed, he said. Im focused on trying to nominate the strongest possible Republican we can, which is why Im urging everyone to get behind Nikki Haley. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Lincoln Memorial in August 1963. (Photo/Wikipedia Commons) Guest Opinion. As we come together this Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I hope we can all reflect on his life and ideals. Setting aside a day to honor him is a crucial step toward making Oklahoma and America a better place for all of us, regardless of race, gender, religion, orientation, or socio-economic standing. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s advocacy left an indelible mark on our nation, inspiring positive change from the community level to the highest levels of government. Indian Country and all of the United States benefited greatly from MLKs call for justice, not just for a select few but for every citizen. His remarkable gift of words, both written and spoken, continues to inspire millions who share the dream of hope and fairness. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. I am honored to be the annual Parade Marshal in Tulsa for the 2024 celebration. Tulsas MLK Parade is one of the largest in the entire country, and rightfully so. It is a time for Native people to join Americans of every color in learning how we can work better together. Dr. King talked about the arc of history bending toward justice, but it only bends if we bend it. Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. I am proud that Cherokee Nation can be part of achieving justice and equal rights for all. Dr. Kings ideal of inclusion for all is manifested in the tribes embrace of Cherokee Freedmen, descendants of former slaves, as tribal citizens. Beginning in 2017, we honored the treaty promise to those citizens. We have since created a task force to preserve and promote Cherokee Freedmen art and history. A historic exhibition was launched at the Cherokee National History Museum to tell the story of their struggle, perseverance and reconciliation. That exhibit continues to travel and offer a unique learning opportunity and insight into our tribal history. In 2020, I signed an executive order that ensures all Cherokee citizens are to be regarded as equals under the law, irrespective of descendancy, race, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status, and discrimination on these grounds is unlawful and incompatible with Cherokee values. Dr. Kings dream of a society where individuals are judged by their character rather than their outward characteristics resonates with the Cherokee Nation's commitment to treating all citizens equally. The MLK holiday is widely associated with a call for a "Day On, Not a Day Off." Its a reminder to look for ways to actively serve our community. In that spirit, we recently instituted a new program for tribal citizens to commit to public service for the greater good. Called Gadugi Corps, this Cherokee Nation program enables us to better engage in real volunteerism and care for others. The Cherokee Nation is moving closer to Dr. King's vision and legacy. On MLK Day and every day, we carry forward the torch of unity, inclusion and service that he inspired. I am inspired by and grateful to all those who carry it with us. Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. While Florida hospitals continue to see a nursing shortage, significant advances were made in 2023, according to data from the Florida Hospital Association. The nursing vacancy rate in 2023 was 13%, which is a vast improvement from 2022, when nursing vacancies in the state were at 21%. This is also below the national vacancy level of 16%. While this was a marked improvement over 2022, it is still slightly above historical figures. Dating back to 1990, the vacancy rate typically hovered around 6% to 7%, with a low of 4% in 2009 and a high of 12% in 1990. Read: 4 Central Florida neighborhoods ranked among best-selling U.S. communities Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. For most African-Americans who grew up with the legacy of segregation and violence, making space for introspection was difficult. Martin Luther King Jr., however, learned to integrate spiritual growth with social transformation a practice that sustained him during periods of intense work for the civil rights movement. As a historian who has studied how figures in American history struggled with similar questions, I believe one significant influence on Kings thought in this area was the African-American minister, theologian and mystic Howard Thurman. The influence of Howard Thurman Born in 1899, Thurman was 30 years older than King: the same age, in fact, as Kings father. Through his sermons and teaching at Howard University and Boston University, he influenced intellectually and spiritually an entire generation that became the leadership of the civil rights movement. Among his most significant contributions was bringing the ideas of nonviolence to the movement. It was Thurmans trip to India in 1935, where he met Mahatma Gandhi, that was greatly influential in incorporating the principles of nonviolence in the African-American freedom struggle. At the close of the meeting, which was long highlighted by Thurman as a central event of his life, Gandhi reportedly told Thurman that it may be through the Negroes that the unadulterated message of nonviolence will be delivered to the world. King and others remembered and repeated that phrase during the early years of the civil rights movement in the 1950s. Thurman and King were both steeped in the black Baptist tradition. Both thought long about how to apply their church experiences and theological training into challenging the white supremacist ideology of segregation. However, initially their encounters were brief. Thurman had served as dean of Marsh Chapel at Boston University from 1953 to 1965. King was a student there when Thurman first assumed his position in Boston and heard the renowned minister deliver some addresses. A few years later, King invited Thurman to speak at his first pulpit at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. Their most serious personal encounter the one that gave Thurman his opportunity to influence King personally, and help prepare him for struggles to come came as a result of a tragedy. A crucial meeting in hospital On Sept. 20, 1958, a mentally disturbed African-American woman named Izola Ware Curry came to a book signing in upper Manhattan. There, King was signing copies of his new book, Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story. Curry moved to the front of the signing line, took out a sharp-edged letter opener and stabbed the 29-year-old minister, who had just vaulted to national prominence through his leadership of the Montgomery bus boycott. King barely survived. Doctors later told King that if he had sneezed, he easily could have died. Of course, King later received a fatal gunshot wound in April 1968. Curry lived her days in a mental institution, to the age of 97. It was while recuperating in the hospital afterward that King received a visit from Thurman. While there, Thurman gave the same advice he gave to countless others over decades: that King should take the unexpected, if tragic, opportunity to meditate on his life and its purposes, and only then move forward. Thurman urged King to extend his rest period by two weeks. It would, as he said, give King time away from the immediate pressure of the movement and to rest his body and mind with healing detachment. Thurman worried that the movement had become more than an organization; it had become an organism with a life of its own, which potentially could swallow up King. King wrote to Thurman to say, I am following your advice on the question. Kings spiritual connection with Thurman King and Thurman were never personally close. But Thurman left a profound intellectual and spiritual influence on King. King, for example, reportedly carried his own well-thumbed copy of Thurmans best-known book, Jesus and the Disinherited, in his pocket during the long and epic struggle of the Montgomery bus boycott. In his sermons during the 1950s and 1960s, King quoted and paraphrased Thurman extensively. Minnesota Historical Society, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA In his sermons during the 1950s and 1960s, King quoted and paraphrased Thurman extensively. Drawing from Thurmans views, King understood Jesus as friend and ally of the dispossessed to a group of Jewish followers in ancient Palestine, and to African-Americans under slavery and segregation. That was precisely why Jesus was so central to African-American religious history. The mystic Thurman was not an activist, as King was, nor one to take up specific social and political causes to transform a country. He was a private man and an intellectual. He saw spiritual cultivation as a necessary accompaniment to social activism. As Walter Fluker, editor of the Howard Thurman Papers Project, has explained, the private mystic and the public activist found common ground in understanding that spirituality is necessarily linked to social transformation. Private spiritual cultivation could prepare the way for deeper public commitments for social change. King himself, according to one biographer, came to feel that the stabbing and enforced convalescence was part of Gods plan to prepare him for some larger work in the struggle against southern segregation and American white supremacy. In a larger sense, the discipline of nonviolence required a spiritual commitment and discipline that came, for many, through self-examination, meditation and prayer. This was the message Thurman transmitted to the larger civil rights movement. Thurman combined, in the words of historian Martin Marty, the inner life, the life of passion, the life of fire, with the external life, the life of politics. Spiritual retreat and activism Kings stabbing was a bizarre and tragic event, but in some sense it gave him the period of reflection and inner cultivation needed for the chaotic coming days of the civil rights struggle. The prison cell in Birmingham, Alabama, where in mid-1963 King penned his classic Letter from Birmingham Jail, also accidentally but critically provided much the same spiritual retreat for reflections that helped transform America. The relationship of Thurmans mysticism and Kings activism provides a fascinating model for how spiritual and social transformation can work together in a persons life and in society more generally. This is an updated version of an article originally published on Jan. 11, 2018. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Paul Harvey, University of Colorado Colorado Springs Read more: Paul Harvey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Hunter Bidens trip to Capitol Hill this week is shining a bright light on how Hunter Bidens approach to the GOP investigations into his business dealings is independent of the White House. President Bidens son has made two surprise visits to Capitol Hill in the last month, showing that he wants to defend himself in his own words without coordinating with the White House. White House officials didnt know the younger Biden was going to make an appearance Wednesday in a hearing of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee while members weighed whether to hold him in contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena last month. A source familiar told The Hill that no one at the White House was notified or advising Hunter before the move. Sources tell The Hill its not surprising White House officials wouldnt have known in advance, and described that while the president and first lady have a close and transparent relationship with their son, he does not seek advice from White House staff. A Democrat close to the White House described Hunter Bidens opinion of the public relations people around his father as very low. Can you blame Hunter for not taking communications advice from this group? the Democrat said, noting that Bidens press team has been in place while the presidents approval rating and public opinion of him has been consistently and historically low. Following Hunter Bidens visit to the hearing, Republicans advanced the resolution to hold him in contempt of Congress. On Friday, he said he would accept a new subpoena and give testimony to Congress. His lawyer, Abbe Lowell, shared the decision in a letter to Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), two Republicans who have led the investigations into the Biden family. In the letter, Lowell floated a public deposition/hearing with alternating rounds of questions for Republicans and Democrats, and with similar rules (e.g., role of counsel in questioning), as is done in a closed-door deposition. Comer and Jordan said in response that they plan to move forward with holding the younger Biden in contempt of Congress. A former White House staffer offered a different description of the split between the presidents team and Hunter Bidens team, arguing the White House advising him would be weird. I didnt get the sense that there was a rift, but our whole message was, Hes a private citizen, so it would have been slightly weird if the White House was advising him closely, the source said. Democrats on the Oversight Committee including ranking member Jamie Raskin (Md.) said they were not informed beforehand of Bidens plans to sit in on the hearing. But a number of those lawmakers hailed his visit, saying it was an effective strategy for undercutting the Republicans argument that hes unwilling to cooperate with their investigations. I thought it was a little stroke of genius. It completely undermined the Republican argument that he is defying a subpoena. Hes right there in front of you, ready to be sworn in and testify, said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.). The visual was powerful, and it clearly disrupted whatever chain of narrative they thought they had. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wouldnt say Wednesday whether the president was informed that the younger Biden would be making his surprise visit to Capitol Hill. She said in December that the president was familiar with what his son planned to say when he spoke to the press outside the Capitol at the time. A former administration communications staffer described Hunter Bidens team and the White House team as wholly separate. The press office was as separate as it could be, practically, the source said. When pressed on if it was frustrating for press aides to not have a say about what Hunter Biden did, the source added, Its just the way it was, because thats how the president and team operates with appropriate firewalls. The White House did not respond to questions about coordination with Hunter Bidens team and claims on his opinion of the press shop. The Judiciary and Oversight committees issued subpoenas for Biden in November, and the House formally voted to authorize the impeachment inquiry into the president in December. That followed months of probes into the Biden familys foreign business dealings and how the Department of Justice handled a tax crimes investigation into Hunter Biden. Democrats this week were quick to note that Comer, the Oversight chairman, had prevoiusly publicly offered Biden the option of testifying in any manner he chose. You, Mr. Comer, went on national television and said he can come in public or he can come in private, but hes got to come. Well, he chose to go public, and now youre reneging, Connolly said. Thats your problem, not his. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), another member of the Oversight panel, agreed. I actually thought it was a very savvy thing to do, because it just proves the point: He is here, he is showing up, he is willing to comply with the subpoena, [but] he wants to do so through public testimony, she said. But other Democrats were less sure of the potency of Bidens strategy, with some questioning his decision to appear on Capitol Hill just one day before he was due to appear in court in Los Angeles to face criminal charges. Ill tell you this: Its not a strategy to get out of an indictment. Like, thats a whole different problem, said a Democrat on the committee, who spoke anonymously to discuss a sensitive topic. If I were indicted I would be worried about that going to prison. The younger Biden has been more public in recent weeks, as the House Republicans have ramped up the impeachment inquiry into his father. While Hunter Biden has been seen alongside his father throughout the administration traveling on Air Force One, shopping in Nantucket, Mass., or at a state dinner he rarely was heard from on his own until last month. Around the same time he spoke to press at the Capitol, he had spoken openly about Republican attacks against him and his father on a podcast hosted by his friend, the musician Moby. His family is also firing back. On Thursday, first lady Jill Biden said the barrage of allegations against her son from Republicans have been have been cruel, and Hunter Bidens daughter, Naomi, accused Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) of lying during the hearing that he attended. The Bidens speaking out, while the White House is not, aligns with the lack of coordination on issues surrounding Hunter Biden. Hunter Bidens low opinion of the communications team around his father has been documented. He bashed those working for his father in texts to him that were made public in 2020. Well dad, I guess you were right that it would all just go away like that genius Kate and the rest said it would, he said, which has been taken as a sarcastic reference to former deputy campaign manager and White House communications director Kate Bedingfield. And, when the White House is asked about Hunter Biden, spokespeople say they dont speak for him. Hes a private citizen, Jean-Pierre said Thursday. Hes not a member of the White House. He doesnt work here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. At least three homes have been torched in Iceland after lava from a volcanic eruption hit the fishing town of Grindavik, with the prime minister declaring it a black day. Officials said much of the town was protected by defensive walls which were built at the onset of intense seismic activities in November. PM Katrin Jakobsdottir called for calm and urged residents to stick together and look out for one another. She said: Today is a black day for Grindavik and today is a black day for all of Iceland, but the sun will rise again. Together we will deal with this shock and whatever may come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. The eruption has subsided with a reduction in lava flow by the houses, according to Bovar Sveinsson, a natural disaster expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. Nearly 4,000 residents have been evacuated and there were no reports of injury or death, although some farm animals were not able to be moved. A volcano in southwest Iceland, north of Grindavik, erupted earlier on Sunday. Key points Volcano erupts again sparking new evacuation Second eruption in less than a month Multiple houses torched by lava Black day for Grindavik - Iceland PM Mapped- The volcanos fissure and seismic activity Latest eruption not expected to release lots of ash as airport operations continue 16:00 , Tara Cobham The latest eruption in Iceland is not expected to release large amounts of ash into the air. Operations at Keflavik Airport are continuing as normal, said Gudjon Helgason, spokesperson for airport operator Isavia. Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages one eruption every four to five years. The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed clouds of ash into the atmosphere and disrupted trans-Atlantic air travel for months. Lava flows from a volcano in Grindavik, Iceland, on Sunday (via REUTERS) Calls to rescue 240 sheep locked in shelters in Grindavik 15:15 , Tara Cobham Calls are being made to rescue up to 240 sheep that are locked in shelters in Grindavik. orvaldur H. orarson, the chief veterinarian at the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), has said the animals are locked in the town, as lava flows into houses there. MAST representatives have called for the South-East Iceland Civil Protection Committee to grant owners permission to bring their animals to safety. We have pointed out the need for this and have done what we can to push this through. It seems to us that this is between 220 and 240 sheep, orarson told mbl.is. We are waiting for this to be addressed. House burns down as lava river surrounds building in aerial footage 14:30 , Tara Cobham Aerial footage showed lava flows setting houses on fire in Grindavik, Iceland on Sunday (14 January) after a volcano erupted. Footage recorded by Bjorn Steinbekk showed a river of lava surrounding buildings in the fishing village, which has been evacuated. Mr Steinbekk said he posted his footage online to show the dark side of volcanos. Almost 4000 people are suffering right now; some have been watching their houses burn during live feeds and on YouTube, he added. It is the second eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in four weeks and the fifth since 2021. Holly Patrick reports: Iceland eruption: House burns down as lava river surrounds building in aerial footage Volcano last erupted less than a month ago 13:45 , Tara Cobham The volcano last erupted less than a month ago, forcing another evacuation of the town of Grindavik in preparation. The town of Grindavik was previously evacuated in November when the Svartsengi volcanic system awakened after almost 800 years. The volcano eventually erupted on 18 December, sending lava flowing away from Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people about 30 miles south-west of the capital, Reykjavik. Residents were allowed to return to their homes on 22 December. Since then, emergency workers have been building defensive walls that have stopped much of the lava flow from the new eruption short of the town. An Icelandic Coast Guard helicopter overflying a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula, 3km north of Grindavik, western Iceland on 19 December (HANDOUT/AFP via Getty Images) Workman missing after reportedly falling in volcanic crack is named and pictured 13:00 , Tara Cobham A workman who is missing after reportedly falling into a crack opened by the volcano has been named. Father-of-four Luvik Petursson, 50, was working to fill in crevasses formed by earthquakes and volcanic activity in the fishing town of Grindavik when he fell on Wednesday, according to local media. A manhunt that was subsequently launched, involving hundreds of rescue workers, had to be called off overnight on Thursday after landslides dropped tonnes of rocks on the area. Icelandic Police said the grandfather-of-twos relatives and fiancee would like to thank all responders for their assistance in the search for him. Father-of-four Luvik Petursson, 50, was working to fill in crevasses formed by earthquakes and volcanic activity in the fishing town of Grindavik when he fell on Wednesday, according to local media (Icelandic Police) Impossible to say when eruption will end, warns geophysicist 12:45 , Tara Cobham A geophysicist has warned it is impossible to say when the volcanic eruption in Iceland will end. However, Magnus Tumi Gudmundsson added on Monday morning that the eruption had "decreased considerably" overnight. People watch from the north as the volcano erupts near Grindavik, Iceland, on Sunday (AP Photo/ Marco Di Marco) Iceland is battling tremendous forces of nature, says countrys President 12:00 , Tara Cobham Icelands president said the country is battling tremendous forces of nature, after molten lava from a volcano in the islands southwest consumed several houses in the evacuated town of Grindavik. President Gudni Th. Johannesson said in a televised address late Sunday that a daunting period of upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes peninsula, where a long-dormant volcanic system has awakened. A volcano on the peninsula erupted for the second time in less than a month on Sunday morning. Authorities had ordered residents to leave the fishing town of Grindavik hours earlier as a swarm of small earthquakes indicated an imminent eruption. Read more here: President says Iceland faces 'daunting' period after lava from volcano destroys homes in Grindavik Icelands President says country faces daunting period 11:15 , Tara Cobham Iceland's President said the country is battling "tremendous forces of nature" after molten lava from a volcano in the island's southwest consumed several houses in the evacuated town of Grindavik. President Gudni Th Johannesson said in a televised address on Sunday that "a daunting period of upheaval has begun on the Reykjanes peninsula", where a long-dormant volcanic system has awakened. The President said: We dont yet know how this eruption will unfold, but we must still take those actions that are within our power. We continue to hope for as good an outcome as possible, in the face of these tremendous forces of nature. We will carry on with our responsibilities and we will continue to stand together. Lava during a volcanic eruption near Grindavik, Iceland, on Sunday (AP) Workman missing after reportedly falling into crack opened by volcano 10:30 , Tara Cobham A workman is missing after reportedly falling into a crack opened by the volcano. However, no one has been killed in the eruptions so far. Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? 09:45 , Tara Cobham The earth is at its most restless in Iceland right now. Since November 2023 the Icelandic authorities have been monitoring seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula, southwest of Reykjavik. At least three homes have been set alight after lava from a volcanic eruption hit the fishing town of Grindavik. Much of the town was protected by defensive walls which were built at the onset of intense seismic activities in November. The 4,000 inhabitants have been evacuated as a precaution. Simon Calder, Travel Correspondent reports: Is it safe to travel to Iceland after volcanic eruption? Watch live: Iceland volcano erupts as lava reaches Grindavik town 09:00 , Tara Cobham Watch live as a volcano in Iceland continues to erupt on Monday, 15 January, after lava reached the town of Grindavik yesterday. Much of the fishing town has been protected by defensive walls which were built during intense seismic activities last year, but at least three homes have been engulfed due to lava breaching barriers north of the town, officials said. Almost 4,000 residents have been evacuated, although some farm animals were not able to be moved. Sophie Thompson and Holly Patrick report: Watch live: Iceland volcano erupts as lava reaches Grindavik town Worst-case scenario as new crack forms and lava flows into houses for first time 08:08 , Tara Cobham An expert fears the worst-case scenario has become the reality in Iceland as lava has flowed into peoples homes for the first time after a new crack formed. The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the volcano in the southwest of the country erupted for the second time in less than a month on Sunday, suspecting the fissure had since forced itself under the town of Grindavik. A new crack later formed, said the forecaster, with lava flowing into the fishing town and torching at least three homes. When asked if the worst-case scenario had happened, Benedikt Halldorsson, an expert in earthquake activity at the Icelandic Meteorological Office, told The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service: Yes, I dont think its possible to imagine anything worse than it erupting in a settlement and lava flowing onto houses. In Pics: Houses destroyed in Grindavik 07:30 , Liam James Volcano spews lava on Icelands Reykjanes peninsula (Anadolu via Getty Images) Eruption starts again just north of Grindavik (Micah Garen/Getty Images) Volcano spews lava on Icelands Reykjanes peninsula (Anadolu via Getty Images) Watch live: Volcano erupts in Icelands Reykjanes peninsula 07:00 , Matt Mathers A volcano has erupted in the Grindavik area of south west Iceland this morning (14 January), days after residents were ordered to leave when volcanic fissures began opening on nearby roads. The order is expected to be in place for at least three weeks which will cause a lot of disruption, particularly as Grindavik plays home to the iconic Blue Lagoon tourist attraction. Watch it live by following this link: Watch live: Volcano erupts in Icelands Reykjanes peninsula Icelands volcano eruption seen from plane window in passenger footage 06:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar A passenger on a plane heading over Iceland has shared footage of the view of Grindaviks volcano eruption from the sky. In the footage, lava can be seen spilling down the volcano, which has since reached the evacuated town, and sent several homes up in flames. More here. Icelands volcano eruption seen from plane window in passenger footage ICYMI: Watch: Homes in Icelands Grindavik go up in flames as volcanos lava reaches town 06:00 , Matt Mathers Homes in Icelands Grindavik go up in flames as volcanos lava reaches town At least three houses engulfed by lava 05:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar At least three houses in the fishing village of Grindavik were destroyed in lava, authorities said, adding that the eruption in the fissure has largely subsided. It seems to us that it has almost stopped, the lava flow by these houses, says Bovar Sveinsson, a natural disaster expert at the Icelandic Meteorological Office. The eruption took place on Sunday north of the town following a series of earthquakes near the town of Grindavik. The community of nearly 4000 people was evacuated overnight, Icelands RUV television reported. ICYMI: British couple alarmed but excited to see erupting volcano 05:00 , Matt Mathers A British couple on holiday in Iceland said it was alarming to see a volcano erupting in the southwest of the country as they travelled to the airport on Sunday. Lorraine Crawford, 67, and her 70-year-old husband John, from Essex, took a trip to Reykjavik on Thursday along with Mr Crawfords cousin, Michael Daltrey, and his wife, Faye. The group were in a taxi on their way to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday morning to return to the UK when Ms Crawford said they saw the erupting volcano in the distance and initially thought it was a fire. Its alarming in a way - its quite exciting to see something like that but then you realise that this could do quite a lot of damage, Ms Crawford, who runs a travel agency with her husband and their daughter, told the PA news agency. On the way (to the airport), we thought it was just a fire in the distance but (the taxi driver) said it was the actual volcano erupting. She added that they had heard a really loud noise and a really loud rumble from the airport, but they were not sure what had caused it. Lorraine and John Crawford (Lorraine Crawford/PA Wire) Defence wall protected Grindavik from lava, says met office 04:51 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar Much of the lava flow from the volcano eruption was diverted from Grindavik due to the protective barrier dams built around the town, the Icelandic Met Office said. Since November, defensive walls had been placed around the volcano in hopes of directing the magma away from the community. But the walls of the barriers built north of Grindavik have been breached by the lava, which engulfed at least three houses. This continues to surprise us, said Benedikt Ofeigsson, a geophysicist at the Meteorological Office. Blue Lagoon extends closure till Tuesday 04:30 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, one of Icelands biggest tourist attractions, extended its closure till 16 January due to the nearby volcanic eruption. The current eruption site is at a safe distance from Blue Lagoon, a note on the spas website reads. All guests with bookings during this temporary closure period will be contacted. Services at the Blue Lagoon have been temporarily unavailable since November, when the fishing town of Grindavik was initially evacuated following intense seismic activity. Eruption in pictures 04:00 , Matt Mathers A man adjusts his photographic equipment near Keflavik (AFP via Getty Images) Aerial view taken on January 14, 2024 shows flowing lava close to a road leading to the southwestern Icelandic town of Grindavik (AFP via Getty Images) Lava dances around Iceland volcano as it erupts (Reuters) A view of the plume of gas lighted up by the lava from the erupting volcano seen from Suurstrandavegur No flight interruptions due to volcano, says president 03:20 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar President Gudni Johannesson announced flights scheduled to fly in and out of Iceland wont be affected due to the fresh volcanic eruption near the town of Grindavik. No lives are in danger, although infrastructure may be under threat, he said on social media X, formerly known as Twitter. Theres no way to tell how much destruction the fishing town might face, which would depend on the duration of the eruption, said Benedikt Ofeigsson, a geophysicist at the Meteorological Office. The eruption began early on Sunday north of the town, which just hours before had been evacuated for the second time since November over fears that an outbreak was imminent amid a swarm of seismic activity. ICYMI: Workers rescue their machinery from the lava flow 03:00 , Matt Mathers Workers scrambled to rescue their machinery which was being used to build defensive walls against lava flow into Grindavik, report RUV. Viir Reynisson, head of Civil Defence highlighted the importance of saving the machinery to the broadcaster, saying it was needed to build other defence structures around the country. He insisted the protection of human lives was their biggest priority and the successful mission did not endanger workers. ICYMI: Where is the lava flowing? 02:00 , Matt Mathers Sadly for Grindavik residents, the lava is flowing quickly towards town. Were basically just looking at the fact that theres lava flowing on both sides of the defensive wall. There is a volcanic fissure that has opened up inside it. Lava is flowing a few hundred meters north of the town, this is 400 to 500 meters. Lava flows towards Grindavik, Kristin Jonsdottir from the Icelandic Meteorological Office told RUV. According to the meteorologist the lava will take just hours to reach the town. Buildings in Iceland's Grindavik go up in flames as volcano's lava reaches town (Reuters) ICYMI: Second eruption in less than a month 01:00 , Matt Mathers It is the second volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland in less than one month and the fifth outbreak since 2021. Last month, an eruption started in the Svartsengi volcanic system on Dec. 18 following the complete evacuation of Grindaviks 4,000 residents and the closing of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot. More than 100 Grindavik residents had returned in recent weeks before Saturdays renewed evacuation order, according to local authorities. Icelands civil protection agency on Sunday said it had raised its alert level to emergency, the highest on a three-level scale, signaling an event had begun that could cause harm to people, communities, property or the environment. Lying between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two plates move in opposite directions. (AFP via Getty Images) ICYM: Volcano erupts again sparking new evacuation Sunday 14 January 2024 23:30 , Matt Mathers A volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland , posing an immediate threat to a nearby fishing town that had been evacuated over fears of an outbreak. Early-morning live streams from the site showed fountains of molten rock spewing from fissures in the ground, the bright orange lava flow glowing against the dark sky. The eruption began north of the town of Grindavik, which on Saturday was evacuated for a second time over fears that an outbreak was imminent amid a swarm of seismic activity, authorities said. Iceland in recent weeks sought to build barriers of earth and rock to prevent lava from reaching Grindavik, but the latest eruption appeared to have penetrated the defences. According to the first images from the Coast Guards surveillance flight, a crack has opened on both sides of the defences that have begun to be built north of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in a statement. Lava is now flowing towards Grindavik. Based on measurements from the Coast Guards helicopter, the perimeter is now about 450 metres (1,500 feet) from the northernmost houses in the town, it added. (X) Mapped- The volcanos fissure and seismic activity Sunday 14 January 2024 22:30 , Matt Mathers A map showing the fissure opening marked with a red line. (The Icelandic Met Office) (The Icelandic Met Office) Black day for Grindavik as lava hits fishing town Sunday 14 January 2024 21:30 , Matt Mathers It has been a black day for the town of Grindavik, Icelands prime minister has said after lava from a volcanic eruption hit the small fishing town. Katrin Jakobsdottir also called for calm as the town was evacuated. She said: Today is a black day for Grindavik and today is a black day for all of Iceland, but the sun will rise again. Together we will deal with this shock and whatever may come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Multipe houses set on fire in Grindavik Sunday 14 January 2024 21:14 , Matt Mathers Multiple houses have been set on fire in Grindavik after lava flowed into the town. The fishing town has been evacuated and officials are concerned about the fate of farm animals that were not able to be removed. Viir Reynisson, head of Civil Defence, has told Iceland media that no one is going into Grindavik until we are absolutely sure that it will be OK. Black day' for Grindavik - Iceland PM Sunday 14 January 2024 21:12 , Matt Mathers It has been a black day for the town of Grindavik, Icelands prime minister has said after lava from a volcanic eruption hit the small fishing town. Katrin Jakobsdottir also called for calm as the town was evacuated. She said: Today is a black day for Grindavik and today is a black day for all of Iceland, but the sun will rise again. Together we will deal with this shock and whatever may come. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. ICYMI: Huge search for man who fell into crack that opened in Grindavik after Iceland earthquakes Sunday 14 January 2024 20:30 , Matt Mathers A manhunt has been launched after a worker fell into an enormous crack created by the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The missing man was working to fill in crevasses formed by earthquakes and volcanic activity in the fishing town of Grindavik when he fell on Wednesday, according to local media. Barney Davis reports: Huge search for man who fell into crack opened in Grindavik after Iceland earthquakes Watch live: Volcano erupts in Icelands Reykjanes peninsula Sunday 14 January 2024 19:30 , Matt Mathers A volcano has erupted in the Grindavik area of south west Iceland this morning (14 January), days after residents were ordered to leave when volcanic fissures began opening on nearby roads. The order is expected to be in place for at least three weeks which will cause a lot of disruption, particularly as Grindavik plays home to the iconic Blue Lagoon tourist attraction. Watch it live by following this link: Watch live: Volcano erupts in Icelands Reykjanes peninsula British couple alarmed but excited to see erupting volcano Sunday 14 January 2024 18:37 , Matt Mathers A British couple on holiday in Iceland said it was "alarming" to see a volcano erupting in the southwest of the country as they travelled to the airport on Sunday. Lorraine Crawford, 67, and her 70-year-old husband John, from Essex, took a trip to Reykjavik on Thursday along with Mr Crawfords cousin, Michael Daltrey, and his wife, Faye. The group were in a taxi on their way to Keflavik International Airport on Sunday morning to return to the UK when Ms Crawford said they saw the erupting volcano in the distance and initially thought it was a fire. "Its alarming in a way - its quite exciting to see something like that but then you realise that this could do quite a lot of damage," Ms Crawford, who runs a travel agency with her husband and their daughter, told the PA news agency. "On the way (to the airport), we thought it was just a fire in the distance but (the taxi driver) said it was the actual volcano erupting." She added that they had heard a "really loud noise" and a "really loud rumble" from the airport, but they were not sure what had caused it. Lorraine and John Crawford (Lorraine Crawford/PA Wire) Watch: Homes in Icelands Grindavik go up in flames as volcanos lava reaches town Sunday 14 January 2024 17:30 , Matt Mathers Homes in Icelands Grindavik go up in flames as volcanos lava reaches town Sheep trapped in town Sunday 14 January 2024 17:00 , Lydia Patrick 30 sheep are trapped as the lava hits Grindavik, raising animal welfare concerns. Linda Karen Gunnarsdottir chairperson of Icelands Animal Protection Association voiced her fears to RUV, saying many people had returned their animals to Grindavik after the first evacuation in November. There are sheep trapped in atleast five properties and some pets are believed to still be in the lava threatened town. She told the state broadcaster: It is extremely serious that animals have entered the town again. Of course they werent supposed to be there, but people started coming back into the town and started going about their normal lives.Animal owners have subsequently decided to bring their animals into the town and there are even reportedly pets there too, but we have yet to confirm that. Scientist of the University of Iceland take measurements and samples standing on the ridge in front of the active part of the eruptive fissure of an active volcano in Grindavik (AP) Watch - Icelands volcano eruption seen from plane window in passenger footage Sunday 14 January 2024 16:30 , Lydia Patrick Icelands volcano eruption seen from plane window in passenger footage Atleast two homes burnt by lava Sunday 14 January 2024 16:00 , Lydia Patrick A shocked video shared by Icelands official state broadcaster shows two homes ravaged by a lava flow which is sliding towards the town. Lava burns everything in its path, and will cause the walls of homes to give way, a Met Office spokesperson told the RUV. Some good news Sunday 14 January 2024 15:26 , Lydia Patrick Defensive walls have worked to keep most the lava flow away from the town. Benedikt Halldorsson, specialist in earthquake hazards at the Met Office informed the RUV that most of the lava flow was diverted towards Grindavikurvegur and away from the town/I think this is a splendid example, Benedikt told the news outlet. Iceland Eruption ((AP Photo/ Marco Di Marco)) The lava has reached settlements Sunday 14 January 2024 14:06 , Lydia Patrick Lava has reached the first home as live webcams broadcast the eruption. RUV report the house belongs to a young couple who had not yet moved into the home. A new fissure opens up Sunday 14 January 2024 13:50 , Lydia Patrick A new fissure has opened up just 50-100 metres away from the town of Grindavik, with more lava flowing towards the town. The RUV reports the crack is 150m but it could be longer. The evacuated Icelandic town of Grindavik (R) is seen as smoke billow and lava is thrown into the air from a fissure during a volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula 3 km north of Grindavik, western Iceland on December 19, 2023 (AFP via Getty Images) Mapped- The volcanos fissure and seismic activity Sunday 14 January 2024 13:20 , Lydia Patrick A map showing the latest earthquake activity (The Icelandic Met Office) A map showing the fissure opening marked with a red line. (The Icelandic Met Office) Should I still travel to Iceland? Sunday 14 January 2024 13:00 , Lydia Patrick The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office have issued new advice amid the imminent volcanic eruption. In a statement they said: A volcanic eruption started on the Reykjanes peninsula in south-west Iceland on 14 January, north of the town of Grindavik. All roads to Grindavik are closed and you should stay away from the area. Keflavik International Airport is operating as normal, but you should check for latest updates. Reykjavik and the rest of Iceland have not been impacted. You should monitor local media for updates and follow the authorities advice. This Nov. 18, 2023 image provided by Beth Harpaz shows visitors amid mini-icebergs on Diamond Beach on Iceland's South Coast ((Beth Harpaz via AP)) Huge search for man who fell into crack that opened in Grindavik after Iceland earthquakes Sunday 14 January 2024 12:40 , Lydia Patrick A manhunt has been launched after a worker fell into an enormous crack created by the earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Iceland. The missing man was working to fill in crevasses formed by earthquakes and volcanic activity in the fishing town of Grindavik when he fell on Wednesday, according to local media. The search, involving hundreds of rescue workers, had to be called off overnight on Thursday after landslides dropped tonnes of rocks on the area. Barney Davis has the full report Huge search for man who fell into crack opened in Grindavik after Iceland earthquakes Urgent plea for spectators to stay away Sunday 14 January 2024 12:20 , Lydia Patrick The director of Civil defence has urged sightseers to leave the area, saying their team have wasted ample time in directing people away from the danger zone. He told the RUV: Unfortunately, as always at the beginning of an eruption, people gather and want to go look at this, but I just think that people must realise the reality of the matter and what is going on. People must, please, give us a break to try to save what is possible to save. People watch as the night sky is illuminated caused by the eruption of a volcano in Grindavik on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, Monday, Dec. 18, 2023 (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Volcanologist says fissure is around1km Sunday 14 January 2024 12:00 , Lydia Patrick Magnus Tumi Gumundsson told RUV: We were able to estimate the size of the crack that grew while we flew over. It is around one kilometre long. It is very similar to the lava from the last eruption, but approx. 1/4 of the size.If the eruption continues with a similar force, it will be several hours until lava reaches the first houses. Picture of the volcanic eruption in December ((AP)) Resident fears the survival of his home as lava gets closer Sunday 14 January 2024 11:50 , Lydia Patrick Born and bred Grindavikian and fatherof-two Siggeir varsson, 38, shares his heartbreak as he watches the lava get closer to his home town. The family has been living at his sister-in-laws in Reykjavik since November when fears of an eruption first emerged forcing residents to flee. He told The Independent: Im feeling quite numb at the moment, its so surreal. The electricity is out, and they're talking about shutting off the water too. So our houses might freeze before they burn up in the lava. Siggeir varsson and his wife Soffia Sveinsdottir (Provided) Workers rescue their machinery from the lava flow Sunday 14 January 2024 11:40 , Lydia Patrick Workers scrambled to rescue their machinery which was being used to build defensive walls against lava flow into Grindavik, report RUV. Viir Reynisson, head of Civil Defence highlighted the importance of saving the machinery to the broadcaster, saying it was needed to build other defence structures around the country. He insisted the protection of human lives was their biggest priority and the successful mission did not endanger workers. Where is the lava flowing? Sunday 14 January 2024 11:20 , Lydia Patrick Sadly for Grindavik residents, the lava is flowing quickly towards town. Were basically just looking at the fact that theres lava flowing on both sides of the defensive wall. There is a volcanic fissure that has opened up inside it. Lava is flowing a few hundred meters north of the town, this is 400 to 500 meters. Lava flows towards Grindavik, Kristin Jonsdottir from the Icelandic Meteorological Office told RUV. According to the meteorologist the lava will take just hours to reach the town, Iceland Eruption ((AP Photo/ Marco Di Marco)) Second eruption in less than a month Sunday 14 January 2024 10:57 , Lydia Patrick It is the second volcanic eruption on the Reykjanes peninsula in southwest Iceland in less than one month and the fifth outbreak since 2021. Last month, an eruption started in the Svartsengi volcanic system on Dec. 18 following the complete evacuation of Grindaviks 4,000 residents and the closing of the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, a popular tourist spot. More than 100 Grindavik residents had returned in recent weeks before Saturdays renewed evacuation order, according to local authorities. Icelands civil protection agency on Sunday said it had raised its alert level to emergency, the highest on a three-level scale, signaling an event had begun that could cause harm to people, communities, property or the environment. Lying between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, two of the largest on the planet, Iceland is a seismic and volcanic hot spot as the two plates move in opposite directions. Iceland Eruption ((AP Photo/ Marco Di Marco)) Volcano erupts again sparking new evacuation Sunday 14 January 2024 10:56 , Lydia Patrick A volcano has erupted in southwest Iceland , posing an immediate threat to a nearby fishing town that had been evacuated over fears of an outbreak. Early-morning live streams from the site showed fountains of molten rock spewing from fissures in the ground, the bright orange lava flow glowing against the dark sky. The eruption began north of the town of Grindavik, which on Saturday was evacuated for a second time over fears that an outbreak was imminent amid a swarm of seismic activity, authorities said. Iceland in recent weeks sought to build barriers of earth and rock to prevent lava from reaching Grindavik, but the latest eruption appeared to have penetrated the defences. According to the first images from the Coast Guards surveillance flight, a crack has opened on both sides of the defences that have begun to be built north of Grindavik, the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) said in a statement. Lava is now flowing towards Grindavik. Based on measurements from the Coast Guards helicopter, the perimeter is now about 450 metres (1,500 feet) from the northernmost houses in the town, it added. Of the few photographs Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp has in her office, theres one she keeps on top of her copy of the California penal code. It is a photo of Smittcamp standing between two of her role models; women who pivotal roles in her career as a lawyer. On the right is Judge Sandra Snyder. On the left is Snyders mentor, Judge Annette LaRue. Shes right there with me, Smittcamp says of LaRue, who served as a municipal court judge from 1979-1998 and was the first woman to sit on the bench in Fresno County. LaRue died Dec. 16 at her home in Fresnos Tower District. She was 99 years old. Theres an irony in Smittcamps admiration for LaRue. As her family tells it, LaRue applied for a job with the Fresno County District Attorneys Office shortly after graduating from Hasting College of Law in 1952. The DA at the time told her he didnt want any god damn females on my staff. So, LaRue started her own private practice. She was the second female attorney to work in Fresno. LaRue was born in Fresno in 1924, the second of three children in a poor farming family during the Great Depression. The experience shaped her world view, says son Frank Bailey. Like people of the time, she was hard-working and honest. You saved your money. You didnt waste anything, Bailey says. Thats pretty much how she lived her life. By the time LaRue graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1942, she had decided to become a lawyer. It was an almost unheard-of choice for a young woman at the time and caused a major rift with her parents, which lasted until her son was born in 1960. She graduated from Fresno State College with a degree in education and worked as a school teacher to save money to go to law school, where she was one of 25 women in a class of 900. She was an icon LaRue was never afraid of pushing against the status quo, especially when it came to womens issues. In a story recounted in The Bee, LaRue was once at a Bar Association meeting with a colleague who was known to tell prostitute jokes and then espouse his theory that women couldnt be attorneys because of their monthly indisposition. LaRue responded by pouring a glass of water on his head. But, she was not loud, she was not brash, she was not showy, Bailey told The Bee. Her deal wasnt getting on the front page of the paper and getting a lot of attention. Of course, sometimes she did. Bailey remembers his mother on the front page of The Bee in 1989 calling out the DAs office and Fresnos large law firms for not doing enough to promote women into positions of responsibility. The public display was unusual for her, he says. She usually wanted to work behind the scenes to make things happen such as getting a gender bias liaison appointed at the municipal court to hear complaints about biased conduct. She was also a founder and board member for both the National Association of Women Judges and Fresno County Women Lawyers. A law-and-order judge As a judge, LaRue was law-and-order. She believed in accountability, Smittcamp says, but not without compassion: Her goal was always to keep people out of the system. LaRue wanted people to succeed and encouraged growth through mistakes. As a judge, she oversaw the Youthful Drunk Driver Visitation Program in the late 1980s. It sentenced DUI offenders between 16 and 21 years old to spend two hours in a hospital emergency room and intensive care unit, then submit a 1,000-word written report to the court. While Smittcamp never appeared before the judge in court, she did call LaRue for advice several times. She says the judge always encouraged her to be her own woman and to be vocal about the problems she saw in the system. I will miss her tremendously, Smittcamp says. She was on icon. LaRue retired from the bench in 1998, though she continued her work on a fill-in basis until 2011. A memorial service for LaRue is planned for 11 a.m. Feb. 3 at First Presbyterian Church, where she was a long-time member of the congregation. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the church or the Salvation Army of Fresno. Federal prosecutors in the office of special counsel Jack Smith revealed on court filings on Friday (Jan. 12) that they intended to summon at least five FBI employees with expertise in digital forensics as witnesses in their case alleging former US President Donald Trump's mishandled classified documents. According to Smith's office, the witnesses - described as experts in digital forensics or cellular analytics - would be expected to testify about the data and material extracted from devices and accounts belonging to Walt Nauta, Carlos De Oliveira, and an unnamed "Trump Employee 2," all of whom were accused of crimes alongside Trump. Read Also: Donald Trump Says He's Decided on 2024 US Election Running Mate at Iowa Town Hall Potential Witnesses to Explain Documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago Manor It could be recalled that Trump was indicted in June 2023 on criminal charges related to classified documents discovered in 2022 at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Another superseding indictment was also filed against Trump, alleging that he was part of a plan to delete security video. Trump, Nauta, and De Oliveira have all pleaded not guilty in the case, NBC News reported. The special counsel's office plans to use expert testimony to discuss the events of June 27, 2022, Friday's filing said, as well as content extracted from devices used by De Oliveira and Nauta. The case was scheduled to go to trial by May, with Trump attorneys notifying the court on Friday that they planned to file multiple motions next week to compel discovery from the special counsel's office. Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, declined to comment on the filing. Related Article: Democrat Representative Jamie Raskin Demands Trump Return Monies Received From Foreign Goverments You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. James Clear, Atomic Habits One of the enduring lessons of the COVID era is that systems are meant to serve individuals, not the other way around. On March 13, 2020, the day the first official case of coronavirus was announced in Idaho, a celebration was taking place on the steps of the Idaho State Capitol honoring the 100-year anniversary of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. Kate, a senior at Boise High School who had been on an experiential learning trip, said this: My perception of the word school shifted from a noun to a verb. School was no longer a place so much as it was an experience. This was due to the fact that we never sat in an actual classroom to learn about a certain subject. Instead, we the students, and our teachers sought out lessons provided by the real world where we could actually experience what we were learning. Within days of that event, school as a noun meant an empty building and school as a verb meant learn anywhere you could. We are now almost four years from that moment. Have we learned what Kate taught us? That learning is not now and was not then an event in a building? We have been leaders in supporting policies that give parents the control over their childrens education and recognize that learning can occur in many different settings. These initiatives include support for public charter schools, advanced opportunity funding, expanded open enrollment, Empowering Parents Micro Grant funding for public and non-public students, credit for learning outside the classroom while also supporting historic increases in education funding of public schools. Our Constitution uses the words general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools to describe the education system they envisioned in 1889. There are various definitions of those words in Idaho Code, but for purposes of discussion today in 2024, what if uniform manifests as standardized instead of personalized, driven by standardized assessments? What if your chances of learning to read at grade level are not uniform because you live on the wrong side of State Street? What if public meant supporting a student with public funding wherever they learn best, the same way public funding supports patients in hospitals operated by religious organizations or consumers in privately owned grocery stores? If free means at no cost to the student, it couldnt possibly mean that for taxpayers. What if free meant a student was free to learn in the environment that matches their values and works best for them? This session, we will continue our support of educating all Idahos kids by introducing the Parental Choice Tax Credit bill. The program will allow for a refundable tax credit, up to $5,000 per Idaho student, ($7,500 for special needs students) for non-public academic instruction. It also applies to textbooks, curriculum, transportation, and tuition all based on what parents think is best for their kids. Research shows education choice programs improve outcomes for kids in any system. Idahos educational goals havent helped us much in the past decade. Whether thats 60% with a degree, going on to college or every third grader reading at grade level, it hasnt happened. But weve sure spent a lot of money trying. An editorial once compared education to a race with a common starting line. That idea is so repulsive we can barely repeat it. But it is symptomatic of our problem. The starting line isnt the important part; the student and their personal, upward learning trajectory is. Until we commit to getting every single student across the finish line, regardless of their starting point or learning environment, we will continue to fall to the level of our systems rather than rise to the level of our goals. Rep. Wendy Horman is a Republican from Idaho Falls. Sen. Lori Den Hartog is a Republican from Meridian. GOP should stop plotting against voters What a hoot! Or it would be if it were not such a serious attempt to subordinate voters to the will of our elected representatives. Im referring to the resolutions proposed by Dorothy Moon to eliminate citizen-led ballot initiatives. Talk about hypocrisy. They are elected to represent us and, yet, their first objective this year is to eliminate direct citizen input. Yes, I get it citizen priorities can be inconvenient if they dont align with party preferences. Maybe our representatives should listen more and plot less. Noel Schoneman, Star Arkoosh dead-on about Labrador Upon reading Mr. Tom Arkooshs article concerning Labradors unprofessional behavior, my mind flashed back to the 2022 Idaho AG election. After barely winning the primary over Wasden, Labrador gave the Idaho votes a choice for the general election: a well-respected, professional lawyer or a Make All Great Again professional politician. The MAGA cult chose Labrador despite all the warnings by respected leaders of both parties. We were all warned about what to expect, but alas in an R state, it didnt matter. Now as we are warned against the traitorous MAGA loser responsible for over 200,000 COVID deaths and a divided nation among other things, will Idaho voters heed the warnings, facts and reality, or continue following their preferred fantasy. The salvation of our union will probably rest, as it has before, in the hands of our youth. Thank God for their vision. And thank God for the patriotic leadership of people like Mr. Arkoosh James Franklin, Meridian Idaho maternal mortality is shameful When counting things per population, the rate is normalized to how often it would occur per 100,000 people. In this way, one can easily compare rates. In 2019, Idahos Maternal Mortality rate was 18/100,000 live births. In 2021, it was 40/100,000 live births. Because Idaho had a bit more than 20,000 live births in 2021, that means 16 moms died in 2021. They died from embolism, infection and untreated mental illness. Every death was preventable. For comparison, in 2021, war-torn Syrias maternal mortality was 30/100,000. Developing nation Chiles was 13/100,000. Only local tracking of whats killing moms to prevent it from happening again will decrease Idahos atrocious maternal mortality. Last year, Idaho had a team of experts identifying those causes the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Instead of following the experts recommendations to keep Idaho moms alive, our legislature disbanded the Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Idahos maternal mortality isnt tracked anymore. One recommendation to save Idaho moms lives? Permit postpartum women access to Medicaid for 12 months after birth. Idaho stops postpartum Medicaid at 60 days. Infection, blood clots, postpartum depression, retained placenta, and uterine bleeding all last longer than 60 days. Kama Parrish, Nampa No matter who does it, targeting civilians is wrong The attack by Hamas in Israel underscores that civilians should never be targeted by warring parties. Sadly, this is a reprise of the 1982 massacre, mutilation, and rape of over 2,000 innocent civilians at Sabra and Shatila in Lebanon at the hands of Ariel Sharon and Israel. When the Palestinian state, armed by the worlds greatest superpower, then took revenge by carpet bombing Tel Aviv, destroying half of all residential buildings and killing 25,000 innocent citizens. But only the first event happened, the massacre perpetrated by Israel with complete impugnity. In this blood-soaked region, there are no wholly clean hands. A two-state solution is the only way to peace, and the US can make this happen by making any further aid to Israel contingent on forcing the Israeli government to break the decades-long continuous stealing of Palestinian land and then having them withdraw from the occupied lands. Our government should know history and work for peace and justice instead of participating in the latest ugly eye-for-an-eye blindness. Scott Cook, Boise Gov. Little should thank, not insult Feds In his State of the State, Gov. Little patted himself on the back and bit the Federal hand that funds Idahoans health, standard of living and prosperity. For the past decade, the Feds have provided 30 to 40 percent of Idahos revenue each year. That includes $5.74 billion from Bidens American Rescue Plan and $2.6 billion in infrastructure funding. These funds kept people in their homes and able to buy food, kept businesses alive, schools open, state and local government operating and more. They will be used to repair bridges, roads, airports, clean water, bring internet to rural communities. Little would have little say about tax relief, investments in education, transportation, clean water and a host of other programs without these federal funds. But Little and Idahos Congressional delegation has nothing to say about the importance of these benefits and instead offers insults to gratify their right-wing base. Why not show some character, be honest about the very important role that Federal funds play in Idahos prosperity? Thomas Buchta, Boise Idahos constitutional violations could get worse Public education is the first step in economic advancement. Currently, Idaho is at or near the bottom of spending per pupil, and the lowest in school infrastructure spending. From the ID Constitution: No person shall be required to attend or support any ministry or place of worship, religious sect or denomination, or pay tithes against his consent; nor shall any preference be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of worship. And: The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools. Clearly, Idaho is in violation of its constitution, and siphoning public funds to private and religious schools will only exacerbate that. Religious schools teach their religion. Clearly, tax money to religious schools requires Idahoans to support ministries or places of worship, religious sects or denominations, and pay tithes against their consent. Tim Teater, Boise On the eve of Iowas Republican caucuses, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday dismissed new national polling showing low job approval for President Joe Biden, saying the battle hasnt been joined until GOP voters pick their nominee. Pritzker, who is scheduled to be in Des Moines on Monday for the caucuses as a surrogate for Bidens reelection, acknowledged on ABCs This Week program that former President Donald Trump is the likely GOP nominee based on polling. But he criticized the entire Republican field including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as MAGA Republicans, espousing things that are not good for the American public, using the shorthand for Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. Its the Republicans that are trying to take your freedoms away. Its the Republicans that are trying to take away your Social Security and your Medicare. Its the Republicans that are basically fighting against the working families of America. And its Joe Biden who has been lifting up the economy, Pritzker said. Things are getting better in this country and over the course of an election year, as the economy continues to improve, youre going to see (Bidens) poll numbers improve too. Not until (Republicans) choose a nominee will we truly be in this battle. And then its a choice, Pritzker said. A new ABC-Ipsos poll released Sunday found Biden with an approval rating of 33%, worse than Trumps 36% low during his presidency. Asking poll respondents to look back at Trumps presidency, 41% approved of how he handled the job. One-third of poll respondents held a favorable opinion of Biden while 35% had a favorable view of Trump. The survey of 2,228 adults, conducted Jan. 4-8, had an error margin of 2.5%. Pritzker, a member of Bidens national advisory board, is scheduled to join the boards co-chair, movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, in representing the Biden campaign at a news conference in Iowas capital city on Monday. With concerns about Bidens age of 81 persisting, even among Democrats, Pritzker sought to rephrase questions about the president to instead tout the concept that as Biden has gotten older hes attained more wisdom, experience and empathy. The poll showed only 28% said Biden has the mental sharpness required of the presidency compared to 47% for Trump, who is 77 years old. Maybe we ought to start by just acknowledging that Joe Biden has years of experience, that when you talk about someones age, youre also talking about the wisdom that they gained over many years and how theyve demonstrated their empathy that theyve learned from so many experiences, Pritzker said. Joe Biden, and Donald Trump are roughly the same age, Pritzker said. Do you think Donald Trump has learned empathy in his life? He has not. Joe Biden has demonstrated it at every turn. With Chicago receiving more than 38,000 migrants from the border, according to city figures reported Friday, Pritzker blamed Republican intransigence in Congress for not working toward comprehensive immigration reform as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for engaging in a political game of sending migrants to Democratic cities undergoing severe winter weather conditions. He doesnt care about the migrants. He doesnt care about the fact that theyre going to suffer if theyre sent to certainly the Upper Midwest, as he is doing now, Pritzker said. But Pritzker also acknowledged that while Congress needs to act, I think that the president needs to do more. Of the Republican contenders for president, Pritzker noted that it doesnt look good for the people who are running against Donald Trump but said he thinks the GOP race will continue for perhaps another month or two before there is really a clear front-runner. The respected Iowa Poll, published last week by the Des Moines Register, showed Trump leading among likely caucusgoers with 48%, trailed by Haley with 20% and DeSantis with 16%. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria became the last of Illinois three Republican House members to endorse Trump for president. U.S. Reps. Mary Miller of Hindsboro and Mike Bost of Murphysboro previously backed the former president. Bost is facing a March primary contest against unsuccessful 2022 GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey of Xenia. Both Bost and Bailey also are running as Trump-nominating delegates and each has sought the former presidents endorsement for Congress. _____ (Bloomberg) -- The leader of Indias main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, will set off on a march Sunday that will see him traverse the breath of the country from the eastern state of Manipur to Maharashtra in the west. Most Read from Bloomberg While the party is branding Rahul Gandhis 15-state trek as non-political, most analysts see this as the start of the Congresss election campaign as it comes just months before national polls begin. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra roughly translated as the Join India for Justice March could help Gandhi connect with voters and raise the partys profile. We have witnessed this huge amount of energy on the ground for Bharat Jodo Yatra, K.C. Venugopal, general secretary of the party, said at a press conference Wednesday. He described the march as apolitical and for the benefit of Indians, adding we are seeking justice for the people. The march, alongside the creation of an alliance that comprises most of Indias biggest opposition groups, is an attempt by the Congress party to stop the electoral juggernaut of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP has dominated the past two national elections and handily won three key state elections recently. Gandhi, scion of the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, will travel on foot and by bus. This is the second such march he has undertaken in recent years. His previous trek, from Indias southern-most tip to the northern region of Kashmir, was widely credited for the partys electoral success in the state of Karnataka in early 2023. A pamphlet released by the Congress party ahead of the march states it is an attempt at listening to the economic, social and political concerns that citizens face. The Congress accused Modis government of ignoring the poor and working more toward enriching Indias wealthiest. The march intends to cover around 4,171 miles and will begin in one of Indias most volatile states, Manipur. For more than nine months, the BJP-governed state has seen intense ethnic violence which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands displaced. The Indian government has faced harsh criticism over its handling of the unrest. After strategically selecting Manipur as the starting point, Gandhi will then travel through some of the most electorally important states, including West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, that collectively account for 162 out of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament. The 15 states he will traverse sends 357 members to parliament. In the previous march, Gandhi tried to shed what critics have described as an elitist and privileged image by walking much of the route while talking with people about their concerns, including on the lack of employment, income inequality and human rights. The new trek is expected to end in late March in Mumbai, just as the country is expected to head to the polls. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. FILE - Comoros' President Azali Assoumani attends a news conference during the G20 Investment Summit - German Business and the CwA Countries on the sidelines of a Compact with Africa in Berlin, Germany, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. People in the Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros are voting for president in Africas first national election of 2024. Incumbent President Azali Assoumani, a former military officer, is expected to win a fourth term amid criticism that he has become increasingly authoritarian and cracked down on his political opposition. Five opposition candidates are standing against Assoumani in Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024's election. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) The Indian Ocean island nation of Comoros voted Sunday for president in Africa's first national election of 2024. Incumbent President Azali Assoumani, a former military officer, is expected to win a fourth term despite criticism he has become increasingly authoritarian and cracked down on his opponents. Five opposition candidates stood against Assoumani while other opposition parties have called for a boycott, accusing the national electoral commission of bias. The commission denied the accusations. Provisional results are expected on Friday. The country of around 800,000 people off East Africa has experienced a series of coups since it gained independence from France in 1975. The first coup came just a month after independence. Assoumani, 65, took charge himself in a coup in 1999, and was first elected president in 2002. He stepped down after one term but returned to reclaim the presidency in an election in 2016, and was reelected in 2019. Presidential terms are for five years. Assoumani succeeded in side-stepping term limits by changing the constitution in 2018. Previously, the presidency was rotated after a single term between Comoros' three main islands of Grand Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli. The move to change the constitution caused mass protests against Assoumani and an armed uprising by rebels on the island of Anjouan, which the army quelled after days of fighting. Protests have been regularly banned since then. Former President Ahmed Abdallah Sambi, a political rival of Assoumani, was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 on charges of high treason over the forgery and illegal selling of Comoros passports. The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, a research institution within the U.S. Department of Defense that's funded by Congress, said Assoumanis latest presidential term has been marked by crackdowns on dissent. It noted curtailments on press freedom and opposition leaders being threatened and detained by police and the army. Assoumani is coming to the end of a one-year term as chairperson of the African Union, a largely ceremonial role that moves around the continent. Sunday's election in Comoros will be notable for France because of its island territory of Mayotte, which lies about 100 kilometers (62 miles) to the southeast. Mayotte has seen an influx of immigrants from Comoros. Comoros is one of over 50 countries that go to the polls in 2024 to test democracy across the globe. ___ AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa Gov. Eric Holcomb, along with leaders of the Indiana House and Senate, laid out a legislative plan to hold back students who fail to pass the third-grade IREAD exam. This is a significant policy issue because about one-in-five Hoosier third-graders fail to pass the reading test. This pass rate worsened substantially since COVID. My back-of-the-envelope analysis suggests that adding another year of school for 15,000 children would cost more than $125 million a year. Other states have tackled this issue already, including West Virginia and Mississippi. Michael Hicks West Virginia will begin to hold back current first-graders who dont pass their reading tests by the end of third grade. For almost a decade, students in Mississippi who fail the test have been held back. However, students in both states pass the tests at lower rate than do Hoosier students, though this might be due to different standards across states. There are more than fiscal issues at play, as well, and I certainly dont know what the right policy decision might be. Still, Hoosiers should welcome a full and open discussion of the matter. Of course, this should begin with a full set of facts combined with rigorous analysis to share with the legislature. Before taking up the question of whether to hold third-graders back, wed want to know the costs, as well as the benefits of doing so. Id expect that well soon hear not only a more rigorous fiscal analysis than I provided above, but much more details on the effect of the IREAD test on ultimate student success. Knowing this requires more than just restating statistics. After all, it should be very simple to report IREAD pass rates of high school graduates versus drop outs over several cohorts of students. This could be done by demographics such as gender, race, ethnicity, poverty rates and school corporation size. Wed also want to know the demographics of pass/fail for students in fourth grade this year. Georgia has a Governors Office of Student Achievement that put together just such a study of their third-grade reading test in 2017. These descriptive statistics data are fine, but they arent really sufficient for policymaking. The key question is what the effect failing the IREAD had on later student achievement, controlling for all these other factors. Any competent researcher should be able to undertake this statistical test, so I would expect we will hear the answer in the coming weeks of testimony. One recent study performed by the University of Chicago found that once individual student demographics and school effects were properly controlled for, very few educational outcomes differences were predicted by third grade reading scores. This study is a perfect illustration of the issue. The descriptive statistics of third-grade reading scores suggested major impacts on later reading scores, school attendance, course failure, GPA, graduation, school attendance and college attendance. But when individual demographics (race, gender, poverty rate and cognitive impairment), including eighth-grade reading scores and school characteristics were included in the statistical model, the third-grade test scores lost all ability to predict student outcomes. Let me state this more plainly. In a study of Chicagos schools, the research team found that when you control for individual student demographics, their eight-grade reading scores and individual school characteristics, passing or failing third-grade reading tests had no effect on later educational outcomes (GPA, absences, high school graduation or college attendance). It is worth noting that this comprehensive study was performed on Chicagos schools in 2010. This is a classic problem in evaluating school outcomes and interventions. Many different variables are correlated, such as race, poverty, cohort performance and test scores. Descriptive statistics alone cannot answer questions about the role of third-grade reading and later school performance. To answer that question, you have to do analysis. Without it, you might be trying to fix a problem that doesnt exist. Doubtless such a study has been conducted on Indiana students, and well soon learn the results of that study. There are other issues as well that the legislature should know as they approach this problem. First among these is simply whether holding a student back improves later outcomes. A recent doctoral dissertation at Ball State reports that among the students held back for IREAD, outcomes improved in later reading tests. But this study didnt go beyond eighth grade. Another study by a team of economists found that higher retention rates affected long-term average educational and economic outcomes. Interestingly here, the benefits of this effect accrued to students who were promoted. Those who were held back faced a large economic cost. Because the number who were promoted was much greater than those held back, the net benefits were very positive. As COVID demonstrated, not everyone is comfortable with this sort of benefit-cost analysis. But legislators and governors dont have that luxury. They must consider such issues when evaluating policy alternatives. Of course, this debate raises other questions. Does grade retention have other costly effects that might not have been considered? What is the optimal age to hold students back, and does that vary by gender? Are there lower-cost interventions that could improve reading outcomes? Are the reading standards appropriate? This debate raises even bigger questions. Indiana is more than 20 years into expanding school choice. Those policies vastly expanded options for parents, and focused heavily on cutting costs for taxpayers. What has been the effect? In 2000, before the first school choice, 88 percent of Hoosier students attended local public schools. In 2022, that number was 89 percent. Indiana has an almost fully operational school-choice system, and traditional public schools have won the competition for students. At the same time, we struggle on every important domain of educational attainment. In 2000, we were ranked 43rd among states in educational attainment. We rose to 38th by 2010 and are back down to 43rd today. The push for cost savings and choice has benefits, but higher levels of educational attainment are not among them. There are other concerns that warrant a focus on quality over cost savings. Nationwide, the wage premium for completing high school is a roughly 35% pay boost above those who dont graduate. Here in Indiana, it is 10.1%. That may be because we have an excess supply of high school graduates, but it may also be that employers dont value our high school diplomas as strongly as those from other states. Either way, a focus on quality is in order, and third-grade reading is a fine place to start. Michael J. Hicks, PhD, is the director of the Center for Business and Economic Research and the George and Frances Ball distinguished professor of economics in the Miller College of Business at Ball State University. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Hoosier IREAD scores sparks discussions about how to improve results Marapi eruption on Sunday. Indonesia straddles the 'Pacific Ring of Fire', an area of high seismic activity - Givo Alputra/AP Indonesias Marapi volcano erupted on Sunday, with ash rising 1,300 metres (4,300 feet) from the peak six weeks after a fatal eruption, according to the countrys geological agency. The volcano in the West Sumatra province erupted at least twice by 0337 GMT on Sunday, the agency said, urging the evacuation of people within 4.5km of the centre of the eruption, with the possibility of lava flows in rivers and valleys. Volcanic ash from Sundays eruption covered nearby houses and vehicles - Givo Alputra/AP Ash spewing from Marapi's eruption has been causing respiratory problems for people in the area - Noli Kampai/AFP In case theres a rain of ash, we urge residents to also use masks in order to prevent respiratory illness, the agency said. In December more than 20 people were killed after Mount Marapi, one of Sumatras most active volcanoes, erupted and spewed grey clouds of ash as high as 3km. Indonesia straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, an area of high seismic activity atop multiple tectonic plates. Volcanic ash from Sundays eruption covered nearby houses, vehicles and evacuation tents set up by the local disaster agency, Reuters footage showed. A number of residents went to health facilities for respiratory checkups, and the authorities distributed masks. 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. Mount Marapi spews volcanic material from its crater during an eruption in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Dozens of people living on the slopes of Mount Marapi have been evacuated from their homes after Indonesian authorities raised the alert level of of the nearly 2,900-meter (9,480-foot) volcano to the second highest as it continues to erupt. (AP Photo/Givo Alputra) AGAM, Indonesia (AP) Indonesias Mount Marapi erupted again on Sunday, spewing smoke and ash high into the air, but no casualties were reported. The Marapi Volcano Observation Post in West Sumatra province recorded an eruption with an ash column about 1,300 meters (4,265 feet) high from its peak, followed by ash rain. Sprays of ash from the eruption were seen blanketing roads and vehicles in nearby villages. At least 100 residents have been evacuated since Friday after Indonesian authorities raised the alert level of the volcano from Level 2 to Level 3, or the second-highest level, on Wednesday. Marapi is known for sudden eruptions that are difficult to predict because they are not caused by a deep movement of magma, which sets off tremors that register on seismic monitors. Its eruption in early December shot thick columns of ash as high as 3 kilometers (more than 9,800 feet) that killed 24 climbers and injured several others who were caught by a surprise weekend eruption. About 1,400 people live on Marapis slopes in Rubai and Gobah Cumantiang, the nearest villages about 5 to 6 kilometers (3.1 to 3.7 miles) from the peak. Marapi has been active since an eruption in January last year that caused no casualties. It is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia, which is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. ___ Associated Press writer Edna Tarigan in Jakarta, Indonesia contributed to this report. Marking 100 days after the hostages /were abducted into Gaza during Hamas' terror attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, an estimated 120,000 people joined the commencement of a 24-hour march in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Jan. 13. According to organizers, this would be one of the biggest rallies in Israel this past year, when there were frequent large-scale protests against the government's contentious proposal to reform the judicial system. Loved Ones' Cry for Help In a report by The Times of Israel, the rally started after sunset in central Tel Aviv, dubbed "Hostages Square." It featured speakers such as Dorit Beinisch, former president of the Israel Supreme Court, US ambassador Jack Lew, and relatives of the approximately 132 hostages still in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron was also among the speakers. In their addresses to the gathering, relatives of the hostages conveyed a sense of urgency, saying their loved ones' lives were in danger. They expressed deep frustration with the government for what they perceived as its failure to rescue the 240 people abducted into Gaza by Palestinian terrorists in October last year. As negotiations progressed toward the first handover of medications to the captives, the demonstration took place. Reports indicate that the captives' prescriptions were allegedly transferred to Qatari authorities on Saturday night and were thereafter supposed to be sent to the Red Cross or another third party. See Also: People's Rights Are Being Threatened Everywhere, From Wars to Silent Abuse Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reaffirmed his commitment to doing everything in his power to free the other hostages at a news conference on Saturday night. But he said that the captives' families are at a loss to comprehend the calculations that Israel's decision-makers must do, just as he is at a loss to comprehend their misery. Negotiations to release the captives should take other factors into consideration, according to his comment. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement before the march began urging the war cabinet to gather in the square on Sunday, Jan. 14. They emphasized that more hostages were being killed with each delay in reaching a solution. In a press address made in southern Israel on Saturday night, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said that the release of further captives from Gaza could only be achieved via the use of military pressure. As the 100-day milestone comes in the conflict against Hamas, Halevi said that the IDF was using all measures to recover the hostages and would do so until they were all returned. However, an increasing number of relatives of the hostages have been challenging this position, pointing out that since Israel restarted operations after a seven-day ceasefire in late November 2023, not a single captive has been freed. See Also: Antony Blinken Announces UN Assessment Mission in Northern Gaza as Cost of Conflict on Children Far Too High Iowa is bundled up and ready to kick off the 2024 presidential campaign with its famed quirky caucus. With bone-chilling cold gripping the state, former President Trump is aiming for a landslide win over rivals Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis. Trump, who leads in polls with more than 50% support, hopes to eviscerate his opponents and head on to the tricky next contest in New Hampshire next Tuesday with the political wind at his back. Iowa has a history of delivering major political upsets, but most political pundits say Trumps grip on the GOP conservative base should help him deliver an expected triumph. DeSantis has spent months campaigning in the Hawkeye State and has all but staked his campaign on a strong showing driven by backing from the states influential evangelical Christian conservative voting bloc. But the Florida governor has been slumping in polls for months and slipped behind Haley in the final surveys before showtime. Haley, who has been rising steadily in polls for months now, hopes to leapfrog DeSantis or at least come in a strong third, with her standing buoyed by support from relatively moderate suburban voters. Haleys strategy centers on riding a strong showing in Iowa into a virtual dead heat with Trump in New Hampshire, which has far more college-educated and independent-minded voters. That plan got a big boost last week when former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race, likely sending most of his Trump-opposing supporters into Haleys camp. After the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23, there will be more than a month before South Carolina votes in the next major contest, giving Haley hope she can scramble the race. Independents and even Democrats are permitted to take part in the Iowa contest, although they must change their registration to do so. With no Democratic presidential contest, it remains to be seen if the GOP fight will attract some aisle-crossing voters who might be driven by the desire to vote against Trump. Unlike a primary, caucus voters must show up at a set time to cast their ballots, which will be 8 p.m. Eastern time. After candidates supporters make brief speeches, participants will cast votes by secret ballot. There wont be the odd drama of voters physically moving from one spot to another as Democrats did in some past Iowa contests. The candidates will divvy up 40 delegates, just 1.6% of those who will vote for the eventual nominee at the Republican National Convention. Democrats killed their Iowa nominating caucus as well as the New Hampshire primary in a shakeup of the partys early voting state lineup, aiming to give more weight to more diverse states. First results are expected from some of the states tiny rural precincts within minutes. GOP officials voiced confidence that they will have full results sometime Monday night, which would be a sharp contrast from past contests in both parties that resulted in widespread chaos and unclear results for many hours or days. One thing is for sure: Its gonna be cold, even for Iowa in January, which will likely affect voter turnout. With a nasty polar vortex taking aim at the nations heartland, forecasters predict temperatures will be below zero across the entire state at caucus time, with wind chills as low as 30 degrees below _____ An Iowa high school principal who gave the ultimate sacrifice as he protected his students during a mass shooting earlier this month has succumbed to injuries he sustained during the rampage. Dan Marburger, the principal at Perry High School since 1995, died 10 days after the 4 January attack at the school that also left an 11-year-old child dead and six others injured. The shooter, a 17-year-old student, died by suicide after he indiscriminately opened fire in the cafeteria as students gathered for breakfast. In the aftermath of the shooting, the Department of Public Safety said that Marburger had acted selflessly by shielding students and staff from the bullets. Marburgers family announced on Sunday that he had died from the serious injuries he sustained. Dan Marburger gave the ultimate sacrifice, the description of a GoFundMe page read. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever. Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday, and remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Marburgers funeral. Dan Marburger, principal at Perry High School, has succumbed to injuries he sustained during a 4 January mass shooting at the school that also left an 11-year-old student dead (WHO13) Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburgers death, Gov Raynolds said in a statement. Dan courageously put himself in harms way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace. Marburger was described by family members as a loving father, grandfather and husband who had devoted nearly three decades of his life to thousands of students throughout his career. Being the principal at Perry High School since 1995, also means that Dans family includes those who have ever walked the halls of Perry High School, the GoFundMe page, which has since raised more than $88,000 for Marburgers family, read. The love and admiration he has for any current and former students and staff characterize the pride that Dan has for his building. Sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff, the other fatal victim in the shooting, was remembered by loved ones as a joyful boy who loved soccer and singing. He was so well-loved and he loved everyone, Ahmirs mother, Erica Jolliff, told the AP last week. Hes such an outgoing person. Students and supporters gather in the rotunda to protest gun violence during the opening day of the Iowa Legislature (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Community members gather in Wiese park for a candlelight vigil following the morning shooting at the Perry Middle School and High School complex on January 04, 2024 in Perry, Iowa. A 17-year-old student identified by authorities as Dylan Butler opened fire at the school on the first day back from the winter break, killing a student and wounding five others (Getty Images) Four other students and two staff members were wounded before the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Authorities have identified the shooter in the 4 January attack as Dylan Butler. Although police have not officially provided a motive in the shooting, two friends of Butler and their mother told The Associated Press said Butler was a quiet person who had been bullied for years. Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small calibre handgun. Mitch Mortvedt, the state investigation divisions assistant director, said that authorities also found a pretty rudimentary improvised explosive device and rendered it safe. Officials were looking into a number of social media posts he made around the time of the shooting, Mortvedt added. Shortly before the shooting, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the bathroom of Perry High School, officials said. The photo was captioned now we wait and the song Stray Bullet by the German band KMFDM accompanied it. Investigators have also found other photos Butler posted posing with firearms. The longtime principal of Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, passed away early Sunday morning. Dan Marburger, who had led the school for nearly 19 years, succumbed to his injuries in the hospital following the Jan. 4 school shooting that left one sixth grader and the 17-year-old gunman dead. His death was confirmed by his family on GoFundMe. Marburger was shot multiple times while attempting to usher other staff and students safely from the building. Community members praised Marburger's response to the crisis, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety said the principal acted selflessly and placed himself in harms way in an apparent effort to protect his students. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags to be lowered to half-staff in respect for the fallen educator. Dan courageously put himself in harms way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them, she wrote in an official statement. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. Read it at The Des Moines Register Read more at The Daily Beast. (Reuters) - The principal of a school in a small Iowa town who was injured during a shooting on campus at the beginning of the month died on Sunday, his family said. Dan Marburger, had been principal at Perry High School since 1995, suffered serious injuries on Jan. 4 as he helped pupils and staff exit the school after a 17-year-old student opened fire, killing a sixth-grader and wounding five people, including Marburger. "After 10 days, he lost his battle and this tragedy took his life," read the GoFundMe page created in the shooting's aftermath to help his family with medical costs. "All of the Marburger family and the entire Perry Community will forever be touched by the selflessness of Mr. Marburger." The suspect, a student at the high school, was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound by responding officers, authorities said. The Iowa shooting, on the district's first day of classes in 2024, is part of a national epidemic of gun violence in U.S. schools that has worsened in recent years. Perry, a town of about 7,900, is about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Des Moines, the state's capital city. The town's middle and high schools share a single campus. (Reporting by Maria Caspani; Editing by Mark Porter) The United States and the United Kingdom recently have launched missile, ship, and aircraft attacks against sites in Yemen that are affiliated with the Houthi Movement. The attacks occurred after the Houthis conducted their biggest raid on vessels in the Red Sea, which was one of 27 attacks of this kind since November 2023. According to officials, 21 missiles and drones were shot down by US and UK warships earlier this week in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern bottleneck of the Red Sea, after they had been launched at commercial boats and warships. Recent Attacks From the US and UK According to the Independent, the US claimed credit for hitting over 60 targets at 16 different Houthi locations, including radar systems, missile and drone storage and launch facilities, and Houthi command centers, according to the Pentagon. There were reports of strikes in many locations in Yemen, including the rebel-controlled capital, Sanaa, the Houthi stronghold in the northwest, Dhamar, and the Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Meanwhile, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced earlier this week that it had located critical facilities linked to the Houthis targeting US Navy vessels and HMS Diamond. The MoD also agreed to carry out a coordinated strike to hinder the Houthis' capacity to breach international law in this way. According to reports, two of these Houthi installations were targeted by fighter planes in a series of pinpoint attacks. Their plane zeroed in on a number of important targets at the airstrip and destroyed them. More than 70 attacks were reported by the Houthis. See Also: Protests Against US, UK Airstrikes Draw Thousands in Yemen Who Are Houthis Attacking in the Red Sea? Houthis are an armed faction among the Shia Muslim minority in Yemen, the Zaidis, who have received support from Iran. Hussein al-Houthi, the movement's founder, is the inspiration for its name. Since 2014, they have been engaged in a civil war with the government of Yemen. Along with Lebanese groups Hezbollah and Hamas, the Houthis are seen by Iran to be part of an "axis of resistance" fighting Israel, the US, and the West more generally. Israel bombarded Gaza to eliminate Hamas after the October 7 assault last year in the southern part of the nation killed 1,200 people and kidnapped 240. In the Hamas-controlled area, health experts believe the Israeli military campaign has killed over 20,000 people. In a show of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis have announced that they would be attacking any ship passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait on its way to Israel. A US-led naval coalition was formed at the end of last year to fight back against the Houthis' indiscriminate attack on commercial boats. The Red Sea is one of the world's busiest maritime lanes, carrying between 12 % and 15% of all shipments. Because of the Houthis' attacks, many shipping firms have been compelled to reroute their vessels, opting for the longer route across Africa. Shipping via the Red Sea now costs more in insurance, which disrupts supply chains and might drive up final prices. See Also: Iran's Support for Houthi Raids in Red Sea Continues Despite US, UK Objections An Iowa principal who acted heroically to save students during a mass shooting at Perry High School earlier this month has died from his injuries in the attack, according to his wife. The shooting at the school near Des Moines initially left one sixth-grade student dead and seven others, including Principal Dan Marburger, injured after a 17-year-old student opened fire on January 4. At approximately 8:00 am, January 14, Dan lost his battle, his wife Elizabeth Marburger posted in a GoFundMe campaign set up when he was still in the hospital. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever. The attack marked the second shooting on a school property in the US within the first few days of 2024. Marburger, who authorities say was shot multiple times, was hailed a hero after trying to save students by talking to and distracting the shooter as the deadly attack unfolded, his daughter Claire Marburger shared on social media shortly after the shooting. As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff. It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria, Marburgers daughter said. Principal Dan Marburger speaks during the Perry High School graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 28, 2023. - Allison Ullmann/The Perry Chief/USA Today Network Iowa Department of Public Safety said Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harms way in an apparent effort to protect his students. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered flags lowered to half-staff on Sunday. Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburgers death. Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family as we pray for their comfort during this very difficult time, Reynolds said in a statement. Dan courageously put himself in harms way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace. Marburger worked at schools in Perry, Iowa, for at least 25 years, according to the Perry Community School District. Officers responded to the shooting on the first Thursday of the year within minutes and discovered several people at the high school suffering gunshot wounds. They then located the gunman with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, CNN previously reported. The Perry Middle School student also killed in the shooting was identified as 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, who was shot three times in the attack, according to authorities. This story has been updated with additional information. CNNs Elizabeth Wolfe, Raja Razek, Holly Yan, Ashley R. Williams, Andy Rose, Dakin Andone, Evan Perez and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The principal of the Perry, Iowa, high school who was shot during a school shooting last week died of his injuries Sunday, his family announced. Dan Marburger was shot multiple times during the school shooting while protecting students. A sixth grade student was also killed in the shooting, and four people were injured. The gunman, a 17-year-old student, also shot and killed himself as police arrived. The day after the shooting, the state Department of Public Safety said Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harms way in an apparent effort to protect his students. The state Division of Criminal Investigation spokesperson Mitch Mortvedt said Marburger had done some pretty significant things to limit harm to students, but he did not provide details. Superintendent Clark Wicks called him a hero for his actions. In a Facebook post on the night of the shooting, the principals daughter, Claire Marburger, called her father a gentle giant and said it wasnt surprising that her father tried to protect his students. As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff, his daughter wrote. Thats just Dad. The Perry High School shooting occurred on Jan. 4, just before school began on the first day back from winter break. The shooting began in and was mostly contained to the schools cafeteria, police said. Perry, Iowa, is about 45 minutes northwest of Des Moines. This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) said after the shooting. And I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you. Its impossible to understand why anything like this happens. But again, I want you to know that well work tirelessly to get the answers so that we can prevent it from happening again, Reynolds added. An investigation into the shooting and potential motives of the gunman is ongoing, local police told The Associated Press. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Funeral ceremony of the casualties of the Islamic State attack in Kerman CAIRO (Reuters) - Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the U.S. air strikes on Yemen, saying the attacks revealed what he called the true aggressive nature of the United States, Iran's IRNA news agency reported on Sunday. Supporting defenceless Palestinians is the principled stance of Iran, Raisi added in a phone call with the head of Yemen's Houthi Supreme Political Council, Mahdi al-Mashat, it reported. Referring to the U.S. strikes, Raisi said such actions "are rejected and condemned by the freedom-seeking nations of the world". Mashat said that Yemen stands firm in confronting Israel and supporting the people of Gaza. (Reporting By Ahmed Tolba, Editing by William Maclean) On a sun-beaten sidewalk lining an empty farm field and apartments at Ennis Joslin Road and Williams Drive, Dan Smiling Turtle Lara ushered a crowd of about 50 representatives from various tribal nations to gather around him. Standing on what was once indigenous territory, he provided spiritual remarks and encouraged everyone to honor their ancestors and deceased loved ones, before they embarked on an annual mile and a half journey down Ennis Joslin to the Ishka sacred site, a Native burial ground. This is a funeral procession, he said. Walk in beauty. Walk with prayers in your heart. Smiling Turtle Lara is of the Nde Tribe, commonly known as Lipan Apaches. He led the ceremony for Larry Running Turtle Salazar, who was ill. Women spread tobacco along the route to bless it. Another beat a drum and chanted while the procession slowly made its way down the busy street with the help of a police escort. From front left, Donna Carrillo, of Kingsville, and Alfreda Mathieu, of Lafayette, La., spread tobacco to bless Ennis Joslin Road on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. Carrillo walked in honor of her late husband Domingo Castro Carrillo, a Lipan Apache elder. Michael Broken Horn Gomez blessed the back of the procession with plant medicine carried by his daughter. Onlookers took cellphone footage from their vehicles and some honked. The procession remained solemn and stoic. At the end of the journey, Tribal Elders were acknowledged with gifts of food and blankets. Larry Running Turtle Salazar and others interested in Indigenous activism and history in Corpus Christi have held a march along Ennis Joslin Road every year for two decades. The road is near the site of one of the largest known pre-contact Indigenous cemeteries in Texas. During the 19th century, archaeologists and looters removed the remains of hundreds of individuals buried in the dunes of the Cayo del Oso area. In recent decades, road improvement projects have unearthed more remains. Efforts to return human remains taken from the Coastal Bend under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act have not made much progress, primarily because local Indigenous groups are not federally recognized. Today, many of the remains taken from the site are being held by museums, university labs and in private collections across the country, including at the University of Texas. But, at the Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge, located along Oso Bay and Ennis Joslin Road near the area of the original burial grounds, many recognize the area's history. The park currently includes a medicine wheel where some Indigenous activists gather and hold ceremonies. For years, Salazar and the South Texas Alliance of Indigenous People have been working to add more elements to pay tribute to the burial grounds. The group submitted a proposal to the city of Corpus Christi last year, calling for informational signs and bronze sculptures, as well as a burial vault and spaces to gather. Native American tribal elders are acknowledged in a medicine circle at Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge Park on Ennis Joslin Road on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. "There's nothing here about the Native communities," Smiling Turtle Lara said. "That's really what the statue is about. We're here. We never left. We're not extinct." According to a statement from the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department, the city is in continued discussions about the proposed project. "The Parks and Recreation Department has had meetings with the organization to examine their proposal and is currently engaged in preliminary discussions regarding an agreement for the project," according to the statement shared Wednesday. Dan Smiling Turtle Lara directs the men in the procession to part with the women during an annual march down Ennis Joslin Road on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Corpus Christi, Texas. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Native activists host annual march for recognition of local tribes and to honor ancestors Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike on the city of Khan Yunis. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa Israel's army said Saturday that it wants to further increase military pressure on the Islamist Hamas as the war stretches into its 100th day. This was announced by Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi. "We approved plans for the Southern Command to continue combat and to increase military pressure on Hamas. Pressure that will lead to the dismantling of Hamas and the return of the hostages," said Halevi. "This pressure, and only it, has succeeded in returning many hostages." Sunday marks 100 days of war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It was triggered by the devastating terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas and other extremist groups on October 7, which left about 1,200 people dead and about 250 others taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive. During a ceasefire in November, 105 hostages were released in return for 240 Palestinian prisoners. It was only through military pressure that many of those hostages were released, Halevi said on Saturday. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, more than 23,000 people in the Gaza Strip have so far been killed by the Israeli military. The Hamas leadership is pinning its hopes on a ceasefire "and is convinced that this moment is near," said Halevi. Halevi also addressed the fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The group is allied with Hamas. He stated that the "area of southern Lebanon is a combat zone, and it will remain so, as long as Hezbollah operates from it. Hezbollah risks turning the entire state of Lebanon into a combat zone." People hold placards during the "100 days in hell" rally to remember the fate of the Israeli hostages who have still not been freed. Henning Kaiser/dpa Hundreds of Israeli companies went on strike for 100 minutes on Sunday as a sign of solidarity with more than 130 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip. They were responding to a call by the Israeli umbrella organization of trade unions, Histadrut, to mark 100 days since the start of the Gaza war on October 7. At the beginning of the strike, thousands of participants in a rally organized by relatives and supporters of the hostages remained silent for 100 seconds as a sign of solidarity. The rally in Tel Aviv is set to last 24 hours until Sunday evening. Histadrut leader Arnon Ben-David said at the rally: "[Israel is] in the middle of a terrible dream, and I want to wake up from this terrible dream and create a new Israel." "We are striking today to work together to rebuild the land of Israel. "We will rebuild everything they have tried to destroy." Israel has been fighting the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas in Gaza since Hamas militants and other extremist groups launched a bloody raid on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 and kidnapping around 240. Israel estimates that 136 hostages are still being held in Gaza and that two dozen of them have died. Israel responded to the massacre with massive airstrikes and launched a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza, about 24,000 have been killed and some 60,600 others injured in the sealed-off coastal strip since the beginning of the Israeli campaign. These figures cannot currently be independently verified. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock reaffirmed her hope for the release of all hostages. "We will not give up, we will not let up in our work until all Hamas hostages are back home," Baerbock wrote on the social media platform X on Sunday. "For 100 days, children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends have been missing in #Israel. 100 days of uncertainty, despair, grief - and hope." The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) renewed its appeal for a humanitarian ceasefire. "The massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss, and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity," UNRWA Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again pledged that his country will fight "until total victory." "Nobody will stop us," Netanyahu said late Saturday, referring to the genocide lawsuit filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. "The hypocritical onslaught at The Hague against the state of the Jews that arose from the ashes of the Holocaust, at the behest of those who came to perpetrate another Holocaust against the Jews is a moral low point in the history of nations," Netanyahu said. The state of Israel, its armed forces and security services are waging a "moral and just war that is unrivalled, against the Hamas monsters, the new Nazis," said Netanyahu, who is under pressure domestically. In the Hamas tunnels under the Gaza Strip, the army had found copies of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," Netanyahu said. Hamas members are "the new Nazis," said Netanyahu, saying he was quoting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. However, at a joint press conference with Netanyahu on October 17 in Tel Aviv, it was Netanyahu himself, not Scholz, who said this phrase. A German government spokesperson on Sunday said that Scholz had "never used this formulation himself." In his speech, Netanyahu thanked Scholz for Germany's clear rejection of the genocide claim brought against Israel. "We are continuing the war until the end until total victory, until we achieve all of our goals: Eliminating Hamas, returning all of our hostages and ensuring that Gaza will never again constitute a threat to Israel." There were civilian casualties in new attacks from Lebanon in northern Israel on Sunday. A 40-year-old man was killed and a 70-year-old woman seriously injured in the border town of Kfar Yuval, according to the Magen David Adom rescue service. The Lebanese Shiite militia Hezbollah claimed responsibility for the attack with anti-tank missiles on the village and three others in the border area. According to the militia, the attack was in support of the Palestinian people. According to the Israeli army, a house in Kfar Yuval was hit by a rocket. For their part, Israeli fighter jets had attacked "Hezbollah terrorist infrastructure and military targets in Lebanon." There was another exchange of fire overnight, the army said earlier in the day. The soldiers returned fire, and four militants were killed, it said. People stand with Israeli flags during the "100 days in hell" rally to remember the fate of the Israeli hostages who have still not been freed. Henning Kaiser/dpa By Estelle Shirbon JERUSALEM (Reuters) - On Israeli city streets and on television, in shops and in cafes, one symbol of solidarity with hostages held in Gaza has become ubiquitous in the 100 days since Hamas abducted them: military-style dog tags worn on neckchains. The small metal rectangles, similar to those soldiers carry for identification, are typically inscribed with two slogans in Hebrew, "our hearts are held hostage in Gaza" and "together we will win", and one in English, "bring them home now". "Everyone wants to show their support one way or another," said Shayna Roth, 36, a digital marketing specialist and mother of three from Modi'in, near Tel Aviv. "It just makes you feel that no matter where you go, no matter who you meet or talk to, we're all a nation, undivided." Israel says Hamas killed 1,200 people during its assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, the worst loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust and the deadliest day in Israel's 75-year history. Vowing to destroy Hamas, it has responded with a military offensive on Gaza that has so far killed close to 24,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, displaced most of the population and caused widespread hunger and disease. Israel faces an international outcry over the death, destruction and suffering in Gaza, including accusations brought by South Africa at the United Nations' top court that it is conducting a genocide there. It has rejected this as a false and grossly distorted accusation. Of the 240 hostages who were kidnapped on Oct. 7, more than 130 are still held captive in Gaza. Their plight, and the anguish of their families, are deeply felt across Israeli society. "Wearing these dog tags really allows us to connect to the families that have been directly affected," said Roth, who also has pictures of hostages by her Shabbat candles, which in Jewish tradition are lit on Friday evenings to usher in the Sabbath. 'BEYOND WORDS' Roth's mother, Marilee Crowell, was visiting from California and was wearing a dog tag as the two women visited the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem. Nestled among the food stalls and bakeries in the warren of alleyways, a souvenir shop had several displays of dog tags. It was here that Roth had bought a batch of them to send to her mother and other relatives living in the United States. Crowell, 78, said she was wearing hers to show her deep empathy with the hostages, their families, and Israelis in general, following the Oct. 7 killings. "I stand with you in your suffering and yes, we want the hostages back, yes, it's beyond words. I stand with you, I hold your hand in your grief. That's what it means to me," she said. Her daughter had tears in her eyes as she listened. A steady stream of customers stopped at the souvenir shop and bought dog tags. Among them, Judith, who did not wish to give her family name, bought several, including an unusual model with a religious blessing on it, "God bless you and keep you". "Everybody is hurting. Everybody knows somebody who is a soldier, or knows somebody who lives in (the southern) area, so everybody's involved, it's one big family. So it's just showing that we care, that we're standing together," she said. Steven Winston, a visitor from Britain where he runs a pro-Israel group called the National Jewish Assembly, was wearing a dog tag he had bought at "Hostages Square", in Tel Aviv, where hostages' families and supporters have been campaigning. Winston gave similar reasons for wearing the symbol, adding that he would not hesitate to wear it in London, where police reported a surge in hate crimes after Oct. 7, including acts of antisemitism as well as Islamophobia. "If someone tried to take it off me, then let them try, but Im not going to shy away from my identity and my feelings. I'm proud to wear it," said Winston. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) China condemned the U.S. for congratulating Taiwan's new president, William Lai Ching-te. On Saturday, Jan. 13, the self-governed island conducted its most-awaited presidential election. Lai Ching-te reigned victor among the presidential candidates. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated the newly-elected leader of the island nation. However, since China wasn't happy with Taiwan's presidential election, it was further triggered by what Blinken did. Here's what the Chinese foreign ministry argued. China Condemns U.S. for Congratulating Taiwan's New President According to BBC News' latest report, Antony Blinken sent a letter to William Lai Ching-te, congratulating the new leader for winning Taiwan's presidential election. "We look forward to working with Dr Lai and Taiwan's leaders of all parties to advance our shared interests and values," said the U.S. secretary of state. Antony Blinken emphasized the partnership between the U.S. and Taiwan, saying that the relationship between the two nations is rooted in democratic values. He further stated that the United States, one of Taiwan's biggest allies, is "committed to maintaining cross-strait peace and stability." However, China wasn't happy with Blinken's statements. The Chinese foreign ministry argued that what Antony Blinken said violates the commitment of the U.S. to maintain only unofficial ties with Taipei. Beijing explained that by congratulating Lai Ching-te, the U.S. violated its promise to maintain only commercial, cultural, and other unofficial relationships with Taiwan. "China firmly opposes the U.S. having any form of official interaction with Taiwan and interfering in Taiwan affairs in any way or under any pretext," said China's foreign ministry. Read Also: Lai Ching-te of Taiwan's Ruling Party Secures Victory In Presidential Election POTUS Says US Doesn't Support Taiwan's Independence U.S. President Joe Biden clarified that the U.S. doesn't support the independence of Taiwan, even after voters defied China and returned the governing Democratic Progressive Party. "We do not support independence," said Joe Biden via Yahoo News. Political analysts explained that what the American president said could just ease China's concerns regarding the new Taiwanese president. Unlike Hou Yu-ih, who promised to expand diplomacy and trade with China if he won the election, Lai Chi-teng maintained close ties with the United States. This is why China was disappointed when William Lai won the election. Related Article: China Vows To 'Crush' Taiwan Independence as Taipei Holds Local Elections A Jamaican gangster spared deportation when passengers on a British Airways flight led a revolt, has been identified as a violent drug dealer jailed for his role in a gun battle on the streets of Birmingham. Lawrence Morgan was convicted of firearms offences in 2021 and was due to be kicked out of Britain in November. But his lawful deportation was abandoned at the last moment when passengers, who were unaware of his convictions, staged an intervention by refusing to sit down for take off. Morgan, who took part in a deadly gangland shootout in a packed Birmingham street, is one of a number of foreign criminals whose removal from the country has been frustrated by campaigners and members of the public. Full horror of crimes His identity and convictions had not been revealed previously, but now the full horror of his crimes has been revealed, it will further fuel anger over the campaign to keep him in the country. The Home Secretary is said to be considering new measures to prevent passengers blocking deportation flights in the future. Morgan came to Britain from Jamaica in the early 2000s on a visitors visa and moved to Birmingham where he became involved with one of the citys violent gangs, vying for control of the lucrative drugs trade. In 2016, he was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison after being found in possession of a firearm and crack cocaine and heroin. The following year, he was given a two-year concurrent sentence for supplying class A drugs as part of a county lines operation running into Oxfordshire. Lawrence Morgan was carrying a gun and anmmunition on his arrest In 2018, the Government launched the first of a number of bids to remove him from the UK but they were frustrated by a string of challenges and appeals from human rights lawyers. In 2020, Morgan was out of prison and took part in a shootout in the Lozells district of the city following the gangland execution of one of his associates. At least 13 shots were fired on a busy street and one man died as a result. Morgan was acquitted of murder and attempted murder but was jailed for five years after admitting possessing a firearm. Despite using the European Convention on Human Rights to battle deportation, claiming a right to family life, Morgan was given notice that he was to be removed from the UK last year. On Nov 10, hr was placed on board a Boeing 777 British Airways flight from Gatwick to Kingston, Jamaica. Struggling in seat But before the flight was able to take off Morgan began struggling and passengers, who were unaware of his background, complained to the BA crew about his treatment. A group refused to sit down and eventually the captain abandoned take off and returned to the terminal. Morgan was removed from the flight and is understood to be being held at a detention centre. James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, is understood to be considering ways to prevent passengers from disrupting lawful deportations. A source close to Mr Cleverly said: This is an outrageous situation. We will be looking at new ways to handle this issue. 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. Former Justice of the Supreme Court Sandra Day OConnor died last month at age 93. She had served on the court for 25 years. Most long-term followers of the Supreme Court, no doubt, have a favorite OConnor opinion. Mine is her dissent in Kelo v. City of New London (2005). The Kelo opinion showed her traditional judicial methodology, awareness of the political process, practicality, independence and spunk. The Kelo case dealt with the governmental power of eminent domain, i.e., the power to take your real estate for a public use, like for a road. This taking power is governed by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution, in particular its Taking Clause: private property (shall not) be taken for public use without just compensation. This is made applicable to the states and their subdivisions by the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment (the incorporation doctrine). James W. Pfister The said Takings Clause has two concepts: public use and just compensation. We are dealing here with public use. Public use will be distinguished from the broader concept of public purpose. In the Kelo case, the City of New London applied eminent domain, or condemnation, to properties in the Fort Trumbull neighborhood. This was not for a road, a public use, but for an economic development involving the Pfizer chemical enterprise, not a public use but a public purpose, since it was perceived that such an economic development would lead to increased property taxes, increased employment, and general betterment that occurs when a slosh of money is added to an area. But the perceived benefit was never conceived: Pfizer pulled out of the project. After millions spent, New London was left with a large field. The legal question is whether this was a constitutional taking, being for a public purpose, not a public use as the text specifies. The majority of the Kelo Court held such public purpose was constitutional under the Fifth Amendment. Justice OConnor said no, being a violation of the intent of the Founders of the Constitution, contrary to precedent and to the traditional concept of property rights, and fundamentally unfair for the average person losing out to those with more political and financial power. She was joined in her dissent by Chief Justice Rehnquist, and Justices Scalia and Thomas. It was a close 5-4 decision. In her reasoning, OConnor went back 200 years to Justice Samuel Chase. Shortly after the Bill of Rights (1791), Chase wrote: A law that takes property from A and gives it to B is against all reason and justice Calder v. Bull (1798). OConnor stated that the majority opinion was to wash out any distinction between private and public use of property and thereby effectively to delete the words for public use from the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment. She quoted Alexander Hamilton speaking before the Constitutional Convention about the security of Property, being one of the great purposes of government: to protect property owners in the political process against the majority will. She believed that protection was the job of the judiciary. Were the political branches the sole arbiters of the public-private distinction, the Public Use Clause would amount to little more than hortatory fluff. (OConner was one of the few justices to have had legislative experience). To rely on state statutory law to protect property, she believed, is an abdication of our responsibility as a court. In her reasoning, OConnor had to confront two precedents that constituted massive eminent domain: Berman v. Parker (1954) and Hawaii Housing Authority v. Midkiff (1984). She viewed these cases as outliers based on necessity: In both those cases, the extraordinary, pre-condemnation use of the targeted property inflicted affirmative harm on society OConnor showed an awareness of the political process, whereby the average property owner could be overpowered: the government now has license (as a result of the majority opinion) to transfer property from those with fewer resources to those with more. The Founders could not have intended this perverse result. Government should protect, not destroy, property rights. (Citing James Madison). As a retired real estate attorney and broker/Realtor, Id like to see the conservatives on the Court, Justices Kavanaugh, Thomas, Alito, Barrett, and Gorsuch, adopt OConnors approach. We cannot rely on statutory protection in the future. James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: James Pfister: Sandra Day OConnor, property, and the Kelo case CORRECTS DATE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, arrives at a Japan Air Self-Defense Force sub base in Wajima, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Kishida visited the country's north-central region of Noto for the first time since the Jan. 1 quakes. (Kyodo News via AP) TOKYO (AP) Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was speechless by the severity and immense destruction of the disaster zone he saw during the helicopter ride on his first visit to the country's north-central region of Noto since the deadly Jan. 1 earthquakes, amid worries about spreading diseases in evacuation centers. Kishida pledged to do his utmost to improve the living conditions of the evacuees and to rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods as soon as possible. The magnitude 7.6 earthquake left 221 dead and more than 20 others still missing while injuring hundreds. More than 20,000 people, many of whom had their homes damaged or destroyed, are taking refuge at about 400 school gymnasiums, community centers and other makeshift facilities, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency report. Road damage has hampered rescue efforts, and though relief supplies have reached most regions affected by the quake, hundreds of people in isolated areas are getting little support. Additionally, in the hard-hit towns of Noto, Wajima and Suzu, elderly residents account for half their population, and many are facing growing risks of deteriorating health, officials and experts say. When I saw the severity of the disaster I was speechless, Kishida told reporters, saying the aerial view showed gaping grounds, landslides crushing roads, and an elevation of the seafloor, changing the beautiful landscape on the eastern coast of the peninsula. I also heard from the residents about their difficulties and worries. The prime minister said he took the evacuee's conditions seriously and promised support. We will do everything we can so that you can have hope for the future," he said. Kishida also met with Ishikawa Gov. Hiroshi Hase in the prefectural government in Kanazawa, where he was given a list of requests, including central government funding for the reconstruction of key infrastructure, and emergency loans for individuals and small businesses. Many have criticized Kishidas government over what they called a slow disaster response although the cabinet has approved 4.7 billion yen (about $32 million) for relief efforts and is backing the call for a secondary evacuation, including to facilities in the capital region. Kishida said the cabinet plans to approve a second relief fund of 100 billion yen (nearly $690 million) this week to help people rebuild their lives while doubling the reserve funds of the fiscal 2024 budget to 1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) to bolster funding for the reconstruction. The prime minister, in his disaster-response uniform, also visited a junior high school that has turned into an evacuation center in Wajima where officials showed him the evacuees severe living conditions. They spoke about the potential risk of spreading infectious diseases, such as influenza, COVID-19 and stomach flu due to the lack of running water and congestion. To mitigate immediate concerns about possible health problems and risk of death at evacuation centers, local and central government officials said they would provide the evacuees free accommodation at hotels and apartments further away from their neighborhoods until temporary housing was ready. But many of the locals have refused to move out, worried about their destroyed homes, belongings and communities. Hase urged residents on Friday to temporarily relocate to the recommended facilities to rest better and protect your lives. Mototaka Inaba, a medical doctor who heads an international relief organization Peace Winds Japan, told an NHK talk show on Sunday that a secondary evacuation of elderly residents was critical from a medical perspective but should be done in a way that didn't isolate them. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also stressed in a pre-recorded interview with NHK the importance of relocating the residents taking into consideration their sense of community, jobs and education. Jo Koy has alluded to his disastrous stint hosting the Golden Globes, appearing to call his celebrity audience soft like marshmallows. The comedian, 52, was announced as the host of the awards ceremony only weeks prior to the show, which took place on 8 January 2024. His first major hosting gig, however, did not go down well neither with viewers watching at home nor the A-list celebrities in attendance. Koy was roasted for his unfunny jokes, many of which fell flat on the night, as his starry audience looked visibly unimpressed. During his first stand-up set since the awkward awards show, Koy alluded to the event and appeared to criticise the Golden Globes audience as soft. Appearing on stage in St Louis to a standing ovation, Koy said: Holy s***, right? This big hug that you gave me is all I need, swear to God. F***ing whirlwind, goddamn. Appearing to reference the Golden Globes and the fall-out from his hosting gig, as per Variety, he said: Lot of marshmallows, man. Theyre delicious, but goddamn, theyre soft. I just come from a different time. I see the changes that are happening. I get it, but goddamn, can we f***ing laugh at ourselves? he continued. Taylor Swift wasnt impressed with Jo Koys joke at her expense (Paramount+) Koy went on to say that he would be kinda happy to learn that no one in the crowd had watched him bomb that night. I got a feeling none of you motherf***ers watched it, and Im kinda happy, he said. Oh my god. It feels good to live in this country. We get to say what we want to say. Dont be apologetic about it at all. Be able tospeak your mind. Earlier this week, Koy did admit to feeling regret over one aspect of his derided monologue. Seeing that some of his jokes were failing to land, Koy resorted to blaming his writers, telling the crowd: I wrote some of these [jokes], and theyre the ones youre laughing at! In a subsequent interview with The Los Angeles Times, he said he regretted making a joke at his writers expense, calling it a rookie move. Jo Koy (Getty Images) They busted their a**, man. Theres a lot of greats that make rookie moves. That was a rookie move, he told the publication. Those writers are dope and that was not my intention at all. They were amazing, they had my back and I need to make sure I fix that and I will. I always will. Elsewhere in the interview, as he did during the Golden Globes live ceremony, Koy blamed the very tight two-week period he was given to prepare his monologue, in comparison with other hosts who have been given months. Its so crazy because the day before, we were all sitting right here, it was the first time we all met in person, the day before we had to turn in that monologue, he said. One time, thats all we had. It was the most insane thing. Koy said he also did not have the chance to test the material on a live audience. Steve Martin was among those to defend Koy following the awards show, saying on Threads: I tip my hat to anyone who steps out on stage to host a live awards show. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry will step down from his role, he told NBC News, vacating his position in the Biden administration to continue working on the issue in other ways. I think given this is an election year and Congress is frozen, Im stepping down, but Im not leaving the issue I will work on it from other vantage points, Kerry said. A former secretary of state in the Obama administration, Kerry is leaving Saturday for Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is meeting next week. Kerry also told NBC News that he will do whatever he can to help re-elect President Joe Biden in 2024 by campaigning on what Biden has accomplished on the climate issue. Axios first reported Kerrys plans to step down from his post. Kerry, a former senator from Massachusetts, was the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, losing the race against then-President George W. Bush. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON (AP) John Kerry, the U.S. special envoy on climate, is stepping down from the Biden administration in the coming weeks, according to two people familiar with his plans. Kerry, a longtime senator and secretary of state, was tapped shortly after Joe Biden's November 2020 election to take on the new role created specifically to fight climate change on behalf of the administration on the global stage. John Kerry is stepping down as US climate special envoy Kerrys departure plans were first reported Saturday by Axios. Kerry was one of the leading drafters of the 2015 Paris climate accords and came into the role with significant experience abroad, as secretary of state during the Obama administration and from nearly three decades as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Bidens decision to tap Kerry for the post was seen as one way the incoming president was making good on his campaign pledge to battle climate change in a more forceful and visible manner than in previous administrations. The climate crisis is a universal threat to humankind and we all have a responsibility to deal with it as rapidly as we can, Kerry said in a visit to Beijing last summer, when he met with Vice President Han Zheng on climate matters. Kerry represented Massachusetts for 28 years in the Senate and was also the Democratic presidential nominee in 2004. John Kerrys tireless work to deliver global progress on the climate crisis has been heroic," former Vice President Al Gore, who has focused primarily on climate in his post-public office life, said in a statement Saturday. "He has approached this challenge with bold vision, resolute determination, and the urgency that this crisis demands. For that the U.S. and the whole world owe him a huge debt of gratitude. ___ AP Science Writer Seth Borenstein contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US climate envoy John Kerry stepping down from Biden administration Joseph Zadroga, a tireless warrior for Sept. 11 first responders and the father of the first cop whose death was attributed to a Ground Zero-related illness, was fatally struck by an SUV in New Jersey, officials said Sunday. The 9/11 community lost a giant, and Joe has always been a monumental figure to thousands of 9/11 heroes and survivors, said Sept. 11 survivors advocate John Feal, who shared the news of Zadrogas death on his Facebook page. Were used to losing people to a 9/11-related cancer or a 9/11-related illness. Were not used to losing icons in such a horrible fashion, Feal told the Daily News. It makes it that much more difficult to accept. Zadroga, 76, was standing outside his parked red 2015 Hyundai Tucson at the Bacharach Rehabilitation Center in Galloway, N.J., when 82-year-old James McNeal accelerated as he pulled into a parking space about 2 p.m. on Saturday, according to Galloway Township police. McNeal struck Zadrogas vehicle and then the victim, pinning Zadroga under McNeals gray 2021 Nissan SUV, police said. Medics rushed Zadroga to AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center Mainland Division, but he could not be saved. Zadroga was at the rehab center to visit his wife, Feal said. Zadrogas son, James, died in January 2006 after a long battle with respiratory disease. His father battled to get the city to recognize his death as Sept. 11-related, extracting a public apology out of then-Mayor Mike Bloomberg in 2007 after Bloomberg shockingly said James Zadroga was not a hero. It was one of the highlights of my legal career, fighting with Joe, and getting the mayor to apologize publicly, the Zadrogas familys lawyer, Michael Barasch of Barasch & McGarry, told The News on Sunday. Barasch has sought compensation for thousands of 9/11 survivors over the years. One of the most heartbreaking things that Ill never forget in my law firm was Jimmy and Joe and Tyler Ann [James Zadrogas daughter] in my library and Jimmy needed to change his oxygen container, Barasch recounted Sunday. And Tyler Ann changed the oxygen for him, said, Daddy, Ill do it. She was 4 at the time. Could you imagine? Bloomberg made the caustic comment about James Zadroga after the New York City medical examiner at the time, Charles Hirsch, ruled he died of drug abuse from injecting his prescription medications. Hirschs ruling contradicted the earlier findings of Dr. Gerard Breton, the medical examiner for Ocean County, N.J., who conducted an autopsy and consulted with Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. The Armed Forces Institute said Zadrogas lungs had talc, cellulose, methacrylate and calcium phosphate, carbon and silica. Breton concluded Zadroga died of severe scarring of lung tissue and said the cause of death was directly related to 9/11. The Zadroga family sought a third opinion from Dr. Michael Baden, a renowned expert in forensic pathology, who found large glass fibers, plastic and other materials that would have come from toxic dust in James Zadrogas lungs. The Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, named in his honor, became law in 2010. Joseph Zadroga became an instrumental player in getting the act reauthorized and extended for another 75 years after the GOP-led congress allowed it to lapse. It gave Joe a purpose, Barasch said. He was able to really turn his sons death into a clarion call for justice for the entire 9/11 community. I want to speak to you personally and let you know what its like to watch a person die over a five-year period with no support, Joseph Zadroga said at a news conference in the shadow of One World Trade Center in 2015. And thats whats going to happen if this bill is not passed. Benjamin Chevat, the executive director of the Citizens for the Extension of the James Zadroga Act, called Joseph Zadroga indispensable to the struggle to get 9/11 responders and survivors the help they needed and deserved from Washington. For years he personally gave voice to his son James and the others still dealing with the impact of the toxins from Ground Zero, Chevat added. The push to extend the bill saw a high-profile supporter in comedian and former The Daily Show host Jon Stewart, who repeatedly shamed members of Congress before it was finally re-authorized in 2015. I know Jon loved the family and after getting off the phone with Jon, I could tell he was shaken, Feal said Sunday. Joseph Zadroga took on a fight that no father should have to face. But he fought for his hero son with incredible courage and helped every single 9/11 responder in the process, Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Hendry said Sunday. We are devastated to have lost one of the blue familys strongest champions. I spent the last year discarding my mother's advice and getting in cars with strangers. They showed me how to see the city. Mark Mulligan/Staff photographer I devoted the past year of my job to an activity my mother warned me never to do under any circumstances: Getting in cars with strangers. In a city of badly paved streets and highways that can feel like pinball machines, Ive found sitting in the passengers seat is a fine way to get an education. You can glean something about an area by whats on the sides of its roads: the shops, the billboards, the industrial plants squished right beside residential neighborhoods. You can discern something about a person by their driving habits: Whether they lay on the horn, if they use their turn signal as they change lanes, if they drive with their hands at 10 and 2 or if they guide the car through traffic with a single, outstretched arm. What Im trying to say is you can sum up these small moments in cars to make a patchwork of a city. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ed Newby, owner of All Star A/C and Heating, fields calls during a heat wave on Monday, June 26, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer I rode in an American-flag-decal van with Ed Newby as he raced across Houston during this summers vicious heat wave. He texted while we zipped around slow-moving cars on the highway (slow, for Ed Newby, meant anything under 75 miles per hour) and took swigs of flavored drinks. We boomeranged from the northern suburbs to Sugar Land, parking in front of spacious houses before climbing into their dark attics. MAN OF THE HOUR: Meet the man everyone's calling during Houston's heat wave In Eds van, I saw hard work. In the homes, I saw wealth: granite counters, sweeping ceilings, deep-brown dining room tables. In Eds interactions with his customers, I saw kindness. Kim Hewitt laughs as she talks about her food truck Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Later that summer, I got in Kim Hewitts car, a tan sedan where cigarette smoke had made itself at home in the upholstery. We met at her brunch truck across from Cuney Homes in Third Ward, and she gave me the tour of her life. We drove by the spot where the house she grew up in used to stand. We passed new townhomes on streets where Kim could once name every resident. She showed me the slab of sidewalk where, decades ago, she and her girlfriends had carved their names into wet cement and thrown dice after it dried. We stopped in front of a red-brick apartment where her son had been fatally shot. Kim stared at it out the rolled-down window, silent. Advertisement Article continues below this ad BRUNCH MAVEN: A day in the life of a Third Ward entrepreneur and her beloved food truck Kim didnt need a GPS. The neighborhood might have been changing around her she had changed, too but it was still hers. It was home. Christine Coglaiti fills out paperwork with her mom at Lone Star Infusion on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 in Houston. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer I still think about the trip I took with Christine Coglaiti and her mother, Linda. We piled into an SUV to drive from Christines house in Katy to a nearby ketamine clinic. Christine has long COVID and spends most of her life in bed, surrounded by walls painted the marigold of a Veuve Clicquot label. The sky was gray, a duller shade than the decorations in her room, but vibrant in a way Christines life no longer was. We passed old billboards and new developments, side-of-the-highway psychics and sleek office buildings. After the ketamine treatment, Linda took the wheel, white-knuckling it through stop-and-go traffic to get us to Christines doctors office in the Loop. LONG COVID: 24 Hours in the Champagne Room Advertisement Article continues below this ad Ed Newby, owner of All Star A/C and Heating, fields calls during a heat wave on Monday, June 26, 2023 in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Chrystal Brooks, Kim Hewitts sister, eats one of her chicken wings Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at Hewitts food truck in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Christine Coglaitis journal entries detailing her day and health, photographed on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Katy. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer That was the most Christine had been out of her house in days. Theres much to be said for getting out of the car, even in this nearly unwalkable city, and learning a place on your feet. But theres also something to be said for seeing the world out a window, especially because your lens depends entirely on the person in the drivers seat. You can look out the same tempered glass and notice potential or nostalgia, growth or grief, a dull sky or a pulsing world. I like to think theyre all true, especially in this ever-changing city. Most of the time, I listen to my mother. (If shes reading this, Im sure Ill get an earful about all the times I didnt.) When she gives me advice on everything from relationships to what shoes to wear with a dress shes usually right. But in this one instance, Ill disagree with her. Im grateful to all the strangers who let me clamber into their cars and showed me their worlds. I was sitting in a cafe recently, drinking an oversized cup of hot chocolate on a too-warm day, and overheard a woman muse to her companion: I like to talk to strangers. I think we can learn a lot from each other. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Joyce Randolph, who captured audiences with her role as Trixie Norton on the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners, has died at age 99. Randolph died of natural causes on Saturday night at her home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, after spending the last months of her life in hospice, her son Randolph Charles told the Associated Press. She was the last surviving actor cast in The Honeymooners. She played Trixie, the sarcastic wife of Art Carneys character Ed Norton, in the beloved comedy from televisions golden age of the 1950s. The Nortons were neighbours of Ralph Kramden, a blustering bus driver played by Jackie Gleason, and his wife Alice, played by Audrey Meadow. Randolph was dubbed the Greta Garbo of Detroit for her performance on the sitcom although she went on to say in a 2007 interview with The New York Times that she believed it was merely due to her and Garbos Scandinavian roots. According to the profile, Randolph did not receive residuals from the episodes that aired from 1955 to 1956. She later received royalties from lost episodes, discovered from the variety hours. RIght out of high school, Randolph worked at a Saks Fifth Avenue in her native Detroit, according to an archived Detroit Free Press article, and went on to have a short stint on Broadway before she had her breakthrough with The Honeymooners in 1951. More than 50 years after she played Trixie, Randolph still had many admirers and received dozens of letters a week. Randolph did not return for later revivals of the series but appeared to remember fondly her time as Trixie Norton for the remained of her life. But I know what they really want is the name Trixie Norton, Randolph told the Times about being asked for autographs. So I sign that, too. Randolph had a few other small television roles but found challenges getting new roles. ... directors would say: No, we cant use her. Shes too well known as Trixie, she told the Wisconsin State Journal in 1994. Randolph became a widow after her husband died in 1997. She is survived by her son. ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) A juvenile from out of the state has been arrested after a hoax threat was made at a St. George high school in September, the St. George Police Department said. On Sept. 27, 2023, the hoax threat reportedly led to an increased police presence at Snow Canyon High School, and a large-scale response began as detectives worked to investigate the threat. U of U students honor Martin Luther King Jr., install smoke alarms with American Red Cross The threat was determined to be a hoax, based on the preliminary evidence that was obtained, police said. Since the incident, detectives with SGPD spent months pursuing leads in the case. The police department said perpetrators of these hoax attacks often use sophisticated methods in efforts to conceal their identities, making this investigation challenging and time-consuming, SGPD said. SGPD detectives said they ultimately identified the suspect as a juvenile who resides outside of Utah. As detectives were finalizing their investigation, the juvenile was reportedly arrested by a different jurisdiction for additional hoax threats. The suspect in this case was linked to an organized group that has engaged in serial swatting offenses across the U.S., SGPD said. The juvenile is reportedly facing charges relating to threats against schools, threats of terrorism, and false emergency reporting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Harry turned up at Balmorial on the night of Queen Elizabeth II's death to find his father and brother were on another part of the estate - AFP/David Rose The King did not dine with Prince Harry on the night Queen Elizabeth II died because he needed to have discreet discussions with his elder son before being expected to console the whole country, it has been claimed. The King, who had dinner with the new Prince of Wales, William, while Harry remained at Balmoral with the rest of the Royal family, needed a clear head and no distractions, according to a new biography. A member of his staff is quoted as saying: You have to remember, losing a second parent is a big thing, becoming the senior generation is a big thing and there he was, expected to console the whole country. Prince Harry has written about his experience at Balmoral in his own memoir, Spare, with the new Charles III biography adding extra context to the decision for the King and Prince of Wales to dine without him. Both books describe how the Duke of Sussex was met in the Balmoral foyer by his aunt, the Princess Royal, who hugged him and took him to see his grandmother to pay his final respects. Charles needed a clear head and no distractions Biographer Robert Hardman writes: Harry then joined the family dinner downstairs. Neither his father nor his brother was there, however. The King and Queen Camilla had, by now, returned to Birkhall, their home on the Balmoral estate. That evening, the couple would be joined for dinner by the new Prince of Wales, who would also stay at Birkhall. The King needed to have vital but discreet discussions with his elder son. In years gone by, such a moment would automatically have included his younger son, too. But not any more. This was clearly not an occasion for an opening up of hearts and minds with Prince Harry, particularly if he was still taking notes for his forthcoming book. Charles III needed a clear head and no distractions. The relationship between the King and Prince Harry has been strained - Getty Images/John Phillips The Duke of Sussexs version, published four months after the Queens death, did not record an explanation for why he did not see his father or brother until they had all returned to London. Hunched against the cold, I hurried into the foyer, he writes in Spare. Aunt Anne was there to greet me. I hugged her. Wheres Pa and Willy? And Camilla? Gone to Birkhall, she said. She asked if I wanted to see Granny. YesI do. After spending time with his grandmother in the bedroom he had visited only once before, he relayed how he telephoned Meghan and walked into the sitting room and ate dinner with most of my family, though still no Pa, Willy or Camilla. On his solo flight back to England, where he was staying at Frogmore Cottage with his wife, he added: The quickest way back wouldve been a lift with Pa or Willy Barring that it was British Airways, departing Balmoral at daybreak. I bought a seat and was among the first to board. The book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman, is out in hardback on January 18, published by Macmillan. 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. Sir Keir Starmer has lot of plans that he says will be funded by the VAT raid on private schools - PA/Jeff Overs Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of stretching the limits of credulity after unveiling a seventh policy to be funded by his tax raid on private schools. The Labour leader announced he will roll out mental-health support across every school in England to reduce levels of self-harm and suicide among children. He said the plan, costed at 576 million a year, will be bankrolled with the 1.7 billion raised by removing private schools exemption from VAT and business rates. It takes the total cost of pledges linked to the tax raid to at least 1.3 billion, with critics questioning whether the Labour leaders sums add up. Those policies include using 557 million of the money to recruit 6,500 new teachers and fund extra training for those who are already in post. A further 56 million has been set aside to pay 2,400 retention bonuses to tutors, while 92 million will be spent on Young Futures Hubs to tackle youth violence. Shadow cabinet ministers have also pledged to use the revenues on other policies for which the party has not provided costings. Stretching limits of credulity Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, said last summer that the cash would fund a post-pandemic catch- up programme in schools. Meanwhile, Steve Reed, the shadow environment secretary, announced last February that it would pay for more extra-curricular activities. The money has also been earmarked to provide professional careers advice and work experience for all young people. A senior Tory source said: Labour are stretching the limits of credulity. Their numbers simply dont stack up, so Labour will either have to ramp up national debt or slam working families with higher taxes. Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, hit back at such suggestions. He told the BBC: We only ever spend the money once, even if within the same spending envelope we can spend it on a number of things. Its not Labour thats having trouble counting and adding up, its our Conservative opponents and their scurrilous attacks. School breakfast clubs Labour has said that removing VAT-free status will raise around 1.7 billion a year, although independent experts have said it could bring in much less. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said the raid is more likely to bring in net proceeds of between 1.3 billion and 1.5 billion a year in the medium to long term. Meanwhile, research by the EDSK think tank suggested the plan will raise less than 1 billion and warned that could fall to just 19 million if there is an exodus of private pupils. In 2022, Labour published a slew of education policies in a childrens recovery plan, which it said will cost more than 15 billion over a two-year period. The party plans to spend 345 million a year on school breakfast clubs, to be paid for by removing the non-dom tax status. Sir Keir has also said he will hire 8,500 more mental-health professionals, with the 440 million a year cost covered by ending a tax loophole on private equity. 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. Lai Ching-te, a former doctor from a poor mining family, was propelled into politics by a military crisis in the Taiwan Strait 27 years ago. Now, the soft-spoken political veteran is tasked with preventing another one from happening as the newly elected leader of the self-ruled island that Chinas Communist Party has vowed to one day absorb. On Saturday, Lai, 64, the current vice president from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won a widely watched election to become Taiwans next president. His victory handed the DPP a historic third consecutive term, delivering a snub to years of growing threats from Taiwans much-larger authoritarian neighbor, China. The election has shown the world the commitment of the Taiwanese people to democracy, which I hope China can understand, Lai told thousands of jubilant supporters at a rally after his win. Lai, who has long faced Beijings wrath for championing Taiwans sovereignty, said as president he has an important responsibility to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, pledging to pursue dialogue with China under the principles of dignity and parity. At the same time, were also determined to safeguard Taiwan from continuing threats and intimidation from China, he told reporters ahead of his victory speech. Under leader Xi Jinping, Chinas most assertive leader in a generation, Beijing has ramped up diplomatic, economic and military pressure on Taiwan, which it views as its own territory to be seized by force if necessary. Tensions across the Taiwan Strait are at their highest since 1996, when China fired missiles into waters off Taiwans coast to intimidate voters ahead of the islands first free presidential election after the nascent democracy emerged from decades of its own authoritarian rule. For Lai, then a fresh-faced doctor at a university hospital in the southern city of Tainan, that missile crisis became his defining moment. I decided I had a duty to participate in Taiwans democracy and help protect this fledgling experiment from those who wished it harm, he wrote in The Wall Street Journal last year. Lai hung up his white coat to run for office first becoming a legislator, then a popular two-term mayor of Tainan, before serving as the premier and since 2020 the vice president of incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen. The doctor-turned politician has now broken the eight-year curse of Taiwan politics a popular term nodding to the fact that, until Lais victory, no political party had ever stayed in power for more than two terms since Taiwan became a democracy. Confetti flies over crowds as Lai Ching-te speaks to supporters at a rally at the DPP's headquarters on January 13, 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan. - Annice Lyn/Getty Images Unexpected journey Lai called his foray into politics an unexpected journey. Growing up in poverty in a mining village near the northern coast of Taiwan, Lai had dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood. He had five siblings, and his mother raised them alone by doing odd jobs. His father, a coal miner, died in a work accident when Lai was a small child. Lai was too young to remember his father. But one day I suddenly realized, the biggest asset my father left me was that my family was poor, he said at an event in March last year. Growing up in such a family, we will be more mature, have more willpower, and have more courage to overcome difficulties. After completing a bachelors degree in physical medicine and rehabilitation in Taipei, Lai went to Tainan for medical school. He was a few years into a promising career as a physician in Tainan when a local DPP official approached him. He asked the popular doctor to help a DPP politician campaign for local elections. It was 1994, less than a decade after the DPP first emerged from Taiwans democracy movement against the authoritarian rule of the Kuomintang (KMT). Before lifting martial law in 1987 and transitioning slowly toward free elections, the KMT ruled Taiwan with an iron fist for nearly four decades after fleeing to the island from mainland China after losing the civil war to the Communist forces there. Tens of thousands of political opponents were killed or jailed during what came to be known as the White Terror and the DPP was formed by many veterans of those who had campaigned for democracy. While Lai was in college in Taipei, he and his roommates had closely followed news of the KMTs brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. I was full of doubts and concerns for the future of this country, he said in video released by his presidential election campaign. Lai agreed to help the DPP with the local election, but the candidate lost in the end. A year later, some democracy activists invited Lai to join the DPP to run for the legislature. He initially rejected the idea. I was born and raised in a rural, impoverished place, and I had always wanted to be a doctor. Now, Ive finally made it this far to become a chief physician, he said in the campaign video. But his political friends refused to give up. Months later, crisis flared in the Taiwan Strait as China held live-fire exercises and fired missiles toward Taiwan, giving Lai a final push across the line. Instead of criticizing the ruling government at the time from my clinic, wouldnt it be better to come out and follow the vanguards of the democratic movement and actually do something for Taiwan? he said in the video. I also thought that in this life, if I could find a project that makes me feel passionate to embark on, it would be a life worth living. Crowds cheer at a Democratic Progressive Party rally in Taipei after the party's historic victory on Jan. 13, 2024. - Louise Delmotte/AP Chill out In the lead-up to the election, China made no secret of its desire to prevent a Lai victory. Chinese officials repeatedly framed the vote as a choice between peace and war echoing a talking point of the KMTs Hou Yu-ih, Beijings preferred candidate while railing against Lai for triggering cross-strait confrontation and conflict. Hailing from a more radical wing of the DPP, Lai was once an open supporter of Taiwan independence a red line for Beijing. His views tempered as he rose through the ranks. But China never forgave him for his comments from six years ago, in which he described himself as a practical worker for Taiwan independence. Lai now says he favors the current status quo, proclaiming that Taiwan is already an independent sovereign country so there is no plan or need to declare independence. That deliberately nuanced stance mimics his outgoing predecessor Tsai, Taiwans first female president, who was unable to stand again because of term limits. Beijing cut off official communications with Taipei after Tsai took office in 2016 and ramped up its campaign to isolate Taiwan internationally, something that looks set to continue when Lai is inaugurated and fully takes over in May. In many ways Beijings rhetoric towards Lai is even more hostile than how it viewed Tsai. Chinas government and state media regularly rebuke Lai, calling him a dangerous separatist, troublemaker and war maker, while rejecting his repeated offers for talks. One such offer was made to Chinas top leader, Xi. In May last year, at a quick-fire Q&A session with students at his alma mater, National Taiwan University, Lai named Xi as the head of state he would most like to have dinner with. If he had a chance to dine with Xi, Lai said, he would advise the Chinese leader to chill out a little. No need to be so stressed, he said. Asked about Lais invitation, Beijing said his comments were weird and accused Lai of trying to put on the cloak of goodwill given that his Taiwan independence nature had not changed. Lais running mate Hsiao Bi-khim, who was elected vice president Saturday, was also openly loathed by Beijing. Hsiao, who recently served as Taiwans top envoy to the United States, was sanctioned twice by China for being a diehard secessionist. Lai Ching-te and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim in Taipei, Taiwan on January 13, 2024. - Ann Wang/Reuters Mainstream public opinion Lai earned more than 40 percent of the popular vote, while the KMT scooped up 33 percent and a newer opposition party, the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP), racked up 26 percent. The DPP lost its majority in the legislature, taking 51 of the 113 seats, meaning Lai may find himself more constrained than Tsai and needing to rely on political alliances to pass legislation. Hours after Lai declared victory, China dismissed the outcome of Taiwans elections, saying the DPP does not represent mainstream public opinion on the island. Taiwan is Chinas Taiwan, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office said in a statement on Saturday night. This election cannot change the shared hope from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to get closer and closer, it moreover cannot stop the inevitable destiny that our motherland will be united. But that assertion could not be further from Taiwans mainstream public opinion. Under Xis strongarm tactics, Taiwans public has shifted determinedly away from China. Less than 10 percent now support an immediate or eventual unification, and less than 3 percent identify primarily as Chinese. The majority of Taiwanese want to maintain the current status quo and show no desire to be ruled by Beijing. We have been bullied for years on end. I just cant stand kneeling down to their demands and their meddling with our elections. We want to keep our free style of living and our democracy, Yang Wei-ting, a 27-year-old civil servant, said amid cheers and celebrations at Lais rally. I think the most important part for us is to work with like-minded partners around the globe, and tell China that were not alone and were not scared. Were standing in the face of an authoritarian regime, but were backed by many like-minded countries. CNNs Wayne Chang and Eric Cheung contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Jeffrey Yang scrapes ice and snow off his car in Petoskey following a winter storm Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. NORTHERN MICHIGAN A winter storm rolled its way across the Great Lakes State throughout the weekend, with lake effect snow, high winds and icy road conditions hampering travel across the region. According to Matt Gillen, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, snowfall varied greatly throughout the area during the weekend storm. In Sault Ste. Marie, only 2-3 inches of new snow fell, while other parts of Chippewa County and in the Eastern Upper Peninsula saw upwards of 6-8 inches of snow. More: Severe winter storm makes its way across Michigan The sidewalks of Sault Ste. Marie are plowed regularly to keep up with large amounts of snowfall. So really the Sault is kind of just left out of this one so far, Gillen said. Across the northwest Lower Peninsula, Gillen said most cities saw 8-16 inches of snow on average. It can certainly vary from town to town, but in general over the last two days thats what weve seen pretty much across the entire area, he said. A Cheboygan resident works with his snow blower on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 during a winter storm. At the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, there was 16.6 inches of snow recorded as of 1 p.m. on Sunday. Gillen said Charlevoix has had upwards of 10 inches, parts of Emmet County had 10-12 inches, and Cheboygan was in the 8-12 inch range. High winds were a major factor, especially on Friday night as the storm moved into the area. CCE Central Dispatch, covering Charlevoix, Cheboygan and Emmet counties, warned of at least two instances of downed or damaged power lines. In downtown Petoskey, one of the citys famed gaslight district streetlights was toppled by the high winds. The Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co. noted in a Friday night Facebook post that the 767-foot Arthur M. Anderson freighter had taken shelter in Little Traverse Bay during the storm. By Saturday morning, the freighter was back out in the open water making its way north towards Lake Superior. Gillen said the strongest gust recorded in the region was at a lighthouse in Oscoda on Lake Huron, which recorded gusts of 49 mph. Mackinac Island had a wind gust of 48 mph, he said. Largely between 40-45 mph with a few higher gusts was really what occurred area wide. It was a big day for snowmobilers in Cheboygan on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, but even they felt the effects of the big snowstorm that took place. Travel during the storm was difficult, and authorities warned residents to stay at home if possible. Throughout the weekend, the Mackinac Bridge issued several travel advisories as needed to drivers, including high winds, wind escorts and icy road conditions. In one instance, the Michigan Department of Transportation reported a brief closure of I-75 between exits 270 and 279 in Otsego County on Sunday afternoon with white out conditions affecting travel. Gillen said he heard of several slide-off accidents on I-75 and U.S. 131, but the biggest impact from the storm came from power outages in the northeast Lower Peninsula region from West Branch to Alpena. Based on some of the energy company outage maps that we were looking at, it looked like there were some pretty significant power outages out that way, he said. Greta and Elsa Meisel of Petoskey sled together on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at the Winter Sports Park in Petoskey. The snowfall was a boon to Michigans ski resorts during the holiday weekend, as many had struggled with a slow start to the winter season. For example, Marquette Mountain posted on Facebook that they had received at least 10 inches of snow on Saturday, although high winds did cause some delays. The Highlands at Harbor Springs also reported 12 inches of fresh snowfall in their Saturday mountain update, allowing them to open more trails and make even more snow. The snow is not expected to let up until Wednesday. Elizabeth and Wyatt McCormack sled together on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024 at the Winter Sports Park in Petoskey. Lake effect snow showers are going to continue, especially across Charlevoix, Petoskey, Cheboygan, through at least Wednesday, Gillen said. Each day and each night, a couple of inches of new snow accumulation looks pretty likely through at least the middle of the week. Colder temperatures will also move into the region. Our highs are going to struggle to get out of the low to mid teens, and wind chills anywhere from 5 above to 10 or 15 below at times, Gillen said. Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Lake effect snow to continue across Northern Michigan As we enter the new week, a hazardous weather outlook will be in place Monday through Saturday for Greater Cincinnati and other nearby areas, according to the National Weather Service. From Monday through Saturday, blistering cold wind chills, as well as single-digit low temperatures, are expected throughout southeast Indiana, Northern Kentucky and southwest Ohio. This includes Hamilton, Butler, Warren and Clermont counties in Ohio and Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties in Kentucky. Wind chill values are expected to fall to as low as -4 degrees Monday morning, -3 degrees Monday night and -3 degrees Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service said. Related: Will it snow in Cincinnati on Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend? Check forecast here More: Freezing temperatures, snow, rain: How does this January compare to past years? The frigid wind chills could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. The National Weather Service recommends wearing warm clothing, including a hat and gloves, when spending time outside. A chance of snow is expected Monday night in which new accumulation of less than a half-inch is possible. There will be a 20% chance of snow Tuesday morning and then a 60% chance Thursday. [4:07 AM] Very cold wind chills are expected for the next several days. This morning, we're expecting wind chills well below zero, and even as low as -20F in eastern Indiana and west-central Ohio. If you have to venture out, dress in layers and limit time outdoors! pic.twitter.com/8LOqgXjVd9 NWS Wilmington OH (@NWSILN) January 14, 2024 Where to stay warm in Cincinnati The Over-the-Rhine Recreation Center is operating as an emergency warming shelter from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and Monday. The Emergency Shelter of Northern Kentucky on West 13th Street in Covington is also open and expanding its daytime services to help people stay out of the dangerous cold. Detailed Cincinnati weather forecast Monday (Martin Luther King Day): The morning will be cloudy, with a high near 18. Wind chill values will be as low as -4 and west wind around 5 mph. In the evening, there will be a chance of snow and will be cloudy with a low around 8. Wind chill values as low as -3 degrees. West wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New snow accumulation of less than a half-inch possible. Tuesday: In the morning, there will be a slight chance of snow before 10 a.m. It'll be cloudy through mid-morning, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -3 degrees. West wind 7 to 10 mph. The evening will be mostly clear with a low around 7 degrees. Wednesday: The morning will be sunny, with a high near 27 degrees and breezy. The evening will be mostly cloudy with a low around 21 degrees. Thursday: Snow is likely after 1 p.m. It'll be cloudy with a high near 32 in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Snow is also likely in the evening after 1 a.m. and will also be cloudy with a low around 20 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Friday: Snow is likely in the morning before 1 p.m. and a chance of snow showers after 1 p.m. Cloudy with a high near 24 degrees. Chance of precipitation is 60%. The evening will be mostly cloudy with a low around 6 degrees. Saturday: The morning will be mostly sunny with a high near 18 degrees. Partly cloudy in the evening with a low around 1 degree. Source: National Weather Service in Wilmington, Ohio. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati weather: Frigid wind chills, light snow expected this week Latvia has expelled Boris Katkov, a Russian citizen and head of the Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association, Estonian news site Delfi reported on Jan. 12. Katkov was declared persona non grata for his long-term and systematic activities on behalf of Russia. Read also: Latvia to provide Ukraine with helicopters and howitzers in new aid package The call to blacklist Katkov in Latvia came straight from Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis, after intelligence surfaced implicating Katkov in working on behalf of the Russian government. According to Delfts sources, Katkov came to Latvia in 1966, initially serving in the military commissar's office in Cesis and later in Daugavpils. His military career peaked at colonel before he retired in 1991. Read also: Zelenskyy arrives in Tallinn, Estonia on second leg of Baltic tour Katkov received a Latvian non-citizen passport* in 1998, only to trade it in for Russian citizenship in 2000. He has been the head of the Latvia-Russia Cooperation Association since 1999, and has previously claimed that the idea for the organization came straight from the Russian parliament. Katkov reportedly met with Latvian President Andris Berzins and the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the 2000s. The association inked a deal with the United Russia party in 2004, and Katkov claimed in 2012 that "thanks to our votes (in the presidential elections ed.), Putin won an absolute majority." *Non-citizens in Latvia, under the law "Regarding the status of citizens of the former USSR without Latvian or other citizenship," have specific rights, including a non-citizen passport. 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 In response to the impending extreme cold weather event due in the next few days, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is joined by representatives from the Harris County Fire Marshals Office, Harris County Office of Emergency Management, and other key emergency personnel for a press conference to detail the county's comprehensive preparations on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer In response to the impending extreme cold weather event due in the next few days, Meteorologist in Charge with the NWS Jeff Evans joins Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo for a press conference to detail the county's comprehensive preparations on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, in Houston. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said she's "quite sure" there will be a call to conserve electricity use during the upcoming hard freeze yet she expects the next few days will be much easier than Winter Storm Uri in 2021. There also may be rotating or rolling outages as the coldest temperatures the state has seen all winter roll into the area, Hidalgo said at a news conference Saturday. She said officials expect the upcoming freeze to be more similar to the December freeze in 2022 because of better preparation than the deadly February 2021 winter storm, during which many Texans lost power or had their pipes freeze. She said better communication with ERCOT and backup Centerpoint generators will keep the chance of rotating outages low and short. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The hard freeze will mark the third year Arctic air will hit Harris County, said Jeff Evans, meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service Houston and Galveston Staff. Cooler air will start moving into the area during the weekend. Officials expect the grid to be under the most pressure Monday and Tuesday morning with a smaller peak on both evenings. Temperatures are expected to return to normal around Wednesday afternoon, Evans said. Calls for conservation are likely, especially between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. on both days. Hidalgo said that could mean turning down the thermostat a few degrees and closing blinds and curtains to keep the heat in. "That doesn't mean we can't enjoy our weekend, it just means we have to prepare," Hidalgo said at the conference."These things made a big difference when there's hundreds of thousands of people doing them," Monday afternoon school districts will decide whether to cancel classes for Tuesday. That decision is mostly tied to weather concerns and not power concerns, Hidalgo said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There will be 12 warming centers in Houston and Harris County based on the concentration of the homeless population throughout the county from roughly 8 p.m. through 8 a.m. Information about the centers can be found online or by calling 311. "We've been through a lot of weather emergencies in Harris County. We have the muscle memory; we sure have the resiliency. We are as prepared as we can be," Hidalgo said. "This is not another Uri, but it is something to take seriously; it is something we can handle as long we work together." LaVontrea Henry King bundles up in the cold as he walks downtown on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022 in Houston. A cold front forecasted to sweep across Texas could plunge temperatures in and around Houston into the 20s or lower, the National Weather Service said. A forecast predicting very cold temperatures on the night of Thursday, Dec. 22 into the following morning. The sub-freezing could last through Christmas Day on Sunday.. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Safety Tips Saturday evening is the best time to get ready to face the incoming cold temperatures, Hidalgo said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While it is safe to leave home and visit family, winter clothes are necessary. Pets and potted plants should be brought inside. Outdoor plants should be watered and then covered with a cloth. Officials advised checking in on neighbors or community members who live alone to make sure they are safe, both from the cold and carbon monoxide poisoning. Harris County saw more than 300 such cases during the 2021 winter storm. Harris County Fire Marshal Laurie Christensen said not to put power generators inside garages and to make sure vents are pointed away from the home. "Carbon Monoxide is a silent killer," she warned. "Let's make sure that if something does go wrong maybe we can stop it before it happens." Hidalgo said that Houston residents should not drip pipes because it can affect water pressure, leading to a cut-off. She told non-Houston residents to get in touch with their water provider to find more information about how best to keep pipes from freezing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Credit - Illustration by Katie Kalupson for TIME Of course, there wasnt a plunger. Theres never a plunger when you need one. But theres always an audience: in this case, three women sitting on the other side of the thin bathroom door waiting for their turn to use a toilet which was now horribly, hopelessly clogged. I sweat over the lid trying to devise a solution but could barely hear myself think over the chorus to Leonard Cohens Closing Time, which played a relentless loop in my head, as it would every day of this retreat, at a perfect-acoustics, full-volume blare. I was three days into a 10-day, silent meditation, and absolutely at the end of my rope. Sorry to break the noble silence, I finally told my fellow meditators. But that toilet is clogged. It was the first thing Id said in three days. The words felt like poetry on my lips. When I told friends my plan to attend the program, they were justifiably incredulous. You cant shut-up for 10 minutes, let alone 10 days! they protested. (They wereand remaincorrect.) But my then boyfriend was an avid meditator, and had raved about the program since we first met. Vipassana, a meditation practice originating in India over 2,500 years ago, had utterly changed his life, he told me. It made him calm, self-connected. I had just quit my day job to pursue writing full-time, and all I could sell was an article about how to make latkes. I had time to kill, is what I mean. I said, Ok! to the 10-day Vipassana meditation for the same reason I said Ok! to moving to Chicago with him. Because I thought there was something wrong with me for instead thinking, Run! Love, I speculated, was the noble pursuit of making two people fit together. My pieces didnt quite squeeze into the jigsaw puzzle of our relationship, but I thought this might sand down their edges. My boyfriend was so good, I thought (still think), and I desperately wanted to be good too. Read More: How Listening to Silence Changes Our Brains So off I went, first to Chicago, then the middle of seemingly nowhere, for the retreat. I signed away my wallet and cellphone; I listened to the rules: No speaking, no eye contact, no physical contact, no drugs or alcohol, no sex or masturbation, no technology, and (scariest to me) no writing. I felt like screaming, but I trusted my boyfriend more than my own instincts; if this was good for him, this will be good for me, I assured my racing heart. Had I bothered researching Vipassana prior to attending one, I would have read plenty about the hours. We awoke at 4 a.m. each day to make it to our first meditation by 4:30 a.m. After two hours of that, wed congregate for our 6:30 a.m. breakfast. Then a brief break. Then more meditation. Lunch. A break. More meditation. Tea. More meditation. Then a viewing of a taped lecture by an esteemed teacher of the practice. More meditation. Then bedtime to prepare to wake up and do it all again. I had little experience with 4 a.m. prior, but its an eerie hour. The sky is ink-black and, in this far-flung Illinois town, littered with innumerable stars, seemingly close together but in reality, separated by vast gulfs of empty space. On our dark walks to the meditation hall, the morning chill sunk deep into my bones, and the silent stretch of land surrounding the site loomed menacing and black. What the hell am I doing here, I wondered. The question extended beyond the worn grass and murky pond of the campus. In our nightly lectures, the teacher encouraged us not to think while meditating, and when a thought inevitably did cross our minds, to pass it aside without judgment. I floundered at this initially. Unintentionally, Id screen entire films in my head (mostly M. Night Shyamalan, because even my subconscious has no taste), and analyze years-old interactions. Constantly, helplessly, my mind kept replaying Closing Time, for which, unfortunately, I didnt know all the lyrics. The result was a horrible mental performance in which Cohen would croon And the bupbupbupbup dun-dun and the ladadadada and the Johnny Walker wisdom runnin high, Plus, the campuss picturesque geese were in the midst of mating season, so Cohens half-wrong lyrics were punctuated by the honking of fornicating waterfowl. What I mean is meditating was difficult for me. But so was the time spent not meditating. Have you ever heard a cafeteria full of people eating in silence? An entire room echoing with the sound of conversation-less human masticationall wet chewing and slippery gulps, suppressed belches and scraping silverware. To my relief, meditating became easier, slowly, as the first days of the course passed. Whereas initially I couldnt sit for five minutes without needing to shift my hips, I found myself still for longer and longer stretches of time. My hummingbird brain, too, slowed its vibrations; my thoughts still fluttered, but I could go stretches of time before they pulled me away. And yet, I still fantasized about leaving. Yes, I can sit here and not think, but what is the point, my mind demanded. Run, it urged. Run! The toilet had by then resumed normal function, but I still felt stuck. In my head, I could hear all the voices pressuring me to stay, a chorus featuring my boyfriend, the gurus, every tight-bodied yoga-influencer on Instagram: You left too soon, you didnt take this seriously, you failed. But faintly, I could also hear my own, equally disappointed in me, but for staying. Run, it whispered, tired now from repetition. Run. After a few days, I did. Leaving was harder than I had anticipated (leaving is always harder than we anticipate) but meditations are voluntary, even when you feel like theyre the only option. When I reached Chicago, my boyfriend was both shocked and disappointed. (Always great when you can achieve both.) I cried a lot. I wondered if Id ruined my chances of inner peace by leaving the meditation center. I wondered if Id ruined our relationship by failing to appreciate his most cherished practice. I considered leaving the life wed built. But I didnt. Not at first. I spent a few more months unhappy; I was sure, more so now than ever, that there had to be something wrong with me. I couldnt meditate right. I couldnt love right. Was there anything right about me? Eventually, my fast-expanding misery burst like a balloon in my mouth. Pop! This isnt working. The words felt like poetry on my lips. My boyfriend helped pack up my stuff and drove me to the airport. This lovely man, with real sheets on his bed and the generosity to schlep me all the way to OHare International AirportI was leaving him? My intuition shouted to be heard over reason and though I thought it would break me, I hugged him goodbye and walked away. My legs nearly collapsed with relief on arrival. I was in the wrong place, with the wrong people, doing the wrong things, yes, but I wasnt wrong. That toilet was probably busted before I ever used it. Id love to say Ive followed my instincts since then, but trust is a muscle, like any other; it only grows with pain and repetition. So I kept writing, even though it seemed doomed. I moved to New York, then I moved to LA. I got rejected; I got published; usually I got ignored. I fell in love and fell out of love and fell in love all over again. I made a lot of mistakes, is what I mean. But they were my mistakes, at least; made from listening to my own inner voice, a voice which sometimes stuttered or misspoke or vocal-fried, but always rung true as my own. I made a lot of mistakes. But slowly, I started trusting that I could fix them. Even better, I could learn from them. I didnt finish the meditation course my ex-boyfriend recommended, but I sometimes still try to meditate. Ill sit for 20 minutes and try to focus on my breath, on nothing else but just being, until my alarm goes off. Im still not sure Im doing it right. But I trust, now, that I dont have to. Contact us at letters@time.com. Russian shelling of Kherson on Jan. 13 injured multiple residents, according to reports by local and national officials. Russian forces fired 28 shells at Kherson, hitting residential neighborhoods and water port infrastructure. The regional military administration on the morning of Jan. 14 reported that six people were injured. A Kherson man was rescued after being trapped under the rubble as a result of the shelling, according to the Interior Ministry. The update didn't describe his condition. The shelling started a fire in a residential building, which was put out by first responders. Emergency services then received a report that there was a victim under the rubble the man was pulled out and handed to medical workers. An earlier announcement from the evening of Jan. 13 reported that a 60-year-old man was injured by Russian shelling. Its not immediately clear if he was one of the six victims that local officials reported later on. Kherson has been shelled on a regular basis ever since Russian forces left the city and retreated across the Dnipro River in November 2022. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Sunak unveils $3.2 billion package, signs security deal in Kyiv Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Our Wichita Falls area readers reflect many diverse opinions and viewpoints. Letters to the Editor are written by members of our local community and reflect their personal beliefs, not those of the Times Record News. The opinion of these letters is neither endorsed nor opposed by the Times Record News. My favorite quote from a student when I was a principal was, I wanna be a principal when I grow up cuz all she does is walk the halls and hug the kids. I still have a heart for educating children and it bothers me that we are enabling outside influences to damage our childrens spirits while at the same time destroying their education. If you are a concerned parent or grandparent, you might want to investigate Amplify Texas, which might be coming to a school near you. It is another program that sounds really good, especially if you look at all of their advertised sites. I even liked the sound of it, until I did a little more research and discovered who is behind it, how much money is being paid for it, and what it seeks to promote. If you live in Texas, you might ask your superintendent or board members about it. Some of the harmful elements mentioned that parents and teachers find objectionable are sexualizing children, promoting transgender ideology, undermining the authority of parents and traditional values, overexposure to myths and gods, as well as requiring students to view books and images to which you might not want your child exposed. Abraham Lincoln said, The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. You can stop it if you are willing to get in the fight. Billie Gorham Times Record News prints every letter received if it is signed, free of abusive language and free of personal attacks. We cannot print letters from individuals who are incarcerated. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and spelling. We reserve the right to print a letter anonymously if requested by the letter writer and the individual identifies themselves to us with a name, address and/or phone number. Letters to the editor can be submitted to Editor Claire Kowalick at ckowalick@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Letter: Outside influences damaging children's education I worked as a congressional staff member during the protracted, nerve-wracking run-up to the Iraq invasion in 2003. Readers will recall a time of peak national hubris, with the White House, congressional Republicans and most of the press fairly bawling for war. It was then that I began to understand that Democrats were afraid of Republicans. Given how pitifully weak the justifications were for an unprovoked invasion of a country that had nothing to do with 9/11, it was striking how many Democrats were swept along by it, more from conformity than conviction. Even those who opposed it usually advanced tepid, process-driven arguments. Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, no ones idea of a Squad progressive, was among the few Democrats who denounced the Iraq misadventure in hard-hitting and memorable terms. Why were Democrats pulling their punches? I was reminded of that historic political timidity by the thesis of a center-left establishment warhorse, New York magazine's Jonathan Chait, that the U.S. government should not enforce the insurrection provision of the 14th Amendment to disqualify Donald Trump as a presidential candidate. Why not? Because Republicans wont like it. The author showcases excruciatingly nuanced logic-chopping over whether the violent takeover of the Capitol and attempted overthrow of government on Jan. 6, 2021, really was an insurrection according to his own ethereal definition; whether Trump actually honest-to-God incited it; and gee, what is insurrection, anyway is it like secession, or different? Chait missed his calling as a medieval scholastic agonizing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. He insists that those who support democracy and the rule of law face a terrible dilemma: How can we, the wise thinkers, possibly resist authoritarianism without seeming mean and unfair to all those reasonable Republicans we might otherwise win over to Team Democracy? Never mind that the number of them who would definitively abandon Trump is statistically negligible; the ones he cites (Mike Pence, Mitt Romney, Jeff Flake and Liz Cheney) have already abandoned electoral politics, and some of them have received death threats. It is unnecessary to further deconstruct Chaits bold counsel of passivity; Brian Beutler has already done an admirable job. What intrigued me, however, is that Beutler states, without saying precisely why he believes it, that Chait's argument is based in fear. I think he is correct, but his assertion needs expansion if we are to grasp the full implications of Chaits thinking and those who agree with him. Fear is certainly implicit in the cringing quality of Chaits entire argument, and strongly suggested by his final paragraph: It is going to be difficult to convince the American public that throwing a popular candidate off the ballot after its too late for his party to course-correct is the definition of democracy. Even if it were to succeed, it would bring the kind of short-term victory we might eventually come to regret. Why might we regret it? Why not spell out the reason? I suspect (although I cant prove) that liberal pundits like Chait who has a public reputation and a record of political advocacy are consciously or subconsciously afraid of being identified and physically attacked by Trump supporters, or at a minimum afraid of massive violence in the country should Trump be disqualified. By virtue of being visible Trump opponents, they personally stand exposed to the retribution he has explicitly promised. If Chaits line of argument is fear-based, as Beutler believes, and if the underlying fear is that Trumps followers could commit serious violence over disqualification, then why is there any reason to believe they wouldnt behave in exactly the same way if Trump loses the election in 2024? Trump has already made it clear he wont accept any result that does not mean victory for him. And if Trump actually does win the election, why do people like Chait think that they personally, or society at large, will be safer than in a disqualification scenario? Suppose Trump declares martial law (as he has promised, although implausibly claiming it would only be on day one) and mass-deputizes tens of thousands of crazed gun nuts to exact the retribution he has offered his following. The baleful precedent of Jan. 6 and the countless death threats to judges, politicians, election workers and others coming from Trumps supporters suggest we should assume the possibility of a worst-case scenario. Given that the judge in Trumps New York fraud trial, Arthur Engoron, received a bomb threat on the morning of the trial's final day, there is every reason to believe that violence is an ever-present danger for as long as Trump remains in elective politics. Its one more reason, following Chaits logic, to give in to Trumps demands. That said, lets now assume another scenario, that the likelihood of violence is minimal. In that case, Chaits thesis centers on his willingness to suspend enforcement of the Constitution as a kind of professional courtesy to Republicans who somehow failed to foresee the possibility of disqualification and didnt plan an alternative. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. Why do people like Chait appear to operate out of fear in the first place? Is it too hard to adhere to the plain text of the Constitution? Should the document be enforced only when those who face its sanctions agree? If enough of the punditry retreat alongside him, and there are plenty of influential examples, their fear could become self-fulfilling. The authoritarian psyche can sense fear and exploit it, a situation that suggests the far-right and center-left in this country are playing out yet another Stockholm syndrome. Two decades ago, Jonathan Chait was one of those muscular New Republic liberals who was gung-ho on invading Iraq. When an action is popular, and when Republicans approve it (or stridently demand it, in the case of Iraq), Chait appears to be all-in for forceful solutions. Never mind that we were invading the wrong country. But whenever politics demands heavy lifting, controversy and potential confrontation to defend the rule of law, not so much. When Lily Gladstone accepted her historic Golden Globe award earlier this month, the "Killers of the Flower Moon" star didn't just express her thanks. She introduced herself. She said her name. She said "I love you." And she said it in Blackfeet. "One of the first things we're taught is you say your name, you say where you're from and you say hello to everyone," she explained later. "So it was one of the more natural things I could do in the moment." It was a greeting received around the globe, in a language spoken only by a few thousand people. There are roughly 7,000 languages in the world. And UNESCO has estimated that 3,000 of them including Yiddish, Irish and Blackfoot are endangered and could be lost by the end of the century. That's one language every two weeks. Potentially gone. Languages don't just randomly go missing. They don't disappear because the world is becoming a smaller place, or because a common tongue is automatically a good thing. Their precarity or obliteration means something else, something we need to pay attention to. "People don't lose their languages to globalization," says Daniel Bogre Udell, the co-founder of the language preservation nonprofit Wikitongues. "Rather, economic exclusion, political oppression and violence force people to abandon their languages. Globalization didn't drive Blackfoot, known natively as Siksika, into decline. Rather, until 1978, the federal government took indigenous children from their families and forced them into so-called residential schools where they were given English names and punished for speaking their languages." He cites another, more personal example. "I'm an Ashkenazi Jew," he continues, "so one of my ancestral languages is Yiddish, which today is natively spoken by no more than 10% of our community. Globalization didn't drive Yiddish into decline, the Holocaust did. It goes on and on like that. In nearly every country, language loss is an intended consequence." "The situation is quite dramatic," says Marcin Dadan, PhD, a visiting professor in the linguistics department of the University of Iowa. "The linguist Kenneth Hale from MIT said that losing a language is like dropping a bomb on a museum." But Dadan believes there's cause for optimism. "The current administration is actually doing a lot," he says. "Biden's administration has a grant that was awarded to around 200 tribes and through tribal organizations to help them preserve language." I first became aware of the significance of language loss through studying Irish history, learning how a systematic repression of and subsequent revival of a people's language can shape its history and identity. I thought about it again when I spent a few weeks in Switzerland last summer, and discovered that the nation has four official languages: French, German, Italian and Romansh, a language spoken by just 60,000 people, almost exclusively in one small region of the country. In a world in which any skill that can't be leveraged for the maximum benefit of capitalism is seen as a dubious enterprise, it can be difficult to make the case for languages that are not widely spoken. Yet their continued existence matters, for a variety of compelling reasons. "First of all, it's just the right thing to do," says Daniel Bogre Udell. "Virtually every endangered language is endangered because its community was systematically targeted by genocide, forced cultural assimilation, some kind of political marginalization. On a practical level, language diversity encodes the sum of human cultural, historical and ecological knowledge. As a species, we lose knowledge when we lose languages. For example, the way that languages change can give us clues into prehistory. If migration took place, we can actually see that in the way that languages change across a certain geography, even if that migration was never recorded." He continues, "In biodiverse regions, about 80% of the world's ecologically sensitive territory is in indigenous hands. The languages of the people who live there tend to contain vocabulary that encodes knowledge of that ecosystem. In fact, when paired with land management, language revitalization can improve conservation efforts." He adds that "There's some neuroscientific evidence that being multilingual is really, really good for your brain. And it's good for one of them to be your cultural language, because that's good for your self esteem and emotional health." He cites Switzerland as an example. "Switzerland attributes about 11% of its GDP to multilingual policies that support French, Italian, German and of course, Romansh," he says, "whereas Great Britain has been recorded to lose out on an additional 3% of its GDP every year because of its relatively monolingual workforce." As initiatives in Switzerland, the U.S. and around the world prove, the course toward language endangerment can be reversed. "Language is the purest expression of intangible heritage, that there is," says Udell. "As the world becomes more globalized, we're actually seeing more language revitalization, which far from promoting cultural isolation, encourages multilingualism. It's about more languages, not fewer." Keeping language alive requires commitment and active participation, especially from younger members of a community. It means speaking the language and using it. "I do not like to use the word 'preservation' because that hinges on language being preserved like a pickle in a jar," says Mizuki Miyashita Director of Linguistics at the University of Montana and former leader of its The Blackfoot Language Group. "It doesn't resonate to a community's needs, which is to revitalize the language, to have the language used all over as many domains as possible." But, she says, "Younger people have a passion to learn the language." Whether we speak the same language or not, when we give each other space to speak and be heard, we understand each other better. Reflecting on Lily Gladstone's Golden Globes moment, Cynthia Hansen, a professor of linguistics at Grinnell College who specializes in endangered languages, observes, "Her speech was just a beautiful moment of intimacy. I think we lose sight when we say everyone should speak English, because that's the way of the business world or whatever. In many ways, she was speaking to her mom and her family, saying, 'I'm up here because of you, I love you.' That's something that is also important in terms of language. She wasn't speaking so that people didn't understand her. She was speaking so that a very specific group knew how important this was. Something that's lost in the media coverage is the intimacy of that moment, and also the platform that she used to draw attention to the work of language revitalization for her community." She says, "We use language to tell our kids we love them, to tell our friends that we're part of the same group. To reach out to a stranger and say, 'You're not alone.'" LITTLE EGG HARBOR A man was charged with arson Friday after police saw him try to light on fire the deck of an abandoned house next door to his property, officials said. He was also charged with arson for two other fires that occurred earlier this month. Steven Johnson, 36, was charged with three counts of aggravated arson in connection that occurred on Jan.6, Jan. 10, and Jan. 1, all at the same residence in Little Egg Harbor Township, announced Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer and Little Egg Harbor Township Chief of Police James Hawkins. On Jan. 6, at approximately 1:30 a.m., the Little Egg Harbor Police Department and Little Egg HarborFire Departments were dispatched to a structure fire at a vacant home on Revolutionary Road. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire. An investigation revealed that the fire originated in the living room, and that the cause was arson, set with an open flame and flammable liquid, according to the prosecutor's office. Asbury Park Press news graphic. On Jan. 10, at approximately 12:30 a.m., the police and fire departments were once again called to the same address on Revolutionary Road for a report of a shed fire. An investigation determined the same cause. The shed was not damaged, according to the prosecutor's office. On Jan. 12, at approximately 1:00 a.m., township police were conducting surveillance at the Revolutionary Road residence when they observed a person later identified as Johnson hop the fence of the property and pour a liquid on an attached deck. Johnson then lit an item on fire, and dropped the ignited item on the deck, according to the prosecutor's office. Township police observed Johnson leave the subject property and return to his home next door. The police officers quickly extinguished the fire, proceeded to Johnsons residence and placed him under arrest. Further investigation revealed that Johnson was responsible for all three fires at the Revolutionary Road home. Johnson was then transported to the Ocean County Jail, where he remains pending a detention hearing. Charles Daye is the metro reporter for Asbury Park and Neptune, with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. @CharlesDayeAPP Contact him: CDaye@gannettnj.com This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: This Little Egg Harbor man has been charged with arson three times The Iowa Caucus is almost here. The crucial early primary contest has long had the power to reshape a presidential race, tripping up frontrunners and giving a boost to fierce political rivals. This year, former President Donald Trump's Republican challengers tried to make inroads with Hawkeye State caucusgoers, even as Iowa faces extreme conditions with temperatures sweeping below 0 degrees. But how did Iowa's contest becoming a critical hurdle for White House hopefuls? How are Republican candidates making their final pitches? Catch up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of the upcoming Iowa Caucus as Iowans make their 2024 picks. Iowa Poll finds a Donald Trump conviction would be no big deal to most GOP caucusgoers Former President Donald Trump is running an unprecedented campaign for the White House as he faces 91 criminal charges, bouncing between rallies and court appearances. Depending on how his four ongoing court battles proceed, he could be convicted of a crime before the general election in 2024. But just ahead of the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses Monday, a majority of likely Republican caucusgoers say a Trump conviction would not affect their support, a new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds. Sixty-one percent say a potential conviction does not matter in determining their general election support for him. Nineteen percent say a conviction would make them more likely to support Trump, and 18% say it would make them less likely. Two percent say they are not sure. -Galen Bacharier Ryan Binkley interrupted by comedy group in Iowa Political comedian duo The Good Liars interrupted another Republican presidential candidates event on Sunday that of Texas businessman and pastor Ryan Binkley. The duo previously interrupted events over the weekend by GOP candidates Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. At Binkleys Sunday night event at a hotel near Des Moines International Airport, one of the duo approached the stage as Binkley was speaking and said, Theres a candidate that really needs your vote, and that candidate is me because I need to become president and pardon myself, seemingly a reference to frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. The Good Liars were drowned out by chants of Binkley supports of whom there were around 45 at the event, including family and campaign staff and escorted out. Ill give you a minute, but not right now, Binkley told them. As for his electoral path forward through and after Iowa, Binkley told his supporters, Were going to make a move tomorrow night. He viewed his low position in polls as a sign that theres only room to improve and said somethings missing from the other candidates, be it in their character, message, style or platform. My goal is to surprise Iowa, Binkley told the Register after he spoke on Sunday. Can we come out with 2, 3, 4, 5%? I think that would be significant for us, he added. Phillip Sitter Libertarians pitch presidential candidacies on caucus eve Libertarian hopefuls,, also caucusing Monday, held a debate at a pizza restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, on Sunday. Moderated by Marco Battaglia, a former Libertarian candidate for Iowa attorney general and governor, the debate featured presidential candidates economist Mike ter Maat, tech entrepreneur Lars Mapstead, former candidate for the Georgia Senate Chase Oliver, and Joshua Smith. It was open to the public a last ditch effort to encourage voters to caucus for the third party. Iowa Libertarians earned enough support in 2022 to qualify as an official state political party for the 2024 election. Their candidate for president must take home at least 2% in the general election for the state party to keep its status. The Libertarian Party of Iowa will hold caucuses across the state at 6:30 p.m. Monday. "Stop wasting your vote. If you are voting for someone that does not represent your principles and your ethics and your values, you are wasting your vote," ter Maat said to the near-empty pizzeria. "I don't want to hear anybody tell me, 'Hey, these Republicans care about out liberties,'" Smith said. "No they don't. They are not our friends. They don't care about our values or morals. They don't care about the individual sovereignty of your own body. All they care about is money." -Addison Lathers Vivek Ramaswamy shrugs off Donald Trump attack One day after former President Donald Trump warned his supporters not to caucus for Vivek Ramaswamy during Monday's Iowa Caucuses, Ramaswamy said he would not engage with the former president. Ramaswamy held five events Sunday, one day before Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucuses. During a briefing with reporters Sunday morning after an event in Ankeny, Iowa, Ramaswamy called Trump's attack bad campaign advice. Ramaswamy, 38, told reporters that he respects "the heck out of Donald Trump" and would support Trump if he gets the Republican nomination. It was probably an unfortunate move by his campaign advisers, Ramaswamy said of Trumps post. I think he probably got bad advice. I dont think friendly fire within our America First movement is helpful, and Im not going to hold it against him. Im not going to criticize him in response because he was an excellent president." Philip Joens Vivek Ramaswamy calls for armed guards in schools following Iowa shooting Vivek Ramaswamy on Sunday offered his condolences to Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger's family and Perry's residents. Marburger died earlier in the day, over a week after he was injured in a shooting at the high school. In a podcast during the latest Republican debate, Ramaswamy said three armed security guards were needed in each school across the country. As a reporter told Ramaswamy about Marburgers death Sunday, he changed his stance slightly. One armed security guard could deter, but not stop shootings at schools, Ramaswamy said. So he would like to see three armed security guards in most schools and up to five armed security guards in larger schools, the Ohio entrepreneur argued. We apply more security in our airports, in our banks and many of our shopping malls than we do in our own schools, and I think thats a failure, Ramaswamy said. Our most-valuable national asset is our children and the people taking the effort to educate those children. The least we can do as a country. Philip Joens Nikki Haley: 'Lift up the Perry community in prayer' after Iowa principal dies following shooting Haley began her campaign event in Adel, Iowa, asking the crowd to "lift up the Perry community in prayer" after the death of Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger Sunday. Marburger was shot multiple times during a school shooting earlier this month while trying to distract the 17-year-old shooter, who killed an 11-year-old student and wounded 11 others. "What happened in Perry, whenever you turn on the TV, it doesnt matter what state it is, it still hurts," Haley said. "And we still feel it. Our hearts still drop. And today, my heart dropped again when I heard that we lost Dan Marburger. This principal was a hero. He saved lives." Haley said Marburger's actions are a reminder of the good people who step up in tragic circumstances. She asked the crowd to thank the teachers, the law enforcement officers and other officials who responded to the shooting that day. "First theres shock and then theres sadness and then theres healing," Haley said. "So as they go through this process, lets not forget it because it happened one day and went off the TV. Lets remember that this is going to be a process for them and we need to continue to pray for them." Stephen Gruber-Miller Conservative lawmaker hypes up Nikki Haley in Adel, Iowa Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., a Freedom Caucus member who has endorsed Nikki Haley, said the one word he'd use to describe Haley is "courage." He recalled Haley's 2010 campaign for governor of South Carolina, where she was an underdog who went on to win the election. He said she can do the same this year. "We cannot lose this election," he said. "She is the only candidate that can get independents, that can get females, minorities. Shes got the total package. And shes got the vision and does what she says." Stephen Gruber-Miller Ron DeSantis addresses Perry shooting in Cedar Rapids Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his record on gun legislation Sunday during an event at the Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. About 100 people attended the campaign stop, where a student was among those who asked DeSantis questions after his stump speech. The question was inaudible from the back of the room, but appeared to be about the shooting earlier this month at Perry High School and DeSantis gun policies. DeSantis passed a bill in Florida eliminating the requirement to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Supporters of the legislation call it constitutional carry. I dont think theres any connection between constitutional carry and what happened in Perry, DeSantis said. That was an underage student that was not even in lawful possession of a firearm. DeSantis received applause when he later declared: You dont need a permission slip from the government to be able to exercise your constitutional right. Zac Anderson Donald Trump gets endorsement from ex-rival Marco Rubio Donald Trump's campaign is trotting out endorsements a day before the Iowa caucuses including one from a former rival who once upon a time described Trump as "a con artist." Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., one of the candidates who lost the 2016 Republican presidential race to Trump, said Sunday he liked many of the things the former president did in office, such as an expanded child tax credit and sanctions of Cuba and Venezuela. "We had a President who didnt cave to special interests or let bureaucrats block us," Rubio said in a statement put out by the Trump 2024 campaign. David Jackson Iowa Caucuses: Presidential candidates make their final pitches ahead of Caucus Day What time does the Iowa Caucus start? 7 p.m. State parties advise caucusgoers to get to their caucus site early to be sure they're properly registered and inside on time. Doors open at 6 p.m. Des Moines Register Asa Hutchinson is making his 'last arguments' to the Iowa 'jury' Asa Hutchinson, once the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas and governor of the same state, is making his closing arguments to prospective Iowa caucusgoers ahead of the Iowa Caucus on Monday night. "You have to make the case that our country needs to go a different direction than Donald Trump. And if someone does not say that then ... we're basically saying he's going to be a great nominee for us," Hutchinson said during his meet and greet on Sunday at Jethro's BBQ in Ames, Iowa. The latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll had Hutchinson at 1%, far below the frontrunner Donald Trump at 48% and second place Nikki Haley at 20%. "One person in America who really likes the poll numbers where they see Donald Trump 28 points ahead is Joe Biden. He's sitting there loving it because that's the one chance he has to win," he said. Hutchinson continued to say he believes Republicans can still win the general election if they have the right nominee. "And that's the case I have to make," he said. Virginia Barreda 'Even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it,' Donald Trump tells Iowans Former President Donald Trump made a final plea for supporters Sunday afternoon to show up in the frigid cold to caucus for him, revisiting familiar lines of attack against his political opponents while tempering expectations of his expected margin of victory. "You can't sit home," Trump said. "If you're sick as a dog even if you vote and then pass away, it's worth it." Trump, who was scheduled to hold four in-person rallies throughout the state this weekend before scrapping three because of an extended blizzard, spoke to a packed Simpson College auditorium after supporters stood in line for hours in wind chills that reached the mid-negative 40s. "If this is any indication, the storm has had zero effect," Trump said. "You're very hearty people, I've heard that." Galen Bacharier 'Women for Nikki' lead enthusiastic crowd waiting for Nikki Haley A crowd of women in fuchsia feather boas and "Women for Nikki" T-shirts cheered "Nikki's in the house!" while waiting the former governor's entrance at an event in Ames, Iowa, Sunday afternoon. Among an audience packed into the backroom of Jethro's BBQ, the women also held up signs and led chants of "Nikki! Nikki!" The Ames gathering is one of Nikki Haley's final campaign stops in the state before caucuses begin Monday. Savannah Kuchar 'Heartbreaking news': Nikki Haley comments on Perry High School principal's death after Iowa shooting Nikki Haley praised Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who died Sunday morning, 10 days after he was shot multiple times during a school shooting. Marburger has been widely praised for his heroism. He was attacked while trying to distract the 17-year-old shooter, who killed an 11-year-old students and wounded six others. "Heartbreaking news out of Perry this morning," Haley shared on social media. "Principal Marburger was a hero who dedicated himself to setting his students up for success and ultimately gave his life to protect them. Rest in peace." Stephen Gruber-Miller Beyond Iowa: Donald Trump's rally veers from crucial caucuses While he spent some of his speech on Sunday urging Iowans to caucus for him, Trump spent a good chunk of his rally on rhetorical ticks he has used for months and even years. From re-reciting the lyrics of the song "The Snake" a text he uses to criticize immigrants to joking that he has been indicted more times than mobster Al Capone, Trump devoted parts of his speech to topics that have little, if anything, to do with Iowa. "In conclusion ... we're having a good time," Trump said toward the end of a speech that lasted a little more than 100 minutes. He also blasted former House Speaker Paul Ryan, calling the one-time vice presidential candidate a member of a failed Republican establishment. The former president's walk down memory lane additionally included talk about how he awarded medals to radio talk show icon Rush Limbaugh and Iowa wrestling legend Dan Gable. David Jackson North Dakota's Doug Burgum endorses Donald Trump Donald Trump introduced a special guest at his Indianola, Iowa, rally on Sunday: Former presidential candidate and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum. Burgum endorsed the former president, telling a crowd of Trump's supporters that the longtime Republican frontrunner will "deliver energy dominance" to the nation. Energy policy was a centerpiece of Burgum's longshot 2024 bid. David Jackson Iowa caucus results: When will a winner be announced? Iowa Republicans are expecting a smooth night on Monday as they report caucus results from 1,657 precincts around the state, in contrast to issues that plagued Democrats' caucuses in 2020 and prevented reports of timely and accurate results. Patrick Stewart, a consultant for the Republican Party of Iowa, told reporters ahead of the crucial contest that results from the smallest precincts, where only a few people show up to caucus, should be available about 30 minutes or so after the caucuses' 7 p.m. start. Results from larger precincts should begin coming in over the next few hours. But, historically, Iowa's caucus results haven't always been known right away on caucus night. Stephen Gruber-Miller What happens at the Iowa caucus? Iowa caucus-goers will hold a binding vote for the party's presidential nominee at designated caucus sites and elect delegates to county conventions. The event does not require a minimum threshold to qualify for delegates. Delegates will attend this summer's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the party's nominee will be chosen. The Iowa caucus voting is done with a secret ballot with no set list of candidates to choose from as voters can choose candidate they want. Some caucus sites provide pre-printed names of major candidates and a write-in option but most of the time voters write the name of the candidate on a blank paper sheet. Anthony Robledo Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks to a crowd of supporters Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Thunder Bay Grille in Davenport, IA. Nikki Haley promotes resume in Iowas race for second place After canceling an in-person event Sunday morning in Dubuque, Iowa, due to extreme weather conditions, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley held a telephone town hall on Sunday. One caller, Bryce from Dubuque, asked Haley what to tell people who might be deciding between supporting her and backing Florida Ron DeSantis. Ron has been a good governor, Haley began, before touting her own record as the former governor of South Carolina. She also detailed her time as the ambassador to the United Nations and her experience as a military spouse, arguing she is overall more qualified for the presidency than some of her rivals. There are no foregone conclusions, Haley said at the end of the virtual event. Were already moving up in the polls. Everybody else is moving down. We see the surge. A Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll this weekend showed Haley moving ahead of DeSantis by four percentage points, while still trailing former President Donald Trump by almost 30. Savannah Kuchar Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at Sweet Caroline's restaurant in downtown Ames during a campaign event on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. Ramaswamy urged supporters to caucus for him on Monday, despite the frigid cold blanketing the area after a blizzard Thursday dumped up to 10 inches of snow across Iowa. Comedy group interrupts Vivek Ramaswamy's speech A day after attempting to present Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis with a participation trophy, members of the comedy duo "The Good Liars" took a turn at entrepreneur and author Vivek Ramaswamy during his Sunday morning speech in Ankeny. It was difficult to hear what they told the Republican presidential candidate. But as Ramaswamy typically does with protesters, he told the men they could ask a question respectfully later. When they continued to interrupt, Ramaswamy said, "Then you can get the hell out." The men were then led out of the event. "The Good Liars" comedy duo has been comprised of Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler since 2011. They are known for interrupting political events. On Saturday, a video of the duo went viral after they interrupted DeSantis with the trophy, and said he would not become president. Ramaswamy has been part of several contentious exchanges with protesters over the past week. On Wednesday, protesters with the Sunrise Movement, a group which advocates to mitigates the effects of climate change, were removed after interrupting a Ramaswamy event in the Iowa State Capitol Rotunda. Sunrise Movement protesters showed up to a Ramaswamy speech on Friday night in West Des Moines and were removed on three separate occasions. Paige Windsor Businessperson Vivek Ramaswamy during the fourth Republican Presidential Primary Debate presented by NewsNation at the Frank Moody Music Building University of Alabama on Dec. 6, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Is there a Democratic caucus in Iowa? Yes, Democrats will hold a caucus in Iowa this year too, which President Joe Biden is currently expected to win. But Democrats will not be choosing a presidential candidate in-person on Jan. 15. Instead, they will be conducting party business, including electing delegates and alternate delegates to county conventions, electing county central committee members and submitting platform resolutions for county conventions. In an effort to simplify their process and make it more inclusive, Iowa Democrats have moved to an entirely mail-in system of casting their presidential preferences. Iowa Democrats can request an absentee presidential preference card, which functions like a ballot, that they can fill out and return to the state party until March 5, when results will be announced. The last day to submit a request for a preference card is Feb. 19. Cards can be requested online at iowademocrats.org/caucus. Des Moines Register staff Ron DeSantis blasts Donald Trump ahead of Iowa caucus Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hit out at former President Donald Trump on Sunday, issuing a warning to Republican voters just one day before the crucial Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis in an interview with ABCs This Week was asked to deliver his closing argument to Iowa voters on the eve of the first GOP contest of the 2024 presidential election. The Florida governor said the former president is running for his issues, while hes running for your issues and your family's issues. DeSantis accused the former president of failing to deliver on his signature 2016 and 2020 campaign promises, such as building a wall along Americas southern border. He also accused Trump of being distracted by his four sets of criminal charges, investigations into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and other legal challenges. I think that ends up focusing the election on things that are going to be advantageous for Democrats because you're not going to be talking about the border. You're not going to be talking about the economy. You're going to be talking about all these things to make the election a referendum on Donald Trump, DeSantis said. Marina Pitofsky Donald Trump interrupted at Iowa rally A woman yelled at Trump during his Indianola, Iowa, rally for "taking in millions," presumably a reference to foreign countries who checked into Trump hotels during his presidency. As the crowd responded with chants of "Trump, Trump, Trump," the former president said "go home to Mommy." As other 2024 candidates have encountered, protestors also called Trump a "climate criminal." They were booed by the crowd as Trump responded, "Go home to mommy, your mommy's waiting. ... So young." Paige Windsor, David Jackson Donald Trump to caucusgoers: 'Dress warmly' Donald Trump has taken the stage in a small but crowded ballroom at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and issued a caucus warning about the weather. "Dress warmly tomorrow night," he told supporters. This is Trump's only scheduled public speech on Sunday, though he has a "tele-rally" set for later in the day. Temperatures in the Iowa city dropped to -10 degrees Sunday afternoon. David Jackson Donald Trump greets volunteers at Des Moines hotel before heading to rally The former president met with campaign volunteers on Sunday morning, before his motorcade departed for a rally in Indianola south of the capital city. Trump, donning a white-and-gold "caucus captain" hat in addition to his usual blue suit and red tie, remarked that some observers have predicted he might eclipse 50% of support on caucus night. He pointed to the record Republican margin of victory in the Iowa caucuses a 12-point win by Bob Dole in 1996. Trump has frequently set sky-high expectations on the caucus trail, telling supporters to show up for a "historic" and "landslide" victory on Monday. The new Iowa Poll released Saturday night showed him leading the field by 28 percentage points. He also tempered his concerns about turnout in the weather, with snow mostly passed but wind chills expecting to result in record-low temperatures for a caucus night: "We seem to have a lot of good enthusiasm," Trump said. "I don't know, maybe the weather is not going to be that big a deal." Galen Bacharier After slipping to third place in Des Moines Register Poll, Ron DeSantis says Iowans roll their eyes at these polls Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told WHO 13 News on Sunday that hes skeptical about the latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll, where 16% of likely Republican caucusgoers selected him as their first-choice candidate. I think a lot of the Iowans, they just roll their eyes at these polls. I mean, the idea that youre gonna know in a caucus with negative-20-degree temperatures what that electorates gonna look like, you just cant do it, DeSantis said. So its basically shooting into the wind. DeSantis and his endorsers have waved away poll results for months, telling crowds in Iowa that polls are part of a media narrative that Trump is unbeatable. In a Sunday email, the DeSantis campaign assured its donors and supporters that the Registers Iowa Poll has an incredibly bad track record of predicting the results of the Iowa Caucus. The email notes that Donald Trump was ahead in the final Iowa poll before the 2016 caucus, but Ted Cruz was the victor on caucus night. Cruz and Trump were within just five percentage points of each other in the final poll before the 2016 caucus. As gold-standard pollster J. Ann Selzer said then: The drill-down shows, if anything, stronger alignment with Cruz than Trump, except for the horse race. In this years pre-caucus poll, Trump is the first-choice candidate for 48% of likely Republican caucusgoers. That puts him 28 percentage points ahead of Nikki Haley and 32 percentage points ahead of DeSantis. In the history of the Iowa Poll, no candidate with a double-digit lead over second place has gone on to lose the caucuses. Ive been down big right before an election and won before. So were doing it right, DeSantis said on WHO. Our voters are going to turn out. They are gonna be there and theyre excited to be there. Katie Akin, Tim Webber Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks to a crowd of supporters Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, at Thunder Bay Grille in Davenport, IA. Nikki Haley pulls ahead of DeSantis for second place in Iowa poll, Donald Trump leads Donald Trump retains a commanding lead in the final Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll before Mondays caucuses, with Nikki Haley sliding past Ron DeSantis into second place. The former president is the first choice of 48% of likely Republican caucusgoers, while former United Nations Ambassador Haley is at 20% and Florida Gov. DeSantis drops to 16%. No other candidate reaches double digits. The poll of 705 likely Republican caucus goers was conducted Jan. 7-12 by Selzer & Co. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. Stephen Gruber-Miller Looking for momentum: Nikki Haley supporter says Iowa is just the beginning Sanford Owens, 67, travelled to Iowa from Portland, Oregon, to support Haley during the caucus. Yet, he said he doesnt expect her to come out on top. I think shes going to have a good showing, but no I dont think shes going to win. I think Trump will win, Owens said. Thinking Iowans will already be pre-set on a candidate, Owens said he believes Monday's outcome will simply get the ball rolling for Haley heading into the New Hampshire primary next week. Were looking for momentum, Owens said. If Nikki gets momentum into New Hampshire, I think were going to do extremely well. A registered Republican and foreign policy officer for 25 years, Owens said he started supporting the former UN ambassador about a month or two ago, largely due to her stances on overseas issues, including aid to Ukraine. Savannah Kuchar A very low high in Iowa as the candidates campaign The overnight temperature at Des Moines International Airport on Saturday into Sunday, minus 17 degrees, didn't set a record. But the forecast daytime high Sunday could match the coldest high for Jan. 14: 9 degrees below zero. The last time Iowa shivered through a high that low on Jan. 14 was in 1888, 136 years ago, Allan Curtis, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Johnston, said Sunday morning. With gusty winds, the wind chill could hover around minus 40. Regardless, campaign events are set today for all the Republican presidential candidates. Bill Steiden Nikki Haley wins endorsement from former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan Nikki Haley of South Carolina picked up an endorsement Sunday from a fellow former Republican governor: Larry Hogan of Maryland. "It's time for the party to get behind Nikki Haley," Hogan said on CNN's "State of the Union," claiming she has "momentum" in her uphill primary battle against frontrunner Donald Trump, with whom Hogan has repeatedly clashed. Hogan who considered a 2024 presidential run of his own, also had discouraging words for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Trump challengers. Hogan on X, formerly Twitter, said: "Since I decided not to run for president, I've been saying that we don't want to see a multi-car pile-up that would just enable Donald Trump." David Jackson Which campaign events are still on? Our Candidate Tracker has all the updates Republican presidential candidates have been canceling events right and left in recent days because of a massive blizzard blanketing Iowa. Snow started falling in Des Moines just before midnight on Friday, and travel was not advised in the Des Moines metro area or areas to the east ahead of the weekend. So, what's still being held with the Iowa Caucuses just one day away? The exclusive Des Moines Register Candidate Tracker has all the latest information. You can find all the presidential candidates' public visits in Iowa through Caucus Day. This years Iowa Caucus race has been remarkably, and for some, frustratingly, static with the winner seeming all but certain. But Iowa Republicans say there's still plenty of drama and intrigue to be gleaned on caucus night. What can the results in Sioux County tell us about the fractured nature of modern evangelicals? And what does it mean if Nikki Haley can pull off a win in central Iowa's Webster County? There are nine questions on our mind going into Caucus Day, and what their answers might say about the state of the Republican race for president. Brianne Pfannenstiel More Nikki Haley supporters would vote for Joe Biden over Donald Trump, Iowa poll says Likely Republican caucusgoers in Iowa who support former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are more skeptical than other caucusgoers that former President Donald Trump, beset by legal challenges, would be able to win the general election and theyre more likely to vote for President Joe Biden instead of Trump in November. A new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll asked likely Republican caucusgoers how they would vote in this years general election, if front-runner Trump is the Republican nominee. Most respondents, 71%, say they would vote for Trump if November is a Trump-Biden rematch, while 11% say they would vote for Biden. Six percent of likely Republican caucusgoers say they would vote for independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and 8% say they would vote for some other third-party candidate. One percent say they would not vote, and 3% arent sure. Katie Akin When is the Iowa Caucus? The Iowa Caucuses are scheduled for Jan. 15, starting at 7 p.m. The Democratic and Republican contests function function differently. Catch up the the Des Moines Register, part of the USA TODAY Network, on what you need to know about the caucuses. Marina Pitofsky Why does the Iowa Caucus matter? For 50 years, Iowans have gathered in school gymnasiums, community centers and family living rooms to kick off the nation's presidential nominating process, wielding their outsized influence to winnow and shape the field of contenders. Ahead of each caucus, presidential candidates flood the state for months, if not years, to try to woo Iowans and gain their support. The national and international media descends on the state, ready to derive meaning from caucus night results. Brianne Pfannenstiel What is a caucus? A political caucus is simply a group of people with shared priorities or beliefs. But the Iowa Caucuses are local meetings held across the Hawkeye state where people can conduct party business and tally support for a presidential nominee. The caucuses also kick off a months-long process to select individuals to serve as delegates to the national party conventions this summer. Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is the Iowa Caucus? What does it mean for Trump, Haley in 2024? Dulce the dog. Photo courtesy of Rob Trevino Dulce the dog. Photo courtesy of Rob Trevino Dulce the dog. Photo courtesy of Rob Trevino The nine days it took for Dulce the dog to be returned to the nonprofit where she is an emotional support dog were not easy on anyone who knew her. Dulce's owner and a counselor at the nonprofit, Rob Trevino, welcomed her with open arms when she was returned uninjured to Houston police by strangers. It remains unclear who kidnapped Dulce from her owner's car after breaking into two nearby cars in Montrose on Jan. 3. The search dominated Trevino's days after Dulce went missing. He printed and set up flyers, asked the police to get involved, asked friends and strangers if they had seen the dog, and posted her to social media to stir up attention. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "I was out for 11 or 10 hours a day doing something that was related to finding her if it wasn't online," Trevino said. Dulce is a favorite among the kids who depend on her for comfort and emotional support at Houston reVision, where Trevino works as a counselor. The Southwest Houston nonprofit offers support to local youth, particularly those affected by gangs, the juvenile justice system, or their status as immigrants or refugees. Trevino was scammed during the first week of the search when someone called and said they could provide Dulce's location in exchange for the $500 in reward money. They never came through, he said. Houston Police Department Lt. Jennifer Kennedy, who has been working with Houston reVision for a decade, said her team examined camera footage and found the thieves used a car without a license plate. The team arrested a man in another Texas city driving the car, a rental, recklessly. He claimed he did not know about Dulce's disappearance, she said. Local police held a press conference Friday and listed a man as a person of interest in the case through ties to the car. That person later came forward to authorities to say that while he did not take Dulce, he wanted her to go home. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Kennedy said the person of interest was the key to coordinating efforts to get Dulce home safely by reaching out to contacts. He spent at least four hours at the station to discuss the kidnapping and offer help. "My team didn't take a day off until we found her," Kennedy said, adding that she updated Trevino around five times daily. "We were able to work through that weekend." Eventually, Trevino got a call from a group who said they could help get Dulce home as long as they were paid the reward of $1,000 and would not get in trouble for turning in the dog. Dulce was returned the same day, and Trevino was waiting inside the police station for her. "We finally got a phone call and the guy said he was on his way and sent a picture of Dulce in the backseat of a car," Kennedy said. "We went up and just got her real quick, and got her on her leash, and shook their hands and turned around." The investigation is still active as Houston Police try to identify anyone involved in the theft, Kennedy said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Since she has been home, Dulce has been resting and spending plenty of time with her owner. He said she was returned unharmed. He plans to take her to the vet soon. "It's still surreal to me that she's home," Trevino said. "It's crazy. I can't even express how amazing it is." Dulce was adopted in 2022 after she was found alone under a bridge in Bellfort. She had patches of fur missing and heartworm disease but quickly became a favorite at Houston reVision. "She is informed by her experience," said Houston reVision CEO Charles Rotramel. She was rescued, so she is rescuing everyone." When Houston Rotramel heard about Dulce's return he said he dropped his phone. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Dulce is there to provide silent, emotional support and open kids up to see the kind of help they can get at Houston reVision. She is especially helpful in the case of some kids who refuse to talk to staff. Boston Heights played an unexpected role in civil rights history. The predominantly white village in northern Summit County served as the unlikely backdrop as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 38, held a series of private meetings over three days in 1967 to address ongoing concerns in Cleveland. The Southern Christian Leadership Conference reserved several rooms for King and other officials at the Yankee Clipper Inn, a seven-story hotel on Route 8 at Hines Hill Road north of the Ohio Turnpike. The Yankee Clipper Inn is pictured in 1967 on Route 8 at Hines Hills Road in Boston Heights The secretive proceedings, which included conversations with NAACP, Urban League and other leaders from Cleveland, addressed such topics as improving employment, housing and other opportunities for minorities. Cleveland Mayor Ralph S. Locher, a Democrat, refused to meet with King, labeling the Nobel Prize winner an extremist. Among the participants at the Boston Heights sessions June 7-9 were future U.S. congressman, U.N. ambassador and Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young, executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the Rev. E. Randel T. Osburn, chief strategist of the SCLC; the Rev. Albert R. Sampson, project director for the group; the Rev. Walter Grevatt Jr., director of Housing Our People Economically (HOPE Inc.); and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, national coordinator of Operation Breadbasket. Reporters looking for clues about the hotel meetings noticed a chalkboard in a conference room with charts, arrows and a scrawled list: Basic Needs: 1. Base of money raised. 2. Office set-up 3. Staff hiring 4. Community left with permanent personnel 5. Federation The journalists didnt know what it meant until the final day of the meetings. King held a news conference to announce plans to improve the living conditions of Black people in Cleveland. We are ready to take action necessary to grapple with the problems that confront Negroes here, he said. King said his Cleveland goals included organizing tenant unions to bargain for better housing conditions, starting a block-by-block volunteer campaign to register voters and improving police-community relations a year after the deadly Hough riots of July 1966. King also announced that Operation Breadbasket would expand to Cleveland. A year earlier, King had organized the program in Chicago to promote the employment of Black workers in companies. We feel any business ought to have a percentage of Negroes employed similar to the percentage in the population, King told Ohio reporters. If they dont comply, we will urge people not to buy their products. With a strategy mapped out in Boston Heights, King said he would organize a determined communitywide program of selective patronage or economic withdrawal. We are not trying to put anyone out of business, King said. We are trying to put justice in business. Jackson, 25, the leader of Operation Breadbasket, further noted: No longer will we allow the colonial powers the white owners to take profits and leave poverty to take joy and leave sorrow to take our sense of dignity and leave only despair. Ultimately, the Black ghetto must be controlled by Black people. King checked out of the Yankee Clipper, but returned to Cleveland a week later for the formal opening of the Operation Breadbasket headquarters on St. Clair Avenue. On June 15, he called for the citys bread industry to hire more Black workers or face boycotts. He said Cleveland unemployment figures showed that nearly 60% of young Black men in the city were out of jobs. King said the citys Black population lived behind an invisible wall in a triple ghetto of race, poverty and human misery. We will move down the line of bread companies, King said. We hope that all will cooperate. If some are recalcitrant, we will call on the whole community to withdraw economic support. We will start negotiations to get new and better jobs and increase the income and buying power for Negroes. The United Pastors Association pledged $150,000 to the cause. More than 200 ministers also voiced support for Operation Breadbasket. Reporters asked bread company executives to respond to Kings efforts. Cliff Hunt, general manager of the bakery division of Fisher Foods in Cleveland, acknowledged that the number of Black employees was lower in the outlying bakeries, but said: This is not because of choice, but lack of skilled applicants. M.B. Beyer, president of Laub Baking Co., said there are Negroes in all kinds of positions sales and production. The number has never been important to me just the qualifications. Robert Spieth, general manager of Ward Baking Co., noted: There are quite a few Negroes here. There are some in the office, but that is because we have never had qualified persons to fill openings. Operation Breadbasket leaders reported securing agreements that led to the hiring of hundreds of Black workers in Cleveland. If companies didnt comply, pickets went up outside stores until agreements could be reached. With Kings support, Ohio Rep. Carl Stokes defeated Mayor Locher in the Democratic primary in October 1967 and edged Republican Seth Taft in the November general election to become the first Black mayor of a major American city. Stokes called on Clevelands citizens to help him build a great and wonderful city. Never has one man owed so much to so many, Stokes told cheering supporters. Truly never before have I ever known, to the extent that I know tonight, the full meaning of the words: God bless America. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee, where he had gone to show support for striking sanitation workers. He was 39 years old. The former Yankee Clipper Inn is demolished Dec. 9, 2004, in Boston Heights. The Yankee Clipper suffered a deadly disaster only five months after Kings stay in Boston Heights. A carbon monoxide leak Nov. 18, 1967, killed three guests, sickened more than 100 and hospitalized at least 60. Investigators traced the source to a swimming pool heater in a basement laundry room. After the hotel shut down, the furnishings were sold at a sheriffs sale to pay off debts. The building changed hands several times over the decades, operating as the Golden Dolphin, Brown Derby Inn, Regency Inn, Red Roof Inn, Days Inn and Hudson Inn, before finally being condemned. The crumbling structure fell to the wrecking ball in 2004. Its role in civil rights history had long since been forgotten. Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com Local history: Akron landmarks in Black history Local history: 101 trailblazers who achieved famous firsts in Akron Black history This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stayed at Boston Heights hotel in 1967 As the nation pauses for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday on Jan. 15, our events in Tuscaloosa will have special meaning this year the 60th anniversary of Dr. Kings visit to one local church. More: Concert, banquet and rally highlight Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Tuscaloosa This year the national holiday, which takes place on the third Monday of January, is on the actual day Michael King, Jr. (his birth name) was born in 1929. Dr. King was 35 years old when he made a stop at First African Baptist Church on March 9, 1964, to speak at the installation of one of his sons in ministry, the Rev. T.Y. Rogers as the new pastor at First African. While the event did not garner a lot of media coverage, there is one photograph of Dr. King speaking from the pulpit that was taken by photographer Edward Jenkins. Kings 1964 visit made the front page of the March 21, 1964 edition of The Mobile Beacon/Alabama Citizen, an African-American newspaper. In his message to those who packed the First African sanctuary, King spoke of how Sunday morning at 11 oclock is the most segregated hour in the nation and the Sunday school is the most segregated school. The news report in the Mobile Beacon/Alabama Citizen made it clear that Dr. Kings point was to call for unity among churches and a return to morality. You must announce that you are through with segregation henceforth and evermore, King told the standing-room only crowd attending Rogers pastoral installation service. This is the only known photograph of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in Tuscaloosa, taken by photographer Edward Jenkins as King spoke March 9, 1964, at First African Baptist Church. [Submitted photo] Sixty years later, can we truly say that were through with segregation? Kings call on March 9, 1964, for an end to segregation would come three months to the day on whats known as "Bloody Tuesday." As G. Ward Hubbs explains in his 2019 book "Tuscaloosa: 200 Years in the Making," about 500 college and high school students assembled the same First African Baptist Church June 9, 1964, before starting a march against segregated water fountains at what was then a new Tuscaloosa County Courthouse. Attempting to enforce a ban on demonstrations, police officers started pushing protesters back into the church using cattle prods, nightsticks and fists. A few of the students responded by throwing rocks and bottles and then police fired tear gas into the church forcing protesters outside where they were met with nightsticks and fists. Some 94 demonstrates were arrested that day and 32 injured. Even though its been six decades since Dr. King visited Tuscaloosa and the place where he visited (First African Baptist Church) is one of 18 stops on our Tuscaloosa Civil Rights Trail, we still have a long way to go in achieving the unity among churches and the end to the type of segregation of which Dr. King was speaking. Yes, the Tuscaloosa Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, a multiracial group of clergy, has sponsored events such as special worship services and prayer gatherings in the past. That is a step in the right direction. Also, I was pleased to participate in a multiracial dialogue through the Tuscaloosa Race Relations Initiative (TRRI) a few years ago. The group helped me build new relationships across racial lines. I would like to see a more racially diverse crowd turn out for all the commemorative events in 2024 celebrating Dr. Kings birthday. The meteorologists are predicting cold weather with the potential for mixed precipitation on this Monday, Jan. 15. But, that should not stop residents young and old from participating in the Unity March from Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School to Tuscaloosa City Hall or attending the Unity Breakfast that kicks off the day at Beulah Baptist Church. Organized by the Tuscaloosa County Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), an organization that Dr. King helped start and served as its first president, the MLK commemorative events always culminate with a mass rally in the same place Dr. King spoke 60 years ago. That mass rally and other events are not just designed to remember or reminisce about the past, but also offer one a chance to re-commit to addressing issues of racial injustice in the present. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.s Tuscaloosa visit made the front page of the March 21, 1964, edition of The Mobile Beacon/Alabama Citizen, an African-American newspaper. Just like when Dr. King was in Tuscaloosa in 1964 and a presidential election followed that November, 2024 is also an election year. In 1964, voters had to choose between Barry Goldwater, who opposed what would become the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Lyndon Johnson, who was running for a full term after assuming the presidency a year earlier following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Johnson not only supported the Civil Rights Act, but also championed the landmark legislation known as the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which grew out of the Selma-to-Montgomery march here in our state. Six decades later, voter enfranchisement is still a major concern as both a majority-Black district and a near-majority Black district are part of a new Alabama congressional map. The 2nd Congressional District and 7th Congressional District both include counties in the states Black Belt region. As the 2024 primaries and caucuses begin in a few days and we head to the polls here in Alabama on March 5 (Super Tuesday), we will see how far our state has come in the fight for racial equality at the ballot box, something to which Dr. King gave leadership. The words of Dr. King in his March 1964 sermon at First African just like his other writings can serve to inspire those of us still engaged in the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. The us includes you no matter your racial, ethnic or religious background. This is a human struggle that requires a multiracial coalition to create change. So, as we sing Happy Birthday to Dr. Martin Luther King on his actual birthday this year, let us in 2024 also keep on walkin, keep on talkin, and marching up to Freedom Land. Dr. George L. Daniels is an associate professor of journalism and creative media and Reese Phifer Fellow at The University of Alabama. He can be reached at gdaniels@ua.edu. This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Lessons from Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1964 sermon in Tuscaloosa Houthi fighters and tribal supporters hold up firearms during a protest against US-UK strikes - KHALED ABDULLAH/Reuters Lord Cameron has warned the world is the most dangerous it has been in decades and blamed Iran for the growing instability in the Middle East. The Foreign Secretary said it was hard to think of a time when there had been so much insecurity amid the war in Gaza and attacks by Houthi rebels. He said the lights are absolutely flashing red on the global dashboard after the UK and US launched airstrikes in Yemen to protect Red Sea shipping. British and US fighter jets dropped bombs on terrorist targets on Thursday night after the Houthis attacked a Royal Navy warship in the region. Rishi Sunak is set to make a statement to Parliament on Monday about the limited and necessary military action and what further steps the UK will take. Lord Cameron said: Take a step back from this, it is hard to think of a time when there has been so much danger and insecurity and instability in the world. What we need at that time is strong leadership and a clear plan, that is what we have with the Prime Minister and the team in place. If you dont act against the Houthis in the Red Sea, you are going to see more attacks, they are effectively terrorist attacks, you will see more of that. The Foreign Secretary added: Theres no doubt that the malign actor in the region who is behind these proxy groups is Iran. Iran backs Hamas, they back the Houthis. A pick-up truck carrying tribal supporters of the Houthis is seen near Sana'a, Yemen - KHALED ABDULLAH/Reuters His remarks came as Sir Richard Dearlove, the former head of MI6, said the situation in Yemen was linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. Ministers have tried to downplay suggestions that the situation in Gaza was responsible for increased attacks by Houthi rebels against Red Sea shipping. But Sir Richard, who headed up the spy service from 1999-2004, said: The problem is in the Middle East, in the Arab world, making that separation, particularly on the Arab Street, is extremely difficult. But if ones being rational in analysis I agree with David Cameron that freedom of navigation is a different issue from Gaza, but the Arab street doesnt think that. He continued: Inevitably theres a connection. Theyre going to have an impact across the whole area. 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. Hundreds of props used in the show "Succession" have been auctioned off. The famous Burberry bag ridiculed by Tom Wambsgans fetched $18,750. Here are some other items from the show that made their way into private collections. Someday soon, someone will be walking down the street proudly carrying a ludicrously capacious bag, bought for a ludicrously capacious price. The voluminous Burberry tote is one of the most famous props used on "Succession," the famed HBO saga of the Roy family dynasty, and it sold at auction Saturday for $18,750. The show, which ran from 2018 to 2023, followed the lives of four children of patriarch Logan Roy as they fought to take over the media empire Waystar RoyCo while their father's health declined. It often parodied the lives of the uber-wealthy, with Logan Roy being a nod to the former Chairman of Fox News, Rupert Murdoch. The hundreds of items at the prop auction are a journey through the show: Fake magazine covers featuring the Roy family, fake sausages, and fake credit cards used to finance the Roy's wealthy lifestyle. But that bag, which became notorious when Matthew Macfadyen's Tom Wambsgans savagely ridiculed it, wasn't even the priciest item sold from the set of the addictive drama, which is also expected to clean up at Monday's Emmy Awards on the heels of its Golden Globes wins. No, that was a set of pink index cards containing Roman Roy's eulogy notes for his father's funeral a speech he never gave. Beginning with, "My father Logan Roy was a great man," the four cards represent the tragic failure of Roman (Kieran Culkin) to meet the moment. They now have a new life with someone who paid $25,000 and hopefully will frame them nicely. The online auction on behalf of HBO at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, ending Saturday, brought in a total of $627,825 for 236 lots. The results showed not only that people loved the show, says Heritage spokesperson Robert Wilonsky, but also that meaningful objects, and not the show's high-end "stealth" fashion, clicked most with bidders. "At the end of the day, it was key moments of the show that resonated with fans," he says. Props often take a back seat to costumes. After all, there's no award for "best props" at awards shows like there is for costumes, notes "Succession" prop master Monica Jacobs, who joined the show after the pilot episode. But prop departments go to extreme lengths to secure just the right item even if it only appears for a few seconds. Jacobs shared the origin stories of some of the show's most iconic props. A 'ludicrously capacious' tote you could take camping A Burberry bag prop from the HBO series "Succession." Heritage Auctions via AP Let's just say Bridget, the date of Cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) at Logan's birthday party, made an unfortunate accessory choice. Tom, in his worst "human-grease-stain" way, imagined aloud what could be in the "ludicrously capacious" tote: "Flat shoes for the subway? Her lunch pail? ... You could take it camping. You could slide it across the floor after a bank job." Jacobs explains that finding the perfect bag to match the script was a collaboration between the props and wardrobe departments. "Everybody brought in a version," she says. "We had to decide, how big IS this bag, actually?" Also it needed to be just the right level of high-end, "not enough for the Roy world, but still higher end than I am," she quips. Ultimately, costume designer Michelle Matland "had the vision," Jacobs says. The winning bidder also got an embroidered Sandro dress. The pink notecards that Roman Roy uses to memorialize his father The index card containing Roman Roy's eulogy notes for his father's funeral from the HBO series "Succession." Heritage Auctions via AP Roman's sad, pink notecards with that eulogy never spoken were not the only scribbled words that went for a fortune. On the day Logan died on his private plane, Shiv was the one who spoke to the waiting press. "You'll understand I won't be taking questions," she said, in part, "but my brothers and I just want to say Logan Roy built a great American family company..." The words were written in block letters in Snook's own handwriting. She did the first card and then, for duplicates, her writing was recreated. Likewise, Culkin's handwriting inspired his pink notecards, Jacobs says. As for Jeremy Strong, who played Kendall, he often preferred to write every copy himself. Shiv's speech card went for $17,500. A scorpion paperweight that could ruin a marriage A scorpion paperweight prop from the HBO series "Succession." Heritage Auctions via AP Why did Tom give wife Shiv Roy (Sarah Snook) a paperweight of a dried scorpion encased in resin? Who knows? It certainly illustrated the turbulence of their marriage and also caused a few turbulent hours in Jacobs' kitchen at home. "It turns out you can buy (dead) scorpions pretty easily," she says, "but they're small. Getting them large enough was not easy." Once she had a bunch duplicates are always needed she had to soak them to loosen up the glue so that she could reposition them for maximum effect. She stabilized them with wire and slow-baked them for hours on low heat until they were dry enough to be encased. All for a brief appearance. And maybe a spot on someone's desk: a duplicate sold for a cool (and baked) $10,000. The six-foot dog mascot that is (mostly) rid of puke A giant dog mascot prop from the HBO series "Succession." Heritage Auctions via AP The dog suit that Nicholas Braun, playing Cousin Greg, wore on his first day as a mascot for Waystar Adventure Parks way back during the series pilot fetched $7,800 at auction, per The New York Times. Cousin Greg threw up into the costume using fake prop vomit, but the seven-piece suit is fortunately rid of it for the most part. "Even the eyeholes are mostly clean," Robert Wilonsky, a spokesman for the auction house, told the Times. Read the original article on Business Insider (Reuters) - Israel and Hamas have been at war in Gaza for 100 days since gunmen from the Palestinian militant group ran amok in southern Israel, prompting a fierce Israeli military campaign in which almost 24,000 Palestinians have been killed. Following is a timeline of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip. Oct. 7, 2023: Hamas gunmen storm into southern Israel from Gaza and rampage through communities, killing 1,200 people and taking 240 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is at war and retaliatory airstrikes on densely populated Gaza begin, along with a total siege of the coastal enclave, which is squeezed between Israel and Egypt. Oct. 8: Lebanon's Hezbollah, like Hamas an Iranian ally, begins cross-border shelling attacks against Israel that will continue throughout the war, drawing Israeli counter-strikes. Oct. 13: Israel tells residents of Gaza City, where more than 1 million of the enclave's 2.3 million people live, to evacuate and move south. Over the course of the next weeks, Israel will push for the evacuation of the entire north. Hundreds of thousands of Gazans will flee their homes, beginning a process that will soon uproot nearly the entire population of the Gaza Strip, with families often forced to flee several times as Israeli forces advance. Oct. 17: An explosion at al-Ahli al-Arabi Baptist hospital in Gaza City triggers outrage in the Arab world. Palestinians say hundreds died and blame the blast on an Israeli airstrike; Israel says it was caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, an assertion later backed by Washington. The blast overshadows a visit the following day to the region by U.S. President Joe Biden, whose planned summit with Arab leaders is called off. In Israel, Biden gives full support to its right to defend itself but also tells Israelis not to be blinded by their anger. Oct. 19: A U.S. navy warship intercepts missiles and drones launched from Yemen over the Red Sea in the direction of Israel. Yemen's Houthi group, like Hamas an Iranian ally, will continue sporadic long-range attacks on Israel and against Red Sea shipping in what is describes as solidarity with Gaza. Oct. 21: Aid trucks are allowed through the Rafah border crossing from Egypt into Gaza after days of diplomatic wrangling. It is only a small fraction of what is required in Gaza, where food, water, medicines and fuel are running out. The issue of securing adequate supplies through Israel's blockade persists through coming months as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Oct. 27: A week after mounting limited incursions, Israel launches a broad ground offensive in Gaza, beginning with an assault on the north, vowing to free all its hostages and eradicate Hamas. Oct. 31: Fifteen Israeli soldiers are killed in Gaza fighting - the military's biggest single-day losses of the war. Nov. 1: Evacuations begin from Gaza through the Rafah crossing for an estimated 7,000 foreign passport-holders, dual nationals and their dependents, and people needing urgent medical treatment. The overwhelming majority of Gaza residents still have no way out of the enclave. Nov. 9: Israel says a drone launched from Syrian territory hit its southern city of Eilat. The next day, the Israeli military said it attacked the militia responsible. Israel will later say Syria is among new fronts in the expanding Gaza war. Nov. 15: Israeli troops enter Gaza's biggest hospital, Al Shifa in Gaza City, after a siege of several days during which medical staff say patients including newborn babies died from a lack of power and supplies. The Israelis say the hospital had been used to conceal an underground headquarters for Hamas fighters, which staff deny. The military later takes media on a tour of a tunnel there. Within a few more weeks, all hospitals serving the northern half of Gaza will have ceased functioning. Nov. 21: Israel and Hamas announce the first truce of the war: an agreement to pause fighting for four days to exchange women and children hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian women and teenagers detained or jailed by Israel on security grounds, and allow in more aid. The ceasefire would eventually be extended for a week in total, freeing 105 hostages and about 240 Palestinian detainees, before it collapses and war resumes on Dec. 1. Around Dec. 4: Days after the truce expires, Israeli forces launch their first big ground assault in southern Gaza, on the outskirts of the main southern city, Khan Younis. International organisations say the next phase of the war, which extends the military campaign from the north to the entire length of the enclave including areas already sheltering hundreds of thousands of displaced people, will drastically worsen the humanitarian situation. Dec. 12: Biden says Israel's "indiscriminate bombing" of Gaza is costing it international support, a clear shift in rhetoric from Israel's closest ally, the United States. Over the coming weeks, several senior U.S. officials visit Israel, urging it to do more to protect civilians, scale down the war, and shift to a more targeted campaign against Hamas leaders. Dec. 15: Israeli forces mistakenly kill three hostages in Gaza. The incident leads to some of the most pronounced criticism of the conduct of the war within Israel, although the campaign still has widespread domestic support. Dec. 22: The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iranian-backed militia, says it launched a long-range attack on Israel. Israel reports no impact. Israel's defence minister later says Iraq is among regional fronts to which the Gaza war has expanded. Around Dec. 26: Israeli forces launch a major ground assault on areas in the central Gaza Strip, preceded by a campaign of airstrikes that again sends hundreds of thousands of people to flight, most of them already displaced. From Jan. 1, 2024: Israel signals it will start withdrawing some troops from Gaza in a more targeted new phase of its campaign that it says will last for many months. Officials say this transition in tactics will begin in the north of Gaza, while intense fighting continues in southern areas. Jan. 11: U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines launch dozens of airstrikes across Yemen in retaliation against Houthi forces for their attacks on Red Sea shipping. The United States carries out another strike in Yemen the following day. The Houthis say five of their fighters were killed in the initial strikes, and that they will retaliate and continue their attacks on shipping. Also on Jan. 11, the International Court of Justice hears opening statements in a case in which South Africa accuses Israel of committing a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population. Israel denies the accusation. (Compiled by Peter Graff; Editing by Timothy Heritage) A post office is seen Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, on North Shepherd Drive in Houston. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer Many Houston area residents haven't been getting their packages and mail on time. Some people are still waiting for Christmas gifts to be delivered. Others are hoping their medication reaches their doorsteps soon. Some are anxiously awaiting the arrival of expensive items. When they track their late package to see where it is, a majority are all seeing the same roadblock: that its currently at a facility in Missouri City. The problem has been plaguing the area for weeks. The postal service said this week it is the result of implementing USPS's Delivering for America plan, which is trying to modernize the postal system. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "This process, as with any such transition, takes time," USPS said in a statement. "As with any transition, some unintended and temporary disruptions may occur. We are taking steps to ensure packages are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible and apologize to any customers who may be experiencing issues with delivery of their items." As part of the plan, the Missouri City facility has been established as a local processing center while the North Houston Processing and Distribution Center is in in the process of becoming a regional processing and distribution center. RPDCs are described as the backbone of this new system and serve as the distribution centers for originating mail and packages and destinating packages. LDCs are supposed to serve as the link between the RPDCs and the final delivery steps where workers will "process destination mail and transfer mail and packages to delivery," according to a Delivering for America progress report. Implementing these changes is what has caused the delays at the South Houston Local Processing Center in Missouri City. The high traffic of holiday and post-holiday season likely didn't help matters. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The public has been very vocal expressing their displeasure on social media over the past few weeks. The complaints aren't just online, either. U.S. Rep. Al Green said over 30 people have contacted his office, including one woman hoping to locate her wedding dress. "Nobody knows that there's a wedding dress in the container that it's in, I'm sure," said Green, who is helping her with the mission. "But that just speaks to how every piece of mail is important because you don't know what's in it." The Missouri City facility is located in Green's district, and Green and fellow U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia are hoping tour the facility soon. Green said Friday they are still working on figuring out a time with the postal service. The issue greatly concerns him as mail delays can cause serious problems for people. Green is also worried about how long these problems will persist with this being an election year and millions of people expected to fill out mail-in ballots. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He understands that not everything is going to go smoothly but he said there are simply too many packages not being delivered within a reasonable time period. "We want things to be delivered timely and appropriately," Green said. A man is suing a former Florida cop seen in a viral video pulling a gun on him after he called police for help A man is suing a former Palm Beach police officer who pulled a gun on him. Ryan Gould says he called police for help after another man had pulled a gun on him. The Palm Beach Police Department fired officer Bethany Guerriero following the altercation. A man is suing a former Palm Beach police officer who pulled a gun on him and arrested him improperly after he called police for help. Ryan Gould filed a federal lawsuit against Former Palm Beach Police Department officer Bethany Guerriero on January 10 in Florida, demanding an unspecified amount of monetary damages and a jury trial. In his complaint, Gould said he called police on May 9, 2023, after a dispute between him and a woman swimming at his apartment complex's pool escalated, and the woman's boyfriend pulled a gun on Gould. Videos and news coverage of the incident had gone viral on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, amassing hundreds of thousands of views. When police arrived, Gould was wearing a bathing suit with no shirt, giving him no place to conceal a weapon, his lawsuit said. The first officer to arrive quickly spoke to Gould before speaking with the other couple involved in the altercation, the complaint said. Gould was talking on his cell phone when Guerriero arrived, and quickly put the device into his pocket. Gould told Guerriero he was not the person with the gun. The lawsuit said Gould removed his cell phone from his pocket and held his hands out wide, showing that he did not have a weapon, but Guerriero insisted that he drop his cellphone, then drew her weapon. "Before Defendant Guerriero drew her weapon, multiple seconds had elapsed from the moment that Gould grabbed his cell phone from his bathing suit," the complaint said. "Gould had complied with commands, and it was clear that he did not possess a weapon." Guerriero then ordered Gould to the ground and forced him to "lie on the hot pavement at gunpoint," the complaint said. Guerriero mocked and spoke "angrily and disrespectfully" to Gould during the altercation, telling him to "shut his mouth" when he objected to Guerriero's treatment of him, the complaint said. "Shut your mouth," a video shows Guerriero telling Gould, according to The Palm Beach Post. "I've been here for 20 years, punk. I'm in charge. Not you." The officers arrested Gould and took him to jail, but released him moments before he was to be processed, the complaint said. As other officers arrived to transport Gould to the jail, "Guerriero complained of health issues and left the scene," the complaint continued. The Palm Beach Police Department investigated Guerriero's conduct and fired her last August, saying she "violated several department policies." Gould's lawsuit said he suffered from physical injury, emotional damage, mental suffering and anguish, and lost wages and benefits among other damages due to the encounter. The continued mental anguish he suffered from the incident caused him to relocate to Illinois, his attorneys said. James Slater, an attorney for Gould, told Business Insider that Gould was "victimized twice" on May 9, 2023. First, when the man confronted him at the pool with a gun, and second when the officers approached him with their weapons drawn, "despite knowing that he was not the perpetrator of any crime and did not possess any weapons." "We look forward to seeking justice for Mr. Gould," Slater said in a statement. Guerriero does not have an attorney listed yet on the court docket and could not immediately be reached for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Man wanted for stealing nearly $40,000 worth of items from Target stores Police are searching for a suspect wanted for escaping with thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. The man is responsible for stealing at least $39,000 worth of merchandise so far, according to the Irvine Police Department. Recent surveillance video from Target shows him entering the store calmly and strolling around. He then spots a Target employee holding what appears to be an iPad box. He approaches the worker and pretends to ask a question about the item before suddenly grabbing it and sprinting out of the store. Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) Police are searching for a suspect wanted for stealing thousands of dollars worth of items from Target stores across Southern California. (Irvine Police Department) The worker is seen running after the man, but the suspect evades capture. Along with other thefts, police confirm the suspect has recently been known to grab iPads before sprinting out of Target stores. Thieves escape with classic car worth over $100,000 in Woodland Hills Security footage of the man was released by authorities in hopes someone may recognize him. Anyone with information is asked to email Irvine police at mricci@cityofirvine. Surveillance footage of the suspect can be seen in the video player above. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Sunday he would not support former President Trump despite having concerns about his own partys leadership. Constructive criticism. Let me make very clear: I love my country too much to vote for Donald Trump. I love my country too much, and I think [it] would be very detrimental to my country, Manchin said when asked about his criticism of President Biden on CBS Newss Face the Nation. Manchin said he will have a better understanding of the 2024 presidential race by the time Super Tuesday rolls around, including whether there is an opportunity for a third-party candidate to make a run. I think well find out, youll just have to find out whats going on, Manchin said. If theres a movement for third party, I think is what youre asking about. Can that movement, make a difference? Im not going to be a spoiler, never have been and never will be. But people want options, or they want change. So you got to see what comes, and by then I think things will hopefully sort itself out, he said. When pressed on whether he would consider making a bid for the White House, Manchin did not rule it out. Im gonna do everything I can to save my country, and Ill do whatever it takes. Ill help whoever and Ill support whoever that I think can best help this country. Come back to this common sense, sensible middle, which is center-left, center-right, working together with a majority. You cant govern from extremes, Manchin said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A man wears a protective face mask crossing a quiet West Side Highway in Manhattan during rush hour amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in April 2020. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Many cities across the United States could become ghost towns by 2100, according to new research published Thursday. "Close to half of the nearly 30,000 cities in the United States will face some sort of population decline," researchers from the University of Chicago in Illinois wrote in a journal article published in Nature Cities. Major cities in the Northeast and Midwest are already slowly losing population. While cities in the South and West regions are experiencing a population increase, some major cities in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are slowly depopulating, the researchers found. Cleveland, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh could see depopulation of 12 to 23 percent by 2100 while cities like Louisville, New Haven and Syracuse -- not currently showing declines - likely could soon. "You might see a lot of growth in Texas right now, but if you had looked at Michigan 100 years ago, you probably would have thought that Detroit would be the largest city in the U.S. now," Sybil Derrible, one of the researchers, told Scientific American. The study briefly looked at possible causes for these population changes, from the effects of an aging population to changes in the economy, wages and access to transportation -- as well as things like climate change and similar factors. "In the Northeast and Midwest, urban cities with lower median household income are more likely to experience depopulation over time," the study authors wrote. "Such trends could exacerbate socioeconomic challenges experienced by lower-income households in these regions, given that population decline can create affordability concerns with infrastructure services." Meanwhile, the research showed that urban cities with increasing populations in the South and West tend to have a higher reliance on vehicles. The study was conducted by a team originally commissioned by the Illinois Department of Transportation to analyze the challenges in the state over time. "In the Midwest, urban cities with both low and high vehicle ownership, defined as percent population with two or more vehicles per household, are likely to gain population along with some suburban and periurban cities with low vehicle ownership," the study authors wrote. The study also looked at the effects of migration possibly curbing urban population decline in some area. Smaller cities like those on Long Island in New York and around Chicago currently experiencing population loss may still grow thanks to immigration. "The number of depopulating cities in the Northeast and Midwest will be higher than in the South and West regions (although many cities in the North and Midwest will still grow)," the study reads. "In California, the southern coast may lose population, while the northern coast may gain population." Chicago Blackhawks' Boris Katchouk (14) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Saturday, Jan 13, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) CHICAGO (AP) Mason Marchment broke a tie with 5:06 left and the Dallas Stars came back with three goals in the third period to top the Chicago Blackhawks 3-1 on Saturday night. Closing in on a 2-on-1 break, Marchment fired in his 14th goal between Petr Mrazek's pads. I was definitely looking shoot, said Marchment, who has four goals in three games against Chicago this season. I just kind of saw a little opening in the close-side five hole and luckily it went in. Matt Duchene scored for the third straight game, tying it 1-all early in the third on a power play, as Dallas won for the third time in four games. Joe Pavelski iced it with an empty-netter with 23 seconds left. Dallas trailed 1-0 heading into the third period. Boris Katchouk connected late in the second for sliding Chicago, which has lost three straight and eight of nine. But the Stars came back in the second of back-to-back games after falling to Nashville 6-3 in Dallas on Friday. We found a way, Stars coach Pete DeBoer said. "I mean we were fatigued. That's wasn't our A-game. You could see it and we were definitely off. I give Chicago credit. They played hard. They defended hard. They had good jump. Scott Wedgewood started in goal for Dallas, stopping all 14 shots he faced before suffering a lower-body injury and eventually being replaced by Jake Oettinger at 8:49 of the second period. DeBoer wasn't sure exactly when or how Wedgewood was injured. I remember that he hurt it and he probably stayed in another seven or eight minutes in the game before he waved out, DeBoer said. It kept getting worse and worse and tightening up. Oettinger blocked 21 of 22 shots in getting the win. Mrazek made 27 saves. The Blackhawks were stunned at Winnipeg on Thursday when the Jets scored twice in the final 3:29. Oettinger, the Stars' top goalie, returned from missing 12 games with a lower-body injury on Friday in Dallas. Oettinger, who was hurt against Ottawa on Dec. 15, stopped 32 of 36 Predators shots on Friday before Nashville sealed it with two empty-netters. I wasnt as fresh as I wanted to be, Oettinger said. But thats hockey. Dallas improved to 3-0 against Chicago this season. The Stars swept a two-game set against the Blackhawks in Dallas on Dec. 29 and 31, winning 5-4 in overtime and 8-1. The injury-depleted Blackhawks got a boost with the return of top defenseman Seth Jones, who missed 15 games with a shoulder injury. Jones entered leading Chicago with 25:25 of ice time per game, a mark thats fourth-best in the NHL. The 29-year-old Jones skated 21:10 in this one. The Blackhawks dominated the second period, outshooting Dallas 19-9 and taking a 1-0 lead. But for the third straight game, Chicago managed only one goal. Playing that well, I feel bad for the guys, Chicago coach Luke Richardson said. You know, we just couldnt get that finish again." Wedgewood was out of position after sliding to the left side of the crease to stop Philipp Kurashevs close-in attempt. Then Dallas defenseman Ryan Suter blocked Taylor Raddyshs shot that was headed into an open net 8:10 into the period. Oettinger replaced Wedgewood 39 seconds later. Katchouk finally opened the scoring with 7:04 left in the second, pushing in a rebound. Oettinger stopped Zach Sanford on a breakaway with a pad save, but Katchouk followed through for his fourth goal. Duchene tied it 1 with a screened power-play goal 2:32 into the third. With Jamie Benn in front of Mrazek at the edge of the crease, Duchene's shot from inside the left point struck Mrazek and trickled in. UP NEXT: Stars: Host Los Angeles on Tuesday night. Blackhawks: Host San Jose on Tuesday night. ___ AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his 'I Have a Dream' speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. AP Photo Martin Luther King Jr. has come to be revered as a hero who led a nonviolent struggle to reform and redeem the United States. His birthday is celebrated as a national holiday. Tributes are paid to him on his death anniversary each April, and his legacy is honored in multiple ways. But from my perspective as a historian of religion and civil rights, the true radicalism of his thought remains underappreciated. The civil saint portrayed nowadays was, by the end of his life, a social and economic radical, who argued forcefully for the necessity of economic justice in the pursuit of racial equality. Three particular works from 1957 to 1967 illustrate how Kings political thought evolved from a hopeful reformer to a radical critic. Kings support for white moderates For much of the 1950s, King believed that white southern ministers could provide moral leadership. He thought the white racists of the South could be countered by the ministers who took a stand for equality. At the time, his concern with economic justice was a secondary theme in his addresses and political advocacy. Speaking at Vanderbilt University in 1957, he professed his belief that there is in the white South more open-minded moderates than appears on the surface. He urged them to lead the region through its necessary transition to equal treatment for black citizens. He reassured all that the aim of the movement was not to defeat or humiliate the white man, but to win his friendship and understanding. King had hope for this vision. He had worked with white liberals such as Myles Horton, the leader of a center in Tennessee for training labor and civil rights organizers. King had developed friendships and crucial alliances with white supporters in other parts of the country as well. His vision was for the fulfillment of basic American ideals of liberty and equality. Letter from Birmingham Jail A handwritten copy of Letter From a Birmingham Jail. AP Photo/Richard Drew, file By the early 1960s, at the peak of the civil rights movement, Kings views had evolved significantly. In early 1963, King came to Birmingham to lead a campaign for civil rights in a city known for its history of racial violence. During the Birmingham campaign, in April 1963, he issued a masterful public letter explaining the motivations behind his crusade. It stands in striking contrast with his hopeful 1957 sermon. His Letter From a Birmingham Jail responded to a newspaper advertisement from eight local clergymen urging King to allow the city government to enact gradual changes. In a stark change from his earlier views, King devastatingly targeted white moderates willing to settle for order over justice. In an oppressive environment, the avoidance of conflict might appear to be order, but in fact supported the denial of basic citizenship rights, he noted. We merely bring to the surface the hidden tension that is already alive, King wrote. He argued how oppressors never voluntarily gave up freedom to the oppressed it always had to be demanded by extremists for justice. He wrote how he was gravely disappointed with the white moderate who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another mans freedom. They were, he said, a greater enemy to racial justice than were members of the white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and other white racist radicals. Call for economic justice By 1967, Kings philosophy emphasized economic justice as essential to equality. And he made clear connections between American violence abroad in Vietnam and American social inequality at home. Exactly one year before his assassination in Memphis, King stood at one of the best-known pulpits in the nation, at Riverside Church in New York. There, he explained how he had come to connect the struggle for civil rights with the fight for economic justice and the early protests against the Vietnam War. He proclaimed: Now it should be incandescently clear that no one who has any concern for the integrity and life of America today can ignore the present war. If Americas soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read Vietnam. It can never be saved so long as it destroys the hopes of men the world over. U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson, right, talks with civil rights leaders at the White House in Washington, Jan. 18, 1964. AP Photo He angered crucial allies. King and President Lyndon Johnson, for example, had been allies in achieving significant legislative victories in 1964 and 1965. Johnsons Great Society launched a series of initiatives to address issues of poverty at home. But beginning in 1965, after the Johnson administration increased the number of U.S. troops deployed in Vietnam, Kings vision grew radical. King continued with a searching analysis of what linked poverty and violence both at home and abroad. While he had spoken out before about the effects of colonialism, he now made the connection unmistakably clear. He said: I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted. I speak for the poor in America who are paying the double price of smashed hopes at home, and death and corruption in Vietnam. King concluded with the famous words on the fierce urgency of now, by which he emphasized the immediacy of the connection between economic injustice and racial inequality. The radical King Kings I Have a Dream, speech at the March on Washington in August 1963 serves as the touchstone for the annual King holiday. But Kings dream ultimately evolved into a call for a fundamental redistribution of economic power and resources. Its why he was in Memphis, supporting a strike by garbage workers, when he was assassinated in April 1968. He remained, to the end, the prophet of nonviolent resistance. But these three key moments in Kings life show his evolution over a decade. This remembering matters more than ever today. Many states are either passing or considering measures that would make it harder for many Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote. It would roll back the huge gains in rates of political participation by racial minorities made possible by the Voting Rights Act of 1965. At the same time, there is a persistent wealth gap between blacks and whites. Only sustained government attention can address these issues the point King was stressing later in his life. Kings philosophy stood not just for opportunity, but for positive measures toward economic equality and political power. Ignoring this understanding betrays the dream that is ritually invoked each year. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Paul Harvey, University of Colorado Colorado Springs Read more: Paul Harvey does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Fifty-five years after Martin Luther King's death, African Americans continue to proudly honor his reformative legacy in Phoenix. A weekend of events celebrated King's legacy and allowed leaders in religion, government and education to bring awareness of how the Black community in the heart of Phoenix has anchored itself as part of the city's history and triumphed against discrimination. "It was a historic black neighborhood where under segregation, black people were forced to live. You know before the 60', they weren't allowed to live north of Thomas Road," said First Institutional Baptist Church Pastor Warren H. Stewart Sr. How Phoenix churches provided a starting place for Arizona's civil rights movement The Eastlake neighborhood located near 16th and Jefferson streets was historically known as a Black neighborhood home to trailblazer Calvin C. Goode and some of the oldest Baptist churches in the Valley. "That area was not only the epicenter of the black community but was the epicenter of the King movement," said Matthew Whitaker, executive director of the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center in Phoenix. Three churches in the area of the neighborhood First Pilgrim Baptist Church, First Institutional Baptist Church and Historic Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church were all within a one-mile radius of each other in the Eastlake neighborhood. For many religious leaders of the Black community, reflecting on the past made it apparent that Black people in America continued to fight for equality. First Institutional Pastor Stewart was critical to the campaign to make MLK day a statewide holiday in Arizona. The pursuit became an infamous fight that was won by King supporters in 1988. "I watched Dr. King deliver his message from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial when I was 11 years old from my hometown of Coffeeville, Kansas," said Stewart. King was a role model and mentor ever since Stewart's journey in seminary school. He moved to Arizona in 1977, bringing with him King's values of a nonviolent fight for human and civil rights. A place of 'peace': The civil rights history of the oldest park in Phoenix Even though Stewart has been on his journey of equality for nearly 50 years, he believes there is still much more work to be done for African Americans nationwide. "We're still fighting to be included, and that's really unfortunate in the 21st Century," said Stewart. Stewart cited an example of this exclusivity happening as recently as last week, where at mental health conference he was attending, Stewart was astonished to see the lack of African-American communities represented in the event materials. Stewart took this upon the organizers of the event who expressed that the lack of African American inclusion was unintentional. Stewart noted that was the problem, the organizers had not thought about it. The Eastlake neighborhood where Stewart's church is located, was beginning to become part of more widespread gentrification noticed by both Stewart, and Terry E. Mackey of Pilgrim Rest, a community of around 4,000 parishioners. "I don't know that I have 10 members who could walk to church," said Stewart. "It's driven by capitalism, people trying to make the most money," added Stewart. But people like Stewart and others at the neighboring congregation Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church remain community leaders and role models for Phoenix's contemporary African-American community. Pastor Terry Mackey poses for a portrait at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Phoenix on Jan. 12, 2024. How MLK became the role model for Arizona's leadership in the Black community "Preaching at 13 years of age, I remember the first time I really can recall seeing Dr. King. I always saw Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 'I thought a doctor?' I thought that he was not only a preacher but a medical doctor to be called reverend doctor, only to find out that he had a doctorate in religion and philosophy," said Mackey, pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. "I always said to myself as a young man, I said if I ever became a reverend, I would want to also be a reverend doctor like Martin Luther King Jr.," added Mackey. Mackey received his doctorate in 2022 from the Memphis Theological Seminary, which was a homecoming event for the Tennessee-native pastor. He was honored at the event by his father, the pastor of Lily of the Valley Church where Mackey got his start. Now entering his sixth year at Pilgrim Rest, Mackey was preparing to honor King's legacy at the Friday morning Livin' The Dream Award ceremony, a candlelight event on Sunday, and a Monday march that leads the community from Pilgrim Rest to Margret T. Hance Park three miles away. At Pilgrim Rest church, a new pastor steps out, in the shadow of a legend Mackey said that King's legacy was a model the church could continue to use, but it required an integral hands-on commitment. "I'm a firm believer that a shepherd ought to smell like sheep," Mackey said. "If a shepherd is going to smell like sheep, we have to spend time with the sheep, care for the sheep, give attention to the sheep." "We don't want our churches to just be images of frozen success," said Mackey. Mackey described King as a "transformational pastor," who developed a new role he hoped to replicate at Pilgrim Rest. Ron Williams has been the executive chair of the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee for 10 years and has planned MLK events for 22 years. He said Mackey is his "Memphis Tennessee brother," over the two's connection to the city that they both came from. Pastor Terry Mackey talks during an interview at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Phoenix on Jan. 12, 2024. "That relationship has been long-standing, as a matter of fact, Pastor Mackey indicated to us that as long as he is pastor, we can count on them (Pilgrim Rest) for the march," said Ron Williams of the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee. Emmett Boyd is a Pilgrim Rest parishioner and one of the event coordinators for the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee. Mackey reflected on his efforts during his interview with The Arizona Republic. "I can see where he sits," laughed Mackey, as he pointed to one of the sea of empty pews at Pilgrim Rest's location off Jefferson Street. "MLK is one of my heroes," said Boyd. He said that he and Mackey continue to be proponents of King's vision for a future where all rights and privileges are equal for everyone. "I look MLK's importance to the quality of life, because I have relatives that grew up in slavery," Boyd said. "They talked about not being able to vote in different things like that. When you hear those things as a child, you're sitting there, you don't really understand them. But as you get older, those things become important to you with regard to everybody." The march has its roots in helping Arizona's to gain recognition for the MLK holiday Mackey planned to join members of the Arizona MLK Celebration Committee, Arizona Opportunities Industrialization Center, church leaders and a diverse group of community members at Monday's march. The march reminds the community that they can now march without the sole intention of fighting for the right in the first place. Stewart said that while the march has always departed from the neighboring church, Pilgrim Rest, it has not always traveled to Margaret T. Hance Park. Originally marchers traveled to the Arizona state Capitol, where Stewart said upward of 10,000 people joined together to fight for the MLK holiday. The march now ends at Margaret Hance Park instead of the capitol to accommodate a celebratory festival that brings together attendees and wraps up the festivities honoring King. March coordinator Marquis Scott, who is a member of Pilgrim Rest church, said the event offered an opportunity to reflect on King's original march in the 1950s. "Change upsets people from time to time because of a lack of understanding," said Scott, reflecting on why he believes the march is an educational platform. Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.: Arizona was a holdout. Here's what it cost the state 30 years ago MLK honored at award ceremony honoring Valley culture and diversity The people honored at the 2024 Livin The Dream Awards on Friday morning all had one thing in common: they carried on the legacy of MLK through their commitment to service of the community. The event was attended by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallegos. As a choir sang "We've Come This Far by Faith," the breakfast and award ceremony honored Arizona's own who made an impact in their community while carrying on King's legacy, all while honoring the next generation as a group of young people entered the hall with a burning torch. The event master of ceremonies was Ron Williams, the event chair of the MLK celebration committee who introduced a selection of interfaith community leaders to present a prayer from each of them. The leaders said the spirit of King and his legacy motivated them to embark on a journey to make the world a better place. The first prayer was given by Jewish Rabbi Robert L. Kravitz, who said African Americans and Jews have suffered indiscriminately at the hands of segregationists in history. "Dr. King continues our common fight against these deadly enemies of democracy," said Kravitz, who ended his speech by projecting the three-part loud call of a Shofar made from a ram's horn. The next prayer was given by Lolita Ahmed-Waters of the Buddhist community. Water said King's words of "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere," provided a direction for her and the Buddhist community in Arizona. "Let's all join together and keep fighting the good fight," said Waters. John Akram who represented the Islam community gave a prayer in both Arabic an English. "Islam as well as all the other faiths that we have the privilege of being able to openly and freely practice in this country in this nation. Dr. King set the stage for us to be able to practice and be able to enjoy it was a religious community without any discrimination, without any degradation or any harm," said Akram. Gerrit Steenblik, who represented the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honored MLK's legacy by inviting everyone to join hands in prayer. "We rejoice to be together as we remember a martyr, a real-life hero of our own generation. Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. At the same time even this morning we witnessed terror and turbulence at home and abroad. Surely the heavens must weep," said Steenblik. Pilgrim Rest's own Pastor Mackey gave the final prayer before the awardees were announced. In it, he invoked King's resounding legacy. "Albeit not a long life, it was a strong life," said Mackey of King. "By your help, he was able to subpoena the consciousness of this nation," added Mackey. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Martin Luther King's legacy continues shining in Phoenix. Here's how In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, photo the Space Needle is seen in view of still standing but now defunct stacks at the Nucor Steel plant in Seattle. In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, photo the Space Needle is seen in view of still standing but now defunct stacks at the Nucor Steel plant in Seattle. A massive storage facility in Washington state serving the natural gas network that provides electricity and heating fuel to millions of Americans from the Pacific Northwest south to New Mexico went down Saturday, HuffPost has learned. The Jackson Prairie Underground Natural Gas Storage Facility in Lewis County, roughly two hours south of Seattle, suffered a complete outage, triggering an emergency on the 1,500-mile Northwest Pipeline that ships gas to power plants and heating networks across a region currently struck by arctic weather. The storage facility provided enough gas to power upward of 6 million homes if it was all used to generate electricity. The gas network also supplies heating furnaces as cities like Seattle freeze in the coldest temperatures in the city in 14 years. An emergency alert sent out across the gas network Saturday afternoon, a copy of which was posted on the social media website X, formerly known as Twitter, by an industry worker. The notice warned that the pressure in the pipeline connecting Washington and Oregon was dropping at a rapid rate. The Northwest Pipelines operator requested all customers take IMMEDIATE action to reduce demand for electricity and heat. The city of Ellensburg in mountainous central Washington issued a statement Saturday urging residents to conserve natural gas. Gusty winds had already caused scattered power outages across Oregon as the winter storm sprayed the region with snow. The utility that co-owns and operates the gas storage facility, Puget Sound Energy, said the plant went offline at 2 p.m. and has steadily been coming back on since then. The firm did not provide an estimate of when the facility would be fully restored. Puget Sound Energy is asking customers to conserve natural gas and electricity use through the evening hours, a spokesperson for the company told HuffPost by email. Due to the extreme cold temperatures facing our area, regional utilities are experiencing higher energy use than forecasted, and we need to reduce strain on the grid. The company didnt say what caused the shutdown. But the watchdog Union of Concerned Scientists released a report last month showing an uptick in gas infrastructure breaking down during cold weather when the fuel is most needed. The latest episode comes just two years after a winter storm left hundreds of Texans dead as gas pipelines froze and power plants failed, underscoring how the United States aging energy distribution networks are heaving under increased demand and extreme weather from climate change. Federal regulators approved an expansion of the Pacific Northwests gas network in October. But the investments needed to prop up the fossil fuel system are facing increased scrutiny from those who say the money should be spent on new, zero-carbon energy infrastructure like solar panels and batteries. Related... The older brother of Memphis rapper Yo Gotti reportedly has been shot and killed outside a local restaurant hours after leaving a funeral. Yo Gotti (top right) lost his older brother, Anthony Big Jook Mims (top left), to a shooting in their hometown on Jan. 13. Mims also is survived by his sister, Robin Chanel, and mother, Geraldine Mims (both shown in bottom photo). (Photos: @bigjookcmg/Instagram) Memphis Police Department confirmed to Fox 13 that the shooting that claimed the life of Anthony Big Jook Mims took place at Perignons Restaurant and Event Center on Winchester Road. One man was shot and died after being rushed to St. Francis Hospital due to the shooting that began around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13. Another man who suffered injuries arrived at the same hospital in a private vehicle and is currently listed in critical condition. Authorities believe Mims and the second victim were the intended targets. Police reportedly have surveillance footage of the shooting but have not identified any suspects as of this writing. Local outlet ABC 24 reports that about a couple hundred people were inside the building when the shooting took place outside. MPD Deputy Chief Paul Wright Jr., who has over 34 years of service with the Memphis Police Department, held a brief press conference hours after the shooting. Right now, we do have video that we are analyzing, but we dont have a clear suspect identified at this time, he said. But we know that a weapon was used, a firearm was used in this incident. Mims and the other individual were shot hours after attending a repast for a loved one named Eric Eugene Bovan, according to Wright and several posts on Mims Instagram story. He wrote, RIP Unk Las Vegas Eric Legendary Kingpin over an image of a man, followed by two other posts. Authorities first received a call about a shooting, and moments later, officers who were flagged down found Mims had been shot in his vehicle. Law enforcement was also asked if Mims death had any connection to the 2021 death of late Memphis rapper Young Dolph, Gottis former music rival. Dolph was gunned down outside a local cookie store just 14 minutes down the road from where Mims was shot and killed. Sources: Yo Gottis brother 'Big Jook' killed in shooting outside Memphis restaurant Memphis police gives update pic.twitter.com/6ytOqpiWrb SHONUFF (@IAMSHO_NUFF) January 14, 2024 Online users also allege that Mims is an associate of Hernandez Govan, the man accused of being the mastermind behind Dolphs death and organizing the escape plan for the shooter. Wright said, This is preliminary, so we havent developed a connection to that at this time. We do feel like the individual that was shot was possibly targeted by the suspect. The chief said they know of at least one shooter but suggested there may be more as several videos and photos taken at the scene circulate online. Local patrons in the parking lot after the shooting describe the incident as a shootout, but no evidence to support this claim has been reported. Mims was heavily involved with his brother Yo Gottis label, Collective Music Group. Its unclear exactly what his ties to the company are, but he worked closely on the business end promoting the labels artists such as Moneybagg Yo, Lehla Samia, Mozzy, Blac Youngsta, EST Gee, and others. Gotti, whose birth name is Mario Mims, has yet to release a statement on his older brothers passing. However, several CMG signees, including GloRilla, Big Boogie, and 10Percent, have written, Get your rest, or shared broken heart emojis and photos with Mims online. Mims leaves behind his brother, mother, Geraldine Mims, and sister, Robin Chanel. Israeli soldiers operate in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas By James Mackenzie JERUSALEM (Reuters) - One hundred days after Hamas gunmen broke out of Gaza to launch the deadliest attack in Israel's history, tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, Gaza lies in ruins and the Middle East is sliding towards a wider, more unpredictable conflict. For both Israelis and Palestinians, the war has been a trauma that looks likely to last for years, deepening the hostility and mistrust that have stood in the way of peace for more than 75 years. "No one will win," said Rebecca Brindza, a spokesperson for families of the 240 Israelis and foreigners seized as hostages during attack on communities around the Gaza Strip that opened the war on Oct. 7. The assault in the early morning hours caught Israel's vaunted military and security services completely off guard, opening days of fear and uncertainty for the country as the details of the slaughter by the rampaging gunmen emerged. The attack killed more than 1,200 people, the biggest single day loss of life since the founding of the state of Israel in 1948, and the shock was compounded by the multiple accounts of rape and sexual violence that emerged in the following weeks. The Israeli response was immediate and unrelenting, beginning with a systematic aerial bombardment and followed by a ground invasion that have together laid waste to Gaza and forced almost 2 million people to flee their homes. Almost 24,000 Palestinians have been killed and 60,000 wounded in the invasion, according to Gaza health authorities, the largest loss of Palestinian life suffered in the decades of wars and conflict with Israel since 1948. Three months on, Israeli troops are still battling Hamas Islamist militants in the ruins of Gaza and hunting architects of the October attack, such as Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader in Gaza and Mohammed Deif, the movement's military leader. Most of the enclave's hospitals have been destroyed, hunger is a growing threat and a dire humanitarian crisis threatens to end up killing even more Gazans than the Israeli military. In a statement marking the 100 days, the Palestinian ministry of foreign affairs accused Israel of creating "a circle of death" in Gaza. Israeli officials say they do all they can to avoid civilian casualties and they accuse Hamas of hiding its network of tunnels and military infrastructure among Gaza's civilian population, deliberately putting them at risk. Yet that offers little comfort to the tens of thousands who have lost relatives to the bombardment. "I come here everyday, longing for them," said Khaled Abu Aweidah, who lost 22 members of his family to an air strike and who still searches the mountains of rubble that was his family home in vain for any sign of three children buried there. SHOCKED World opinion has been shocked and the bitterness of the conflict has spilled out into angry demonstrations on the streets of European cities and American college campuses, casting its shadow over the U.S. presidential election. Across the Arab world, there has been outrage at the killing and destruction and at widely seen images of Palestinian prisoners stripped to their underwear. Even Washington, Israel's closest ally, has urged restraint and South Africa has brought a case before the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide, a charge it rejects as a gross and hypocritical distortion of the truth. Efforts to agree a ceasefire have so far failed and the future of Gaza, which has been under blockade for more than 15 years, remains up in the air, while violence in the volatile cities of the occupied West Bank has spiralled to levels that in other times would cause deep alarm. The United States and other powers have called for a revival of a process to create an independent Palestinian state after the war but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government has so far failed to respond. Israel's main enemy Iran, which backs Hamas, has taunted Israel but has so far refrained from direct action and Hezbollah, its proxy in Lebanon, has taken care to avoid an all-out confrontation. However, the Houthis in Yemen, another Iran-backed movement, have caused increasing turmoil by attacking shipping in the Red Sea, bringing nearer the threat of a wider conflict that could draw in outside powers and further destabilize the global order. For their part, Israelis see Hamas as an existential threat to their country and surveys show they support the campaign to destroy the group, even though most blame Netanyahu for the security failures that allowed the Oct. 7 attack to take place. Posters showing the hostages are plastered on walls and bus stops across Israel and Sunday saw large demonstrations, demanding the return of more than 130 still held in Gaza after a truce in November, during which around half were swapped for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. "Israel's society is gripped by trauma and we cannot heal without them all coming back," said Moran Stella Yanai, a former hostage returned in the swap who was kidnapped during the Nova music festival, where hundreds of party-goers were killed on the morning of Oct. 7. As the war goes on, it imposes an increasing strain on the economy and the army has begun releasing some of the tens of thousands of reservists called up to fight Hamas and guard the northern border to enable them to return to their jobs. But Netanyahu, whose political future will depend on the outcome of the war, has shown no sign that he was listening to the growing calls for an end to the fighting. "We are continuing the war until the end - until total victory," he said on Saturday at a news conference to mark the 100 days of the war. (Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah, Nidal al Mughrabi in Doha, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Tomasz Janowski) Sen. Ted Cruz speaks with Rep. Henry Cuellar behind him in Laredo, Texas at the World Trade Bridge on Jan. 4, 2024 about passing bridge reform. The bridge, located in the nation's No. 1 port, hopes to expand from eight to 18 lanes in the future. David Gomez Jr./Laredo Morning Times We offer for your consideration early in this election year a politician who would seem to be a paragon of border enlightenment, a veritable paladin of bipartisan collaboration. We make that assessment in response to words he delivered at a recent press conference in Laredo celebrating legislation designed to either construct or expand international bridges along the Rio Grande: This is a win for Texas farmers and ranchers. This is a win for Texas small businesses and manufacturers. This is a win for jobs; this is thousands of jobs here in South Texas and all across Texas. This is also a win for national security. One of the things were seeing is were seeing more and more on-shoring and near-shoring of manufacturing coming from China some of it coming back to the United States, some of it coming to Mexico. Our close friend and ally in bringing that manufacturing back to North America is unequivocally good for U.S. national security, making us less dependent on China. Advertisement Article continues below this ad And, this is a win for the environment. Right now on any given day you can go south of the border and you can see a lot of 18-wheelers, sometimes extending four, five, six miles, sitting there for hours on end, spewing pollution into the air. Thats not good for the environment. Its much better for the environment to have enough lanes open, enough bridges open so the freight and commerce can move quickly and expeditiously. That makes more sense all around. So were here to celebrate a tremendous bipartisan victory, a victory for Texas. ..." Yes, we say. And again, yes! The impassioned deliverer of those remarks is likely to surprise you, dear reader. Its our own junior U.S. senator. Yes, Ted Cruz, the Texas irritant who, during his dozen years in the Senate, has inspired bi-pervasive dislike and invective but otherwise is rarely associated with anything bipartisan. And yet, here he seems to be rising above simplistic thinking and border-security shibboleths long enough to acknowledge mutual interest between this country and our neighbor to the south. Finally, we hear from a Trump ally who celebrates bipartisan efforts to build bridges, not just border walls. Advertisement Article continues below this ad So, what gives? Who is this Nuevo Ted, this politician speaking good sense and political bonhomie on the streets of Laredo last week? For one thing, Cruz is aware that he may have a hot race on his hands against a strong challenger in the fall. Those vying for the Democratic nomination include U.S. Rep. Colin Allred of Dallas and state Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio. Cruz may be socially obtuse, but hes politically astute enough to know that his off-putting ways could be a liability in a general election, even in one-party Texas. Allred, the early favorite in the Democratic primary, touts his ability to work across the aisle, so Cruz is probably scouting for examples to show he too can be bi-reasonable. Gutierrez, best known for calling for gun-safety measures in response to the Uvalde mass shooting in his district, isnt buying Cruzs transition into a bipartisan stalwart. That guys trying to make himself out to be bipartisan, but we all know the truth, he told the Chronicle editorial board. I dont know what hes doing in Washington, because hes done nothing to help his community. Of course, even the most stridently partisan politician would have trouble finding fault with the permitting amendment that President Joe Biden signed into law last month as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2024 fiscal year. Last year, trade with Mexico accounted for $863 billion, catapulting Mexico ahead of China as our top trading partner. It only makes sense that we keep the traffic flowing both ways. Thanks to the efforts of Cruz and U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, international bridge projects will receive the presidential green light within 120 days. In the past, the Biden administration required permits to be contingent on an environmental review, which can take years to complete. Come April, the front-end process for building bridges can move forward and only construction will be held up by the review. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The project Cruz touted last week expands the commercial-only World Trade Bridge at Laredo/Nuevo Laredo from eight to 18 lanes. It also speeds up the permitting time for a second bridge southeast of Laredo, as well as new bridges across the Rio Grande at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras and Brownsville/Matamoros. Cruzs Texas cohort, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, also supports the project, as does the rest of the South Texas delegation, Republican and Democrat. If you want to see bipartisanship, this is the type of bipartisan work that gets the job done, Cuellar said in Laredo last week. We do indeed want to see border and immigration-reform bipartisanship, but what concerns us is that the border issue and incessant images on Fox News and elsewhere of thousands of would-be immigrants wading the river is too handy in this political season. Why would Republican candidates want to give it up by solving the problem? More typical than Cruzs positive remarks are GOP ads raining down on pre-caucus Iowa that feature video of hundreds of people trudging northward, the word Invasion superimposed. As the Washington Post reported last week, the word border has been aired in political ads 1,319 times since the start of the year, more than such standard disclaimer words as approve and message. Republicans have no doubt that shutting down the border is a winning issue. We can think of a number of reasons why candidates should address real solutions, although we realize that when an elected officials political future is at stake and particularly his or her ongoing relationship with the friendship-fickle Mr. Donald Trump then politics almost invariably subsumes principle. If Cruz and his ilk were truly serious about border security and immigration reform, they would acknowledge that every day hundreds of thousands of people commute across the border to work, to attend school, to visit family members, to shop. Every day, those waiting trucks that he mentioned in his Laredo remarks are tangible symbols of our interconnectedness. We hope the Republican lawmakers who showed up at the Rio Grande with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson a few days ago to complain about Bidens border-security failures saw those obvious signs that the border is more than a barrier, more than a hard black line on a map. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The two nations face shared challenges waves of migration, to be sure, as well as trafficking (drugs and people) and organized crime. Mexico, in addition, has its own unique problems, including ongoing challenges to the rule of law, immigration issues and the corrosive influence of violent criminal gangs. Both countries are better off nurturing ties and working together. Shannon K. ONeil, a senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, offers an example of mutual interest. In a recent article titled The Americas Cant Handle Immigration a la Carte, she points out that more than 100 million people around the world are on the move. Wars, domestic violence, political repression, natural disasters and economic collapse are the major causes. Relying on figures compiled by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, she notes that more than 20 million 1 in 5 of these migrants are in the Western Hemisphere. We tend to think that theyre all spilling over our southern border, but, as ONeil points out, most remain in their own regions. Colombia, for example, is the de facto home for some 2.5 million refugees fleeing Venezuelas collapsed economy. Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Panama have taken in another 3 million. Given the roiling flux of displaced men, women and children throughout the hemisphere (and beyond), its foolish to think we can wall ourselves off from the ongoing crisis. And its irresponsible to think we should. We, the richest country in the world, and our neighbors, particularly Mexico, need to cooperate. Ties, economic and otherwise, make cooperation easier. We applaud Cruz for the bipartisan legislation and his remarks in Laredo. Well begin to take him seriously when we hear Nuevo Ted talk some sense on the border. Hes done it before. Why not make it a habit? Anti-tobacco advocates are growing increasingly concerned that a divided White House will bow to political pressure from the tobacco industry and scrap a plan to ban menthol cigarette sales, amid concerns of a backlash among Black voters ahead of the 2024 election. The White House is facing dueling messages, and advocates say theyve been told the next week could make or break their efforts, if President Biden hopes to have the ban take force before the end of his first term. The tobacco industry has long been accused of targeting the Black community, especially with menthol products. Public health experts say banning menthol could save hundreds of thousands of lives, particularly among Black smokers. An estimated 85 percent of Black smokers use menthol cigarettes, according to federal statistics. A potential ban on menthol cigarettes has been discussed across multiple administrations for more than a decade and has yet to come to fruition. But the political tide has been shifting in recent years, and a majority of the Congressional Black Caucus supports Bidens proposal. Still, the White House in December delayed the plan until at least March, after critics warned the White House that such a ban would anger the Black community during an election year, when Biden is already struggling to maintain their support. The delay came about two weeks after top administration officials met with tobacco industry lobbyists, including former Democratic congressmen, as well as high-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump and a top executive from Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network. A public health lobbyist noted that all the people who met with the White House on Nov. 20 had some sort of paid affiliation with the tobacco industry. Among them was Democratic pollster Cornell Belcher, who circulated a poll commissioned by tobacco company Altria that showed young voters and minority voters oppose the ban. You know, that spooked some folks, and I think it spooked the White House enough that were still pushing well after the rule was supposed to be published, the lobbyist said. Since some of the provisions would take a year to implement, Biden would need to publish the rule in the next week to ensure it takes effect before a potential new administration takes over. The White House is also facing a potential deadline with the Congressional Review Act, which would allow Congress to vote to overturn the rule if it is announced too close to the end of the year. Some experts think the White House has until the spring. But if the rule is published, the tobacco industry is expected to sue, which could potentially delay implementation even further. We certainly know that the longer these rules sit out there, the more time the tobacco industry is going to use to just try to pummel them and make up new claims, said Erika Sward, assistant vice president of national advocacy at the American Lung Association. Public health groups are ramping up the pressure on the White House to publish the final rule, saturating the airwaves and newspapers with ads from Black public health leaders, big city health officials and prominent Democratic mayors, including Karen Bass of Los Angeles. The African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council is leading a menthol funeral on Jan. 18 in Washington, just steps from the White House, to memorialize the 45,000 Black Americans who die from tobacco-related illness each year, complete with a funeral procession and service. This is ultimately coming down to a political decision by the president and his senior advisers, Sward said, adding that Bidens legacy issue of cutting the cancer death rate in half over the next 25 years will not happen if he backs down from banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. If he is following the science and following the scientific advisers, then he will finalize these rules, Sward said. Congress banned flavored cigarettes as part of the 2009 law giving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority to regulate tobacco products, but a loophole exempted menthol. Even though the FDA finally proposed a ban on menthol sales in 2022, the target date for the final rule has been slipping for months. The rule was initially slated for an August release but then wasnt sent to the White House for final regulatory review until October, with the aim of releasing it by the end of the year. Now itll be March if the rule is released at all. Public health experts have long said theyre used to making arguments that end up falling on deaf ears because of political calculations. Yolanda Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said shes been trying to show the White House that theres a broad network of support for banning menthol cigarettes and that the political risks are being manufactured by the tobacco industry. Richardson said shes fairly confident the health leaders in the White House are supportive, but obviously this now has a political lens on it. We understand that, she said, and we have been trying to get the messaging up to the White House that there is political coverage, if they can just get out of their own way. Still, she said she was surprised the White House would seriously entertain arguments from the tobacco industry. We would have thought that the administration would have been prepared for this, Richardson said. Were not surprised [theres political concerns]. We are frustrated that the administration seems to have been unprepared for that kind of pushback. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy continues to thrive through history, art, and culture. As we approach the day dedicated to honoring his life and reflect on his impactful words and courageous actions, it's evident that he has left a lasting mark on the civil rights movement and the nation. Interestingly, Dr. King's influence extends to a nearly forgotten piece of history in Arizona, underscoring the broad reach of his impact. Martin Luther King's 1964 Arizona speech "I need not pause to say how very delighted and honored I am to have the opportunity of coming oncemore to the state of Arizona and the opportunity of making my first public appearance here in the city ofPhoenix, Arizona." FILE - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28, 1963, in Washington. (AP Photo, File) These are the words spoken by Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of Arizona State University's campus on June 3, 1964, just weeks before the passage of the Civil Rights Act, which outlawed segregation based on race or color. This year commemorates the 60th anniversary of King's "Religious Witness for Human Dignity" speech, delivered at the old Goodwin Stadium to an audience of 8,000 listeners. In this speech, he challenged them to embrace a moral and ethical commitment, urging people to live together as brothers regardless of race. "We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools," said King in his speech. The historic speech is relatively obscure due to the loss of the audio tape, which remained undiscovered until 2013. Once the tape was found and sent to the ASU Archival Department for restoration and transcription, it resurfaced as an important and valuable part of both the civil rights movement and Arizona's history How did Martin Luther King Jr. Day become a holiday? Not every historical figure gets a federally recognized day in their honor, so how did Martin Luther King Jr. Day become a national holiday? According to The King Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Day originated after his assassination in 1968, but it wasn't automatically accepted as a holiday by Congress until 20 years later. Even after its congressional acceptance in 1986, all 50 states did not officially recognize it as a holiday until the year 2000. The journey towards making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday started when Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich, introduced it to legislation in 1968, as mentioned by the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Subsequently, annual ceremonies began in Atlanta on King's birthday in 1969. During these ceremonies, The King Center started seeking people's support for the day to be federally recognized. In the 1970s, some states, including Illinois, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, started recognizing Martin Luther King Jr. Day on a state level. However, when the bill came up for a vote in Congress in 1979, it lost by five votes in the House. Following the defeat of the bill, Stevie Wonder released a song titled "Happy Birthday" in an effort to garner support for the holiday's federal recognition. The song became a hit, as reported by The King Center. After two years, Coretta Scott King, King's widow, along with Stevie Wonder, submitted 6 million signatures supporting King's holiday to the Speaker of the House in 1982. According to The King Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Day became a federally recognized holiday on November 3, 1983, when President Ronald Reagan signed the bill. This marked the third Monday of January as a national holiday in honor of Dr. King. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Forgotten Arizona speech still relevant 60 years later An old bridge traversing a small canal is the only way residents of one southern Brevard County neighborhood have of accessing the rest of their community. Nearly a century old, the Micco Road bridge is what connects those who live in the Lakes at St. Sebastian, a neighborhood built on the rural patch of land close to the county's southern boundaries until only three years ago. Residents of the small community are currently a stone's throw away from groceries, doctors, the post office, and other everyday services near U.S. Highway 1. But that is about to change. The bridge built in 1938 needs to be replaced and that it will take somewhere between eight and 18 months to finish the work. That means residents will need to drive 25 or more miles just to reach the stores and other conveniences that are less than five miles away using the bridge. Bill Hale is among the residents of Lakes at St. Sebastian, a neighborhood off of Micco Road, are upset about the length of time a bridge replacement will take. More: Tornado strikes Micco mobile home park, damaging 25 to 30 homes near U.S. 1 "It's like they maybe forgot about us out here," said resident Bill Hale. "We're a pretty new community and we're pretty far out here. I wonder if they remembered us." Residents were informed at the end of December that the bridge that connects their remote neighborhood to the rest of their community would be closed for at least most of the coming year, if not longer, according to current estimates. Residents, HOA leaders and others met with county officials Thursday to see of a solution could be found to mitigate the inconvenience and safety concerns. Spokesman for the Brevard County government Don Walker said costs are always a concern, but the ultimate pressure for the project is the dire need to replace the bridge. The budget for the new bridge, which will cost over $3 million to replace, could not accommodate an additional $1 million for a temporary bridge, residents were told. According to the county's statement to the neighborhood, Brevard County Fire Rescue will relocate some equipment and personnel to ensure prompt emergency response times will continue. "This isn't about doing it at a certain time to save money. The bridge is failing. It's almost 100 years old and it needs to be replaced," Walker said. Currently the bridge is a narrow two-lane bridge with no shoulder or sidewalk. The replacement bridge being planned includes two 11-foot travel lanes, 8-foot paved shoulders, and a barrier protected 5-foot sidewalk. "The new bridge will also meet current standards and provide a better experience for our residents and visitors," county officials said in a statement announcing the project last month. "The Countys Public Works Department will be pro-actively working with the contractor to expeditiously complete the work and reopen the road sooner, if possible." HOA leaders after the meeting sent community members a letter about the status of the project. "Be assured the Board of Directors of the Lakes at St. Sebastian will do everything necessary to support our members in correcting this wrongful action by Brevard County Officials," the letter reads. Doug Solis and his wife purchased their home in the neighborhood just after the first few homes were built in 2021. They had previously lived in Barefoot Bay but made the leap shortly after moving to Florida. Now they're concerned for how they will navigate their community over the coming year. "It's not that we're against a new bridge. We know the bridge needs to be replaced, but it feels like there has to be something better," Solis said. "It's like we're stranded out here." "I'm not concerned for myself especially but there are older people out here. There are people whose families rely on them. Now they're so far from everything." Tyler Vazquez is the North Brevard and Brevard County Government Watchdog Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Vazquez at 321-480-0854 or tvazquez@floridatoday.com. Lakes at St. Sebastian, a neighborhood off of Micco Road, where residents are upset about the length of time a small bridge replacement will take. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Micco bridge project leaves some remote Brevard residents feeling 'stranded' Michigan faces freezing temperatures and continued snowfall Sunday amid a severe winter storm this weekend. Temperatures to single digits in some regions of the state Sunday, with some lake effect snow showers in northern regions, according to the National Weather Service. Snowfall may hit between two and six inches and another four inches Sunday night, while areas of southern Michigan may see up to an inch. A vehicle heads north on Williams Lake Road in Waterford during Metro Detroits first winter storm of 2024 on Friday, Jan. 12, 2024. Since Friday, regions across the state saw heavy snowfall, high winds and thundersnow. Snowfall and low temperatures brought icy conditions, making roadways hazardous. The storm began Friday afternoon and continued into Saturday, bringing dangerous conditions and thousands of power outages throughout Michigan. Winter storm hits Michigan: Tracking snowfall totals The Michigan Department of Transportation and Michigan State Police reported dozens of crashes throughout the weekend, with crews working continuously to clear roadways. Road conditions are particularly dangerous in northern Michigan, where intense lake bands are causing near whiteout conditions and low visibility, according to the NWS. Officials urge residents to keep an emergency kit and fully charged cell phone with them before hitting the roads. The Mackinac Bridge continues to be under a high wind warning as of 6:58 p.m. Sunday, with potential 20-34 mph winds in the area. The bridge has faced travel advisories throughout this weekend's storm. Thousands of residents lost power Friday afternoon, as the storm brought outages across Michigan. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy sent crews out to restore power, with thousands of outages resolved by early Sunday and outage totals dropping throughout the day. Currently, more than 13,500 DTE Energy customers and more than 6,400 Consumers Energy customers remain without power. The DTE Storm Response Team is working to restore 95% of power outages by the end of Sunday and Consumers Energy crews continue restoring power to most outages, both companies supported by workers from outside Michigan. Officials continue to advise residents to stay at least 25 feet from downed power lines, watch for crews on slick roads, avoid using a portable generator indoors in homes or businesses and watch for downed wires in debris of fallen branches and trees. Flight cancellations nationwide dropped by Sunday, down from tens of thousands Friday and Saturday to more than 2,100 Sunday, with minimal disruptions at Michigan airports. Detroit Metro Airport and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids previously saw dozens of flight cancellations Friday and to a lesser extent Saturday. Expect freezing temperatures to continue in the region this week, as cold arctic air enters the area, according to the NWS. Officials encourage residents to limit time outdoors to avoid the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. This week's projected forecast Monday: Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 9. Wind chill values as low as -15. Low around 6. Tuesday: Mostly cloudy and cold, with a high near 10. Low around 3. Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 18. Breezy. Low around 14. Thursday: Chance of snow showers before 1 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 24. Low around 12. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Winter storm continues to impact Michigan with freezing conditions Migrants from Venezuela walk along the banks of the Rio Grande to surrender to the U.S. Border Patrol after entering Texas at Eagle Pass on Jan. 8. A senior congressman from South Texas is laying the blame for the drowning deaths of a migrant mother and two children near a sealed-off park in Eagle Pass along the U.S.-Mexico border at the feet of state officials whom he accused of refusing to allow federal agents to try a rescue. Border Patrol personnel were forced out of Shelby Park earlier this week by the Texas National Guard under order of Governor (Greg) Abbott," U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said in a statement Saturday. "In this situation, the Texas Military Department and the Texas National Guard did not grant access to Border Patrol agents to save the migrants. This is a tragedy, and the State bears responsibility. Cuellar, who has served in Congress since 2005, said the bodies of the unidentified migrants were discovered Saturday morning by Mexican authorities at the Rio Grande. Around 9 the night before, Cuellar said, U.S. Border Patrol agents contacted state National Guard officials deployed to the region as part of Abbott's Operation Lone Star near the Shelby Park entrance but were told that even in an emergency, the federal agents would not be allowed to enter the park. Late Wednesday, Texas authorities commandeered the public park over the objection of Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas Jr. as part of the state's effort to combat unlawful immigration. In a statement to news outlets, the Texas Military Department confirmed that it is not allowing anyone who is not part of the state's operation to enter the park but said it did not see migrants in distress before the bodies were found. More: Gov. Greg Abbott denies he's advocating shooting migrants crossing Texas-Mexico border The current posture is to prepare for future illegal immigrant surges and to restrict access to organizations that perpetuate illegal immigrant crossings in the park and greater Eagle Pass area, the military department said. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," the statement continued. "Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation." U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement criticizing the state's policy of restricting access near Shelby Park. "We remain gravely concerned by actions that prevent the U.S. Border Patrol from performing their essential missions of arresting individuals who enter the United States unlawfully and providing humanitarian response to individuals in need," the agency said. On Friday, before federal border officials warned of the migrants in distress, the U.S. Homeland Security Department petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to force the state of Texas to allow federal border officials to operate in the park and on the adjoining section of the Rio Grande, saying the Texas National Guard was blocking U.S. Border Patrol operations. Eagle Pass, a city of about 29,000 that shares a border with Piedras Negras, Coahuila, has been in the crosshairs of the expanding immigration crisis and the ever-escalating tensions between Abbott, a Republican, and Democratic President Joe Biden's administration. More: From ground zero of the US immigration crisis, Mayorkas in Texas calls on Congress to act Also ensnared in the controversy are several Democratic mayors and governors whose communities have been on the receiving end of more than 100,000 migrants, who have been granted temporary permission to remain in the United States and have been sent by Texas on chartered buses and aircraft to several cities across the country. The three-term Texas governor has been unapologetic about sending thousands of National Guard soldiers and state troopers to the border as part of his $11 billion initiative. And on Friday, Abbott waved off criticism of his remark on a talk show this month that Texas is not shooting crossing migrants "because, of course, the Biden administration would charge us with murder." Biden has been the target of Abbott's ire since assuming the presidency nearly three years ago and rolling back many of former President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policies. And since then, most Americans have soured on the Democratic president's approach to border and immigration issues. A poll by CBS News last week showed that 63% of respondents want tougher policies to discourage unlawful immigration. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Migrant drownings further add to Texas-US tension at southern border A model wears a creation part of the men's Simon Cracker Fall-Winter 2024-2025 collection, that was presented in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni). MILAN (AP) Milan designers are reflecting on a troubled world with collections that mark a return to serious business attire, even from active wear brands, and away from frivolity. Some scenes from the third day of previews Sunday of mostly menswear collections for fall-winter 2024-25: SIMON CRACKER NODS OFF Italian brand Simon Cracker explores the moment before drifting off to sleep, as the best respite from a troubling world. The nearly 14-year-old brand by designers Simone Botte and Filippo Biraghi works entirely with upcycled garments and reclaimed remnants. For this collection, the designers achieved harmony by dyeing the garments together, creating a dreamy pinkish blue of a sunset. Colors bleed together, and become a bit blurry, as if seeing through closed eyes. The silhouette is slouchy, as if giving up after a long day. Mens tailoring defines the collection, but jackets are deconstructed with one shoulder off, a new half-collar taking its place. Garments are dusted with a glimmering sheen, as if visited by the sandman. Big bold pearls accent the looks, representing the moon. Denim garments were hand painted by British designer Sue Cloes, known for the 1981 Culture Club designs. The treatments gave the collection a cohesion that the designers said that many interpreted as elegance which isn't necessarily their goal. They prefer to shake things up. Rebellion does not necessarily come from making noise, rather maybe it comes more from quiet, from reflection," Biraghi said backstage. There is still kindness. Kindness is the most revolutionary thing there is. K-WAY OUTERWEAR BRAND POPS COLOR K-Way, the Franco-Italian brand synonymous with windbreaker with a tri-colored striped zipper, is continuing its evolution from outerwear into the luxury ready-to-wear space with a new collection that pops with color. Furry parkas, quilted jackets and layered windbreakers anchor the collection. The female silhouette is fitted and business-like, including quilted bustier over a shirt and tie with a long skirt, or a form-hugging midi dress accented by the brands iconic zipper. The mens silhouette is more casual, quilted jacket and Bermuda set, or long pants with a midi-length matching coats. The looks came in sequential monotones of navy, royal blue, red, ice blue and white. This is a moment to show the capability of the brand, and to show different ways to wear our iconic zipper and pieces, said marketing vice president Lorenzo Boglione, whose family controls the BasicNet parent company. K-Way is moving toward using entirely recycled materials in the next few years. For us it is a responsibility, not a selling point, Boglione said. Martin Luther King, speaking in Houston in 1967. No one, he said then, should settle for a "piece of freedom." Blair Pittman/Houston Chronicle On a warm October evening 56 years ago, some 4,000 people gathered at Sam Houston Coliseum on Bagby Street to hear what would be Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s last Texas speech. On that night in Houston, he called for a bold vision of economic justice and challenged people to reject gradualism and tokenism. He knew the danger of stall tactics and that no one should settle for a piece of freedom. King understood that prosperity, freedom, and the true promise of this nation would remain elusive as long as millions of people were bound by poverty and shut off from economic opportunity. In the last years of his life, King called for a guaranteed income to eliminate poverty. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The dignity of the individual will flourish, he said, when the decisions concerning his life are in his own hands, when he has the assurance that his income is stable and certain, and when he knows that he has the means to seek self-improvement. This is the vision of the Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income pilot program, which will provide almost 2,000 families in targeted high-poverty ZIP codes a recurring, monthly cash payment that they can directly use to make ends meet and care for their family. Guaranteed income programs from across the country have helped reduce poverty while improving a familys stability, economic mobility and overall well-being by trusting and empowering people with the resources they need to support their household. We cannot wait. Nor can we settle for a piece of freedom. Despite our regions vast prosperity, Harris County has some of the worst economic inequality in the country. Nearly 750,000 people here live in poverty, and in some neighborhoods, as many as 8 out of 10 households cannot afford basic necessities. People in communities that have already endured decades of neglect and inequitable investments experience shorter life expectancies, face greater health challenges, lack access to basic resources and are increasingly vulnerable to disasters. Around 200,000 people in Harris County are working poor with jobs that dont pay enough to overcome poverty or meet basic needs. Oftentimes, these families are led by essential workers, such as teacher aides and health care workers, who keep our county moving. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We must confront economic inequality through strategic and equitable policies that help families meet basic needs; reduce poverty; foster inclusive economic growth in communities where its needed most; and remove unfair barriers to opportunity and prosperity. We know this is needed, and we know it is wanted. We cannot walk alone," Martin Luther King told the crowd at the 1963 March on Washington. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. -/AFP via Getty Images The annual Houston Area Survey conducted by Rice Universitys Kinder Institute for Urban Research found most Houstonians believe government should address inequality. More than 70% of survey respondents support government-led efforts focused on closing income gaps, and nearly 2 out of 3 believe not enough resources are dedicated to helping and supporting people experiencing poverty. Thats why the Uplift Harris Guaranteed Income pilot is part of Harris PROSPERS, a coordinated, multipronged effort to bridge a long-standing economic divide. As part of this effort, were building and preserving affordable housing to make sure everyone has access to a safe, healthy and affordable place to call home. Were helping families access healthy food and high-quality childcare. Weve partnered with unions to launch a nationally recognized apprenticeship program so people in Harris County can pursue a career in high-demand fields while earning a living wage. And were leveling the playing field for businesses owned by women and people of color. Just as these efforts mark a paradigm shift in the role of local government, Kings visionary call for economic justice, fair housing and anti-poverty programs marked a significant turning point in the civil rights movement. Six months after his last visit to Houston, he took the fight for economic justice to Memphis, where his life was cruelly taken. I can think of no better way to build on and honor Kings legacy than to take decisive action, recognizing the simplest and most effective solution to poverty is to eliminate it. The Defence Forces have shot down a Russian missile in the Kryvyi Rih district, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Ukrainian Air Force; Oleksandr Vilkul Head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, on Telegram Details: At 16:55, the Air Force reported that an air-raid warning in Kherson, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts was related to the activity of Russian tactical aircraft. This was followed by a message saying "Kryvyi Rih - take shelter!" Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration, later said that air defence systems were operating in the Kryvyi Rih district. "Our defenders have shot down an enemy missile," he wrote. Later, Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of the Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, clarified that a unit of Air Command Skhid (East) had shot down a Kh-59 guided missile over the district. "There were no attacks in the Kryvyi Rih district. But in the evening, the enemy carried out another missile attack: a unit of Air Command Skhid (East) destroyed a Kh-59 guided missile over the territory of the district," he wrote. Support UP or become our patron! A missing teen was allegedly strangled to death by her girlfriend over an argument about a sexually transmitted disease, new court records show. Eighteen-year-old Tierra Horn was first reported missing by concerned family members on 5 January, according to the Houston Police Department. While conducting a search for Horn on a hiking trail near the Buffalo Bayou, investigators found her remains later that day. Authorities have previously said that Horn died as a result of homicide, but new records obtained by Click2Houston show that she was allegedly strangled by her girlfriend, 24-year-old Shania Laneice Turner. The tragedy unfolded following a heated argument between Horn and Turner, who reportedly believed Horn had given her a sexually transmitted disease. Turner is accused of murdering the 18-year-old and abandoning her body on the trail. Horns sister Skinesha Granville told ABC13 that Horn and Turners relationship was extremely toxic and that the couple had a history of abuse. It was very toxic. They used to fight and everything, Ms Granville told the outlet. [Turner] used to hit on her and beat her, beat her up and stuff, and I just had to break it up. Turner has been charged with one count of murder. She was arrested on 11 January and booked into the Harris County Jail. A man who authorities mistook for the suspect in a domestic violence case was shot by Phoenix Police and hit by a patrol car on Sunday. The wounded man was chased from the scene where police were responding to a distress call about a different suspect. Police say the man they wounded did not initially comply with their commands, at one point pulling a gun on the officers, which prompted one of them to shoot the man. Another officer, at the same time or very soon after, struck the suspect with his vehicle," police said. The wounded man was taken to the hospital for treatment. Phoenix Police are still searching for the initial domestic violence suspect. Read it at Fox 10 Phoenix Read more at The Daily Beast. What makes a store great? Is it affordable prices? Friendly staff? A convenient location? We asked you our readers about the Modesto-area stores and restaurants you miss the most, and received more than 130 submissions. We then asked you to vote for your favorite spots. The results were clear: Modesto misses Gottschalks more than any other spot that has closed in the region. Modesto Bee reader Cathy DeLaMare said Gottschalks was a nice place to shop and kept the area it was in nice. While we cant bring back either of the popular retail chains local department stores, we wanted to recapture the fond memories residents have of shopping and eating there. Weve dug through The Modesto and Fresno Bees archives to discover more about Gottschalks history, including how the retail chain began, how it expanded to Modesto and when and why it left the region. How did Gottschalks get its start? Gottschalks planted its roots not far from Modesto, back when horses and buggies were the primary mode of transportation. Founded by Emil Gottschalk, the first Gottschalks department store opened in Fresno on Sept. 17, 1904, according to The Fresno Morning Republican newspaper, later purchased by The Fresno Bee. At that time, Fresno had a population of about 14,000 people roughly 530,000 fewer residents than the number that live in the city today. After working for Fresno dry goods store Kutner-Goldstein for 10 years, Gottschalk joined forces with five of the department managers, 10 co-workers and his brother-in-law to open Gottschalks in a nearly 30,000-square-foot space at the corner of J and Tulare streets in Fresno. Emil Gottschalks, founder of Gottschalks Department Store. Department store known for firsts Gottschalks was the first modern department store to have a candy department, according to The Modesto Bees archives. The store installed the first air-conditioning system in Fresno. It also had the first U.S. Post Office location in a retail store in the valley, as well as one of the first large toy departments, according to the archives. Gottschalks was one of the first businesses to initiate a five-day, 37.5-hour work week in Fresno. An advertisement in a November 1904 Fresno Morning Republican paper for Gottschalks in Fresno, Calif. The store was seven weeks old at the time of the advertisement. Retail chain expands to Modesto More than 70 years after it was founded, Gottschalks opened its first department store in Modesto in the Vintage Faire mall. While rival retailer Weinstocks was the first business to start construction and complete building in the mall on Dale Road, Gottschalks was the first business at Vintage Faire to make a sale. Gottschalks at the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, January 14, 2009. (Bart Ah You / The Modesto Bee) When Weinstocks was granted permission to open ahead of the planned Vintage Faire grand opening date, Gottschalks began feeling the spirit of competition and realized its Modesto store, too, would be ready to open ahead of the center, former Modesto Bee reporter Gerald Perry wrote in a February 1977 article. Gottschalks opened for business on Feb. 11, 1977, and Weinstocks opened the following day. At that point, Gottschalks was Californias largest independently owned department store operation. The Modesto store was the companys sixth outlet. Federated Department Stores took over Macys department store chain in 1994 and bought The Broadway Stores, parent company of Weinstocks, the following year. Thats when Gottschalks took over the former Weinstocks location at Vintage Faire. Meanwhile, Macys expanded to a second site in the mall, moving its mens and home furnishings departments to where Gottschalks previously was. Gottschalks remained in the old Weinstocks building which boasted a third-floor restaurant called The Grill on Third for 14 years. The Grill on Third, the restaurant on the third floor of Gottschalks in Vintage Faire Mall, featured in an August 2005 Modesto Bee publication. I could always find what I needed and the prices were good, Kim Weisser wrote in her response to The Modesto Bees callout. Clothing, shoes, housewares they had it all. Gottschalks adds second Modesto store Satisfying residents wishes for a department store on the east side of town, Gottschalks opened a second Modesto location in Century Center shopping plaza on Orangeburg Avenue at Oakdale Road on Oct. 1, 1984. It was the retailers eighth store overall. In their responses to The Bees callout seeking Modestos most-missed businesses, many readers cited the Century Center location as the one they missed the most. It was so nice to have a department store on the east side of the city, Joyce Starkey wrote in her response to the callout. An advertisement for the grand opening of Gottschalks in Modestos Century Center in The Modesto Bee on Oct. 1, 1984. Gottschalks wasnt the first department store on the east side or the first one to occupy that building. Grays department store was the original tenant of the 50,000-square-foot building, but it did not prove successful. Grays closed just months before Gottschalks moved in due to rising business costs, founder Ron Gray told The Modesto Bee then. The sales volume in Gottschalks first 12 months of business in Century Center was about 25% above what had been expected, Joe Levy, chairman and chief executive officer of Gottschalks, told The Bee in 1985. Asked about their feelings about the traffic increase Gottschalks brought to the plaza, Century Center owner Gaylon Patterson told The Bee in 1985 that happy is an understatement. Gottschalks Century Center location expanded in 1992 and 2001, adding a total of 40,000 feet. It was an anchor of Century Center for 25 years. Modesto Bee reader Sherri Fabbri said she enjoyed shopping at the Century Center location because it was close to her and had great choices in clothing and everything for the home. It was nice that it wasnt too big and all on one level, Fabbria wrote in her response to The Bees callout. Also, I got to know many of the sales ladies who were always so nice and helpful. Gottschalks at Century Center January 8, 2009. (Debbie Noda / The Modesto Bee) Financial struggles, bankruptcy lead to store closures Gottschalks operated 73 department stores and 13 specialty apparel outlets in six western states by 2002. The Modesto stores were two of the top-performing outlets in the chain. The Vintage Faire location ranked just ahead of the Century Center outlet in terms of sales, according to the archives of The Fresno Bee and The Modesto Bee. In 2002, Gottschalks posted a net loss of $12 million. Some stores were closed and the companys credit card business was sold. The company introduced new products to boost sales, and profits rebounded the next year to $1.9 million. In 2006, Gottschalks announced that it anticipated putting itself up for sale. At the time, the company said it was also considering partnerships, going private or revising its business plan. Gottschalks ended its search for a buyer after 13 months, then posted an annual loss of $12.4 million for 2007. The New York Stock Exchange removed Gottschalks in 2008 because of its low market value. Thats when the stock price fell below $1 per share for the first time since the chain went public in 1986. Gottschalks filed for bankruptcy in January 2009, and a group of liquidators wanting to sell the companys inventory in clearance sales purchased the assets at the end of March that year. When liquidators swoop in, such as at the Gottschalks at Century Center, it doesnt mean theres a great deal on every item. April 9, 2009. (Bart Ah You / The Modesto Bee) Liquidation sales began at all Gottschalks stores just days later and all stores were vacated by July 15. Thus, the legacy of Gottschalks department stores ended after 105 years. Forever 21 purchased the leases to 13 Gottschalks locations, including the Vintage Faire spot, which was sold for $243,384. There was no bid for the Century Center site. After seven years of being largely vacant aside from a Planet Fitness that occupied part of the 90,000-square-foot space, the former Gottschalks building turned into an MB2 Raceway indoor kart racing center in 2016. Its now home to Central Valley Pace, a program of all-inclusive care for the elderly, according to its website. (Gottschalks was) the only place I ever truly enjoyed shopping, Laurie Scott wrote in the callout. (BART AH YOU/bahyou@modbee.com) - Interior of the old Gottschalks store at the Century Center in Modesto, Wednesday afternoon. April 13, 2011 What do you want to know about life in Modesto? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@modbee.com. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has said her country is trying to protect itself from the risks of destabilisation from Russia, but there are still some vulnerabilities. Source: Sandu on 13 January in Romania after receiving an award in the city of Timisoara, as reported by European Pravda, citing Agerpres, Romania's national news agency Details: Sandu mentioned that Russia might try to destabilise the situation in the country this spring in the midst of the campaign for the presidential election. "We know that Russia will resume its actions this spring to try to destabilise the situation," the Moldovan president said. Sandu stressed that the Moldovan authorities are aware of these risks and are taking all measures to prevent these disruptive actions. "We are informing citizens about these risks, as we did last year when Russia intended to overthrow the government (during protests organised by pro-Russian forces ed.). We are seeking to protect ourselves from these risks together with citizens and state institutions, but we still have work to do; we still have vulnerabilities," Sandu added. The Moldovan presidential elections are scheduled for autumn 2024. Earlier, Sandu said it was essential to maintain support for Ukraine, as Russia might spread its aggression to other countries. Support UP or become our patron! Most of Wisconsin is under a wind chill advisory until noon Monday, with wind chills dropping to 20 or 34 degrees below zero. As the temperatures plunged Sunday, less than 10,000 We Energies customers were without power as of Sunday night. The good news is that power is expected to be restored to nearly all customers by the end of the day with the rest getting power by Monday morning, the utility said. On Sunday, Milwaukee will see a high of around 3 degrees, with wind chills between -15 and -25 degrees. Sunday night will bring a low of -9 degrees, with -15 and -25 degree wind chills. And on Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the high will be around 2 degrees and bring similar wind chills. Tuesday's high will also be in the single digits. Wind chills at this level can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, according to the National Weather Service, and you should limit your time outdoors. "Bodies generate a layer of heat, right along our skin," said Marcia Cronce, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "If the wind blows that warmth away from us, we feel cold. That's the concept of wind chill." Winds are expected to diminish on Wednesday, but breezy conditions will remain. The high will get out of the single digits and reach about 13 degrees. More: Bitter cold will engulf Wisconsin starting Saturday night. Near zero temperatures will remain through Tuesday. Dress in layers, have a winter weather kit in your car, keep pets safe What should you do to stay safe in this bitterly cold weather? Cronce suggested a few reminders. Dress in layers and cover exposed skin. Have a winter weather kit in your car with extra blankets, hats and mittens. And wear your coat, even if you're getting into your car in a warm garage. Don't forget your pets. Make sure they're in a warm and dry place with plenty of food and water. And be aware of the signs of frostbite and hypothermia. For frostbite, skin may turn white or grayish-yellow, and could feel unusually firm or waxy. Signs of hypothermia include shivering, exhaustion and confusion. Do you know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia? If you go outside in cold weather, bundle up, wear gloves, & a warm hat. Learn more: https://t.co/D3BroGfZjc#ReadyWI #wiwx pic.twitter.com/5v1MY6otHt ReadyWisconsin (@ReadyWisconsin) January 14, 2024 Most We Energies customers will have power by tonight, warming areas available As of Sunday at 11 p.m., We Energies reported 9,985 customers without power in Wisconsin, with 633 outages. The outage map is available here. The company says they are on track to restore 98% of customers by the end of Sunday. Slick roads and windy conditions are impacting technicians, We Energies said. If your power is out and temperatures are falling in your home, you can call 211 to find warming shelters in your area. In Milwaukee, those include: A warming shelter opened at 4 p.m. on Saturday at the Waukesha County Expo Center. About 27 residents were at the center by 7 a.m. on Sunday. Doors closed by 6 p.m. on Sunday. The center will not be open overnight and the remaining residents have been relocated. More: Waukesha opens Expo Center as warming facility. Customers scramble for generators, snow blowers. Not much snow overnight, very light snow possible Wednesday night and Thursday Any snow that fell overnight on Saturday was very light, and windy conditions made it impossible to measure. Snow totals from this week reached above 17 inches in some parts of Wisconsin. The NWS' snow totals map is available here. Apart from harsh wind chills, it's unlikely we'll get much more snow this week. There's a chance of snow showers or flurries Wednesday night through Thursday, but it would be "exceptionally light," Cronce said. Steam rises from Lake Michigan due to warm water temperatures Communities along Lake Michigan might see steam fog a phenomenon that results from cold air moving over warmer air rising up from the body of water. Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) show cloud-like formations on Lake Michigan, from Sheboygan down to Chicago. Sheboygan, Wisconsin Lake Michigan at 0 40 water evaporating gives the appearance of steam... People were surfing here 3 days ago! pic.twitter.com/H4BStX9pY2 Tatankadunk (@NojTatanka) January 14, 2024 Parts of I-43 have snow and ice, Milwaukee parking rules still in effect tonight Road conditions are good on most major highways in Wisconsin, though there are some slippery stretches around Sheboygan and Kohler. As of Sunday afternoon, the stretch of I-43 from the River Hills area through Knellsville is snow-covered, and ice-covered from Cedar Grove through Newton. There are also slippery stretches around the Kellogg's Corners and Sturtevant areas. On Saturday evening, the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works said they were working to address side streets overnight. "In addition to clearing streets, crews are also responding to emergency tree calls," the department said. "We can only prioritize imminent danger and risk to public safety calls at this time, such as a tree or unmovable limb blocking a street." Residents dealing with those issues can call 286-CITY for the quickest response, the department said. A snow emergency remains in effect until 6:00 a.m. Monday morning. No parking is allowed on main streets and alternate side parking is in effect on side streets after 10:00 p.m. tonight. Jessica Rodriguez contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 30,000 without power in Wisconsin as wind chill advisory issued Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. GENOA TWP. Organizations in Livingston County are giving residents a chance to make the most of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 15. From community service projects to a free presentation, there's plenty to explore. How to spend time giving back on MLK Day The Livingston Diversity Council, Howell Carnegie Library and Huron-Clinton Metroparks have coordinated several opportunities to volunteer or donate for this year's "MLK Day of Service." The library is creating a seed library and needs help packaging seeds from 1-4 p.m. in the Meabon Room at 314 W. Grand River Ave. in Howell. Registration is required and available online at howelllibrary.libcal.com/event/11773683. Information and links for other opportunities are provided at signup.com/go/pVJMofB: The Connection Youth Services is collecting "critically needed" items for youth in the organization's temporary housing program from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 616 W. Grand River Ave. in Howell. The organization will accept donations of six-packs of ramen, gas cards, microwavable meals and soups, and pre-packaged oatmeal. Love INC's resale store will host a volunteer day from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at 1225 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell. The store will close to customers so volunteers can help move items in, reset displays, clean, and organize donations. The Salvation Army of Livingston County will host a volunteer day with time slots from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. and 1-4 p.m. at 3600 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell. Volunteers will help move items from storage to trucks, package them, and clean the facility. LACASA will host a volunteer day at its resale boutique from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at 120 W. Highland Road, Suite 100, in Howell. Volunteers will help sort and organize merchandise, clean, and perform general retail tasks. Celebrating differences, examining bias in Cleary University presentation Each year, Cleary University hosts a free presentation open to the public in honor of Dr. King's legacy. This year, LaTasha Ellis, the school's director of public safety and corporate sector, will present Discussing Bias and Cross-Cultural Diversity." Ellis manages Cleary's Detroit Education Center and a degree program for members of the Detroit Police Department. Her presentation will be held at 12 p.m. Monday in Cleary Commons, Room 3, at 3750 Cleary Drive in Genoa Township. There's no need to register. Subscribe: Get all your breaking news and unlimited access to our local coverage "We're going to be talking about diversity and bias and what that looks like in the real world," Ellis told The Daily. "We talk about diversity, racism, and bias, but how do you apply it really? Everyone thinks, 'I'm not biased,' but everybody is, because a bias is just your norm and it's really not a negative word. It's just what's normal to you." She said the event will include audience participation, including "ice breaker" exercises. Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: How to make the most of MLK Day in Livingston County Bald cypress trees along the river in Pedernales Falls State Park show changing colors. Pedernales Falls State Park When Rodney Franklin first began working for Texas state parks 32 years ago, he wrote purchase orders with a typewriter. Now its done by email. Ive seen a lot of changes, Franklin said. As the director of state parks, he will now oversee what he calls the next golden age of Texas state parks an unprecedented $1 billion fund voters approved to add new parkland. Were about to open so many new parks for the state of Texas, he said, reflecting on the moment. Its really, really special and I just feel honored and blessed to be a part of it. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The money is set aside exclusively for the creation and improvement of Texas state parks, as opposed to other funds that have been for routine repairs or upkeep. Franklin said the plans are to use the funds to build new parks, separately from the six others that are already planned to open in the next decade. There are currently 89. Its unclear where exactly those new parks will be, Franklin said, or how many new parks the $1 billion can fund. But what is clear, he said, is that the money will be transformational and comes when the demand for outdoor spaces has never been higher. In decades past, a higher proportion of Texans lived on farms or in rural areas with easy access to nature and the outdoors. Now, most of the states population is concentrated in cities or suburbs. The state parks, they were nice, but they werent designed for 85 percent of the population, said Joseph Fitzsimons, former chairman of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The demand is huge, he said. We literally have to stop letting people in in a lot of state parks because theyre full. We need more. And thats what were going to do. This year was something of a perfect storm for those who support increased funding for state parks. In addition to 2023 being the 100th anniversary of Texas state parks, demand has risen for access to the parks as COVID-19 forced more people outdoors and the states population continues to rise. Lawmakers tapped funding from the states $30 billion budget surplus. And while Texas often sees heated political battles both between the two parties and within the GOP that dominates the Legislature, the parks proposal enjoyed widespread bipartisan support. Just three of the 31 senators voted against the $1 billion parks fund, and it passed with more than 120 votes in the 150-member House. The spending required a Constitutional amendment, so went before voters in the November election and was approved with 77 percent support. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In addition to being popular, economic research nationally suggests adding new state parks could be a good investment. One dollar invested in parkland generates between $4 and $12 per dollar in economic stimulus, said Joyce Beebe, a researcher at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. Beebe, who has studied the economic impact of Texas state parks, found that in 2020 the states 89 parks generated $32 billion for the state economy and supported more than 300,000 jobs. Beebe cautioned the new $1 billion parks investment should not be treated like a bonanza. I definitely think they need to be very careful about how they spend the money, Beebe said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The places that see the biggest economic boon from new state parks are rural areas, Beebe said her research has shown. The reason is that the parks often incentivize people to travel to rural areas they may not have otherwise and they bring with them money to spend at sporting goods stores, hotels, restaurants or other businesses. It is not that if you build it they will come, Beebe said, saying areas with impressive natural land will work best as new state parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department considers a variety of factors before committing to a new state park, Franklin said, including proximity to other parks and to population centers; road access; the uniqueness of the land and whether theres any endangered species. Also factored into the decisions are liability risks, such as unsafe structures, or the proximity to culturally significant sites such as Native American grave sites. After leaving TPWD more than 15 years ago, Fitzsimons founded the Texas Coalition for State Parks now comprised of more than 100 member organizations around the state that advocates for state parks and pushed for the fund. It was a long journey winning support for the $1 billion, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Im glad were here, Fitzsimons said, before adding with a laugh: When you say, did I ever think, I knew it would be a long road. Ive been at this for a long time, and its funny in politics: sometimes things have to become acute before people pay attention. And the leadership really paid attention. KSWB A Navy helicopter was pulled from San Diego Bay Saturday afternoon after a crash during a training exercise Thursday evening. All crew members involved survived and have since been released from the hospital. The MH-60R Sea Hawk Helicopter was pulled from San Diego Bay at noon Saturday after the Helicopter Maritime Strike squadron (HSM) 41 crashed into the water near the Naval Amphibious Base Coronado around 6:40 p.m. Thursday, Navy spokesperson Commander Beth Teach told FOX 5. Surviving crew will be crucial in Navy helicopter crash investigation: aviation expert The effort to salvage the helicopter lasted nearly 10 hours. The Navy Region Southwest, Naval Facilities Engineering Command and contracted support, along with a mobile diving and salvage company assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) THREE, worked to lift the helicopter from 15 feet of water Saturday morning. The crew was conducting day-into-night search and rescue training when the helicopter went into the water. All six crew members on board survived and have all been released from the hospital as of Friday night, Teach confirmed. No severe injuries were reported among the crew, which consisted of two pilots and four aircrew. After the helicopter was removed from the Bay, it was taken to the Naval Base Coronado by barge and offloaded onto the pier. The Navy previously told us the body of the aircraft remains intact, the rotor blade created minimal debris, and no fuel leaks were observed. All six crew members aboard Navy helicopter survive crash into San Diego Bay I am immensely proud of the teamwork and determination shown by our Sailors and civilians throughout the recovery, said Capt. Newt McKissick, commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado. Most importantly, I am grateful the crew is safe, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who swiftly and effectively accomplished this significant task. According to the Navy, the HSM-41 is a Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) that trains the Navys newest Naval Aviators and Naval Aircrewmen to fly and fight the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego. ABCs World News Tonight spotlighted a Delta Air Lines pilot and a surprise his family and passengers didnt see coming. Navy veteran Randy DeGroot spent years stationed around the country and deploying on missions overseas. Then, becoming a Delta pilot for more than three decades. All the while, his wife, Karin, was back home raising the family. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] This week, it was DeGroots final flight before retiring. He had his family right there with him on board. He asked his wife of more than 40 years to stand next to him as he spoke to his passengers at the Atlanta airport. This is my last flight. And Im honored and privileged to be with you all today, DeGroot said. Then he introduced them to his wife. Shes been my wingman throughout the whole time... and today I want to give her a set of wings because I am going to be your wingman, he said. TRENDING STORIES: DeGroot spoke with World News Tonights David Muir about the special moment. I just wanted to lift her up and say, I love you and appreciate you for all that you did. The DeGroots also introduced Muir to the newest co-pilot in their lives: 8-month-old granddaughter Nora. We now have a whole new life as a retired couple and new grandparents, Karin said. So we are loving every minute we can spend with her. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: SAN JOSE (Reuters) -Nicaragua said it expelled 19 clergymen to the Vatican on Sunday, including Catholic Bishop Rolando Alvarez, a prominent critic of President Daniel Ortega. Bishop Isidoro Mora, 15 priests and two seminarians who were detained in Nicaragua were also expelled. Nicaragua thanked Pope Francis and other Church members for "the very respectful and discreet coordination carried out to make possible the trip to the Vatican" for the clergymen, in a statement shared on local media outlet El 19. Alvarez, the bishop of Matagalpa, forcefully criticized the government's deadly response to mass protests in 2018, and was convicted of treason and sentenced to a 26-year prison term earlier this year. "Thank God he is gone, exiled but now free," a family member of one of the expelled clergy members said. Mora was arrested in December for saying at a mass that he was praying for Alvarez, sources said. The government has not issued any statements explaining any alleged crimes committed by the priests or reasons for their arrests but since the protests five years ago, Ortega has accused church leaders of seeking to overthrow his government. (Reporting by Ismael Lopez; Writing by Cassandra Garrison; Editing by Richard Chang and Diane Craft) FILE - Rolando Alvarez, bishop of Matagalpa, gives a press conference regarding the Roman Catholic Church's agreeing to act as "mediator and witness" in a national dialogue between members of civil society and the government in Managua, Nicaragua, May 3, 2018. Nicaragua's government released Alvarez, sentenced to 26 years in prison for conspiracy and other crimes, and sent him on a plane to the Vatican, according to the auxiliary bishop of Managua, Monsignor Silvio Baez, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File) MEXICO CITY (AP) Nicaragua's government released a prominent Catholic bishop and 18 other clergy members imprisoned in a crackdown by President Daniel Ortega and handed them over to Vatican authorities who welcomed them in Rome. Bishop Rolando Alvarez and the other clergy were jailed more than a year ago, in most cases, as part of a crackdown on the opposition and Catholic church by Ortega. He had accused them of supporting massive 2018 civic protests that he claimed were a plot to overthrow him. The government said in a press statement the releases on Sunday were part of negotiations with the Vatican aimed at making possible their trip to the Vatican. In the past, imprisoned priests have been quickly flown to Rome. Vatican News, the Vatican's in-house media operation, said the group arrived in Rome on Sunday afternoon and were welcomed as guests of the Holy See. Ortega's government said those released also included Bishop Isidoro Mora. Ortega sent 222 prisoners to the United States in February in a deal brokered by the U.S. government and later stripped those prisoners of their citizenship. Bishop Alvarez has remained in prison for more than a year after being convicted of conspiracy and receiving a 26-year prison sentence. One of the countrys most outspoken clergy members, had refused to get on the February flight to the United States without being able to consult with other bishops. In October, Nicaragua released a dozen Catholic priests jailed on a variety of charges and sent them to Rome following an agreement with the Vatican. Since repressing popular protests in 2018 that called for his resignation, Ortegas government has systematically silenced opposing voices and zeroed in on the church, including seizing the prestigious Jesuit-run University of Central America in August. Nicaraguas Congress, dominated by Ortegas Sandinista National Liberation Front, has ordered the closure of more than 3,000 nongovernmental organizations, including Mother Teresas charity. Texas Department of Public Safety officers guard an entrance to Shelby Park on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott signed an emergency declaration allowing state troopers to take over the park, located on the banks of the Rio Grande, without permission from the city of Eagle Pass, according to its Mayor Rolando Salinas. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News WASHINGTON Three migrants a woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass on Friday night after Texas National Guard soldiers blocked Border Patrol agents from reaching them, federal officials alleged. State officials had seized a 2-mile stretch of the border earlier in the week, an unprecedented state takeover that the Justice Department says prevents Border Patrol agents from reaching even migrants in need of emergency assistance. The Homeland Security Department, which includes the Border Patrol, said in a statement Saturday that agents trying to respond to a distress call were physically barred from the area by Texas officials. A top Border Patrol official said in a sworn statement Monday that the three migrants had already drowned when federal agents received a distress call from Mexico, countering the initial claims that the woman and two children had drowned after state soldiers blocked federal agents from reaching them. Still, the statement said that Texas soldiers blocked Border Patrol officers from getting to two other migrants who were struggling in the river Friday night. Those migrants were rescued by a Mexican airboat and were suffering from hypothermia. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Tragically, a woman and two children drowned in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was commandeered by the State of Texas earlier this week, the statement said. The Texas governors policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texass blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks. The State of Texas should stop interfering with the U.S. Border Patrols enforcement of U.S. law. The Texas Military Department said in a statement that soldiers alerted by Border Patrol agents actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles and did not find any migrants. The agency said soldiers saw a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river and reported it back to the Border Patrol, which confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not need additional assistance. At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period, the statement said. Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the U.S. side of the border regarding this situation. Gov. Greg Abbotts office directed questions to the military department. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Laredo, the top Democrat on a House subcommittee overseeing funding for the Homeland Security Department, said the Border Patrol had learned of a group of six migrants in distress as they were trying to cross the Rio Grande near the area. Agents attempted to contact Texas National Guard and Department of Public Safety officials to alert them by phone, but were unable to reach them. The Border Patrol then alerted soldiers at the entrance of a public park that the state had fenced off and prevented federal authorities from entering. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is a tragedy and the state bears responsibility, Cuellar said in a statement. The drownings come as Abbotts takeover of the border stretch has escalated an ongoing dispute between state and federal officials, who have been fighting a Texas lawsuit aimed at stopping the Border Patrol from cutting state-owned razor wire in the area. The Justice Department is urging the Supreme Court to step in after a lower court barred agents from cutting the wire, except to render emergency aid to migrants. The agency filed an emergency petition Friday asking the high court to force Texas to allow the Border Patrol access to the area in Eagle Pass. The Justice Department argued in court filings last week that the state was now preventing the Border Patrol from reaching a key staging area under an international bridge and blocking agents from using a boat ramp in the public park the only one for miles along the Rio Grande. Because of that, the state was effectively preventing agents from even reaching migrants in the emergencies that the lower court ruling allowed for, the department contended. Without any ability to view the border or the migrants who may be crossing the river or to be near the concertina wire along the river to render emergency aid that exception is largely meaningless for this stretch of the border, the filing said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Texas disputed the departments claims in court filings late Friday night. The state filing alleged that a Border Patrol officer previously told state officials that the agency would not be back to the park unless the Texas National Guard requested assistance, which led to the state takeover. The filing said the state was working to ensure that the Border Patrol has access to the boat ramp in the park to address the concerns raised in the Justice Department filing, namely, surveillance, patrol, and humanitarian rescue. Texas officials support any and all efforts to protect human life, and to actually enforce federal laws, the filing said. At a campaign event Friday in Deer Park, Abbott bragged about evicting Border Patrol agents from the area. We said, Weve had it, he told about 200 people, condemning what he has called lax immigration enforcement by the Biden administration. Were not going to let this happen anymore. Advertisement Article continues below this ad *This story was updated to include a sworn statement from a Border Patrol official released late Monday. Whether the skies are sunny, snowy or icy, Dan Straughans goal is clear when temperatures plummet. Its super basic: Nobody dies, said the Homeless Alliance executive director. No person experiencing homelessness in Oklahoma City has died from hypothermia in the last decade, and that's because the emergency system has been able to respond. And that's the goal for this winter, too. In Oklahoma City, temperatures dropped into the teens with wind chills near or below zero Jan. 13 behind an arctic cold front that sent wind chill values plunging to between -5 and -20 degrees F. Temperatures remained below freezing in OKC for more than four days. Holly Foxtch warms up by the fire near the Homeless Alliance day shelter on Jan .13 in Oklahoma City. High temperatures are predicted to stay below freezing for most of this weekend, with freezing rain possible Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service, causing more need for shelters. "It's scary. My health's not real good and being 63 and from Florida originally, I don't like cold. I can't handle it. It's been very, very rough and painful and I just, you know, try to hang on one day, one hour at a time. It comes down to sometimes less than that, but it's definitely scary," said David Overholser, who's been utilizing the Homeless Alliance's day and night shelters to try and avoid the elements. "There's people just wrapping up in blankets seeking any kind of shelter, trying to get downwind on the leeward side of a building or in a car, but it's very dangerous because when you sleep, your respiratory goes down and that's when hypothermia sets in. God forbid, but unfortunately it happens." For Oklahoma City organizations working with people experiencing homelessness, frigid conditions mean again activating the cold weather emergency measures that they ramp up during winter weather. There is no reason for anyone in Oklahoma City to be on the streets this weekend, said Wendy Elliott, vice president of development for City Rescue Mission. Oklahoma City is really lucky that there are several shelters here that we have the experience to be like, OK, we roll up our sleeves and just jump in there.'" A look at where the winter weather emergency shelters are in Oklahoma City. Where are the winter weather emergency shelters in OKC? Several OKC emergency shelters offer additional capacity when the temperatures drop below freezing: The Homeless Alliance Winter Shelter, 1601 NW 4, has up to 300 beds. City Rescue Missions emergency shelter, 800 W California, has accommodations for up to 25 men, 25 women and family spaces as needed until capacity is reached. The Salvation Army, 1001 N Pennsylvania, is offering 50 additional beds for women and families. City Cares shelter, 532 N Villa, is supplying 10 extra beds for adults. Sisu Youth Services overnight shelter, 2129 NW 30, has five extra beds for people ages 15 to 22. Pivots overnight shelter, 201 NE 50, has four additional beds for people ages 16 to 24. Amerie Harris, Amiaa Tezeno, Alani Harris and their dog Dutchess wait with their mother on Jan. 13 at the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City. Just get here: Shelters open doors wide during extreme cold The City Rescue Missions shelter hours are typically 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., but during severe cold, people can stay extended hours and remain indoors, with meals provided. They can also use EMBARK transportation services or City Cares M.O.E. (Mobile Outreach and Engagement) shuttle to travel to the Homeless Alliances day shelter. We're not going to be pushing people out into the cold weather like, Oh, we gotta follow the rules and its 6 a.m., Elliott said. The City Rescue Mission shelter housed 85 men, 30 women and seven families over last weekend's arctic cold snap. The nonprofit organization is expecting another big crowd seeking shelter this weekend as more potentially life-threatening conditions are predicted, particularly with the possibility of icy weather. Were not sending people away. We're not turning a family away, We have our chapel; we have our gym. We know where we can place people, and then, it is truly a collaboration among all the shelters," Elliott said. Holly Foxtch warms up by the fire on Jan. 13 near the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City. "We're seeing both ends of the spectrum of vulnerability: We're seeing our children, and we're seeing our elderly." Although the local shelters serve different populations and vary in capacity, Elliott said the focus during extreme cold weather is just getting people indoors. Just get here. If you can get here, if you can get to City Care, if you can get to these places, guess what, we'll take it from there. Well take the weight off of you, we'll do the legwork, and we'll figure out where you need to go and who can take care of you, Elliott said. We really hope that no ones in their cars or in tents thinking that they can ride this out, because we've seen firsthand what can happen. People can lose limbs from frostbite; people get burned by fires. Shane Young lays on a mat on Jan. 13 at the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City. OKCs new permanent winter shelter sees big crowds amid arctic temperatures Last November, the Homeless Alliance opened OKCs first permanent overnight winter shelter just two blocks from its day shelter. The 300-bed shelter, which takes pets, is open seven nights a week through the end of March. Last weekends arctic cold snap was the first extreme weather event for OKC since the shelter opened, but Straughan said that hasnt stopped it from consistently operating near capacity. For the month of December and December was mild for an Oklahoma winter we were averaging 279 a night, he told The Oklahoman. So, from my perspective, Oklahoma City has needed a permanent winter shelter for some time. Samuel Harrison sits in the Homeless Alliance day shelter on Jan. 13 in Oklahoma City. With the last cold snap, the overnight winter shelter housed more than 300 people a night, serving a total of nearly 1,500 people through the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday weekend. The Homeless Alliance's day shelter hosted more than 330 people a day during that time frame, including 500-plus people on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, as below-freezing temperatures caused festivities like OKC's annual MLK Jr. Day parade to be postponed. "It keeps me alive. I mean, you know, the shelter, the food, the clothing, medicine, everything just keeps me alive. Where I'm not capable of taking care of myself, the Homeless Alliance pretty much takes care of me and I'm very grateful," Overholser said. Skittles waits in a kennel on Jan. 13 at the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City. Last January, there were more than 1,400 people experiencing homelessness in OKC on the night of the annual Point in Time count. So, it's really obvious that we still need that overflow collaboration with other shelters. The 300-bed shelter is just the lowest possible barrier to entry. So, we don't care if you're in active mental illness, we don't care if you're high when you come in, we want you safe, warm and dry inside, Straughan said. But what that means is it is not an appropriate place for families with children and thats 20% of our homeless population. So, if a family with kids shows up at our winter shelter, then we arrange transportation to get them to either City Rescue or Salvation Army. Fear and misconceptions keep some people from coming in out of the cold Community street outreach teams typically spend the days leading up to cold snaps visiting people experiencing homelessness to alert them to the forecasted temperature drops and provide them with information on winter shelters. Alani Harris waits for a bus to the night shelter with her sisters and mother on Jan. 13 at the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City. The emergency response to homelessness, which is the shelter system, is a band-aid solution for a major-surgery problem, Straughan said. The answer to homelessness in Oklahoma City in any big city is more affordable and accessible housing for people with lower incomes. But that's not something that can be created overnight, or even in 11 months, which is how long it took us to build the winter shelter. Fear and misconceptions often make people who are unhoused reluctant to come to shelters. I've heard everything from, Oh, they make people go to church or they're not allowed to go there and, no, that's not correct to They dont accept people that are LGBTQ and nope, thats also not correct. We accept everyone, Elliott said. Parents are always scared of Are our children going to be taken away from us because we came in? No, not for coming into a shelter. She said one silver lining to winter weather emergencies is that they often get people who wouldnt come in otherwise through the doors so that organizations can begin forming relationships with them and hopefully, help them on a path that leads out of homelessness. Paramedics transport a patient from the Homeless Alliance day shelter in Oklahoma City on Jan. 13. We'll give them a spot to sleep, we'll get some food in their bellies, but we'll also just love on them and just let them know people care, she said. Overholser said those who are struggling or afraid need to take the first step and come into the shelters to see the services that are available because while asking for help is a hard first step, it opens doors to a lot of possibilities and options. "They can't cover everybody if they don't come forward and ask for it, so just don't be scared. Ask for help," he said. "They come through. You have to be patient because there's so many people that need help, but they come through." How to help At this time of year, Oklahoma City organizations working with people experiencing homelessness typically need donations of cold weather clothing, coats, hats, gloves, underwear, socks and hygiene items, and many are seeking volunteers. To make the biggest difference with their giving, people are encouraged to make monetary donations or check an organizations online wish list. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC groups working with people in homelessness ramp up for arctic cold This article was originally published in NC Newsline. Fifteen school districts, charter schools and tribal schools will share nearly $27 million in federal dollars to purchase 114 electric buses as part of the EPAs Clean School Bus Grant Program, Gov. Roy Cooper announced Tuesday. Cooper said in a statement that electric buses help protect children from harmful diesel fumes, cut carbon emissions, save money on bus maintenance and repairs, and create good jobs. This investment is good for our students, schools, economy and planet and I appreciate the Biden Administration for investing in our communities across North Carolina, Cooper said. Support The 74's year-end campaign. Make a tax-exempt donation now. The state was awarded 31 buses under the Clean School Bus Program in 2022. Coopers administration funded 43 electric buses in 2022 through a settlement with Volkswagen. North Carolina received $92 million as part of a nationwide multi-billion-dollar penalty assessed by the EPA on the car company, which violated the Clean Air Act by cheating on millions of emissions tests. North Carolina has added 188 electric buses within the past two years. The majority of the new buses will be sent to low-income, rural and/or tribal communities that serve more than 300,000 students in 13 counties. Durham Public Schools will receive 38 buses, which is the largest share of the 114. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will receive 27, Cherokee Central schools 15 and Kannapolis City Schools eight. Five buses have been awarded to two Durham charter schools Maureen Joy Charter School will receive four, and Reaching All Minds Academy was awarded one bus. NC Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. NC Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Rob Schofield for questions: info@ncnewsline.com. Follow NC Newsline on Facebook and Twitter. An undated image released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency in December 2023 shows the test launch of a Hwasongpho-18 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea - KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images North Korea is suspected of launching a new solid-fuel missile that could hit US bases as it prepares to send its top diplomat to Russia. Pyongyang fired an apparent intermediate-range missile into the sea, according to its neighbours South Korea and Japan. The missile launched on Sunday afternoon flew about 600 miles off North Koreas east coast, South Koreas military said. It flew at a maximum altitude of at least 30 miles, Japans defence ministry said, adding that the launch was a violation of United Nations resolutions. It was North Koreas first known missile test this year after a record year of tests in 2023. Pyongyang has escalated its warlike rhetoric in recent weeks, declaring US ally South Korea its principal enemy and threatening to annihilate it if provoked. At the same time, North Korea is getting closer to Moscow. North Koreas state news agency announced on Sunday that Choe Son Hui, the foreign minister, will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday. Her visit is at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, KCNA said. Sergei Lavrov met with Choe Son Hui in Pyongyang in October 2023, and are due to meet again in Russia this week - AFP via Getty Images The US has said it has evidence that Russia has used ballistic missiles from North Korea in its war on Ukraine. It has described Moscows firing of the missiles as abhorrent, while Seoul says Ukraine is a test site for North Koreas nuclear-capable missiles. North Korea and Russia have vowed to deepen military relations but denied conducting arms deals. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor of international studies at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, said the timing of Sundays missile launch was significant. This launch is more than just a test as it comes immediately after the Kim regime escalated warlike rhetoric toward South Korea and just before North Koreas foreign minister travels to Russia, he said. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the US and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East. In December North Korea said it had tested its newest intercontinental ballistic missile which is designed to hit the continental US. In November, it said it had successfully tested solid-fuel engines designed for intermediate-range missiles, most likely designed to hit US bases in Japan and Guam. 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. A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the sea on Sunday, its neighbors said, in its first missile launch this year, as the North is expected to further raise regional animosities in an election year for its rivals South Korea and the United States. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Koreas military said, two months after the North claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant U.S. targets in the region. The launch was the Norths first this year. Experts say North Korea could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from the Norths capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Koreas military will maintain its readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea. The South Korean assessment suggests North Korea could have launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose solid-fuel engine the North said it had tested in mid-November. The missile is mainly designed to hit U.S. military bases in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which is about 3,400 kilometers (2,110 miles) from Pyongyang, the Norths capital. With a range adjustment, the missile can also be used to attack closer targets the U.S. military installations in Japans Okinawa island, according to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile is powered by liquid-fuel engines. Japans Defense Ministry said its analysis showed the missile traveled at least 500 kilometers (300 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles), data that suggest North Korea may have fired a short-range and not an intermediate-range missile. Japan and South Korea said they closely exchanged information about the launch with the United States, but they didnt immediately explain the discrepancy in data. In a trilateral call later Sunday, senior diplomats from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan condemned the North Korean launch and stressed that a North Korean provocation would lead to the three countries strengthening their security cooperation, according to South Koreas Foreign Ministry. The last time North Korea performed a missile launch was Dec. 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the countrys only known solid-fuel ICBM and its designed to strike the mainland U.S. On Jan. 5, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999, and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes ahead of an election year in South Korea and the U.S. Last week, leader Kim Jong Un called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win the election in a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a hard line on the North. They say Kim also wants former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again because he may believe he could win U.S. concessions if Trump returns to the White House. Kim has been pushing hard to enlarge his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with Trump broke down in 2019. In recent months, North Korea has also been expanding its military and other cooperation with Russia. The U.S. government said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russias war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. North Korea and Russia announced Sunday that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the U.S. and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. ___ Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. Editors note: This story was updated at 1:10 p.m. EST with additional information. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile into the sea on Sunday, South Koreas military said, two months after the North claimed to have tested engines for a new harder-to-detect missile capable of striking distant U.S. targets in the region. The launch was the Norths first this year. Experts say North Korea could ramp up its provocative missile tests as a way to influence the results of South Koreas parliamentary elections in April and the U.S. presidential election in November. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that it detected the launch of a ballistic missile of an intermediate-range class from the Norths capital region on Sunday afternoon. It said the missile flew about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) before landing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The Joint Chiefs of Staff called the launch a provocation that poses a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula. It said South Koreas military will maintain its readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocations by North Korea. The South Korean assessment suggests North Korea could have launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile, whose solid-fuel engine it said it had tested in mid-November. The missile is mainly designed to hit U.S. military bases in the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, which is about 3,400 kilometers (2,110 miles) from Pyongyang, the Norths capital. With a range adjustment, the missile can also be used to attack closer targets the U.S. military installations in Japans Okinawa island, according to Chang Young-keun, a missile expert at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy in Seoul. Built-in solid propellants make missile launches harder to detect than liquid-fueled missiles, which must be fueled before launch and cannot last long. North Korea has a growing arsenal of solid-fuel short-range missiles targeting South Korea, but its existing Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile is powered by liquid-fuel engines. Japans Defense Ministry said its analysis showed the missile traveled at least 500 kilometers (300 miles) at the maximum altitude of 50 kilometers (30 miles), data that suggest North Korea may have fired a short-range and not an intermediate-range missile. Japan and South Korea said they closely exchanged information about the launch with the United States, but they didnt immediately explain the discrepancy in data. In a trilateral call later Sunday, senior diplomats from South Korea, the U.S. and Japan condemned the North Korean launch and stressed that a North Korean provocation would lead to the three countries strengthening their security cooperation, according to South Koreas Foreign Ministry. The last time North Korea performed a missile launch that was publicly announced was Dec. 18, when it test-fired its Hwasong-18 solid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile, the Norths most advanced weapon. The Hwasong-18 is the countrys only known solid-fuel ICBM and its designed to strike the mainland U.S. On Jan. 5, North Korea fired a barrage of artillery shells near the disputed western sea boundary with South Korea, prompting South Korea to conduct similar firing exercises in the same area. South Korea accused North Korea of continuing similar artillery barrage in the area for the next two days. The site is where the navies of the two Koreas have fought three bloody sea battles since 1999, and attacks blamed on North Korea killed 50 South Koreans in 2010. In recent days, North Korea has also been escalating its warlike, inflammatory rhetoric against its foes ahead of an election year in South Korea and the U.S. Leader Kim Jong Un, during visits last week to munitions factories, called South Korea our principal enemy and threatened to annihilate it if provoked. Experts say Kim likely wants to see South Korean liberals win the election in a blow to conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has taken a hard line on the North. They say Kim also wants former U.S. President Donald Trump to be elected again because he may believe he could win U.S. concessions if Trump returns to the White House. Kim has been pushing hard to enlarge his nuclear and missile arsenals since his high-stakes diplomacy with Trump broke down in 2019. In recent months, North Korea has also been expanding its military and other cooperation with Russia. The U.S. government said it has evidence that missiles provided by North Korea to Russia had been used in the war in Ukraine. In a joint statement last week, the U.S., South Korea and their partners said the missile transfer supports Russias war of aggression and provides North Korea with valuable technical and military insights. North Korea and Russia announced Sunday that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Pyongyangs show of force should be of concern beyond Seoul, as its military cooperation with Moscow adds to the violence in Ukraine, and because it may be more willing to challenge the U.S. and its allies while global attention is fixed on the Middle East, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo contributed to this report. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile Sunday designed to hit US bases in Asia for its first such launch of 2024, amid a pledge by leader Kim Jong Un to boost the countrys nuclear-strike capabilities. Most Read from Bloomberg The missile was fired from an area near Pyongyang toward waters off the east coast and traveled about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters. The countrys military is working closely with its US and Japanese counterparts to analyze the details, the JCS said. An intermediate-range ballistic missile is built to fly far enough to hit all of Japan, where the US has positioned tens of thousands of troops, and US military facilities in Guam, where the Pentagon says it keeps one of Americas largest munitions depots in the world. North Korea said it fired off an intermediate-range solid-fuel ballistic missile loaded with a hypersonic maneuverable controlled warhead, the official Korean Central News Agency reported Monday. State media also released an image of the launch, while there has been no indication on whether Kim was on hand to see the test. The firing comes after Kim presided over a policy-setting meeting of his ruling party at the end of December where he vowed to expand North Koreas nuclear weapons arsenal. The countrys rubber-stamp parliament is due to convene from Monday to endorse the leaders policies. By testing a ballistic missile, Kim can demonstrate to his top cadres and the North Korean people that the countrys nuclear arsenal is making great strides in being able to attack the US, reinforcing the message in propaganda that its expansion is essential to prevent an invasion from American forces. Read: North Korea Fires ICBM as It Criticizes US-S.Korea Nuclear Talks North Koreas last successful test was on Dec. 18, when it fired an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to strike the US mainland. The missile flew on a lofted trajectory and splashed down west of Japans main northern island of Hokkaido. The latest launch adds to the pressure Kim has put on the government of conservative South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, which includes conducting live fire drills near a nautical boundary that has been the scene of deadly confrontations. Kim also said North Korea should no longer make the mistake of considering Seoul a partner for reunification. South Koreas spy agency said in a rare public statement in late December that it expects North Korea to launch military and cyber provocations as Kims regime aims to attract attention before South Koreas parliamentary elections. Yoons People Power Party is seeking to wrestle a majority in the body in April from the progressive bloc led by the Democratic Party. North Korea has a habit of conducting provocations to coincide with voting, as it rails against conservative politicians like Yoon who take a tough stance on Pyongyang. North Korea has called Yoon a puppet traitor and threatened to turn the Pacific Ocean into a firing range in response to greater military cooperation between the US, South Korea and Japan. Sundays missile launch came just ahead of an announcement by North Korea that it will send Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on a trip to Russia from Monday to Wednesday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov traveled to Pyongyang in October in his first such trip in about five years. His visit was thought to possibly facilitate one by President Vladimir Putin after he accepted an invitation from Kim to make the journey to the isolated Asian state when the two met for a summit in Russia in September. The Lavrov trip was part of a series of high-profile meetings between the neighbors that started in July 2023 when Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang for an anniversary marking the end of Korean War fighting in 1953. The US and South Korea have for months accused Kim of providing arms and ammunition to aid Putins war in Ukraine, including sending shells and ballistic missiles. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied the charges. Read: Why Putin Forged New Ties With Iran and North Korea: QuickTake North Korea could be looking to step up its military cooperation with Russia even further by sending Moscow new types of tactical guided missiles, South Koreas defense minister said in an interview with Yonhap News last week, adding Pyongyang may soon conduct fresh tests of its own missiles designed to deliver nuclear strikes. The weapons suspected of being sent to Russia can aid the Kremlin in its bombardment of Ukraine, while sales could provide North Korea with a new stream of revenue for an economy isolated from much of world trade. Kim has ignored US calls to return to long-stalled nuclear disarmament talks through which Pyongyang could secure economic aid in exchange for disarmament. Meanwhile, he has been busy modernizing his arsenal of missiles and conducting tests of systems to attack South Korea and Japan, which host the bulk of US military personnel in the region. Pyongyang fired 30 ballistic missiles and three space rockets in 2023. They included five intercontinental ballistic missiles that could hit the US mainland. Kims regime launched more than 70 ballistic missiles in 2022, a record for the state. --With assistance from Noriko Tsutsumi and Shinhye Kang. (Updates with North Korean statement in paragraph four.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday. Source: Chinese news agency CGTN, citing North Korea's state-run media, as reported by European Pravda Details: "The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia from January 15 to 17," the news agency reported. The visit will take place at the invitation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and amid reports that Russia has begun using missiles received from the DPRK in the war against Ukraine. Background: On 11 January, Andrii Kostin, Ukraine's Prosecutor General, reported that early assessments confirmed that Russia had used missiles from North Korea during one of the recent attacks on Ukraine. On Thursday, 11 January, the US State Department imposed sanctions on three Russian companies and one individual involved in transferring and testing North Korean ballistic missiles. In October, the White House announced that the regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un had provided 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia. South Korea's military intelligence estimated that the DPRK had provided Russia with over a million artillery shells for use in the war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! The government and the ruling party agreed Sunday to extend an electricity rate freeze for 3.65 million households in vulnerable groups, a party spokesperson said. The decision was reached during a meeting of senior officials of the government, the presidential office and the People Power Party (PPP) at the National Assembly, where they discussed measures to support the people's livelihoods ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which this year falls on Feb. 10, according to Rep. Park Jeong-ha, the PPP's chief spokesperson. Other agreed measures include the reduction of interest payment on loans from nonbank financial institutions for small business owners and self-employed people. Around 400,000 people are expected to be eligible for the reduction of up to 1.5 million won ($1,140) starting in late March. Also included are a higher cap on monthly purchases of "Onnuri" coupons, which are used to pay for goods at traditional markets and small shops at a discounted price. The current cap is 1 million won but will be raised to 1.5 million won. The total amount of Onnuri coupons will also be increased from 4 trillion won to 5 trillion won. In addition, expressway tolls will be waived during the Lunar New Year holiday period from Feb. 9 to 12, while KTX and SRT train tickets will be offered at a discount of up to 30 percent for people traveling from the provinces to the capital area. (Yonhap) North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui will visit Russia on Jan. 15-17, Chinese news agency CGTN reported, citing North Korea's state media. According to the report, she was invited by her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The purpose of the visit wasn't announced but it may be related to the weapon supply cooperation between Moscow and North Korea. Russia used North Korean missiles during one of its most recent mass strikes against Ukrainian cities, General Prosecutor Andrii Kostin said on Jan. 11. On the same day, Washington sanctioned three Russian companies and one individual involved in providing and testing ballistic missiles from North Korea. In October, the White House reported that Pyongyang supplied 1,000 containers of military equipment and ammunition to Russia. South Korea's intelligence apparatus estimated that North Korea already provided more than a million artillery shells to Russia for use in Ukraine. Read also: Estonian PM: Our taxpayers shouldnt pay for damages caused by Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Walmart Walmart According to a 2023 YouGov poll , January is Americans least favorite month. Its easy to see why. We no longer have the holidays to look forward to (and the days off that come with it), and, in many parts of the country, its really freakin cold. At a full 31 days long, the month seems to last forever too. This time of year, we could use a collective morale boost. The iconic smiley face design (you know the one: simple black eyes and mouth on a yellow background) has a long history of boosting morale. According to Smithsonian magazine, It was designed by late commercial artist Harvey Ross Ball in 1963 to cheer up employees working at an insurance. Then, in the 70s, two brothers who owned a Hallmark store started using the image, adding the slogan Have a happy day to it. The smiley face is still ubiquitous today. If you could use your own winter morale boost, gift yourself one of these joy-inducing items that we found at Walmart. Not only will it cheer you up, it will make everyone who sees it smile too. HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. 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Its hard to have a case of the Mondays seeing this face next to your computer. $13 at Walmart Smiley watch Walmart Smiley watch Time to smile jokes aside, this watch adds a cheery touch to any outfit. $19.99 at Walmart Smiley makeup bag Walmart Smiley makeup bag If youre pulling out your makeup, theres a good chance youre about to go somewhere fun which is definitely something to smile about. This bag is small enough to stash in a backpack or tote, so you can bring it anywhere you need to go. $11.99 at Walmart Smiley nature tee Walmart Smiley nature tee If nature is your happy place, this tee has your name on it. Its unisex and sizes range from small to 3XL. $13.99 at Walmart Smiley spatula Walmart Smiley spatula If youre using this spatula to flip some pancakes, youre already having a pretty good day. Or, use it to cook up some eggs sunny side up! $12.99 at Walmart The National Transportation Safety Board said it would send a team to Melbourne to investigate a pair of fatal crashes involving Brightline trains that happened at the same crossing within three days. The NTSB said on social media it would work with Melbourne police on a safety investigation. The crashes occurred on WH Jackson Street just off U.S. 1 in Melbourne, resulting in three deaths. Two people were killed Friday when a southbound high-speed train collided with a pickup. Lisa Ann Batchelder, 52, of Melbourne, was driving the truck, while Michael Anthony Degasperi, 54, also of Melbourne, was a passenger. NTSB, in coordination with the Melbourne Police Department , is sending a team to conduct a safety investigation into yesterdays fatal grade crossing crash involving a Chevrolet Avalanche and a Brightline train in Melbourne, Florida. NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) January 13, 2024 On Wednesday, a northbound Brightline train crashed into an SUV, killing the driver, Charles Phillips, 62, of Melbourne. Three other people were injured, including a 9-year-old child from Palm Bay. Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said Friday police told him the driver in the most recent deadly crash was seen going around the railroad gates as they were closing. Melbourne police said they were investigating eyewitnesses. Brightline has been maligned by deaths of pedestrians who were struck by the trains since the high-speed rail service started in 2018 going between Palm Beach and Miami. On the first day of extended service to Orlando in September, a pedestrian was killed after being struck by a Brightline train. Since the passenger trains began running through Brevard County, there have been four fatal crashes involving Brightline trains along the populous U.S. 1 corridor. The other two were pedestrian deaths: 60-year-old Lisa Marie Molnar, of Melbourne, died on October 19; and 36-year-old Katherine Stimus, 36, of Melbourne, died on December 24. Both were struck near the same area near Aurora Road and Cypress Avenue, about 3 miles north of the site of last week's crashes. Is the Brightline train safe? The train blares a horn when approaching intersections or cutting through heavily populated areas, and gate arms come down to block traffic from crossing the tracks. Alfrey said he and other city officials are working with Brightline to implement safety measures. The tracks are privately owned, with two railway arms blocking access on either side. "I need to stress to people, you have to follow traffic laws, including around trains ... this is about personal responsibility; you can't be dumb," Alfrey said. How many people have been killed by Brightline trains? A TCPalm analysis of federal data found Brightline trains killed more people per mile in the U.S. last year and more people in Florida since its founding in 2017 than any other railroad company. At least 97 people were killed by Brightline trains in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties through July 30, 2023, according to Federal Railroad Administration records updated October 5. According to The Associated Press, five people have been killed since service extended to Orlando on September 22. How fast does Brightline go? Brightline trains have a top speed of 130 mph, making them the fastest in Florida history, the company said. Brightline has said trains will travel up to 110 mph between Cocoa and West Palm Beach and 125 mph between Orlando and Cocoa. The company also has said trains would go 70-80 mph through downtowns. TCPalm measured train speeds and clocked Brightline trains going between 23 and 82 mph at various points from Hobe Sound and Stuart north to Vero Beach and Sebastian. What happens next? NTSB spokeswoman Sarah Taylor Sulick told The Associated Press would be on the site in Melbourne for several days, starting Saturday. She told AP a preliminary report would be ready within 30 days with a full report released in 12 to 14 months. Florida Today reporters J.D. Gallop and Tyler Vazquez and TCPalm reporter Lindsey Leake contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Brightline train accident: NTSB to investigate Melbourne FL deaths Stacks of files lined the Pardon and Parole Board office in Oklahoma City in March 2021. Trisha Fox was optimistic when her husband, Richard Fox, appeared on the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board docket in early September. The 63-year-old prisoner, incarcerated since 1980 on a first-degree murder conviction in Caddo County, had not received a misconduct violation since 1995. Letters of support poured in from family, friends and prison ministry volunteers assuring board members he would have stable housing and employment if granted parole. He never meant to kill anybody, but he also never denied doing it, Trisha Fox said, adding that her husband was 19 at the time of the crime. Hes just someone who deserves a second chance. In a 4-1 decision that took a few minutes, the board denied Richard Foxs application. Trisha Fox said her husband would have progressed through the parole process if board members had more time to consider his case and the opportunity to interview him in person. Its really easy to say no to a piece of paper or a computer, she said. As Oklahoma's prison population grows, its parole rate has dropped Oklahomas parole rate has plummeted over the past three years, an Oklahoma Watch analysis of docket results found. Prisoners convicted of violent offenses must progress through a two-stage process with gubernatorial approval required. The board has the authority to release nonviolent offenders to the street. In 2021, 36% of prisoners who appeared before the board received a favorable recommendation. That percentage dropped to 24% in 2023, with 323 fewer nonviolent prisoners granted parole compared to 2021. At least three of five board members must vote favorably for parole to be granted or recommended to the governor in violent cases. The decline correlates with a recent uptick in Oklahomas prison population. A Bureau of Justice Statistics report released last month found the states prison population rose 2.3% from late 2021 to 2022. The trend isnt unique to Oklahoma. An October analysis from the Prison Policy Initiative, a Massachusetts-based think tank that advocates for criminal justice reform, found that parole rates declined in all but six states from 2019 to 2022. The analysis concluded that political pressures and attitudes often influence board decisions. The makeup of Oklahomas parole board has shifted considerably over the past two years. Noting that his beliefs on capital punishment differed from Gov. Kevin Stitt, former board chairman Adam Luck resigned in January 2022. Luck, the chief executive officer of an Oklahoma City nonprofit that supports people facing poverty and homelessness, faced criticism from some district attorneys over his propensity to recommend clemency for death row prisoners. Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state. It is time that we do better, Grady County District Attorney Jason Hicks said during a March 2021 news conference held weeks after commutation recipient Lawrence Paul Anderson murdered three people in Chickasha. We dont want these people on our street. Kelly Doyle, a trained social worker and leader of a Tulsa-based nonprofit, resigned unexpectedly from the parole board in March 2022. Similar to Luck, district attorneys criticized Doyle over a perceived leniency in recommending clemency for death row inmates and parole for prisoners convicted of violent offenses. What challenges does the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board face? Of the boards five current members, four have a background as a district attorney, judge or police officer. The longest-tenured member is Richard Konieczny, a retired Episcopalian priest and police officer whom Gov. Stitt appointed to replace Luck in January 2022. Sue Hinton, a retired English professor at Oklahoma City Community College, became interested in criminal justice reform when she started teaching classes at state prisons in the 1980s. After retirement, she began attending Pardon and Parole Board meetings, compiling unofficial data on the boards decisions. She said the board is much more likely to consider early release if a prisoner personally appears before the parole board. But because the board functions in a part-time capacity and Oklahomas prison population has soared since the body was formed in 1944, thats not feasible in most cases. Depression is the prevailing state of mind, Hinton said of parole applicants. Theyre not gang members, not troublemakers, and have a heart of good citizenship, but they dont feel like theres a reward. Hinton said board members face extraordinary outside pressure and are often predisposed to reject an application if they do not have enough information. Making the board full time could allow members more time to review cases, she said. Oklahoma parole board members are classified as part-time state employees and expected to work about 10 hours per week. Parole board members in neighboring Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and Arkansas are classified as full-time state employees. In Texas, whose state prison population is about five times greater than Oklahoma, board members earn an average salary of well over $100,000. Richard Fox wont be eligible to reapply for parole until September 2026. Trisha Fox said shes hopeful a proposed overhaul of the states criminal sentencing code will take effect and make her husband eligible for early release before then, but in that scenario his fate would again rest with the parole board. When you listen to them and how fast they go, its just no, no, no, on to the next one, she said. Its like they already made up their mind when they got there. Pardon and Parole Board guidelines advise members to consider the nature of a parole applicants crime, criminal history, participation in prison programs and misconduct history. District attorneys are also allowed to oppose or protest a parole application ahead of a board hearing. Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board granting parole to fewer prisoners PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A man who died after a stabbing in Old Town on Friday has been identified as authorities continue the search for any suspects, the Portland Police Bureau announced Saturday. The man was identified as 32-year-old Deante Dean Watts of Portland, PPB said. The medical examiner determined his death was a homicide, officials said, noting no arrests have been made. Part of Portland church collapses, 2 people missing after 3-alarm fire Just after 8 a.m. Friday, officers responded to a report of a man who appeared to be suffering from stab wounds on Northwest Naito Parkway near Northwest Everett Street. When officers arrived, they found the man, later identified as Watts, and other private security officers who were first on scene to apply trauma first aid. Watts was taken to the hospital, but died from his injuries, officials said According to police, any possible suspects left the scene before police were called. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and urge anyone with information on the case to contact Portland police. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Delivery service is the kind of gig work that has become common in recent years. It offers flexibility, but at what cost? (Lynne Sladky / Associated Press) I'm 32, and I havent worked a "real" (full-time) job since I was 23 and finished my two-year commitment with Teach for America. Since 2013, Ive piecemealed together part-time jobs that include private tutor, substitute teacher, fitness instructor, story time program leader and freelance writer. For my generation, this trajectory isnt unusual: 45% of all freelancers are millennials, and almost half of all working millennials are freelancing. Now, with a resume that reads like a 2010s economists cautionary tale, Im colliding with the problems of part-time employment as a norm. In 2013, after two years teaching seventh-grade writing, I decided to apply for masters programs and took on my first part-time gigs as a tutor and substitute teacher. At the time I didnt see myself as underemployed a dreaded condition that parents, economists and journalists cautioned against (and which then applied to almost 20% of millennials). I did take the LSAT and consider following my moms footsteps to law school. But, in line with many of my peers seeking fulfilling work , I ultimately chose to pursue my dream of being a writer. I was still on one of my parents health insurance thanks to Obamacare, I had saved money while living at home during my time with Teach for America, and I knew I could keep working part-time while in school full-time to get my masters degree in creative writing. Read more: Column: Two Uber drivers read the fine print and won millions for California gig workers At this point, I began teaching fitness classes in addition to tutoring. Gigging still felt normal and innocuous. I wasnt even deterred when I got my first IRS notification that I owed the government more taxes, unaware of the costs of being self-employed. I bemoaned my quarterly payment to the IRS, but I readjusted for it. I even felt responsible when I made my first very small, tax-deductible IRA contribution (which I could only afford because I still lived at home). At 24, not having paid leave, a 401k or the stability that comes with a salary felt normal, especially among most of my friends who were also in graduate school. But a year later, I became a primary caretaker. Giggings perks of flexibility and control became necessities when my mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer. Working multiple part-time jobs was the only way I could care for her, stay in school and earn money. I helped her with daily tasks at home, managed her treatment schedule and attended every doctors appointment, chemo treatment, scan and procedure. That was only possible because I made my own schedule. I could teach a Pure Barre class at 5 or 6 a.m. (sometimes both), take my mom to chemo for her eight-hour infusion at 8 a.m., tutor in the afternoons and complete my coursework in the evenings. During this period I married my husband, so I moved onto his health insurance before I turned 26, making use of the benefits he received with his full-time job at a big company because I still had none. Not long after, I got pregnant. To maintain some income, I resumed tutoring just weeks after my daughter was born, but at that point postpartum I still couldnt exercise, let alone teach a fitness class. So my two part-time jobs winnowed to one. Read more: I'm one of millions struggling to care for aging parents. It shouldn't be this hard Simultaneously, my moms health rapidly declined. I was sandwiched between taking care of a baby, being present for my mom and working with my students trapped between the broken caregiving options in the U.S. Even after my mom died, and my focus shifted to my baby, it was hard to balance child care and work, especially without a grandparent regularly around to help mitigate the cost of a babysitter or fill in when one canceled. Once my daughter started preschool, that complicated our schedules with sick days , early-afternoon dismissal times, school holidays and summer break. If my 20s were proof of our country's unsustainable workforce model and child-care and elder-care crises, the pandemic showed how quickly those issues could upend lives. In March 2020, my daughters preschool closed, and I gave birth to my son. Like too many millennial women , I was forced to leave the workforce entirely to take care of them. It took more than two years before I could manage another part-time job as a freelance writer. By then, I was too grateful for a gig to complain about the hollow foundation underpinning my work: the inconsistency, low and slow pay, instability and lack of benefits. Instead I continued to freelance, and Ive occasionally returned to tutoring. I also found a part-time job working as the story time lady at my local bookstore, where I at least knew Id get a regular paycheck, albeit a small one, every other Friday. Read more: Op-Ed: Kids keep getting sick, overwhelming parents once again. Will the U.S. offer us any help? Financially, I need the higher, regular pay and benefits that come with a salaried, full-time job. But its hard to find a good job, and if I get one, I don't know how Ill balance it with my responsibilities as a mom of young children in a country in which women like me often function as the social security net the caretakers of the sick, the primary parents of the children. Even though I love my life, I wish I wasn't working multiple part-time jobs. I wish our home life didnt depend on my having the flexibility to deal with both small and urgent needs all the time. Last year, 64 million people (4 million more than the year before) worked freelance in the gig economy. When 38% of our workforce is in this situation and contributing more than $1.27 trillion in annual earnings to the economy the country has a responsibility to make that work more sustainable. Our peer countries have done that by widely providing workers support, such as family caregiving leave , parental leave (including guaranteed paid maternity leave), pension credits for caregivers, sick leave and paid vacation; some are offering or considering income protections for self-employed workers . On Tuesday, the Department of Labor issued a rule that companies have to treat some workers as employees, not independent contractors, based on new criteria meant to ensure people are being properly compensated. While that is a step forward, its not enough (and its likely to face lawsuits). Our country needs much bigger changes to make participating in the gig economy a viable, long-term choice instead of the all-consuming sinkhole Im not sure Ill ever escape. Sarah Hunter Simanson is a Memphis-based freelance writer who received her MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and is working on her first novel. @sarahsimanson If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An earlier version of SpaceTED, seen here, was installed on the International Space Station in 2018 but was damaged accidentally by an astronaut before it could transmit meaningful data. A new iteration of OSU's radiation detector was installed in November. The persistence of a pair of Oklahoma State University scientists to ensure the successful installation of a working radiator detector on the International Space Station paid off last month. Eric Benton, a professor in the Department of Physics within OSUs College of Arts and Sciences, and doctoral student Tristen Lee learned then that the detector they designed and built now is transmitting information back to Earth. The successful installation came after accidents foiled two previous attempts. This is the biggest thing Ive done in my life so far, said Lee, who enrolled in Oklahoma State Universitys physics department in 2019 specifically to conduct research with Benton. The work itself was gratifying, but to see the launch go successfully, it was like a big weight lifted off my shoulders. And then to see the first round of data come back and realize Im going to get a Ph.D. out of this? Yeah, it was a feeling of relief and then satisfaction. The detector is known as SpaceTED, which stands for Space Tissue Equivalent Dosimeter, and its design was funded by NASA through a federal grant known as an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) award. What does the SpaceTED do aboard the International Space Station? About the size of a childs shoebox, SpaceTED is designed to mimic the response of human tissue to ionizing radiation. Every couple of weeks, Lee and Benton receive new data from the detector. This allows for more accurate measurements of radiation doses that could be delivered to the human body than from, say, a Geiger counter, Lee said. Its essentially two columns of numbers, with each row in those columns representing the amount of energy deposited by ionizing radiation in the detector. We had 38 hours of data in the first batch, which was about 1,700 files. OSU physics professor Eric Benton and Ph.D. student Tristen Lee received news in November that their radiation detector SpaceTED was successfully installed on the International Space Station. Well put the data through various conversion routines, and it will give us whats called the absorbed dose. This is a quantity used to measure the amount of radiation a person receives whether its from X-rays at the dentist or space travel. Closer to home, the research conducted by Benton and Lee could help others who fly frequently at high altitudes and receive higher doses of radiation than people on the ground. As of now, regulating acceptable radiation exposure for frequent flyers is based on estimates and computer models. But the computer models have not been validated very well with actual measurements, Benton said. The work that NASA is sponsoring is largely in support of getting those measurements. A long history between OSU and NASA OSU physicists have a long history of working on space- and radiation-related projects. In 2005, researcher Steve McKeever helped create a device to help astronauts floating in space visually detect radiation, a project that took flight during that years mission of the space shuttle Discovery. Benton has worked on projects funded by NASA grants since 2007, and earlier prototypes of SpaceTED and other radiation detectors line his office. He said the first radiation detector meant to be used at the International Space Station was destroyed when a delivery truck was involved in an accident and burned. In 2018, another detector made it to space, but an astronaut accidentally kicked it and damaged the devices SD card drive, rendering it inoperable. OSU physics professor Eric Benton holds up two iterations of his and Ph.D. student Tristen Lee's tissue equivalent proportional counter, a key component of their radiation detector SpaceTED. Lee drove the current model to Houston himself. The detector now is installed in the Japanese Experiment Module aboard the space station. Fortunately, they gave us a second chance, Benton said. The first thing I did after receiving the news that the detector was kicked was write this huge list of lessons learned and all the things Id do differently. I handed it to Tristen and said, OK, build a better one. And he did. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU physicists' radiation detector aboard International Space Station Pennsylvania State Police at Rockview are asking the public for assistance in finding a missing Centre County teenager. Skylaa Rayne Figard, 17, of Port Matilda, was last seen at the Taco Bell located at 310 Travelers Road in East Freedom, Blair County, at about 2 p.m. Saturday. She possibly entered and left in a silver sedan of unknown make or model, police wrote in a Sunday news release. At this time, police do not believe she is in danger. Figard is about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 200 pounds. She has a nose piercing and is believed to be wearing a necklace with a double heart pendant. Her last known clothing description is unknown. Anyone with information about Figards whereabouts is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police at Rockview at 814-355-7545. Financial authorities in Korea will not review the necessity of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the spot price of bitcoin after the United States' authorization of such ETFs, a senior official said Sunday. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved trading of ETFs tied to the spot price of bitcoin last week, in a landmark decision for the cryptocurrency investment. The official at financial authorities said, "The direction has been arranged to see the trend without reviewing a brokerage of the U.S. bitcoin spot ETFs or the launch of the local bitcoin spot ETFs." In a statement last Friday, Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) said trading of ETFs tied to bitcoin could be illegal here. In an official response to the U.S. decision on bitcoin ETFs, Bank of Korea Gov. Rhee Chang-yong told reporters last week that bitcoin became a risky investment asset. (Yonhap) One day after the U.S. and U.K. launched retaliatory strikes against Houthi militant locations in Yemen, President Biden said the U.S. is prepared to take action again if the Iran-backed rebels continue to attack ships in the Red Sea. We will make sure that we respond to the Houthis if they continue with this outrageous behavior along with our allies, Biden told reporters traveling with him in Pennsylvania on Friday. The strikes, which were carried out with support from various allies following several warnings from the U.S., were in response to the Houthis repeated attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, which are causing major disruptions to global maritime trade. They struck more than 60 targets in more than a dozen locations in Yemen. A British aircraft takes off to join the U.S.-led coalition to conduct air strikes against military targets in Yemen. (UK MOD/Handout via Reuters) I think the hope was there would be other ways to deter Houthi attacks on Red Sea targets, Mona Yacoubian, vice president of the Middle East and North Africa Center at the U.S. Institute of Peace, told Yahoo News. It was the significant barrage of missiles and drones on January 9 that finally gave the U.S. from its perspective no option but to respond directly by attacking Houthi targets in Yemen. Yacoubian spoke to Yahoo News about what these strikes mean for rising tensions in the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. (Some answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.) What was the objective of the U.S. and U.K. strikes? Yacoubian: The objective is deterrence, and to put an end to the Houthi strikes on targets in the Red Sea. Whether or not that objective is achieved is a whole other question. Why are the Houthis in Yemen attacking various ships in the Red Sea? Yacoubian: The Houthis are claiming that the strikes are part of their opposition to Israel and the U.S., with respect to the conflict in Gaza. The Houthi reaction in the Red Sea comes as part of the reverberations of the conflict in Gaza, where the Houthis really have sought an opportunity to exploit that conflict, to insert themselves and put themselves on the international stage. What is the significance of the Red Sea in all of this? Red Sea location Yacoubian: The Red Sea is a critical byway to keep the international economy functioning, and functioning well. As a result of these Houthi attacks, we've seen shipping companies now opt to avoid the Red Sea and use a much longer route that takes them around the horn of Africa. This is creating significant disruptions for customers and is adding to the cost of shipping. Do you think the U.S. and U.K. strikes will lead to an escalation of a wider war in the Middle East? Yacoubian: I believe we are in the throes of a much broader region-wide conflict that has directly drawn in the United States. The Houthis are now vowing revenge on Americans. Honestly, [the Houthis are] in a position where they can sort of control a bit of the pace of escalation. They simply need to say, Hey, we're here, still standing and undertake additional strikes. This will once again put the United States in the difficult position of having to then escalate its own military intervention as a way of seeking to deter Houthi military action. And before you know it, I think we're off on a whole new escalatory cycle that very much encumbers the United States. What is Irans role in all of this? Yacoubian: Iran has been providing support to a variety of proxies in the region for years. Hezbollah is perhaps the most developed relationship. Some would refer to Hezbollah as the crown jewel of Iran's proxies. The Houthis, by contrast, are a newer relationship, but one that's proving, I think as we are seeing, to be rather potent. Its clear that the Iranians, according to [Biden] administration sources, have been providing support to the Houthis for the strikes that theyve been undertaking in the Red Sea. In some ways, to date, Iran has benefited from a degree of plausible deniability by having proxies, like the Houthis, to undertake strikes against the U.S. and other targets, by creating conundrums and problems for the United States, but not drawing a direct U.S. response on Iran, which I think would be cataclysmic for the region. Then we would be in a region-wide war and in a very dangerous place. (President Biden was asked by the press traveling with him in Pennsylvania on Friday if the U.S. is in a proxy war with Iran. No, he responded. Iran does not want a war with us.) What happens now? Yacoubian: Were at a very dangerous moment in the Middle East. Unfortunately, I think the kind of rising tensions at this flashpoint in the Red Sea have now tipped the region into the broader conflict that many fear could happen. I think the big question at this point is going to be how to move from a situation of escalating tensions and violence, to one in which the United States can restore deterrence and deescalate very, very dangerous tensions before others end up joining the fight. Northern Kentucky law enforcement agencies are investigating a pedestrian death after he was struck by a semitractor-trailer on Interstate 75, according Sgt. Charles Duncan with the Kenton County Police Department. The semi was getting on the interstate from a weigh station, according to Duncan. At the same time, a pedestrian was walking along the fog line in the right lane. The pedestrian, 35-year-old Ronreaco Williams, was reportedly struck by the semi. He may not have even realized his position, Duncan said of Williams. In fact, the driver thought he hit a deer. Even when we got there, the driver still had thought he had hit a deer. Williams was believed to have been wearing all dark clothing while walking. Kenton County officers, Independence officers and Boone County deputies were dispatched to the area for a report of a pedestrian crash just before 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning, WLWT reported. Police told outlets the semi pulled off an exit before calling 911. The driver was identified as Gary Jones, 57, of Willowick, Ohio. Duncan reported Jones was cooperative with the investigation. This accident comes five days after another fatal pedestrian accident on the interstate just miles away from Sundays crash, according to the Boone County Sheriffs Office. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) The 33rd butter sculpture of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, which was named Table for All: Pennsylvania Dairy Connects Communities, has been deconstructed, and a local farm will be taking the butter and creating renewable energy out of it. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now WHTM Severe Weather Alerts The deconstruction of the sculpture took place on Sunday morning at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center Dairy farmer Brett Reinford of Reinford Farms, located in Juniata County, took the butter to his farm. Reinford Farms has two methane digesters. The butter, along with thousands of pounds of food waste from nearby retailers, is broken down in the digester to create renewable energy. York Co. Coroner identifies death in early morning fatal crash Its the perfect example of a sustainable and cyclical operation, said Brett Reinford. Our digesters provide an ideal solution for our farm and retailers to turn waste into energy. In one year, the farm diverts around 50,000 tons of food waste from landfills, turning it into a resource while also reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The Shapiro Administration is pleased to join American Dairy Association North East and the Pennsylvania Dairy Promotion Program in introducing hundreds of thousands of PA Farm Show visitors to Pennsylvania dairy farmers like the Reinford family, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. The Reinford family is a vivid example of PA dairy farmers who are not just working hard to feed our families, but are feeding our futures by the way they do business. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Pentagon gave an update on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austins health on Saturday in the wake of controversy surrounding his recent hospitalization. Secretary Austin remains hospitalized at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is in good condition, reads a statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. Hes in contact with his senior staff and has full access to required secure communications capabilities and continues to monitor DODs day-to-day operations worldwide. The statement also said the Pentagon does not have a specific date for Secretary Austins release from the hospital at this time but will continue to provide daily updates until then. Austin was admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on the first day of the month because of complications including nausea with severe abdominal, hip, and leg pain, from an earlier hospital procedure to fight prostate cancer in December that he kept secret from the White House. He also kept the later hospital visit secret for days. President Biden on Friday said that Austin had shown a lapse in judgment for not letting him know about his hospitalization. However, he also said he still has confidence in his Defense secretary. Republican members of the Senate Armed Service Committee sent a letter to Austin Wednesday demanding that the Pentagon give a detailed timeline of events concerning the Defense secretarys incapacitation and hospitalization. We are deeply troubled by the apparent breakdown in communications between your office and the rest of the Department of Defense, the White House, and Congress over the past two weeks, they wrote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. PepsiCo has banned references to the war in its advertising strategy in Ukraine. Source: global coalition of civil society organisations B4Ukraine Details: The search for a new PR agency in Ukraine in the autumn of 2023 set requirements that prohibited references to the war in PepsiCo's advertising activities, including: mentioning war, hostilities, aggression, military personnel, the Ukrainian Armed Forces; supporting Ukraine or the Ukrainian Armed Forces; negative connotations, creating a sense of "danger". At the same time, PepsiCo is still operating in the Russian market and paying taxes. The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) reported that PepsiCo paid US$115 million in taxes to the Russian coffers. The company also has 20,000 employees and 40,000 agricultural workers in Russia. Even though the company has formally stopped selling its main product, Pepsi Cola, it is still available on Russian shelves through what is known as "parallel imports". Background: On 21 September 2023, wreckage from a downed Russian missile hit the territory of PepsiCo's plant and warehouse in the town of Vyshneve (Kyiv Oblast). The warehouse was partially destroyed. Earlier, NACP added the US companies PepsiCo and Mars to the list of international sponsors of the war. Support UP or become our patron! A Philadelphia mother and her boyfriend are facing charges in connection to the death of her child, who was reported missing by a family member late last month, reports said. Authorities started to look into the disappearance of 4-year-old Damari Carter after receiving a report on Saturday, Dec. 30. The child was last seen in West Philadelphia. Damari Carter, 4, was reported missing by his family last month. Investigators discovered that he was allegedly murdered. (6ABC/Youtube/Screenshot) His mother, 28-year-old Dominique Bailey, claimed that he was hit by a car, telling relatives that he passed away, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Family members started to dig for information related to his death but couldnt find concrete evidence in the news or hospitals. Thats when they were able to get in touch with a reporter who notified authorities about the situation. Investigators decided to interview Bailey and learned the initial story was bogus. She allegedly admitted that her boyfriend played a role in her childs death, the outlet reported. NBC Philadelphia reported that officials took her boyfriend, 30-year-old Kevin Spencer, into custody after carrying out a search at their home. They were both charged with murder, endangering the welfare of a child, false reports, and abuse of a corpse. In addition, Spencer was also charged with criminal conspiracy and tampering with evidence. Bailey and her child moved to the city from the South last year. Following a dispute with her father, she left and stayed with Spencer. The two connected on social media, according to the Inquirer. City Police Staff Inspector Ernest Ransom told People that a neighbor apparently overheard Carter screaming during a beating on Dec. 7 and considered the last trace of the child. Security cameras captured Spencer the following day as he exited the apartment with a trash bag. When speaking to investigators, Bailey noted when her boyfriend beat her son the final time, Carters eyes were severely bruised, and his head was swollen, the outlet reported. Spencer is accused of discarding the body in the garbage. The two have not revealed the location of the body to investigators. Despite their thorough search, looking through alleyways and dumpsters, authorities have yet to recover it, per the Inquirer. Aiyana Parrish, the childs cousin who reached out to the reporter, described Carter as a sweet boy who was always smiling, laughing, dancing around, People reported. The childs father, Darryle Carter, explained that he and Bailey were in a long-term relationship for six years before they parted ways and she moved to Philly, local news reported. The former couple met in Texas, where he currently resides. According to the report, Darryle, who never met Spencer, tried to call his child for his birthday on Nov. 25, but he had no luck, and he said it hurt my heart. Now, he is faced with the obstacle of not being able to afford to fly to Philly. Now this hit me, and I dont have any money to take a flight and hurry my way to Philadelphia, Darryle said to NBC. I just couldnt do it. Philadelphia Mother and Her Boyfriend Arrested for Murder After She Claimed Missing 4-Year-Old Was Hit By Car PINE BLUFF, Ark. Officers with the Pine Bluff Police Department are investigating the shooting death of a 16-year-old that happened Friday night. According to officials, officers responded to reports of gunshots in the area of 25th and Georgia and found a traffic accident. Officers said they found a male with gunshot wounds lying in the street near a vehicle he had reportedly been driving. Police said that the mans vehicle had run partially off the road. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene and was determined to be 16-years-old. The shooting is still being investigated and there is no suspect information available. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the PBPD at 870-541-5300. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Quite a few high-profile careers in higher education have been upended as of late amid questions of academic integrity. Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who had served as president of Stanford University for seven years, stepped down in 2023 after it was determined that he had co-authored several academic papers that contained manipulated data. The latest casualty is Claudine Gay, who resigned her presidency at Harvard after questions arose about her scholarship, in addition to her response to antisemitism on campus following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel by Hamas. In the following Q&A, Roger J. Kreuz, a psychology professor who is working on a manuscript about the history and psychology of plagiarism, explains the nature and prevalence of plagiarism and the challenges associated with detecting it in the age of AI. What exactly is plagiarism? Plagiarism is the use of someone elses ideas without providing them with appropriate credit or compensation. This could be a melody, a design or some other creative work. Plagiarism isnt a legal concept, but those seeking compensation can sue the plagiarist for copyright infringement. In higher education, plagiarism typically refers to the appropriation of words written by someone else. However, the same term is used to refer to a wide variety of behaviors. Plagiarism can be the inadequate citation of a source, paraphrasing without providing a reference, the wholesale copying of someone elses work or anything in between. And what if a student submits the same paper in two different courses? Some instructors consider this to be unethical self-plagiarism, whereas others do not. The concept is so broad that reasonable people can disagree about what constitutes plagiarism. How pervasive is plagiarism in higher education? Faculty members have greatly differing perceptions about whether plagiarism is a widespread problem. For example, instructors who teach large numbers of students from other countries, where there are different cultural perceptions regarding plagiarism, may encounter this issue more frequently. The lack of a consistent definition for plagiarism means that different studies have arrived at different estimates of its pervasiveness. A 2019 study of university students in Australia found that 64% had engaged in some form of plagiarism at least once. These researchers found that this number has remained stable for a decade and was down a bit from 82% in 2004. The actual rate of plagiarism may even be higher than this, however, because people tend to underreport problematic behaviors in surveys. The decline in plagiarism over time may be due to the widespread adoption of plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin, PlagScan, and iThenticate. One study found that when students are given access to such tools, they are less likely to plagiarize. In another study, however, students were warned that their work would be checked, and this had no effect on the rates of plagiarism. Do faculty face different standards than students? Professors suspected of plagiarism may be given the benefit of the doubt by their institutions or afforded the opportunity to make corrections to their published work. University administrators assume that faculty members know what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, but that they were just a little sloppy with their citations or use of quotation marks. Students, on the other hand, are governed by fairly strict university policies regarding academic conduct. Harvard, for example, warns that students may be forced to withdraw from the college if they plagiarize. Work written by students is more likely to be scrutinized and run through plagiarism detection tools than faculty theses or book chapters. Not surprisingly, many students see this as a double standard. Concerns about plagiarism in theses written by politicians and university scholars have even led to student protests in several countries. How is plagiarism typically punished? Students can receive a failing grade or be expelled if theyre caught. These consequences are typically spelled out in the schools academic policies. At most institutions, however, instructors have a great deal of latitude in how they choose to deal with such cases. Some faculty may be reluctant to accuse a student of plagiarism outright, or they may be willing to give a particularly remorseful student a chance to revise their work. An underappreciated aspect of academic plagiarism is that it can take an instructor a great deal of time to verify their suspicions. Plagiarism detection tools dont always provide a clear answer as to whether plagiarism has occurred. Instead, they provide a score that must be interpreted. For a long document like a thesis or dissertation, it can take several hours to weed out all of the false positives that such tools typically generate. Is AI making plagiarism more difficult or easier to stop? Ironically, while AI has made plagiarism easier than ever, it has also made it easier to detect. Students can now use chatbots like ChatGPT to generate some or all of their text, and nearly 90% of students over the age of 18 in one survey admitted to doing so. But this is really more like ghostwriting than traditional plagiarism, since there is no original source the language is being generated on the fly by the bot. But chatbots confabulate or hallucinate and this can make their errors easy to spot. And plagiarism detection tools like Turnitin and iThenticate can make so-called copy-and-paste plagiarism easier to detect. Some students use programs called text spinners to create paraphrases of plagiarized text so that it wont be detected by services like Turnitin. There seems to be an arms race between efforts to conceal plagiarized text and the methods that detection tools employ to identify it. This article has been updated to reflect that a review found Tessier-Lavigne co-authored several papers that contained manipulated data but found no evidence that he directed or knew about the manipulation in question. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Roger J. Kreuz, University of Memphis Read more: Roger J. Kreuz does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) Plan your trip accordingly and be prepared for difficult driving conditions, the California Highway Patrol advises. On Saturday, the CHP issued a warning to drivers traveling near and around Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake due to heavy snowfall. Snow chain-control checkpoints are planned for those areas and drivers will need to have properly fitting chains in good working condition. Officers advise motorists to plan their trip based on their ability to drive in the snow to keep themselves and others safe. They even go as far as to suggest delaying travel to the snow if need be. Additionally, they are sharing that the Sno-Parks in the area are covered with snowfall and are virtually impossible to use at the present time. Caltrans is also in the area working to keep the roadways driveable, so travelers are asked to keep an eye out for their equipment. The Department of Transportation offers these instructions on how to install snow chains by showing the proper placement of traction devices for all vehicles. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com. North Korea has sent a government delegation to the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Uganda, state media said Sunday. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a delegation headed by Kim Son-kyong, vice foreign minister for international organizations, departed Pyongyang on Saturday to attend the summit scheduled for Jan. 15-20. The NAM is a forum of 120 countries not aligned with any major power bloc, and North Korea has been an active member since the days of its founding leader Kim Il-sung. While in Uganda, the delegation will also attend the Third South Summit, the top decision-making forum of the Group of 77 developing nations, according to the KCNA. The meeting will be held Jan. 21-23. North Korea's attendance at the series of summits is seen as a fulfillment of leader Kim Jong-un's new year instructions to strengthen relations with anti-United States forces. (Yonhap) Police say two vehicles were stolen in Central Everett Saturday morning. One of those vehicles was a white Everett Parks Department Ford Bronco with Washing license plate 14218D. A white box truck with Washington license plate C16796E was also stolen. Officials say the stolen vehicles will likely be together. If you see one or both of these vehicles, please call 911, said a spokesperson. Police have also included a photo of the suspect. Justin Hain, an officer with the Steelton Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania, has been charged with rape (Steelton Borough Police) A Pennsylvania police officer allegedly told his sexual assault victim that he hadnt intentionally raped her. Justin Hain, a 38-year-old officer who has been with the Steelton Borough Police for less than two months, faces several charges of rape in connection with the incident on 10 January. Pennsylvania State Troopers wrote in an affidavit obtained by WHTM that they responded to a home on Lykens Borough after a woman called authorities. She said that she had just stepped out of the shower and was carrying her small child when Hain, whom she knew beforehand, approached her with a weird grin. The victim told troopers that she asked Mr Hain not to touch her, but he forcibly removed her towel and pinned her down to a couch that was in the room. The woman recounted the moments of horror she lived as she tried to hit the suspect while he allegedly raped her and pushed her head into a corner of the couch. Following the assault, Mr Hain reportedly left for work and the victim went to a friends house before calling law enforcement. She also confronted Mr Hain during a phone call recorded by investigators and asked him why he had raped her despite her pleas for him to stop. Mr Hain allegedly answered: I knew you were not into it. Its probably one of my deplorables, one of my things, Mr Hain said, according to the affidavit for his arrest. Im deeply sorry ... I didnt intentionally rape you. Justin Hain, an officer with the Steelton Borough Police Department in Pennsylvania, has been charged with rape (WTHM/Steelton Borough Police Department) Mr Hain faces charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, rape by forcible compulsion, two counts of sexual assault and two misdemeanour counts of indecent assault with forcible compulsion and one count of indecent assault without consent. He is being held at Dauphin County Prison and his bail has been set at $50,000 ahead of a court appearance on Wednesday. Mr Hain was sworn in as a patrol officer in late November, according to a press release on the Steelton Borough Police Departments website. He has been suspended from his duties and was ordered to not contact the victim, Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said. In any field, there are going to be people who commit grievous offences, Mr Chardo told WTHM. When that occurs, we need to take action very, very quickly to ensure that theyre not continuing to carry a gun and carry a badge and potentially abuse their power. An Ohio family says a case of mistaken identity led to police raiding their home, sending a 17-month-old toddler to an intensive care unit. When I got to the top of the steps I noticed it was police and then the next thing I know, the door bust open, the windows are busting out around us. I have multiple guns pointed at me and I just freeze in fear, I see my baby getting covered in smoke. I was screaming my baby, my baby, hes on a ventilator, my baby is in here, Courtney Price said in a Facebook post. She was recalling a raid by Elyria police on Jan. 10. Surveillance video shared by WOIO shows dozens of officers converging on the home, then throwing a flashbang that deployed smoke. Price was at the home alone with her son, WOIO reported. The resident of the home, Reida Jennings, was at work when she saw Ring doorbell video of what was happening, according to WJW. As they are banging on the door, they throw the flashbang through the window and it goes over top of here and hits the baby. The baby is covered in glass, Jennings told the news outlet. Police said in a Facebook post that two flashbangs were deployed outside of the home. They said the devices produce sound and light that is noticeable in day or night conditions and are intended to distract the suspects attention. They denied that one was thrown through a window, WOIO reported. The family said the toddler, Waylon, has medical complications and was on a ventilator. He needed (six) more liters of oxygen, his belly was retracting so hard and his vent settings needed turned up, the Facebook post said. Price said the smoke burned Waylons eyes, body and lungs and that he was put in an ICU. Hes already a special-needs baby. Hes a trach baby, Price told WJW. He was on his ventilator, they let the baby lay there for about 35 to 45 minutes in the smoke. Police said flashbangs do not contain any pepper gas or chemical agents. Any allegation suggesting the child was exposed to chemical agents, lack of medical attention or negligence is not true, police said. Police said paramedics on the scene did not find any visible injuries on the child. The childs mother informed detectives that she intended on taking the child to the hospital due to the childs pre-existing illness unrelated to the tactical operation; however, she lacked an available car seat for transportation, police said. Police said they called an ambulance, and the child was taken to a hospital. McClatchy News reached out to the Elyria Police Department for more information but did not immediately hear back. Jennings said she believes the warrant was meant for a teen who previously lived at the residence before they moved in. She said the police have been to her home five times in the past year looking for the person, The Chronicle-Telegram reported. The address of the home was listed on the warrant, police said, and the investigation that led to the warrant continues. I want everyone to know what they did. I want them to see what they did to my innocent, precious baby. No apology, no nothing. Just a sorry, wrong house, Price said in the Facebook post. Waylon was moved out of the ICU on Jan. 12 but remained in the hospital, WOIO reported. It hurts me more than anything because hes fought so hard to get to where he is, Price told WOIO. He fought for a year to get off the ventilator for 15 hours a day and now he cant go off for a split second. She told the outlet he was diagnosed with chemical pneumonitis. Chemical pneumonitis is inflammation of the lungs or breathing difficulty due to inhaling chemical fumes or breathing in and choking on certain chemicals, according to MedlinePlus. It can be caused by smoke, noxious fumes and grain and fertilizer dust, among other things. Elyria is about 30 miles southwest of Cleveland. Workers fixing dishwasher find starving 2-year-old bound in duct tape, Texas cops say 9-year-old died after group home allowed him to refuse insulin, dad says. Hes suing Woman looked up ways to harm children before killing boyfriends daughter, officials say Russian forces struck grain silos in the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, destroying the grain inside, regional senior investigator for the Ukrainian police Serhii Bolvinov reported on Jan. 14. Two air-dropped gliding bombs were launched over the previous night, hitting grain storage facilities and a processing building. According to Bolvinov, the security guards on duty were not injured and no casualties were reported. Destroyed crops and destroyed premises - the Russians continue to raid civilian objects, Bolvinov wrote on Facebook. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukrainian businesses, particularly those in the agricultural sector, as part of its economic war. As a result, Ukraines GDP declined by roughly a third in 2022, although the economy currently shows signs of improvement as businesses adapt to wartime conditions. According to the World Bank, 20% of Ukrainian businesses have suffered damage from Russian aggression while 70% have been hit financially. Those in Ukraines eastern regions, such as Kharkiv, have suffered the most. Read also: Dominic Culverwell: Ukrainian businesses need foreign investment ASAP Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has expressed confidence that the United States and EU countries will soon approve aid packages for Ukraine. Source: Sikorski on his Twitter (X), European Pravda writes Details: The minister noted that on Friday, there was good news from Kyiv, as the UK Prime Minister announced the allocation of another 2.5 billion (US$3.1 billion) a year to support Ukraine. Quote: "I believe that further aid packages will soon be approved by both the US Congress and EU member states. The price of a possible Russian victory will be much higher than the cost of the aid that Ukraine needs now." Background: During his visit to Kyiv, Sunak announced a major 2.5 billion (US$3.1 billion) military aid package for Ukraine and said that London would provide 200 million (US$254 million) to manufacture drones for Ukraine. During Sunaks visit, a bilateral security agreement was signed between the UK and Ukraine, which will remain in force until Ukraine joins NATO. Support UP or become our patron! The Ukrainian government created a new bill on conscription because the pre-existing conscription system had failed, political scientist Oleh Sahakyan said in an interview with Radio NV on Jan. 12. "Why the need for this new bill, and why are we talking about a larger-scale mobilization? Sahakyan said. Read also: Ukrainian General Staff believes it may need 500k mobilized in 2024, says Zaluzhnyi Because the routine mobilization failed, despite their heavy-handed tactics the minivan operation, keeping people in recruitment centers for days, confiscating their phones. It was a whole embarrassing saga, and it didn't yield any results. Instead of realizing the need for change, they're standing firm, saying, 'We're not changing. We'll just do it our way, with double the force and triple the pressure. Don't bother us; this is the only way we know." This led to even greater social tension and the "explosive discrediting of the mobilization process," the political scientist said. Read also: Ukraine could be defeated if it doesnt mobilize enough people, says senior commander Ukraines top general, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, commented on Dec. 26 that if the military recruitment centers had done their job, there would be no need to discuss a new bill on conscription. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the military has proposed conscripting up to an additional half a million citizens for the war effort, but he added that his administration would require additional arguments to authorize such a move. Zaluzhnyi stated he would not disclose exact numbers for conscription, as this information is classified. As for this figure (450-500,000), we formulated it for the next year, he said. It takes into account the new military units, and forecasting the losses we may incur next year. Read also: Political scientist describes classic mistakes made by Ukrainian authorities in drafting mobilization bill 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 North Korea fired a suspected intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) toward the East Sea on Sunday, South Korea's military said, in its first missile launch this year. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch from an area in or around Pyongyang at about 2:55 p.m., without providing further details, pending an analysis. "While sharing information related to the launched 'North Korean missile' with U.S. and Japanese authorities, our military is maintaining a full readiness posture," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters. In an interview with Yonhap New Agency last week, South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said the North could test-fire new IRBMs as early as this month after the country claimed to have staged solid-fuel engine tests for a new type of IRBM in November. An IRBM, which has a range of up to 5,500 kilometers, would place the U.S. territory of Guam within range if fired from Pyongyang. Solid-fuel missiles are known to be harder to detect ahead of launch than liquid-propellant ones that require more prelaunch preparations, such as the injection of fuel. The North has pressed ahead with its missile development program, firing a Hwasong-18 solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile at a lofted trajectory into the East Sea on Dec. 18. The latest launch comes amid heightened tensions after North Korea fired artillery shells near the maritime border in the Yellow Sea from Jan. 5 to 7, prompting the South to stage live-fire drills from its northwestern border islands. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he has no intention of avoiding war with South Korea, and threatened to annihilate the South if it attempts to use force against the North. South Korean officials have said the North is likely to stage provocative acts early this year and escalate tensions ahead of South Korea's general elections in April. The launch also came just before North Korean state media said its Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui will visit to Russia from Monday through Wednesday in the latest sign of growing bilateral ties. (Yonhap) VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis said on Sunday war was "a crime against humanity" as he reiterated a call for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. "Let us not forget this (...) People need peace, the world needs peace," the pope said after the weekly Angelus prayer. In the prayer, he urged people not to forget those suffering due to the "cruelty of war" in several parts of the world. He has repeatedly called for peace in Ukraine and in the war in Gaza. "Let us pray that those who have power over these conflicts reflect on the fact that war is not the way to resolve them, as it sows death among civilians and destroys cities and infrastructure," the pope said. Sunday marked 100 days since Hamas gunmen broke out of Gaza to launch the deadliest attack in Israel's history, triggering an Israeli campaign to eliminate Hamas that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and devastated the Palestinian enclave. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Frances Kerry) Gary Thomas told the Post Office Horizon inquiry that investigators were paid bonuses for successfully prosecuting post-masters and recovering money they had allegedly stolen Post Office investigators were given just three weeks training before being unleashed on sub-postmasters suspected of stealing from their employer, The Telegraph can disclose. A former policing minister said it was bonkers that Post Office was able to bring private prosecutions that wrecked the lives of hundreds of sub-postmasters using fraud investigators with such little training. Alan Bates, who inspired the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office that has sparked national outrage, said he was surprised the training was as long as that. The lack of training emerged in a witness statement given to the public inquiry by one of the Post Offices senior investigators, Gary Thomas, who said he was recruited to the security team after a stint as a branch manager in Southampton in 2000. After applying for the role of Post Office security manager, he said a witness statement supplied to the inquiry at the end of last year underwent a fairly complex set of interviews before being offered the job. Residential course lasted about three weeks This subsequently resulted in a residential training course lasting around three weeks, as I recall, and to be trained in various competencies, his statement went on. That included being trained in codes of practice in the use of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, as well as interviewing under caution, voluntary searching of home, person and vehicles along with completion of notebook entries and the retention and storing of exhibits to name but a few I can remember, some 23-plus years ago. He said his role was to interview individuals who were Post Office employees, either as direct Crown Office staff or via their sub-postmaster contract, who were suspected or who had admitted to committing a criminal offence or to ascertain the facts surrounding an enquiry. Mr Thomas - as previously reported by The Telegraph - subsequently told the Post Office Horizon inquiry, which is examining hundreds of wrongful prosecutions and convictions, that investigators were given bonus objectives each year based on the numbers of successful prosecutions and money recovered. It has since emerged that the Horizon IT system, developed by Fujitsu, suffered from defects and bugs that introduced accounting errors and discrepancies that led to the greatest miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Sub-postmasters were investigated and prosecuted by the Post Office when there was no evidence of theft or fraud. Police officers must have two years service before they can train as detectives In contrast to the three weeks of training provided by the Post Office, police detectives normally have at least two years with their forces before they can even begin on-the-job training. Mr Bates said: Was it as much as three weeks? I am very surprised to hear it was that much. How can you give bonuses when staff have had that little training? Sir Mike Penning, a Conservative MP and former police and justice minister, said: Why did people think such limited training allowed them to bring these prosecutions? And why did the Crown Prosecution Service not stop these private prosecutions? You would not allow a police officer with three weeks training to be out on the streets with a warrant arresting people. But the Post Office thought that was acceptable. It seems immoral and frankly bonkers. The whole thing does not make sense. A Post Office spokesman said it could not comment on inquiry witness statements or individual cases and added: We share fully the aims of the public inquiry to get to the truth of what went wrong in the past and establish accountability. Its for the inquiry to reach its own independent conclusions after consideration of all the evidence on the issues that it is examining. 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. A Post Office manager missed his childs first birthday after being jailed in the Horizon scandal. Damian Owen was appointed branch manager of Glanadda Post Office in Bangor, Wales, but was charged with theft by police following an audit of the Horizon IT system in August 2010, which found an alleged shortage of nearly 25,000. His home and bank accounts were searched and he was convicted and sentenced to eight months in prison, three months of which he served before being released on an electronic tag. He was locked up in HMP Liverpool for Christmas, which meant he missed his first childs first birthday the following February. Mr Owen is one of hundreds of victims of the Horizon scandal who are now demanding answers and compensation following the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British history. The father-of-two, whose children are now aged seven and 10, said: I understand the Post Office prosecutors pushed for my imprisonment to start before Christmas and my imprisonment started on Dec 23, 2011. I therefore spent Christmas in prison. I missed my first childs first birthday and first Christmas. That was the hardest part. He said all paper records were maintained by the Post Office and therefore I could not access them to try and show I was innocent when he was first accused of theft. Searched his bank accounts Post Office investigators searched his bank accounts and his home along with the home of his mother, who was a sub-postmistress. The keys to his branch were seized from him and a temporary sub-postmaster appointed, meaning my livelihood was taken away and my income removed, Mr Owen said. During his trial at Mold Crown Court, he stayed at his fathers house, which was connected to the local newsagents, meaning he saw the newspaper one morning. I was on the front page, he said. After losing four stones in weight in prison and witnessing violent clashes between inmates, he has ended up unemployed and been diagnosed with a major depressive order. Mr Owen blames the ordeal for losing his marriage, having met his former wife in 2002 and married in 2010. He has now found a new partner who has accompanied him at Horizon inquiry hearings. My conviction was also the end of my relationship with my brother, he added. I now do not see or speak to my brother at all and our relationship is beyond repair. He said that no one investigated the real cause of the shortfall and said he would not ever get closure until the individuals responsible at the Post Office are brought to account. 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. (This Jan. 14 story has been corrected to reflect changes to the official tally from the election commission in paragraphs 1 and 4) By Ange Kasongo KINSHASA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi's UDPS party won 69 seats in the December parliamentary election, placing it ahead of over 40 other parties that won one or more seats in the 500-member house, provisional results showed. The increased number of UDPS seats, up from 35 in the 2018 election, along with gains by allied parties, could enable Tshisekedi to maintain his ruling big tent Sacred Union coalition, giving him the majority needed to name a new government. The coalition controlled over 390 seats in the outgoing legislature. Congo's national election commission announced the provisional results early on Sunday - figures it slightly amended in a statement on Tuesday. These showed that parties led by some of Tshisekedi's allies including Senate President Modeste Bahati Lukwebo, Defence Minister Jean Pierre Bemba and Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe won 35, 19, and 35 seats respectively. The results of the legislative vote follow the Constitutional Court's confirmation of Tshisekedi's landslide re-election in the disputed Dec. 20-24 general election that was marred by allegations of fraud, logistical shortcomings and disruptions. Opposition parties and independent observers have raised concerns about the election's transparency, citing chaotic voting conditions and a murky tabulation process. Several western governments made similar observations in congratulatory statements to Tshisekedi, who is set for another five years as leader of Africa's second-largest country after a first term hampered by economic woes and a security crisis in the eastern regions. The fallout of the vote threatens to further destabilise Congo, the world's third-largest copper producer, and the top producer of cobalt, a battery component needed for the green energy transition. Congo's opposition parties have repeatedly blasted the election as fraudulent and called for a re-run - a demand authorities have dismissed. The electoral commission has defended the poll's credibility, although it invalidated votes cast for 82 of the 101,000 legislative candidates over alleged fraud and other issues earlier this month. (Reporting by Ange Kasongo; Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Editors note: This is part of the first installment in the MSU Presidents Project, a series examining MSU Texas from the short tenure of former President JuliAnn Mazachek that ended a year ago to the direction the university is heading under new President Stacia Haynie. The next installment will be available Wednesday. MSU Texas forked out over $13,000 for things like flowers, food and balloons for then-President JuliAnn Mazacheks investiture in late 2022 enough to pay for over a year of full-time classes for most MSU students. Two months later, Mazachek was gone. All told, certain expenses related to Mazachek and finding her replacement added up to over $170,000 for MSU. Figures relating to these expenses, in addition to contracts, were obtained via open records requests submitted by the Times Record News. Budget struggles, job cuts at Midwestern State University As MSU stares down a budgetary crisis, deep cuts are taking effect across the university. Ten university employees received the news they would be losing their jobs as the school announced the closure of the MSU Print Shop and MSU Testing Center, as well as the restructuring of the Vinson Health Center. Financial concerns have led to an air of caution on campus toward new expenditures. Julie Gaynor, marketing and information director, said the universitys financial focus is on helping students succeed while administrators work to right the ship. Currently, President Haynies focus is in providing access and success for our students. Those goals happen through many avenues, and they do direct our spending as it relates to the needs of our students, Gaynor said in an emailed statement. These cuts have come during new President Stacia Haynies time as she seeks to stabilize the finances of the university she previously attended. Before Haynie, MSU spent much of the prior two years under interim leadership and seven months under a permanent president who left after only leading the school for one full semester. Mazachek became president in May of 2022 and left the university in January 2023. During that time, MSU enrollment and finances both needed to be addressed. While Mazachek worked behind the scenes on those things, the school racked up expenses. Sikes House, the official residence of the MSU Texas president, was constructed between July 1939 and November 1940 by oilman and rancher Louis Sikes, and wife Glenna. The house has handcrafted woodwork and striking features such as a staircase noted for its ironwork. MSU bought the house from the Sikes in 1971. The price of pomp Just over two months before Mazacheks sudden departure, she was at the absolute forefront of the university. On Nov. 3, 2022, she had an investiture ceremony, a formality for high-ranking officials and an opportunity for faculty and students to celebrate their leader. Flowers and maroon and gold balloons decorated the scene, along with a spread of food. The investiture itself featured a brass quintet and professional photography, setting a scene of pomp and high academia. The total price tag for the ceremony was about $17,496. Planning, food, balloons, rentals, servers and flowers all came from one vendor and racked up the bulk of the bill at a little over $13,000. Almost $2,000 more went to invitations and programs. Over $1,600 went to commemorative keychains. The rest of the expense went to musicians, photography and the MSU Print Shop. The print shop closed Jan. 1 to lower university costs. Gaynor said there are no plans for an investiture for Haynie. At an institution the size of MSU Texas, leadership must always be mindful of how to approach spending, Gaynor said. More: MSU Presidents Project: What is the cost of finding a new university president? More: MSU Presidents Project: A timeline of leadership and where it has left MSU Texas The tab for renovations to historic MSU president's house and office As Mazachek settled into the job, the university paid to upgrade certain amenities, including renovations in the presidents office and the Sikes House, the official home of the president of MSU. Redoing the carpet alone in the presidents office eclipsed the cost of the investiture, checking in at $21,287. Carpet in the Sikes House cost another $8,570. Another $23,584 went to furnishings in the president's office, including a television, teleconference setup, table, chairs, desk and credenza. Haynie Mazachek said in an email statement that she and other administrators had begun work on budget concerns in her time there. We were in the early stages of budget planning, reviewing operations, space utilization and strategic planning. Some monies were spent on critical maintenance issues including a sewer repair project at Sikes House and limited carpet replacement, Mazachek said. The Texas Tech University System provided a statement that did not directly respond to questions about the costs or their impact on MSU finances. Surpassing even the combined cost of the investiture and renovations was the price tag to replace Mazachek with Haynie a search process that ran into six-figure territory. Haynie and Mazachek received largely identical contracts from MSU with only a few differences in pay scale and benefits. One small change, however, comes from section VII of the contracts. After setting out that the president is expected to live in the Sikes House during their tenure, Mazachek and Haynies contracts differ. Mazacheks read: All utilities, maintenance, and other costs associated with the maintenance of the MSU Presidents Residence are the responsibility of MSU. Haynies carries the same assumption of responsibility by MSU with one added caveat: As a historic and public home, special considerations must be taken before making significant renovations and changes to furnishings at the Sikes House. Significant changes will need to be coordinated and signed off through the Chancellor or his designee. Cecil Witherspoon is a freelance writer and former intern for the Times Record News. He is a student at Midwestern State University. This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Taxpayers got tab for expenses related to ex-MSU President Mazachek Police in Missouri are looking for six missing people who are believed to be linked to an alleged online cult led by an incarcerated man who touts himself as a prophet and revolutionary. The Berkeley Police Department said the group led by Rashad Jamal [White] who is a social media influencer, poet, and rapper with thousands of followers across platforms disappeared in St. Louis County last summer, KSDK reported. It includes Gerille German and her son Ashton Mitchell, Naaman Williams, and Mikayla Thompson. Per the report, MaKayla Wickerson and her 3-year-old daughter Malaiyah have disappeared, too. Family members are desperate to know their whereabouts and if they are safe. Wickersons mother said the 25-year-old had stopped going to work and iced them out before unexpectedly moving out. Police in Missouri are searching for four adults (clockwise from top left) Mikayla Thompson, Gerrielle German, Naaman Williams, Makayla Wickerson and two children linked to an online cult. (Photos: Newsnation/YouTube screenshot) She was probably suffering from postpartum depression. Meeting these people online, and they just preyed on her weakness, Cartisha Morgan told the outlet. Police said Williams started what is described as his spiritual journey in 2022 and connected with Thompson online, the report said. She picked him up from Washington, D.C., and both returned to Missouri. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Jamal runs a YouTube channel called The University of Cosmic Intelligence, which has nearly 200,000 subscribers and was created following the death of George Floyd in 2020. In a recent video on Jan. 2, he slammed the idea of being labeled as a cult leader. Im just giving you my opinion on a plethora of different subjects: from metaphysics to quantum physics to molecular biology to marine biology to geography to Black history to world history. Im giving you my opinions on these things, Jamal said to the newspaper. That doesnt make me a cult leader. Jamal is currently serving time in Georgia after being found guilty of one count of child molestation and cruelty to children, according to the report. He was given an 18-year sentence in August and now records his teachings over a phone in prison. On his Instagram page, Jamal shared a Change.org petition titled Rashad Jamal Is A Black Activist Wrongfully Convicted, calling for his release. It has just over 3,000 signatures. Jamal has also denounced the allegations regarding the missing group, reportedly last spotted at a Quality Inn hotel on Aug. 13. Germans mother said she noticed a change in her behavior before she left her Mississippi town with her son, noting that she spoke about Jamals lectures, per KSDK. She left behind her daughter. I would like to know that theyre OK so that I can get a good nights sleep. I would like to know theyre not hungry, theyre not cold, that no one is making her do things that she would have to pay for in the long run, Shelita Gibson said. Preyed on Her Weakness: Police In Missouri Are Searching for Four Missing Adults and Two Children Believed to be Linked to an Alleged Online Cult Prince William insisted on a royal walkabout with Prince Harry and Meghan after Queen Elizabeths death despite it being awkward, a new book has claimed. The Prince and Princess of Wales were joined by the Sussexes as they greeted members of the public outside Windsor Castle days after the queen died on 8 September 2022. The appearance surprised fans amid reports of a growing rift between the Fab Four as the royals were jointly known before Harry and Meghan resigned as senior members and relocated to the US in 2020. Royal biographer Robert Hardmans new book Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story described the remarkable scene at Cambridge Gate on the castles Long Walk on 10 September 2022, including details about what went on behind the scenes that day. Citing conversations with the princes closest advisors, Mr Hardman claims the walkabout was very much Williams idea because he felt it was the right thing to do for his grandmother despite the awkwardness of the engagement. It was very much Williams idea, Mr Hardman writes. He had organised it in about two hours flat. He had been giving it a lot of thought and he said: I know its awkward but isnt it right in the context of my grandmothers death? The Waleses and Sussexes on the long Walk at Windsor Castle (POOL/AFP via Getty) I know he asked a couple of other people, too. The walkabout lasted 40 minutes, as the couples greeted well-wishers and mourners who had gathered outside Windsor to pay tribute to the queen. About their joint appearance, a member of the Waleses team reportedly told Mr Hardman: I dont think either couple found it easy. The Windsor walkabout preceded the release of Harry and Meghans bombshell Netflix docuseries and the dukes tell-all memoir, further straining their relationship with the royal family. Elsewhere in Mr Hardmans book, which has been serialised by Mail Online, the author reveals the moment Charles learnt about his mothers death. Then the Prince of Wales, Charles had been returning to Balmoral castle after picking mushrooms when he was informed that Queen Elizabeth had died. Charles, who had gone out to gather mushrooms and clear his head after seeing his mother, received the news as he was driving back to their Scottish holiday home, when his most senior aide received a phone call. Charles pulled over and was addressed for the first time as Your Majesty, according to Mr Hardmans biography. Queen Elizabeth IIs final moments were described as very peaceful in a memo written by her private secretary, which also revealed she wouldnt have been aware of anything. According to the document, which is a part of Mr Hardmans book, Sir Edward Young wrote: Very peaceful. In her sleep. Slipped away. Old age. She wouldnt have been aware of anything. No pain. Korea hopes to see peace and stability maintained across the Taiwan Strait, a foreign ministry official said Sunday, following the election of a U.S.-friendly president. Lai Ching-te, vice president of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, was elected president of the self-ruled democracy on Saturday, defeating his China-friendly rival from the main opposition party. "We expect peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait to be maintained and the peaceful development of cross-strait relations," the official said, noting peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is "essential" for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and an "essential element" for regional peace and prosperity. "We hope to continue to enhance practical cooperation with Taiwan in various sectors," the official said adding the Korean government's "basic position" on Taiwan issues has not changed. Despite concern the election of a U.S.-friendly president could exacerbate tensions between Washington and Beijing, some political watchers said the situation will depend more on the commitment of both sides to stably managing the situation across the Taiwan Strait. "Had the (opposition) Nationalist party won, China could have used stable cross-strait relations to try to naturally build up its arms," professor Kang Jun-young of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies said. "Due to the U.S.-China race for hegemony surrounding the Taiwan Strait, even if the Nationalist party had won, the mood wouldn't have changed toward peace." Against the backdrop of the election in Taiwan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met in Washington last Friday with Liu Jianchao, minister of the International Liaison Department of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee. On Saturday, U.S. President Joe Biden told reporters of Taiwan, "We do not support independence." (Yonhap) NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) Members of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation gathered at the Rex Den on Saturday, Jan. 13, to announce its 2023 to 2024 grants for Greater New Orleans schools and education. According to a release, the group is awarding a total of $1.3 million in grants to Greater New Orleans schools and educators in its 17th year. Sparkle and Shine this Mardi Gras with new headbands, hats Since its 2006 establishment by members of the Rex Organization, Rex officials said the Pro Bono Publico Foundation has donated more than $14 million to local public schools and education organizations. Officials said the grants demonstrate the sustained commitment of Rex members in support of Greater New Orleans students and educators. In total, 72 grants were awarded, with 69 operational grants, two strategic grants to New Schools for New Orleans and one strategic grant to the Greater New Orleans Foundation. Rex officials also noted that this is the ninth consecutive year the organization has awarded more than $1 million in grants. We have been investing in public schools since Katrina. We have been so happy to see what our students have been making in our schools. It is the future of our city and if we get this right, we have a very bright future, said Pro Bono Publico board member Dr. Stephen Hales. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. Climate activists twice interrupted Donald Trumps Sunday rally, calling the former president a climate criminal on the day before he faces off against his Republican opponents in the Iowa caucuses. Wow, a heckler calls out Trump for taking in millions pic.twitter.com/Neo5KlMpFg Acyn (@Acyn) January 14, 2024 While Trump made his closing arguments to supporters before they head to the caucuses, a handful of climate activists heckled him. One person shouted during his speech and accused him of having taken millions, and others shouted that Trump is a climate criminal. As the protesters were escorted out of the room, one Trump supporter tried to pull a sign that read Trump: climate criminal out of an activists hands. Go home to mommy, Trump told the protesters. So young. It used to happen all the time but I dont think its happened in years. They are so young, and they are fighting oil, Trump added. BREAKING: Climate protestors just crashed Trumps rally in Indianola. Protestors were shouting criminal! at Trump and supporters. One supporter ripped a sign which read Trump: Climate Criminal out of their hands. pic.twitter.com/E9X1oxgcoj Olivia Rinaldi (@olivialarinaldi) January 14, 2024 To fuel his 2024 campaign, Trump has indeed accepted millions of dollars in donations from the oil and gas industry. Some oil executives spent as much as $23,200 to take a photo with Trump at a recent fundraiser hosted by telecom billionaire Kenny Troutt. While in office, Trump, noted windmill fearmonger, took drastic action to harm the planet and accelerate climate change, making himself a trusted ally of big oil. Trump perpetuated climate denialism by calling climate change fake news, and he derailed many aspects of U.S. climate policy while eviscerating parts of the executive bureaucracy dedicated to protecting the environment, including the Environmental Protection Agency. He removed the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, rolled back fuel standards and forwarded deeper investments in fossil fuels, including the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines. He oversaw the largest ever reduction of protected public lands in U.S. history, and attacked renewable sources of energy. When former North Dakota governor Doug Burgum came to the podium and endorsed Trump, protesters again briefly disrupted the rally. Donald Trump claims to speak for my generation, one activist shouted. He is sold out by oil and gas billionaires. Our homes are burning, our homes are flooding! Trump is getting heckled again pic.twitter.com/RPNB88Xxq7 Acyn (@Acyn) January 14, 2024 If you love your children you have to vote for Trump, Trump said during his speech. Does anybody in this room not love their children? If we truly loved our children, wed leave them a planet worth living on. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone (BCN) Protestors began gathering outside of the San Fransisco home of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi at 7 a.m. on Sunday to protest U.S. aid to Israel and raise awareness about ongoing violence in Gaza, according to a press release from organizers. The event was organized by Codepink: Women for Peace. This Sunday morning, Nancy Pelosi will experience a simulation of what life is like in Gaza today, the group said in a press release before the event. Oakland protestors stage early-morning occupation of port in opposition to U.S. Aid to Israel Protestors plan to wrap bloody shrouds around dead bodies, play audio from the bombings, read aloud the names of some of the children whove been killed in Gaza in recent months, and host a poetry reading featuring related content. The protest is set to end at 9 a.m. but may run later, according to the press release. There is a second protest for the same cause at Pelosis home scheduled for later in the day, and the two events are expected to intersect, according to event representative Toby Blome. The two events were organized by independent subgroups within the Codepink non-profit. The protests are being held on Broadway between Divisadero Street and Scott Street in San Francisco. Copyright 2024 Bay City News, Inc. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The early morning rehearsal for the funeral of Elizabeth II revealed several problems - Danny Lawson/PA The only rehearsal for Elizabeth IIs funeral was a comedy of errors in which a band went missing, the buses did not turn up, and a Gentleman at Arms was nearly crushed after turning the wrong way at Marble Arch, it has emerged. A behind-the-scenes account of the late Queens funeral rehearsal, in which the entire procession was run through in the early hours of Sept 15, 2022, reveals the many glitches organisers had to overcome. It was a comedy of errors, says Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes, the man responsible for the military and ceremonial aspects of the state funeral. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. A new biography of Charles III, which details the late Queens final days and funeral, also reveals the flurry of activity required to bring the key military personnel back to Britain in time for the funeral. The Queens Company Grenadier Guards were on patrol in Iraq, the State Trumpeters were on a plane to Canada and one Life Guards officer was on his honeymoon. Brigadier James Stopford, a member of the sovereigns ceremonial bodyguard, was in Corfu delivering a father-of-the-bride speech at his daughters wedding when he received a text message saying: You are commanded to return to the United Kingdom immediately to attend to your duties for Her Late Majestys funeral. Author Robert Hardman wrote: It was a minor miracle there were no major glitches on the funeral day itself. The early morning rehearsal - Gareth Fuller/PA In interviews with palace staff, those involved in funeral and coronation planning and even the Princess Royal herself, the book includes the unexpected moments behind a spectacle not seen in Britain for 70 years. There were the light-hearted Garrison Sergeant Major Vern Stokes frustration at officers who seemed more keen to catch up with their friends than pay attention and the potentially disastrous. With time for only one full rehearsal, organisers found that the carefully calculated parade times had failed to take into account the different length and speed of steps required by a Guardsman and a Royal Navy recruit carrying a two-ton gun carriage, meaning the front of the parade ended up parting company with the coffin, Mr Hardman wrote. The whole parade was out of step from the start after the bagpipes pre-empted the first command. One band had been led to the wrong start point. And one Gentlemen at Arms was nearly crushed between the gun carriage and Wellington Arch after going the wrong way. The run-through brought out the tourists - Phil Noble/Reuters The main parties taking part had already been tracked down from across the globe to return to the UK. The bearer party of eight, drawn from Queens Company Grenadier Guards, had been on patrol with Kurdish trainees in Iraq while the state trumpeters were doing on tour in Canada. The Band of the Irish Guards had been on tour in the Netherlands. Among other minor hiccups were the arrangements to keep the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence fed and hydrated during the long drive from Balmoral to Edinburgh with the late Queens coffin in front of the worlds cameras. We took a couple of bottles of water with us and something to nibble on because it was quite a longish trip, the Princess said. But, to be honest, we could only have taken a drink from a bottle while we were going over the Forth Bridge where there werent any people. Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story by Robert Hardman is published in hardback on Jan 18 by Macmillan. 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. PUT-in-BAY, Ohio (WJW) As a powerful winter storm-battered Northeast and North Central Ohio Saturday, 65 mph wind gusts pushed Lake Erie water levels away from the shore revealing portions of the bottom of the lake. POWERFUL WINDS EXPOSE LAKE BED The near hurricane-force winds from the southwest pushed the more shallow water out further into the lake in the western basin of Lake Erie near Port Clinton and the Lake Erie Islands especially at Put-in-Bay on South Bass Island in Ottawa County Saturday. A DIFFERENT PLANET Lake County home destroyed by fire It felt like I was walking on a different planet, Barry Koehler told Fox 8 News. Koehler, who braved the brutal conditions, took photos that show huge boulders completely exposed. Koehler said the boulders are usually under 6 to 9 feet of water and at times people were walking on the Lake Erie bed Saturday. A WHOLE NEW WORLD It was so exciting to see Lake Erie like that, it was like exploring a whole new world, Koehler said. However, when winds of near hurricane strength (74 mph) blow in from the northeast over Lake Erie, the opposite phenomenon happens and water is pushed well past the shoreline, sometimes causing flooding in places like Port Clinton, which was not the case Saturday. Will mail be delivered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2024? Its not something you see often, twice in the last 13 months is rare, but when the lake bed is exposed due to wild winds from the southwest like on Saturday its thrilling, Koehler said. You can see Koehlers fascinating photos he shared with Fox 8 in the slideshow below. Courtesy: Barry Koehler Barry Koehler: Rocks usually covered by water Barry Koehler: Boulder usually covered by water Doug Wilhelm also sent Fox 8 his stellar photos of the Lake Erie bed exposed when the gusty winds pushed water away from the shore. The 2 photos below are from Billy Market and show him with his son standing on the lake bed Saturday. He told Fox 8 News is usually six feet deep. Rare lights in NE Ohio sky: Photos Market said when the high winds finally settled down, the lake water shifted back into the bay. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Prudence advised in Seoul's stance on Taiwan Strait issues By Nam Hyun-woo The outcome of the presidential election in Taiwan is expected to pose significant diplomatic challenges for Korea, particularly in navigating relations with China and neighboring countries. Tensions in Asia could escalate in response to any sensitive rhetoric or actions, adding complexity to Korea's diplomatic landscape. In Saturday's presidential election, Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, known for his U.S.-friendly stance, secured victory by garnering 40.05 percent of the total ballots. He outpaced Hou Yu-ih from the China-friendly opposition Kuomintang. Viewed widely as a proxy battle between the U.S. and China, Lai's campaign emphasizing self-determination, social justice, and resistance to China's threats resonated with Taiwanese voters, earning their trust even in the face of increasing pressure from Beijing. Chinas foreign ministry promptly issued a statement following Lai's election win asserting Beijing's "One China" policy. Whatever changes take place in Taiwan, the basic fact that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China will not change, it said. The Chinese governments position of upholding the one-China principle and opposing Taiwan independence separatism, two Chinas and one China, one Taiwan will not change, it added. The election result is anticipated to have an impact on Korea as well. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration has displayed a strong inclination towards the U.S., as the president stated in previous media interviews that Seoul opposes attempts to alter the status quo by force in reference to tensions in the Taiwan Strait, despite China's displeasure. Simultaneously, Korea maintains its adherence to Beijing's "One China" policy, refraining from reinstating diplomatic ties with Taiwan that were severed in 1992 when Seoul established diplomatic relations with Beijing. An official at Seouls Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, We hope for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and peaceful progress in China-Taiwan relations, adding that the Korean governments stance on Taiwan has not changed, while Seoul hopes for practical cooperation with Taiwan in various fields. Seouls presidential office is viewing the election outcome as a very sensitive matter, but an official noted that the vote result will not affect the basic direction of the relations between Korea and China. Experts urged the Korean government to approach the issue with prudence as tensions are expected to rise in the Taiwan Strait. Keeping a prudent stance is the best option for Korea in this volatile situation, because tensions are set to rise in the region, said Kim Heung-kyu, director of the U.S.-China Policy Institute at Ajou University. China will maintain its hardline stance on Taiwan, while chances seem higher for the U.S. Republican Party, which takes a more hawkish stance toward China, to win in the upcoming U.S. elections. The Taiwan Strait serves as a crucial shipping route for Korean businesses, with over 40 percent of the country's total shipping volume passing through it. Escalating tensions in the region are likely to increase oil prices and other energy costs, posing a significant burden on the Korean economy, which relies heavily on imported energy. Also, Taiwan is Koreas sixth-largest trading partner, whose trading volume amounted to $40.46 billion as of November last year. Moreover, the two countries are important partners in the global semiconductor industry. "China is likely to scrutinize every comment made by President Yoon, and this sensitivity could impact the two countries' relations, particularly in the economic domain," Kim noted. "There's a possibility of maritime disputes between Korea and China, and in the air, Chinese military aircraft may enter Korea's air defense identification zone without prior notice." The lingering question is whether the U.S. will encourage its allies, including Korea, to join its efforts to exert pressure on China, similar to the situation seen during the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Last year, Yoon slammed Russias illegal invasion of Ukraine on multiple international diplomatic stages and Korea has been providing non-lethal military aid to Kyiv. Although the Korean government denies it, Seoul is widely believed to be replenishing the U.S. military's ammunition inventory, which has been drained due to the war in Ukraine. Kim said chances are slim for the U.S. to urge Seoul to show a more aggressive stance on China in the near future, given that the Biden administration is seeking to manage its level of competition with Beijing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory, saying, We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process. The U.S. plans to send an unofficial delegation made up of former senior officials to celebrate Lais election victory. However, when asked by reporters to comment on the election results in Taiwan, U.S. President Joe Biden said, We do not support independence. The moves are perceived as part of the Biden administration's strategy to navigate its relationship with Beijing. The administration aims to champion the triumph of democracy over autocracy without outright challenging China's authority. Chances are very slim for the U.S. to urge Korea or other allies to show gestures pressing China, because this is a highly sensitive situation, and countries may choose not to join the U.S. campaign because many of them formed ties with China after acknowledging the 'One China' principle, Kim said. Against this backdrop, the Korean government is seeking to resume a trilateral summit involving Japan and China as soon as possible. During a National Assembly confirmation hearing, Seouls new Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul pledged to hold the summit as early as possible. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Sunday accused former President Trump of trying to convert the White House into a moneymaking enterprise in response to House Democrats finding Trump took nearly $8 million from foreign governments while president. So Donald Trump did something nobody had ever done before. He tried to convert the presidency into a moneymaking enterprise, he said on MSNBCs The Weekend. Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, said he has not yet gotten a response from Trump or his legal team, after sending the former president a letter on Friday demanding that he return the roughly $7.8 million he received from foreign governments while president. Raskins letter comes after Democrats on the House Oversight Committee published a report claiming Trumps companies accepted money from foreign entities in 20 countries and said those payments violate the Emolument Clause of the Constitution. Of the total amount, about $5.6 million came from China and went to Trumps hotels in Washington and Las Vegas, the report alleges, as well as Trump Tower in New York. Raskin has stressed that the $7.8 million figure is only a fraction of what he claims the former President most likely received while in office. Raskin has accused the committees chair, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), of stifling the investigation when he took the top spot. The Constitution says that the president or any other federal official cannot accept a present and emolument, which means a payment, in office or title of any kind, whatever, thats in the Constitution, from a king, a prince, a foreign government without the consent of Congress, Raskin said on Sunday. Donald Trump came to Congress zero times to asked to keep this money. Raskin pushed back against the argument that Trump did not take his federal salary of $400,000 a year. Youre not supposed to be on the payroll for Saudi monarchs and Chinese communist bureaucrats. Youre supposed to be getting paid by the American people, he said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (WHTM) Its 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia, a British army under the command of Major General Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis, surrenders to a combined force of Americans under Major General George Washington and French troops commanded by General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau. The Revolutionary War is over! Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by JohnTrumbull (U.S. Capitol Rotunda) William Petty, 2nd Earl of Shelburne, by Jean Laurent Mosnier (Wikipedia) Treaty of Paris, by Benjamin West 1783. From left: John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. The picture is unfinished because the British commissioners refused to pose. Map of the United States, 1783 (Library of Congress) First page of the Treaty of Paris (National Archives) Last Page of the Treaty of Paris (National Archives) Font view of the state house at Annapolis, Maryland Collester Smith of Annapolis, Md., shovels snow near the state capitol in Annapolis, Md., Thursday, Jan. 4, 2018, during a winter storm. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Well, not exactly Get daily news, weather, breaking news, and alerts straight to your inbox! Sign up for the abc27 newsletters here For there to be peace, there must be a peace treaty. Negotiations wouldnt begin until 1782, following a change of government in Britain. The new Prime Minister, Lord Shelburne, realized the United States could become a valuable trading partner and was willing to see the United States achieve independence. New details on historic Revolutionary War POW camp in York County Negotiations began in Paris, in April of 1782. The American negotiators were John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, and Henry Laurens. The British negotiators were David Hartley and Richard Oswald. Negotiations went on through the summer, settling matters like the borders of the new country, fishing rights on the Grand Banks, exchange of prisoners of war, and most importantly, Britains acknowledgment that the United States was free, sovereign, and independent. Most of the terms were settled by the end of 1782; but the actual treaty was not signed until September 3, 1983. Then the treaty was shipped to America for ratification by the Confederation Congress. Veterans at Revolutionary battlefield dig find camaraderie Congress, at the time, was meeting at the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland. (This is the same building thats in Annapolis today; the oldest state house in the United States. Independence Hall in Philadelphia was the Pennsylvania State House before being promoted to Cultural Icon.) But when Congress met on December 13, 1783, to ratify the treaty, the weather was against them. The winter of 1783-1784 smacked the country with extreme cold coupled with ice and snowstorms. Only seven of the 13 states had enough representatives present to conduct business. Ceremony in Carlisle honors those who died in the Revolutionary War and wars since then Not until January 14 did enough delegates reach Annapolis. The vote was taken, the Treaty of Paris was ratified, the Revolutionary War was officially over, and the United States of America was truly, in the eyes of the world (or at least the European powers), an independent nation. To read the Treaty of Paris, click here. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The American Red Cross has seen 40% fewer blood donations over the last 20 years. The Red Cross said the it would need 8,000 weekly donations in January to meet demands. One survey found that donations from people aged 16 to 18 dropped by 60% from 2019 to 2021. Fewer people are donating blood, and experts say younger generations are at the heart of the problem. Dr. Eric Gehrie, the executive medical director of the American Red Cross, told NBC News that the organization has seen a 40% drop in people donating blood over the last 20 years. Over the 2023 holiday season, Gehrie said the Red Cross was 7,000 units short of meeting demand from hospitals. The most recent National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey, administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, found that blood donations by teens and young adults have steadily declined over the last decade. From 2019 to 2021, the survey says blood donations from people 16 to 18 dropped by a whopping 60%. "If that trend continues, we're going to be in a very difficult situation," Dr. Claudia Cohn, chief medical officer for the Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies, told NBC. In April 2023, the Red Cross launched a t-shirt campaign with Snoopy standing in front of the large Red Cross logo, hoping that the campaign would attract more young people to give blood, The New York Times reported at the time. The campaign quickly went viral on TikTok. One video about the campaign gained more than four million views in just a few days. Gehrie told NBC the campaign was overwhelmingly successful with more than 70,000 people under 35 donating in the months after its launch. Still, he estimated that the organization will need an additional 8,000 donations every week this month to meet hospital demands. Gehrie speculated that minimum height and weight requirements on who can donate blood imposed by the FDA in 2015 might be part of the reason fewer young people are donating blood, according to NBC. Anyone who donates blood must weigh at least 110 pounds, and there are additional height and weight requirements for those under 18. "We had a lot of high school donors that were deferred," Gehrie told the outlet. "We don't want those young donors to get the impression that because they were deferred for that reason, that they can never donate again." Read the original article on Business Insider That the only cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy is being tested in North Carolinas 13th Congressional District. Republican and independent voters who participate in the districts Republican primary in March will have to choose one of 14 candidates. That crowd of candidates would appear to signify the vibrancy of the democracy in the district. It actually represents the opposite. The crowded field will likely lead to a runoff election if no candidate receives at least 30 percent of the vote. That leads to a low-turnout second primary in which a tiny fraction of the districts voters will select a GOP nominee, who, thanks to gerrymandering, will win the congressional seat in the general election. Such a warped outcome is particularly unfortunate in the 13th District. Just two years ago the central North Carolina district encompassing southern Wake County, all of Johnston County and part of Wayne County was the epitome of democratic balance. A court-ordered redrawing of gerrymandered maps produced 14 districts for the 2022 election. Districts favoring Republicans and Democrats were equally balanced, with the 13th District standing as a genuine swing district. Democrat Wiley Nickel, a former state senator from Cary, won the newly drawn district over Bo Hines, a far-right Republican. The result gave North Carolina a U.S. House delegation reflective of its political balance seven Democrats and seven Republicans. That balance, of course, was anathema to Republican lawmakers who control the General Assembly. After getting a go-ahead nod from the state Supreme Courts new Republican majority, those lawmakers went to work redrawing district lines for the November election. Their handiwork is expected to shift the states U.S. House delegation to a 10-4 or even an 11-3 Republican majority. The map changes shifted the 13th District from a swing district to a Republican one. Nickel, after only one term, decided it was hopeless to seek reelection, creating an open seat in a Republican district that has drawn a flood of Republican candidates. Chris Cooper, a Western Carolina University political scientist who studies state politics, said, Open seats in a friendly district are rare. When they come along, candidates come out of the woodwork. After all, this could be the last chance at this seat for a generation. One solution could be to raise the bar for entering a congressional primary. Currently, the filing fee is $1,740, an amount set by law at one percent of the congressional salary of $174,000. Those who chose not to pay it can qualify by gathering signatures, but in this case, all 14 candidates paid. Raising the bar is unappealing. Its already hard enough and costly enough to seek election. Although 14 is an unwieldy number of candidates, these examples are rare and for the most part, I think more choice is better than the alternative, Cooper said. A better option would be using the ranked choice method. That allows voters to rank their selections and eliminates the need for expensive, low-turnout runoff elections. Gary Bartlett, a former executive director of the State Board of Elections, is a proponent of ranked choice. After his state service, he served as executive director of the Ranked Choice Voting Resource Center. The method is now used in Alaska and Maine and 45 cities. Bartlett said North Carolina should take up ranked choice voting in primaries instead of runoffs. There should be some better method, he said, noting that runoff election turnouts have gone as low as 2.5 percent. When turnout gets so low, Bartlett said, You just open yourself up for (electing candidates) who can be on the extreme side. Of course, the 13th Districts primary wouldnt be so crowded and a minority of voters wouldnt have such outsized influence if Republican lawmakers hadnt decided to tilt a well-balanced district. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com (KRON) Three men were arrested for allegedly attempting to steal a vehicle, the Redwood City Police Department announced. Redwood City police officers were alerted to a report that two males had broken into a victims vehicle before fleeing in a silver Toyota Prius in the block 3500 block of Page Street on Jan. 12. 2 minors injured after freeway shooting on I-880 in San Lorenzo RCPD Street Crime Suppression Team detectives located a silver Toyota Prius in the area of Spring Street and 10th Avenue, reportedly leaving the direction of the victims residence. The detectives initiated a traffic stop on the sedan. Three men were occupying the vehicle: Steven Dominguez Sanchez, 19 Luis Cisneros, 19 Kevin Leiva-Hernandez, 22 Responding officers and detectives determined that the three subjects were attempting to steal the car. According to the police investigation, the suspects were utilizing an electronic device to reprogram car keys to steal the vehicle. All of the three suspects were booked into the San Mateo County Jail for attempted auto theft, conspiracy, and possession of burglary tools. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Reform UK, the Right-wing party set up by Nigel Farage, will hand Labour a huge majority by drawing millions of voters away from the Conservatives, polling suggests. The former Brexit Party, now led by the businessman Richard Tice, will cost the Conservatives 96 seats, a YouGov poll predicts. Without the influence of Reform, Labour would not win an overall majority, it is forecast. If Reform goes ahead with its plan to contest 630 seats, Labour will win a 120-seat majority. In 2019, when Boris Johnson won an 80-seat majority, he was helped not only by the fact that his opponent was Jeremy Corbyn but also by Mr Farages decision not to contest the 317 seats Theresa May had won in 2017. That gave the Tories a clear run against Labour and the Brexit Party did not win any seats despite gaining 644,257 votes around half as many as the SNP, which won 48 seats. Crucially, Mr Tice has ruled out an electoral pact with the Conservatives this time, meaning support for Reform will be the decisive factor in scores of seats, even though it is not expected to return a single MP. Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House, is one of several Cabinet ministers predicted to lose their seat thanks to a strong showing by Reform in her Portsmouth North constituency. Mr Tices party is predicted to win 13 per cent of the vote, more than enough to swing the result in Labours favour, with the Labour candidate forecast to take 36 per cent of the votes just three per cent more than Ms Mordaunt. It is a similar story for Gillian Keegan, the Education Secretary, Victoria Prentis, the Attorney General, Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary and Johnny Mercer, the minister for veterans affairs. The biggest showing for Reform is predicted to be in Ashfield, held by Lee Anderson, the Conservative Party deputy chairman, where Mr Tices party is forecast to take a 22 per cent vote share, just shy of Mr Anderson on 23 per cent, with Labour winning on 38 per cent. In Mr Andersons constituency, however, the poll does not take into account votes that are likely to be cast for the Ashfield Independents, who came second in 2019. Reform is on course to take more than 10 per cent of the vote in 73 constituencies. On Sunday, Mr Tice told The Telegraph that the Brexit Party had been betrayed in 2019 because the Conservatives did not deliver on their Brexit promises, saying he was not prepared to be betrayed again. He even made the bold suggestion that the Tories should be the ones stepping aside for Reform UK. In several recent opinion polls, around 10 per cent of voters have said they would back Reform, a similar percentage to the Lib Dems. Because Reforms vote is likely to be spread evenly throughout England, Wales and Scotland, the party is not expected to come first in any seat. In contrast, the Lib Dems will pile up enough votes in key areas to win 48 seats an increase of 37 on 2019 many of them in the so-called Blue Wall in the south of England. The news could get even worse for the Conservatives. Recent polls suggest support for Reform would surge even further if Mr Farage returned as leader. Mr Farage, currently the honorary president of the party, has not ruled out a return to frontline politics and has repeatedly said that timing is everything, suggesting he could be eyeing a major move later in the year. In 2019, Mr Farage said he was putting country before party by pulling out of 317 seats won by the Conservatives in 2017. He said he was concerned that if the Brexit Party stood in every seat it would split the Right-wing vote, resulting in dozens of LibDem MPs being elected and making a second EU referendum a possibility. He predicted that the Conservative vote would disappear if the party broke firm commitments and promises made to the British people. With net migration reaching a record high of 745,000 in 2022, his successor Mr Tice believes the Tories have very much broken those promises. 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. After coming out as gay, my parents rejected me and I turned to drugs. I went to rehab several times for my meth addiction, but it never worked. When I finally decided to work on my relationship with my parents, I was able to get sober. At 18, I finally worked up the courage to tell my mom I'm gay. She didn't take the news well and told my dad the next day. They immediately believed my sexuality was a choice I made and that my friends turned me gay. My younger self couldn't understand how one small detail about my life could make me feel so unworthy of their love. The environment at home became tense, awkward, and depressing. I didn't feel the same level of closeness with my family anymore. I was hoping that by removing my mask, my bond with my family would strengthen, but I was naive. Instead, the experience made me feel like a failure because I wasn't the straight son my parents expected me to be. Their rejection eventually forced me to surround myself with people who offered me acceptance, love, and validation things I didn't feel I was getting from my family anymore. At 22, I started hanging out with a group of people who gave me a sense of belonging, but they also used drugs. I began using meth and other drugs regularly. After a year and a half, I started injecting meth. My resentment toward my parents and my coming-out trauma fueled my addiction. I tried to get help, but nothing seemed to work After an incident at Disney, where I worked, I decided to seek professional help and checked into rehab. Ultimately, I went to rehab six times, but the programs didn't take into account my family dynamics and the environment I was returning to afterward. On July 18, 2018, at 26, I was admitted to the psych ward and put on a 14-day involuntary hold after experiencing drug-induced psychosis. After a 10-day stay, I was transferred to a dual-diagnosis rehab to continue through the different levels of care. This time, I didn't return home to my family after rehab. Instead, I stayed in sober-living houses and eventually moved out on my own. Moving away from home and my parents was necessary for me to learn coping skills and process my traumas away from a triggering environment. I spent the first six months of sobriety trying different types of therapy to analyze and treat the root causes of my addiction. The dual-diagnosis rehab and intensive outpatient programs gave me the tools I needed to view my addiction through a more compassionate and understanding lens. Therapy helped me discover truths about my past. It helped me realize that I never took into account my parents' upbringing and their conservative Armenian culture. I also didn't understand how much pain I caused my family by living with them during my active addiction. My parents didn't know if the next phone call was going to be from the cops or the hospital telling them I had died from an overdose. It was a traumatic time for them. After these revelations, I started feeling guilty for my actions. Although my coming-out trauma fueled my addiction journey, I also played a role by making the decision to say yes to drugs. Even though my parents caused me immense pain, they still offered me shelter and love. I just didn't know how to accept their love after their rejection. I wanted to heal the rift in our relationship, but I didn't know where to start yet. I moved back in with my parents A year into my sobriety, I was no longer fulfilled by my software-engineering job at Disney. I had a big dream I wanted to pursue. In August 2019, I quit my job, but I was too optimistic about the timing of my dream. Suddenly, I couldn't afford my rent, my car payment, or my other bills. I felt the universe was nudging me to where I needed to be, so I asked my parents if they would let me move back in with them. Therapy had prepared me for this. My parents welcomed me back with open arms. After almost losing their son to addiction, their hearts had softened. They were just happy to have me back in their lives again. Returning home gave me the perfect opportunity to start healing our relationship. It also showed me that our relationship was worth saving. Over the past four years, we have grown stronger and closer by setting healthy boundaries. My family and I also took mutual accountability for the pain we had caused one another. We found a newer, healthier relationship rooted in compassion and understanding. My parents finally know who their gay son is, and I finally feel accepted and loved for who I am. Since August 2019, I haven't relied on peer support groups or therapy to maintain my sobriety while living in the same environment that used to be my primary source of triggers. I learned that addiction doesn't have to be a lifelong disease. To properly heal from addiction, I had to heal my trauma with my parents. Read the original article on Business Insider Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. poses with Rev. Charles Rolette, Rev. Bernard White and another unidentified local minister after speaking at the University of Notre Dame on Oct. 18, 1963. SOUTH BEND Events both local and nationwide Monday will mark the legacy of civil rights icon the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Just over 60 years ago, King himself came to South Bend to deliver his message of human rights and to raise money to fight for racial justice. King spoke at the Stepan Center on the University of Notre Dame campus on Oct. 18, 1963. Too cold: MLK march canceled, but program goes on indoors. Thanks to frigid temperatures. South Bend resident and NAACP member Alphia Ganaway famously wrote a letter to King, asking him to come speak in South Bend, because Black residents here faced many of the same challenges as those in the South. Alphia Ganaway could only hope that the letter she wrote to the Rev. Martin Luther King would persuade him to visit South Bend. After all, King was one of the world's most influential people in 1963. King and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led a boycott and civil disobedience campaign that resulted in the end of discriminatory practices in Birmingham, Ala., stores. Later that year, King gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech during the March on Washington. King did accept Ganaway's invitation and addressed a crowd of more than 3,000 at Notre Dame's Stepan Center on Oct. 18, 1963. When King accepted her invitation, she immediately sought help from Dr. Roland Chamblee to organize the event, he told The Tribune in 2002. With only a month to plan, the pair met the next day. Ganaway also asked for planning help from her daughter, Norma Ganaway, and S. Lawrence "Speed" Webb, a jazz musician and mortician who was active in Democratic politics. Chamblee called then-Notre Dame President the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh about whether the university would host the event. Hesburgh, who served on the United States Commission for Civil Rights, agreed to make the Stepan Center available. Martin Luther King Jr. speaks Oct. 18, 1963 at the University of Notre Dame. Tribune File Photo 2013: Martin Luther King speaks at Notre Dame in 1963, during his Oct. 18,1963, visit to South Bend. King spoke that evening to more than 3,000 people in Stepan Center at the University of Notre Dame. Coverage of King's speech at the time describes the reverend's reference to slavery starting in what would be the United States in 1619, before the arrival of the Pilgrims. King spoke that day of the critical importance of helping struggling people everywhere, across the country and the planet. "Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly," he was quoted as saying. "No man is an island." Until humanity accepted that responsibility for each other, he said, the United States would never be a great nation and the world would never be a great world. King also told his South Bend audience that time alone would not solve segregation and racial injustice because "people of ill will have used time more effectively than those of good will," so good people had to actively work to end injustice. King's speech also echoed Alphia Ganaway's assertion racism was just as big a problem in the North as the South. The main difference, he said, was northern racism was subtler, less openly displayed. Housing discrimination: South Bend Civic revives Better Homes' story with play it commissioned Finally, King asserted the best action people could take in the fight for human rights was nonviolent, direct action. It is the philosophy he is perhaps most famous for. Advocating that injustice be met with direct forms of protest but not violence. That legacy and message has endured now more than 50 years after King's assassination, and it will be celebrated again on Monday in South Bend, just as it was when he spoke here in 1963. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Martin Luther King spoke at Notre Dame about racism and civil rights Kimberly Dowdell is too young to have experienced the dazzling holiday displays; elevators operated by real people; basement bargains; circulating library; multiple dining rooms and cafeterias, and other features that made the old J.L. Hudson Department Store in downtown Detroit famous during its heyday. But when Dowdell came upon a boarded-up Hudsons building downtown a little more than a decade after the department store closed on Jan. 17, 1983, after more than 90 years in business, she had her own profound experience that continues to move her today. Hudsons was boarded-up and was looking very sad. And the people around the building were looking sad, Dowdell, who was 11 years old at the time, recalls. I was thinking: I would like to fix this building. I felt if I could do that, I could heal the people around it. And thats when I went from wanting to be a doctor to wanting to become an architect. To say that the now 40-year-old Dowdell followed through on that goal would be a major understatement, given that on Dec. 15 she was inaugurated as the 100th president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) also making Dowdell the first Black female president in the organizations 166-year history. Being elected as the 100th president of AIA is both an honor and responsibility that I embrace wholeheartedly, said Kimberly Dowdell, who proudly represented her profession; along with her fellow female architects and architects of color; and, her hometown of Detroit on Dec. 15, 2023, during the American Institute of Architects Inauguration Ceremony in Washington, D.C. During Dowdells inaugural speech, which can still be heard today through the magic of YouTube (pick up at the 13:38 mark), the native Detroiter announced to the audience gathered in Washington, D.C. that she will be focusing on three pillars: money, membership and mission. These pillars support Dowdells desire to see architects pay across the board reflect the extensive effort that goes into becoming a licensed architect and the highly-skilled work performed afterward, along with her goal to increase the AIAs membership from roughly 98,000 now to 100,000, which Dowdell says will allow members and the industry as a whole to contribute more to its mission, which includes the creation of an equitable and sustainable environment. Judging from the steady applause Dowdell received throughout her inaugural speech, from the time she was introduced by the AIAs Immediate Past President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, it appears that Dowdell will receive plenty of support as she works to carry out the organizations objectives during 2024. However, on the morning of Jan. 5, Dowdell was more interested in recognizing special people in Detroit who provided her with a strong foundation that has allowed Dowdell to be successful today. An extended village raised me and that included my parents, grandmother, siblings, aunts, cousins, educators, church family and other caring people around Detroit, said Dowdell, who spoke by phone on Jan. 5 from New Orleans, where she was attending the American Institute of Architecture Students Forum 2024, her first speaking engagement as AIA president. All of Detroit was the village for me, says the American Institute of Architects 100th President Kimberly Dowdell, who speaks fondly about growing up in Detroit, which included days spent in the Hubbell-Lyndon neighborhood surrounding Burns Elementary School, which Dowdell attended from kindergarten through fifth grade. With the same precision that Dowdell no doubt takes when serving clients, she took her time to explain the way some key people poured into her life. For example, Dowdell proudly made it known that from the time her older brother Michael and his wife Tiffany met as teenagers, they were a team that helped to raise Dowdell from the age of 2. From Dowdells older sister, Sabrina Nelson, an accomplished artist and educator, came support, inspiration and a shared artistic bond. Because as Dowdell puts it, architecture is a blend of art and science. And before Dowdell took advantage of scholarship opportunities that enabled her to excel as a student at Cranbrook (Class of 2001), Cornell University and Harvard University, she said her early educational experiences in and around Detroit made a lasting impact thanks to committed educators like the late Camille Dickson, Dowdells first and second grade teacher at Burns Elementary in Detroit; and Catherine Mugianis affectionately known by her students as Ms. Katie who provided Dowdell one of her first hands-on architectural experiences through an art project when Dowdell attended the Gibson School for the Gifted in Redford. Away from school and home, Dowdell says her personal growth as a young person was further aided by community institutions in Detroit, including the Detroit Windsor Dance Academy, where she stepped outside of herself to learn dance while also helping out in a gift shop where she sold leotards and tights. And, New Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where she assumed her first youth leadership position at age 7. I am who I am because of Detroit, proclaims the American Institute of Architects 100th President Kimberly Dowdell, who draws strength from her hometowns people and public art, including the monument to Joe Louis, known also as The Fist." I am who I am because of Detroit, proclaims Dowdell, the daughter of Renee Dowdell and the late Thomas Cobb, who worked in automobile factories and was a creator in his own right as the owner of a sign painting business. All of Detroit was the village for me. These days, the village that Dowdell operates in is considerably larger than the city of Detroit. While she spends considerable quality time in Detroit throughout the year which includes taking care of her mother and checking in with Lydia Griffin at Simply Chic Salon to ensure that her hair stays on-point Dowdells day job is as a principal with HOK, a global design, architecture, engineering and planning firm. Her office is based in Chicago and she says her work has increasingly become more global in nature. But as Dowdells national profile also rises as the AIA president, she says she remains focused on the original reasons that attracted her to architecture, because many of the people that have recently congratulated her on the AIA presidency also are people that she has patterned her career and life after, including Sharon Madison, who owns and operates the Julian C. Madison Building in downtown Detroit. Im inspired by Sharon Madison because she never gave up on Detroit and remained committed to downtown when most others pulled away. Im very proud of her tenacity, said Dowdell, who also cited Antoine Bryant, Tiffany Brown, Saundra Little and Rainy Hamilton as other superlative professionals in her field from Detroit that she draws strength from as she embarks on her new journey. Born and raised in Detroit, Kimberly Dowdell, the 100th president of the American Institute of Architects, says her educational journey has never ended thanks to a host of mentors who have supported her passion for creating remarkable places where people can sustainably thrive. Dowdells mentors through the years have included Sheila Johnson, center, the first Black female billionaire, who, along with Giardy Ritz, far right, joined Dowdell in downtown Detroit in 2017 following a Michigan Minority Supplier Development Conference. Dowdell also has made new friends that already have touched her deeply since becoming the AIA president, including a second-year, female architecture student attending a Historically Black College who said in a letter to Dowdell: Because you won (the AIA election), I feel my dreams can come true. And because Dowdell understands that her work and advocacy will touch far more people than she will ever hear from directly, the award-winning architect says she is constantly thinking about how she can do a little extra to help people, And that process will continue playing out on Monday, while she is observing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Part of my campaign for AIA President included challenging people to Envision New Possibilities given the historic nature of my candidacy. And in some ways, Dr. King inspires us all to look at the world through the lens of what can be versus what we currently see, explained Dowdell, who had an intimate connection to the Civil Rights Movement as a little girl through her grandmother, Nina Dowdell, whose personal phone book included the number of Rosa Parks, who Kimberly Dowdell had the special privilege of meeting while being babysat by Parks cousin Roxanne Davis when her grandmother and Parks both were residents for a time at Bicentennial Tower, 4 E. Alexandrine St., on Detroit's east side. The admiration that Kimberly Dowdell, right, has for her family shows on her face and through the flowers she presented to her older sister Sabrina Nelson, an accomplished artist and educator who describes herself as an artivist. The portrait in the background, created by Nelson, is of Dowdells grandmother, the late Nina Dowdell. When speaking of her grandmother, Kimberly Dowdell, the 100th president of the American Institute of Architects, proudly said: She taught me how to be a person. We are still embracing Dr. Kings Dream, so on Monday I will reflect on that and further work toward achieving some of my own dreams. One of those dreams is to help inspire our nations mayors to hire Chief Architects to serve as key advisers. I will actually be traveling to Washington, D.C., the day after MLK Day to speak on behalf of AIA at the U.S. Conference of Mayors. There, I will remind the mayors that architects are the civic problem solvers that they didnt know they needed. I have a dream that our cities will focus more on climate action, affordable housing and health equity. And I believe that architects are uniquely well-equipped to support mayors in these areas. Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and lifelong lover of Detroit culture in all of its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at: stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Architect Kimberly Dowdell wanted to fix old Hudson building as child 1st Congressional District Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, talks to the media at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Jan. 3, 2024. Moore introduced a bipartisan bill on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, that would reform the federal budgeting process. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, introduced a bipartisan bill Thursday alongside Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., that would reform the federal budgeting process, and give Congress the room to address the U.S. debt crisis. The Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2024 approaches the budget process as a whole, taking into account complete spending as well as revenue. It simplifies the process while allowing input from the president as well as committees in Congress. Reversing Washingtons debt culture has been one of my top priorities in Congress, and that starts with reforming our broken federal budget process, said Moore, who represents Utahs 1st District, in a press release. We must break the habit of appropriating with rushed deadlines and inefficient processes and rework our process so we can put together a strong budget with input from more members and committees. The current budgeting systems main focus is on discretionary spending, which is the money needed for federal agencies and their hundreds of programs to continue functioning. But, according to the Brookings Institute, this is only about 45% of government spending. Entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security account for another two-thirds of federal spending. They dont go through an approval process each year and are on autopilot. The rest of the spending around 8% is the interest on the mounting federal debt. Americans for Prosperity, which advocates for limited government and free market policies, applauded Moores proposal. Kurt Couchman, a senior fellow in fiscal policy, said Moore and Gluesenkamp Perez, a Democrat, have a can-do attitude that Americans deserve, in a press release. They recognize the need to fix the dangerously dysfunctional federal budget system, he said. They see that Congress hasnt been able to manage the federal budget because it doesnt do an annual budget that includes everything. Appropriations are important, but they are barely a quarter of spending and no revenue. Related Couchman recommended that Congress should fast-track the Comprehensive Congressional Budget Act of 2024. If the bill passes, the procedure would be as follows: After the Congressional Budget Office files its outlook and the president submits a request for the budget, committees would view the estimates, matching them with direct spending and revenue under their jurisdiction, of which they will be required to create a detailed breakdown. The committees would then create draft spending bills and send the packages to appropriations, where the budget would be assembled. The proposed budget would then move to the House, which may make amendments, before going to the Senate. Congress would resolve any differences between the two chambers and send the budget to the president. The existing way requires a lot more back-and-forth including activities of authorizing and appropriating and substituting a set of program committees, and is full of deadlines that are easily missed, as the late Brookings Institute scholar, Alice Rivlin, wrote in 2014. This year, too, Congress has not passed the 2024 spending bills on time, depending instead on a series of short-term bills. Currently, there is also a reconciliation process, which, at the time of any legislative policy changes to the mandatory spending or tax laws, requires the relevant committees to authorize a plan and is a way to advance the fiscal legislation. But the Byrd Rule. adopted in 1985 and amended in 1990, doesnt allow a reconciliation bill without budgetary provisions to expenditure or revenue, nor does it allow making changes to Social Security. Moores proposed bill will do away with the reconciliation process and the Byrd Rule entirely. Our national debt is a real, growing problem, affects our economy, and has been overlooked by Congress for too long, said Gluesenkamp Perez. By the beginning of 2024, the national debt rose to more than $34 trillion. The debt hit this number just three months after surpassing $33 trillion. It now equals nearly $100,000 for every American citizen and, according to data collected by the U.S. Treasury, has grown by $10 trillion since 2019. By Lee Hae-rin The Ministry of the Interior and Safetys supposed plan to modify the existing emergency exit sign to feature a character with long hair, breasts and a skirt has triggered fierce criticism, with opponents of the change claiming that associating women with such an image is outdated and sexist. Controversies began on Friday after several local news outlets quoted unidentified safety ministry officials saying the ministry was considering installing new way-finding signs with female silhouettes on emergency exit signs. Currently, emergency exit signs depict a person, which is presumed to be a man, in accordance with international standards. Since 1992, Korea has been using the green emergency exit sign that was adopted by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1987. The new sign would be used together with the existing one to better represent diversity, as complaints have sometimes arisen that the existing sign symbolizes only men, according to media reports on the issue. Many internet users said, however, that the existing emergency exit sign represents a person, not specifically a man, and stressed that visual distinctions of women are outdated. Huh Eun-ah, who served as a spokesperson for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) and recently joined former PPP leader Lee Jun-seoks new party, joined the criticism, calling the plan a waste of taxpayer money. The government must not play with peoples tax money, Huh wrote on her Facebook profile. No one thinks the emergency exit sign indicates that only men should evacuate in the event of an emergency. In response, the safety ministry and the National Fire Agency, which is in charge of the installation and maintenance of emergency signs, released a joint statement, saying, Nothing concrete has been decided. They said the illustration with a woman figure, reported by some local media, is not a draft plan proposed by the government, noting that the new signs will only be chosen after collecting opinions from experts and the public. They added, that even if a new sign is adopted, it will not be a waste of money as the new ones will not replace existing ones but be used in new installations, which should minimize any concerns around the use of public monies. Similar attempts have been made abroad. In 2020, the city of Geneva used a stylized image of a woman on half of its 500 pedestrian crosswalk signs in a move for greater diversity and gender equality. The female figure came in six different versions, including a pregnant woman, an older woman, a woman with an afro and two women holding hands. Even though snow blanketed Iowas roads and temperatures fell into the single digits Saturday afternoon, Dennis and Monica Hinkle made the 20-minute drive from their home in Tiffin outside Iowa City to see Nikki Haley speak at a packed downtown theater. Iowa officials advised staying off the road, but driving in was no big deal. Its Iowa, Dennis Hinkle said, a testament to the conviction that many voters in the state have as they continue the tradition of being the first in the country to hold a primary election. After a blizzard on Friday forced campaigns to cancel in-person events, Haley and Ron DeSantis resumed campaigning on Saturday, making their closing arguments to voters. Trump held a virtual rally Saturday evening after canceling three out of four scheduled rallies in the final hours before the caucuses. Related: Trump admits concern that icy weather could harm his support in Iowa caucuses A final poll by the renowned Iowa pollster Ann Selzer released on Saturday evening showed Trump with the support of 48% of likely caucusgoers, followed by Haley at 20%, DeSantis at 16%, and Vivek Ramaswamy at 8%. If those numbers hold, it would give Trump a record margin of victory in the caucuses, shattering Bob Doles 13-point win in 1988. Our grassroots supporters have put us in position to win, and now we have to show up to caucus for president Trump on Monday and get the job done, Trump said in response to the poll. We have to show up. Im not a lover of chaos In Iowa City, the audience of a small theatre was filled with Iowans who had decided to caucus for Haley, as well as supporters who had flown in from other states to help in the final days of the caucus. There seemed to be about as many reporters as attenders. We just like her ideas, we like her style, her positions seem to be well thought-out. Just like the way she approaches things. Im not a lover of chaos. And I think were living with it every day, said Hinkle, 71, who worked in economic development, as he filled out a small postcard committing to caucus for Haley on Monday. Moving through a 20-minute stump speech at a steady clip, Haley talked about strengthening enforcement at the US-Mexico border (When it comes to the border, it truly is a dereliction of duty), improving mental health for veterans (we cant just love em when theyre gone, weve got to love em when theyre home too) and cutting taxes (we know the rich are getting richer and the poor and getting poorer. We need to let the middle class free). She did not mention abortion at all. The crowd was silent for an extended portion of her speech when she offered a full-throated defence of supporting Ukraine and Israel. The question of continuing financial aid to Ukraine has become a sore spot among many hard-right Republicans. Haley leaned into the idea that she was best positioned to beat Joe Biden in November. A Wall Street Journal poll from last month showed she would beat Biden by 17 points in a hypothetical matchup. Trump held a four-point lead while DeSantis was tied. America cannot afford another nail-biter election, nor the risk of Kamala Harris becoming president, she said, a line that earned applause. She also suggested her relative strength compared to Biden would lead to more Republican wins lower down on the ticket. You can look at any of the polls, any of the general election polls that show head-to-head with Biden. Ron doesnt beat Biden. Trump against Biden, theyre head-to-head on a good day, she said. I defeat Biden by double digits, by 17 points. Thats more than the presidency. Thats the House. Thats the Senate. Thats governorships. Thats all the way down to the school board. That argument resonated with Jim Baker, a 61-year-old lawyer from San Diego who took off from work on Wednesday and flew in to help the campaign during the finals of the caucus. She can beat Joe Biden, he said. Shes not Donald Trump. Marionette Miller-Meeks, the areas Republican congresswoman, was supposed to introduce Haley. But Miller-Meeks was rear-ended by a semi truck on her way there. Miller-Meeks office later put out a statement that the congresswoman was uninjured. On Monday, when Republicans caucus at 7pm, temperatures are forecast to be as low as -20F (-29C) with a projected high of -4F (-20C). It is predicted to be the coldest temperature ever for an Iowa caucus. They can throw a blizzard at us, and we are going to fight In West Des Moines, DeSantis showed up more than an hour late to an event at the headquarters of Never Back Down, a Super Pac supporting him, after an earlier rally in Council Bluffs. The room was also filled to capacity with supporters and political journalists. The Florida governor was introduced by three of his biggest endorsers: Texas congressman Chip Roy, evangelical activist Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa governor Kim Reynolds. Its a little cold out there. But are we not Iowans? Are we not resilient? Reynolds said. So what we need to do is be safe of course, layer up, and we need to get to the caucus. And if we get to the caucus, I can tell you without hesitation with the energy, the motivation, just what were seeing as we travel the state this guy is going to be the winner of the Iowa caucus on Monday night. Related: Iowa caucuses are important because theyre first but are they democratic? DeSantis also used the weather to energise his supporters. They can throw a blizzard at us, and we are going to fight. They can throw wind chill at us, and we are going to fight, he said. Its going to be cold. Its not going to be pleasant. But if youre willing to go out there and youre willing to fight for me, if youre willing to bring people to the caucus, if youre willing to brave the elements and be there for the couple hours that you have to be there, if youre willing to do that and youre willing to fight for me on Monday night, then as president Ill be fighting for you for the next eight years every single day. Vander Plaats told reporters after the event that until this year, he thought Ted Cruz, the winner of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, had the best ground game in Iowa he had seen. DeSantis organisation was light-years ahead, of that effort. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur, also had events scheduled in the state on Saturday, but drew a last-minute attack from Trump. Even though Ramaswamy has strongly backed Trump, the former president said he was not Maga. A vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this, Trump said in a Saturday post on Truth Social. Asa Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor who has outlasted many better-known rivals in the race, held a town hall in Des Moines Saturday at a co-working space that was attended by about 75 people. He was asked about rebuilding public trust in government, gun violence and concerns over democracy surviving. There are still undecided voters out there in Iowa today Im playing to win because if youre not playing to win, you drop out, Hutchinson said. Ive worked very hard during this campaign to keep expectations low. Ive been very successful, he said to laughs. So here in Iowa, I have an opportunity to exceed expectations. There are few assassination techniques quite so effective as the double tap. For those of you unschooled in the dark arts, this requires getting up close and personal with the target and delivering two quick shots to the back of the head. This is much easier if the target knows you ... and trusts you. So, some of us at the Multi-Lakes Conservation Association on Jan. 6 found it curious that we heard only single shots being fired on the gun range that shared a wall with the meeting room where Michigan Republican Party activists gathered behind closed doors to decide the fate of their leader. Nevertheless, by the time the shooting and the shouting was over, a metaphorical double tap had been delivered to the head of the state party. The would-be coup de grace came courtesy of Chairwoman Kristina Karamo's own hand-picked lieutenants, who fired shots heard 'round the state. MIGOP chair Kristina Karamo speaks to reporters before former President Donald Trump speaks at Drake Enterprise in Clinton Township on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023. The irony of Republicans overthrowing a Trump loyalist on the same date that, three years ago, Trump loyalists tried to prevent what they considered the overthrow of Trump, was not lost on some of us literally and figuratively standing out in the cold. What may have been lost on the would-be assassins is that when you set out to kill the king or, in this case, the queen you better finish the job. Hours after the putative purge of Karamo, general counsel Dan Hartman and a couple of the top GOP officials who had not already defected, the party's official communications email account referred to the Republican revolutionaries as a "rogue cabal of anti-grassroots establishment operatives." Not to be outdone, Hartman, who, depending on whom you believe, is the party's current or former top lawyer, posted a video after the confab in Commerce Township in which he called it "an illegal meeting" involving "an organized group of usurpers." Michigan Republican Party state committee member Darlene Doetzel, who rushed from Shelby Township to Commerce Township to support Karamo. "Let's call it what it is," she told reporters huddling outside the gun range. "They're all white in there. ... This is racial." If you're looking for a measure of how divided state Republicans are these days, accusing each other of racism is a pretty good yardstick. Karamo, by the way, is Black. MIGOP, which is what the party calls itself, is in the red. The reason most of Karamo's critics say they want her gone is because she has shown no talent for raising the green. But she sure can raise a ruckus! Michigan Republicans counting on the Republican National Committee to confirm Karamo's ouster were sorely disappointed when there was still no word from Washington by Friday. Supporters of Michigan Republican Party Chair Kristina Karamo protest Saturday outside of a meeting of state committee members considering Karamo's ouster on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. On Saturday, one week after Karamo's critics claimed they canned her in a 40-5 vote, Karamo announced that she had been reaffirmed as chair in a 59-1 vote after a state committee meeting that was scheduled to take place in Houghton Lake. "This is a happy day of remembrance," Karamo was quoted in an email MIGOP sent out Saturday afternoon, "because it represents a renewed unification of spirit and purpose within the Michigan Republican Party." Of all the adjectives that could be used to describe the state GOP these days, the only ones that clearly don't apply are any variation of "unity." And, right on cue, less than a half-hour after the Karamo email, a group called "Save Michigan," announced that, no, Karamo really is out, and it has scheduled an election for a new chair for next Saturday in Lansing. If the liberal use of italics in that last sentence didn't convey just how wacky things are getting for Michigan Republicans these days, perhaps it will help to reflect on how we got here and where we're headed. The cure may be worse than the disease If Karamo is looking for a motto to define her tenure as MIGOP chair, she might settle on: "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you." I was at the MIGOP convention in February where Karamo's messianic zeal helped her defeat rivals who had more money, more coordination and even more support from Donald Trump in the race for party chair. The challenges then, as now, were uniting the party, growing the party and raising money. Conventioneers cheered her faith-heavy, populist pitch, as well as her disdain for the deep-pocketed businesspeople and families who have traditionally provided the bulk of the state party's resources. Among the amenities these benefactors provided over the years is the party's Lansing headquarters, which Karamo declined to move into but is now trying to gain control of to help stave off financial disaster. The party's summer leadership conference on Mackinac Island, traditionally a fundraising event that attracts prominent Republicans with national profiles, instead featured an actor who once played Jesus and who charged MIGOP $110,000 to attend, putting further strain on the party's finances. Karamo addressed concerns about the Mackinac event in October when she attended a meeting of the Macomb County Republican Party. She said GOP presidential candidates were invited, but were told not to attend (Vivek Ramaswamy was the sole exception). "This whole deep-state thing is real," Karamo said, without elaborating. While I have had no luck over the past year or so getting Karamo to respond to my requests for an interview including my latest request, sent Tuesday she was cool and calm as she addressed every question asked during that October grilling in Shelby Township. "The goal of this party is not to become a country club, it's to save our country," Karamo said, as many in the blue-collar crowd nodded in approval. In a bit of foreshadowing, she later said: "If we all go down in flames, so be it." To accusations she has become insular as criticism and the party's problems mounted, she replied: "I am, because I get stabbed in the back." Nevertheless, Karamo stayed after the meeting adjourned and spoke to everyone including me who lined up. When a supporter inquired about the party's debt, Karamo accused her predecessor Ron Weiser of being in cahoots with the party's bank, which she claimed didn't require collateral when it loaned MIGOP money. She also told me $13,750 the party paid her in June was back pay. Campaign finance records I reviewed indicate Karamo did not receive her first paycheck until May, which was more than two months after she was elected chairwoman. I had recently written about her work history and speculated on what her annual salary might be. When I mentioned my column, she said she stopped taking full payment for her services after assessing the party's financial difficulties. The message from Team Karamo then and now is that critics are out to thwart their mission to shift the balance of power in the state Republican Party from the high-and-mighty to the rank-and-file. They have shown arguably more disdain for RINOs which is short for "Republicans In Name Only," a pejorative generally used for moderates or anyone who accepts the irrefutable results of elections than Democrats. While it's true RINOs take up a lot of room, Karamo and her dwindling cadre of supporters don't seem to care that the tent they pitched now has so much empty space they could accommodate a herd of hippos where the RINOs and a whole lot of other disillusioned elephants once stood. Nevertheless, one of Karamo's aides proudly proclaimed on that October night in Shelby Township that MIGOP now stands for "principle before money without compromise." That's a noble, if unrealistic, notion for a party desperate to restore the majorities in the state House and Senate that it lost in 2022. It takes money big money to win. Karamo & Co. know this, but they believe the key to victory is purging Republicans who aren't pure enough. In their book, as in the Good Book, cleanliness is next to godliness. And they believe they are on a divine mission to save democracy, as the Karamo aide made clear when he told the Macomb County Republicans: "We must elect constitutionalists to save our children from tyranny." This kind of rhetoric concerns onetime Karamo supporters, who have begun to rethink the wisdom of running off the RINOs (and their checkbooks). They also believe the stakes are high and the end is nigh they're just worried Karamo's 10 months on the job may have moved the date of the apocalypse up to Nov. 5. Ready ... Aim ... Crossfire! With his red "TRUMP WAS RIGHT" ball cap pulled down to his eyebrows, Warren Carpenter flashed an impish grin on Jan. 6 as he offered candid assessments of what's next for MIGOP. It's very late in the election cycle, but he tells me Republicans can still rally. "I think we've got a lot of time with the right new chair," said the Oakland County Republican activist who became so disillusioned with Karamo that he went from supporter to leader of the effort to oust her. The question now is who has the power to declare whether the post of chair is bare. With the RNC keeping its peace, Carpenter has said he will ask a judge to decide. In the meantime, candidates are sizing up their chances. Sources tell me Tudor Dixon, the 2022 Republican candidate for governor, is contacting potential supporters. Failed University of Michigan Board of Regents and congressional candidate Lena Epstein also is believed to be interested. Save Michigan listed her as one of the three candidates expected to compete for the job next Saturday in Lansing. Gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon and Lt. Gov. candidate Shane Hernandez wave at supporters after delegate votes were being reported during the MIGOP State Nominating Convention at the Lansing Center in Lansing on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. One of the other candidates Save Michigan listed, Oakland County Republican Party Chairman Vance Patrick, was seen as a leading contender after the Commerce Township coup. But after the chaos that ensued, I'd be surprised to see him do more than allow his name to be put forward. The third candidate Save Michigan mentioned is former congressman Pete Hoekstra, who was Michigan co-chair of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and later served as Trump's ambassador to the Netherlands. Pete Hoekstra. Hoekstra grew up in west Michigan and worked as an executive for furniture maker Herman Miller before unseating longtime incumbent Republican congressman Guy Vander Jagt in 1992. In 2010, he finished second to Rick Snyder in the race for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. In 2012, he lost to incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Hoekstra is seen as someone who can quickly help get MIGOP's finances in order. He said unifying Republicans is the party's biggest challenge and the money matters can be worked out. "I've talked to other people who have been involved in financing the party before," Hoekstra told me Wednesday, adding that, under the right circumstances, "they're interested in coming back." Hoekstra said he didn't run for party chair last February because he didn't think he could win. On Saturday, even after a week filled with dueling claims and enough crossfire to make at least one candidate duck for cover, Hoekstra confirmed to me that he's still in the race. Despite the drama, this could still be a big year for Republicans in Michigan. Former governor Rick Snyder is reportedly raising loads of bread to help retake the state House, where Democrats have held a slim majority. Polls show President Joe Biden vulnerable to a Trump Restoration. And Democrats retiring or pursuing other opportunities are leaving two U.S. House seats in competitive districts and a U.S. Senate seat up for grabs. Hoekstra believes national Republican Party funders could spend heavily in Michigan, if only the MIGOP wasn't such a mess. "We've got to get our act together and we've got to convince outside groups that ... investing in Michigan is a good investment," he said. A prolonged struggle for control of the party won't help repair the perceived damage Karamo has done. She has made it clear she will not step aside. She is, in every sense, a true believer. And state Republican Party chair is the best job she's ever had. If MIGOP somehow finds enough money to pay her the $130,000 or so she's entitled to as poobah of the pachyderms, it also will be her most lucrative gig. Karamo appeared on Fox 2's "Let It Rip" days before the Jan. 6 meeting and said: "If I am lawfully removed, absolutely I will go away. But that's the problem. They have not followed the process." Since she still refuses to concede the 2022 race for Michigan Secretary of State that she lost by 14 percentage points, and buoyed by Saturday's 59-1 vote, Karamo is poised to prove what every hunter already knows: There's nothing more dangerous than wounded prey. M.L. Elrick is a Pulitzer Prize- and Emmy Award-winning investigative reporter and host of the ML's Soul of Detroit podcast. Contact him at mlelrick@freepress.com or follow him on X at @elrick, Facebook at ML Elrick and Instagram at ml_elrick. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Republicans aim to take out their chair, setting off firefight The Prime Minister is rightly taking further action to deliver the Governments Rwanda plan, with deliberations over the Safety of Rwanda Bill expected to resume in the House of Commons this week. However, as many of his critics have warned, the proposed legislation may not do as promised, and may instead produce yet more legal delay. In the long term, the UK will almost certainly have to leave the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which is constraining the ability of British governments to fulfil their responsibilities to the voters. In the meantime, however, Mr Sunak needs at the very least to be certain that his plan will actually work. In its current form, there are serious doubts hanging over the proposals. In particular, there are fears that migrants will still be able to block deportation by arguing that they have individual grounds for claiming that Rwanda would be an unsafe destination. Senior Tories, including the former home secretary Suella Braverman, are signalling that they will not vote for the current bill unless its provisions are strengthened. Whether or not Mr Sunak is confident that he could face down a rebellion, what matters is whether the legislation will do what the public expects and deter the Channel crossings. Is the Prime Minister sure that his Bill will do this? If not, the Government should look favourably on some of the amendments that have been proposed, including the 16 tabled by Sir Bill Cash and Robert Jenrick. These proposals have been drawn up with distinguished legal advice, and have attracted the support of swathes of the Tory Right. Mr Sunak must show leadership, and strengthen the bill even if he risks angering Tory wets, too many of whom appear to prefer signalling their virtue to stopping the boats. The Conservative Party needs to face up to its immigration problem: a large proportion of the public no longer trusts it on this issue. They have been let down time after time, and their patience is now at an end. With the partys electoral survival already hanging by a thread, it cannot go to the polls without a Rwanda bill that actually works. 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. The first round of candidates aiming to earn their Green Beret this year will have the chance this month, according to a news release from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. The candidates will take their final test for the Special Forces Qualifications Course, known as Robin Sage. The exercise spans multiple North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee counties beginning Thursday and running through Feb. 1, the release stated. The unconventional warfare exercise is the final test for soldiers going through the Special Forces Qualifications Course at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School based out of Fort Liberty before determining if they move on to an assignment with one of the Army's Special Forces units. Candidates are placed in a (simulated) environment of political instability characterized by armed conflict, forcing soldiers to analyze and solve problems to meet the challenges of this real-world training, the news release stated. Throughout the exercise, military, civilian personnel and community volunteers serve as support and role players to provide realism to the exercise, the news release stated. Service members from units across Fort Liberty will also act as opposing forces and guerrilla freedom fighters. We appreciate the support and consideration the citizens of North Carolina extend to the soldiers participating in the exercise and thank them for their understanding of any inconveniences the training may cause, the news release stated. Special Forces candidates clear their final "combat target" Sept. 29, 2023, at Curtis L. Brown, Jr. Field Airport in Elizabethtown, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage. Where the exercise will be held The news release said the training nearby will be held in Bladen, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore and Robeson counties. Other North Carolina areas where the training is are Avery, Alamance, Anson, Brunswick, Cabarrus, Chatham, Columbus, Davidson, Duplin, Guilford, Montgomery, Randolph, Richmond, Rowan, Sampson, Scotland, Stanly, Union and Wake counties. The South Carolina counties are Chesterfield, Dillon and Marlboro, while Carter County in Tennessee was also named as a location. Special Forces candidates hit their final "combat target" Sept. 29, 2023, at Curtis L. Brown, Jr. Field Airport in Elizabethtown, during the final phase of field training known as Robin Sage. Safety precautions Residents may hear blank gunfire and see occasional flares, the news release stated. All of the exercises movements are coordinated with public safety officials within the towns and counties hosting the training, according to the news release. For the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, safety is always the command's top priority during all training events, the news release stated. The precaution of contacting local law enforcement is the result of a deadly mishap. On Feb. 23, 2002, a Moore County deputy who said he was not notified about the exercise, shot two Robin Sage soldiers dressed in civilian clothing. Army First Lt. Tallas Tomeny was killed and Sgt. Stephen Phelps was injured. Tomenys estate settled a lawsuit against the Moore County Sheriff's Office in October 2009. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed. According to the suit, the soldiers believed the deputy was an actor taking part in the Robin Sage exercise, and the deputy, unaware of the exercise, shot Tomeny during a struggle and shot Phelps as he tried to flee. Organizers of the latest exercise said controls are in place to ensure there is no risk to people or property. The safety protocols include notifying local law enforcement agencies, clearly marking training areas and vehicles, and any students dressed in civilian clothes, will wear distinctive orange or brown armbands. Robin Sages origins Robin Sage is held four times a year and involves veterans, volunteers and law enforcement from area communities, some of whom portray guerilla fighters. The first exercise was held in Robbins in 1952. The exercise was first called Robin Sage in 1974, according to the Army, and replaced earlier exercises known as Operation Snowdrop, Cherokee Trail and Gobblers Woods. It is named in part after Col. Jerry Sage, who spent time in the Office of Strategic Services and was a prisoner of war held by Nazis while serving during World War II. Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528. This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Special Forces Robin Sage exercise to span across North Carolina Trucks in the queue at the Porubne-Siret border crossing. Photo: Getty Images Farmers in Romania once again blocked lorry traffic through the Siret checkpoint on the border with Ukraine on 14 January. Source: State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), as reported by European Pravda Details: At about 14:00, Ukrainian border guards were informed by the Romanian border police that Romanian farmers and agrarians have blocked traffic on the Siret checkpoint, located opposite Ukrainian checkpoint Porubne. SBGS specified that all types of vehicles and pedestrians are being registered for departure from Ukraine according to the established procedure. Background: On Saturday, 13 January, a similar blockade of the traffic in the territory of Romania lasted for six hours. In the evening Romanian farmers lifted the blockade. Romania has become one of the key countries for transit of Ukrainian products after the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the blockade of sea routes. Its role has grown after the embargo on the import of Ukrainian agricultural products was implemented by several countries in Eastern Europe, as well as after several checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border from Polands side were blocked. Support UP or become our patron! Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis hit out at former President Donald Trump on Sunday, issuing a warning to Republican voters just one day before the crucial Iowa Caucuses. DeSantis in an interview with ABCs This Week was asked to deliver his closing argument to Iowa voters on the eve of the first GOP contest of the 2024 presidential election. The Florida governor said the former president is running for his issues, while hes running for your issues and your family's issues. DeSantis accused the former president of failing to deliver on his signature 2016 and 2020 campaign promises, such as building a wall along Americas southern border. He also accused Trump of being distracted by his four sets of criminal charges, investigations into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and other legal challenges. I think that ends up focusing the election on things that are going to be advantageous for Democrats because you're not going to be talking about the border. You're not going to be talking about the economy. You're going to be talking about all these things to make the election a referendum on Donald Trump, DeSantis said. But DeSantis on Sunday didnt reserve his criticism for for the Republican frontrunner. He also hit out at former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, accusing her of picking up support from independents, not core GOP voters. She is not getting support from conservatives. She's relying on Democrat-leaning independents for her support in the primary, and that's just not the way you can win and galvanize support from the party faithful," DeSantis said. Trump in the latest Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa Poll led among independents in the Hawkeye State, garnering support from 37% of independent voters who plan to caucus with Republicans. Haley followed with 33%, but independents and Democrats make up half of Haleys support going into Caucus Day, the poll shows. Among Haleys supporters, 39% identify as independents and 11% identify as Democrats. Contributing: Brianne Pfannenstiel, Des Moines Register This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ron DeSantis hits Donald Trump, Nikki Haley ahead of Iowa Caucuses STEM brain drain casts shadow on Korea's future Pursuing a career as a doctor seems to be rewarding in many ways. Its a rare profession allowing job holders to receive respect, relatively higher income and job security as well. Behind such known perks, there is also a price paid. Courses are exceptionally demanding, creating a challenging environment for students. The rigor of their academic schedules often makes it difficult for medical students to strike a balance between coursework and social life. Moreover, the gravity of the profession adds to the pressure, as doctors bear significant responsibilities, dealing with matters of life and death. Gaining admission to medical schools is highly competitive due to stringent selection processes. In Korea, the field's popularity continues to grow steadily. It makes sense that a program teaching students with the highest in-demand field of education attracts top-performing students in their fields. But it becomes somewhat nonsensical when highly talented students are exclusively pursuing medical schools from an early age, despite having diverse aptitudes and interests in other areas. If such a trend persists, it signals a problem in society, indicating that the Ivory Tower is no longer viewed as a place for holistic learning. In a society dominated by this mindset, universities risk becoming mere cookie-cutters, repetitively producing the same types of "products" without nurturing a diverse range of skills and talents. Korea is grappling with the consequences of the craze for medical schools. Medical schools were popular in the past, but their popularity has gone too far in recent years as almost all smart students go for them. This, in turn, leads to higher competition for already competitive medical schools, causing a brain drain at science and engineering departments. In a recent media interview, Son Woong-jung, the father of Tottenham Hotspurs striker Son Heung-min in the English Premier League, expressed cynicism regarding the fervor among Koreans for medical schools. "(What's happening in Korea is) just insane," he bluntly remarked when asked to share his thoughts on the overwhelming popularity of medical schools among students. He criticized parents for allegedly pushing their children to go to medical school. They treat their children as if they are their belongings, and by doing so, they are ruining their childrens future. His criticism is fair to some extent. The frenzy for medical schools in Korea is primarily driven by parents. Many parents want their children to live a fulfilling life without worrying about financial troubles and job insecurity. Becoming a doctor clicked in their minds as a profession that they perceive to meet all conditions for a rewarding career, making it a rare and coveted choice. The unwavering dedication of some Korean parents to secure admission for their children into medical schools exceeds the imagination of those outside the country. Kids are thrown into the world of very competitive pre-med classes since fourth grade. Children are enrolled in off-campus afterschool programs at private academies where they study middle school-level math in advance. As they progress through their classes, they delve into high school-level math before even entering high school. Due to years of dedicated study and rigorous learning of intensive, advanced math courses, some students achieve high scores in the college entrance exams, securing admission to medical schools. However, not all students succeed, and those who fall short often opt for engineering or science departments as a second choice. Some may take a gap year to retake the college entrance exam and reapply to medical schools. Students dropping out of college to apply to medical schools are increasingly becoming a headache for universities. University authorities are wrestling with an unwanted reshuffle every year because of a drop in enrolled students. A recent survey shows that the dropout rate for students majoring in engineering and science stands at 5.2 percent, which is double the dropout rate observed for students in humanities and social sciences. Universities fill the gap by accepting transfer students. Last year, nearly 40,000 students transferred to other universities. The number of transfer students has kept increasing since 2019. The intense pursuit of medical schools comes at a price. At the personal level, children are forced to choose a career as doctors when they are very young. Their demanding parents drive their children to choose medical schools as their dream program. For these young aspiring doctors, the decision to pursue a career in medicine is not their own, but rather their parents'. This suggests that these children may end up living someone else's lives rather than their own. The problem is more serious at the national level. Brain drains in engineering and science departments will deal a blow to Koreas economy. As high-achieving students aspire to enter medical schools, there is a noticeable brain drain affecting engineering, science, and other departments. The fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) are crucial for Korea's future, serving as the cornerstone of education that cultivates critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students. The brain drain in STEM fields, driven by the intense competition for medical school admission, is feared to leave Korea inadequately prepared for the future. A comedian carrying a gold trophy interrupted to walk up and thank Ron DeSantis for his 'participation' in the 2024 presidential race As Ron DeSantis braved Iowas icy roads and temperatures well below zero to meet supporters in a small community room, he faced an awkward encounter. A comedian carrying a gold trophy interrupted to walk up and thank the Republican presidential candidate for his participation in the 2024 race. Governor DeSantis, I want to present to you this participation trophy, he told him. Now, [youre] probably not gonna win the election, right? But were proud of you for trying, the man added. Hes special, hes unique, and hes our little snowflake. Mr DeSantis did not take the gift. It was the latest humiliation for the 45-year-old Florida governor in his bruising quest to reach the White House. Once seen as the candidate who could finally loosen Donald Trumps hold over the Republican Party, Mr DeSantiss support has been falling amid months of wooden campaigning and staffing woes. But he still believes he can surprise the critics, and the polls. I will brave whatever is thrown at me, he said. Nothing is handed to you in life. He faces his first electoral test on Monday when Republicans across Iowa will venture out in blizzard-like conditions to cast their vote, and kick start the contest to crown the partys 2024 nominee. But if the final poll of the Iowa campaign highly respected among pundits is to be believed, Mr DeSantis could be in for a humiliating night. The Des Moines Register poll found Mr DeSantis has been leapfrogged by Nikki Haley, who has jumped to 20 per cent, while he has dropped three points, to 16 per cent. Mr Trump continues to dominate with 48 per cent. The poll is particularly stinging because Mr DeSantis has gambled all on a strong showing in Iowa, hoping it would give him the momentum to catapult through the other early states and shatter Mr Trumps aura of invincibility. Since his landslide re-election as governor of Florida in 2022, Mr DeSantis, a Navy veteran with a telegenic family and an Ivy League education, has been feted as a potential future Republican president. The 2022 elections were disastrous for the GOP, whose predicted red wave in the US Congress failed to materialise. Defy the odds Mr DeSantis was one of the few Republicans to defy the odds not just winning re-election but taking districts Democrats had held for years. The result saw him achieve the once unthinkable: overtaking the 77-year-old former president in the polls. His presidential bid has since followed a time-tested formula for success. He has toured all 99 counties in Iowa, a state which is bigger than England. He has courted the states large and influential Evangelical base with his promotion of a six-week abortion ban and attacks on transgender rights, winning the backing of key figures among the Christian right. Kim Reynolds, Iowas popular Republican governor, has even risked Mr Trumps wrath by giving Mr DeSantis her endorsement. But the convention-defying Mr Trump has broken the Iowa formula, achieving a commanding lead in the state despite largely campaigning from his home in Florida. Mr DeSantis knows that humiliation in Iowa will prematurely doom his 2024 bid and could even jeopardise a second attempt in 2028. Some pundits speculate he could quit the race immediately if he places third in the Hawkeye State. David Polyansky, the campaigns deputy manager, insisted this would not be the case. He told The Telegraph: He continues to improve and improve and when we get a shot at Donald Trump, which we are going to do when Nikki Haley drops out of South Carolina and she will then well see. To signal their intent, Mr DeSantis will head straight from Iowa to South Carolina, the fourth state to vote in the contest, and the home of Ms Haley. Nikki Haley has leapfrogged DeSantis in final polls before Iowans vote on Monday - Win McNamee/Getty Images Fired up Were not stopping. Were finally fired up and excited for the opportunity, Mr DeSantis told a group of reporters, including The Telegraph, at an event at Jethros BBQ restaurant in Ames, central Iowa. He had just completed a question and answer session with voters, fielding questions on Joe Bidens strikes on Houthi rebels, how he would negotiate with Congress, and education policy. The event in the backroom of the BBQ restaurant was interrupted three times by climate protesters, but those who had endured the bitter winds to come and hear Mr DeSantis were not disappointed. Mike Powers, a 65-year-old business owner, said that Mr DeSantis and Mr Trump arent that far apart on the key issues. He believes the governor has proved a lot more successful in implementing the changes that need to happen than the former president, and would bring lot less chaos to the White House. Retiree Kent Haten, on the other hand, was unconvinced. He has never caucused before, but at 74, has decided to venture out on Monday night to cast his ballot probably for Mr Trump. Unsettling times I really liked DeSantis, he said, but notes Mr Trump has four years of Oval Office experience, a comfort in these unsettling times. The Iowa caucuses, Mr Haten jokes, are on his bucket list. A quirk of the US election system, they have set the tempo of the presidential race since 1972. Unlike states that hold primaries, Iowa requires voters to caucus - gather in person to hear speeches from a representative for each candidate, and then cast a ballot for the one that has convinced them. Republican presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis, campaigning with his son Mason in Iowa - CHRISTIAN MONTERROSA//AFP via Getty Images The nature of the system means the strength of a candidates grassroots organisation recruiting volunteers to ensure voters show up on the night and stump for them is critical. Allies of Mr DeSantis believe he has the upper hand here. They have at least one precinct captain to mobilise voters at each of Iowas more than 1,600 precincts. Wee still pushing for first or a close second, a source in the DeSantis orbit told The Telegraph. Whether that is delusional remains to be seen. Regardless of what happens on Monday those who know Mr DeSantis believe he will stay in the race until early March. One source said they would be stunned if Mr DeSantis dropped out soon, even if he ranked fifth in Iowa. Hes stubborn as hell, the source said. I dont see him doing anything different until after South Carolina, they said. 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. The excitement and furor has focused on Secretary of State Shenna Bellows decision to exclude Donald Trump from the Maine ballot but a step of potentially far more consequence for future presidential elections played out Monday in a small State House committee room. The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee is considering whether Maine should join the National Popular Vote Compact (NPVC), already adopted by 17 other states. It would cast each states electoral votes for the winner of the national popular vote, rather than the popular vote within each state. This simple change would have a revolutionary effect: For the first time, Americans would elect their president directly, rather than relying on states to do it for them. Douglas Rooks While past compact bill hearings, six in all, were sleepy affairs, the one on LD 1578 lasted most of the day and attracted a wide range of opinions and theories. The most compelling to me and other advocates is that it is long past time to abandon an indirect election for president, especially when two of our last four presidents were outpolled by their opponents. Considering that this is the most important office in the nation, if not the world, it defies logic that we still allow states to stand in for the Republics actual voters. It makes no more sense than having counties elect the governor. The problems with the elector system there is no electoral college since electors never meet go back to the beginning. Although there are no records from the Constitutional Convention in 1787 we have only James Madisons notes its obvious there couldnt be a direct election. The notorious three-fifths clause partially counted slaves in the electors each state would have, even though these enslaved people had no rights at all, let alone a right to vote. When slavery and the three-fifths clause were abolished by the 13th Amendment, the elector provisions should have been, but were not. It had been four decades since the 1824 elections resolution in the House of Representatives, and memories are short. The popular winner and the electoral winner are usually the same only five of 58 presidential elections produced a minority president. Unfortunately, two occurred in our own time, with profound consequences. In 2000, George W. Bush was awarded the presidency by the 5-4 Republican majority of the Supreme Court after the court halted recounts in Florida, the last contested state. Although Donald Trump clearly won all the states in his 2016 electoral column, he did so with razor-thin margins in a handful of Midwestern states, finishing nearly three million votes behind his opponent, Hillary Clinton. The same fate could have befallen Joe Biden in 2020, had small margins been reversed in Georgia, Arizona, Wisconsin and Michigan despite Biden winning by seven million votes nationally. Those states became central to Trumps ambition to steal the election by using fake elector slates. If fraud is a concern, you should definitely support a national popular vote. No one can fix a national election, and no presidential election has been close enough to create widespread doubt. Until 2016, support for the popular vote was overwhelming and bipartisan. Even Trump said while campaigning that the candidate with the most votes should win, though he afterward reversed course. Current opposition in Maine focuses on three points: that Maines votes would be crowded out by big cities, that it gets more representation through the electoral vote, and that splitting the vote between two congressional districts is optimal. None stands up to scrutiny. Cities wont vote for president the way states now do. Maine, collectively, will get exactly as much influence as it deserves based on population; all votes will count equally. Though it appears Maine benefits from the elector system which adds two senators to the Congressional delegation its robust voter turnout means it would have more clout than states where turnout, shockingly, remains below 50%. Finally, the two-district system, enacted in 1969 through a bill sponsored by the youthful Rep. John Martin, imperfectly represents voters. In Maine, Trump received 44% of the popular vote in 2016 and 2020 but only 25% of the electoral vote; at least here his support was undercounted. The popular votes major benefit is that we would stop fixating on individual states, both during the campaign and while votes are counted. The only thing that would matter is which president a majority of Americans want to have. I can think of no better way to revive confidence in our elections, and renew our dedication to the Declaration of Independences key idea in this case, that all voters are created equal. Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter since 1984. His new book, Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910, is available in bookstores and at www.melvillefuller.com. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: The candidate who wins the popular vote should be president Last week, we revealed that the Navy had to decommission two warships to staff its new class of frigates - Alamy Stock Photo Ric Cole was 19 years old when, in 1995, he joined the Royal Marines as a young Commando. Hed applied for three services Royal Marines, Army and RAF but picked the Marines, he says, partly because they immediately offered him a job. And, he adds wryly, I think the biggest motivator for me was that a lot of people said I couldnt do it. I wasnt particularly sporty, in the traditional sense. I wasnt big or strong Im not a stereotypical Commando. Nevertheless, in the intervening three decades, Cole, 48, has reached the rank of Major and served around the world. The proudest moment of his military career, however, he says is easy it was earning my Green Beret and being presented it at the end of the 30-miler, the final Commando Test. Speak to almost any Marine, retired or serving, and youll hear a similar tale of loyalty and pride. It was life-changing for me, says Ben Brabyn, who spent five years as a Marine in the 1990s. The Marines transforms the people who they recruit for the better not just for those people, but for all of us. Britain, he declares, could never have enough Royal Marines. Hard to argue with when you think that last year alone, the Marines were dispatched to Sudan to organise a last-minute evacuation of British citizens; patrolled Gulf waters for pirates and drug smugglers; deployed to Norway to practise combat training in the extreme cold; trained almost 1,000 of their Ukrainian counterparts; and took part in Nato drills in Finland. Youre surrounded by men of very similar values, morals, ethics, who have self-imposed high standards, both personally and professionally, agrees Marines veteran Mark Ormrod MBE, a triple amputee who was hit by an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2007, resulting in the amputation of both legs and his right arm. They are men that want to do their bit to help and make the world a better place and men who are not only not afraid but excited by pushing themselves mentally and physically to the limits of what they can do. Its a very difficult thing to do, which is what makes me proud, he says. Intake for both the Navy and the Marines dropped by 22.1 per cent in the year to March 2023 - Moment Mobile ED Asked what sums up the Corps, Brabyn cites a former Marine named Lee Spencer, now a world-record-holding rower, who served for 24 years but then lost a leg not in the theatre of war, but stopping to help someone in a car accident, when flying debris from another crash tore off his limb. Its that unselfishness, anonymously delivered on a dark motorway, as much as any danger faced in warfare, says Brabyn, sounding emotional. Unselfishness, cheerfulness and adaptability. Its a real family, says another former Marines officer. Weve all lived in the same camp, and bled in the same camp. The number of Marines living and bleeding alongside each other, however, is dwindling. Figures published earlier this week show that the Royal Navy currently fields just 5,500 Royal Marines Commandos, with barely enough to field a brigade: a depressing state of affairs for the men (and a smattering of extremely tough women) that the Navy dubs the worlds most elite amphibious force and a jewel in the defence crown. They are just the latest set of numbers to lay bare the crisis in the Royal Navy traditionally Britains Senior Service as a whole. Intake for both the Navy and the Marines dropped by 22.1 per cent in the year to March 2023; last week, The Telegraph revealed that the Navy has so few sailors that it has had to decommission two warships to staff its new class of frigates. Royal Navy currently fields just 5,500 Royal Marines Commandos, according to figures published earlier this year - Hulton Archive The Defence Secretary Grant Shappss latest proposal for the service is to retire the amphibious assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark without which Marines Commandos would be unable to storm beaches from the sea, historically one of their central purposes. The move has been dubbed the beginning of the end for the Royal Marines; a petition to reverse the decision received nearly 30,000 signatures in six months. So whats going on? Does nobody want to be a Marine anymore? And if not, can the Corps survive? Theres no doubt that you have to be tough to serve in this elite force. Marines selection is one of the longest and most physically demanding infantry training courses in the world, lasting 32 weeks for Commandos and 15 months for Commando officers as the famous 1970s advertising campaign put it, 99.9 per cent need not apply. In 2020, MOD figures revealed upwards of 20,000 people applied to join the Corps yearly, with only 400 making it in. As Cole puts it, Joining the Royal Marines taught me a lot about my limits and how far I can push myself it was a great environment in which to grow up. Marines, as a rapid-response force, are asked to undergo the toughest of missions at the shortest of notice witness their current deployment to the Red Sea fighting Houthi rebels. Only the Royal Marines are trained to operate at sea and on land, points out Cole. The Commandos are also undergoing a transformational process to convert from a special operations-capable unit into a fully fledged special operations force under the Future Commando Force plans; its perhaps not surprising that Marines already make up almost 50 per cent of Special Forces, or that they are so disproportionately represented in senior leadership positions across all three services: the current Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff is a Royal Marine, as are the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Joint Operations. In 2020, MOD figures revealed 20,000 people applied to join the regiment yearly, with only 400 making it in - Hulton Archive But while the ethos of the Corps, and the demands made of the Marines, have remained much the same over the decades, circumstances, and the recruits themselves, have subtly changed. For a start, Britain is not officially at least currently at war (Red Sea strikes against Houthi rebels aside), and to fight wars is why a lot of people join. More broadly, general employment rates are strong in Britain right now, and wages relatively high, so theres less incentive to sign up to fight for King and country. And, says one anonymous serving Commando, the offer for service personnel aint what it used to be. Its not just pay which for a Commando starts at 20,000 after initial training and goes up to 51,000 (officer salaries start at 31,000) its everything else that comes with the job, from extremely short-notice or long deployments, to old and dilapidated housing stock. And once youve gone through Marines training, the lure of the private sector can be strong; Royal Marines are a corps of specialists, and as such our talents are in demand in the private sector, where pay is better, admits Cole. That is a simple reality to which there is no easy fix. Then theres the issue of what being a Marine demands (crumbling housing and all) versus the quality of recruits. And no, its not just the physical demands. The type of people who join the Marines, says the former officer, are inquisitive, intelligent individuals. They want to do the business, and if they cant, they want to do something else. But the recruitment process can take up to six months from when someone walks into the recruitment office which means some potential candidates are lost to other employment during the long wait. And adds the former officer, albeit tentatively this is also Gen Z were talking about. Not only are they the instant generation demanding everything right now, at the click of a button (which makes a six-month wait even more interminable) they also, says the former officer, want the Gucci kit featured in recruitment manuals, not least to show off on their social media feeds, while many of todays younger recruits (you can join from 16) dont want to be too far from home and its comforts. It is, says the former officer, staggering that the latter should be the case. (You want to be nearer home? Go and work in Tesco.) Pay for a Commando starts at 20,000 after initial training and goes up to 51,000 - Getty Images Europe Can low numbers be blamed solely on a flaky younger generation? Thats not entirely fair, say several others I speak to. A Royal Navy spokesperson says that the service is working hard to ensure working in the military remains one of the most attractive careers, and is introducing an updated recruitment process to expedite a candidates recruitment journey. They acknowledge that our workforce requirements are changing, but say in response to the suggestion that the running down of numbers is deliberate that there has been no suggestion that we slash Royal Marine troop numbers, nor do we intend to. The Navy now offers a financial incentive to refer a friend, and all three services say they also now encourage a zig-zag career path as an option for those who want greater flexibility when, for example, their children are young so, like Cole in fact did, personnel might leave and then rejoin. The benefit for us, as well as sheer numbers, is that we get to use the skills theyve acquired in the civilian sector, a Royal Navy spokesperson says. Arguably theres also only so much capacity within the system itself: unlike every other part of the Armed Forces, all Royal Marines, from the greenest of recruits to the hoariest of officers, go through the training process at the Commando Training Centre in Lympstone, Devon, which means you cant speed the process up indefinitely. Neither has the training got any less rigorous many dont make it to the end. And, as Cole puts it, You can have the worlds best recruiting campaign, but not everyone wants to join the military. Can the Marines survive? Everyone I speak to is confident of the fact. If you got rid of the Royal Marines, youd effectively get rid of the Special Forces, as they act as a feeder, points out one senior Army officer. Because they havent lowered their standards, you get the best of the best and we need that. Low numbers cannot be blamed solely on a flaky younger generation - Alamy Stock Photo As for losing amphibious landing craft and the like, insiders pooh-pooh the notion that this will make any difference to this most adaptable of units. Anyone can get off a carrier ship, scoffs the former officer, who says the fuss about HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion has been blown enormously out of proportion. We get paranoid about things like that, but these sorts of things have happened before. This is not the end of the Marines. What the Marines bring to the theatre of war, meanwhile, remains as relevant as ever. Thats the view of Dr Sidharth Kaushal, whose recent report for the Royal United Services Institute acknowledged that while a pivot is already starting to happen, what the Marines have historically brought to our war-fighting capability is climate specialisation, rapid response and special forces capability. Most of those functions remain strategically relevant. We will continue to evolve, adapt and move with the times, agrees Ormrod. And, he adds, we are needed whether the people that push numbers around on a piece of paper know it or not. Fighting talk indeed. And perhaps best summed up in a parting shot from Major Cole: Being a Marine is so much more than muscle its a mindset. 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. SANDY, Utah (ABC4 Sports) Real Salt Lake will be without two key players next season, as the team made a couple of major transactions this weekend. First, RSL transferred Jefferson Savarino to Brazilian side Botafogo. Savarino was Real Salt Lakes leading overall goalscorer in 2023, scoring 11 times across MLS, Open Cup and Leagues Cup competitions, winning RSLs league-specific Golden Boot with seven goals. Utah Royals draft Ally Sentnor with first overall pick Wed like to thank Jefferson for his years of service to our Club, said RSL Sporting Director Kurt Schmid. We wish him and his family the best as they return to Brazil, and everyone here in Utah is grateful for Savas contributions to our growth in recent years. The move opens a second Designated Player spot for RSL, along with Chicho Arango. The 26-year-old Venezuelan amassed 40 goals for RSL in 142 games during his two Utah stints (May 2017 Feb 2020 and May 2022 Nov. 2023). So many memories in Claret & Cobalt. Grateful for everything youve done for RSL, @QSavarino10. pic.twitter.com/VW7cSWjdb0 Real Salt Lake (@realsaltlake) January 13, 2024 Then on Sunday, RSL loaned forward Rubio Rubin to Queretaro of Liga MX. Rubin scored 12 goals in his 93 appearances for RSL since his April, 2021 move to Utah. We wish Rubio the best of luck as he embarks on this loan move, said Schmid. We have no doubt he will compete for minutes at Queretaro, and will closely monitor his situation as the 2024 season progresses. Captain Damir Kreilach leaving Real Salt Lake Earlier this offseason, Real Salt Lake parted ways with captain Damir Kreilach, who then signed with Vancouver. Real Salt Lake is counting on Arango and Diego Luna to be major pieces of the teams attack in 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Sunday threw his support behind former President Trump, effectively snubbing his states own governor, Ron DeSantis, for 2024. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Rubio railed against the Biden administrations record, arguing Trumps extraordinary actions are needed to fix the disaster of the country. When Trump was in [the White House] I achieved major policies I had worked on for years (like expanded Child Tax Credit & tough sanctions on regime in Cuba & Venezuela) because we had a President who didnt cave to special interests or let bureaucrats block us, Rubio wrote in a post on X. I support Trump because that kind of leadership is the ONLY way we will get the extraordinary actions needed to fix the disaster Biden has created. Its time to get on with the work of beating Biden & saving America! he continued. Rubio ran against Trump in 2016, a contest that at times became contentious. The senator dropped out after losing the Florida primary. Rubios endorsement means that both Florida senators are choosing Trump over their home states governor following the Trump endorsement by Florida Sen. Rick Scott, who endorsed Trump last November after promising to stay out of the race. In Florida, Trump maintains a significant lead over his GOP rivals including DeSantis. A polling index from The Hill and Decision Desk HQ shows Trump with a 42.1 percentage point lead over DeSantis: 61 percent to 18.8 percent. The Republican primary in the Sunshine State will take place on March 19. Rubios endorsement comes one day ahead of the Iowa caucuses, and just hours after North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who also ran against Trump in 2024, endorsed the former president at a rally in the Hawkeye State. The Hill and Decision Desk HQs polling aggregation shows Trump with a 34.9 point lead over his closest challenger, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley in Iowa. DeSantis has fallen close behind Haley in the Hawkeye State, garnering about 15.5 percent support, compared with Haleys 17.9 percent. Trump has a backing of about 52.8 percent. DeSantis and Haley on Sunday both expressed confidence ahead of the Iowa caucuses while making the rounds on Sunday morning political shows, despite the series of polling showing them far behind the former president. Updated at 5:37 pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After a month of standing in Home Depot parking lots in Chicago hoping to find work, Rayni Cuadrado had finally found a day job. The 29-year-old from Maracaibo, Venezuela, moved metal scrap and took measurements Thursday inside a decimated church in North Lawndale. He had once dreamed of studying art in his home country, he said, but due to the political and social unrest there, he instead walked to the United States with his daughter to find work. Like countless other groups of migrants and undocumented workers across the city, Cuadrado has been getting up at 5 a.m. every day for the past month to stand in parking lots and wait to be picked for day labor jobs. When a vehicle drives by, he said there is a rush. People want to find work so badly they will push each other. This is my first job in America. The majority of people dont want to hire us, he said. While hes living in a city shelter now, he hopes to make enough money to find an apartment for himself and his 4-year-old daughter. But he isnt part of the group of migrants who qualify for a work permit authorization. Thousands of people who have arrived in the city since August 2022 when Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began sending asylum-seekers to sanctuary cities like Chicago have been shut out of an initiative to help migrants get work permits. The program, launched in November by a coalition of federal, state and local governments and advocacy groups, has only made a small dent in the number of people even applying for work permits, much less getting them. Organizers call the program a one-stop-shop work authorization clinic, assisting migrants with the daunting application process for a permit and waiving the nearly $500 fee. But it is only available to migrants who entered the country legally with humanitarian parole or were granted the opportunity to apply for temporary legal status by President Joe Biden, and who are staying in one of the citys 28 shelters. The state had the goal of submitting roughly 11,000 applications for eligible asylum-seekers residing in Chicago shelters by February, according to a Nov. 16 news release from the governors office. But Erendira Rendon, vice president of immigrant justice at Resurrection Project which spearheaded the program said only 1,655 people have registered for the program and a few hundred have been approved. Of more than 34,500 migrants who have arrived in Chicago, thousands like Cuadrado are left out of the legal pathway for employment, forced to find alternative options they say are unreliable and often risky and less lucrative. While only a fraction of the people in shelters qualify for work permits, most people outside shelters dont qualify either or cant afford to apply. Migrants who cant make enough in their home countries to live have decided to walk thousands of miles for economic opportunity, only to face a bureaucracy in the United States that prevents the vast majority of them from being legally hired. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward Cuadrado took almost four months to make it to the border between the United States and Mexico. He said he and his daughter witnessed crime and violence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, that was almost worse than in his home country of Venezuela: kidnappings, shootings and threats. He said he couldnt stay in Juarez waiting for his online immigration appointment because it felt unsafe. The day before they left Mexico, he said, 16 people were taken from the house where they were staying. Nine disappeared. Fleeing for their lives, they crossed illegally, bypassing the Customs and Border Protections CBP One app an official mobile application the agency uses to inspect and document arrivals and departures in the United States. As a result, Cuadrado doesnt qualify for the program established by the city. Many migrants like Cuadrado and his daughter cross illegally without using the app, which they say is cumbersome and can take weeks or months. There were thousands of illegal crossings along the southern border in December alone, according to Ruben Garcia, director of Annunciation House, a migrant shelter in El Paso, Texas. Migrants who enter illegally can technically file for asylum and apply for a work permit 150 days later, but migrants and their advocates say the process is long, confusing and expensive. Many know there is a chance they wont be granted asylum, so they may prefer to stay under the radar. Experts speculate that without more federal action, the migrants recently arriving in Chicago without the app will likely fold into existing undocumented communities who have worked under the table for decades. Its so hard, Ive even thought about going home to Venezuela, Cuadrado said on Thursday. I just want to get a good job so I can move forward. Program requirements Rendon said only 30% of migrants who live in shelters qualify for the new program. After digging more into it, actually the population (that qualifies for work permits) looks to be closer to about 4,600 people, she said. Venezuelans who entered before July 31 and apply for temporary protected status may be eligible for work permits. Migrants who have been paroled which is a separate program may also be eligible. Humanitarian parole is a measure expanded by the Biden administration in October 2022 that allows more migrants from countries like Venezuela and Nicaragua to temporarily enter the United States and apply for relief. This group must have entered with the CBP One app, unlike Cuadrado. He said he watches others at the shelter where hes staying receive help from the program. Im so worried because we were told we need to leave the shelter on March 4 and I dont have work, Cuadrado said. I spend all day outside, and my fingers freeze. A record number of migrants have crossed the southern border this year seeking employment and opportunities in the United States, pitting Republicans and Democrats against one another in national congressional debates about how to best respond to thousands of people who are in desperate need of shelter, food and health care. Most are from Venezuela, a country with a buckling economy under a far-left leader, made worse by over a decade of sanctions imposed by the United States on crude oil and gas exports. Migrants fill Home Depot parking lots waiting for day labor jobs. They stand on street corners with cardboard signs. They sell candy outside businesses to make small amounts of money. For months, migrant advocates and mayors of cities like Chicago have asked President Joe Biden to give migrants the chance to contribute to the economy legally. In September, facing mounting pressure, Biden gave some migrants, whose home countries are considered unsafe, the right to live and work in the United States for a temporary period of time. That protection, called temporary protected status, applies to an estimated 11,000 Venezuelans in Chicago who arrived in the country before July 31 and it fast-tracks their approval to work legally. At the time, migrant advocates celebrated, but warned that it would take a long time to make its way into city-run shelters. Work authorization applications are long and extensive. Just one application asks for pages of documentation in English, and costs close to $500, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. We can barely afford to buy anything Cuadrado said he had found his job Thursday with the help of God. Denzel Johnson, 29, owner of the construction company Need a Hand LLC drove by a Home Depot in the West Loop in a white car. A group of migrants came over to him, and he explained using Google Translate that he needed help cleaning up a church in North Lawndale that had been destroyed. Cuadrado and David Avendano, 25, were offered the work. They rode in the back of Johnsons Audi to the site. Johnson said the church had been broken into and wrecked. The perpetrator had pulled ceiling panels down and taken metal from the frames, exposing decades-old ornate floral tiling. Whoever had broken in had stolen everything of value, including the broom. They had cut the cord on the vacuum and the wires on the organ. Dust and debris covered the velvet red carpet. Metal hung from the ceiling. Thats what happens to churches on the West Side, said the owner, pastor Markel Anderson, 25, who grew up sitting in the pews of the church. The building had been in his family for 35 years, and he inherited it from his grandfather. It was under renovation when it was broken into. The damage would take at least a year to fix, he said. When asked about why he gave the migrants the opportunity to work, Anderson said he wanted to help. Jesus was a migrant, he said. Cuadrado said other employers werent always friendly. People he knew at the shelter where hes staying had worked for weeks at a different church and werent ever paid. He hoped Anderson would give him a fair amount for the days work, but they hadnt discussed wages yet. With the language barrier, the men communicated using hand gestures. The migrants spent the afternoon clipping metal trappings that hung from the ceiling, drilling holes in doors and picking up scraps in the cold church and the yard outside. They said they want us to come back (Friday), too, said Cuadrado, and his face lit up. Avendano said he had been in Chicago about a week, and also didnt qualify for a work permit. He has three children under the age of 8 staying in the city-run shelter with him. Yesterday, he spent an hour moving beds at a different church and was paid $25. How am I going to feed my family? he asked, worried. Food is so expensive. We can barely afford to buy anything. Everyone in the same room David Fish, an employment lawyer and partner at Fish Potter Bolanos PC, said migrants without work permits face more exploitation or abuse in the workplace, and likely make around 30% less than those who can work legally. He said businesses and restaurants need workers right now. Think of all the businesses and restaurants that have shut down, and all these people desperate for work sitting around, having trouble finding jobs, he said. Somebody needs to get these two sides together. It could really be great for Chicago. In an effort to do so, state, city and local officials launched their pilot program in early November to help abate the costs and ease the bureaucratic hoops of the work permit approval process, which normally takes two to four months or longer, experts say. Lawyers from the nonprofit Resurrection Project said it has both sped up the process and made it more affordable. The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting local jurisdictions hosting recently arrived migrants, that is why President Biden submitted supplemental funding requests to Congress which address a series of national priorities, including funding for accelerating the processing of work permits for eligible migrants, a White House spokesperson said in a statement to the Tribune. The pilot program is unique in design, said Elizabeth Rompf Bruen, an immigration attorney with Delgado Rompf Bruen LLC and the immediate past chair of the Chicago Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, who has worked in the clinics since they began in November. These parties often work together, but to have everyone in the same room is something Ive never seen before, she said. This workshop has been a perfect example of the progress that can be made when legal advocates, community members and the government city, state and federal coordinate with each other. Normally, submitting applications to USCIS is a multiple-step process. In this case, legal screening, translations, application preparation, submission, initial review by the government, receipt issuance and photos and fingerprints for biometrics processing all take place on the same day in the same location. Having all parties in the same room creates efficiencies that will save applicants and the government months of waiting time. Rompf Bruen said they typically see 100 to 150 people a day, four days a week. Case managers at city shelters conduct intake screenings and then schedule legal review and application preparation appointments. Migrants are picked up and brought to the clinic in a building downtown, where they fill out paperwork and are connected to potential employers. The Illinois Department of Human Services provides $8 million in funding to support nonprofits and pro bono attorneys who run the legal clinics, according to Rachel Otwell, a spokesperson for IDHS. The federal government has also waived all $500 fees for work permit applications in shelter. Work permits allow asylum-seekers to gain employment and achieve self-sufficiency, thereby alleviating the strain on state resources, said Otwell in a statement. Employment is a crucial first step to living independently, and our new arrivals are eager to get to work and build better lives for themselves and their families. A lifesaving document Undocumented immigrants for years have struggled to find avenues to work legally. They also gather in parking lots waiting for jobs, and are now competing for day labor with migrants. The government has created options for and has been able expedite work permits for recently arrived. But you have a lot of longtime undocumented in Illinois in Chicago for whom these arent viable options, said Katherine Greenslade, an attorney and the director of the Immigrant Justice Legal Clinic at the Resurrection Project. Rendon called a work permit a lifesaving document. She said she hopes Biden can use his parole authority to grant work authorization eligibility to undocumented communities who have been in Chicago for decades. Ultimately, she wonders if the pilot program can serve as a blueprint to reach all immigrant communities in Chicago who want to work but cant. In mid-February, the city hopes to expand the program to migrants who have moved out of the citys shelter system and dont currently qualify. For now, those outside the shelter system have been relying on smaller community-based organizations for assistance. Centro Romero in Edgewater has provided legal services and resources to more than 4,000 migrants since August 2022, according to Diego F. Samayoa, associate director. Samayoa said there is a high need to expand the criteria for fee waivers for programs like his, that dont look like the citys one-stop-shop. We are doing it, but its not like we have all the resources, he said. People always ask me if I have my work permit Every day, migrants across the city spend hours looking for work, often with no luck. A father from Venezuela stood outside a Home Depot in freezing rain Tuesday afternoon holding his thumb out. He said had been looking for work for more than six hours. Nelson Orellana, 30, shook a hand warmer for heat and watched a shiny Range Rover drive by. His daughter had turned eight years old the day before and he said he missed it. As he stood on a curb in Chicago, she was seven countries away. My little Sofia, he said, tearing up. Orellana said he came to Chicago for the future of his 8-year-old daughter, Sofia, and 6-year-old daughter, Victoria. He got to the city with the help of a free ticket bought by state officials in Eagle Pass, Texas, and is staying at a shelter in West Town. There was no future for my family in Venezuela. I struggled to pay for food. My daughters werent receiving an education, said Orellana, who said he worked in construction in his subtropical home city of Valencia. Wind and ice whipped his face. Hello, help me with something, to eat or work. Job please job, read a cardboard sign that lay discarded in the bushes nearby. At one point in the rainy cold afternoon, a car pulled over to talk to Orellana. The man driving rolled the window down. What kind of work are you looking for? the man asked in Spanish. Orellana walked over and leaned in to talk to him. Orellana showed the man videos of himself painting and doing little jobs which he called trabajitos. The man told him he would give him a call in three hours, and drove away. People always ask me if I have my work permit. And when I tell them I dont, they say they cant hire me. They cant help me, he said. He stood on the side of the road, shivering. He wore thin pants and white sneakers. I will bring them here, he said about his two daughters. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Russia appears helpless to stop drone attacks by Ukraine forces on the Dnipro River, UK intel says Russia appears to be unable to counter Ukrainian drone attacks from the east bank of the Dnipro River, the UK MOD said. This is likely because of a shortage of Russian electronic warfare capability in the area. Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their use of cheap, first-person view drones. Russia appears to be unable to counter Ukraine's drone attacks on the Dnipro River because of a shortage of electronic warfare capability in the area, the UK's Ministry of Defence said. Ukraine's forces on the east bank of the Dnipro River have been using first-person view drones loaded with munitions to strike Russian vehicles alongside artillery, the UK department said in an intelligence update on Sunday. A Russian military blogger estimated that 90% of Russian military equipment in the Krynky sector, a village on the east bank of the river, has been destroyed, the department said. The superiority in the air appears to be helping to sustain the fragile Ukrainian bridgehead amid reports that the situation is critical on the ground. Marines fighting in the swamps on the banks of the Dnipro have called it a "suicide mission." Recent reports have said that Russia has been forced to send tanks to retrieve numerous vehicles lost in Russian counterattacks around Krynky. Posts from the combatfootage community on Reddit Russia and Ukraine have increased their use of cheap, commercially available first-person view drones this year and have been using tens of thousands of drones a month each , according to The Financial Times. Analysts generally say Russia has the upper hand with electronic warfare technology that can jam and divert drones. However, this does not appear to be the case in the area around the Dnipro River, the UK department noted. In November, it was reported that Ukraine was focused on destroying Russia's electronic warfare systems. Mykhailo Fedorov, Ukraine's minister of digital transformation, told CNN: "We are not only scaling UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) production, we are scaling EW production too and generally changing the approach to the use of electronic warfare." At the beginning of 2024, Ukraine destroyed a new $250 million Russian artillery radar system right after the military touted its arrival. Meanwhile, Ukraine's electronic warfare capabilities appear to be increasing and adapting to the Russian strikes, according to a recent update from the think tank the Institute for the Study of War. Read the original article on Business Insider Ignazio Cassis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, has stated at the fourth Peace Formula meeting in Davos that Ukraines peace plan is only a "foundation" for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict with Russia. Source: Cassis in Davos, as cited by Swissinfo Quote: "One way or another, Russia will have to be included. There will be no peace without Russias word We must do everything possible to support Ukraine." Details: Cassis believes that the peace plan must move forward, even if dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow is not possible at the moment. "Every day that we wait, dozens of civilians die. We don't have the right to wait," Cassis stressed. "We must put an end to this war," he added. Among the ten points of the Peace Formula, Switzerland is working on those concerning food security, nuclear safety, and the process of ending the war. Background: The fourth meeting of national security advisors on the Ukrainian Peace Formula took place in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday, 14 January. Eighty-one countries and international organisations participated in the meeting. Support UP or become our patron! By Baek Byung-yeul The year 2023 was a year of significant events for Korea's space industry. The Danuri, Korea's first lunar orbiter, which entered the moon's orbit in December 2022, officially began scientific observations from lunar orbit in January. In May, the country successfully launched a Nuri space launch vehicle for the third time, placing eight satellites in orbit, and solidified its position as an emerging space power. These scientific achievements in the space sector by Korea could not have been possible without technologies developed by engineers of the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). Lee Sang-ryool, president of KARI, said that Korea's space development capabilities have shown significant improvements through its successful space activities such as the Danuri and the Nuri at a time when the importance of the space sector is increasingly emphasized. He also said that KARI would contribute to further enhancing Korea's competitiveness in the space sector through its top domestic space development capabilities. "KARI has been leading the national space development projects and is the institute that has secured the highest development capabilities in the space sector in Korea. It is the only one in Korea that has satellite and spacecraft assembly test facilities and comprehensive launch facilities for space launch vehicles," Lee said in a recent email interview with The Korea Times. "KARI has contributed to improving the quality of people's lives in various fields such as free access to space, Earth observation, national security and weather observation through the development of launch vehicles and satellites. We have taken the first step in Koreas space exploration by developing the Danuri lunar orbiter and performing navigation trajectory design and operation," he added. "We will actively transfer the technologies accumulated so far to the private sector to support the independence of the space industry and strive to activate the related ecosystem." At a time when not only the United States and other nations with advanced space programs, but also many other countries around the world are jumping into space development, Korea has also joined their ranks, partnering with advanced countries in space technology to create action plans for space exploration, space mining and satellite launches. In line with the plan, President Yoon Suk Yeol announced a roadmap in 2022 that Korea will land on the moon by 2032 and Mars by 2045. Regarding Korea's space policy and the development direction of the space industry, the KARI president emphasized that further revitalizing the space development is a key policy direction for the development of the Korean economy, and that continuous R&D and policies should be supported for this purpose. "The policy orientation of space development can be seen as the betterment of citizens' lives, the guarantee of national security and the sound growth of the national economy, as stated in Article 1 of the Space Development Promotion Act," Lee said. "I think that the space economy, which President Yoon has declared as a vision, is a key policy direction for the development of the national economy. In order to do this, consistent policies must be continuously promoted so that strengthening the competitiveness of the space industry, fostering service industries such as autonomous vehicles and urban air mobility (UAM) linked to the Korean version of satellite navigation system and 6G communication satellites and strengthening the capabilities of space exploration and space resource development can play a big role in the future development of the national economy and improving people's lives. The KARI president said that cooperation with allied countries is also important for Korea to further develop in the space sector. In particular, he emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation with the U.S., noting that the space sector is linked directly to military security. Last April, President Yoon emphasized the importance of cooperation with the U.S. He visited NASA's Goddard Space Center, and announced a joint declaration on space cooperation. "The space sector is an area of science and technology, as well as economy, security, diplomacy and industry. The declaration of a leap in the Korea-U.S. space alliance last April is significant in that it provides an opportunity to expand R&D cooperation such as participation in joint projects, share knowledge, exchange personnel with each other and promotes the development of the space industry," Lee said. "The U.S. has traditionally been our economic and security ally, and as Korea's space capability has been improving recently, it seems natural and necessary to expand the strategic partnership in the space sector, both in terms of its diplomatic role in the international community and the mutual sharing of space assets." KARI, KASA will lead space development together The KARI president also emphasized the role of the Korea Aerospace Administration (KASA), after the National Assembly passed its establishment bill recently. KASA is an administrative agency in the space sector that Korea plans to establish in May. On Jan. 9, the National Assembly provided a legal basis for the establishment of KASA by passing a revision to the Space Development Promotion Act. Lee said that KASA will play a key role in overseeing Korea's space policy, R&D and international cooperation, and leading cooperation with related industries, along with KARI, which is responsible for technology development. "Space development has now become a key element for defense and diplomacy, industry and major social infrastructure. It is necessary to have a dedicated agency to holistically coordinate the space-related issues of the various ministries," he said. "I think that there can be a division of roles where KASA oversees policy, R&D and international cooperation as a dedicated agency, and subordinate agencies like KARI focus on R&D and securing core technologies." With the establishment of KASA, he said the government-led space development projects can now be expanded further to the private sector and investment can also be stimulated. "So far, space development has been focused on government-led technology development, resulting in a very weak structure in terms of the space industry. If KASA becomes the main body and promotes the development of the space industry, the related industry will also be able to invest actively, Lee added. Debris gathers in a catch basin on the U.S. side of the border in San Ysidro. When it rains, trash and raw sewage flow through the Tijuana River Valley to the Pacific Ocean. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Mexico has broken ground on a long-awaited replacement for a crumbling wastewater treatment plant in Baja California that officials said will dramatically reduce the discharge of sewage that has fouled San Diego and Tijuana shorelines. The failing and outdated San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant in Punta Bandera, about six miles south of the border, is one of the biggest sources of water pollution in the region. Every day, the facility releases millions of gallons of mostly raw sewage into the ocean that routinely reaches San Diego County's southernmost beaches. At a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday with Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre and U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar, Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda said the launch of the project marked a major milestone in ending cross-border pollution after failed attempts under previous administrations. She vowed to have the project online this year. "The promise is that on the last day of September, this treatment plant will be working," said Avila Olmeda. "No more beach closures." For Aguirre, the start of Mexico's new treatment plant project feels like Imperial Beach and the surrounding communities are one step closer to accessing clean water. "I think fixing Punta Bandera is one of the major fixes we need and it's what we've been advocating for so long," she said. "It's exciting to think that once this source of pollution is eliminated, we will be able to have our beaches reopened during the summer and dry weather months." Mexico will pay for the $33-million project, which will consist of draining outdated lagoons that have failed to effectively treat wastewater. A new plant will instead have an oxidation ditch system made up of three independent modules and a 656-foot ocean outfall. It will have a capacity of 18 million gallons per day. The project is one of several short- and long-term ones that Mexico and the U.S. vowed to take on under an agreement called Minute 328. For the short-term projects, Mexico will invest $144 million to pay for the new treatment plant, plus fix pipelines and pumps. And the U.S. will use the $300 million that congressional leaders secured in late 2019 to fix and expand the outdated South Bay International Treatment Plant in San Ysidro , which serves as a backstop for Tijuana's sewage. The unspent funds on the U.S. side are insufficient, however, to complete the expansion because of deferred maintenance that has only worsened during heavy rainfall. Even more funding will be needed for the long-term projects, which include building a treatment plant in San Diego that would take flows from the existing diversion system in the Tijuana River. Elected officials representing the San Diego region have been pleading for additional funding to get projects in the U.S. completed. Last year, President Biden asked that Congress grant $310 million more to fix the sewage crisis. That has not yet happened. Hours before the groundbreaking, Rep. Scott Peters took to the floor of the House of Representatives demanding that the funding be included in any upcoming spending deal. "We should be embarrassed that Mexico is acting with more urgency than we are," he said. "The more we delay in addressing cross-border pollution, the more costly and difficult it will be to fix in the future." The U.S. section of the International Boundary and Water Commission, which operates the South Bay plant, is soliciting proposals for the design and construction of the rehab and expansion project. On Tuesday, officials reported that more than 30 contractors from about 19 companies visited the site and expressed interest in bidding. Construction is slated to begin within one year of the contract being awarded. Simultaneously, the IBWC has been pressure-testing a newly installed pipeline that replaced one that ruptured in Tijuana in 2022, resulting in sewage spilling over the border through the Tijuana River and into the ocean. Crews recently found new leaks in the new pipe and are repairing them, according to the IBWC. Though infrastructure improvements were made in the 1990s and new efforts on both sides of the border are underway, Tijuana's wastewater facilities have not kept pace with its population growth. Poorer communities also remain unconnected to the city's sewer system. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. UPDATE: The woman has been safely found. Details have been added to the original story. (KRON) Early Saturday morning, the San Jose Police Department requested community assistance in finding a 31-year-old woman who was a victim of kidnapping. The victims name is Acela Pineda Silva. She was reported missing that morning. Later in the day at 3:40 p.m., SJPD announced the woman was located safely. Steakhouse Shooting: Bullet flies through window at Mastros in Santa Clara According to SJPD, a kidnapping occurred in the area of North 5th Street and St. John Street at approximately 2 a.m. Unknown suspects stole a vehicle in which Silva was a passenger. Silva did not leave willingly. Silva, who was visiting from Mexico, is described as a 31-year-old Hispanic woman, according to police. She was in a truck with her friend when two men took the vehicle while she was still inside. Authorities spotted the truck. After a short chase, one person inside the stolen vehicle was arrested. The other suspect remains at large. At the time of the reported kidnapping, the outstanding suspect in this event was described as a dark-skinned adult male, approximately 40 years old, and 5 feet 5 inches with a medium build. The suspect was last seen wearing dark pants and possibly a Raiders jacket. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact 408-537-1522. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza is worse than what happened in Dresden, Germany during World War II. If I use the word Dresden Germany to you, you think about the horrific destruction during World War II of that city. What is going on in Gaza now in three months, is worse than what took place in Dresden over a two year period. This is a catastrophe, Sanders said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. Sanders was referring to the 1945 bombings of Dresden led by U.S. and British forces at the time that left about 25,000 people dead. The Vermont senator has been very outspoken about the situation in Gaza, reiterating Sunday that Israel does not have a right to kill civilians in its war against militant group Hamas. So my view has been from the beginning Israel has a right to respond to this horrific terrorist attack from come up. But you do not have a right to go to war against an entire people, women and children and the United States Congress has got to act because a lot of this destruction is being done with military weapons supplied by the United States of America, Sanders said. Sanders plans to bring a resolution to the Senate floor this week underneath the Foreign Assistance Act, which would direct the State Department to look into potential human rights violations caused by Israel in Gaza. It says that if an American military assistance is given to any country, Saudi Arabia, Israel, any other country, it has got to be used consistent with human rights, international human rights standards and American law, Sanders said about the Foreign Assistance Act. In my opinion, that is certainly not the case. We have a horrific humanitarian catastrophe. We cannot turn our backs on it. Congress has got to start moving to protect children in Palestine. Sanders also conceded that he likely does not have the 51 votes needed to pass his resolution, noting that it is the first time this sort of resolution has been brought to the floor for a vote. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (L) and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stand on the Alter Markt during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa Thousands of people - including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock - took to the streets of suburban Berlin on Sunday to protest far-right extremism. The rally comes days after an investigative report said that right-wing extremists and politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had met to discuss plans for the deportation of millions of migrants from Germany. Some 10,000 people joined Sunday's rally in the old market area or Altmarkt said Potsdam's Mayor Mike Schubert, who had called for the protest. Potsdam is the capital of the state of Brandenburg, which borders Berlin, and both Scholz and Baerbock live there. Demonstrators held up posters with slogans such as "We stick together" and others that praised a multi-ethnic population. "I am standing here as one of thousands of Potsdam residents who are standing up for democracy and against old and new fascism," Baerbock told dpa. Local party leaders from Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Greens and The Left party also took part in the rally. The protest came in response to reporting by media outlet Correctiv earlier in the week, which uncovered details of a meeting in a Potsdam villa in November attended by members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), some CDU members and members of the arch conservative Werteunion group. The former head of the far-right Identitarian movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, confirmed to dpa that he spoke about the deportation or "remigration" of migrants at the meeting. Right-wing extremists typically use the term "remigration" to mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress. According to Correctiv, Sellner named three target groups during the Potsdam meeting: Asylum seekers, foreigners with the right to stay - and "non-assimilated citizens." Potsdam Mayor Schubert said: "These plans are reminiscent of the darkest chapter in German history." It was therefore time for Germans to show their faces and defend democracy, he said. People stand on the Alter Markt during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa People stand on the Alter Markt during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa China said "reunification" with Taiwan was still "inevitable" after president-elect Lai Ching-te won Saturday's pivotal election on the self-ruled island that Beijing claims as its own. The vote "will not impede the inevitable trend of China's reunification," Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Chen Binhua said in a statement carried by state news agency Xinhua. The results of the vote, Chen said, showed that Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion on the island." Lai delivered an unprecedented third consecutive term for the DPP after a raucous campaign in which he pitched himself as the defender of Taiwan's democratic way of life. Chen said the vote "will not change the basic landscape and development trend of cross-Strait relations". Beijing's stance on "realizing national reunification remains consistent, and our determination is as firm as rock," he said. He said Beijing "firmly oppose(s) the separatist activities aimed at 'Taiwan independence' as well as foreign interference." The election was watched closely by both Beijing and Washington, Taiwan's main military partner, as the two powers tussle for influence in the strategically vital region. In a New Year's address, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the "unification" of Taiwan with China was "inevitable." And in the run-up to the vote, Beijing warned that Lai was a "severe danger" who would threaten peace by following the "evil path" of independence. (AFP) SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Community support is continuing to grow in a big way to help out Detective Kyle Gilmartin, who is currently still in the hospital after a shooting in the early hours of Thursday morning. Gilmartin is a nine-year member of the Scranton police force. Investigators say the suspect, whose name has not been released, is also being treated at the hospital. Its amazing to see the community come together so quickly after a tragic event, I spent Saturday meeting with some of the people who want to support the Gilmartin family. We just want to show as much support as we can and figure this is the best way to do it, said Anielle Demming from Alexanders Hair Salon and Spa. More than a dozen businesses in the Scranton area including restaurants, bakeries, and hair salons will be offering discounts for their services and donating money to the family of Detective Gilmartin. Community raises over $100K for wounded detective in less than a day We do a lot of fundraisers, but this one is definitely a lot different, added Demming. The staff at Coopers restaurant in Scranton worked quickly to get a fundraiser going to help out the Gilmartin family. Its just really sad the situation and everything around it Im just glad we could pull something together really fast for the area and something for his family, continued Demming. Coopers Seafood Restaurant in Scranton is just one of the restaurants offering a deal next week. 28/22 News stopped by Saturday to learn about the upcoming promotion. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were doing a deal for our crab leg special its gonna be $20, and every $10 from every order is going to go to Officer Gilmartin and towards his family and everything for the tragedy that happened, explained Kristi Gallagher from Coopers Seafood Restaurant in Scranton. Another local business thats stepping up to help a neighbor in need is the staff at an area hair salon It makes me feel really good, especially since we are downtown, that we were able to help out our community in any way possible, says Demming. Alexanders Hair Salon and Spa on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lackawanna Avenue in downtown Scranton are hosting a promotional deal and theyre very happy to help the community. The fundraiser is for the Gilmartin family and will be held on January 17 and 18 10% of haircuts and retail products purchased will be donated to them, said Demming. In addition to the business support, a GoFundMe fund was just set up and has already collected around $125,000 of the $150,000 goal from nearly two thousand donors. The GoFundMe was set up by Gilmartins colleagues in the Scranton Police Department and a local fraternal order of police. I hope a lot of people do come out and support them, added Demming. 28/22 News has confirmed with the Scranton police department that those funds will go directly to the Gilmartin family. The investigation is still ongoing- stay with 28/22 News for the latest developments. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PAhomepage.com. People take part in a demonstration against the right at the Brandenburg Gate under the slogan "Defend democracy". Soeren Stache/dpa Thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday against right-wing extremism in front of Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, the city's police department said. The police estimated the crowd at "several thousand," according to a spokeswoman, while the climate protection group Fridays for Future, which had called along with others for the demonstration, put the number at 25,000. There were initially no incidents, the police said. Slogans saying the far-right Alternative for German (AfD) party is "not an alternative" could be read on banners and well-known climate activist Luisa Neubauer gave a speech. A protester holds a poster reading "AfD is no alternative" during a demonstration against the right at the Brandenburg Gate under the slogan "Defend democracy". Soeren Stache/dpa A pilot was seriously hurt when his single-engine plane crashed in the front yard of a home outside Mooresville, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. The pilot was identified as 62-year-old Peter Granow, 62, of Tega Cay, South Carolina, the officials said in a news release. Investigators say the crash happened around 12:20 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, at 157 Normandy Road. The two-lane road hosts lakeside homes along the Cornelius Creek area of Lake Norman. A 2000 single-engine Cessna was attempting to land at Lake Norman Airpark, struck several trees, and crashed into the front yard of this residence, the N.C. Highway Patrol reported. Iredell County EMS took Granow to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, officials said. The cause of the crash is being investigated. Normandy Road is north of Lake Norman Airpark and runs parallel to a runway, maps show. An aerial view of the private airfield that juts into Lake Norman from the northwest corner of Mooresville. It is the second time in two weeks that a plane has crashed near the airport, which is about 30 miles north of Charlotte. On Dec. 31, a man was killed when a single-engine plane crashed into an unoccupied home while attempting to land a Piper PA-46 plane, NC Highway Patrol reported. Pilot killed when single-engine plane crashes into unoccupied house, NC officials say Small plane crashes on I-26 near North Carolina airport, FAA says. Traffic rerouted Man driving Crown Victoria in woods was victimizing assorted trees, NC sheriff says Do you remember how things used to be when Conservative ministers appeared responsible for even the smallest misdemeanour? Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, would fight his way on to any television or radio show that would have him (or explode over social media like a demented teenager), baying for that ministers resignation. It may be a while before we hear such self-righteous claptrap again. Sir Ed now sits at the political heart of the most shocking scandal of our time: the Post Offices branding of hundreds of its employees as thieves, and wrecking their lives, to conceal the failures of the useless computer system it chose to operate. When matters in this slow-burning atrocity continued to be dire from 2010 to 2012 Sir Ed was minister in charge of the Post Office. He initially refused even to meet Alan Bates, the heroic ex-sub postmaster who has led the campaign for absolution and restitution. Sir Ed claims he was lied to on an industrial scale by the Post Office. That may well be true. But did he investigate why this institution was having so much trouble? Did he ask the right questions about what he was told the detailed questions those who understand the true nature of responsibility must always ask, whether running a village post office or part of a department of state? Apparently not. This may be because of stupidity; and indeed the way Sir Ed has comported himself in recent days suggests that he might indeed be utterly obtuse. He refused ten times in an ITV interview on Friday to apologise for his obvious dereliction as a minister. Or, it may be down to breathtaking arrogance: Sir Ed acts blithely as if he were beyond reproach and born to rule. God help the ruled. One recalls the Lib Dems joy in getting a taste of power when David Cameron asked them into a coalition in 2010. Suddenly, officials greased up to them; red boxes made them feel important; the chauffeur called every morning. After decades as nobodies they were, briefly, somebodies. It appears, however, that no-one told them this entailed more than rubber-stamping what officials told them. They also had to exercise their intelligence on the matters before them, and, under our constitution, be ready to take responsibility for them. That, however, would entail hard work, and be far more demanding than the grandstanding, preening and virtue-signalling in which they had had years of practice. It is no surprise that Sir Ed behaved like this, and continues to do so. Those who have had a Liberal Democrat-controlled council inflicted on them know that is how the party works: they crave power, but havent a clue how to exercise it properly if they get it. Around Britains local government today, there are numerous Lib Dems, posing and posturing and making a shambles of everything they touch, but regarding the problems they create as somebody elses mess to clear up. Sir Eds own notions of the constitutional role of ministers wouldnt even get him a politics GCSE. His grotesque apparent failures may have taken place years ago, but their toxic legacy persists. His cowardice, evasiveness and idiocy remain rampant. He is a liability his already inadequate party hardly needs. In an election year, he is their dose of arsenic. Sadly for them, he appears to be too thick or arrogant to see that either. 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. As prime minister, David Cameron sought and failed to obtain parliamentary approval for a military strike in the Middle East. In perhaps his biggest foreign policy setback, Cameron lost a vote in 2013 to attack Syrian targets after the embattled Assad regime used chemical weapons. Now as Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron and Rishi Sunak have the backing of the Labour leader for the decision to join a US-led action to knock out Houthi missile batteries in Yemen being used to target international shipping in the Red Sea. Sir Keir Starmer told Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC that he supported the operation so far but would need to consider the arguments further if it were to continue. Since there has been no parliamentary vote on the action, this was a departure for Sir Keir. He had previously said there should be no military commitments without first being approved by MPs. Indeed, he had pledged a new law requiring the consent of the Commons. But Sir Keir now says that he meant only sustained military action would be covered and conceded that sometimes decisions could not be delayed pending a debate by MPs. He said action had to be taken on Houthi targets because sitting back and doing nothing would not have been appropriate and international trade routes needed to be protected. This is a more mature position for the Labour Party to adopt than in 2013, when allied plans to bomb Syria had to be abandoned. There may well be a debate and vote on the Yemeni strikes this week so it will be instructive to see whether Sir Keir has convinced his party to follow his lead. Although since the Iraq invasion it has become a convention to require parliamentary approval for military action, it is not a constitutional obligation since the Government possesses the prerogative to make such decisions. Nonetheless, it is important to ensure parliamentary backing especially if the operation is likely to continue. That is not clear yet. The United States bombed further targets at the weekend to degrade the Houthi ability to attack shipping, but there is always a threat this will trigger a reaction from other regional players, notably Iran. Lord Cameron said it was hard to remember a more unstable, dangerous and uncertain world with war in Ukraine, Gaza and now the Gulf. Chinas reaction is awaited to the re-election of Taiwans ruling party. This is a time for Parliament to show unity in defence of UK interests. 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. Sir Keir Starmer and Labour are believed to be on course to reclaim many of the party's former heartlands, which it lost to the SNP in 2015 - Labour Party The SNP is set to lose nearly half the seats it won at the last general election with Labour to wipe out the nationalists in Glasgow, a major poll has revealed. The YouGov survey, the most authoritative UK opinion poll carried out in five years, predicted that Humza Yousafs party would win just 25 seats, compared to the 48 it returned in 2019. Labour is on course to reclaim many of its former heartlands, which it lost to the SNP in 2015. Sir Keirs party would return 24 MPs if the result was repeated on election day, according to the poll. This would include all six Glasgow constituencies returning to Labour, which is predicted to perform strongly across the Central Belt. According to YouGovs MRP method, which successfully forecast the 2017 and 2019 UK elections, the Conservatives would win four Scottish seats, down two on the 2019 result. The Liberal Democrats would also have four Scottish MPs, the same number it currently has. The results emerged as the SNP faces a battle to persuade independence supporters not to desert the party. Previous surveys have suggested they are planning to switch to Labour in large numbers. Mr Yousaf took part in a general election campaign launch event on Friday, in which he claimed there was no need for Scots to vote Labour to ensure Sir Keir Starmer becomes Prime Minister, as he would claim a majority regardless. Battle for support Stephen Flynn, the SNP Westminster leader, on Sunday backed Mr Yousafs claim that independence could disappear off the political agenda if the nationalists perform poorly. Despite their main threat coming from Labour, the partys strategy has been to focus on the Conservatives, claiming that only the SNP can deliver a Tory free Scotland. Mr Flynn told BBC Scotlands The Sunday Show: The reality is that if you vote in Scotland for a Labour or Tory MP, as soon as they have their feet under the table in Westminster, they will seek to take Scotlands independence off it. The only surefire way to make sure Scotlands independence remains relevant to the Westminster establishment and to an incoming Prime Minister is to vote for the Scottish National Party. Ian Murray, the shadow Scottish secretary, said the SNP wanted to make the election about independence as it had no other ideas and cannot defend its own woeful record in government. He added: The SNP claims that it can kick the Tories out, but thats blatantly false. If voters want to kick the Tories out of Downing Street they need to vote for that change with Labour. 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. Electric vehicle enthusiasts are eagerly waiting for the first full solar-powered car to reach consumers, but the industry has hit several speed bumps as solar EV startup companies rise and fall. However, one company, Aptera, just secured a tier-1 battery supplier and a major investment, giving it a big boost and a lot of optimism for the future, as reported by Electrek. Aptera is still in the process of developing an impressive-sounding EV that it describes as the most efficient vehicle on the planet, according to Electrek. But the company, which went bankrupt in 2011 and then rose from the dead in 2021 (as The Verge described it), seems to be perpetually stuck in the prototype phase. Now, hopefully, an investment and battery supply agreement from Korean battery manufacturer Creative Technology & Surprise (CTNS) will help to get it over the hump. I believe that this is an important moment for CTNS to leapfrog to the future unicorn in global market, and sincerely appreciated to Chris Anthony & Aptera Motors to become our partner for the journey, CTNS CEO Ki-jeong Kwon said during the signing ceremony in Seoul, per Electrek. Aptera co-founder Chris Anthony commented that he was happy to invite CTNS as an official partner for Aptera Motors and was impressed a lot by the enthusiasm & spirit of the Korean startup. The news for Aptera may have come just in the nick of time as of last year, the startup was reportedly strapped for cash and may have run afoul of the SEC with a crowdfunding campaign. Electreks commenters, many of whom have been following the Aptera saga closely over the years, were cautiously optimistic about what the news means for the future of the company and for solar-powered EVs. This is exciting. I wish Aptera the best of luck and really hope they can succeed at bringing a product to market, even if it remains a niche vehicle, wrote one commenter. I cant get a good reading on Aptera. They have a fairly vocal and supportive group of investors, early reservation holders. I hope they can turn the corner, because their car is interesting, and it would be neat to see some production. Even on a limited edition, wrote another. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Ruling party candidate Lai Ching-te emerged victorious in Taiwans presidential election on Saturday, a result that will determine the trajectory of the self-ruled democracys contentious relations with China over the next four years. China had called the poll a choice between war and peace. Beijing strongly opposes Lai, the current vice president who abandoned his medical career to pursue politics from the grassroots to the presidency. At stake is peace, social stability and prosperity on the island, 160 kilometers (100 miles) off the coast of China, which Beijing claims as its own and to be retaken by force if necessary. China is run by the Communist Party, which allows no political opposition. While domestic issues such as the sluggish economy and expensive housing also featured prominently in the campaign, Lai's Democratic Progressive Party's appeal to self-determination, social justice and rejection of China's threats ultimately won out. It's the first time a single party has led Taiwan for three consecutive four-year presidential terms since the first open presidential election in 1996. At a post-election news conference, Lai thanked the Taiwanese electorate for writing a new chapter in our democracy. We have shown the world how much we cherish our democracy. This is our unwavering commitment. He added: Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies from around the world ... through our actions. The Taiwanese people have successfully resisted efforts from external forces to influence this election." Lai supporter Hsieh Hsin-chou, a 57-year-old physical therapist, said he was very proud of the election result. We choose our own president in Taiwan. We are a country. We are a country. We are a light of the world. We love freedom. We love democracy. We (are) supposed to choose our new president, Hsieh said. Lai and incumbent President Tsai Ing-wen reject Chinas sovereignty claims over Taiwan, a former Japanese colony that split from the Chinese mainland amid civil war in 1949. They have, however, offered to speak with Beijing , which has repeatedly refused to hold talks and called them separatists. Beijing was believed to have favored the candidate from the more China-friendly Nationalist party, also known as Kuomintang, or KMT. Its candidate, Hou Yu-ih, also had promised to restart talks with China while bolstering national defense. He had vowed not to move toward unifying the two sides of the Taiwan Strait if elected. In his concession speech, Hou apologized for not working hard enough to regain power for the KMT, which ran Taiwan under martial law for nearly four decades before democratic reforms in the 1980s. I let everyone down. I am here to express my sincerest apologies, Im sorry," Hou said in front of an audience whose numbers fell well short of expectations. Hou supporter David Chiau, who works in information technology, said the loss came as a shock, but he was pleased by the turnout for the KMT, which he had hoped could have merged with the opposition. A third candidate in the race, Ko Wen-je of the smaller Taiwan Peoples Party, or TPP, had drawn the support particularly of young people wanting an alternative to the KMT and DPP, Taiwans traditional opposing parties, which have largely taken turns governing since the 1990s. Ko said that dialogue between the sides was crucial, but that his bottom line would be that Taiwan needs to remain democratic and free. At least this time the TPP has become a critical opposition power. I would like to say thank you to every one again, as the chairman of the TPP," Ko said. Each vote represents recognition and support for us. "This is also the first time that Taiwan managed to create a whole new three-party-competition between the clash of the green and blue, he said, referring to the DPP and the KMT by the colors with which they are affiliated. Chen Binhua, spokesperson of the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan Affairs Office, said that Beijing wouldn't accept the election result as representing the mainstream public opinion on the island, without giving any evidence or justification. This election cannot change the basic situation and the direction of cross Strait relations, nor can it change the common desire of compatriots on both sides to get closer and closer, nor can it stop the general trend that the motherland will eventually and inevitably be reunified, Chen said. The United States, which is bound by its laws to provide Taiwan with the weapons needed to defend itself, had pledged support for whichever government emerges, reinforced by the Biden administrations plans to send an unofficial delegation made up of former senior officials to the island shortly after the election. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken congratulated Lai on his victory. We also congratulate the Taiwan people for once again demonstrating the strength of their robust democratic system and electoral process, Blinken said in a statement. Lai won nearly 5.6 million votes, amassing just over 40 percent, while Hou claimed 33.5 percent. Ko garnered 26.5 percent. Evelyn Ni traveled from China especially to get a taste of Taiwans election. I would really like to experience what it is like to be empowered, the 24-year-old student told The Associated Press. She said that she started paying closer attention to relations between Taipei and Beijing after Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and is worried that China could one day do the same with Taiwan. Besides the China tensions, domestic issues such as the dearth of affordable housing and stagnating wages dominated the campaign. For Tony Chen, a 74-year-old retiree who voted in Taipei in the hour before the polls closed, the election boiled down to a choice between communism and democracy. I hope democracy wins, he said. He added that more Taiwanese were open to Chinas model of governance decades ago, when the Chinese economy was growing by double digits annually, but are repulsed by the crackdown on civil liberties that has occurred under current Chinese President Xi Jinping. Stacy Chen, 43, said she has always voted for the DPP, because Taiwan is an independent country. She said she wanted her son to grow up in a country that is separate from China. Taiwans election was seen as having real and lasting influence on the geopolitical landscape, said Gabrielle Reid, associate director with the global intelligence consultancy S-RM. The outcome of the vote will ultimately determine the nature of ties with China relative to the West and will have strong bearing on the state of play in the South China Sea, she said. Close ties with the United States will likely draw even closer under Lai's administration. Beijing is likely to deploy a maximum pressure campaign to influence the new administration along military, economic and political lines, Sung told the AP. (AP) Hundreds of Israeli companies went on strike for 100 minutes on Sunday as a sign of solidarity with more than 130 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip. They were responding to a call by the Israeli umbrella organization of trade unions, Histadrut, to mark 100 days since the start of the Gaza war. At the beginning of the strike, thousands of participants in a rally organized by relatives and supporters of the hostages remained silent for 100 seconds as a sign of solidarity. The rally in Tel Aviv is set to last 24 hours until Sunday evening. Histadrut leader Arnon Ben-David said at the rally: "[Israel is] in the middle of a terrible dream, and I want to wake up from this terrible dream and create a new Israel." "We are striking today to work together to rebuild the land of Israel. "We will rebuild everything they have tried to destroy." Israel has been fighting the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas in Gaza since Hamas militants and other extremist groups launched a bloody raid on Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 and kidnapping around 240. Israel estimates that 136 hostages are still being held in Gaza and that two dozen of them have died. Israel responded to the massacre with massive airstrikes and launched a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza, about 24,000 have been killed and some 60,600 others injured in the sealed-off coastal strip since the beginning of the Israeli campaign. These figures cannot currently be independently verified. People take part in a protest marking a hundred days since Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa People take part in a protest marking a hundred days since Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Addressing South Carolinas workforce challenges has been a top priority for our General Assembly in recent years and will continue to be a key focus this legislative session. Policy solutions to this critical issue cannot come soon enough. Currently, South Carolinas labor force participation rate is 57% compared to a national rate of 63%. At the end of November, 78,000 jobs were vacant across our state. One of the most significant reasons for the lack of workforce participation is the shortage of childcare. According to a 2022 survey by the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce, 27% of respondents said either a lack of childcare or the need to stay with a child was a top barrier to work. Sen. Ross Turner Bob Morgan A grassroots tour across local chambers of commerce tells us that 69% of our businesses are struggling to hire and retain qualified workers and 42% say that a lack of workers is the biggest challenge facing their business today. Simply stated: if parents dont have childcare, they cannot work. Childcare is the workforce behind every other workforce in our state. Our current childcare crisis for just children ages birth to 3 is costing South Carolinas economy an estimated $1.4 billion annually according to a new report by ReadyNation, titled The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis in South Carolina. This report totals the costs to working parents due to lost earnings, to our businesses due to lost productivity and to our tax base due to lost tax revenues. It is both shocking and sobering. The childcare problem is growing at an alarming rate. We know that 61% of our 167,000 children birth through age 3 have mothers in the workforce. Yet new parents are faced with long waiting lists and high costs when trying to find quality care for their children. In addition to the impact the childcare crisis is having on todays economy, we also know that the infants and toddlers of 2023 will become the high school students of the 2030s and the workforce of the 2040s. If we want the best workforce possible and the best lives possible for these children, we need to make sure they have the best care possible during a crucial, irreplaceable time of brain development the first few years of life. Childcare challenges center on three factors: access, affordability and quality. Access is an issue because nearly half (42%) of South Carolinians live in a childcare desert, an area where there are more than three young children for every licensed childcare slot. The number of childcare providers, as well as childcare slots, decreased significantly in the wake of the pandemic. Some providers, who earn an average of $12 an hour in South Carolina, left the field for positions in industries like retail, which offer better wages and benefits. Affordability is also a major concern, and the low supply of available slots obviously helps drive up costs. The average cost of center-based childcare for infants is $9,048 per year. This cost represents 9% of the median annual income of a married couple in South Carolina, while 7% is considered affordable. This high cost makes childcare unaffordable for too many families. Quality is the third major challenge, often caused by high rates of provider turnover, frequently due to poor compensation. So, even when parents can find childcare, it can be low quality, depriving infants and toddlers in these settings of the many benefits that high-quality care can provide. We know businesses play a role in solving the childcare crisis, through on-site childcare, flexible scheduling, and financial support for employees to access childcare. However, we also know that many businesses arent in a position to take these steps and even the ones that are cant do it alone. South Carolina also needs policy solutions to address the barriers to childcare access, affordability and quality that guarantees childrens safety while their parents are working. Action cannot come soon enough. Sen. Ross Turner chairs the Special Joint Committee to Study Childcare. Bob Morgan is president and CEO of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. A South Carolina man killed his son in 1989, then staged a scene discovering his body and walked free for 34 years, police say South Caroline authorities announced this week they'd solved the cold case murder of a 5-year-old boy. Justin Lee Turner was strangled in 1989, and news footage captured his father discovering his body. Sheriff S. Duane Lewis said the Turners created a "staged scene" after killing the child. Authorities in South Carolina have arrested the father and stepmother of a 5-year-old boy who was strangled to death in 1989. The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office announced January 10 that Victor Lee Turner and Megan Renee Turner are charged with murder in the death of Justin Lee Turner, whose body was found by his tearful father in a scene that authorities now say was staged. Archival footage shot on March 5, 1989, by the local NBC affiliate WCBD showed Victor Lee Turner emerging from a camper and sobbing in apparent grief after purportedly discovering his son's corpse. At a news conference this week, Berkeley County Sheriff S. Duane Lewis told reporters authorities now believe the Turners killed the child inside their house, then moved his body into the camper. "When you look at the scene, you can assume by looking at it that it was somewhat a staged scene, to make it look like something that it wasn't," Lewis said. "There's a lot of inconsistencies in the story." Lewis said investigators have been working for at least a year and a half straight and for many years on and off to solve the cold case. Lewis said due to more advanced technology, investigators were able to collect more physical evidence and submit it to forensic pathologists for analysis. Lewis told reporters that initially, the Turners told authorities that Justin got on his school bus on the morning of March 3, 1989, and never returned. But Lewis said that was a lie. "Justin never made it to school that morning. He never got on the bus, he never arrived at school. That's because he had been murdered. And he'd been murdered by his stepmother and his father, and left in a camper behind their house," Lewis said. "I can't think of a more tragic, horrendous murder. A five-year-old boy." An attorney representing Megan Renee Turner did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment. BI could not immediately reach an attorney representing Victor Lee Turner. Read the original article on Business Insider A dramatic southward push of Arctic air into the eastern two-thirds of the country this week will result in bitterly cold conditions with temperatures trending 20-40 degrees Fahrenheit below typical mid-January values. For some areas, the brisk weather into this week will be the coldest conditions observed since December of 2022. At the start of the week, daytime temperatures hovered just above zero F at Oklahoma City, dipped to the single digits in northwestern Arkansas and plummeted to the low teens in Dallas. Meanwhile, locations farther north into the central and northern Plains will continue to bear the brunt of the frigid conditions, with daytime temperatures not even surpassing zero degrees early this week. "Residents of the region will want to keep cold-weather gear handy to reduce the risk of frostbite and hypothermia. The bitter cold could threaten livestock as well as individuals who do not have proper shelter or heating," cautioned AccuWeather Meteorologist Joseph Bauer. Communities along the Gulf coast and into the Tennessee Valley will also endure brisk temperatures this week. Cities such as Houston, Jackson, Mississippi, and Birmingham, Alabama, will dip into the 30s early this week during the daytime, with frigid overnight lows into the 10s or 20s. Residents across the South are urged to ensure their homes are adequately prepped for the bitter cold. Wrapping any exposed pipes, disconnecting and covering exterior hose spigots and even leaving interior faucets on slightly to drip to avoid frozen or burst pipes. Floridians will not miss out on the influx of chilly conditions, as they are expected to drop between 10 and 20 degrees from early to midweek. Temperatures will start with widespread 60s in the north to 80s in the south then fall to the upper 40s in the panhandle to lower 70s across the southern tip. Cities such as Tallahassee, Florida, are projected to trend from a daytime high near 70 degrees on Monday to the upper 40s by Wednesday. Overnight temperatures can drop into the 20s and 30s across the northern third of the state during the first half of the week. By late week, conditions are expected to turn warmer across Florida and closer to typical mid-January values. However, a new push of Arctic air coming this weekend may result in the lowest temperatures of the season so far for much of the Southeast states this weekend. The amplified southward dip in the jet stream in place across the center of the nation will not only deliver waves of Arctic air this week that can challenge records across the Central states but also usher a stormy stretch across the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys. This will be the first storm with snow and ice to extend its reach to the Southern states this season, which can pose an added challenge for travelers who are out of practice driving in the winter. As of the midday hours on Monday, the storm deposited 0.5 to 1 inch of snow on Dallas, but farther to the east, a general 3-6 inches of snow was already on the ground from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Nashville. From 1 to 6 inches of snow has already fallen from southeastern Kansas, eastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas to central portions of Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama. However, as the snow tapers off over the southern Plains and the lower part of the Mississippi Valley Monday evening, snow will ramp up and pile up over the southern Appalachians. A corridor of 6-12 inches of snow can occur from eastern Tennessee into southern parts of West Virginia. The AccuWeather Local StormMax is 15 inches. "Travel will be difficult in any areas that get freezing rain, sleet or snow, especially across overpasses and bridges as they will be the ones to ice up initially," explained AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys. Forecasters say that following some snowflakes that started the day in parts of the mid-Atlantic on Monday, the main part of the storm and up to several inches of snow will fall Monday night to Tuesday in the Northeast. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ Areas of freezing rain extended from near Austin and San Antonio to Houston as of the midday hours on Monday. Even a thin coating of ice can create dangerous conditions for travelers and motorists are encouraged to stay off the roads if possible. Icy conditions along I-10 near Houston contributed to a number of accidents on Monday morning. Ice accumulations on tree limbs and power lines can result in power outages across the affected region. As of Monday morning, more than 25,000 were in the cold and dark in Texas, according to poweroutage.us. Coupled with the dangerously cold air in place, power outages and the lack of a heating source could quickly create a hazardous situation for residents. Utility companies in the Southern states were urging customers to conserve to reduce the risk of blackouts. The record-challenging temperatures expected to grip the region for the upcoming days can result in a spike in heating needs and subsequently put stress on the electrical grid. "Any time cold waves are accompanied by snow or ice, the impact to people, businesses and the power grid can be substantially amplified," warned AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter. Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer. Sir Keir Starmer has diluted yet another leadership pledge by weakening his promise to give MPs a vote on military interventions. The Labour leader publicly backed airstrikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen carried out without consulting MPs beforehand despite previously saying that an incoming Labour government would pass legislation to block military action that did not have the backing of the Commons. When he was running for the Labour leadership in 2020, Sir Keir said that he would introduce a Prevention of Military Intervention Act to stop more illegal wars. At the time he explained that the law would mean UK governments would have to get the consent of the Commons before deploying in the military in conflicts. But he has denied abandoning the policy, arguing that his promised legislation guaranteeing MPs a vote applied only to full-scale military campaigns. There is no inconsistency here He told the BBC: Theres no inconsistency here. There is obviously a huge distinction between an operation, the like of which we have seen in the last few days, and military action, a sustained campaign, military action usually involving troops on the ground. He also hinted that he may not write the requirement to consult MPs into law, saying the commitment could be delivered by some other means. His about-turn means that only four of the 10 pledges he made when he was standing for the Labour leadership are still fully intact. It is likely to anger MPs on the Left, who have expressed their discontent over his stance on the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Diane Abbott, a former shadow home secretary who now sits as an independent MP, said: Keir Starmer says his 2020 promise to not support war unless it was legal only applied if the UK was putting in ground troops. But whether your child is killed by a fighter jet or ground artillery they are just as dead. Pledge to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia jettisoned Sir Keir also indicated on Sunday that he is no longer sticking to his leadership pledge to stop all sales of arms to Saudi Arabia while civil war rages in Yemen. He had previously expressed concern that UK-made weapons were being used in Yemen by Riyadh in its campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis. Asked whether he stood by those remarks, Sir Keir would say only that he is committed to reviewing all of Britains arms sales. He told the BBC: We will review the situation and the review will give us the answers to those questions. 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. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a message to celebrate Korean American Day on Saturday, highlighting Korean Americans' "immense contributions" to the United States and their efforts to "enrich" the country. Korean American Day honors the Korean American community's contributions and marks the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. on Jan. 13, 1903. In 2005, both the House of Representatives and Senate passed resolutions for celebration of the day. "Through their steadfast devotion to family and community and their willingness to serve a cause greater than any one person, the strength and spirit of the Korean American community have propelled this land of opportunity toward a brighter future for all," he said in the message. Biden stressed that Korean Americans continue to enrich the U.S. as entrepreneurs, lawyers, public servants and service members among many others. "As we celebrate this wonderful occasion, we are reminded of the importance of honoring and reflecting on our roots no matter where we are," he said. "The immense contributions of Korean Americans everywhere demonstrate that, in our great nation, there is nothing beyond our capacity when we work together," he added. (Yonhap) Romanian farmers have started blocking trucks again through the Siret checkpoint on the Ukrainian border, Ukraine's State Border Guard Service reported on Jan. 14. However, the movement of cars, buses, and pedestrians is being carried out as usual.t The State Border Guard Service on Jan. 13 reported that Romanian farmers had stopped the blockade. In its earlier update, the State Border Guard Service said that there were no "significant lines" of trucks headed toward Ukraine. Romania's Siret border checkpoint is across from Ukraine's Porubne border checkpoint in Chernivtsi Oblast. The incident was preceded by Polish truckers blocking four crossings with Ukraine in November in protest of the EU's liberalization of transit rules for Ukrainian truckers. That blockade resulted in huge lines on both sides of the border, stranding drivers in freezing temperatures. Read also: Anger and disappointment in endless lines of Ukrainian trucks at Polish border Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Dissatisfied voter speaks out I never received a response from Nancy Mace, Lindsey Graham or Tim Scott about an increase in homeowners insurance. They are not representing our local problems, but are on TV about international, foreign policy issues. We have no representation for South Carolina in Congress. It is time to primary them for individuals who will represent the citizens of our state, who care about our local problems, and stay off the media stage which plays to their egos. Brian Doyle, HHI Is Mace auditioning for #2? Issac Bailey hit the nail on the head in his column about Nancy Mace. For someone who presented herself as somewhat moderate when she first ran for Congress, her behavior has been increasingly off the rails. Her pathetic grandstanding, her contempt for facts, and her crass use of language point to one thing shes auditioning to be Trumps running mate. A perfect match. David Greene, HHI Amend transgender bill I am a young LGBTQ+ Democrat, but I am strongly opposed to the idea of minors receiving gender transition surgeries. That is why I support the majority of the language in South Carolina House Bill 4624 (H.4624), which was recently pre-filed by some Republican lawmakers, but I cannot support the bill as written because it would force educators to out students who are questioning their gender to their parents. There are some cases in which information a student tells a teacher should stay between them. And I know good and well that most people would not have wanted their teacher to tell their parents everything they told them when they were in school. I know most parents just want what is best for their kids and thats why parents should create an environment in which their kids know their parents will love them no matter what and their kids want to come out to them. In my opinion, lawmakers should amend H. 4624 and remove points 2/B of section two of the bill and pass the rest of the bill. Hayden G Laye, Walhalla Ammunition should be taxed I urge our representatives at the State House to vote down a bill by Rep. Ashley Trantham (R-Greenville) to make small arms ammunition non-taxable. Lets use the tax on ammunition to fund better policing or to pay the hospital bills of people, often children, who are shot by accident. Elizabeth Russell, Columbia Trump will never give up election shenanigans According to recent reporting, Donald Trump has stated that if he loses the election, he will not not declare he lost it, but will say the election was stolen again from him. This could help the Democrats because, in my mind, if Trump even looks like he will lose the election, he will tell MAGA supporters not to go to polls because the election is fixed. It certainly will not help Haley or DeSantis because they are both under the impression they will get the MAGA votes. They both have shown how afraid they are of Trump by not attacking his character, morals and many other bad things he has done. God forbid either of them get to be president. They would be shaking in their boots when meeting the Russian and China presidents if they dont have the courage to go after a man that has been charged with 91 felonies. We will get our country back somehow. Maybe not with Biden who is a weak president, but with someone who has character and not wearing an orange jump suit. God bless America. Pat Clark, Columbia Dissatisfied voter speaks out I never received a response from Nancy Mace, Lindsey Graham or Tim Scott about an increase in homeowners insurance. They are not representing our local problems, but are on TV about international, foreign policy issues. We have no representation for South Carolina in Congress. It is time to primary them for individuals who will represent the citizens of our state, who care about our local problems, and stay off the media stage which plays to their egos. Brian Doyle, HHI Is Mace auditioning for #2? Issac Bailey hit the nail on the head in his column about Nancy Mace. For someone who presented herself as somewhat moderate when she first ran for Congress, her behavior has been increasingly off the rails. Her pathetic grandstanding, her contempt for facts, and her crass use of language point to one thing shes auditioning to be Trumps running mate. A perfect match. David Greene, HHI Amend transgender bill I am a young LGBTQ+ Democrat, but I am strongly opposed to the idea of minors receiving gender transition surgeries. That is why I support the majority of the language in South Carolina House Bill 4624 (H.4624), which was recently pre-filed by some Republican lawmakers, but I cannot support the bill as written because it would force educators to out students who are questioning their gender to their parents. There are some cases in which information a student tells a teacher should stay between them. And I know good and well that most people would not have wanted their teacher to tell their parents everything they told them when they were in school. I know most parents just want what is best for their kids and thats why parents should create an environment in which their kids know their parents will love them no matter what and their kids want to come out to them. In my opinion, lawmakers should amend H. 4624 and remove points 2/B of section two of the bill and pass the rest of the bill. Hayden G Laye, Walhalla Trump will never give up According to recent reporting, Donald Trump has stated that if he loses the election, he will not not declare he lost it , but will say the election was stolen again from him. This could help the Democrats because, in my mind, if Trump even looks like he will lose the election, he will tell MAGA supporters not to go to polls because the election is fixed. It certainly will not help Haley or DeSantis because they are both under the impression they will get the MAGA votes. They both have shown how afraid they are of Trump by not attacking his character, morals and many other bad things he has done. God forbid either of them get to be president. They would be shaking in their boots when meeting the Russian and China presidents if they dont have the courage to go after a man that has been charged with 91 felonies. We will get our country back somehow. Maybe not with Biden who is a weak president, but with someone who has character and not wearing an orange jump suit. God bless America. Pat Clark, Columbia This Christmas, Santa brought my 16-year-old a new phone, which caused a bit of jealousy in his younger, more irresponsible brother. Deciding when to let your child jump into that tech world is not easy. No matter how many rules your family may have, it is still natural to worry about what your children will find, or who theyll talk to, online. It has been more than a quarter century since Congress passed a law to protect kids online. In 1998, less than half the country was even connected to the internet, and those who were likely used AOL. There was no Facebook. There was no social media. Today, more than half of teenagers say it would be difficult to give up their social media time, according to Pew Research polling. Half of parents are worried about what their child is being exposed to online. As legislatures convene here at home and across the country, there will no doubt be an onslaught of proposed laws aimed at protecting kids online. Few will doubt the good intentions of these proposed policies. In Idaho last session, a bill would have required manufacturers of internet-capable devises to install and active technology that enables parents to make filtering decisions. A new law in Utah requires social media companies to obtain parental consent for those under 18. And if the parent does consent, they are given full access to their childs social media accounts. Meantime, Colorados governor says he would not back state-imposed restrictions. And other states have a bevy of restrictions and proposed laws. Social media and the internet are very much mobile. It would be nearly impossible for companies to create 50 different oversight mechanisms to comply with every states preference. And even if they did, teens and families move fluidly across state lines. A patchwork of laws would mean they are inconsistently protected. Thats why, at the very least, Congress needs to work with tech providers to create a standard for the national marketplace to ensure uniform protection for kids online health and safety. One idea put forward by Meta the parent company of Facebook is to require parental consent for teens under 16 at the app store level. What does this mean? Essentially, parents would have to approve any download of an app other than general items such as search or email. Age verification would be completed at the app store level which would ensure kids are placed in the appropriate app experience. All apps would need to be treated consistently. Another proposal would require ad targeting standards that would limit the personalization of ads to those under 16 to age and location only. This means advertisers and videos that may be questionable could not be targeted to kids under 16. These are common sense proposals that recognize the complexity of the issue. We need to protect kids online while not stifling innovation and advancement in the coming years. A patchwork of laws is messy. One national standard that puts parents, not the government, in the drivers seat, would be best. Chris Cargill is the President of Mountain States Policy Center, a free-market think tank based in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Eastern Washington. Online at mountainstatespolicy.org . AUSTIN (Nexstar) A public park in the South Texas border town of Eagle Pass has been taken over by the state to prevent migrants from illegally crossing the Rio Grande. Federal officials say the state is also blocking Border Patrol agents from accessing the area. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas said in a social media post Wednesday night that Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officials and Texas National Guard have put up a gate and sealed off Shelby Park. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) asked the Supreme Court on Friday to order Texas to stop blocking Border Patrol agents from the portion of the U.S.-Mexico border contained within the park. Its an area where large numbers of migrants have crossed in recent months. Along one stretch, armed Texas National Guard members and their vehicles are preventing Border Patrol agents from accessing the river, the DOJ said in a court filing. The Texas National Guard also allegedly used a Humvee to keep Border Patrol agents off an access road. A woman and her two small children drowned Friday night while trying to cross the Rio Grande into Eagle Pass, Texas, and a South Texas congressman told Border Report that state officials denied federal agents access to the river to help. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said the woman and the children were caught in the river currents along Shelby Park, but Border Patrol agents were unable to reach them or help them after Texas Department of Public Safety troopers blocked access to the park earlier this week. Mexican officials found their bodies on Saturday, Cuellar said. The park was to be the site of a scheduled Saturday afternoon ceremony in remembrance of migrants who died in 2023 while trying to cross the Southwest border. Vigil to honor migrants who died trying to cross Southwest border Over 700 wooden crosses have been put on a field in Shelby Park, near International Bridge 1, and organizers told Border Report that they planned to sing and commemorate the lives lost. Over 700 wooden crosses have been put at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, by the banks of the Rio Grande, in honor of migrants who died trying to cross the Southwest border from Mexico. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) But now the event is unlikely to be held. Salinas said he was told by DPS that the park will remain closed indefinitely. They are taking full control, custody of Shelby Park, Salinas said. In talking to the state, they say their mission is to prevent another mass amount of people from crossing, so now they have this operation. However, Salinas notes that the number of migrants trying to illegally cross the border from Piedras Negras, Mexico, has dropped significantly in the past several days. Officials say its down from over 4,000 per day to about 400 per day. The Hope Mission Border migrant shelter is practically empty, Eagle Pass Border Vigil Founder Amerika Garcia Grewal told Border Report earlier this week in the border town of under 30,000 residents. She organized Saturdays ceremony and said shes stunned that the park is now closed. Theres no access to the cross memorial, theres no access to the downtown parking. We have no access whatsoever, and we have no explanation, Garcia Grewal told Border Report on Thursday. DHS Secretary Mayorkas says immigration system broken during visit to South Texas border Texas is holding the line at our southern border with miles of additional razor wire and anti-climb barriers to deter and repel the record-high levels of illegal immigration invited by President Bidens reckless open border policies, said Texas Governors Office spokesperson Renae Eze in a statement to Border Report. Instead of enforcing federal immigration laws, the Biden administration allows unfettered access for Mexican cartels to smuggle people into our country. Texas will continue to deploy Texas National Guard soldiers, DPS troopers, and more barriers, utilizing every tool and strategy to respond to President Bidens ongoing border crisis. Gov. Greg Abbott issued a border disaster declaration in 2021, which he renewed in December. It includes Maverick County, where Eagle Pass is located. I cant believe this is happening in the United States of America in the year 2024, Garcia Grewal said. She noted that Shelby Park last year was turned over to state officials by Salinas, but the order was revoked. Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas says the city did not ask Texas officials to close Shelby Park on Jan. 10. (Sandra Sanchez/Border Report) This is not the City of Eagle Pass denying people access to the park, said Salinas in a Facebook post. This is the state saying that, using this emergency declaration. They have this mission going on. When asked how long this mission will take place they told me it is indefinitely. Garcia Grewal says families use the park for holiday and birthday celebrations, and the large parking lot offers free parking spaces for residents who want to walk over the bridge to Piedras Negras, or shop in the downtown district. Weve lost our park. We have lost 35 acres of access to our park, and its the only public boat ramp in the city, she said. Theyre fed up, McCaul praises efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Republicans in Congress are moving forward with efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of not enforcing immigration laws. Texas Congressman Michael McCaul is one of those critics, and has an influential voice as chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Politics reporter Monica Madden spoke with the Congressman to get his perspective on why he thinks impeachment is the right move. Monica Madden: Given your legal background, what specific actions or inactions from the secretary do you think warrant his impeachment? Michael McCaul: I think its a failure to follow and execute the law, the failure to detain and remove those coming into the country illegally, which is what Remain in Mexico did. On day one, he rescinded that policy and went back to a, quite frankly, weve never experienced this kind of lack of law enforcement. We have 8 million people encounters with no legal status. Youve had over 300 on the terror watchlist come in, and weve had 150,000 people dead now, due to fentanyl deaths, many in the Austin area by the way. I cant get into names but you know, people, friends of my kids from Westlake High School, they took what they thought was Xanax was laced with fentanyl, and they dont wake up. But going back to what the Founding Fathers envisioned. They didnt even envision a specific violation of a federal criminal statute. They didnt have very many at that time. They looked at they talked about things like abuse of power and neglect of duty, dereliction of duty. Hamilton talked in the Federalist papers about injuries done immediately to society itself, which clearly theres been a lot of damage to the fabric of America over the last two and a half, three years due to the Secretarys inaction and failure to follow the law, and also his just abuse of power. I tell you back home, I deal as chairman of Foreign Affairs with a lot of other issues like Israel, and you know, Russia and Ukraine and China and the threat to Taiwan. But this is always the number one issue is a threat to the southern from the southern border, and how can we fix it? So Im a voice for about 800,000 people. Theyre very loud and clear what they want me to say up here, and that is that theyre fed up. They think this man should be removed from office and they want him impeached. Monica Madden: Typically, cabinet members are enforcers of policy decisions by the administration at large. Is impeachment the right move in response to this issue, which when many see that Mayorkas is carrying out President Bidens policies? Michael McCaul: I think Mayorkas is, hes a smart man. He was a U.S. Attorney in California, like I was in Texas, and he knows what hes doing. This is not done by accident. Its done by design. I think he had every intention to rescind this law. And I personally think it was his advice, his guidance to the President that led to this rescission of policy. Were not looking at throwing a lot more money down there at the border, weve already spent a lot of money if they need more then Id consider that. But we really want these fundamental changes in policy that have led to the pull factor, the magnet, thats bringing in all these people. Rather than pushing our border out further south, were bringing it into the United States. I dont know how were going to absorb 8 million people with no legal status. And all theyre going to do is go to criminal enterprises like, you know, MS 13, cartels in the United States, sex human trafficking, largest trafficking event in my lifetime. But to answer your question, I think this man is personally responsible for the policy changes, and he has to own it, and were going to speak on behalf of the American people. Now, do I think this is going to go anywhere in the Senate? Probably not. But I think the American people deserve to have their voices heard on this subject. Monica Madden: Congressman, which do you think would have more immediate results for the country when it comes to border policy, the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas or congressional reform on border policy? I know thats something that you all are working on. But should Congress be more focused on trying to get the Secure the Border Act across the finish line? Michael McCaul: You know, I almost see them working in tandem together because it gives us leverage and strength, say look, the American people are fed up with your conduct with your abuse of power, your neglect of duty, and they want you to do your job. So were going to impeach in the House. Its not gonna go anywhere in the Senate, probably but you need to come to the table and change these policies now. And nows the time as were facing a potential looming government shutdown, which I never liked those. All that does is hurts our national defense or military. Id far prefer to have a continuing resolution where we can get the business of government done, fund the government and include a major border policy, national security change of policy that will fix this border. We had this thing done. When I chaired Homeland Security Committee, we literally had it to the point where we had stopped the flow into the country, we were going to build a detention facility in southern Mexico on the Guatemalan border that would process these individuals. And we finally had a system that was going to work. And then Mayorkas came in and changed everything. Is the Texas power grid ready for the Arctic blast? As Texans brace for frigid temperatures descending on most of the state early next week, some still fret about the fallout of the deadly February 2021 blackout. State leaders are reassuring Texans the state is prepared to avoid the worst of our winter memories, while also preparing for the worst-case scenarios. ERCOT predicts a nearly one-in-six chance of rolling blackouts if conditions mirror Winter Storm Elliot, the December 2022 storm that kept parts of Texas at or below freezing for as long as three days. In a December 2023 outlook, ERCOT reports a 14.66% chance of controlled outages if conditions reach a similar severity. Absent those conditions, the chance of outages drops to less than 3%. Under typical grid conditions, the deterministic scenario indicates that there should be sufficient generating capacity available to serve the expected peak load, the report states. Abbott was adamant in December that the Texas grid is ready. Texas and the grid are better prepared than weve ever been, Abbott said on Dec. 14. The power grid is as ready and reliable as it has ever been for the winter season, ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas said. We have more generating and dispatchable resources available to the grid than we have had in any prior winter in history. So we are ready for that. ERCOT CEO: Power grid ready and reliable ahead of winter Since February 2021, power plants have winterized and ERCOT has conducted more than 1,500 inspections, Vegas said. I think the weatherization requirements for the electric power plants have certainly helped. I think the legislature requiring the Railroad Commission to act and improve weatherization for the natural gas delivery system was probably helpful, University of Houston Energy Fellow Ed Hirs told Nexstar. Dr. Josh Rhodes, research director with the Webber Energy Group at UT Austin, agrees this week will likely not pose significant issues. He says the drier climate will allow wind energy in West Texas to perform well. Were entering the storm a little bit differently than we did coming into Winter Storm Uri, Rhodes said. Its not going to be as wet or as cold for as longI think its just a bit of a different story. But that doesnt mean we might not have issues on the system. Texas rolls out preparations ahead of statewide weather threats Hirs noted that, while this years ERCOT outlook predicts a one-in-six chance of blackouts, ERCOT predicted just a one-in-twenty chance of blackouts in Feb. 2021. Hes concerned the supply will not meet peak demand without renewable sources supplementing fossil fuels. As we play ERCOT weather roulette, if we come up a loser, we come up a loser no matter what the governor says, Hirs said. ERCOT is forecasting a peak demand on Monday night thats really like a summer day over 80,000 megawatts. We do not have enough coal, natural gas, and nuclear power plants and batteries that we can turn on to match that 80,000 megawatts. Keep in mind, the sun doesnt contribute if it happens at night, and the wind wont contribute if theres freezing precipitation. We just have less information about how winterized the natural gas system is, and it provides about 40% of our electricity. So we need to make sure that the entire system is good to go, Rhodes said. Last year, the legislature passed into law a plan meant to incentivize energy companies to build more natural gas power plants. The state is offering loans to build plants and other financial incentives meant to ensure companies have enough power when grid conditions are tight. The power-plant-building plan could cost the state as much as $18 billion. Rhodes called the plan a temporary stopgap measure, but doubted the ability of the state to continue the program in the long term. I dont really see it as a long-term solution unless we decide to subsidize the construction of power plants long term, which isnt how we do electricity necessarily in Texas, Rhodes said. Id rather take a more holistic approach to the system. Hirs argued that more power plants wont necessarily lead to more energy supply. If we built 20 new power plants on the grid, we would only ensure that the price stayed down, Hirs said. If Im a power company with 20 power plants on the ERCOT grid and so far this winter Ive only had to run 12, why would I put the other eight online? If I do, then I just make sure that the price stays at the average of $50 a megawatt hour. If I dont click those eight online, then I make sure that my other 12 will get $5,000 a megawatt hour during the cold front. This weeks arctic air is expected to hit Texas late Saturday and linger until Wednesday. She really was a pioneer, Lawmakers honor the legacy of Eddie Bernice Johnson Family, friends and Texas lawmakers gathered at the renowned Texas State Cemetery on Wednesday to bury the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, to whom many credited major state successes and minority victories after a historic career in public service. Johnson retired last January after three decades in the U.S. House of Representatives, in which she became the first African American and first woman to chair the Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment. In her 1972 race for the Texas House, she broke barriers of race and gender to become the first black woman from Dallas elected to public office. She left behind such a legacy in the Texas House, the Texas Senate, and the U.S. Congress. She was a trailblazer. She really was a pioneer, said State Rep. Ron Reynolds, who now chairs the House Legislative Black Caucus that Johnson founded in 1973. Sometimes, when someones in your backyard, you dont realize what you have. But people all over the world treasured Eddie Bernice Johnson. Burial in the Texas State Cemetery is one of the highest final honors reserved for the states most impactful citizens. Johnson now rests beside other legendary Texans, including Stephen F. Austin, Bob Bullock, and 14 governors. Shes earned it. Shes been on the front lines since well past the seventies when it was not okay to be African American, State Chair of the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats Candice Matthews said. So I think that this is due time, and I think that its well done for her to be buried in a historical place like this that did not recognize people that look like us. Her work got her here. On Monday, President Joe Biden made his first presidential trip to Dallas to honor the late congresswoman at her wake. Johnson was 88. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. FILE - Solar panels are seen at the DTE O'Shea Solar Park work in Detroit, Nov. 16, 2022. More than a dozen states have given themselves the power to override local zoning restrictions blocking large-scale renewable energy projects. The decisions come as some states implement ambitious goals requiring utility providers to generate 100% carbon-free energy by 2040. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) LANSING, Mich. (AP) Clean energy developers had planned a 75-turbine wind farm in mid-Michigans Montcalm County before local voters shot down the idea in 2022 and recalled seven local officials who had supported it. About 150 miles (240 kilometers) southeast, Clara Ostrander in Monroe County found herself at the center of a similar conflict as rising medical costs forced her and her husband to consider selling land her family has owned for 150 years. Leasing a parcel to an incoming solar farm could save the property, but neighboring residents complained so vehemently that Ostrander said the township changed its zoning to block the project. There are people in this township I will never, ever speak to again, she said. Local restrictions in Michigan derailed more than two dozen utility-scale renewable energy projects as of last May, according to a study by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University. Nationwide, and at least 228 restrictions in 35 states have been imposed to stop green energy projects. The conflicts have hindered many states aggressive timelines for transitioning to cleaner energy production, with the ultimate goal of eliminating carbon pollution within the next two decades. Michigan and more than a dozen other states are seeking to upend the decision-making process by grabbing the power to supersede local restrictions and allow state authorities to approve or disapprove locations for utility-scale projects. The shift has sparked a political backlash that may escalate as more states seek to simplify getting green energy projects approved and built. We cant allow projects of statewide importance that are critical to our state energy security to be vetoed on purely local concerns, said Dan Scripps, chair of Michigans Public Service Commission. Scripps and two other commission members now have the power to site large-scale renewable energy projects in the state under legislation passed by Michigan lawmakers and signed by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in November. Michigan joined Connecticut, New York, Oregon and Minnesota in requiring utility providers to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2040. A sixth state, Rhode Island, is shooting for 100% renewable energy by 2033. The goals are consistent with the Biden administrations target of carbon pollution-free electricity by 2035 and a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. Other states have long-standing goals lower than 100%. But many local officials say giving states the power to site large-scale energy projects clashes with cherished U.S. political principles. Local officials, they say, are the public servants closest to and most directly accountable to voters. They argue that's especially important when it comes to land use and what gets built near homes. In Kansas, Osage Countys moratorium on commercial solar and wind projects came in 2022 after multiple hearings. County Commissioner Jay Bailey said the decision reflected most residents concerns. Even after all the hearings and discussions, he said he just didn't feel he had enough information about the effects of large turbines or solar farms. Heres the difference," he said. "If you allow them, you cant go back and change it, but if you dont allow them, you can always change it. In other places, such as the Flint Hills of Kansas home to most of the nations remaining tall grass prairie moratoriums on energy projects stem from environmental concerns. But even with the restrictions in place in parts of Kansas, renewable energy has boomed there. Wind farms now provide 47% of the state's electricity, up from 7% in 2010. The gains came as the clean energy lobby worked steadily to counter opposition from the states Republican-controlled Legislature. Elise Caplan, vice president for regulatory affairs at the nonprofit American Council on Renewable Energy, said local rules restricting green energy facilities are not really based on science. Projects can benefit local environments by retiring generating plants powered by fossil fuels, she said. Michigan has pursued its clean-energy goals by rapidly developing facilities where there's ample farmland. It's a choice that can divide rural communities, as it did in the Monroe County case in which Ostrander sought to lease property for a solar farm. Michigans new siting law could revive the project. No ones forcing this on us," Ostrander said. This was something we decided and felt it would be good for us to build to keep our property in the family. Michigan is unusual in that its more than 1,200 townships have the power to enact and enforce zoning ordinances. Twenty of the state's 83 counties have passed ordinances blocking or delaying wind or solar developments. Scripps, the chair of Michigans Public Service Commission that can now override those restrictions, has said an additional 209,000 acres (84,579 hectares) will be needed for projects to hit the states 60% renewable energy goal by 2035. Its a massive increase from the 17,000 acres (6,880 hectares) currently being used. Developers will still need to go through local communities to approve projects, Scripps said. But if the project is denied, and meets the states criteria to proceed, the three-person commission can overrule the local decision and approve solar projects with a capacity of 50 megawatts or greater and wind projects with a capacity of 100 megawatts. A 2023 law in Illinois limits local authorities power and bans moratoriums on clean-energy projects. In addition to Michigan, the Columbia University study reported that state boards or agencies in California, Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island control decisions about siting projects. Local rules also can be bypassed by the state in Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Florida and South Dakota. Local government groups in Michigan have overwhelmingly opposed the new law giving the state power to site projects, saying it creates a one-size-fits-all process. Citizens for Local Choice, a group with four state lawmakers, announced in early January that it will try put the issue before Michigan voters in November, which would require collecting nearly 357,000 signatures by May 29. Green energy advocates are frustrated by what they often see driving local opposition to projects: A fear of change, widely circulating misinformation about wind turbines and solar panels and a desire by suburbanites who move to rural areas to preserve views. Josh Svaty, who assists renewable energy companies seeking county-level approval and lobbies for them at the Kansas Statehouse, decries how opponents can make local officials' lives absolutely miserable. Yet, he said, he still believes in local decision making. County governments city governments, the same way they are designed to be accessible to their citizens," Svaty said. "So you can go to that planning and zoning meeting and if you want to say your view, you can do that. ___ Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Protestors from the Sunrise Movement interrupted Florida Governor and Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis during a Fox News Town Hall event in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 9, 2024. Credit - Alex WongGetty Images At a campaign event for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the woman I was interviewing was lying to me. I had approached her near the front of the crowd, where she posed for a photo holding a cherry red DeSantis sign. For someone so proudly signaling her support, she seemed a bit unsure when I asked if she was supporting him. Uh, yeah, she said. When I asked her to elaborate, she opened up more, telling me that her name was Karla, shed been a Republican her whole life, and though she liked some of what former President Donald Trump had done, she was worried about his fate in the courts and liked the governors strong record in Florida. It was only after DeSantis began speaking that I realized what had happened. In the middle of the speech, one young man began making a commotion. I know you have an agenda, stop, DeSantis said as security firmly escorted the still-yelling protester out. Another protester then hopped on stage with the governor, unfurled a banner reading Desantis: Climate Criminal, and was promptly tackled to the ground. How much money are you taking from oil companies? he demanded from the floor. And then it was Karlas turn. I couldnt make out much of what she said, though she, too, was yelling as security escorted her out. When I found her outside later, she told me her real name was Laela, and that she was an organizer with the climate action organization Sunrise Movement. She was doing this, she said, to force all the candidates to address the climate crisis. The issue was personal to her. When she was fifteen, she had lost her home in a tornado, she said. I look different than people in there, she said when I asked about her earlier lie. I did do it to kind of, like, protect myself. As the Iowa contest races to a close, with flocks of reporters trailing the Republican presidential candidates ahead of the voting Monday, covert protesters are hoping to attract more attention for their causes. Sunrise Movement has been among the most visible, and Laela said she felt that the more people like her interrupted these events, the more the climate crisis would become a defining issue for even Republican candidates. Given how the audience clapped as DeSantis dismissed the protestersWere not going to let people like that win and This is [what is] wrong with the college system right thereIm not so sure. But the protests do reveal something about the character of the candidates Iowans are assessing, and about their approach to campaigning. The disruptions are another way that Iowas person-to-person retail politics can break the theater of heavily scripted political operations. After delivering essentially the same lines for months on end, the candidates reactions to the stealth protesters give a sense of how they think on their feet and how they respond to unexpected criticism. Nikki Haley, locked in a tight race for second with DeSantis, has taken a similarly disciplined approach to disruption as the Florida governor has. Months ago, when hecklers interrupted her saying she was not even a Swiftie, she looked on, smiling, while security escorted both of them out. While that has been a distraction, remember how blessed we are that we have freedom of speech in this country, she said. This week, multiple videos posted online by Trump-supporting agitators appear to show her team barring them from or throwing them out of events. The approach shows how both Haley and DeSantis are fighting to keep control of the narrative. According to polls, they are far behind Trump, and with money and established campaign operations, they and their advisors are trying to stay on script, come what may. That contrasts with the more free-wheeling style of Vivek Ramaswamy who, polling in the single digits, has less to lose and has emphasized the importance of free speech throughout his campaign. When he took the stage in the Iowa state Capitol a day earlier, Laela confronted him, as well. And when another Sunrise protester began yelling, Ramaswamy agreed to hand over his microphone for sixty seconds. When security moved to eject Laela, the entrepreneur said she could stay. He then took a question from another activist, who continued talking over him. I thank you for voicing your opinion and asking the question, but at the end of the day, we have to be able to have respectful, open debate, he said. And then theres the GOP front runner, Donald Trump. In the past, Trump has occasionally endorsed violence in response to disruptive protests, or their possibility. In 2016, he told rally attendees to knock the crap out of hecklers. The same year, Trump said of a protester that hed like to punch him in the face. As protests took place nationwide in 2020 after the killing of George Floyd, then-president Trump hinted at violence, and seemed to endorse it in private with top Pentagon officials. Trump has left much of the campaigning in Iowa this cycle to surrogates. Recently, he has backed off calls for retribution in his campaign. Many voters, especially young people, say they are tired of candidates with cautious, choreographed styles and canned lines. I understand you have a platform and you want to stick to your talking points, said Aidan Driscoll, a first time caucus-goer I met at a Haley event who was thinking of supporting her, but was critical of her and DeSantis disciplined remarks. But I think if you want to build a broader base of support, you need to start actually speaking to what Americans want to hear, rather than just the same thing that you keep regurgitating over and over again. Write to Mini Racker at mini.racker@time.com. Sarah Snook will soon star in The Picture of Dorian Gray at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London - HBO Sarah Snook, actress who played Shiv Roy in Succession, has revealed she was once told off by a producer for eating the tiniest bit of chocolate cake on a film set. Snook, a Golden Globe-winner who has become a household name for her part in the television drama, lamented the infantalisation of women in the industry, as well as the unrealistic beauty standards it expects. On the set of an unnamed film, she claimed, a casting agent once told her: We dont really want you because youre a nobody, but the director and the writer think youre good for the role. So what well do is change all of you so that youre marketable: well whiten your teeth, darken your hair, well give you a personal trainer so you can lose weight and look the part. Snook told the Sunday Times magazine she agreed to the changes, telling herself she was being professional. In order for me to be successful I have to be all the things that arent me, she said, of her thought process. And then one particular day I had the tiniest bit of chocolate cake. A producer told her off in front of the entire cast and crew, it is claimed, before an indignant costume designer intervened to urge her to keep eating it. And all the while I am dying inside, she added. The infantilising of women, to not be able to make their own decisions, why would we do that to women? Snook will soon star in The Picture of Dorian Gray at Theatre Royal Haymarket, London; a one-woman show in which she plays 26 characters. Soul story The Oscar Wilde story of a handsome gentleman who sells his soul in exchange for eternal youth has led her to reflect on the theme of beauty. I very purposefully have tried not to put my worth to myself into how I look because if you do, and one gets celebrated for that, when that goes which it will then whats your worth? she told the magazine, adding that she had already noticed people commenting on the looks of her baby daughter. Shes a very cute baby and people already go, Oh, what a beautiful girl! And theres a sense of protection that kicks in for me, and goes, Whoa, shes more than that. Or she will be. She is genuinely very cute and I dont think thats just a biased mother saying that. But I am wary of that being language that she experiences growing up. She added: Its better to feel like one looks like shit but not to think that it matters, than to feel that one looks beautiful and thats your value. The Picture of Dorian Gray is at Theatre Royal Haymarket from February 6. 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. The former home secretary was seen wiping away tears as she listened to speeches in the crowd at a pro-Israel event in Trafalgar Square, central London. Wearing a blue coat and a grey beanie, she told reporters that the remaining hostages caught up in the conflict in the Middle East needed to be brought home now. Im here to stand in solidarity with Israel, she said. It has been 100 days since innocent people have been taken hostage by the Hamas terrorists and we need to bring them home now. Bring them home now. Ms Braverman has been a vocal critic of the pro-Palestine marches that have filled Londons streets over recent months, but this is the first time she has been seen at a pro-Israel event since she left the Cabinet. Around 25,000 people gathered in cold temperatures on Sunday afternoon for the Trafalgar Square rally, which condemned the proscribed terror group Hamass invasion of Israel on Oct 7, leaving more than 1,400 people dead and 200 taken hostage. Many carried Israeli flags and held pictures of some of the 105 people still believed to be being held captive. Isaac Herzog, Israels president, told the rally via video link that this battle belongs to the whole free world, adding: In the face of those who wish to scare us into silence, youve stood up and spoken out with clarity, pride, and passion. The former home secretary was seen wiping away tears as she listened to speeches in the crowd - Amanda Rose/Alamy Meanwhile, a 24-hour rally is being held in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv. The London gathering comes a day after a pro-Palestine demonstration in the capital where at least six people were arrested. Some at the latest pro-Palestine march appeared to chant support for Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks on commercial shipping, shouting Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around in apparent celebration of the escalation of the conflict. Israel is under pressure over civilian deaths in Gaza, where it is waging a major military operation aiming to wipe out Hamas, with more than 9,300 civilians estimated to have been killed and 3,600 injured. One of the speakers at the Israel rally on Sunday was Tory Lord Pickles, the UKs special envoy for post-Holocaust issues, who told the crowd: Ive met many Holocaust survivors and I never understood why in the 1930s nobody did anything about the Nazis. By midday on Oct 7 I understood. The world is wonderful at remembering not-long-dead Jews but when the Jews seek to defend themselves the world is indifferent. British-Israeli Eylon Levy, Israels English language spokesman, told the rally: 100 days after Oct 7, one day after another hate parade in London, we stand here outnumbered and outmanned yet unafraid and united. 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. Israel kept up bombardments in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, vowing to press ahead with its offensive to destroy the Islamist movement Hamas as the war approaches the 100-day mark with no end in sight. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not be deterred by a case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague, where it is fighting accusations that the campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide. "No one will stop us - not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil, no one," he told a news conference, referring to Hamas and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Houthi militias which have offered their support. More than three months after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel which triggered the war, more than 20,000 Palestinians have been killed and Gaza is a wasteland of rubble, with all but a handful of its 2.3 million population squeezed into a tiny corner at the southern end of the enclave. In the southern city of Rafah, an Israeli air strike on a house sheltering two displaced families killed 10 people, the Gaza health ministry said. Holding up a photo of a dead girl with a piece of bread in her hand, Bassem Arafeh, a relative, said the families in Rafah had been eating dinner when the house was struck on Friday night. "This child died while she was hungry, while she was eating a piece of bread with nothing on it, where is the International Criminal Court to see how the children die?" Arafeh said. "Where are the Muslims ... and the world leaders?" Israel says it targets militants and does all it can to minimize harm to non-combatants as it wages urban warfare against Hamas in the densely populated Palestinian enclave. But the scale of the killing in Gaza and the dire humanitarian situation has shocked world opinion and fuelled growing calls for a ceasefire, with South Africa launching a case before the ICJ accusing Israel of genocide. Israel has rejected the accusation as a gross distortion, saying its actions in Gaza have been taken in self defence after Hamas gunmen attacked a string of communities in southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and foreigners and taking some 240 as hostages. It says the attack, which Hamas leaders have said they would carry out again, showed its existence as a state was under threat unless the movement is destroyed. The Israeli military, which says it has killed more than 8,000 fighters, has announced a new phase in combat, withdrawing some forces from northern Gaza, while maintaining operations in the south, where senior Hamas leaders including the movement's leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar, are believed to be hiding. On Saturday, it said its forces had killed numerous militants in the southern area of Khan Younis and in the central Gaza Strip. It said it was looking into the reported strike in Rafah. Hamas said its fighters fired at an Israeli helicopter in southern Gaza's Khan Younis. In the central Gaza Strip, residents reported intense gunbattles and tank shelling and Israeli air strikes in Al-Bureij, Al-Nusseirat and Al-Maghazi, areas housing refugees and descendants of the 1948 war. The Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf Al-Qidra said Israeli strikes killed 135 Palestinians and wounded 312 in the past 24 hours. In total, he said 23,843 Palestinians, mostly civilians, have been killed since Oct. 7. As the fighting continued, the head of UNWRA, the U.N. aid agency for Palestinians, said the death and destruction over the past 100 days was "staining our shared humanity". At Nasser Hospital, a handful of doctors said they were struggling in a now "collapsed" healthcare system. Reuters footage showed patients lying on stretchers on the floor inside corridors and doctors using their phone flashlights to examine patients' eyes. "Most of the medical supplies in the ICU are missing," said doctor Mohammad Al-Qidra. "We don't have empty beds, no treatments. Most of the medicines inside the emergency room are not enough for patients. We are trying to find alternatives." Hospital wards are being shared by many of the displaced. "When we ask for medicine, they tell us they don't have it, and the situation is bad. We are here in cold and windy weather," said Mahmoud Jaber, who has been displaced from his home in Gaza City. In the occupied West Bank, where violence had already been on the rise before Oct. 7 and has increased since, three Palestinians who were armed with knives, a rifle and an axe tried to break into a Jewish settlement and were killed, the Israeli military said. The Palestinian Health Ministry said the dead were aged 15, 17 and 19. An Israeli soldier was wounded in an exchange of fire with the assailants as they breached the outer fence of the settlement Adora, near the Palestinian city Hebron, Israel said. (Reuters) Taiwanese voters elected William Lai as their leader in a historic presidential election, cementing a pro-sovereignty direction that increasingly aligns with the West, angering Beijing. China is Russia's top supporter and has sought to disrupt the existing world order led by the United States and its allies. "We congratulate Dr. Lai Ching-te on his victory in Taiwan's presidential election. We also congratulate the Taiwan people for participating in free and fair elections and demonstrating the strength of their democratic system," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. However, the Biden Administration says it does not support Taiwan's independence and maintains the One China policy that only recognizes Beijing. Lai's pro-sovereignty Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has governed Taiwan for eight years and he has signaled backing for Taipei's independence. Drawing on the lessons from Ukraine, Taiwan has been developing an asymmetric warfare strategy that focuses on an agile defense. Read also: Taiwan establishes $1 million fund to support Ukrainian refugees in Poland Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Taiwan has elected Lai Ching-te to become its next president, securing a historic third consecutive term for the pro-sovereignty ruling Democratic Progressive Party in a result that has angered China. Mr Lai, 64, a former doctor who had served as vice-president to Tsai Ing-wen since 2020, said the election result showed Taiwan will continue to walk side by side with democracies around the world, and emphasised that the election highlighted the Taiwanese peoples desire to safeguard their democratic way of life. We are telling the international community that between democracy and authoritarianism, we will stand on the side of democracy, said Mr Lai. China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory, has been increasing pressure in recent months ramping up its military presence and raising fears of a possible invasion. Beijing had cast the election as a choice between war and peace and in the wake of the result China released a statement saying nothing would stop what it called the ultimate and inevitable unification with Taiwan. I hope the other side of the Taiwan Strait can thoroughly understand this kind of voice in Taiwan, Mr Lai said in remarks on Saturday, promising that he will prioritise dialogue with Beijing on the basis of dignity and parity. Only peace, reciprocity, democracy and dialogue can best serve the interests of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, and is the only way out for a win-win situation, he told more than 100 journalists. Lai and his running mate Hsiao Bi-khim speak to supporters after their victory (Getty Images) Mr Lai won 40 per cent of the vote, ahead of Hou You-yi from the China-friendly opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), and former Taipei mayor Ko Wen-je of the Taiwan Peoples Party (TPP). The latter is a newcomer with strong support among younger people. During his concession speech, Hou You-ih, the presidential candidate from the KMT urged all sides to remain united following the election. As hundreds of thousands of DPP supporters chanted slogans to celebrate Mr Lais victory, some Taiwanese voters say the election outcome proves that the Taiwanese people have chosen a leader who can bravely and honestly face the threats posed by China. I think the strategy of resisting China and safeguarding Taiwan will still be the main theme of the next Taiwanese governments foreign policy, Roger Liu, a 36-year-old engineer in the Taiwanese city of Hsinchu, told The Independent. In the run-up to the election, China denounced Mr Lai as a dangerous separatist and troublemaker, and called on the people of Taiwan to make the right choice while noting the extreme harm of the DPPs Taiwan independence line. They have also repeatedly rebuffed Mr Lais calls for talks. A supporter of Taiwan's presidential candidate Hou Yu-ih of the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) party (AFP) In the run-up to election day, China also suspended tariff cuts on 12 petrochemical products imported from Taiwan and repeatedly deployed military aircraft and weather balloons to areas around Taiwan. In light of the strongly worded comments from Beijing, some Taiwanese people say they expect the Chinese government to continue the pressure campaigns against Taiwan. I think Beijings intimidation against Taiwan has never stopped, Alfred Wu, 27, said. Others think the election outcome on Saturday should be able to prevent Beijing from taking any impulsive moves against Taiwan. While Im still concerned about Beijings pressure campaigns against Taiwan, I think Taiwan should try to further strengthen its defence capabilities and international visibility, Ellen Liu, a 37-year-old marketing professional in the capital city of Taipei, said. However, the DPP lost control of Taiwans 113-seat parliament. Taiwan's media reported the DPP won 51 seats to the KMT's 52, while the TPP got eight. With [the] DPP failing to secure a majority in the legislature, it will be much harder for them to implement policies in the next four years, Roger Lui, the 36-year-old engineer said. China has repeatedly threatened to use military force against Taiwan (Xinhua) While some voters have expressed excitement about the DPPs fresh term, others think the public will use a much higher standard to evaluate their performances in the next four years. There is quite a lot of discontent about the DPP after eight years in power, so if they make any serious mistake in the next four years, Taiwanese people will definitely try to vote them out of power in the 2028 presidential election, Rita Chu, 36, from Hsinchu, said. With a significant proportion of voters casting ballots for the two opposition parties, Mr Lui said the ruling party should re-evaluate how they promote their domestic policies to the Taiwanese people. Over the last eight years, theyve initiated reforms in key areas such as energy, pension reform, gender equality, and economic enhancement, but their lack of expertise in promoting these achievements through social media made their efforts unnoticed by the general public, he said. They need to find a way to win back the hearts and minds of the Taiwanese people, especially those who voted against them. While some voters think its important for the DPP to highlight their efforts to counter the threat from China, they think the new government needs to think about how to shift some focus to address social and economic issues that have dominated this particular presidential election. The DPP is often criticised for only focusing on efforts to counter the threat from China while having no solutions for social and economic problems that have been troubling the Taiwanese people, Ms Chu in Hsinchu said. They should prioritise those longstanding social and economic issues in their third term and figure out a way to efficiently tackle the issues. Britains foreign secretary, David Cameron, congratulated Mr Lai following his victory and said he hoped Taiwan and China would renew efforts to resolve their differences peacefully. The elections... are testament to Taiwans vibrant democracy, Lord Cameron said in a statement. I hope that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will renew efforts to resolve differences peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. The Chinese embassy in Japan said on Sunday that it "resolutely opposed" Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa's statement congratulating Taiwan's new president-elect Lai Ching-te. In a statement published on the Japanese foreign ministry's website on Saturday, after the results of the Taiwan presidential election were announced, Kamikawa congratulated Lai on his victory, calling the self-ruled island claimed by Beijing "an extremely crucial partner and an important friend." In response, the Chinese embassy in Japan, without mentioning Lai or acknowledging his victory, described Kamikawa's comments as "a serious interference in China's internal affairs," according to a statement published on Sunday on the embassy's official WeChat account. "We express strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and have lodged solemn representations with the Japanese side," the embassy said. Japan, like most countries, does not have official diplomatic relations with Taiwan, a precondition for establishing diplomatic ties with China. But Japan's alliance with the United States, Taiwan's most important backer, and its proximity to the island, along with recent tensions in its ties with China, have prompted Tokyo to pursue closer ties with Taipei. "The Government of Japan will work toward further deepening cooperation and exchanges between Japan and Taiwan," Kamikawa said in her statement. The Chinese embassy also said that Japan should refrain from sending any "wrong signals" to "Taiwan independence" forces, a label Beijing uses to describe Lai and his political party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which champions Taiwan's separate identity and rejects China's territorial claims. Lai said he would maintain the status quo in relations across the Taiwan Strait, but that he was "determined to safeguard Taiwan from threats and intimidation from China." MURRAY, Utah (ABC4) A teen was arrested Saturday after a shooting at the Fashion Place Mall in Murray and admitted to having emptied his clip during the altercation, according to Murray Police. Imanuill Ahmed, 18, was arrested for felony discharge of a firearm (third-degree felony), obstruction of justice (third-degree felony), riot bodily injury/property damage/dangerous weapon (second-degree felony), and criminal mischief (second-degree felony). On Jan. 13, police responded to a shooting at the Fashion Place Mall, located at 6191 South State Street. PREVIOUSLY: Police presence at Murrays Fashion Place Mall Callers reported that multiple people were involved in the incident, and that those involved were only shooting at each other. Officers arrived at the scene and detained six people that matched the description of the people involved. One of those individuals had a gunshot wound in the lower ankle, police said. Police determined that those six individuals had followed a male, who was by himself, out into the parking lot of the mall. A confrontation reportedly occurred and the person who was followed pulled out a gun and shot at the six others. One of the people in the group of six, identified as Ahmed, was also in possession of a gun and fired back. Closures issued for multiple Utah canyons due to severe weather Upon speaking with detectives, Ahmed reportedly claimed that he emptied his clip and then hid the gun under a trash compactor. Multiple uninvolved cars at the scene were struck by gunfire, police said. Ahmed was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the charges previously stated. No further information is available at this time. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Sandra Day OConnor had already made a mark on history by the time she was in her forties. In 1973, the Texas native became the first woman to head a state legislative chamber when she became Senate Majority Leader in the Arizona state senate. On Aug. 19, 1981, the announcement of a woman nominee to the U. S. Supreme Court made headlines around the world in a time when rights for women were advancing across the globe. El Paso native Sandra Day OConnor would make history again. Conservatives who had supported Ronald Reagans election as president were initially concerned about her record as a moderate in the Arizona legislature. OConnor, however, calmly won over her critics. In spite of their initial misgivings, her nomination was nevertheless approved by the Senate unanimously on Sept. 21. She was sworn in four days later. Judicial independence was a recurring theme in her career on the bench. OConnor did not take an ideological approach. Instead, she looked at each case individually, which often made it difficult to predict how she would decide a question before the court. Throughout her long career, her decisions both thrilled and frustrated both liberals and conservatives. In the end, she earned the respect of Americans across the political spectrum. She tended to side with conservatives on the bench, including her old friend from Stanford Law School, William Rehnquist, who himself would become chief justice by 1986. OConnor remarked that she felt a great deal of pressure being the first woman on the court. In the early 1980s, there were still very few women serving as judges, and she knew it would be difficult to name another woman to the court if she faltered and recognized her position as a role model for women looking to careers in the law. She often said, Its wonderful to be the first at something, but I dont want to be the last. Though she was still the newest member of the court, she quickly took a leadership role in deciding the culture of the court. Getting people to work together was a skill she brought to the Arizona legislature, and she began a Supreme Court tradition of the justices having lunch together to promote a sense of teamwork. Questions surrounding religion, firearms, civil rights, and abortion routinely came before the court. In 1983, she ruled with the majority in United States v. Place, declaring that it was not unconstitutional for drug-sniffing dogs to sniff luggage and property in a public place, but it was unconstitutional to hold such luggage until a police dog arrived. In 1986, in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, four of the conservative justices were ready to overrule the controversial Roe v. Wade decision of 1973 that legalized abortion. OConnors vote in the Pennsylvania case was decisive in which she upheld the Roe decision but allowed limitations to be enacted. She was a skeptic in affirmative action cases before the court, but she often discussed the need for racial equality in education. As her time on the court continued, she began becoming more of a swing vote on close decisions that divided the court. In 1993, she warmly welcomed Ruth Bader Ginsburg as the second woman on the Supreme Court, and the two developed a respected working relationship though they disagreed on many decisions. As early as 2000, OConnor began expressing a desire to retire from the court. Her husbands health was uppermost in her mind as he slowly succumbed to Alzheimers Disease. In Bush v. Gore, she was part of the majority in the controversial decision that ordered the State of Florida to end recounts in the 2000 presidential election, a contest that came down to the results in that state. In the years afterward, she often wondered whether the court should have intervened at all. In 2003, she wrote the decision in Lockyer v. Andrade that upheld Californias three strikes law mandating life sentences for individuals convicted of their third felony. In 2005, she announced her retirement from the court and was succeeded by Justice Samuel Alito. She soon became the chancellor at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. She would still sit in on cases as a visiting judge on occasion. In 2009, President Barak Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in honor of her work on the Supreme Court. In 2009, John OConnor, her husband of 57 years, died. In 2013, she wrote a book on some of the interesting episodes in the history of the Supreme Court called Out of Order. In her later years, her brilliant mind began to fade. Alzheimers Disease struck and began to take its toll. She began to get more forgetful, and her physical health was declining. In 2018, she announced her retirement from public life, discussing her health issues. She spent her last few years in a nursing home in Phoenix, with her family and friends protecting her privacy and dignity. The nations ninety-first Supreme Court justice died quietly in December at age 93. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texan U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's legacy lives on TEXAS (KXAN) After several years of working as a deaf education teacher, Texan Karlie Waldrip is teaching sign language to a new generation of readers, all with the assistance of her pup, Rhett. Waldrip said she was born deaf but her family didnt find out until she was about 10 months old. Growing up, Waldrip went to a school with a deaf and hard of hearing program, where her deaf education teacher had a deaf therapy dog. Texan Karlie Waldrip wrote the childrens book I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler through the perspective of her dog Rhett, who is also deaf. (Courtesy: Karlie Waldrip) Texan Karlie Waldrip wrote the childrens book I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler through the perspective of her dog Rhett, who is also deaf. (Courtesy: Karlie Waldrip) Texan Karlie Waldrip wrote the childrens book I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler through the perspective of her dog Rhett, who is also deaf. (Courtesy: Karlie Waldrip) Texan Karlie Waldrip wrote the childrens book I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler through the perspective of her dog Rhett, who is also deaf. (Courtesy: Karlie Waldrip) Texan Karlie Waldrip wrote the childrens book I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler through the perspective of her dog Rhett, who is also deaf. (Courtesy: Karlie Waldrip) Us deaf kids, we would learn oh my gosh, theres a deaf dog just like me,' she recounted. And [my deaf education teacher] would teach us that deaf kids we might do things a little bit differently, but thats okay. Waldrip said it was that exposure that made her a dog lover and also inspired her to adopt a deaf dog, leading her to Rhett. Once he was adopted and he had acclimated to his new environment, Waldrip taught Rhett about 25 different signs, communicating things like good job, food, walk and treat. I use a lot of facial expressions, a lot of body language, praise, she said. For four years, Waldrip worked as a deaf educator teacher before she felt her next calling: a childrens author. She wrote her book, I Deaf-initely Can, Rhett the Heeler, with the story told through Rhetts point of view. The tale centers around his journey at the animal shelter, meeting Waldrip, learning sign language and sharing his story with others. Waldrip spent just under a year writing the book and collaborated with artist Lucy Rogers, whos also deaf, on illustrating signs throughout the book. Since publishing, Waldrip said the book has reached people around the world, including in Australia, Canada and Italy. She said shes also heard from teachers, school districts and parents on the impact the book has had, especially for those with deaf children in their lives. TRENDING NOW: Spotty to scattered icing now through Monday morning Ive gotten some parents who say my child just loves this book, they read it every night, they take it to school, she said. That just makes my heart so happy. For Waldrip, she said the biggest takeaway she wants people to have is to know that deafness doesnt mean people cant do and achieve all the things that people with full hearing can accomplish. In addition to her book, Waldrip runs an Instagram account, @rhett_the_heeler, to help educate people on deafness, sign language and the status of deaf dogs in shelter systems that are in need of fostering or adoption. We try to educate people about our deafness and what he can do, what I can do and all the things we can do in this world, she said, adding: I just hope that people just look at us like were just normal people, because we are. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. A worker walks by buoys that were placed in the Rio Grande River in Eagle Pass, Texas, in July 2023. File Photo by Adam Davis/EPA-EFE Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Three people, including two children, drowned in the Rio Grande River near the border city of Eagle Pass, Texas, while seeking asylum in the United States, a congressman said Saturday. The Justice Department told the U.S. Supreme Court Friday that Texas had seized 50-acre Shelby Park from the city of Eagle Pass, forcing agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection out. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D- Tex., accused the state of failing to act amid escalating tensions between Texas and the US government over immigration enforcement. The people who drowned were a mother and her two children, an eight-year-old girl and a 10-year-old boy, Cuellar said. "This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility," Cuellar said in a statement. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is seeking the GOP nomination for president in 2024, speaks on his immigration platform near the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas on June 26, 2023. File Photo courtesy of Ron DeSantis/Twitter The park is a major crossing point for migrants trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico and has been the focus of Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott's aggressive attempts to stop illegal crossings, known as Operation Lone Star. People crossing the Rio Grande have been killed when they were swept away by swift currents. Over the summer, the state deployed buoys covered in razor wire into the Rio Grande to deter migrants from crossling. A court ruled the state had to remove the buoys. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (C) gives updates on social services available to victims' families following the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022. File Photo by Tannen Maury/EPA-EFE A Texas congressman said Saturday that three people, including two children, who were seeking asylum in the U.S. drowned near the border city of Eagle Pass, where the Biden administration says Texas has begun denying access to border patrol agents. Mexican officials alerted the U.S. Border Patrol Friday that three people were struggling in the river late Friday, Cuellar said, and when federal agents attempted to relay an alert to Texas National Guard members at Shelby Park, they were met with no response. He said border patrol agents who went to the park were "physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area." The Department of Homeland Security confirmed its border patrol agents were turned back in a statement provided to CNN. "The Texas governor's policies are cruel, dangerous, and inhumane, and Texas's blatant disregard for federal authority over immigration poses grave risks," the DHS said in its statement. The park is owned by the city but has been used by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department to patrol border crossings. The state seized control of the city park from local officials last week and barred federal border patrol agents from entering the premises. Daily attempted crossings dropped to about 500 from the thousands, according to a court filing, after the state erected fences and stationed military vehicles near the park's entry, denying access to border patrol agents and the public. The Texas military department claimed it searched the river after being contacted by border patrol agents, but did not report seeing anyone in distress. "At no time did TMD security personnel along the river observe any distressed migrants, nor did TMD turn back any illegal immigrants from the US during this period," TMD said in a statement. "Also, at no point was TMD made aware of any bodies in the area of Shelby Park, nor was TMD made aware of any bodies being discovered on the US side of the border regarding this situation." TMD said officials saw Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexican side of the river about 45 minutes later. TMD ceased search operations after reporting their observations to the border patrol, it said. Border patrol then confirmed that the Mexican authorities did not require additional assistance, TMD said. When Travis County Sheriff's detectives Paul Salo and James Moore arrived to investigate a shooting at Ted and Corey Shaughnessy's Austin, Texas, home early on March 2, 2018, they first thought it might be a robbery gone wrong. Det. Paul Salo: It looked as though there was a home invasion and a homeowner was killed. Inside the sprawling, suburban home it looked like a battlefield. Ted Shaughnessy, 55, lay dead in a pool of blood near the kitchen table. Det. James Moore: He was shot in the head, the back, the thigh, and the buttocks One of the family's two pet Rottweilers, Bart, had been shot to death, as well. There was broken window glass everywhere, bullets lodged in the walls and casings all over the floor. Authorities noticed they were not all the same type. Det. Paul Salo: We had .40 caliber and .380 so that told us that we had two shooters Corey would tell police she and Ted kept about 20 guns in the home, and said she'd used her .357 revolver to shoot back at the attackers. Det. James Moore: It was a hail of gunfire. Investigators had noticed a single, wide-open ground floor window around the side of the house and wondered if the intruders had used it to get in. Det. Paul Salo: Somebody took the screen off and set it next to the window outside. That open window led into an unoccupied bedroom where, inside a drawer, police found what seemed like an unlikely coincidence. Det. Paul Salo: There's a .40 caliber gun box in that drawer. Det. James Moore: It's missing out of the box. Jim Axelrod: Well, hang on, .40 caliber is one of the calibers that you were just describing. Det. Paul Salo: Yes. It meant the Shaughnessy's empty gun box could have held a pistol that one of the intruders used and had ejected bullet casings near the victim. Det. James Moore: That information gets passed to me while I'm outside. Outside, near Moore, first responders were looking after Corey Shaughnessy. Det. James Moore: Corey's hysterical. Ted and Corey Shaughnessy / Credit: Corey Shaughnessy Corey would tell police she had not seen the attackers' faces. But she did have a hunch about why they'd come. Corey Shaughnessy: Being a jeweler you might someday be a target. Jim Axelrod: When you hear they own a jewelry store, what does that prompt in your minds? Det. James Moore: Automatically a motive. Jim Axelrod: Someone figuring there was some safe with a bunch of jewelry. Det. James Moore: Absolutely. That's right. Corey broke the news by phone to the Shaughnessys' son Nick, then 19, who lived two hours away with his girlfriend Jackie in College Station, Texas. They immediately drove to Austin, arriving about 8 a.m. Det. Paul Salo: Nick comes over and he's he's emotional he asks me what happened. Nick, Jackie and Corey all agreed to help the investigation in any way possible. Corey allowed police to search her phone and, though Nick said he hadn't been in Austin for about a month, he and Jackie did the same. All three also agreed to answer questions at the station. NICK SHAUGHNESSY (police interview): I'm trying to think of anything that could be helpful. Det. Paul Salo: Our goal was to just try to get as much information as possible. COREY SHAUGHNESSY (police interview): I I didn't hear anything until the dog started barking. But Corey says the more police questioned her in the coming days the more a traumatic situation went from bad to worse. COREY SHAUGHNESSY (police interview): I'm trying to do anything I can to to help. She says they were not treating her like a victim. Corey Shaughnessy: I was extremely angry at the sheriff's department. Investigators still weren't sure if the murder was part of a random attack, a jewel heist gone bad, or whether it was a targeted assassination. They weren't finding any relevant unidentified prints at the scene, so they had to wonder if their sole surviving victim, Corey Shaughnessy, was actually a suspect. Det. James Moore: She's the only person in the house. And we have her husband who has been shot to death we know that she owns firearms. So it's obviously an option for us. They called her in for a series of interviews. For the last one, she brought a lawyer. DET. SALO (police interview): You know, I didn't know Ted. It's not right that somebody killed him. COREY SHAUGHNESSY: No it's not. DET. SALO: And I want to find him. COREY SHAUGHNESSY: Me too. Jim Axelrod: You got a distraught wife. You got a dead husband. You have to ask about the marriage, don't you? Det. James Moore: Yes. COREY SHAUGHNESSY (police interview): Ted was the people person. He was the front part of the store. Investigators learned Corey and Ted had met in the early 80s at a video arcade in Phoenix. They'd quickly discovered they had a lot in common, including a love of jewelry and, eventually, of each other. They married and opened Gallerie Jewelers. Corey Shaughnessy: Everything seemed to be just about perfect. As the jewelry business grew, Ted and Corey had decided to grow their family too. In 2000, they adopted Nick at 16 months old from an orphanage in Ukraine. Corey Shaughnessy: It was just instant love. Jim Axelrod: It was? Corey Shaughnessy: Yeah. Instant. Corey says they all bonded even before bringing him home. Corey Shaughnessy: There were animal crackers involved. Jim Axelrod: Skillful distribution of animal crackers? Corey Shaughnessy (laughs) Yes, yes and by the time we left, we were a family. She says Ted had a knack for helping people express their love with a sparkle. Det. James Moore: Everybody loved Ted. Didn't have any enemies. By the time of the murder, the Shaughnessy's were worth millions. But maybe even more valuable to them, they counted some of their customers as close friends. Corey Shaughnessy: We were very happy. Nick and Corey Shaughnessy / Credit: Corey Shaughnessy For Corey, being a parent was worth its weight in gold. Jim Axelrod: Nicholas had everything a kid could want. Corey Shaughnessy: Yes. Jim Axelrod: What was he into? Corey Shaughnessy: He liked animals, and he loved cars. Especially, fast ones. His father drove race cars for fun and often took him to the track. Corey Shaughnessy: He loved putting on Ted's helmet and his racing gloves and and all of those things. In high school, she says her son found another love her name was Jackie Edison. After her parents divorced, she had moved from New Jersey to Austin to live with her father. Nick brought her to meet his parents in 2016. Corey Shaughnessy: It was an awkward dinner. But Corey says Jackie eventually won them over, and before long, she was spending so much time in the Shaughnessys' house, they actually let her move in. Jim Axelrod: Did you ... settle into a OK, a serious girlfriend seems to be part of Nick's life and she's OK? Corey Shaughnessy: I did. She was alright. Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison. / Credit: Corey Shaughnessy In August 2017, Nick and Jackie moved out to start a new life in College Station she in school, he as a day trader, with his parents' financial backing. Ted and Corey would have less than a year to enjoy their empty nest before that horrible night in March. Police stayed on the scene for hours trying to process all the evidence. Amy Meredith: I was actually on call when the murder occurred. Amy Meredith was an assistant district attorney and says police asked her to come help them process and preserve the scene...an unusual request. She arrived around 11 amand after looking around, began to believe as they did... that Ted Shaughnessy probably knew whoever had attacked him. Amy Meredith: This was not a stranger. This was not a stranger killing. Meredith was sure the home was just too big and too dark for a pair of random robbers or jewel thief wannabees to find their way around. Maybe even more importantly. Amy Meredith: There was nothing stolen. Nothing from that safe and no valuables missing from the rest of the house. Jim Axelrod: So everything for you pointed to inside job? Amy Meredith: Yes. Without a doubt. RAISING SUSPICIONS Corey Shaughnessy's frustration with investigators was growing. She says she'd known from the start that she was a suspect in her husband's murder. She says she needed money for the business in the following weeks, and it didn't help when she tried to cash in his million-dollar life insurance policy. Corey Shaughnessy: I was the only beneficiary. That could only mean that they suspected me. Jim Axelrod: Let me just ask, did you have anything to do with this? Corey Shaughnessy: Absolutely not. But Meredith says Corey had started raising red flags immediately after leaving the scene. Within hours of the murder, she reportedly stated there would be no funeral and inquired about having the house cleaned. Amy Meredith: We had to make sure that she did not have any involvement. But Corey wasn't the only member of Ted's family who was raising suspicion. The Shaughnessy's son Nick had been more than 100 miles away at the time of the murder. At the scene that morning, he'd been emotional. But what struck detective Salo was one of Nick's first questions. Det. Paul Salo: I tell him, it looks like somebody came into the home, and shot your dad to death. Jim Axelrod: And how did he absorb that news? Det. Paul Salo: He asked me, did he suffer? Jim Axelrod: Was that an odd question? Det. Paul Salo: It definitely struck me as odd, yes. Even more so, police say, because, as the morning wore on, Nick became much less interested in speaking with police than with the reporters who had started showing up. Det. James Moore: Nick and Jackie continuously tried to talk to the media we asked him to to stop and to stay in the scene. At the scene, Nick Shaughnessy did something investigators thought was odd. The open side window was not visible from the street. Without being told it was open or that investigators thought it might have been the entry point, Nick walked right over to it. / Credit: Travis County Sheriff's Office And then Nick did something really odd, says Moore. He walked directly over to examine that ground floor, wide open side window. The room it led to had once been his. Det. James Moore: Him going to that side of the house to look specifically at that window which you can't see from just the front of the house, so for him to know that that was even involved, he did not have that information. Jim Axelrod: How does he know the entry point unless he was involved in creating the entry point? Det. James Moore: Sometimes people will get information from crosstalk with detectives or law enforcement and so I I didn't automatically get super suspicious, but it was catching my attention. Something on Nick's phone had caught their attention as well: an app that gave him access over his parents' alarm. Corey told them the family often chose not to arm the system, and that it had been switched off that night. But authorities noticed something in the account history. Det. James Moore: There was an activation for an open window Det. Paul Salo: The time of the window being opened was 4:27 that morning. Det. James Moore: Following that was glass break activations. We believe that's when the bullets started breaking the glass in the house. Amy Meredith: That's when Ted died, that's when the shots were being fired. Jim Axelrod: Was this important to have? Det. James Moore: Extremely. Police also saw something that seemed important in Jackie Edison's behavior. Det. James Moore: We were gonna do a gunshot residue test on their hands we then separated them and at that time Jackie broke down, hysterically. Jim Axelrod: And what'd you make of it? Det. James Moore: That was a major red flag for me. we knew there was something more to this at that point. Nick Shaughnessy being questioned by Travis County detectives. / Credit: Travis County DA's Office DETECTIVE: A woman officer put your mom on the phone and then your mom told you what happened? NICK SHAUGHNESSY: Yeah. she is like, "someone came in the house. There was an exchange of gunfire." I believe she fired a shot and then she ran to the closet. In questioning later that day, Nick and Jackie reminded police they'd been at their home in College Station when the shooting happened. JACKIE EDISON (police interview): We both moved to College Station, and he just works from home. A few days later, investigators got a search warrant. Det. James Moore: Once we get into the apartment we're going through it, we're finding ammunition... Though common among gun owners, the ammunition was the same brand and caliber that was found at the crime scene. And investigators were about to find proof the couple was keeping secrets. Det. James Moore: We find a marriage certificate for Nick and Jaclyn. Jim Axelrod: You discovered that Nick and Jackie were married by searching Nick's apartment? Det. James Moore: Yep. Jim Axelrod: In all of the conversation you were having they never said that they were married? Det. James Moore: No. A teenage friend of Nick's named Spencer Patterson, who'd been certified as a minister online, had married them eight months earlier. Police weren't the only ones surprised. Jim Axelrod: You and Ted never knew? Corey Shaughnessy: No. Corey Shaughnessy says Nick and Jackie didn't tell her about their clandestine marriage until after the murder. Corey Shaughnessy: And I told them, I said "this is not you shouldn't have done this. You're too young. Trying to be a good mom, she says she promised to help them plan a proper wedding. Corey Shaughnessy: I said "you need to do it the right way." Corey had ample opportunity to make sure it happened, because, over the next few days, Nick and Jackie moved back into her house. Corey Shaughnessy: We were planning the engagement party. We had the guest list. Jackie was picking out invitations. That's especially chilling, because while police initially had looked at all three for the murder, they now suspected just two and that Nick and Jackie had also targeted Corey. But it was still only a working theory. Jim Axelrod: You can't say anything to Corey? Det. Paul Salo: No. Det. James Moore: That that's a hard line to walk. Jim Axelrod: If you have two people who planned her killing now living with her, are you worried about Corey's safety? Det. James Moore: Of course, of course. Corey Shaughnessy / Credit: CBS News But Corey Shaughnessy says what worried her was the possibility authorities were trying to frame her son, who by now was working in his father's place at the jewelry store. Corey Shaughnessy: There's a set of circumstances that the police are trying to to to make work in the easiest way that they can. On March 10, 2018, she hired her son the best defense attorney she could find. Corey Shaughnessy: You could have told me aliens landed on the front yard, and I would have believed that before I would've believed that Nicholas and Jackie planned to have us killed. STARTLING CLUES CONFIRM AND EXPAND INVESTIGATORS' SUSPICIONS Corey Shaughnessy knew police were suspicious of Nick and Jackie, but she says she had no reason to think they were right. After all, she says they'd been wrong about her. Corey Shaughnessy: The last thing that I would ever do would be kill my husband and I thought, well, if they think I did it it's not a stretch for them to think Nicolas did it. But the closer police looked, the more incriminating evidence they seemed to find that Nick and Jackie had planned to have both Shaughnessys killed. While phone records showed Nick had been more than 100 miles away at the time of the murder, they also showed he was lying when he said he hadn't been to Austin for a month. Det. Paul Salo: We ultimately see cellphone usage in Austin on February 28th, which is just two days before Ted ends up getting killed. Investigators wondered if he had been in town making final preparations. There were text messages on Nick and Jackie's phones that police say showed a suspicious conversation. Jim Axelrod: How important was the text message that he had sent out February 23, 24? Nick is saying he's "working on it." Det. Paul Salo: And Jackie's response to the text message was, "do they want 50K or not?" And she says, "we can't afford to pay half before." In another exchange, Nick asks her to withdraw money from her account: "so if it happens cash in hand." Det. Paul Salo: They do make this withdrawal. Jackie withdrew $1,000 from the bank just days before the murder. Authorities suspected it was no coincidence. Then, in May 2018 , they talked to the man who had officiated Nick and Jackie's wedding that high school friend, Spencer Patterson. Det. James Moore: Trying to get ahold of Spencer was kind of difficult. At first, investigators believed Patterson might be a suspect. But when they finally reached him, he proved to be a critical witness instead. He told them just before the murder, Nick had talked about coming into $8 million with Ted and Corey gone. Jim Axelrod: Nick had put a dollar sign on the lives of his parents. Det. Paul Salo: Yes. Det. James Moore: Yep. Jim Axelrod: That's chilling. Det. Paul Salo: It is. Patterson showed them text messages that were even more chilling. Det. James Moore: There's also communication between Spencer and Nicolas, where Nicolas was trying to hire him to kill a family. "Just walk in and shoot a family," writes Nick. "Steal all their s-, no mask needed cuz they'll all be dead." Det. James Moore: Spencer didn't want to go along with it. But Nick still pitched the idea. Police would come to believe Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison had masterminded the attack and on May 29, 2018, authorities arrested them for criminal solicitation in the murder of Ted Shaughnessy. Police cleared Patterson, and on May 29, 2018, they arrested Nick Shaughnessy and Jackie Edison for criminal solicitation. Corey couldn't believe it. Corey Shaughnessy: I'm still under the assumption that he's being wrongly accused. For months, Corey had stood by Nick. But she told us that when she read the arrest affidavits and saw the evidence, her rock-solid belief in his innocence began to crumble. Corey Shaughnessy: I got to where I understood that yes, they were involved in some way. But as a mother, she says she still couldn't convince herself they'd deliberately tried to kill anyone. Corey Shaughnessy: I was then hoping that they had maybe gotten caught up in something in College Station where maybe Nicolas owed someone money or maybe there was some sort of a strange drug thing or maybe he told the wrong person that we were jewelers. Confident Nick and Jackie were behind the attack, police hoped some time in jail might make them come clean about who had actually pulled the trigger. For the moment though, neither one was talking. Amy Meredith: The next step was who were the actual shooters and how do we figure this out? The evidence trail had essentially run cold. Det. James Moore: So we kinda hit a stall point. In early July, four months after the murder, Moore decided to review some security video from Nick and Jackie's porch, recorded just two days before the attack. Det. James Moore: I see two individuals show up to his front door. Security footage from Nick and Jackie's front porch proved to be a major turn in the case. Recorded just two days before the attack, it shows Nick Shaughnessy, left, greeting two men at the front door. / Credit: Travis County Sheriff's Office Moore says he noticed something about one of the men that made him freeze the video something he was wearing. Det. James Moore: A green Andersen T-shirt. Jim Axelrod: Window company. Det. James Moore: A window company. Jim Axelrod: This feels like a break, and it only happens because you isolated a frame of the video from the security camera? Det. James Moore: Yeah. Moore and Salo drove to the window company where their hard work ran into more good luck. By sheer coincidence, an employee's daughter said she'd actually met the man in the freeze frame. Apparently, he'd only worked there for a few days four years earlier. Det. Paul Salo: And this woman still remembered his name. Jim Axelrod: Sergeant, what are the odds of a hit like this on the identity? Det. James Moore: It was crazy that we got that break. His name was Cameron Vosmek and he wasn't home that day. But his wife answered the door and quickly got their attention. Det. Paul Salo: "I know why you're here." Det. Paul Salo: "That, kid who hired somebody to to kill his jewelry store parents." Jim Axelrod: Hang on. She doesn't know who you guys are. You identify yourselves as detectives and she says, "I know why you're here?" Det. Paul Salo: Yes. She said a few months earlier, a man named Johnny Leon had asked her husband to commit murder for money. But he turned him down. Police ruled out Vosmek as a suspect. But Leon turned out to be the other person in the security video from Nick and Jackie's porch. When they brought him in for questioning, he told them he was no murderer. But he admitted Nick had tried to hire him. JOHNNY LEON: (police interview) I'm not gonna lie to you, when someone offers you 100K, you're gonna think about it ... DET. MOORE: He's luring you into this to commit murder. JOHNNY LEON Yeah ... But police were convinced that Leon had taken the bait. DET. MOORE (police interview): I'm just telling you; we know you're involved in this. We know what happened JOHNNY LEON: You know I'm involved? DET. MOORE: Absolutely. There is no doubt. Leon was arrested for capital murder, and on his phone, police found evidence he may not have acted alone. There was a flurry of contacts around the time of the killing with a Fort Worth man named Arieon Smith. They also discovered both men had arrest records. In fact, the two had been arrested together for drugs a year earlier. Det. Paul Salo: Detective Moore and I interviewed him. he did admit that he had met Nick. Det. Paul Salo: He gave us a lot of good information. Smith opened up about the details of that night and broke down in the process. DET. MOORE (police interview): You're the only person that's showing regret. ARIEON SMITH: I don't understand how, how could you kill somebody and not have any emotion about it? And you actually killed them. I was just in the situation. I'm I'm I'm devastated. I cannot sleep at night. Prosecutors were closer than ever to having everything they needed to make their case. Amy Meredith: We've got enough. Now, let's go to trial. That's something Nick Shaughnessy told "48 Hours" he'd wanted to avoid. A BELOVED SON'S BETRAYAL After police arrested the last of their four suspects, Arieon Smith, Det. Salo says Smith told them he wasn't just there for Ted's murder. ARIEON SMITH (police interview): Yes, I was there. Smith acknowledged firing the fatal shot, and then made a stunning request ARIEON SMITH (police interview): I request the death penalty. the death penalty. ARIEON SMITH (police interview): I killed somebody, I deserve to die. Simple as that. He also told police where to find the murder weapon. It was the .40 caliber pistol missing from that box they'd found in Nick's old bedroom. Jim Axelrod: The .40 caliber gun that killed Ted was Ted's. Corey Shaughnessy: Yes. For a mother who'd struggled for months to keep faith in her son, it felt like the last straw. Corey Shaughnessy: Too much had happened that pointed to Nicolas and Jackie having involvement. And Corey was horrified to realize she'd spent months sheltering the very people who'd planned to have Ted and her murdered that night. Jim Axelrod: What a chilling thought two people who tried to have you killed and they're living in your home. Corey Shaughnessy: Very. It's very chilling. Corey Shaughnessy: I bought all the groceries. I paid all the bills. I bought her clothing. Jim Axelrod: This is diabolical. Corey Shaughnessy: Absolutely they thought they had gotten away with it. Jaclyn Edison bring questioned by detectives. / Credit: Travis County DA's Office DETECTIVE (police interview): Do you prefer Jackie or Jaclyn? JACKIE EDISON: Jackie. After their arrest, it took just a couple of weeks for Jackie to blame Nick. DETECTIVE: Did Nicolas hire somebody... to kill his parents? JACKIE EDISON: Yeah. And Jackie seemed to know why he'd done it. She says Nick was in desperate financial straits, with a failing day trading business and thousands in overdue loans including at least one from Corey. JACKIE EDISON (police interview): I think his mom gave him $30,000 and she expected money in return, but he wasn't paying her. After her cooperation, authorities released Jackie on a reduced bond. And prosecutor Amy Meredith resolved to go after Nick for the maximum. Amy Meredith: We're going to try Nick Shaughnessy for capital murder. Jim Axelrod: At this point, were you prepared to testify against Nick? Corey Shaughnessy: Yes. From left, Johnny Leon, Nicolas Shaughnessy and Aerion Smith were charged with capital murder. / Credit: Travis County DA's Office Nick Shaughnessy and the two alleged hit men were charged with capital murder. But by the spring of 2021, Amy Meredith had left her job as assistant district attorney. And there was a new DA, Jose Garza, whose office made the men an offer: avoid a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to a reduced charge of murder and serve 35 years with the possibility of parole. Leon and Smith agreed, and Corey wrote to Nick to suggest he do the same. Corey Shaughnessy: If I could speak to Ted, I think that would have been his choice. Nick Shaughnessy accepted the deal. He could be released when he is 36. In the summer of 2023, "48 Hours" visited him in prison near Houston. Jim Axelrod: Did you hire people to go kill your parents? Nick Shaughnessy: Yes, Jackie and I participated in multiple aspects to kill my Jim Axelrod: Never mind participated in multiple aspects. Did you pay these two men to go kill your parents? Nick Shaughnessy: Yes. Nick told us he's sorry for all of it. Nick Shaughnessy: I know that I'm here because of those actions. Jim Axelrod: Nick at the end of the day, are you sorry for what you did or are you sorry that you got caught? Nick Shaughnessy: I'm most truly, passionately sorry, for what I did. And Nick told us he never would have done it if not for Jackie. Jim Axelrod: It was a very toxic relationship. Although he stood to inherit his parents' money eventually, he told us he wasn't prepared to wait. Jim Axelrod: Were you at all thinking "what am I doing?: Nick Shaughnessy: Of course. it was always in the back of my head. like red flags like stop, don't go. Jim Axelrod: The back of your head. Why not the front of your head? Nick Shaughnessy: I guess the validation or approval from Jackie. It is hard to know how much Jackie Edison should be blamed or what punishment she deserves. And jurors won't get to decide. She too got a deal from the office of the new DA. For pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit capital murder by terror threat or other felony a jail sentence of 120 days and 10 years' probation. Corey Shaughnessy: It's astounding. It's absolutely astounding. She began serving her time in June 2023. Corey Shaughnessy: It is an outright dismissal of everything that I went through as a victim. And it's a dismissal of Ted's life. Jim Axelrod: Three are doing 35 years, one is doing 120 days. Corey says that's outrageous. What are your thoughts? Amy Meredith: I had no involvement once I left the district attorney's office on Jackie's case. Amy Meredith was working elsewhere before prosecutors offered the plea deals. Corey's feelings aren't lost on her. Jim Axelrod: Do you understand her rage? Amy Meredith: I absolutely understand that she is upset. Corey is so upset that when the new prosecutors asked her to appear at Jackie's 2023 plea hearing, she refused instead, recording a video at home to be played in court: COREY SHAUGHNESSY (video court statement: I'm alive because your plan to have me murdered didn't succeed. COREY SHAUGHNESSY (video court statement): You are a monster. You are evil and everyone needs to know it. COREY SHAUGHNESSY (video court statement): You knew what was about to happen, and yet you sat home and did nothing because you wanted it to happen We wanted to ask Jackie Edison about that and other things, but she declined our request for an interview. On the day she was released from jail, our producer Jenna Jackson approached her. JACKIE EDISON SPEAKS TO 48 HOURS Corey and Nick Shaughnessy haven't spoken directly since his 2018 arrest. Jim Axelrod: When you look in the mirror, do you see evil? Nick Shaughnessy: My mom stated that. Me being evil. I don't see evil in me. These days, it's safe to say they don't see eye to eye. In fact, there may be only one thing they do agree on. Corey Shaughnessy: Jackie is not a victim. Jim Axelrod: This is a fifty-fifty thing? Nick Shaughnessy: Most definitely Jim Axelrod: Did Jaclyn Edison get away with murder? Corey Shaughnessy: Absolutely. On Oct. 17, 2023, Jackie Edison walked out of an Austin-area jail after serving her four-month sentence. Jenna Jackson: Hey, Jaclyn. We'd been asking for an interview for months. Jackie Edison: I don't wanna do any interviews. But "48 Hours" producer Jenna Jackson had some questions for her anyway. Jenna Jackson: Nick got 35 years, the hit men got the same. You got 120 days. Are you getting away with murder? Jackie Edison: No. I think that I think that it's fair. I think it accurately reflects the level of involvement. Jenna Jackson: Corey and Nick have both told us is that you are a partner in this murder plot. Jackie Edison Yeah I think Nick is is saying whatever he has to say to kind of clear his name. Um, and Corey is very much in denial about what really happened. Jenna Jackson: You weren't in on this plot? Jackie Edison: I was not in on it. No. Jenna Jackson :Didn't get money out to pay the hit men? Jackie Edison: No. No ma'am. Det. James Moore: Is she innocent? Absolutely not. Amy Meredith: No She knew. She knew what he was trying to do. Det. James Moore: She could have stopped this at any time. JACKIE EDISON (police interview: I tried to stop him. But investigators say there is no evidence Jackie ever tried to stop the murder. Det. James Moore: She's no princess in this. And according to what Nick told authorities, Jackie had been making plans for spending the Shaughnessys' money. Corey Shaughnessy: I found out that Jackie already picked out the car she was going to buy her mother with the money that they made. Jim Axelrod: Off of the murder of you and Ted? Corey Shaughnessy: Yes. Det. James Moore: I'm not defending her by any degree. Though she did eventually help them make their case against the person they identified as the key culprit. Det. James Moore: They're both to blame. Who took more action? it's Nick. Det. Paul Salo: You take Nick out of this you don't have the incident. Jim Axelrod: You take Jackie out? Det. James Moore: It still happens. Jim Axelrod: Do you understand Corey's frustration? Det. James Moore: I do. Det. Paul Salo: Absolutely. Det. James Moore: We empathize with her. But Moore and Salo say Jackie's plea deal wasn't their call. Det. James Moore: Our job ended at the arrest and there's not a single step further that we can take it. We wanted to ask DA Jose Garza exactly why Edison got 120 days, after the other three got 35 years, but he wouldn't agree to an interview. A spokesperson for the district attorney sent "48 Hours" a statement saying, "Our office takes acts of violence seriously and is committed to holding people who commit violent crimes accountable." The statement also said Edison is on 10 years' probation and if she violates the terms, she could face 20 years in prison. Corey Shaughnessy says a full explanation from authorities would have helped her make sense of something that has always struck her as impossibly wrong. Jim Axelrod: So no one's ever explained to you why this enormous disparity in sentence? Corey Shaughnessy: No, absolutely not. Nick Shaughnessy: It's a slap in the face to my mother. Jim Axelrod: Now you're concerned about your mother? Nick Shaughnessy: Most definitely. True or not, Nick Shaughnessy told us he hopes someday Corey will agree to speak with him. Jim Axelrod: What would you say to her? Nick Shaughnessy: I wish I could tell my mom how truly sorry I am, that this is not something I'm proud of and I failed her as a son. Corey Shaughnessy (watching video of Nick's apology): It means nothing to me. Jim Axelrod: Do you think he believes it? What he's saying? Corey Shaughnessy: I don't know that person. I have no idea who Nicolas Shaughnessy is. And Corey says there is no point responding to an apology she was never meant to hear. Corey Shaughnessy: In my mind, I am supposed to be dead. And so, I'm a ghost and ghosts can't speak. But even after a betrayal no mother should ever have to seeCorey still can't bring herself to condemn her son altogether. Nick, Corey and Terd Shaughnessy / Credit: Corey Shaughnessy Jim Axelrod: Do you still love your son? Corey Shaughnessy: I love the person I knew to be my son before this happened. Jim Axelrod: You love that 8-year-old boy racing cars with his dad. Corey Shaughnessy: Yes. She knows that boy is gone forever and so is the life she and Ted tried to build around him. Corey Shaughnessy: Nicolas and Jackie destroyed my entire world. They took my husband ... They took memories, they took my business they took everything I had that I cared about. But, now living out of state under a different name, Corey is determined to make the most of every day. Corey Shaughnessy: It'll always be there. It'll always be a part of who I am. But I've been given life. And I need to do something with it. As a parole requirement, for the next 10 years, on the anniversary of Ted Shaughnessy's murder, Jaclyn Edison must spend the night in jail. "48 Hours" Post Mortem Podcast This embedded content is not available in your region. Listen as host Anne-Marie Green, contributor Jim Axelrod and producer Jenna Jackson discuss Corey's emotional journey to realizing her own son had hired hit men to kill her and her husband for money. Produced by Josh Yager. Jenna Jackson and Ryan N. Smith are the development producers. Shaheen Tokhi is the associate producer. Anthony Venditti is the content research manager. Atticus Brady and Diana Modica are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Police bodycams roll as man describes what happened before girlfriend stops breathing What to expect from the New Hampshire GOP primary next week Johnson, Schumer optimistic after Biden foreign aid meeting Lifelong Texans Kate and Justin Cox were already parents to a young girl and boy when they found out last August that Kate was pregnant again. "We have the two children that we absolutely adore, and yeah, the thought of having a third one added to the family was incredible," Justin said. But a series of tests revealed the baby they were expecting, a girl, had trisomy 18, a genetic condition that causes severe developmental problems. According to a 2016 study, nine out of 10 infants won't survive more than a year. And for Kate and Justin's baby, the prognosis was even more grim. Kate said, "We asked, 'How long we could have with our baby best-case scenario?' And she said she thought maybe a week. If she survived the pregnancy and the birth, that it might be a week. And what that would mean as far as I didn't want to watch her suffer. That would be very hard. She would have had to be placed directly on to hospice. There's no treatment that can be done." Smith asked, "Did you think your health, your life, would be threatened if you went through with the birth?" "Yes," Kate replied. "We know a lot of the trisomy 18 babies don't survive birth, so I could lose her at any point in the pregnancy. There's risk of infection, risk of uterine rupture. And we want more children as well, so what does that mean for future pregnancies?" Kate and Justin Cox. / Credit: CBS News The Coxes wanted to get an abortion. But in Texas, abortion is illegal. So, Kate contacted the Center for Reproductive Rights and attorney Molly Duane. "She made it very clear that this is where her home was," Duane said. "She needed and wanted an abortion, and she wanted to be able to access it in her home community." Kate said, "I wanted to be here, close to home. I mean, it's the hardest thing I've been through. I wanted to come home, cry on my own pillow, hold my babies, be near my doctors. So, I was really hopeful. That's really what I thought about most going into this." Smith asked, "Some of the people on this other side of the issue say, 'Why not just have the baby naturally, and whatever happens, happens'?" "I want more babies," Kate replied. "I talked with our doctors. And I didn't want her to suffer. I felt it was best for her, and I felt it was best for our family as well. We want to be able to have more babies. We want to give siblings to our kids." Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade in 2022, 14 states (including Texas) have broadly banned abortion. The Texas law says there are exceptions for a "life-threatening physical condition or a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function." A year after Dobbs v. Jackson: Majority of Americans not happy with abortion restrictionsCBS News poll finds most say Roe's overturn has been bad for country, half say abortion has been more restricted than expected / Credit: CBS News Duane believed Kate's case fell under that exception: "Yes, and so did her doctor. The problem is, no one knows what that means. Major bodily function? What about a minor bodily function? Surely fertility would count as a major bodily function. But there's no clarity about this." In 2021, the year before the bans, there were more than 50,000 abortions performed in Texas. Last year, there were just 40. The penalties Texas doctors face for performing an abortion are high: fines of at least $100,000, and up to 99 years in prison. And there's more: "Anyone who provides an abortion, or aids or abets in the provision of an abortion, is potentially liable for at least a $10,000 fine that can be filed by anyone in the world," Duane said. "So, if Justin drove Kate to the doctor's office for the abortion procedure, then he has 'aided or abetted.'" "He could be liable for $10,000?" asked Smith. "At least $10,000, correct" Texas abortion ban turns citizens into "bounty hunters" So far, no private citizen has successfully sued another for aiding an abortion. But the Coxes, and their doctor, didn't want to risk prosecution. So, in December, when Kate was 20 weeks pregnant, they sued the state of Texas. "We were asking for a court order to say Kate can get an abortion in Texas, and her doctor and her husband would be protected by that court order," Duane said. The District Court granted their restraining order. But the Texas attorney general sent a letter to doctors and hospitals warning they could still be prosecuted if they helped Kate get an abortion and he filed an appeal with the State Supreme Court. Smith asked, "As the Texas Supreme Court is debating this, what are you going through?" "I mean, I didn't hardly get out of bed stressed, you know? I had a timeline. I couldn't wait," Kate said. They decided they had to go out of state. The Coxes had the abortion in New Mexico, and said goodbye to a future they'd already been grieving. "Her name's Chloe," Kate said. "Why did you feel it was important to give her a name?" Smith asked. "I gave her a name because she'll always be my baby," Kate replied. "Her middle name is my grandfather's name, so that she knew who to look for in heaven." On December 11, while the Coxes were away, the Texas Supreme Court overturned the lower court's ruling. Texas Supreme Court rules against woman seeking emergency abortion after she leaves state for procedure Duane said the court decided that "essentially, Kate wasn't sick enough. And I think what that makes clear to me, and the fact that the attorney general fought it as hard as he did, is that the exception in Texas doesn't exist at all." Smith asked Kate what she though when she heard their ruling. "It was crushing," said Kate. "I was shocked that the state of Texas wanted me to continue a pregnancy where I would have to wait until a baby dies in my belly, or dies at birth, or lives for days, and put my own health at risk, and a future pregnancy at risk." CBS News reached out to the Texas attorney general, and received no reply. The Coxes received hundreds of letters of support. But Kate stayed away from social media, where people on both sides weighed in, including former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum. In the middle of the debate, he posted a picture online of his daughter, who has trisomy 18 and is a teenager. Smith asked, "Did you think there was any chance that your baby could have survived?" Justin replied, "You can't simply say, 'My child has trisomy 18, so yours would have ended up like this.' I think that's a little ridiculous. Every case is different. And ours was extremely, extremely bleak. It was as severe as it gets, basically." The Coxes say the holidays with their family gave them some time to get back to normal. And they'll soon try to have another baby. Molly Duane has another abortion case in front of the Texas Supreme Court, and she says she's hopeful. Smith asked, "Ultimately, Kate Cox didn't prevail. She lost. But did she make a difference?" "She absolutely made a difference," Duane replied. "She got the healthcare that she needed. She got an abortion. But in terms of big picture, she brought people along on this journey with her, and she helped people understand the true human toll that abortion bans take on families." Smith asked Kate, "If you could do it all over again, would you do this again? Would you go through with the lawsuit again?" "I would," said Kate. "I've gotten to hear a lot of stories, you know, for other women. And I have a daughter. I hope the law will be different one day. So, if I had to do it over, I would." For more info: The Center for Reproductive RightsAttorney Molly Duane Story produced by Kay Lim. Editor: Lauren Barnello. See also: Dr. Tim Johnson on finding a middle-ground in the abortion debate ("Sunday Morning")Sherri Chessen on her 1962 abortion, and the fate of Roe: "We can't go back to willow sticks and knitting needles" ("Sunday Morning") How Supreme Court conservatives are reshaping Americans' rights ("Sunday Morning") SCOTUS' abortion ruling, and when a right becomes a crime ("Sunday Morning") A frontline in the fight over abortion ("Sunday Morning") Abortion: The great divide ("Sunday Morning") Extreme cold grips much of U.S. Learn about larimar, rare blue gem found only in the Dominican Republic Quaker Oats expands granola product recall due to salmonella risk Days after Texas Governor Greg Abbott complained that Texas cant shoot migrants attempting to illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border, three migrants a woman and two children drowned in the Rio Grande river while Texas National Guard physically barred U.S. Border Patrol from accessing the area. Its unclear whether the migrants were drowning or whether they had already drowned when Border Patrol contacted Texas authorities about the situation. In a Justice Department statement released Monday, a Border Patrol official said the migrants had already drowned, and the Texas Military Department has said the idea that it prevented Border Patrol from saving drowning migrants is wholly inaccurate. The DOJ also, however, said that that it is impossible to say what might have happened if Border Patrol had had its former access to the area including through its surveillance trucks that assisted in monitoring the area and that at the very least Border Patrol would have had the opportunity to take any available steps to fulfill its responsibilities and assist its counterparts in the Mexican government with undertaking the rescue mission. Texas made that impossible. Last week, the Texas National Guard took over Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, Texas, after Abbott granted them full control of the park without permission from local officials. Since then, the state guard has prohibited federal authorities from entering the area adjacent to the border. Tragically, a woman and two children drowned last night in the Shelby Park area of Eagle Pass, which was commandeered by the State of Texas earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement Saturday. In responding to a distress call from the Mexican government, Border Patrol agents were physically barred by Texas officials from entering the area. Mexican authorities recovered the migrants bodies early Saturday. Rep. Henry Cuellar said that, according to Mexican sources, a mother drowned with her 8-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son. This is a tragedy, and the state bears responsibility, the Texas Democrat said in a statement posted on X, formerly Twitter. Per Cuellar, upon learning that six migrants were in distress while attempting to cross the Rio Grande, Border Patrol tried to contact the Texas Military Department, Texas National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety by phone but were unsuccessful. Border Patrol agents then made in-person contact with members of the Texas Military Department. Texas Military Department soldiers stated they would not grant [Border Patrol] access to the migrants even in the event of an emergency and that they would send a soldier to investigate the situation, Cuellar wrote. The Texas Military Department that the state guard could not locate the drowning migrants. TMD had a unit in the vicinity of the boat ramp and actively searched the river with lights and night vision goggles. No migrants were observed, the statement said. At approximately 9:45 pm, TMD observed a group of Mexican authorities responding to an incident on the Mexico side of the river bank. TMD reported their observations back to Border Patrol, and they confirmed that the Mexican authorities required no additional assistance. At that time, TMD ceased search operations. The White House is gathering facts about the circumstances of these tragic deaths, a spokesperson said in a statement. One thing is clear: Governor Abbotts political stunts are cruel, inhumane, and dangerous, the administration spokesperson said. U.S. Border Patrol must have access to the border to enforce our laws. The Justice Department has also responded to the situation in Eagle Pass, asking the Supreme Court on Friday to intervene and force Texas National Guard to allow Border Patrol to regain access the 2.5-mile section of the border. In responding to the influx of migrants across the border, Abbott has engaged in cruel stunts, including bussing migrants to Democratically-led areas like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York City. He has also flown migrants via charter plane to Chicago. New Yorks shelter system has been at times overwhelmed by migrants in need of homes due to Abbotts actions. Shortly after the state guard seized the area, Abbott posted on X, We are making clear that Texas will be a tough place to cross. This post has been updated to reflect the Justice Departments filing on Monday. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Queen Margrethe II, Denmark's longest reigning monarch, was set to pass the throne to her first-born son Frederik on Sunday and huge crowds began gathering in front of parliament to witness the events. Margrethe stunned the nation of nearly 6 million on New Year's Eve when she announced her decision to abdicate after 52 years as queen, becoming the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to voluntarily relinquish the throne. There will be no coronation, but the succession will take place in parliament at around 12 p.m. (1300 GMT), the moment Margrethe, 83, signs the declaration of her abdication. People from all over Denmark converged on the capital in a sign of the huge popularity the monarchy is enjoying. "I was in shock and started crying when the queen said on New Year's Eve she would abdicate," said Karen Holk Jeppesen, 31, a communications consultant, standing in front of parliament where the new king will be proclaimed later on Sunday. Jeppesen, who arrived in Copenhagen with her sister on Saturday, said she booked a hotel in the capital the day after the queen's announcement. "It's very rare to witness a real historical moment that you know will be written about in the history books," she said. Queen Margrethe, affectionately known as Daisy after the marguerite flower, was congratulated by her cousin Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, who himself celebrated 50 years on the throne in September last year. "Your Majesty, dear Cousin Daisy! When you step down today from your high office as Queen of Denmark, I want to say a warm thank you for the good cooperation over the years," the Swedish king said on Instagram. The crown prince, 55, and his Australian-born wife Mary, 51, who will become queen, were scheduled to leave the royal palace at 11:35 a.m. (1235 GMT) in a 1958 Rolls-Royce. Margrethe will follow by horse carriage a few minutes later to take her final ride as monarch through the streets of the capital. The signing of the abdication will take place during a meeting of the Council of State at parliament where the government, Frederik and his oldest son Christian, 18 years old and the new heir to the throne, will participate. Soon after, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will proclaim the new king on the balcony of the parliament and Frederik will give a short speech, before the new king and his wife ride by carriage back to the palace. The Amalienborg complex, built in the 1750s, is located in central Copenhagen and consists of four palaces built around an octagonal courtyard. It is home to both the outgoing queen and the new reigning couple. Royal Power Couple Margrethe, who in the past had said she would remain on the throne for life, did not give an exact reason for her decision to step down but said that a major back surgery she underwent in February last year had made her consider her future. "It could be that she thinks Prince Frederik is prepared to take over now," said Lars Hovbakke Sorensen, a historian and associate professor at University College Absalon in Denmark. "He's 55, and maybe the queen wanted to avoid a situation where you would have a very, very old king, as you saw with Prince Charles." The British king was 73 when he ascended the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth died in September 2022 aged 96. The new king and queen will take the throne at a time of huge public support and enthusiasm for the monarchy. The most recent survey done after Margrethe announced she would abdicate indicated that 82 percent of Danes expect Frederik to do well or very well in his new role, while 86 percent said the same about Mary. (Reuters) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stands on the Alter Markt as "Voting for the AfD is so 1933" words seen in a placard during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa Demonstrations against right-wing extremism in Berlin and neighbouring Potsdam drew thousands of supporters on Sunday, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. Meanwhile a separate gathering in the former communist, eastern part of Berlin commemorating the 105th anniversary of the killing of Communist Party leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht ended in violence. There were far more people at the anti-right-wing extremist protests, organizers and the police said. Estimates showed about 10,000 people at the Potsdam gathering and between several thousand and 25,000 in Berlin. "I am standing here as one of thousands of Potsdam residents who are standing up for democracy and against old and new fascism," Baerbock told dpa. Both she and the chancellor live in Potsdam and have their constituencies there. The rally comes days after an investigative report said that right-wing extremists and politicians from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had met to discuss plans for the deportation of millions of migrants from Germany. The media outlet Correctiv said it had uncovered details of a meeting in a Potsdam villa in November attended by members of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), some conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) members and members of the arch conservative Werteunion group. The former head of the far-right Identitarian movement in Austria, Martin Sellner, confirmed to dpa that he spoke about the deportation or "remigration" of migrants at the meeting. Right-wing extremists typically use the term "remigration" to mean that a large number of people of foreign origin should leave the country - even under duress. According to Correctiv, Sellner named three target groups during the Potsdam meeting: Asylum seekers, foreigners with the right to stay - and "non-assimilated citizens." Some 10,000 people joined Sunday's rally in the old market area or Altmarkt said Potsdam's Mayor Mike Schubert, who had called for the protest. In Berlin thousands of people demonstrated in front of Berlin's historic Brandenburg Gate, the city's police department said. The police estimated the crowd at "several thousand," according to a spokeswoman, while the climate protection group Fridays for Future, which had called along with others for the demonstration, put the number at 25,000. There were initially no incidents, the police said. That was not the case in the eastern part of the city, where police said 21 officers were injured on Sunday following their attempt to halt what they said was criminal speech at a march commemorating the communist leaders Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. Four police officers were taken to hospital, a police spokesman said and 16 demonstrators were detained. The police said there were 3,000 demonstrators, while organizers said 5,000 were present. One person speaking from a loudspeaker on a van "chanted criminal slogans" that violated German law, the police said. The spokesman did not say what was said. When officers were unsuccessful in getting the speaker to stop, they halted the demonstration, the police said on X. Participants then attacked the police, who used pepper spray against the attackers. The spokesman said the police do not know if any demonstrators were injured. Supporters of pro-Palestinian groups were also among the demonstrators. Around 3,000 people took part in the march to commemorate the communist leaders, who were murdered by far-right soldiers. Monday marks the 105th anniversary of their deaths. (L-R) German Minister for Science Manja Schuele, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Mayor of Potsdam Mike Schubert, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and the head of Fahrland Carmen Klockow stand on the Alter Markt during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa People stand on the Alter Markt during the "Potsdam defends itself" demonstration in a reaction to the announcement of a meeting of right-wing activists in the city. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa An air-raid warning was issued in parts of Ukraine on the morning of 14 January, including the city of Kyiv, due to the threat of Russians carrying out attacks with ballistic missiles. It was in effect for about 30 minutes. Source: map of air-raid warnings; Kyiv City State Administration; Ukraines Air Force Details: The Air Force reported the threat of ballistic missiles attacks in areas where an air-raid warning had been issued and called on citizens not to ignore it. Updated: At 06:51, the Air Force gave the all-clear. They also noted that the activity of Russian tactical aircraft in the southeast remains. There is a threat of them using aerial weapons. Support UP or become our patron! Lee Anderson is preparing to back the Tory rebel amendments to the Rwanda Bill as the number of backbench MPs urging Rishi Sunak to toughen the legislation approaches 60. The deputy chairman is understood to be ready to support the amendments, which would further limit individual migrants from making legal challenges against their deportation and block injunctions against flights to Rwanda by Strasbourg judges. Mr Anderson refused to comment when contacted by The Telegraph. But this publication understands from other Tory sources that he is supportive of the rebels attempts to harden up the legislation and has told fellow MPs he intends to vote for them this week. It comes as Kemi Badenoch, the Business Secretary, privately warned Rishi Sunaks chief of staff the bill needs strengthening. As first reported by The Times, she warned Liam Booth-Smith, the Prime Ministers chief of staff, of the consequences of failing to block individual legal challenges last month. Mr Anderson, The MP for Ashfield - a red wall constituency - has been aligned with the New Conservatives group of 2019 Tory MPs which is one of the five families of right wing MPs backing the amendments. His backing would be a significant boost for the rebels given his role as the standard bearer for former Labour voters who switched to the Tories post-Brexit to give Boris Johnson his landslide victory. Although Mr Anderson is not a member of the Government bound by collective ministerial responsibility, voting against it would raise questions over whether he would have to step down from his party post. It came as Damian Green, the chairman of the One Nation caucus of 106 Tory MPs, accused rebels of authoritarian amendments that betrayed traditional Conservative values, would not work and could lead to resurgence of small boat crossings. In an article for The Telegraph, he said disapplying virtually all protections for migrants would create a class of people with fewer rights than the most vicious criminal. He added: This would be a betrayalof the Conservative tradition of trying to unite our society. He criticised as unnecessary and authoritarian rebel amendments which would automatically block rule 39 injunctions. One was issued by Strasbourg judges to ground the first Rwanda flight after a migrant appealed. To go further and take away any right of such an appeal is both unnecessary and a touch authoritarian, said Mr Green, de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May. He warned the practical effect of the amendments could be to ensure no flights ever took off to Rwanda, wrecking efforts to create a deterrent and risking a resurgence in small boat crossings. The amendments have been backed by 56 MPs so far, including nine former Cabinet ministers Suella Braverman, Robert Jenrick, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, Liz Truss, Sir John Redwood, Sir Jake Berry, David Jones, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg and Sir Simon Clarke. Third reading on Wednesday It is enough to overturn Rishi Sunaks 29-seat majority in the Commons, although it is not clear how many of the rebels will vote to block the entire Bill if the proposed legislation remains unchanged when it gets to its third reading, due on Wednesday. Only a handful of senior MPs, including Mrs Braverman, have so far indicated that they are prepared to vote down the Bill if it remains unamended. The splits within the party over the Rwanda Bill are so deep that one senior moderate MP, Sir Robert Buckland, the former justice secretary, indicated on Sunday that he would vote against the Bill if any of the Right-wing rebels amendments were passed. The amendments have been tabled by Mr Jenrick, the former immigration minister who quit over the Bill, and Sir Bill Cash, the veteran Brexiteer. Among those who have added their names to support the amendments in the past two days are Ms Truss, the former prime minister, and Bob Blackman, secretary of the 1922 backbench committee. Mr Anderson is a member of the Commons home affairs committee and his blunt speaking approach has sometimes unsettled the leadership. When asked in August 2023 if the Government had failed to tackle illegal immigration effectively, he said: We have failed on this, theres no doubt about it. We said were going to fix it, it is a failure. But we have got policies in place. I know its a bit hard for the British public at the moment to understand what were trying to do with the Rwanda flights, and the change in legislation, the Illegal Migration Bill. It seems very slow and cumbersome, were up against it. Weve got the lefty lawyers, the human rights campaigners, weve got the charities, everythings against us. Im not making excuses but its slowing us down. If we had the whole of Parliament behind us Im sure this would have got through by now. Sir Robert, asked on Times Radio if he would still vote for the Bill if some of the amendments were to pass, said: No. I think the Bill goes as far as it can perhaps a little bit further for my taste to work within the rule of law. I think the more you try and use exceptional arguments that this is an exceptional case, we start to erode the mutual respect that needs to exist between Parliament and our court system and undermine the fabric of our constitution. 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. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was speechless by the severity and immense destruction of the disaster zone he saw during the helicopter ride on his first visit to the country's north-central region of Noto since the deadly Jan. 1 earthquakes, amid worries about spreading diseases in evacuation centers. Kishida pledged to do his utmost to improve the living conditions of the evacuees and to rebuild their homes and restore their livelihoods as soon as possible. The magnitude 7.6 earthquake left 221 dead and more than 20 others still missing while injuring hundreds. More than 20,000 people, many of whom had their homes damaged or destroyed, are taking refuge at about 400 school gymnasiums, community centers and other makeshift facilities, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency report. Road damage has hampered rescue efforts, and though relief supplies have reached most regions affected by the quake, hundreds of people in isolated areas are getting little support. Additionally, in the hard-hit towns of Noto, Wajima and Suzu, elderly residents account for half their population, and many are facing growing risks of deteriorating health, officials and experts say. When I saw the severity of the disaster I was speechless, Kishida told reporters, saying the aerial view showed gaping grounds, landslides crushing roads, and an elevation of the seafloor, changing the beautiful landscape on the eastern coast of the peninsula. I also heard from the residents about their difficulties and worries. The prime minister said he took the evacuee's conditions seriously and promised support. We will do everything we can so that you can have hope for the future," he said. Kishida also met with Ishikawa Governer Hiroshi Hase in the prefectural government in Kanazawa, where he was given a list of requests, including central government funding for the reconstruction of key infrastructure, and emergency loans for individuals and small businesses. Many have criticized Kishidas government over what they called a slow disaster response although the cabinet has approved 4.7 billion yen (about $32 million) for relief efforts and is backing the call for a secondary evacuation, including to facilities in the capital region. Kishida said the cabinet plans to approve a second relief fund of 100 billion yen (nearly $690 million) this week to help people rebuild their lives while doubling the reserve funds of the fiscal 2024 budget to 1 trillion yen ($6.9 billion) to bolster funding for the reconstruction. The prime minister, in his disaster-response uniform, also visited a junior high school that has turned into an evacuation center in Wajima where officials showed him the evacuees severe living conditions. They spoke about the potential risk of spreading infectious diseases, such as influenza, COVID-19 and stomach flu due to the lack of running water and congestion. To mitigate immediate concerns about possible health problems and risk of death at evacuation centers, local and central government officials said they would provide the evacuees free accommodation at hotels and apartments further away from their neighborhoods until temporary housing was ready. But many of the locals have refused to move out, worried about their destroyed homes, belongings and communities. Hase urged residents on Friday to temporarily relocate to the recommended facilities to rest better and protect your lives. Mototaka Inaba, a medical doctor who heads an international relief organization Peace Winds Japan, told an NHK talk show on Sunday that a secondary evacuation of elderly residents was critical from a medical perspective but should be done in a way that didn't isolate them. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi also stressed in a pre-recorded interview with NHK the importance of relocating the residents taking into consideration their sense of community, jobs and education. (AP) Sixty-one combat clashes took place over the last day. In total, the Russians carried out 32 missile strikes and 91 airstrikes, as well as 82 attacks using multiple-launch rocket systems on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 06:00 on 14 January Details: Russian terrorist attacks killed and wounded Ukrainian civilians. Residential buildings and other civilian infrastructure were destroyed and damaged. Kharkiv and Luhansk oblasts suffered from airstrikes. Over 120 settlements in Chernihiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts came under artillery fire. In the area of responsibility of the Khortytsia Operational Strategic Group on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks near Synkivka in Kharkiv Oblast. On the Lyman front, Ukrainian defenders repelled four attacks by the Russian invaders in and around Makiivka (Luhansk Oblast), as well as Terny (Donetsk Oblast). On the Bakhmut front, Ukrainian soldiers repelled two Russian attacks near Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk Oblast). In the area of responsibility of the Tavriia Operational Strategic Group on the Avdiivka front, Ukrainian defenders are continuing to restrain the Russians, who keep trying to encircle Avdiivka. Ukrainian soldiers are steadfastly holding the defence, inflicting significant losses on the Russians. In the past 24 hours, Ukraines Armed Forces repelled five Russian attacks near Novobakhmutivka, Avdiivka and 15 more attacks near Sieverne, Pervomaiske and Nevelske (Donetsk Oblast). On the Marinka front, Ukrainian soldiers continue to restrain the Russians in and around Krasnohorivka and Novomykhailivka in Donetsk Oblast, where 17 attacks were repelled. On the Shakhtarsk front, Ukraine's Defence Forces repelled four Russian attacks south of Prechystivka, west of Staromaiorske and south of Rivnopil (Donetsk Oblast). On the Zaporizhzhia front, Ukrainian defenders repelled two attacks of the invaders near Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia Oblast). In the area of responsibility of the Odesa Operational Strategic Group on the Kherson front, the Defence Forces are continuing to take measures to expand their established bridgehead. Despite significant losses, the Russians did not abandon their attempts to oust Ukrainian units from their positions. Five unsuccessful assaults were carried out by the Russians on the positions of Ukrainian defenders during the past day. Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers continue to actively inflict losses in manpower and equipment on the occupying forces, exhausting the Russians along the entire front line. During the day, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out attacks on 11 clusters of Russian personnel, weapons and military equipment. Assets and personnel of the air defence forces also destroyed seven Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles and one Kh-59 guided aircraft missile. Units from Rocket Forces and Artillery targeted three clusters of personnel, weapons and military equipment, nine artillery units, four air defence facilities, one ammunition storage point and one electronic warfare station belonging to the Russians. Support UP or become our patron! PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) A woman in her early 30s died when a tree feel on an RV in Portland and set it on fire, Portland Fire & Rescue said in a release. When fire crews arrived around 2:30 p.m Saturday in the Hazelwood neighborhood they found the tree on the RV with a power pole, multiple live lines and a transformer in the way of a rescue. The fire hydrant closest to the scene was frozen. One dies after tree falls into Lake Oswego house As another crew found another hydrant, firefighters learned 3 others had been in the RV at the time but managed to escape. One was later taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries and is expected to recover. Investigators said the 4 people in the RV were using an open flame stove to keep warm when the tree fell. That caused the RV to catch fire. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The United States, although boasting a strong Catholic community, is not generally a Catholic nation. As such, many Americans do not have experience with the sanctified figures of Christendom. It has been said, however, that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. stands alone as the only secular saint of American history. King is one of only three people in American history (George Washington and Christopher Columbus have been the other two) with a national holiday in his name. Parades are held in his honor ever year, Americans take off of work, and a monument to his legacy stands, with austere grandeur, in our nations capital. For all of that, however, there is a tendency to hold King in generic reverence, overlooking what he actually stood for and what he accomplished. There's also an equally troubling tendency to politicize King's legacy. What is lost in all of this are the most important implications of Martin Luther King Jr.s teachings, for our time and for all time. It is these teachings we must focus on, and not just on a single day in January but every day of the year. King became a martyr for justice and love King was far from the only important leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Figures from Rosa Parks to Malcolm X to Huey Newton continue to capture Americans' imagination. But King stands above that storied pantheon in terms of cultural and historical prominence, no doubt in part because he was the foremost leader of the movement in his time. His assassination, perhaps even more than his accomplishments, immortalized him as a martyr for justice and love in the heart of a rapidly evolving society. In this Aug. 28, 1963 file photo, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. addresses marchers during his "I Have a Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington. It is important to recall that King led a movement within a movement. The nonviolent movement bore a particular philosophical approach to the project of social justice and was carried out through the work of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Congress of Racial Equality and a cast of leaders extending beyond King. They included Bayard Rustin, Septima Clark and John Lewis. The nonviolent movement was politically oriented, moving public policy, mobilizing activists and striving to hold politicians to account. Yet, its toolkit was spiritual, focused on moral persuasion and rooted in a particular conception of human nature. At the center of nonviolence stands the principle of love, King said. He meant that not in an abstract way, but in a visceral manner with concrete application. Love your enemies: What Martin Luther King can teach us about healing toxic polarization In a 1957 article, "Nonviolence and Racial Justice," Martin Luther King explained this application, saying of the nonviolent resister that, while not physically aggressive, his mind and emotions are always active, constantly seeking to persuade the opponent that he is mistaken. Boycotts and protests may be employed, King wrote, but he realizes that noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. ... The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community, while the aftermath of violence is tragic bitterness. Contemporary antiracist scholars such as Ibram X. Kendi have argued that the focus on moral persuasion in understanding the impact of Civil Rights Movement is misguided, arguing that it wasnt until legislation was passed advancing civil rights that Americans began to see the moral justification behind these changes, and not the other way around. The implication is that efforts to change policy merit much more focus than working to change hearts and minds. But the racially, religiously and politically diverse coalition of Americans that ultimately powered the legislative changes that helped bring about the larger cultural change in Americas racial consciousness came together largely as a consequence of inclusive efforts toward moral persuasion. To borrow a modern phrase, people were called into the cause of social justice rather than merely being called out by it. The spirit and tone of the nonviolent movement were inviting, its message of human dignity universal, even as its message was also uncompromisingly moral and focused on justice. Yet, King paid a price among allies and would-be supporters in the Civil Rights Movement because of his love-based approach. The idea, as King stated in his 1957 article, that in struggling for human dignity, the oppressed people of the world must not allow themselves to become bitter or indulge in hate campaigns, didnt always rest well with activists and others who knew they faced very real hate from racists in the Jim Crow South as well as a larger system of oppression in America, built across a long history of racism in this country. Stokely Carmichael and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, originally founded in association with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, parted ways with Kings wing of the movement, owing to their impatience with this approach. Stokely Carmichael, center, the militant leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, claps for speaker Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the first day of the two-day Impact symposium event at Vanderbilt University's Memorial Gym on April 4, 1967. The next day, Carmichael will address the crowd. But King and the leaders of the nonviolent movement sought to win (the) friendship and understanding of their enemies not viewing them as true enemies at all but as fellow human beings caught in the grips of a moral sickness, which agents of love must seek to liberate them from. In this we see Kings understanding of the dualism of human nature: Hatred and bigotry are real, but people also have a moral center that can be appealed to in a way that can move them toward their higher selves. King and his allies efforts were directed against forces of evil rather than against persons who are caught in those forces. It is evil we are seeking to defeat, not the persons victimized by evil. In Kings view, the racists of American society were themselves victims, alongside the people they victimized. Understandably, this degree of compassionate empathy for oppressors was something that many people supportive of Kings political agenda simply could not embrace. Yet, it was the power of this compassion that elevated King and the nonviolent movement to the level of a moral force speaking not only to the conscience of America but to the world. I helped write MLK's 'I Have a Dream.' Its message remains essential 60 years later. We are not used to loving one another across our political conflicts in America today, but that is to our detriment. As esteemed Black journalist Tavis Smiley has said to me, we must put love back in the center of the public square in honoring Martin Luther King, and this should have definite implications for how we pursue politics and public policy. But too often, in the generic way we talk about Kings focus on love, we veer into sentimentality, which he took pains to warn us against: In speaking of love at this point, we are not referring to some sentimental emotion. It would be nonsense to urge men to love their oppressors in an affectionate sense. It was agape love that King spoke of, meaning redeeming good will for all men, an overflowing love which seeks nothing in return. And the Rev. King, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, a Hindu, but also drawing upon the Christian Gospels, identified this love as in fact the love of God working in the lives of men. When we love on the agape level we love men not because we like them, not because their attitudes and ways appeal to us, but because God loves them. Here we rise to the position of loving the person who does the evil deed while hating the deed he does. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Because America has become more secular since Kings time, it may be that his theologically tinged way of speaking of love is less accessible to popular discourse now than in the past. I think it also is the case that any focus on love sounds naive in the crass crosshairs of modern politics. America needs to rise to King's high calling now Many on the political left would rather focus on the radicalism of Kings economic agenda, and some on the right wish to identify King with a religious traditionalism in American life that also betrays a limited understanding of King. The graceful muscularity of Kings teachings on love and the nonviolent approach to social justice must be revived today if we are to transcend the tribal bitterness that colors our politics and our racial discourse. We must rise to the level of King's beloved community. No statue or parade could ever be sufficient in honoring the legacy of this man and the moral movement he led. Remembering and living out teachings of philosophical nonviolence is the only true way to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. To do so is to give greater homage than a holiday. John Wood Jr., a columnist for USA TODAY Opinion, is a national ambassador for Braver Angels, a former nominee for Congress and former vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. John Wood Jr. is a columnist for USA TODAY Opinion. He is national ambassador for Braver Angels, a former nominee for Congress, former vice chairman of the Republican Party of Los Angeles County, musical artist, and a noted writer and speaker on subjects including racial and political reconciliation. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @JohnRWoodJr You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How should we honor MLK? Love the people who hate you The public is increasingly concerned about political violence in the United States. Questions have been raised about the impact of dehumanizing rhetoric used by some politicians and their supporters. There is a relationship between dehumanizing others and the greater likelihood of violence against them. Research on war propaganda, or the strategic use of language to legitimize violence against the enemy, involves a repetition of interrelated themes that: Dehumanize/demonize/animalize the enemy, while characterizing ones own group as representing good and truth. Presume that enemies are evil beyond redemption. Assert that good people have an obligation to stop them or the world as we know it will be destroyed. War propaganda is dangerous and has no place in the politics of a democratic republic. Such dehumanizing rhetoric is distinct from expressing opposing views, criticism or even anger toward opponents. The use of politicized war rhetoric has been increasing in the U.S., and this tendency is not occurring on both sides of the political spectrum. Aside from Donald Trumps recent use of the word vermin to dehumanize opponents, of equal importance is the proliferation of harshly degrading rhetoric coming from religious leaders targeting anyone who opposes Trump. This tendency results from the intermeshing over the last four decades of the Republican Party with fundamentalist Christian churches many of which view the world through a lens of good or evil, and claim that their interpretation of the Bible is the absolute truth. This fusion emerged from political mobilization through churches to support Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, and has grown since then. Fundamentalists within many religions believe their interpretations are the absolute truth, and that those who oppose their claims to speak for God are characterized as evil and must be converted or destroyed. Such religious beliefs are used to maintain authoritarian political control today in theocracies such as Iran and Afghanistan, and supported the legitimacy of past monarchies in France and Great Britain through the divine right of kings which is one reason Americas Founding Fathers were adamant about the separation of church and state. Spiritual weapons at Missouri tour stop The religious characterization of opponents as demonic and satanic is not new but the degree to which this rhetoric is currently used to characterize political opponents is. Consider the Rev. Joel Tenney, who opened for Trump at a December rally in Iowa by claiming that those who oppose the ex-president are involved with demonic forces and more. Or Trump adviser Michael Flynn, now conducting a Reawaken America Tour with Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr. to mobilize churches to join the army of God, which promotes political war through characterizing opponents as evil, and whose goal is to put fundamentalist evangelical doctrine at the center of American life and institutions. The Reawaken America Tour brought its message to Branson, Missouri, where flag-waving fundamentalists characterized support for Trump as a war between good and evil. Tour co-organizer Clay Clark stated, We are ready to go to war with the enemy, to bring this country back, as he called for the blowing of a shofar horns seen as spiritual weapons that herald the unleashing of Gods power, in the words of The Guardian newspaper. It is true that morality informs political beliefs, but sectarian religious dogma must never be used in place of reason, evidence and debate or a democratic republic no longer exists. Most Americans are understandably cautious about criticizing religious beliefs. However, respecting one anothers religion does not mean allowing politicized religious leaders and candidates to engage in dehumanizing war rhetoric toward opponents, which increases the likelihood of violence towards them. It is within American traditions and obligations to hold those exploiting religion for political gain accountable. Thomas Jefferson argued that God gave mankind reason as the umpire of truth, and expected citizens to evaluate religious leaders to identify those who were credible from charlatans or those who were simply mad. Thomas Paine wrote in The Age of Reason that All national institutions of churches appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit. It is the obligation of those who believe in our democratic republic to call out those seeking to gain political power through using dehumanizing rhetoric, whether they call themselves religious or not. Victoria Johnson is an associate professor, emerita, of political sociology at the University of Missouri. Karen Piper is professor of critical theory at the University of Missouri. Former President Trump and his campaign are changing their tune about fellow GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, now calling him a fraud and claiming that a vote for the biotech entrepreneur will help the other side. Trump wrote to his supporters in a Truth Social post Saturday that they should not support Ramaswamy because he is not MAGA and claimed he disguises his support for the former president in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc, Trump said in a post Friday. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this. Vote for TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!! Chris LaCivita, Trumps senior campaign adviser, shared a similar sentiment about the Woke Inc. author when responding to a Ramaswamy post where he is seen posing with six potential supporters wearing t-shirts with the slogan Save Trump, Vote Vivek. In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, LaCivita called Ramaswamy this campaigns number one FRAUD, adding that Trump doesnt need saving and If you support @realDonaldTrump, you sure as hell dont vote for this FAKE. Ramaswamy, who until now has slipped away from attacks stemming from Trump and his campaign, has repeatedly defended the former president throughout his 2024 presidential run. He has even criticized other 2024 GOP opponents for insufficiently supporting Trump. After Colorados Supreme Court barred Trump from the ballot under the 14th Amendment, Ramaswamy pledged to remove himself from the ballot and asked other Republican contenders to do the same thing. He has offered repeated praise of the former president, even saying that he would pardon Trump if he wins the general election. Trump declared Ramaswamy the winner of the fourth GOP debate that took place in Alabama in early December, saying that Vivek WINS because he thinks lm great. Ramaswamy doubled down on his support for Trump in Saturday comments. I respect the hell out of Trump. Hes the best President of the 21st century. Ive defended him at every step against the unjust persecutions, he told The Hill. But OPEN YOUR EYES to the hard TRUTH: this system will stop at nothing to keep this man away from the White House. Just because its wrong doesnt mean it wont happen & we owe it to our nation to take America-First forward. Ramaswamy has amassed around 7.6 percent of support in Iowa, far below Trumps 53.6 percent according to polling averages from The Hill/Decision Desk HQ. Trumps late-game attack on Ramaswamy comes hours before the release of a new Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom Iowa poll, the last one before the Iowa caucuses kick off on Jan. 15. The Hill has reached out to Trumps campaign for comment. Updated at 7:10pm. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Donald Trump lashed out at GOP rival Vivek Ramaswamy for the first time on Saturday, arguing on social media he is not MAGA as the former president and his campaign have grown increasingly frustrated with what they claim are Ramaswamys disingenuous campaign tactics, Trump campaign advisers told CNN. Vivek started his campaign as a great supporter, the best President in generations, etc. Unfortunately, now all he does is disguise his support in the form of deceitful campaign tricks, Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday. Very sly, but a vote for Vivek is a vote for the other side dont get duped by this. Vote for TRUMP, dont waste your vote! Vivek is not MAGA. The Biden Indictments against his Political Opponent will never be allowed in this Country, they are already beginning to fall! MAGA!!! he added. This is the first and most aggressive attack on Ramaswamy the former president has issued, which comes after a series of comments and posts Ramaswamy made that have angered Trump and his team, Trumps advisers said. Ramaswamy had previously stayed away from bashing Trump, instead often praising him on the campaign trail. Ramaswamy posted a photo to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Saturday posing with supporters donning Save Trump, vote Vivek T-shirts, which showed a picture of Trumps mug shot from when he was processed in Georgia at the Fulton County jail in August. The post, which was shown to Trump, infuriated him, one adviser told CNN, noting the former president feels Ramaswamy has been working to undercut his candidacy while falsely painting himself as a Trump supporter. Trump and his campaign were also annoyed with an interview Ramaswamy gave to NBC News and The Des Moines Register earlier this month, during which he repeatedly described Trump as wounded. They dont have on me what they have on him, Ramaswamy said, arguing he is better positioned to implement Trumps agenda. Hes been making slights at the former president and we have noticed, another adviser told CNN. If you poke the bear, the bear will bite back. Trumps team insisted they have not seen anything in the polls to indicate Ramaswamy was gaining on Trump in Iowa, and this response was solely based on Ramaswamys recent comments and posts. Trumps campaign is hoping to win Iowa by record margins to set the tone for the primary season and stunt any momentum from his rivals. And for a campaign that has developed a ground game strategy focused on turning out as many caucus-goers as possible every vote counts, particularly as cold weather threatens anticipated turnout on Monday. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump heads into the Iowa caucuses Monday with a commanding 48% support in a closely watched poll that showed Nikki Haley moving into second place with 20%. Most Read from Bloomberg The results of the NBC News/Des Moines Register poll suggest further trouble for Ron DeSantis, who dropped to third place with 16%, two days before the nations first Republican nominating contest. The Florida governor is banking on a strong showing in Iowa to bolster his challenge to the former president. Severe winter weather descended on Iowa while the poll was still being conducted, and subzero temperatures forecast for Monday night risk chilling turnout among Iowas famously late-deciding caucusgoers when they gather in 1,657 precincts. The poll signals a slight softening from the 51% support that Trump notched in the last NBC/Des Moines Register survey in December. Still, Trumps lead is just below the majority threshold that would signal a blowout victory in the kick-off to the presidential nominating contest. The Des Moines Register poll is considered the gold standard in Iowa polling and helps to set the stage going into an event where meeting or exceeding expectations can be almost as important as the result itself. Enthusiasm Gap Pollster Ann Selzer said the lack of enthusiasm among Haleys supporters was on the edge of jaw-dropping. About half of Trumps supporters said they were extremely enthusiastic about caucusing for the former president. Only 9% of Haleys supporters said the same. Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy was in fourth place in Iowa with 8%. The poll of 705 likely Republican caucusgoers was conducted Jan. 7-12, and it has an overall margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.7 percentage points. Read More: Iowa Caucuses Are More Important Than Ever, Thanks to Trump The poll took place during a tumultuous final week of campaigning which culminated in a winter storm that brought much of the state to a standstill. Haley and DeSantis squared off one-on-one in an insult-driven televised debate Wednesday, then battled the frigid Iowa weather in a final pre-caucus blitz. Trump, who arrived in Iowa late Saturday, spent much of the last week in courtrooms in Washington and New York, defending himself against allegations that he tried to illegally retain power after losing the 2020 election and that he committed fraud by inflating the value of his real estate holdings. Iowa political wisdom holds that there are three tickets out of Iowa. But this year, even a narrow Trump victory would put pressure on the third-place finisher to drop out to allow the anti-Trump vote to consolidate around a single alternative in the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23. Haley now trails the former president by just 14 points in the RealClearPolitics average of New Hampshire polls. (Updates starting in the first paragraph with additional details) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Taiwan's president-elect Lai Ching-te could face a tough four years in office with no parliamentary majority, an opposition which wanted to re-start a vexed service trade deal with China and the ever present threat of military action from Beijing. Lai, from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), won on Saturday by a comfortable margin though with less than half the vote but his party lost control of parliament on which Lai will have to rely to pass legislation and spending. Lai takes office on May 20. China wasted little time in pointing out most electors voted against Lai, with its Taiwan Affairs Office saying that the DPP "cannot represent the mainstream public opinion" on Taiwan, though it did not name Lai directly unlike in the vote's run-up when it regularly called him a dangerous separatist. Lin Fei-fan, a former DPP deputy secretary general who is now a senior member of a party think tank, told Reuters he's "fairly worried" that the new government will have a "very tough" four years especially on China-related issues. He said opposition lawmakers, who together form a legislative majority, could step up exchanges with China and ask to re-start a controversial service trade pact which Taiwan shelved a decade ago in the face of mass protests. "That's what concerns us," he said. "Local governments and parliament could form a line to pressure the central government." Both Taiwan's largest opposition party the Kuomintang (KMT) and small Taiwan People's Party (TPP) campaigned to re-start the trade services pact. Neither have confirmed if they will work together in parliament, though the TPP's chairman Ko Wen-je said on Saturday they will play the role of a "critical minority". The defeated KMT candidate Hou Yu-ih did not directly answer a question on the two parties teaming up on Sunday, saying only that "opposition parties have the responsibility of being opposition parties." China has rebuffed Lai's calls for talks. Lai and his party reject Beijing's sovereignty claims and say only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Hu Xijin, former editor of the widely-read state-backed Chinese newspaper the Global Times who remains a prominent Chinese commentator, wrote a social media post that it was irrelevant who Taiwanese voted for when it came to bringing the island under Chinese control ultimately. "The strength of the mainland is already here, and the will of 1.4 billion people to complete the reunification of the country is also here. Who wins Taiwan's local elections is by no means the most important thing," he wrote. The 'Correct choice' China had framed the vote as a choice between war and peace and warned electors to make the "correct choice" did not name any candidates it wanted people to support. Lai I-chung, president of the Taipei-based think-tank the Prospect Foundation, said China was seeking to justify its approach to Taiwan by claiming they were able to end the DPP's parliament majority. "In my view this means they will continue its hard line towards Taiwan. There's no relenting on the pressure in my view, by China, and so the situation will be tense. But I don't think that will lead to conflict but of course China will make everything difficult for William Lai," he said, using Lai's English name. Over the past year-and-a-half China has staged two rounds of major war games around Taiwan and its forces regularly operate in the Taiwan Strait. China has also restricted or made more expensive some trade with Taiwan. The DPP had called all that election interference. China says election interference allegations were DPP "dirty tricks" to win votes. Su Tzu-yun, a research fellow at Taiwan's top military think tank, the Institute for National Defence and Security Research, said that he does not expect any military action from Chinese President Xi Jinping in the coming months. "He will observe what Lai Ching-te says leading up to his inauguration in May," Su said. "The Chinese Communist Party is a super realist. What it cannot bear is political risk." China has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan, which it calls "sacred" Chinese territory, under its control. Victor Gao, a professor at Soochow University in China noted that 60% of voters did not support Lai and the KMT had won more seats in parliament, meaning the elections "have not created a storm." "It is very clear that China has unlimited patience in promoting peaceful reunification and zero-tolerance for any push for Taiwan independence," he said. "In the end, the party that pulls the trigger will not be China, but people who push for Taiwan independence." China's military has yet to comment on the election. On Sunday, its Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for the area around Taiwan, showed pictures on its WeChat account of missile boats doing live fire drills though it did not say where. One of the boat's predecessors, it said, took part in an August 1965 battle between the Chinese and Taiwanese navies in which China claimed victory. "Today, the troops have inherited the red genes of bravery and being good at fighting," it added. (Reuters) E. Jean Carroll enters Manhattan Federal Court, for jury selection in the second civil trial after she accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago, in New York City E. Jean Carroll enters Manhattan Federal Court, for jury selection in the second civil trial after she accused former U.S. President Donald Trump of raping her decades ago, in New York City (This Jan. 14 story has been corrected to fix an erroneous reference to Judge Kaplan in paragraph 6) (Reuters) - Donald Trump should not be forced to testify as to his own guilt or face strict warnings about crossing red lines in his remarks should the former U.S. president choose to testify in a defamation trial set to begin this week, his legal team argued on Sunday. Trump is due to face a federal jury in New York this week to determine how much he should pay the writer E. Jean Carroll for defaming her in 2019, one of a string of legal entanglements he is contending with as primary elections for the 2024 Republican nomination, which the former president is seeking, get under way. A jury last year found in a civil case that Trump had sexually abused Carroll in the 1990s and then defamed her in 2022 by calling her a liar. Multiple courts have sought to require Trump not to stray into diatribes and speechmaking. Lawyers for Carroll last week argued that, should Trump decide to testify in his own defense, he should be required to state out of the jury's presence that he understands he assaulted her and should be warned against disobeying court orders limiting what he can say. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan this month ruled that the former president may not tell the jury he did not rape Carroll. "[I]t would be a manifest injustice to require President Trump to proffer his guilt, under oath, for acts that he maintains did not occur" and which were not proven beyond a reasonable doubt, attorney Alina Habba wrote. Habba also argued that, despite pre-set limits on his testimony, Trump would be free to testify about the context in which he made his remarks about Carroll as evidence showing whether he did so with hatred or ill will. "He can do this without opining on the actual underlying events," she wrote. (Reporting by Douglas Gillison; Editing by Mark Porter) Fort Mose Historic State Park unveiled plans for a reconstruction of the 1738 Fort Mose, the site of the first legally sanctioned free Black settlement in what is now the United States. An official groundbreaking takes place on Jan. 19, with completion anticipated later this year. More than 300 years ago, a crowded dugout canoe carrying 11 exhausted African freedom seekers arrived in St. Augustine. They had journeyed more than 200 miles from South Carolina, where they had been enslaved by English settlers. When they arrived that day in 1687, Spanish officials in St. Augustine gave them sanctuary and refused to return them when English slaveowners demanded their fugitive slaves back. They were the first of many Africans to reach Spanish Florida. Six years later, King Charles II of Spain decreed that all who fled Protestant colonies seeking baptism into the true faith of Catholicism would be freed. Today, three centuries later, a tribute to those freedom seekers is rising on the edge of a Florida marsh a physical representation of Fort Mose, the settlement and fort built just north of St. Augustine by these formerly enslaved people. Although no trace of that fort remains today other than a faint outline captured by satellite scanners its appearance is being resurrected through historical documents, maps, archaeological data and space age imagery. The fort reconstruction is being conducted by the Florida Park Service, thanks largely to the dedication and grass roots determination of the Fort Mose Historical Society and Florida State Parks Foundation. The society has united residents of St. Augustine under a common cause: protecting, promoting and interpreting this remarkable site and its story. Today, Fort Mose is not only a part of Floridas award-winning state parks network but is also a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO Site of Memory for the Routes of Enslaved Peoples. After the Spanish decree of religious sanctuary, many other freedom seekers seized the opportunity and made the dangerous journey to Florida. This first underground railroad ran South. By 1738, more than 100 people had made their way to St. Augustine. In that year the town and fort of Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (pronounced MOSAY) was established about 2 miles north of the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. The fort was badly damaged during the Battle of Bloody Mose in 1740 and subsequently abandoned. In 1752 a second, larger fort was built close to the location of the destroyed original, and the Mose settlers returned. They remained until Florida became a British colony in 1763, and the 34 families at Mose joined the Spanish evacuation to Cuba. Their story, nearly lost to time, resurfaced in 1985, when a University of Florida archaeological team aided by new NASA imagery located the second Fort Mose and submerged remnants of the nearby first fort. Excavations revealed details of the second fort, and the lives of the people who lived at Mose were reflected in shards of pottery, lead shot and gunflints, along with many other artifacts. These provide a foundation for interpreting Fort Mose to the present-day public. Letters: Jacksonville Jaguars need to show fans some love, keep 'home' games at home Fort Mose changed the international political landscape of 18th-century America and has received prestigious historical site designations. It embodies the fight for freedom in the early days of our country and highlights a facet of African American history that is dramatically different than the familiar story of slavery and oppression. Despite its historic importance, the fort and its message are still relatively unknown. Creating a physical representation of the long-lost original fort will bring this dramatic history to life. The current reconstruction of Fort Mose is a symbol of how local communities, politicians, scholars and state agencies can work together for a common good. It is one that should be repeated more often. Deagan Landers Kathleen Deagan, distinguished research curator emerita and Lockwood professor of archaeology emerita at the University of Florida, led the excavation at Fort Mose. She is co-author of Fort Mose: Colonial America's Black Fortress of Freedom. Jane Landers is the Gertrude Conaway Vanderbilt professor of history at Vanderbilt University and historian of Fort Mose. She is the author of Black Society in Spanish Florida. This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Fort Mose reconstruction will bring important Black history to life UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) attend a signing ceremony during a visit to the Presidential Palace. Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/dpa After signing a security agreement with Britain, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is hoping for similar agreements with other countries. "We will keep working with other partners to ensure the development of our security," the president wrote on Facebook on Sunday. "We are making Ukraine stronger step by step." The agreement with Britain gives Ukraine security while it defends itself against "Russian aggression," Zelensky wrote. At the same time, it "lays the groundwork for strong security positions until Ukraine joins NATO." The agreement with the UK was signed on Friday during a visit by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to Kiev. It stipulates that London will not only support Ukraine now, but also in future conflicts with Russia. This involves rapid and long-term military assistance, not the deployment of British soldiers. Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for almost two years with Western support. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces, along with General Staff Chief Serhii Shaptala, has spent several days working in the areas of responsibility of the Tavriia and Odesa Operational Strategic Groups. Source: Zaluzhnyi on Telegram Quote: "We conducted fruitful work with the frontline commanders and brigade commanders performing tasks in Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. ALL PhotoS: Commander-in-Chief of Ukraines Armed Forces We agreed on steps to increase the effectiveness of the use of troops, taking into account available resources and the operational situation." Details: Zaluzhnyi and Shaptala also "examined the situation in the Black Sea". Support UP or become our patron! Since January 1, legal entities have been entitled to purchase land in Ukraine, and the limit has increased from 100 hectares to 10 thousand hectares The second phase of Ukraine's land reform, which began on Jan. 1 and allows legal entities to purchase agricultural land with an increased limit of up to 10,000 hectares, has sparked controversy among small and medium-seized farmers, who are demanding that the old conditions with a quota of 100 hectares be maintained. Read also: How Ukraine keeps its agriculture afloat in wartime Member of Parliament and former Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Razumkov, along with a group of fellow parliamentarians, introduced a bill to postpone the opening of the land market to legal entities and to increase the amount of land that can be owned by one person until Jan. 1, 2025. On Jan. 1 the second phase of the reforms came into force, which opened the market for legal entities residing in Ukraine and increased the limits of land plot sizes by 100 times in comparison with the first phase. The minimum purchase price for agricultural land should not be lower than thenormative monetary value and leaseholders retain the right of first refusal to purchase land plots. Foreigners still have no right to buy or sell land. The sale of municipal and state land remains prohibited. Read also: Polish farmers to end blockade at one blocked Ukrainian border checkpoint The land market in Ukraine was opened on July 1, 2021, when a law entitled "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine Concerning the Conditions of Sale of Agricultural Land" came into force. Denis Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, and Yaroslav Zheleznyak, an MP from the opposition party Holos (Voice), explained to NV why farmers oppose these changes and whether there is a chance to postpone the reform. A petition was posted on the President's website proposing that the previous limits be maintained until the end of the war. It quickly received the required 25,000 votes, obliging Volodymyr Zelenskyy to instruct the government to consider the risks associated with this petition. 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 I had people who told me that my life was over, that I would never be who I thought I could be, Del. Don Scott tells theGrio. President Joe Biden called to congratulate Don Scott, the Portsmouth Democrat who made history last week when he was elected the first Black speaker of Virginias House of Delegates, theGrio reports exclusively. During the brief chat, Biden extended an invitation to Scott to visit the White House within the next few weeks. An excited Scott told theGrio that an energetic Biden personally extended his well wishes to him after Democrats won back a majority in the Virginia General Assembly. Their critical victory came as a result of them successfully campaigning on abortion rights, an election trend national Democrats hope will lead to more key wins in this years general election on Nov. 5, 2024. He just liked the way we ran a tight campaign, said Scott, recalling the five-minute phone conversation with President Biden on Friday. The 58-year-old lawmaker said, This was a canary in the coal mine and a bellwether for him to let him know that hell be fine in this next election. On Wednesday, in less than five years as a member of the House of Delegates, Scott ascended to the speakership, becoming the first Black person to preside over the legislative body. The new speakers rise in Virginia politics was improbable to some after serving seven years in federal prison for drug conspiracy. He finished his law degree when he completed his sentence. I had people who told me that my life was over, that I would never be who I thought I could be, Scott recalled. Del. Don L. Scott Jr., is photographed at the Breit Biniazan law firm in Virginia Beach, Va., on Monday, June 6, 2022. (Photo by Kristen Zeis/For The Washington Post via Getty Images) The former criminal defense attorney said he refused to listen to those who doubted his future after incarceration. Instead, he relied on his faith and hard work to rebuild his life. Scott said of his naysayers: They didnt make [me], so they cant break [me]. Virginias 58th speaker of the House of Delegates hopes his personal story will inspire others, particularly Black Americans touched by the criminal justice system, and show that if he can go from the prison walls to the highest levels of government, then they, too, can find success in life after incarceration. This gives hope to anybody whos ever been in my position. You can overcome anything. You can go anywherefrom the speaker of the House to the White House, said Scott. The Democratic leader said he looks forward to sitting with President Biden, whom he said he bonded with over their shared empathy for service. He was very gracious talking about my story. He knew a lot about me, recalled Scott, who in return talked about Bidens empathy after losing his first wife and baby daughter in a deadly car crash in 1972 and later his son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015. He told theGrio, Thats what makes him a great leaderhe can empathize with folks whove gone through things, and he can relate to anybody because hes faced some of the same challenges that everyday people are facing. Scott, who also received a congratulatory call from Vice President Kamala Harris after his election, told theGrio that he and other Democrats in Virginia are ready to help tell the story of what the Biden-Harris administration has done for Black voters during the past three years in the office. The president does not get full credit for all of the work that hes done [and] all of the investments that hes made, said Scott. We have been the beneficiaries of Bidens policies here in the commonwealth. He listed the administrations major accomplishments, including expanding broadband internet access in rural and urban communities, investing in manufacturing jobs, and combating environmental justice. Scott also noted that the Black unemployment rate was lowest under President Biden. U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris arrive for an event about their administrations approach to artificial intelligence in the East Room of the White House on Oct. 30, 2023, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) They have to speak to the Black community in a way that is animating here in Virginia, said Scott. You have to do something different to get people who are already maybe not as engaged in politics but engaged in social and cultural issues and get them out [to vote]. Ahead of Virginia Democrats major victories in the 2023 elections, Scott said they held regional outreach events in areas across the commonwealth, including key battleground areas. He credited legislative wins for Virginia Democrats, such as a 2021 reform to the states probation violation laws, to engaging national well-known folks in the Black culture. Scott explained, Thats what you have to do, and I think the president can do that again this time. In addition to working to spread the good news about the Biden-Harris administration in Virginia, Scott also has a lengthy list of priorities for the new legislative session, including continuing to protect a womans right to have bodily autonomy, investing more in quality health care, housing, and education. He also hopes to work with Republicans and Gov. Glenn Youngkin in a divided government to enact bipartisan common sense gun reform. As he looks ahead to a busy two years as House speaker, Scott relishes his history-making journey for now. Its the culmination of a faith and a belief that I had in myself as well as others had in me, and its all rooted in my faith in God, Scott told theGrio. When you get the opportunity to serve, you take advantage of it. He added, It means so much to me and my family to have this opportunity to serve, and Im grateful to my colleagues for entrusting me with leadership. Gerren Keith Gaynor Gerren Keith Gaynor is a White House Correspondent and the Managing Editor of Politics at theGrio. He is based in Washington, D.C. Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter. The post Virginias first Black House speaker and Biden bond over personal hardships during congratulatory call appeared first on TheGrio. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings has two high-end brands: premium Oceania and ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas. Both prove NCLH can successfully target two types of wealthy travelers. See how Oceania and Regent Seven Seas' newest ships compare. When you think of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, you probably think of its giant amusement park-like cruise ships with 10-story-tall slides, go-kart tracks, and many families. Norwegian Cruise Line is its parent company's bread and butter. But what the average cruisers might not know is that NCLH also manages two premium cruise lines: upscale Oceania and ultra-luxury Regent Seven Seas. You'll be hard-pressed to find waterslides across either of these brand's ships. You will, however, find truffle-topped dinners, peaceful pool decks, afternoon tea, and sailings that start at over $200 a night. After spending at least one night on both operators' newest ships, it's easy to see how they differ while targeting the same demographic: wealthy travelers. Oceania Cruises the "aspirational wealth" brand Oceania Vista's pool deck is neutral and modern, accompanied by two hot tubs and outdoor showers. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Think of Oceania as the bougie (but at the level of owning a rare Hermes Birkin) cousin of Norwegian. According to its parent company, Oceania is known for its food and "diverse itineraries." It recently announced a two-month cruise that would sail to less frequented ports along Africa and Asia. While still in the premium category, in 2023, Oceania inched closer to the ultra-luxury segment with its "simply more" package. This move, akin to an all-inclusive model, means travelers now get dining, shore excursion credits, house beverages, roundtrip flights, airport transfers, and on board WiFi all in one fare. The Oceania Vista has several lounges, including one with floor-to-ceiling windows. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Like all cruise lines of this caliber , Oceania's fleet of seven ships has a relatively low guest capacity, accommodating between 684 to 1,250 travelers per ship. Its newest Oceania Vista ship, which debuted in May 2023, is at the higher end of the range with a 1,200-guest capacity. Say goodbye to repetitive Caribbean and Mexico itineraries. As a self-proclaimed "destination-focused" operator, the ship is scheduled to visit ports in countries like Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey throughout 2024. My veranda stateroom had features like a balcony, a complimentary beverage station, and a large bathroom. Brittany Chang/Insider Four months after the Vista's debut, the cruise line invited me to spend one night on the vessel while it was docked in New York City. At the time, my assigned veranda stateroom on the Oceania Vista was the most luxurious and spacious cabin I had ever stayed in, complete with Bulgari toiletries, marble bathroom walls, and a large balcony. The latter isn't particularly special for the ship: Every cabin on the Vista has one. One of the avocado toast options includes a poached egg and charred lime. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The food better be decent for a "culinary-focused" cruise line. Fortunately, it was and included in the fare. For breakfast, travelers can order various avocado toasts and fresh juices. Come nightfall, options include porcini-dusted bone-in ribeye steak at the modern American Ember, and ceviche with hummus foam at the Grand Dining Room. The latter also serves favorites from the company's executive culinary director, famed chef Jacques Pepin. The ship has a mini golf course. Brittany Chang/Business Insider In between meals, guests can fuel up at the coffee shop. When lounging around the pool starts to feel repetitious, travelers can instead take art and cooking classes, attend guest lectures, or try their hand at pickleball. Liquor isn't included in the fare. But for guests who can't cruise without it, the Vista has options like a martini bar, flashy bourbon and rye-centered Founders Bar, and "beverage carts" with bloody Marys and bubbles. But no matter where you look, it's easy to notice how modern, high-end, and clean Oceania Vista's common spaces look. Every cabin has a balcony. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The cruise feels ship like a bid to both the wealthy and " aspirational wealth " travel categories. It's the perfect option for people interested in exploring the luxury cruise segment. While 2024 fares are expensive starting at $2,300 per person for an 11-day itinerary they're not as out of reach as Regent Seven Seas' newest ship . Despite this more "affordable" fare, many features still mirror the ultra-luxury segment: inclusive dining, excursions, and flights. Regent Seven Seas Cruises the true ultra-luxury option The Seven Seas Grandeur's pool was surrounded by several hot tubs. Brittany Chang/Business Insider Oceania says it excels in food and destinations. Regent Seven Seas does this and more. NCLH's ultra-luxury brand embraces its "all-inclusive" model, which includes everything Oceania has, plus: liquor, laundry services, roundtrip business class flights for intercontinental travel, a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay, and unlimited excursions. Travelers won't have to reach for their wallet once they board the ship, save for a fancier bottle of wine, non-included excursion, or spa service. My veranda stateroom had a balcony, living room and bedroom, walk-in closet, and bathroom. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The Grandeur joined Regent's six-ship fleet in 2023. Compared to the Oceania Vista, this ultra-luxe vessel has a smaller guest capacity of 746 travelers. But like its less expensive counterpart, every cabin has a balcony. In December 2023, the cruise line invited me to stay in the Grandeur's concierge suite during its three-night "christening voyage." Here, comforts included a thin walk-in closet and a bathroom with a bathtub. I've never had the latter in a cruise cabin before. And the living room was so large, I didn't know what to do with the extra space. Dinner included beef tenderloin topped with seared foie gras. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The Grandeur's dining rooms' themes are similar to the Oceania Vista's. However, while the Vista has a modern American option, the Grandeur has a French venue and a main dining room with a customizable menu. And whereas the Vista had objectively high-end dishes, the Grandeur served up next-level luxury: Every menu included truffle, foie gras, caviar, or all three. Classes at the Culinary Arts Kitchen often sell out, according to the cruise line. Brittany Chang/Business Insider There's a little hint of luxury everywhere you look. The steakhouse has three original Pablo Picasso pieces, the pool deck has waitstaff dropping off drinks to sunbathers, and the coffee shop and library have daily newspapers. The on board art collection costs $6 million, over 500 chandeliers line the ship, and almost 308,650 pounds of marble accent spaces like the cabins' bathrooms. Numbers like that make the Grandeur sound more like a five-star hotel than a cruise ship. The Seven Seas Grandeur has a putting green and pickleball court. Brittany Chang/Business Insider The ship will sail to the Caribbeans, Turkey, France, Spain, Greece, and Nicaragua in 2024. While the Oceania Vista could appeal to the aspirational wealth category, Regent Seven Seas is exclusively for wealthy travelers: 2024 itineraries start at $4,800 per person for a seven-night cruise. That's both shorter and more than double the cost of the Vista's cheapest itinerary. It's easy to see how NCLH has attracted wealthy travelers The poolside buffet had an afternoon "Italian Buffet" with several seafood options. Brittany Chang/Business Insider At their core, luxury ships don't differ much from the average cruise. All offer food, beverages, on board amenities, and the opportunity to see several destinations in one vacation. The difference? High-end ships like the Oceania Vista and Seven Seas Grandeur have palatial balcony-lined cabins, some level of all-inclusiveness, and common spaces with an upscale flair. And both vessels built without loud water slides or arcades exude a feeling of peace and quiet not often experienced throughout larger family-friendly cruise ships . Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Prima has amenities like a go-kart track and virtual reality arcade. Brittany Chang/Business Insider NCLH's mass-market eponymous brand still has more ships in its fleet than Regent Seven Seas and Oceania combined. But its luxury segment is growing: In the last quarter of 2023, the cruise giant had more "luxury and ultra-luxury" ships than at the same time in 2019, Mark Kempa, its CFO and executive vice president, told investors in a call in November 2023. The Oceania Vista has a library stocked with books and games. Brittany Chang/Insider With this, it's no wonder NCLH's two brands have appealed to the wealthy and wealthier. Both Oceania and Regent hit all the marks of a premium cruise line. Yes, one is more plush and expensive than the other. But no matter the brand, travelers with Norwegian's two high-end operators still get luxurious meals, a pleasant ambiance, and a stateroom with a private outdoor space. So far, this is enough for fans of both operators to stay loyal to NCLH. In the same call, Harry Sommer, the company's president and CEO, told investors that NCLH had "not seen any change in the trajectory of bookings" for either brand despite the growing number of luxury cruise competitors like MSC Group's Explora Journeys . Read the original article on Business Insider TOKYO, Jan 14 ( Jeb Brooks ) - Welcome onboard one of the Worlds Greatest Rail Journeys! This First Class Train across Japan has it all! Watch this video to see what its like onboard the Train Suite Shiki-Shima across Japan! On our journey through massive urban centers, passed breathtaking mountains, and over peaceful rivers. Well cover nearly 550 miles over almost 31 hours! The Shiki-Shima Train should be at the top of your travel bucket list. In this video, well leave Tokyo at 9:15 and travel across Japan to return, the next evening, to our starting point: Ueno Station in Tokyo. Along the way, well travel in a First Class train car with every amenity you can imagine (and some First Class Luxuries to surprise you!). Onboard the Shiki-Shima First Class Train experience, well have our own dedicated Team to take care of our every need, two INSANELY comfortable beds and Michelin Star Quality food. Our room is in the entry level type, but youd never know it! Its got every amenity you can imagine! The incredible Lounge includes a first class bar complete with snacks and other treats to enjoy along our journey. We even had the opportunity to get out and explore Japanese culture twice during our journey. These explorations gave us a sense of just how special this magical country really is!! Youll see the sights, the food, and gain insight into what its like to travel on this incredible First Class Train: The Train Suite Shiki-Shima. Travelers to and from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Airport are seeing some fight delays with winter storm warnings and watches across the country. As of early Sunday on the holiday weekend, departure traffic heading to LaGuardia Airport in New York reported delays averaging 45 minutes. Departure traffic leaving to Chicago OHare International Airport reported delays averaging 1 hour and 27 minutes, according to the Federal Aviation Administrations Air Traffic Control System Command Center. Overall, arrivals and departures were running relatively on time, although wait times were long to check baggage, go through security clearance and some travelers are delayed from their departure destinations. The FAA reports flight traffic from Fort Lauderdales airport (FLL) is experiencing gate hold and taxi delays lasting 15 minutes or less. Flights arriving into Fort Lauderdale were experiencing airborne delays of 15 minutes or less. Other airports in the U.S. are seeing long delays and flight cancellations. According to Flight Aware, on Sunday there were 2,296 total flight delays within, into, or out of the United States and 834 flights cancellations. Of U.S. carriers, Southwest Airlines had the most delayed flights and United Airlines had the most cancelled flights on Sunday. Winter Storm Heather is expected to track across the South and eastern U.S. early this week, resulting in a wintry mess of snow and ice that could create dangerous travel conditions in some areas. Forecasters expect the storm to lead to flight delays and cancellations throughout the week. Heather has already brought heavy snow, ice and strong winds to the western U.S. Sun Sentinel reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com. Coinciding with the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Fukui, known as the "Dinosaur Kingdom," local shrines have introduced new goshuin (red stamps) featuring dinosaur designs. Blog Archive: Mar 2024 (90) Feb 2024 (145) Jan 2024 (156) Dec 2023 (155) Nov 2023 (150) Oct 2023 (155) Sep 2023 (150) Aug 2023 (155) Jul 2023 (155) Jun 2023 (150) May 2023 (155) Apr 2023 (150) Mar 2023 (155) Feb 2023 (140) Jan 2023 (155) Dec 2022 (156) Nov 2022 (150) Oct 2022 (155) Sep 2022 (150) Aug 2022 (155) Jul 2022 (154) Jun 2022 (150) May 2022 (155) Apr 2022 (150) Mar 2022 (155) Feb 2022 (140) Jan 2022 (156) Dec 2021 (156) Nov 2021 (150) Oct 2021 (155) Sep 2021 (150) Aug 2021 (155) Jul 2021 (155) Jun 2021 (150) May 2021 (155) Apr 2021 (150) Mar 2021 (155) Feb 2021 (140) Jan 2021 (155) Dec 2020 (155) Nov 2020 (150) Oct 2020 (158) Sep 2020 (150) Aug 2020 (130) Jul 2020 (124) Jun 2020 (120) May 2020 (124) Apr 2020 (120) Mar 2020 (124) Feb 2020 (116) Jan 2020 (125) Dec 2019 (126) Nov 2019 (120) Oct 2019 (124) Sep 2019 (120) Aug 2019 (125) Jul 2019 (124) Jun 2019 (120) May 2019 (123) Apr 2019 (121) Mar 2019 (124) Feb 2019 (112) Jan 2019 (125) Dec 2018 (126) Nov 2018 (120) Oct 2018 (124) Sep 2018 (121) Aug 2018 (124) Jul 2018 (125) Jun 2018 (120) May 2018 (124) Apr 2018 (121) Mar 2018 (124) Feb 2018 (112) Jan 2018 (123) Dec 2017 (124) Nov 2017 (124) Oct 2017 (141) Sep 2017 (135) Aug 2017 (138) Jul 2017 (137) Jun 2017 (134) May 2017 (138) Apr 2017 (135) Mar 2017 (139) Feb 2017 (129) Jan 2017 (143) Dec 2016 (135) Nov 2016 (138) Oct 2016 (142) Sep 2016 (128) Aug 2016 (133) Jul 2016 (136) Jun 2016 (138) May 2016 (164) Apr 2016 (311) Mar 2016 (348) Feb 2016 (320) Jan 2016 (348) Dec 2015 (314) Nov 2015 (338) Oct 2015 (363) Sep 2015 (358) Aug 2015 (399) Jul 2015 (374) Jun 2015 (331) May 2015 (337) Apr 2015 (319) Mar 2015 (320) Feb 2015 (271) Jan 2015 (286) Dec 2014 (254) Nov 2014 (238) Oct 2014 (287) Sep 2014 (267) Aug 2014 (259) Jul 2014 (260) Jun 2014 (238) May 2014 (241) Apr 2014 (228) Mar 2014 (240) Feb 2014 (217) Jan 2014 (263) Dec 2013 (226) Nov 2013 (254) Oct 2013 (256) Sep 2013 (252) Aug 2013 (263) Jul 2013 (261) Jun 2013 (251) May 2013 (250) Apr 2013 (221) Mar 2013 (193) Feb 2013 (164) Jan 2013 (157) Dec 2012 (155) Nov 2012 (240) Oct 2012 (526) Sep 2012 (411) Aug 2012 (394) Jul 2012 (284) Jun 2012 (229) May 2012 (213) Apr 2012 (213) Mar 2012 (253) Feb 2012 (269) Jan 2012 (298) Dec 2011 (273) Nov 2011 (219) Oct 2011 (204) Sep 2011 (201) Aug 2011 (236) Jul 2011 (217) Jun 2011 (211) May 2011 (206) Apr 2011 (215) Mar 2011 (215) Feb 2011 (186) Jan 2011 (215) Dec 2010 (107) Nov 2010 (98) Oct 2010 (55) One of the nations that I follow most closely, and have felt most affection for, has been the United Kingdom (or Great Britain, or England). But what a dreadful condition it has fallen into, thanks largely to its bad political choices. The main disaster was the 2016 decision where, with a vote of 52-48 percent, the British electorate voted for Brexit, i.e. to leave the European Union into which its economy had been integrated for decades. (True, the political scene was dismal for some years before that. The Tory government foolishly applied Austerity in the face of the financial crisis that beset the world in 2008-2009 a crisis of the kind that called for the opposite of Austerity (as economists had understood since Keynes work during the Great Depression.) But the big catastrophe was Brexit, which was irresponsibly put to a popular vote by Prime Minister Cameron; was sold to the people with false promises; proved as predicted a self-inflicted disaster for Britain. What an embarrassment for this great nation, with its proud history, to blunder its way so awkwardly that their former friends in the EU ended up disgusted with them. Ive been reading the British Press a few times a week for years, and the deteriorated condition of the British people has been sad to behold. Regular reports indicate a great many families in the UK have been sinking into a mire of poverty uncertain food, unavailable health care too reminiscent of the grim England of more than a century and a half ago that Dickens depicted. Israel Israel is another nation Ive previously found admirable, and whose politics I have followed closely. Those politics have turned darker under the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu a man brilliant and articulate, but also deeply flawed. For years, it has been disturbing to behold how under Netanyahus leadership Israel has dealt with the Palestinians. Granted: the problem of finding peace and justice for both Jews and Palestinians was bound to be hugely challenging. But Netanyahu showed no interest in getting to such a solution even eventually. (Tellingly also, Netanyahu left a trail behind him of other Israeli leaders who stopped serving under him after discovering that Netanyahu could not be trusted.) But it is the past year that has been catastrophic. It began with Netanyahu sacrificing the good of his nation to keep himself in power (and thus perhaps out of jail). This he could accomplish only by assembling a disastrous coalition, which included extremists whod previously been excluded from the ruling order. Almost immediately, Netanyahus terrible coalition started tearing the nation apart by threatening Israeli democracy like never before. It initiated measures to eliminate the independence of the judiciary, making the courts subservient to the ruling powers. This provoked huge crowds to take to the streets every week in massive protests. For months, there were warnings this profound conflict over judicial overhaul was weakening the nation: damaging the economy (as some high-tech corporations left the country), and undermining Israels military structures (as hundreds of reservists protested that they were not prepared to fight for a dictatorship). The government disregarded those warnings. It was upon this already damaged nation that Hamas inflicted its traumatizing atrocities. And then came the course of action Netanyahus government chose for its response. The challenge facing the Israeli decision-makers was enormously complex, and it is far from clear what Israels optimal response would have been. But, as things have unfolded, Ive found it increasingly difficult to believe the course chosen by Netanyahus government has been anything other than a huge blunder: catastrophic not only for all the dead in Gaza, but for Israels own long-term survival. The Netanyahu gang appears to have plunged headlong into the trap that Hamas set for them. If Im right and Id rather be wrong its nonetheless unclear how much thats due to: The inability of people with a fascistic mindset to make balanced decisions about war-making and peace-making. The leadership of Netanyahu, who has an incentive to perpetuate the war because polls show that hed likely be removed from power as soon as the crisis is past. The Israeli nation as a whole being so consumed by trauma and the resulting lust for vengeance that reasonable strategy is beyond their grasp. Whichever, Israel seems to be inflicting great damage on itself and strengthening an enemy dedicated to destroying the Jewish state. The U.S. The nation I care the most about, of course, is my own the United States and Ive been raising the alarm about the deterioration of American democracy for twenty years, including here in hundreds of columns. Suffice it to say here now: Conflict has so replaced cooperation that Congress is disabled and has just completed its least productive year in modern history. Obvious falsehoods are wielding great power in the public mind, with millions feeling passionately about things that clearly never happened. A leader openly promising a fascistic regime may be elected President. The very survival of American Democracy in in serious jeopardy. Andy Schmookler is the author of The Parable of the Tribes: The Problem of Power in Social Evolution. By Ikenna Ngere A recent investigation by BBC Africa Eye has asserted that the deceased Nigerian televangelist, TB Joshua, engaged in the fabrication of miracles within the Synagogue Church of All Nations. According to the report, the BBC claimed to have unearthed a network of deceptive practices purportedly utilised by the late Nigerian televangelist to orchestrate miracles. The report outlined six methods allegedly employed by the deceased church leader in the fabrication of miracles. Leveraging insights from over 25 individuals spanning different countries, the investigation exposed a range of alleged deceptive tactics practiced within the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN). Published on the BBC Eye website on Sunday, the investigation accuses the late TB Joshua, who passed away at the age of 57 in 2021, of being a fraud. The report meticulously outlines six methods through which Joshua is alleged to have deceived worshippers, attributing these revelations to individuals who had worked closely with the late church leader. In 2004, Nigerias broadcasting regulatory authority imposed a ban on the live airing of pastors purported miracles on terrestrial TV. In response to this restriction, TB Joshua launched Emmanuel TV on satellite and subsequently expanded its reach to an online audience. His global television and social media network emerged as one of the most prosperous Christian platforms worldwide, reaching millions of viewers in Europe, the Americas, South East Asia, and Africa. Notably, his YouTube channel amassed hundreds of millions of views, contributing to the widespread impact of his ministry. Below are the six ways listed by the BBC Africa Eye in its report: 1: The emergency department: An exclusive section of the church, named the emergency department, was responsible for making the so-called miracles look real. This is where the sick, who came to be healed, would be screened, and where the team would decide who should be filmed and prayed for by Joshua. Agomoh Paul, who supervised the department for 10 years receiving direct instructions from Joshua, told the BBC that the team was trained by medical doctors. He is a former disciple one of an elite group of dedicated followers who lived with the pastor inside the Scoan compound. Any cancerous situation, they send them away. Then, people who had normal open wounds that can heal, they bring them in, to present as cancer, he says. Only a select group of trusted disciples were allowed to work in the emergency department. They would write placards for each follower to hold, detailing their made-up or exaggerated ailments. When it was time to meet Joshua, they would stand in line in front of the cameras and be healed. It was a complicated system. Not all disciples knew what was happening. It was a secret, Mr Paul says. 2: Drugs: Every foreign visitor who came to the church to be healed had to fill out a medical report detailing their illness and the medication they were currently prescribed. They would be told to stop taking them, but Joshua would order pharmacists to procure the same medicine. Without their knowledge, they would put those drugs in their fruit drinks, explains Mr Paul, who said people would be urged to drink the cocktail that had been blessed by Joshua. This meant while visitors were residing at SCOAN, they would not become unwell and would believe in the divine healing powers of their pastor. In the 1990s, when HIV/AIDs had reached epidemic levels across parts of sub-Saharan Africa, Joshua told visitors to stop taking their antiretroviral medication when they returned home. I know people died because they didnt take their medicine, and its difficult to live with that, admits a former disciple, who asked not to be named. Tash Ford, now 49, who went to Lagos from the South African city of Johannesburg in 2001 in the hope of having her failing kidney healed, was told to stop taking her drugs. It was the promise that you could supernaturally receive a new kidney, she told the BBC. At the time, she had already had two kidney transplants. Ms Ford says the disciples said: Stop taking your medication and just believe. She did believe she had been healed. But when she got home, after four weeks of not taking her medicine, she went into renal failure and was admitted to hospital. The medics initially managed to save her kidney, but eventually, it stopped working, and she had to have kidney dialysis for more than six years before having a third transplant in 2011. 3: Brainwashing: Ms Ford says when she was at Scoan, she never had any doubts: I honestly thought we were seeing miracles. I literally couldnt believe what I was seeing. I saw someone walk out of a wheelchair. The theatricality seemed to draw everyone in. The former disciple told the BBC that after being screened, the chosen followers would be told to exaggerate their problems so that God can heal you and exaggerate your healing. The people, themselves, are clearly being manipulated, she says. The church had a ready supply of wheelchairs which followers were coaxed to use. They were warned they would not be healed unless they sat in one when they met Joshua. We are telling them: If you come out there and walk with your legs, Papa will not pray for you. You need to shout: Man of God, help me, I cannot walk, says Mr Paul. Another former disciple, Bisola, who spent 14 years living at Scoan, accompanied Joshua on his National Healing Campaign at the Church of Our Saviour in Singapore in 2006. She says she saw people in wheelchairs try to stand up after the pastor told the congregation he had released faith into the stadium. However, these people had not been screened, and she saw them fall down. I was crying. I was crying for them, she says. The emergency department workers themselves were also being manipulated. They were subjected to horrifying ordeals, including rape, physical violence, and torture, and lived by a strict set of rules forbidden to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. Now they struggle to understand how and why they continued to follow the pastors orders. TB Joshua told me: Dont worry, we use this thing to build peoples faith in Christ. I wasnt having in mind that I was actually doing something wrong. I thought I was doing something that would help to build the faith of people in the church, says Mr Paul. For Ms Ford, it has meant she has lost all faith in organised religion: I wish we had known that it was all a farce, that it wasnt true. I was manipulated into believing that what the prophet was doing was supernatural, miracles, wonders, signs. 4: Bribes: Some disciples allege they were charged with finding people who needed money to pretend to be sick. When they performed healing crusades in countries outside Nigeria, they would go to the poorer areas of a city to search for people living in poverty. We would say: We need you to just act out this particular scene, and we will pay you,' another former disciple told the BBC. We get them into hotels, we get them cleaned up. They come, they do what they do. We give them their money, and the rest is history, she says. Before the service, they would tell Joshua which rows they had planted these people and what clothes they were wearing so he would know who to perform his supposed miracles on. People would be brought in just to pretend that they were healed, she says. 5: Fake medical certificates: The healing miracles broadcast to millions regularly included medical reports stating people had been cured of HIV/Aids and diseases like cancer. Doctors were interviewed on camera confirming the cures. In 2000, Nigerian journalist Adejuwon Soyinka reported that these medical certificates were fake, but Joshua quashed his investigation, and it went nowhere. To this day, some people believe they were healed, but insiders say it was all a performance on the late preachers part. The whole thing is stage-managed and faked. Its faked, says Mr Paul, describing Joshua as an evil genius. There was nothing that took place in the compound that Joshua did not know about, he explains. TB Joshua was the one who masterminded the whole manipulation, he says. 6: Video manipulation: The miracles were filmed and then edited to make it look like the supposed healing had happened instantaneously. Before and after, the footage was spliced together to show his purported miraculous powers, but in reality, the films were shot months, or even a year, apart. All you see on TV is the before and after; you dont know the time-space, says Bisola, who was Scoans chief video editor for five years and worked on Emmanuel TV. Like other insiders interviewed by the BBC, she opted to only use her first name. What people see is not real. It is a fraud, she says about the clips and broadcasts she oversaw. I am speaking now as someone who was an insider, she says. Anything they did not want viewers to see was cut away. It was all organised, she says. BBC Africa contacted SCOAN regarding the allegations but received no response. The church, however, had previously denied accusations against Joshua, stating, Making unfounded allegations against Prophet TB Joshua is not a new occurrence None of the allegations was ever substantiated. NAIJANEWS In past Iowa caucus cycles, the final weekend before residents make their presidential preferences known has been marked by a burst of visits from the candidates and their surrogates. It's one final chance for White House hopefuls to win hearts and minds. That's especially true for Republican contenders coming to northwest Iowa prior to caucus day. This corner of the "first-in-the-nation" state is the most-conservative. Iowa's 4th Congressional District, which runs from Fremont County in the south all the way to Lyon County in the north and extends from Woodbury County in the west to as far east as Marshall County, has proven decisive for GOP candidates looking to score their first "W" in a presidential campaign. But in the final days before the 2024 caucuses in ruby red northwest Iowa, flurries of in-person stump speeches have been stymied by seemingly never-ending snow flurries and blustery winds causing blizzard conditions. Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls showed a "steady temperature" around -13 degrees with wind chill values as low as -42. The forecast for caucus evening isn't much better. Vivek Ramaswamy campaign bus The campaign bus for 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio businessman, drives through the snow in Sioux City on Monday, Ja So because of the worst weather ever seen before an Iowa caucus in the modern era, the four-leading Republican candidates have to had cancel, postpone and rework their final plans for Siouxland. The changes came as early as Monday when former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley scrapped a scheduled morning stop at the Horizon Family Restaurant in Sioux City. At Sioux Gateway Airport, 11.3 inches of snow fell from Monday through Tuesday. The campaign for Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy lambasted Haley for the cancellation but later had to axe a Tuesday morning appearance because it said it was "effectively impossible to safely get from Des Moines to Coralville." Ramaswamy did make it to Le Mars Orange City, Primghar and Sioux City on Monday. Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both had plans to trek to the Wells Visitor and Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars during the back half of the week. DeSantis at 2:30 p.m., Thursday and Haley at 2:30 p.m., Friday. Only DeSantis was able to make it in person. Around 50 people showed up to hear DeSantis, who trails Haley and former President Donald Trump in FiveThirtyEight's average of Iowa polls. Early into his speech, Florida's chief executive joked about leaving his coat back in Tallahassee and tried to drive home how crucial every single vote could be if caucus turnout is low because of the wicked winter weather. "With the turnout maybe lower than what it's been in the past, if you bring a few family member, that is going to pack a big punch," he said. As the speech continued and snowflakes fell in greater number, DeSantis criticized Trump for not doing more in-person campaigning ("That's not going to get it done in a general election") and accused the former president of gaslighting people about his record during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. "Kim Reynolds here was fighting back against his administration," DeSantis said of Trump and the Iowa governor who announced her support for DeSantis in November 2023. Following the event, LaDonna Studley, a Le Mars resident, said she was "probably" supporting DeSantis on Monday. She was even less certain though of whether or not she'd actually go out that evening. "If I can," she said. "It's pretty hard on me to get out." In lieu of her Le Mars excursion, Haley held a "telephone town hall" Friday afternoon which allowed locals to dial in and ask questions. She touched on immigration (warning of another possible 9/11), education (promising to not allow "boys in girls sports") and repeatedly emphasized she had the best chance to defeat President Joe Biden in a head-to-head race. "If you join with us in this movement, you join with us in this fight and caucus for us, I promise you that our best days are yet to come," Haley said before pivoting to taking questions. While responding to a question about the use of eminent domain for a carbon-capture pipeline, Haley mistakenly said "I have always been a fighter for eminent domain. I am a big property rights person." Campaign staff for the former South Carolina governor later clarified Haley meant to say "I have always been a fighter of eminent domain." Election 2024 Debate Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is seen leaving after her walk-through ahead of the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University, W The Trump team also made the move to embrace a telephone-centered event. Friday evening, Trump canceled in-person events for Sioux City and Cherokee. Previously, he was supposed to appear at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City at 6 p.m., Saturday. Then, Sunday, Trump had a "Commit to Caucus Rally" set for 4 p.m., Sunday at the Little Sioux Event Center in Cherokee. The campaign sent out advisories saying there would be a 7 p.m. Saturday "telerally" featuring Trump and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who Trump stumped for in Sioux City in November 2022. The Sunday plan for Trump then became: An in-person stop at Simpson College in Indianola and a 5 p.m. "telerally" with Iowa Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton. Monday, the Trump campaign has a noon "telerally," as well as a 1 p.m. visit to Ankeny (with Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle) and a 1 p.m. event in Fort Dodge. "Our volunteer grassroots team is as mobilized as ever and ready to bring home a historic win for President Trump on Monday, January 15," the campaign said. "Nothing will keep our people from showing up to caucus for President Trump!" Vivek Ramaswamy editorial board meeting Vivek Ramaswamy, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful and Ohio businessman, talks with the Sioux City Journal Editorial Board Monday, Jan. 8, Through Saturday evening, Ramaswamy and DeSantis had the final events planned for the Sioux City area. Ramaswamy's was a "commit to caucus" rally at 8:30 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Sioux City. Two hours before, he had a stop in Cherokee. DeSantis' late additions to the calendar were a Sunday evening jaunt to Beer Can Alley in Sioux City and a caucus day venture to Pub 52 in Sergeant Bluff. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy, as well as Texas pastor Ryan Binkley, have made it all 99 of Iowa's counties before caucus day. At a Council Bluffs campaign rally Saturday morning, Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis exhorted his supporters to brave the frigid temperatures on Monday and turn out to caucus for him. Take this opportunity to make your voice heard, DeSantis said. If youre willing to go out there, and youre willing to brave the elements, on a cold, windy, snowy January night for me, and do that for a few hours, Ill fight for you for the next eight years. The high temperature on Monday is expected to be minus 2 degrees, dropping to a low of minus 10 in the evening, according to the National Weather Service. The wind chill is expected to reach between 20 and 30 degrees below zero. Aside from taking the weather into account, DeSantis didnt deviate too much from his standard stump speech, attacking former President Donald Trump for running to pursue his issues and rival Nikki Haley for running for the donors issues, while presenting himself as running for the peoples issues to turn this country around. DeSantis decried Republicans in Congress who want to send all this money overseas while ignoring the immigration situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, and again went after Trump for not fulfilling his promise of building a wall along the border and having Mexico pay for it. He had four years to do it, didnt get it done, and really didnt even come close to getting it done, but hes promising the same thing now, DeSantis said. He also said he would have the largest deportation in history he deported less illegal aliens than Barack Obama in Obamas first term. On his record as governor, DeSantis claimed to be the only candidate to have beaten the political left on issues like universal school choice and wearing masks to stop the spread of transmissible diseases, and he crowed about beating George Soros on crime by removing some of the rogue prosecutors that were in office, without providing details of what the Hungarian-born Holocaust survivor who lives in New York has to do with crime in Florida. Attacks against and conspiracy theories about the liberal billionaire have been linked to antisemitic rhetoric. If elected, DeSantis promised to eliminate nonessential government agencies. Were not going to allow agencies like the IRS to be weaponized against the American people, DeSantis said. Were going to bring swift constitutional accountability for all those agencies, and in particular Im going to usher in a reckoning for all the agencies involved in the governments COVID-19 lockdown policies, which were disastrous for this country. DeSantis said he would demand accountability from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As citizens, you have every right to hold these people accountable, DeSantis said. Anybody that runs for office or is in office is not above accountability. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis made their closing arguments in Davenport on Saturday just two days ahead of the Iowa Republican caucuses. At Thunder Bay Grille, Haley acknowledged, "On Monday, it's going to be cold. It's gonna be real cold." "But I'll tell you this, you know you set the tone for where the rest of the country needs to go. You know what you need to do, and I know that you'll do it. I trust you. I trust you because I have felt over these last 11 months, Iowans take this process seriously. So we need you to get out there. We need you to make sure you layer up in case you're standing in line." Haley mostly stuck to her stump speech on Sunday. She touted favorable polling of her against President Joe Biden, pledged to beef up border security, continue U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel, and ramp up U.S. energy production of oil, natural gas, and biofuels. A poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers released Saturday night done by the Des Moines Register, Mediacom and NBC, showed Donald Trump still far ahead with 48% of likely caucusgoers saying the former president is their first choice. But its the first poll in which Haley surpassed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place, with 20% of surveyed likely Republican caucusgoers saying Haley is their first choice and 16% say DeSantis is their No. 1 pick. However, a bitterly cold caucus night following a blizzard that dumped more than a foot of snow across most of Iowa, may mean caucus results look different from the poll. In the poll, Haley has among the lowest percentage of supporters who say they are extremely enthusiastic about their candidate, calling into question whether all of her supporters will brave the conditions to caucus for her. Barb Reis, 67, who attended Saturday's Davenport event, said she thinks Haley is "reasonable." She likes her thoughts about Ukraine, Israel, and the border, and how Haley says the U.S. can secure its border and support its foreign allies. Reis said politics are too extreme and without compromise. "So nothing happens," Reis said. She thinks Haley can bring more of that back. Reis caucused in 2020 for the Democrats because she didn't like Trump, she said. She came in uncommitted, but ended up in Biden's camp. She said if it came down to a Trump-Biden rematch, she wouldn't hesitate to vote for the Democrat. Harry Hoit, who's 87, says he's ready to layer up and brave the frigid temperatures to caucus for Haley. Saturday was the first time he heard her speak in-person, but he'd seen her on the debate stage. He said he agrees with Haley when she says chaos will continue to follow Donald Trump if he's reelected. "My opinion of Trump is terribly low, so he was not in the running," Hoit said. "I think that she has the most reasonable approach to the many, many problems that we have nationally, and I think she's the most qualified internationally of the roster running." DeSantis spoke before more than 100 people in the At The Stardust in downtown Davenport. The event was sponsored by Never Back Down. DeSantis was introduced by his wife, Casey, who told the crowd that her husband, "He's the real deal. He will deliver on 100% of his promises." Casey DeSantis also said that her husband has the courage to stand by his convictions, regardless of what's popular with other politicians or the pundits. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, who as a Republican represents Texas' 21st District, told the crowd he does not think Trump should get the Republican nomination. Roy said Trump failed to deliver on his promises, adding that he does not think Republicans should "nominate a man who can only serve four years." DeSantis said Trump as president failed to deliver on all of his promises, starting with failing to get rid of Obamacare. He added that people deserve to make choices in their own healthcare. DeSantis said he would push for a line-item veto as president because he used such a measure to pay down 25% of Florida's debt. He told the crowd that he had vetoed 3% of the entire budget one year using the line-item veto. During his speech, DeSantis said he would like to see a 28th Amendment to the Constitution that would force members of Congress to obey and abide by the same laws they pass for the citizens. Also, DeSantis said that one of the first things he would do as president is reverse the energy policies set by the Biden administration, including mandates for electric vehicles. He said Americans should be free to choose the vehicles they wish to drive, and that electric vehicles would be beyond the ability for many Americans to afford. Additionally, he said many of the jobs at U.S. auto manufacturers would be wiped away by Biden's vehicle mandates. He also said he would get America's energy production moving again. DeSantis said he would do something Trump failed to do and that is close the southern border to illegal immigration. In answering a question about immigration, DeSantis said that even not all legal immigration is good for the country if the people coming in cannot assimilate to the American way of life. Numerous European countries are facing that problem now, he added. When the subject of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI was brought up, DeSantis referred to it as "discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination," and touted the fact that he had signed into Florida law that bans Florida's public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs. DeSantis said that despite the freezing temperatures, he believes Iowa Republicans will get to the caucus events and help him earn the Republican presidential nomination. The Department of Homeland Security defines human trafficking as "the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act." Though many Americans may not see incidents of human trafficking close to home, these crimes can happen in any community, and their incidence has increased throughout the last decade. Victims of human trafficking may be forced to work in illegal industries or work under unsafe or harmful conditions. Sometimes victims may work unseen behind closed doors while others may work with the public without anyone realizing they are under coercion. Conditions can include forced child labor, unlawful domestic servitude, or manipulating someone to work to pay off a debt. The UN's 2022 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons reported that 60% of all human trafficking victims are women and girls. Global conflicts and crises serve as major drivers behind the increasing rate of human trafficking incidents worldwide during recent decades. Roughly one-quarter of the world's population2 billion peoplelive in conflict areas, according to the United Nations. Ninety percent of global conflicts between 1989-2016 involved some form of human trafficking, according to a Contemporary Slavery in Armed Conflict study released in 2022. And while many forms of human trafficking occur during wars and other large-scale conflicts, the most common type is the enslavement of child soldiers, which happens in 87% of armed conflicts globally. As efforts both at home and abroad work to combat this urgent issue, Bureau of Justice Statistics shows a stark increase in human trafficking offense referrals over the last decade in the US. Northwell Health partnered with Stacker to analyze these trends using BJS data to explore why reports of human trafficking are climbing so dramatically. monica barbaro better be back too or they can keep it. Reply Thread Link Yeah the whole cast fun was pretty great! Reply Parent Thread Link I only trust MY Tom Cruise news from a Yorkie, sorry OP Reply Thread Link the Yorkie is in the trunk. Reply Parent Thread Link The only Top Gun property worthy of your time. Edited at 2024-01-14 12:28 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link [highway to danger zone intensifies] Hopefully the script will be better cause that was the weakest part, also I need better tunes cause the original had a great soundtrack! Reply Thread Link Honestly I disliked TG2 for the script/story. The whole thing was just ridiculous. Stealing an antique plane from the obviously coded Russians? Reply Parent Thread Link The cast and honestly the cinematography (that was SNUBBED) made the movie! Cause the plot was ????? Reply Parent Thread Link Oh hey thats awesome! I think all of the United States armed forces should hyper focus on this and only this and stop illegally bombing Yemen. Biden you piece of fucking shit. Reply Thread Link Oh yay just what I wanted: more military propaganda! Reply Thread Link No. No. The sequel was a special thing because it was such a big deal coming back after all these years, and it had a really different story to tell than the original about Maverick's foibles not ageing well. We do not need the law of diminishing returns kicking in. Reply Thread Link Exactly. And the Val Kilmer story was perfect. We dont need any more sequels. Reply Parent Thread Link Idk. Tom isnt going to make a movie with a crappy plot. Im not sure what theyll come up with but I am never concerned on the quality of toms output. Reply Parent Thread Link Im usually not. But I was so disappointed by Dead Reckoning. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link TG2 had a crappy plot Reply Parent Thread Link Or they can make Top Gun 3 about a bunch of female kickass pilots with Phoenix as the new Maverick. Reply Thread Link A Top Gun with sapphic undertones instead? Reply Parent Thread Link Sounds like a plan! Reply Parent Thread Link Which would parallel the original lol Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link people afraid to comment because I'm not a yorkie Reply Parent Thread Link Oh. Really tho? Reply Thread Link Oh my god no, havent I suffered enough??? The second one was just a giant circle jerk to Tom and awwwwwful, this was entirely not needed Reply Thread Link It was needed to bring Val back to my screen via GIPHY Reply Parent Thread Link Just give us more Bob and Phoenix Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link This is great news imo. I've said in just about every post that mentions HoH that it has always had so much potential and just desperately needed a real producer. I'm assuming this fourth host will be someone who is keeping Holly, Brian, and Drew on track and will take a lot of the "interviewing" lift off of Drew, since both Holly and Brian have difficulty recalling BTS without the conversation totally devolving. I'm hoping this deal was lucrative enough to allow Holly to go into seasons 1 and 2 with fresh eyes, share her real experience, and still give fans the bts details they crave instead of only focusing on the negative. I dropped off listening, but the Boy Meets World rewatch podcast is still one of the better examples of a well-structured rewatch podcast with former stars who had varied experiences but more or less all left with trauma (especially from its creator) and came back to the material to give fans what they want without compromising their experiences. Reply Thread Link I stopped listening because of HMC's negativity too, so I hope the reboot means more delicious BTS tea. I loved it when she went into detail. Drew is so great and deserves his roses for the work he's done thus far. Reply Parent Thread Link ITA! Drew has done great work and clearly took this seriously. The first few episodes showed that alone before it was cannibalized by the trio's personal relationship that he was tip-toeing through. I'm hoping this deal will benefit his original vision for the show and he gets the production support he needs to make this something that's worth while for them and fans. Reply Parent Thread Link Spoiler cut cause I have a lot of feelings and no one in my life irl who cares about this lmao: [ Spoiler (click to open) ] I totally get how its a messy show and some of the irl drama totally bleeds into the series at times, but its become such a comfort for me. Theres a strange coziness to Charmed, idk I think its the ending theme music lmao. Im currently on the last episode of season 6. I miss Prue with all my heart, I really loved her and adored Shannens presence on screen. She was a badass but she was also complex and just so cool and aspirational. I was hesitant to continue the show after she died but I surprised myself with how instantly I fell in love with Paige (compartmentalizing with who Rose is today). Shes actually become my fav sister but its also because the writing and performances for Piper and Phoebe are all over the place. Phoebe was my fav at first but by season 2 Prue was my fav, but Paige is a great addition to the show. She has the biggest heart and nobility of all of them imo and I admire her. And I keep thinking about how much Prue would have loved her Ive cried so many times watching lol. I cried all throughout That 70s Episode, I cried when Piper was grieving for Prue, I cried when Piper gave birth to Wyatt, lol probs a lot more. Its so funny that Im finally binging now because like I GET IT. I get why Charmed has such a big fandom and I get why its drama is STILL relevant lmao. I hated everything about Cole after season 3, I actively tuned out during his scenes ESPECIALLY the second half of season 4. I see a lot of people online say the show went downhill by season 5 but idk once Cole was gone I started enjoying the series a hell of a lot more tbh. Edited at 2024-01-14 02:59 am (UTC) I saw a clip of Holly storming off the podcast on TikTok. I just feel sad for her, she seems to have a lot of bitterness in her heart idk. I really need everyone who took part in this show to heal because Im doing my first full binge and I love it so much! I caught eps here and there when I was a kid but I never fully understood the dynamics or what was going on. But now as an adult its become a special series to me.Spoiler cut cause I have a lot of feelings and no one in my life irl who cares about this lmao: Reply Thread Link Honestly I dont think her "walking off" the podcast was anything serious. She's a very sarcastic person so she likely was just playing around. Glad you're enjoying t show overall though! Its hard for me to watch S5+ but Paige was a good character overall. Reply Parent Thread Link ik I'm always on the Holly hate train but while she is joking, she's so deeply serious! She wouldn't have brought up how Brian only recently apologized to her for not standing by her when he was dating Alyssa during Shannen's departure otherwise. Reply Parent Thread Link When piper cries for Prue I cry. I looove this show. I've a triquetra tattoo. It was my first at 18 Reply Parent Thread Link I'm only interested if the 4th person is Rose or Shannen, it's dumb to have two men on the hosting panel. This was a show for the girlss Edited at 2024-01-14 03:40 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Shannen would be amazing to hear from considering how she seemed to be very involved in trying to spearhead the show in a particular direction. Reply Parent Thread Link I threw on an episode on Paramount Plus last night because there was nothing else to watch, and oh my god, it was terrible. They've changed all the music. I mean, I haven't rewatched in years but I knew in my soul it was wrong. It makes entire episodes feel off. Edited at 2024-01-14 08:16 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link I hate that Paramount changed the opening credits song, it sounds so out of place - the cover of How Soon Is Now? is just perfect for this show. Maybe they just didn't want to have to pay to use it. Reply Parent Thread Link Annemarie choosing to bring up Sutton's "narrow esophagus" and implying that she has an eating disorder as a way to get camera time during Kyle's celebration of life event is as crass as it gets. Speaking of crass, Kyle making her celebration of life event all about her instead of the best friend she was honoring was a very Kyle thing to do. And wtf with that song choice? Romancing on the kitchen floor isn't exactly the celebration of life that was supposed to be honored that night. Reply Thread Link Yep to all of this. And its incredibly gross of AnneMarie, as a medical professional to gossip about someone elses health issue to other people like that, even if it wasnt on tv. It wasnt on the show but Garcelle said on an after show that AnneMarie was talking about Suttons esophagus to other women at the party too. And not just to Crystal and Garcelle. Reply Parent Thread Link that scene with kyle and sutton is exactly why i hate kyle. she's fine to mention an ED in her confessional, but says nothing to sutton about it in the scene. she's straight up gossiping, but it will be ~~out of concern~~ come reunion time. and of course she doesn't say one word about how anna-8.5-marie has been talking about sutton's condition nonstop and has asked questions (for some reason) about how she eats and if it's an ED. flashback to whenever sutton had a question about erika, kyle was so happy to tell erika and push sutton in front of the group/erika about it, but all she can muster up in that scene is her pursed duck lips??? give me a break. Reply Thread Link These past two seasons really just back up LVPs whole thing she had with Kyle. "Back me up". Kyle doesnt back up those supposedly closest to her on the show and always sides with the people coming after them. Reply Parent Thread Link Why is Annemarie a housewife again? Who was watching back footage and said "this woman who comes in mid-season and has done all of nothing deserves a diamond"....were they just trying to get browny points? As far as the Candiace/Robyn feud...sorry but I have to be team Robyn for once. There is zero reason for Candiace to have waged war on Robyn when Robyn never supported Gizelle in her path to destroy Chris. Candiace has Robyn taking accountbility for Gizelles sins but its not Wendys fault what her momma does? Alexia is THE WORST. Literal worst. All of the "OGs" are having horrible seasons. Putting Nicole on the pitchfork even after Adrianna comes clean...just pathetic. They really need to introduce some new blood next season. Reply Thread Link reddit seems to think that they cut a LOT of her out of the show and that she originally merited the diamond Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder who she pissed offf bc to cut out and leave only her parts going after Sutton?? Or maybe its to show how much kyle egged her on. Either way, I hope shes mad at herself for picking the wrong clique. Reply Parent Thread Link Seeing Housewives fans come for Annemarie en masse for coming after Suttons medical issue has been so validating. SO many medical professionals truly think they know everything about everything and will outright bully patients. To see it happen on such a big platform and not even from someones doctor (or nurse in this case) but from a new acquaintance at parties was at first super triggering. But seeing the backlash shes gotten has been wonderful. I truly hope she loses her job (actually BOTH) after all of this. Shes boring and has terrible fashion sense to boot so would love her to bee gone from our lives. Reply Thread Link I'm gonna need someone to hold Kyle's feet to the fire at the reunion about the esophagus thing, because it's on camera, her egging Annemarie on. We've known for years she sends her minions after whoever she doesn't like, and it's right there on camera for us to see. I need them to stop letting her off and go the fuck in already! Also, those nasty women on Miami made Dr. Nicole cry. Not allowed! She's my current ride or die. Can't wait to watch them get eaten the fuck up all over social media AGAIN and come back next season all about how they're new people. Edited at 2024-01-14 05:51 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Lisa continues to the worst. And goodwill she earns with showing us her cutie pie babies, she loses the moment she opens her mouth in front of the women. She was so fucking four to Guerdy. Reply Thread Link I'm not caught up on BH or Miami. Both are kind of irritating me at the moment. I might drop them until the reunions. Potomac sucks, but I'm still watching. This most recent episode was probably the worst episode since season 1. IDK how they're going to fix this show but it's a shame it's fallen so far. Robyn calling Juan to get yelled at AGAIN, maybe she has an embarrassment kink. Edited at 2024-01-14 06:03 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Annemarie accusing Sutton of an eating disorder at the celebration of life of somebody who committed suicide was one of the worst things I've seen a housewife do tbh. Not only is it obviously offensive to Sutton, and disrespectful to Kyle and the family of her friend, but eating disorders have one of, if not the actual highest mortality rate of mental illnesses, many of them from suicide. I'm glad nobody else engaged with her on it. It's just so fucking gross to me and I really hope she's not back next season. Reply Thread Link Someone is always coming after Sutton on this show and its so disgusting to see tbh. Then someone will say oh wow its nice to see Sutton be normal for once when they find themselves occasionally having a good time with her. Well duh the ONE TIME someone or several people are going after Sutton on the show. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh Annemarie! Kyle really wants Sutton of the show so badly and was hoping to use Annemarie to do it without getting her own hands dirty. It has really backfired. Reply Thread Link Get Annemarie and Nneka off the damn shows. They seem too try hard. Reply Thread Link annamarie has one season wonder written all over her and she probably knows this hence why she's trying so hard with this whole esophagus thing jfc make it STOP how much longer do audiences have to endure this storyline?! Reply Thread Link In 2023 the world laughed and cried. Gaza and Barbie were chosen joint winners of the Name of the Year for 2023 by the American Name Society (ANS) at its online vote on Jan. 4. The societys press release states, The pairing of these names captures the dichotomy of 2023: the reality of Gaza, the tragedy of another war in the Middle East, and the escapism of Barbie, a comedy movie about a classic toy that imagines a doll embracing feminism. Despite runoff votes, ANS members couldnt break the tie. Thats happened only once before in 2020, when Kamala and Covid-19 were joint Names of the Year. Every January, ANS chooses Names of the Year for Personal names, Place names, Brand names, Artistic names, and E-names before picking the overall Name of the Year. Swiftie was chosen Personal Name of the Year. Swiftie is the self-identifying term for fans of Taylor Swift, a neologism thats a modification of Swifts name. The term was quickly picked up and used by the media. It employs the diminutive ending -ie, which is commonly used in pop culture (e.g., Trekkie for Star Trek fans); unlike many new pop culture words, Swiftie has shown impressive longevity, being first attested in 2010. In 2017, Taylor Swift trademarked the name for commercial usage, making it an interesting brand name as well. Another Personal Name candidate was George Anthony Devolder Santos, the New York congressman who in December was the sixth member in history expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives. The many lies hes accused of, along with the fact hes used Anthony Devolder as his name in the past, prompted comedians to call him George Santos, if thats his real name, though all names hes been reported using are on his birth certificate. Sheynnis Palacios was also a nominee. A Nicaraguan model from a poor family who won the Miss Universe contest in November, Palacios became a symbol of opposition to Nicaraguas authoritarian regime when photos of her participating in a 2018 protest surfaced. Sheynnis is an example of invented names popular with working class Latin Americans, while her surname (meaning palaces in Spanish) fits her new celebrity status as symbolic royalty. Gaza was voted Place Name of the Year. Gaza, name of the Palestinian enclave bordering Egypt and Israel, has become shorthand for the Israel/Hamas War. Its Hebrew name is Azzah, meaning strength and its Arabic name is Ghazzah. Its now used to refer to the humanitarian disaster happening there. Other Place Name candidates included Maui, site of the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, and Haudenosaunee, which recently replaced Iroquois as official name of the Six Nations confederacy of Native Americans in New York. The former means people building the longhouse in their own language, while Iroquois is a word of unclear but probably pejorative meaning applied by French traders. ChatGPT won as Brand Name of the Year. The name of OpenAIs artificial intelligence tool combines the word chat, referring to the chatbot, and GPT, for Generative Pre-trained Transformer. It promises an interaction with AI as simple and casual as a chat with a friend, while retaining the mystery of technical jargon most people dont understand. Other candidates in this category included Ozempic, Novo Nordisks anti-diabetes drug which has also become used for weight loss, hugely boosting the economy of Denmark, its home country; and OceanGate, the company whose submersible vessel imploded on a visit to the Titanic wreck in June. Barbenheimer was chosen Artistic Name of the Year. It blends the movie titles Barbie and Oppenheimer, which opened the same weekend in 2023. The name arose spontaneously, capturing the trend for people seeing both films sequentially, and inspired Halloween costumes, memes, and fake movie trailers. It became a cultural phenomenon because of the huge success of both films, along with their wildly contrasting images of a fantasy comedy built on dolls vs. a very serious biopic dealing with nuclear holocaust. X was voted E-Name of the Year. The attempted and mostly failed rebranding/debranding of Twitter by new owner Elon Musk illustrates the extreme difficulty of using a single letter as a brand. Its also a case study in the sacrifice of a tremendously valuable brand (the name Twitter, the verb tweet, the blue bird iconography) for the sake of a purportedly edgy and disruptive new name. What will be the names of 2024? We can all pray their fame will be more like Barbies than Gazas. The Presence of God One of the strangest places on earth is the small area where, according to tradition, a cave once stabled animals and Mary gave birth to Jesus. The preaching of Jesus, the babe born in that cave, would later cause the Roman authorities to execute him on charges of treason. The possible birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem (house of peace) is also the spot where Christians have worshipped for centuries. Many additions have been built there over the years. But if you go to Bethlehem, you cant see the church. Thats because there are so many monasteries around it that they block your view. At the cave site is a grotto (a place for burial) now owned by the Greek Orthodox Church. It is called the Church of the Nativity. This basilica could be used in ancient Rome as a courtroom or an assembly hall for worship. Emperor Constantine and his mother, Helen, commissioned the Church of the Nativity in 327, because it was considered the birthplace of Jesus. In the Church of the Nativity are stone steps that go down to the lower chambers. There you find an underground chapel and long corridors where people pass in silence. The floors are black stone or cracked marble. Heavy tapestries hang from old stone walls. Oil lamps light the way through the dark passages. If you go up into the tiny domed upper chamber, then you might hear a Norwegian choir singing Christmas carols! They say that the stone dome bounces the sound around like a band of angels singing inside a holy bell. In the very bottom of the grotto is a 14-pointed silver star. This is the X that marks the spot where tradition says Jesus was born. Two thousand years of Christianity began here. This is where God emptied himself into human form and the glory of God emerged. The Incarnation of Jesus tells us that God has come among us. We are not alone and isolated in the dark riding a big rock through the sky. The Lord is near and this is our salvation. God has reached out, reached in, and embraced us. The One who draws so near to us is our only hope in life, in death, in life beyond death God is with us. Rev. Gary S. Eller, First Presbyterian Church Row Big Red! For half a century, men and women at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have grabbed oars to compete for the schools club rowing teams. Supporters of the teams next weekend will hold a fundraiser featuring the new movie The Boys in the Boat, which tells the story of the University of Washington rowing team that won a gold medal in the 1936 Olympics. The fundraiser will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at the ACX Cinema 12+, near 204th and Harrison Streets in Elkhorn. Cost is $10 and includes admission to the movie, with additional contributions welcome. The team is growing, with about 20 members right now, and the goal is to double that, said Jerry Huber, who rowed for the Huskers in the 1970s and is an officer with Friends of Nebraska Rowing. Huber said the organization has about 250 members, many former alums who competed on the team. Since the support organization was formed six years ago, it has raised nearly $300,000 to support the team. Those funds helped the team buy new equipment and to establish a new base at Pawnee State Recreation Area, about 10 miles west of Lincoln. The club team formerly rowed at Branched Oak Lake. For more information on the event, contact Huber at huberjerry19@gmail.com. HDR Foundation will help close tech talent gap The HDR Foundation contributed $38,838 to the AIM Institute for tech equipment to serve more than 2,500 low-income and first-generation students in central and western Nebraska. The funding will be used to purchase computers, conferencing equipment and conference room improvements to virtually serve these residents with personalized college prep and financial aid assistance, which is currently out of reach for these geographically isolated communities. Many students in rural Nebraska lack vital information and guidance on the college admissions process. This puts collegebound first-generation and low-income students at risk for accumulating unsustainable debt and failure to achieve the education necessary for high-wage, high-demand, high-skill (H3) technology careers. At the same time, the number of STEM jobs in Nebraska increased by 8.11% from 2017-2022, without the same growth in the states tech workforce. For example, in September 2023, the Nebraska Department of Labors jobs availability dashboard showed that more than 900 job openings in the computer and mathematical occupations sector exist in the state. However, there are not enough people to fill those jobs. This talent gap hurts individual businesses and the states economy as a whole. Closing the tech talent gap requires increased access to higher education for communities where educational attainment is low and information about the college admissions process is hard to find. AIM will help close this gap by lowering barriers to postsecondary education and providing personalized guidance on FAFSA, scholarships, college admissions requirements and STEM career paths. The generous contribution from the HDR Foundation will allow AIM to help close the tech talent gap in Nebraska through providing virtual college admissions advisory services to Nebraskans, regardless of location or income status, said Renee Franklin, President and CEO of AIM. We are committed to helping break barriers so individuals can access postsecondary education that could lead to a career in technology. CSM seeks employers for April career fair College of St. Mary is seeking employers from various industries to participate in its career fair this April. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 in the Lied Fitness Center, 7000 Mercy Road. It is open to all CSM students, alumni and the Omaha community. Sarah Hamik, a CSM student success advisor and an organizer of the career fair, said the university is looking for health care organizations, human services organizations, a large group of corporations, law offices, as well as educational and nonprofit agencies to participate. Since CSM offers a diverse set of programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, we want to make sure there are opportunities that match the needs of both our students and community members, Hamik said. We are hoping to connect the employers with a lot of strong potential candidates for full-time, part-time and internship positions. Omaha is full of amazing employers in so many different industries, and it is important that we take advantage of connecting with them as often as possible. Local businesses and agencies who wish to participate can register at CSM.edu/careerfair. For additional questions, email StudentSuccess@csm.edu. Schuler new director of 50 Mile March Foundation The 50 Mile March Foundation, a beacon of hope for veterans grappling with mental health issues and homelessness, has appointed Brianne Schuler as its new executive director. Schuler brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit administration, fundraising, and community building, furthering the foundations mission of empowering veterans through a community of relentless support. Schulers track record in fundraising, donor relations, and project management will be instrumental in advancing its flagship initiative, the Community of Hope. This program provides veterans not only with shelter in the form of tiny homes but also a comprehensive support system. Our vision at the 50 Mile March Foundation transcends the physical infrastructure; it is about creating a sanctuary where veterans can rebuild their lives, said Adam Cassidy, president of the foundations board. With Briannes leadership and her commitment to our values of honor, respect, commitment, service and integrity, we are confident in our ability to elevate our support for veterans and make a lasting impact in their lives. Muddy Paws to hold another free vaccination clinic Muddy Paws Second Chance Rescue will be holding one of its free monthly vaccination clinics on Jan. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon at 8602 N. 30th St. To help with a respiratory virus circulating in the area, Muddy Paws is adding the Bordetella vaccine to its free clinic. Pets can also be protected from parvo/distemper. The Bordetella vaccine we are using doesnt fully protect them from this mystery virus, said Terri Larson of Muddy Paws. It has been found to be the best option we have to give as much protection as possible against this disease. Book tells story of Brandt and his rescuers Harlan Brandt should have died that October day in 2013. Brandt, an Antelope County cattleman, was critically injured when the tractor he was driving was clipped by a passing vehicle. The collision threw Brandt from his tractor as it crumpled beneath him. This tale is the focus of a new book written by brothers Kent and Kevin Warneke, who chose to transform his story into something much more than a near-death experience. The Warnekes knew that this type of story often had been told before, so they instead chose to chronicle Brandts experience through the lens of those who came to his rescue that day and in the days that followed. It became a story about the Good Samaritans who came to his rescue through heroic measures and seemingly routine gestures of kindness. We realized that the concept of neighbor helping neighbor and stranger helping stranger was alive and well in rural America, especially Nebraska, Kent Warneke said. This was the story we chose to tell. The authors ultimately re-created the timeline of those who came to Brandts aid and told their story in their book, Saving Harlan Brandt: The Survivor and His Good Samaritans, published by Trilogy, a division of the Trinity Broadcast Network. While conducting interviews and doing research, the authors discovered that this story went beyond Brandts rescue. In addition to chronicling those who came to his aid from the motorists who first happened upon the crash site to the emergency room physician who was on call at a Norfolk hospital the book provides sidelights into life in rural America. The authors also asked Nebraskans from the states top elected officials to the director of the states volunteer commission to tell their stories about when they were on the receiving end of a random act of kindness. U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts provides the books foreword in relating an incident of when his family benefited from the concern shown by two Good Samaritans. People come to the aid of others every day and these are just a few of those stories, Kevin Warneke said. We thought it was important to convey that what Harlan received in kindness was more of the norm than the exception. The book can be found at amazon.com, walmart.com and barnesandnoble.com. Brain Injury Alliance to hold March conference The Brain Injury Alliance of Nebraska will host the 2024 Nebraska Brain Injury Conference on March 14-15 at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska. The theme for the event is adjusting to life after brain injury with a focus on regaining hope, independence, and confidence. Its an opportunity for brain injury professionals and members of the brain injury community to connect, learn about relevant topics in the field of brain injury, and explore new perspectives and ideas. For tickets and to register, go to https://cvent.me/ZNMwWE. Questions about the event can be sent to Brittney Lippincott at brittney@biane.org. Rails put Valley on the map. Floods couldnt wash it off. But water has become a major player in the growth of the western Douglas County community. Some see water as an attractive amenity for luxury homes, built around one-time gravel pits. For others, its changing the charm of old-town Valley. Just as the likes of Benson and Millard, Elkhorn and Bennington, have been transformed by Omahas westward push in the county. As was covered in last weeks column, the Union Pacific Railroad platted Valley in late 1866. The towns importance to the railroad increased with the addition of a de facto branch line that began in 1876. The Omaha and Republican Valley Railroad built from Valley to Stromsburg in Polk County by 1879 and to Beatrice by 1883. Eventually a connection was made to U.P. tracks at Marysville, Kansas. At one time, Valley had a roundhouse, a large passenger depot built of Kansas white magnesia and trimmed with Colorado red granite, its interior finished with red fir, and a shed for the railroads flagmen who directed traffic at the Spring Street crossing for 65 years. The village board in 1920 enacted an ordinance that required the crossing to be manned following a fatal accident between a train and a horse-drawn wagon. The flagmens hours were mandated 8 a.m. to midnight. During the heyday of the Omaha Stockyards, the U.P. used the Valley Feed Yards as a required stopping point to feed, water and exercise the livestock it was shipping. The Whitmore brothers, Frank and W.G., had been in the Valley area since 1878. They were horse breeders and for a time held the contract for providing hay for the horses that pulled the trollies in Omaha. They founded the feed yards in 1900 with short-term partners T.H. Hord and George Bissel from Central City. It stayed in the Whitmore family for the next 44 years. In 1949, about 9,000 cars of livestock ran through it. There also was a commercial feedlot for fattening cattle before market, and the Yards had some 1,700 acres in cultivation to supply corn and hay for feed. The Valley Feed Yards closed in 1973. Not before those were under water from floods through the years. With the city between the Platte and Elkhorn, those floods have been many 1872, 1881, 1903, 1904, 1912, 1929, 1948, 1960, 1962, 1978 and just five years ago in March 2019. The 1912 flood, which saw the Platte flow into the Elkhorn near Elk City, stranded Valley townspeople in their homes. It washed out miles of U.P. track, just like the March 1978 inundation. The 1929 flood saw river ice 40 inches thick and 20 feet wide. And that was after the first dike to protect the area was built in 1919. A casualty of the 1978 flood was the Valley depot, which saw 18-inch deep water create unresolvable structural issues. The depot was demolished on July 21, 1980. The flagmen made it to 1985 before crossing gates went up in their place. The Easter 1913 tornado outbreak missed Valley to the southeast, but other storms have hit there. High winds, maybe a tornado, on July 23, 1880, blew six railcars off the tracks and moved the schoolhouse about 4 feet off its foundation. Another twister in mid-March 1902, touching down at midnight, drove 2-by-6 boards into walls. Telephone service arrived in March 1892, electricity in 1910 when the town built a generating plant. The water works also opened in 1910. A bucket brigade of about 30 men assisted the ladder company in putting out a 1900 fire that destroyed the Puffer Bros. & Co. general store buildings that housed the post office. Most of the business district was spared. A month later, a volunteer fire department was organized. Roberts Dairy lost its milk powdering plant on the Lincoln Highway between Valley and Waterloo to flames in 1929. A 1946 fire took out the Valley Mill and the Midwest Popcorn plant that previously housed the Coy Seed Co. while burning 20,000 bushels of popcorn and 10,000 bushels of field corn. That same year saw the birth of Valmont Industries. Sam McCleneghan Jr., on a 160-acre farm on the northeast corner of 300th and Ida Streets, had a small factory that employed four to make wagon hoists, wagon boxes and portable steel elevators for farms, one by one, as the orders came in. In March 1946 McCleneghan and his father, Dr. Sam McCleneghan, took on a partner Robert B. Daugherty and formed Valley Manufacturing. It made elevators and conveyors and advertised we will develop and convert farm equipment of all kinds into modern machinery. Valleys first school was held in the general store of Ben White in 1871. Isabella Torrey was the first teacher. The first schoolhouse was built in 1873 and did triple duty as a church and community center. After more than 150 years, and roles as a Baptist and a Catholic church, the building is home to the Valley Community Heritage Museum. Two boys and two girls were in the high schools first graduating class in 1908, with the commencement exercises held in the opera house. At that time, classes were in a brick schoolhouse completed in 1896. The first stand-alone high school building was completed in 1924. It became the citys senior center, then City Hall and the town library after the present high school building opened in 1975. The 1924 building was razed in 2001. In 2005, 44 years in the making, the Valley Terriers and Waterloo Panthers became the Douglas County West Falcons in a school consolidation. Living on a lake, by the way, is an old concept for Valley. It started with McCanns Lake (still there), a gravel pit lake dug out by horses and mules for Dwight G. Lyman, who started Lyman-Richey Corp., in 1900. Harry Piercy Ferree joined the venture in 1907 and started a summer resort on the lake. In 1914 it advertised bathing, camping and cottages for rent. Ferree leased the resort to John McCann when the latter took over operation of the sand dredging in the late 1910s. Ferree was a nudist. And from the late 1930s until 1947, part of McCanns Lake was for a nudist camp. Ferree passed down his health resort, as it was called in a 1947 ad, to his daughter, Delma, and her husband, Jack Greenwood. McCanns Lake became Greenwood Lakes, sans nudists, and then to its current name of Pleasure Lakes in 1955. Pleasure Lakes now has neighbors galore. Ginger Cove and Ginger Woods were first. And more recently, Valley Shores, Bluewater, Flatwater, Mallard Landing, Curtis Acres and Timber Shores. The depot and the flagmen have faded into Valleys history, but not its iconic lighted highway sign that turns 70 this year. The arrow pointing down town to the business sections also lets strangers know our city is much larger than just the section north of the tracks, wrote the Douglas County Gazette in 1954. Too bad the arrow is gone. It could point out that theres more to Valley and its history beyond the luxury lakefront mega-homes. While Omaha isnt expected to see any more snowfall through the holiday weekend, temperatures are expected to remain below zero. Our measurable snow is done, Van DeWald, a lead meteorologist with the National Weather Services office in Valley, said Saturday afternoon. Now we just transition to the brutal cold. The high Saturday was around 2 degrees below zero, with a wind chill temperature of around 33 below during the day, DeWald said. Wind chill temperatures were expected to get to the lowest theyve been in the past week around 45 degrees below zero Saturday night, DeWald said. The dangerous wind chill temperatures, along with strong wind gusts, caused travel conditions to remain dangerous in much of eastern Nebraska on Saturday, DeWald said. Many roads in the eastern portion of the state remained closed Saturday, and officials urged people, especially those in rural areas, to avoid travel if possible Saturday. Part of the problem right now is that the wind is still gusting to about 40 miles an hour, DeWald said. And so if anybody cleans open a road or cleans open the sidewalk, its basically drifting back shut. The amount of snow that the Omaha area received over the last week measured anywhere from 6 to 12 inches, though it was hard to get an accurate measurement, DeWald said. Its really hard to say what the actual number is at any one location because it was hard to measure, he said. The winds were so strong. The Nebraska State Patrol assisted 726 drivers and responded to 66 crashes in the winter weather between Monday and Friday, spokesman Cody Thomas said. Travel conditions are expected to improve Sunday as it will be less windy, DeWald said, though it will take time for roads to be cleared. Temperatures on the other hand will remain very cold on Sunday, with a high around 8 below zero, a low around 14 below and wind chill values as low as 41 below, the weather service said Monday, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, also will be a cold one, with a high near zero and a low near 12 degrees below zero. Temperatures are expected to finally move into the positives on Tuesday, with a high around 9 degrees, DeWald said. Wednesdays forecast of a high of 19 degrees may be the warmest it gets all week. Photos: Cold, snow and wind batter the Omaha area When I attended first grade in the Omaha Public Schools, one of the best lessons I learned was the importance of free breakfast at school. As many parents know, the first day of school with young kids can be chaotic. My older siblings rode the school bus way out west and I walked to a neighborhood school nearly two miles away. The first day of first grade, my mother ushered us out the door so fast, there wasnt even a mention of breakfast. I walked those two miles without anything to eat and it bothered me. I went straight into the classroom and was one of the first kids there. But as the day went on, I was distracted as my stomach started to growl louder and louder. For two whole days, my first meal of the day was lunch in the school cafeteria. Before then, my hunger pangs absolutely distracted me from paying attention in class. By the third day, Id had enough and chose to confront my mother about how hungry I was in the morning. She was baffled. She asked me simply, Why are you hungry? Theres free breakfast at school. My response: Where?!? My mother, a third shift soap factory worker, understood that we were a low-income family and would receive free breakfast and lunch at OPS. But my first-grade self didnt know that. The first two days of school I had been entering through the doors closest to my classroom. I should have entered through the front doors of the school, where I would have smelled the hot breakfast that awaited me. On the third day of school, all of my senses were delighted by what I witnessed: The smell of hot breakfast; the sight of kids sprawled all around the cafa-gyma-torium; the sound of their laughter and conversation as they ate either a hot breakfast or cold cereal and milk. I happily got in line, received my hot breakfast and orange juice, sat with friends and ate. I went to class happy and ready to learn because I was well fed. Now here we are in the beginning of 2024, and Gov. Jim Pillens administration has rejected a new federal program that could have helped 150,000 Nebraska children. The program provides summertime food aid to low-income families with children who, during the school year, would have qualified for free or reduced-price meals. Had Nebraska applied, the Summer EBT benefits would have come in the form of pre-loaded cards that families could use to purchase groceries. Beginning in summer 2024, families would receive $40 per eligible child, per month. States had to indicate interest by Jan. 1. Nebraska and neighboring states Iowa and South Dakota refused to participate. Pillen said he prefers providing food for children through the Summer Food Service Program, an older federal program that provides free meals and snacks to children and teens at various sites in low-income communities. The sites can be operated by schools, local governments, private nonprofits, camps and other organizations. Its a fine program, but it doesnt reach every child who might go hungry during the summer. Pillen ignores the fact that Summer EBT benefits are intended to supplement, not replace existing nutrition assistance programs. Its a way to help close the summer hunger gap when kids are on summer break and not getting nutritious school meals. The need was recognized during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that those temporary programs have ended, by Nebraska doing nothing, this summer will be the first since 2020 without EBT benefits to support hungry children. I would think that since a farmer now sits in the governors office for the first time in a century, that he would be focused on producing and providing funds for food for the children of Nebraska. Pillen dismisses this summer EBT program as welfare and makes it seem like a dirty word. But the definition of welfare is financial support to people in need. Thats not automatically a bad thing. The governor was fine with pandemic-era benefits when he received COVID relief money for his hog farm operations. Sixteen businesses affiliated with the Columbus-based Pillen Family Farms got federally funded pandemic loans to support 1,057 jobs, according to records released by the Small Business Administration. The loans ranged from $1.9 million for Platte Center West, a hog farming operation, to $63,025 for Pillen Family Farms Vet Services and totaled $7.8 million of which about $5 million was returned to the government. Pillen was entitled to apply for the loans like other Nebraska businesses. But lets face it, the loans were a form of government handout welfare, if you will. Its hypocritical for Pillen to support corporate welfare to help farmers and ranchers, as well as his own business not just during the pandemic but before and since, through other agricultural subsidies and grants but not see the value of federal dollars that would help feed impoverished children. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report released in October 2023 found that Nebraska has a higher rate of food insecurity than the national average or any neighboring state except Missouri. The report said food security means having enough food for an active, healthy life. Every Nebraska child deserves that. I deserved that and appreciated it back in first grade when my free breakfast quieted my growling stomach and helped me start my day ready to learn. Many Nebraskans urged the governor to reconsider his position, but he refused. And once again, without a good explanation, its difficult to understand why he seemingly was cold to a straightforward way to help lower-income families feed their children. The Pillen administrations rejection of these summertime benefits will not only overwhelm our food banks, but it gives up $18 million in federal food aid that would have been spent at local grocery stores. And it sets up lower-income families for a perfect storm of economic hardship. At a time when food costs continue to rise, those families wont be getting the pandemic-era funding that has helped them in the past. And with housing costs also rising disproportionately to income, theres even less money left over to provide for other household needs including food. This is Nebraska, a key part of the nations agricultural breadbasket and a place where people are supposed to care about their neighbors. Children should not go hungry in our state just because its summertime. Both before and since being elected, the governor has been accused of not being transparent enough in his dealings. Sad to say, however, his rejection of money that would have put food in the mouths of Nebraskas neediest children is the most transparent he has been since taking office. Its a decision that reveals a gap in Pillens morality and compassion, and its not what Nebraskans need to see in a leader. President Muhammadu Buhari has extended Justice Tanko Muhammads tenure as the Acting chief justice of Nigeria by another three months as his tenure expires April 25. The National Judicial Council also approved of the extension. Buhari appointed Muhammad in acting capacity without recourse to the NJC, though section 231(5) of the Nigerian Constitution makes it mandatory that a top judicial officer must be recommended by the NJC before the President can appoint him or her in acting capacity. For the extension, the NJC accepted Buharis request for the extension of the acting CJNs tenure at its meeting held between Wednesday and Thursday. No press statement was issued for the decision. Former CJN Walter Onnoghen who had been suspended while he faced trial before the CCT, was convicted for false asset declaration on Thursday, though he had tendered his resignation before the tribunals verdict. This made Muhammad the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court already positioned to take over as the substantive CJN. But Buhari has chosen to extend the acting tenure for Muhammad. Post Views: 113 Black Marine, a pro Biafra militant group has reportedly assassinated a very top commander of the Rapid dintervention Battalions (BIR), Abana unit in Bakassi Peninsula. Report says that the dreaded militant group dressed in BIR military wear entered army base in Abana, the former headquarters of Bakassi Peninsula as at 6pm on Friday, Jan 12, 2024 to execute the officer commanding the unit, killing several other soldiers attached to him at the entrance. The BIR were said to have been taken unawares as the militant group escaped unhurt. Related Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has been honoured with the defender of faith and life encouragement award by the Sapele Diocese of the Anglican Communion. The award was presented to Governor Oborevwori at the 15th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Sapele (Anglican Communion) and Investiture of Knights and Ladies at Christ Church Pro-Cathedral, Sapele on Sunday. Governor Oborevwori who took the Old Testament lesson at the service with the theme Exceeding Grace congratulated Bishop Erifeta and the entire Sapele Diocese on their 15th anniversary. While congratulating the newly appointed Knights and Ladies of the Church, he called for unity in the Sapele Diocese of the Anglican Communion, adding that peace was necessary for the growth and development of any nation. He said: It is my pleasure to identify with you on this special occasion of the 15th anniversary celebration of the Diocese of Sapele, (Anglican Communion). It is my honour to accept this award bestowed on me by the Sapele Diocese and this will spur me to do more and I thank the Diocese for finding me worthy to receive such an honour. READ ALSO: Supreme Court reserves judgement on SDP. LP, APC appeals against Oborevwori in Delta This Diocese is celebrating 15 years of its existence and it is my wish that the next time I come here I will go to the main cathedral in Sapele. When somebody is ordained and given a position, if you are serving God look at the God you are serving.There is unity in other dioceses so I see no reason why there should not be unity here in Sapele Diocese. There should be more unity here. Just like me when some people were saying I cannot be Governor, who is Sheriff? But God made it possible. After I won my election I have said I have no enemy and I am Governor for all Deltans including those who didnt work for me. I have demonstrated that several times. There is one opposition leader, late Chief Frank Kokori, I went to see him at the hospital when he was sick. He was shocked to see me. Those he even worked for did not go and today we are still planning for the burial. We are going to support. I have no power to say this is my enemy and that is why I made the statement that nobody is good enough to be my enemy, nor do I have the capacity to make anyone. So everybody is my own in Delta State and everybody is benefitting. God has used us to ensure peace and security in Warri and other parts of the state. I urge you to continue preaching the word of God unto repentance to our people because by the time you win more souls into the kingdom of God, you are depleting the unbelievers and peace and security will be entrenched in our state. Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of Bendel and Bishop of Ughelli Diocese, Most Revd Cyril Odutemu in his sermon Blessing of Obedience, said there is nothing anyone can become in life without being obedient. He congratulated the Bishop of Sapele Diocese, Rt. Revd Blessing Erifeta and the entire parishioners of the diocese on their 15th anniversary. He said despite the challenges facing the world there would be abundance for those who obey the Lord and urged Christians to be obedient to God. In his remarks, Bishop of Sapele Diocese, Rt Revd Blessing Erifeta thanked Governor Oborevwori for attending the anniversary thanksgiving service in person, adding that the Governors presence at the ceremony was a proof of the exceeding grace of God. He said the church has continued to partner with the government by praying for the leaders to provide good governance for the country. By Izunna Okafor, Awka Women have been advised to regularly check their breasts, as one of the ways to maintain a healthy living and ensure early detection of some breast-related diseases, such as breast cancer. The wife of Anambra State Governor and initiator, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, Mrs. Nonye Soludo, gave the advice in a post recently published on her social media, where she also described breast cancer as a leading cause of death among Nigerian women. Citing the recent revelation by Sara Sidner, the co-anchor of the morning edition of CNN News Central announcing that her breast cancer diagnosis came back positive, Mrs. Soludo, who said the news hit the heart rather sorely, also revealed that millions of other women have found themselves in such same unfortunate situation like Sidner. She hinted that thousands of women in Africa have died from the dangerous disease, with Nigeria having a good chunk of the number. Breast cancer, according to studies, is a leading cause of death among Nigerian women. While the threats of this disease are as potent as its name, breast cancer, like cervical cancer, is not totally a death sentence, if detected early enough. Our women must understand this: prompt and timely checks are key to beating the monster. How often do you examine your breasts? When was the last time you got your breasts checked? These questions are crucial, she said. While reeling out the efforts of her initiative, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo,, in promoting good health, Mrs. Soludo said expressed her believe that with the right food, many diseases can be prevented. Food is the best medicine. What you eat has the power to heal or to kill. Be very mindful of what goes into your mouth. Cherish your body. Remember that when youre intentionally eating right, your body becomes a red zone for sicknesses. God and nature have made it that way. Continuing, she said: In Anambra State, were pushing our cancer awareness advocacies to reach more women, especially those living in rural areas. With our free cervical cancer interventions yielding great results, we want to expand the scope of our breast cancer mitigation programme. However, the government alone cant wage the war. Wherever you are, let this call of help reach you. God help us, no woman should die from any form of cancer in Anambra State. Related Bayelsa State stakeholders have backed a businessman and oil magnate, Chief David Lyon, for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The stakeholders, who met in Yenagoa, the state capital, under the auspices of Bayelsa Stakeholders Forum (BSF) said they opted for Lyon after critically assessing other aspirants gunning for the ticket of the APC. The Leader of BSF, Chief Alex Ekiotenne, who spoke after the meeting, described the ambition of Lyon as a divine mandate saying he was on a mission to transform Bayelsa. Ekiotenne said: The Forum has come to a conclusion to support David Lyon because, he is a man who has been tested and trusted, and we can trust him with our people. He is a good product and a good product is easy to sell. The youths in Bayelsa are yearning for a man like David Lyon. Bayelsans are hungry today, our communities are dirty because of bad governance. This has to change. He attributed the peace enjoyed in the Niger Delta region and Bayelsa to Lyon saying the aspirant developed a workable formula that protected pipelines in the region. Ekiotenne said that the forum would ensure that Lyon emerged the candidate of the APC in the forthcoming party primary Flanked by other leaders of the forum, he said: We have not fared well at all in Bayelsa state. Our communities are dirty. We do not have potable water and we do not have healthcare institutions that are working. We do not have an airport that was claimed to have being built, five to six months the airport was supposedly commissioned. Salaries are not paid as an when due; certainly theres so much that is wrong in this state. The state is operated by the operators and those governing now do that as though it is a private endeavor and this is not good enough. Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has hailed the people of Ondo State for their exemplary conduct during the last presidential and national assembly elections. He expressed delight that the peoples conduct during the polls portrayed them as good and responsible ambassadors of the state. The governor, in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state at the weekend, attributed the peaceful atmosphere during and after the polls to the determination of the residents not only to participate in electing their representatives but to always showcase the unique qualities of their decency and resilience for which the state is reputed. He said: I wish to thank you, profusely, for your cooperation in ensuring that the state remains a reference point for reasons of valour, courage and fierce independence in the art of deliberative governance. Your attitudes, manifest or implied, leave no room for conjectures. When you speak, it is eloquent, when you choose to act, your message is not mistaken. Our land is indeed a lesson for those who cherish frankness. Akeredolu also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-Presicent Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, on their victory in the February 23 presidential election. He said the victory represents Buharis widespread acceptability across all the countrys geo-political zones. The governor expressed the belief that the President would use his re-election to consolidate the achievements of his economic policies. Akeredolu, however, reminded the people of the state of the March 9, 2019 House of Assembly election and urged them to display good conduct that would be second to none in the forthcoming poll. He said: This is another very important exercise; local political leaders are going to be chosen to represent our people at the House of Assembly. I appeal to you to see this exercise as a strictly family affair in which brothers and sisters, with shared heritage, and even blood affinity, will be locked in an innocuous electoral combat for the benefit of all. Our dear state will be the ultimate winner if all of us approach it in the spirit of sportsmanship. All of us will be winners and our people will be the better for it. I enjoin you to participate, actively, without let or hindrance. The government, on its part, will ensure that adequate security is provided for all our citizens to exercise their franchise. Our people are encouraged to feel confident in their attempt to choose their leaders. Citizens of this state, who are of Igbo, Ebira, Hausa, Oyo and Edo extraction, as well as other minority ethnic groups, should feel free to participate in the exercise as members of this large and heterogeneous family. I appeal, passionately, that we cast aside all divisive and primordial sentiments. Ondo State is our primary place of domicile. Our allegiance to her must be unalloyed. The participation of the electorate in the state is limited to the election of members to the House of Assembly. The gubernatorial election is due next year. This administration encourages voters to choose candidates whose campaign promises are in tandem with its vision on infrastructural development. We have been able to achieve this much due to the prudent management of limited resources. We hope to do more with the cooperation of patriotic members of the House of Assembly who await your mandate in a couple of days. The private jet The jet belonging to an unidentified Nigerian man has been seized by the United States Federal agents at the Peachtree DeKalb Airport on Tuesday. According to WSB-TV , their correspondent, Aaron Diamant, witnessed the seizure of the plane in a case that is said to be related to an international fraud scheme. Diamant, who shared a video from the seizure on his verified Twitter handle said, Were alongside Federal agents as they seize a jet at @PDKAirport. It was reported that the federal agents went through the plane for evidence with a K-9 team for drugs and other contraband. Special Agent Thor Whitmore of the Department of Homeland Security said, For the most part, people dont even understand. They dont know whats happening in Atlanta, Georgia. Were looking at it as kind of a turn back to the 1980s. Investigators said the plane belongs to a Nigerian national charged in a multimillion-dollar international fraud scheme. Adams Oshiomhole National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has stated that candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Douye Diri cannot be sworn in on Friday as Bayelsa Governor because he did not meet the requirements of the Supreme Court. According to a report by TheNation, Oshiomhole pointed out the judgement of the Supreme Court said the certificate of return should be issued to the candidate, who has the required spread in the election aside from David Lyon. He said there was no candidate in the election that met the requirement apart from Lyon, adding that the implication is that from Friday Bayelsa will be without a Governor. Details shortly BLOOMINGTON A man has died and a woman is in custody after a shooting Wednesday morning in Ellsworth. Deputies from the McLean County Sheriffs Office were dispatched around 7:59 a.m. to a shooting at 302 N. East St., according to a news release from McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane and McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder. The town is about 17 miles east of Bloomington-Normal, in eastern McLean County. Deputies searched the residence and found a male without signs of life, the news release said. The coroners office pronounced him deceased on the scene, and on Thursday identified him as Daniel J. Shelby, 41, of Ellsworth. He died of multiple gunshot wounds, the coroners office said, and toxicology testing is pending. The suspect, Desiree Robertson, 39, was found at the scene and taken to the McLean County jail, where she was booked on murder charges, the sheriffs office said. In McLean County court Thursday afternoon, Shelby was confirmed to be Robertsons husband. Judge William Yoder ordered for Robertson to be detained until her trial, based on factors of dangerousness and willful flight as outlined in the Pretrial Fairness Act. Her next court date is an arraignment at 9 a.m. Jan. 26. The incident remains under investigation by the coroners and sheriffs offices, and the Illinois State Police. Anyone with information regarding the investigation is asked to contact Detective Henkel at 309-888-5049. Pantagraph reporter Brendan Denison contributed to this report. Photos: Emergency crews train on air disaster readiness at Bloomington airport 061222-blm-loc-1training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-2training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-3training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-4training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-5training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-6training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-7training.JPG 061222-blm-loc-8training.jpg IF YOU GO WHAT: The All-White Remembrance Dinner hosted by the Jelani Day Foundation WHEN: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. Doors open at 5 p.m. WHERE: Illinois State Universitys Bone Student Center, 200 N. University St., Normal COST: $25 for ISU students, $50 general admission TO BUY TICKETS: Visit thejelanidayfoundation.org to buy tickets by Jan. 22. NORMAL Central Illinois will have the opportunity to spend National Missing Persons Day honoring an Illinois State University student who went missing two years ago and his family who haven't rested in their search for answers after his death. The All-White Remembrance Dinner hosted by the Jelani Day Foundation will be held Saturday, Feb. 3, at Illinois State Universitys Bone Student Center, 200 N. University St., Normal. The dinner is a fundraiser for the foundation as it works toward helping families of color searching for missing loved ones, in honor of Jelani Day. Day, 25, was a graduate student from Danville studying speech language pathology at ISU when he was reported missing from Bloomington in late August 2021. The next day, his car was found an hour north of campus in Peru. His body was pulled from the Illinois River near Peru on Sept. 4, 2021, and confirmation of his identity was released to the public on Sept. 23 of that year. His cause of death later was determined to be drowning, but the manner of death remains unknown. Days family maintains he did not go into the water on his own and continues to push law enforcement for answers. I want you all to remember that Jelani could have been your brother, your son, your nephew, your grandson, Days mother, Carmen Bolden Day, said in an interview with The Pantagraph. I want you all to remember that Jelani was important and his life mattered. I want you all to remember that Jelani did not do this to himself, and I want you to remember that whoever did this, we are going to find you. I will not rest until the people that have done this to my son are brought to justice. The funds raised from the dinner in February will be used in the foundations efforts to support families of color who find themselves facing the kind of nightmare the Bolden Day family has navigated since August 2021. It takes dollars for people to do things, Bolden Day said. Families may need funds for attorneys, private investigators and travel expenses all kinds of things that can be incurred when youre going through an ordeal such as this. Thats my goal and purpose, to be able to assist families, to help them, to point them in the right direction, to provide them with resources to anything that Im able to. With tragedy 'still fresh,' family seeks purpose While it has been more than two years since Day went missing, this is still fresh to all of us, his mother said. To some people, two years has been a long time, youve been able to move on. For me, two years my life stopped, you know. Since then, she and her family have tried to find normalcy, but my constant thought is I do not have my child and I want to know what happened to him, Bolden Day said. Using the foundation to help others has helped her to stay focused and to remember that there is a purpose behind this because thats the only way Im able to get through, she said. ... God took him because theres a purpose behind his life, so if that purpose means that I have to help other people, thats what keeps me going. The dinner in February will be a celebration of Days life and an opportunity for fellowship, the foundation has said. It will feature a spoken word artist and live music with remarks from state Rep. Kam Buckner, who has spoken at the Capitol about Day and was one of the sponsors for the Jelani Day bill that was signed into law in May 2022. U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson will also speak at the event; he has called for justice in this case alongside the Bolden Day family and his father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Bolden Day said the foundation will share updates on its work, including funding scholarships for students at Days alma maters, Danville High School, Alabama A&M University and ISU. They will also discuss updates on Days death investigation, the Illinois law that shares his name and National Missing Persons Day, which is recognized on Feb. 3 each year. We want to make sure that people recognize that the number of Black and brown people that are missing is really astronomical, and that demographic is not to be forgotten. That demographic needs the assistance and needs the help, Bolden Day said, calling attention to the disparity in public response when a white woman goes missing compared to a person of color. She cited the intense national interest in Gabby Petito, a white woman also reported missing in August 2021 and found dead the next month in Wyoming's BridgerTeton National Forest. The missing white woman syndrome is real. Its real; we face it, Bolden Day said, using a term coined by the late journalist Gwen Ifill to describe media fascination with such cases. A 2022 Columbia Journalism Review analysis found Black people accounted for 22% of the missing within the data examined but just 13% of the news stories. White people, who made up 47% of the missing person cases, were featured in 70% of the stories. During the dinner, foundation leaders will discuss ways they are working toward solutions to the disparity, Bolden Day said. Unanswered questions remain The second annual dinner originally had been scheduled for August 2023, a year after the first event, during which the Bolden Day family launched the Jelani Day Foundation. The family decided to postpone the event when they learned of shoe prints found near where Days body was found on the bank of the Illinois River, evidence Bolden Day said police had never told them about. Once the dinner was pushed back to give them time to focus on new developments in Days case, his family was invited to attend and participate in the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington, held Aug. 26 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was a euphoric experience to actually know that Jelanis name was making history, Bolden Day said of her son being mentioned in speeches given at the march. To know my son was a part of history, it was I cant even put it into words. God is just further showing me that Jelanis purpose will be manifested. Its not happening in my time, in the timing that I would like for it to happen, but its going to happen. Bolden Day said she will do all she can to ensure no one forgets her sons name. I want you to remember that Jelani was is loved, and he is dearly missed. Hes dearly missed, and I need you all to remember that," she said. "That as long as I got breath in my body, I will not let nobody forget about Jelani. For more information on the All-White Remembrance Dinner, visit thejelanidayfoundation.org, where there also is an option for those who cannot attend the event to donate instead. Photos: Remembering Jelani Day Jackson Mallady and Jelani Day Jelani Day, Jackson Mallady and Trent Tranchant Jackson Mallady and Jelani Day Jelani Day Jelani Day balloon release Jelani Day at Alabama A&M University Jelani Day at Alabama A&M University Alabama A&M University balloon release Jelani Day Alabama Jelani Day at Alabama A&M University ISU memorial for Jelani Day ISU memorial for Jelani Day ISU memorial for Jelani Day ISU memorial for Jelani Day Jeremiah Cooley, Jelani Day, Tommy Sessions and Johnny Leverenz "Best Personality" Photos: Students join the Rev. Jesse Jackson as they march for Jelani Day in Peru 102721-blm-loc-6day 102721-blm-loc-1day 102721-blm-loc-2day 102721-blm-loc-3day 102721-blm-loc-4day 102721-blm-loc-5day 102721-blm-loc-7day 102721-blm-loc-8day 102721-blm-loc-11day 102721-blm-loc-12day 102721-blm-loc-9day 102721-blm-loc-10day On the eve of Iowas Republican caucuses, Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Sunday dismissed new national polling show low job approval for President Joe Biden, saying the battle hasnt been joined until GOP voters pick their nominee. Pritzker, who is scheduled to be in Des Moines on Monday for the caucuses as a surrogate for Bidens reelection, acknowledged on ABCs This Week program that former President Donald Trump is the likely GOP nominee based on polling. But he criticized the entire Republican field including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as MAGA Republicans, espousing things that are not good for the American public, using the shorthand for Trumps Make America Great Again slogan. Its the Republicans that are trying to take your freedoms away. Its the Republicans that are trying to take away your Social Security and your Medicare. Its the Republicans that are basically fighting against the working families of America. And its Joe Biden, who has been lifting up the economy, Pritzker said. Things are getting better in this country and over the course of an election year, as the economy continues to improve, youre going to see (Bidens) poll numbers improve too. Not until ( Republicans) choose a nominee will we truly be in this battle. And then its a choice, Pritzker said. A new ABC-Ipsos poll released Sunday found Biden with an approval rating of 33%, worse than Trumps 36% low during his presidency. Asking poll respondents to look back at Trumps presidency, 41% approved of how he handled the job. One-third of poll respondents held a favorable opinion of Biden while 35% had a favorable view of Trump. The survey of 2,228 adults, conducted Jan. 4-8, had an error margin of 2.5%. Pritzker, a member of Bidens national advisory board, is scheduled to join the boards co-chair, movie mogul Jeffrey Katzenberg, and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, in representing the Biden campaign at a news conference in Iowas capital city on Monday. With concerns about Bidens age of 81 persisting, even among Democrats, Pritzker sought to rephrase questions about the president to instead tout the concept that as Biden has gotten older hes attained more wisdom, experience and empathy. The poll showed only 28% said Biden has the mental sharpness required of the presidency compared to 47% for Trump, who is 77 years old. Maybe we ought to start by just acknowledging that Joe Biden has years of experience, that when you talk about someones age, youre also talking about the wisdom that they gained over many years and how theyve demonstrated their empathy that theyve learned from so many experiences, Pritzker said. Joe Biden, and Donald Trump are roughly the same age, Pritzker said. Do you think Donald Trump has learned empathy in his life? He has not. Joe Biden has demonstrated it at every turn. With Chicago receiving more than 38,000 migrants from the border, according to city figures reported Friday, Pritzker blamed Republican intransigence in Congress for not working toward comprehensive immigration reform as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for engaging in a political game of sending migrants to Democratic cities undergoing severe winter weather conditions. He doesnt care about the migrants. He doesnt care about the fact that theyre going to suffer if theyre sent to certainly the Upper Midwest, as he is doing now, Pritzker said. But Pritzker also acknowledged that while Congress needs to act, I think that the president needs to do more. Of the Republican contenders for president, Pritzker noted that it doesnt look good for the people who are running against Donald Trump but said he thinks the GOP race will continue for perhaps another month or two before there is really a clear front-runner. The respected Iowa Poll, published last week by the Des Moines Register, showed Trump leading among likely caucusgoers with 48%, trailed by Haley with 20% and DeSantis with 16%. On Friday, U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood of Peoria became the last of Illinois three Republican House members to endorse Trump for president. U.S. Reps. Mary Miller of Hindsboro and Mike Bost of Murphysboro previously backed the former president. Bost is facing a March primary contest against unsuccessful 2022 GOP governor candidate Darren Bailey of Xenia. Both Bost and Bailey also are running as Trump-nominating delegates and each has sought the former presidents endorsement for Congress. Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center The ECOWAS Court of Justice (CCJ) has bemoaned the low enforcement of its decisions. According to the sub-regional court, out of the over 400 decisions it had delivered since it started operations in 2001, only 131 have been enforced. The Head of Legal Services and Research of the CCJ, Apraku Nketiah, who made this known at a press conference in Accra yesterday, said the lack of political will by member states to enforce the courts decisions could defeat the mandate of the court under the ECOWAS treaty and protocols He further stressed that low enforcement could make it difficult for citizens of ECOWAS to enjoy the full benefits of the court as envisioned by the ECOWAS treaty. We are not talking only in terms of only Ghana, but all the member states that have outstanding judgments yet to be implemented. We are employing all member states to do the needful. If the court does it work by delivering judgments and the judgments are not implemented, it does not give the needed efficacy to the court, he said. Sensitisation The press conference, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration in Accra, was part of a sensitisation programme by the CCJ in Ghana which was meant to explain the work of the court to the general public, as well as strengthen its partnership with key stakeholders. During the one-week sensitisation programme, the CCJ team, led by the President, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, interacted with law students, the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). The CCJ also held a Town Hall Meeting in Accra where various stakeholders and members of the general public attended to interact with the court. Whats the CCJ? The CCJ is the principal legal arm of ECOWAS, clothed with the mandate to provide relief for citizens of the 15 ECOWAS member states whose human rights, as enshrined in the ECOWAS Treaty, protocols and other international conventions, have been violated by their countries. It also has jurisdiction to interpret the ECOWAS Treaty and protocols, resolve disputes between member states and any institution of ECOWAS, as well as disputes between member states in relation to the application of the ECOWAS Treaty and protocols. The court is composed of five independent judges, appointed by the Authority of Heads of State, from nationals of Member States, for a four-year non-renewable tenure. In terms of enforcement, the Court does not have the mandate to enforce its decisions. Rather, member states have the duty to enforce decisions of the court relating to its jurisdiction. Electoral disputes Mr Nketiah clarified that the CCJ does not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the electoral disputes of member states. Rather, he said, the court was clothed with the jurisdiction to hear human rights violations of the ECOWAS protocols, if they occurred during elections. ECOWAS Court does not have the mandate to adjudicate on the elections of member states. However , if an individual from a member state feels that the conduct of an election had violated his human rights established by the ECOWAS treaty and human rights, then the court can come in under its human right jurisdiction, he stressed. Apart from the low level of enforcement of the CCJ decisions, Mr Nketiah said the reduction of the judges of the court from seven to five, and the lack of ratification of the protocols of the court by some member countries, were some other challenges facing the court. He appealed to member states to collaborate with the court to enable it effectively execute its mandate. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Inspector-General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare and some members of the Police Management Board (POMAB) on Friday paid a working visit to the Ghana Armed Forces Central Command in Kumasi, the Kumasi Central Prison, and the Kumasi Metropolitan Fire Station. The visits were to strengthen relationships and foster collaboration for the maintenance of peace, law, and order in the Kumasi Metropolis. The IGP and his team on a security tour of Kumasi and its environs also paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The team also met with members of the Ashanti regional branch of the Ghana Union of Traders Association on their security concerns. Meanwhile, the Asantehene has commended the IGP for enhancing the outlook and public perception of the police service. I want to commend you for the good work youre doing with your team. Since you came to the scene. Now we feel the Police in our lives, our homes and everywhere and we are grateful. Commenting on security in the Ashanti region during the Christmas festivities, the Ashanti Monarch said he was marvelled by the number of motorbikes that patrolled the region and Kumasi in particular to ensure the safety of residents. I was here when they came to show me videos of the number of officers patrolling the city on motorbikes and it was beautiful. Because of your work, we didnt see robberies and the number of carnage we used to see on our roads during Christmas, please continue the work because we are praying for you. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has called on the government to take bold decisions to resource the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to live up to its responsibilities as the first port of call in the management of disaster situations in the country. He said a well-resourced NADMO, particularly in the districts, would be battle ready to come to the aid of communities that would be affected by any form of disaster. President Mahama made the call when the chiefs and people of the six traditional areas of the Tongu Traditional Areas called on him at his Cantonments office in Accra last Wednesday. Support They were in Accra to thank him for his support when they were hit by the spillage of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams in September, 2023. The chiefs, who were from Mepe, Sokpoe, Battor, Volo and Torkor were led by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to show their appreciation to the former President for his interventions when he donated relief items to the people of the lower Volta Basin to alleviate their plight when they were hit by the flood waters from the two dams. President Mahama, who is also the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), described the efforts of the government as lethargic and insensitive. According to the former President, disaster issues should not be politicized, and his visit to the affected areas in October, last year, was to draw the attention of the government and good-spirited individuals and institutions to the plight of the people, and not to score political points. Former President Mahama expressed concern over the poor manner in which the New Patriotic Party government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo responded to the disaster. Transparency He commended the MP for North Tongu for constituting a transparency and accountability committee, chaired by Prof. Emmanuel Netsey-Afedo, in place to ensure proper distribution of the relief items to the people. The former President urged state institutions to emulate such virtues of transparency and accountability. Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa commended former President Mahama for the love he showed towards the people of Tongu in particular and the Volta Region at large. He said former President Mahama never relented in consistently checking up on the people to ensure that the relief items were well distributed and the situation had abated. The chiefs and the MP presented a citation to President Mahama to show their appreciation to him. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video My attention has been drawn to a video recording in which the Assin Central Member of Parliament, Hon. Kennedy Ohene Agyapong is seen alleging corruption against Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister for Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Bantama. The said video captures Hon. Agyapong in a campaign meeting with delegates of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bantama constituency to solicit support for his brother in the upcoming parliamentary primary of the party. Hon. Ken Agyapong, in the video, alleges that Hon. Asenso Boakye was demanding bribes from foreigners during his tenure as a Deputy Chief of Staff at the Jubilee House. He further claimed that if the delegates doubted his story, they could ask me, Kwabena Asante of Adom FM for confirmation, creating the impression that I knew about the story or had been a witness to the allegations he was leveling against the Hon. Asenso Boakye. I would like to state categorically that, I have not met or spoken to Hon. Agyapong on anything relating to corruption involving Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye. As a matter of fact, I am not aware of any attempt by the former deputy Chief of Staff to solicit bribes from any foreigner(s). The public is advised to disregard any such allegation from the Assin Central MP in which my name is mentioned. Source: Omanhene Kwabena Asante Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A few days after alleging corruption claims against Francis Asenso Boakye, Member of Parliament for Bantama, Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, a one-time NPP flagbearer hopeful, has come out to clarify why he directed people to ask Kwabena Asante of Adom Fm about what he was saying. According to the Assin Central M.P., by asking that it should be found out from Kwabena Asante, he did not mean it was the journalist who gave him the information. In a video being circulated on various social media platforms, Ken Agyapong is heard and seen saying that, he was confronted with the matter and he had to save the situation by stopping the alleged bribe givers from going public with it. He has therefore made it clear that Kwabena Asante of Adom FM did not inform him or was the one who hinted to him on the matter. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The 10 wolves set loose in Colorado in December 2023 as part of a historic state-led reintroduction are doing well, but the humans charged with orchestrating the multi-year effort addressed concerns this week about a lack of transparency about the releases. The state's top wildlife official apologized to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission for providing little information about the timing and location of the releases in mid-December. He said an after-action review is underway. "My apology comes from me because the area that had the most impact was the ball that I dropped," Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis said during the commission's meeting Wednesday. "So I apologize to all of you for the notification and the transparency pieces." Wildlife officials captured five wolves in Oregon and then, on Dec. 18, released them onto state land in Grand County while an audience of about 45 people watched. The five wolves were the first ones released in the state as part of a voter-mandated reintroduction fueled primarily by support from urban voters. The initiative has caused turmoil in ranching communities that fear for their livestock. Colorado Parks and Wildlife notified the public of the release after it occurred. Over the next four days, wildlife officials released five more wolves in Summit and Grand counties. CPW leaders previously said they would try to notify ranchers near release sites before wolves were on the ground. That didn't happen. Erin Karney, executive vice president of the Colorado Cattlemen's Association, said Wednesday that no ranchers were notified prior to that first release. Neither were lawmakers nor the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission's members. Commissioner Duke Phillips, who represents ranchers on the commission, said he learned of the first releasewhich he had helped orchestrate for more than a yearwhen he saw it on television the following day. "It kinda cut. It hurt to be so invested in something, and have such a good feeling about a plan we had put forward, to find out the day after it had already happened," he said during the meeting. "Me, as a commissioner, to feel that wayI can't imagine the way the producers and the people in the area were feeling." Davis acknowledged that the lack of communication damaged the agency's relationships with rural communities. "We are putting pieces back together," he said. "I recognize that maybe we took some steps in a different direction on the relationship and transparency piece. We're going to learn from that, and we're going to restore that and exceed it going forward." Other commissioners said Colorado Parks and Wildlife did a good job releasing the wolves under difficult circumstances. Commissioner Dallas May said he didn't expect more information before the release. "This was to be done quietly, to give everything the best chance for success," May said. All 10 wolves remain in Colorado and are alive, said Reid DeWalt, CPW's assistant director for aquatic, terrestrial and natural resources. So far there have been no reports of attacks on livestock, he said. Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to make more information public about the general location of the wolves in the coming week, DeWalt said. The radio collars worn by the wolves do not transmit real-time locations, but do show where they have traveled. Colorado officials are still searching for other governments willing to provide more wolves for the reintroduction effort. The state's reintroduction plan calls for the release of up to 15 wolves per year, though Oregon agreed only to allow the capture of 10 there. "If another source of wolves is secured, it is possible CPW could release up to five more wolves by mid-March," agency spokesman Travis Duncan said in an email. Duncan would not say with whom the agency is discussing obtaining more wolves. Several statesincluding Wyoming, Idaho and Montana previously said they would not provide wolves to Colorado. 2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: It's bad, but not 'cataclysmic', authorities said. Hundreds of thousands of people on France's Indian Ocean island of Reunion hunkered down in their homes under a strict lockdown on Monday as a devastating storm that has already left one dead started to rip along its north. Cyclone Belal hit Reunion, one of France's overseas territories that span the globe from the Caribbean to the Pacific, moving in from the northwest packing "extreme winds", according to France's national weather service, Meteo-France. "The eye of the storm is passing along the northern and northeastern coast this afternoon," it said in its latest public bulletin. Belal was not, however, expected to become an intense tropical cyclone, or cause devastation further inland, contrary to earlier fears. "We're by no means done with this storm, but it's not reaching cataclysmic levels," said prefect Jerome Filippini, the island's top Paris-appointed official. "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel," Filippini said, "if Belal is good enough not to bring any bad surprises by tonight (Monday) or tomorrow morning." 'Red' alert Initial damage had been moderate but "one homeless person who had not taken shelter" died as a result of the storm in the western settlement of Saint Gilles, the prefecture said. In preparation for gusty winds authorities initially hoisted the violet-level alert, indicating imminent danger, at 6:00 am (0200 GMT), putting all 870,000 inhabitants, including the emergency services, on strict lockdown. Winds were likely to reach 160 km/h in the highlands. "All circulation is formally prohibited for any reason whatsoever," an early official statement said. But later Monday, the alert level was downgraded to "red", a move that allowed security and rescue forces to move around, without however lifting the lockdown for the general population. Winds were expected to reach 160 km/h (100 miles/h) in Reunion's highlands, much less than the 250 km/h initially forecast, and 140 km/h on the northern coast. Celine Jauffret at Meteo France predicted that the eye of the storm would move away from Reunion by the end of the afternoon. Heavy rainfall was expected until then, she said. The weather service said there would be "a clear improvement" after nightfall. Filippini said he hoped the red alert level could be lifted by Tuesday morning, a move that would allow people to leave their homes again. Reunion, known as La Reunion in French, is located east of Madagascar and has a population of almost 900,000. Authorities urged islanders to stock up on food and water. 'Stay at home' Authorities urged islanders to stock up on food and water and stay indoors for 36 hours. They were told not to leave home "for any reason", unplug all devices, not use tap water and only use the telephone for an emergency. With expectations that waves could reach heights of 13-15 meters (43-49 feet), the entire coastline was put on alert. Many balconies and gardens had been cleared of any objects that could be carried away or broken, and shopkeepers took in removable signs. "We are not going to play heroes, we were told to stay at home," Jules Dafreville, who lives in the capital Saint-Denis, said on Sunday. "I returned in the middle of the afternoon and I don't plan to come out before... Tuesday morning." The island's main airport said it was suspending flight operations. French President Emmanuel Macron took to social media on Sunday to urge residents to stay indoors. "Be careful, stay at home," he said on X, formerly Twitter. The last major cyclone to hit Reunion was in 2014. In 1989, cyclone Firinga destroyed hundreds of homes and dumped record-breaking rain. 2024 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Sharks have prowled Earth's waters for over 400 million years, but a growing appetite for their fins has driven several shark species to the brink of extinction. Global shark populations are plummeting despite worldwide efforts to curb mass killings for their fins, researchers said in a new report showing that more needs to be done to protect one of the ocean's apex species. Between 2012 and 2019, the number of sharks killed from fishing increased from some 76 million a year to more than 80 million, they reported in the journal Science. At least 25 million were threatened species. Sharks have prowled Earth's waters for 400 million years, but a growing appetite for their finsa valuable commodity in Asian marketshas driven several species to the brink of extinction. Today, 70 percent of countries and jurisdictions have implemented protective regulations to eliminate shark finning, where the top predators are tossed back into the ocean and left to die once fins are removed. But some of these ruleswhich first emerged in the 1990shave had unintended consequences that are costing even more sharks their lives, new data revealed. Finning has marginally declined over the past two decades, but policies requiring fishers to land whole sharks inadvertently incentivized a market for shark meat. "Anti-finning measures were not the silver bullet we hoped for," study author Laurenne Schiller told AFP. Researchers spent three years collecting data on fishery regulations and shark mortality. They were surprised to learn "how widespread the trade with shark meat, oil and cartilage is, and how sharks are showing up in a lot of products without consumers being aware," said lead author Boris Worm. As apex predators, sharks are crucial for keeping marine ecosystems healthy. Blood in the water Fisheries are now catching smaller sharks, including juveniles, more often, because of the decline in the fin trade and regional declines in the abundance of large sharks. In hotspots where shark mortality is greatest, researchers found a higher use of gillnetswalls of netting that hang in the waterand trawls, which is heavy netting dragged along the ocean floor. Despite being highly evolved ocean predators, sharks are incredibly vulnerable, Schiller said. "Sharks have spent over 99% of their time on Earth in an ocean without humans, so in many ways, they were not prepared for us and the impacts of fishing." As a keystone species, sharks are crucial for keeping oceans healthy. "When we lose these species, it can throw off the balance of the marine ecosystem", she said. Today, one in three shark species around the world is threatened with extinction. On a more positive note, Worm emphasized that many nations and territories have already implemented shark fishing prohibitions and sanctuaries to safeguard one of the world's oldest species. Implementing shark sanctuaries and no-take protected areas seem to keep shark mortality levels low, according to the study. Still, the current risks for coastal sharks appear to be escalating globally, a conclusion supported by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). "We need to take a more targeted approach to reducing shark mortality," Schiller said. More information: Boris Worm et al, Global shark fishing mortality still rising despite widespread regulatory change, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf8984. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf8984 Journal information: Science 2024 AFP By Saio Marrah Twenty-seven members of Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) have appeared before a Court Martial in Freetown on eighty-eight counts related to security breaches. The charges include, mutiny to overthrow the government, failure to suppress mutiny, aiding the enemy, communicating with the enemy, committing civil offence, and stealing of public or service property, fraudulent misapplication of public or service property. All the accused persons were other ranks in the RSLAF, with the exception of a Lieutenant- Colonel. The indictments were however not read out to the accused persons because one of them reportedly fell sick in court during the initial hearing on Monday 8th January 2024. A Legal Aid Board Lawyer, Ibrahim Bangura, representing majority of the accused persons, earlier informed the court that the ninth accused, was suffering from an ailment. The accused was taken out of the courtroom. The court-martial was presided by an advocate judge, and senior Magistrate Mark Ngegba, who after taking oath, later swore in seven military personnel as court members. The presiding judge advocate told the court it was a pretrial. 52 witnesses have been assembled for the court-martial proceedings. During the course of the trial, Ngegba dismissed an application filed by Julian Cole that the prosecution should present an abstract of the evidence against the accused persons, emanating from the investigation. The Director of Public Prosecution, Osman Ibrahim Kanu, led fifteen state prosecutors including eight military officers. Ady Macauley, Julian Cole, Melron Nicole Wilson, and host of others are representing the accused persons. Ady Macauley pleaded with the court for a day to be given to each of the accused persons because according to him, they could spend the rest of their lives in prison if found guilty. Julian Cole representing the 7th accused told the court-martial that his client, a Lieutenant Colonel, was not comfortable appearing before the court-martial in civil clothes. He further noted that his client was not comfortable being detained at a civil facility. The soldiers were among those arrested after attacks on the Wilberforce Military Barracks Armoury in Freetown, the Murray Town Barracks, Cockerill Military Headquarters and several Police stations, on Sunday 26th November,2023. Inmates at the male and female maximum correctional centres were then then set free. Eighteen security personnel were killed by the assailants, with the authorities confirming three deaths on the side of the attackers. Events that day were later interpreted by authorities as a coup attempt. Former President Ernest Bai Koroma and some civilians were the first to docked in relation to the attempted coup. Copyright 2024 Politico (10/01/24) Amy and Andy Trapp and their son, Will, at their home in San Rafael. The parents were nearly the victims of an AI-generated phone scam that used an imitation of their sons voice to fool them into handing over cash to get him out of jail. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Amy Trapp was in her office at the Mill Valley school where she works when she got a call from an unknown number. She picked it up, thinking it might have something to do with the school fire drill from earlier in the day. Instead, a familiar voice one she knew better than any other was on the line. Read more: The best way to defeat a phone scam, plus more tips to protect yourself against AI fraud Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was my sons voice on the phone crying, telling me Mom, mom, Ive been in a car accident! Trapp said. Instantly, she felt rising panic. Images of her son Will, away at college on Californias Central Coast, flashed through her mind: him lying on the side of the road in a pool of blood, or trapped in an overturned car. Trapp was convinced that her son was in trouble. When a man came on the line and told her he was a police officer and that Will had injured a pregnant woman in the crash and had been taken to jail, she believed him, convinced by the unmistakable sound of Wills voice. She also put trust in another man who claimed to be a public defender representing Will and asked her to take more than $15,000 from her bank account to pay her sons bail. It wasnt until Trapps husband called the police directly, hours into the episode, that the couple realized it was a scam. The men were apparently using technology powered by artificial intelligence to copy Wills voice. Will was quietly studying in his living room throughout the ordeal. Versions of this type of phone scam have been around for years, said Abhishek Karnik, senior director of threat research at digital security firm McAfee. The big difference now is the use of AI. The fact that its so easy to create a cloned voice, you can build a very strong emotional connection with the victim, Karnik said. If you add a sense of urgency or distress they lose their sense of practicality, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rapid advances in AI mean technology is now available that requires only a few seconds of a voice sample to create a digital facsimile of a persons voice. Twenty years ago, you needed the resources of a Hollywood studio or a nation state to pull that off, said FBI San Francisco Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp. Now criminals can fabricate a voice using AI tools that are available either in the public domain for free, or at a very low cost. Some companies building that technology tightly control who has access to it. But others allow users to upload a voice clip that an AI program can study to generate clips of them convincingly speaking any text a user types in, with up to 85% voice-matching accuracy, Karnik said. That kind of short voice clip could easily be gotten from social media or elsewhere online, Karnick said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Phone scams with and without the use of AI have rolled across California and the U.S. in recent years. Some try to convince older people their grandchildren are in trouble and in need of money, with the FBI estimating it has received more than 195 victim complaints about those particular scams, with nearly $1.9 million in losses, through September of last year. Other schemes make it appear the call is coming from the police department. Some demand digital currency to settle a legal matter. A few years ago, an attorney testified before Congress that he lost a large sum to a phone scam almost identical to the one the Trapp family were targets of. Tripp, the FBI agent, said his office did not have numbers on how many reported scams involved AI, but encouraged anyone who may have been a victim of such crimes to report them to the agencys Internet Crime Complaint Center. The California Attorney Generals Office said in an emailed statement that it is aware of the increasing use of AI in common scams, including phone scams, and encouraged victims to report them at oag.ca.gov/report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Although its impossible to know precisely which technology the scammers used, Trapp is certain about one thing from that phone call in October: There was zero doubt in my mind. I was talking to my son. In the moment, Trapp had no notion she was the target of a sophisticated scheme, her judgment clouded by terror and adrenaline as an unfamiliar voice took over the call. After speaking to the person she thought was her son for 30 or 45 seconds, a man who said he was a police officer got on the phone. He told Trapp her son had run a stop sign while on his phone and had hit another car. He had suffered a broken nose and a neck injury, but would be OK. But the pregnant woman in the other car had been taken away, bleeding, the man said. By this time, the school principal, Lisa Lamar, had joined Trapp. She grabbed Trapps phone and put it on speaker so they both could listen. The officer said a public defender would call. The man who claimed to be Wills assigned public defender and calling himself David Bell called a few minutes later. He told Trapp he had spoken to her son, said he was a good kid, and said he had managed to get Wills bail knocked down from $50,000 to $15,500. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Could she get that money quickly, he asked? She could, Trapp said. He said, Dont tell (the bank) why youre getting the money because you dont want to tarnish your sons reputation, Trapp said. In her frantic state, she agreed. I would have done anything he said. Trapp jumped in her car and called her husband, Andy Trapp, who works at another local school, and went to pick him up. Andy Trapp recalled that his wife was utterly convinced that she had spoken to their son. It all comes down to that voice being recognized by his own mother, who he speaks to several times a week, Andy Trapp said. I never, ever, thought I would ever fall for anything like that, he added, noting he doesnt pick up calls from unknown numbers and is careful about suspicious text and emails. The couple raced home, where Amy Trapp began frantically packing the family camper van to drive down to be with their son. We were just absolutely reeling, she said. Then the pair sped to their bank branch, headed inside, and asked to withdraw $15,500, just as Trapp had been told to do. Amy and Andy Trapp and their son Will at their home in San Rafael. The parents were nearly the victims of an AI-generated phone scam that used an imitation of their sons voice to fool them into handing over cash to get him out of jail. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle Back home when they spoke again to Bell, he told them he would send a courier to pick up the money from their home. That set off alarm bells, and the couple parked their packed camper away from the house, now fearful of the courier and starting to realize something was very wrong. After that call, Something changed in me, Andy Trapp said. That sounded totally wrong. Finally, the ordeal got to her, Trapp recalled. She sank to her knees in front of the van in the street. Where is my son? Where is my son? she screamed. Thats when I called the police station and the jail in San Luis Obispo, Andy Trapp said. They had no record of the incident. Ultimately, the Trapps did the right thing, said Tony Cipolla, the public information officer with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Department. You call the place where theyre supposedly being held to find out, is this true? he said. Then, finally, Trapp called Will. Yo, whats up? her son answered calmly, ensconced in his living room and surrounded by his roommates, doing homework. The spell was broken, but it was too much for Trapp. She handed the phone to her husband, who briefly explained the situation to their son, and then hung up to comfort his sobbing wife. Trapp said she called the San Rafael Police Department, who said there was nothing it could do. The department did not respond to calls and emails from the Chronicle for this story. Tripp, the FBI agent, said the attempt is still a crime, but prosecuting it would potentially involve going after international criminals. He said the agency monitors reports made to the Internet Crime Complaint Center for trends and has taken down some scammers as a result. Since the incident, the Trapps have told their story to many people they know, hoping it will save others from suffering the same emotional distress, even if in the end no money changed hands. Will Trapp isnt sure how someone could have gotten a recording of his voice. He isnt an avid social media user, and the accounts he does use are private. He said he sings and makes music, which he sometimes posts online. By Abu Bakarr Tarawally (Policy Analyst, Budget Advocacy Network) It is nine years, since world leaders met in New York, September 2015, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), to adopt the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These goals have 169 targets as part of a progressive agenda for sustainable development as they replaced the Millennium Development Goals. Until 2030, it remains 7 more years, for the 193 member states to attain all the listed basic human rights which are: no poverty; zero hunger; Good health and well-being; quality education; gender equality; clean water and sanitation; decent work and economic growth; industry innovation and infrastructure; reduced inequalities; sustainable cities and communities; responsible consumption and production; climate action; life underwater; life on land; peace justice and strong institutions; and partnerships for the goals. SD Goal 5 With specific reference to goal 5, it mandates every country within the framework of the United Nations to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. When this theme was developed the United Nations argued that Gender bias undermines our social fabric and devalues everyone. The submission was that humanity risks a huge waste of the world's human potential, which is not merely a human rights concern. A statement by the UN on SDG5 states that: By denying women equal rights, we deprive half of the population of the opportunity to live life to the fullest. It adds that Political, economic and social equality for women will benefit all residents of the world. We can all work together to eliminate prejudice and promote equal rights and respect for all. This piece investigates the strides Sierra Leone has made so far in ensuring Goal 5 is met and what are the challenges standing in the way. Attainment of the minimum 30% quota of female representation Section 4 (1) of the GEWE Act, 20232 imposes a mandatory requirement on the public and private sectors to have at least 30% of women in employment. Section 4 (2) states that out of the 30% employed, 30% must be in decision-making positions at all levels within the organization. Attaining the 30% quota has been reported in various perspectives. The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) for instance, considers the number of elected MPs under the tickets of political parties, which makes up a 135 MPs of which the female elected MPs were 41. Under this consideration, the 14, Paramount Chief MPs are treated as a quasi-makeup of the MPs as their electoral arrangement is somewhat different from the political parties elected MPs. In the final analysis, going by the 135-total number of MPs, Sierra Leone achieved 30.4% quota of female representation. The other perspective, which considers the total number of MPs to the tally of 149, having included the 14 PCMPs gives 28% of female representation. One of the PCMPs is a female which brought the number to 42 (28%) and 107(72%) male MPs. This still signals the male dominance in Sierra Leones political landscape, even though the 2023 election brought about a watershed moment and at least some way gone on the trail to gender equality. When the sixth parliament is compared to the previous one in 2018 which only had a total of 18(12%) elected female MPs, there is a 15% incremental change in the number of female representations in the current Parliament. Previous Statistics According to data from the 2021 census report, Sierra Leone has more women (51%) than men (49%). Despite exceeding the male population, Sierra Leone has a Gender Inequality Index (GII) value of 0.644, ranking it 153 out of 162 countries, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2018 Index. This source states that more women than men are unemployed in the formal sector, poor, illiterate, and sexually assaulted in Sierra Leone. Women, according to a World Bank report on gender mainstreaming procurement, are shut out of certain sectors, both as employees and as entrepreneurs, due to gender norms. For example, transport, construction, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have high-value contracts but tend to be male-dominated. This creates an intrinsic challenge to direct more annual spending to female entrepreneurs. The disparity in terms of gender justice is so glaring to the point. Corrective Measures to Change the Narrative The governments Medium-Term National Development Plan sets a target under Cluster 5 (Empowering women, children, and persons with disabilities) to promote the overall empowerment of women in the political, social, economic, and cultural spheres. Although this was a cross-cutting theme and as such it did not stand alone as a pillar, in theory it creates the basis for the talking point about empowering the cluster 5 target. Following that the government has promulgated laws and policies for improving the macroeconomic space and gender empowerment for greater inclusion. Thats how the Gender Equality and Womens Empowerment Policy (2021) and the GEWE Act (2022) came into being. The law provides for enhancements to women's financial accessibility, career prospects, equal pay, parental leave, andcriticallypolitical representation. For both appointed posts, such as those in the cabinet, ministries, and ambassadorships, and elected positions, such as parliamentary and local council seats, the GEWE provides a 30 percent quota for women's participation in government. This translates to increase the number of women in decision-making roles in both private and public sectors. Reaching those farthest behind Sierra Leone has a population of 7,548,702 of which the women constitute 3,820,955. This is 50.62% of the total population. Going by the female population, 42 MPs out of 3,820,955, leaves behind 3,820,913. This means that the 30% quota only benefits a tiny elitist part of the female population, which in percentage terms is 0.001%. The biggest picture in cluster 5 still remains empowering legions of the vulnerable and marginalised women outside the elitist class, rural uneducated and unemployed women; women struggling to accessing finances, women who cannot own lands, those whose incomes are controlled by men and are subjected to domestic servitude. This concern is raised from an inquiry mindset, not out of disbelief that the government and non-government and civil society organisations are not doing anything about the known problems. But how much have we gone with interventions that cater to the needs of the marginalised and poor women in our patriarchal society? The government is currently implementing the free quality education programme that goes to solve a portion of cluster 5 dealing with children. The government is also implementing the social safety net which is also targeting the pro-poor cadre of Sierra Leones population primarily targeting persons with disabilities and the general abject rural poverty in selected areas across the country. The way forward Gender budgeting which is an application of placing gender equality at the center of the budgetary process, can solve this inequality conundrum. It involves conducting a gender-based assessment of budgets, incorporating a gender perspective at all levels of the budget cycles. Because gender budgeting uses analytical tools to ensure a routine part of the budget process, so that the budget is more effective at helping to meet gender equality goals, it is why the government should move in the current trajectory to gender equality by making sure that gender budget is not only mainstreamed but made to work at the central and local government levels. Historical data indicates that men more than the women are benefitting more from state resources. The government should now work, in the course of the remaining seven years, to 2030, to delimiting the margin of disparity in terms of who benefits the most from state resources between the men and women. The gender responsive Public Financial Management (PFM) assessment was done in 2021 to assess the government's budgeting and reporting systems to determine how it responds to the needs of gender and marginalized groups, such as those with physical and/or mental disabilities. This was the first central government gender responsive PFM assessment in English-speaking Africa, which informs the new PFM reform strategy. The GRPFM assessment was conducted using the Supplementary Framework for Assessing Gender Responsive Public Financial Management published by the PEFA Secretariat in January 2020. The Government of Sierra Leone recognizes the importance of mainstreaming gender into the public financial management framework for gender equality. It has passed, in that regard, several legislations and policies to promote gender equality, including the Domestic Violence Act 2007, Devolution of Estate Act 2007, Registration of Customary and Divorce Act 2009, Sexual Offenses (Amendment) Act 2019, National Gender Strategic Plan 2019-2023, Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment Policy, National Policy on Gender Mainstreaming, and National Policy for the Advancement of Women. The overall goal of the government's gender policy is to mainstream gender concerns in the national development process to improve the social, legal, civic, political, economic, and cultural conditions of the population, particularly women. Related actions and activities include supporting gender-sensitizing programs, undertaking public awareness programs on gender issues, eliminating social problems caused by gender inequality, promoting gender roles as complementary and vital to national growth, harmonizing laws, identifying women with potential leadership, and increasing women's participation in policy and decision-making at national, district, and local levels. Copyright 2024 Politico (10/01/24) By Politico Staff Writer Represented by key stakeholders, Sierra Leone has joined several other countries across the world to sign the 2024/1445 Hajj Agreement with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing ceremony was done by the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, Alhaji Murtada Sesay, at a bilateral meeting with the Saudi Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Abdulfattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, on the sideline of the final day of the 3rd edition of the Annual Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference held at the Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on the 11th January 2024. In the signing agreement, both parties agreed that "the 2024/1445 Hajj operations will be guided by a new culture of precision that will ensure that the pre-Hajj, Hajj, and Umrah activities are carried out on time." In his brief statement after the signing ceremony, the Chairman of the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on Hajj noted that the agreement is aimed at making the 2024 pilgrimage journey to Makkah smoother and more accessible for pilgrims from Sierra Leone. He said the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj is also making necessary arrangements for flights, accommodation, transportation, and catering, to ensure that pilgrims from Sierra Leone get the best of hospitality during the pilgrimage. The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Mohamed Haji-Kella, who also doubles as a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, described the Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference as historic given the recognition and credence they were accorded, particularly during the workshops and bilateral meetings in the Kingdom. Sierra Leones Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr Ibrahim Jalloh, who is also a member of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, said the just-concluded Hajj and Umrah Exhibition and Conference is significant as it greatly enhances transforming the Hajj and Umrah processes. He said the Embassy is working collaboratively with the Sierra Leone Presidential Taskforce on the Hajj delegation to ensure a smooth and successful 2024 Hajj. Over 60 countries across the world participated in this years Hajj and Umrah Exhibition & Conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Copyright 2023 Politico (14/01/24) By Nasratu Kargbo Fatmata Sesay who recently gave birth to quadruplets needs medical attention, according to her husband Mohamed S. Kanu. Speaking in an interview with Politico on the 5th January 2024, the drowsy father who had just woken up after a sleepless night helping his wife attend to their four babies explained that his wife has been complaining and experiencing severe stomach pains, but stated that they could not afford to go to the hospital, and therefore called on the public to help them. She needs medical attention, she looks pale and all weve been able to do for now is buy her blood syrups Kanu said. Responding to a question regarding the manner of her delivery, the young man said his wife gave birth normally without any emergency medical procedure, and was discharged from hospital after a week. Kanu who is an apprentice in a printing workshop said they are in dire need of financial support to take care of his wife and kids. When asked whether he would want the children adopted, the father of five said they have no intention of putting up their children for adoption, but need financial help to start up a business that will serve as a source of income for him to support his family. He noted that they want to raise their children for themselves. Explaining how life has changed since the birth of the four babies, the father explained that he and his wife have been unable to sleep because they have to attend to the kids at night when they cry, adding that the babies take turns in crying and sleeping. He said that his mother had to travel from the village to help take care of her grandchildren. In addition, he said the babies are being breastfed, but was quick to note that the breastmilk has not been enough for them and they resorted to buying milk as another alternative for the kids. He explained that the milk is expensive and that it does not last long considering they have four babies to feed, further explaining that when they want to manage how they are fed, the babies cry endlessly. We need people who would help us financially to raise these kids, having four kids to take care of in this country now is not easy. Even the one we had was not easy, and now we are blessed with another four Kanu said. On whether they did scanning during the pregnancy , the young man explained that they visited a hospital in Waterloo where they were told that they should expect four babies. Kanu said he doubted the report and went into a heated argument with the doctor, saying that how he can have four twins in this difficult economy. He further explained that they were referred to another hospital which was Ola During Childrens Hospital (cottage) where they were told to expect a set of twins contrary to the other doctors findings. Kanu said they have visited various media outlets and the Ministry of Social Welfare, but have been unable to get help except from people in his community who have been helping them with the little they have. The quadruplets were born on the 29th November 2023, of which three are girls and the other a boy. The couple now have five children, including the eldest a girl aged 3. Copyright 2024 Politico (10/01/24) By Saio Marrah Sierra Leones former President, Ernest Bai Koroma has appeared at a Magistrate court in Freetown on a four-count charge of treason, misprison of treason, and harboring alleged treason-related offenses. Koroma who appeared at the Pademba Road Court No. 2 on Wednesday 3rd January 2024, was accused of having on diverse days between the 5th and 26th of November 2023, prepared to overthrow the government of Sierra Leone and between the 20th and 25th of November last year, in his preparedness to overthrow the government, harboured Sorieba Manasaray, Yapo Sesay, Ibrahim Thorlu Bangura alias Tiger, Sergeant Emmanuel Salifu Kamara, and Kabba Dumbuya in his premises. It is further indicated in court that the former head of state between the 26th of November and 1st of December 2023, in his endeavour to overthrow the government, haboured Sesay and Bangura at his premises. For count two, misprision of treason, Koroma was alleged to have between the 20th and 29th November last year in Makeni Northern city of the country, knowing that Mansaray, Bangura, and Sesay had prepared to overthrow the Government, allegedly concealed the commission of the said treason. He was also alleged to have between the 26th and 29th of November last year, in the same northern city, knowingly harboured Bangura and Sesay in his premises when he (accused) had reasonable grounds to know that the persons had committed treason. The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mohamed Lamin Tarawally led an eight-man team from the Law Officers Department, while Joseph Fitzgerald Kamara, former Attorney General led 11 lawyers to represent the former president in the treason case. In the courtroom, all seats reserved for lawyers, and journalists including those at the public gallery had been taken. There was a heavy presence of armed Police around the periphery of the court. Koroma was accompanied by a host of top hierarchy from his political party, All Peoples Congress (APC) including the Chairman and Mayor of the Freetown Municipality who were seated next to him at the designated space for accused persons. Seated on one of the court registrars wooden chairs, Koroma was dressed in a white and brown African shirt and brown trousers. Amidst all this, Koroma never stopped from showing his usual broad. He was mostly seen focused on the battery of lawyers, who were signaling pleasant gestures to him. After the presiding magistrate had taken his seat, the former president name, Ernest Bai Koroma, was called upon by the court registrar. After answering to his name, he was instructed to stand in the dock. He declined the offer of sitting in the dock saying he was fine standing. This was after a request by his lead lawyer, Joseph F. Kamara for him to sit. Before the adjournment of the preliminary hearing to the 17th of January this year, his defence served the bench a document termed High Court Orders, which served as bail for the former president. His appearance in court came after a day when the sub-regional bloc, ECOWAS addressed a letter to Sierra Leones sitting President, Julius Maada Bio, requesting for a temporary relocation of the former president, to Abuja in Nigeria to take place on the 4th of January this year. The request further requested that the Government of Sierra Leone discontinue all legal and administrative procedures against him and that the government continue to disburse to him his benefits as a former president. The state was also urged to secure the former presidents residents across the country and to refund his medical and travel expenses. Sierra Leones Minister of Foreign Affairs confirmed receipt of the letter but could not comment further. In the early hours of Sunday 26th November 2023, an Army armory at the Wilberforce Barracks was broken into by unknown gunmen, which subsequently led to sporadic attacks on key security installations across the capital Freetown. The incident also led to the opening of the male and female maximum correctional centres and police cells across Freetown. 18 security personnel lost their lives in that fateful attack. Ernest Bai Koroma served two terms as President of Sierra Leone after winning the 2007 and 2012 general elections. He relinquished power in April 2018 after President Julius Maada Bio defeated his partys candidate, Samura Kamara in that election. Copyright 2024 Politico (10/01/24) From a press release: A momentous step toward conservation and environmental stewardship has been taken with the successful closure of a $1 million land deal, securing the future of Snake HillSaratoga Lakes largest unprotected shoreline property. The Snake Hill Formation holds a unique distinction as a remnant of the Taconic Mountain lowlands, dating back 450 million years and boasting trees that have stood for over two centuries. Covering nearly 30 acres within the town of Stillwater, Snake Hill will now be permanently protected. The $1 million was allocated to local land trust Saratoga Preserving Land and Nature through the 2023 New York State budget to acquire Snake Hill from Stewarts Shops. We hope that it can live up to everybodys expectation and evolve in a manner equivalent with the dramatic location that it is, said Stewarts Shops chairman Bill Dake. The family and employee-owned company donated $100,000 from the sale back to Saratoga PLAN to assist with future upgrades and stewardship of the property. This acquisition ensures the continued provision of a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for future generations of all New Yorkers. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner (D-Round Lake) said, Im proud to have been able to secure funding for this invaluable asset on Saratoga Lake. Snake Hill has geological, ecological and cultural importance to our community, state, country and world. Therefore, Im thrilled Saratoga PLAN will ensure its natural habitats and resources will stay protected for generations to come. Id also like to thank the Dake Family and the Stewarts Corporation for their stewardship of this uniquely special land. The conservation of Snake Hill directly contributes to the states ambition to protect 30% of its land and waters by 2030, a goal firmly established by recent legislation. Snake Hills preservation will significantly benefit the community by: Providing free public access to the outdoors Protecting shoreline, wetlands, and forest in the Saratoga Lake Watershed, within the second fastest growing county in NYS Preventing pollution which would otherwise deteriorate water quality and foster the growth of harmful algal blooms (HABs), already detected in Saratoga Lake Providing natural climate solutions to weather-related events such as flooding Protecting biodiversity by preventing wildlife habitat loss This is truly wonderful news and an exciting way to start the new year, expressed Jim DeMasi, President of the Saratoga Lake Association (SLA). SLA, dedicated to enhancing the environmental quality, natural beauty, and safe recreational use of Saratoga Lake, is deeply appreciative of the opportunity to collaborate with Saratoga PLAN in their tireless efforts to conserve the remarkable Snake Hill. This unique geologic phenomenon, its beauty and historic value will be enjoyed for generations to come. Snake Hill will remain closed to the public for the time being. A public comment period and fundraising campaign for future management and stewardship of the land will be announced later this year. MOREAU In the wake of a turbulent final meeting of 2023, the Moreau town board voted on Tuesday to rescind a set of resolutions which had been passed by the previous board at the end of December. The action centered on the 2024 sewer rate resolution, which had initially included two separate rate schedules: one designed for the town without sewer district consolidation, and one designed with consolidation. Prior to the Dec. 21 board meeting, a public hearing was held to discuss the document containing both fee schedules, however, when the board moved to adopt the fee resolution, it was a version that only contained the rate schedule without consolidation. The one that we took discussion on showed a consolidation rate. In the one thats in the paperwork in front of me, theres no consolidation rate, Councilmember Mark Stewart pressed during that meeting. So, we arent taking action on the one that we had public hearing on. Despite the discrepancy, that resolution was voted on and passed. Following that discussion, the board also took action on a resolution which set a deadline for sewer consolidation to take place. In both instances, there were questions regarding whether the resolutions violated the New York open meetings law for being improperly posted. At Tuesdays meeting newly seated Town Supervisor Jesse Fish said hed been advised by the Association of Towns in the State of New York to rescind the two resolutions. (The) sewer rates resolution was not noticed properly and was stated on record at the 12/21 meeting, he said. Consolidated sewer district motion was based on sewer rates resolution, so it was also in the best interest of protecting the town to rescind it as well. Councilmember Kyle Noonan, who voted in favor of the resolutions during the December meeting, questioned Fish on the need to undo the resolutions so quickly. It might be rescinded in the future, Noonan started to question, but what is the point at this moment right now to rescinding it without having had legal counsel that the town pays, that looks out for the best interest of the town These people are out for the best interest of the town, theyre the Association of Towns, Fish interjected. Noonan said he was uncomfortable moving forward with rescinding the resolutions without any written documentation from the Association of Towns, nor any legal advice from town counsel. The law offices of Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, represent the town of Moreau on most matters, but the firm also represents local developer Rich Schermerhorn on certain matters when they do not coincide with Moreau town business. Due to Schermerhorns connection to the towns sewer project, Malcom OHara, a principal with Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, explained that the firm recuses itself from all matters wherein town business and Schermerhorns business intersect. The board hired William F. Ryan, senior counsel with Tabner, Ryan, and Keniry to represent the town in regard to the sewer project, but following the Dec. 21, 2023 meeting, his services were also no longer available. Whether thats changed or not, I dont know, but the way I heard it was he did not want to represent the town anymore, Fish said. Elizabeth Bennett, Fishs confidential secretary said she had spoken to Ryan as well as the Association of Towns to clarify that the board does have the authority to rescind a resolution, as long as it has not been filed with the state through act of another resolution. Im not saying were not going to do something with this, but just not the way it was done, Fish said. This is to rescind this motion, get these off the table so that we can decide what it is that we want to do, put forth in a motion the way that its supposed to be done by legal counsel. The motion to rescind the previous resolutions passed with Fish, Stewart, councilmember Pat Killian, and Councilmember John Donohue voting for it, and Noonan being the only vote against it. Kelly-Moore Paints is shutting down operations nationwide only days after laying off 700 workers and halting production at its Hurst manufacturing plant. The company said Friday that it unsuccessfully tried to attract new investors to keep the 77-year-old company afloat amid massive legal and financial burdens that have been weighing on the company for many years. Kelly-Moore immediately closed its retail stores and production facilities, including the 330,000-square-foot plant in Hurst that opened in 2017. The company said it plans to fulfill as many customer orders as it can from inventory at its Union City, Calif., distribution facility. Employees would be paid for time worked, the company said, and it pledged to continue collecting on bills in an attempt to meet accrued benefits, such as paid time off. Our owners took on significant financial risks in the acquisition last year, said Kelly-Moore CEO Charles Gassenheimer in a statement. Unfortunately, despite their extraordinary efforts after acquiring this distressed business, they simply couldnt overcome the unexpectedly large challenges, and will be exiting the business. Miami-based investment firm Flacks Group bought Kelly-Moore in late 2022. Kelly-Moore had $400 million in annual revenues and 1,200 employees at the time. It sold paint through 157 company-managed stores and resellers. One of the first things the company did after the acquisition was to move its headquarters from San Carlos, Calif., to Irving, Texas. Gassenheimer said at the time that his goal was to grow revenue to the $800 million to $1 billion range. The paint maker has been fighting lawsuits for years over using asbestos in its cement and texture products. The practice, banned in 1981, has cost the company over $600 million to settle claims. The company estimates it faces another $170 million in future asbestos liabilities. Through the cumulative cash drain caused by legal settlements and the cost of defending ever-continuing case filings, the companys ability to reinvest in the business including investments needed to address historical supply chain challenges that were exacerbated by the recent pandemic has been severely constrained for an extended period of time, the companys announcement said. Clayton Tageson, a 33-year store manager in Clovis, Calif., said he learned by email Friday afternoon that he was out of a job. He started with Kelly-Moore as a part-time driver and worked his way up over 10 years. I just feel relieved now, he said. This is better than sitting in the dark or hoping that something might change while knowing nothings gonna change. At least I have an opportunity now to go find another job. Tageson said he and his co-workers had suspicions about the companys financial condition since his store had been operating for months with limited inventory. But no one was answering our questions, he said. We were constantly having to tell customers that we didnt have what they wanted. Maybe (Flacks Group) saw the financials coming down, but that message didnt come down to us. Gassenheimer said the company exhausted all alternatives for rescuing the business. Not even filing for bankruptcy or in-court liquidation could save it, he said, since the company is out of money, leases all of its facilities and doesnt have assets to pay creditor claims. My deepest sympathy goes out to our loyal employees, customers, industry partners and the communities where we do business, who have supported Kelly-Moore throughout its long history, he said. The move to Texas was supposed to mold the company for the future by exploring new supply-chain partnerships, planning technology and store upgrades, and resolving many asbestos claims, the company said. But attracting investors or acquirers proved to be futile with additional asbestos suits hanging over the companys head. Gassenheimer said hes disappointed with the outcome. The ownership groups commitment from day one was to fix the business if we could, he said. Sadly, no matter how great the Kelly-Moore team, products and reputation for service, we simply couldnt overcome the massive legal and financial burdens that have been weighing on the company for many years. Kelly-Moore was one of the nations largest independent paint companies, selling 90% of its products to professional paint contractors and other trade professionals. Cities Where Brick-and-Mortar Retail Is Declining the Fastest Cities Where Brick-and-Mortar Retail Is Declining the Fastest Changes in the U.S. Retail Landscape Regional Declines in Brick-and-Mortar Retail Large Metros With the Largest Decline in Brick-And-Mortar Retail Midsize Metros With the Largest Decline in Brick-And-Mortar Retail Small Metros With the Largest Decline in Brick-And-Mortar Retail States With the Largest Decline in Brick-And-Mortar Retail Methodology ATLANTIC CITY Milani Hill wanted to read the words of Martin Luther King Jr. that resonated most with her. The 15-year-old city resident chose Whats Your Lifes Blueprint? which King delivered to the students of Barratt Junior High School in Philadelphia on Oct. 26, 1967. I feel like it points toward children, Hill said. As a high schooler, its kind of hard to figure out what I want to do with my life, so this is very inspiring. Hill was one of a handful of people who read at the King read-in Saturday afternoon. The event was presented by the Atlantic City Free Public Library and was held at the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University. About a dozen people attended the event, which ran up against the mornings Atlantic City peace walk. This was the librarys ninth annual read-in program, which began in 2014, library spokesperson Don Latham said. This was the first year the library held it at the Arts Garage, as parts of the library are under renovation. Library Director Robert Rynkiewicz said the event is his favorite of all the ones the library presents each year. When I first became the director seven years ago, we had been just starting the read-ins, Rynkiewicz said following the program, and it was one of the first things I actually got to do as the director, and I think it really pulled me into the community. Its so nice that the citizens show up, and they get a chance to read and to participate. Snow squall possible on another windy Sunday, coastal storm nears Tuesday An arctic cold front will bring the potential for a snow squall Sunday, along with chilly winds. A lower impact coastal storm will then impact NJ Tuesday, but snow details are lower confidence than usual just 36 hours out. And how can you not be moved by his speeches? Some of Kings speeches read Saturday included the Philadelphia speech, his famous I Have A Dream speech from Aug. 28, 1963, and his Nobel Peace Prize speech Dec. 10, 1964. King, who delivered more than 2,500 public speeches and was the most prominent figure of the Civil Rights Movement, was assassinated April 4, 1968. Sometimes you feel like some things havent changed, Rynkiewicz said. But hopefully people like this, and their words in history will survive. Reading speeches Saturday were Hill, library volunteer Liz Dimmerman, Assistant Library Director Melissa McGeary and adult services librarian Dani Sinai. (King) was prolific. A lot of his speeches were prolific and very long, too, said Sinai, who was hired by the library three months ago and coordinated Saturdays program. She said each speaker chose the speech they wanted to read. Dr. Kings words, I feel, are very emotional, Sinai said, and if you read a speech that somebody else chose for you, the emotion doesnt come through as well. City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, who was originally slated to read I Have a Dream, showed up just after the readings, as he had been involved with the peace walk that morning. Shabazz spent some time afterward talking with Rynkiewicz as well as meeting Hill and her family and friends. These kinds of events are key to keeping the legacy of Dr. King going and also to remind those of us who are here that we can be active and we can be involved and we can make a difference, Shabazz said. Atlantic County executive superintendent to receive MLK award Interim Executive Atlantic County Superintendent Leslie White-Coursey, of Atlantic City, will be presented the 34th annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Spirit Award on Tuesday, the county said. This is a very, very important activity. Its a very key activity. And more of our people have to experience it, he continued. And Im sure if the march hadnt coincided with it wed have a tremendous crowd here today. I would have been here, and I know other people would have been here. This is a very important time in our country and our city, and Dr. Kings words have never been more relevant, more timely and more essential for us to not only hear but internalize. As for Hills lifes blueprint, she wants to be a neonatologist, a doctor who specializes in babies born early or those who have early medical problems. But I like volunteering at the library. So if all else fails, I think I would be happy being a librarian, she said. Hill, who turned 15 on Saturday, has been volunteering at the library for about a year. She was there so often she began to log her hours. Through the inspiration of the library, she applied for the Presidents Volunteer Service Award, which she was awarded last month after she had volunteered for 320 hours. Rynkiewicz said Hill is the kind of volunteer the library wants. They are the future readers, he said. Hopefully with people like Milani and our staff, itll get more kids coming in and reading. As a young person who is interested in reading and education, Hill sees the importance of having a resource like the library. She also sees the importance of reading Kings speeches, not just as a history lesson but as a motivator for her life choices and experiences. Its kind of crazy how way back in the 60s how things said can still affect now, Hill said. But those problems were having now were happening then. So, its kind of sad to hear were still trying to work through the kinks of humanity. Pretty much any speech from then, if it hasnt been solved, can still be a problem now. LITTLE EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP A township man was charged with three counts of aggravated arson after police found him setting his neighbor's deck on fire, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said Saturday. Steven Johnson, 36, is accused of starting three fires at the same residence during the course of a week, the Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. At 1:30 a.m. Jan. 6, police and firefighters were called to structure fire at a vacant property on Revolutionary Road. Investigators found the fire started in the living room of the structure and that it was caused by an unknown person who put an open flame to an ignitable liquid, the Prosecutor's Office said. At 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, police and firefighters were dispatched to the same address for a shed fire, which was also caused by an incendiary from an unknown person putting an open flame to an ignitable liquid, the Prosecutor's Office said. About 1 a.m. Friday, police were conducting surveillance at the home when they saw an unknown man, later identified as Johnson, hop the fence onto the property, pour liquid on the attached deck, light an item on fire and then drop the ignited item onto the deck, the Prosecutor's Office said. Johnson then left the property and returned to his home, the Prosecutor's Office said. The officers observing Johnson extinguished the fire and then went to Johnson's residence and arrested him. Further investigation showed Johnson was responsible for all three of the fires, the Prosecutor's Office said. Johnson was sent to the Ocean County jail. Volunteers paint a mural during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at Richmond Greenway in Richmond on Jan. 17, 2022. If the civil rights leader were alive today, he would be disheartened by how the Bay Area has become a microcosm of the nations social and political problems. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle 2022 While fighting for the rights of the oppressed all across the country, Martin Luther King Jr. was also devoted to changing the social and political climate in the Bay Area. He came to San Francisco for the 1956 NAACP national convention and spoke against segregation in housing. In 1964, he returned to meet with national Republican party officials and pushed for civil rights to be included in their agenda. In 1967, King spoke at UC Berkeley against American militarism. At a different event the same year at Stanford University, he gave a moving speech about how much work still needed to be done in the civil rights struggle. In an America that needed to be dragged toward an equitable future, maybe King believed the Bay Area was socially equipped to move forward with the least resistance. Its a shame that the Bay Area progressivism King clearly valued is in such short supply these days. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sisters Denaya Shorter, left, and Davielle Shorter adorn their car windows with signs invoking social change before participating in a car caravan in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. in Oakland on Jan. 17, 2022. Don Feria/Special to the Chronicle 2022 As we celebrate Kings life and legacy, I cant help but wonder what the good reverend would think of America now a country that within the last 20 years elected its first Black president in a historic sign of racial progress and then, eight years later, elected its first white nationalist president who undid much of that progress. Would it sadden the civil rights icon to see how the Bay Area has become a microcosm of the nations social and political problems? I believe the civil rights leader would be heartbroken to see the ongoing assault on our democracy led by the far right, the persistence of cops brutalizing Black people and the attack on diversity initiatives at academic institutions. The Jan. 6 insurrection at the nations Capitol was proof our society has lost sight of Kings vision. That day exposed the bitterness and hatred that many Donald Trump supporters and white nationalists feel toward fair elections not producing the results they want, and the extreme measures they are willing to take to reverse those results. These people claim they are trying to save America, when in reality they are trying to preserve one where diversity in social thought and political representation is considered a bad thing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad While some in the Bay Area who claim the moderate mantle arent wearing MAGA hats or invading sacred government buildings, they are attempting to subvert democracy through a different means: weaponizing recalls against progressive politicians. People attended an election night party at Del Mar on June 7, 2022, in San Francisco supporting the recall of District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle 2022 Former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin was less than halfway through his first term in office when he was successfully recalled in 2022. Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price began facing recall efforts less than six months into her first term last year. Theres even rumblings of a recall against Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, who is one year into a four-year term. These recall efforts are ripped straight from the Republican playbook of portraying progressive politicians as prioritizing criminals above victims and choosing to be indifferent to public safety issues. Some moderates in San Francisco and Oakland say theyre saving their respective cities with these recalls, but in reality, theyre preserving a status quo that serves their own interests. These local Democrats have succumbed to the kinds of anger and intolerance that fueled their MAGA counterparts in Washington, D.C., three years ago. These actions all chip away at the very foundation of a fair democracy, one that King devoted his life to building. A demonstrator holds up a sign calling for the recall of Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price in Oakland on Oct. 15, 2023. Benjamin Fanjoy/Special to the Chronicle 2023 Police brutality was also a grave concern for King. With a record number of police killings nationally in 2023, and a disproportionate amount affecting the Black community, Kings dream of justice has yet to be realized, and the Bay Area isnt exempt from this struggle. Local police departments have been plagued by scandals in recent years, ranging from lawsuits over the unjust killings of people of color to glaring indications of how racial bias still guides whom they choose to stop and arrest. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Antioch Police Department is facing calls for reforms after an investigation exposed racist text messages shared between officers. The Oakland Police Departments chief was fired after he mishandled a pair of officer misconduct cases, and state data show the San Francisco Police Department is still disproportionately stopping Black motorists and pedestrians. King dreamed of cops treating all people with dignity and respect. Maria Cassandra Quinto-Collins, left, whose son Angelo Quinto was killed at the hands of Antioch Police in December 2020, stands with daughter Bella Quinto Collins and husband Robert Collins at a rally held outside A.F. Bray Courthouse in Martinez on Aug. 25, 2023, following a hearing related to a 2021 fatal shooting charge that was threatening to unravel due to a corruption probe at the Antioch Police Department. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2023 King understood the importance of creating inclusive spaces where individuals of all backgrounds could thrive. If he were around today, King would find he had his work cut out for him in academia. The conservative Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in colleges last year. Conservatives fed up with liberal thinking influencing the American education system led successful efforts to oust the presidents of Ivy League schools Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania. The Bay Area isnt far removed from this kind of right-wing thinking. Californians voted to end affirmative action in 1996. In 2020, they reaffirmed their decision by defeating Proposition 16, which would have reinstated affirmative action in the states public schools and workplaces as well as in contracts with the federal government. Opposition to affirmative action has been strong in our supposedly liberal patch of California. Residents in San Francisco cant even talk about injecting equity into high school admission processes without it causing controversy, and last year, an Oakland elementary school couldnt host a playdate for kids of color without drawing online backlash and even bomb threats. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Sharifa Sparks plants flowers with her daughter Destini Amey during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event at Richmond Greenway on Jan. 17, 2022. Bronte Wittpenn/The Chronicle King cautioned in his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize lecture titled The Quest for Peace and Justice that the nation would face a frustrating and bewildering wilderness of opposition before it could reach true equality on the majestic shores of the Promised Land. Sadly, the Promised Land King dreamed of remains just that a dream and the United States is still aimlessly wandering in that wilderness he predicted. To do justice to Kings legacy in this modern Bay Area and America, we must recognize how far weve strayed from the road King was paving for us decades ago and recommit to building a more equitable and just society a society that would make King proud. NORTH WILDWOOD In April 2021, the city Planning Board gave a unanimous if reluctant yes to plans to dramatically reshape the citys bayfront, with new buildings, sweeping renovations to existing buildings and adding a new top floor to Marina Bay Towers on New York Avenue. The project was, in part, supposed to help fund repairs to senior housing in the high-rise building, and resolve about 15 years worth of tangled litigation over the property, which had been built more than two decades earlier as affordable housing for seniors. Even the applicant agreed the property was not in good shape. There had been multiple reports of leaks throughout the building, where a dwindling number of seniors still lived full time, and no reason to believe that those issues had been addressed in the meantime. With the approvals in place, there has been no sign of work on the property, with no indication that work on the new structures is likely to begin soon. Mayor Pat Rosenello and an advocate for the residents said there has been no indication that any repairs have begun, either. The owner of the building, Paul Cocoziello, could not be contacted for an interview. There was no response to a phone message, and the phone numbers for Marina Bay Towers and several businesses associated with Cocoziello were disconnected. The attorney who represented Cocoziello in front of the Planning Board in 2021, Sal Perillo, did not respond to a phone message either. Since the Planning Board approval 32 months ago, property values in North Wildwood have continued to climb, Rosenello said, indicating there would be a market for new condominiums overlooking Beach Creek. Nothing has transpired since then, Rosenello said. It is very, very unfortunate, the current state of that building. To have such a large parcel of bayfront not being very productive at all, its a shame. Olga Pomar, an attorney who has represented residents of the building, suggested Wednesday that it is likely Cocoziello could not find investors to fund the proposed work. But she, too, said she has little insight into the current conditions inside. One of her clients has died since the litigation was active, she said, and others have moved out of the property. One sign of life she reported: a planned status conference with Judge Michael J. Blee with those involved in litigation connected to the property. The lawsuits and counterlawsuits were active for about 15 years, covering most of the buildings existence. Pomar believes it likely that the owner will ask for permission to rent some units at market rate. Documents on file in City Hall in 2021 put the estimated cost of the first project at $12 million, with the second building coming in at an estimated $65 million. There is further work planned for additional buildings at the property, which spans two city blocks. Construction costs have risen sharply since the planning hearing. While plans are to complete market-rate units as part of the extensive expansion, the existing 143 units at Marina Bay Towers are restricted to use as affordable housing. Massive bayfront project planned for beleaguered Marina Bay Towers site NORTH WILDDOOD A year after reaching a settlement on a tangled lawsuit over the future of In testimony to the Planning Board in 2021, Cocoziello said repairing the senior housing units was the primary motivation for the expansion project. He said he would not have the funds to make the needed repairs without the project. At that time, between 20 and 30 of the units were occupied. Pomar believes that number is now fewer than 20. Its such a wasted resource, she said. Its a beautiful building in a beautiful location, and affordable housing is such a badly needed commodity. The towering structure looks much as it did two years ago, with some boards on the windows and some exterior indications of water damage, and some signs of life, with a few cars in the parking lot on a January morning. Rosenello pointed out that the building is still subject to inspection, and said to his knowledge there have been no citations issued on the property. Attempts to contact residents of the property for comment were unsuccessful. On Wednesday, two men working at the associated marina at the property had no information about when work could start at any of the proposed new buildings. At the 2021 Planning Board hearing, Rosenello said the building is in complete disrepair and that approving the project offered the best chance for repairs to take place to the existing units. Further complicating matters for the city, Pomar said, is that North Wildwood has included the affordable housing units at Marina Bay Towers in its fair share housing plan. North Wildwood Planning Board supports massive bayfront project NORTH WILDWOOD In two unanimous votes Wednesday, the citys Planning Board supported a mul Some neighbors opposed approving the expansion, but some residents of the existing building supported the plans in hopes of speeding the repairs to the current building. The approved plans call for the renovation of one floor of the existing building, followed by the addition of another story to allow for two-floor penthouse apartments. Under that plan, the completed building would have 105 affordable housing units and 60 units to be sold at market rate. The North Wildwood board also gave preliminary site plan approval to a second high-rise to be built next to the existing building, on a crushed-shell lot currently used to store boats for the marina. That building will include 144 residential units, four levels of parking underneath and a two-story penthouse. Plans are for those to be sold as condo units, with 60 to be used as condo/hotel units to be rented through a central management company. The boats remain in place on that lot, with no sign of preparation work there or anywhere else on the property. The application included plans for expansive new construction at the site as well as proposed renovations to the existing marina. With work planned in phases, the application included renovations and expansion to the existing boathouse, an additional 56-foot-tall retail and apartment building being described as a lighthouse, and a marina club and 333-seat restaurant to include a rooftop pool. The late 1800s-era Annie Wittenmyer complex in central Davenport could become affordable family and senior housing under a proposal by experienced historic preservation developer Chris Ales. The 32-acre complex off Eastern Avenue, which was once a home for children orphaned by the Civil War, is recognized as a national historic landmark. Its use evolved for social services in the mid-20th century, and the City of Davenport took over ownership in the 1970s. But years of buildings sitting vacant or underused meant there wasnt enough revenue for routine maintenance, according to city officials. With millions in deferred maintenance, the city sought a new owner and use for the property. The city invited developers to tour the campus five years ago, and now is considering a development proposal by Ales to turn the complex into 99 total affordable rental units, including 52 for seniors and 47 for families. This week, there will be two public hearings where the public will have a chance to weigh in. The planning and zoning commission will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall on rezoning the property, and the city council will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at city council chambers over an agreement to give temporary site control of the campus to Ales and his development partners to apply for state and federal tax credits, among other funding, for the project. The proposed agreement, which must be approved by the city council, would permit Ales and his development partners roughly one year to secure the necessary financing. If successful, the city would transfer the property to the developer by 2025. If not, the agreement would expire. Ales expects the project will require about $40 million to accomplish. Ales is working with Brian Fritz, owner of Pioneer Property Management who is likely to own the complex once finished along with Jim Bergman, who owns the Kahl Building. Ales is serving as a consultant, he said, particularly regarding historic preservation. Ales is still working through a building-by-building concept for the complex, but under his high-level plan, no buildings would be demolished. The city would retain the Annie Wittenmyer Aquatic Center and most existing nonprofits could continue leasing space at the complex. The first step is doing our best to accommodate all the folks that have been occupying the campus and desire to stay there, Ales said. That includes Davenport Junior Theater, Family Resources, and Community Action of Eastern Iowas head start program. City officials have also indicated theyre exploring a potential partnership with Davenport schools and Junior Theater. Ales said theyve also talked with Tapestry Farms, a refugee services organization that grows fresh produce, but the developers dont think theyll be able to continue leasing the current brick building at the southwest corner of campus. Ann McGlynn, the executive director of Tapestry Farms, is excited about the prospect of more affordable housing located close to services like a grocery store, schools, and bus lines even if it means the organization possibly leaving its home at the Wittenmyer campus. If it so happens that some of our families are able to live on that campus, that will personally give me great joy, McGlynn said. And I look forward to the day when I can drive by the building that is now ours and know that someone is living there and able to build a good life because they have stable housing. Ales has more than two decades experience doing or consulting on historic renovations in Davenport, including the conversion of the former Marycrest College into about 180 apartments, the Kahl office building (60-70 apartments), the former Kahl nursing home (about 50 apartments), and St. Katherines School in Davenport (about 40 apartments). Several have involved apartment conversions. But even if some of the Wittenmyer campus was previously designed for residential use, turning them into residential apartments will involve lots of upgrades, including new plumbing, electric heating, cooling, often new roofs, new mechanical systems, sprinklers, fire alarms, and elevators if needed, Ales said. Although it may look simple, there are a lot of challenges just in the construction, Ales said. The campus apartments would have income and rent restrictions because of financing requirements from the Iowa Finance Authority and other potential funding partners. Generally speaking, a substantial portion of the apartments will be limited to individuals with incomes at or below 60% of the area median income. And then the rents will be approximately a third of those incomes, Ales explained. So, a one-bedroom apartment might rent for $500-$600, a two-bedroom, $600-$700 and a three-bedroom $700-$800, again as a general estimate. In the senior portion of the development, therell be a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, depending on the building layouts. In the workforce housing component, therell be some one, two, and perhaps three, maybe even some four-bedroom apartments, Ales said. The developers also don't plan to construct any new buildings, Ales said. Ales said what attracted him to the project were discussions with the mayor and council members, followed by discussions with city staff about the need for substantial capital improvements, underutilization of the buildings on the campus, the need for affordable housing particularly following the loss of units in connection with the recent building collapse downtown, and his own penchant for historic preservation. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis made their closing arguments in Davenport on Saturday just two days ahead of the Iowa Republican caucuses. At Thunder Bay Grille, Haley acknowledged, "On Monday, it's going to be cold. It's gonna be real cold." "But I'll tell you this, you know you set the tone for where the rest of the country needs to go. You know what you need to do, and I know that you'll do it. I trust you. I trust you because I have felt over these last 11 months, Iowans take this process seriously. So we need you to get out there. We need you to make sure you layer up in case you're standing in line." Haley mostly stuck to her stump speech on Sunday. She touted favorable polling of her against President Joe Biden, pledged to beef up border security, continue U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel, and ramp up U.S. energy production of oil, natural gas, and biofuels. A poll of likely Iowa Republican caucusgoers released Saturday night done by the Des Moines Register, Mediacom and NBC, showed Donald Trump still far ahead with 48% of likely caucusgoers saying the former president is their first choice. But its the first poll in which Haley surpassed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place, with 20% of surveyed likely Republican caucusgoers saying Haley is their first choice and 16% say DeSantis is their No. 1 pick. However, a bitterly cold caucus night following a blizzard that dumped more than a foot of snow across most of Iowa, may mean caucus results look different from the poll. In the poll, Haley has among the lowest percentage of supporters who say they are extremely enthusiastic about their candidate, calling into question whether all of her supporters will brave the conditions to caucus for her. Barb Reis, 67, who attended Saturday's Davenport event, said she thinks Haley is "reasonable." She likes her thoughts about Ukraine, Israel, and the border, and how Haley says the U.S. can secure its border and support its foreign allies. Reis said politics are too extreme and without compromise. "So nothing happens," Reis said. She thinks Haley can bring more of that back. Reis caucused in 2020 for the Democrats because she didn't like Trump, she said. She came in uncommitted, but ended up in Biden's camp. She said if it came down to a Trump-Biden rematch, she wouldn't hesitate to vote for the Democrat. Harry Hoit, who's 87, says he's ready to layer up and brave the frigid temperatures to caucus for Haley. Saturday was the first time he heard her speak in-person, but he'd seen her on the debate stage. He said he agrees with Haley when she says chaos will continue to follow Donald Trump if he's reelected. "My opinion of Trump is terribly low, so he was not in the running," Hoit said. "I think that she has the most reasonable approach to the many, many problems that we have nationally, and I think she's the most qualified internationally of the roster running." DeSantis spoke before more than 100 people in the At The Stardust in downtown Davenport. The event was sponsored by Never Back Down. DeSantis was introduced by his wife, Casey, who told the crowd that her husband, "He's the real deal. He will deliver on 100% of his promises." Casey DeSantis also said that her husband has the courage to stand by his convictions, regardless of what's popular with other politicians or the pundits. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, who as a Republican represents Texas' 21st District, told the crowd he does not think Trump should get the Republican nomination. Roy said Trump failed to deliver on his promises, adding that he does not think Republicans should "nominate a man who can only serve four years." DeSantis said Trump as president failed to deliver on all of his promises, starting with failing to get rid of Obamacare. He added that people deserve to make choices in their own healthcare. DeSantis said he would push for a line-item veto as president because he used such a measure to pay down 25% of Florida's debt. He told the crowd that he had vetoed 3% of the entire budget one year using the line-item veto. During his speech, DeSantis said he would like to see a 28th Amendment to the Constitution that would force members of Congress to obey and abide by the same laws they pass for the citizens. Also, DeSantis said that one of the first things he would do as president is reverse the energy policies set by the Biden administration, including mandates for electric vehicles. He said Americans should be free to choose the vehicles they wish to drive, and that electric vehicles would be beyond the ability for many Americans to afford. Additionally, he said many of the jobs at U.S. auto manufacturers would be wiped away by Biden's vehicle mandates. He also said he would get America's energy production moving again. DeSantis said he would do something Trump failed to do and that is close the southern border to illegal immigration. In answering a question about immigration, DeSantis said that even not all legal immigration is good for the country if the people coming in cannot assimilate to the American way of life. Numerous European countries are facing that problem now, he added. When the subject of diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI was brought up, DeSantis referred to it as "discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination," and touted the fact that he had signed into Florida law that bans Florida's public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs. DeSantis said that despite the freezing temperatures, he believes Iowa Republicans will get to the caucus events and help him earn the Republican Presidential nomination. Caucus night today may go down in the history books as the coldest ever. Forecasts predict temperatures to be minus 7 by caucus time. Scott County GOP chairwoman said the GOP is still expecting a strong turnout despite the cold temperatures, but probably not record-breaking. Before, we were expecting record-breaking numbers over 2016, Jeanita McNulty said. Now, with frigid temperatures, were not expecting to break records. But, were still expecting good turnout. Especially folks really committed to their candidate. Heres how and where to caucus on Monday night. When and where is my caucus? Caucuses will take place 7 p.m. Jan. 15. Officials advise arriving early, by 6:30 p.m. Finding your caucus site requires two steps. Your caucus site is based on your voting precinct, which you can look up at the Secretary of States website or the county auditors office. Then check your location with the Iowa Republicans website, iowagop.org/2024caucus, or the Iowa Democrats website, iowademocrats.org/caucus/ In Scott County, Democrats will caucus at Davenport North High School, 626 W 53rd St, Davenport. What happens at a caucus? Iowans meet according to party preference in schools, public buildings, and churches on caucus night. In addition to selecting a preferred presidential candidate, caucusgoers typically elect committee members and talk party platform. For Republicans, before the presidential preference poll, representatives from each campaign can make speeches in support of their candidate. Caucusgoers can then write their preference for the Republican presidential nominee on a slip of paper. Those votes are counted and announced to the caucus site and reported to the state party. A representative from each campaign may watch the tabulation. Unlike in past Iowa Democratic caucuses, where Iowans stood in corners of the room to be counted, Republicans keep their choices a secret. For Democrats, theres a big change this year. Instead of declaring support for a presidential candidate at the caucuses, the party is conducting a mail-in system. At the caucuses themselves on Jan. 15, Democrats will discuss party business such as electing committee members and discussing party platform. To request a presidential preference card, Iowa Democrats can fill out an online form or download a printable form, fill it out, email it or return it in the mail. The last day to request a preference card is Feb. 19. The party began mailing out preference cards Saturday. The partys new presidential preference cards will include the names of incumbent President Joe Biden and two long-shot challengers, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and author Marianne Williamson, along with an option to remain uncommitted. Who can caucus? Any person voting at a precinct caucus must be a registered voter and resident of Iowa, and a registered member of the political party living in the precinct in which they intend to caucus. Individuals may register to vote or change their party affiliation at the caucus. To register to vote in Iowa, you must: Be a U.S. citizen Be an Iowa resident Be at least 17 years old as long as you will turn 18 on or before Election Day. Not be judged mentally incompetent to vote by a court Not claim the right to vote in any other place Iowans can register to vote online using the Iowa Department of Transportations website or by downloading a voter registration form from the Iowa Secretary of States website, sos.iowa.gov, and mailing the form to their county auditor. Iowans also can register to vote in person on the day of the Iowa caucuses by showing up to their caucus site and bringing documents, including ID and proof of residency. Iowans can check their voter registration status and find more information at voterready.iowa.gov/registertovote. What do I need to bring to my caucus site? Iowa voters planning to participate in the Iowa caucuses will need to bring a valid form of ID on caucus night, which includes: Iowa Voter Identification Card Iowa Drivers License Iowa Non-Operative ID U.S. Military ID or Veteran ID U.S. Passport Tribal ID card/Document Those who plan to register to vote at their precinct location on caucus night, also will need to bring the following: A valid form of ID, as listed above A proof of address (e.g. residential lease, utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, government check, property tax statement, government document, etc.) Republican caucus sites in Scott County Allens Grove Twp North Scott Junior High Band Room 502 S 5th St. Eldridge Bettendorf City B11 Bettendorf High School Band Room 3333 18th St. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B12 Bettendorf Middle School Gym 2030 Middle Rd. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B13 Bettendorf Middle School Cafeteria Side Room 2030 Middle Rd. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B21 Paul Norton Elementary School Common 4485 Greenbrier Dr. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B22 Paul Norton Elementary School Gym 4485 Greenbrier Dr. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B23 Bettendorf High School Choir Room 3333 18th St. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B31 Bettendorf High School Orchestra Room 3333 18th St. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B32 Pleasant Valley High School Auditorium 604 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B33 Pleasant Valley High School Gym 604 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B41 Bettendorf High School Cafeteria 3333 18th St. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B42 Bettendorf High School Commons 3333 18th St. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B43 Pleasant Valley High School Band Room 604 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf Bettendorf City B51 Pleasant Valley Junior High School Gym 3501 Wisconsin St. LeClaire Bettendorf City B52 Pleasant Valley Junior High School Cafeteria 3501 Wisconsin St. LeClaire Bettendorf City B53 Pleasant Valley Junior High School Band Room 3501 Wisconsin St. LeClaire Blue Grass Walcott Elementary School Cafeteria 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott Buffalo City Walcott Elementary School Classroom 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott Buffalo Twp Walcott Elementary School Large Gym 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott Davenport City D11 West High School Cafeteria 3505 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D12 West High School Cafeteria 3505 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D13 West High School Auditorium 3505 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D14 West High School Choir Room 3505 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D21 High Point Bible Church 2600 W 63rd St. Davenport Davenport City D22 Wood Intermediate School Music Room 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D23 Wood Intermediate School Library 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D24 Rogalski Center Ballroom St. Ambrose 518 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D31 Rogalski Center Ballroom St. Ambrose 518 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D32 Central High School Classroom 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D33 Central High School Classroom 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D34 Central High School Classroom 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D41 Central High School Kahler Auditorium 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D42 Central High School Band Room 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D43 Rogalski Center Ballroom St. Ambrose 518 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D44 Rogalski Center Ballroom St. Ambrose 518 W Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D51 Central High School Cafeteria East 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D52 Central High School Classroom 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D53 Central High School Cafeteria West 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D54 Central High School Choir Room 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D61 Central High School Auditorium 1120 N Main St. Davenport Davenport City D62 Sudlow Intermediate School Gym 1414 E Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D63 Sudlow Intermediate School Cafeteria 1414 E Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D64 Sudlow Intermediate School Library 1414 E Locust St. Davenport Davenport City D71 Wood Intermediate School Cafeteria 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D72 Wood Intermediate School Classroom 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D73 Wood Intermediate School Classroom 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D74 Wood Intermediate School Classroom 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D81 Wood Intermediate School Classroom 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D82 Wood Intermediate School Gym 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D83 Wood Intermediate School Gym 5701 N Division St. Davenport Davenport City D84 Bettendorf Middle School Cafeteria 2030 Middle Rd. Bettendorf Eldridge City 1 North Scott High School Media Center 200 S First St. Eldridge Eldridge City 2 North Scott High School Commons 200 S First St. Eldridge Hickory Grove Twp Walcott Elementary School Classroom 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott LeClaire City 1 Cody Elementary School Gym 2100 Territorial Rd LeClaire LeClaire City 2 Cody Elementary School Cafeteria 2100 Territorial Rd LeClaire LeClaire Twp Cody Elementary School Library 2100 Territorial Rd LeClaire Liberty Twp Walcott Elementary School Classroom 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott Lincoln Sheridan North Scott High School Band Room 200 S First St. Eldridge McCausland North Scott High School Choir Room 200 S First St. Eldridge Park View North Scott Junior High School Choir Room 502 S 5th St. Eldridge Pleasant Valley Twp Pleasant Valley High School Cafeteria 604 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf Princeton Twp Cody Elementary School Cafeteria 2100 Territorial Rd LeClaire Riverdale Pleasant Valley High School Classroom 604 Belmont Rd. Bettendorf Walcott Walcott Elementary School Cafeteria 545 Bredenbeck Way Walcott Winfield Twp North Scott High School Auditorium 200 S First St. Eldridge Tom Barton of the Gazette contributed to this report. Bon Air Presbyterian Church hosted Sylvias Sisters on Sunday as the group and volunteers put together menstruation kits for individuals in need as part of the National Day of Service honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. We fight period poverty in the greater Richmond area, said Brittany Averette, Sylvias Sisters executive director. Period poverty is the inability for those who have periods to be able to either afford or have access to menstruation hygiene products, Averette said. The group put together 1,780 kits, with each being able to last one month for an individual who experiences menstruation. We hear heartbreaking stories of menstruators who leave school or dont attend, Averette said. They miss up to 25% of their school year and graduation rates are lower; their performance in school is not as good as it otherwise would be. While the group does distribute many kits to area schools, it also partners with womens shelters and other nonprofits to help serve low-income menstruators who may miss work or appointments due to lack of access to hygiene products. People who are experiencing period poverty cant go to school, they cant perform well in school. They miss their work and have a hard time earning a living. They might miss important appointments in their life because they dont have access or cant afford these products, Averette said. So our goal is to help menstruators thrive at school, at work and in their everyday lives. Angel Winstead, who was helping to pack kits with her sister-in-law, emphasized how important these kits are for young menstruators. Considering that a lot of young girls dont have the resources or confidence to ask for help, so its very important, Winstead said. Averette stressed how important the kits are, especially since menstruation products are not always talked about in the discussion of what people need for help. Its an underserved need. Its something that people dont think about, even when youre packing a hygiene kit, many organizations, who do wonderful work, and pack hygiene kits will include the basics: soap, deodorant and shampoo. Since these products dont apply to 100% of the population, theyre often left out, Averette said. Its an unfulfilled need, its an underserved need, and its not talked about just because of the taboo surrounding menstruation. So we provide specifically for this particular need. Another kit packing party, this one hosted by the Hanover County NAACP, will be held at First Union Baptist Church in Mechanicsville on Monday. Sylvias Sisters Weekend of Service 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews 011524-rtd-spotnews Three days after Christmas, Latitude Seafood Co.s Kevin Grubbs decided to end what had become an abusive relationship. After more than three years of trying to settle an $880 penalty for paying his meals tax bill a month late during the height of the pandemic, he cut the city a check for $67,739. Grubbs owns three Latitude restaurants one in Chesterfield County, another in Bel Air, Maryland, and his Richmond location at Stony Point Fashion Park, which is doing well enough financially to kick back roughly $280,000 a year in city meals taxes, billed at 7.5%. But hes had enough. When my lease is up in 2028, Im out. I wont do business here anymore, Grubbs said in an interview last week. Theft is theft. Im not doing business with thieves. In the week following a Jan. 7 Times-Dispatch story that reported on Grubbs meals tax issue, among others, Richmond has been flooded with fresh tales of bureaucratic incompetence. Late last week, the mayors office proposed changes to eliminate the compounding fees, along with other initiatives. But its telling that City Hall has made so little progress streamlining a tax collection system that threatens to undercut what is clearly RVAs most important retail sector a diverse array of culinary destinations, award-winning restaurants and breweries. All of a sudden, as director of the Virginia Restaurant Association, people are calling me up to tell me their story, said Michael Byrne, a longtime restaurateur in Richmond who founded Richbrau Brewery in Shockoe Slip in the 1990s. In a weeks time, hes been contacted by more than three dozen restaurant owners seeking help with inflated tax bills. Byrne is currently working with state lawmakers on a bill that would make meals tax collection procedures and how late fees are assessed more transparent. Grubbs $67,739 in penalties for one late payment is so absurd it borders on fraudulent, but it appears to comport with state law. However, it certainly violates the spirit of the citys meals tax ordinance, which dictates that late payments are to be assessed an initial 10% penalty, and another 10% for each year the penalty goes unpaid, with this caveat stated in plain language: In no case shall the penalty exceed the amount of the tax. Grubbs punishment for paying his March 2020 tax bill late his $8,793.91 check to the city was cashed on May 26, 2020 exceeded his original bill by more than 700%. Mind you, he spent the better part of two years not even knowing there was a late fee, as the city didnt notify him until the fall of 2022, when it had already accrued to $41,548.30. He spent a year appealing the bill, during which the city continued tacking on penalties. Its also important to remember that the city got its money. Grubbs doesnt dispute the late payment, only that he and his accountant were waiting to find out more about Mayor Levar Stoneys announcement of a meals tax amnesty program, which supposedly ran from March 21, 2020, to June 23, 2020, when the pandemic forced many restaurants to close. The amnesty program was intended to help restaurant owners not fleece them. It shocks the conscious a bit, said Hayes Holderness, a law professor at the University of Richmond who specializes in tax policy, of the exorbitant late fees. The penalty, he said, should always be relative to the amount of tax owed, and the city has a statutory responsibility to inform citizens and businesses of whats been assessed. Due process requires that you be made aware of your obligations, and given the right to challenge them, he said in a recent interview. Its a bad situation all around. I expect the city of Richmond doesnt want to overly burden restaurants, or taxpayers generally. Of course, the city has been doing exactly that. Whats more disturbing is how long the issue has festered. A city audit in 2018 identified issues with the citys aging software system, which forced the finance department to tabulate meals tax bills manually. Five years later, another audit found the city was failing to collect millions in meals tax late fees and penalties, thanks to understaffing, out-of-date business directories and, once again, an archaic software system. The 2023 audit found that 454 businesses had not filed admissions, lodging and meals taxes for at least one month during fiscal year 2022, and only a quarter had been notified of the assessed late fees. Administrative dysfunction has long been a standard feature of City Hall. But that was supposed to change with the citys switch to a strong-mayor form of government in 2005. When Richmond voters approved a referendum in 2003 to change the city charter and elect a mayor at large, the key impetus was a malfunctioning City Hall mired in financial mismanagement. Richmond was beset by a cesspool of corruption and inefficiency, former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, who led the movement and became the first Richmond mayor elected under the new charter, once famously decried. The reforms were supposed to usher in a new era of political accountability. They did not. Twenty years later, the primary culprit is the same: a persistent lack of competent management at City Hall. Its becoming painfully clear that switching to an elected mayoralty prior to 2005, City Council appointed a city manager and selected a mayor from within its own ranks; after the charter change, the elected mayor was given sole responsibility for hiring and firing a chief administrative officer to run the city hasnt produced the desired result. Richmond is in a far different place than it was 20 years ago. The city has experienced a revival, an influx of new residents, businesses and a growing tax base. But its difficult to see how any of that growth has much, if anything, to do with the citys recent run of elected mayors. In reality, most of Richmonds economic growth has been organic, including a burgeoning food scene that the city has overtaxed and cannibalized. Electing the mayor at large has at times manifested in vision, and cohesion, when it comes to prioritizing approaches to combat violent crime, the affordable housing crisis and public transportation. An elected mayor gives Richmond a voice on Capitol Square, and it led to the visionary Richmond 300, the citys well-regarded master plan. But it also leads to mayors chasing political wins, big shiny objects Navy Hill, a new ballpark, the twice-defeated casino that have little to do with running the day-to-day government. From Wilder to former Mayor Dwight C. Jones and now Stoney, City Hall continues to be a cesspool of dysfunction. With Stoney gearing up for a gubernatorial run in 2025, and the citys election of a new mayor and City Council later this year, its time to revisit the city charter. City Council has already begun the process, and its City Charter Commission made nearly 100 recommendations in August. Chief among them: giving Council a bigger role in hiring and firing the CAO. FINANCIAL Edgar Tuck has joined Freedom First Credit Unions mortgage team as a vice president mortgage loan officer. Tuck, who has 36 years of banking and mortgage experience, will be working to assist home buyers in the Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Smith Mountain Lake areas. He is also involved in the community and serves on several boards and associations, including the Bedford County Board of Supervisors. Tuck will be based out of Freedom Firsts downtown Roanoke headquarters at 207 Bullitt Ave. N.E. LAW Attorneys Jeffrey P. Miller and Ryan J. Starks have been promoted to partnership at the Virginia law firm Gentry Locke. Miller is a member of the firms civil defense litigation practice group, where he defends trucking companies in catastrophic injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases, in addition to defending retailers and amusement parks and litigating various commercial and intentional tort claims. Miller has extensive experience collaborating with experts in the fields of accident reconstruction, human factors, biodynamics, brain injury medicine, engineering, and other professionals with a wide range of specialties. He also assists the firms transportation clients as part of the rapid response team, helping them navigate the crucial minutes and hours after an accident occurs. Miller earned his juris doctor degree from the University of Richmond School of Law and received his bachelors degree from Regis University. He has served on the board of the Henrico County Bar Association and was elected as president for the 2023-24 term. Starks is a member of the firms business litigation practice group, where he assists clients with complex business and civil disputes in state and federal courts throughout Virginia. He has also practiced before the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the Court of Federal Claims. Starks represents businesses and individuals in lawsuits involving construction, contract, employment, government contracting, and real estate disputes. He earned his juris doctor degree from the Washington and Lee University School of Law and received his bachelors degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) Albany. Starks is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys and serves on the CLE Committee of the Richmond Bar Association. ORGANIZATIONS HopeTree Family Services has promoted Shannon Updike to chief compliance officer. Updike will be responsible for the agencys compliance, risk, quality, and privacy efforts to include compliance with HIPAA laws. She also will oversee HopeTrees accreditation processes and the performance, training, and outcomes of the electronic health record. Updike has nearly 20 years of service with HopeTree and holds experience in youth services, building strategic partnerships, and community outreach. Most recently, she served as HopeTrees program director for Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption Services. A licensed clinical social worker, Updike has a bachelors degree in social work from Longwood University and earned her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to her role with HopeTree, Updike serves as the private provider representative on the State and Local Advisory Team, is a private provider representative with the Chesterfield and Henrico Family Assessment and Planning Teams, a member of the Virginia Association of Licensed Child Placing Agencies, and serves with the Central Virginia Partnership of Youth. OTHER Tomeka Rhoades has been named employee of the quarter at McClung Cos. The award is based on recommendations from fellow workers and recognizes employees who display extraordinary dedication to their jobs. Rhoades (HR / benefits / payroll specialist / safety) has worked five years at McClung and lives in Waynesboro. TECHNOLOGY The Virginia Alliance for Semiconductor Technology has appointed Prabesh Dulal as its associate director of operations. Dulal will play a key role in advancing VASTs mission to create a collaborative network of Virginias major universities to provide easy access to state-of-the-art research facilities throughout the state. He will lead VASTs Operations Committee, coordinating efforts to build a unified access point to cleanrooms, semiconductor and nanotechnology metrology, and semiconductor packaging facilities across the commonwealth and for establishing statewide safety and training policies related to VASTs operations. Dulal also will lead a team of VAST process engineers to develop the standards for the creation and delivery of the Fast Track to Semiconductor Careers hands-on training modules for veterans and adult learners. Dulal previously served as a senior program manager at Seagate Technology, where he led the end-to-end quality assurance and reliability validation of microelectronics-driven data storage systems. He earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from the University of Minnesota and holds a bachelors degree in physics from Coe College in Iowa. BLACKSBURG As a new semester approaches at Virginia Tech, a mass migration of email and storage services from Google to Microsoft is causing stress and concern among students, faculty and staff. The migration process was first discussed soon after Google announced that it would begin charging universities for use of Google Suite, meaning that in 2025, the school would begin paying about $1 million per year to use some of Googles services. Marc Debonis, the director of Collaborative Computing Services at Virginia Tech, said during a Zoom presentation on the changes obtained by The Roanoke Times that the price to keep the service, together with other possible charges, prompted the migration. We decided that we were not going to entertain that, Debonis said of the $1 million price tag. The first service to be migrated will be email. By Jan. 16, most students and employees are expected to start using Microsoft for email service. Since the change was announced, many people have expressed concern that emails may be lost during the migration. While the process is not yet complete, there have been no major problems with lost emails among those who have started using Microsoft service, according to interviews about the situation. However, some students dont understand how the migration provides any benefit in the first place. Two of the biggest reasons the migration was suggested in the first place are, as mentioned, the financial benefit as well as the added security provided by Microsoft compared to Google. In mid-2023, Microsoft announced that it would also begin charging universities along the same lines as Google. And while the security Microsoft provides is generally considered to be better, many people have questioned whether or not the added security provides much benefit to students who dont do sensitive work. I find Microsofts own integration of an app suite, such as teams, calendar and email to be less fluid and intuitive, Vince Snell, a senior electronics and computer engineering major at Virginia Tech, said. For a corporate environment Microsoft might make sense but as a student who doesnt need to generally worry about security I just want it to work so I can focus on studying. While students will still have access to their Google Drive accounts, their storage will be limited to 5 gigabytes. Debonis said during his presentation that the cap was a necessary part of the migration. We are going to have to implement quotas for Google storage usage, Debonis said. Theres no if, ands or buts about that. We cannot continue with unlimited storage. Debonis continued by saying that students and faculty would be given a five gigabyte quota, while departments would be given an additional 40 gigabytes overall to be doled out to faculty members as-needed. The storage quotas have been a considerable cause for concern among many faculty and students, though in his presentation, Debonis notes that 75% of faculty and 86% of students use storage under the five gigabyte cap. Additionally, new storage will be provided through Microsoft well beyond the current cap set on Google Accounts. While previously, there was no cap set on storage, the new cap is set at a level that most students and faculty would likely not exceed. Zachary Schmidt, another electronic and computer engineering major at Virginia Tech, said he wasnt worried about the changes to storage. Im majoring in one of the nerdy things, and I have never gotten close to the new cloud data storage limit, Schmidt said. I think the majority of people complaining are people who were using it for things they shouldnt be using it for. Right now, the migration process is just beginning, and as the process goes on, new problems may come to light, those involved say. For now, many complaints can be attributed to the learning curve of moving to a new system, and concerns about how the migration may be managed, some said. Im man enough to admit that many of my heroes are heroines. Ive long admired strong, smart women of whatever political persuasion. Women in leadership roles make good things happen. No ego-boosting testosterone poisoning to cloud their minds. Ive been adding brave women to my all-star list almost daily recently. Unlikely as it may seem because I have been elected to office as a Democrat, some of those heroines are lifelong members of the Republican Party (the party of John McCain, the George Bushes, and Ronald Reagan, that is). So be it. My admiration of strong women, including some of the Republican persuasion, goes back to when I was a little boy in Detroit. I heard frequent criticism of FDR at the dinner table. Im pretty certain my mother voted for Alf Landon, Wendell Wilkie and Tom Dewey. My familys politics were influenced by the fact that my dad and his dad worked for Henry Ford who fought with Roosevelt over the National Recovery Act. Gladys Bayler Cutler small in stature, hard of hearing, dependent on public transportation, not well off embodied the independent spirit of a strong woman. She reached a national audience with her poetry and prose, sang (church soloist) and taught piano, and was an officer of the Detroit Audubon Society. She is an ever-present role model for her first-born son. Women have long been at the forefront in my chosen field of work, wildlife conservation and wilderness protection. Their expressions of support for nature and parks have often gone side by side with their advocacy for equal political rights for women. Margaret Fuller comes to mind. An early 19th Century journalist friend of New England transcendentalists Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, Fuller was an early and effective spokesperson for the ideal of transcending gender differences in political decision-making. When I joined the National Audubon Society staff, I learned that it was Harriet Lawrence Hemenway and Minna Hall who had begun the Audubon movement and that Marjory Stoneman Douglas had saved the Everglades. When I was publications chief at the National Wildlife Federation in the early 1960s, my pole star was Rachel Carson whod just exposed the perils of misusing DDT in Silent Spring. And later, as a staff member of The Wilderness Society, I was awestruck when I met Mardy Murie of Moose, Wyoming, the naturalist, writer and grandmother of the conservation movement. Moving to Roanoke in 1990, I learned that the city has its fine park system in part because the Womans Civic Betterment Club of Roanoke led by Mrs. Lucian H. Cocke and Mrs. M.M. Caldwell hired John Nolen of Boston in 1928 to create a comprehensive plan for the development of our city that keyed in on the importance of protecting natural river-side corridors for recreation. Liz Belcher, Roanoke Valley Greenways Coordinator for 25 years, provided the constant push that resulted in our magnificent regional greenway trail system, the crown jewel of which is the popular Roanoke River Greenway. Today I find myself in awe of two strong women, both lifelong and loyal members of the Republican Party, who have identified the same threat to our well-being, and it isnt climate change. Their mutual concern is even more basic. They fear that the goals set out in our U.S. Constitution a more perfect Union, justice, domestic tranquility, provision for the common defense, promotion of the general welfare, the blessings of liberty are at risk, should Donald Trump be reelected President. You may have guessed that Im referring to Cassidy Hutchinson and Liz Cheney. Having read their best-selling books, Enough and Oath and Honor respectively, I can feel their pain as they describe how they arrived at that dreadful conclusion. Hutchinson, who was a special assistant to President Trump and chief of staff Mark Meadows, reported at the televised June 20, 2022, hearing of the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, that Trumps temperament wasnt rational, but neither was it unfamiliar to me. His outbursts shed light on how his volcanic temper and egotism had lit the match that set his followers torches ablaze. Cheney, who represented Wyoming in the US House of Representatives from 2017 to 2023 and is the elder daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney, concludes in her work: Every one of us Republicans, Democrats, independents must work and vote together to ensure that Donald Trump and those who have appeased, enabled, and collaborated with him are defeated. This is the cause of our time. I plan to do exactly what this patriot urges us to do work to see that Donald Trump is defeated. I will also support the campaigns of Abigail Spanberger for Virginia Governor, Jenn McClellan for Congress, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers Fight Like Hell PAC to support President Biden and Vice President Harris in this years crucial elections. We should bear in mind Abigail Adams March 31, 1776, letter to her husband John: I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. My version of her plea is Vote for the ladies! Rebecca Black and Jonathan McCambridge, PA A bid is under way to have the Stormont Assembly recalled next week. Sinn Fein is attempting to bring the recall on Wednesday the day before trade unions are planning one of the largest public sector strikes Northern Ireland has seen in recent history. Thursday is also the deadline for UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to call fresh Assembly elections if devolved government in Northern Ireland has not been restored. UK Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris (James Manning/PA) The Assembly has been effectively collapsed for almost two years. The DUP is refusing to participate until unionist concerns around post-Brexit trading arrangements are addressed. The recall motion will require the backing of 30 MLAs to succeed. It urges that the Assembly meets urgently to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speakers, appoint ministers and back a motion which endorses fair pay settlements for public sector workers. It also calls for the DUP to respect the democratic outcome of the May 2022 Assembly election in which Sinn Fein made history by becoming the first nationalist or republican party to top the Stormont poll, entitling it to nominate a First Minister. Finally, it emphasises the pressing need to urgently reinstate the Executive to tackle the unprecedented challenges confronting citizens and our public services, particularly the immediate matter of public sector pay. The DUP has insisted it will not end its blockade until it secures legislative assurances from the UK government on Northern Irelands trading position within the UK. Mr Heaton-Harris has said his talks with the DUP over the Windsor Framework have concluded, although leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has insisted engagement is continuing. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (Liam McBurney/PA) Mr Heaton-Harris has invited the main Stormont parties to take part in bilateral talks at Hillsborough Castle on Monday about the Stormont stalemate. Earlier, DUP MP Gavin Robinson insisted there is no legal basis for joint authority rule in Northern Ireland if devolved government is not restored. Mr Robinson was reacting after Conservative MP and chair of the UK's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Sir Robert Buckland said any alternative to the DUP agreeing a deal to restore the Stormont Executive would likely mean the involvement of the Irish Government. The DUP deputy leader accused Mr Buckland of making hollow threats. During an appearance on the BBCs The View programme, Mr Buckland said that a return to direct rule for Northern Ireland would mean triggering certain aspects of the Good Friday Agreement and involvement of the Irish Government, ultimately. Asked if old-style direct rule of the past was off the table, he responded: I think so. Mr Robinson responded: Sir Robert Buckland seems to be confused. Its not often he is wrong, but on this he is. The Republic of Ireland has no legal basis for governing Northern Ireland. Such a step would be a further breach of the Belfast and successor agreements. He added: It is the arrangements flowing from the Northern Ireland Protocol alone that are stopping the formation of an Executive. We are focused on getting this right and restoring the balance. We will not be distracted by Sir Roberts confused viewpoint. Rather than issue hollow threats about some version of joint authority, Sir Robert and his colleagues would be better to focus on restoring Northern Irelands place within the UK internal market. Replacing the protocol with arrangements that unionists, as well as nationalists, can support will provide a solid foundation for the restoration of devolution on a cross-community basis. Previous talks between Mr Heaton-Harris and the main Stormont parties over a 3.3 billion financial package to accompany the return of devolution broke up at Hillsborough Castle in December without any agreement to restore the Assembly and Executive. The package would include money to make an outstanding pay award to public sector workers. With their pay demands still unmet, unions are planning a major strike across Northern Ireland on January 18th. Sir Robert Buckland is chair of the UK's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee at Westminster (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Buckland denied that the UK government was using the strikes in Northern Ireland as a means to pressure the DUP into a deal. He said: I think on one level its maybe a cynical view about how the UK government would view the valued contribution that public service workers make in Northern Ireland. The reality is this facing all of us all of us as elected politicians have responsibilities to face up to. Sometimes we have to make decisions that we dont particularly like, we dont live in a perfect world. The DUP are part of this imperfect world. There isnt a perfect solution for them. But there is a solution and a solution that can deliver for their constituents, many of whom are public sector workers, in a way that I think would redound to their credit. Thats why I think now is the time for leadership, for courage if you like an overused word sometimes, but one that might apply in this case to allow the Executive to be formed as quickly as possible. Ever since the Supreme Court overturned Roe, California has tried to be a sanctuary for people from states where abortion is restricted. Now that includes medical school students seeking training in reproductive care. Oona Tempest/KFF Health News Bria Peacock chose a career in medicine because the Black Georgia native saw the dire health needs in her community including access to abortion care. Her commitment to becoming a maternal health care provider was sparked early on when she witnessed the discrimination and judgment leveled against her older sister, who became a mother as a teen. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Peacock was already in her residency program in California, and her thoughts turned back to women like her sister. I knew that the people my people, my community back home was going to be affected in a dramatic way, because theyre in the South and because theyre Black, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But even though Peacock attended the Medical College of Georgia, shes doing her obstetrics and gynecology residency at the UCSF, where she has gotten comprehensive training in abortion care. I knew as a trainee thats what I needed, said Peacock, who plans to return to her home state after her residency. Ever since the Supreme Court decision, California has worked to become a sanctuary for people from states where abortion is restricted. In doing so, it joins 14 other states, including Colorado, New Mexico, and Massachusetts. Now, its addressing the fraught issue of abortion training for medical residents, which most doctors believe is crucial to comprehensive OB-GYN training. A law enacted in September makes it easier for out-of-state trainees to get up to 90 days of in-person training under the supervision of a California-licensed doctor. The law eliminated the requirement for a training license and also permitted training at programs such as Planned Parenthood that are affiliated with accredited medical schools. By allowing physician residents to come to California, where there are more opportunities for abortion training, and by allowing them to be reimbursed for this work, were sending a message that abortion care is health care and an essential part of physician training, said Lisa Folberg, CEO of the California Academy of Family Physicians, which supported the bill. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The question of how to provide complete OB-GYN training promises to become more urgent as the effects of abortion bans on medical education become clear: 18 states restrict or ban abortion to the point of effectively stripping 20% of OB-GYN medical residents of the opportunity to get abortion training, according to the Ryan Residency Training Program in Abortion and Family Planning. Thats 1,354 residents this year out of 5,962 OB-GYN residents nationwide. The restrictions in some cases aim to reach beyond state borders, spooking medical students and residents who fear hostility from anti-abortion groups and right-wing legislators. One OB-GYN resident in a state with abortion restrictions, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, said shes keen on getting comprehensive abortion care training in California but cant. My program will not allow us to perform abortions in other states, she said. She said administrators worry that doing so would subject residents to litigation because the program is state-funded. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That is how my program is interpreting the law, she said. Theyre being very conservative in order to protect us. Pamela Merritt, executive director of Medical Students for Choice, pointed to a Kansas law that requires repayment of state medical school scholarships with 15% interest if residents perform abortions or work in clinics that perform them, except in cases of rape, incest or a medical emergency. Doctors point out that abortion training is not just about ending pregnancies. Peacock recalled a patient who started hemorrhaging badly shortly after a healthy delivery. Peacock and her team at UCSF performed a dilation and curettage a procedure commonly used to terminate pregnancy. If we did not have that skill set, and the patient continued to bleed, it could have been life-taking, said Peacock, chief OB-GYN resident at UCSF. Its not yet clear how many spots will be available in California to train out-of-state medical residents as demand ratchets up. Many sites were already at their training maximums and are unable to expand opportunities to others, said Michael Belmonte, a fellow with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Between June 2022, when Roe was overturned, and the end of June 2023, 125 out-of-state doctors did residencies in programs that use the Ryan Residency Training Program model, according to Kristin Simonson, director of programs and operations. Ryan helps OB-GYN residency programs integrate comprehensive abortion care training. Even when opportunities to learn abortion care are available, those seeking training are proceeding with caution. Residents arranging to travel for abortion training, like patients who travel for abortion care, are making arrangements quietly so they do not draw unwanted attention or repercussions, said Janet Jacobson, medical director and senior vice president of clinical services at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, which just trained its first resident from a state with an abortion ban. Statistics on harassment and attacks against abortion providers or disruption of their work back up such concerns, even in states where abortions are allowed. From 2021 to 2022, for example, there were upticks in stalking of personnel, bomb threats, assault and battery, and obstruction, according to the latest data from the National Abortion Federation. Jessica Mecklosky, a pediatric resident at UCSF, said she hopes to focus on adolescent medicine, including reproductive health, where she can offer young patients choices about their futures. Her medical school experience in Louisiana, she said, is a prime example of why abortion training in California and other states is so crucial. She initially wanted to specialize in obstetrics and gynecology but switched to pediatrics, which also would involve reproductive health care. Although she knew Louisiana had abortion restrictions, she didnt realize how much those restrictions would interfere with her ability to learn: There were just three abortion clinics in the entire state, and as she soon found out, none were available for her training. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I was actually not going to be able to see any elective abortion procedures throughout medical school, because we dont rotate through any abortion clinics, she said. There was an opportunity for a days training in her third year, but, unfortunately, Roe fell before I was able to do that. Through Medical Students for Choice, a group that provides stipends of up to $1,200, Mecklosky got an abortion care rotation at Montefiore Medical Center in New York during her summer break. Mecklosky is torn about where shell land after her residency. She may return to Louisiana and advocate for legislative changes in reproductive health while attending to patients and making forays to other states to provide abortions. She recounts an experience in New Orleans when the Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, which undid Roe, was imminent that is etched into her memory. I had actually seen a few patients who were minors, were pregnant, and wanted to terminate their pregnancies, she said, noting that they could not afford to travel for an abortion. And I just remember having this sense of dread, just knowing that if we couldnt get them into an appointment in the next 24 or 48 hours, it was possible that they would not be able to do it. Cillian Sherlock, PA A four-year-old child has been rescued from a house fire in Belfast. Firefighters were called to the house fire at Dunraven Park on Saturday morning. A representative from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said: Two appliances from Knock station, one appliance from Central station and one appliance from Whitla station attended the incident. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus rescued the four-year-old child from the house. The child has been transferred to the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Firefighters extinguished the fire using hose reel jets. The cause of the fire is believed to have been accidental and the incident was dealt with by 07:48am. WASHINGTON Ancient DNA helps explain why northern Europeans have a higher risk of multiple sclerosis than other ancestries: Its a genetic legacy of horseback-riding cattle herders who swept into the region about 5,000 years ago. The findings come from a huge project to compare modern DNA with that culled from ancient humans teeth and bones allowing scientists to trace both prehistoric migration and disease-linked genes that tagged along. When a Bronze Age people called the Yamnaya moved from the steppes of what are now Ukraine and Russia into northwestern Europe, they carried gene variants that today are known to increase peoples risk of multiple sclerosis, researchers reported last week. Yet the Yamnaya flourished, widely spreading those variants. Those genes probably also protected the nomadic herders from infections carried by their cattle and sheep, concluded the research published in the journal Nature. What we found surprised everyone, said study co-author William Barrie, a genetics researcher at the University of Cambridge. These variants were giving these people an advantage of some kind. Its one of several findings from a first-of-its-kind gene bank with thousands of samples from early humans in Europe and western Asia, a project headed by Eske Willerslev of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen who helped pioneer the study of ancient DNA. Similar research has traced even earlier cousins of humans such as Neanderthals. Using the new gene bank to explore MS was a logical first step. That's because although MS can strike any population, it is most common among white descendants of northern Europeans and scientists have been unable to explain why. The potentially disabling disease occurs when immune system cells mistakenly attack the protective coating on nerve fibers, gradually eroding them. It causes varying symptoms numbness and tingling in one person, impaired walking and vision loss in another that often wax and wane. Its not clear what causes MS, although a leading theory is that certain infections could trigger it in people who are genetically susceptible. More than 230 genetic variants have been found that can increase someones risk. The researchers first examined DNA from about 1,600 ancient Eurasians, mapping some major shifts in northern Europes population. First, farmers from the Middle East began supplanting hunter-gatherers and then, nearly 5,000 years ago, the Yamnaya began moving in traveling with horses and wagons as they herded cattle and sheep. The research team compared the ancient DNA to about 400,000 present-day people stored in a UK gene bank, to see the MS-linked genetic variations persist in the north, the direction the Yamnaya moved, rather than in southern Europe. In what is now Denmark, the Yamnaya rapidly replaced ancient farmers, making them the closest ancestors of modern Danes, Willerslev said. MS rates are particularly high in Scandinavian countries. Why would gene variants presumed to have strengthened ancient immunity later play a role in an autoimmune disease? Differences in how modern humans are exposed to animal germs may play a role, knocking the immune system out of balance, said study co-author Dr. Astrid Iversen of Oxford University. The findings finally offer an explanation for the north-south MS divide in Europe but more work is needed to confirm the link, cautioned genetic expert Samira Asgari of New Yorks Mount Sinai School of Medicine, who wasnt involved with the research, in an accompanying commentary. Medical care costs are up 30% in the past decade here's what it means for Americans Medical care costs are up 30% in the past decadehere's what it means for Americans How various health care costs have changed in 10 years 125 Years Ago A Fatal Slip in the Dark: In the mist and drizzle and darkness of the early morning, Patrick Brennan, brakeman on the Sioux City and Northern, slipped on the sloppy ice in the yards at Doon and the wheels of the backing freight train crunched over his leg before he could roll himself entirely clear of the rail. He was at once removed to the shelter, but in half or three-quarters of an hour kind death came with a relief from the agonies of the injury. Had a Rough and Tumble: Ex-Constable Andy Johnson and A. Smith quarreled last night in the Metropolitan saloon over a $3 board bill. The quarrel grew into a fight, and they had to be separated by Patrolman Dennis OMeara. No sooner than they were separated, Smith, backed up by Charles A. Purchase, resumed the engagement. Police Captain Richard, out of uniform, hurried to assist OMeara, and the two policemen settled the men and took them into custody. 100 Years Ago Moonshiner Also Steals to Give to His Lady Love: One thousand dollars or a year in jail was sentenced to Tom Crane in the Onawa district court here on the charge of maintaining a liquor nuisance. On the Saturday before Christmas, the authorities made a raid upon Cranes room on Main Street and found everything ready to run off a little Christmas cheer. Crane plead guilty to the liquor charge and to the larceny of certain womens coats and dresses from a store in Onawa and was sentenced by the court on the larceny charge to Fort Madison for a term of up to five years of hard labor. Crane aided in recovering the stolen items, claiming he took them to give to a woman friend. Mens Glee Club at Morningside in Home Concert: The Morningside College mens glee club will present its annual home concert at Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on Tuesday night. The club completed a concert tour of northwest Iowa towns during the Christmas holidays and has been practicing hard since returning for the home concert. 50 Years Ago Its Way Down Yon-der in New Orleans for East Highs Proud Band: The East High School band, consisting of 162 students, is full of anticipation and excitement as their trip to New Orleans to participate in the Mardi Gras parade is only a month away. The delegation will total 204 people between the students, chaperones, faculty, and nurse. The band will march in the parade on Feb. 17, the opening day of the 10-day celebration. To generate funds for the trip, donations have been made, and the musicians have held candy sales, magazine and light bulb sales, and a benefit dinner (with parents aid) to 800 at the school. Bas Relief Paintings of Artist to be on Display Today in Sioux City: Jim Lovejoy, a self-taught painter from Luverne, Minn., will have on exhibit for purchase 12 of his original bas relief paintings from 1 to 9 p.m. today in Room 126 of the Rodeway Inn. Most of his creations are western scenes, and he has patterned many works after the paintings of western artists like Charles M. Russell and Frederic Remington, both of whom he has studied extensively. 25 Years Ago Executions Called Scripted Horror: Sister Helen Prejean spoke at Briar Cliff College on Tuesday as part of a college lecture series and shared her views against the death penalty, having witnessed five death row executions in person. Prejean is one of the most outspoken opponents of the death penalty, having written the book Dead Man Walking, which was recently portrayed as a movie of the same name. Canadian Doctor Finds His Place in Rural Iowa Practice: Dr. Carter Abbott, who moved from London, Ontario, is in his second year as the family practitioner of Sloan, Iowa. He mentions he wished he made the move sooner, as many Canadian physicians eye moving to the United States. Abbot and his family moved to Sloan in 1997, though they had long considered the move away from Canadas socialized medicine environment. Hes adjusted to different changes, like saying vacation instead of holiday, though he will have to wait about five years for U.S. residency. Abbot welcomes the challenges of his new location, and is encouraged by the reception hes received in Sloan. SIOUX CITY In past Iowa caucus cycles, the final weekend before residents make their presidential preferences known has been marked by a burst of visits from the candidates and their surrogates. It's one final chance for White House hopefuls to win hearts and minds. That's especially true for Republican contenders coming to Northwest Iowa prior to caucus day. This corner of the "First-in-the-Nation" state is the most-conservative. Iowa's Fourth Congressional District, which runs from Fremont County in the south all the way to Lyon County in the north and extends from Woodbury County in the west to as far east as Marshall County, has proven decisive for GOP candidates looking to score their first "W" in a presidential campaign. But in the final days before the 2024 caucuses in ruby red Northwest Iowa, flurries of in-person stump speeches have been stymied by seemingly never-ending snow flurries and blustery winds causing blizzard conditions. Saturday afternoon, the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls showed a "steady temperature" around -13 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill values as low as -42. The forecast for caucus evening isn't much better. "Patchy blowing snow after 7 p.m. Mostly clear, with a low around -8. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph," the NWS said. Vivek Ramaswamy campaign bus The campaign bus for 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an Ohio businessman, drives through the snow in Sioux City on Monday, Ja So because of the worst weather ever seen before an Iowa caucus in the modern era, the four-leading Republican candidates have to had cancel, postpone and rework their final plans for Siouxland. The changes came as early as Monday when former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley scrapped a scheduled morning stop at the Horizon Family Restaurant in Sioux City. At Sioux Gateway Airport, 11.3 inches of snow fell from Monday through Tuesday. The campaign for Ohio businessman Vivek Ramaswamy lambasted Haley for the cancellation but later had to axe a Tuesday morning appearance because it said it was "effectively impossible to safely get from Des Moines to Coralville." Ramaswamy did make it to Le Mars Orange City, Primghar and Sioux City on Monday. Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis both had plans to trek to the Wells Visitor and Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars during the back half of the week. DeSantis at 2:30 p.m., Thursday and Haley at 2:30 p.m., Friday. Only DeSantis was able to make it in person. Around 50 people showed up to hear DeSantis, who trails Haley and former President Donald Trump in FiveThirtyEight's average of Iowa polls. Early into his speech, Florida's chief executive joked about leaving his coat back in Tallahassee and tried to drive home how crucial every single vote could be if caucus turnout is low because of the wicked winter weather. "With the turnout maybe lower than what it's been in the past, if you bring a few family member, that is going to pack a big punch," he said. As the speech continued and snowflakes fell in greater number, DeSantis criticized Trump for not doing more in-person campaigning ("That's not going to get it done in a general election") and accused the former president of gaslighting people about his record during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. "Kim Reynolds here was fighting back against his administration," DeSantis said of Trump and the Iowa governor who announced her support for DeSantis in November 2023. Following the event, LaDonna Studley, a Le Mars resident, said she was "probably" supporting DeSantis on Monday. She was even less certain though of whether or not she'd actually go out that evening. "If I can," she said. "It's pretty hard on me to get out." In lieu of her Le Mars excursion, Haley held a "telephone town hall" Friday afternoon which allowed locals to dial in and ask questions. She touched on immigration (warning of another possible 9/11), education (promising to not allow "boys in girls sports") and repeatedly emphasized she had the best chance to defeat President Joe Biden in a head-to-head race. "If you join with us in this movement, you join with us in this fight and caucus for us, I promise you that our best days are yet to come," Haley said before pivoting to taking questions. While responding to a question about the use of eminent domain for a carbon-capture pipeline, Haley mistakenly said "I have always been a fighter for eminent domain. I am a big property rights person." Campaign staff for the former South Carolina governor later clarified Haley meant to say "I have always been a fighter of eminent domain." Election 2024 Debate Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is seen leaving after her walk-through ahead of the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University, W The Trump team also made the move to embrace a telephone-centered event. Friday evening, Trump canceled in-person events for Sioux City and Cherokee. Previously, he was supposed to appear at the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City at 6 p.m., Saturday. Then, Sunday, Trump had a "Commit to Caucus Rally" set for 4 p.m., Sunday at the Little Sioux Event Center in Cherokee. The campaign sent out advisories saying there would be a 7 p.m. Saturday "telerally" featuring Trump and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, who Trump stumped for in Sioux City in November 2022. The Sunday plan for Trump then became: An in-person stop at Simpson College in Indianola and a 5 p.m. "telerally" with Iowa Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton). Monday, the Trump campaign has a noon "telerally," as well as a 1 p.m. visit to Ankeny (with Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle) and a 1 p.m. meet and greet in Fort Dodge. "Our volunteer grassroots team is as mobilized as ever and ready to bring home a historic win for President Trump on Monday, January 15," the campaign said. "Nothing will keep our people from showing up to caucus for President Trump!" Vivek Ramaswamy editorial board meeting Vivek Ramaswamy, 2024 Republican presidential hopeful and Ohio businessman, talks with the Sioux City Journal Editorial Board Monday, Jan. 8, Through Saturday evening, Ramaswamy and DeSantis had the final events planned for the Sioux City area. Ramaswamy's was a "commit to caucus" rally at 8:30 p.m. at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Sioux City. Two hours before, he had a stop in Cherokee. DeSantis' late addition to the calendar was a caucus day venture to Pub 52 in Sergeant Bluff. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy, as well as Texas pastor Ryan Binkley, have made it all 99 of Iowa's counties before caucus day. SIOUX CITY -- The bitter cold Iowa caucus day, warned about by forecasters for the past week, has almost arrived. And the outlook hasn't gotten any better. It could be a record-breaker. Monday's afternoon high temperature is forecast at 3 degrees below zero in Sioux City, according to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. Wind chill is expected to drag the apparent temperature down to 20 to 25 degrees below zero during the daylight hours. The record-coldest Jan. 15 in Sioux City, set in 2009, was 2 degrees below zero. The low temperature Monday night is pegged at 9 degrees below zero, with wind chill values of 30 degrees below zero. "When we have temperatures this cold, and we have wind chills between -30 to -35, frost bite can happen in 10 minutes or less, with exposed skin," said Samantha Trellinger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls. The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for the Sioux City metro lasting through noon Tuesday. The daytime high is expected to creep back above zero -- to about 8 degrees -- on Tuesday, though the wind chill will probably still be below zero. Sioux City isn't alone -- a vast cold wave has swept much of the Midwest, plunging temperatures everywhere from Kansas City to Denver to Duluth into the single-digits or below zero, before taking the wind chill into account. "We've got a really strong Arctic high-pressure moved down, and that just brought all this cold, Canadian air down, Trellinger said. The deep freeze might depress Iowa caucus turnout, though it's won't be clear to what extent until Monday. SIOUX CITY The folks at The Warming Shelter in Sioux City are making sure everyone has a safe, warm place to stay as brutally cold temperatures rolled into the tri-state area. Shayla Moore, executive director of The Warming Shelter in downtown Sioux City, said the facility was "pretty packed full." "We dont technically have a number where we say that we are at capacity. I would say that if there were a number, were pretty close," Moore said. "We are fitting in as many people as we can in our day shelter. All of our bunks are full. All of our family rooms are full. Last nights numbers, we were close to 150 people staying with us." The shelter has been working with local partners to get food for those staying. It is not common for the shelter to provide meals since it has no kitchen. "When it is this cold, we work with our board and get churches to help us come up with the money to get some meals provided when we know that our folks wont be able to comfortably or safely make it down to the Soup Kitchen," Moore said. Snow cleanup Chuck Knight and his wife Andrea Knight clear the snow out of their driveway at their home on Stoneridge Parkway in Sioux City Saturday. Snow cleanup A snow plow carves a path up Pierce Street at the corner of 20th Street Saturday in Sioux City. The Gospel Mission had some extra food they donated Friday night to feed the crowd. Moore said food has been procured for dinners on Saturday and Sunday. "Weve actually been really lucky." Saturday morning the staff was pitching in to get some things together for breakfast and lunch. They know that our folks just cant make it wherever they need to go to get food. Winter blizzard A city snowplow driver works to dig out the intersection of Fourth and Pearl Streets in near blizzard conditions Friday. Snow storm Friday Donathan Endries, left, and Simon Gonzalez shovel snow out of a driveway along Stone Park Boulevard in Sioux City Friday. White-out conditions on Saturday made travel dangerous around Siouxland. "Travel should be restricted to emergencies only. If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay with your vehicle," the National Weather Service said in a statement. Winds gusting to 43 mph made the temperature of -9 feel like -39 Saturday. The National Weather Service forecast patchy, blowing snow for Sunday with highs near -9 and lows around -13. With winds out of the west northwest at 10-20 mph, the wind chill will be -43. A blizzard warning for most of Siouxland was set to expire midnight Sunday. A wind chill warning will remain in effect until noon Tuesday, according to the NWS. A blizzard warning was issued by the NWS for the southeastern and south-central portions of South Dakota, and a winter weather advisory has been issued for the majority of the state. The shelter is seeing that people stay safe in this cold. We let anybody and everybody in, even people that have been restricted from the shelter, Moore said. We do still prioritize safety and we have zero tolerance for any unsafe behaviors. We want them to be safe. We dont want their safety or their life to be in jeopardy. Most of the time those folks that have been restricted they come in and usually we see pretty low-key, decent behaviors and they are able to stay the amount of time necessary to get through this serious cold. Moore praised her staff for stepping up in this emergency. Our staff is absolutely incredible. This is the best staff that weve had ever since I started at the shelter as a part-time staff member five years ago. Snow cleanup A snow plow clears the bank on the side of Morningside Avenue on Jan. 13. Sioux City officials say there is plenty of money in the budget to p Snow cleanup A snow plow drives up Morningside Avenue Saturday in Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 13, 2024. And there are volunteers with four-wheel drive vehicles willing to go pick up staff members who dont feel comfortable driving to work in these hazardous conditions. Our staff has been showing up. Theyve been trudging their way through the snow. They are just the greatest, most wonderful people that we could ever ask for to be in these roles because they really, truly care and they are making sure we are able to keep running even in these terrible conditions, Moore said. The deep freeze is expected to continue through at least Monday. Monday's high is predicted to hit -4 with a low of -11. Many churches, especially those outside of the Sioux City metro, canceled Sunday services due to extreme weather conditions. Dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 10 minutes, according to the NWS. SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa -- Two homes in the Monarch Cove enclave of Spirit Lake burned Saturday night, while a third was saved from anything more serious than smoke damage. Spirit Lake Fire Chief Pat Daly said by phone that crews were called to the blaze, on 213th Avenue, around 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Fire rigs had difficulty navigating the lakeside residential street. "The roads out there in Monarch Cove are real narrow, and the corners are like 90 degrees," Daly said. "And they've got rocks so nobody drives on their grass. So we were just having a real tough time even getting trucks down there to drop water." The gas meter on one of the homes broke during the fire. "So, the gas was burning right out of the pipe," Daly said. Crews remained on the scene until around 9:45 p.m. Firefighters and first responders from multiple agencies were dispatched to the fire, including fire crews from Arnolds Park and Okoboji, Milford and Lake Park, the Spirit Lake Police Department, Dickinson County Sheriff, Dickinson County Emergency Management, an ambulance from Lakes Regional Healthcare and utility crews from Alliant Energy and Black Hills Energy. Pizzas were sent to crews by Pizza Ranch and Godfather's. Firefighters dealt with wind chills of 45 degrees below zero and machines that were freezing up. A sand truck had to be brought down to spread sand over the ice. Daly said he slipped and fell on the ice twice. "Of course you know, when you start dealing with water and cold temperatures, you end up with a lot of ice," Daly said. The houses, which Daly said were summer homes, were not occupied at the time of the fire. One of the homes, he said, burned "clear to the basement." Daly told The Journal that earlier reports indicating the fire was in Milford, Iowa, and that three houses burned, were incorrect. The Fire Marshal is coming Monday to investigate the cause of the fire, Daly said.